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She that is Queen of Tunis; she that dwells

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

Can have no note, unless the sun were post,

The Man i' th' Moon's too slow, till newborn 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.

SEBASTIAN.

What stuff is this! How say you?

'Tis true, my brother's daughter's Queen of Tunis;

So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions

There is some space.

ANTONIO.

A space whose ev'ry cubit

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 seiz'd 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?

SEBASTIAN.

Methinks I do.

ANTONIO.

And how does your content

Tender your own good fortune?

SEBASTIAN.

I remember

You did supplant your brother Prospero.

ANTONIO.

True.

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.

SEBASTIAN.

But, for your conscience-

ANTONIO.

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.

SEBASTIAN.

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.

ANTONIO.

Draw together;

And when I rear my hand, do you the like,

To fall it on Gonzalo.

SEBASTIAN.

O, but one word. [They talk apart]

Re-enter ARIEL, invisible, with music and song

ARIEL.

My master through his art foresees the danger

That you, his friend, are in; and sends me forth-

For else his project dies-to keep them living.

[Sings in GONZALO'S ear]

While you here do snoring lie,

Open-ey'd conspiracy

His time doth take.

If of life you keep a care,

Shake off slumber, and beware.

Awake, awake!

ANTONIO.

Then let us both be sudden.

GONZALO.

Now, good angels

Preserve the King! [They wake]

ALONSO.

Why, how now?-Ho, awake!-Why are you drawn?

Wherefore this ghastly looking?

GONZALO.

What's the matter?

SEBASTIAN.

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.

ALONSO.

I heard nothing.

ANTONIO.

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.

ALONSO.

Heard you this, Gonzalo?

GONZALO.

Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,

And that a strange one too, which did awake me;

I shak'd 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.

ALONSO.

Lead off this ground; and let's make further search

For my poor son.

GONZALO.

Heavens keep him from these beasts!

For he is, sure, i' th' island.

ALONSO.

Lead away.

ARIEL.

Prospero my lord shall know what I have done;

So, King, go safely on to seek thy son. Exeunt