University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A Grove behind the Cell of Prospero.
Enter Prospero and Miranda.
Pro.
You beg in vain; I cannot pardon him;
He has offended Heaven.

Mir.
Then let Heaven punish him.

Pro.
It will, by me.

Mir.
Grant him at least some respite, for my sake.

Pro.
I, by deferring justice, should incense
The Deity against myself and you.

Mir.
Yet I have heard you say, the powers above
Are slow in punishing,—and should not you
Resemble them?—
And can you be his judge and executioner?

Pro.
I cannot force Gonzalo, or my brother,
Much less the father, to destroy the son;
It must be then the monster Caliban;
And he's not here: but Ariel straight shall fetch him.

Enter Ariel, with a small Box of Unguent, and Ferdinand's Sword, wrapped up in a Scarf.
Ari.
My potent lord, before thou call'st, I come
To serve thy will.

Pro.
Then, spirit, fetch me hither
My savage slave.

Ari.
My lord, it does not need.

Pro.
Art thou then prone to mischief? Wilt thou be
Thyself the executioner?

Ari.
Think better of thy airy minister,
Who, for thy sake, unbidden, this night hath flown
O'er almost all the habitable world.

Pro.
But to what purpose was thy diligence?

Ari.
When I was chidden by my mighty lord,
For my neglect of young Hippolyto,
I search'd his wound with care, and found that life
Was but retir'd, not sally'd out: I gather'd
The best of simples underneath the moon,
The best of balms, and to the hurt apply'd
The healing juice of vulnerary herbs:
His only danger was his loss of blood,
Just at this hour he will awake, and now
He must be dress'd again: anoint this sword,
Which pierc'd him, with this salve, and wrap it close
From air, at once his cure will be complete.

Pro.
Give them to me: Be this your task, Miranda,
Because your sister is not present here;
[Gives her the Sword and Box.
While I go visit your dear Ferdinand.

Mir.
I do obey you with a double duty;
For now, sir, you have given me life twice over.
[Exit Miranda.

Pro.
Now does my project gather to a head:
My charms crack not; my spirits obey; and time
Goes upright with his carriage: at this hour
Lie at my mercy all mine enemies.
Tell me, my spirit, how fares Prince Ferdinand,
The King, and his followers?

Ari.
Confin'd together
In the same fashion as you gave in charge:
Your brother, and the King, abide distracted;
And young Prince Ferdinand mourning over them,
Brim-full of sorrow and dismay; but chiefly,
Him that you term'd “The good old Lord Gonzalo,—
His tears run down his beard, like winter drops
From eaves of reeds: Your charm so strongly works 'em
That, if you now beheld them, your affections
Would become tender.

Pro.
Dost thou think so, spirit?

Ari.
Mine would, sir, were I human.

Pro.
And mine shall.
Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling
Of their afflictions? And shall not myself,
One of their kind, that relish all as sharply
Passion as they, be kindlier mov'd than thou art?
Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick,
Yet with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury
Will I take part: the rarer action is
In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent,
The sole drift of my purpose doth extend
Not a frown further. Follow, gentle Ariel.

[Exeunt.