Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

ACT IV.

SCENE I. Before PROSPERO's cell.

Enter PROSPERO, FERDINAND, and MIRANDA.

Pros. If I have too austerely punish'd you,
Your compensation makes amends; for I
Have given you here a third of mine own life,
Or that for which I live; who once again
I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
Hast strangely stood the test: here, afore Heaven,

I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me that I boast her off,

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

Fer.

Against an oracle.

I do believe it

Pros. Then, as my gift, and thine own acquisition
Worthily purchased, take my daughter: but
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,

5

10

15

Before...] Capell. Prospero's cell. Theobald. Prospero's cave. Pope. 3 a third] a thread Theobald. a thrid Wright, Clar. Press ed. (Tollett conj.) the thread Jackson conj. the end Bailey conj.

4 who] whom Pope.

7 strangely] strongly Long MS. and Sherwen conj. (Gent. Mag. 1811). test] F1. rest F2F3F4

80] om. Hanmer.

9 her off] FF3F4. her of F1. of her Keightley.

11 do] om. Pope.

13 gift] Rowe. guest Ff.

14 but] F1. om. F2F3F4.

17 rite] Rowe. right Ff.

18 aspersion] aspersions So quoted by

Holt.

Sour-eyed disdain and discord shall bestrew
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly

20

That you shall hate it both therefore take heed,

As Hymen's lamps shall light you.

Fer.

As I hope

For quiet days, fair issue and long life,

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

25

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, 30

Or Night kept chain'd below.

Pros.

Fairly spoke.

Sit, then, and talk with her; she is thine own.

What, Ariel! my industrious servant, Ariel!

Enter ARIEL.

Ari. What would my potent master? here I am.

Pros. Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service 35

[blocks in formation]

Incite them to quick motion; for I must

Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
Some vanity of mine art: it is my promise,

40

23 lamps] lamp Elze conj. (N. and Q. 1883).

25 love as 'tis now,] Rowe. love, as 'tis now Ff.

'tis] is Capell.

30 Phœbus'] Phœbus F1. Phædus F2F3. Phæduus F4.

31 Fairly Most fairly Hanmer. 'Tis

fairly Keightley.

34 SCENE II. Роре.

murkiest den] murkiest e'en (or ev'n) Anon. conj. (N. and Q. 1874). murkiest even Hudson (Harvard ed.). 27 can] can make or can give Keightley conj.

38 give] gave Elze conj. (N. and Q.

1883).

41 vanity] rarity S. Walker conj. variety Long MS.

And they expect it from me.
Ari.

Pros. Ay, with a twink.

Presently?

Ari. Before you can say, 'come,' and 'go,'
And breathe twice, and cry, 'so, so,'
Each one, tripping on his toe,

Will be here with mop and mow.

Do you love me, master? no?

Pros. Dearly, my delicate Ariel. Do not approach

Till thou dost hear me call.

Ari.

Well, I conceive.

45

[Exit. 50

Pros. 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!

Fer.

I warrant you, sir;

55

The white cold virgin snow upon my heart

Abates the ardour of my liver.

[blocks in formation]

Now come, my Ariel! bring a corollary,

Rather than want a spirit: appear, and pertly!

No tongue! all eyes! be silent.

Enter IRIS.

Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas

[Soft music.

60

Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and pease;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,
And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep;

48 me, master? no?] me?-master no?
Nicholson conj.

no?] no. Rowe (ed. 1).

52 rein] F. raigne F1F2. raign F3. 53 abstemious] abstenious F1.

57 corollary] whole array D. Wilson conj. choir of lares Bulloch conj.

58 want a spirit] wanton spirits Bulloch conj.

pertly presently D. Wilson conj.

60 SCENE III. A MASQUE. Pope.

thy] F1. the F2F3F4

61 vetches] Capell. Fetches Ff.

62 turfy] tufty Anon. ap. Grey conj.
63 thatch'd] Rowe (ed. 2). thetchd F1.
thetch'd F2F3F4. hatch'd Tathwell
conj.

thatch'd with] with thatch'd Hanmer.

Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims,

Which spongy April at thy hest betrims,

65

To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom-groves,

Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,

Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard;

70

75

80

85

And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard,

Where thou thyself dost air; the queen o' the sky,

Whose watery arch and messenger am I,

Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign grace,

Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport: -her peacocks fly amain:

Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter CERES.

Cer. Hail, many-colour'd messenger, that ne'er
Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;

Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers;
And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown
My bosky acres and my unshrubb'd down,

Rich scarf to my proud earth; -why hath thy queen

Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate;

And some donation freely to estate

On the blest lovers.
Cer.

Tell me, heavenly bow,

If Venus or her son, as thou dost know,

64 banks] becks Jervis conj., reading as Steevens.

pioned pionied Warburton. peonied Steevens (1793). pinioned Brae conj. pansies pied or bryonied Bailey conj. peoned Dyce, ed. 2.

twilled] tulip'd Rowe. tilled Capell (Holt conj.). lilied Rann (Heath conj.). willow'd Keightley (Jervis conj. and Bailey conj.) willied Keightley conj. (N. and Q. 1863). 66 cold...chaste] chaste...cold Keightley.

broom-groves] brown groves Hanmer.

broad groves or trim groves Keightley conj.

68 pole-clipt] pale-clipt Hanmer. poleyclipt Allen conj.

69 sterile] stirrile F1.

rocky-hard rocky hard Gould conj. 72 After this line Ff have the stage direction, 'Juno descends.' Collier MS. adds 'slowly.'

74 her] Rowe. here Ff.
76 many-colour'd] Rowe, many-coloured
F1. many coloured F2F3F4

83 short-grass'd] F3F4. short gras'd
F1F2. short-grass Pope.

Do now attend the queen? Since they did plot

[blocks in formation]

Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to have done

Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,

95

Whose vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid

Till Hymen's torch be lighted: but in vain ;

Mars's hot minion is returned again;

Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows,

Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows,

100

And be a boy right out.

High'st queen of state,

Cer.

Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gait.

Enter JUNO,

Juno. How does my bounteous sister? Go with me

To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be,
And honour'd in their issue.

Juno. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance, and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Juno sings her blessings on you.

[They sing: 105

Cer.

Earth's increase, foison plenty,
Barns and garners never empty;
Vines with clustering bunches growing;
Plants with goodly burthen bowing;
Spring come to you at the farthest
In the very end of harvest!

110

115

96 bed-right] bed-rite Steevens (1778). 98 Mars's] F3F4. Marses F1F2.

101 High'st] Highest Ff. High Pope.
102 Juno, comes] Theobald. Iuno comesFf.

gait] Johnson. gate Ff.
Enter Juno] Juno descends, and
enters. Theobald. At line 101,
Collier MS.
See line 72.

om. Ff.

106 marriage-blessing]

Warburton.

marriage, blessing Ff. 110 Cer.] Theobald. om. Ff. increase] rich increase Jacob conj. foison] foyzon F1. and foyzon F2F3F4 114 Spring] Raine Collier MS. Shall Keightley. Fall Shilletoconj. (N.and Q.1870). Offspring D. Wilson conj. at the farthest at farthest D. Wilson conj.

« AnteriorContinuar »