In the dark backward and abysm of time? If thou remember'st aught ere thou cam'st here, Mir. But that I do not. Pros. Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since, Thy father was the Duke of Milan, and A prince of power. Mir. Sir, are not you my father? Pros. Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father Was Duke of Milan; thou his only heir, A princess, no worse issu'd. (8) Mir. O the heavens! What foul play had we, that we came from thence? Pros. Both, both, my girl: Mir. O, my heart bleeds To think o' the teen that I have turn'd you to, pray Which is from my remembrance! Please you, further. Without a parallel: those being all my study, And to my state grew stranger, being transported Pros. Being once perfected how to grant suits, How to deny them, who t' advance, and who To trash for over-topping,-new-created The creatures that were mine, I say, or chang'd 'em, Or else new-form'd 'em; having both the key Of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state To what tune pleas'd his ear; that now he was And suck'd my verdure out on't. Mir. O, good sir, I do. Pros. Thou attend'st not. I pray thee, mark me. I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated As my trust was; which had indeed no limit, But what my power might else exact,-like one Made such a sinner of his memory, To credit his own lie,-he did believe He was indeed the duke; out o' the substitution,(9) With all prerogative:—hence his ambition growing,— Mir. Your tale, sir, would cure deafness. Pros. To have no screen between this part he play'd And him he play'd it for, he needs will be Absolute Milan. Me, poor man, my library Was dukedom large enough :(10) of temporal royalties He thinks me now incapable; confederatesSo dry he was for sway-with the King of Naples (11) To give him annual tribute, do him homage, Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend The dukedom, yet unbow'd,-alas, poor Milan!— Pros. Mark his condition, and th' event; then tell me If this might be a brother. Good wombs have borne bad sons. Pros. Now the condition. This King of Naples, being an enemy To me inveterate, hearkens(12) my brother's suit ; Mir. Alack, for pity! I, not remembering how I cried on't then, Will cry it o'er again :(14) it is a hint That wrings mine eyes to't. Pros. Hear a little further, And then I'll bring thee to the present business Which now's upon 's; without the which, this story Were most impertinent. Mir. That hour destroy us? Pros. Wherefore did they not Well demanded, wench: My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not, So dear the love my people bore me,—nor set A mark so bloody on the business; but With colours fairer painted their foul ends. In few, they hurried us aboard a bark, Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepar'd Mir. Was I then to you! Alack, what trouble Thou wast that did preserve me! Thou didst smile, When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt, Against what should ensue. Mir. How came we ashore? Pros. By Providence divine. Some food we had, and some fresh water, that Out of his charity,-who being then appointed Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries, From mine own library, with volumes that Mir. But ever see that man! Pros. Would I might Now I arise:—(17) Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. Mir. Heavens, thank you for't! And now, sir,— For still 'tis beating in my mind,-your reason Pros. Know thus far forth. By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune Now my dear lady-hath mine enemies A most auspicious star, whose influence [Miranda sleeps. Come away, servant, come! I'm ready now: Enter ARIEL. Ari. All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly, To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride On the curl'd clouds,—to thy strong bidding task Pros. Hast thou, spirit, Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee? I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak, Pros. My brave spirit !(19*) Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil Would not infect his reason? But felt a fever of the mad, and play'd Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners |