ACT IV. SCENE I.
Cypress trees and a Cave.
Enter Prospero and Miranda.
Prosp. Your suit has pity in't, and has prevailed. Within this cave he lies, and you may see him: But yet take heed; let prudence be your guide: You must not stay, your visit must be short.— [She's going.
One thing I had forgot; insinuate into his mind A kindness to that youth, whom first you saw; I would have friendship grow betwixt them.
Mir. You shall be obeyed in all things.
Prosp. Be earnest to unite their very souls.
Mir. I shall endeavour it.
Prosp. This may secure Hippolito from that dark danger, which My art forebodes; for friendship does provide A double strength to oppose the assaults of fortune. [Exit Prosp.
Enter Ferdinand.
Ferd. To be a prisoner where I dearly love, Is but a double tie, a link of fortune Joined to the chain of love; but not to see her, And yet to be so near her, there's the hardship!— I feel myself as on a rack, stretched out And nigh the ground, on which I might have ease, Yet, cannot reach it.
Mir. Sir!—my lord!—where are you?
Ferd. Is it your voice, my love? or do I dream?
Mir. Speak softly, it is I.
Ferd. O heavenly creature! Ten times more gentle than your fathers cruel!— How, on a sudden, all my griefs are vanished!
Mir. How do you bear your prison?
Ferd. 'Tis my palace, While you are here, and love and silence wait Upon our wishes; do but think we chuse it, And 'tis what we would chuse.
Mir. I'm sure what I would. But how can I be certain that you love me? Look to't; for I will die when you are false. I've heard my father tell of maids, who died, And haunted their false lovers with their ghosts.
Ferd. Your ghost must take another form to fright me, This shape will be too pleasing.—Do I love you? O, heaven! O, earth! bear witness to this sound, If I prove false!—
Mir. O, hold! you shall not swear, For heaven will hate you if you prove forsworn.
Ferd. Did I not love, I could no more endure This undeserved captivity, than I Could wish to gain my freedom, with the loss Of you.
Mir. I am a fool, to weep at what I'm glad of: But I have a suit to you, And that, sir, shall Be now the only trial of your love.
Ferd. You've said enough, never to be denied, Were it my life; for you have far o'er-bid The price of all that human life is worth.
Mir. Sir, 'tis to love one for my sake, who, for His own, deserves all the respect which you Can ever pay him.
Ferd. You mean your father: Do not think his usage Can make me hate him; when he gave you being, He then did that, which cancelled all these wrongs.
Mir. I meant not him; for that was a request, Which, if you love, I should not need to urge.
Ferd. Is there another whom I ought to love; And love him for your sake?
Mir. Yes, such a one, Who, for his sweetness and his goodly shape, (If I, who am unskilled in forms, may judge) I think can scarce be equalled: 'Tis a youth, A stranger, too, as you are.
Ferd. Of such a graceful feature! and must I, For your sake, love him?
Mir. Yes, sir: Do you scruple To grant the first request I ever made? He's wholly unacquainted with the world, And wants your conversation. You should have Compassion on so mere a stranger.
Ferd. Those need compassion whom you discommend, Not whom you praise.
Mir. Come, you must love him for my sake:— You shall!
Ferd. Must I for yours, and cannot for my own? Either you do not love, or think that I don't: But, when you bid me love him, I must hate him.
Mir. Have I so far offended you already, That he offends you only for my sake?— Yet sure you would not hate him, if you saw Him as I've done, so full of youth and beauty.
Ferd. O, poison to my hopes!— When he did visit me, and I did mention This beauteous creature to him, he then did tell Me, he would have her. [Aside.
Mir. Alas! what mean you?
Ferd. It is too plain: Like most of her frail sex, She's false, but has not learned the art to hide it. Nature has done her part, she loves variety:— Why did I think that any woman could Be innocent, because she's young? No, no! Their nurses teach them change, when, with two nipples, They do divide their liking. [Aside.
Mir. I fear I have offended you, and yet I meant no harm: But, if you please to hear me,— [A noise within.
Hark, sir! now I am sure my father comes, I know his steps: Dear love! retire a while; I fear I've staid too long.
Ferd. Too long indeed, and yet not long enough: Oh, jealousy! Oh, love! how you distract me! [Exit Ferd.
Mir. He appears displeased with that young man, I know Not why: But, 'till I find from whence his hate proceeds, I must conceal it from my father's knowledge; For he will think that guiltless I have caused it, And suffer me no more to see my love.
Enter Prospero.
Prosp. Now I have been indulgent to your wish; You have seen the prisoner?
Mir. Yes.
Prosp. And he spoke to you?
Mir. He spoke; but he received short answers from me.
Prosp. How like you his converse?
Mir. At second sight, A man does not appear so rare a creature.
Prosp. I find she loves him much, because she hides it. Love teaches cunning even to innocence.— [Aside.
Well, go in.
Mir. Forgive me, truth! for thus disguising thee. If I can make him think, I do not love The stranger much, he'll let me see him oftener. [Exit Mir.
Prosp. Stay, stay!—--I had forgot to ask her, What she has said of young Hippolito.— Oh, here he comes! and, with him, my Dorinda: I'll not be seen; let their loves grow in secret. [Exit.