acre of barren ground; long heath, brown furze, any thing: The wills above be done! but I would fain die a dry death. [Exit. SCENE II.-The Island; before the Cell of PROSPERO. Mira. If by your art, my dearest father, you have With those that I saw suffer! a brave vessel, Have sunk the sea within the earth, or e'er Pro. Be collected; No more amazement; tell your piteous heart, Mira. Pro. O, woe the day! No harm. I have done nothing but in care of thee, And thy no greater father. Mira. More to know 'Tis time Did never meddle with my thoughts. [Lays down his mantle. Lie there my art.-Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort. The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd The very virtue of compassion in thee, I have with such provision in mine art Which thou heard'st cry, which thou saw'st sink. Sit down; Mira. You have often Begun to tell me what I am; but stopp'd, Pro. The hour's now come; The very minute bids thee ope thine ear; Obey, and be attentive. Can'st thou remember I do not think thou can'st; for then thou wast not Mira. Certainly, sir, I can. Pro. By what? by any other house or person? Of any thing the image tell me, that Hath kept with thy remembrance. Mira. "Tis far off; And rather like a dream than an assurance That my remembrance warrants: Had I not Four or five women once, that tended me? Pro. Thou hadst, and more, Miranda: But how is it, If thou remember'st aught, ere thou cam'st here, Mira. But that I do not. Pro. Twelve years since, Miranda, twelve years since, Thy father was the duke of Milan, and A prince of power. Mira. Sir, are not you my father? Pro. Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father Was duke of Milan; and his only heir A princess; no worse issued. Mira. O, the heavens! What foul play had we that we came from thence; Pro. Both, both, my girl; O, my heart bleeds By foul play, as thou say'st, were we heaved thence; Mira. To think o' the teen that I have turn'd you to, Which is from my remembrance! Please you, further. Pro. My brother, and thy uncle, call'd Antonio I pray thee, mark me,-that a brother should Be so perfidious !-he whom, next thyself, Through all the signiories it was the first, Without a parallel: those being all my study, And to my state grew stranger, being transported Mira. Sir, most heedfully. Pro. Being once perfected how to grant suits, How to deny them; whom to advance, and whom To trash for over-topping; new created The creatures that were mine; I say, or chang'd them, Or else new form'd them; having both the key Of officer and office, set all hearts To what tune pleased his ear; that now he was The ivy, which had hid my princely trunk, And suck'd my verdure out on't.-Thou attend'st not; I pray thee, mark me. Mira. O good sir, I do. Pro. Ithus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicate O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother A falsehood, in its contrary as great As my trust was; which had, indeed, no limit, But what my power might else exact, -like one, Mira. Your tale, sir, would cure deafness. Pro. To have no screen between this part he play'd And him he play'd it for, he needs will be Absolute Milan: Me, poor man!-my library Was dukedom large enough; of temporal royalties He thinks me now incapable: confederates (So dry he was for sway) with the king of Naples, To give him annual tribute, do him homage; Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend The dukedom, yet unbow'd, (alas, poor Milan !) Mira. O the heavens ! Pro. Mark his condition, and the event; then tell me, If this might be a brother. I should sin Mira. Pro. Now the condition. This king of Naples being an enemy To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit; The gates of Milan; and i' the dead of darkness, Mira. Alack, for pity! I, not rememb'ring how I cried out then, Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint, That wrings mine eyes to't. Pro. Hear a little further, And then I'll bring thee to the present business Were most impertinent. Mira. That hour, destroy us? Pro. Wherefore did they not, Well demanded, wench; My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not; (So dear the love my people bore me) nor set A mark so bloody on the business; but With colours fairer painted their foul ends. Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepar'd Mira. Was I then to you! Pro. Alack, what trouble O, a cherubim Thou wast, that did preserve me! Thou didst smile, When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt; Against what should ensue. Mira. Pro. By Providence divine. How came we ashore? Some food we had, and some fresh water, that Out of his charity, (who being then appointed Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries, Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness, I prize above my dukedom. Mira. But ever see that man! Pro. 'Would I might Now I arise: Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. Mira. Heavens thank you for't! And now, I (For still 'tis beating in my mind,) your reason For raising this sea-storm? Pro. Brought to this shore: and by my prescience [sir, pray you, A most auspicious star; whose influence |