To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy brown

groves,

Whose shadow the dismissed batchelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; *thy pale-clipt vineyard,
And thy fea-marge fteril, and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyself dost air; the Queen o'th' sky,
Whose wat'ry arch and messenger am I,
Bids thee leave these ; and with her Sov'reign Grace,
Here on this grafs-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport; her peacocks fly amain :
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter Ceres.

Cer. Hail, many colour'd messenger, that ne'er
Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter :

Who, with thy faffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffuseft honey drops, refreshing showers;
And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown
My bosky acres, and my unshrub'd down,
Rich scarf to my proud earth; why hath thy Queen
Summon'd me hither to this short-grafs green ?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate,

And fome donation freely to estate
On the bless'd lovers,

Cer. Tell me, heavenly bow,
If Venus or her fon, as thou dost know,
Do not attend the Queen: fince they did plot
The means, that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forfworn.

}

Iris. Of her fociety Be not afraid; I met her deity Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her fon Dove-drawn with her; here thought they to have done Some wanton charm upon this man and maid, Whose vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid

'Till Hymen's torch be lighted; but in vain
Mars's hot minion is return'd again;
Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows;
Swears, he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows,
And be a boy right-out.

Cer. High Queen of state,

Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gate.

[Juno defcends, and enters.

Juno. How does my bounteous sister? go with me To bless this twain, that they may profp'rous be,

And honour'd in their issue.

Jun. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance and encreasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Juno fings her blessings on you.

Cer. Earth's increase, and foison-plenty,
Barns and garners never empty,
Vines, with clustring bunches growing,
Plants, with goodly burthen bowing,
Spring come to you, at the farthest,
In the very end of harvest !
Scarcity and want shall shun you;
Ceres' bleffing fo is on you.

Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and
Harmonious charming Lays: may I be bold
To think these spirits?

Pro. Spirits, which by mine art

I have from their confines call'd to enact
My present fancies.

Fer. Let me live here ever;

So rare a wonder'd father, and a wife,

Make this place paradife.

Pro. Sweet now, filence:

Juno and Ceres whisper serioufly;

D5

There's

There's fomething else to do; hush, and be mute, Or else our spell is marr'd.

Juno and Ceres whisper, and fend Iris on employment. Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the winding brooks,

With your fedg'd crowns, and ever-harmless looks,
Leave your crisp channels, and on this green land
Answer your fummons, Juno does command:
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love; be not too late.

Enter certain Nymphs.

You fun-burn'd ficklemen, of Auguft weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry;
Make holy-day; your rye-ftraw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing.

SCENE IV.

Enter certain reapers, properly habited, they join with the nymphs in a graceful dance; towards the end whereof, Profpero starts fuddenly, and speaks; after which, to a Strange, hollow and confused noise, they vanish heavily.

Pro.s

I

Had forgot that foul confpiracy

Of the beast Caliban, and his confed'rates,
Against my life; the minute of their plot
Is almost come. Well done, avoid; no more.

Fer. This is most strange; your father's in some

paffion
That works him strongly.
Mira. Never 'till this day

Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd.
Pro. You look, my fon, in a mov'd fort,
As if you were dismay'd; be chearful, Sir:
Our revels now are ended: "these our actors,
" As I foretold you, were all spirits, and

"Are

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66

66

66

66

Are melted into air, into thin air;

And, like the baseless fabric of th' air-visions

The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The folemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all, which it inherit, shall dissolve;

And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind! we are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life

Is rounded with a fleep." -Sir, I am vext; Bear with my weakness, my old brain is troubled:

Be not disturb'd with my infirmity;

If thou be pleas'd, retire into my cell,

And there repose: a turn or two I'll walk,

To still my beating mind.

Fer. Mira. We wish your peace. Exit Fer. and Mira. Pro. Come with a thought; - I thank you:Ariel, come.

Profpero comes forward from the Cell; enter Ariel to him. Ari. Thy thoughts I cleave to; what's thy pleasure? Pro. Spirit,

We must prepare to meet with Caliban.

Ari. Ay, my commander; when I presented Ceres, I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd,. Lest I might anger thee.

Pro. Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets? Ari. I told you, Sir, they were red hot with drink[ing;

So full of valour, that they smote the air
For breathing in their faces; beat the ground
For kiffing of their feet; yet always bending
Towards their project. Then I beat my tabor,
At which, like unbackt colts, they prickt their ears,
Advanc'd their eye-lids, lifted up their noses,
As they smelt music; fo I charm'd their ears,
That, calf-like, they my lowing follow'd through
Tooth'd briars, sharp furzes, pricking gofs and thorns,
Which enter'd their frail shins: at last I left them
I'th' filthy mantled pool beyond your cell,

D6

There

There dancing up to th' chins, that the foul lake
O'er-stunk their feet.

Pro. This was well done, my bird;
Thy shape invisible retain thou still;
*The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither,
For ftale to catch these thieves.

Ari. I go, I go.

[Exit.

Pro. A devil, a born devil; on whose nature
Nurture can never stick; on whom my pains,
Humanely taken, all, all loft, quite loft;
And, as with age, his body uglier grows,
So his mind cankers; I will plague them all,
Even to roaring: come, hang them on this line.

[Profpero remains invisible.

SCENE. V.

Enter Arielloaden with glistering apparel, &c. Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo, all wet.

Cal.

P

RAY you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not

Hear a foot fall; we now are near his cell. Ste. Monfter, your Fairy, which you say is a harmlefs Fairy, has done little better than plaid the Jack with us.

Trin. Monfter, I do fmell all horse-piss, at which my nose is in great indignation.

Ste. So is mine: do you hear, monster? if I should

take a difpleasure against you; look youTrin. Thou wer't but a loft monster.

Cal. Good my lord, give me thy favour still :

* The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither

Forstale to catch these thieves] If it be asked what Neceffity there was for this Apparatus, I answer that it was the superftitious Fancy of the People, in our Author's Time, that Witches, Conjurors, &c. had no Power over those againft whom they would employ their Charms, till they had got them at this Advantage, committing some Sin or other, as here of Theft.

Be