Mira. O good sir, I do. A falsehood, in its contrary as great As my trust was; which had, indeed, no limit, But what my power might else exact,-like one, To credit his own lie,2-he did believe He was indeed the duke; out of the substitution, Mira. Your tale, sir, would cure deafness. Pro. To have no screen between this part he played And him he played it for, he needs will be Absolute Milan: Me, poor man!--my library Was dukedom large enough; of temporal royalties He thinks me now incapable: confederates (So dry he was for sway) with the king of Naples, To give him annual tribute, do him homage; Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend The dukedom, yet unbowed, (alas, poor Milan!) To most ignoble stooping. Mira. O the heavens! Pro. Mark his condition, and the event; then 1 Alluding to the observation that a father above the common rate of men has generally a son below it. 2 "Who having made his memory such a sinner to truth as to credit his own lie by telling of it.” To the winds, whose pity, sighing back again, Did us but loving wrong. Mira. Was I then to you! Pro. Alack! what trouble O! a cherubim Thou wast, that did preserve me! Thou didst smile, Infused with a fortitude from heaven, 1 When I have decked the sea with drops full salt; 2 Against what should ensue. Mira Pro. By Providence divine. How came we ashore? Some food we had, and some fresh water, that Out of his charity, (who being then appointed Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries, Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness, I prize above my dukedom. Mira. But ever see that man! Pro. 'Would I might Now I arise: Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. Have I, thy school-master, made thee more profit (For still 'tis beating in my mind,) your reason Pro. I pray Know thus far forth. By accident most strange, bountiful fortune, Brought to this shore and by my prescience 1 Sprinkled. 2 A temper or frame of mind to bear. I find my zenith doth depend upon A most auspicious star; whose influence Will ever after droop.-Here cease more questions; Enter ARIEL. Ari. All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly, To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride On the curled clouds: to thy strong bidding, task Pro. Hast thou, spirit, Performed to point, the tempest that I bade thee? I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak,3 Pro. Who was so firm, so constant, Would not infect his reason? Ari. My brave spirit! that his coil Not a soul But felt a fever of the mad, and played 1 The powers of his nature as a spirit. 2 To the minutest article. 3 The beak was a strong pointed body at the head of ancient galleys The waist is the part between the quarter-deck and the forecastle. 1 1 Bustle, tumult. |