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 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 true21:-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
To take my life: two of these fellows you
Must know, and own; this thing of darkness I
Acknowledge mine.

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. Fletcher uses it in the Chances :

Duke. Is she not drunk too?

Wh. A little gilded o'er, sir; old sack, old boys.

Το

Seb. Or stole it, rather.

[Exeunt CAL. STE. and TRIN. Pro. Sir, I invite your highness, and your train, my poor cell: where you shall take

your rest

For this one night; which (part of it) I'll waste

With such discourse, as, I not doubt, shall make it
Go quick away: the story of my life,

And the particular accidents, gone by,
Since I came to this isle: And in the morn,
I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,
Where I have hope to see the nuptial
Of these our dear-belov'd solémnized;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.

Alon.
I long
To hear the story of your life, which must
Take the ear strangely.

Pro.

I'll deliver all;

And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales,
And sail so expeditious, that shall catch
Your royal fleet far off.-My Ariel,—chick,—
That is thy charge; then to the elements

Be free, and fare thou well!-[Aside.] Please you,

draw near.

[Exeunt.

EPILOGUE.

SPOKEN BY PROSPERO.

Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own,
Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,
I must be here confin'd by you,
Or sent to Naples: Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got,
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island, by your spell ;
But release me from my bands,
With the help of your good hands',
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please: Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant;
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be reliev'd by prayer;
Which pierces so, that it assaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.

As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free.

1 By your applause. Noise was supposed to dissolve a spell. Thus before in this play :

Hush! be mute;

Or else our spell is marr'd."