And to thee, and thy company, I bid Alon. Whe'r thou beest he, or no, Or some enchanted devil' to abuse me, As late I have been, I not know: thy pulse Beats as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee, I fear, a madness held me. This must crave (An if this be at all) a most strange story. Thy dukedom I resign; and do entreat Thou pardon me thy wrongs.-But how should Prospero Be living, and be here ? Pro. First, noble friend, Let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot Be measur'd, or confin'd. Gon. Or be not, I'll not swear. Whether this be, You do yet taste Pro. Some subtleties o' the isle, that will not let you Believe things certain.-Welcome, my friends all.— But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded, [Aside to SEB. and ANT. I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you, And justify you traitors: at this time I will tell no tales. Seb. [Aside.] The devil speaks in him. Pro. Alon. If thou beest Prospero, Give us particulars of thy preservation : No. How thou hast met us here, who three hours since Pro. I am woe for 't, sir. Alon. Irreparable is the loss, and patience Says it is past her cure. Pro. I rather think, You have not sought her help; of whose soft grace, 1 trifle in f. e. 2 fault: in f. e. For the like loss I have her sovereign aid, Alon. You the like loss? Pro. As great to me, as late; and, supportable To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker Than you may call to comfort you, for I Have lost my daughter. Alon. A daughter? O heavens! that they were living both in Naples, Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter? Pro. In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords At this encounter do so much admire, That they devour their reason, and scarce think Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely For 't is a chronicle of day by day, Not a relation for a breakfast, nor Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir; This cell's my court: here have I few attendants, At least, bring forth a wonder, to content ye PROSPERO draws a curtain,1 and discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess. Mira. Sweet lord, you play me false. Fer. I would not for the world. No, my dearest love, Mira. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should 1 The entrance of the cell opens, and: in f. e. VOL. I.-6 Fer. Though the seas threaten they are merciful: Of a glad father compass thee about! Mira. O, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O, brave new world, That has such people in't! Pro. 'Tis new to thee. Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play? Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us, Fer. She Sir, she is mortal; But, by immortal providence, she's mine: I chose her, when I could not ask my father For his advice, nor thought I had one. Is daughter to this famous duke of Milan, Of whom so often I have heard renown, But never saw before; of whom I have Received a second life, and second father This lady makes him to me. Alon. I am hers. But O! how oddly will it sound, that I Must ask my child forgiveness. Pro. Let us not burden our remembrances With a heaviness that's gone. Gon. There, sir, stop: I have 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 way, Which brought us hither! Alon. I say, Amen, Gonzalo. Gon. Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue Should become kings of Naples ? O! rejoice Beyond a common joy, and set it down With gold on lasting pillars. In one voyage When no man was his own. Alon. Give me your hands: [To FER. and MIR. Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart, Gon. Be it so Amen. Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain O look, sir! look, sir! here are more of us. This fellow could not drown.-Now, blasphemy, Boats. The best news is, that we have safely found Our king, and company: the next, our ship, Which but three glasses since we gave out split, Is tight, and yare, and bravely rigg'd, as when We first put out to sea. Ari. Have I done since I went. Sir, all this service [Aside. Pro. Ari. be free. Alon. This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod; And there is in this business more than nature Was ever conduct of: some oracle Must rectify our knowledge. Pro. Sir, my liege, Do not infest your mind with beating on The strangeness of this business: at pick'd leisure, Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you Set Caliban and his companions free; sir? [Aside. How fares my gracious There are yet missing of your company Some few odd lads, that you remember not. Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel. Ste. Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man take care for himself, for all is but fortune.-Coragio ! bully-monster, coragio! Trin. If these be true spies which I wear in my head, here's a goodly sight. Cal. O Setebos! these be brave spirits, indeed. How fine my master is! I am afraid He will chastise me. Seb. Ha, ha ! What things are these, my lord Antonio? Ant. Pro. Mark but the badges of these men, my lords Cal. Seb. He is drunk now: where had he wine? Alon. And Trinculo is reeling ripe: where should they Find this grand liquor that hath gilded 'em ? How cam'st thou in this pickle ? Trin. I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you 1 without in f. e. |