Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 31

_Mira._ O good sir, I do.

_Pros._ I pray thee, mark me.

I thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated To closeness,[374-24] and the bettering of my mind With that which, but[374-25] by being so retired, O'er-prized all popular rate,[374-26] in my false brother Awaked an evil nature; and my trust, Like a good parent, did beget of him A falsehood, in its contrary as great As my trust was; which had indeed no limit, A confidence sans[375-27] bound. He being thus lorded, Not only with what my revenue yielded, But what my power might else exact,--like one Who having unto truth, by falsing of it,[375-28]

Made such a sinner of his memory To[375-29] credit his own lie,--he did believe He was indeed the Duke; out o' the subst.i.tution,[375-30]

And executing the outward face of royalty, With all prerogative: hence his ambition growing,-- Dost thou hear?[375-31]

_Mira._ Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.

_Pros._ To have no screen between this part he play'd And them he play'd it for, he needs will be Absolute Milan.[375-32] Me,[375-33] poor man, my library Was dukedom large enough: of temporal royalties He thinks me now incapable; confederates-- So dry he was for sway[376-34]--wi' th' King of Naples To give him annual tribute, do him homage, Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend The dukedom, yet unbow'd,--alas, poor Milan![376-35]-- To most ign.o.ble stooping.[376-36]

_Mira._ O the Heavens!

_Pros._ This King of Naples, being an enemy To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit; Which was, that he, in lieu[376-37] o' the premises,-- Of homage, and I know not how much tribute,-- Should presently[376-38] extirpate me and mine Out of the dukedom, and confer fair Milan, With all the honours, on my brother: whereon, A treacherous army levied, one midnight Fated to th' practice[376-39] did Antonio open The gates of Milan; and, i' the dead of darkness, The ministers for th' purpose hurried thence Me and thy crying self.[376-40]

_Mira._ Alack, for pity!

I, not remembering how I cried on't then, Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint[377-41]

That wrings mine eyes to't.

_Pros._ Hear a little further, And then I'll bring thee to the present business Which now's upon's;[377-42] without the which this story Were most impertinent.[377-43]

_Mira._ Wherefore did they not That hour destroy us?

_Pros._ Well demanded, wench:[377-44]

My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not-- So dear the love my people bore me--set A mark so b.l.o.o.d.y on the business; but With colours fairer painted their foul ends.

In few,[377-45] they hurried us aboard a bark, Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepared A rotten carca.s.s of a boat, not rigg'd, Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats Instinctively had quit it: there they hoist[377-46] us, To cry to th' sea that roar'd to us; to sigh To th' winds, whose pity, sighing back again, Did us but loving wrong.

_Mira._ Alack, what trouble Was I then to you!

_Pros._ O, a cherubim Thou wast that did preserve me! Thou didst smile, Infused with a fort.i.tude from Heaven, When I have degg'd[378-47] the sea with drops full salt, Under my burden groan'd; which raised in me An undergoing stomach,[378-48] to bear up Against what should ensue.

_Mira._ How came we ash.o.r.e?

_Pros._ By Providence divine.

Some food we had, and some fresh water, that A n.o.ble Neapolitan, Gonzalo, Out of his charity,--being then appointed Master of this design,--did give us; with Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries, Which since have steaded[378-49] much; so, of his gentleness, Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me, From mine own library, with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.

_Mira._ Would I might But ever see that man!

_Pros._ Now I arise:[378-50]

Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow.

Here in this island we arrived; and here Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit[378-51]

Than other princesses can, that have more time For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful.

_Mira._ Heavens thank you for't! And now, I pray you, sir,-- For still 'tis beating in my mind,--your reason For raising this sea-storm?

_Pros._ Know thus far forth: By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune-- Now my dear lady--hath mine enemies Brought to this sh.o.r.e; and by my prescience I find my zenith[379-52] doth depend upon A most auspicious star, whose influence If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes Will ever after droop.[379-53] Here cease more questions: Thou art inclined to sleep; 'tis a good dulness, And give it way: I know thou canst not choose.[379-54]

[_MIRANDA sleeps._ Come away, servant, come! I'm ready now: Approach, my Ariel; come!

_Enter ARIEL._

_Ari._ All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly, To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride On the curl'd clouds: to thy strong bidding task Ariel and all his quality.[379-55]

_Pros._ Hast thou, spirit, Perform'd to point[379-56] the tempest that I bade thee?

_Ari._ To every article.

I boarded the King's ship; now on the beak,[379-57]

Now in the waist,[380-58] the deck, in every cabin, I flamed amazement: sometime I'd divide, And burn in many places; on the top-mast, The yards, and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,[380-59]

Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary[380-60]

And sight-outrunning were not: the fire, and cracks Of sulphurous roaring, the most mighty Neptune Seem'd to besiege, and make his bold waves tremble.

Yea, his dread trident shake.

_Pros._ My brave spirit!

Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil[380-61]

Would not infect his reason?

_Ari._ Not a soul But felt a fever of the mad,[380-62] and play'd Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners Plunged in the foaming brine, and quit the vessel.

Then all a-fire with me: The King's son, Ferdinand, With hair up-staring,[380-63]--then like reeds, not hair,-- Was the first man that leap'd; cried, _h.e.l.l is empty, And all the devils are here_.

_Pros._ Why, that's my spirit!

But was not this nigh sh.o.r.e?

_Ari._ Close by, my master.

_Pros._ But are they, Ariel, safe?

_Ari._ Not a hair perish'd; On their unstaining[381-64] garments not a blemish, But fresher than before: and, as thou badest me, In troops I have dispersed them 'bout the isle.

The King's son have I landed by himself; Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs In an odd angle[381-65] of the isle, and sitting, His arms in this sad knot.[381-66]

_Pros._ Of the King's ship The mariners, say, how hast thou disposed, And all the rest o' the fleet?[381-67]

_Ari._ Safely in harbour Is the King's ship; in the deep nook, where once Thou call'dst me up at midnight to fetch dew From the still-vex'd Bermoothes,[381-68] there she's hid: The mariners all under hatches stow'd; Who, with a charm join'd to their suffer'd labour, I've left asleep:[381-69] and, for the rest o' the fleet Which I dispersed, they all have met again, And are upon the Mediterranean flote,[382-70]

Bound sadly home for Naples; Supposing that they saw the King's ship wreck'd, And his great person perish.

_Pros._ Ariel, thy charge Exactly is performed: but there's more work.

What is the time o' the day?

_Ari._ Past the mid season, At least two gla.s.ses.[382-71]

_Pros._ The time 'twixt six and now Must by us both be spent most preciously.

_Ari._ Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, Let me remember[382-72] thee what thou hast promised, Which is not yet perform'd[382-73] me.

_Pros._ How now! moody?

What is't thou canst demand?

_Ari._ My liberty.

_Pros._ Before the time be out? no more![382-74]

_Ari._ I pr'ythee, Remember I have done thee worthy service; Told thee no lies, made no mistakings, served Without or grudge or grumblings: thou didst promise To bate me a full year.[382-75]