How cam'st thou in this pickle?

Trin. I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you last, that, I fear me, will never out of my bones: I shall not fear fly-blowing."

Seb. Why, how now, Stephano?

Ste. O, touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a cramp.1

Pro. You'd be king of the isle, sirrah?

Ste. I should have been a sore one then.2

the alchymists, which they pretend would restore youth and
confer immortality. This, as they said, being a preparation of
gold, they called Aurum potabile; which Shakspeare alluded to
in the word gilded; as he does again in Antony and Cleopatra:
"How much art thou unlike Mark Antony?

"Yet coming from him, that great medicine hath,
"With his tinct gilded thee."

But the joke here is to insinuate that, notwithstanding all the boasts of the chemists, sack was the only restorer of youth and bestower of immortality. So, Ben Jonson, in his Every Man out of his Humour:-" Canarie, the very Elixir and spirit of wine." This seems to have been the cant name for sack, of which the English were, at that time, immoderately fond. Randolph, in his Jealous Lovers, speaking of it, says," A pottle of Elixir at the Pegasus, bravely caroused." So again, in Fletcher's Monsieur Thomas, Act III:

"Old reverend sack, which, for aught that I can read yet, "Was that philosopher's stone the wise king Ptolemeus "Did all his wonders by."

The phrase too of being gilded, was a trite one on this occasion. Fletcher, in his Chances:-" Duke. Is she not drunk too? Whore. A little gilded o'er sir; old sack, old sack, boys!" Warburton.

As the alchymist's Elixir was supposed to be a liquor, the old reading may stand, and the allusion holds good, without any alteration.

9

Steevens.

fly-blowing.] This pickle alludes to their plunge into the stinking pool; and pickling preserves meat from fly-blowing.

Steevens.

1- but a cramp.] i. e. I am all over a cramp. Prospero had ordered Ariel to shorten up their sinews with aged cramps. Touch me not alludes to the soreness, occasioned by them. In his next speech Stephano confirms the meaning by a quibble on the word sore. Steevens.

2 I should have been a sore one then.] The same quibble occurs afterwards, in the Second Part of King Henry VI: "Mass, 'twill be sore law then, for he was thrust in the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not whole yet." Stephano also alludes to the sores about him. Steevens.

Alon. This is as strange a thing, as e'er I look'd on.3
[Pointing to CAL.
Pro. He is as disproportion'd in his manners.
As in his shape-Go, sirrah, to my cell;
Take with you your companions; as you look
To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.

Cal. Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter,
And seek for grace: What a thrice-double ass
Was I, to take this drunkard for a god,
And worship this dull fool?

Pro.

Go to; away!

Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where you

found it.

Seb. Or stole it, rather. [Exeunt CAL. STE. and TRIN. Pro. Sir, I invite your highness, and your train, To my poor cell: where you shall take your rest For this one night; which (part of it,) I'll waste With such discourse, as, I not doubt, shall make it Go quick away: the story of my life,

And the particular accidents, gone by,

Since I came to this isle: And, in the morn,
I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,
Where I have hope to see the nuptial
Of these our dear-beloved, solemniz'd;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.

Alon.
I long
To hear the story of your life, which must
Take the ear strangely.

Pro.

I'll deliver all;

And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales,

And sail so expeditious, that shall catch

Your royal fleet far off.-My Ariel;-chick,—
That is thy charge; then to the elements

Be free, and fare thou well!-[aside.] Please you draw near

[Exeunt.

3 This is as strange a thing, as e'er I look'd on.] The old copy, disregarding metre, reads

"This is a strange thing as e'er I look'd on." For the repetition of the conjunction as, &c. I am answerable.

Steevens.

137

EPILOGUE.

SPOKEN BY PROSPERO.

NOW my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own;
Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,
I must be here confin'd by you,
Or sent to Naples: Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got,
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island, by your spell;
But release me from my bands,
With the help of your good hands.
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please: Now I want

Spirits to enforce, art to enchant ;

4 With the help of your good hands.] By your applause, by clapping hands. Johnson.

Noise was supposed to dissolve a spell. So, twice before, in this play:

Again:

"No tongue; all eyes; be silent."

66 hush! be mute;

"Or else our spell is marr'd.”

Again, in Macbeth, Act IV. sc. i:

"Hear his speech, but say thou nought.”

Again, ibid:

"Listen, but speak not to 't." Steevens.

N

And my ending is despair,
Unless I be reliev'd by pray'r ;5
Which pierces so, that it assaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.

As you from crimes would pardon'd be,

Let your indulgence set me free.

5 And my ending is despair,

Unless I be reliev'd by pray'r;] This alludes to the old stories told of the despair of necromancers, in their last moments, and of the efficacy of the prayers of their friends for them.

Warburton.

6 It is observed of The Tempest, that its plan is regular; this the author of The Revisal thinks, what I think too, an accidental effect of the story, not intended, or regarded, by our author. But, whatever might be Shakspeare's intention, in forming, or adopting, the plot, he has made it instrumental to the production of many characters, diversified with boundless invention, and preserved with profound skill in nature, extensive knowledge of opinions, and accurate observation of life. In a single drama, are here exhibited princes, courtiers, and sailors, all speaking in their real characters. There is the agency of airy spirits, and of an earthly goblin. The operations of magick, the tumults of a storm, the adventures of a desert island, the native effusion of untaught affection, the punishment of guilt, and the final happiness of the pair for whom our passions and reason are equally interested. Johnson.

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.