Gon. I would with such perfection govern, sir, To excel the golden age. Seb. God save his majesty ! Ant. Long live Gonzalo ! Gon. Alon. And, do you mark me, sir? Prithee, no more: thou dost talk no thing to me. 171 Gon. I do well believe your highness; and did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen, who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that they always use to laugh at nothing. Ant. 'Twas you we laughed at. Gon. Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing to you: so you may continue and laugh at nothing still. Ant. What a blow was there given ! 180 Gon. You are gentlemen of brave mettle; you would lift the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue in it five weeks without changing. XEnter Seb. We would so, and then go a bat-fowling. Gon, No, I warrant you; I will not adventure my descretion so weakly. Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy? Ant. Go sleep, and hear us. 190 [All sleep except Alon., Seb., and Ant. Alon. What! all so soon asleep? I wish mine eyes Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: I find They are inclined to do so. Seb. Please you, sir, Do not omit the heavy offer of it: It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth, Will guard your person while you take your rest, And watch your safety. Alon, Thank you. Wondrous heavy. [Alonso sleeps. Exit Ariel. Seb. What a strange drowsiness possesses them! Ant. It is the quality o' the climate. Seb. Why 200 Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not Myself disposed to sleep. Ant. Nor I: my spirits are nimble. They fell together all, as by consent; might, What Worthy Sebastian? O, what might ?—No more:— And yet methinks I see it in thy face What thou shouldst be; the occasion speaks thee, and My strong imagination sees a crown Dropping upon thy head. Seb. Ant. Seb. What! art thou waking? Do you not hear me speak? 2II I do; and surely It is a sleepy language, and thou speak'st Out of thy sleep. What is it thou dids'. say? This is a strange repose, to be asleep With eyes wide open: standing, speaking, moving, And yet so fast asleep. Ant. Noble Sebastian, Thou dost snore distinctly; Thou let'st thy fortune sleep-die, rather; wink'st Whiles thou art waking. Seb. There's meaning in thy snores. Ant. I am more serious than my custom; you Must be so too, if heed me; which to do Trebles thee o'er. Seb. Well, I am standing water. Ant. I'll teach you how to flow. Seb. Hereditary sloth instructs me. Ant. 220 If you but knew how you the purpose cherish Whiles thus you mock it! how, in stripping it, You more invest it! Ebbing men, indeed, Most often do so near the bottom run By their own fear or sloth. Seb. Prithee, say on: The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim A matter from thee, and a birth indeed 230 Ant. Thus, sir: Although this lord of weak remembrance, this, Who shall be of as little memory When he is earth'd, bath here almost persuaded,For he's a spirit of persuasion, only Professes to persuade,-the king his son's alive, 'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd As he that sleeps here swims. Seb. That he's undrown'd. Ant. I have no hope O, out of that 'no hope.' What great hope have you! no hope that way is 241 But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me That Ferdinand is drown'd? Ant. She that is Queen of Tunis; she that dwells Ten leagues beyond man's life; she that from Naples Can have no note, unless the sun were postThe man i' the moon's too slow-till new born chins Be rough and razorable; she that-from whom We all were sea-swallow'd, though some cast again, And by that destiny to perform an act 251 Whereof what's past is prologue, what to come In yours and my discharge. Seb. What stuff is this! how say you? 'Tis true, my brother's daughter's Queen of Tunis; So is she heir of Naples: 'twixt which regions There is some space. Ant. A space whose every cubit Seems to cry out, 'How shall that Claribel Measure us back to Naples?' Keep in Tunis, And let Sebastian wake. Say, this were death That now hath seized them; why, they were no worse 261 Than now they are. There be that can rule Naples As this Gonzalo; I myself could make A chough of as deep chat. O, that you bore Ant. And how does your content Tender your own good fortune? Seb. I remember 270 You did supplant your brother Prospero. Ant. True: And look how well my garments sit upon me; Much feater than before: my brother's servants Were then my fellows; now they are my men. Seb. But, for your conscience? Ant. Ay, sir; where lies that? if 'twere a kibe, 281 For all the rest They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk; Seb. Ant. Draw together; And when I rear my hand, do you the like, To fall it on Gonzalo. Re-enter ARIEL, invisible. Ari. My master through his art foresees the danger 'That While you here do snoring lie, His time doth take. If of life you keep a care, Ant. Then let us both be sudden. Gon. Preserve the king. you drawn? 300 Alon. Why, how now? ho, awake! Why are Wherefore this ghastly looking? Gon. What's the matter? Seb. Whiles we stood here securing your repose, Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing Like bulls, or rather lions: did't not wake you? It struck mine ear most terribly. Alon. I heard nothing. Ant. O, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear, To make an earthquake! sure, it was the roar Of a whole herd of lions. Alon. Heard you this, Gonzalo? Gon. Upon mine honor, sir, I heard a humming, And that a strange one too, which did awake me: I shaked you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes open'd, I saw their weapons drawn: there was a noise, 320 That's verily. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard, Or that we quit this place: let's draw our weapons. Alon. Lead off this ground; and let's make further search For my poor søn. Gon. Heavens keep him from these beasts! For he is, sure, i' the island. Alon. Lead away. |