Lingering perdition, worse than any death

Can be at once, shall step by step attend

You and your ways; whose wraths to guard you from—
Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls
Upon your heads-is nothing but heart-sorrow

And a clear life ensuing.

80

He vanishes in thunder; then, to soft music, enter the Shapes again, and dance, with mocks and mows, and carrying out the table.

Pros. Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou Perform 'd, my Ariel; a grace it had, devouring: Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated

In what thou hadst to say: so, with good life

And observation strange, my meaner ministers

Their several kinds have done. My high charms work
And these mine enemies are all knit up

In their distractions; they now are in my power;
And in these fits I leave them, while I visit

Young Ferdinand, whom they suppose is drown'd,
And his and mine loved darling.

90

[Exit above. Gon. I' the name of something holy, sir, why stand you In this strange stare?

Alon.
O, it is monstrous, monstrous!
Methought the billows spoke and told me of it;
The winds did sing it to me, and the thunder,
That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounced
The name of Prosper: it did bass my trespass.
Therefore my son i̇' the ooze is bedded, and
I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded
And with him there lie mudded.

Seb.

I'll fight their legions o'er.

100

[Exit.

But one fiend at a time,

Ant.

I'll be thy second.

[Exeunt Sebastian and Antonio.

Gon. All three of them are desperate: their great guilt,

Like poison given to work a great time after,

Now 'gins to bite the spirits. I do beseech you

That are of suppler joints, follow them swiftly
And hinder them from what this ecstasy

May now provoke them to.

Adr.

Follow, I pray you.

[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. Before PROSPERO's cell.

Enter PROSPERo, Ferdinand, and MIRANDA.
Pros. If I have too austerely punish'd you,
Your compensation makes amends, for I
Have given you here a thrid of mine own life,
Or that for which I live; who once again
I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou

Hast strangely stood the test: here, afore Heaven,
I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me that I boast her off,
For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise
And make it halt behind her.

Fer.

Against an oracle.

I do believe it

Pros. Then, as my gift and thine own acquisition
Worthily purchased, take my daughter: but

If thou dost break her virgin-knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may

With full and holy rite be minister'd,
No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren hate,
Sour-eyed disdain and discord shall bestrew
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly
That you shall hate it both: therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamps shall light you.

Fer.

As I hope

For quiet days, fair issue and long life,

ΙΟ

20

With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den,

The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion
Our worser genius can, shall never melt

Mine honour into lust, to take away

The edge of that day's celebration,

When I shall think, or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd,
Or Night kept chain'd below.

Sit then and talk with her; she is thine own.
What, Ariel! my industrious servant, Ariel!

Enter ARIEL.

Ari. What would my potent master? here I am. Pros. Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service Did worthily perform; and I must use you

In such another trick.

Go bring the rabble,

O'er whom I give thee power, here to this place:
Incite them to quick motion; for I must

Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
Some vanity of mine art: it is my promise,
And they expect it from me.

Ari. Before you can say 'come' and 'go,'
And breathe twice and cry 'so, so,"

Each one, tripping on his toe,
Will be here with mop and mow.

Do you love me, master? no?

Pros. Dearly, my delicate Ariel. Do not approach Till thou dost hear me call.

Ari.

Well, I conceive.

Pros. Look thou be true; do not give dalliance
Too much the rein: the strongest oaths are straw
To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious,
Or else, good night your vow!

30

40

[Exit.

51

Fer.

I warrant you, sir;

E

The white cold virgin snow upon my heart
Abates the ardour of my liver.

Now come, my Ariel! bring a corollary,
Rather than want a spirit: appear, and pertly!
No tongue! all eyes! be silent.

Enter IRIS.

[Soft music.

Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas
Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats and pease;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,

And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep;
Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims,

Which spongy April at thy hest betrims,

60

To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom-groves,
Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard;

And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard,

Where thou thyself dost air;-the queen o' the sky,
Whose watery arch and messenger am I,

Bids thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace,
Here on this grass-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 saffron wings upon my flowers

Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers,

And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown
My bosky acres and my unshrubb'd down,

Rich scarf to my proud earth; why hath thy queen
Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green?

Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate;

And some donation freely to estate

On the blest lovers.

Cer.

Tell me, heavenly bow,

If Venus or her son, as thou dost know,

70

80

Do now attend the queen? Since they did plot
The means that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forsworn.

Be not afraid: I met her deity

Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her son
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,

90

Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows 100 And be a boy right out.

Ger.

High'st queen of state,

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

Enter JUNO.

Juno. How does my bounteous sister?

Go with me

[They sing.

To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be
And honour'd in their issue.

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

Cer. Earth's increase, foison plenty,

Barns and garners never empty,
Vines with clustering 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' blessing so is on you.

Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and
Harmonious charmingly. May I be bold
To think these spirits?

ΙΙΟ