Alon.

Not I.

Gon. Faith, sir, you need not fear. When we

were boys,

Who would believe that there were mountaineers Dew-lapp'd like bulls, whose throats had hanging at them

Wallets of flesh; or that there were such men Whose heads stood in their breasts? which now we find,

Each putter-out of five for one will bring us
Good warrant of.

Alon.

I will stand to, and feed, Although my last : no matter, since I feel The best is past.-—Brother, my lord the duke, Stand to, and do as we.

Thunder and lightning. Enter ARIEL, like a harpy; claps his wings upon the table, and, with a quaint device, the banquet vanishes.

Ari. You are three men of sin, whom destiny (That hath to instrument this lower world, And what is in't) the never-surfeited sea Hath caused to belch up you, and on this island Where man doth not inhabit; you 'mongst men Being most unfit to live. I have made you mad; [Seeing ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, &c., draw their swords.

And even with such-like valour, men hang and drown

Their proper selves. You fools! I and my fellows

Are ministers of fate; the elements,

Of whom your swords are temper'd, may as well Wound the loud winds, or with bemock'd-at stabs

Kill the still-closing waters, as diminish

One dowle that's in my plume; my fellowministers

Are like invulnerable: if you could hurt, Your swords are now too massy for your strengths,

And will not be uplifted. But, remember, (For that's my business to you,) that yo" three From Milan did supplant good Prospero; Exposed unto the sea, which hath requit it, Him and his innocent child: for which foul deed

The powers, delaying, not forgetting, have Incensed the seas and shores, yea, all the crea

tures,

Against your peace. Thee, of thy son, Alonso,
They have bereft ; and do pronounce, by me,
Lingering perdition (worse than any death
Can be at once) shall step by step attend
You, and your ways; whose wraths to guard
you from

(Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls Upon your heads) is nothing, but heart's sorrow, And a clear life ensuing.

He vanishes in thunder: then, to soft music, enter the Shapes again, and dance with mops and mowes, and carry out the table.

Pro. Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou Perform'd, my Ariel; a grace it had, devouring: Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated, In what thou hadst to say: so, with good life, And observation strange, my meaner ministers Their several kinds have done: my high charms work,

And these, mine enemies, are all knit up

In their distractions: they now are in my power; And in these fits I leave them, while I visit

Young Ferdinand, (whom they suppose is

drown'd,)

And his and my loved darling.

[Exit PROSPERO from above.

Gon. I' the name of something holy, sir, why stand you

In this strange stare?

Alon. O, it is monstrous! monstrous ! Methought the billows spoke, and told me of it ; The winds did sing it to me; and the thunder, That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounced The name of Prosper; it did bass my trespass. Therefore my son i' the ooze is bedded; and I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded, And with him there lie mudded.

Seb.

[Exit. But one fiend at a time,

I'll fight their legions o'er.

Ant.

I'll be thy second.

[Exeunt SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO.

Gon. All three of them are desperate; their
great guilt,

Like poison given to work a great time after,
Now 'gins to bite the spirits.—I do beseech you,
That are of suppler joints, follow them swiftly,
And hinder them from what this ecstasy
May now provoke them to.

Adr.

Follow, I pray you.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-Before Prospero's Cell.

Enter PROSPERO, FERDINAND, and MIRANDA.

Prospero.

F I have too austerely punish'd you, Your compensation makes amends; for I

Have given you here a thread of mine own life,

Or that for which I live; whom 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,
And make it halt behind her.

Fer.

Against an oracle.

I do believe it,

Pro. Then, as my gift, and thine own acquisition

Worthily purchased, take my daughter. But
If thou dost break her virgin-knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may

With full and holy rite be minister'd,
No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow: but barren hate,
Sour-eyed disdain, and discord, shall bestrew
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

Fer.

For quiet days, fair issue, and long life,

With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den, The most opportune place, the strong'st sugges

tion

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.

Pro.

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. Pro. 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.

Ari.

Pro. Ay, with a twink.

Presently?

Ari. Before you can say, Come, and Go,

And breathe twice; and cry, So, so;

Each one, tripping on his toe,

Will be here with mop and mowe:
Do you love me, master? no?

Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel.

approach

Till thou dost hear me call.

Do not