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Alon. O, it is monftrous! monftrous !
Methought, the billows spoke, and told me of it;
The winds did fing it to me; and the thunder,
That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounc'd
The name of Profper: it did base my trespass.
Therefore my fon i' th' ooze is bedded; and
I'll feek him deeper than e'er plummet founded,
And with him there lye mudded.

Seb. But one fiend at a time,

I'll fight their legions o'er.

Ant. I'll be thy fecond.

[Exit.

[Exeunt.

Gon. All three of them are defp'rate; their great guilt,

Like poifon giv'n to work a great time after,

Now 'gins to bite the fpirits. I beseech you

That are of fuppler joints, follow them swiftly,

And hinder them from what this ecstasy

May now provoke them to.

Adr. Follow, I pray you..

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F I have too aufterely punish'd you,

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Your compenfation makes amends; for I
Have giv'n you here a thread of mine own life,
Or that for which I live; whom once again
I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
Haft ftrangely ftood the teft. Here, afore heav'n,

I ratify

I ratify this my rich gift: Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me that I boaft her off;

For thou fhalt find she will outstrip all praise,
And make it halt behind her.

Fer. I believe it

Against an oracle.

Pro. Then, as my gift, and thine own acquifition Worthily purchas'd, take my daughter: but,

If thou doft break her virgin-knot before

All fanctimonious ceremonies may

With full and holy rite be minifter'd,
No sweet afperfion fhall the heav'ns let fall
To make this contract grow: but barren hate,
Sour-ey'd difdain, and difcord, fhall beftrew
The union of your bed with weeds fo loathly,
That you fhall hate it both: therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamps shall light you.

Fer. As I hope

For quiet days, fair iffue, and long life,

With fuch love as 'tis now: the murkieft den,

The most opportune place, the ftrong'st suggestion
Our worfer Genius can, fhall never melt

Mine honour into luft, to take away

The edge of that day's celebration,

When I shall think, or Phœbus' steeds are founder'd,
Or night kept chain'd below..

Pro. Moft fairly fpoke.

Sit then, and talk with her, fhe is thine own.

What, Ariel; my industrious fervant, Ariel L

SCENE II.

Enter Ariel.

Ari. What would my potent master? here I am.
Pro. Thou, and thy meaner fellows, your last service

Did worthily perform; and I must use you

In

In fuch another trick; go, bring the rabble,
O'er whom I give thee power, here, to this place;
Incite them to quick motion; for I must
of this young

Bestow

upon

the eyes

couple

Some vanity of mine art; it is my promise,

And they expect it from me.
Ari. Presently?

Pro. Ay, with a twink.

Ari. Before you can fay, Come and go, And breathe twice; and cry, fo, so;

Each one, tripping on his toe,

Will be here with mop and mow.

Do you love me, master? no?

Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel; do not approach, "Till thou doft hear me call.

Ari. Well, I conceive.

Pro. Look, thou be true; do not give dalliance
Too much the rein; the strongest oaths are ftraw
To th' fire i' th' blood: be more abftemious,
Or elfe, good-night your vow.

Fer. I warrant you, fir,

The white, cold, virgin-fnow upon my heart
Abates the ardour of my liver.

Pro. Well.

Now come, my Ariel, bring a corollary,

Rather than want a fpirit, appear, and pertly.
No tongue; all eyes; be filent.

SCENE III.

A MASQUE. Enter Iris.

Iris. Ceres, moft bounteous lady, thy rich leas
Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and peafe;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibling sheep,
And flat meads, with thatch'd ftover, them to keep;
Thy banks with pioned, and tulip'd brims,

[Exit.

[Soft mufick.

Which fpungy April at thy heft betrims,

To make cold nymphs chafte crowns; and thy brown groves,
Whofe fhadow the difmiffed bachelor loves,
Being lafs-lorn; thy pale-clipt vineyard,
And thy fea-marge fteril, and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyself doft air; the queen o' th' fky,
Whose wat'ry arch, and meffenger, am I,

[Juno defcends.

Bids thee leave thefe, and with her fov'reign grace,
Here on this grafs-plot, in this very place,
To come and fport; her peacocks fly amain:
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter Ceres.

Cer. Hail, many-colour'd meffenger, that ne'er
Doft disobey the wife of Jupiter:

Who, with thy faffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffuseft honey drops, refreshing fhowers;
And with each end of thy blue bow doft crown
My bosky acres, and my unfhrub'd down,

Rich scarf to my proud earth; why hath thy queen
Summon'd me hither, to this fhort-grafs green?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate,
And some donation freely to estate
On the blefs'd lovers.

Cer. Tell me, heav'nly bow,

If Venus, or her fon, as thou doft know,
Do now attend the queen? fince they did plot
The means, that dusky Dis my daughter got;
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forfworn.

Iris. Of her fociety

Be not afraid: I met her deity

Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her fon
Dove-drawn with her; here thought they to have done
Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
Whose vows are, that no bed-right fhall be paid

"Till

'Till Hymen's torch be lighted; but in vain:
Mars's hot minion is return'd again;

Her waspish-headed fon has broke his arrows,
Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows,
And be a boy right-out.

Cer. High queen of state,

Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gait.
Jun. How does my bounteous fifter? go with me
To blefs this twain, that they may profp'rous be,
And honour'd in their iffue.

Jun. Honour, riches, marriage bleffing,
Long continuance, and encreafing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Juno fings her bleffings on you.
Cer. Earth's increafe, and foifon-plenty,
Barns, and garners, never empty,
Vines, with cluftring bunches growing,
Plants, with goodly burthen bowing:
Spring come to you, at the fartheft,
In the very end of harvest!
Scarcity, and want, fhall fhun you,
Ceres' bleffing fo is on you.

Fer. This is a most majestick vision, and
Harmonious charming lay; may I be bold
To think these spirits?

Pro. Spirits, which by mine art

I have from all their confines call'd, t'enact
My present fancies.

Fer. Let me live here ever;

So rare a wonder'd father and a wife

Make this place paradise.

Pro. Now, filence, fweet!

There's something else to do; hush, and be mute,
Or elfe our spell is marr'd.

[They fing.

Juno

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