The Tempest | Page 5

new form'd 'em: having both the key Of officer and office, set all hearts i' th' state To what tune pleas'd his ear: that now he was The ivy which had hid my princely trunk, And suck'd my verdure out on't.--Thou attend'st not.
MIRANDA. O, good sir! I do.
PROSPERO. I pray thee, mark me. I thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated To closeness and the bettering of my mind With that, which, but by being so retir'd, O'er-priz'd all popular rate, in my false brother Awak'd 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 bound. He being thus lorded, Not only with what my revenue yielded, But what my power might else exact,--like one Who having, into truth, by telling of it, Made such a sinner of his memory, To credit his own lie,--he did believe He was indeed the Duke; out o' the substitution, And executing th' outward face of royalty, With all prerogative.--Hence his ambition growing-- Dost thou hear?
MIRANDA. Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.
PROSPERO. To have no screen between this part he play'd And him he play'd it for, he needs will be Absolute Milan. Me, poor man--my library Was dukedom large enough: of temporal royalties He thinks me now incapable; confederates,-- So dry he was for sway,--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!-- To most ignoble stooping.
MIRANDA. O the heavens!
PROSPERO. Mark his condition, and the event; then tell me If this might be a brother.
MIRANDA. I should sin To think but nobly of my grandmother: Good wombs have borne bad sons.
PROSPERO. Now the condition. This King of Naples, being an enemy To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit; Which was, that he, in lieu o' the premises Of homage and I know not how much tribute, Should presently 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 the purpose, did Antonio open The gates of Milan; and, i' th' dead of darkness, The ministers for th' purpose hurried thence Me and thy crying self.
MIRANDA. Alack, for pity! I, not rememb'ring how I cried out then, Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes to't.
PROSPERO. Hear a little further, And then I'll bring thee to the present business Which now's upon us; without the which this story Were most impertinent.
MIRANDA. Wherefore did they not That hour destroy us?
PROSPERO. Well demanded, wench: My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not, So dear the love my people bore me, nor set 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 A rotten carcass of a boat, not rigg'd, Nor tackle, sail, nor mast: the very rats Instinctively have quit it. There they hoist 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.
MIRANDA. Alack! what trouble Was I then to you!
PROSPERO. O, a cherubin Thou wast that did preserve me! Thou didst smile, Infused with a fortitude from heaven, When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt, Under my burden groan'd: which rais'd in me An undergoing stomach, to bear up Against what should ensue.
MIRANDA. How came we ashore?
PROSPERO. By Providence divine. Some food we had and some fresh water that A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo, 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, Knowing I lov'd my books, he furnish'd me, From mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.
MIRANDA. Would I might But ever see that man!
PROSPERO. Now I arise:--
[Resumes his mantle]
Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. Here in this island we arriv'd: and here Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit Than other princes can, that have more time For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful.
MIRANDA. 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?
PROSPERO. Know thus far forth. By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune, Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies Brought to this shore; and by my prescience 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.