ACT V SCENE I Before PROSPERO's cell Enter PROSPERO in his magic robes, and ARIEL Pros. Now does my project gather to a head: My charms crack not; my spirits obey; and time Goes upright with his carriage. How's the day? Ari. On the sixth hour; at which time, my lord, You said our work should cease. Pros. Confined together Ari. In the same fashion as you gave in charge, Just as you left them; all prisoners, sir, In the line-grove which weather-fends your cell; They cannot budge till your release. The king, His brother and yours, abide all three distracted, And the remainder mourning over them, Brimful of sorrow and dismay; but chiefly Him that you term'd sir, "The good old lord, Gonzalo”; His tears run down his beard, like winter's drops From eaves of reeds. Your charm so strongly works 'em That if you now beheld them, your affections Would become tender. Pros. 10 Dost thou think so, spirit? And mine shall. 20 Ari. Mine would, sir, were I human. Pros. Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling Of their afflictions, and shall not myself, One of their kind, that relish all as sharply Passion as they, be kindlier moved than thou art? Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick, Yet with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury Do I take part: the rarer action is In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent, The sole drift of my purpose doth extend Not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel: 30 And they shall be themselves. Ari. I'll fetch them, sir. [Exit. Pros. Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes and groves, And ye that on the sands with printless foot 40 50 I here abjure, and, when I have required Re-enter ARIEL before: then ALONSO, with a frantic gesture, attended by GONZALO: SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO in like manner, attended by ADRIAN and FRANCISCO: they all enter the circle which PROSPERO had made, and there stand charmed; which PROSPERO observing, speaks A solemn air and the best comforter To an unsettled fancy cure thy brains, Now useless, boil'd within thy skull! There stand, 60 For you are spell-stopp'd. Holy Gonzalo, honourable man, Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine, To him thou follow'st! I will pay thy graces Thou art pinch'd for 't now, Sebastian. Flesh and blood, 70 You, brother mine, that entertain'd ambition, That now lies foul and muddy. Not one of them ARIEL sings and helps to attire him Where the bee sucks, there suck I: There I couch when owls do cry. On the bat's back I do fly After summer merrily. Merrily, merrily shall I live now Under the blossom that hangs on the bough. Pros. Why, that 's my dainty Ariel! I shall miss thee; But yet thou shalt have freedom: so, so, so. To the king's ship, invisible as thou art: Under the hatches; the master and the boatswain And presently, I prithee. Ari. I drink the air before me, and return Or ere your pulse twice beat. [Exit. Gon. All torment, trouble, wonder and amaze ment Inhabits here: some heavenly power guide us Out of this fearful country! Pros. Behold, sir king, Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body; A hearty welcome. Alon. Whether thou be'st he or no, Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me, As late I have been, I not know: thy pulse Beats as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee, Thy dukedom I resign and do entreat Thou pardon me my wrongs. But how should Prospero Be living and be here? Pros. First, noble friend, Let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot Gon. Or be not, I'll not swear. Pros. Whether this be You do yet taste Some subtilties o' the isle, lords, were I so minded, I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you 110 120 |