You sun-burn'd sicklemen, of August weary, Come hither from the furrow, and be merry: Make holiday: your rye-straw hats put on, 136 And these fresh nymphs encounter every one In country footing.

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 heavily vanish.

Pro. [Aside.] I had forgot that foul conspiracy

Of the beast Caliban, and his confederates 140 Against my life: the minute of their plot

Is almost come. - [To the Spirits.] Well done!

avoid; no more! This

Fer. This is strange: your father's in some passion

That works him strongly.

Mira.

Never till this day 144 Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd. Pro. You do look, my son, in a mov'd sort, As if you were dismay'd: be cheerful, sir: Our revels now are ended. These our actors, 148 As I foretold you, were all spirits and

Are melted into air, into thin air:

And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,

The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, 153 Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve

And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,

I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd 168 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;

172

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 unback'd colts, they prick'd their

CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, all wet.

Cal. Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not

Hear a foot fall: we now are near his cell. 195 Ste. Monster, your fairy, which you say is a harmless fairy, has done little better than played the Jack with us.

200

Trin. Monster, I do smell all horse-piss; at which my nose is in great indignation. Ste. So is mine. - Do you hear, monster? If I should take a displeasure against you, look you, Trin. Thou wert but a lost monster.

Cal. Good my lord, give me thy favour still:

Pro.

Spirit, We must prepare to meet with Caliban.

Shall hoodwink this mischance: therefore speak softly;

All's hush'd as midnight yet.

Ari. Ay, my commander; when I presented Ceres,

the quick,

Yet with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury

Do I take part: the rarer action is
In virtue than in vengeance: they being peni-

tent,

The sole drift of my purpose doth extend
Not a frown further. Go, release them, Ariel.
My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore,
And they shall be themselves.
Ari.

28

I'll fetch them, sir. [Exit. Pro. Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and groves;

68

Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle
Their clearer reason. -O good Gonzalo!
My true preserver, and a loyal sir
To him thou follow'st, I will pay thy graces
Home, both in word and deed. - Most cruelly
Didst thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter:72
Thy brother was a furtherer in the act; -
Thou'rt pinch'd for't now, Sebastian.-Flesh

and blood,

You, brother mine, that entertain'd ambition, Expell'd remorse and nature; who, with Se

And ye, that on the sands with printless foot Do chase the ebbing Neptune and do fly him When he comes back; you demi-puppets, that 36 By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make Whereof the ewe not bites; and you, whose pastime

Is to make midnight mushrooms; that rejoice To hear the solemn curfew; by whose aid, - 40 Weak masters though ye be-I have bedimm'd The noontide sun, call'd forth the mutinous winds,

And 'twixt the green sea and the azur'd vault Set roaring war: to the dread-rattling thunder 44 Have I given fire and rifted Jove's stout oak With his own bolt: the strong-bas'd promontory Have I made shake; and by the spurs pluck'd up The pine and cedar: graves at my command 48 Have wak'd their sleepers, op'd, and let them

forth

Re-enter ARIEL: after him, ALONSO, with a frantic gesture, attended by GONZALO; SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO in like manner, attended by ADRIAN and FRANCISCO: they all enter the circle which PROSPERO had made, and there stand charmed; which PROSPERO observing, speaks.

A solemn air and the best comforter

To an unsettled fancy, cure thy brains,

76

Ari. I drink the air before me, and return Or e'er your pulse twice beat.

[Exit.

104

Inhabits here: some heavenly power guide us

For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive

Pro. In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords

At this encounter do so much admire
That they devour their reason, and scarce think
Their eyes do offices of truth, their words 156
Are natural breath: but, howsoe'er you have
Been justled from your senses, know for certain
That I am Prospero and that very duke
Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most
strangely

160

164

Upon this shore, where you were wrack'd, was
landed,
To be the lord on't. No more yet of this;
For 'tis a chronicle of day by day,
Not a relation for a breakfast nor
Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir;
This cell's my court: here have I few attendants
And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in.
My dukedom since you have given me again, 168
I will requite you with as good a thing;
At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye
As much as me my dukedom.

The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers
FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess.

Mira. Sweet lord, you play me false. Fer.

No, my dearest love, 172

Thou must restore.

Mira. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should

wrangle,

And I would call it fair play. Alon.

If this prove

176

A vision of the island, one dear son
Shall I twice lose.
Seb.

A most high miracle!

Fer. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful:

I have curs'd them without cause.