Pro. Sir, I invite your highness, and your train,
To my poor cell; where you fhall take your reft
For this one night, which (part of it) I'll wafte
With fuch difcourfe, as, I not doubt, fhall make it
Go quick away; the ftory of my life,
And the particular accidents gone by,
Since I came to this ifle: and in the morn
I'll bring you to your fhip; and fo to Naples;
Where I have hope to fee the nuptials

Of these our dear beloved folemniz'd;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought fhall 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 promife you calm feas, aufpicious gales,
And fail fo 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, draw near.

[Exeunt omnes.

EPI

EPILOGUE,

Spoken by Profpero.

OW my charms are all o'er-thrown,

N°

And what strength I have's mine own;
Which is most faint: and now, 'tis true,
I must be bere confin'd by you,

Or fent to Naples. Let me not,
Since I have my Dukedom got,
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare ifland by your Spell:
But releafe me from my bands,
With the help of your good hands.
Gentle breath of yours my fails
Muft fill, or elfe my project fails,
Which was to please. For now I want
Spirits enforce, art to enchant;
6 And my ending is despair,
Unless I be reliev'd by prayer;
Which pierces fo, that it affaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.

As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence fet me free!

6And my ending is defpair,

Unless I be reliev'd by prayer ;]

This alludes to the old Stories told of the despair of Necromancers in their last moments; and of the efficacy of the prayers of their friends for them.

A

MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S

DREA M.

Dramatis Perfona.

THESEUS, Duke of Athens.
Egeus, an Athenian Lord.
Lyfander, in love with Hermia.
Demetrius, in love with Hermia.

Philoftrate, Mafter of the Sports to the Duke.

Quince, the Carpenter.

Snug, the Joiner.

Bottom, the Weaver.

Flute, the Bellows-mender.
Snowt, the Tinker.

Starveling, the Tailor.

Hippolita, Princess of the Amazons, betroth'd to Thefeus.

Hermia, Daughter to Egeus, in love with Lyfander. Helena, in love with Demetrius.

Attendants.

Oberon, King of the Fairies.

Titania, Queen of the Fairies.

Puck, or Robin-goodfellow, a Fairy.

Peasebloffom,

Cobweb,

Fairies.

Characters in the Interlude perform'd by the Clowns.

Moonshine,

Lyon.

Other Fairies attending on the King and Queen.

SCENE, Athens; and a Wood not far from it.