 | The Tempest, or The Enchanted Island |  |
SCENE I.
Cypress Trees and Cave.Enter Prospero and Miranda.
Prosp.
Your suit has pity in't, and has prevail'd.
Within this Cave he lies, and you may see him:
But yet take heed; let Prudence be your Guide;
You must not stay, your visit must be short.
[She's going.
One thing I had forgot; insinuate into his mind
A kindness to that Youth, whom first you saw;
I would have friendship grow betwixt 'em.
Mir.
You shall be obey'd in all things.
Prosp.
Be earnest to unite their very souls.
Mir.
I shall endeavour it.
Prosp.
This may secure Hippolito from that dark danger which
my Art forebodes; for friendship does provide a double
strength t' oppose the assaults of fortune.
Enter Ferdinand.
Ferd.
To be a Pris'ner where I dearly love, is but a double
tye, a Link of Fortune joyn'd to the Chain of Love; but not
to see her, and yet to be so near her, there's the hardship: I
feel my self as on a Rack, stretch'd out, and nigh the ground, on
which I might have ease, yet cannot reach it.
Mir.
Sir! my Lord! where are you?
Ferd.
Is it your voice, my Love? or do I dream?
Mir.
Speak softly, it is I.
Ferd.
O heavenly Creature! ten times more gentle then
your Father's cruel, how, on a sudden, all my griefs are vanish'd!
Mir.
How do you bear your Prison?
Ferd.
'Tis my Palace while you are here, and love and
silence wait upon our wishes; do but think we chuse it, and 'tis
what we would chuse.
Mir.
I'm sure what I would.
51
Look to't; for I will die when you are false.
I've heard my Father tell of Maids, who dy'd,
And haunted their false Lovers with their Ghosts.
Ferd.
Your Ghost must take another form to fright me,
This shape will be too pleasing: do I love you?
O Heaven! O Earth! bear witness to this sound,
If I prove false—
Mir.
Oh hold, you shall not swear;
For Heav'n will hate you if you prove forsworn.
Ferd.
Did I not love, I could no more endure this undeserv'd
captivity, then I could wish to gain my freedom with the
loss of you.
Mir.
I am a fool to weep at what I'm glad of: but I have a
suit to you, and that, Sir, shall be now the onely trial of your
love.
Ferd.
Y'ave said enough, never to be deny'd, were it my life;
for you have far o'rbid the price of all that humane life is worth.
Mir.
Sir, 'tis to love one for my sake, who for his own deserves
all the respect which you can ever pay him.
Ferd.
You mean your Father: do not think his usage can
make me hate him; when he gave you being, he then did that
which cancell'd all these wrongs.
Mir.
I meant not him, for that was a request, which if you
love, I should not need to urge.
Ferd.
Is there another whom I ought to love?
And love him for your sake?
Mir.
Yes such a one; who, for his sweetness and his goodly
shape, (if I, who am unskill'd in forms, may judge) I think can
scarce be equall'd: 'Tis a Youth, a Stranger too as you are.
Ferd.
Of such a graceful feature, and must I for your sake
love?
Mir.
Yes, Sir, do you scruple to grant the first request I ever
made? he's wholly unacquainted with the world, and wants
your conversation. You should have compassion on so meer a
stranger.
Ferd.
Those need compassion whom you discommend, not
whom you praise.
52
Come, you must love him for my sake: you shall.
Ferd.
Must I for yours, and cannot for my own?
Either you do not love, or think that I do not:
But when you bid me love him, I must hate him.
Mir.
Have I so far offended you already,
That he offends you onely for my sake?
Yet sure you would not hate him, if you saw
Him as I have done, so full of youth and beauty.
Ferd.
O poison to my hopes!
[Aside.
When he did visit me, and I did mention this
Beauteous Creature to him, he did then tell me
He would have her.
Mir.
Alas, what mean you?
Ferd.
It is too plain: like most of her frail Sex, she's false,
But has not learn'd the art to hide it;
Nature has done her part, she loves variety:
Why did I think that any Woman could be innocent,
Because she's young? No, no, their Nurses teach them
Change, when with two Nipples they divide their
Liking.
Mir.
I fear I have offended you, and yet I meant no harm:
But if you please to hear me—
[A noise within.
Heark, Sir! now I am sure my Father comes, I know
His steps; dear Love, retire a while, I fear
I've staid too long.
Ferd.
Too long indeed, and yet not long enough: Oh jealousie!
Oh Love! how you distract me?
[Exit Ferdinand.
Mir.
He appears displeas'd with that young man, I know
Not why: but, till I find from whence his hate proceeds,
I must conceal it from my Father's knowledge,
For he will think that guiltless I have caus'd it;
And suffer me no more to see my Love
[Enter Prospero..
Prosp.
Now I have been indulgent to your wish,
You have seen the Prisoner.
Mir.
Yes.
Prosp.
And he spake to you?
Mir.
He spoke; but he receiv'd short answers from me.
Prosp.
How like you his converse?
53
At second sight
A man does not appear so rare a Creature.
Prosp.
aside.
I find she loves him much because she hides it.
Love teaches cunning even to innocence. Well go in.
Mir.
aside.
Forgive me, truth, for thus disguising thee; if I can
make him think I do not love the stranger much, he'l let me see
him oftner.
Prosp.
Stay! stay—I had forgot to ask her what she has said
Of young Hippolito: Oh! here he comes! and with him
My Dorinda. I'l not be seen, let
[Ent. Hippolito and Dorinda.
Their loves grow in secret.
[Exit Prospero.
Hip.
But why are you so sad?
Dor.
But why are you so joyful?
Hip.
I have within me all, all the various Musick of
The Woods. Since last I saw you, I have heard brave news?
I'l tell you, and make you joyful for me.
Dor.
Sir, when I saw you first, I, through my eyes, drew
Something in, I know not what it is;
But still it entertains me with such thoughts,
As makes me doubtful whether joy becomes me.
Hip.
Pray believe me;
As I'm a man, I'll tell you blessed news,
I have heard there are more Women in the world,
As fair as you are too.
Dor.
Is this your news? you see it moves not me.
Hip.
And I'll have 'em all.
Dor.
What will become of me then?
Hip.
I'll have you too.
But are not you acquainted with these Women?
Dor.
I never saw but one.
Hip.
Is there but one here?
This is a base poor world, I'll go to th'other;
I've heard men have abundance of 'em there.
But pray where is that one Woman?
Dor.
Who, my Sister?
Hip.
Is she your Sister? I'm glad o'that: you shall help me to
her, and I'l love you for't.
[Offers to take her hand.
Dor.
Away! I will not have you touch my hand.
54
[Aside.
Was not in vain, I see.
Hip.
What makes you shun me?
Dor.
You need not care, you'l have my Sister's hand.
Hip.
Why, must not he who touches hers, touch yours?
Dor.
You mean to love her too.
Hip.
Do not you love her?
Then why should not I do so?
Dor.
She is my Sister, and therefore I must love her:
But you cannot love both of us.
Hip.
I warrant you I can:
Oh that you had more Sisters!
Dor.
You may love her, but then I'l not love you.
Hip.
O but you must;
One is enough for you, but not for me.
Dor.
My Sister told me she had seen another;
A man like you, and she lik'd onely him;
Therefore if one must be enough for her,
He is that one, and then you cannot have her.
Hip.
If she like him, she may like both of us.
Dor.
But how if I should change and like that man?
Would you be willing to permit that change?
Hip.
No, for you lik'd me first.
Dor.
So you did me.
Hip.
But I would never have you see that man;
I cannot bear it.
Dor.
I'l see neither of you.
Hip.
Yes, me you may, for we are now acquainted;
But he's the man of whom your Father warn'd you:
O! he's a terrible, huge, monstrous creature,
I am but a Woman to him.
Dor.
I will see him,
Except you'l promise not to see my Sister.
Hip.
Yes, for your sake I needs must see your Sister.
Dor.
But she's a terrible, huge creature too; if I were not
Her Sister, she would eat me; therefore take heed.
Hip.
I heard that she was fair, and like you.
Dor.
No, indeed, she's like my Father, with a great Beard,
55
Therefore that man and she may go together,
They are fit for no body, but one another.
Hip.
looking in.
Yonder he comes with glaring eyes, fly! fly!
before he sees you.
Dor.
Must we part so soon?
Hip.
Y'are a lost woman if you see him.
Dor.
I would not willingly be lost, for fear you
Should not find me. I'l avoid him.
[Exit Dorinda.
Hip.
She fain would have deceived me, but I know her
Sister must be fair, for she's a Woman;
All of a kind that I have seen are like to one
Another: all the Creatures of the Rivers and
The Woods are so.
[Enter Ferdinand.
Ferd.
O! well encounter'd, you are the happy man!
Y'have got the hearts of both the beauteous Women.
Hip.
How! Sir? pray, are you sure on't?
Ferd.
One of 'em charg'd me to love you for her sake.
Hip.
Then I must have her.
Ferd.
No, not till I am dead.
Hip.
How dead? what's that? but whatsoe'r it be,
I long to have her.
Ferd.
Time and my grief may make me die.
Hip.
But for a friend you should make haste; I ne'r ask
Any thing of you before.
Ferd.
I see your ignorance;
And therefore will instruct you in my meaning.
The Woman, whom I love, saw you, and lov'd you.
Now, Sir, if you love her, you'l cause my death.
Hip.
Be sure I'l do't then.
Ferd.
But I am your friend;
And I request you that you would not love her.
Hip.
When friends request unreasonable things,
Sure th'are to be deny'd: you say she's fair,
And I must love all who are fair; for, to tell
You a secret, Sir, which I have lately found
Within my self; they're all made for me.
Ferd.
That's but a fond conceit: you are made for one,
56
Hip.
You cannot tell me, Sir,
I know I'm made for twenty hundred Women.
(I mean if there so many be i' th' world)
So that if once I see her, I shall love her.
Ferd.
Then do not see her.
Hip.
Yes, Sir, I must see her.
For I wou'd fain have my heart beat again,
Just as it did when I first saw her Sister.
Ferd.
I find I must not let you see her then.
Hip.
How will you hinder me?
Ferd.
By force of Arms.
Hip.
By force of Arms?
My Arms perhaps may be as strong as yours.
Ferd.
He's still so ignorant that I pity him, and fain
Would avoid force: pray do not see her, she was
Mine first; you have no right to her.
Hip.
I have not yet consider'd what is right, but, Sir,
I know my inclinations are to love all Women:
And I have been taught, that to dissemble what I
Think, is base. In honour then of truth, I must
Declare that I do love, and I will see your Woman.
Ferd.
Wou'd you be willing I should see and love your
Woman, and endeavour to seduce her from that
Affection which she vow'd to you?
Hip.
I wou'd not you should do it, but if she should
Love you best, I cannot hinder her.
But, Sir, for fear she shou'd, I will provide against
The worst, and try to get your Woman.
Ferd.
But I pretend no claim at all to yours;
Besides you are more beautiful then I,
And fitter to allure unpractis'd hearts.
Therefore I once more beg you will not see her.
Hip.
I'm glad you let me know I have such beauty,
If that will get me Women, they shall have it
As far as e'r 'twill go: I'l never want 'em.
Ferd.
Then since you have refus'd this act of friendship,
Provide your self a sword, for we must fight.
57
A sword, what's that?
Ferd.
Why such a thing as this.
Hip.
What should I do with it?
Ferd.
You must stand thus, and push against me,
While I push at you, till one of us fall dead.
Hip.
This is brave sport;
But we have no Swords growing in our world.
Ferd.
What shall we do then to decide our quarrel?
Hip.
We'l take the Sword by turns, and fight with it.
Ferd.
Strange ignorance! you must defend your life,
And so must I: but since you have no Sword,
Take this; for in a corner of my Cave
[Gives him his Sword.
I found a rusty one; perhaps 'twas his who keeps
Me Pris'ner here: that I will fit:
When next we meet, prepare your self to fight.
Hip.
Make haste then, this shall ne'r be yours agen.
I mean to fight with all the men I meet, and
When they are dead, their Women shall be mine.
Ferd.
I see you are unskilful; I desire not to take
Your life, but, if you please, we'l fight on
These conditions; He who first draws bloud,
Or who can take the others Weapon from him,
Shall be acknowledg'd as the Conquerour,
And both the Women shall be his.
Hip.
Agreed,
And ev'ry day I'l fight for two more with you.
Ferd.
But win these first.
Hip.
I'll warrant you I'll push you.
[Exeunt severally:
| The Tempest, or The Enchanted Island | |