my bones:

you last, that, I fear me, will never out of my I shall not fear fly-blowing."

Seb. Why, how now, Stephano?

Ste. O, touch me not; I am not Stephano, but

Pro. You'd be king of the isle, sirrah?

Ste. I should have been a sore one then.7.

on.

Alon. This is as strange a thing as e'er I look'd [Pointing to CALIBAN. Pro. He is as disproportion'd in his manners, As in his shape :-Go, sirrah, to my cell; Take with you your companions; as you To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.

look

Cal. Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter, And seek for grace: What a thrice-double ass Was I, to take this drunkard for a god,

And worship this dull fool?

Pro.

Go to; away!

Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it.

Seb. Or stole it, rather.

[Exeunt CAL. STE. and TRIN. Pro. Sir, I invite your highness, and your train, To my poor cell: where you shall take

your rest For this one night; which (part of it,) I'll waste With such discourse, as, I not doubt, shall make it

Go quick away: the story of my life,
And the particular accidents, gone by,

5 fly-blowing.] This pickle alludes to their plunge intò the stinking pool; and pickling preserves meat from fly-blowing. 6 but a cramp.] i. e. I am all over a cramp. Prospero had ordered Ariel to shorten up their sinews with aged cramps. Touch me not alludes to the soreness occasioned by them.

7 I should have been a sore one then.] The same quibble occurs afterwards in the Second Part of King Henry VI: Mass, 'twill be sore law then, for he was thrust in the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not whole yet." Stephano also alludes to the sores about him.

STEEVENS.

Since I came to this isle: And in the morn,
I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,
Where I have hope to see the nuptial
Of these our dear-beloved solemniz'd;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.

Alon.
I long
To hear the story of your life, which must
Take the ear strangely.

Pro.
I'll deliver all;
And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales,
And sail so expeditious, that shall catch
Your royal fleet far off.-My Ariel ;-chick,-
That is thy charge; then to the elements

Be free, and fare thou well!-[aside.] Please you, draw near.

Exeunt.

106

EPILOGUE.

SPOKEN BY PROSPERO.

NOW my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own;
Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,
I must be here confin'd by you,
Or sent to Naples: Let me not,

And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island, by your spell ;
But release me from my bands,

With the help of your good hands.*
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please: Now 1 want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant;
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be reliev'd by prayer;"
Which pierces so, that it assaults

Mercy itself, and frees all faults.

With the help of your good hands.] By your applause, by clapping hands. JOHNSON.

Noise was supposed to dissolve a spell. STEEVENS.

9 And my ending is despair,

Unless I be reliev'd by prayer ;] This alludes to the old stories told of the despair of necromancers in their last moments, and of the efficacy of the prayers of their friends for them.

WARBURTON.

2

As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
your indulgence set me free.1

Let

It is observed of The Tempest, that its plan is regular; this the author of The Revisal thinks, what I think too, an accidental effect of the story, not intended or regarded by our author. But, whatever might be Shakspeare's intention in forming or adopting the plot, he has made it instrumental to the production of many characters, diversified with boundless invention, and preserved with profound skill in nature, extensive knowledge of opinions, and accurate observation of life. In a single drama are here exhibited princes, courtiers, and sailors, all speaking in their real characters. There is the agency of airy spirits, and of an earthly goblin. The operations of magick, the tumults of a storm, the adventures of a desert island, the native effusion of untaught affection, the punishment of guilt, and the final happiness of the pair for whom our passions and reason are equally interested. JOHNSON.