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I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee,
Thou wond'rous man.

I pr'ythee, let me bring thee where crabs grow;
And I with my long nails will dig thee pig-nuts;
Show thee a jay's nest, and instruct thee how
To snare the nimble marmozet; I'll bring thee
To clust'ring filberds, and sometimes I'll get thee
Young sea-mells* from the rock.

ACT III.

FERDINAND.

There be some sports are painful; but their labour Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness Are nobly undergone; and most poor matters Point to rich ends. This my mean task would be As heavy to me, as 'tis odious; but

The mistress which I serve, quickens what's dead,
And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is

Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed;
And he's composed of harshness. I must remove
Some thousands of these logs, and pile them up,
Upon a sore injunction: My sweet mistress
We

eeps when she sees me work: and says, such base

ness

Had ne'er like executor. I forget:

But these sweet thoughts do even refresh

Most busy-less, when I do it.

my labours

Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance.
Mira. Alas, now! pray you,

Work not so hard: I would the lightning had
Burnt up those logs, that you are enjoined to pile
Pray, sit it down, and rest you: when this burns,
Twill weep for having wearied you: My father
Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;

He's safe for these three hours.

Fer.

O most dear mistress, The sun will set, before I shall discharge, What I must strive to do.

Mira.

If you'll sit down,

I'll bear your logs the while: Pray give me that

* Sea-gulls.

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No, precious creature:
sinews, break my back,
dishonour undergo,

It would become me
and I should do it

As well as it does you:
With much more ease; for my good will is to it,

And yours against.

Pro.

Poor worm' thou art infected;

This visitation shows it.

Mira.

You look wearily.

Fer. No, noble mistress; 'tis fresh morning with

me,

When you are by at night. I do beseech you, (Chiefly, that I might set it in your prayers,) What is your name?

Mira.

Miranda:-O my father,

I have broke your hest* to say so!

Fer. Admir'd Miranda Indeed the top of admiration; worth What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady I have ey'd with best regard; and many a time The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage Brought my too diligent ear; for several virtues Have I lik'd several women; never any With so full soul, but some defect in her Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd,† And put it to the foil: But you, O you, So perfect and so peerless, are created Of every creature's best.

I do not know

Mira. One of my sex; no woman's face remember, Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen More that I may call men, than you, good friend And my dear father; how features are abroad, I am skill-less of; but, by my modesty, (The jewel in my dower,) I would not wish Any companion in the world but you; Nor can imagination form a shape,

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Besides yourself, to like of: but I prattle
Something too wildly, and my father's precepts
Therein forget.

Fer.

I am, in my condition,

A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king:

(I would, not so!) and would no more endure This wooden slavery, than I would suffer

The flesh-fly blow my mouth,-Hear my sou speak;

The very instant that I saw you, did

My heart fly to your service; there resides,
To make me slave to it; and, for your sake,

Am I this patient log-man.

Mira.

Do you love me?

Fer. O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound, And crown what I profess with kind event,

If I speak true; if hollowly, invert

What best is boded me, to mischief! I,
Beyond all limit of what else* i' the world
Do love, prize, honour you.

Mira.

I am a fool,

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Fair encounter

Of too most rare affections! Heaven s rain grace On that which breeds between them!

Fer

Wherefore weep you?

Mira. At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer What I desire to give; and much less take, What I shall die to want: But this is trifling; And all the more it seeks to hide itself,

The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning, And prompt me, plain and holy innocence.

I am your wife if you will marry me;

If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow
You may deny me: but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.

Fer.

And I thus humble ever.

Mira.

My mistress, dearest

My husband then?

Fer. Ay, with a heart as willing

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As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand. Mira. And mine, with my heart in't; And now farewell,

Till half an hour hence.

Fer.

A thousand! thousand!

A GUILTY CONSCIENCE.

O, it is monstrous! monstrous!

Methought, the billows spoke and told me of it;
The winds did sing it to me; and the thunder,
That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounc'd
'T'he name of Prosper.

ACT IV.

CONTINENCE BEFORE MARRIAGE.

If thou dost break her virgin knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy rite be minister'd,
No sweet aspersion* shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren hate,
Sour-ey'd disdain, and discord, shall bestrew
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly
That shall hate it both.
you

As I hope

A LOVER'S PROTESTATION.

For quiet days, fair issue and long life,

With such love as 'tis now; the murkiest den,

The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion

Our worser genius can, shall never melt

Mine honour into lust; 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.

PASSION TOO STRONG FOR VOWS.

Look, thou be true; do not give dalliance

Too much the rein; the strongest oaths are straw To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious

Or else, good night, your vow!

VANITY OF HUMAN NATURE.

These our actors,

As I foretold you, were all spirits, and

* Sprinkling.

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,
Yea, all which it inherits shall dissolve;
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,*
Leave not a rackt behind: We are such stuff
As dreams are made of, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

DRUNKARDS ENCHANTED BY ARIEL.

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 unback'd colts, they prick'd their

ears,

Advanc'd their eyelids, lifted up their noses,

As they smelt music; so I charm'd their ears,
That, calf-like, they my lowing follow'd, through
Tooth'd briers, sharp furzes, pricking goss, and
thorns,

Which enter'd their frail shins: at last I left them
I' the filthy mantled pool beyond your cell,
There dancing up to the chins.

LIGHTNESS OF FOOT.

Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not Hear a foot fall.

ACT V.

TEARS.

His tears run down his beard, like winter's drops From eavest of reeds.

COMPASSION AND CLEMENCY SUPERIOR TO REVENGE.

Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling Of their afflictions? and shall not myself,

* Vanished.

† A body of clouds in motion; but it is most probable that the author wrote track.

+ Thatch.

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