Though every drop of water swear against it, [A confused noise within.] Mercy on us! We split, we split!-Farewell my wife and children! Farewell, brother!-We split, we split, we split! Ant. Let's all sink with the king. Seb. Let's take leave of him. [Exit. [Exit. Gonz. Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an 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 enchanted Island: before the Cell of PROSPERO. Enter PROSPERO and MIRANDA. Mira. If by your art, my dearest father, you have Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them: The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch, With those that I saw suffer! a brave vessel, Who had, no doubt, Dash'd all to pieces. Against my very heart! any god of Had I been power, Have sunk the sea within the earth, or ere some noble creatures in her, It It should the good ship so have swallow'd, and Pro. Be collected; No more amazement: tell your piteous heart, There's no harm done. Mira. O woe the day! Pro. No harm. I have done nothing but in care of thee, (Of thee, my dear one! thee, my daughter!) who Mira. More to know Did never meddle with my thoughts. I should inform thee further. Lend thy hand, Lye there 90 100 [Lays down his mantle. my art.- -Wipe thou mine eyes; have com fort. The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd I have with such provision in mine art Which thou heard'st cry, which thou saw'st sink. Sit down; For thou must now know further. 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; I do not think thou canst; for then thou wast not Mira. Certainly, sir, I can. 120 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 Four or five women once, that tended me? Pro. Thou had'st, and more, Miranda: But how is it, That this lives in thy mind? What see'st thou else If thou remember'st aught, ere thou cam'st here; Mira. But that I do not. 130 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. Pro. Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father Was duke of Milan; thou his only heir And princess, no worse issu❜d. Mira. O the heavens! 140 What foul play had we, that we came from thence? Or bless'd was't we did? Pro. Both, both, my girl: By foul play, as thou say'st, were we heav'd thence; But blessedly holp hither. Mira. O, my heart bleeds To think o' the teen that I have turn'd you to, Which is from my remembrance; Please you fur I ther. 150 Pro. My brother, and thy uncle, called Anthonio,pray thee, mark me,-that a brother should Be so perfidious!-he whom, next thyself, Of all the world I lov'd, and to him put Without a parallel; those being all my study, And to my state grew stranger, being transported, Dost thou attend me? Mira. Sir, most heedfully. Pro. Being once perfected how to grant suits, How to deny them; whom to advance, and whom 160 Το To trash for over-topping; new created 170 The creatures that were mine, I say, or chang'd em, not. Mira. O good sir, I do. Pro. I pray thee, mark me. I thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated As my trust was; which had, indeed, no limit, By what my power might else exact,-like one, To credit his own lie,—he did believe He was indeed, the duke; out of the substitution, 180 191 With all prerogative:-Hence his ambition growing, Dost thou hear? Mira. Your tale, sir, would cure deafness. Pro. |