To cry to the sea that roar'd to us, to sigh Mir. Was I then to you! Pros. Alack, what trouble O, a cherubin Thou wast that did preserve me. Thou didst smile, When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt, Against what should ensue. Mir. How came we ashore? Pros. By Providence divine. Some food we had and some fresh water that Out of his charity, who being then appointed Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries, Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentle ness, Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me From mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom. Mir. But ever see that man! Pros. Would I might Now I arise: [Resumes his mantle. Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit 150 160 170 Mir. Heavens thank you for 't! And now, I pray you, sir, For still 't is beating in my mind, your reason Pros. Know thus far forth. By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune, Brought to this shore; and by my prescience A most auspicious star, whose influence Will ever after droop. Here cease more questions: Enter ARIEL Ari. All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come To answer thy best pleasure; be 't to fly, To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride On the curl'd clouds, to thy strong bidding task Pros. Hast thou, spirit, I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak, 180 190 The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly, 200 Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the pre cursors O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary And sight-outrunning were not; the fire and cracks Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble, Yea, his dread trident shake. Pros. My brave spirit! Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil Would not infect his reason? Ari. And all the devils are here." On their sustaining garments not a blemish, But fresher than before: and, as thou badest me, 210 220 Pros. Of the king's ship, The mariners, say how thou hast disposed Ari. Safely in harbour Is the king's ship; in the deep nook, where once Who, with a charm join'd to their suffer'd labour, Supposing that they saw the king's ship wreck'd Pros. Ariel, thy charge Exactly is perform'd: but there's more work. What is the time o' the day? Ari. Past the mid season. Pros. At least two glasses. The time 'twixt six and now Must by us both be spent most preciously. Ari. Is there more toil? Since thou dost give Let me remember thee what thou hast promised, Pros. How now? moody? My liberty. What is 't thou canst demand? Ari. Pros. Before the time be out? no more! I prithee, Ari. 230 240 Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served Without or grudge or grumblings: thou didst promise To bate me a full year. Pros. Dost thou forget No. From what a torment I did free thee? Ari. Pros. Thou dost, and think'st it much to tread the ooze Of the salt deep, To run upon the sharp wind of the north, Ari. I do not, sir. Pros. Thou liest, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy 250 Once in a month recount what thou hast been, Which thou forget'st. This damn'd witch Sycorax, To enter human hearing, from Argier, Thou know'st, was banish'd: for one thing she did Pros. This blue-eyed hag was hither brought And here was left by the sailors. Thou, my slave, 270 |