Which I do last pronounce, is—O you wonder—

If you be maid or no?

MIRANDA

No wonder, sir,

But certainly a maid.

FERDINAND

My language! Heavens!

I am the best of them that speak this speech,

Were I but where ’tis spoken.

PROSPERO

How, the best?

What wert thou if the King of Naples heard thee?

FERDINAND

A single thing, as I am now that wonders

To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me,

And that he does I weep. Myself am Naples,

Who with mine eyes, never since at ebb, beheld

The King my father wrecked.

MIRANDA

Alack, for mercy!

FERDINAND

Yes, faith, and all his lords, the Duke of Milan

And his brave son being twain.

PROSPERO (aside)

The Duke of Milan

And his more braver daughter could control thee,

If now ’twere fit to do’t. At the first sight

They have changed eyes.—Deticate Ariel,

I’ll set thee free for this. (To Ferdinand) A word, good

sir. 445

I fear you have done yourself some wrong. A word.

MIRANDA (aside)

Why speaks my father so ungently? This

Is the third man that e’er I saw, the first

That e’er I sighed for. Pity move my father

To be inclined my way.

FERDINAND

O, if a virgin,

And your affection not gone forth, I’ll make you

The Queen of Naples.

PROSPERO

Soft, sir! One word more.

(Aside) They are both in either’s powers. But this swift

business

I must uneasy make, lest too light winning

Make the prize light. (To Ferdinand) One word more. I

charge thee

That thou attend me. Thou dost here usurp

The name thou ow’st not; and hast put thyself

Upon this island as a spy, to win it

From me the lord on’t.

FERDINAND

No, as I am a man.

MIRANDA

There’s nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.

If the ill spirit have so fair a house,

Good things will strive to dwell with’t.

PROSPERO (to Ferdinand)

Follow me.

(To Miranda) Speak not you for him; he’s a traitor.

(To Ferdinand) Come!

I’ll manacle thy neck and feet together.

Sea-water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be

The fresh-brook mussels, withered roots, and husks

Wherein the acorn cradled. Follow!

FERDINAND

No.

I will resist such entertainment till

Mine enemy has more power.

He draws, and is charmed from moving

MIRANDA

O dear father,

Make not too rash a trial of him, for

He’s gentle, and not fearful.

PROSPERO

What, I say,

My foot my tutor? Put thy sword up, traitor,

Who mak‘st a show but dar’st not strike, thy

conscience

Is so possessed with guilt. Come from thy ward,

For I can here disarm thee with this stick

And make thy weapon drop.

MIRANDA

Beseech you, father!

PROSPERO

Hence! Hang not on my garments.

MIRANDA

Sir, have pity.

I’ll be his surety.

PROSPERO

Silencel One word more

Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What,

An advocate for an impostor? Hush!

Thou think’st there is no more such shapes as he,

Having seen but him and Caliban. Foolish wench!

To th’ most of men this is a Caliban,

And they to him are angels.

MIRANDA

My affections

Are then most humble. I have no ambition

To see a goodlier man.

PROSPERO (to Ferdinand) Come on; obey.

Thy nerves are in their infancy again,

And have no vigour in them.

FERDINAND

So they are.

My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.

My father’s loss, the weakness which I feel,

The wreck of all my friends, nor this man’s threats

To whom I am subdued, are but light to me,

Might I but through my prison once a day

Behold this maid. All corners else o’th’ earth

Let liberty make use of; space enough

Have I in such a prison.

PROSPERO (aside)

It works. (To Ferdinand) Come on.—

Thou hast done well, fine Ariel. (To Ferdinand) Follow

me.

(To Ariel) Hark what thou else shalt do me.

MIRANDA (to Ferdinand)

Be of comfort.

My father’s of a better nature, sir,

Than he appears by speech. This is unwonted

Which now came from him.

PROSPERO (to Ariel)

Thou shalt be as free

As mountain winds; but then exactly do

All points of my command.

ARIEL To th’ syllable.

PROSPERO (to Ferdinand)

Come, follow. (To Miranda) Speak not for him.

Exeunt

2.1 Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian, and Francisco

GONZALO (to Alonso)

Beseech you, sir, be merry. You have cause,

So have we all, of joy; for our escape

Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe

Is common; every day some sailor’s wife,

The masters of some merchant, and the merchant,

Have just our theme of woe. But for the miracle,

I mean our preservation, few in millions

Can speak like us. Then wisely, good sir, weigh

Our sorrow with our comfort.

ALONSO

Prithee, peace.

SEBASTIAN (to Antonio) He receives comfort like cold porridge.

ANTONIO The visitor will not give him o’er so.

SEBASTIAN Look, he’s winding up the watch of his wit. By and by it will strike.