Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not
Myself dispos'd to sleep.

Antonio.

Nor I; my spirits are nimble. They fell together all, as by consent;

They dropp'd, as by a thunder-stroke. What might,
Worthy Sebastian ?—O, what might?—No more :—
And yet methinks I see it in thy face,

What thou shouldst be: th' occasion speaks thee, and
My strong imagination sees a crown

Dropping upon thy head.

Sebastian.

What, art thou waking?

Antonio. Do you not hear me speak?
Sebastian.

It is a sleepy language, and thou speak'st

I do; and surely

Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say?
This is a strange repose, to be asleep

With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving,
And yet so fast asleep.

Thou let'st thy fortune sleep-die, rather; wink'st
Whiles thou art waking.

Sebastian.

Thou dost snore distinctly;

There's meaning in thy snores.

Antonio. I am more serious than my custom: you

Must be so too, if heed me; which to do,

If

you

but knew how you the purpose cherish Whiles thus you mock it! how, in stripping it,

You more invest it! Ebbing men indeed

Most often do so near the bottom run
By their own fear or sloth.

Sebastian.

Prithee, say on :

The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim
A matter from thee, and a birth, indeed,
Which throes thee much to yield.

Antonio.

Thus, sir:

Although this lord of weak remembrance,-this,
Who shall be of as little memory

When he is earth'd,-hath here almost persuaded,-
For he's a spirit of persuasion, only

Professes to persuade,—the king his son's alive,

'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd,

As he that sleeps here swims.

Sebastian.

That he's undrown'd.

Antonio.

I have no hope

O, out of that no hope

What great hope have you! no hope that way is

Another way so high a hope, that even

Ambition can not pierce a wink beyond,
But doubts discovery there.
That Ferdinand is drown'd?

Sebastian.
Antonio.

Will you grant with me

Who's the next heir of Naples?

Sebastian.

Antonio. She that is Queen of Tunis; she that dwells
Ten leagues beyond man's life; she that from Naples
Can have no note, unless the sun were post,—

The man i' th' moon's too slow,-till new-born chins
Be rough and razorable; she from whom

We all were sea-swallow'd, though some cast again;
And by that destiny to perform an act

Whereof what's past is prologue; what to come,
In yours and my discharge.

Sebastian.

What stuff is this! How say you?

"Tis true, my brother's daughter's Queen of Tunis ;

So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions

There is some space.

Antonio.

cubit

A space whose every
Seems to cry out, "How shall that Claribel
Measure us back to Naples? Keep in Tunis,
And let Sebastian wake." Say, this were death
That now hath seiz'd them; why, they were no worse
Than now they are. There be that can rule Naples
As well as he that sleeps; lords that can prate
As amply and unnecessarily

As this Gonzalo : I myself could make

A chough of as deep chat. O, that you bore
The mind that I do! what a sleep were this
For
your advancement! Do you understand me?
Sebastian. Methinks I do.

And look how well my garments sit upon me;
Much feater than before. My brother's servants
Were then my fellows, now they are my men.

Sebastian. But, for your conscience

Antonio. Ay, sir; where lies that? If 'twere a kibe, 'Twould put me to my slipper; but I feel not

This deity in my bosom. Twenty consciences,
That stand 'twixt me and Milan, candied be they,
And melt, ere they molest! Here lies your brother,
No better than the earth he lies upon,

If he were that which now he's like,—that's dead ;
Whom I, with this obedient steel, three inches of it,
Can lay to bed forever; whiles you, doing thus,
To the perpetual wink for aye might put
This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who

Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest,
They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk;
They'll tell the clock to any business that
We say befits the hour.

Sebastian.

Thy case, dear friend,

Shall be my precedent; as thou got'st Milan,

I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke
Shall free thee from the tribute which thou pay'st;

And I the king shall love thee.

Antonio.

Draw together;

And when I rear my hand, do you the like,
To fall it on Gonzalo.

Sebastian.

O, but one word. [They talk apart.

Enter ARIEL, with music and song.

Ariel. My master through his art foresees the danger That you, his friend, are in; and sends me forth,—

For else his project dies,—to keep thee living.

Alonso. Why, how now? ho, awake!-Why are you drawn? Wherefore this ghastly looking?

Gonzalo.

What's the matter?

Sebastian. Whiles we stood here securing your repose,

Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing
Like bulls, or rather lions: did't not wake you?
It struck mine ear most terribly.

Alonso.

I heard nothing.

Antonio. O, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear,
To make an earthquake: sure, it was the roar
Of a whole herd of lions.

Alonso.

Heard you this, Gonzalo? Gonzalo. Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,— And that a strange one too,-which did awake me: I shak'd you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes open'd, I saw their weapons drawn :-there was a noise, That's verily. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard, Or that we quit this place: let's draw our weapons.

Alonso. Lead off this ground; and let's make further search For my poor son.

Gonzalo.

Heavens keep him from these beasts!

For he is, sure, i' th' island.

Alonso.

Lead away.

Ariel. Prospero my lord shall know what I have done : So, king, go safely on to seek thy son.

SCENE II. Another part of the island.

[Exeunt.

Enter CALIBAN, with a burthen of wood. A noise of thunder heard.

Caliban. All the infections that the sun sucks up
From bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall, and make him
By inch-meal a disease! His spirits hear me,
And yet I needs must curse. But they'll nor pinch,
Fright me with urchin-shows, pitch me i' th' mire,
Nor lead me, like a fire-brand, in the dark
Out of my way, unless he bid 'em : but

For every trifle are they set upon me;

Sometime like apes, that mow and chatter at me,
And after bite me; then like hedgehogs, which
Lie tumbling in my barefoot way, and mount
Their pricks at my
footfall; sometime am I

E