At all this Prospero smiled, and nodded his head, as much as to say, "This goes on exactly as I could wish my girl will be queen of Naples.”

When Ferdinand, in fine speech (for young princes speak in courtly phrases), told the innocent Miranda he was heir to the crown of Naples, and that she should be his queen, "Ah! sir, (said she,) I will answer you in plain and holy innocence."

I am your wife, if you will marry me ;
If not, I'll die your maid; to be your fellow
You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.

Ferd.

Mir.

My mistress, dearest.

And I thus humble ever.

My husband, then?

Ferd. Ay, with a heart as willing

As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand. Mir. And mine, with my heart in't.

Prospero prevented Ferdinand's thanks by appearing visible before them.

"Fear nothing, my child," said he ;5 "I have overheard, and approve of all you have said. And, Ferdinand, if I have too severely

used you, I will make you rich amends, by giving you my daughter. All your vexations were but trials of your love, and you have nobly stood the test. Then as my gift, which your true love has worthily purchased, take my daughter, and do not smile that I boast she is above all praise." He then, telling them that he had business which required his presence, desired they would sit down and talk together till he returned; and this command Miranda seemed not at all disposed to disobey.

Soon after he presents before the eyes of the young couple a wonderful show,-" a most majestic vision.' Iris, the Rain-bow, comes as the messenger from Juno, the Queen of the Sky, and bids Ceres, the Goddess of grain and harvest,

"Leave the rich leas Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and peas,

And with her sovereign Grace,

Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport. Her peacocks fly amain:
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain."

Enter CERES.

Why hath thy Queen

Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd

green?

Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate. Ceres (to Juno). How does my bounteous sister? Go with me

To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be.

And thereupon they sing a song of blessing :

:—

Iris then summons nymphs of the brooks and sun-burn'd sicklemen to come and join in a graceful dance in honour of the lovers.

"You nymphs, call'd Naiads of the winding brooks,

With your sedged crowns and ever-harmless

looks

Leave your crisp channels, and on this green

land

Answer our summons; Juno does command.

*

*

You sun-burn'd sicklemen, of August weary, Come hither from the furrow, and be merry: Make holiday; your rye-straw hats put on, And these fresh nymphs encounter every one In country footing."

Suddenly, to a strange, hollow, and confused noise, the pageant vanishes; Prospero speaks:

"Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep."

WHEN Prospero left them, he called his spirit Ariel, who quickly appeared before him, eager to relate what he had done with Prospero's brother and the king of Naples. Ariel said, he had left them almost out of their senses with fear, at the strange things he had caused them to see and hear. When fatigued with wandering about, and famished for want of food, he had suddenly set before them a delicious banquet, and then, just as they were going to eat, he appeared visible before them in the shape of a harpy, a voracious monster with wings, and the feast vanished away. Then, to their utter amazement, this seeming harpy spoke to them, reminding them of their cruelty in driving Prospero from his dukedom, and leaving him and his infant daughter to