ACT III. SCENE I.-Before Prospero's cell. Enter Ferdinand, bearing a log. Fer. There be some sports are painful; but their labour Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness The mistress, which I serve, quickens what's dead, baseness Had ne'er like executor. I forget: But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my la bours; Most busy-less, when I do it. Enter Miranda; and Prospero at a distance. Alas, now! pray you, He's safe for these three hours. Fer. O most dear mistress, The sun will set, before I shall discharge What I must strive to do. Mira. If you'll sit down, I'll bear your logs the while: pray give me that; I'll carry it to the pile. Fer. No, precious creature: I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, VOL. I. C Than you should such dishonour undergo, Mira. It would become me As well as it does you: and I should do it Pro. Poor worm! thou art infected; This visitation shows it. Mira. You look wearily. Fer. No, noble mistress; 'tis fresh morning with me, When you are by at night. I do beseech you (Chiefly, that I might set it in my prayers,) What is your name? Mira. Miranda :-O my father, I have broke your hest1 to say so! Fer. Admir'd Miranda! Indeed, the top of admiration; worth What's dearest to the world. Full many a lady I have ey'd with best 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,2 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. 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, Mira. Do you love me? Fer. O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound, And crown what I profess with kind event, What best is boded me, to mischief! I, Mira. To weep at what I am glad of. I am a fool, Fair encounter Pro. Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace On that which breeds between them! Fer. Wherefore weep you? The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning! Fer. And I thus humble ever. My mistress, dearest, My husband then? (1) Whatsoever. 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: I 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. : Trin. Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no standard. Ste. We'll not run, monsieur monster. Trin. Nor go neither: but you'll lie, like dogs; and yet say nothing neither. Ste. Moon-calf, 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 man a coward, that hath 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! if Cal. Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I pr'ythee. Ste. Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head; you prove a mutineer, the next tree-The poor monster's my subject, and he shall not suffer indig nity. 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 Ari. Thou liest. Cal. Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou: Ste. Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in his tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth. Trin. Why, I said nothing. Ste. Mum then, and no more.-[To Caliban.] Proceed. (1) Debauched. |