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ACT FOURTH

SCENE I

[Before Prospero's cell.]

Enter Prospero, Ferdinand, and Miranda.

Pros. If I have too austerely punish'd you,

Fer.

Your compensation makes amends, for I
Have given you here a third of mine own life,
Or that for which I live; who once again
I tender to thy hand. All thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
Hast strangely stood the test. Here, afore Heaven,
I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,

Do not smile at me that I boast her off,

For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise 10
And make it halt behind her.

Against an oracle.

I do believe it

Pros. Then, as my gift and thine own acquisition
Worthily purchas'd, take my daughter. But
If thou dost break her virgin-knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may

With full and holy rite be minist'red,

No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren Hate,

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Fer.

Pros.

Sour-eyed Disdain and Discord shall bestrew 20
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly
That you shall hate it both. Therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamps shall light you.

As I hope

For quiet days, fair issue, and long life,

With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den,

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The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion
Our worser genius can, shall never melt

Mine honour into lust, to take away

The edge of that day's celebration

When I shall think or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd

Or Night kept chain'd below.

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Fairly spoke.

Sit then and talk with her; she is thine own.
What, Ariel! my industrious servant, Ariel!

Enter Ariel.

Ari. What would my potent master? Here I am.
Pros. Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service
Did worthily perform; and I must use you
In such another trick. Go bring the rabble,
O'er whom I give thee power, here to this place.
Incite them to quick motion; for I must
Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
Some vanity of mine art. It is my promise,
And they expect it from me.

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Ari.

Presently?

Pros. Ay, with a twink.

Ari. Before you can say "come" and "go,"

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And breathe twice and cry "so, so,"

Each one, tripping on his toe,

Will be here with mop and mow.
Do you love me, master?

Pros. Dearly, my delicate Ariel.
Till thou dost hear me call.

Ari.

No?

Do not approach

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Well, I conceive. 50
Exit.

Pros. Look thou be true; do not give dalliance
Too much the rein. The strongest oaths are straw
To the fire i' the blood. Be more abstemious,
Or else, good night your vow!

Fer.

Pros.

I warrant you, sir;
The white cold virgin snow upon my heart
Abates the ardour of my liver.

Well.

Now come, my Ariel! bring a corollary,

Rather than want a spirit. Appear, and pertly!
No tongue! all eyes! Be silent.

Enter Iris. 1

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Soft music.

Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas

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Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and pease;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,
And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep;

Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims,
Which spongy April at thy hest betrims

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To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy
brown groves,

Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipp'd vineyard;
And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyself dost air;
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the queen o' the

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Whose watery arch and messenger am I,

Bids thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace,

Juno descends.

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

Enter Ceres.

Cer. Hail, many-coloured messenger, that ne'er
Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;

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Who with thy saffron wings upon my flowers
Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers,
And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown
My bosky acres and my unshrubb'd down,
Rich scarf to my proud earth; why hath thy queen
Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green ?

Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate;

And some donation freely to estate

On the blest lovers.

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Cer.

Iris.

C'er.

Tell me, heavenly bow,

If Venus or her son, as thou dost know,
Do now attend the Queen? Since they did plot
The means that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forsworn.

Of her society

Be not afraid. I met her deity

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Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her son
Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to have

done

Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
Whose vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid
Till Hymen's torch be lighted; but in vain.
Mars's hot minion is return'd again;

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Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows,
Swears he will shoot no more, but play with spar-

rows

And be a boy right out.

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Highest queen of state, Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gait.

[Enter Juno.]

Juno. How does my bounteous sister? Go with me To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be

And honour'd in their issue.

Juno. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,

Long continuance, and increasing,

They sing.

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