Indeed, the top of admiration; worth
What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady
I have ey'd with beat regard; and many a time
The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues
Have I lik'd several women; never any
With so full soul, but some defect in her
Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd,
And put it to the foil: But you, O you,
So perfect, and so peerless, are created
Of every creature's best.

Mira. I do not know One of my sex; no woman's face remember, Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen More that I may call men, than you, good friend, And my dear father: how features are abroad, I am skill-less of; but, by my modesty, (The jewel in my dower,) I would not wish Any companion in the world but you; Nor can imagination form a shape, Besides yourself, to like of: But I prattle Something too wildly, and my father's precepts Therein forget. Fer.

I am, in my condition,
A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;
(I would, not so!) and would no more endure
This wooden slavery, than I would suffer
The flesh-fly blow my mouth.-Hear my soul speak:
The very instant that I saw you, did

My heart fly to your service; there resides,
To make me slave to it; and, for your sake,

Am I this patient log-man.

Mira.

Do you love me? Fer. O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound, And crown what I profess with kind event, If I speak true; if hollowly, invert What best is boded me, to mischief! I, Beyond all limit of what else i' the world, Do love, prize, honour you.

Mira.

I am a fool,

To weep at what I am glad of.

Pro.

Fair encounter Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace On that which breeds between them!

Fer.

Wherefore weep you? Mira. At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer What I desire to give; and much less take, What I shall die to want: But this is trifling; And all the more it seeks to hide itself, The bigger bulk it shews. Hence, bashful cuuning! And prompt me, plain and holy innocence! I am your wife, if you will marry me; If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow You may deny me; but I'll be your servant, Whether you will or no.

Fer.

My mistress, dearest,

And I thus humble ever.

Mira.

My husband then?

Fer. Ay, with a heart as willing As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand. Mira. And mine, with my heart in't: And now

farewell, Till half an hour hence. Fer.

A thousand! thousand! [Exeunt Fer, and Mir. Pro. So glad of this as they, I cannot be, Who are surpris'd with all; but my rejoicing At nothing can be more. I'll to my book; For yet, ere supper time, must I perform Much business appertaining.

[Exit.

SCENE II-Another part of the Island. Enter STEPHANO and TRINCULO; CALIBAN following, with a bottle.

Ste. Tell not me;-when the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board 'em: Servant-monster, drink to me.

Trin. Servant-monster? the folly of this island! They say, there's but five upon this isle: we are

three of them; if the other two be brained like us, the state totters.

Ste. Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee; thy eyes are almost set in thy head.

Trin. Where should they be set else? he were a brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.

Ste. My man-monster hath drowned his tongue in sack for my part, the sea cannot drown me: swam, ere I could recover the shore, five-and-thirty leagues, off and on, by this light. Thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my standard. [standard.

Trin. Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no Ste. We'll not run, monsieur monster.

Trin. Nor go neither: but you'll lie, like dogs; and yet say nothing neither.

Ste. Mooncalf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a good moon-calf.

Cal. How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe: I'll not serve him, he is not valiant.

Trin. Thou liest, most ignorant monster; I am in case to justle a constable: Why, thou deboshed fish thou, was there ever a man a coward, that bath drunk so much sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish, and half a monster?

Cal. Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?

Trin. Lord, quoth he!-that a monster should be such a natural!

Cal. Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I pr'ythee. Ste. Trinculo keep a good tongue in your head; if you prove a mutineer, the next tree-The poor monster's my subject, and he shall not suffer indignity.

Cal. I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleas'd to hearken once again the suit I made thee? Ste. Marry will I kneel and repeat it; I will stand, and so shall Trinculo.

Enter ARIEL, invisible.

Cal. As I told thee
Before, I am subject to a tyrant;
A sorcerer, that by his cunning hath
Cheated me of this island.

Ari.

Thou liest.

Cal. Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou! I would my valiant master would destroy thee: I do not lie.

Ste. Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in his tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your Trin. Why, I said nothing. [teeth. (To Caliban.)

Ste. Mum then, and no more.Proceed.

Cal. I say, by sorcery he got this isle; From me he got it. If thy greatness will Revenge it on him-for, I know, thou dar'st; But this thing dare not.

Ste. That's most certain.

Cal. Thou shalt be lord of it, and I'll serve thee. Ste. How now shall this be compassed? Canst thou bring me to the party?

Cal. Yea, yea, my lord; I'll yield him thee asleep, Where thou may'st knock a nail in his head. Ari. Thou liest, thou canst not.

[patch!

Cal. What a pied ninny's this? Thou scurvy I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows, And take his bottle from him: when that's gone, He shall drink nought but brine; for I'll not shew Where the quick freshes are. [him

Ste. Trinculo, run into no further danger: interrupt the monster one word further, and, by this stock-fish of thee. hand, I'll turn my mercy out of doors, and make a

Trin. Why, what did I? I did nothing: I'll go further off.

Ste. Didst thou not say, he lied?

Ari. Thou liest.

Ste. Do I so? take thou that. (Strikes him.) As you like this, give me the lie another time.

Tria. I did not give the lie:-Out o' your wits, and hearing too?A pox o' your bottle! this can sack, and drinking do.-A murrain on your monster, and the devil take your fingers! Cal. Ha, ha, ha!

Ste. Now, forward with your tale. stand further off.

Cal. Beat him enough: after a little time, I'll beat him too.

Ste. Stand further.-Come, proceed. Cal. Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him I the afternoon to sleep: there thou may'st brain Having first seiz'd his books; or with a log [him, Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake, Or cat his wezand with thy knife: Remember, First to possess his books; for without them He's but a sot, as I am, nor hath not

Pr'ythee

One spirit to command: They all do hate him,
As rootedly as I: Burn but his books;

He has brave utensils, (for so he calls them,)
Which, when he has a house, he'll deck withal.
And that most deeply to consider, is
The beauty of his daughter; he himself
Calls her a non-pareil: I ne'er saw woman,
But only Sycorax my dam, and she;
But she as far surpasseth Sycorax,
As greatest does least.

Ste. Is it so brave a lass?

[rant,

Cal. Ay, lord; she will become thy bed, I warAnd bring thee forth brave brood.

Ste. Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be king and queen; (save our graces!) and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys:-Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?

Trin. Excellent.

Ste. Give me thy hand; I am sorry I beat thee: but, while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head. Cal. Within this half hour will he be asleep; Wilt thou destroy him then?

Ste. Ay, on mine honour. Ari. This will I tell my master. [sure; Cal. Thou mak'st me merry: I am full of pleaLet us be jocand: Will you troll the catch You taught me but while-ere?

Ste. At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any reason: Come on, Trinculo, let us sing.(Sings.)

Tri. O, forgive me my sins!

Ste. He that dies, pays all debts: I defy thee:Mercy upon us!

Cal. Art thou afeard?

Ste. No, monster, not I.

Cal. Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight,and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming, The clouds, methought, would open, and shew riches Ready to drop upon me; that, when I wak'd, I cry'd to dream again.

Ste. This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall have my music for nothing.

Cal. When Prospero is destroyed.

Ste. That shall be by and by: I remember the story. [and after, do our work. Trin. The sound is going away: let's follow it, Ste. Lead, monster; we'll follow.-I would, I could see this taborer: he lays it on. Trix. Wilt come? I'll follow, Stephano. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. Another part of the Island. Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others.

I needs must rest me.

Gon. By'r lakin, I can go no further, sir; My old bones ache: here's a maze trod, indeed, Through forth-rights and meanders! By your pa[tience, Alon. Old lord, I cannot blame thee, Who am myself attach'd with weariness, To the dulling of my spirits: sit down, and rest. Even here I will put off my hope, and keep it Whom thus we stray to find; and the sea mocks No longer for my flatterer: he is drown'd, Our frustrate search on land: Well, let him go. Ant. I am right glad that he's so out of hope. (Aside to Sebastian.) Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose That you resolv'd to effect. Seb.

The next advantage

Will we take thoroughly.
Ant.
Let it be to-night;
For, now they are oppress'd with travel, they
Will not, nor cannot, use such vigilance,
As when they are fresh.

Seb. I say, to-night: no more. Solemn and strange music; and PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter several strange Shapes, bringing in a banquet; they dance about it with gentle actions of salutation; and, inviting the King, &c. to eat, they depart.

Alon. What harmony is this? my good friends, Gon. Marvellous sweet music! [hark!

Alon. Give us kind keepers, heavens!" What were these?

Seb. A living drollery: Now I will believe, That there are unicorns; that, in Arabia There is one tree, the phoenix' throne; one phoenix At this hour reigning there.

Ant.

Gon.

I'll believe both; And what does else want credit, come to me, And I'll be sworn 'tis true: Travellers ne'er did lie, Though fools at home condemn them. If in Naples I should report this now, would they believe me? If I should say, I saw such islanders, Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet, note, (For, certes, these are people of the island,) Their manners are more gentle-kind, than of Our human generation you shall find Many, nay, almost any.

Pro.

Honest lord, Thou hast said well; for some of you there present, Are worse than devils. (A side.) Alon. I cannot too much muse, Such shapes, such gesture, and such sound, expressing

(Although they want the use of tongue) a kind Of excellent dumb discourse.

Pro. Praise in departing. (Aside.) Fran. They vanish'd strangely. Seb. No, matter, since They have left their viands behind; for we have stomachs.

Will't please you taste of what is here?
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

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

|

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.

I do believe it,

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; and on this island
Where man doth not inhabit; you 'mongst men
Being most unfit to live. I have made you mad;
(Seeing Alon. Seb. &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 fellow-ministers
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 you three
From Milan did supplant good Prospero;
Expos'd unto the sea, which hath requit it,
Him, and his innocent child: for which foul deed
The powers, delaying, not forgetting, have
Incens'd the seas and shores, yea, all the creatures
Against your peace: Thee, of thy son, Alonso,
They have bereft; and do pronounce by me,
Ling ring perdition (worse than any death
Can be at once,) shall step by step attend
You, and your ways; whose wraths to guard you
(Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls
Upon your heads,) is nothing, but heart's sorrow,
And a clear life ensuing.

[from

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

Pro. (Aside.) Bravely the figure of this harpy
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, whilst I visit

Young Ferdinand, (whom they suppose is drown'd,)
And his and my loved darling.[ Exit Pro. from above.
Gon. I' the name of something holy, sir, why stand
In this strange stare?
[you
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 de and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounc'd
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.
[Exit.
But one fiend at a time,

Seb.

I'll fight their legions o'er.

Ant.

I'll be thy second. [Exeunt Seb. and Ant. Gon. All three of them are desperate; their great Like poison given to work a great time after, [guilt, 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. [Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-Before Prospero's Cell. Enter PROSPERO, FERDINAND, and MIRANDA. Pro. If 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

Against an oracle.

Pro. Then, as my gift, and thine own acquisition Worthily purchas'd, 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-ey'd 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.

Fer.

As I hope For quiet days, fair issue, and long life, With such love as 'tis now; the murkiest den, The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion 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 gave thee power, bere, to this place :
Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
Incite them to quick motion; for I must
Some vanity of mine art; it is my promise,
And they expect it from me.

Ari.

Presently?

Pro. Ay, with a twink.

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.

Till thou dost hear me call.
Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel: Do not approach,

Ari. Well, I conceive. [Exit. Pro. Look, thou be true: do not give dalliance Too much the rein the strongest oaths are straw To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious, Or else, good night, your vow!

Fer. I warrant you, sir; The white-cold virgin snow upon my heart Abates the ardour of my liver.

Pro.

Well.

Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary,
Rather than want a spirit: appear, and pertly.-
No tongue; all eyes; be silent. (Soft music.)
A Masque. Enter IRIS.

Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and pease;
Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,
And flat meads, thatch'd with stover, them to keep ;
Thy banks with peonied and lilied brims,
Which

To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom
spongy April at thy hest betrims, [groves,
Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard;
And thy sea-marge, steril, and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyself dost air: The queen o' the sky,
Whose watery arch, and messenger, am I,

Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign grace,
Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport: her peacocks fly amain;
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter CERES.

Cer. Hail! many-colour'd messenger, that ne'er Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter; Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers; And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown My bosky acres, and my unshrubb'd down, Rich scarf to my proud earth; Why hath thy queen Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green? Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate; And some donation freely to estate On the bless'd lovers.

Cer.

Tell me, heavenly bow,
If Venus, or her son, as thou dost know,
Do now attend the queen? since they did plot
The means, that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forsworn.

Iris.

Of her society Be not afraid; I met her deity Catting the clouds towards Paphos; and her son Dove-drawnwith her; here thought they to have done Some wanton charm upon this man and maid, Whose vows are that no bed-rite shall be paid Till Hymen's torch be lighted: but in vain; Mars's hot minion is return'd again; Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows, Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows, And be a boy right out.

Cer.

Highest queen of state, Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait. Enter JUNO.

Jun. How does my bounteous sister? Go with me, To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be, And honour'd in their issue.

SONG.

Jun. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing, Long continuance, and increasing, Hourly joys be still upon you! Juno sings her blessings on you. Cer. Earth's increase, and foizon plenty, Barns and garners never empty; Vines, with clust'ring bunches growing; Plants, with goodly burden bowing; Spring come to you, at the farthest, In the very end of harvest! Scarcity, and want, shall shun you; Ceres' blessing so is on you. Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and Harmonious charmingly: May I be bold To think these spirits?

Pro. Spirits, which by mine art I have from their confines called to enact My present fancies.

Fer. Let me live here ever; So rare a wonder'd father, and a wife, Make this place Paradise. (Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on employment.) Pro. Sweet now, silence; Jono and Ceres whisper seriously; There's something else to do: hush, and be mute, Or else our spell is marr'd. [brooks, Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the wand'ring With your sedg'd crowns, and ever harmless looks, Leave your crisp channels, and on this green land Answer your summons; Juno does command: Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate A contract of true love; be not too late. Enter certain Nymphs. You sun-burn'd sicklemen, of August weary, Come hither from the furrow, and be merry; Make holyday: your rye-straw hats put on, And these fresh nymphs encounter every one In country footing.

Enter certain Reapers, properly habited: they join with the Nymphs in a graceful dance; towards the end whereof Prospero starts suddenly, and speaks; after which, to a strange, hollow, and confused noise, they heavily vanish.

Pro. (Aside.) I had forgot that foul conspiracy Of the beast Caliban, and his confederates, Against my life; the minute of their plot

Is almost come. (To the Spirits.) Well done;avoid;-no more.

Fer. This is most strange: your father's in some
That works him strongly."
[passion
Mira.
Never till this day,
Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd.
Pro. You do look, my son, in a mov'd sort,
As if you were dismay'd: be cheerful, sir:
Our revels now are ended: these our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve;
And, like this unsubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind: We are such stuff
As dreams are made of, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.-Sir, I am vex'd;
Bear with my weakness; my old brain is troubled.
Be not disturb'd with my infirmity:

If you be pleas'd, retire into my cell,
And there repose; a turn or two I'll walk,
To still my beating mind.

Fer. Mira.

We wish your peace.

[Exeunt. Pro. Come with a thought:-I thank you :Ariel, come.

Enter ARIEL.

Ari. Thy thoughts I cleave to: What's thy pleaSpirit, [sure?

Pro.

We must prepare to meet with Caliban.

Ari. Ay, my commander; when I presented Ceres, I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd, Lest I might anger thee.

[varlets? Pro. Say again, where didst thou leave these Ari. I told you, sir, they were red-hot with drinkSo full of valour, that they smote the air [ing; For breathing in their faces; beat the ground For kissing of their feet: yet always bending Toward their project: Then I beat my tabor, At which, like unback'd colts, they prick'd their ears, Advanc'd their eye-lids, lifted up their noses, As they smelt music; so I charm'd their ears, That, calf-like, they my lowing follow'd, through Tooth'd briers, sharp furzes, pricking goss, and thorns,

Which enter'd their frail shins: at last I left them
I' the filthy mantled pool beyond your cell,
There dancing up to the chins, that the foul lake
O'erstunk their feet.

Pro.

This was well done, my bird; Thy shape invisible retain thou still : The trumpery in my house, go, bring it hither, For stale to catch these thieves. Ari. I go, I go. [Exit. Pro. A devil, a born devil, on whose nature Nurture can never stick; on whom my pains, Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost; And as, with age, his body uglier grows, So his mind cankers: I will plague them all, Re-enter ARIEL, loaden with glistering apparel, &c. Even to roaring:-Come, hang them on this line. (Prospero and Ariel remain invisible.) Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, all wet. Cal. Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not