where I shall have my music for nothing. Cal. When Prospero is destroyed. Steph. That shall be by and by: I remember the story. Trin. The sound is going away; let's follow it, and after do our work. Steph. Lead, monster; we'll follow.—I would, I could see this taborer; he lays it on. Trin. Wilt come? I'll follow, Stephano. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Another part of the island. Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others. Gon. By 'r lakin, I can go no further, sir; My old bones ache: here's a maze trod, indeed, Through forth-rights and meanders! By your patience, I needs must rest me. Alon. Old lord, I cannot blame thee, Who am myself attach'd with weariness, To the dulling of my spirits: sit down, and rest. Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose Seb. [Aside to ANT.] The next advantage Ant. [Aside to SEB.] Let it be to-night: Seb. [Aside to ANT.] I say, to-night: no more. [Solemn and strange music. Alon. What harmony is this? My good friends, hark! Gon. Marvellous sweet music! Enter PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter several strange Shapes, bringing in a banquet; they dance about it with gentle actions of salutation; and, inviting the King, &c. to eat, they depart. Alon. Give us kind keepers, heavens! What were these? Seb. A living drollery. That there are unicorns: There is one tree, the phoenix Now I will believe that in Arabia phoenix' throne; one At this hour reigning there. Ant. I'll believe both; And what does else want credit, come to me, And I'll be sworn 't is true: travellers ne'er did lie, Though fools at home condemn 'em. Gon. If in Naples I should report this now, would they believe me? If I should say, I saw such islanders (For, certes, these are people of the island), Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet, note, Their manners are more gentle-kind, than of Many, nay, almost any. Pros. [Aside.] Honest lord, Thou hast said well; for some of you there I cannot too much muse, Such shapes, such gesture, and such sound, expressing (Although they want the use of tongue) a kind Of excellent dumb discourse. Pros. [Aside.] Praise in departing. Fran. They vanish'd strangely. Seb. No matter, since They have left their viands behind, for we have stomachs. Will't please you taste of what is here? Alon. Not I. Gon. Faith, sir, you need not fear. When we were boys, Who would believe that there were mountaineers Dew-lapp'd like bulls, whose throats had hanging at 'em Wallets of flesh? or that there were such men, Whose heads stood in their breasts? which now we find, Each putter-out of five for one will bring us Alon. I will stand to, and feed, Although my last: no matter, since I feel The best is past.-Brother, my lord the duke, Stand to, and do as we. Thunder and lightning. Enter ARIEL, like a harpy; claps his wings upon the table; and, with a quaint device, the banquet vanishes. Ari. You are three men of sin, whom Destiny (That hath to instrument this lower world, And what is in 't) the never-surfeited sea Hath caused to belch up you, and, on this island Where man doth not inhabit; you 'mongst men Being most unfit to live. I have made you mad; And even with such-like valour men hang and drown Their proper selves. [ALON., SEB., &c. draw their swords. You fools! and my fellows Are ministers of Fate: the elements, Of whom your swords are temper'd, may as well Wound the loud winds, or with bemock'd-at stabs Kill the still-closing waters, as diminish One dowle that's in my plume: my fellowministers Are like invulnerable. If you could hurt, You, and your ways; whose wraths to guard you from (Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls Upon your heads), is nothing but heart-sorrow, And a clear life ensuing. He vanishes in thunder; then, to soft music, enter the Shapes again, and dance, with mocks and mows, and carry out the table. Pros. [Aside.] Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou Perform'd, my Ariel; a grace it had, devouring And these, mine enemies, are all knit up In their distractions; they now are in my power; And in these fits I leave them, while I visit Young Ferdinand (whom they suppose is drown'd), And his and mine loved darling. [Exit PROSPERO. Gon. I' the name of something holy, sir, why stand you In this strange stare? Alon. O, it is monstrous, monstrous! 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, pronounced The name of Prosper: it did bass my trespass. Therefore my son l' the ooze is bedded; and I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded, And with him there lie mudded. [Exit. |