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And presently, I prithee.

ARIEL.

I drink the air before me, and return

Or ere your pulse twice beat. Exit

GONZALO. All torment, trouble, wonder and amazement,

Inhabits here. Some heavenly power guide us

Out of this fearful country!

PROSPERO.

Behold, Sir King,

The wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero.

For more assurance that a living prince

Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body;

And to thee and thy company I bid

A hearty welcome.

ALONSO.

Whe'er thou be'st he or no,

Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me,

As late I have been, I not know. Thy pulse

Beats, as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee,

Th' affliction of my mind amends, with which,

I fear, a madness held me. This must crave-

An if this be at all-a most strange story.

Thy dukedom I resign, and do entreat

Thou pardon me my wrongs. But how should Prospero

Be living and be here?

PROSPERO.

First, noble friend,

Let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot

Be measur'd or confin'd.

GONZALO.

Whether this be

Or be not, I'll not swear.

PROSPERO.

You do yet taste

Some subtleties o' th' isle, that will not let you

Believe things certain. Welcome, my friends all!

[Aside to SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO] But you, my brace of

lords, were I so minded,

I here could pluck his Highness' frown upon you,

And justify you traitors; at this time

I will tell no tales.

SEBASTIAN.

[Aside] The devil speaks in him.

PROSPERO.

No.

For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother

Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive

Thy rankest fault-all of them; and require

My dukedom of thee, which perforce I know

Thou must restore.

ALONSO.

If thou beest Prospero,

Give us particulars of thy preservation;

How thou hast met us here, whom three hours since

Were wreck'd upon this shore; where I have lost-

How sharp the point of this remembrance is!-

My dear son Ferdinand.

PROSPERO.

I am woe for't, sir.

ALONSO.

Irreparable is the loss; and patience

Says it is past her cure.

PROSPERO.

I rather think

You have not sought her help, of whose soft grace

For the like loss I have her sovereign aid,

And rest myself content.

ALONSO.

You the like loss!

PROSPERO.

As great to me as late; and, supportable

To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker

Than you may call to comfort you, for I

Have lost my daughter.

ALONSO.

A daughter!

O heavens, that they were living both in Naples,

The King and Queen there! That they were, I wish

Myself were mudded in that oozy bed

Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter?

PROSPERO.

In this last tempest. I perceive these lords

At this encounter do so much admire

That they devour their reason, and scarce think

Their eyes do offices of truth, their words

Are natural breath; but, howsoe'er you have

Been justled from your senses, know for certain

That I am Prospero, and that very duke

Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely

Upon this shore, where you were wrecked, was landed

To be the lord on't. No more yet of this;

For 'tis a chronicle of day by day,

Not a relation for a breakfast, nor

Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir;

This cell's my court; here have I few attendants,

And subjects none abroad; pray you, look in.

My dukedom since you have given me again,

I will requite you with as good a thing;

At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye

As much as me my dukedom.

Here PROSPERO discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA,

playing at chess

MIRANDA.

Sweet lord, you play me false.

FERDINAND.

No, my dearest love,

I would not for the world.

MIRANDA.

Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle

And I would call it fair play.

ALONSO.

If this prove

A vision of the island, one dear son

Shall I twice lose.

SEBASTIAN.

A most high miracle!

FERDINAND.

Though the seas threaten, they are merciful;

I have curs'd them without cause. [Kneels]

ALONSO.

Now all the blessings

Of a glad father compass thee about!

Arise, and say how thou cam'st here.

MIRANDA.

O, wonder!

How many goodly creatures are there here!

How beauteous mankind