Alon. If this prove A vision of the island, one dear son Shall I twice lose. Seb. A most high miracle! Fer. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful: I have curs'd them without cause. Alon. [FER. kneels to ALON. Now all the blessings Of a glad father compass thee about! Mira. O! wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people in't! Pro. "Tis new to thee. Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play? Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us, And brought us thus together? Fer. Sir, she's mortal; But, by immortal Providence, she's mine; I chose her, when I could not ask my father For his advice; nor thought I had one: she Is daughter to this famous duke of Milan, Of whom so often I have heard renown, But never saw before; of whom I have Received a second life, and second father This lady makes him to me. Alon. I am her's: But O, how oddly will it sound, that I Must ask my child forgiveness! Pro. There, sir, stop: Let us not burden our remembrances Gon. I have inly wept, Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you gods, For it is you, that have chalk'd forth the way Alon. I say, Amen, Gonzalo! Gon. Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue Should become kings of Naples? O, rejoice Beyond a common joy: and set it down With gold on lasting pillars: In one voyage Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis; And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom, In a poor isle; and all of us, ourselves, When no man was his own 15. Alon. Give me your hands: [To FER. and MIRA. Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart, Gon. Be't so! Amen! Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following. O look, sir, look, sir; here are more of us! Boats. The best news is, that we have safely found Our king, and company: the next our ship,— Which, but three glasses since, we gave out split,Is tight and yare 16, and bravely rigg'd, as when We first put out to sea. 15 When no man was in his senses or had self-possession. 16 See Note 1. Sc. 1. Ari. Sir, all this service' Have I done since I went. Pro. My tricksy 17 spirit! [Aside. Alon. These are not natural events; they strengthen, From strange to stranger:-Say, how came you hither? Boats. If I did think, sir, I were well awake, I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep, And (how, we know not,) all clapp'd under hatches, Where, but even now, with strange and several noises Of roaring, shrieking, howling, gingling chains, And more diversity of sounds, all horrible, We e were awak'd; straightway at liberty: Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld Our royal, good, and gallant ship; our master Cap'ring to eye her: On a trice, so please you, Even in a dream, were we divided from them, And were brought moping hither. Ari. Was't well done? Pro. Bravely, my diligence. Thou shalt [Aside. be free. Alon. This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod: And there is in this business more than nature Was ever conduct 18 of: some oracle Must rectify our knowledge. Pro. Sir, my liege, Do not infest your mind with beating on 19 The strangeness of this business: at pick'd leisure, Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you 17 Neat, adroit. Florio interprets "Pargoletta; quaint, pretty, nimble, trixie, tender, small." When we remember the tiny dimensions of Ariel, who could lie in the bell of a cowslip, the epithet, like all those of the great poet, will be found peculiarly appropriate. 18 Conductor. 19 There is a vulgar expression still in use, of similar import, "Still hammering at it." (Which to you shall seem probable 20) of every These happen'd accidents: till when, be cheerful, And think of each thing well.-Come hither, spirit; Set Caliban and his companions free: [Aside. Untie the spell. [Exit ARIEL.] How fares my gra cious sir? There are yet missing of your company Some few odd lads, that you remember not. Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel. Ste. Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man take care for himself; for all is but fortune :Coragio, bully-monster, Coragio! Trin. If these be true spies which I wear in my head, here's a goodly sight. Cal. O Setebos, these be brave spirits, indeed! How fine my master is! I am afraid He will chastise me. What things are these, my lord Antonio! Will money buy them? Ant. Very like; one of them Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable. Pro. Mark but the badges of these men, my lords, Then say, if they be true 21:-This mis-shapen knave, His mother was a witch; and one so strong That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs, And deal in her command, without her power 22: These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil 20 This parenthetical passage seems to mean :-"When I have explained to you, then these strange events shall seem more probable than they do now." 21 Honest. 22 That is, work the same effects as the moon without her delegated authority. (For he's a bastard one) had plotted with them Cal. I shall be pinch'd to death. Alon. Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler? Seb. He is drunk now: Where had he wine? Alon. And Trinculo is reeling ripe: Where should they Find this grand liquor that hath gilded them 23 ?——— How cam'st thou in this pickle? Trin. I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you last, that, I fear me, will never out of my bones: I shall not fear fly-blowing. Seb. Why, how now, Stephano? Ste. O, touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a cramp. Pro. You'd be king of the isle, sirrah? Ste. I should have been a sore one then. Alon. This is as strange a thing as e'er I look'd on. [Pointing to CALIBAN. Pro. He is as disproportion'd in his manners, As in his shape:-Go, sirrah, to my cell; Take with you your companions; as you look To have my pardon, trim it handsomely. Cal. Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter, And seek for grace: What a thrice double ass Was I, to take this drunkard for a god, And worship this dull fool? Pro. Go to; away! Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it. 23 The allusion is to the elixir of the Alchemists. The phrase of being gilded was a trite one for being drunk. in the Chances :--- Duke. Is she not drunk too? Fletcher uses it Wh. A little gilded o'er, sir; old sack, old boys. |