The Tempest

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Methought the billows spoke and told me of it;
The winds did sing it to me; and the thunder,
That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounc'd
The name of Prosper: it did bass my trespass.
Therefore my son i' th' ooze is bedded; and
I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded,
And with him there lie mudded.

Seb.

I'll fight their legions o'er.

Ant.

100

Exit.

But one fiend at a time,

I'll be thy second.

Exeunt [Seb. and Ant.]

Gon. All three of them are desperate; their great guilt,

Like poison given to work a great time after,
Now 'gins to bite the spirits.—I do beseech you
That are of suppler joints, follow them swiftly
And hinder them from what this ecstasy
May now provoke them to.

Adr.

104

108

Follow, I pray you. Exeunt, omnes.

ACT FOURTH

Scene One

[Before Prospero's Cell]

Enter Prospero, Ferdinand, and Miranda.
Pro. If I have too austerely punish'd you,
Your compensation makes amends; for I
Have given you here a third of mine own life,
Or that for which I live; who once again
I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou

99 bass my trespass: proclaimed my sin in bass notes
108 ecstasy: madness

3 third; cf. n.

Hast strangely stood the test: here, afore Heaven, I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand!

Do not smile at me that I boast her off,

For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise,

And make it halt behind her.

Fer.

Against an oracle.

I do believe it

Pro. Then, as my gift and thine own acquisition Worthily purchas'd, take my daughter: but

If thou dost break her virgin knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy rite be minister'd,
No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren hate,
Sour-ey'd disdain and discord shall bestrew
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly
That you shall hate it both: therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamp shall light you.

Fer.