Gon.
Beseech you, sir, be merry: you have cause

(So have we all) of joy; for our escape
Is much beyond our loss: Our hint of woe
Is common; every day, some sailor's wife,
The master ^note of some merchant, and the merchant,
Have just our theme of woe: but for the miracle,
(I mean, our preservation) few in millions
Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh
Our sorrow with our comfort.

Alo.
Pr'ythee, peace.14Q0012

Seb.
He receives comfort like cold porridge.

Ant.
The visitor will not give him o'er so.

Seb.

Look, he's winding up the watch of his wit; by and by it will strike.

Gon.

Sir,—

Seb.

One:—Tell. ^note

Gon.

When every grief is entertain'd, that's offer'd, Comes to the entertainer—

Seb.

A dollar.

Gon.

Dolour comes to him, indeed; you have spoken truer than you purpos'd.

Seb.

You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should.

Gon.

Therefore, my lord,—

Ant.

Fie, what a spend-thrift is he of his tongue?

Alo.

I pr'ythee, spare.

Gon.

Well, I have done: But yet—

Seb.

He will be talking.

Ant.

Which of them, he, or Adrian, for a good wager, first begins to crow?

Seb.

The old cock.

Ant.

The cockrel.

Seb.

Done: The wager?

Ant.

A laughter.

Seb.

A match.

Adr.

Though this island seem to be desart,—

Seb.

Ha, ha, ha!

Ant.

So, you've pay'd ^note.

Adr.

Uninhabitable, and almost inaccessible,—

Seb.

Yet,

Adr.

Yet—

Ant.

He could not miss't.

Adr.

It must needs be of subtle, tender, and delicate temperance.

Ant.

Temperance was a delicate wench.

Seb.

Ay, and a subtle; as he most learnedly deliver'd.

Adr.

The air breaths upon us here most sweetly.

Seb.

As if it had lungs, and rotten ones.

Ant.

Or, as 'twere perfum'd by a fen.

Gon.

Here is every thing advantageous to life.

Ant.

True; save means to live.

Seb.

Of that there's none, or little.

Gon.

How lush and lusty the grass looks? how green?

Ant.

The ground, indeed, is tawny.

Seb.

With an eye of green in't.

Ant.

He misses not much.

Seb.

No, he doth but mistake the truth totally.

Gon.

But the rarity of it is, (which is, indeed, almost beyond credit)—

Seb.

As many voucht rarities are.

Gon.

That our garments, being (as they were) drench'd in the sea, hold notwithstanding their freshness, and glosses; being rather new dy'd, than stain'd with salt water.

Ant.

If but one of his pockets could speak, would it not say, he lyes?

Seb.

Ay, or very falsly pocket up his report.

Gon.

Methinks, our garments are now as fresh as when we put them on first in Africk, at the marriage of the king's fair daughter Claribel to the king of Tunis.

Seb.

'Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in our return.

Adr.

Tunis was never grac'd before with such a paragon to their queen.

Gon.

Not since widow Dido's time.

Ant.

Widow? a pox o'that! How came that widow in? widow Dido!

Seb.

What if he had said, widower Æneas too? good lord, how you take it!

Adr.

Widow Dido, said you? you make me study of that: She was of Carthage, not of Tunis.

Gon.

This Tunis, sir, was Carthage.

Adr.

Carthage?

Gon.

I assure you, Carthage.

Ant.

His word is more than the miraculous harp.

Seb.

He hath rais'd the wall, and houses too.

Ant.

What impossible matter will he make easy next?

Seb.

I think, he will carry this island home in his pocket, and give it his son for an apple.

Ant.

And, sowing the kernels of it in the sea, bring forth more islands.

Gon.

Ay?

Ant.

Why, in good time.

Gon.

Sir, we were talking, that our garments seem now as fresh, as when we were at Tunis at the marriage

of your daughter, who is now queen.

Ant.

And the rarest that e'er came there.

Seb.

Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido.

Ant.

O, widow Dido; ay, widow Dido.

Gon.

Is not, sir, my doublet ^note as fresh as the first day I wore it, (I mean, in a sort)

Ant.

That sort was well fish'd for.

Gon.

When I wore it at your daughter's marriage?

Alo.
You cram these words into mine ears, against
The stomach of my sense: 'Would, I had never
Marry'd my daughter there! for, coming thence,
My son is lost: and, in my rate, she too;
Who is so far from Italy remov'd,
I ne'er again shall see her: O thou mine heir
Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish
Hath made his meal on thee!

Fra.
Sir, he may live:
I saw him beat the surges under him,
And ride upon their backs; he trod the water,
Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted
The surge most swoln that met him: his bold head
'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar'd
Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke
To the shore; that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd,
As stooping to relieve him: I not doubt,
He came alive to land.

Alo.
No, no, he's gone.

Seb.
Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss;
That would not bless our Europe with your daughter,
But rather lose her to an African;
Where she at least is banish'd from your eye,
Who hath cause to wet the grief on't.

Alo.
Pr'ythee, peace.

Seb.
You were kneel'd to, and impórtun'd otherwise
By all of us: and the fair soul herself
Weigh'd, between lothness and obedience, at
Which end the beam ^note should bow.14Q0013 We have lost your son,
I fear, for ever: Milan and Naples have
More widows in them of this business' making,
Than we bring men to comfort them: the fault's your own.

Alo.
So is the dear'st o' the loss.

Gon.
My lord Sebastian,
The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness,
And time to speak it in: you rub the sore,
When you should bring the plaister.

Seb.
Very well.

Ant.
And most chirurgeonly.

Gon.
It is foul weather in us all, good sir,
When you are cloudy.

Seb.
Foul weather?

Ant.
Very foul.

Gon.
Had I plantation of this isle, my lord,—

Ant.
He'd sow't with nettle-seed.

Seb.
Or docks, or mallows.

Gon.
And were the king of it, What would I do?

Seb.
'Scape being drunk, for want of wine.

Gon.
I'the common-wealth I would by contraries
Execute all things: For no kind of traffick
Would I admit; no name of magistrate;
Letters should not be known; poverty, riches, ^note
And use of service, none; contract, succession,
Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, olive, none;
No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oyl:
No occupation; all men idle, all,

And women too, but innocent, and pure:
No sovereignty:

Seb.
Yet he would be king on't.

Ant.

The latter end of his common-wealth forgets the beginning.

Gon.
All things in common nature should produce,
Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,
Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,
Would I not have; but nature should bring forth,
Of it's own kind, all foizon, all abundance,
To feed my innocent people.

Seb.
No marrying 'mong his subjects?

Ant.
None, man: all idle; whores, and knaves.

Gon.
I would with such perfection govern, sir,
To excel the golden age.

Seb.
'Save his majesty!

Ant.
Long live Gonzalo!

Gon.
And, do you mark me, sir?—

Alo.
Pr'ythee, no more;
Thou dost talk nothing to me.

Gon.

I do well believe your highness; and did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen, who are of such sensible and nimble lungs, that they always use to laugh at nothing.

Ant.

'Twas you we laugh'd at.

Gon.

Who, in this kind of merry fooling, am nothing to you: so you may continue, and laugh at nothing still.

Ant.

What a blow was there given?

Seb.

An it had not fallen flat-long.

Gon.

You are gentlemen of brave mettle; you would lift the moon out of her sphere, if she would

continue in it five weeks without changing.

Seb.

We would so, and then go a bat-fowling.

Ant.

Nay, good my lord, be not angry.

Gon.

No, I warrant you; I will not adventure my discretion so weakly: Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy?

Ant.

Go sleep, and hear us.

Alo.
What, all so soon asleep! I wish, mine eyes
Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts; I find,
They are inclin'd to do so.

Seb.
Please you, sir,
Do not omit the heavy offer of it:
It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth,
It is a comforter.

Ant.
We two, my lord,
Will guard your person, while you take your rest,
And watch your safety.

Alo.
Thank you: Wondrous heavy. [Alonso sleeps.

Seb.
What a strange drowsiness ^note possesses them!

Ant.
It is the quality o' the climate.

Seb.
Why
Doth it not then our eye-lids sink? I find not
Myself dispos'd to sleep.

Ant.
Nor I; my spirits are nimble.
They fell together all, as by consent;
They dropt, as by a thunder-stroke. What might
Worthy Sebastian? o, what might?—No more:—
And yet, methinks, I see it in thy face,
What thou should'st be: the occasion speaks thee; and

My strong imagination sees a crown
Dropping upon thy head.

Seb.
What, art thou waking?

Ant.
Do you not hear me speak?

Seb.
I do: and, surely,
It is a sleepy language; and thou speak'st
Out of thy sleep: What is it thou did'st say?
This is a strange ^note repose, to be asleep
With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving,
And yet so fast asleep.

Ant.
Noble Sebastian,
Thou let'st thy fortune sleep; dye rather: wink'st,
Whiles thou art waking.

Seb.
Thou dost snore distinctly;
There's meaning in thy snores.

Ant.
I am more serious than my custom: you
Must be so too, if heed me; which to do,
Trebles thee o'er.

Seb.
Well; I am standing water.

Ant.
I'll teach you how to flow.

Seb.
Do so: to ebb,
Hereditary sloth instructs me.

Ant.
O,
If you but knew, how you the purpose cherish,
Whiles thus you mock it! how, in stripping it,
You more invest it! Ebbing men, indeed,
Most often do so near the bottom run,
By their own fear, or sloth.

Seb.
Pr'ythee, say on:
The setting of thine eye, and cheek, proclaim
A matter from thee; and a birth, indeed,
Which throes thee much to yield.

Ant.
Thus, sir:
Although this lord of weak remembrance, † this,
(Who shall be of as little memory,
When he is earth'd) hath here almost persuaded
(For he's a spirit of persuasion, only
Professes to persuade) the king, his son's alive;
'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd,
As he, that sleeps here, swims.

Seb.
I have no hope,
That he's undrown'd.

Ant.
O, out of that no hope,
What great hope have you! no hope, that way, is
Another way so high a hope, that even
Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond,
But doubts ^note discovery there.14Q0014 Will you grant with me,
That Ferdinand is drown'd?

Seb.
He's gone.

Ant.
Then, tell me,
Who's the next heir of Naples?

Seb.
Claribel.

Ant.
She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells
Ten leagues beyond man's life; she that from Naples
Can have no note, unless the sun were post,
(The man i' the moon's too slow) 'till new-born chins
Be rough and razorable; she from ^note whom
We were ^note sea-swallow'd,—though some cast again;
And (by that destiny) to perform an act,
Whereof, what's past is prologue ^note; what to come,
In yours, and my discharge.

Seb.
What stuff is this?—How say you?
'Tis true, my brother's daughter's queen of Tunis;
So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions

There is some space.

Ant.
A space, whose every cubit
Seems to cry out, How shall that Claribel
Measure us back to Naples? ^note—Keep in Tunis,
And let Sebastian wake.—Say, this were death
That now hath seiz'd them; why, they were no worse
Than now they are: There be, that can rule Naples
As well as he that sleeps; lords, that can prate
As amply, and unnecessarily,
As this Gonzalo; I myself could make
A chough of as deep chat. O, that you bore
The mind that I do! what a sleep were this
For your advancement? Do you understand me?

Seb.
Methinks, I do.

Ant.
And how does your content
Tender your own good fortune?

Seb.
I remember,
You did supplant your brother Prospero.

Ant.
True:
And, look, how feat my garments sit upon me;
Much feater than before: My brother's servants
Were then my fellows, now they are my men.

Seb.
But, for your conscience—

Ant.
Ay, sir; but where lyes that? if 'twere a kybe,
'Twould put me to my slipper: But I feel not
This deity in my bosom: twenty consciences,
That stand 'twixt me and Milan, candy'd be they,
Would melt ^note, ere they molest.14Q0015 Here lyes your brother,
No better than the earth he lyes upon,
If he were that which now he's like, that's dead;
Whom I with this obedient steel, three inches of it,
Can lay to bed for ever: whiles you, doing † thus,

To the perpetual wink for aye might put
This ancient morsel, ^note this sir Prudence, who
Should not upbraid our course: For all the rest,
They'll take ^note suggestion, as a cat laps milk;
They'll tell the clock to any business that
We say befits the hour.

Seb.
Thy case, dear friend,
Shall be my precedent; as thou got'st Milan,
I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke
Shall free thee from the tribute which thou pay'st;
And I the king shall love thee.

Ant.
Draw together:
And when I rear my hand, do you the like
To fall it on Gonzalo.

Seb.
O, but one word. [they talk apart. Enter Ariel, invisible.

&clquo;Ari.
&clquo;My master through his art foresees the danger&crquo;
&clquo;That you, his friend, are in; and sends me forth&crquo;
&clquo;(For else his project dies) to keep them living.&crquo; [sings in Gonzalo's Ear.

While you here do snoring lye,
open-ey'd conspiracy
  his time doth take:
If of life you keep a care,
shake off slumber, and beware:
  awake! awake!

Ant.
Then let us both be sudden.

Gon.
Now, good angels preserve the king! [starting up. All wake.

Alo.
Why, how now, ho! awake?—Why are you drawn?
Wherefore this gastly looking?

Gon.
What's the matter?

Seb.
Whiles we stood here securing your repose,
Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing
Like bulls, or rather lions; Did't not wake you?
It strook mine ^note ear most terribly.

Alo.
I heard nothing.

Ant.
O, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear;
To make an earth-quake! sure, it was the roar
Of a whole herd of lions.

Alo.
Heard you this, Gonzalo?

Gon.
Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,
And that a strange one too, which did awake me:
I shak'd you, sir, and cry'd; as mine eyes open'd,
I saw their weapons drawn: there was a noise,
That's verily: ^note 'Tis best, we stand upon our guard;
Or that we quit this place: let's draw our weapons.

Alo.
Lead off this ground; and let's make further search
For my poor son.

Gon.
Heavens keep him from these beasts!
For he is, sure, i' the island.

Alo.
Lead away.

&clquo;Ari.
&clquo;Prospero my lord shall know what I have done.&crquo;
&clquo;So, king, go safely on to seek thy son.&crquo; [Exeunt.

Next section