No, wench; it eats and sleeps, and hath such

senses

As we have, such; this gallant which thou see’st,

Was in the wrack; and, but he ’s something stain’d

With grief,—that beauty’s canker,—thou might’st call him

A goodly person: he hath lost his fellows

And strays about to find ’em.

MIRANDA.                                              I might call him

A thing divine; for nothing natural

I ever saw so noble.

PROSPERO.                                              (Aside) It goes on, I see,

As my soul prompts it.—Spirit, fine spirit! I’ll free thee

Within two days for this.

FERDINAND.                                              Most sure, the goddess

On whom these airs attend!—Vouchsafe, my prayer

May know if you remain upon this island;

And that you will some good instruction give

How I may bear me here: my prime request,

Which I do last pronounce, is,—O you wonder!—

If you be maid or no?

MIRANDA.                                              No wonder, sir;

But certainly a maid.

FERDINAND.                                              My language! heavens!—

I am the best of them that speak this speech,

Were I but where ’tis spoken.

PROSPERO.                                              How! the best?

What wert thou, if the King of Naples heard thee?

FERDINAND. A single thing, as I am now, that wonders

To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me;

And, that he does, I weep: myself am Naples,

Who with mine eyes,—ne’er since at ebb,—beheld

The king, my father wrack’d.

MIRANDA.                                              Alack, for mercy!

FERDINAND. Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan,

And his brave son being twain.

PROSPERO.                                              (Aside) The Duke of Milan,

And his more braver daughter could control thee,

If now ‘twere fit to do ‘t.—At the first sight (Aside)

They have changed eyes :—delicate Ariel,

I ’ll set thee free for this!—(To Ferdinand) A word, good

sir;

I fear you have done yourself some wrong: a word.

MIRANDA. (Aside) Why speaks my father so ungently?

This

Is the third man that e’er I saw; the first

That e’er I sigh’d for: pity move my father

To be inclin’d my way!

FERDINAND.                                              (Aside) O! if a virgin,

And your affection not gone forth, I ’ll make you

The Queen of Naples.

PROSPERO.                                              Soft, sir: one word more—

(Aside) They are both in either’s powers: but this swift

business

I must uneasy make, lest too light winning

Make the prize light.—(To Ferdinand) One word more:

I charge thee

That thou attend me. Thou dost here usurp

The name thou ow’st not; and hast put thyself

Upon this island as a spy, to win it

From me, the lord on ‘t.

FERDINAND.                                              No, as I am a man.

MIRANDA. There ’s nothing ill can dwell in such a temple:

If the ill spirit have so fair a house,

Good things will strive to dwell with ‘t.

PROSPERO.