Prospero. [Aside] Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou 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, In their distractions: they now are in my power; And in these fits I leave them, while I visit Young Ferdinand,-whom they suppose is drown'd,— 90 [Exit above. Gonzalo. I' the name of something holy, sir, why stand you In this strange stare? Alonso. O, it is monstrous, monstrous! Sebastian. I'll fight their legions o'er. Antonio. 100 [Exit. But one fiend at a time, I'll be thy second. [Exeunt Sebastian and Antonio. Gonzalo. All three of them are desperate; their great guilt, Like poison given to work a great time after, Now gins to bite the spirits.—I do beseech you And hinder them from what this ecstasy May now provoke them to. Adrian. Follow, I pray you. -[Exeunt. SCENE I. Before Prospero's Cell. Enter PROSPERO, FERDINAND, and MIRANDA. Prospero. 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; who once again Do not smile at me that I boast her off, For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise, Ferdinand. Against an oracle. I do believe it Prospero. Then, as my gift and thine own acquisition If thou dost break her virgin-knot before No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall Ferdinand. As I hope For quiet days, fair issue, and long life, With such love as 't is now, the murkiest den, The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion Our worser genius can, shall never melt Mine honour intó lust, to take away The edge of that day's celebration When I shall think, or Phœbus' steeds are founder'd, Prospero. Fairly spoke. Sit then and talk with her; she is thine own.- Enter ARIEL. Ariel. What would my potent master? here I am. Prospero. 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 give thee power, here to this place. Incite them to quick motion, for I must Ariel. Prospero. Ay, with a twink. Presently? Before you can say 'come' and 'go,' Prospero. Dearly, my delicate Ariel. Do not approach Till thou dost hear me call. Ariel. Well, I conceive. Prospero. Look thou be true; do not give dalliance Or else good night your vow! Ferdinand. I warrant you, sir ; The white-cold virgin snow upon my heart Abates the ardour of my liver. Now come, my Ariel! bring a corollary, Rather than want a spirit; appear, and pertly!— No tongue! all eyes! be silent. 40 [Exit. 51 [Soft music. Enter IRIS. Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas 60 Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and pease; Which spongy April at thy hest betrims, To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom groves, And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard, Where thou thyself dost air ;-the queen o' the sky, Bids thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace, To come and sport. Her peacocks fly amain; Enter CERES. Ceres. 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, 70 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 And some donation freely to estate On the blest lovers. Ceres. Tell me, heavenly bow, If Venus or her son, as thou dost know, Do now attend the queen? Since they did plot 80 90 |