You have not sought her help; of whose soft grace Let us not burden our remembrances And rest myself content. A daughter? O heavens! that they were living both in Naples, The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers FERDI- No, my dearest love, Alon If this prove A vision of the island, one dear son Shall I twice lose. Seb. A most high miracle! Fer. Though the seas threaten they are merciful: I have curs'd them without cause. There, sir, stop: I have inly wept, Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you gods, For it is you, that have chalk'd forth the way Alon. I say, Amen, Gonzaio Gon. Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue Should become kings of Naples? O, rejoice Beyond a common joy; and set it down With gold on lasting pillars: In one voyage Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis; And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife, Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom, In a poor isle; and all of us, ourselves, When no man was his own. [To FER. and MIR Alon. Give me your hands: Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart, That doth not wish you joy! Be't so! Amen! Gon. Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following. O look, sir, look, sir; here are more of us! Boats. The best news is, that we have safely found My tricksy spirit! Aside. Ari. Sir, all this service Have I done since I went. Pro. Alon. These are not natural events; they strengthen, From strange to stranger:-Say,how came you hither? Boats If I did think, sir, I were well awake, I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep, And (how, we know not) all clapp'd under hatches, Where, but even now, with strange and several noises Of roaring, shrieking, howling, gingling chains, And more diversity of sounds, all horrible, We were awak'd; straitway, at liberty: Where we, in all her trim, freshly behield Our royal, good, and gallant ship; our master Capering to eye her: On a trice, so please you, Even in a dream, were we divided from them, And were brought moping hither. Ari. Was 't well done? [free. Aside. Sir, my liege, Do not infest your mind with beating on 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 He will chastise me. What things are these, my lord Antonio! Ant. Very like; one of them Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable. Cal. Alon. And Trinculo is reeling ripe: Where shoul Find this grand liquor that hath gilded them? [they How cam'st 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? [cramp. Ste. O, touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a Pro. You'd be king of the isle, sirrah? Ste. I should have been a sore one then. Alon. This is as strange a thing as e'er I look'd on. [Pointing to CALIBAN. Pro. 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 Was I, to take this drunkard for a god, And worship this dull fool? Pro. Go to; away! [found it. Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where you Seb. Or stole it, rather. [Exeunt CAL. STE. and TRIN Pro. Sir, I invite your highness, and your train, 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 solemniz'd ; 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. Pro. I'll deliver all; Be free, and fare thou well!-[aside.] Please you EPILOGUE.-Spoken Now my charms are all o'erthrown, It is observed of The Tempest, that its plan is regular; this the author of The Revisal thinks, what I think too, an accidental effect of the story, not intended or regarded by our author. But, whatever might be Shakspeare's intention in forming or adopting the plot, he has made it instrumental to the production of many characters, diversified with boundless invention, and preserved with profound skill in nature, extensive knowledge of opinions, and accurate observation of life. In a single drama are here exhibited princes, courtiers, and sailors, all speaking in their real characters. There is the agency of airy spirits, and of an earthly goblin. The operations of magic, the tumults of a storm, the adventures of a desert island, the native effusion of untaught affection, the punishment of guilt, and the final hap. piness of the pair for whom our passions and reason are equally interested.-JOHNSON. The unity of time is strictly observed in this play. The fable scarcely takes up a greater number of hours than are employed in the representation: and from the very particular care which our author takes to point out this circumstance in so many passages, it should seem that it was not accidental, but designed to shew the cavillers of the time, that he too could write a play within all the strictest laws of regularity, when he chose to load by PROspero. Gentle breath of yours my sails himself with the critic's fetters.-Alonso says, The boatswain marks the progress of the day again; "Which but three glasses since,"-&c. At the beginning of the fifth act the duration of the time .. ployed on the stage is particularly ascertained; Pro. How's the day? Ari. On the sixth hour." And they again refer to a passage in the first act: "Pro. What is the time of the day? Ari. Past the mid season, at least two glasses."-STEEVENS It may be farther added to the above observation of Steevens that the unities of action and of place are as exactly observed as the unity of time. In this play." says Dr. Warton, Adven turer, Number 97, "the action is one, great, and entire the r.. storation of Prospero to his dukedom; this business is trans acted in the compass of a small island, and in or near the cave of Pros THERE was no edition of this play, till that of the year 1623; but it must have been written much earlier, as it is mentioned by Meres, in his Wit's Treasury, which was published in 1598. -Mr. Malone considers this play as Shakspeare's first production. The internal evidence is against such a supposition. It has neither the beauties or the faults-the exuberance or the inequalities-that generally distinguish the inexperienced efforts of a rich and original genius.-1 he general tone of the comedy, though occasionally relieved by passages of much grace and sweetness, is that of smooth, elegant, dull mediocrity. It is rejected as entirely spurious by Hanmer and Upton: and though the quibbles of Speed, the folly of Launce, and some delightful lines scattered here and there in the serious scenes of the play, are so perfectly in the manner of Shakspeare, as to convince the reader that it had undergone his revision and improvement, I cannot help believing it impossible that our great Dramatist could have been the author of a work, in which the characters are so entirely devoid of individuality, the dialogue so elaborately heavy, so smoothly tame, and so little varied with the changes of situation. Dr. John son thinks differently, and says, "When I read this play I cannot but think that I find, both in the serious and ludicrous scenes, the language and sentiments of Shakspeare. It is not, indeed, one of his most powerful effusions; it has neither many diversities of character, nor striking delineations of life; but it abounds in you beyond most of his plays, and few have more lines or passages, which, singly considered, are eminently beautiful. I am yet inclined to believe that it was not very successful, and suspect that it has escaped corruption, only because, being seldom played, it was less exposed to the hazards of transcription. The story of Proteus and Julia, has been resembled to a story in the Diana of George of Montemayor, which, according to Mrs. Lenox, was translated in Shakspeare's time.-1 he incident of Valentine's joining the robbers is also supposed to be taken from the Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney, book 1. chap. 6 where Pyrocles consents to head the Helots.-Both these adventures are common in tale and history, and, if not already prepared to the author's haud, might have been invented without any great stretch of imagination. PERSONS REPRESENTED. DUKE OF MILAN, father to Silvia. THURIO, a foolish rival to Valentine. EGLAMOUR, agent for Silvia, in her escape. PANTHINO, servant to Antonio. JULIA, a lady of Verona, beloved by Proteus. Servants, Musicians. SCENE, sometimes in VERONA; sometimes in MILAN; and on the Frontiers of MANTUA. ACT I. SCENE L.-An open place in Verona. Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS. Val. Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus ; But, since thou lov'st, love still, and thrive therein, Pro. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu! Think on thy Proteus, when thou, haply, seest Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel: Wish me partaker in thy happiness, When thou dost meet good hap: and, in thy danger, Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, Val. And on a love book pray for my success. 1 Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love, And yet you never swam the Hellespont. Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots. Val. No, I'll not, for it boots thee not. Pro. Val. What? To be In love, where scorn is bought with groans; coy looks, If haply won, perhaps, a hapless gain; Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Pro. Yet writers say, As in the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells, so eating love Inhabits in the finest wits of all. Val. And writers say, As the most forward bud Once more adieu: my father at the road Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan! Val. As much to you at home! and so, farewell. [Exit VALENTINE. Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love: He leaves his friends to dignify them more; I leave myself, my friends, and all for love. Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphos'd me; Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, War with good counsel, set the world at nought; Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with though!. Enter SPEED. Speed. Sir Proteus, save you: Saw you my master? Pro. But now he parted hence, to embark for Milan. Speed. Twenty to one then he is shipp'd already; And I have play'd the sheep, in losing him. Pro. Indeed a sheep doth very often stray, An if the shepherd be awhile away. Speed. You conclude that my master is a shepherd Pro. I do. [then, and I a sheep? Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep. Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. Speed. This proves me still a sheep Pro. True; and thy master a shepherd. Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance Pro. It shall go hard, but I'll prove it by another. Speed The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me: therefore, I am no sheep. Pro. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd, the shepherd for food follows not the sheep; thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore, thou art a sheep. Speed. Such another proof will make me cry baa. Pro. But dost thou hear? gav'st thou my letter to Julia? Speed. Ay, sir; I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton; and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour ! Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such a store of muttons. Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her. Pro. Nay, in that you are astray; 'twere best pound you. Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter. Pro You mistake; I mean the pound, a pinfold. Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over, 'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your Pro. But what said she? did she nod ? [lover. [SPEED ods. Speed. 1. Pro. Nod, I; why, that's noddy. Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask me, if she did nod; and I say, I. Pro. And that set together, is-noddy. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains. Pro. No, no, you shall have it for bearing the letter. Speed. Well, I perceive, I must be fain to bear with Pro. Why, sir, how do you bear with me? [you. Speed. Marry, sir, the letter very orderly; having nothing but the word, noddy, for my pains. Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? Could'st thou perceive so much from her? Speed. Sir, could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter: And being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear, she 'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind. Give her no token but stones; for she's as hard as steel. Pro. What, said she nothing? Speed. No, not so much as-take this for thy pains. To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have tes SCENE II.-The same. Garden of Julias House. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Would'st thou then counsel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen, That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion, which is worthiest love? Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll shew my According to my shallow simple skill. [mind Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; But, were I you, he never should be mine. Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? Luc. Well, of his wealth; but of himself, so, so. Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus? Luc. Lord, lord to see what folly reigns in us! Jul. How now! what mean. his passion at his name? Luc. Pardon, dear madam, as a passing shame, That 1, unworthy body as I am, Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen. I Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; Jul. And would'st thou have me cast my love on him? That the contents will shew. Jul. Say, say; who gave it thee? [Proteus : Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from He would have given it you, but I, being in the way, Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault, I pray. Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker! Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate Luc. [aside.] That you may ruminate. [Exit. Jul. And yet, I would, I had o'erlook'd the letter. It were a shame to call her back again, And pray her to a fault for which I chid her. What fool is she, that knows I am a maid, And would not force the letter to my view? Since maids, in modesty, say No, to that Which they would have the profferer construe, A Fie, fie! how wayward is the foolish love. Luc. Jul. Nothing. What is 't you took up Why didst thou stoop then? Luc. Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme. Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible: Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune. I cannot reach so high. Jul. You do not? Luc. No, madam; it is too sharp. And mar the concord with too harsh a descant: Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base. To be so anger'd with another letter. I throw thy name against the bruising stones, And throw it thence into the raging sea! Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your father stays. Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here! [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A room in Antonio's House. Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO. Pan He wonder'd, that your lordship Some, to discover islands far away; Some, to the studious universities. Ant. Nor need'st thou much impórtune me to that [thither : Pan. 'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant I like thy counsel; well hast thou advis'd: I will dispatch him to the emperor's court. Ant. Good company; with them shall Proteus go: Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life' |