the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue in it five weeks without changing.

Enter ARIEL, invisible, playing solemn music.

Seb. We would so, and then go a bat-fowling.

Ant. Nay, good my lord, be not angry.

Gon. No, I warrant you; I will not adventure my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy?

Ant. Go sleep, and hear us.

Alon.

182

[All sleep except Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio. What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: I find They are inclined to do so.

Seb.

Please you, sir,

Do not omit the heavy offer of it:
It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth,
It is a comforter.

Ant.

We two, my lord,

Will guard your person while you take your rest,
And watch your safety.

Alon.

190

Thank you. Wondrous heavy.
[Alonso sleeps. Exit Ariel.

Seb. What a strange drowsiness possesses them!

Ant. It is the quality o' the climate.

Why

Seb.
Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not

Myself disposed to sleep.

Ant.

Nor I; my spirits are nimble,

They fell together all, as by consent;

They dropp'd, as by a thunder-stroke. What might,
Worthy Sebastian?-O, what might?-No more:—

And yet methinks I see it in thy face,

What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee, and
My strong imagination sees a crown
Dropping upon thy head.

201

Seb.

What, art thou waking?

Do you not hear me speak?

Ant. Seb.

I do; and surely

It is a sleepy language and thou speak'st
Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say?
This is a strange repose, to be asleep

With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving,
And yet so fast asleep.

Thou let'st thy fortune sleep-die, rather; wink'st
Whiles thou art waking.

Seb.

Thou dost snore distinctly; 210

There's meaning in thy snores.

Ant. I am more serious than my custom: you

Must be so too, if heed me; which to do

If you but knew how you the purpose cherish
Whiles thus you mock it! how, in stripping it,
You more invest it! Ebbing men, indeed,

Most often do so near the bottom run
By their own fear or sloth.

Seb.

Prithee, say on:

The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim
A matter from thee, and a birth indeed

Which throes thee much to yield.

Ant.

Thus, sir:

Although this lord of weak remembrance, this,

Who shall be of as little memory

When he is earth'd, hath here almost persuaded—
For he's a spirit of persuasion, only

Professes to persuade—the king his son's alive,

220

'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd

As he that sleeps here swims.

Seb.

That he's undrown'd.

Ant.

230

I have no hope

O, out of that 'no hope'

What great hope have you! no hope that way is
Another way so high a hope that even

Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond,

But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me
That Ferdinand is drown'd?

Ant. She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells

Ten leagues beyond man's life; she that from Naples 240

Can have no note, unless the sun were post

The man i' the moon's too slow-till new-born chins

Be rough and razorable; she that from whom

We all were sea-swallow'd, though some cast again,
And by that destiny to perform an act

Whereof what's past is prologue, what to come
In yours and my discharge.

Seb.
'Tis true, my brother's daughter's queen of Tunis;
So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions

What stuff is this! how say you?

There is some space.

Ant.

A space whose every cubit

250

Seems to cry out, 'How shall that Claribel

Measure us back to Naples? Keep in Tunis,

And let Sebastian wake.' Say, this were death

That now hath seized them; why, they were no worse
Than now they are. There be that can rule Naples

As well as he that sleeps; lords that can prate

As amply and unnecessarily

As this Gonzalo; I myself could make

A chough of as deep chat. O, that you bore

The mind that I do! what a sleep were this
For your advancement! Do you understand me?

True:

Ant.
And look how well my garments sit upon me;
Much feater than before: my brother's servants
Were then my fellows: now they are my men.
Seb. But, for your conscience?

Ant. Ay, sir; where lies that? if 'twere a kibe,
'Twould put me to my slipper: but I feel not
This deity in my bosom: twenty consciences,
That stand 'twixt me and Milan, candied be they
And melt ere they molest! Here lies your brother,
No better than the earth he lies upon,

If he were that which now he's like, that's dead;
Whom I, with this obedient steel, three inches of it,
Can lay to bed for ever; whiles you, doing thus,
To the perpetual wink for aye might put
This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who
Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest,
They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk;
They'll tell the clock to any business that
We say befits the hour.

Seb.

Thy case, dear friend,

Shall be my precedent; as thou got 'st Milan,

I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke
Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest;
And I the king shall love thee.

Ant.

Draw together; And when I rear my hand do you the like, To fall it on Gonzalo.

260

270

280

Seb.

O, but one word.

[They talk apart.

Re-enter ARIEL, invisible.

Ari. My master through his art foresees the danger 290 That you, his friend, are in; and sends me forthFor else his project dies-to keep them living.

Alon. Why, how now? ho, awake! Why are you drawn? Wherefore this ghastly looking?

Gon.
What's the matter?
Seb. Whiles we stood here securing your repose,
Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing
Like bulls, or rather lions: did't not wake you?
It struck mine ear most terribly.

Alon.

I heard nothing.

Ant. O, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear, To make an earthquake! sure, it was the roar Of a whole herd of lions.

302

310

Alon. Heard you this, Gonzalo? Gon. Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming, And that a strange one too, which did awake me: I shaked you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes open'd, I saw their weapons drawn: there was a noise, That's verily. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard, Or that we quit this place: let's draw our weapons. Alon. Lead off this ground; and let's make further search For my poor son.

Gon.

Heavens keep him from these beasts!

For he is, sure, i' the island.