THE ARGUMENT.
Prospero
, Duke of Milan, dedicating
himself entirely to study, commits the government
of his dukedom to his brother Anthonio,
who, confederating with the king of Naples, to
extirpate Prospero, they seize him and his infant
daughter, and force them out to sea, in a tatter'd
boat: Providence drives the boat on shore, on a
barren inchanted island; where Prospero found nobody
but a sort of incubus; and here he lives twelve
years, in the study and exercise of natural magic.
—At this time the same king of Naples, Ferdinand
his only son, and Anthonio, returning from marrying
the daughter of Naples to the king of Tunis,
fall under Prospero's spells.
Here the OPERA begins.
Prospero, raising a tempest, these princes are cast
on shore, and dispersed in this island; the king and
Anthonio suffer great torments from the supposed
loss of the king's son, and from the pangs of their
evil deeds: Ferdinand is conducted by Prospero's
spirits to the sight of Miranda, Prospero's daughter;
who, till then, had never seen any of mankind except
her father. This young pair falling mutually in
love with each other, Prospero causes the king and
his attendants to be brought to his cave; where he
owns himself to them.—And upon this discovery
Anthonio submits to restore the dukedom of
Milan to Prospero—and Miranda is betroth'd to
Ferdinand, the king's son.