lift the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue in it five weeks without changing. Enter Ariel invisible, playing solemn music. Seb. We would so, and then go a bat-fowling. Ant. Nay, good my lord, be not angry. Gon. No, I warrant you; I will not adventure my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy? Ant. Go sleep, and hear us. [All sleep but Alon. Seb. and Ant. Alon. What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: I find they are inclin❜d to do so. Seb. Please you, sir, Do not omit the heavy offer of it: It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth, Seb. What a strange drowsiness possesses them? Seb. Why Doth it not then our eye-lids sink? I find not Myself dispos'd to sleep. Ant. Nor I; my spirits are nimble. They fell together all, as by consent; They dropp'd, as by a thunder-stroke. What might, Worthy Sebastian ?—O, what might ?-No more :— And yet, methinks, I see it in thy face, What thou should'st be: the occasion speaks thee; and My strong imagination sees a crown Dropping upon thy head. Seb. What, art thou waking ? Ant. Do you not hear me speak? It is a sleepy language; and thou speak'st Out of thy sleep: What is it thou didst say? With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving, Ant. Noble Sebastian, Thou dost snore distinctly; Thou let'st thy fortune sleep-die rather; wink'st Whiles thou art waking. Seb. There's meaning in thy snores. Ant. I am more serious than my custom: you Must be so too, if heed me; which to do, Trebles thee o'er. Seb. Well; I am standing water. Ant. I'll teach you how to flow. Hereditary sloth instructs me. Ant. 0, If you but knew, how you the purpose cherish, Most often do so near the bottom run, By their own fear, or sloth. Seb. Pr'ythee, say on: The setting of thine eye, and cheek, proclaim Which throes thee much to yield. Ant. Thus, sir: Although this lord of weak remembrance, this (Who shall be of as little memory, When he is earth'd,) hath here almost persuaded (For he's a spirit of persuasion only,) The king, his son's alive; 'tis as impossible That he's undrown'd, as he, that sleeps here, swims. Seb. I have no hope That he's undrown'd. Ant. O, out of that no hope, What great hope have you! no hope, that way, is That Ferdinand is drown'd? Seb. Ant. Will you grant, Will you grant, with me, He's gone. Then, tell me, Claribel. Who's the next heir of Naples ? Seb. Ant. She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells Ten leagues beyond man's life; she that from Naples Can have no note, unless the sun were post, (The man i' the moon's too slow,) till new-born chins Be rough and razorable: she, from whom We were all sea-swallow'd, though some cast again; Whereof what's past is prologue; what to come, Seb. What stuff is this ?-how say you ? "Tis true, my brother's daughter's queen of Tunis ; So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions There is some space. A space, whose every cubit Seems to cry out, How shall that Claribel Measure us back to Naples -Keep in Tunis, And let Sebastian wake!-Say, this were death That now hath seiz'd them; why, they were no worse As this Gonzalo; I myself could make A chough of as deep chat. O, that you bore Ant. And how does your content Tender your own good fortune? Seb. I remember, You did supplant your brother Prospero. True: Ant. Ant. Ay, sir; where lies that? If it were a kybe, If he were that which now he's like; whom I, Seb. Thy case, dear friend, Shall be my precedent; as thou got'st Milan, I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke Shall free thee from the tribute which thou pay'st; And I the king shall love thee. Ant. Draw together: Seb. O, but one word. [They converse apart. Music. Re-enter Ariel, invisible. Ari. My master through his art foresees the danger That these, his friends, are in; and sends me forth, (For else his project dies,) to keep them living. [Sings in Gonzalo's ear. While you here do snoring lie, His time doth take: If of life you keep a care, Shake off slumber, and beware: Ant. Then let us both be sudden. Gon. Now, good angels, preserve the king! [They wake. Alon. Why, how now, ho! awake! Why are you drawn? Wherefore this ghastly looking? Gon. What's the matter? Seb. Whiles we stood here securing your repose, Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing Like bulls, or rather lions: did it not wake you? It struck mine ear most terribly. Alon. I heard nothing. Ant. O, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear: To make an earthquake! sure, it was the roar Of a whole herd of lions. Alon. Heard you this, Gonzalo ? Gon. Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming, And that a strange one too, which did awake me : I shak'd you, sir, and cry'd ; as mine eyes open'd, I saw their weapons drawn :-there was a noise, That's verity: 'Best stand upon our guard ; Or that we quit this place: let's draw our weapons. Alon. Lead off this ground; and let's make further search |