With colors fairer painted their foul ends. In few, they hurried us aboard a bark, Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepar'd Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats Instinctively have quit it. There they hoist us, Miranda. Was I then to you! Prospero. Alack, what trouble O, a cherubin Thou did'st smile, Thou wast, that did preserve me. Infused with a fortitude from heaven, When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt, Against what should ensue. Miranda. How came we ashore? Prospero. By Providence divine. Some food we had, and some fresh water, that A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo, Out of his charity (who being then appointed Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries, So, of his gentleness, Knowing I lov'd my books, he furnish'd me, From mine own library, with volumes that Miranda. But ever see that man! Prospero. Would I might 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 princess can, that have more time For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful. Miranda. 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? Prospero. Know thus far forth: By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune A most auspicious star, whose influence Will ever after droop. Here cease more questions: Come away, servant, come! I am ready now: Enter ARIEL. Ariel. 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 Prospero. Hast thou, spirit, Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee? I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak, O' th' dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary Prospero. My brave spirit! Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil But felt a fever of the mad, and play'd Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners On their sustaining garments not a blemish, Prospero. Of the king's ship The mariners, say how thou hast dispos'd, Ariel. Safely in harbour Is the king's ship; in the deep nook, where once The mariners all under hatches stow'd; Who, with a charm join'd to their suffer'd labour, I have left asleep and for the rest o' th' fleet, Supposing that they saw the king's ship wrack'd, Prospero. Ariel, thy charge Exactly is perform'd; but there's more work. What is the time o' th' day? Ariel. Past the mid season. Prospero. At least two glasses. The time 'twixt six and now Must by us both be spent most preciously. Ariel. Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, Let me remember thee what thou hast promis'd, Which is not yet perform'd me. Prospero. What is't thou canst demand? Ariel. How now ? moody? My liberty. Prospero. Before the time be out? no more! Ariel. Told thee no lies, made no mistakings, serv'd I prithee, Prospero. Thou dost; and think'st it much to tread the Of the salt deep, To run upon the sharp wind of the north, To do me business in the veins o' th' earth When it is bak'd with frost. [ooze Ariel. I do not, sir. Prospero. Thou liest, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy Was grown into a hoop? hast thou forgot her? Ariel. No, sir. Prospero. Thou hast. Where was she born? speak; Ariel. Sir, in Argier. Prospero. O, was she so? I must Once in a month recount what thou hast been, Which thou forget'st. This damn'd witch Sycorax, To enter human hearing, from Argier, Thou know'st, was banish'd: for one thing she did, [tell me. Prospero. This blue-eyed hag was hither brought with child, And here was left by th' sailors. Thou, my slave, As thou report'st thyself, wast then her servant; And, for thou wast a spirit too delicate To act her earthy and abhorr'd commands, A dozen years; within which space she died, And left thee there, where thou didst vent thy groans A freckled whelp, hag-born-not honour'd with Prospero. Dull thing, I say so; he, that Caliban, Whom now I keep in service. Thou best know'st What torment I did find thee in; thy groans |