Fer.

Weeps when she sees me work; and says, such base

ness
Had ne'er like executor. I forget :
But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours;
Most busy-less, when I do it.
Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance.
Mira.

Alas, now! pray you,
Work not so hard: I would, the lightning had
Burnt up those logs, that you are enjoin'd to pile!
Pray, set it down, and rest you: when this burns,
'Twill weep for having wearied you: My father
Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;
He's safe for these three hours.

O most dear mistress,
The sun will set, before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.
Mira.

If you'll sit down,
I'll bear your logs the while: Pray, give me that;
I'll carry it to the pile.
Fer.

No, precious creature;
I'd rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonour undergo,
While I sit lazy by.
Mira.

It would become me
As well as it does you: and I should do it
With much more ease; for my good will is to it,
And your's it is against.
Pro.

Poor worm! thou art infected;
This visitation shews it.
Mira.

You look wearily.
Fer. No, noble mistress; 'tis fresh morning with me,
When you are by at night. I do beseech you,
(Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers,)
What is your name?

Mira.

Miranda :-O my father, I have broke your hest* to say so! Fer.

Admir’d Miranda! Indeed, the top of admiration; worth What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady I have ey'd with best regard; and many a time The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues Have I lik’d several women; never any With so full soul, but some defect in her Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd 5, And put it to the foil : But you, O you, So perfect, and so peerless, are created Of every creature's best o. Mira.

I do not know
One of my sex; no woman's face remember,
Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen
More that I may call men, than you, good friend,
And my dear father: how features are abroad,
I am skill-less of; but, by my modesty,
(The jewel in my dower,) I would not wish
Any companion in the world but you;
Nor can imagination form a shape,
Besides yourself, to like of: but I prattle
Something too wildly, and my father's precepts
I therein do forget.
Fer.

I am, in my condition,
A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;
(I would, not so!) and would no more endure
This wooden slavery, than to suffer

The flesh-fly blow my mouth.- Hear my soul

speak;—
The very instant that I saw you, did
My heart fly to your service; there resides,
To make me slave to it; and, for your sake,
Am I this patient log-man.
Mira.

Do you love me?
Fer. O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound,
And crown what I profess with kind event,
If I speak true; if hollowly, invert
What best is boded me to mischief! I,
Beyond all limit of what else 7 i' the world,
Do love, prize, honour you.
Mira.

I am a fool,
To weep at what I am glad of 8.
Pro.

Fair encounter
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
On that which breeds between them!
Fer.

Wherefore weep you? Mira. At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer What I desire to give; and much less take, What I shall die to want: But this is trifling; And all the more it seeks to hide itself, The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning! And prompt me, plain and holy innocence! I am your wife, if you will marry me; If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow 9 ? What else, for whatsoever else.

8 Steevens observes justly that this is one of those touches of nature which distinguish Shakspeare from all other writers. There is a kindred thought in Romeo and Juliet:

“ Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring !
Your tributary drops belong to woe,

Which you mistaking offer up to joy.” 9 i.e. your companion. Malone has cited a very apposite passage from Catullus; but, as Mr. Douce remarks, Shakspeare had more probably the pathetic old poem of The Nut Brown Maid in his recollection.

Fer.

You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.

My mistress, dearest,
And I thus humble ever.
Mira.

My husband then ?
Fer. Ay, with a heart as willing
As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.
Mira. And mine, with my heart in't: And now

farewell, Till half an hour hence. Fer.

A thousand! thousand!

[Exeunt Fer. and MIR. Pro. So glad of this as they, I cannot be, Who are surpriz’d with all; but my rejoicing At nothing can be more. I'll to my book; For yet, ere supper time, must I perform Much business appertaining.

[Exit.

SCENE II. Another part of the Island. Enter STEPHANO and TRINCULO; CALIBAN fol

lowing with a Bottle. Ste. Tell not me;—when the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board ’em: Servant-monster, drink to me.

Trin. Servant-monster? the folly of this island ! They say, there's but five upon this isle: we are three of them; if the other two be brained like us, the state totters.

Ste. Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee; thy eyes are almost set in thy head.

Trin. Where should they be set else? he were a brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.

Ste. My man-monster hath drowned his tongue in sack: for my part, the sea cannot drown me: I swam, ere I could recover the shore, five-and-thirty

leagues, off and on, by this light.—Thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my standard.

Trin. Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no standard. Ste. We'll not run, monsieur monster.

Trin. Nor go neither: but you'll lie, like dogs; and yet say nothing neither.

Ste. Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a good moon-calf.

Cal. How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe: I'll not serve him, he is not valiant.

Trin. Thou liest, most ignorant monster; I am in case to justle a constable: Why, thou deboshed 1 fish thou, was there ever man a coward, that hath drunk so much sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish, and half a monster?

Cal. Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord ?

Trin. Lord, quoth he!—that a monster should be such a natural !

Cal. Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I pr’ythee.

Ste. Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head; if you prove a mutineer, the next tree-The poor monster's my subject, and he shall not suffer indignity.

Cal. I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleas'd to hearken once again to the suit I made thee?

Ste. Marry will I: kneel, and repeat it; I will stand, and so shall Trinculo.

Enter ARIEL, invisible. Cal. As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant; a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of this island.