The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers FERDI NAND and MIRANDA playing at chess. Mira. Sweet lord, you play me false. Fer. I would not for the world. No, my dearest love, Mira. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should Fer. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful: Of a glad father compass thee about! Arise, and say how thou cam'st here. Mira. O, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people in't! Pro. "Tis new to thee. Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play? Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us, And brought us thus together? Fer. Sir, she's mortal; But, by immortal Providence, she's mine: 13 The sense of this passage is not altogether clear. The word not seems wanting after prove; unless if have by some means got substituted for but. Alonzo has lost his son once, and if this which he now sees prove not a mere vision, he will have to lose him again. H. Is daughter to this famous duke of Milan, Alon. I am hers: But O! how oddly will it sound, that I Must ask my child forgiveness. Pro. There, sir, stop. Let us not burden our remembrances Gon. Or should have spoke ere this. I have inly wept, Look down, you gods, And on this couple drop a blessed crown; Alon. I say, Amen, Gonzalo ! Gon. Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue Should become kings of Naples? O! rejoice Beyond a common joy and set it down With gold on lasting pillars: In one voyage Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis; And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom In a poor isle; and all of us, ourselves, When no man was his own.14 Alon. [To FER. and MIRA.] Give me your Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart, That doth not wish you joy! Gon. hands: Be't so! Amen! Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following. look, sir, took, sir! here are more of us. i. e. when no man was in his senses, or had self-possession I prophesied, if a gallows were on land, Boats. The best news is, that we have safely found Ari. Sir, all this service Have I done since I went. Pro. . My tricksy spirit! } [Aside 16 Boats. If I did think, sir, I were well awake, I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep, And (how we know not) all clapp'd under hatches, Where, but even now, with strange and several noises Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains, Ari. be free. Alon. This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod And there is in this business more than nature 15 ¡e. ready 16 i. e. adroit, nimble. 17 Was ever conduct of: "7 some oracle Must rectify our knowledge. Pro. Sir, my liege, Do not infest your mind with beating on 18 The strangeness of this business: at pick'd leisure, Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you, (Which to you shall seem probable,) of every These happen'd accidents: till when, be cheerful, And think of each thing well. - [Aside.] Come hither, spirit: Set Caliban and his companions free; Untie the spell. [Exit ARIEL.] How fares my gra cious sir? There are yet missing of your company Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel. Ste. Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man take care for himself; for all is but fortune :Coragio, bully-monster, coragio! Trin. If these be true spies which I wear in my head, here's a goodly sight. Cal. O Setebos! these be brave spirits, indeed! How fine my master is! I am afraid What things are these, my lord Antonio? Ant. Very like one of them Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable. Pro. Mark but the badges of these men, my lords, 17 Conductor of. 18 There is a vulgar expression still in use, of similar import : "Still hammering at it." 19 Then say, if they be true: This misshapen knave, 20 His mother was a witch; and one so strong Cal. I shall be pinch'd to death. Alon. Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler? Seb. He is drunk now: Where had he wine? Alon. And Trinculo is reeling ripe: Where should they Find this grand liquor that hath gilded them?" How cam'st thou in this pickle? Trin. I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you last, that, I fear me, will never out of my bones: I shall not fear fly-blowing. Seb. Why, how now, Stephano ? Ste. O touch me not: I am not Stephano, but a cramp. Pro. You'd be king of the isle, sirrah? Ste. I should have been a sore one then. Alon. This is as strange a thing as e'er I look'd on. [Pointing to CALIBAN. Pro. He is as disproportion'd in his manners, As in his shape :- Go, sirrah, to my cell; 19 Honest. 20 i. e. work the same effects as the moon without her dele gned authority. The phrase of being gilded was a trite one for being drunk Fletcher uses it in The Chances, Act iv. sc. 3: "Duke. Is she not drunk too? Con A little gilded o'er, sir: old sack, old sack, boys." |