SCENE I. Before the Cell of Prospero. Enter PROSPERO in his magic robes, and ARIEL. Prospero. Now does my project gather to a head; My charms crack not, my spirits obey, and Time Goes upright with his carriage. How's the day? Ariel. On the sixth hour; at which time, my lord, You said our work should cease. Prospero. I did say so, When first I rais'd the tempest. Say, my spirit, How fares the king and 's followers? Ariel. Confin'd together In the same fashion as you gave in charge, Him that you term'd, sir, the good old lord, Gonzalo : From eaves of reeds. Your charm so strongly works 'em Would become tender. Prospero. Ariel. Mine would, sir, were I human. Prospero. ΙΟ Dost thou think so, spirit? And mine shall. 21 Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling Of their afflictions, and shall not myself, One of their kind, that relish all as sharply Passion as they, be kindlier mov'd than thou art? Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick, Yet with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury Do I take part. The rarer action is In virtue than in vengeance; they being penitent, Ariel. 30 I'll fetch them, sir. [Exit. Prospero. Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and groves, And ye that on the sands with printless foot 40 50 [Solemn music. Here enter ARIEL before: then ALONSO, with a frantic gesture, attended by GONZALO; SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO in like manner, attended by ADRIAN and FRANCISCO: they all enter the circle which PROSPERO had made, and there stand charmed; which PROSPERO observing, speaks : A solemn air, and the best comforter To an unsettled fancy, cure thy brains, Now useless, boil'd within thy skull! There stand, Holy Gonzalo, honourable man, სა Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine, To him thou follow'st! I will pay thy graces Expell'd remorse and nature; who, with Sebastian,— Will shortly fill the reasonable shore That now lies foul and muddy. Not one of them That yet looks on me, or would know me.-Ariel, Fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell; I will discase me, and myself present As I was sometime Milan. Quickly, spirit ; Thou shalt ere long be free. ARIEL sings, and helps to attire him. Where the bee sucks, there suck I: There I couch when owls do cry. After summer merrily. Merrily, merrily, shall I live now Under the blossom that hangs on the bough. G 70 80 90 Prospero. Why, that 's my dainty Ariel! thee; But yet thou shalt have freedom :—so, so, so.- I shall miss Under the hatches; the master and the boatswain And presently, I prithee. Ariel. I drink the air before me, and return Or ere your pulse twice beat. 100 [Exit. Gonzalo. All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement Inhabits here; some heavenly power guide us Out of this fearful country! Prospero. Behold, sir king, The wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero! For more assurance that a living prince Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body; And to thee and thy company I bid A hearty welcome. Alonso. Whether thou beest he or no, Or some enchanted trifle 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 my wrongs.—But how should Prospero 110 120 |