69

I pray thee, mark me,—that a brother should
Be so perfidious!-he whom, next thyself,
Of all the world I lov'd, and to him put
The manage of my state; as, at that time,
Through all the signiories" it was the first,
And Prospero the prime duke; being so
reputed

In dignity, and for the liberal arts
Without a parallel: those being all my study,
The government I cast upon my brother,
And to my state grew stranger, being trans-
ported

And rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle[Dost thou attend me?

Mir.
Sir, most heedfully.
Pros. Being once perfected how to grant
suits,

79

How to deny them, who to advance, and who
To trash for over-topping,-new-created
The creatures that were mine, I say, or chang'd
'em,

Or else new-form'd 'em;] having both the key
Of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state
To what tune pleas'd his ear; that now he was

1 Issu'd, descended. 2 Teen, sorrow. 3 From, out of. + Manage, management. 5 Signiories, states.

• Prime, first.

Awak'd an evil nature; [and my trust,

Like a good parent, did beget of him

A falsehood, in its contrary as great
As my trust was; which had indeed no limit,
A confidence sans 12 bound. He being thus
lorded,

Not only with what my revenue yielded,
But what my power might else exact,—like one
Who having into truth, by telling of it, 100
Made such a sinner of his memory,

To credit his own lie,-he did believe
He was indeed the duke; out o' the substitu-
tion,13

And executing the outward face of royalty, With all prerogative: hence his ambition growing,[Dost thou hear?

Mir. Your tale, sir, would cure deafness. Pros. To have no screen between this part he play'd

And him he play'd it for,] he needs will be Absolute Milan. Me, poor man, my library Was dukedom large enough: of temporal

royalties

110

7 Trash, restrain, lop.

14 Confederates, conspires.

121

Pros.
Now the condition. ]
This King of Naples, being an enemy
To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit;
Which was, that he, in lieu o' the premises,—
Of homage, and I know not how much tri-
bute,-

Should presently3 extirpate me and mine
Out of the dukedom, and confer fair Milan,
With all the honours, on my brother: whereon,
A treacherous army levied, one midnight
Fated to the purpose, did Antonio open
The gates of Milan; and, i' the dead of dark-
ness,

130

[Well demanded, wench: My tale provokes that question.] Dear, they durst not,

140

So dear the love my people bore me,-nor set
A mark so bloody on the business; but
With colours fairer painted their foul ends.
In few, they hurried us aboard a bark,
Bore us some leagues to sea; where they pre-
par'd

A rotten carcass of a boat, not rigg'd,
Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats
Instinctively have quit it: there they hoist us,
To cry to the sea that roar'd to us; to sigh
To the winds, whose pity, sighing back again,
Did us but loving wrong.

Out of his charity,—who being then appointed
Master of this design,-did give us; with
Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries,
Which since have steaded much;9 so, of his
gentleness,

Knowing I lov'd my books, he furnish'd me,
From mine own library, with volumes that
I prize above my dukedom.
Mir.

But ever see that man!

Pros.

Would I might

Now I arise:[Resumes his mantle.

Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. Here in this island we arriv'd; and here 171 Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit 10

Than other princess'11 can, that have more time
For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful.
Mir. Heavens thank you for 't! And now,
I pray you, sir,—

For still 't is beating in my mind,—your reason
For raising the sea-storm?
Pros.
Know thus far forth.
By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune-
Now my dear lady 12-hath mine enemies
Brought to this shore; and by my prescience
I find my zenith doth depend upon
A most auspicious star, whose influence
If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes
Will ever after droop. Here cease more ques-
tions:

181

Thou art inclin'd to sleep; 't is a good dulness,

7 Deck'd, sprinkled.

8 An undergoing stomach, an enduring courage. Have steaded much, have stood us in good stead. 10 Made thee more profit, i.e. made thee profit more. 11 Princess', princesses (elision made on account of the metre).

12 Now my dear lady, now my auspicious mistress. 179

193

But was not this nigh shore?
Ari.
Close by, my master.
Pros. But are they, Ariel, safe?
Ari.
Not a hair perish'd;
On their sustaining garments not a blemish,
But fresher than before: and, as thou bad'st me,
In troops I have dispers'd them 'bout the isle.
The king's son have I landed by himself; 221
Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs
In an odd angle2 of the isle, and sitting,
His arms in this sad knot.

How now? moody? What is 't thou canst demand? Ari. My liberty. Pros. Before the time be out? no more! Ari. I prithee, Remember I have done thee worthy service; Told thee no lies, made no mistakings, serv'd Without or grudge or grumblings: thou didst promise

To bate me a full year. Pros.

Dost thou forget 250 From what a torment I did free thee? Ari.

No. Pros. Thou dost; and think'st it much to tred the ooze

Of the salt deep,

Once in a month recount what thou hast been, Which thou forgett'st. This damn'd witch Sycorax,

For mischiefs manifold, and sorceries terrible [To enter human hearing,] from Argier,11 [Thou know'st,] was banish'd: for one thing,

she did

They would not take her life. [Is not this true?? Ari. Ay, sir.]

7 Two glasses, i.e. two hours.

9 Remember thee, remind thee.

6 Flote, flood, sea.

10 Envy, malice.

8 Pains, tasks.

11 Argier, Algiers.