And that you will fome good inftruction give, Mira. No wonder, Sir, 9 But certainly a maid. Fer. My language! heav'ns! I am the best of them that fpeak this speech, Pro. How? the beft? What wert thou, if the King of Naples heard thee? And, that he does, I weep: my felf am Naples, Mira. Alack, for mercy! Fer. Yes, faith, and all his lords: the Duke of Milan, And his brave fon, being twain. [thee, Pro. The Duke of Milan, And his more braver daughter, could controul If now 'twere fit to do't: At the first fight, They have chang'd eyes: (delicate Ariel, I'll fet thee free for this.) A word, good Sir. 9 certainly a maid.] Nothing could be more prettily imagined to illuftrate the fingularity of her character, than this pleasant mistake. She had been bred up in the rough and plaindealing documents of moral philofophy, which teaches us the knowledge of our felves: And was an utter ftranger to the flattery invented by vicious and defigning Men to corrupt the other Sex. So that it could not enter into her imagination, that complaifance and a defire of appearing amiable, qualities of humanity which fhe had been inftructed, in her moral leffons, to cultivate, could ever degenerate into fuch excefs, as that any one fhould be willing to have his fellow-creature believe that he thought her a Goddefs or an Immortal. controul thee,] . e. fhew thee thy error. Mira. Why speaks my father fo ungently? this Is the third man, that I e'er faw; the first, That e'er I figh'd for. Pity move my father To be inclin'd my way! Fer. O, if a Virgin, And your Affection not gone forth, I'll make you The Queen of Naples. Pro. Soft, Sir: one word more. They're both in either's power: but this swift bufinefs That thou attend me:-thou dost here ufurp From me, the lord on't. Fer. No. as I'm a man. {ple. Mira. There's nothing ill can dwell in fuch a tem If the ill fpirit have fo fair an house, Good things will strive to dwell with't. Pro. Follow me Speak not you for him: he's a traitor. Come, The fresh-brook muffels, wither'd roots, and husks Fer. No, I will refift fuch entertainment, 'till Mine enemy has more power. [He draws, and is charm'd from moving. Mira. O dear father, 2 Mira. O dear father, Make not too rash a tryal of him; for He's gentle, and not fearful. Make This feems to be a very odd way of expreffing her fense of her Lover's good qualities. It is certain the beauty of it is not feen at firft view. Miranda, 'till now, had never feen any Mortal (her Make not too rafh a tryal of him; for My foot my tutor? put thy fword up, traitor, Is fo poffeft with guilt: come from thy ward, For I can here difarm thee with this stick, Mira. Befeech you, father.: Pro. Hence: hang not on. my garment. I'll be his furety. Pro. Silence: one word more Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What, Thou think'ft, there are no more fuch fhapes as he, And they to him are angels. Mira. My affections Are then most humble: I have no ambition To fee a goodlier man. (her father excepted) but Caliban. She had frequently beheld him under that kind of difcipline which her father here threatens to inflict upon her lover. I'll manacle thy neck and feet together: Sea-water halt thou drink, thy food shall be The fresh-brook muffles, wither'd roots and busks The perverfity of Caliban's nature, and the Cowardliness of it, made punishment neceffary, and eafy to be inflicted: Finding therefore Ferdinand threatened with the like treatment, out of tenderness both to her Father and Lover fhe cries He's gentle, not like the favage Caliban, and fo deferves not punishment; this the gathered from his preceeding converfation with her and not fearful, like that coward, and fo is not to be easily managed. This fhe collected from his drawing his fword, and itanding on his defence. - Pro. Pro. Come on, obey; Thy nerves are in their infancy again, 3 Fer. So they are: My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up. My father's lofs, the weakness which I feel, The wreck of all my friends, and this man's threats, Behold this maid: all corners elfe o'th' earth Pro. It works: come on. (Thou haft done well, fine Ariel:) follow me. Hark, what thou elfe fhalt do me. Mira. Be of comfort, My father's of a better nature, Sir, [To Ariel. Than he appears by fpeech: this is unwonted, Which now came from him. Pro. Thou fhalt be as free As mountain winds; but then exactly do All points of my command. Ari. To th' fyllable. Pro. Come, follow: fpeak not for him. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. Another part of the Island. Enter Alonfo, Sebaftian, Anthonio, Gonzalo, GONZAL O. BESEECH you, Sir, be merry: you have cause (So have we all) of joy! for our escape 3 My fpirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.] Alluding to a common fenfation in dreams, when we flruggle, but with a total impuiffance in our endeavours, to run, ftrike, &c. Is much beyond our lofs; our stint of woé Can fpeak like us: then wifely, good Sir, weigh Alon. Pr'ythee, peace. [Seb. He receives comfort like cold porridge. Ant. The 'vifer will not give o'er fo. Seb. Look, he's winding up the watch of his wit, by and by it will strike. Gon. Sir, Seb. One: Tell, Gon. When every grief is entertain'd, that's offer'd ; comes to the entertainer Seb. A dollor. Gon. Dolour comes to him, indeed; you have spoken truer than you propos'd. Seb. You have taken it wifelier than I meant you should. Gon. Therefore, my lord, Ant. Fie, what a spend-thrift is he of his tongue? Gon. Well, I have done: but yet Seb. He will be talking. our HINT of woe] hint of woe, can fignify only prognostic of woe: which is not the fenfe required. We should read STINT, i. e. proportion, allotment. -to 5 All this that follows after the words Prythee, peace. the words, You cram these words, &c. feems to have been interpolated, (perhaps by the Players) the verfes there beginning again; and all that is between in profe, not only being very impertinent ftuff, but most improper and ill-plac'd drollery, in the mouths of unhappy fhipwreckt people. There is more of the fame Mr. Pope. fort interfperfed in the remaining part of the Scene. 6 The VISITOR will not give o'er fo.] This Vifitor is a Comforter or Adviser. We must read then, 'VISER, i. e. the Adviser. Ant. |