Ari. [Aside to PRO.] Sir, all this service Have I done since I went.

Pro. [Aside to ARI.] My tricksy1 spirit!

Alon. These are not natural events; they strengthen
From strange to stranger.-Say, how came you hither?
Boats. If I did think, sir, I were well awake,
I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep,

And (how we know not) all clapped under hatches,
Where, but even now, with strange and several noises
Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,
And more diversity of sounds all horrible,
We were awaked; straightway at liberty:
Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
Our royal, good, and gallant ship; our master
Capering to eye her: on a trice, so please you,
Even in a dream, were we divided from them,
And were brought mopping2 hither.

Ari. [Aside to PRO.]

Was 't well done?

Pro.. [Aside to ARI.] Bravely, my diligence. Thou

shalt 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: 3 some oracle

Must rectify our knowledge.

Pro.

Sir, my liege,

Do not infest your mind with beating on

The strangeness of this business: at picked leisure,
Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you1

(Which to you shall seem probable) of every

1 Tricksy.] Cunning, sportive. So in the Merchant of Venice iii. 5, Lorenzo refers to fools' that for a tricksy word defy the matter.' 2 Mopping.] Making strange faces to each other.

3 Conduct of.] Cause of, conducive to.

+ Single I'll resolve you.] In private I will give you explanation.

These happened accidents: till when, be cheerful,
And think of each thing well.-Come hither, spirit;

Set Caliban and his companions free :

[Aside.

Untie the spell. [Exit ARIEL.] How fares my gracious sir?

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.

1

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

What things are these, my lord Antonio?
Will money buy them?

Ant. Very like; one of them

Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.

Pro. Mark but the badges2 of these men, my lords,
Then say, if they be true-This misshapen knave
His mother was a witch, and one so strong

That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,
And deal in her command without her power: 3
These three have robbed me; and this demi-devil
(For he's a bastard one) had plotted with them

For all the rest.] Stephano in his blundering drunkenness says for all the rest instead of for himself, and vice versâ.

2 The badges.] The stolen apparel they had on.

3 Deal in her command, &c.] Use her kind of influence beyond the degree in which she herself could exert it.

To take my life.

Two of these fellows you Must know and own; this thing of darkness I Acknowledge mine.

Cal.

I shall be pinched to death. Alon. Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?

Seb. He is drunk now: where had he wine?

Alon. And Trinculo is reeling ripe. Where should they Find this grand liquor1 that hath gilded them?

How cam'st thou in this pickle ?

Trin. I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you last, that, I fear me, will never out of my bones: I shall not fear fly-blowing.

Seb. Why, how now, Stephano!

Ste. O touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a cramp.

Pro. You'd be king of the isle, sirrah?

Ste. I should have been a sore one, then.

Alon. This is a strange thing as e'er I looked on.

[Pointing to CALIBAN.

Pro. He is as disproportioned in his manners

As in his shape.-Go, sirrah, to my cell;
Take with you your companions; as you look
To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.

Cal. Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter,
And seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass
Was I, to take this drunkard for a god,

And worship this dull fool!

Pro.

Go to; away

!

Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it.

1 This grand liquor, &c.] An allusion to the grand elixir or potable gold of the alchymists, which they pretended would restore yonth and confer immortality. Sack was sometimes called the grand liquor or elixir: in Fletcher's Chances, iv. 3, we find a drunken female described in these words: A little gilded o'er, sir; old sack, old sack, boys!'

Seb. Or stole it, rather. [Exeunt CAL., STE., and TRIN. Pro. Sir, I invite your highness and your train To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest For this one night; which (part of it) I'll waste With such discourse as, I not doubt, shall make it Go quick away-the story of my life,

And the particular accidents gone by,

Since I came to this isle: and in the morn
I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,
Where I have hope to see the nuptial
Of these our dear-beloved solemnized;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.

Alon.

I long

To hear the story of your life, which must
Take the ear strangely.

Pro.

I'll deliver all;

And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales,
And sail so expeditious, that shall catch
Your royal fleet far off.-My Ariel,—chick,—
That is thy charge; then to the elements
Be free, and fare thou well!-Please you,

[Aside.

draw near.

[Exeunt.

93

EPILOGUE.

SPOKEN BY PROSPERO.

Now

my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own—
Which is most faint: now,
'tis true,
I must be here confined by you,
Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got,
And pardoned the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell;
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands.
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails-
Which was, to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant;
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so, that it assaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.

As you from crimes would pardoned be,

Let your indulgence set me free!

[Exit.