HAVING SO said, Prospero gently touched his daughter with his magic wand, and she fell fast asleep; for the spirit Ariel just then presented himself before his master, to give an account of the tempest, and how he had disposed of the ship's company; and though the spirits were always invisible to Miranda, Prospero did not choose she should hear him holding converse (as would seem to her) with the empty air.

"Well, my brave spirit," said Prospero to Ariel, "how have you performed your task?"

Ariel gave a lively description of the storm, and of the terrors of the mariners ; and how the king's son, Ferdinand, was the first who leaped into the sea; and his father

thought he saw this dear son swallowed up by the waves and lost :

"I boarded the King's ship; now on the beak, Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin, I flamed amazement: sometime I'ld divide, And burn in many places; on the top-mast, The yards, and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,

Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors

O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momen

tary

And sight-outrunning were not: the fire, and

cracks

Of sulphurous roaring, the most mighty Neptune

Seem'd to besiege, and make his bold waves tremble,

Yea, his dread trident shake. Not a soul
But felt a fever of the mad, and play'd

Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners
Plunged in the foaming brine, and quit the

vessel,

Then all a-fire with me: the King's son, Ferdinand,

With hair up-staring, then like reeds, not hair,

Was the first man that leap'd; cried, Hell is

empty,

And all the devils are here."

"But he is safe," said Ariel, "in a corner of the isle, sitting with his arms folded, sadly lamenting the loss of the king his father, whom he concludes drowned. Not a hair of his head is injured, and his princely garments, though drenched in the sea-waves, look fresher than before."

"That's my delicate Ariel," said Prospero. Bring him hither: my daughter must see this young prince. Where is the king, and my brother?"

"I left them," answered Ariel, "searching for Ferdinand, whom they have little hopes of finding, thinking they saw him perish. Of the ship's crew not one is missing; though each one thinks himself the only one saved; and the ship, though invisible to them, is safe in the harbour."

Ariel," said Prospero, "thy charge is

faithfully performed; but there is more work yet."

"Let

"Is there more work?" said Ariel. me remind you, master, you have promised

me my liberty. I pray, remember, I have done you worthy service, told you no lies, made no mistakes, served you without grudge or grumbling."