Point to rich ends. This my mean task would be
As heavy to me, as 'tis odious; but

The mistress, which I serve, quickens what's dead,
And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is
Ten times more gentle thau her father's crabbed;
And he's compos'd of harshness. I must remove
Some thousands of these logs, and pile them up,
Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress

Weeps when she sees me work; and says, such base

ness

Had ne'er like executor. I forget:

But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my la

bours;

Most busy-less, when I do it.

Enter Miranda; and Prospero at a distance.

Mira.

Alas, now! pray you,

Work not so hard: I would, the lightning had Burnt up those logs, that you are enjoin'd to pile! Pray set it down, and rest you: when this burns, 'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;

He's safe for these three hours.

Fer.

O most dear mistress,

The sun will set, before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.

Mira.

If you'll sit down,

I'll bear your logs the while: pray give me that;

I'll carry it to the pile.

Fer.

No, precious creature:

I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonour undergo,

While I sit lazy by.

Mira.

You look wearily.

Fer. No, noble mistress; 'tis fresh morning with

me,

When you are by at night. I do beseech you (Chiefly, that I might set it in my prayers),

What is your name?

Mira.

Miranda:-O my father,

I have broke your hest to say so!

Fer.

Admir'd Miranda!

Indeed, the top of admiration; worth

What's dearest to the world Full many a lady
I have ey'd with best regard; and many a time
The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues
Have I lik'd several women; never any
With so full soul, but some defect in her
Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'dt,
And put it to the foil: but you, O you,
So perfect, and so peerless, are created

Of every creature's best.

Mira.

I do not know

One of my sex; no woman's face remember,
Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen
More that I may call men, than you, good friend,
And my dear father: how features are abroad,

I am skill-less of; but by my modesty
(The jewel in my dower), I would not wish
Any companion in the world but you;
Nor can imagination form a shape,
Besides yourself, to like of: but I prattle
Something too wildly, and my father's precepts
Therein forget.

Fer.

I am, in my condition,

A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;
(I would, not so!) and would no more endure
This wooden slavery, than I would suffer

The flesh-fly blow my mouth.-Hear my soul speak ;-
The very instant that I saw you, did

My heart fly to your service; there resides,
To make me slave to it; and, for your sake,
Am I this patient log-man.

Mira.

Do you love me?

Fer. O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this

sound,

And crown what I profess with kind event,

If I speak true; if hollowly, invert

What best is boded me, to mischief! I,

Beyond all limit of what else* i' the world,

Do love, prize, honour you.

Mira.

To weep at what I am glad of.

Pro.

I am a fool,

Fair encounter

Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace

On that which breeds between them!

Fer..

Wherefore weep you?

Mira. At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer

What I desire to give; and much less take,

What I shall die to want: But this is trifling;

And all the more it seeks to hide itself,

The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
I am your wife, if you will marry me;

If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow
You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,

Whether you will or no.

Fer.

And I thus humble ever.
Mira.

My mistress, dearest,

My husband then?

Fer. Ay, with a heart as willing

As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.

Mira. And mine, with my heart in't: And now

farewell,

Till half an hour hence.

Fer.

A thousand! thousand!

[Exeunt Fer. and Mir.

Pro. So glad of this as they, I cannot be,

• Whatsoever.

Who are surpris'd with all; but my rejoicing
At nothing can be more. I'll to my book;
For yet, ere supper time, must I perform
Much business appertaining.

SCENE II.

Another part of the Island.

[Exit.

Enter Stephano and Trinculo; Caliban following with a bottle.

Ste. Tell not me;-when the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board 'em: Servant-monster, drink to me.

Trin. Servant-monster? the folly of this island! They say, there's but five upon this isle: we are three of them; if the other two be brained like us, the state totters.

Ste. Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes are almost set in thy head.

Trin. Where should they be set else? he were a brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.

Ste. My man-monster hath drowned his tongue in sack: for my part, the sea cannot drown me: I swam, ere I could recover the shore, five-and-thirty leagues, off and on, by this light. Thou shalt be my lieutetenant, monster, or my standard.

Trin. Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no stand

ard.

Ste. We'll not run, monsieur monster.

Trin. Nor go neither: but you'll lie, like dogs; and yet say nothing neither.

Ste. Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a good moon-calf.

Cal. How does thy honour? Let me lick thy

shoe; I'll not serve him, he is not valiant.

Trin. Thou liest, most ignorant monster; I am in

case to justle a constable: Why, thou deboshed* fish thou, was there ever man a coward, that hath drunk so much sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish, and half a monster? Cal. Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord ?

Trin. Lord, quoth he!-that a monster should be such a natural!

Cal. Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I pr'ythee. Ste. Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head; if you prove a mutineer, the next tree-The poor monster's my subject, and he shall not suffer indignity.

Cal. I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleas'd To hearken once again the suit I made thee?

Ste. Marry will I: kneel, and repeat it; I will stand, and so shall Triuculo.

Enter Ariel, invisible.

Cal. As I told thee

Before, I am subject to a tyrant;
A sorcerer, that by his cunning hath

Cheated me of this island.

Ari.

Thou liest.

Cal. Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou:
I would, my valiant master would destroy thee;
I do not lie.

Ste. Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in his tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.

Trin. Why, I said nothing.

Ste. Mum then, and no more.-[To Caliban.]

Proceed.

Cal. I say, by sorcery he got this isle; From me he got it. If thy greatness will Revenge it on him-for, I know, thou dar'st; But this thing dare not.

* Debauched.