PROSPERO.Why, that's my dainty Ariel! I shall miss thee; But yet thou shalt have freedom.So, so, so.To the King's ship, invisible as thou art; There shalt thou find the mariners asleep Under the hatches; the master and the boatswain Being awake, enforce them to this place; And presently, I prithee.ARIEL.I drink the air before me, and return Or ere your pulse twice beat.[Exit] GONZALO.All torment, trouble, wonder and amazement, Inhabits here.Some heavenly power guide us Out of this fearful country! PROSPERO.Behold, Sir King, The wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero.For more assurance that a living prince Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body; And to thee and thy company I bid A hearty welcome.ALONSO.Whe'er thou be'st he or no, Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me, As late I have been, I not know.Thy pulse Beats, as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee, Th' affliction of my mind amends, with which, I fear, a madness held me.This must crave- An if this be at all-a most strange story.Thy dukedom I resign, and do entreat Thou pardon me my wrongs.But how should Prospero Be living and be here? PROSPERO.First, noble friend, Let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot Be measur'd or confin'd.GONZALO.Whether this be Or be not, I'll not swear.PROSPERO.You do yet taste Some subtleties o' th' isle, that will not let you Believe things certain.Welcome, my friends all! [Aside to SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO] But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded, I here could pluck his Highness' frown upon you, And justify you traitors; at this time I will tell no tales.SEBASTIAN.[Aside] The devil speaks in him.PROSPERO.No.For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive Thy rankest fault-all of them; and require My dukedom of thee, which perforce I know Thou must restore.ALONSO.If thou beest Prospero, Give us particulars of thy preservation; How thou hast met us here, whom three hours since Were wreck'd upon this shore; where I have lost- How sharp the point of this remembrance is!- My dear son Ferdinand.PROSPERO.I am woe for't, sir.ALONSO.Irreparable is the loss; and patience Says it is past her cure.PROSPERO.I rather think You have not sought her help, of whose softgrace For the like loss I have her sovereign aid, And rest myself content.ALONSO.You the like loss! PROSPERO.As great to me as late; and, supportable To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker Than you may call to comfort you, for I Have lost my daughter.ALONSO.A daughter! O heavens, that they were living both in Naples, The King and Queen there! That they were, I wish Myself were mudded in that oozy bed Where my son lies.When did you lose your daughter? PROSPERO.In this last tempest.I perceive these lords At this encounter do so much admire That they devour their reason, and scarce think Their eyes do offices of truth, their words Are natural breath; but, howsoe'er you have Been justled from your senses, know for certain That I am Prospero, and that very duke Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely Upon this shore, where you were wrecked, was landed To be the lord on't.No more yet of this; For 'tis a chronicle of day by day, Not a relation for a breakfast, nor Befitting this first meeting.Welcome, sir; This cell's my court; here have I few attendants, And subjects none abroad; pray you, look in.My dukedom since you have given me again, I will requite you with as good a thing; At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye As much as me my dukedom.
[Here PROSPERO discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA, playing at chess]
MIRANDA.Sweet lord, you play me false.FERDINAND.No, my dearest love, I would not for the world.MIRANDA.Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle And I would call it fair play.ALONSO.If this prove A vision of the island, one dear son Shall I twice lose.SEBASTIAN.A most high miracle! FERDINAND.Though the seas threaten, they are merciful; I have curs'd them without cause.[Kneels] ALONSO.Now all the blessings Of a glad father compass thee about! Arise, and say how thou cam'st here.MIRANDA.O, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world That has such people in't! PROSPERO.'Tis new to thee.ALONSO.What is this maid with whom thou wast at play? Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours; Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us, And brought us thus together? FERDINAND.Sir, she is mortal; But by immortalProvidence she's mine.I chose her when I could not ask my father For his advice, nor thought I had one.She Is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan, Of whom so often I have heard renown But never saw before; of whom I have Receiv'd a second life; and second father This lady makes him to me.ALONSO.I am hers.But, O, how oddly will it sound that I Must ask my child forgiveness! PROSPERO.There, sir, stop; Let us not burden our remembrances with A heaviness that's gone.GONZALO.I have inly wept, Or should have spoke ere this.Look down, you gods, And on this couple drop a blessed crown; For it is you that have chalk'd forth the way Which brought us hither.ALONSO.I say, Amen, Gonzalo! GONZALO.Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue Should become Kings of Naples? O, rejoice Beyond a common joy, and set it down With gold on lasting pillars: in one voyage Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis; And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom In a poor isle; and all of us ourselves When no man was his own.ALONSO.[To FERDINAND and MIRANDA] Give me your hands.Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart That doth not wish you joy.GONZALO.Be it so.Amen!