The mistress which I serve quickens what 's dead
And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is

Ten times more gentle than her father 's crabb'd, And he 's composed of harshness. I must remove Some thousands of these logs and pile them up, 10 Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress

Weeps when she sees me work, and says, such base

ness

Had never like executor. I forget:

But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours,

Most busy lest, when I do it.

Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance, unseen Mir. Alas, now, pray you, Work not so hard: I would the lightning had Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin'd to pile! Pray, set it down and rest you: when this burns, 'T will weep for having wearied you. My father Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;

He's safe for these three hours.

O most dear mistress,

Fer.
The sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.

Mir.

If you 'll sit down,

I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that; I'll carry it to the pile.

Fer.

No, precious creature;

I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonour undergo,
While I sit lazy by.

Mir.

It would become me

As well as it does you: and I should do it

With much more ease; for my good will is to it,
And yours it is against.

Pros.

Poor worm, thou art infected!

You look wearily.

This visitation shows it.

Mir.

Fer. No, noble mistress; 't is fresh morning

with me

When you are by at night. I do beseech you —
Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers —

Indeed the top of admiration : worth
What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady
I have eyed with best regard, and many a time
The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues
Have I liked several women; never any

With so full soul, but some defect in her
Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed
And put it to the foil: but you, O you,
So perfect and so peerless, are created
Of every creature's best!

I do not know

Mir.
One of my sex; no woman's face remember,
Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen
More that I may call men than you, good friend,
And my dear father: how features are abroad,
I am skilless of; but, by my modesty,
The jewel in my dower, I would not wish

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40

50

Any companion in the world but you,
Nor can imagination form a shape,

Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle
Something too wildly and my father's precepts
I therein do forget.

Fer.

I am in my condition

A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;

I would, not so! — and would no more endure
This wooden slavery than to suffer

The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:
The very instant that I saw you, did

My heart fly to your service; there resides,
To make me slave to it; and for your sake
Am I this patient log-man.

Mir.

Do you love me?

Fer. O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this

sound

And crown what I profess with kind event

If I speak true! if hollowly, invert

What best is boded me to mischief! I

Beyond all limit of what else i' the world
Do love, prize, honour you.

Mir.

To weep at what I am glad of.

Pros.

I am a fool

Fair encounter

Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace On that which breeds between 'em!

Fer.

Wherefore weep you?

Mir. At mine unworthiness that dare not offer What I desire to give, and much less take

What I shall die to want. But this is trifling;

80

And all the more it seeks to hide itself,

The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
I am your wife, if you will marry me;

If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow
You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.

Fer.

And I thus humble ever.

Mir.

My mistress, dearest;

My husband, then?

Fer. Ay, with a heart as willing

As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand. Mir. And mine, with my heart in 't: and now farewell

Till half an hour hence.

Fer.

A thousand thousand! [Exeunt Fer. and Mir. severally. Pros. So glad of this as they I cannot be, Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing At nothing can be more. I'll to my book, For yet ere supper-time must I perform Much business appertaining.

SCENE II - Another part of the island

Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO

[Exit.

Ste. Tell not me; when the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board 'em. Servant-monster, drink to me.

Trin. Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They say there 's but five upon this isle: we are three of them; if th' other two be brained like us, the state totters.

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Ste. Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes are almost set in thy head.

Trin. Where should they be set else? he were a brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.

Ste. My man-monster hath drown'd his tongue in sack for my part, the sea cannot drown me; I swam, ere I could recover the shore, five and thirty leagues off and on. By this light, thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my standard.

Trin. Your lieutenant, if you list; he 's no standard.

Ste. We'll not run, Monsieur Monster. Trin. Nor go neither; but you'll lie like dogs and yet say nothing neither.

Ste. Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a good moon-calf.

Cal. How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe.

I'll not serve him; he is not valiant.

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20

Trin. Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to justle a constable. Why, thou deboshed fish, thou, was there ever man a coward that hath drunk 30 so much sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish and half a monster? Cal. Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?

Trin. "Lord" quoth he! That a monster should be such a natural!

Cal. Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I prithee.

Ste. Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: