Pro. Behold, sir king, The wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero : A hearty welcome. Alon. Whe'r thou beest he, or no, Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me, As late I have been, I not know: thy pulse Beats, as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee, I fear, a madness held me: this must crave (And if this be at all) a most strange story. Thou pardon me my wrongs:-But how should Prospero Pro. First, noble friend, Let me embrace thine age; whose honor cannot Be measur'd, or confin'd. you Some subtilties o' the isle, that will not let [Aside to SEB., and ANT. I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you, I'll tell no tales. Seb. The devil speaks in him. Pre No: For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother Alon. If thou beest Prospero, Give us particulars of thy preservation: How thou hast met us here, who three hours since My dear son Ferdinand. Pro. I am woe for't, sir. Alon. Irreparable is the loss; and patience Says it is past her cure. Pro. I rather think, You have not sought her help; of whose soft grace And rest inyself content. [Aside. Pro. As great to me, as late; and, supportable Alon. A daughter? O heavens! that they were living both in Naples, Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter? At this encounter do so much admire, That they devour their reason; and scarce think That I am Prospero, and that very duke Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangery, Not a relation for a breakfast, nor Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir; The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess. Mira. Sweet lord, you play me false. Fer. I would not for the world. No, my dearest love, Mira. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, And I would call it fair play. If this prove Alon. Shall I twice lose. Fer. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful : I have curs'd them without cause. Alon. Of a glad father compass thee about! Arise, and say how thou cam'st here. Mira. [FERD. kneels to ALON. Now all the blessings O! wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! Pro. "Tis new to thee. Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play? Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us, And brought us thus together? Fer. Alon. I am hers: But O, how oddly will it sound, that I Must ask my child forgiveness! Pro. There, sir, stop; Let us not burden our remembrances I have inly wept, Gon. For it is you, that have chalk'd forth the way Which brought us hither! Alon. I say, Amen, Gonzalo ! [To FER. and MIR. Be't so! Amen! Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart, That doth not wish you joy! Gon. Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following. O look, sir, look, sir; here are more of us! I prophesied, if a gallows were on land, This fellow could not drown: Now, blasphemy, Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news? Boats. The best news is, that we have safely found Ari. Have I done since I went. Pro. Sir, all this service My tricksy spirit! Alon. These are not natural events; they strengthen, I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep, [Aside Where, but even now, with strange and several noises Ari. Was't well done? Pro. Bravely, my diligence. Thou shalt be free. Alon. This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod : And there is in this business more than nature Was ever conduct of: some oracle Must rectify our knowledge. Pro. Sir, my liege, The strangeness of this business: at pick'd leisure, Untie the spell. Sir, I invite your highness, and your train, To my poor cell where you shall take your rest With such discourse, as, I not doubt, shall make it Alon. long Pro. [A side. [Aside. [Exit ARIEL · Exeunt. ROMEO AND JULIET. The story of Romeo and Juliet is considered to be historically true; the Veronese fix the date of this tragedy as 1303. "The history of the fair Capulet and her loved Montague," furnished themes for novelists, and had inspired the muse of the Poets, previous to Shakspeare's time: He has availed himself of these labors to construct his exquisite Drama; the inimitable character of Mercutio, however, is an entirely original creation of the Dramatist. PERSONS REPRESENTED. ESCALUS, Prince of Verona. PARIS, a young nobleman, kinsman to the Prince. MONTAGUE, heads of two houses, at variance with each other. CAPULET, An old man, uncle to Capulet. ROMEO, Son to Montague. MERCUTIO, kinsman to the Prince, and friend to Romeo. TYBALT, nephew to Lady Capulet. Friar LAURENCE, a Franciscan. Friar JOHN, of the same order. BALTHAZAR, servant to Romeo. SAMPSON, GREGORY, servants to Capulet. ABRAM, servant to Montague. An Apothecary. Three Musicians. Chorus. Boy. Page to Paris. PETER. An Officer. 1 Lady MONTAGUE, wife to Montague. Lady CAPULET, wife to Capulet. JULIET, daughter to Capulet. Nurse to Juliet. Citizens of Verona; several Men and Women, relations to both houses; Maskers, Guards, Watchmen, and Attendants. SCENE, during the greater part of the Play, in VERONA; once, in the Fifth Act, at MANTUA. |