SCENE II.--_The Cypress Trees and Cave.

_Enter_ PROSPERO _and_ MIRANDA.

_Prosp._ Excuse it not, Miranda, for to you (The elder, and, I thought, the more discreet,) I gave the conduct of your sister's actions.

_Mir._ Sir, when you called me thence, I did not fail To mind her of her duty to depart.

_Prosp._ How can I think you did remember hers, When you forgot your own? did you not see The man, whom I commanded you to shun?

_Mir._ I must confess I saw him at a distance.

_Prosp._ Did not his eyes infect and poison you? What alteration found you in yourself?

_Mir._ I only wondered at a sight so new.

_Prosp._ But have you no desire once more to see him? Come, tell me truly what you think of him.

_Mir._ As of the gayest thing I ever saw, So fine, that it appeared more fit to be Beloved than feared, and seemed so near my kind, That I did think I might have called it sister.

_Prosp._ You do not love it?

_Mir._ How is it likely that I should, Except the thing had first loved me?

_Prosp._ Cherish those thoughts: You have a generous soul; And since I see your mind not apt to take The light impressions of a sudden love, I will unfold a secret to your knowledge. That creature, which you saw, is of a kind, Which nature made a prop and guide to yours.

_Mir._ Why did you then propose him as an object Of terror to my mind? You never used To teach me any thing but god-like truths, And what you said, I did believe as sacred.

_Prosp._ I feared the pleasing form of this young man Might unawares possess your tender breast, Which for a nobler guest I had designed; For shortly, my Miranda, you shall see Another of this kind, the full blown flower, Of which this youth was but the opening bud. Go in, and send your sister to me.

_Mir._ Heaven still preserve you, sir. [_Exit_ MIR.

_Prosp._ And make thee fortunate.

_Enter_ DORINDA.

Oh, come hither: you have seen a man to-day, Against my strict command.

_Dor._ Who, I? Indeed I saw him but a little, sir.

_Prosp._ Come, come, be clear. Your sister told me all.

_Dor._ Did she? Truly she would have seen him more than I, But that I would not let her.

_Prosp._ Why so?

_Dor._ Because, methought, he would have hurt me less, Than he would her. But if I knew you'd not be angry with me, I could tell you, sir, that he was much to blame.

_Prosp._ Ha! was he to blame? Tell me, with that sincerity I taught you, How you became so bold to see the man?

_Dor._ I hope you will forgive me, sir, because I did not see him much, till he saw me. Sir, he would needs come in my way, and stared, And stared upon my face, and so I thought I would be revenged of him, and, therefore, I gazed on him as long; but if I e'er Come near a man again!

_Prosp._ I told you he Was dangerous; but you would not be warned.

_Dor._ Pray be not angry, sir, if I tell you, You are mistaken in him; for he did Me no great hurt.

_Prosp._ But he may do you more harm hereafter.

_Dor._ No, sir, I'm as well as e'er I was in all my life, But that I cannot eat nor drink for thought of him. That dangerous man runs ever in my mind.

_Prosp._ The way to cure you is, no more to see him.

_Dor._ Nay, pray, sir, say not so. I promised him To see him once again; and you know, sir, You charged me I should never break my promise.

_Prosp._ Would you see him, who did you so much mischief?

_Dor._ I warrant you I did him as much harm as he did me; For when I left him, sir, he sighed so, as it grieved My heart to hear him.

_Prosp._ Those sighs were poisonous, they infected you; You say, they grieved you to the heart.

_Dor._ 'Tis true; but yet his looks and words were gentle.

_Prosp._ These are the day-dreams of a maid in love; But still I fear the worst.

_Dor._ O fear not him, sir.

_Prosp._ You speak of him with too much passion; tell me, (And on your duty tell me true, Dorinda,) What passed betwixt you and that horrid creature?

_Dor._ How, horrid, sir? if any else but you Should call it so, indeed, I should be angry.

_Prosp._ Go to! You are a foolish girl; but answer To what I ask; what thought you when you saw it?

_Dor._ At first it stared upon me, and seemed wild, And then I trembled; yet it looked so lovely, That when I would have fled away, my feet Seemed fastened to the ground, when it drew near, And with amazement asked to touch my hand; Which, as a ransom for my life, I gave: But when he had it, with a furious gripe He put it to his mouth so eagerly, I was afraid he would have swallowed it.

_Prosp._ Well, what was his behaviour afterwards?

_Dor._ He on a sudden grew so tame and gentle, That he became more kind to me than you are; Then, sir, I grew I know not how, and, touching His hand again, my heart did beat so strong, As I lacked breath to answer what he asked.

_Prosp._ You've been too fond, and I should chide you for it.

_Dor._ Then send me to that creature to be punished.

_Prosp._ Poor child! Thy passion, like a lazy ague, Has seized thy blood; instead of striving, thou humourest And feed'st thy languishing disease: Thou fight'st The battles of thy enemy, and 'tis one part of what I threatened thee, not to perceive thy danger.

_Dor._ Danger, sir? If he would hurt me, yet he knows not how: He hath no claws, nor teeth, nor horns to hurt me, But looks about him like a callow-bird, Just straggling from the nest: Pray trust me, sir, To go to him again.

_Prosp._ Since you will venture, I charge you bear yourself reservedly to him; Let him not dare to touch your naked hand, But keep at distance from him.

_Dor._ This is hard!

_Prosp._ It is the way to make him love you more; He will despise you, if you grow too kind.

_Dor._ I'll struggle with my heart to follow this; But if I lose him by it, will you promise To bring him back again?

_Prosp._ Fear not, Dorinda; But use him ill, and he'll be yours for ever.

_Dor._ I hope you have not cozened me again. [_Exit_ DOR.

_Prosp._ Now my designs are gathering to a head; My spirits are obedient to my charms. What, Ariel! My servant Ariel, where art thou?

_Enter_ ARIEL.

_Ariel._ What would my potent master? Here I am.

_Prosp._ Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service Did worthily perform, and I must use you In such another work: How goes the day?

_Ariel._ On the fourth, my lord; and on the sixth, You said our work should cease.

_Prosp._ And so it shall; And thou shalt have the open air at freedom.

_Ariel._ Thanks, my great lord.

_Prosp._ But tell me first, my spirit, How fares the duke, my brother, and their followers?

_Ariel._ Confined together, as you gave me order, In the lime-grove, which weather-fends your cell; Within that circuit up and down they wander, But cannot stir one step beyond their compass.

_Prosp._ How do they bear their sorrows?

_Ariel._ The two dukes appear like men distracted, their Attendants, brim-full of sorrow, mourning over them; But chiefly he, you termed the good Gonzalo: His tears run down his beard, like winter drops From eaves of reeds; your vision did so work them, That, if you now beheld them, your affections Would become tender.

_Prosp._ Dost thou think so, spirit?

_Ariel._ Mine would, sir, were I human.

_Prosp._ And mine shall: Hast thou, who art but air, a touch, a feeling Of their afflictions, and shall not I (a man Like them, one, who as sharply relish passions As they) be kindlier moved than thou art? Though they have pierced me to the quick with injuries, Yet with my nobler reason, 'gainst my fury, I will take part; the rarer action is In virtue, than in vengeance. Go, my Ariel, Refresh with needful food their famished bodies, With shows and chearful musick comfort them.

_Ariel._ Presently, master?

_Prosp._ With a twinkle, Ariel.--But stay, my spirit; What is become of my slave, Caliban, And Sycorax, his sister?

_Ariel._ Potent sir, They have cast off your service, and revolted To the wrecked mariners, who have already Parcelled your island into governments.

_Prosp._ No matter, I have now no need of them. But, spirit, now I stay thee on the wing; Haste to perform what I have given in charge: But see they keep within the bounds I set them.

_Ariel._ I'll keep them in with walls of adamant, Invisible as air to mortal eyes, But yet unpassable.

_Prosp._ Make haste then. [_Exeunt severally._