Pro.
If I have too austerely punish'd you,
Your compensation makes amends; for I
Have giv'n you here a thread of mine own life;
Or that for which I live: all thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
Hast strangely stood the test. Here, afore heaven,
I ratify this my rich gift: O Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me, that I boast her off;
For thou shalt find, she will outstrip all praise,
And make it halt behind her.

Fer.
I believe it,
Against an oracle.

Pro.
Then, as my gift, and thine own acquisition,
Worthily purchas'd, take my Daughter. But
If thou dost break her virgin-knot, before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may,
With full and holy rite, be minister'd,
No sweet aspersions shall the heav'ns let fall,
To make this contract grow: but barren hate,
Sour-ey'd disdain, and discord, shall bestrew
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly,
That you shall hate it both: therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamps shall light you* ^note.

Fer.
As I hope
For quiet days, fair issue, and long life,
With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den,
The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion,
Our worser Genius can, shall never melt

Mine honour into lust; to take away
The edge of that day's celebration,
When I shall think or Phœbus' steeds are founder'd,
Or night kept chain'd below.

Pro.
Fairly spoke.
Sit then, and talk with her, she is thine own.
What, Ariel; my industrious servant, Ariel— Enter Ariel.

Ari.
What would my potent master? here I am.

Pro.
Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service
Did worthily perform; and I must use you
In such another trick; go, bring the rabble,
O'er whom I give thee power, here to this place:
Incite them to quick motion, for I must
Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple,
Some vanity of mine art; it is my promise,
And they expect it from me.

Ari.
Presently?

Pro.
Ay, with a twink.
Ariel sings. AIR.
Before you can say, Come, and go,
And breathe twice; and cry, So, so;
Each one, tripping on his toe,
Will be here with mop and mow,
Do you love me, master? no?

Pro.
Why, that's my delicate Ariel; do not approach,
'Till thou dost hear me call. [Exit Ariel.
Look, thou be true; do not give dalliance
Too much the rein; the strongest oaths are straw,
To th' fire i'th' blood: be more abstemious,
Or else, good-night, your vow!—

Fer.
I warrant you, sir;
The white, cold, virgin-snow upon my heart,
Abates the ardour of my liver.

Pro.
Well.
No tongue; all eyes; be silent. [To Ferdinand. [Soft Music.* ^note MASQUE. Enter Juno.
RECITATIVE.
Hither, Hymen, speed your way,
Celebrate this happy day;
Hither, Ceres, haste away,
Celebrate this happy day:
With blithsome look, and jocund mien,
Come, and tread this short grass green,
Leave behind your grief and care,
Come, and bless this happy pair. Enter Hymen and Ceres.
Hym.
Honour, riches, marriage, blessing,
Long continuance and encreasing,
Hourly joys be still upon ye,
Hymen sings his blessings on ye. Cer.
Earth's encrease, and foyson plenty,
Barns and garners never empty;
Vines in clust'ring bunches growing,
Plants with goodly burthens bowing. BOTH.
Honour, riches, marriage, blessing,
Long continuance and encreasing,
Hourly joys be still upon ye,
Hymen sings his blessings on ye. DUET. Cer.
Scarcity and want shall shun ye,
Ceres sings her blessings on ye.

Hym.
Hourly joys be still upon ye,
Hymen sings his blessings on ye.
RECIT.
You sun-burn'd sickle men, of August weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry.
DUET. Hymen and Ceres.
Away, away, make holiday,
  Your rye-straw hats put on;
Bring each his lass, and beat the grass,
  Let toil and care be gone. Enter certain Reapers, properly habited; they join with the Nymphs in a graceful Dance; towards the end whereof, Prospero starts suddenly, and speaks.

Pro.
Break off, break off,
I had forgot that foul conspiracy
Of the beast Caliban, and his confed'rates,
Against my life; the minute of their plot
Is almost come. Well done, avoid; no more. [Exeunt Dancers, &c.

Fer.
This is most strange; your father's in some passion,
That works him strongly.

Mir.
Never 'till this day,
Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd.

Pro.
You look, my son, in a mov'd sort,
As if you were dismay'd: be chearful, sir:
Our revels now are ended: these our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air;
And, like this unsubstantial pageant faded,
* ^noteThe cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces,

The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all, which it inherit, shall dissolve;
And, like the baseless fabrick of a vision,
Leave not a rack behind!—Sir, I am vext;
Bear with my weakness, my old brain is troubled:
Be not disturb'd with my infirmity;
If thou be pleas'd, retire into my cell,
And there repose: a turn or two I'll walk,
To still my beating mind.

Fer. Mira.
We wish your peace. [Exe. Fer. and Mir.

Pro.
Come, with a thought—I thank you—Ariel, come. Prospero comes forward; enter Ariel to him.

Ari.
Thy thoughts I cleave to; what's thy pleasure?

Pro.
Spirit,
We must prepare to meet with Caliban.

Ari.
Ay, my commander; when I presented Ceres,
I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd,
Lest I might anger thee.

Pro.
Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets?

Ari.
I told you, sir, they were red hot with drinking;
So full of valour, that they smote the air,
For breathing in their faces; beat the ground,
For kissing of their feet; yet always bending
Towards their project. Then I beat my tabor,
At which, like unbackt colts, they prickt their ears,
Advanc'd their eye-lids, lifted up their noses,
As they smelt* ^note musick; so I charm'd their ears,
That, calf-like, they my lowing follow'd, through
Tooth'd briars, sharp furzes, pricking goss and thorns,
Which enter'd their frail shins: at last I left them
I'th' filthy mantled pool, beyond your cell.

Pro.
This was well done, my bird;
Thy shape invisible retain thou still;

The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither,
For stale to catch these thieves.

Ari.
I go, I go. [Exit.

Pro.
A devil, a born devil, on whose nature
Nurture can never stick; on whom my pains,
Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost;
And, as with age his body uglier grows,
So his mind cankers; I will plague them all,
Even to roaring: come, hang them on this line. [Prospero remains invisible. Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo, all wet.

Cal.
Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not
Hear a foot fall; we now are near his cell.

Step.

Monster, your Fairy, which you say is a harmless Fairy, has done little better than played the Jack with us.

Trin.

Monster, I do smell all horse-piss, at which my nose is in great indignation* ^note.

Step.

So is mine: do you hear, monster? if I should take a displeasure against you; look you—

Trin.

Thou wer't but a lost monster.

Cal.
Good my Lord, give me thy favour still;
Be patient; for the prize, I'll bring thee to,
† ^noteShall hood-wink this mischance; therefore, speak softly:
All's husht as midnight yet.

Trin.

Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool—

Step.

There is not only disgrace and dishonour in that, monster, but an infinite loss.

Trin.

That's more to me than my wetting: yet this is your harmless Fairy, monster.

Step.

I will fetch off my bottle, though I be o'er ears for my labour.

Cal.
Pr'ythee, my King, be quiet: seest thou here,
This is the mouth o'th' cell; no noise, and enter;
Do that good mischief, which may make this Island
Thine own for ever; and I, thy Caliban,
For ay thy foot-licker.

Step.

Give me thy hand: I do begin to have bloody thoughts.

Trin.
O King Stephano! O Peer! O worthy Stephano!
Look, what a wardrobe here is for thee!

Cal.
Let it alone, thou fool, it is but trash.

Trin.

Oh, oh, monster; we know what belongs to a frippery;—O, King Stephano!

Step.

Put off that gown, Trinculo; by this hand, I'll have that gown.

Trin.

Thy Grace shall have it.

Cal.
The dropsy drown this fool! what do you mean,
To doat thus on such luggage? let's along,
And do the murder first: if he awake,
From toe to crown he'll fill our skins with pinches;
Make us strange stuff.

Step.

Be you quiet, monster. Mistress line, is not this my jerkin? now is the jerkin under the line: now; jerkin, you are like to lose your hair, and prove a bald jerkin.

Trin.

Do, do; we steal by line and level, an't like your Grace.

Step.

I thank thee for that jest, here's a garment for't: wit shall not go unrewarded, while I am King of this country: steal by line and level, is an excellent pass of pate; there's another garment for't.

Trin.

Monster, come, put some lime upon your fingers, and away with the rest.

Cal.
I will have none on't; we shall lose our time,
And all be turn'd to barnacles, or apes,
With foreheads villainous low.

Step.

Monster, lay to your fingers; help to bear this away, where my hogshead of wine is, or I'll turn you out of my kingdom; go to, carry this.

Trin.

And this.

Step.

Ay, and this.