Mira. O good sir, I do.
Pro.

I pray thee mark me.
I thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicate
To closeness, and the bettering of my mind
With that, which, but by being so retired,
O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother
Awaked an evil nature : and my trust,
Like a good parent, did beget of him
A falsehood, in its contrary as great
As my trust was; which had, indeed, no limit,
A confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded,
Not only with what my revenue yielded,
But what my power might else exact, like one,
Who having, unto truth, by telling of it,
Made such a sinner of his memory,
To credit his own lie, 2–he did believe
He was indeed the duke; out of the substitution,
And executing the outward face of royalty,
With all prerogative :-Hence his ambition
Growing, -Dost hear? .

Mira. Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.

Pro. To have no screen between this part he played
And him he played it for, he needs will be
Absolute Milan: Me, poor man!--my library
Was dukedom large enough ; of temporal royalties
He thinks me now incapable : confederates

91

TO

To give him annual tribute, do him homage;
Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend
The dukedom, yet unbowed, (alas, poor Milan!)
To most ignoble stooping.
Mira.

O the heavens!
Pro. Mark his condition, and the event; then

tell me,
If this might be a brother.

-

1 Alluding to the observation that a father above the common rate of men has generally a son below it.

26 Who having made his memory such a sinner to truth as to credit his own lie by telling of it."

12

him

To the winds, whose pity, sighing back again,
Did us but loving wrong.
Mira.

Alack! what trouble
Was I then to you!
Pro.

O! a cherubim
Thou wast, that did preserve me! Thou didst smile,
Infused with a fortitude from heaven,
When I have decked the sea with drops full salt;
Under my burden groaned; which raised in me
An undergoing stomach, to bear up
Against what should ensue.
Mira.

How came we ashore ? Pro. By Providence divine. Some food we had, and some fresh water, that A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo, Out of his charity, (who being then appointed Master of this design,) did give us; with: Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries, Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness, Knowing I loved my books, he furnished me, From my own library, with volumes that I prize above my dukedom. Mira.

'Would I might But ever see that man! Pro.

Now I arise :Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. Here in this island we arrived; and here Have I, thy school-master, made thee more profit Than other princes can, that have more time For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful. Mira. Heavens thank you for't! And now, I pray

you, sir,
(For still 'tis beating in my mind, your reason
For raising this sea-storm?
Pro.

Know thus far forth.---
By accident most strange, bountiful fortune,
Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies
Brought to this shore: and by my prescience

1 Sprinkled. 2 A temper or frame of mind to bear.

11.

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ILU

We

ut

I find my zenith doth depend upon
A most auspicious star; whose influence

ny

Will ever after droop.--Here cease more questions ;
Thou art inclined to sleep; 'tis a good dulness,
And give it way ;-I know thou canst not choose.-

[MIRANDA sleeps. Come away, servant, come: I am ready now; Approach, my Ariel ; come.

Enter ARIEL. Ari. All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come To answer thy best pleasure ; be’t to fly, To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride On the curled clouds: to thy strong bidding, task Ariel, and all his quality. Pro.

Hast thou, spirit, Performed to point, the tempest that I bade thee?

Ari. To every article. I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak, Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin, I flamed amazement: Sometimes, I'd divide, And burn in many places; on the top-mast, The yards, and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly, Then meet, and join : Jove's lightnings, the precursors O'the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary And sight out-running were not: The fire, and cracks Of sulphurous roaring, the most mighty Neptune Seemed to besiege, and make his bold waves tremble, Yea, his dread trident shake. Pro.

My brave spirit! Who was so firm, so constant, that his coil 4 Would not infect his reason?

Not a soul But felt a fever of the mad, and played

UL