What's deareft to the World; full many a Lady
I have ey'd with beft Regard, and many a time
Th' Harmony of their Tongues hath into Bondage
Brought my too diligent Ear; for feveral Virtues
Have I lik'd feveral Women, never any

With fo full Soul, but fome Defect in her
Did quarrel with the nobleft Grace she ow'd,
And put it to the Foil.
it to the Foil.

But you, O you,
So perfect, and fo peerlefs, are created
Of every Creatures beft.

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 Friends'
And my dear Father; how Features are abroad
I am skillefs of; but my Modefty,

The Jewel in my Dower, I would not wish
Any Companion in the World but you;
Nor can Imagination form a Shape,
Befides your felf, to like of; but I prattle
Something too wildly, and my Father's Precepts
I therein do forget.

Fer. I am, in my Condition,

A Prince, Miranda, I do think a King;
I would not fo, and would no more endure

This wooden Slavery, than to fuffer

The Flesh-flie blow my Mouth. Hear my Soul fpeak

The very inftant that I faw you, did

My Heart fly to your Service, there refides

To make me Slave to it, and for your fake

Am I this patient Log-man.

Mira. Do you love me!

Fer. O Heav'n, O Earth, bear Witness to this Sound,

And crown what I profefs with kind Event,

If I fpeak true; if hollowly, invert

What beft is boaded me, to Mischief; I,
Beyond all limit of what else i'th World,
Do love, prize, honour you.

Mira. I am a Fool

To weep at what I am glad of.
Pre. Fair Encounter

Of two moft rare Affections! Heav'ns rain Grace

On that which breeds between 'em.

Fer. Wherefore weep you?

Mira. At mine Unworthinefs, that dare not offer
What I defire to give, and much lefs take
What I fhall die to want: But this is trifling,
And all the more it feeks to hide it self,

The bigger Bulk it fhews. Hence bafhful Cunning,
And prompt me plain and holy Innocence.

I am your Wife, if you will marry me;
If not, I'll dye your Maid: To be your Fellow
You may deny me; but I'll be your Servant,
Whether you will or no.

Fer. My Miftrefs, deareft,

And I thus humble ever.

Mira. My Husband then?

Fer. Ay, with a Heart fo willing

As Bondage e'er of Freedom; here's my Hand.

Mira. And mine, with my Heart in't; and now farewel 'Till half an Hour hence.

Fer. A thoufand, thousand.

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

Who are furpriz'd with all; but my rejoycing.
At nothing can be more. I'll to my Book,
For yet e'er Supper-time muft I perform
Much Bufinefs appertaining.

Enter Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo.

[Exeunt.

[Exit.

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 Ifland! they fay there's but five upon this Ifle; we are three of them, if the other two be brain'd like us, the State totters.

Ste. Drink, Servant Monster, when I bid thee; thy Eyes are almost set in thy Head.

Trin. Where fhould they be fet elfe? he were a brave Monster indeed if they were fet in his Tail.

Ste. My Man-monfter hath drown'd his Tongue in Sack; for my Part the Sea cannot drown me. I fwam, e'er I could

recover

recover the Shore, five and thirty Leagues, off and on; by this Light thou shalt be my Lieutenant, Monster, or my Standard.

Trin. Your Lieutenant, if you lift, he's no Standard.

Ste. We'll not run, Monfieur Monster.

Trin. Nor go neither; but you'll lye like Dogs, and yet fay nothing neither.

Ste. Moon-calf, fpeak once in thy Life, if thou beeft a good Moon-calf.

Cal. How does thy Honour? Let me lick thy Shooe I'll not ferve him, he is not valiant.

;

Trin. Thou lieft, moft ignorant Monster, I am in cafe to juftle a Constable; why, thou debofh'd Fish, thou, was there ever Man a Coward, that hath drunk fo much Sack as I to Day? wilt thou tell me a monftrous 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 fhould be fuch a Natural!

Cal. Lo, lo, again; bite him to Death, I prethee.

Ste. Trinculo, keep a good Tongue in your Head; if you prove a Mutineer, the next Tree-the poor Monfter's my Subject, and he shall not fuffer Indignity.

Cal. I thank my noble Lord. Wilt thou be pleas'd once again to hearken to the Suit, I made to thee?

Ste. Marry will I; kneel and repeat it,

I will ftand, and so shall Trinculo.

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 the Island.

Ari. Thou lieft.

Cal. Thou lieft, thou jefting Monkey thou;

I would my valiant Mafter would destroy thee;

I do not lie.

Ste. Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in's Tale, By this Hand, I will fupplant fome of your Teeth.

Trin. Why, I faid nothing.

Ste. Mum then, and no more; proceed.

Cal. I fay by Sorcery, he got this Ifle,

D 3

From

From me he got it. If thy Greatness will
Revenge it on him, for I know thou dar'st,
But this thing dare not.

Ste. That's most certain.

Cal. Thou shalt be Lord of it, and I'll ferve thee.
Ste. How now fhall this be compaft?
Canft thou bring me to the Party?

Cal. Yea, yea, my Lord, I'll yield him thee asleep,
Where thou may'ft knock a Nail into his Head..
Ari. Thou lieft, thou canst not.

Cal. What a pyde Ninny's this? Thou scurvy Patch! I do befeech thy Greatness give him Blows,

And take his Bottle from him; when that's gone,

He fhall drink nought but Brine, for I'll not fhew him
Where the quick Freshes are.

Ste. Trinculo, run into no further Danger:

Interrupt the Monster one Word further, and by this Hand I'll turn my Mercy out o' Doors, and make a Stock-fish of thee.

Trin. Why, what did I? I did nothing;

I'll go no further off.

Ste. Didft thou not fay he ly'd:

Ari. Thou lieft.

Ste. Do I fo? Take you that.

[Beats him.

As you like this, give me the Lie another time.
Trin. I did not give thee the Lie; out o' your
Hearing too?

Wits and

A pox o' your Bottle, this can Sack and Drinking do:
A murrrain on your Monster, and the Devil take your
Fingers.

Cal. Ha, ha, ha.

Ste. Now forward with your Tale; prethee ftand further off.

Cal. Beat him enough; after a little time

I'll beat him too.

Ste. Stand further; come proceed.

Cal. Why, as I told thee, 'tis a Custom with him
I'th' Afternoon to fleep; there thou may'ft brain him,
Having first feiz'd his Books; or with a Log
Batter his Skull, or paunch him with a Stake,
Or cut his Wezand with thy Knife. Remember

First to poffefs his Books; for without them
Sot, as I am; nor hath not

He's but

One Spirit to command: They all do hate him
As rootedly as I. Burn but his Books;

He has brave Utenfils, for fo he calls them,
Which when he has an Houfe, he'll deck withal.
And that most deeply to confider, is
The Beauty of his Daughter; he himself
Calls her a Non-pareil: I never faw a Woman
But only Sycorax my Dam, and fhe;

But fhe as far furpaffeth Sycorax

As greateft does the leaft.

Ste. Is it fo brave a Lafs?

Cal. Ay, Lord; fhe will become thy Bed, I warrant, And bring thee forth brave Brood.

Ste. Monfter, I will kill this Man: His Daughter and I will be King and Queen, fave our Graces; and Trinculo and thy felf fhall be Vice-Roys.

Doft thou like the Plot, Trinculo?

Trin. Excellent.

Ste. Give me thy Hand; I am forry I beat thee:

But while thou liv'ft keep a good Tongue in thy Head. Cal. Within this half Hour will he be afleep;

Wilt thou destroy him then?

Ste. Ay, on mine Honour.

Ari. This will I tell my Mafter.

Cal. Thou mak❜ft me merry; I am full of Pleafure: Let us be jocund. Will you troul the Catch

You taught me but whileare?

Ste. At thy Request, Monster, I will do Reason, And Reafon: Come on, Trinculo, let us fing.

[Sings.

Flout 'em, and cant 'em; and skont 'em, and flout 'em ; Thought is free.

Cal. That's not the Tune.

[Ariel plays the Tune on a Tabor and Pipe.

Ste. What is this fame?

Trin. This is the Tune of our Catch, plaid by the Pi&ture of Na-body.

Ste. If thou be'ft a Man, fhew thy felf in thy Likeness: If thou be'ft a Devil, take't as thou lift.

Trin. Q forgive me my Sin.

D 4

Ste