Prospero.
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;(24) ^note

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.

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.

Ari.
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.
Dearly, my delicate Ariel; do not approach,
'Till thou dost hear me call.

Ari.
Well, I conceive. [Exit.

Pro.
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.
Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary,
Rather than want a spirit; appear, and pertly.—
No tongue; all eyes; be silent. [To Ferdinand. [Soft Musick. A MASQUE. Enter Iris.

Iris.
Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas
Of wheat, rye, barley, fetches, oats, and pease;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibling sheep,
And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep;
Thy banks with pioned, and tulip'd brims,
Which spungy April at thy hest betrims,
To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom-groves,
Whose shadow the dismissed batchelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard,
And thy sea-marge steril, and rocky hard,
Where thou thy self do'st air; the Queen o'th' sky,
Whose wat'ry arch and messenger am I,
Bids thee leave these; and with her Sov'raign Grace,
Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport; her peacocks fly amain:
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain. Enter Ceres.

Cer.
Hail, many-colour'd messenger, that ne'er
Do'st disobey the wife of Jupiter:
Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffusest honey drops, refreshing showers;

And with each end of thy blue bow do'st crown
My bosky acres, and my unshrub'd down,
Rich scarf to my proud earth; why hath thy Queen
Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass green?

Iris.
A contract of true love to celebrate,
And some donation freely to estate
On the bless'd lovers.

Cer.
Tell me, heav'nly bow,
If Venus or her son, as thou do'st know,
Do now attend the Queen: since they did plot
The means, that dusky Dis my daughter got;
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forsworn.

Iris.
Of her society
Be not afraid; I met her deity
Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her son
Dove-drawn with her; here thought they to have done
Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
Whose vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid
'Till Hymen's torch be lighted; but in vain
Mars's hot minion is return'd again;
Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows;
Swears, he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows,
And be a boy right-out.

Cer.
High Queen of state,
Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gate. [Juno descends, and enters.

Jun.
How does my bounteous sister? go with me
To bless this twain, that they may prosp'rous be,
And honour'd in their issue.
Jun.
Honour, riches, marriage blessing,
Long continuance and encreasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you;
Juno sings her blessings on you: Cer.
Earth's increase, and foyson-plenty,(25) ^note
Barns and garners never empty,

Vines, with clustring bunches growing,
Plants, with goodly burthen bowing;
Spring come to you, at the farthest,
In the very end of harvest:
Scarcity and want shall shun you;
Ceres's blessing so is on you.

Fer.
This is a most majestick vision, and
Harmonious charmingly: may I be bold
To think these spirits?

Pro.
Spirits, which by mine art
I have from their confines call'd to enact(26) ^note

Fer.
Let me live here ever;
So rare a wonder'd father, and a wife,
Make this place paradise.

Pro.
Sweet now, silence:

Juno and Ceres whisper seriously;
There's something else to do; hush, and be mute,
Or else our spell is marr'd. Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on imployment.

Iris.
You nymphs, call'd Nayads, of the winding brooks,
With your sedg'd crowns, and ever-harmless looks,
Leave your crisp channels, and on this greenland
Answer your summons, Juno does command:
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love; be not too late. Enter certain Nymphs.
You sun-burn'd sicklemen, of August weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry;
Make holy-day; your rye-straw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing. Enter certain reapers, properly habited; they join with the nymphs in a graceful dance; towards the end whereof, Prospero starts suddenly, and speaks; after which, to a strange, hollow and confused noise, they vanish heavily.

Pro.
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.

Fer.
This is 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 the baseless fabrick of this vision,
The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe it self,
Yea, all, which it inherit, shall dissolve;

And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind! we are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.—Sir, I am vext;(27) ^note

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 from the Cell; 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 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,
There dancing up to th' chins, that the foul lake
O'er-stunk their feet.

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 Ariel loaden with glistering apparel, &c. 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.

Ste.

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

Trin.

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

Ste.

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

Trin.

Thou wert but a lost monster.

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

Trin.

Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool,—

Ste.

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.

Ste.

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.

Ste.

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!

Ste.

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

Trin.

Thy grace shall have it.

Cal.
The dropsie 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.

Ste.

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, and't like your Grace.

Ste.

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 villanous low.

Ste.

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.

Ste.

Ay, and this.