First, noble friend, Be living, and be here? Let me embrace thine age; whose honour cannot Be measur'd, or confin'd. Gon. Or be not, I'll not swear. Whether this be, You do yet taste Some subtilties o' the isle, that will not let you Believe things certain :-Welcome, my friends all: But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded, [Aside to Seb. and Ant. I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you, Seb. Pro. The devil speaks in him. [Aside. No; For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother Alon. If thou beest Prospero, Give us particulars of thy preservation; How thou hast met us here, who three hours since Were wreck'd upon this shore; where I have lost, How sharp the point of this remembrance is! My dear son Ferdinand. Pro. I am wol for't, sir. Alon. Irreparable is the loss; and Patience Says, it is past her cure. Pro. I rather think You have not sought her help; of whose soft grace, For the like loss, I have her sovereign aid, And rest myself content. Alon. You the like loss? Pra. As great to me, as late; and, portable? To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker Than you may call to comfort you; for I Alon. A daughter? O heavens! that they were living both in Naples, The king and queen there! that they were, I wish Myself were mudded in that oozy bed Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter? Pro. In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords At this encounter do so much admire, That they devour their reason; and scarce think Their eyes do offices of truth, their words Are natural breath; but, howsoe'er you have Been justled from your senses, know for certain, That I am Prospero, and that very duke Which was thrust forth of Milan; whomost strangely Upon this shore, where you were wreck'd, was landed, To be the lord on't. No more yet of this; The entrance of the cell opens, and discovers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess. Mira. Sweet lord, you play me false. I would not for the world. No, my dearest love, Mira. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, And I would call it fair play. Alon. If this prove A vision of the island, one dear son , Shall I twice lose. Seb. A most high miracle! Fer. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful; I have curs'd them without cause. Alon. [Ferd. kneels to Alon. Now all the blessings Of a glad father compass thee about! Arise, and say how thou cam'st here. Mira. O! wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people in't! Pro. 'Tis new to thee. Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play? Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: Fer. Sir, she's mortal; But, by immortal Providence, she's mine; Alon. I am hers: But O, how oddly will it sound, that I Must ask my child forgiveness ! Pro. There, sir, stop: Let us not burden our remembrances With a heaviness that's gone. Gon. I have inly wept, Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you gods, For it is you, that have chalk'd forth the way Which brought us hither! Alon. I say, Amen, Gonzalo ! Gon. Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue Should become king of Naples? O, rejoice When no man was his own.1 1 Alon, Give me your hands: [To Fer. and Mira. Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart, Gon. Be't so! Amen! Re-enter Ariel, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following. O look, sir, look, sir; here are more of us! We first put out to sea. Ari. Sir, all this service Have I done since I went. Pro. My tricksy 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 (1) In his senses. (2) Ready. (3) Clever, adroit. Of roaring, shrieking, howling, gingling chains, Ari. Was't well done? Pro. Bravely, my diligence. shalt be free. Thou [Aside. Alon. This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod: And there is in this business more than nature Was ever conduct1 of some oracle Must rectify our knowledge. Pro. Sir, my liege, Do not infest your mind with beating on 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 Re-enter Ariel, driving in Caliban, Stephano, and Trin. If these be true spies which I wear in my (1) Conductor. |