ACT III.
SCENE I.—A Wild Island.
Enter Ferdinand, Ariel, and Milcha invisible.
Ariel. Come unto these yellow sands, And then take hands, Curtsied when you have, and kissed; And wild waves whist. Foot it featly here and there, And sweet sprites the burthen bear. Hark! hark! Bow waugh, the watch-dogs bark. Bow waugh. Hark! hark! I hear The strain of strutting Chanticleer, Cry, Cock a doodle do.
Ferd. Where should this music be? in the air, or earth? It sounds no more, and sure it waits upon Some God in the island: Sitting on a bank, Weeping against the duke my father's wreck, This music hovered on the waters, Allaying both their fury, and my passion, With charming airs. Thence I have followed it, (Or it has drawn me rather) but 'tis gone: No, it begins again. No, it begins again.
Milcha sings.
Full fathom five thy father lies, Of his bones is coral made: Those are pearls that were his eyes; Nothing of him, that does fade, But does suffer a sea change, Into something rich and strange: Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell; Hark! now I hear them, ding dong bell.
Ferd. This mournful ditty mentions my drowned father. This is no mortal business, nor a sound Which the earth owns——I hear it now before me; However, I will on, and follow it. [Exit Ferd. following Ariel.
SCENE II.—The Cypress Trees and Cave.
Enter Prospero and Miranda.
Prosp. Excuse it not, Miranda, for to you (The elder, and, I thought, the more discreet,) I gave the conduct of your sister's actions.
Mir. Sir, when you called me thence, I did not fail To mind her of her duty to depart.
Prosp. How can I think you did remember hers, When you forgot your own? did you not see The man, whom I commanded you to shun?
Mir. I must confess I saw him at a distance.
Prosp. Did not his eyes infect and poison you? What alteration found you in yourself?
Mir. I only wondered at a sight so new.
Prosp. But have you no desire once more to see him? Come, tell me truly what you think of him. Come, tell me truly what you think of him.
Mir. As of the gayest thing I ever saw, So fine, that it appeared more fit to be Beloved than feared, and seemed so near my kind, That I did think I might have called it sister.
Prosp. You do not love it?
Mir. How is it likely that I should, Except the thing had first loved me?
Prosp. Cherish those thoughts: You have a generous soul; And since I see your mind not apt to take The light impressions of a sudden love, I will unfold a secret to your knowledge. That creature, which you saw, is of a kind, Which nature made a prop and guide to yours.
Mir. Why did you then propose him as an object Of terror to my mind? You never used To teach me any thing but god-like truths, And what you said, I did believe as sacred.
Prosp. I feared the pleasing form of this young man Might unawares possess your tender breast, Which for a nobler guest I had designed; For shortly, my Miranda, you shall see Another of this kind, the full blown flower, Of which this youth was but the opening bud. Go in, and send your sister to me.
Mir. Heaven still preserve you, sir. [Exit Mir.
Prosp. And make thee fortunate.
Enter Dorinda.
Oh, come hither: you have seen a man to-day, Against my strict command.
Dor. Who, I? Indeed I saw him but a little, sir.
Prosp. Come, come, be clear. Your sister told me all.
Dor. Did she? Truly she would have seen him more than I, But that I would not let her.
Prosp. Why so?
Dor. Because, methought, he would have hurt me less, Than he would her. But if I knew you'd not be angry with me, I could tell you, sir, that he was much to blame.
Prosp. Ha! was he to blame? Tell me, with that sincerity I taught you, How you became so bold to see the man?
Dor. I hope you will forgive me, sir, because I did not see him much, till he saw me. Sir, he would needs come in my way, and stared, And stared upon my face, and so I thought I would be revenged of him, and, therefore, I gazed on him as long; but if I e'er Come near a man again!
Prosp. I told you he Was dangerous; but you would not be warned.
Dor. Pray be not angry, sir, if I tell you, You are mistaken in him; for he did Me no great hurt.
Prosp. But he may do you more harm hereafter.
Dor. No, sir, I'm as well as e'er I was in all my life, But that I cannot eat nor drink for thought of him. That dangerous man runs ever in my mind.
Prosp. The way to cure you is, no more to see him.
Dor. Nay, pray, sir, say not so. I promised him To see him once again; and you know, sir, You charged me I should never break my promise.
Prosp. Would you see him, who did you so much mischief?
Dor. I warrant you I did him as much harm as he did me; For when I left him, sir, he sighed so, as it grieved My heart to hear him.
Prosp. Those sighs were poisonous, they infected you; You say, they grieved you to the heart.
Dor. 'Tis true; but yet his looks and words were gentle.
Prosp. These are the day-dreams of a maid in love; But still I fear the worst.
Dor. O fear not him, sir.
Prosp. You speak of him with too much passion; tell me, (And on your duty tell me true, Dorinda,) What passed betwixt you and that horrid creature?
Dor. How, horrid, sir? if any else but you Should call it so, indeed, I should be angry.
Prosp. Go to! You are a foolish girl; but answer To what I ask; what thought you when you saw it?
Dor. At first it stared upon me, and seemed wild, And then I trembled; yet it looked so lovely, That when I would have fled away, my feet Seemed fastened to the ground, when it drew near, And with amazement asked to touch my hand; Which, as a ransom for my life, I gave: But when he had it, with a furious gripe He put it to his mouth so eagerly, I was afraid he would have swallowed it.
Prosp. Well, what was his behaviour afterwards?
Dor. He on a sudden grew so tame and gentle, That he became more kind to me than you are; Then, sir, I grew I know not how, and, touching His hand again, my heart did beat so strong, As I lacked breath to answer what he asked.
Prosp. You've been too fond, and I should chide you for it.
Dor. Then send me to that creature to be punished.
Prosp. Poor child! Thy passion, like a lazy ague, Has seized thy blood; instead of striving, thou humourest And feed'st thy languishing disease: Thou fight'st The battles of thy enemy, and 'tis one part of what I threatened thee, not to perceive thy danger.
Dor. Danger, sir? If he would hurt me, yet he knows not how: He hath no claws, nor teeth, nor horns to hurt me, But looks about him like a callow-bird, Just straggling from the nest: Pray trust me, sir, To go to him again.
Prosp. Since you will venture, I charge you bear yourself reservedly to him; Let him not dare to touch your naked hand, But keep at distance from him.
Dor. This is hard!
Prosp. It is the way to make him love you more; He will despise you, if you grow too kind.
Dor. I'll struggle with my heart to follow this; But if I lose him by it, will you promise To bring him back again?
Prosp. Fear not, Dorinda; But use him ill, and he'll be yours for ever.
Dor. I hope you have not cozened me again. [Exit Dor.
Prosp. Now my designs are gathering to a head; My spirits are obedient to my charms. What, Ariel! My servant Ariel, where art thou?
Enter Ariel.
Ariel. What would my potent master? Here I am.
Prosp. Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service Did worthily perform, and I must use you In such another work: How goes the day?
Ariel. On the fourth, my lord; and on the sixth, You said our work should cease.
Prosp. And so it shall; And thou shalt have the open air at freedom.
Ariel. Thanks, my great lord.
Prosp. But tell me first, my spirit, How fares the duke, my brother, and their followers?
Ariel. Confined together, as you gave me order, In the lime-grove, which weather-fends your cell; Within that circuit up and down they wander, But cannot stir one step beyond their compass.
Prosp. How do they bear their sorrows?
Ariel. The two dukes appear like men distracted, their Attendants, brim-full of sorrow, mourning over them; But chiefly he, you termed the good Gonzalo: His tears run down his beard, like winter drops From eaves of reeds; your vision did so work them, That, if you now beheld them, your affections Would become tender.
Prosp. Dost thou think so, spirit?
Ariel. Mine would, sir, were I human.
Prosp. And mine shall: Hast thou, who art but air, a touch, a feeling Of their afflictions, and shall not I (a man Like them, one, who as sharply relish passions As they) be kindlier moved than thou art? Though they have pierced me to the quick with injuries, Yet with my nobler reason, 'gainst my fury, I will take part; the rarer action is In virtue, than in vengeance. Go, my Ariel, Refresh with needful food their famished bodies, With shows and chearful musick comfort them.
Ariel. Presently, master?
Prosp. With a twinkle, Ariel.—But stay, my spirit; What is become of my slave, Caliban, And Sycorax, his sister?
Ariel. Potent sir, They have cast off your service, and revolted To the wrecked mariners, who have already Parcelled your island into governments.
Prosp. No matter, I have now no need of them. But, spirit, now I stay thee on the wing; Haste to perform what I have given in charge: But see they keep within the bounds I set them.
Ariel. I'll keep them in with walls of adamant, Invisible as air to mortal eyes, But yet unpassable.
Prosp. Make haste then. [Exeunt severally.
SCENE III.—Wild Island.
Enter Alonzo, Antonio, and Gonzalo.
Gonz. I am weary, and can go no further, sir.
Alon. Old lord, I cannot blame thee, who am myself seized with a weariness, to the dulling of my spirits:
[They sit.
Even here I will put off my hope, and keep it No longer for my flatterers: He is drowned, Whom thus we stray to find. I'm faint with hunger, And must despair of food. [Music without.
What! harmony again? My good friends, hark!
Anto. I fear some other horrid apparition. Give us kind keepers, heaven, I beseech thee!
Gonz. 'Tis chearful music this, unlike the first.
Ariel and Milcha invisible, sing.
Dry those eyes which are o'erflowing, All your storms are overblowing: While you in this isle are biding, You shall feast without providing: Every dainty you can think of, Every wine which you would drink of, Shall be yours; all want shall shun you, Ceres' blessing so is on you.
Alon. This voice speaks comfort to us.
Anto. Would 'twere come; There is no music in a song to me, My stomach being empty.
Gonz. O for a heavenly vision of boiled, Baked, and roasted! [Dance of fantastic Spirits; after the dance, a table furnished with meat and fruit is brought in by two Spirits.
Anto. My lord, the duke, see yonder! A table, as I live, set out and furnished With all varieties of meats and fruits.
Alon. 'Tis so indeed; but who dares taste this feast, Which fiends provide, to poison us?
Gonz. Why that dare I; if the black gentleman Be so ill natured, he may do his pleasure.
Anto. 'Tis certain we must either eat or famish: I will encounter it, and feed.
Alon. If both resolve, I will adventure too.
Gonz. The devil may fright me, yet he shall not starve me. [Two Spirits descend, and fly away with the table.
Alon. Heaven! behold, it is as you suspected: 'Tis vanished. Shall we be always haunted with these fiends?
Anto. Here we shall wander till we famish.
Gonz. Certainly one of you was so wicked as to say grace; this comes on it, when men will be godly out of season.
Anto. Yonder's another table, let's try that.
[Exeunt.
Enter Trincalo and Caliban.
Trinc. Brother monster, welcome to my private palace. But where's thy sister? is she so brave a lass?
Calib. In all this isle there are but two more, the daughters of the tyrant Prospero; and she is bigger than them both. O, here she comes! now thou mayest judge thyself, my lord.
Enter Sycorax.
Trinc. She's monstrous fair indeed. Is this to be my spouse? Well, she's heir of all this isle (for I will geld monster). The Trincalos, like other wise men, have anciently used to marry for estate, more than for beauty.
Syc. I pr'ythee let me have the gay thing about thy neck, and that which dangles at thy wrist.
[Sycorax points to his whistle and his bottle.
Trinc. My dear blubber-lips! this—observe, my chuck—is a badge of my sea-office; my fair fuss, thou dost not know it.
Syc. No, my dread lord.
Trinc. It shall be a whistle for our first babe, and when the next shipwreck puts me again to swimming, I'll dive to get a coral to it.
Syc. I'll be thy pretty child, and wear it first.
Trinc. I pr'ythee, sweet baby, do not play the wanton, and cry for my goods ere I'm dead. When thou art my widow, thou shalt have the devil and all.
Syc. May I not have the other fine thing?
Trinc. This is a sucking-bottle for young Trincalo.
Calib. Shall she not taste of that immortal liquor?
Trinc. Umph! that's another question: For if she be thus flippant in her water, what will she be in her wine?
Enter Ariel (invisible) and changes the Bottle which stands upon the Ground.
Ariel. There's water for your wine.
[Exit Ariel.
Trinc. Well! since it must be so.
[Gives her the bottle.
How do you like it now, my queen that must be?
[She drinks.
Syc. Is this your heav'nly liquor? I'll bring you to a river of the same.
Trinc. Wilt thou so, Madam Monster? What a mighty prince shall I be then! I would not change my dukedom to be great Turk Trincalo.
Syc. This is the drink of frogs.
Trinc. Nay, if the frogs of this island drink such, they are the merriest frogs in Christendom.
Calib. She does not know the virtue of this liquor: I pr'ythee, let me drink for her.
[Caliban drinks.
Trinc. Well said, Subject Monster!
Calib. My lord, this is mere water.
Trinc. 'Tis thou hast changed the wine then, and drunk it up, like a debauched fish as thou art. Let me see't, I'll taste it myself—Element! mere element, as I live! It was a cold gulp, such as this, which killed my famous predecessor, old Simon the king[F].
Calib. How does thy honour? pr'ythee, be not angry, and I will lick thy shoe.
Trinc. I could find in my heart to turn thee out of my dominions, for a liquorish monster.
Calib. O, my lord, I have found it out; this must be done by one of Prospero's spirits.
Trinc. There's nothing but malice in these devils; I would it had been holy-water for their sakes!
Syc. 'Tis no matter, I will cleave to thee.
Trinc. Lovingly said, in troth: Now cannot I hold out against her. This wife-like virtue of her's has overcome me.
Syc. Shall I have thee in my arms?
Trinc. Thou shalt have Duke Trincalo in thy arms: But, pr'ythee, be not too boisterous with me at first; do not discourage a young beginner. [They embrace.] Stand to your arms, my spouse, and subject monster,—
Enter Stephano, Mustacho, and Ventoso.
The enemy is come to surprise us in our quarters. You shall know, rebels, that I am married to a witch, and we have a thousand spirits of our party.
Steph. Hold! I ask a truce; I and my viceroys (finding no food, and but a small remainder of brandy,) are come to treat a peace betwixt us, which may be for the good of both armies; therefore, Trincalo, disband.
Trinc. Plain Trincalo! methinks I might have been a duke in your mouth; I'll not accept of your embassy without my title.
Steph. A title shall break no squares betwixt us: Viceroys, give him his style of duke, and treat with him whilst I walk by in state.
[Ventoso and Mustacho bow, whilst Trincalo puts on his Cap.
Must. Our lord and master, Duke Stephano, has sent us, in the first place, to demand of you, upon what ground you make war against him; having no right to govern here, as being elected only by your own voice.
Trinc. To this I answer, That, having in the face of the world espoused the lawful inheretrix of this island, Queen Blouze the First, and having homage done me by this hectoring spark her brother; from these two I claim a lawful title to this island.
Must. Who, that monster? He a Hector?
Calib. Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?
Trinc. Viceroys! keep good tongues in your heads, I advise you, and proceed to your business.
Must. First and foremost, as to your claim, that you have answered.
Vent. But, second and foremost, we demand of you, that if we make a peace, the butt also may be comprehended in the treaty.
Trinc. I cannot treat with my honour, without your submission.
Steph. I understand, being present, from my ambassadors, what your resolution is, and ask an hour's time of deliberation, and so I take our leave; but first I desire to be entertained at your butt, as becomes a prince and his ambassadors.
Trinc. That I refuse, till acts of hostility be ceased. These rogues are rather spies than ambassadors. I must take heed of my butt. They come to pry into the secrets of my dukedom.
Vent. Trincalo, you are a barbarous prince, and so farewell.
[Exeunt Steph. Must. and Vent.
Trinc. Subject-monster! stand you sentry before my cellar; my queen and I will enter, and feast ourselves within.
[Exeunt.