Seb. 'Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in our return. Adr. Tunis was never graced before with such a paragon to their queen. Gon. Not since widow Dido's time. Ant. Widow! a pox o' that! How came that widow in? widow Dido! Seb. What if he had said 'widower Æneas' too? Good Lord, how you take it! Adr. 'Widow Dido' said you? you make me study of that: she was of Carthage, not of Tunis. Gon. This Tunis, sir, was Carthage. Adr. Carthage? Gon. I assure you, Carthage. Seb. His word is more than the miraculous harp; he hath raised the wall and houses too. Ant. What impossible matter will he make easy next? Seb. I think he will carry this island home in his pocket and give it his son for an apple. 91 Ant. And, sowing the kernels of it in the sea, bring forth more islands. Ant. Why, in good time. Gon. Sir, we were talking that our garments seem now as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage of your daughter, who is now queen. Ant. And the rarest that e'er came there. Seb. Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido. Ant. O, widow Dido! ay, widow Dido. Gon. Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I wore it? I mean, in a sort.* Ant. That sort was well fished for. ΙΟΟ *Manner. Gon. When I wore it at your daughter's mar riage? Alon. You cram these words into mine ears against The stomach* of my sense. Would I had never Married my daughter there! for, coming thence, Who is so far from Italy removed *Inclination. IIO †Judgment Fran. Sir, he may live: I saw him beat the surges under him, And ride upon their backs; he trod the water, The surge most swoln that met him; his bold head 'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar'd* Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke To the shore, that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd, Alon. 121 *As with oars. No, no, he's gone. Seb. Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss, That would not bless our Europe with your daughter, But rather lose her to an African; Where she at least is banish'd from your eye, Who hath cause to wet the grief on 't. Alon. Seb. Prithee, peace. You were kneel'd to and importuned otherwise By all of us, and the fair soul herself Weigh'd between loathness and obedience, at 130 Which end o' the beam should bow. We have lost your son, I fear, for ever: Milan and Naples have Moe* widows in them of this business' making Than we bring men to comfort them: The fault's your own. Alon. *More. So is the dear'st o' the loss. Gon. My lord Sebastian, The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness And time to speak it in: you rub the sore, When you should bring the plaster. Seb. Ant. And most chirurgeonly. * Very well. Gon. It is foul weather in us all, good sir, When you are cloudy. Seb. Ant. Foul weather? Very foul. Gon. Had I plantation* of this isle, my lord,He'ld sow't with nettle-seed. *Colonizing. Ant. Seb. Or docks, or mallows. Execute all things; for no kind of traffic No occupation; all men idle, all; And women too, but innocent and pure; Seb. *Tillage. Yet he would be king on't. The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the beginning. Gon. All things in common nature should produce Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony, 160 To excel the golden age. Seb. †Plenty. God save his majesty! Ant. Long live Gonzalo! Gon. And, do you mark me, sir? Alon. Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me. 171 Gon. I do well believe your highness; and did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen, who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that they always use to laugh at nothing. Ant. 'Twas you we laughed at. Gon. Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing to you: so you may continue and laugh at nothing still. Ant. What a blow was there given! 180 Gon. You are gentlemen of brave mettle; you would lift 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.* *Catching birds with a clap-net by night. 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. 190 [All sleep except Alon., Seb., and Ant. Alon. 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. Thank you. Wondrous heavy. [Alonso sleeps. Exit Ariel. Seb. What a strange drowsiness possesses them! Seb. Myself disposed to sleep. Ant. Why 200 Nor I; my spirits are nimble. What They fell together all, as by consent; They dropp'd as by a thunder-stroke. 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. Seb. What, art thou waking? Ant. Seb. Do you not hear me speak? 211 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. Ant. Noble Sebastian, Thou let'st thy fortune sleep-die, rather; wink'st Whiles thou art waking. Seb. Thou dost snore distinctly; 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 Trebles thee o'er. Seb Hereditary sloth instructs me. Ant. 220 Do so: to ebb O, If you but knew how you the purpose cherish By their own fear or sloth. Seb. Prithee, say on: 230 *Agonizes. Thus, sir: Ant. When he is earth'd, hath here almost persuaded,- Professes to persuade, -the king his son's alive, 'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd As he that sleeps here swims. Seb. That he's undrown'd. Ant. 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 241 |