Prosp. By providence divine. Some food we had, and some fresh water, which A nobleman of Savoy, called Gonzalo, Appointed master of that black design, Gave us; with rich garments, and all necessaries, Which since have steaded much; And of his gentleness (Knowing I loved my books) he furnished me, From mine own library, with volumes, which I prize above my dukedom.
Mir. Would I might see that man!
Prosp. Here in this island we arrived, and here Have I your tutor been. But by my skill I find, that my mid-heaven doth depend On a most happy star, whose influence If I now court not, but omit, my fortunes Will ever after droop: Here cease more questions; Thou art inclined to sleep: 'Tis a good dulness, And give it way; I know thou can'st not chuse. [She falls asleep.
Come away, my spirit: I am ready now; approach, My Ariel, come.
Enter Ariel.
Ariel. All hail, great master, grave Sir, hail! I come to answer thy best pleasure, Be it to fly, to swim, to shoot into the fire, To ride into the curled clouds; to thy strong bidding Task Ariel, and all his qualities.
Prosp. Hast thou, spirit, performed to point The tempest, that I bade thee?
Ariel. To every article. I boarded the duke's ship; now on the beak, Now in the waste, the deck, in every cabin, I flamed amazement; and sometimes I seemed To burn in many places; on the top-mast, The yards, and bow-sprit, I did flame distinctly; Nay, once I rained a shower of fire upon them.
Prosp. My brave spirit!— Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil Did not infect his reason?
Ariel. Not a soul, But felt a fever of the mind, and played Some tricks of desperation; all, But mariners, plunged in the foaming brine, And quit the vessel: The duke's son, Ferdinand, With hair upstaring, (more like reeds than hair) Was the first man that leaped; cried, Hell is empty! And all the devils are here!