The Tempest | Page 7

heard thee?
Fer. 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 435 The king my father wreck'd.
Mir. Alack, for mercy!
Fer. Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan And his brave son being twain.
Pros. [Aside] The Duke of Milan And his more braver daughter could control thee, If now 'twere fit to do't. At the first sight 440 They have changed eyes. Delicate Ariel, I'll set thee free for this. [To Fer.] A word, good sir; I fear you have done yourself some wrong: a word.
Mir. Why speaks my father so ungently? This Is the third man that e'er I saw; the first 445 That e'er I sigh'd for: pity move my father To be inclined my way!
Fer. O, if a virgin, And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you The queen of Naples.
Pros. Soft, sir! one word more. [Aside] They are both in either's powers: but this swift business 450 I must uneasy make, lest too light winning Make the prize light. [To Fer.] One word more; I charge thee That thou attend me: thou dost here usurp The name thou owest not; and hast put thyself Upon this island as a spy, to win it 455 From me, the lord on't.
Fer. No, as I am a man.
Mir. 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.
Pros. Follow me. Speak not you for him; he's a traitor. Come; 460 I'll manacle thy neck and feet together: Sea-water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be The fresh-brook muscles, wither'd roots, and husks Wherein the acorn cradled. Follow.
Fer. No; I will resist such entertainment till 465 Mine enemy has more power. [Draws, and is charmed from moving.
Mir. O dear father, Make not too rash a trial of him, for He's gentle, and not fearful.
Pros. What! I say, My foot my tutor? Put thy sword up, traitor; Who makest a show, but darest not strike, thy conscience 470 Is so possess'd with guilt: come from thy ward; For I can here disarm thee with this stick And make thy weapon drop.
Mir. Beseech you, father.
Pros. Hence! hang not on my garments.
Mir. Sir, have pity; I'll be his surety.
Pros. Silence! one word more 475 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 the most of men this is a Caliban, 480 And they to him are angels.
Mir. My affections Are, then, most humble; I have no ambition To see a goodlier man.
Pros. Come on; obey: Thy nerves are in their infancy again, And have no vigour in them.
Fer. So they are: 485 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 490 Behold this maid: all corners else o' th' earth Let liberty make use of; space enough Have I in such a prison.
Pros. [Aside] It works. [To Fer.] Come on. Thou hast done well, fine Ariel! [To Fer.] Follow me. [To Ari.] Hark what thou else shalt do me.
Mir. Be of comfort; 495 My father's of a better nature, sir, Than he appears by speech: this is unwonted Which now came from him.
Pros. Thou shalt be as free As mountain winds: but then exactly do All points of my command.
Ari. To the syllable. 500
Pros. Come, follow. Speak not for him. [Exeunt.
Notes: I, 2.
3: stinking] flaming Singer conj. kindling S. Verges conj. 4: cheek] heat Collier MS. crack Staunton conj. 7: creature] creatures Theobald. 13: fraughting] Ff. fraighted Pope. fraighting Theobald. freighting Steevens. 15: Mir. O, woe the day! Pros. No harm.] Mir. O woe the day! no harm? Johnson conj. 19: I am more better] I'm more or better Pope. 24: [Lays ... mantle] Pope. 28: provision] F1. compassion F2 F3 F4. prevision Hunter conj. 29: soul] soul lost Rowe. foyle Theobald. soil Johnson conj. loss Capell. foul Wright conj. 31: betid] F1. betide F2 F3 F4. 35: a] F1. the F2 F3 F4. 38: thou] om. Pope. 41: Out] Full Pope (after Dryden). Quite Collier MS. 44: with] in Pope (after Dryden). 53: Twelve year ... year] Tis twelve years ... years Pope. 58, 59: and his only heir And princess] and his only heir A princess Pope. thou his only heir And princess Steevens. and though his only heir