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,
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.

Fer. O most dear mistress, The sun will set before I shall discharge What I must strive to do.

Mir.
I'll bear your logs the while:
I'll carry it to the pile.

If you 'll sit down, pray, give me that;

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

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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.

This visitation shows it.

Poor worm, thou art infected!

Mir.

You look wearily.

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 —
What is
your name?

Miranda. - O my father,

Admired Miranda!

Mir.
I have broke your hest to say so!
Fer.
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!

Mir.
I do not know
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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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.

I am a fool

To weep at what I am glad of.

Pros.

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; And all the more it seeks to hide itself,

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80

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.

My mistress, dearest ;

And I thus humble ever.

My husband, then?

Mir. 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.

[Exit.

Another part of the island

SCENE II
Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO

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.

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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.

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!

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

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