1

The mariners all under hatches stow'd,

Who, with a charm join'd to their suffered labour,
I've left asleep; and for the rest o'th' fleet
(Which I dispers'd) they all have met again,

And are upon the Mediterranean flote,

Bound sadly home for Naples ;

Supposing, that they saw the King's ship wrackt,
And his great person perish.

Pro. Ariel, thy charge

Exactly is perform'd; but there's more work:
What is the time o'th' day?
Ari. Paft the mid season.

Pro. At least twoglasses; the time 'twixt fix and now
Must by us both be spent most preciously.

Ari. Is there more toil? since thou dost give me pains,

Let me remember thee what thou hast promis'd,

Which is not yet perform'd me.

Pro. How now? moody?

What is't thou canst demand?

Ari. My liberty.

Pro. Before the time be out? no more.

Ari. I pr'ythee,

Remember, I have done thee worthy service;
Told thee no lies, made no mistakings, ferv'd
Without or grudge, or grumblings, thou didst promise
To bate me a full year.

of that Name who first discover'd them. They are likewise call'd Summer
Islands, from Sir George Summers, who in 1609 made that Voyage; and
viewing them, probably, first brought the English acquainted with them,
and invited them afterwards to fettle a Plantation there. But why, ftill-
wext Bermudas? The Soil is celebrated for its Beauty and Fruitfulness; and
the Air is so very temperate and serene, that People live there to a great Age,
and are seldom troubled with Sickness. But then, on the other hand, these
Islands are fo furrounded with Rocks on all fides, that without a perfect
Knowledge of the Passage, a small Vessel cannot be brought to Haven.
Again, we are told, that they are subject to violent Storms, sometimes
with terrible clattering of Thunder, and dismal flashing of Lightning. And
besides, Sir George Summers, when he made the Discovery, was actually
thipwreck'd on the Coaft. This, I take it, might be a fufficient Founda
tion for our Author's using the Epithet ftill-vext.

Pro

Cal. (within) There's wood enough within.
Pro. Come forth, I say; there's other business for thee.

Come, thou Tortoise! when?

Enter Ariel like a Water-Nymph.

Fine apparition! my quaint Ariel,

Hark in thine ear.

Ari. My lord, it shall be done.

[Exit.

Pro. Thou poisonous flave, got by the devil himself

Upon thy wicked dam; come forth.

Enter Caliban.

Cal. As wicked dew, as e'er my mother brush'd

With raven's feather from unwholsome fen,
Drop on you both! a fouth-west blow on ye,
And blifter you all o'er!

Pro. For this, be sure, to night thou shalt have cramps,
Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up; urchins
Shall, for that vast of night that they may work,
All exercise on thee: thou shall be pinch'd
As thick as honey-combs, each pinch more stinging
Than bees that made 'em.

Cal. I must eat my dinner.

This Island's mine by Sycorax my mother,
Which thou tak'st from me. When thou camest first,
Thou stroak'dst me, and mad'st much of me; would'st
give me

Water with berries in't; and teach me how
To name the bigger light, and how the less,
That burn by day and night: and then I lov'd thee,
And shew'd thee all the qualities o' th' Ifle,
The fresh springs, brine-pits; barren place, and fertile.
Curs'd be I, that I did so! all the charms
Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you!
For I am all the subjects that you have,

Who first was mine own King: and here you sty me
In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me
The rest of th' Island.

Pro. Thou most lying slave,

Whom stripes may move, not kindness; I have us'd thee

VOL. I.

C

(Filth (Filth as thou art) with humane care, and lodg'd In mine own cell, 'till thou didst seek to violate The honour of my child.

Cal. Oh ho, oh ho! - I wou'd, it had been done! Thou didst prevent me, I had peopled else This Ifle with Calibans.

Pro. Abhorred flave; (10) Which any print of goodness wilt not take, Being capable of all ill! I pity'd thee, Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour One thing or other. When thou didst not, savage, Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like A thing most brutish, I endow'd thy purposes With words that made them known. But thy vile race (Tho' thou didst learn) had that in't, which good natures Could not abide to be with; therefore wast thou Deservedly confin'd into this rock, Who hadit deserv'd more than a prifon.

Cal. You taught me language, and my profit on't Is, I know how to curse: the red plague rid you, For learning me your language!

Pro. Hag-feed, hence!

Fetch us in fewel, and be quick (thou wer't beft)
To answer other business. Shrug'st thou, malice?
If thou neglect'st, or dost unwillingly

What I command, I'll rack thee with old cramps;
Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar,
That beasts shall tremble at thy din.
Cal. No, 'pray thee.

I must obey; his art is of such pow'r,

(10) Mira. Abhorred Slave;] In all the printed Editions this Speech is given to Miranda: but I am perfuaded, the Author never design'd it for her. In the first Place, 'tis probable, Profpero taught Caliban to speak, rather than left that Office to his Daughter: in the next Place, as Prospero was here rating Caliban, it would be a great Impropriety for her to take the Discipline out of his hands; and, indeed, in fome fort, an Indecency in her to reply to what Caliban last was speaking of. Mr. Dryden, I observe, in his Alteration of this Play, has judicioufly placed this Speech to Profpero. I can easily guess, that the Change was first deriv'd from the Players, who not loving that any Character should stand too long filent on the Stage, to obviate that Inconvenience with Regard to Mirenda, clap'd this Speech to her Part.