Ant. The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the beginning. Gon. All things in common nature should produce Seb. No marrying 'mong his subjects? Ant. None, man; all idle; whores and knaves. Seb. 'Save his majesty ! Gon. And, do you mark me, sir ?— Alon. Pr'ythee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me. 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. 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 but 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 inclin❜d to do so. Šeb. Please you, sir, Do not omit the heavy offer of it: It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth, It is a comforter. Ant. We two, my lord, Will guard your person, while you take your rest, Alon. Thank you: Wond'rous heavy. [ALON. sleeps. Exit ARIEL. Seb. What a strange drowsiness possesses them? Seb. Why Doth it not then our eye-lids sink? I find not Ant. Nor I; my spirits are nimble. They fell together all, as by consent; What might, Worthy Sebastian ?—O, what might ?—No more :And yet, methinks, I see it in thy face, What thou should'st be: the occasion speaks thee; and My strong imagination sees a crown Dropping upon thy head. Seb. What, art thou waking? Ant. Do you not hear me speak? Seb. I do; and, surely, ? It is a sleepy language; and thou speak'st Out of thy sleep: What is it thou didst say! This is a strange repose, to be asleep 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, If you but knew, how you the purpose cherish, By their own fear, or sloth. Seb. Pr'ythee, say on: The setting of thine eye, and cheek, proclaim 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,) The king, his son's alive; 'tis as impossible That he's undrown'd, as he, that sleeps here, swims. Seb. I have no hope That he's undrown'd. Ant. O, out of that no hope, What great hope have you ! no hope, that way, is Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond, But doubts discovery there. Will you grant with me That Ferdinand is drown'd? Seb. He's gone. Ant. Then, tell me, Who's the next heir of Naples ? Seb. Claribel. Ant. She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells Ten leagues beyond man's life; she that from Naples Can have no note, unless the sun were post, (The man i' the moon's too slow,) till newborn chins We were all sea-swallow'd, though some cast again; 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 ev'ry cubit Seems to cry out, How shall that Claribel Measure us back to Naples ?-Keep in Tunis, That now hath seiz'd them; why, they were no worse [4] It is a common plea of wickedness to call temptation destiny. JOH. As well as he that sleeps; lords, that can prate As this Gonzalo; I myself could make A chough of as deep chat.5 O, that you bore For your advancement! Do you understand me? Ant. And how does your content Seb. I remember, You did supplant your brother Prospero. And, look, how well my garments sit upon me; Ant. Ay, sir; where lies that? If it were a kybe, If he were that which now he's like; whom I, They'll take suggestion, as a cat laps milk; Seb. Thy case, dear friend, Shall be my precedent; as thou got'st Milan, I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke Ant. Draw together: And when I rear my hand, do you the like, To fall it on Gonzalo. Seb. O, but one word. [They converse apart. Music. Re-enter ARIEL, invisible. Ari. My master through his art foresees the danger, [5] A chough is a bird of the jack-daw kind. STEEV. That these, his friends, are in ; and sends me forth, (For else his project dies,) to keep them living. [Sings in Gonzalo's ear. While you here do snoring lie, His time doth take": If of life you keep a care, Ant. Then let us both be sudden. Gon. Now, good angels, preserve the king! [They wake. Alon. Why, how now, ho! awake! Why are you drawn? Wherefore this ghastly looking? Gon. What's the matter? Seb. Whiles we stood here securing your repose, Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing Like bulls, or rather lions; did it not wake you? It struck mine ear most terribly. Alon. I heard nothing. Ant. O, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear: To make an earthquake! sure, it was the roar Of a whole herd of lions. Alon. Heard you this, Gonzalo ? Gon. Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming, And that a strange one too, which did awake me : I shak'd you, sir, and cry'd ; as mine eyes open'd, I saw their weapons drawn :-there was a noise, That's verity: 'Best stand upon our guard; Or that we quit this place : let's draw our weapons. Alon. Lead off this ground; and let's make further search For my poor son. Gon. Heavens keep him from these beasts! For he is, sure, i' the island. Alon. Lead away. Ari. Prospero my lord shall know what I have done : So, king, go safely on to seek thy son. [Aside. [Exeunt. |