Pro. [aside]
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.—[To the spirits.] Well done—avoid—no more.

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

Mira.
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 itself,
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;^{3 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. [Exeunt Fer. and Mira.

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.^{4 note}

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,
^{5 note}















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,
Humanly 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.

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