Pro. [me Now the condition. This king of Naples, being an enemy To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit; Which was, that he, in lieu o' the premises,Of homage, and I know not how much tribute,Should presently extirpate me and mine Out of the dukedom, and confer fair Milan, With all the honours, on my brother: whereon, A treacherous army levied, one midnight Fated to the purpose, did Antonio open The gates of Milan; and, i' the dead of darkness, The ministers for the purpose hurried thence Me, and thy crying self. Mira. Alack, for pity! I, not rememb'ring how I cried out then, Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes to 't. Pro. Hear a little farther, And then I'll bring thee to the present business Which now's upon's; without the which, this story Were most impertinent. Mira. That hour destroy us? Pro. Wherefore did they not Well demanded, wench: My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst So dear the love my people bore me,-nor set [not,A mark so bloody on the business; but With colours fairer painted their foul ends. In few, they hurried us aboard a bark, Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepar'd A rotten carcass of a boat, not rigg'd, Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats Instinctively have 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. Mira. Was I then to you! Pro. Alack, what trouble O, a cherubin Here in this island we arriv'd; and here 3 Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit For still 'tis beating in my mind,-your reason Pro. A most auspicious star, whose influence Enter ARIEL. Ari. All hail, great master! grave Sir, hail! I come Pro. I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak, cursors O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary Ari. Not a soul But was not this nigh shore? Ari. THE TEMPEST. Is the king's ship; in the deep nook, where once Supposing that they saw the king's ship wreck'd, Pro. Exactly is perform'd: but there's more work. Ariel, thy charge What is the time o' the day? Ari. Pro. At least two glasses. and now Past the mid season. The time 'twixt six Must by us both be spent most preciously. Ari. Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, Let me remember thee what thou hast promis'd, Which is not yet perform'd me. Pro. How now! moody? What is 't thou canst demand? Ari. Pro. Before the time be out? no more! Remember I have done thee worthy service; Pro. From what a torment I did free thee? Dost thou forget Ari. No. Pro. Thou dost; and think'st it much, to tread Of the salt deep, [the ooze To run upon the sharp wind of the north, Ari. Pro. Thou hast. Where was she born? speak; tell me. Art. Sir, in Argier. Pro. Once in a month, recount what thou hast been, O, was she so? I must, Which thou forget'st. This damn'd witch, Sycorax, For mischiefs manifold, and sorceries terrible To enter human hearing, from Argier, Thou know'st, was banish'd: for one thing she did, They would not take her life. Ari. Ay, Sir. Is not this true? Pro. This blue-ey'd hag was hither brought with [child, And here was left by the sailors. Thou, my slave, As thou report'st thyself, wast then her servant: And, for thou wast a spirit too delicate To act her earthy and abhorr'd commands, Refusing her grand hests, she did confine thee, By help of her more potent ministers, And in her most unmitigable rage, Into a cloven pine; within which rift Imprison'd, thou didst painfully remain A dozen years; within which space she died, And left thee there; where thou didst vent thy groans As fast as mill-wheels strike. Then was this island Pro. Dull thing, I say so; he, that Caliban, Whom now I keep in service. Thou best know'st What torment I did find thee in; thy groans Did make wolves howl, and penetrate the breasts Of ever-angry bears: it was a torment To lay upon the damn'd, which Sycorax Could not again undo. It was mine art, When I arriv'd and heard thee, that made gape The pine, and let thee out. Ari. Pro. If thou more murmur'st, I will rend an oak, I thank thee, master. And peg thee in his knotty entrails, till Thou hast howl'd away twelve winters. Ari. What shall I do? say what; what shall I do? Pro. Go make thyself like a nymph o' the sea: be subject To no sight but thine and mine; invisible To every eyeball else. Awake, dear heart, awake! thou hast slept well; And hither come in 't: go, hence with diligence. Go take this shape, [Exit ARIEL. Awake! Mira. [Waking.] The strangeness of your story Heaviness in me. [put Pro. Pro. Cal. [Within.] There's wood enough within. Re-enter ARIEL like a water-nymph. Cal. As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd Pro. For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up; urchins As thick as honey-comb, each pinch more stinging Cal. Which thou tak'st from me. When thou camest first, Thou strok'dst me, and mad'st much of me; would'st give me Water with berries in 't; and teach me how The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile: Cursed be I that did so!-All the charms Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you! Which first was mine own king; and here you sty me Pro. Which any print of goodness will not take, Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee, [hour Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each Who hadst deserv'd more than a prison. Cal. You taught me language; and my profit on't Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you, For learning me your language! Pro. Hag-seed, hence! Fetch us in fuel; and be quick, thou 'rt best, To answer other business. Shrug'st thou, malice? If thou neglect'st, or dost unwillingly What I command, I'll rack thee with old cramps, Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar, That beasts shall tremble at thy din. No, pray thee! Cal. [Aside.] I must obey: his art is of such power, It would control my dam's god, Setebos, And make a vassal of him. It sounds no more; and sure, it waits upon Some god o' th' island. Sitting on a bank, Weeping again the king my father's wreck, This music crept by me upon the waters, Allaying both their fury, and my passion, With its sweet air: thence I have follow'd it, Or it hath drawn me rather:-but 'tis gone.No, it begins again. ARIEL sings. Full fathom five thy father lies; [Burden: ding-dong. Hark! now I hear them,-ding-dong, bell. Fer. The ditty does remember my drown'd faThis is no mortal business, nor no sound [ther.That the earth owes:-I hear it now above me. Pro. The fringed curtains of thine eye advance, And say, what thou seest yond'. Mira. What is 't? a spirit? Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, Sir, It carries a brave form:-but 'tis a spirit. Pro. No, wench; it eats, and sleeps, and hath such senses As we have; such. This gallant, which thou see'st, A thing divine; for nothing natural I might call him It goes on, I see, [thee Most sure, Pro. [Aside.] As my soul prompts it.-Spirit, fine spirit! I'll free Within two days for this. Fer. the goddess On whom these airs attend!-Vouchsafe, my prayer May know if you remain upon this island; And that you will some good instruction give, How I may bear me here: my prime request, Which I do last pronounce, is,-O you wonder!— If you be maid, or no? Mira. But certainly a maid. Fer. No wonder, Sir; My language! heavens!I am the best of them that speak this speech, Were I but where 'tis spoken. Pro. How! the best? What wert thou, if the king of Naples heard thee? Fer. A single thing, as I am now, that wonders To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me; And, that he does, I weep: myself am Naples; Who with mine eyes, ne'er since at ebb, beheld The king, my father, wreck'd. Mira. Fer. Yes, faith, and all his And his brave son, being twain. Alack, for mercy! lords; the duke of The duke of Milan, And his more braver daughter, could control thee, I'll set thee free for this!-[To FER.] A word, good Sir; I fear you have done yourself some wrong: a word. |