Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 39

_Ferd._ No, n.o.ble mistress; 'tis fresh morning with me When you are by at night. I do beseech you,-- Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers,-- What is your name?

_Mira._ Miranda--O my father, I've broke your best to say so!

_Ferd._ Admired Miranda!

Indeed the top of admiration; worth What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady I've eyed with best regard; and many a time The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues Have I liked several women; never any With so full soul, but some defect in her Did quarrel with the n.o.blest grace she owed, And put it to the foil:[420-5] but you, O you, So perfect and so peerless, are created Of every creature's best!

_Mira._ I do not know One of my s.e.x; no woman's face remember, Save, from my gla.s.s, mine own; nor have I seen More that I may call men, than you, good friend, And my dear father: how features are abroad, I'm skilless of; but, by my modesty,-- The jewel in my dower,--I would not wish Any companion in the world but you; Nor can imagination form a shape, Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle Something too wildly, and my father's precepts I therein do forget.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PRAY YOU, WORK NOT SO HARD]

_Ferd._ I am, in my condition, A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king,-- I would not so![420-6]--and would no more endure This wooden slavery than to suffer The flesh-fly blow[422-7] my mouth. Hear my soul speak: The very instant that I saw you, did My heart fly to your service; there resides, To make me slave to it; and for your sake Am I this patient log-man.

_Mira._ Do you love me?

_Ferd._ O Heaven, O Earth, bear witness to this sound, And crown what I profess with kind event, If I speak true! if hollowly,[422-8] invert What best is boded me to mischief! I, Beyond all limit of what else[422-9] i' the world, Do love, prize, honour you.

_Mira._ I am a fool To weep at what I'm glad of.

_Pros._ [_Aside._] Fair encounter Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace On that which breeds between them!

_Ferd._ Wherefore weep you?

_Mira._ At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer What I desire to give; and much less take What I shall die to want.[422-10] But this is trifling; And all the more it seeks to hide itself, The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!

And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!

I am your wife, if you will marry me; If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow[423-11]

You may deny me; but I'll be your servant, Whether you will or no.

_Ferd._ My mistress, dearest, And I thus humble ever.

_Mira._ My husband, then?

_Ferd._ Ay, with a heart as willing As bondage[423-12] e'er of freedom: here's my hand.

_Mira._ And mine, with my heart in't: and now farewell Till half an hour hence.

_Ferd._ A thousand thousand![423-13]

[_Exeunt FERDINAND and MIRANDA._

_Pros._ So glad of this as they, I cannot be, Who am surprised withal;[423-14] but my rejoicing At nothing can be more. I'll to my book; For yet, ere supper-time, must I perform Much business appertaining. [_Exit._

SCENE II.--_Another part of the Island._

_Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, with a bottle._

_Steph._ Tell not me: when the b.u.t.t is out, we will drink water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board 'em.[423-1] Servant-monster, drink to me.

_Trin._ Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They say there's but five upon this isle: we are three of them; if th' other two be brain'd like us, the State totters.

_Steph._ Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes are almost set[424-2] in thy head.

[_CALIBAN drinks._

_Trin._ Where should they be set else? he were a brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.

_Steph._ My man-monster hath drown'd his tongue in sack: for my part, the sea cannot drown me; I swam, ere I could recover the sh.o.r.e, five-and-thirty leagues, off and on, by this light.--Thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my standard.[424-3]

_Trin._ Your lieutenant, if you list: he's no standard.[424-4]

_Steph._ We'll not run, Monsieur Monster.

_Trin._ Nor go neither: but you'll lie like dogs, and yet say nothing neither.

_Steph._ Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou be'st a good moon-calf.

_Cal._ How does thy Honour? Let me lick thy shoe. I'll not serve him, he is not valiant.

_Trin._ Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to justle a constable.[424-5] Why, thou debosh'd[424-6] fish, thou, was there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish and half a monster?

_Cal._ Boo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?

_Trin._ Lord, quoth he. That a monster should be such a natural![425-7]

_Cal._ Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I pr'ythee.

_Steph._ Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you prove a mutineer,--the next tree.[425-8] The poor monster's my subject, and he shall not suffer indignity.

_Cal._ I thank my n.o.ble lord. Wilt thou be pleased To hearken once again the suit I made thee?

_Steph._ Marry, will I: kneel, and repeat it; I will stand, and so shall Trinculo.

_Enter ARIEL, invisible._

_Cal._ As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant; a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.

_Ari._ Thou liest.[425-9]

_Cal._ Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou: I would my valiant master would destroy thee!

I do not lie.

_Steph._ Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in's tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.

_Trin._ Why, I said nothing.

_Steph._ Mum, then, and no more.-- [_To CAL._] Proceed.

_Cal._ I say, by sorcery he got this isle; From me he got it. If thy Greatness will Revenge it on him,--for, I know, thou darest, But this thing[425-10] dare not,--