The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch, With those that I saw suffer: a brave vessel, Have sunk the sea within the earth, or e'er It should the good ship so have swallowed, and No more amazement: tell your piteous heart, MIRA. PRO. O, woe the day! No harm. I have done nothing but in care of thee, Of whence I am; nor that I am more better MIRA. More to know 'Tis time Did never meddle with my thoughts. PRO. I should inform thee further. Lend thy hand, And pluck my magic garment from me.-So: [Lays down his mantle. Lie there, my art.-Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort. The direful spectacle of the wrack, which touch'd The very virtue of compassion in thee, I have with such prevision in mine art Which thou heard'st cry, which thou saw'st sink. Sit down; For thou must now know further. Obey, and be attentive. Can'st thou remember A time before we came unto this cell? I do not think thou can'st; for then thou wast not PRO. By what? by any other house, or person? Of any thing the image, tell me, that Hath kept with thy remembrance. MIRA. 'Tis far off; And rather like a dream than an assurance But how is it, PRO. Thou had'st, and more, Miranda. MIRA. But that I do not. PRO. Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve years since, Thy father was the duke of Milan, and A prince of power. MIRA. Sir, are not you my father? PRO. 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 And princess-no worse issued. MIRA. O, the heavens! What foul play had we, that we came from thence? Or blessed was't we did? PRO. Both, both, my girl : By foul play, as thou say'st, were we heav'd thence; But blessedly holp hither. MIRA. O! my heart bleeds To think of the teen that I have turn'd you to, Which is from my remembrance. Please you, farther. PRO. My brother, and thy uncle, call'd Antonio- And to my state grew stranger, being transported, PRO. Being once perfected how to grant suits, How to deny them; whom to advance, and whom To trash for overtopping; new created The creatures that were mine, I say, or chang'd them, Or else new form'd them: having both the key Of officer and office, set all hearts i' th' state To what tune pleas'd his ear; that now he was The ivy, which had hid my princely trunk, And suck'd my verdure out on 't.-Thou attend'st not. MIRA. O good sir! I do. PRO. I pray thee, mark me. I thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicate To closeness, and the bettering of my mind With that, which, but by being so retir'd, Like a good parent, did beget of him As my trust was; which had, indeed, no limit, To credit his own lie,-he did believe He was indeed the duke; out of the substitution, MIRA. Your tale, sir, would cure deafness. PRO. 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 He thinks me now incapable: confederates (So dry he was for sway) with the king of Naples, PRO. Mark his condition, and the event; then tell me, If this might be a brother. |