I prophesied, if a gallows were on land,
This fellow could not drown:

Now, blasphemy,

That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore? Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?

Boats. The best news is, that we have safely found Our king, and company: the next, our ship, Which, but three glasses since, we gave out split, Is tight, and yare,15 and bravely rigg'd, as when We first put out to sea.

strengthen

From strange to stranger:— - Say, how came you

hither?

Boats. If I did think, sir, I were well awake, I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep, And (how we know not) all clapp'd under hatches, Where, but even now, with strange and several noises

Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,
And more diversity of sounds, all horrible,
We were awak'd; straightway at liberty:
Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
Our royal, good, and gallant ship; our master
Capering to eye her: On a trice, so please you,
Even in a dream, were we divided from them,
And were brought moping hither.

Ari.

Was't well done?
Pro. Bravely, my diligence. Thou shalt [Aside.

be free.

Alon. This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod: And there is in this business more than nature

15 i. e. ready

16 i. e. adroit, nimble.

17

Was ever conduct of: " some oracle
Must rectify our knowledge.

Pro.

Sir, my liege,

Do not infest your mind with beating on

18

The strangeness of this business: at pick'd leisure, Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you, (Which to you shall seem probable,) of every These happen'd accidents: till when,, be cheerful, And think of each thing well.[Aside.] Come hither, spirit:

Set Caliban and his companions free;

Untie the spell. [Exit ARIEL.] How fares my gracious sir?

There are yet missing of your company
Some few odd lads, that you remember not.

Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel.

Ste. Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man take care for himself; for all is but fortune: Coragio, bully-monster, coragio!

Trin. If these be true spies which I wear in my head, here's a goodly sight.

Cal. O Setebos! these be brave spirits, indeed! How fine my master is! I am afraid

What things are these, my lord Antonio?
Will money buy them?

Ant.

Very like one of them

Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.

Pro. Mark but the badges of these men, my lords,

17 Conductor of.

18 There is a vulgar expression still in use, of similar import: "Still hammering at it."

19

Then say, if they be true: This misshapen knave,

20

His mother was a witch; and one so strong
That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,
And deal in her command, without her power:
These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil,
(For he's a bastard one,) had plotted with them
To take my life: two of these fellows you
Must know, and own; this thing of darkness I
Acknowledge mine.

Cal.

I shall be pinch'd to death. Alon. Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler? Seb. He is drunk now: Where had he wine?

Alon. And Trinculo is reeling ripe: Where should

they

Find this grand liquor that hath gilded them? 21
How cam'st thou in this pickle ?

Trin. I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you last, that, I fear me, will never out of my bones: I shall not fear fly-blowing.

Seb. Why, how now, Stephano?

Ste. O touch me not: I am not Stephano, but

a cramp.

Pro. You'd be king of the isle, sirrah?

Ste. I should have been a sore one then.

Alon. This is as strange a thing as e'er I look'd on. [Pointing to CALIBAN.

Pro. He is as disproportion'd in his manners, As in his shape:— Go, sirrah, to my cell;

19 Honest.

20 i. e. work the same effects as the moon without her delegated authority.

21 The phrase of being gilded was a trite one for being drunk. Fletcher uses it in The Chances, Act iv. sc. 3:

"Duke. Is she not drunk too?

Con. A little gilded o'er, sir: old sack, old sack, boys."

Take with you your companions: as you look
To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.

Cal. Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter, And seek for grace: What a thrice double ass Was I, to take this drunkard for a god,

And worship this dull fool?

Pro.

Go to; away!

Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where

you found it.

Seb. Or stole it, rather.

[Exeunt CAL. STE. and TRIN.
Pro. Sir, I invite your highness, and your train,
To my poor cell where you shall take your rest
For this one night; which, part of it, I'll waste
With such discourse, as, I not doubt, shall make it
Go quick away: the story of my life,
And the particular accidents gone by,

Since I came to this isle: And in the morn
I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,
Where I have hope to see the nuptial
Of these our dear-beloved solemniz'd;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.

Alon.
I long
To hear the story of your life, which must
Take the ear strangely.

Pro.

I'll deliver all;
And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales,
And sail so expeditious, that shall catch
Your royal fleet far off. - My Ariel, — chick,
That is thy charge: then to the elements;

Be free, and fare thou well! - Please you, draw

near.

[Exeunt.

EPILOGUE.

SPOKEN BY PROSPERO.

Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own,
Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,
I must be here confin'd by you,
Or sent to Naples: Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got,
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell;
But release me from my bands,
With the help of your good hands.'
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please: Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant ;
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be reliev'd by prayer ;
Which pierces so, that it assaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.

As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free.

1 i. e. by your applause. Noise was supposed to dissolve a spell. Thus before in this play:

"hush, and be mute,

Or else our spell is marr'd."