How cam'ft thou in this pickle?

Trin. I have been in fuch a pickle, fince I faw you laft, that, I fear me, will never out of my bones: I fhall 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 o'th' ifle, Sirrah?

Ste. I fhould have been a fore one then.
Alon. 'Tis a ftrange thing, as e'er I look'd on.
Pro. He is as difproportion'd in his manners,
As in his fhape: go, Sirrah, to my cell,
Take with you your companions; as you look
To have my Pardon, trim it handfomly.

Cal. Ay, that I will; and I'll be wife hereafter,
And feek for grace. What a thrice double afs
Was I, to take this drunkard for a god?
And worship this dull fool?

Pro. Go to, away!

Alon. Hence, and beftow your luggage where you found it.

Seb. Or ftole it rather.

Pro. Sir, I invite your highnefs, and your train,
To my poor cell; where you fhall take your reft
For this one night, which (part of it) I'll waste
With fuch difcourfe, as, I not doubt, fhall make it
Go quick away; the story of
my life,
And the particular accidents gone by,

Since I came to this Ifle: and in the morn
I'll bring you to your fhip; and fo to Naples
Where I have hope to fee the nuptials
Of these our dear-beloved folemniz'd;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.
Alon. I long

To hear the ftory of your life, which must
Take the ear strangely.

But, in the Paffage before us, it feems his Defign to joke upon the Rodomontado Boafts of their Elixir; and to infinuate, that Sack was the only Restorer of Youth, and Beftower of Immortality.

Mr. Warburton.

Pro.

Pro. I'll deliver all;

And promise you calm feas, aufpicious gales,
And fail fo 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 omnes,

EPI

EPILOGUE.

NOW

Spoken by Profpero.

OW my charms are all o'er-thrown,
And what ftrength I have's mine own;
Which is most faint: and now, 'tis true,
I must be here confin'd by you,
Or fent to Naples. Let me not,
Since I have my Dukedom got,
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare ifland by your Spell:
But releafe me from my bands,
With the help of your good hands.
Gentle breath of yours my fails
Muft fill, or elfe my project fails,
Which was to pleafe. For now I want
Spirits t'enforce, art to enchant;
And my ending is defpair, (35)
Unless I be reliev'd by prayers
Which pierces fo, that it affaults
Mercy it felf, and frees all faults.
As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence fet me free.

(35) And my ending is Defpair,] The Allufion is very well kept up in this Epilogue. And the Actor here is not only applying to the Audience for Favour, in behalf of the Author; but Profpero fpeaks in the Character of a Magician; and fo (as Mr. Warburton hinted to me) alludes to the old Stories told of the Necromancers' Despair in their last Moments, and the Prayers of their Friends for them.

THESEUS, Duke of Athens.
Egeus, an Athenian Lord.

Lyfander, in love with Hermia.

Demetrius, in love with Hermia.

Philoftrate, Mafter of the Sports to the Duke.

Quince, the Carpenter.

Snug, the Joiner.

Bottom, the Weaver.
Flute, the Bellows-mender.
Snowt, the Tinker.

Starveling, the Tailor.

Hippolita, Princefs of the Amazons, betroth'd to Thefeus. Hermia, Daughter to Egeus, in love with Lyfander. Helena, in love with Demetrius.

SCENE, Athens; and a Wood not far from it.