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Sweetest Bard that ever sung,
Nature's Glory, Fancy's Child;
Never sure did Poet's tongue

Warble forth such wood-notes wild.

TEMPEST.

B

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ACT I.

Boats. Here, master: what cheer? Master. Good: Speak to the mariners: fall to't yarely, or we run ourselves aground: bestir, bestir. [Exit.

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Gon. Good; yet remember whom thou hast aboard.

Boats. None that I more love than myself. You are a counsellor; if you can command these elements to silence, and work the peace of the present, we will not hand a rope more; use your authority. If you cannot, give thanks you have lived so long, and make yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of the hour, if it so hap. - Cheerly, good hearts. - Out of our way, I say. [Exit.

Gon. I have great comfort from this fellow; his complexion is perfect gallows. methinks, he hath no drowning mark upon him! good fate, to his hanging; make the rope of his Stand fast, destiny our cable, for our own doth little advantage! If he be not born to be hanged, our case is miserable. [Exeunt.

Re-enter Boatswain.

Boats. Down with the topmast; yare; lower, lower; bring her to try with main course. A cry within.] A plague upon this howling! they are. louder than the weather, or our office

Re-enter SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, and GONZALO. Yet again? what do you here? Shall we give o'er and drown? Have you a mind to sink?

Seb. A plague o' your throat! you bawling, blasphemous, uncharitable dog!

2 Present instant.

Boats. Work you, then.

I should inform thee further. Lend thy hand, Ant. Hang, cur, hang! you insolent noise-maker, | And pluck my magic garment from me. — we are less afraid to be drowned than thou art.

Gon. I'll warrant him from drowning; though the ship were no stronger than a nut-shell.

Boats. Lay her a-hold, a-hold; set her two courses; off to sea again, lay her off.

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- So; [Lays down his mantle. Lie there my art. Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort.

The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd
The very virtue of compassion in thee,
I have with such provision in mine art
So safely order'd, that there is no soul
No, not so much perdition as an hair,
Betid to any creature in the vessel
Which thou heard'st cry, which thou saw'st sink.

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And rather like a dream than an assurance
That my remembrance warrants: Had I not
Four or five women once, that tended me?

Pro. Thou had'st, and more, Miranda: But how
is it,

That this lives in thy mind? What seest thou else SCENE II. The Island: before the Cell of If thou remember'st aught, ere thou cam'st here, In the dark backward and abysm of time?

Prospero.

Enter PROSPERO and MIRANDA.

How thou cam'st here, thou may'st.
Mira.

Pro. Twelve years since,

But that I do not.

Mira. If by your art, my dearest father, you Miranda, twelve years since, thy father was

have

Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them:
The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch,
But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek,
Dashes the fire out. O, I have suffer'd
With those that I saw suffer! a brave vessel,
Who had no doubt some noble creatures in her,
Dash'd all to pieces. O, the cry did knock
Against my very heart! Poor souls! they perish'd.
Had I been any god of power, I would
Have sunk the sea within the earth, or e'er
It should the good ship so have swallowed, and
The freighting souls within her.

Pro.
Be collected;
No more amazement: tell your piteous heart,
There's no harm done.

Mira.
Pro.

O, woe the day!

No harm.

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The duke of Milan, and a prince of power.
Mira. Sir, are not you my father?
Pro. Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and
She said -thou wast my daughter; and thy father
Was duke of Milan; and his only heir

A princess; -no worse issued.

Mira.
O, the heavens!
What foul play had we, that we came from thence?
Or blessed was't we did?

Pro.

By foul play, as thou
thence;

But blessedly holp hither.

Mira.

Both, both, my girl: say'st, were we heav'd

O, my heart bleeds
To think o' the teen 5 that I have turn'd you to,
Which is from my remembrance!
Please you,

further.

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