Begun to tell me what I am; but stopp'd, Pro. The hour's now come; The very minute bids thee ope thine ear: I do not think thou canst, for then thou wast not Out three Mira. years old. Certainly, Sir, I can. Pro. By what? by any other house, or person? Mira. that 'Tis far off; And rather like a dream, than an assurance Four or five women once, that tended me? Pro. Thou hadst, and more, Miranda. But how is it, That this lives in thy mind? What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? If thou remember'st aught, ere thou cam'st here, Mira. But that I do not. Pro. Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since, Thy father was the duke of Milan, and A prince of power. Mira. Sir, are not you my father? Pro. Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father Was duke of Milan; and his only heir A princess, no worse issu'd. Mira. O the heavens! What foul play had we, that we came from thence? Or blessed was 't, we did? To think o' the teen that I have turn'd you to, Which is from my remembrance. Please you, farther. Pro. My brother, and thy uncle, call'd Antonio,—— I pray thee, mark me,—that a brother should Be so perfidious !-he whom, next thyself, The manage of my state; as, at that time, Without a parallel: those being all my study And to my state grew stranger, being transported, Pro. Being once perfected how to grant suits, How to deny them, whom t' advance, and whom To trash for over-topping, new created The creatures that were mine, I say, or chang'd them, Of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state And suck'd my verdure out on 't.-Thou attend'st not. I Pro. As my trust was; which had, indeed, no limit, Not only with what my revenue yielded, But what my power might else exact,-like one, Made such a sinner of his memory, To credit his own lie,—he did believe He was indeed the duke; out o' the substitution, With all prerogative :-hence his ambition Mira. Your tale, Sir, would cure deafness. Pro. To have no screen between this part he play'd, And him he play'd it for, he needs will be Absolute Milan. Me, poor man, my library Was dukedom large enough: of temporal royalties He thinks me now incapable; confederates Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend The dukedom, yet unbow'd, (alas, poor Milan !) Pro. Mark his condition, and th' event; then tell me If this might be a brother. I should sin Mira. Pro. This king of Naples, being an enemy Now the condition. To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit; The gates of Milan; and, i' the dead of darkness, And then I'll bring thee to the present business Which now's upon's; without the which, this story 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 colours fairer painted their foul ends. In few, they hurried us aboard a bark, Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepar'd Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats Instinctively have quit it: there they hoist us, Mira. Was I then to you! Pro. Alack, what trouble O, a cherubin Thou wast, that did preserve me! thou didst smile, When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt, Against what should ensue. Mira. Pro. By Providence divine. How came we ashore? Some food we had, and some fresh water, that Out of his charity, (who being then appointed Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries, From mine own library, with volumes that I prize above my dukedom. Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit Than other princess' can, that have more time For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful. Mira. Heavens thank you for 't! And now, I 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-- Brought to this shore; and by my prescience A most auspicious star, whose influence Will ever after droop. Here cease more questions: Thou art inclin'd to sleep; 'tis a good dulness, And give it way:-I know thou canst not choose.— [MIRANDA sleeps. Come away, servant, come! I am ready now: 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 Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee? I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak, My brave spirit! Pro. Would not infect his reason? But felt a fever of the mad, and play'd Some tricks of desperation. All, but mariners, Pro. But was not this nigh shore? Why, that's my spirit! Close by, my master. Not a hair perish'd; Pro. But are they, Ariel, safe? On their sustaining garments not a blemish, |