 | The tempest |  |
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.
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.
| The tempest | |