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, Which since have steaded much so, of his gentleness, 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: Approach, my Ariel; come! 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 Pro. Hast thou, spirit, Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee? I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak, The yards, and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly, 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, The king's son have I landed by himself; Pro. Of the king's ship The mariners, say how thou hast dispos'd, Ari. Safely in harbour Is the king's ship; in the deep nook, where once Whom, with a charm join'd to their suffer'd labour, Supposing that they saw the king's ship wreck'd, Pro. Ariel, thy charge Exactly is perform'd: but there's more work. What is the time o' the day? Ari. Pro. At least two glasses. Past the mid season. The time 'twixt six and now Must by us both be spent most preciously. Ari. Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, Let me remember thee what thou hast promis'd, Which is not yet perform'd me. Pro. What is 't thou canst demand? Ari. How now! moody? My liberty. I prithee, Pro. Before the time be out? no more! Without or grudge or grumblings: thou didst promise Pro. Dost thou forget No. From what a torment I did free thee? Ari. Pro. Thou dost; and think'st it much, to tread the ooze Of the salt deep, To run upon the sharp wind of the north, To do me business in the veins o' th' earth, When it is bak'd with frost. Ari. I do not, Sir. Pro. Thou liest, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot The foul witch Sycorax, who, with age and envy, Was grown into a hoop? hast thou forgot her? Ari. No, Sir. Pro. Thou hast. Where was she born? Speak; tell me. Ari. Sir, in Argier. Pro. O, was she so? I must, Once in a month, recount what thou hast been, Thou know'st, was banish'd: for one thing she did, Pro. This blue-ey'd hag was hither brought with child, And, for thou wast a spirit too delicate To act her earthy and abhorr'd commands, A dozen years; within which space she died, As fast as mill-wheels strike. Then was this island (Save for the son that she did litter here, A freckled whelp, hag-born) not honour'd with Pro. Dull thing, I say so; he, that Caliban, Whom now I keep in service. Thou best know'st What torment I did find thee in; thy groans Did make wolves howl, and penetrate the breasts Of ever-angry bears: it was a torment To lay upon the damn'd, which Sycorax Ari. I thank thee, master. Pro. If thou more murmur'st, I will rend an oak, What shall I do? say what; what shall I do? Pro. Go make thyself like a nymph o' the sea: be subject To no sight but thine and mine; invisible To every eyeball else. Go, take this shape, And hither come in 't: go, hence with diligence. [Exit ARIEL. Awake, dear heart, awake! thou hast slept well; Awake! Mira. [Waking.] The strangeness of your story put Heaviness in me. Pro. Shake it off. Come on; We'll visit Caliban, my slave, who never Yields us kind answer. We cannot miss him: he does make our fire, That profit us.-What ho! slave! Caliban! Thou earth, thou! speak. Cal. [Within.] There's wood enough within. Pro. Come forth, I say; there's other business for thee: Come, thou tortoise! when? Pro. Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself Upon thy wicked dam, come forth! Enter CALIBAN. Cal. As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd With raven's feather from unwholesome fen, Drop on you both! a south-west blow on ye, And blister you all o'er! Pro. For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps, Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up; urchins |