Haft ftrangely ftood the teft. Here, afore heaven,

I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me, that I boast her off;
For thou fhalt find, fhe will outstrip all praise,
And make it halt behind her.

Fer. I believe it,

Against an oracle.

Pro. Then as my gift, and thine own acquisition Worthily purchas'd, take my daughter. But "If thou dost break her virgin-knot, before All fanctimonious ceremonies may

With full and holy rite be minister'd, "No fweet afperfions fhall the heav'ns let fall "To make this contract grow but barren hate, "Sour-ey'd difdain, and difcord fhall beftrew The union of your bed with weeds fo loathly, "That fhall hate it both: therefore take heed, As Hymen's lamps fhall light you.

you

Fer. As I hope

For quiet days, fair iffue, and long life,

With fuch love as 'tis now; the murkieft den,

The most opportune place, the strong'ft fuggeftion

Our worfer genius can, fhall never melt

Mine honour into luft: to take away

The edge of that day's celebration,

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

Pro. Fairly fpoke.

Sit then, and talk with her, fhe is thine own.
What, Ariel; my induftrious fervant, Ariel-

SCENE II. Enter Ariel.

Ari. What would my potent master? here I am. Pro. Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service Did worthily perform; and I must use you

In fuch another trick; go bring the rabble,
O'er whom I give thee power, here to this place :
Incite them to quick motion, for I must
Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
Some vanity of mine art; it is my promife,
And they expect it from me.

Ari. Prefently?

Pre.

Pro. Ay, with a twink.

Ari Before you can fay, Come, and go, And breathe twice; and cry, So, fo;

Each one, tripping on his toe,

Will be here with mop and mow.

Do you love me, master? no?

Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel; do not approach, Till thou doft hear me call.

Ari. Well, I conceive.

[Exit,

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

Fer. I warrant you, Sir;

The white, cold, virgin-fnow upon my heart
Abates the ardour of my liver.

Pro. Well.

Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary,

Rather than want a fpirit; appear, and pertly-
No tongue; all eyes; be filent.

SCENE III. A mafque,

[To Ferdinand.

[Soft mufic.

Enter Iris.

Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas Of wheat, rye, barley, fetches, oats, and pease; Thy turfy mountains, where live nibling theep, And flat meads thatch'd with ftover, them to keep; Thy banks with pionied and tulip'd brims, Which fpungy April at thy het betrims,

To make cold nymphs chafte crowns; and thy brown groves,

Whose shadow the difmiffed bachelor loves,

Being lafs-lorn; thy pale-clipt vineyard,
And thy fea-marge fteril, and rocky-hard,

Where thou thyself do'ft air; the Queen o' th' fky,
Whose wat'ry arch and meffenger am 1,

Bids thee leave thefe; and with her fov'rcign grace,
Here on this grass-plot, in this very płace,
To come and fport; her peacocks fly amain:

Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter

Enter Ceres.

Cer. Hail, many-colour'd meffenger, that ne'er
Doft difobey the wife of Jupiter :

Who, with thy faffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffuseft honey-drops, refreshing showers;
And with each end of thy blue bow doft crown
My bofky acres, and my unfhrub'd down,
Rich fcarf to my proud earth; why hath thy Queen
Summon'd me hither, to this short-grafs green?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate,
And fome donation freely to eftate
On the blefs'd lovers.

Ger. Tell me, heavenly bow,

If Venus or her fon, as thou dost know,
Do not attend the Queen; fince they did plot
The means that dufky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forefworn.

Iris. Of her fociety

Be not afraid; I met her deity

Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her fon Dove-drawn with her; here thought they to have done

Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,

Whofe vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid
Till Hymen's torch be lighted: but in vain

Mars's hot minion is return'd again;

Her wafpifh-headed fon has broke his arrows;
Swears, he will shoot no more, but play with iparrows,

And be a boy right-out.

Cer. High Queen of state,

Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gate.

[Juno defcends, and enters.

Jun. How does my bounteous fifter? go with me To blefs this twain, that they may profp'rous be,

And honour'd in their iffue.

Jun. Honour, riches, marriage bleffing,
Long continuance and increafing,

Hourly joys be fill upon you!

[They fing.

Juno fings her bleffings on you.

Cer.

Cer. Earth's increafe, and foyfon-plenty,
Barns and garners never empty,

Vines, with cluftring bunches growing,
Plants, with goodly burthen bowing,
Spring come to you, at the fartheft,
In the very end of harvest!
Scarcity and want fhall fhun you:
Ceres' bleffing fo is on you.

Fer. This is a moft majestic vifion, and
Harmonious charming lays: may I be bold
To think these spirits ?

Pro. Spirits, which by mine art

I have from their confines call'd to enact
My prefent fancies.

Fer. Let me live here ever;

So rare a wonder'd father, and a wife,
Make this place paradise.

Pro. Sweet now, filence:
Juno and Ceres whisper feriously;

There's fomething else to do; hush and be mute,
Or else our spell is marr'd.

Juno and Ceres whisper, and fend Iris on employment. Iris. You nymphs, call'd Nayads, of the winding brooks,

With your fedg'd crowns, and ever-harmless looks,
Leave your crifp channels, and on this green land
Anfwer your fummons, Juno does command:
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love; be not too late.

Enter certain nymphs.

You fun-burn'd ficklemen, of August weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry;
Make holiday; your rye-straw hats put on,
And these freih nymphs encounter every one
In country-footing.

Enter certain reapers, properly habited; they join with the nymphs in a graceful dance; towards the end whereof,

Profpere

Profpero ftarts fuddenly, and fpeaks; after which, to a frange, hollow, and confufed noife, they vanish heavily. Pro. I had forgot that foul confpiracy

Of the beaft Caliban, and his confed'rates,
Against my life; the minute of their plot

Is almoft come.

Well done, avoid; no more.

Fer. This is moft ftrange; your father's in fome paffion

That works him strongly.

Mira. Never till this day

Saw I him touch'd with anger fo diftemper'd.
Pro. You look, my fon, in a mov'd fort,
As if you were difmay'd; be chearful, Sir:
Our revels now are ended : these our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air;

And, like the baseless fabric of th' air-vifions
The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The folemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea. all which it inherit, fhall diffolve;

And, like this infubftantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind! we are fuch stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a fleep.'-Sir, I am vex'd;
Bear with my weaknefs, my old brain is troubled:
Be not difturb'd with my infirmity;

If thou be pleas'd, retire into my cell,

And there repose: a turn or two I'll walk,

To fill my beating mind.

Fer. Mira. We with your peace.

Pro. Come with a thought;

Ariel, come.

[Exe. Fer. and Mira. I thank you:

Profpero comes forward from the cell; enter Ariel to him.

Ari. Thy thoughts I cleave to; what's thy pleasure? Pro. Spirit,

We must prepare to meet with Caliban.

Ari. Ay, my commander; when I prefented Ceres, I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd, Left I might anger thee.

Pre. Say again, where didft thou leave thefe varlets ?