DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. Alonso, Sebastian, Prospero, Anthonio [Antonio], Ferdinand, Gonzalo, Francisco, Caliban, Trinculo, Stephano. Miranda, Sycorax, Ariel, Spirits, Witches, Devils, &c. [Witch 1], [Witch 2], [Witch 3], [Devils], [Devil], [Devil 1], [Mariners], [Ventoso], [Mustacho], [Neptune], [Amphitrite] Scene, an uninhabited Island.

THE SHIPWRECK. ACT I. SCENE FIRST, a Heath and Moonlight. Enter Several Witches.

1 Witch.
Sisters, sisters, hither come;
For, by the pinching of my thumb,
Mischief, sore and great confusion,
Will Prospero work to our delusion.

2 Witch.
Then must we, by magic spell,
Ingender'd in the womb of hell,
Blast his projects, destroy his power,

All.
Hail this direful midnight hour!

1 Witch.
Like crimson blood, the moon doth turn,
And Vesuvius Mount doth raging burn;
This is the time to work out ruin,
When Hell its horror is a brewing;
For sleeping in my mildew'd cave,
My fiery fiend, my trusty slave,
In sulpherous flame, my toe he touch'd,
And his bak'd shoulders angry smutch'd.

2 Witch.
What do'st thou say? then all is o'er,
For Naples' king doth reach the shore,
With the fair prince, for Miranda's love,
For so it is decree'd above;

Then Caliban, our dearest son,
His hopes are blasted, and undone.

3 Witch.
Hither, hither, let us bustle,
And Fiends, for haste, together jostle.
Call our faithful demons up,
And then, we will, from direful cup,
Pour our tempests, storms, and thunder,
To tear their ship, and sink 'em under. [All go round
You brimstone spirits, which do dwell
In the sulpherous caverns of your hell,
Rouse and force you through these sands,
And fly to execute our commands. Devils rise.

All.
We rise, we rise, from flames below,
Speak but your wills, and we go,
Dark and secret as the mole,
Or in liquid fire, from pole to pole.

1 Witch.
Then, in lightning's forked flash,
Burst to the sea, through crish and crash,
And seize by the stern, or by the head,
The proud king's ship, and rend all dead;
Or this isle, our once rule and right,
With our works, we loose, e'er the next night;
For Prospero's art, and mighty power,
And Ariel, form'd by rainbow shower,
Do crush to atoms our greatest spell,
Tho' temper'd in thy fiercest hell. Devils rise and dance. (Exeunt Devils.

1 Devil.
Myself will fly on board, and on the beak,
In the waste, the deck and every cabin,
I'll flame amazement. Sometimes I'll divide
And burn in many places. On the topmast,

The yards, and bowsprit, will I flame distinctly,
Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the percursors
Of dreadful thunderclaps, more momentary
Then light outrunning, are the fire and cracks
Of sulph'rous roaring; he most mighty Neptune
Shall seem to siege, and make his bold waves tremble,
Yea his dread trident shake. (Thunder storm.

AIR.
Hark how the winds rush from their caves,
Hark how old Ocean frets and raves,
From their deep roots, the rocks he tears.
  Whole deluges lets fly,
  That dash against the sky,
  And seem to drown the stars. CHORUS.
  Away, nor let us longer stay,
  Nor let us longer stay,
  Nor let us longer stay,
    But high away. [Exeunt. Scene 2 SCENE changes to the Sea; a View of Mount Vesuvius, and a Ship; Thunder, Lightning, and a Storm; Seamen on board.

Trinculo.

Up aloft, lads; come reef both top-sails; hands down, man your main capstern. Hey, hey, my hearts—cheerly my lads, cheerly— helm a lee! yare, yare, (whistle) tend to the boatswain's whistle—Luff boys, luff! Blow wind till thou burst, if room enough—hoa, there, keep down the land lubbers—

Stephano.

Our vial block's given way—Come, heave, lads heave. Hee oh! hee oh! hee oh! hee ho! Cheer up, heave lustily, the anchor's a peek— hee oh, hee oh, hee oh, hee oh.

Trinculo.

Is a weigh! is a weigh!—Up aloft upon the forecastle, lads; cut the cable, hand the ax, cut him, cut him.

Mariners.

Hee oh, hee oh—

Trinculo.

Cut the cable I say.

Mariners.

Haul cat, haul cat—below, below, below, &c.

Stephano.

Get the mizen tack on board. Haul aft the mizen, oho there—keep to your cabin gentlemen —aft, and loose the mizen. Let loose the foresail—haul aft both sheets—time right before the wind—luff, luff—cheerly, my lads, cheerly.

Trinculo.

Hussa for a dram! Post hard, post; the wind veers forward; come, 'tis but a mackarel gale —starboard, starboard—steady, steady, keep her thus—

Stephano.

Clap the helm hard a weather; flat, flat, flat; in the foresheet there; brace in the larboard. (a cry below) Curse upon this bawling, they are worse than the weather. Mercy upon us, we strike.

Trinculo.

Then let's break down the steward's lockers, drink his brandy, and die merrily; we sink, we sink, but there's pleasure, since we drown with the Duke and the Prince—luff, luff, we are lost, there's a rock upon the starboard bow—she strikes, she strikes—

Scene 3 SCENE, a View of Prospero's Cell. Enter Prospero and Miranda.

Mir.
If by your arts, dear father, you can quell
The water's dreadful roar, allay their fury;
For O! I've suffer'd, with those, whom I saw suffer!
Had I been any God of power, I would
Have sunk the sea within the earth, or e'er,
It should the goodly ship have swallow'd, and
The fright'ned souls within her.—

Pros.
Tell your piteous heart, there's no harm done.
I have preserv'd their lives.
My child, who art ignorant of what thou art,
Attend: 'Tis twelve years since thy father was the Duke
Of Milan. Be not amazed, my daughter,
Thou art a princess of no less issue.

Mir.
O heavens! what foul play had we?

Pros.
Mark me well:
I then neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
To study, and bettering of my mind,
Did cast the government on my brother,
Call'd Anthonio. He, from substitution,
And executing the outward face of
Royalty, with all prerogative, did
Believe he was indeed the Duke; hence
His ambition growing, he confederates
With the king of Naples, my inveterate foe,
To extirpate me from my Dukedom, and
To confer fair Milan on my brother.

Mir.
O treachery!

Pros.
This settled, and an army levied; one night,
Fated to the purpose, did Anthonio open
The gates of Milan, and in the dead of darkness,
The ministers for the purpose, hurried thence
Me, and thy crying self.—In fine, they forced us
Out to sea, in a rotten, unrigg'd boat,
Where they left us, to the mercy of the winds.

AIR.
In pity, Neptune, smooths the liquid way,
Obsequious tritons on the surface play;
And sportive dolphins, with a nimble glance,
To the bright sun, their glittering scales advance.
In oozy bed, profound, the billows sleep,
No clamorous winds awake the silent deep;
With safety through the sea our boat is bore,
In gentle waves we're wafted to this shore.

Mir.
Alas! alas!

Pros.
Know farther, then, Fortune,
Now growing bountiful, to this shore
Hath brought mine enemies; and, by my prescience
I find my zenith doth depend upon
A most propitious star, whose influence,
If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes
Will ever after droop.—I shall land them safe,
Tho' hell oppose me in my good intent.
Thou art inclin'd to sleep, 'tis a good dulness,
And give it way. I know though can'st not chuse.

AIR. Miranda.
Come, O sleep! my eyelids close,
Lull my soul to soft repose.

Pros.
It was a dreadful storm,
Hell seem'd to range at large, and hath
Disgorg'd her dire inhabitants. Nature was
In convulsion, and work'd as the last day had
Come.—O then! the cloud capp'd towers,
And gorgeous palaces, the solemn temples,
The great globe itself; ye all which it inherit
Shall dissolve; and, like the baseless fabrick
Of a vision, leave not a wreck behind.
But I must disappoint the works of hell.
What ho! My Ariel! Ariel descends, a wand in her hand, and winged.

Ariel.
All hail! great master! grave Sir, hail! I come
To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly,
To swim, to drive into the fire, to ride
On circling clouds, to thy strong bidding, task
Ariel, and all her qualities.

AIR.
In the light moon shine, while winds whistle loud
Tevy, tevy, tevy, we march and we fly,
All racking along in a downy white cloud;
And least our leap from the sky should prove too far,
We slide on the back of a new falling star.
Merry, merry, merry, we sail from the East,
Half tippl'd at a rainbow feast.

Pros.
Spirit, thou hast performed to point
The business that I bade thee, and disposed
The ship and princes exactly to thy charge;
The king of Naples, and my brother, are now
In a fast sleep; but there's more work,
What is the time of day?

Ariel.
Past the mid-season.

AIR. Prospero.
We must work, we must haste;
Noon-tide hour is long since past;
Sprights that glimmer in the sun,
Into shades already run,
Fly and do your work anon.

Ariel.

Let me remember thee, what thou hast promised.

Pros.
What is't thou can'st demand?

Ariel.
My liberty.

Pros
Before the time be out?—No more.
Do'st thou forget
The foul witch Sycorax, the dam of Caliban?

Ariel.
No.

Pros.
Thou do'st, and think'st it much to tread the ooze
Of the salt deep;
To run against the sharp winds of the north;
To do my business in the veins of the earth,
When it is bak'd with frost!

Ariel.
I do not, Sir.

Pros.
Thou best knowest what torments I found thee in.
It was my art, when I arrived, and heard thee,
That made the pine within whose rift thou wast

Imprisoned, to gape, and let thee out.
And if thou murmurest, I will rend an oak,
And peg thee in his knotty entrails, till thou,
Hast howl'd out twelve long winters.

Ariel.
Pardon master, I obey— [Exit

Pros.
Awake my dear heart, awake! Miranda awakes.

Mir.
The strangeness of your story
Put heaviness in me.—
Here comes that monster Caliban, I
Do not love to look upon him. I'll retire. (Exit.) Enter Caliban.

Pros.

Thou pois'nous slave, got by the devil himself, upon thy wicked dame, what brings thee here?

Cal.

As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed, with raven's feather from unwholseme fens, drop on you both. A south-west wind blow on you, and blister you all o'er.

Pros.

For this, be sure, to night, thou shalt have cramps, side stitches that shall pen thy heart up; urchins shall prick thee till thou bleed'st; thou shalt be pinch'd as thick as honey combs; each pinch more stinging than the bees which made them.

Cal.

I must eat my dinner: This island's mine, by Sycorax, my mother; which thou takest from me. When thou came first, thou strockdest me, would'st give me water with berries in it, and teach me how to name the bigger lights, and how the less: and then I lov'd thee, and shew'd thee all the qualities of the isle; the best springs, brine pits, barren places, and fertile. All the charms of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on thee!

Pros.

Thou lying slave, I have used thee with human care, and lodged thee in my own cell, till thou did'st seek to violate the honor of my daughter.

Cal.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, would it had been done: thou did'st prevent me, I had peopled else this Isle with Calibans. You taught me language, and I know how to curse. The red batch rid you for teaching me your language.

Pros.
Hag-seed, hence!
Fetch in fuel and be quick
To answer other business; shrug'st thou, malice?
If thou neglectest what I command, I'll wrack
Thee with old cramps, fill all thy bones with ackes,
Make thee roar, that beasts shall tremble at thy din.

Cal.
I must obey,
His art is of such power
It would controul my dam's god, Setebos,
And make a vassal of him. [Exeunt. Scene 4 SCENE Changes. Enter Devil with Witches—Then Ferdinand followed by Ariel and Spirits.

AIR. Devil.
Full fathom five, thy father lies:
  Of his bones are coral made:
Those are pearls that were his eyes
  Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea change,
  Into something rich and strange:
Sea nymphs hourly ring his knell
  Hark! now I hear them, ding, dong, bell.

Ferdinand.
Where should this music be, i' th' air, or earth?
It sounds no more. Sitting on a bank
Weeping against the king, my father's wreck,
This musick hover'd on the waters,
Allaying both their fury, and my passion
With chearing airs—Thence I follow'd it—
Hark here's new voices!

AIR. Ariel.
Come unto the yellow sands
And then take hands?
Curtsey'd when you have and kiss'd
The wild waves whist:
Foot it featly here and there,
And sweet spirits the burthen bear.

Ferdinand.
This is no mortal business, nor no sound
That the earth owns— Devil and Witches with torches on one side, Ariel on the other.

AIR. Ariel.
Hither this way Devil
Hither this way Ariel.
  This way bend, Devil.
  This way bend, Ariel.
Trust not that malicious fiend. Devil.
Trust not that malicious fiend.

AIR. Devil.
Let not moon born elf mis-lead you,
  Follow me to life and glory,
Too far alas! he has betray'd you.
  Follow the flames that wave before you,
Sometimes seven and sometimes one,
  Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, on.

The power of Prospero prevails: our stay is needless; but Ariel yet shall feel the force of hell—

Fernando. (Soft music.)

More music! It must mean good or ill, and here I am.

Ariel.—in Echo.

Here I am.

Ferdinand.

Ha! art thou so? the Spirit turn'd an echo!

Ariel.

An echo.

Fer.

This might seem pleasant, could the burthen of my griefs, accord with any thing but sighs.

Ariel.

Sighs.

Fer.
And my last words like these of dying men, need no reply
Fain I would go to shades, where few would follow me,

Ariel.
Follow me.

Fer.
I will discourse no more with thee
Nor follow me one step further.

Ariel.

One step further.

Fer.

This must have more importance than an echo.

Ariel.

An echo.

Fer.
I'll try if it will answer when I sing
My sorrows to the murmur of this brook.

Ariel.
This brook.

DUET. Fer.
Go thy way. Ariel.
Go thy way. Fer.
Why should'st thou stay? Ariel.
Why should'st thou stay? Fer.
Where the winds whistle, and where the streams creep,
Under yon willow tree fain would I sleep:
  Then let me alone,
  For 'tis time to be gone. Ariel.
For 'tis time to be gone.
There's yet in store for thee
Some strange felicity,
Follow me, follow me,
And thou shalt see. (Exeunt.) ACT. II. Scene 1 SCENE. A Wood. Enter Stephano, Mustacho, and Ventoso.

Ven.

The runlet of brandy was a loving runlet, and floated after us out of pity.

Mus.

And this kind bottle, like an old acquaintance, swam after it.

Ven.

Your'e wrong in your simile; an old acquaintance never follows a friend in distress.

Mus.

Well, it is prize brandy, and we can drink in spight of the excisemen,—nay more, we can vend our brandy without writing, Dealer in Foreign Spirits over our doors,

Steph.

Look Mustacho weeps, he sheds his brandy out of his eyes: he shall drink no more.

Mus.

I weep for my wife.

Ven.

Beshrew thy heart for putting me in mind of my wife; but nature will out,—I must melt. I pr'ythee fill again, my wife is a good old jade, she has but one eye left, and she'll weep that out too when she hears I am dead. She has drank one eye, out and the other's upon the stoop.

Steph.

Hang wives and mistresses—drink about.

Here's to thee Tom; this whining love despise;
Pledge me, my friend, and drink till thou art wise.
  It sparkles brighter far than she;
  'Tis pure and bright, without deceit,
  And such no woman e'er will be;
  No, they are all sophisticate;
  Follies they have, so numberless in store,
  That only he who loves them can have more.
  Neither their sighs, nor tears are true,
  Those idly blow, those idly fall;
  Nothing like to ours at all,
  But sighs and tears have sexes too.

Ven.

Now let us have a government; and pray that heaven may drive shipwrecks ashore, to make us all rich.

Steph.

As I was master at sea I will be king at land, you Mustacho shall be my prime minister, and rule the people by virtue of my prerogative.

Mus.

Bad policy that, every thing must go by vote, and we will rule the animals of this island by the power of majority.

Ven.

When you are king, master Stephano, you may chuse your prime minister, but we'll have no ruler without an election.

Steph.

Ventoso be silent—here's a piece of money to buy thy voice.

Mus.

Stephano hear me—I will speak for the people, because there is none to speak for themselves.

Enter Trinculo, with a great bottle.

Sings)
I shall no more to sea, to sea
  Here I shall die ashore—

This is a scurvy tune to sing at a man's funeral— but here's my comfort.

AIR.
The master, the swabber, the gunner and I,
  The surgeon and his mate,
Lov'd Moll, Meg, Marian, and Margery,
  But none of us car'd for Kate.
For she had a tongue with a twang,
Would cry to a sailor go hang:
She lov'd not the favour of pitch,
And a taylor might scratch her where e'er she did itch.

Here's my comfort. (drinks.)

Ven.

How got you on shore?

Trin.

On a butt of sack—here's my comfort.

Mus.

Kiss Stephano's hand, he's appointed Duke in full assembly.

Ven.

We two are vice-roys of the isle.

Trin.

What, were matters carried thus against me in my absence? I oppose it all. I will have no governors, no laws.

Steph.

Then civil war begins.

DUET. Trin.
Whilst blood doth flow within these veins,
Or any spark of life remains,
  My right I will maintain. Mus.
Whilst I this temper'd steel can wield,
I'll ne'er to thee, thou braggard yield,
  Thy threats are all in vain. Trin.
I defy thee. Mus.
I'll not fly thee. Trin.
Braggard come. Mus.
Braggard?
Thy boasted courage now I'll try;
I see thou art afraid to die. Trin.
Not I. Mus.
That's a lie. Trin.
Lie, Sir! Mus.
Aye, Sir— Both.
Behold I conquer or I die. (Exeunt fighting.

Enter Caliban, with Wood on his Back. (Land Storm Scene.)
All the infections that the sun sucks up,
From bogs, fens, flats, on Prospero fall, and make him
By inch-meal a disease: his spirits hear me,
And yet I needs must curse.

For every trifle they are set upon me;
Sometimes like apes, that mew and chatter at me,
And after bite me; then like hedge-hogs, which
Lye tumbling in my barefoot way, and mount,
Their prickles at my foot fall; sometimes am I
All crown'd with adders, that with cloven tongues
Do hiss me into madness.
Here comes a spirit of his now to torment me,
I'll fall flat, perchance he will not mind me. (lies down. (Mustacho, Ventoso within.)

Steph.

I'll have no civil wars in this our reign, so hold, loving subjects.

AIR.
Then since no state's compleatly blest,
  Let's learn the bitter to allay,
Inspir'd by this, let's dance and play,
  Enjoy at least the present day,
And leave to fate the rest. Enter Stephano.

Steph.

Yon same cloud cannot chuse but fall by pailfulls.—What have we here, a man or a fish? dead or alive? a fish,—he smells like a fish. Were I in England now, and had but this fish painted, not a holiday fool but would give six-pence for the sight of him. There would this strange beast make a man of me. It is not a fish neither, but an islander that has suffered by a thunder-bolt—the storm is coming again, so I will creep under his gaberdine for shelter. (lies down.)

Cal.

Do not torment me: Oh!

Trin.

What have we got here?—a monster with

four legs!—but where the Devil should he learn our language?—I'll give him some relief, if it be but for that; could I but bring him tame to Naples he'd be a present for an emperor.

Cal.

Do not torment me, prithee; I'll bring my wood home faster.

Trin.

Open your mouth and drink, this will cure your shaking.

Steph.

This is a devil, Oh defend me!

Trin.

Four legs and two voices, a most delicate monster! his forward voice now is to speak of his friend; his backward voice is to utter foul speeches and detract—he should perish, if I thought him given to calumny.

Steph

Trinculo.

Trin.

Doth thy other mouth call me? mercy— this is the Devil and no monster.—

Steph.

Why zounds! I'm no devil.

Trin.

If thou beest Trinculo, come forth. (Trinculo rises.) Thou art very Trinculo indeed. Can this moon-calf vent Trinculo's?

Steph.

I hid me under the moon-calf's gaberdine for fear of the storm.

Cal.

This is a brave god, and bears celestial liquor, —I'll kneel to him.

Trin.

He is a very hopeful monster. Monster, what say'st thou, art thou content to turn civil and sober, as I am?

Cal.

I'll swear upon that bottle to be true; for the liquor is not earthly: did'st thou not drop from heaven?

Trin.

Out of the moon, I was the Man in the Moon. By this light, a very shallow monster.

Cal.

I'll shew thee every fertile inch of the isle, and kiss thy foot; I pr'ythee be my God, and let me drink. I'll shew thee the best springs, I'll pluck thee berries, I'll fish for thee, and get thee wood enough. —A curse upon the tyrant whom I serve—I'll follow thee.

Trin.

The poor monster is loving in his drink.

Cal.

I pr'ythee let me bring thee where crabs grow, and I with my long nails will dig thee pignuts, shew thee a jay's nest, and instruct thee how to snate the nimble marmazer; I'll bring thee to clustered filberts; wilt thou go with me?

Step.

Trinculo—this monster comes of a good-natured race; is there no more of thy kin in this island?

Cal.

There are only myself, my dam, my grand dam, my cousin and my lovely sister, beautiful and bright as the full moon.

Step.

There are five subjects got already, the monster, and his family. From this worshipful monster, and miss monster his sister, I'll lay claim to this island by alliance. Monster, I say, thy sister shall be my spouse. Where is she?

Cal.

I left her clamb'ring up a hollow oak, and plucking thence the dropping honey-combs. Say, my King, shall I call her to thee?

Trin.

She shall swear upon the bottle too. If she proves handsome, she is mine: here, monster, drink again for thy good news. Thou shalt speak a good word for me.

Cal.

Farewell, old master, farewell, farewell. I swear to serve thee.

Trin.

Here, kiss the book.

AIR. Caliban.
No more dams I'll make for fish,
  Nor fetch firing at requiring;
Nor scrape trencher, nor wash dish,
  Ban, Ban, Cacaliban
Has got a new master, get a new man. (Exeunt. Scene 2 Scene changes. Enter Prospero and Miranda.

Pros.
The fringed curtains of thy eyes advance,
And fee what is yonder. Enter Ferdinand.

Mir.
'Tis a spirit; believe me, Sir, it carries a brave form,
But, 'tis a spirit!

Pros.
No; it eats, and sleeps,
And hath such senses as we, were he not
Somewhat stain'd with grief (beauty's worst canker)
Thou might'st then call him a goodly person.

Mir.
I might call him a thing divine!
Nothing natural, I ever saw, so noble.

AIR. Ferdinand.
What sudden blaze of Majesty,
  What awful innocence of mien
Is that which I from hence descry?
  Like Nature's universal queen.
Sure the Goddess on whom these airs attend;
Such beauty cannot belong to human kind.

Mir.
I am, like you, a mortal; if such you are.

Fer.
My language too!—O heavens! I am the best of them
Who speak this language, were I but

In my own country. O! if a virgin,
And your affection's not gone forth, I'll make you
Queen of Naples.

Pros.
Young Sir, a word; thou do'st here usurp
The name thou own'st not, and hast put thyself
Upon this Island, as a spy, to win it
From me, the lord on't.

Fer.
No; as I am a man.

Mir.
There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.

Pros.
Speak not you for him; he's a traitor. Come,
I'll manacle thy feet and neck together;
Sea water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be
The fresh brook muscles, wither'd roots, and husks
Wherein the acorn's cradled. Follow.

Fer.
No; I will resist such entertainment, till
Mine enemy has more power.

Mir.
O! dear father,
Make not too rash a trial of him; for
He's gentle and not fearful.

AIR.
Sweetness, truth, and ev'ry grace,
  Which time and use are won't to teach,
The eye may in a moment reach,
  And read distinctly in his face.

Fer.
My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up:
My father's loss, the weakness which I feel;
The wreck of all my friends, and this man's threats,
To whom I am subdued, are but light to me,
Might I but thro' my prison once a day,
Behold this maid! all corners else o'th'earth,
Let liberty make use of.—Space enough
Have I in such a prison.

Pros.
It is in vain, Miranda, he's a traitor.

Mir.
Have pity, Sir.

Pros.
Speak not for him, go on, Sir, enter yonder cave;
That op'ning there shews you to your lodgings. (Exit Ferd. Mir. following.

AIR.
In tender sighs, he silence breaks,
  The fair his flame approves;
Consenting blushes warm her cheeks,
  She smiles, she yields, she loves. (Exit. Scene 3 Scene opens, and shews the Inside of the Cave; Ferdinand discovered.

Fer.
To be a prisoner, where I love,
Is but a double tie, a link of fortune,
Join'd to the chain of love; but not to see her,
And yet to be so near her, there's the hardship:
But her fair form lives always in my mind.

AIR.
To what my eyes admir'd before,
I add a thousand graces more,
And fancy blows into a flame,
The spark that from her beauty came:
The object thus improv'd by thought,
By my own image I am caught.
Pygmalion so, with fatal art,
Polish'd the form that stung his heart. Enter Miranda.—Prospero at a Distance.

Mir.
Sir, my Lord, where are you?

Fer.
Is it your voice, my love, or do I dream?

Mir.
Speak softly; it is I.

Fer.
Oh heavenly creature!
Ten times more gentle, than your father's cruel.

Mir.
How do you bear your prison?

Fer.
'Tis my palace, while you are here.
Admir'd Miranda, many a lady
I've ey'd with best regard; but you, O you,
So perfect, and so peerless, are created
Of ev'ry creature best.

AIR.
In some defect each grace was lost!
  Which touch'd my heart: in thee are join'd
The noblest form the earth can boast,
  With heav'nly innocence of mind.

Mir.
I do not know one of my sex, nor have I
Seen more men than you, and my dear father;
How features are abroad, I'm skilless of:
I wish not any companion but you,
Nor can imagination form a shape,
Besides yourself to like of.

Fer.
Hear my soul speak.
The very instant that I saw you, did
My heart fly to your service; there resides
To make me slave to it.

Mir
Do you love me?

Fer.
O heaven! O earth! bear witness to this sound,
And crown what I profess, with kind events;
Beyond all limit of ought else i'th'world,
I do love you.

Mir.
Then hence with bashful cunning,
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence,
I am your wife, Sir, if you approve it.

Fer.
Ay, with a heart so willing,
As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.

Mir.
And mine, with my heart in it.

AIR.
How can I speak my secret pain?
  Yet how that secret pain conceal?
Alas, my silence would be vain!
  My looks my inmost thoughts reveal,
O mighty love! thy power is divine;
  I own it's force, and thus my heart resign. (Exit. Enter Stephano, Caliban and Sycorax. Scene changes.

Sycor.

My Lord, shall I go meet thy friends, I will be kind to all of them, just as I am to thee.

Steph.

Zounds, no; as I have made you a dutchess, you must be modest, and set a good example to other persons of quality.