No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren hate,
Sour-ey'd disdain, and discord, shall bestrew
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly,
That shall hate it both: therefore, take heed,
As Hymen's lamps shall light you.

you

Fer.

As I hope
For quiet days, fair issue, and long life,

With such love as 'tis now; the murkiest den,
The most opportune place, the strongest suggestion
Our worser Genius can, shall never melt
Mine honour into lust; to take away

The edge of that day's celebration,

When I shall think, or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd, Or night kept chain'd below.

Pro.

Fairly spoke:

Sit then, and talk with her, she is thine own.-
What, Ariel: my industrious servant Ariel!

Enter Ariel.

Ari. What would my potent master? here I am. Pro. Thou and thy meaner fellows your last

service

Did worthily perform; and I must use you
In such another trick: go, bring the rabble,
O'er whom I give thee power, here, to this place.
Incite them to quick motion; for I must
Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
Some vanity of mine art; it is my promise,
And they expect it from me.

Ari.

Pro. Ay, with a twink.

Present y?

Ari. Before you can say, Come, and go,

And breathe twice; and cry, so, so;

Each one, tripping on his toe,

Will be here with mop and mowe:

Do you love me, master? no.

(1) Sprinkling.

Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel: Do not approach, Till thou dost hear me call.

Ari.

Well I conceive.

[Exit.

Pro. Look, thou be true; do not give dalliance Too much the rein; the strongest oaths are straw To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious, Or else, good night, your vow!

Fer.

I warrant you, sir; The white-cold virgin snow upon my heart Abates the ardour of my liver.

Well.

Pro. Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary,1 Rather than want a spirit; appear, and pertly.No tongue; all eyes; be silent.

A Masque. Enter Iris.

[Soft music.

Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas
Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and pease;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,
And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep;
Thy banks with peonied and lilied brims,
Which spongy April at thy hest2 betrims,
To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy
broom groves,

Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard;
And thy sea-marge, steril, and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyself dost air: The queen o' the sky,
Whose watery arch, and messenger, am I,
Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign

grace,

Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport: her peacocks fly amain;
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter Ceres.

Cer. Hail, many-colour'd messenger, that ne'er

(1) Surplus.

(2) Command.

Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;
Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers:
And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown
My bosky acres, and my unshrubb'd down,
Rich scarf to my proud earth; Why hath thy queer.
Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate;
And some donation freely to estate

On the bless'd lovers.

Cer.

Tell me, heavenly bow,

If Venus, or her son, as thou dost know,

Do now attend the queen? since they did plot
The means, that dusky Dis2 my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forsworn.

Iris.

Of her society

Be not afraid I met her deity

:

Cutting the clouds towards Paphos; and her son Dove-drawn with her: here thought they to have

done

Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
Whose vows are, that no bed-rite shall be paid
Till Hymen's torch be lighted: but in vain;
Mars's hot minion is return'd again;

Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows,
Swears he will shoot no more, but play with spar

Highest queen of state,

Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait.

Enter Juno.

Juno. How does my bounteous sister? Go with

me

To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be, And honour'd in their issue.

SONG.

Juno. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance, and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Juno sings her blessings on you.

Cer.

Earth's increase, and foizon' plenty;
Barns, and
garners never empty;
Vines, with clust'ring bunches growing;
Plants, with goodly burden bowing,
Spring come to you, at the farthest,
In the very end of harvest;

Scarcity, and want, shall shun you ;
Ceres' blessing so is on you.

Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and
Harmonious charmingly: May I be bold
To think these spirits?

Pro.

1 have from their confines call'd to enact

My present fancies.

Fer.

Spirits, which by mine art

Let me live here ever;

So rare a wonder'd2 father, and a wife,

Make this place Paradise.

[Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on

Pro.

employment.

Sweet now, silence;

Juno and Ceres whisper seriously;

There's something else to do: hush, and be mute, Or else our spell is marr'd.

Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the wand'ring brooks,

land

With your sedg'd crowns, and ever harmless looks, Leave your crisp channels, and on this green Answer your summons; Juno does command:

(1) Abundance. (2) Able to produce such wonders. VOL. I.

E

Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate A contract of true love; be not too late.

Enter certain Nymphs.

You sun-burn'd sicklemen, of August weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry;
Make holy-day your rye-straw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing.

Enter certain Reapers, properly habited; they join with the Nymphs in a graceful dance; towards the end whereof Prospero starts suddenly, and speaks; after which, to a strange, hollow, and confused noise, they heavily vanish.

Pro. [Aside.] I had forgot that foul conspiracy Of the beast Caliban, and his confederates, Against my life; the minute of their plot Is almost come.-[To the Spirits.] Well done ;avoid;-no more.

Fer. This is most strange: your father's in some passion

That works him strongly.

Mira.

:

Never till this day, Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd. Pro. You do look, my son, in a mov'd sort, As if you were dismay'd be cheerful, sir : Our revels now are ended; these our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits, and Are melted into air, into thin air: And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces. The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve; And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,1

(1) Vanished.