ARIEL re-enters singing, and helps to attire Ari. Where the bee sucks, there suck I: There I couch when owls do cry. After summer merrily. Merrily, merrily, shall I live now, But yet thou shalt have freedom; so, so, so. Ari. I drink the air before me, and return [Exit ARIEL. Gon. All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement Inhabits here: some heavenly power guide us Out of this fearful country! Pros. Behold, sir king! The wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero. For more assurance that a living prince A hearty welcome. Alon. Whether thou beest he, or no, Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me, As late I have been, I not know thy pulse Beats as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee, The affliction of my mind amends, with which, I fear, a madness held me. This must crave (An if this be at all,) a most strange story. Thy dukedom I resign; and do entreat Thou pardon me my wrongs.-But how should Prospero Be living and be here? Pros. Let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot Be measured or confined. Gon. Or be not, I'll not swear, Pros. First, noble friend, Whether this be You do yet taste Some subtleties o' the isle, that will not let you Believe things certain.-Welcome, my friends all. [Aside to SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO.] But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded, I will tell no tales. Seb. [Aside.] The devil speaks in him. No. Pros. For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive Thy rankest fault; all of them; and require My dukedom of thee, which perforce, I know, Thou must restore. Alon. If thou beest Prospero, Give us particulars of thy preservation; How thou hast met us here, who three hours since Were wreck'd upon this shore; where I have lost (How sharp the point of this remembrance is!) I am woe for 't, sir. My dear son Ferdinand. Pros. Alon. Irreparable is the loss, and patience Says it is past her cure. Pros. I rather think, You have not sought her help; of whose soft grace, For the like loss I have her sovereign aid, And rest myself content. Alon. You the like loss? Pros. As great to me, as late; and, supportable To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker Than you may call to comfort you, for I Have lost my daughter. Alon. A daughter? O heavens ! that they were living both in Naples, The king and queen there! that they were, I wish Myself were mudded in that oozy bed Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter? Pros. In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords At this encounter do so much admire That they devour their reason and scarce think Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely Upon this shore, where you were wreck'd, was landed, To be the lord on 't. No more yet of this; For 't is a chronicle of day by day, Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir; [Here PROSPERO discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess. Mir. Sweet lord, you play me false. Fer. I would not for the world. No, my dearest love, Mir. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, And I would call it fair play. 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 merci ful; I have cursed them without cause. Alon. [FER. kneels to ALON. Now, all the blessings Of a glad father compass thee about! Mir. Pros. 'Tis new to thee. Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast to play? Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us, And brought us thus together? Fer. Alon. Pros. Let us not burthen our remembrances with A heaviness that's gone. Gon. There, sir, stop: I have inly wept, Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you gods, And on this couple drop a blessed crown, For it is you that have chalk'd forth the way, I say, Amen, Gonzalo. Alon. 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 ; |