LITMIR.BIZ

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       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. Here cease more questions;

       Thou art inclin’d to sleep; ‘tis a good dulness,

       And give it way;—I know thou canst not choose.—

       [MIRANDA sleeps]

       Come away, servant, come! I am ready now.

       Approach, my

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