Pros. Thou hadst, and more, Miranda. Mir. But how is it That this lives in thy mind? What seest thou else If thou remember'st aught ere thou camest here, But that I do not. Pros. Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since, Mir. A prince of power. Sir, are not you my father? Pros. Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and Mir. Pros. Mir. She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father A princess, no worse issued. O the heavens ! 50 What foul play had we, that we came from thence? 60 Both, both, my girl: O, my heart bleeds To think o' the teen that I have turn'd you to, Which is from my remembrance! Please you, farther. Pros. My brother, and thy uncle, call'd Antonio,I pray thee, mark me,—that a brother should Be so perfidious !-he whom, next thyself, Of all the world I loved, and to him put The manage of my state; as at that time Through all the signories it was the first, And Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed In dignity, and for the liberal arts Without a parallel; those being all my study, 70 The government I cast upon my brother, And to my state grew stranger, being transported Sir, most heedfully. 80 Mir. Of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state To what tune pleased his ear; that now he was And suck'd my verdure out on't. Thou attend'st not. Mir. O, good sir, I do. Pros. I pray thee, mark me. I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated Like a good parent, did beget of him A falsehood in its contrary, as great As my trust was; which had indeed no limit, But what my power might else exact, like one To credit his own lie, he did believe He was indeed the duke; out o' the substitution, 90 100 Mir. With all prerogative:—hence his ambition growing,— Your tale, sir, would cure deafness. Mir. Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend O the heavens! Pros. Mark his condition, and the event; then tell me Mir. Pros. I should sin To think but nobly of my grandmother : III Now the condition. 120 Fated to the purpose, did Antonio open The gates of Milan; and, i' the dead of darkness, 130 Me and thy crying self. Mir. Pros. Mir. Pros. Mir. Pros. Alack, for pity! I, not remembering how I cried out then, That wrings mine eyes to 't. Hear a little further, And then I'll bring thee to the present business That hour destroy us? Wherefore did they not Well demanded, wench: My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not, A mark so bloody on the business; but With colours fairer painted their foul ends. In few, they hurried us aboard a bark, Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepared Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats Was I then to you! 141 150 Alack, what trouble O, a cherubin Thou didst smile, Thou wast that did preserve me. Infused with a fortitude from heaven, When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt, Against what should ensue. Mir. Pros. By Providence divine. Mir. Pros. How came we ashore? Some food we had, and some fresh water, that 160 Out of his charity, who being then appointed Master of this design, did give us, with Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries, Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness, But ever see that man! Would I might 170 Now I arise: [Resumes his mantle. 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 Than other princess' can, that have more time For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful. Mir. 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, 180 I find my zenith doth depend upon A most auspicious star, whose influence If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes Will ever after droop. Here cease more questions: [Miranda sleeps. |