ACT III.

SCENE I.-Before PROSPERO's Cell.
Enter FERDINAND, bearing a log.

Ferdinand. There be some sports are painful; but their labour

Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness
Are nobly undergone; and most poor matters
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 than her father's crabbed;
And he's composed of harshness. I must remove
Some thousands of these logs, and pile them up,
Upon a sore injunction: My sweet mistress

We

Veeps when she sees me work; and says, such baseness Had ne'er like éxecutor. I forget:

But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours; Most busy-less, when I do it.

Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance. Miranda.

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.

Ferdinand.

O most dear mistress,

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

Than you should such dishonour undergo,
While I sit lazy by.

Miranda.

It would become me

As well as it does you: and I should do it

With much more ease; for my good will is to it,
And yours against.

Prospero.

Poor worm! thou art infected;

This visitation shows it.

Miranda.

You look wearily.

Ferdinand. 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,)

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'd,"
And put it to the foil: But you, O you,
So perfect, and so peerless, are created
Of every creature's best.

Miranda.

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.
Ferdinand.

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.

Miranda.

Do you love me?

Ferdinand. 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.

Miranda.

I am a fool,

To weep at what I am glad of.
Prospero.

Fair encounter

Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
On that which breeds between them!

Ferdinand.

Wherefore weep you?

Miranda. 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.
Ferdinand.

And I thus humble ever.
Miranda.

My mistress, dearest,

My husband then?

Ferdinand. Ay, with a heart as willing

As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.
Miranda. And mine, with my heart in't: And now

farewell,

Till half an hour hence.

Ferdinand.

A thousand! thousand! [Exeunt FERDINAND and MIRANDA. Prospero. So glad of this as they, I cannot be, 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.

[Exit.

SCENE II.-Another part of the Island. Enter STEPHANO and TRINCULO; CALIBAN following with a bottle.

Stephano. 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.

Trinculo. 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.

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

Trinculo. Where should they be set else?

Stephano. 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 lieutenant, monster, or my standard.

Trinculo. Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no standard. Stephano. We'll not run, monsieur monster.

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

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

Caliban. How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe: I'll not serve him, he is not valiant.

I am

Trinculo. Thou liest, most ignorant monster; in case to justle a constable: 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?

Caliban. Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?

Trinculo. Lord, quoth he!—that a monster should be such a natural!

Caliban. Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I pr'ythee. Stephano. 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. Caliban. I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be

pleas'd

To hearken once again the suit I made thee?

Stephano. Marry will I: kneel, and repeat it; I will stand, and so shall Trinculo.

Enter ARIEL, invisible.

Caliban. As I told thee

Before, I am subject to a tyrant;

A sorcerer, that by his cunning hath
Cheated me of this island.

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

Stephano. Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in his tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth. Trinculo. Why, I said nothing.

Stephano. Mum then, and no more.-[To CALIBAN.] Proceed.

Caliban. 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.

Stephano. That's most certain.

Caliban. Thou shalt be lord of it, and I'll serve thee.