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-
I pray thee, mark me,-that a brother should
Be so perfidious !—he whom, next thyself,
Of all the world I lov'd, and to him put
The manage of my state; as, at that time,
Through all the seigniories it was the first,
And Prospero the prime duke; (being so reputed
In dignity,) and, for the liberal arts,
Without a parallel: those being all my study,
The government I cast upon my brother,

And to my state grew stranger, being transported,
And rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle-
Dost thou attend me?

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,
O'er-priz'd all popular rate, in my false brother
Awak'd an evil nature: and my trust,

Like a good parent, did beget of him
A falsehood, in its contrary as great

As my trust was; which had, indeed, no limit,
A confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded,
Not only with what my revenue yielded,

But what my power might else exact,-like one,
Who having, unto truth, by telling of it,
Made such a sinner of his memory,

To credit his own lie,-he did believe

He was indeed the duke; out of the substitution,
And executing the outward face of royalty,
With all prerogative:-Hence his ambition.
Growing,-Dost thou hear?

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
Was dukedom large enough; of temporal royalties
He thinks me now incapable: confederates

(So dry he was for sway) with the king of Naples,

To give him annual tribute, do him homage;
Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend

The dukedom, yet unbow'd, (alas, poor Milan!)

To much ignoble stooping.

PRO. Mark his condition, and the event; then tell me, If this might be a brother.

To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit;
Which was, that he in lieu o' the premises,—
Of homage, and I know not how much tribute,-
Should presently extirpate me and mine

Out of the dukedom; and confer fair Milan,
With all the honours, on my brother: Whereon,
A treacherous army levied, one mid-night,

Fated to the purpose, did Antonio open

The gates of Milan; and, i' the dead of darkness,
The ministers for the purpose hurried thence

And then I'll bring thee to the present business

Which now's upon us; without the which, this story

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

A rotten carcass of a boat, not rigg'd,

Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats

Το

cry

Instinctively had quit it; there they hoist us,
to the sea that roar'd to us; to sigh
To the winds, whose pity, sighing back again,
Did us but loving wrong.

MIRA.

Was I then to you!

PRO.

Alack! what trouble

O! a cherubim

Thou wast, that did preserve me! Thou didst smile,

Infused with a fortitude from heaven,

When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt;
Under my burden groan'd; which rais'd in me
An undergoing stomach, to bear up
Against what should ensue.

PRO. By Providence divine,

Some food we had, and some fresh water, that

A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo,

Out of his charity, (who being then appointed

Master of this design,) did give us; with

Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries,
Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness,

Knowing I lov'd my books, he furnish'd me,

From mine own library, with volumes that
I prize above my dukedom.

MIRA.

But ever see that man!

'Would I might

PRO. [Puts on his robe] Now I arise :

Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow.
Here in this island we arriv'd; and here

Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit

Than other princes can, that have more time

For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful.

MIRA. Heavens thank you for 't! And now, I pray you, sir,

(For still 'tis beating in my mind,) your reason

For raising this sea-storm?

PRO.

Know thus far forth.

By accident most strange, bountiful fortune,
Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies
Brought to this shore: and by my prescience

I find my zenith doth depend upon

A most auspicious star; whose influence

If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes,
Will ever after droop.-Here cease more questions;
Thou art inclin'd to sleep; 'tis a good dulness,
And give it way;-I know thou can'st not choose.-
[MIRANDA sleeps.

Come away, servant, come: I am ready now;
Approach, my Ariel; come.

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

Ariel, and all his quality.

Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee?

ARI. To every article.