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 bosky1 acres, and my unshrubb'd down,
Rich scarf to my proud earth; Why hath thy queen
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.

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.

Cer.

SONG.

Juno. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance, and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Juno sings her blessings on you.
Earth's increase, and foizon1 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.

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

(1) Abundance. (2) Able to produce such wonders,

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,

Leave not a rack1 behind: We are such stuff
As dreams are made of, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.-Sir, I am vex'd;
Bear with my weakness; my old brain is troubled.
Be not disturb'd with my infirmity:

If you be pleas'd, retire into my cell,

And there repose; a turn or two I'll walk,
To still my beating mind.

Fer. Mira.

We wish your peace.

Exeunt.

Pro. Come with a thought:-I thank you :

Ariel, come.

Enter Ariel.

Ari. Thy thoughts I cleave to; What's thy pleasure?

Pro.

We must prepare to meet with Caliban.

Spirit,

Ari. Ay, my commander: when I presented
Ceres,

I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd,
Lest I might anger thee.

Pro. Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets?

Ari. I told you, sir, they were red-hot with drinking;

So full of valour, that they smote the air
For breathing in their faces; beat the ground
For kissing of their feet: yet always bending
Towards their project: Then I beat my tabor,
At which, like unback'd colts, they prick'd their
ears,

Advanc'd their eye-lids, lifted up their noses,
As they smelt music; so I charm'd their ears,
That, calf-like, they my lowing follow'd, through

(1) A body of clouds in motion; but it is most probable that the author wrote track,

Tooth'd briers, sharp furzes, pricking goss, and thorns,

Which entered their frail shins: at last I left them
I' the filthy mantled pool beyond your cell,
There dancing up to the chins, that the foul lake
O'er-stunk their feet

Pro.

This was well done, my bird: Thy shape invisible retain thou still :

The trumpery in my house, go, bring it hither,
For stale, to catch these thieves.

Ari.

I go, I go. [Exit. Pro. A devil, a born devil, on whose nature Nurture2 can never stick; on whom my pains, Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost; And as, with age, his body uglier grows, So his mind cankers: I will plague them all,

Re-enter Ariel loaden with glistering apparel, &c. Even to roaring :-Come, hang them on this line. Prospero and Ariel remain invisible. Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo; all wet.

Cal. Pray, you, tread softly, that the blind mole

may not

Hear a foot fall: we now are near his cell.

Ste. Monster, your fairy, which, you say, is a harmless fairy, has done little better than played the Jack3 with us.

Trin. Monster, I do smell all horse-piss; at which my nose is in great indignation.

Ste. So is mine. Do you hear, monster? If I should take a displeasure against you; look you,― Trin. Thou wert but a lost monster.

Cal. Good my lord, give me thy favour still, Be patient, for the prize I'll bring thee to Shall hood-wink this mischance: therefore, speak softly,

(1) Bait. (2) Education. (3) Jack with a lantern.