Some subtleties o' the isle, that will not let you
Believe things certain :-Welcome, my friends all :-
But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded,

[Asile to SEB. and ANT.

I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you,
And justify you traitors: at this time

I'll tell no tales.

SEB.

PRO.

The devil speaks in him.
No:-

For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother
Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive
Thy rankest faults; all of them; and require
My dukedom of thee, which, perforce, I know
Thou must restore.

ALON.

If thou beest Prospero,

Give us particulars of thy preservation:

[Aside.

How thou hast met us here, who three hours since
Were wrack'd upon this shore; where I have lost
(How sharp the point of this remembrance is!)

My dear son Ferdinand.

PRO.

I am woe for 't, sir.

ALON. Irreparable is the loss: and Patience

Says, it is past her cure.

You have not sought her help; of whose soft grace,

For the like loss, I have her sovereign aid,

And rest myself content.

PRO. As great to me, as late; and supportable

To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker

Than you may call to comfort you; for I

Have lost my daughter.

O heavens! that they were living both in Naples,
The king and queen there? that they were!-I wish
Myself were mudded in that oozy bed

Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter?

PRO. In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords

At this encounter do so much admire,

That they devour their reason; and scarce think

Their eyes do offices of truth, their words

Are natural breath: but, howsoe'er you have
Been justled from your senses, know for certain,
That I am Prospero, and that very duke
Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely
Upon this shore, where you were wrack'd, was landed,
To be the lord on 't. No more yet of this;
For 'tis a chronicle of day by day,

Not a relation for a breakfast, nor

Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir;
This cell's my court: here have I few attendants,

And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in.

My dukedom since you have given me again,

I will requite you with as good a thing;

At least, bring forth a wonder, to content ye,

The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers FERDINAND and Miranda playing at chess.

MIRA. Sweet lord, you play me false.

FER.

I would not for the world.

No, my dearest love,

MIRA. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, And I would call it fair play.

ALON.

If this prove

A vision of the island, one dear son
Shall I twice lose.

FER. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful :

I have curs'd them without cause.

ALON.

[FER. kneels to ALON.

Now all the blessings

Of a glad father compass thee about!

Arise, and say how thou cam'st here.

MIRA.

O! wonder!

How many goodly creatures are there here!

How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,

That has such people in't!

ALON. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play?

Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours:

Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us,

And brought us thus together?

Sir, she's mortal;

FER.
But, by immortal Providence, she's mine;
I chose her, when I could not ask my father
For his advice; nor thought I had one. She
Is daughter to this famous duke of Milan,
Of whom so often I have heard renown,
But never saw before; of whom I have
Received a second life, and second father
This lady makes him to me.

For it is you, that have chalk'd forth the way

Which brought us hither!

ALON.

I

say, Amen, Gonzalo !

GON. Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue

Should become kings of Naples? O, rejoice

Beyond a common joy: and set it down

With gold on lasting pillars: In one voyage

Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis;

And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife

Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom,

In a poor isle; and all of us, ourselves,

When no man was his own.

ALON.

Give

me your

hands:

[To FERDINAND and MIRANDA.

Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart,

That doth not wish you joy!

GON.

Be't so! Amen!

Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following.

O look, sir, look, sir; here are more of as!

I prophesied, if a gallows were on land,
This fellow could not drown:-Now, blasphemy,
That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore?
Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?

BOATS. The best news is, that we have safely found
Our king, and company: the next our ship,—
Which, but three glasses since, we gave out split,
Is tight and yare, and bravely rigg'd, as when

ALON. These are not natural events; they strengthen From strange to stranger :-Say, how came you hither?