Alonso.

I am hers:

But, O, how oddly will it sound that I
Must ask my child forgiveness!

Pros.

There, sir, stop:

Let us not burden our remembrance with
A heaviness that's

Gonzalo.

gone.

I've 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

Should become King of Naples! O, re-
joice

Beyond a common joy! and set it down
With gold on lasting pillars: in one voyage
Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis ;
And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife
Where he himself was lost; Prospero, his
dukedom,

In a poor isle; and all of us, ourselves,
When no man was his own.

Alonso. [To Ferdinand and Miranda.] Give me your hands:

Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart
That doth not wish you joy!

Gonzalo.

Be't so! Amen !

Then Prospero embraced his brother, and again assured him of his forgiveness; and said that a wise, over-ruling Providence had permitted that he should be driven from his poor dukedom of Milan, that his daughter might inherit the crown of Naples, for that by their meeting in this desert island, it had happened that the king's son had loved Miranda.

VI

HS.

PROSPERO now told them that their ship was safe in the harbour, and the sailors all on board her, and that he and his daughter would accompany them home the next morning. "In the meantime," says he, "partake of such refreshments as my poor cave affords; and for your evening's entertainment I will relate the history of my life from my first landing in

this desert island." He then called for Caliban to prepare some food, and set the cave in order; and the company were astonished at the uncouth form and savage appearance of this ugly monster, who (Prospero said) was the only attendant he had to wait upon him.

Before Prospero left the island, he dismissed Ariel from his service, to the great joy of that lively little spirit; who, though he had been a faithful servant to his master, was

always longing to enjoy his free liberty, to
wander uncontrolled in the air, like a wild
bird, under green trees, among pleasant fruits,
and sweet-smelling flowers. My quaint
Ariel," said Prospero to the little sprite when
he made him free, "I shall miss you; yet you
shall have your
"Thank you, my
freedom."
dear master," said Ariel; "but give me leave
to attend your ship home with prosperous
gales, before you bid farewell to the assistance
of your faithful spirit; and then, master, when
I am free, how merrily I shall live!" And
Ariel sang this pretty song:-

"Where the bee sucks, there suck I;
In a cowslip's bell I lie:

There I couch when owls do cry.

On the bat's back I do fly

After summer merrily.

Merrily, merrily shall I live now

Under the blossom that hangs on the bough."

Prospero then buried deep in the earth his magical books and wand, for he was resolved never more to make use of them.

In noble words he bade farewell to the magic art he had used so wonderfully and so well:

*

"Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and

groves;

And ye

that on the sands with printless foot Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him

When he comes back; you demi-puppets that By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make,