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The Tempest: Act 3 Scene 1

Scene I Before PROSPERO'S Cell.

[Enter FERDINAND, bearing a log]

FERDINAND

There be some sports are painful, and their labour

Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness

Are nobly undergone and most poor matters

Point to rich ends. This my mean task

Would be as heavy to me as odious, but

The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead

And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is

Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed,

And he's composed of harshness. I must remove

Some thousands of these logs and pile them up,

Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress

Weeps when she sees me work, and says, such baseness

Had never like executor. I forget:

But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours,

Most busy lest, when I do it.

[Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance, unseen]

MIRANDA

Alas, now, pray you,

Work not so hard: I would the lightning had

Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin'd to pile!

Pray, set it down and rest you: when this burns,

'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father

Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;

He's safe for these three hours.

FERDINAND

O most dear mistress,

The sun will set before I shall discharge

What I must strive to do.

MIRANDA

If you'll sit down,

I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that;

I'll carry it to the pile.

FERDINAND

No, precious creature;

I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,

Than you should such dishonour undergo,

While I sit lazy by.

MIRANDA

It would become me

As well as it does you: and I should do it

With much more ease; for my good will is to it,

And yours it is against.

PROSPERO

Poor worm, thou art infected!

This visitation shows it.

MIRANDA

You look wearily.

FERDINAND

No, noble mistress;'tis fresh morning with me

When you are by at night. I do beseech you--

Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers--

What is your name?

MIRANDA

Miranda.--O my father,

I have broke your hest to say so!

FERDINAND

Admired Miranda!

Indeed the top of admiration! worth

What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady

I have eyed with best regard and many a time

The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage

Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues

Have I liked several women; never any

With so fun soul, but some defect in her

Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed

And put it to the foil: but you, O you,

So perfect and so peerless, are created

Of every creature's best!

MIRANDA

I do not know

One of my sex; no woman's face remember,

Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen

More that I may call men than you, good friend,

And my dear father: how features are abroad,

I am skilless of; but, by my modesty,

The jewel in my dower, I would not wish

Any companion in the world but you,

Nor can imagination form a shape,

Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle

Something too wildly and my father's precepts

I therein do forget.

FERDINAND

I am in my condition

A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;

I would, not so!--and would no more endure

This wooden slavery than to suffer

The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:

The very instant that I saw you, did

My heart fly to your service; there resides,

To make me slave to it; and for your sake

Am I this patient log--man.

MIRANDA

Do you love me?

FERDINAND

O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound

And crown what I profess with kind event

If I speak true! if hollowly, invert

What best is boded me to mischief! I

Beyond all limit of what else i' the world

Do love, prize, honour you.

MIRANDA

I am a fool

To weep at what I am glad of.

PROSPERO

Fair encounter

Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace

On that which breeds between 'em!

FERDINAND

Wherefore weep you?

MIRANDA

At mine unworthiness that dare not offer

What I desire to give, and much less take

What I shall die to want. But this is trifling;

And all the more it seeks to hide itself,

The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!

And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!

I am your wife, it you will marry me;

If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow

You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,

Whether you will or no.

FERDINAND

My mistress, dearest;

And I thus humble ever.

MIRANDA

My husband, then?

FERDINAND

Ay, with a heart as willing

As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.

MIRANDA

And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewell

Till half an hour hence.

FERDINAND

A thousand thousand!

[Exeunt FERDINAND and MIRANDA severally]

PROSPERO

So glad of this as they I cannot be,

Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing

At nothing can be more. I'll to my book,

For yet ere supper-time must I perform

Much business appertaining.

[Exit]