Mira. O the heauens, What fowle play had we, that we came from thence?
Or blessed was"t we did?
Pros. Both, both my Girle.
By fowle-play (as thou saist) were we heau"d thence, But blessedly holpe hither
Mira. O my heart bleedes To thinke oth" teene that I haue turn"d you to, Which is from my remembrance, please you, farther;
Pros. My brother and thy vncle, call"d Anthonio: I pray thee marke me, that a brother should Be so perfidious: he, whom next thy selfe Of all the world I lou"d, and to him put The mannage of my state, as at that time Through all the signories it was the first, And Prospero, the prime Duke, being so reputed In dignity; and for the liberall Artes, Without a paralell; those being all my studie, The Gouernment I cast vpon my brother, And to my State grew stranger, being transported And rapt in secret studies, thy false vncle (Do"st thou attend me?)
Mira. Sir, most heedefully
Pros. Being once perfected how to graunt suites, how to deny them: who t" aduance, and who To trash for ouer-topping; new created The creatures that were mine, I say, or chang"d "em, Or els new form"d "em; hauing both the key, Of Officer, and office, set all hearts i"th state To what tune pleas"d his eare, that now he was The Iuy which had hid my princely Trunck, And suckt my verdure out on"t: Thou attend"st not?
Mira. O good Sir, I doe
Pros. I pray thee marke me: I thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated To closenes, and the bettering of my mind with that, which but by being so retir"d Ore-priz"d all popular rate: in my false brother Awak"d an euill nature, and my trust Like a good parent, did beget of him A falsehood in it"s contrarie, as great As my trust was, which had indeede no limit, A confidence sans bound. He being thus Lorded, Not onely with what my reuenew yeelded, But what my power might els exact. Like one Who hauing into truth, by telling of it, Made such a synner of his memorie To credite his owne lie, he did beleeue He was indeed the Duke, out o"th" Subst.i.tution And executing th" outward face of Roialtie With all prerogatiue: hence his Ambition growing: Do"st thou heare ?
Mira. Your tale, Sir, would cure deafenesse
Pros. To haue no Schreene between this part he plaid, And him he plaid it for, he needes will be Absolute Millaine, Me (poore man) my Librarie Was Dukedome large enough: of temporall roalties He thinks me now incapable. Confederates (so drie he was for Sway) with King of Naples To giue him Annuall tribute, doe him homage Subiect his Coronet, to his Crowne and bend The Dukedom yet vnbow"d (alas poore Millaine) To most ign.o.ble stooping
Mira. Oh the heauens:
Pros. Marke his condition, and th" euent, then tell me If this might be a brother
Mira. I should sinne To thinke but n.o.blie of my Grand-mother, Good wombes haue borne bad sonnes
Pro. Now the Condition.
This King of Naples being an Enemy To me inueterate, hearkens my Brothers suit, Which was, That he in lieu o"th" premises, Of homage, and I know not how much Tribute, Should presently extirpate me and mine Out of the Dukedome, and confer faire Millaine With all the Honors, on my brother: Whereon A treacherous Armie leuied, one mid-night Fated to th" purpose, did Anthonio open The gates of Millaine, and ith" dead of darkenesse The ministers for th" purpose hurried thence Me, and thy crying selfe
Mir. Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too"t
Pro. Heare a little further, And then I"le bring thee to the present businesse Which now"s vpon"s: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent
Mir. Wherefore did they not That howre destroy vs?
Pro. Well demanded, wench: My Tale prouokes that question: Deare, they durst not, So deare the loue my people bore me: nor set A marke so bloudy on the businesse; but With colours fairer, painted their foule ends.
In few, they hurried vs aboord a Barke, Bore vs some Leagues to Sea, where they prepared A rotten carka.s.se of a b.u.t.t, not rigg"d, Nor tackle, sayle, nor mast, the very rats Instinctiuely haue quit it: There they hoyst vs To cry to th" Sea, that roard to vs; to sigh To th" windes, whose pitty sighing backe againe Did vs but louing wrong
Mir. Alack, what trouble Was I then to you?
Pro. O, a Cherubin Thou was"t that did preserue me; Thou didst smile, Infused with a fort.i.tude from heauen, When I haue deck"d the sea with drops full salt, Vnder my burthen groan"d, which rais"d in me An vndergoing stomacke, to beare vp Against what should ensue
Mir. How came we a sh.o.r.e?
Pro. By prouidence diuine, Some food, we had, and some fresh water, that A n.o.ble Neopolitan Gonzalo Out of his Charity, (who being then appointed Master of this designe) did giue vs, with Rich garments, linnens, stuffs, and necessaries Which since haue steeded much, so of his gentlenesse Knowing I lou"d my bookes, he furnishd me From mine owne Library, with volumes, that I prize aboue my Dukedome
Mir. Would I might But euer see that man
Pro. Now I arise, Sit still, and heare the last of our sea-sorrow: Heere in this Iland we arriu"d, and heere Haue I, thy Schoolemaster, made thee more profit Then other Princesse can, that haue more time For vainer howres; and Tutors, not so carefull
Mir. Heuens thank you for"t. And now I pray you Sir, For still "tis beating in my minde; your reason For raysing this Sea-storme?
Pro. Know thus far forth, By accident most strange, bountifull Fortune (Now my deere Lady) hath mine enemies Brought to this sh.o.r.e: And by my prescience I finde my Zenith doth depend vpon A most auspitious starre, whose influence If now I court not, but omit; my fortunes Will euer after droope: Heare cease more questions, Thou art inclinde to sleepe: "tis a good dulnesse, And giue it way: I know thou canst not chuse: Come away, Seruant, come; I am ready now, Approach my Ariel. Come.
Enter Ariel.
Ari. All haile, great Master, graue Sir, haile: I come To answer thy best pleasure; be"t to fly, To swim, to diue into the fire: to ride On the curld clowds: to thy strong bidding, taske Ariel, and all his Qualitie
Pro. Hast thou, Spirit, Performd to point, the Tempest that I bad thee
Ar. To euery Article.
I boorded the Kings ship: now on the Beake, Now in the Waste, the Decke, in euery Cabyn, I flam"d amazement, sometime I"ld diuide And burne in many places; on the Top-mast, The Yards and Bore-spritt, would I flame distinctly, Then meete, and ioyne. Ioues Lightning, the precursers O"th dreadfull Thunder-claps more momentarie And sight out-running were not; the fire, and cracks Of sulphurous roaring, the most mighty Neptune Seeme to besiege, and make his bold waues tremble, Yea, his dread Trident shake
Pro. My braue Spirit, Who was so firme, so constant, that this coyle Would not infect his reason?
Ar. Not a soule But felt a Feauer of the madde, and plaid Some tricks of desperation; all but Mariners Plung"d in the foaming bryne, and quit the vessell; Then all a fire with me the Kings sonne Ferdinand With haire vp-staring (then like reeds, not haire) Was the first man that leapt; cride h.e.l.l is empty, And all the Diuels are heere
Pro. Why that"s my spirit: But was not this nye sh.o.r.e?
Ar. Close by, my Master
Pro. But are they (Ariell) safe?
Ar. Not a haire perishd: On their sustaining garments not a blemish, But fresher then before: and as thou badst me, In troops I haue dispersd them "bout the Isle: The Kings sonne haue I landed by himselfe, Whom I left cooling of the Ayre with sighes, In an odde Angle of the Isle, and sitting His armes in this sad knot
Pro. Of the Kings ship, The Marriners, say how thou hast disposd, And all the rest o"th" Fleete?
Ar. Safely in harbour Is the Kings shippe, in the deepe Nooke, where once Thou calldst me vp at midnight to fetch dewe From the still-vext Bermoothes, there she"s hid; The Marriners all vnder hatches stowed, Who, with a Charme ioynd to their suffred labour I haue left asleep: and for the rest o"th" Fleet (Which I dispers"d) they all haue met againe, And are vpon the Mediterranian Flote Bound sadly home for Naples, Supposing that they saw the Kings ship wrackt, And his great person perish
Pro. Ariel, thy charge Exactly is perform"d; but there"s more worke: What is the time o"th" day?
Ar. Past the mid season
Pro. At least two Gla.s.ses: the time "twixt six & now Must by vs both be spent most preciously
Ar. Is there more toyle? Since y dost giue me pains, Let me remember thee what thou hast promis"d, Which is not yet perform"d me
Pro. How now? moodie?
What is"t thou canst demand?
Ar. My Libertie
Pro. Before the time be out? no more:
Ar. I prethee, Remember I haue done thee worthy seruice, Told thee no lyes, made thee no mistakings, serv"d Without or grudge, or grumblings; thou did promise To bate me a full yeere
Pro. Do"st thou forget From what a torment I did free thee?