Be living, and be here?

Pro.

First, noble friend,

Let me embrace thine age; whose honour cannot Be measur'd, or confin'd.

Gon.

Or be not, I'll not swear.

Whether this be,

You do yet taste

Pro. Some subtilties o' the isle, that will not let you Believe things certain :-Welcome, my friends

all:

But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded,

[Aside to Seb. and Ant. I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you, And justify you traitors; at this time I'll tell no tales.

Seb.

Pro.

The devil speaks in him. [Aside.

No;

For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother
Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive
Thy rankest fault; all of them; and require
My dukedom of thee, which, perforce, I know,
Thou must restore.

Alon.

If thou beest Prospero,
Give us particulars of thy preservation;

How thou hast met us here, who three hours since
Were wreck'd upon this shore; where I have lost,
How sharp the point of this remembrance is!
My dear son Ferdinand.

Pro.

I am wol for't, sir.

Alon. Irreparable is the loss; and Patience Says, it is past her cure.

Pro.

I rather think

You have not sought her help; of whose soft grace, For the like loss, I have her sovereign aid,

And rest myself content.

Alon.

You the like loss?

Pro. As great to me, as late; and, portable2 To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker

Than you may call to comfort you; for I
Have lost my daughter.

A daughter?

Alon. O heavens! that they were living both in Naples, The king and queen there! that they were, I wish Myself were mudded in that oozy bed

Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter?

Pro. In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords At this encounter do so much admire,

That they devour their reason; and scarce think Their eyes do offices of truth, their words

Are natural breath; but, howsoe'er you have Been justled from your senses, know for certain, That I am Prospero, and that very duke

Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely Upon this shore, where you were wreck'd, was landed,

To be the lord on't. No more yet of this;
For 'tis a chronicle of day by day,
Not a relation for a breakfast, nor

Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir;
This cell's my court: here have I few attendants,
And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in.
My dukedom since you have given me again,
I will requite you with as good a thing;
At least, bring forth a wonder, to content ye,
As much as me my dukedom.

The entrance of the cell opens, and discovers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess.

Mira. Sweet lord, you play me false.

Fer.

I would not for the world.

No, my dearest love,

Mira. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle,

And I would call it fair play.

Alon.

If this prove

A vision of the island, one dear son

Shall I twice lose.

Seb. A most high miracle!

Fer. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful; I have curs'd them without cause.

Alon.

[Ferd. kneels to Alon. Now all the blessings

Of a glad father compass thee about!
Arise, and say how thou cam'st here.

Mira.
O! wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't!

Pro.

'Tis new to thee.

Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play?

Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us,

And brought us thus together?

Fer.

Sir, she's mortal; But, by immortal Providence, she's mine; I chose her, when I could not ask my father For his advice; nor thought I had one: she Is daughter to this famous duke of Milan, Of whom so often I have heard renown, But never saw before; of whom I have Receiv'd a second life, and second father This lady makes him to me.

Alon.

I am hers: But O, how oddly will it sound, that I Must ask my child forgiveness!

Pro.

There, sir, stop:

Let us not burden our remembrances
With a heaviness that's gone.

I have inly wept,

Gon.
Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you gods,
And on this couple drop a blessed crown;

For it is you, that have chalk'd forth the way
Which brought us hither!

Alon.

I say, Amen, Gonzalo !

Gon. Was Milan thrust from Milan, this issue

Than you may call to comfort you; for I
Have lost my daughter.

Alon.

A daughter?

O heavens! that they were living both in Naples, The king and queen there! that they were, I wish Myself were mudded in that oozy bed

Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter?

Pro. In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords At this encounter do so much admire,

That they devour their reason; and scarce think
Their eyes do offices of truth, their words
Are natural breath; but, howsoe'er you have
Been justled from your senses, know for certain,
That I am Prospero, and that very duke

Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely Upon this shore, where you were wreck'd, was landed,

To be the lord on't. No more yet of this;
For 'tis a chronicle of day by day,
Not a relation for a breakfast, nor

Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir;
This cell's my court: here have I few attendante,
And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in.
My dukedom since you have given me again,
I will requite you with as good a thing;
At least, bring forth a wonder, to content ye,
As much as me my dukedom.

The entrance of the cell opens, and discovers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess.

Mira. Sweet lord, you play me false.

Fer.

I would not for the world.

No, my dearest love,

Mira. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle,

And I would call it fair play.

Alon.

If this prove

A vision of the island, one dear son

Shall I twice lose.

Seb. A most high miracle!

Fer. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful; I have curs'd them without cause.

Alon.

[Ferd. kneels to Alon. Now all the blessings

Of a glad father compass thee about!
Arise, and say how thou cam'st here.

Mira.
O! wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't!

Pro.

'Tis new to thee.

Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play?

Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us,

And brought us thus together?

Fer. Sir, she's mortal; But, by immortal Providence, she's mine; I chose her, when I could not ask my father For his advice; nor thought I had one: she Is daughter to this famous duke of Milan, Of whom so often I have heard renown, But never saw before; of whom I have Receiv'd a second life, and second father This lady makes him to me.

Alon.

I am hers: But O, how oddly will it sound, that I Must ask my child forgiveness!

Pro.

There, sir, stop;

Let us not burden our remembrances
With a heaviness that's gone.

I have inly wept,

Gon.
Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you gods,
And on this couple drop a blessed crown;

For it is you, that have chalk'd forth the way
Which brought us hither!

Alon.

I say, Amen, Gonzalo !

Gon. Was Milan thrust from Milan, this issue