Boats. Work you, then. Ant. Hang, cur, hang! you whoreson, insolent noise-maker, we are less afraid to be drowned than thou art. Gon. I'll warrant him from drowning; though the ship were no stronger than a nut-shell, and as leaky as an unstaunched wench. Boats. Lay her a-hold, a-hold; set her two courses; off to sea again, lay her off. Enter Mariners, wet. Mar. All lost! to prayers, to prayers! all lost! [Exeunt. Boats. What, must our mouths be cold? Gòn. The king and prince at prayers! let us as sist them, For our case is as theirs. Seb. I am out of patience. Ant. We are merelyt cheated of our lives by drunkards. This wide-chapped rascal;-'Would, thou might'st lie drowning, The washing of ten tides! He'll be hanged yet; Though every drop of water swear against it, And gape at wid'st to glut him. [A confused noise within.] Mercy on us!-We split, we split!-Farewell, my wife and children!-Farewell, brother! We split, we split, we split. Ant. Let's all sink with the king. [Exit. Seb. Let's take leave of him. [Exit. Gon. Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground; long heath, brown furze, any thing: the wills above be done! but I would fain die a dry death. [Exit. • Incontinent. + Absolutely. SCENE II. The island; before the cell of Prospero. Enter Prospero and Miranda. Mira. If by your art, my dearest father, you have Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them: The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch, But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek, Dashes the fire out. O, I have suffer'd With those that I saw suffer! a brave vessel, Who had no doubt some noble creatures in her, Dash'd all to pieces. O, the cry did knock Against my very heart! Poor souls! they perish'd. Had I been any god of power, I would Have sunk the sea within the earth, or e'er* It should the good ship so have swallow'd, and The freighting souls within her. Pro. Be collected; No more amazement: tell your piteous heart, There's no harm done. Mira. Pro. O, woe the day! No harm. I have done nothing but in care of thee, (Of thee, my dear one! thee, my daughter!) who Art ignorant of what thou art, nought knowing Of whence I am; nor that I am more better Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell, And thy no greater father. Mira. More to know Did never meddle with my thoughts. Pro. 'Tis time I should iuform thee further. Lend thy hand, And pluck my magic garment from me.-So; [Lays down his mantle. Lie there my art.-Wipe thou thine eyes; have * Before. comfort. The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd The very virtue of compassion in thee, I have with such provision in mine art Betid to any creature in the vessel Which thou heard'st cry, which thou saw'st sink. Sit dowu; For thou must now know further. Mira. You have often Begun to tell me what I am; but stopp'd Concluding, Stay, not yet. Pro. The hour's now come; The very minute bids thee ope thine ear; A time before we came unto this cell? I do not think thou can'st; for then thou wast not Out* three years old. Mira. Certainly, sir, I can. Pro. By what? by any other house, or person? Of any thing the image tell me, that Hath kept with thy remembrance. Mira. "'"Tis far off; And rather like a dream than an assurance Four or five women once, that tended me? Pro. Thou had'st, and more, Miranda: but how is it, That this lives in thy mind? What seest thou else The duke of Milan, and a prince of power. Pro. Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father Was duke of Milan; and his only heir A princess;-no worse issued. Mira. O, the heavens! What foul play had we, that we came from thence? Or blessed was't we did? Pro. Both, both, my girl: By foul play, as thou say'st, were we heav'd thence; But blessedly holp hither. Mira. O, my heart bleeds To think o' the teen that I have turn'd you to, Which is from my remembrance! Please you further. Pro. My brother, and thy uncle, call'd Antonio, I pray thee, mark me, that a brother should Be so perfidious!-he whom, next thyself, Of all the world I lov'd, and to him put The manage of my state; as, at that time, Through all the signiories it was the first, And Prospero the prime duke; being so reputed In dignity, and, for the liberal arts, Without a parallel; those being all my study, The government I cast upon my brother, And to my state grew stranger, being transported, And wrapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle Dost thou attend me? Mira. Sir, most heedfully. Pro. Being once perfected how to grant suits, How to deny them; whom to advance, and whom To trasht for over-topping; new created The creatures that were mine; I say, or chang'd them, To what tune pleas'd his ear; that now he was, And suck'd my verdure out on't.-Thou attend'st not: I pray thee, mark me. Mira. O good sir, I do. Pro. I thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicate To closeness, and the bettering of my mind Mira. Your tale, sir, would cure deafness. play'd, And him he play'd it for, he needs will be Miru. O the heavens! Pro. Mark his condition, and the event; then |