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George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
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SCENE VI.

Pro.
The fringed curtains of thine eye advance,
And say what thou seest yond.

Mira.
What is't, a spirit?
Lord, how it looks about! believe me, Sir,
It carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit.

Pro.
No wench, it eats, and sleeps, and hath such senses
As we have, such. This gallant which thou seest

-- 21 --


Was in the wreck: and but he's something stain'd
With grief (that's beauty's canker) thou might'st call him
A goodly person. He hath lost his fellows,
And strays about to find 'em.

Mira.
I might call him
A thing divine, for nothing natural
I ever saw so noble.

Pro.
It goes on, I see, [Aside.
As my soul prompts it. Spirit, fine spirit, I'll free thee
Within two days for this.

Fer.
Most sure the Goddess
On whom these ayres attend! vouchsafe my pray'r
May know if you remain upon this Island,
And that you will some good instruction give
How I may bear me here: my prime request
(Which I do last pronounce) is, O you wonder!
If you be made or no?

Mira.
No wonder, Sir,
But certainly a maid.

Fer.
My language! heav'ns!
I am the best of them that speak this speech,
Were I but where 'tis spoken.

Pro.
How? the best?
What wert thou if the King of Naples heard thee?

Fer.
A single thing, as I am now, that wonders
To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me;
And that he does, I weep: my self am Naples,
Who, with mine eyes (ne'er since at ebb) beheld
The King my father wrackt.

Mira.
Alack, for mercy!

Fer.
Yes faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan
And his brave son, being twain.

Pro.
The Duke of Milan

-- 22 --


And his more braver daughter could controll thee,
If now 'twere fit to do't:β€”At the first sight
They have chang'd eyes: (delicate Ariel,
I'll set thee free for this.) A word, good Sir,
I fear you've done your self some wrong: a word.

Mira.
Why speaks my father so ungently? this
Is the third man that e'er I saw; the first
That e'er I sigh'd for. Pity move my father
To be inclin'd my way!

Fer.
O, if a Virgin,
And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you
The Queen of Naples.

Pro.
Soft Sir, one word more.
They're both in either's pow'r: but this swift business
I must uneasie make, lest too light winning
Make the prize light. Sir, one word more; [I charge thee [To Ariel.
That thou attend me] thou dost here usurp
The name thou ow'st not, and hast put thy self
Upon this island, as a spy, to win it
From me, the lord on't.

Fer.
No, as I'm a man.

Mira.
There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.
If the ill spirit have so fair an house,
Good things will strive to dwell with't.

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

Fer.
No,
I will resist such entertainment, 'till
Mine enemy has more power.
[He draws, and is charmed from moving.

-- 23 --

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

Pro.
What, I say,
My foot my tutor? put thy sword up, traitor,
Who mak'st a shew, but dar'st not strike; thy conscience
Is all possest with guilt: come from thy ward,
For I can here disarm thee with this stick,
And make thy weapon drop.

Mira.
Beseech you, father.

Pro.
Hence: hang not on my garment.

Mira.
Sir, have pity;
I'll be his surety.

Pro.
Silence: one word more
Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What,
An advocate for an impostor? hush!
Thou think'st there are no more such shapes as he,
(Having seen but him and Caliban) foolish wench,
To th' most of men this is a Caliban,
And they to him are angels.

Mira.
My affections
Are then most humble: I have no ambition
To see a goodlier man.

Pro.
Come on, obey:
Thy nerves are in their infancy again,
And have no vigour in them.

Fer.
So they are:
My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.
My father's loss, the weakness which I feel,
The wrack of all my friends, and this man's threats,
To whom I am subdu'd, are but light to me,
Might I but through my prison once a day
Behold this maid: all corners else o'th' earth
Let liberty make use of; space enough

-- 24 --


Have I, in such a prison.

Pro.
It works: come on.
Thou hast done well, fine Ariel: follow me.
Hark what thou else shalt do me.

Mira.
Be of comfort,
My father's of a better nature, Sir,
Than he appears by speech: this is unwonted
Which now came from him.

Pro.
Thou shalt be as free
As mountain winds; but then exactly do
All points of my command.

Ari.
To th' syllable.

Pro.
Come follow: speak not for him.
[Exeunt.
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George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
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