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Were most impertinent.
Mir.

Wherefore did they not

Well demanded, wench;

That hour destroy us?

Pro.

My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst

not;

(So dear the love my people bore me) nor set
A mark so bloody on the business; but
With colors fairer painted their foul ends.
In few,1 they hurried us aboard a bark ;
Bore us some leagues to sea, where they prepared
A rotten carcass of a boat, not rigg'd,

Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats
Instinctively had quit it: there they hoist us,
To cry to the sea that roar'd to us; to sigh
To the winds, whose pity, sighing back again,
Did us but loving wrong.

Mir.

Alack! what trouble

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Thou wast, that did preserve me! Thou didst

smile,

Infused with a fortitude from heaven,

When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt; Under my burden groan'd; which raised in me

An undergoing stomach,3 to bear up

Against what should ensue.

Mir.

How came we ashore?

Pro. By Providence divine.

1 In short. 2 Covered. 3 A stubborn resolution.

Some food we had, and some fresh water, that
A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo,

Out of his charity, (who being then appointed
Master of this design) did give us; with

Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries,
Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentle-

ness,

Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me,
From my own library, with volumes that

I prize above my dukedom.

Mir.

But ever see that man!

Pro.

'Would I might

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Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow.
Here in this island we arrived; and here
Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit
Than other princes can, that have more time
For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful.
Mir. Heavens thank you for 't! And now,
pray you, sir,

(For still 'tis beating in my mind) your reason
For raising this sea-storm?

Pro.

Know thus far forth.

By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune,
Now, my dear lady, hath mine enemies
Brought to this shore: and by my prescience
I find my zenith doth depend upon

A most auspicious star; whose influence,
If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes

Will ever after droop.-Here cease more questions;
Thou art inclined to sleep; 'tis a good dulness,

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And give it way;-I know thou canst not choose.

[Miranda sleeps.

Come away, servant, come: I am ready now;
Approach, my Ariel; come.

Enter ARIEL.

Ari. All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I

come

To answer thy best pleasure; be 't to fly,
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride

On the curl'd clouds; to thy strong bidding, task
Ariel, and all his quality.1

Pro.

Hast thou, spirit,

Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee?
Ari. To every article.

I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak,
Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin,
I flamed amazement: Sometimes I'd divide,
And burn in many places; on the top-mast,
The yards, and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,
Then meet, and join: Jove's lightnings, the pre-

cursors

O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary And sight-out-running were not: The fire, and cracks

Of sulphurous roaring, the most mighty Neptune Seem'd to besiege, and make his bold waves tremble, Yea, his dread trident shake.

1 All his confederates; all who are of the same profession. The part between the quarter-deck and the forecastle.

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