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Alon.

Seb.

Alon.

Seb.

Alon.

Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted
The surge most swoln that met him; his bold head
'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar'd
Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke

To the shore, that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd,
As stooping to relieve him: I not doubt
He came alive to land.

No, no, he's gone.

121

Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss, That would not bless our Europe with your daughter,

But rather lose her to an African ;

Where she at least is banish'd from your eye,
Who hath cause to wet the grief on 't.

Prithee, peace.
You were kneel'd to and importuned otherwise
By all of us, and the fair soul herself

130

Weigh'd between loathness and obedience, at
Which end o'the beam should bow. We have lost

your son,

I fear, for ever: Milan and Naples have

Moe widows in them of this business' making

Than we bring men to comfort them :

The fault's your own.

Gon. My lord Sebastian,

Seb.

Ant.

Gon.

So is the dear'st o' the loss.

The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness
And time to speak it in: you rub the sore,
When you should bring the plaster.

And most chirurgeonly.

Very well.

140

It is foul weather in us all, good sir,
When you are cloudy.

Seb.

Foul weather?

Ant.

Very foul.

Gon. Had I plantation of this isle, my lord,—
Ant. He'ld sow 't with nettle-seed.

Seb.

Gon.

Seb.

Gon.

Seb.

Ant.

Gon.

Seb.

Ant.
Gon.

Seb.

Or docks, or mallows.
And were the king on 't, what would I do?
'Scape being drunk for want of wine.
I' the commonwealth I would by contraries
Execute all things; for no kind of traffic
Would I admit; no name of magistrate;

Letters should not be known; riches, poverty, 150
And use of service, none; contract, succession,
Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;
No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;

No occupation; all men idle, all;

And women too, but innocent and pure;
No sovereignty;-

Yet he would be king on 't.
The latter end of his commonwealth forgets
the beginning.

All things in common nature should produce Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony, 160 Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine, Would I not have; but nature should bring forth, Of it own kind, all foison, all abundance,

To feed my innocent people.

No marrying 'mong his subjects?

None, man; all idle: whores and knaves.
I would with such perfection govern, sir,
To excel the golden age.

Ant. Long live Gonzalo !

Gon.

God save his majesty!

And,-do you mark me, sir?

Alon. Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing 170

to me.

Gon. I do well believe your highness; and did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen, who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that they always use to laugh at nothing.

Ant.

'Twas you we laughed at.

Gon. Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing to you: so you may continue and laugh at nothing still.

Ant.

Seb.

Gon.

What a blow was there given !
An it had not fallen flat-long.

You are gentlemen of brave mettle; you would
lift the moon out of her sphere, if she would
continue in it five weeks without changing.

Enter Ariel, invisible, playing solemn music. Seb. We would so, and then go a bat-fowling. Ant. Nay, good my lord, be not angry.

Gon.

Ant.

No, I warrant you; I will not adventure my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy?

Go sleep, and hear us.

180

190

[All sleep except Alon., Seb., and Ant. Alon. What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: Ifind They are inclined to do so.

Seb.

Ant.

Please you, sir,
Do not omit the heavy offer of it:
It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth,

It is a comforter.

We two, my lord,

Alon.

Seb.

Ant.

Seb.

Ant.

Seb.

Will guard your person while you take your rest,
And watch your safety.

Thank you. Wondrous heavy.
[Alonso sleeps. Exit Ariel.

What a strange drowsiness possesses them!
It is the quality o' the climate.

Why

Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not
Myself disposed to sleep.

200

Nor I; my spirits are nimble. They fell together all, as by consent;

They dropp'd, as by a thunder-stroke. What

might,

Worthy Sebastian? O, what might ?—No more :-
And yet methinks I see it in thy face,

What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee, and
My strong imagination sees a crown

Dropping upon thy head.

What, art thou waking? Ant. Do you not hear me speak?

Seb.

Ant.

Seb.

Ant.

211

I do; and surely
It is a sleepy language and thou speak'st
Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say?
This is a strange repose, to be asleep

With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving,
And yet so fast asleep.

Noble Sebastian,

Thou let'st thy fortune sleep-die, rather; wink'st
Whiles thou art waking.

Thou dost snore distinctly;

There's meaning in thy snores.

I am more serious than my custom you
Must be so too, if heed me; which to do

220

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Seb.

Ant.

O,

If you but knew how you the purpose cherish
Whiles thus you mock it! how, in stripping it,
You more invest it! Ebbing men, indeed,
Most often do so near the bottom run
By their own fear or sloth.

Prithee, say on:

The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim
A matter from thee, and a birth indeed
Which throes thee much to yield.

230

Thus, sir:

Although this lord of weak remembrance, this,
Who shall be of as little memory

When he is earth'd, hath here almost persuaded,—
For he's a spirit of persuasion, only

Professes to persuade,—the king his son's alive,
'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd

As he that sleeps here swims.

Seb.

That he's undrown'd.

Ant.

I have no hope

O, out of that "no hope"

Seb.

Ant.

What great hope have you! no hope that way is
Another way so high a hope that even

Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond,

But doubt discovery there.

That Ferdinand is drown'd?

241

Will you grant with me

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