Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 45

_Alon._ [_To FERD. and MIRA._] Give me your hands: Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart That doth not wish you joy!

_Gonza._ Be't so! Amen!--

_Re-enter ARIEL, with the _Master_ and _Boatswain_ amazedly following._

O, look, sir, look, sir! here is more of us: I prophesied, if a gallows were on land, This fellow could not drown.[462-43]--Now, blasphemy, That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on sh.o.r.e?[462-44]

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 s.h.i.+p-- Which, but three gla.s.ses since, we gave out split-- Is tight, and yare, and bravely rigg'd, as when We first put out to sea.

_Ari._ [_Aside to PROS._] Sir, all this service Have I done since I went.

_Pros._ [_Aside to ARIEL._] My tricksy[463-45] spirit!

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

_Boats._ If I did think, sir, I were well awake, I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep, And--how we know not--all clapp'd under hatches; Where, but even now, with strange and several noises Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains, And more diversity of sounds, all horrible, We were awaked; straightway, at liberty: When we, in all her trim, freshly beheld Our royal, good, and gallant s.h.i.+p; our master Capering to eye her:[463-46] on a trice, so please you, Even in a dream, were we divided from them, And were brought moping[463-47] hither.

_Ari._ [_Aside to PROS._] Was't well done?

_Pros._ [_Aside to ARI._] Bravely, my diligence.

Thou shalt be free.

_Alon._ This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod; And there is in this business more than Nature Was ever conduct of:[463-48] some oracle Must rectify our knowledge.[463-49]

_Pros._ Sir, my liege, Do not infest your mind with beating on[463-50]

The strangeness of this business; at pick'd leisure,[464-51]

Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve[464-52] you-- Which to you shall seem probable--of every These happen'd accidents:[464-53] till when, be cheerful, And think of each thing well.--[_Aside to ARIEL._] Come hither, spirit: Set Caliban and his companions free; Untie the spell. [_Exit ARI._]--How fares my gracious sir?

There are yet missing of your company Some few odd lads that you remember not.

_Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel._

_Steph._ Every man s.h.i.+ft for all the rest,[464-54] and let no man take care for himself; for all is but fortune.--Coragio,[464-55]

bully-monster, coragio!

_Trin._ If these be true spies which I wear in my head,[464-56] here's a goodly sight.

_Cal._ O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed!

How fine my master is! I am afraid He will chastise me.

_Sebas._ Ha, ha!

What things are these, my Lord Antonio?

Will money buy 'em?

_Anto._ Very like; one of them Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.

_Pros._ Mark but the badges of these men, my lords, Then say if they be true. This mis-shaped knave,-- His mother was a witch; and one so strong That could control the Moon, make flows and ebbs, And deal in her command without[465-57] her power.

These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil-- For he's but half a one--had plotted with them To take my life: two of these fellows you Must know and own; this thing of darkness I Acknowledge mine.

_Cal._ I shall be pinch'd to death.

_Alon._ Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?

_Sebas._ He is drunk now: where had he wine?

_Alon._ And Trinculo is reeling ripe: where should they Find this grand liquor that hath gilded[465-58] 'em?-- How camest thou in this pickle?

_Trin._ I have been in such a pickle since I saw you last, that I fear me, will never out of my bones: I shall not fear fly-blowing.[465-59]

_Sebas._ Why, how now, Stephano!

_Steph._ O, touch me not! I am not Stephano, but a cramp.

_Pros._ You'd be king o' the isle, sirrah?

_Steph._ I should have been a sore[465-60] one, then.

_Alon._ [_Pointing to CAL._] This is as strange a thing as e'er I look'd on.

_Pros._ He is as disproportion'd in his manners As in his shape.--Go, sirrah, to my cell; Take with you your companions; as you look To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.

_Cal._ Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter, And seek for grace. What a thrice double a.s.s Was I, to take this drunkard for a G.o.d, And wors.h.i.+p this dull fool!

_Pros._ Go to; away!

_Alon._ Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it.

_Sebas._ Or stole it, rather.

[_Exeunt CAL., STEPH., and TRIN._

_Pros._ Sir, I invite your Highness and your train To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest For this one night; which, part of it, I'll waste With such discourse as, I not doubt, shall make it Go quick away,--the story of my life, And the particular accidents gone by, Since I came to this isle: and in the morn I'll bring you to your s.h.i.+p, and so to Naples, Where I have hope to see the nuptial Of these our dear-beloved solemnized; And thence retire me[466-61] to my Milan, where Every third thought shall be my grave.[466-62]

_Alon._ I long To hear the story of your life, which must Take the ear strangely.

_Pros._ I'll deliver all; And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales, And sail so expeditious, that shall catch Your royal fleet far off.--[_Aside to ARI._] My Ariel, chick, That is thy charge: then to the elements Be free, and fare thou well!--Please you, draw near. [_Exeunt._

EPILOGUE[467-63]

SPOKEN BY PROSPERO

Now my charms are all o'erthrown, And what strength I have's mine own,--[467-64]

Which is most faint: now, 'tis true, I must be here confined by you,[467-65]

Or sent to Naples. Let me not, Since I have my dukedom got, And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell In this bare island by your spell; But release me from my bands, With the help of your good hands.[467-66]

Gentle breath of yours my sails Must fill, or else my project fails, Which was to please: now I want Spirits to enforce, art to enchant; And my ending is despair, Unless I be relieved by prayer; Which pierces so, that it a.s.saults Mercy itself, and frees all faults.

As you from crimes would pardon'd be, Let your indulgence set me free.