GON. I do well believe your highness; and did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen, who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that they always use to laugh at nothing. ANT. 'Twas you we laughed at. GON. Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing to you: so you may continue and laugh at nothing still. ANT. What a blow was there given! SEB. An it had not fallen flat-long. GON. You are gentlemen of brave mettle; you would lift the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue in it five weeks without changing. Enter ARIEL, invisible, playing solemn music. SEB. We would so, and then go a bat-fowling. ANT. Nay, good my lord, be not angry. GON. No, I warrant you; I will not adventure my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy? ANT. Go sleep, and hear us. [All sleep except ALON., SEB., and ANT. ALON. What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: I find They are inclined to do so. SEB. Please you, sir, Do not omit the heavy offer of it: It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth, ANT. We two, my lord, while you take your rest, Will guard your person And watch your safety. ALON. Thank you. Wondrous heavy. [ALONSO sleeps. Exit ARIEL. SEB, What a strange drowsiness possesses them! SEB. Myself disposed to sleep. ANT. Why I find not Nor I; my spirits are nimble. They fell together all, as by consent; They dropp'd, as by a thunder-stroke. What might, Worthy Sebastian? O, what might?-No more :And yet me thinks I see it in thy face, What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee, and My strong imagination sees a crown Dropping upon thy head. SEB. What, art thou waking? I do; and surely ANT. Do you not hear me speak? SEB. It is a sleepy language, and thou speak'st Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say? With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving, ANT. Noble Sebastian, Thou let'st thy fortune sleep-die, rather; wink'st Whiles thou art waking. SEB. Thou dost snore distinctly; There's meaning in thy snores. ANT. I am more serious than my custom: you Must be so too, if heed me; which to do Trebles thee o'er. SEB. Well, I am standing water. ANT. I'll teach you how to flow. SEB. Hereditary sloth instructs me. ANT. If you but knew how you the purpose cherish Most often do so near the bottom run By their own fear or sloth. SEB. Prithee, say on: The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim A matter from thee, and a birth indeed Which throes thee much to yield. ANT. Thus, sir: Although this lord of weak remembrance, this, Who shall be of as little memory When he is earth'd, hath here almost persuaded,— For he's a spirit of persuasion, only Professes to persuade,-the king his son's alive, 'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd As he that sleeps here swims. SEB. That he's undrown'd. ANT. I have no hope O, out of that no hope' What great hope have you! no hope that way is Another way so high a hope that even Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond, But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me That Ferdinand is drown'd? ANT. She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells Whereof what's past is prologue, what to come SEB. What stuff is this! how say you? 'Tis true, my brother's daughter's queen of Tunis; So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions There is some space. ANT. A space whose every cubit Seems to cry out, 'How shall that Claribel Measure us back to Naples? Keep in Tunis, And let Sebastian wake.' Say, this were death That now hath seized them; why, they were no worse Than now they are. There be that can rule Naples As well as he that sleeps; lords that can prate As this Gonzalo; I myself could make A chough of as deep chat. O, that you bore True: ANT. And look how well my garments sit upon me; Much feater than before: my brother's servants Were then my fellows; now they are my men. SEB. But, for your conscience? ANT. Ay, sir; where lies that? if 'twere a kibe, If he were that which now he's like, that's dead; SEB. Thy case, dear friend, Shall be my precedent; as thou got'st Milan, I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest; |