Mira. What is't, a fpirit? Lord, how it looks about! believe me, Sir, Pro. No, wench, it eats, and fleeps, and hath fuch fenfes As we have, fuch. This gallant, which thou seeft, A goodly perfon. He hath loft his fellows, Mira. I might call him A thing divine; for nothing natural Pro. It goes on, I fee, [Afide. As my foul prompts it. Spirit, fine fpirit, I'll free thee Within two days for this. Fer. Moft fure, the Goddess On whom these ayres attend! vouchsafe, my pray'r May know, if you remain upon this Island; and facilitates its entrance into the mind. But this was, evidently, infufficient. Therefore, to make the way the eafier, fhe is fupposed to be under the influence of her Father's charm, which was to diffolve, as it were, the rigid chains of virtue and obedience. This is infinuated to the Audience when Profpero, before he begins his ftory, fays to her, Lend thy hand And pluck this magick garment from me. The touch communicated the charm, and its efficacy was to lay her to fleep. This is the reafon that Profpero fo often questions her, as he proceeds in his ftory, whether the was attentive: being apprehenfive the charm might operate too quick, even before he had ended his relation. Without this interpretation his frequent repetition will appear extremely cold, and abfurd. For the fame reafon, likewife, he fays, in conclufion, 8 Thou art inclin'd to fleep. 'Tis a good dulnefs, And give it way: I know thou can'ft not chufe. vouchsafe my pray'r May know,- ] For, I may know. Extremely poetical; and most expreffive of the humility of the Speaker. And And that you will fome good inftruction give, If Mira. No wonder, Sir, But certainly a maid. Fer. My language! heav'ns! I am the best of them that speak this speech, Pro. How? the best? What wert thou, if the King of Naples heard thee? Fer. A fingle thing, as I am now, that wonders To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me ; And, that he does, I weep: my self am Naples, Who, with mine eyes (ne'er fince at ebb) beheld The King my father wreckt. Mira. Alack, for mercy! Fer. Yes, faith, and all his lords: the Duke of Milan, And his brave fon, being twain. Pro. The Duke of Milan, And his more braver daughter, could If now 'twere fit to do't: At the first fight, They have chang'd eyes: (delicate Ariel, [thee, controul I'll fet thee free for this.) A word, good Sir. 9 certainly a maid. ] Nothing could be more prettily imagined to illustrate the fingularity of her character, than this pleasant mistake. She had been bred up in the rough and plaindealing documents of moral philofophy, which teaches us the knowledge of our felves: And was an utter ftranger to the flattery invented by vicious and defigning Men to corrupt the other Sex. So that it could not enter into her imagination, that complaifance and a defire of appearing amiable, qualities of humanity which the had been inftructed, in her moral leffons, to cultivate, could ever degenerate into fuch excefs, as that any one fhould be willing to have his fellow-creature believe that he thought her a Goddess or an Immortal. controul thee,] i. e. fhew thee thy error. Mira. Why speaks my father fo ungently? this Fer. O, if a Virgin, And your Affection not gone forth, I'll make you Pro. Soft, Sir: one word more. They're both in either's power: but this fwift business I must uneafie make, left too light winning Make the prize light. Sir, one word more; I charge thee, Mira. There's nothing ill can dwell in fuch a tem If the ill fpirit have so fair an house, Good things will ftrive to dwell with't. Pro. Follow me Speak not you for him: he's a traitor. Come, I'll manacle thy neck and feet together; Sea-water fhalt thou drink; thy food shall be The fresh-brook muffels, wither'd roots, and husks Wherein the acorn cradled. Fer. No, Follow. I will refift fuch entertainment, 'till Mine enemy has more power. [He draws, and is charm'd from moving. 2 Mira. O dear father, 2 Mira. O dear father, Make not too rash a tryal of him; for He's gentle, and not fearful. Make This feems to be a very odd way of expreffing her sense of her Lover's good qualities. It is certain the beauty of it is not feen at first view. Miranda, 'till now, had never feen any Mortal (her Make not too rafh a tryal of him; for Pro. What, I fay, My foot my tutor? put thy fword up, traitor, fcience Is fo poffeft with guilt: come from thy ward, For I can here difarm thee with this ftick, Mira. Befeech you, father. C Pro. Hence hang not on my garment. I'll be his furety. Pro. Silence: one word more Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What, An advocate for an impoftor? hufh! Thou think'ft, there are no more fuch fhapes as he, Having feen but him and Caliban; foolifh wench! To th' most of men this is a Caliban, And they to him are angels. Mira. My affections Are then most humble: I have no ambition (her father excepted) but Caliban. She had frequently beheld I'll manacle thy neck and feet together: Sea-water shalt thou drink, thy food shall be The fresh-brook muffles, wither'd roots and husks The perverfity of Caliban's nature, and the Cowardliness of it, made punishment neceffary, and eafy to be inflicted: Finding therefore Ferdinand threatened with the like treatment, out of tenderness both to her Father and Lover fhe cries He's gentle, not like the favage Caliban, and fo deferves not punishment; this fhe gathered from his preceeding converfation with her - and not fearful, like that coward, and fo is not to be eafily managed. This fhe collected from his drawing his fword, and standing on his defence. Pro. Pro. Come on, obey; Thy nerves are in their infancy again, And have no vigour in them. Fer. So they are: My fpirits, as in a dream, are all bound up. The wreck of all my friends, and this man's threats, Pro. It works come on. (Thou haft done well, fine Ariel:) follow me. Hark, what thou elfe fhalt do me. Mira. Be of comfort, My father's of a better nature, Sir, [To Ariel. Than he appears by fpeech: this is unwonted, Pro. Thou shalt be as free As mountain winds; but then exactly do All points of my command. Ari. To th' fyllable. Pro. Come, follow: fpeak not for him. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. Another part of the Island. Enter Alonfo, Sebastian, Anthonio, Gonzalo, BES GONZAL O. ESEECH you, Sir, be merry: you have caufe (So have we all) of joy! for our escape 3 My fpirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.] Alluding to a common fenfation in dreams, when we ftruggle, but with a total impuiffance in our endeavours, to run, ftrike, &c. & |