SCENE III.

_Enter_ HIPPOLITO.

_Hip._ Prospero has often said, that nature makes Nothing in vain: Why then are women made? Are they to suck the poison of the earth, As gaudy coloured serpents are? I'll ask That question, when next I see him here.

_Enter_ MIRANDA _and_ DORINDA _peeping_.

_Dor._ O sister, there it is! it walks about Like one of us.

_Mir._ Ay, just so, and has legs as we have too.

_Hip._ It strangely puzzles me: Yet 'tis most likely, Women are somewhat between men and spirits.

_Dor._ Hark! it talks:--sure this is not it my father meant, For this is just like one of us: Methinks, I am not half so much afraid on't as I was; see, now it turns this way.

_Mir._ Heaven! what a goodly thing it is!

_Dor._ I'll go nearer it.

_Mir._ O no, 'tis dangerous, sister! I'll go to it. I would not for the world that you should venture. My father charged me to secure you from it.

_Dor._ I warrant you this is a tame man; dear sister, He'll not hurt me, I see it by his looks.

_Mir._ Indeed he will! but go back, and he shall eat me first: Fie, are you not ashamed to be so inquisitive?

_Dor._ You chide me for it, and would give him yourself.

_Mir._ Come back, or I will tell my father. Observe how he begins to stare already! I'll meet the danger first, and then call you.

_Dor._ Nay, sister, you shall never vanquish me in kindness. I'll venture you no more than you will me.

_Prosp._ [_within_.] Miranda, child, where are you?

_Mir._ Do you not hear my father call? Go in.

_Dor._ 'Twas you he named, not me; I will but say my prayers, and follow you immediately.

_Mir._ Well, sister, you'll repent it. [_Exit_ MIR.

_Dor._ Though I die for it, I must have the other peep.

_Hip._ What thing is that? [_Seeing her_.] Sure 'tis some infant of The sun, dressed in his father's gayest beams, And comes to play with birds: My sight is dazzled, And yet I find I'm loth to shut my eyes: I must go nearer it;--but stay a while; May it not be that beauteous murderer, woman, Which I was charged to shun? Speak, what art thou, Thou shining vision!

_Dor._ Alas, I know not; but I'm told I am A woman; do not hurt me, pray, fair thing.

_Hip._ I'd sooner tear my eyes out, than consent To do you any harm; though I was told, A woman was my enemy.

_Dor._ I never knew What 'twas to be an enemy, nor can I e'er Prove so to that, which looks like you: For though I've been charged by him (whom yet I ne'er disobeyed,) To shun your presence, yet I'd rather die Than lose it; therefore, I hope you will not have the heart To hurt me: Though I fear you are a man, The dangerous thing of which I have been warned. Pray, tell me what you are?

_Hip._ I must confess, I was informed I am a man; But if I fright you, I shall wish I were some other creature. I was bid to fear you too.

_Dor._ Ah me! Heaven grant we be not poison to Each other! Alas, can we not meet, but we must die?

_Hip._ I hope not so! for, when two poisonous creatures, Both of the same kind, meet, yet neither dies. I've seen two serpents harmless to each other, Though they have twined into a mutual knot: If we have any venom in us, sure, we cannot be More poisonous, when we meet, than serpents are. You have a hand like mine--may I not gently touch it? [_Takes her hand._

_Dor._ I've touched my father's and my sister's hands, And felt no pain; but now, alas! there's something, When I touch yours, which makes me sigh: Just so I've seen two turtles mourning when they met: Yet mine's a pleasing grief; and so, methought, Was theirs: For still they mourned, and still they seemed To murmur too, and yet they often met.

_Hip._ Oh heavens! I have the same sense too: your hand, Methinks, goes through me; I feel it at my heart, And find it pleases, though it pains me.

_Prosp._ [_within_.] Dorinda!

_Dor._ My father calls again; ah, I must leave you.

_Hip._ Alas, I'm subject to the same command.

_Dor._ This is my first offence against my father, Which he, by severing us, too cruelly does punish.

_Hip._ And this is my first trespass too: But he Hath more offended truth, than we have him: He said our meeting would destructive be, But I no death, but in our parting, see. [_Exeunt severally._