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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 IV. 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.

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.

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: &plquo;these our actors,
&plquo;As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
&plquo;Are melted into air, into thin air;
&plquo;And like the baseless fabrick of their vision,
&plquo;The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces,
&plquo;The solemn temples, the great globe it self
&plquo;Yea all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
&plquo;And like this insubstantial pageant faded,
&plquo;Leave not a rack behind! we are such stuff
&plquo;As dreams are made on, and our little life
&plquo;Is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vext;
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.

-- 61 --

Fer. Mira.
We wish you peace.
[Exe.

Pro.
Come with a thought; I thank thee, Ariel: come.
Enter Ariel.

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,
Humanly taken, all, all lost, quite lost;
And, as with age, his body uglier grows,

-- 62 --


So his mind cankers; I will plague them all,
Even to roaring: come, hang them on this line.
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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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