In their distractions: they now are in my power; And in these fits I leave them, whilst I visit

Young Ferdinand, (whom they suppose is drown'd,) And his and my loved darling.

[Exit PROSPERO from above. Gon. I' the name of something holy, sir, why stand

you

In this strange stare?

Alon. O, it is monstrous! monstrous! Methought, the billows spoke, and told me of it; The winds did sing it to me; and the thunder, That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounc'd The name of Prosper: it did bass my trespass. Therefore my son i' the ooze is bedded; and I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded, And with him there lie mudded.

Seb.

I'll fight their legions o'er.

Ant.

[Exit. But one fiend at a time,

A

I'll be thy second. [Exeunt SEB. and ANT.

Gon. All three of them are desperate; their

guilt,

great

Like poison given to work a great time after,
Now 'gins to bite the spirits;-I do beseech you
That are of suppler joints, follow them swiftly,
And hinder them from what this ecstacy'
May now provoke them to.

Adr.

Follow, I pray you.
[Exeunt.

ACT THE FOURTH.

SCENE 1.

Before PROSPERO's cell.

! Enter PROSPERO, FERDINAND, and MIRANDA.
Pro. If I have too austerely punish'd you,
Your compensation makes amends; for I
Have given you here a thread of mine own life,
Or that for which I live; whom once again
I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
Hast strangely stood the test; here, afore Heaven,
I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me, that I boast her off,

For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise,
And make it halt behind her.

Fer.

Against an oracle.

I do believe it,

Pro. Then, as my gift, and thine own acquisition
Worthily purchas'd, take my child: But not
Till sanctimonious ceremonies may

With full and holy rites be minister'd,
Then Hymen's lamps shall light you.

Fer.

As I hope

For quiet days, fair issue, and long life,

With such love as 'tis now; the strong'st suggestion
Our worser Genius can, shall never taint
My honour.

Pro.

Fairly spoke:

Sit then, and talk with her, she is thine own.
What, Ariel; my industrious servant Ariel!

Enter ARIEL.

Ari. What would my potent master? here I am.

Pro. Thou and thy meaner fellows your last

service

Did worthily perform: and I must use you
In such another trick: go, bring the rabble,
O'er whom I give thee power, here, to this place:
Incite them to quick motion; for I must
Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
Some vanity of mine art; it is my promise,
And they expect it from me.

Ari.

Pro. Ay, with a twink.

Presently?

Ari. Before you can say, Come, and go,

And breathe twice; and cry, so, so ;

Each one, tripping on his toe,

Will be here with mop and mowe ;

Do you love me, master? no.

Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel: Do not approach,

Till thou dost hear me call.

Ari.

Well I conceive. [Exit.

Pro. Look, thou be true;

Fer.

Pro.

I warrant you, sir;

Well.

8

Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary,
Rather than want a spirit; appear, and pertly. -
No tongue; all eyes; be silent.
[Soft musick.

A Masque. Enter IRIS.

Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and pease; Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep, And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep; Thy banks with peonied and lilied brims, Which spungy April at thy hest' betrims,

To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom groves,

Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard;

And thy sea-marge, steril, and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyself dost air: The queen o' the sky,
Whose wat'ry arch, and messenger, am I,

Bids thee leave these ; and with her sovereign grace,
Here, on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport: her peacocks fly amain;
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter CERES.

Cer. Hail, many-colour'd messenger, that ne'er Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;

Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers:
And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown
My bosky acres, and my unshrubb'd down,

Rich scarf to my proud earth; Why hath thy queen
Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate;
And some donation freely to estate

On the bless'd lovers.

Cer.

Tell me, heavenly bow,
If Venus, or her son, as thou dost know,

Do now attend the queen? since they did plot
The means, that dusky Dis' my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forsworn.

Cutting the clouds towards Paphos ; and her son Dove-drawn with her.

Cer.

Highest queen of state, Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait.

Enter JUNO.

Juno. How does my bounteous sister? Go with me, To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be, And honour'd in their issue.

SONG.

Juno. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance, and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Juno sings her blessings on you.

Cer. Earth's increase, and foison' plenty;
Barns, and garners never empty;
Vines, with clust'ring bunches growing;
Plants, with goodly burden bowing;
Spring come to you, at the farthest,
In the very end of harvest!

Scarcity, and want, shall shun you;
Ceres' blessing so is on you.

Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and
Harmonious charmingly: May I be bold
To think these spirits?

Pro.

I have from their confines call'd to enact

My present fancies.

Fer.

Spirits which by mine art

Let me live here ever;

So rare a wonder'd+ father, and a wife,

Make this place Paradise.

Pro.

[JUNO and CERES whisper, and send IRIS on employment.

Sweet now, silence:

Juno and Ceres whisper seriously;

There's something else to do: hush, and be mute, Or else our spell is marr'd.

Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the wand'ring brooks,

With your sedg'd crowns, and ever harmless looks,
Leave your crisp channels, and on this green land
Answer your summons; Juno does command:
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love; be not too late.

3 Abundance.

4.Able to produce such wonders.