 | The tempest |  |
SCENE I.
Prospero's cell.Enter Prospero, Ferdinand, and Miranda.
PROSPERO.
If I have too austerely punish'd you,
Your compensation makes amends; for I
Have giv'n you here a thread of mine own life,
Or that for which I live. O, Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me, that I boast her off;
For thou shalt find she will out-strip all praise.
FERDINAND.
I do believe it, against an oracle.
AIR.
Have you seen but a bright lilly grow,
Before rude hands have touch'd it?
Have you mark'd but the fall of the snow,
Before the soil hath smutch'd it?
Have you felt the wool of the beaver?
Or swan's down ever?
Or have smelt o' the bud o' the briar?
Or the nard i' the fire?
Or have tasted the bag of the bee?
Oh, so white! Oh, so soft! Oh, so sweet is she!
Before rude hands have touch'd it?
Have you mark'd but the fall of the snow,
Before the soil hath smutch'd it?
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Or swan's down ever?
Or have smelt o' the bud o' the briar?
Or the nard i' the fire?
Or have tasted the bag of the bee?
Oh, so white! Oh, so soft! Oh, so sweet is she!
PROSPERO.
If thou dost break her virgin-knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy rite be minister'd,
No sweet aspersions shall the heav'ns let fall,
To make this contract grow: therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamps shall light you.
FERDINAND.
Nothing shall melt mine honour into lust,
To spoil the edge of that day's celebration.
PROSPERO.
Fairly spoken; Miranda is thine own.
What Ariel; my industrious servant, Ariel—
| The tempest | |