Pros.

Sir, my liege,

Do not infest your mind with beating on

The strangeness of this business; at pick'd leisure Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you, Which to you shall seem probable, of every

These happen'd accidents; till when, be cheerful 250 And think of each thing well. [Aside to Ari.] Come hither, spirit:

Set Caliban and his companions free;

Untie the spell. [Exit Ariel.] How fares my gracious sir?

There are yet missing of your company
Some few odd lads that you remember not.

Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO and
TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel

Ste. Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man take care for himself; for all is but fortune. Coragio, bully-monster, coragio!

Trin. If these be true spies which I wear in my head, here's a goodly sight.

Cal. O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed! How fine my master is! I am afraid

What things are these, my lord Antonio?
Will money buy 'em?

Ant.

Very like; one of them

Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.

Pros. Mark but the badges of these men, my

lords,

Then say if they be true. This mis-shapen knave,

260

His mother was a witch, and one so strong

That could control the moon, make flows and

ebbs,

And deal in her command without her power.
These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil -
For he's a bastard one - had plotted with them
To take my life. Two of these fellows you
Must know and own; this thing of darkness I
Acknowledge mine.

Cal.

I shall be pinch'd to death. Alon. Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler ? Seb. He is drunk now: where had he wine? Alon. And Trinculo is reeling ripe: where should they

Find this grand liquor that hath gilded 'em?
How camest thou in this pickle?

Trin. I have been in such a pickle since I saw you last that, I fear me, will never out of my bones I shall not fear fly-blowing.

Seb. Why, how now, Stephano!

Ste. O, touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a

cramp.

Pros. You'ld be king o' the isle, sirrah?
Ste. I should have been a sore one then.
Alon. This is a strange thing as e'er I look'd on.
[Pointing to Caliban.

Pros. He is as disproportion'd in his manners
As in his shape. Go, sirrah, to my cell;
Take with you your companions; as you look
To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.

Cal. Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter And seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass

270

280

290

Was I, to take this drunkard for a god
And worship this dull fool!

Pros.

Go to; away!

Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where

you found it.

Seb. Or stole it, rather.

[Exeunt Cal., Ste., and Trin.
Pros. Sir, I invite your highness and your train 300
To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest
For this one night; which, part of it, I 'll waste
With such discourse as, I not doubt, shall make it
Go quick away; the story of my life
And the particular accidents gone by

Since I came to this isle: and in the morn
I'll bring you to your ship and so to Naples,
Where I have hope to see the nuptial
Of these our dear-beloved solemnized;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.

Alon.

I long
To hear the story of your life, which must
Take the ear strangely.

Pros.

I'll deliver all;

And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales

And sail so expeditious that shall catch

Your royal fleet far off. [Aside to Ari.] My Ariel, chick,

That is thy charge: then to the elements

Be free, and fare thou well! Please you, draw near.

[Exeunt.

310

EPILOGUE

SPOKEN BY PROSPERO

Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have 's mine own,
Which is most faint: Now, 't is true,
I must be here confined by you,
Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell;
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands:
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself and frees all faults.

As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free.