He vanishes in Thunder: then, to foft Music, enter the Shapes again, and dance with Mops and Mowes, and carry out the Table.

Pro. [Afide.] Bravely the figure of this harpy haft thou
Perform'd, my Ariel; a grace it had, devouring;
Of my inftruction haft thou nothing 'bated

In what thou had'ft to say: fo with good life,
And obfervation ftrange, my meaner minifters

Their feveral kinds have done my high charms work,
And thefe, mine enemies, are all knit up

In their diftractions: they now are in my power :
And in these fits I leave them, whilft I vifit

Young Ferdinand (whom they fuppofe is drown'd)
And his and my lov'd darling.

[Exit PROSPERO from above: Gon. I' the name of fomething holy, fir, why stand

Alon. O, it is monftrous! monftrous! Methought, the billows spoke, and told me of it; The winds did fing it to me; and the thunder, That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounc'd' The name of Profper; it did bafs my trefpafs. Therefore my fon i' the ooze is bedded; and I'll feek him deeper than e'er plummet founded, And with him there lie mudded.

Seb. But one fiend at a time,

I'll fight their legions o'er.

Ant. I'll be thy fecond.

[Exit.

[Exeunt.

Gon. All three of them are defperate; their great

guilt,

Like poifon given to work a great time after,[2]
Now 'gins to bite the fpirits :-I do befeech you
That are of fuppler joints, follow them swiftly,
And hinder them from what this ecftacy
May now provoke them to.

Adr. Follow, I pray you.

[Exeunt.

[2] The natives of Africa have been fuppofed to be poffeffed of the fecret how to temper poifons with fuch art as not to take effea till feveral years after they were administered, and were then as certain in their effect, as they were fubtle in their preparation. STEEV.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

PROSPERO'S Cell. Enter PROSPERO, FERDINAND, and MIRANDA.

Profpero.

IF I have too aufterely punish'd you,

Your compenfation makes amends; for I
Have given you here a third of mine own life,
Or that for which I live; whom once again
I tender to thy hand : all thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
Haft ftrangely stood the teft. 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. I believe it,

Against an oracle.

Pro. Then, as my gift, and thine own acquifition
Worthily purchas'd, take my daughter: But
If thou doft break her virgin-knot, before
All fanctimonious ceremonies may

With full and holy rite be minister'd,

No fweet afperfions fhall the heaven's let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren hate,
Sour-ey'd difdain, and difcord fhall beftrew
The union of your bed, with weeds fo loathly,
That you shall hate it both; therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamps fhall light you.

Fer. As I hope

For quiet days, fair iffue, and long life,

With fuch love as 'tis now; the murkieft den,

The most opportune place, the strongest suggestion

Our worfer Genius can, fhall never melt

Mine honour into luft; to take away

The edge of that day's celebration,

When I fhall think, or Phoebus' fteeds are founder'd, Or night kept chain'd below.

Pro. Fairly fpoken:

Sit then, and talk with her, fhe is thine own.-
What, Ariel! my industrious fervant Ariel !-

Enter ARIEL.

Ari. What would my potent mafter? here I am. Pro. Thou and thy meaner fellows, your last service Did worthily perform; and I must use you In fuch another trick: go, bring the rabble, O'er whom I give thee power, here, to this place : Incite them to quick motion; for I must Beftow upon the eyes of this young couple Some vanity of mine art; it is my promise, And they expect it from me.

Ari. Presently?

Pro. Ay, with a twink.

Ari. Before you can fay, Come, and go. And breathe twice; and cry, so, so ;

Each one, tripping on his toe.

Will be here with mop and mowe;

Do you love me, mafter? no.

Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel : Do not approach, Till thou doft hear me call.

Ari. Well, I conceive.

[Exit.

Pro. Look thou be true; do not give dalliance Too much the rein; the ftrongest oaths are straw To the fire i' the blood: be more abftemious, Or elfe, good night, your vow!

Fer. I warrant you, fir;

The white, cold, virgin-fnow upon my heart
Abates the ardour of my liver.

Pro. Well.

Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary,
Rather than want a fpirit: appear, and pertly.-
[TO FERD.] No tongue; all eyes; be filent. [Soft Music.
A Mafque. Enter IRIS.

Iris. Ceres, moft bounteous lady, thy rich leas
Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and peafe;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,
And flat meads thatch'd with ftover, them to keep;
Thy banks with pionied and lillied brims,
Which fpungy April at thy heft betrims,

To make cold nymphs chafte crowns; and thy broom

groves,

Whose shadow the difmiffed bachelor loves,

Being lafs-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard,

And thy fea-marge, fterile, and rocky hard,
Where thou thyfelf doft air; the queen o' the sky,
Whofe watery arch, and meffenger, am I,

Bids thee leave thefe; and with her fov'reign grace,
Here on this grafs-plot, in this very place,
To come and fport: her peacocks fly amain;
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter CERES.

Cer. Hail, many-colour'd meffenger, that ne'er
Doft difobey the wife of Jupiter;

Who, with thy faffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffuseft honey-drops, refreshing showers;

And with each end of thy blue bow doft crown
My bofky acres, and my unshrub'd down,
Rich fcarf to my proud earth; why hath thy queen
Summon'd me hither to this fhort-grafs'd green ?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate,
And fome donation freely to estate

On the blefs'd lovers.

Cer.

Tell me, heavenly bow,

If Venus, or her fon, as thou doft know,

Do now attend the queen? fince they did plot
The means, that dufky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's fcandal'd company

I have forfworn.

Be not afraid I met her deity

Cutting the clouds towards Paphos; and her fon
Dove-drawn with her: here thought they to have done

Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,

Whofe vows are, that no bed-rights fhall be paid
Till Hymen's torch be lighted; but in vain :
Mars's hot minion is return'd again,

Her wafpifh-headed fon has broke his arrows,

Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows, And be a boy right out.

Ger.

High queen of state, Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait.

Enter JUNO.

Juno. How does my bounteous fifter? Go with me To blefs this twain, that they may profperous be, And honour'd in their iffue.

Juno. Honour, riches, marriage-bleffing,
Long continuance and increafing,
Hourly joys be fill upon you!
Juno fings her bleffings on you.

Cer. Earth's increase and foizon plenty ;
Barns and garners never empty;
Vines, with cluft'ring bunches growing;
Plants, with goodly burden bowing :
Spring come to you at the fartheft,
In the very end of harveft!
Scarcity and want shall shun you ;
Ceres bleffing fo is on you.

Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and

Harmonious charmingly

To think these spirits?

may I be bold

Pro. Spirits, which by mine art

I have from their confines call'd, to enact

My prefent fancies.

Fer. Let me live here ever:

So rare a wonder'd father, and a wife,

Make this place paradise.

Pro. Sweet now, filence:

Juno and Ceres whisper seriously ;

There's fomething else to do: hufh, and be mute, Or elfe our fpell is marr'd.

[JUNO and CERES whisper, and fend IRIS on employment.

Iris. You nymphs call'd Naiads, of the wandring

brooks,

With your fedg'd crowns, and ever harmless looks,
Leave your crifp channels, and on this green land
Answer your fummons; Juno does command:
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love; be not too late.

Enter certain Nymphs.

You fun-burn'd ficklemen, of Auguft weary,
Come hither from the furrow and be merry;
Make holy-day your rye-ftraw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing.