THE

TEMPEST.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

The Cell of PROSPERO.

Enter PROSPERO, meeting MIRANDA, Pro. Miranda, where's your sister?

Mir. Sir, I saw her
Climbing tow'rds yon high point, whence I am come
From gazing on the ocean : A brave creature,
(Who has, no doubt, some other creatures in her,)
Toss'd on the waste of waters,

Pro. Be collected;
I shall do nothing but in care of thee,
Of thee, my daughter, and thy pretty sister -
You both are ignorant of what you are,
Nought knowing
Of whence I am; nor that I am more better
Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell,
And your no greater father.

Mir. More to know
Did never meddle with my thoughts.

1

thine ear;

Pro. 'Tis time,
I should inform thee further.—Lend thy hand,
And pluck my magic garment from me.—So;

[Lays down his Mantle and Wand.
Lie there, my art.-
The fated wreck of that same gallant ship
I shall with such provision in mine art
So safely order,
That not so much perdition as a hair,
Shall’tide to any creature in the vessel.-
Sit down;
For thou must now know further.

Mir. You have often
Begun to tell me what I am; but stopp’d,
And left me to a bootless inquisition ;
Concluding,—“ Stay, not yet.'

Pro. The hour's now come;
The
very
minute bids thee

ope Obey, and be attentive. [MIRANDA sits down. Canst thou remember A time before we came unto this cell ? I do not think thou canst; for then thou wast not Out three

years

old.
Mir. Certainly, sir, I can.

Pro. By what? by any other house, or person?
Of any thing the image tell me, that
Hath kept with thy remembrance.

Mir. 'Tis far off ; And rather like a dream than an assurance That my remembrance warrants :-Had I not Four or five women once, that tended me? Pro. Thou hadst, and more, Miranda : But how

is it, That this lives in thy mind? What see'st thou else In the dark backward and abysme of time? If thou remember'st aught, ere thou cam’st here, How thou cam’st here, thou may’st.

Mir. But that I do not.