And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Fer. Mira. We wish your peace. [Exe. Fer.and Mir. Pro. Come with thought; - - I thank you: Ariel, come. a 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. (27) Sir, I am vext; Bear with my Weakness, my old Brain is troubled:] There is the Appearance of fomething very extraordinary, in this great Emotion of Anger so discoverable in the Behaviour of Prospero, on the fuddain Recollection of Caliban's Plot: And the admirable Reflection, which he makes, upon the Infignificancy of human Things, fully shews it: For thinking Men are never under greater Oppression of Mind, than when they make such kind of Reflections. And yet, if we turn to the Cause of this Disturbance, there is Nothing that one could imagine, at first View, could occafion it: The Plot of a contemptible Savage, and two drunken Sailors, whom he had absolutely in his Power! It could be no Apprehenfion of Danger then, that could cause it. But, reflecting more attentively, we shall find, (agreeably to our Poet's wonderful knowledge of Nature,) there was something in the Cafe, with which great Minds are most deeply affected; and that is, the Resentment of Ingratitude. He recall'd to his Mind the Obligations this Caliban lay under for the Instructions he had receiv'd from him, and the Conveniences of Life he had taught him to use. But these Reflections of Caliban's Ingratitude would naturally recall to mind his Brother's: and then these two, working together, were very capable of producing all the Disorder of Paffion here reprefented. That these Two, who had receiv'd at his hands the two best Gifts that Mortals are capable of, when rightly apply'd, Regal Power and the Use of Reason; that Thefe, in return, should confpire against the Life of the Donor, would certainly afflict a generous Mind to its utmost Bearing. As these Reflections do so much Honour to that furprizing Knowledge of human Nature, which is so apparently our Author's Masterpiece, it cannot, sure, be thought unnecessary to set them in a proper Light. Mr. Warburton. Ari. Ay, my commander; when I presented Ceres, A I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd,mod Lest I might anger thee. Pro. Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets? Ari. I told you, Sir, they were red hot with drinking; So full of valour, that they smote the air hibson sif For breathing in their faces; beat the ground to f For kissing of their feet; yet always bending on Eng Towards their project. Then I beat my tabor,T At which, like unbackt colts, they prickt their ears, Advanc'd their eye-lids, lifted up their noses, As they smelt musick; so I charm'd their ears, That, calf-like, they my lowing follow'd through Tooth'd briars, sharp furzes, pricking goss and thorns, Which enter'd their frail shins: at last I left them I'th' filthy mantled pool beyond your cell, There dancing up to th' chins, that the foul lake W O'er-stunk their feet. Pro. This was well done, my bird; Thy shape invisible retain thou still; Ari. I go, I go. Pro. A devil, a born devil, on whose nature (٢٥) [Exit. [Profpero remains invisible. Enter Ariel loaden with glistering apparel, &c. Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo, all wet. Cal. Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not Hear a foot fall; we now are near his cell. Ste. Monster, your Fairy, which you say is a harmless Fairy, has done little better than plaid the Jack with us. Trin. Monster, I do smell all horse-piss, at which my nose is in great indignation. Ste. Ste. So is mine: do you hear, monster? if I should take a displeasure against you; look you Trin. Thou wert but a loft monster. Cal. Good my lord, give me thy favour still: Be patient, for the prize, I'll bring thee to, Trin. Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool,Ste. There is not only disgrace and dishonour in that, monster, but an infinite loss. Trin. That's more to me than my wetting: yet this is your harmless Fairy, monster. Ste. I will fetch off my bottle, though I be o'er ears for my labour. Cal. Pr'ythee, my King, be quiet: seest thou here, This is the mouth o'th' cell; no noise, and enter; Do that good mischief, which may make this Island Thine own for ever; and I, thy Caliban, For ay thy foot-licker. Ste. Give me thy hand; I do begin to have bloody thoughts. Trin. O King Stephano! O Peer! O worthy Stephano! Look, what a wardrobe here is for thee! Cal. Let it alone, thou fool, it is but trash. Trin. Oh, oh, monster; we know what belongs to a frippery; - O, King Stephano! Ste. Put off that gown, Trinculo; by this hand, I'll have that gown. Trin. Thy grace shall have it. Cal. The dropsie drown this fool! what do you mean, To doat thus on such luggage? let's along, And do the murder first: if he awake, From toe to crown he'll fill our skins with pinches; Make us strange stuff. Ste. Be you quiet, monster. Mistress line, is not this my jerkin? now is the jerkin under the line: now, jerkin, you are like to lose your hair, and prove a bald jerkin. Trin. Do, do; we steal by line and level, and't like your Grace. Ste. Ste. I thank thee for that jest, here's a garment for't: wit shall not go unrewarded, while I am King of this country: fteal by line and level, is an excellent pass of pate; there's another garment for't. Trin. Monfter, come, put some lime upon your fingers, and away with the rest. Cal. I will have none on't; we shall lose our time, And all be turn'd to barnacles, or apes With foreheads villanous low. Ste. Monster, lay to your fingers; help to bear this away, where my hogshead of wine is, or I'll turn you out of my kingdom; go to, carry this. Trin. And this. Ste. Ay, and this. A noise of hunters heard. Enter divers Spirits in shape of hounds, hunting them about; Profpero and Ariel fetting them on. Calib. Steph. and Trinc. driven out, roaring. Pro. Hey, Mountain, hey. Ari. Silver; there it goes, Silver. Pro. Fury, Fury; there, Tyrant, there; hark, hark; Go, charge my goblins that they grind their joints With dry convulfions; shorten up their finews With aged cramps; and more pinch-spotted make them, Than pard, or cat o' mountain. Ari. Hark, they roar. Pro. Let them be hunted foundly. At this hour Lye at my mercy all mine enemies: [Exeunt. ACT |