University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

The Cell of Prospero.
Ariel and others Spirits, still invisible to Ferdinand, sing without.
Chorus of Spirits.
Sea nymphs hourly ring his knell;
Hark! now I hear them,—ding-dong, bell.

[While they are singing,
Enter Prospero and Miranda.
Pro.
The fringed curtains of thine eye advance,
And say, what thou see'st yond'.

Mir.
What is't, a spirit?
Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir,
It carries a brave form:—But 'tis a spirit?

Pro.
No, wench; it eats, and sleeps, and hath such senses
As we have, such: This gallant, which thou seest,
Was in the wreck; and, but he's something stain'd
With grief, that's beauty's canker, thou might'st call him
A goodly person.

Enter Ariel, waving Ferdinand after him, followed by other Spirits.
Mir.
I might call him
A thing divine; for nothing natural
I ever saw so noble.

Pro.
It goes on,
As my soul prompts it:—Spirit, fine spirit! I'll free thee
Within two days for this.

Fer.
Most sure, the goddess,
On whom these airs attend!—Vouchsafe my prayer
May know, if you remain upon this island;
And that you will some good instruction give,
How I may bear me here: My prime request,
Which I do last pronounce, is,—O you wonder!—
If you be maid, or no?

Mir.
No wonder, sir;
But certainly a maid.

Fer.
My language!—Heavens!—
I am the best of them, that speak this speech,
Were I but where 'tis spoken.

Pro.
How! the best?
What wert thou, if the King of Naples heard thee?

Fer.
A single thing, as I am now, that wonders
To hear thee speak of Naples: He does hear me;
And, that he does, I weep: myself am Naples;
Who, with mine eyes, ne'er since at ebb, beheld
The king, my father, wreck'd.

Mir.
Alack, for mercy!

Fer.
Yes, faith, and all his lords.

Pro.
At the first sight
They have chang'd eyes:—Delicate Ariel,
I'll set thee free for this!—A word, good sir;
I fear, you have done yourself some wrong.—Attend—

[Prospero talks apart to Ariel.
Mir.
Why speaks my father so ungently? This
Is the third man that I e'er saw; the first
That e'er I sigh'd for: pity move my father
To be inclin'd my way!

Fer.
O, if a virgin,
And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you
The Queen of Naples.

Pro.
Soft, sir; one word more.—
They are both in either's power: but this swift business
I must uneasy make, lest too light winning
Make the prize light.—One word more—I charge thee,
That thou attend me: thou dost here usurp
Upon this island, as a spy, to win it
From me, the lord on't.

Fer.
No, as I am a man.

Mir.
There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple:
If the ill spirit have so fair a house,
Good things will strive to dwell with't.

Pro.
Follow me,—
Speak not you for him; he's a traitor.—Come,
I'll manacle thy neck and feet together;
Sea water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be,
The fresh brook muscles, wither'd roots, and husks
Wherein the acorn cradled;—Follow.

Fer.
No;
I will resist such entertainment, till
Mine enemy has more power.

[He draws his Sword.
Pro.
Put thy sword up, traitor:
Who mak'st a show, but dar'st not strike, thy conscience
Is so possess'd with guilt: come from thy ward;
For I can here disarm thee with this stick,
And make thy weapon drop.

[Ferdinand drops his Point to the Ground.
Mir.
Beseech you, father!

Pro.
Hence; hang not on my garments.

Mir.
Sir, have pity;
I'll be his surety.

Pro.
Silence! one word more
Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What!
My foot my tutor?—Hush!—Come on, obey:
Thy nerves are in their infancy again,
And have no vigour in them.

Fer.
So they are:
My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.
My father's loss, the weakness which I feel,
The wreck of all my friends, or this man's threats,
To whom I am subdu'd, were but light to me
Might I but through my prison, once a day,
Behold this maid: all corners else o'the earth
Let liberty make use of; space enough
Have I in such a prison.

Pro.
It works:—Come on.—
Thou hast done well, fine Ariel!—Follow me.—
Hark, what thou else shalt do me.

[Prospero talks apart to Ariel.
Mir.
Be of comfort;
My father's of a better nature, sir,
Than he appears by speech: ne'er, till this day,
Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd.

Pro.
Thou shalt be as free
As mountain winds:—but then exactly do
All points of my command.

Ari.
To the syllable.

Pro.
Come, follow:—speak not for him.

[Exeunt Prospero, and Miranda supplicating him;—Ariel follows them, waving Ferdinand on.
SONG—BY ARIEL.
Kind fortune smiles, and she
Hath yet in store for thee,
Some strange felicity:
Follow me, follow me,
And thou shalt see.

Chorus of Spirits.
Follow me, follow me,
And thou shalt see.

[Exeunt.