Pro. No, wench, it eats, and fleeps, and hath such fenfes As we have, such. This gallant, which thou seest. Was in the wreck: and, but he's fomething stain'd With grief, (that's beauty's canker) thou might'st call him A goodly perfon. He hath loft his fellows, And strays about to find 'em. Mira. I might call him A thing divine; for nothing natural - I ever faw fo noble. Pro. It goes on, I fee, [Afide. As my foul prompts it. Spirit, fine spirit, I'll free thee Within two days for this. Fer. Moft fure, the Goddefs On whom these ayres attend! vouchsafe, my pray'r Mira. No wonder, Sir, But certainly a maid. Fer. My language! heav'ns! I am the best of them that speak this speech, Pro. How? the best? What wert thou, if the King of Naples heard thee? Fer. A fingle 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 wreckt. Mira. Alack, for mercy! Fer. Yes, faith, and all his lords: the Duke of Milan, And his brave fon, being twain. Pro. Pro. The Duke of Milan, And his more braver daughter, could controul thee, I'll fet thee free for this.) A word, good Sir. 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're both in either's power: but this swift business I must uneasy make, left too light winning Make the prize light. Sir, one word more; I charge thee, That thou attend me:-thou doft here ufurp From me, the lord on't. Fer. No, as I'm a man. [ple. Mira. There's nothing ill can dwell in fuch a tem If the ill fpirit have fo fair an house, Good things will strive to dwell with't. Pro. Follow me Come, Speak not you for him: he's a traitor. Wherein the acorn cradled. Follow. Fer. No, I will refift fuch entertainment, 'till Mine enemy has more power. [He draws, and is charm'd from moving. Mira. Mira. * O dear father, Make not too rash a tryal of him; for He's gentle, and not fearful. Pro. What, I fay, My foot my tutor? put thy sword up, traitor, Who mak'it a shew, but dar'st not strike; thy con science Is so poffeft with guilt: come from thy ward, For I can here difarm thee with this stick, And make thy weapon drop. Mira. Beseech you, father. Pro. Hence: hang not on my garment. Mira. Sir, have pity; I'll be his furety. Pro. Silence: one word more Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What, An advocate for an impoftor? hush! Thou think'st, there are no more fuch shapes as he, Having feen but him and Caliban; foolish wench! To th' most of men this is a Caliban, And they to him are angels. Mira. My affections Are then most humble: I have no ambition To fee a goodlier man. Pro. Come on, obey; Thy nerves are in their infancy again, And have no vigour in them. Fer. So they are: My fpirits, as in a dream, are all bound up. * Mira, O dear father, Make not too rash a tryal of him; for He's gentle, and not fearful.] This seems to be a very odd Way of expreffing her Sense of her Lover's good Qualities. It is certain the Beauty of it is not seen at first View. Miranda, till now, had never feen any Mortal (her Father excepted) but Caliban; and had frequently beheld him under that Kind of Discipline which her Father here threatens to inflict upon her Lover. The The wreck of all my friends, and this man's threats, Pro. It works: come on. (Thou hast done well, fine Ariel :) follow me. Hark, what thou else shalt do me. Mira. Be of comfort, My father's of a better nature, Sir, [To Ariel. Than he appears by speech: this is unwonted, Pro. Thou shalt be as free As mountain winds; but then exactly do All points of my command. Ari. To th' fyllable. Pro. Come, follow: fpeak not for him. [Exeunt. ACT B Alon. Pr'ythee, peace. * Seb. He receives comfort like cold porridge. Ant. + The 'viser will not give o'er fo. Seb. Look, he's winding up the watch of his wit, by and by it will strike. Gon. Sir, Seb. One:Tell, Gon. When every grief is entertain'd that's of fer'd; comes to the entertainer Seb. A dollor. Gon. Dolour comes to him, indeed; you have spoken truer than you propos'd. * All that follows after the Words Pr'ythee, peace, to the Words, You cram these words, &c. feems to have been interpolated, (perhaps by the Players,) the Verses there beginning again; and all that is between in Profe, not only being impertinent Stuff, but improper and ill-plac'd Drollery, in the Mouths of distreffed shipwreckt People. There is more of the Same fort interspersed in the remaining Part of the Scene. + The visiter will not give o'er fo.] This Visiter is a Comforter or Adviser, and must be read, 'Vifer, i. e. the Adviser. VOL. II. C Seb. |