 | The Tempest, or The Enchanted Island |  |
ACT II.
SCENE I.
The Scene changes to the wilder part of the Island, 'tis compos'd of divers sorts of Trees, and barren places, with a prospect of the Sea at a great distance.Enter Stephano, Mustacho, Ventoso.
Vent.
The Runlet of Brandy was a loving Runlet, and
floated after us out of pure pity.
Must.
This kind Bottle, like an old acquaintance, swam after it.
Vent.
'Tis well we have found something since we landed.
I prethee fill a soop, and let it go round.
Where hast thou laid the Runlet?
Must.
I' th' hollow of an old Tree.
Vent.
Fill apace,
We cannot live long in this barren Island, and we may
Take a soop before death, as well as others drink
At our Funerals.
Must.
This is Prize-Brandy, we steal Custom, and it costs
nothing. Let's have two rounds more.
Vent.
Master, what have you sav'd?
Steph.
Just nothing but my self.
Vent.
This works comfortably on a cold stomach.
Steph.
Fills another round.
Vent.
Look! Mustacho weeps. Hang losses, as long as we have
Brandy left. Prithee leave weeping.
Steph.
He sheds his Brandy out of his eyes: he shall drink
no more.
Must.
This will be a doleful day with old Bess. She gave me
a gilt Nutmeg at parting. That's lost too. But, as you say, hang
losses. Prethee fill again.
Vent.
Beshrew thy heart for putting me in mind of thy Wife,
I had not thought of mine else, Nature will shew it self,
I must melt. I prithee fill again, my Wife's a good old Jade,
And has but one eye left: but she'll weep out that too,
When she hears that I am dead.
Steph.
Would you were both hang'd for putting me in
thought of mine.
Vent.
But come, Master, sorrow is dry! there's for you agen.
Steph.
A Marriner had e'en as good be a Fish as a Man, but
for the comfort we get ashore: O for an old dry Wench now
I am wet.
Must.
Poor heart! that would soon make you dry agen: but
all is barren in this isle: Here we may lie at Hull till the Wind
blow Nore and by South, ere we can cry, A Sail, a Sail, at
sight of a white Apron. And therefore here's another soop to
comfort us.
This Isle's our own, that's our comfort, for the Duke,
the Prince, and all their train, are perished.
Must.
Our Ship is sunk, and we can never get home agen:
we must e'en turn Salvages, and the next that catches his fellow
may eat him.
Vent.
No, no, let us have a Government; for if we live well
and orderly, Heav'n will drive Shipwracks ashoar to make
us all rich; therefore let us carry good Consciences, and not
eat one another.
Steph.
Whoever eats any of my Subjects, I'l break out his
teeth with my Scepter: for I was Master at Sea, and will be
Duke on Land: you Mustacho have been my Mate, and shall be
my Vice-Roy.
Vent.
When you are Duke, you may choose your Vice-Roy;
but I am a free Subject in a new Plantation, and will have no
Duke without my voice. And so fill me the other soop.
Steph.
whispering.
Ventoso, dost thou hear, I will advance thee,
prithee give me thy voice.
Vent.
I'l have no whisperings to corrupt the Election; and
to show that I have no private ends, I declare aloud that I will
be Vice-Roy, or I'l keep my voice for my self.
Must.
Stephano, hear me, I will speak for the people, because
there are few, or rather none in the Isle to speak for themselves.
Know then, that to prevent the farther shedding of Christian
bloud, we are all content Ventoso shall be Vice-Roy, upon condition
I may be Vice-Roy over him. Speak, good people, are
you well agreed? what, no man answer? well, you may take
their silence for consent.
Vent.
You speak for the people, Mustacho? I'l speak for 'em,
and declare generally with one voice, one and all; That
there shall be no Vice-Roy but the Duke, unless I be he.
Must.
You declare for the people, who never saw your face!
Cold Iron shall decide it.
[Both draw.
Steph.
Hold, loving Subjects: we will have no Civil War
during our Reign: I do hereby appoint you both to be my Vice-Roys
over the whole Island.
Both.
Agreed! agreed!
Vent.
How! Trincalo our brave Bosen!
Must.
He reels: can he be drunk with Sea-water?
Trinc.
sings.
Here I shall die ashore.
But here's my comfort.
[Drinks.
Sings.
The Surgeon and his Mate,
Lov'd Mall, Meg, and Marrian, and Margery,
But none of us car'd for Kate.
For she had a tongue with a tang,
Wou'd cry to a Sailor, Go hang:
She lov'd not the savour of Tar nor of Pitch,
Yet a Tailor might scratch her where ere she did itch.
[Drinks.
Steph.
We have got another Subject now; Welcome,
Welcome into our Dominions!
Trinc.
What Subject, or what Dominions? here's old Sack,
Boys: the King of good-fellows can be no subject.
I will be old Simon the King.
Must.
Hah, old Boy! how didst thou scape?
Trinc.
Upon a Butt of Sack, Boys, which the Sailors
Threw over-board: but are you alive, hoa! for I will
Tipple with no Ghosts till I'm dead: thy hand, Mustacho,
And thine, Ventoso; the Storm has done its worst:
Stephano alive too! give thy Bosen thy hand, Master.
Vent.
You must kiss it then, for, I must tell you, we have
chosen him Duke in a full Assembly.
Trinc.
A Duke! where? what's he Duke of?
Must.
Of this Island, man. Oh Trincalo, we are all made, the
Island's empty; all's our own, Boy; and we will speak to his
Grace for thee, that thou may'st be as great as we are.
Trinc.
You great? what the Devil are you?
Vent.
We two are Vice-Roys over all the Island; and when
we are weary of Governing, thou shalt succeed us.
Do you hear, Ventoso, I will succeed you in both
your places before you enter into 'em.
Steph.
Trincalo, sleep and be sober; and make no more uproars
in my Countrey.
Trinc.
Why, what are you, Sir, what are you?
Steph.
What I am, I am by free Election, and you, Trincalo, are
not your self; but we pardon your first fault,
Because it is the first day of Our Reign.
Trinc.
Umph, were matters carried so swimmingly against
me, whilst I was swimming, and saving my self for the good of
the people of this Island.
Must.
Art thou mad, Trincalo? wilt thou disturb a setled Government,
where thou art a meer stranger
Trinc.
I'l have no Laws.
Vent.
Then Civil-war begins.
[Vent. Must. draw.
Steph.
Hold, hold, I'l have no bloudshed,
My Subjects are but few: let him make a rebellion
By himself; and a Rebel, I Duke Stephano declare him:
Vice-Roys, come away.
Trinc.
And Duke Trincalo declares, that he will make open
War where ever he meets thee or thy Vice-Roys.
Exeunt Steph. Must. Vent.
Enter Caliban with wood upon his back.
Trinc.
Hah! who have we here?
Calib.
All the infections that the Sun sucks up from Fogs Fens,
Flats, on Prospero fall, and make him by inch-meal a Disease:
his spirits hear me, and yet I needs must curse, but they'l not
pinch, fright me with Urchin shows, pitch me i'th' mire, nor
lead me in the dark out of my way, unless he bid 'em: but for
every trifle he sets them on me; sometimes like Baboons they
mow and chatter at me, and often bite me; like Hedge-hogs
then they mount their prickles at me, tumbling before me in my
barefoot way. Sometimes I am all wound about with Adders,
who with their cloven tongues hiss me to madness. Hah!
yonder stands one of his spirits sent to torment me.
Trinc.
What have we here, a Man, or a Fish?
As once I was, and had him painted;
Not a Holy day fool there but would give me
Six-pence for the fight of him; well, if I could make
Him tame, he were a present for an Emperour.
Come hither, pretty Monster, I'l do thee no harm.
Come hither!
Calib.
Torment me not;
I'l bring thee Wood home faster.
Trinc.
He talks none of the wisest, but I'l give him
A dram o' th' Bottle, that will clear his understanding.
Come on your ways, Master Monster, open your mouth.
How now, you perverse Moon-calf! what,
I think you cannot tell who is your friend!
Open your chops, I say.
[Pours Wine down his throat.
Calib.
This is a brave God, and bears Cœlestial Liquor;
I'll kneel to him.
Trinc.
He is a very hopeful Monster; Monster, what sayst
thou, art thou content to turn civil and sober, as I am? for then
thou shalt be my subject.
Calib.
I'l swear upon that Bottle to be true; for the liquor
is not Earthly: did'st thou not drop from Heaven?
Trinc.
Onely out of the Moon, I was the man in her when time
was. By this light, a very shallow Monster.
Calib.
I'l shew thee every fertile inch i'th' Isle, and kiss
thy foot: I prithee be my God, and let me drink.
[drinks agen.
Trinc.
Well drawn Monster, in good faith.
Calib.
I'l shew thee the best springs, I'l pluck thee Berries,
I'l fish for thee, and get thee wood enough:
A curse upon the Tyrant whom I serve, I'l bear him
no him no more sticks, but follow thee.
Trinc.
The poor Monster is loving in his drink.
Calib.
I prithee let me bring thee where Crabs grow,
And I with my long nails will dig thee Pig-nuts,
Shew thee a Jays-nest, and instruct thee how to snare
The Marmazete; I'l bring thee to cluster'd Filberds;
Wilt thou go with me?
Trinc.
This Monster comes of a good natur'd face;
Calib.
Divine, here is but one besides my self;
My lovely Sister, beautiful and bright as the Full Moon.
Trinc.
Where is she?
Calib.
I left her clambring up a hollow Oak,
And plucking thence the dropping Honey-combs.
Say, my King, shall I call her to thee?
Trinc.
She shall swear upon the Bottle too.
If she proves handsome she is mine: Here, Monster,
Drink agen for thy good news; thou shalt speak
A good word for me.
[Gives him the Bottle.
Calib.
Sings.
Farewel, old Master, farewel, farewel.
No more Dams I'l make for fish,
Nor fetch in firing at requiring,
Nor scrape Trencher, nor wash Dish,
Ban, Ban, Cackaliban
Has a new Master, get a new man.
Heigh-day! Freedom, freedom!
Trinc.
Here's two subjects got already, the Monster,
And his Sister: well, Duke Stephano, I say, and say agen,
Wars will ensue, and so I drink.
[Drinks.
From this Worshipful Monster, and Mistris
Monster his Sister,
I'l lay claim to this Island by alliance:
Monster, I say thy Sister shall be my Spouse:
Come away, Brother Monster, I'l lead thee to my Butt,
And drink her health.
[Exeunt.
Scene Cypress Trees and Cave.
Enter Prospero alone.
Prosp.
'Tis not yet fit to let my Daughters know I kept
The Infant Duke of Mantua so near them in this Isle,
Whose Father dying, bequeath'd him to my care;
Till my false Brother (when he design'd t' usurp
My Dukedome from me) expos'd him to that fate
He meant for me. By calculation of his birth
I saw death threat'ning him, if, till some time were
Past, he should behold the face of any Woman:
Enter Hippolito.
Hip.
Sir, I attend your pleasure.
Prosp.
How I have lov'd thee from thy infancy,
Heav'n knows, and thou thy self canst bear me witness,
Therefore accuse not me for thy restraint.
Hip.
Since I knew life, you've kept me in a Rock,
And you this day have hurri'd me from thence,
Onely to change my Prison, not to free me.
I murmur not, but I may wonder at it.
Prosp.
O gentle Youth, Fate waits for thee abroad,
A black Star threatens thee, and death unseen
Stands ready to devour thee.
Hip.
You taught me not to fear him in any of his shapes:
Let me meet death rather then be a prisoner.
Prosp.
'Tis pity he should seize thy tender youth.
Hip.
Sir, I have often heard you say, no creature liv'd
Within this Isle, but those which Man was Lord of;
Why then should I fear?
Prosp.
But here are creatures which I nam'd not to thee,
Who share Mans Sovereignty by Nature's Laws,
And oft depose him from it.
Hip.
What are those Creatures, Sir?
Prosp.
Those dangerous enemies of men call'd Women.
Hip.
Women! I never heard of them before.
What are Women like?
Prosp.
Imagine something between young Men and Angels:
Fatally beauteous, and have killing Eyes,
Their voices charm beyond the Nightingales,
They are all enchantment, those who once behold 'em,
Are made their slaves for ever.
Hip.
Then I will wink and fight with 'em.
Prosp.
'Tis but in vain,
They'l haunt you in your very sleep.
Hip.
Then I'l revenge it on 'em when I wake.
Prosp.
You are without all possibility of revenge,
They are so beautiful, that you can ne'r attempt,
Hip.
Are they so beautiful?
Prosp.
Calm sleep is not so soft, nor Winter Suns,
Nor Summer shades so pleasant.
Hip.
Can they be fairer then the Plumes of Swans?
Or more delightful then the Peacocks Feathers?
Or than the gloss upon the necks of Doves?
Or have more various beauty then the Rainbow?
These I have seen, and without danger wondred at.
Prosp.
All these are far below 'em: Nature made
Nothing but Woman dangerous and fair:
Therefore if you should chance to see 'em,
Avoid 'em streight I charge you.
Hip.
Well, since you say they are so dangerous,
I'l so far shun 'em as I may with safety of the
Unblemish'd honour which you taught me.
But let 'em not provoke me, for I'm sure I shall
Not then forbear them.
Prosp.
Go in and read the Book I gave you last.
Tomorrow I may bring you better news.
Hip.
I shall obey you, Sir.
Exit Hippolito.
Prosp.
So, so; I hope this Lesson has secur'd him,
For I have been constrain'd to change his lodging
From yonder Rock where first I bred him up,
And here have brought him home to my own Cell,
Because the Shipwrack happen'd near his Mansion.
I hope he will not stir beyond his limits,
For hitherto he hath been all obedience:
The Planets seem to smile on my designs,
And yet there is one sullen cloud behind,
I would it were disperst.
[Enter Miranda and Dorinda.
How, my Daughters! I thought I had instructed
Them enough: Children! retire;
Why do you walk this way?
Mir.
It is within our bounds, Sir.
Prosp.
But both take heed, hath path is very dangerous.
Remember what I told you.
Dor.
Is the man that way, Sir?
All that you can imagine ill is there,
The curled Lion, and the rugged Bear,
Are not so dreadful as that man.
Mir.
Oh me, why stay we here then?
Dor.
I'l keep far enough from his Den, I warrant him:
Mir.
But you have told me, Sir, you are a man;
And yet you are not dreadful.
Prosp.
I Child! but I am a tame man; old men are tame
By Nature, but all the danger lies in a wild
Young man.
Dor.
Do they run wild about the Woods?
Prosp.
No, they are wild within doors, in Chambers,
And in Closets.
Dor.
But, Father, I would stroak 'em, and make 'em gentle,
Then sure they would not hurt me.
Prosp.
You must not trust them, Child: no Woman can come
Near 'em, but she feels a pain, full nine moneths.
Well, I must in; for new affairs require my
Presence: be you, Miranda, your Sisters Guardian.
[Exit Prospero.
Dor.
Come, Sister, shall we walk other way?
The Man will catch us else: we have but two legs,
And he perhaps has four.
Mir.
Well, Sister, though he have; yet look about you,
And we shall spy him ere he comes too near us.
Dor.
Come back, that way is towards his Den.
Mir
Let me alone; I'l venture first, for sure I can
Devour but one of us at once.
Dor
How dare you venture?
Mir.
We'l find him sitting like a Hare in's Form,
And he shall not see us.
Dor.
I but you know my Father charg'd us both.
Mir.
But who shall tel him on't? we'l keep each
Others counsel.
Dor.
I dare not for the world.
Mir.
But how shall we hereafter shun him, if we do not
Know him first?
Dor.
Nay, I confess I would fain see him too. I find it in my
Mir.
I, there's it, Sister, if he had said nothing, I had been
quiet. Go softly, and if you see him first, be quick, and becken
me away.
Dor.
Well, if he does catch me, I'l humble myself to him,
And ask him pardon, as I do my Father,
When I have done a fault.
Mir.
And if I can but scape with life, I had rather be in pain
nine moneths, as my Father threatn'd, then lose my longing.
[Exeunt.
The Scene continues. Enter Hippolito.
Hip.
Prospero has often said, that Nature makes
Nothing in vain: why then are women made?
Are they to suck the poison of the Earth,
As gaudy colour'd Serpents are? I'l ask that
Question, when next I see him here.
Enter Miranda and Dorinda peeping.
Dor.
O Sister, there it is, it walks about like one of us.
Mir.
I, just so, and has legs as we have too.
Hip.
It strangely puzzles me: yet 'tis most likely
Women are somewhat between men and spirits.
Dor.
Heark! it talks, sure this is not it my Father meant,
For this is just like one of us: methinks I am not half
So much afraid on't as I was; see, now it turns this way.
Mir.
Heaven! what a goodly thing it is?
Dor.
I'l go nearer it.
Mir.
O no, 'tis dangerous, Sister! I'l go to it.
I would not for the world that you should venture.
My Father charg'd me to secure you from it.
Dor.
I warrant you this is a tame man, dear Sister,
He'll not hurt me, I see it by his looks.
Mir.
Indeed he will! but go back, and he shall eat me first:
Fie, are you not asham'd to be so much inquisitive?
Dor.
You chide me for't, and wou'd give your self.
Mir.
Come back, or I will tell my Father.
Observe how he begins to stare already.
Dor.
Nay, Sister, you shall never vanquish me in kindness.
I'l venture you no more then you will me.
Prosp.
within.
Miranda, Child, where are you!
Mir.
Do you not hear my Father call? go in.
Dor.
'Twas you he nam'd, not me; I will but say my prayers,
And follow you immediately.
Mir.
Well, Sister, you'l repent it.
[Exit Miranda.
Dor.
Though I die for't, I must have th' other peep.
Hip.
seeing her.
What thing is that? sure 'tis some Infant of
the Sun, dress'd in his Fathers gayest Beams, and comes to play
with Birds: my sight is dazl'd, and yet I find I'm loth to
shut my Eyes.
May it not be that beauteous Murderer, Woman,
Which I was charg'd to shun? Speak, what art thou?
Thou shining Vision!
Dor.
Alas, I know not; but I'm told I am a Woman;
Do not hurt me, pray, fair thing.
Hip.
I'd sooner tear my eyes out, then consent to do you any
harm; though I was told a Woman was my Enemy.
Dor.
I never knew what 'twas to be an Enemy, nor can I
e'r prove so to that which looks like you: for though I have
been charg'd by him (whom yet I never disobey'd) to shun your
presence, yet I'd rather die then lose it; therefore I hope you
will not have the heart to hurt me: though I fear you are a
Man, that dangerous thing of which I have been warn'd. Pray
tell me what you are?
Hip.
I must confess, I was inform'd I am a Man,
But if I fright you, I shall wish I were some other Creature.
I was bid to fear you too.
Dor.
Ay me! Heav'n grant we be not poison to each other!
Alas, can we not meet but we must die?
Hip.
I hope not so! for when two poisonous Creatures,
Both of the same kind, meet, yet neither dies.
I've seen two Serpents harmless to each other,
Though they have twin'd into a mutual knot:
If we have any venome in us, sure, we cannot be more
You have a hand like mine, may I not gently touch it?
[Takes her hand.
Dor.
I've touch'd my Father's and my Sister's hands,
And felt no pain; but now, alas! there's something,
When I touch yours, which makes me sigh: just so
I've seen two Turtles mourning when they met;
Yet mine's a pleasing grief; and so me thought was theirs:
For still they mourn'd, and still they seem'd to murmur too,
And yet they often met.
Hip.
Oh Heavens! I have the same sense too: your hand
Methink goes through me; I feel at my heart,
And find it pleases, though it pains me.
Prosp.
within.
Dorinda!
Dor.
My Father calls again; ah, I must leave you.
Hip
Alas, I'm subject to the same command.
Dor
This is my first offence against my Father,
Which he, by severing us, too cruelly does punish.
Hip.
And this is my first trespass too: but he hath more
Offended truth than we have him:
He said our meeting would destructive be,
But I no death but in our parting see.
[Exeunt several ways.
SCENE III.
A wild Island.Enter Alonzo, Antonio, Gonzalo.
Gonz.
'Beseech your Grace be merry: you have cause, so
have we all, of joy, for our strange 'scape; then wisely, good
Sir, weigh our sorrow with our comfort.
Alonz.
Prithee peace, you cram these words into my ears,
against my stomach; how can I rejoyce, when my dear Son,
perhaps this very moment, is made a meal to some strange
Fish?
Anto.
Sir, he may live, I saw him beat the Billows under him,
and ride upon their backs; I do not doubt he came alive to
Land.
Alonz.
No, no, he's gone; and you and I, Antonio, were
those who caus'd his death.
How could we help it?
Alonz.
Then, then we should have help'd it, when thou betrai'dst
thy Brother Prospero, and Mantua's Infant Sovereign, to
my power; and when I, too ambitious, took by force another's
right: Then lost we Ferdinand; Then forfeited our Navy
to this Tempest.
Anto.
Indeed we first broke Truce with Heaven; you to the
waves an Infant Prince expos'd, and on the waves have lost
an onely Son. I did usurp my Brother's fertile Lands, and now
am cast upon this Desart-Isle.
Gonz.
These, Sirs, 'tis true, were crimes of a black die; but
both of you have made amend to Heav'n by your late Voyage
into Portugal; where, in defence of Christianity, your valour
has repuls'd the Moors of Spain.
Alon.
O name it not, Gonzalo;
No act but penitence can expiate guilt!
Must we teach Heav'n what price to set on Murder! what
rate on lawless Power and wild Ambition! or dare we traffick
with the Powers above, and sell by weight a good deed for
a bad?
[A flourish of Musick.
Gonz.
Musick! and in the air! sure we are Shipwrack'd on
the Dominions of some merry Devil!
Anto.
This Isle's Inchanted ground; for I have heard swift
voices flying by my ear, and groans of lamenting ghosts.
Alon.
I pull'd a Tree, and bloud pursu'd my hand.
Heav'n deliver me from this dire place, and all the after-actions
of my life shall mark my penitence and my bounty.
Hark, the sounds approach us!
[The Stage opens in several places.
Anto.
Lo the Earth opens to devour us quick.
These dreadful horrors, and the guilty sense of my foul Treason,
have unmann'd me quite.
Alon.
We on the brink of swift destruction stand;
No means of our escape is left.
[Another flourish of Voyces under the Stage.
Anto.
Ah! what amazing sounds are these we hear!
Gonz.
What horrid Masque will the dire Fiends present?
1. Dev.
Where does the black Fiend Ambition reside,
With the mischievous Devil of Pride?
2. Dev.
In the lowest and darkest Caverns of Hell
Both Pride and Ambition does dwell.
1. Dev.
Who are the chief Leaders of the damned Host?
3. Dev.
Proud Monarchs, who tyrannize most.
1. Dev.
Damned Princes there
The worst of torments bear;
3. Dev.
Who in Earth all others in pleasures excel,
Must feel the worst torments of Hell.
[They rise singing this Chorus.
Anto.
Oh Heav'ns! what horrid Vision's this?
How they upbraid us with our crimes!
Alon.
What fearful vengeance is in store for us!
2. Dev.
Tyrants by whom their Subjects bleed,
Should in pains all others exceed;
2. Dev.
And barb'rous Monarchs who their Neighbours invade,
And their Crowns unjustly get;
And such who their Brothers to death have betrai'd,
In Hell upon burning Thrones shall be set.
3. Dev.; Chor.
—In Hell, in Hell with flames they shall reign,
And for ever, for ever shall suffer the pain.
Anto.
Oh my Soul; for ever, for ever shall suffer the pain.
Alon.
Has Heav'n in all its infinite stock of mercy
No overflowings for us? poor, miserable, guilty men!
Gonz.
Nothing but horrors do encompass us!
For ever, for ever must we suffer!
Alon.
For ever we shall perish! O dismal words, for ever!
1. Dev.
Who are the Pillars of the Tyrants Court?
2. Dev.
Rapine and Murder his Crown must support!
3. Dev.
—His cruelty does tread
On Orphans tender breasts, and Brothers dead!
2. Dev.
Can Heav'n permit such crimes should be
Attended with felicity?
No Tyrants their Scepters uneasily bear,
In the midst of their Guards they their Consciences fear.
2. Dev.; Chor.
Care their minds when they wake unquiet will keep,
And we with dire visions disturb all their sleep.
Anto.
Oh horrid sight! how they stare upon us!
The Fiends will hurry us to the dark Mansion.
Sweet Heav'n, have mercy on us!
1. Dev.
Say, Say, shall we bear these bold Mortals from hence?
2. Dev.
No, no, let us show their degrees of offence.
3. Dev.
Let's muster their crimes up on every side,
And first let's discover their pride.
Enter Pride.
Pride.
Lo here is Pride, who first led them astray,
And did to Ambition their minds then betray.
Enter Fraud.
Fraud.
And Fraud does next appear,
Their wandring steps who led,
When they from vertue fled,
They in my crooked paths their course did steer.
Enter Rapine.
Rapine.
From Fraud to Force they soon arrive,
Where Rapine did their actions drive.
Enter Murder.
Murder.
There long they could not stay;
Down the steep hill they run,
And to perfect the mischief which they had begun,
To Murder they bent all their way.
Around, around we pace,
Chorus of all.
About this cursed place;
While thus we compass in
These Mortals and their sin.
[Devils vanish.
Anto.
Heav'n has heard me, they are vanish'd!
Alon.
But they have left me all unmann'd?
I feel my sinews slacken with the fright;
And a cold sweat trills down o'r all my Limbs,
Oh Prospero, my crimes 'gainst thee sit heavy on my heart!
Anto.
And mine 'gainst him and young Hippolito.
Gonz.
Heav'n have mercy on the penitent.
Alon.
Lead from this cursed ground;
The Seas in all their rage are not so dreadful.
This is the Region of despair and death.
Alonz.
Beware all fruit, but what the Birds have peck'd.
The shadows of the Trees are poisonous too: a secret venom
slides from every branch! my Conscience does distract me!
O my Son! why do I speak of eating or repose, before I know
thy fortune?
[As they are going out, a Devil rises just before them, at which they start, and are frighted.
Alonz.
O Heavens! yet more Apparitions!
Devil
sings.
Arise, arise! ye subterranean winds,
More to disturb their guilty minds.
And all ye filthy damps and vapours rise,
Which use t' infect the Earth, and trouble all the Skies;
Rise you, from whom devouring plagues have birth:
You that i' th' vast and hollow womb of Earth,
Engender Earthquakes, make whole Countreys shake,
And stately Cities into Desarts turn;
And you who feed the flames by which Earths entrals burn.
Ye raging winds, whose rapid force can make
All but the fix'd and solid Centre shake:
Come drive these Wretches to that part o'th' Isle,
Where Nature never yet did smile:
Cause Fogs and Storms, Whirlwinds and Earthquakes there:
There let 'em houl and languish in despair.
Rise and obey the pow'rful Prince o'th' Air.
Two Winds rise, Ten more enter and dance: At the end of the Dance, Three winds sink, the rest drive Alon. Anto. Gonz. off.
| The Tempest, or The Enchanted Island | |