Ari. Where the bee sucks, there suck I; There I couch when owls do cry. After summer, merrily: Merrily, merrily, shall I live now, Under the blossom that hangs on the bough. Pro. Why, that's my dainty Ariel; I shall miss thee; But yet thou shalt have freedom: so, so, so.- And presently, I pr'y thee. Ari. I drink the air before me, and return Or e'er your pulse twice beat. [Exit Ariel. Gon. All torment, trouble, wonder, and amaze ment Inhabits here: Some heavenly power guide us Pro. Behold, sir king, The wronged duke of Milan, Prospero; For more assurance that a living prince A hearty welcome. Alon. Whe'r1 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, (1) Whether. Be living, and be here? Pro. First, noble friend, Let me embrace thine age; whose honour cannot Be measur'd, or confin'd. Gon. Or be not, I'll not swear. Whether this be, You do yet taste Pro. Some subtilties o' the isle, that will not let you Believe things certain :-Welcome, my friends But all: you, my brace of lords, were I so minded, [Aside to Seb. and Ant. I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you, And justify you traitors; at this time I'll tell no tales. Seb. The devil speaks in him. [Aside. No;For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive Thy rankest fault; all of them; and require My dukedom of thee, which, perforce, I know, Thou must restore. Alon. If thou beest Prospero, How thou hast met us here, who three hours since Pro. I am wol 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, For the like loss, I have her sovereign aid, And rest myself content. Alon. You the like loss? Pro. As great to me, as late; and, portable2 To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker Than you may call to comfort you; for I Alon. A daughter? O heavens! that they were living both in Naples, The king and queen there! that they were, I wish Myself were mudded in that oozy bed Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter? Pro. In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords At this encounter do so much admire, That they devour their reason; and scarce think To be the lord on't. No more yet of this; 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. 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. Alon. If this prove A vision of the island, one dear son Shall I twice lose. Seb. A most high miracle! Fer. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful; I have curs'd them without cause. Alon. [Ferd. kneels to Alon. Now all the blessings Of a glad father compass thee about! Mira. Pro. 'Tis new to thee. Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play? Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: 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 Alon. I say, Amen, Gonzalo ! Gon. Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue Should become king of Naples? O, rejoice Alon. Give me your hands: [To Fer. and Mira. Be't so! Amen! Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart, Gon. Re-enter Ariel, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following. O look, sir, look, sir; here are more of us! Ari. Sir, all this service Have I done since I went. Pro. My tricksy3 spirit! [Aside. Alon. These are not natural events; they strengthen, From strange to stranger.-Say, how came you hither? Boats. If I did think, sir, I were well awake, I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep, And (how, we know not) all clapp'd under hatches, Where, but even now, with strange and several noises (1) In his senses. (2) Ready. (3) Clever, adroit. |