Sometime like apes, that moe* and chatter at me,
And after, bite me; then like hedge-hogs, which
Lie tumbling in my bare-foot way, and mount
Their pricks at my foot-fall; sometime am I
All wound with adders, who, with cloven tongues,
Do hiss me into madness:-Lo! now! lo!
Here comes a spirit of his; and to torment me,
For bringing wood in slowly: I'll fall flat:
Perchance, he will not mind me.

SATIRE ON ENGLISH CURIOSITY.

Were I in England now (as once I was), and had but this fish painted, not a holiday-fool there but would give a piece of silver: there would this monster make a man; any strange beast there makes a man: when they will not give a doit to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out ten to see a dead Indian.

CALIBAN'S PROMISES.

I'll show thee, the best springs; I'll pluck thee ber

ries;

I'll fish for thee, and get thee wood enough.
A plague upon the tyrant that I serve!
I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee,
Thou wondrous man."

I pr'ythee, let me bring thee where crabs grow;
And I with my long nails will dig thee pig-nuts;
Show thee a jay's nest, and instruct thee how
To snare the nimble marmozet; I'll bring thee
To clust'ring filberds, and sometimes I'll get thee
Young sea-mells + from the rock.

ACT III.

FERDINAND.

There be some sports are painful; but their labour Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness + Sea-gulls.

* Make mouths.

།

Are nobly undergone; and most poor matters Point to rich ends. This my mean task would be As heavy to me, as 'tis odious; but

The mistress, which I serve, quickens what's dead, And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is

Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed; And he's composed of harshness. I must remove Some thousands of these logs, and pile them up, Upon a sore injunction: My sweet mistress

Weeps when she sees me work; and says, such base

ness

Had ne'er like executor.

forget

But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours; Most busy-less, when I do it.

Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance.

Mira. Alas, now! pray you,

Work not so hard: I would, the lightning had
Burnt up those logs, that you are enjoin'd to pile!
Pray, set it down, and rest you: when this burns,
"Twill weep for having wearied you: My father
Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;
He's safe for these three hours.

Fer.
O most dear mistress,
The sun will set, before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.

Mira.

If you'll sit down,

I'll bear your logs the while: Pray give me that; I'll carry it to the pile.

Fer.

No, precious creature: I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, Than you should such dishonour undergo,

While I sit lazy by.

Mira.

It would become.me

As well as it does you: and I should do it
With much more ease; for my good will is to it,
And yours against.

Pro.

Poor worm! thou art infected';

This visitation shows it.

Mira,

You look wearily,

Fer. No, noble mistress; 'tis fresh morning with me, -When you are by at night. I do beseech you, (Chiefly, that I might set it in your prayers,) What is your name?

Mira.

Miranda:-O my father,

I have broke your hest* to say so!

Fer.

Admir'd Miranda!

Indeed the top of admiration; worth
What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady
I have ey'd with best regard; and many a time
The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent ear; for several virtues
Have I lik'd several women; never any
With so full soul, but some defect in her
Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd +,
And put it to the foil: But you, O you,
So perfect and so peerless, are created
Of every creature's best.

Mira.

I do not know One of my sex; no woman's face remember, Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen More that I may call men, than you, good friend, And my dear father: how features are abroad, I am skill-less of; but, by my modesty, (The jewel in my dower), I would not wish Any companion in the world but you; Nor can imagination form a shape, Besides yourself, to like of: but I prattle Something too wildly, and my father's precepts Therein forget.

Fer.

I am, in my condition, A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;

(I would, not so!) and would no mote endure This wooden slavery, than I would suffer

The flesh-fly blow my mouth.-Hear my soul speak ;

The very instant that I saw you, did

My heart fly to your service; there resides,

To make me slave to it; and, for your sake,
Am I this patient log-man.

Mira.

Do you love me?

Fer. O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound, And crown what I profess with kind event, If I speak true; if hollowly, invert What best is boded me, to mischief! I, Beyond all limit of what else i' the world, Do love, prize, honour you.

Mira.

To weep at what I am glad of.

I am a fool,

Pro. Fair encounter Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace On that which breeds between them!

Fer.

Wherefore weep you?
Mira. At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer
What I desire to give; and much less take,
What I shall die to want: But this is trifling;
And all the more it seeks to hide itself,

The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning,
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
I am your wife, if you will marry me;
If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow
You may deny me: but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.

Fer.

And I thus humble ever.
Mira.

My mistress, dearest,

My husband then?

Fer. Ay, with a heart as willing

As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand. Mira. And mine, with my heart in't: And now farewell,

Till half an hour hence.

Fer.

A thousand thousand!

A GUILTY CONSCIENCE.

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.

*Whatsoever.

ACT IV.

CONTINENCE BEFORE MARRIAGE.

If thou dost break her virgin knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy rite be minister'd,

No sweet aspersion* shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren hate,
Sour-ey'd disdain, and discord, shall bestrew
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly,
That you shall hate it both.

As I hope

A LOVER'S PROTESTATION.

For quiet days, fair issue, and long life,
With such love as 'tis now; the murkiest den,
The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion,
Our worser genius can, shall never melt

Mine bonour into lust; to take away

The edge of that day's celebration,

When I shall think, or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd Or night kept chain'd below.

PASSION TOO STRONG FOR Vows.

Look, thou be true; do not give dalliance
Too much the rein; the strongest oaths are straw
To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious,
Or else, good night, your vow!

VANITY OF HUMAN NATURE.

These our actors,

As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air:

And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit shall dissolve;
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded +,

* Sprinkling.

+ Vanished.