Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 8Sylvester, Charles Herbert
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Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 8
Sylvester, Charles Herbert
Children's literature; Literature -- Collections
_Cal._ [_Sings drunkenly._] Farewell, master; farewell, farewell.
_Trin._ A howling monster; a drunken monster!
_Cal._ No more dams I'll make for fish;
Nor fetch in firing at requiring;
Nor scrape trencher, nor wash dish:
'Ban, 'Ban, Ca--Caliban
Has a new master; get a new man.
Freedom, hey-day, hey-day, freedom! freedom, hey-day, freedom!
_Steph._ O brave monster! lead the way.
[_Exeunt._
ACT III
SCENE I.--_Before PROSPERO'S Cell._
_Enter FERDINAND, bearing a log._
There be some sports are painful, and their labour
Delight in them sets off:[418-1] some kinds of baseness[418-2]
Are nobly undergone; and most poor matters
Point to rich ends. This my mean task would be
As heavy to me as 'tis odious, but
The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead,
And makes my labours pleasures:[418-3] 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 labour;
Most busy when I do it least.[419-4]
_Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO behind._
_Mira._ Alas, now, pray you,
Work not so hard: I would the lightning had
Burnt up those logs that you're 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.
_Ferd._ O most dear mistress,
The Sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.
_Mira._ If you'll sit down,
I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that;
I'll carry't to the pile.
_Ferd._ No, precious creature;
I'd rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonour undergo,
While I sit lazy by.
_Mira._ 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.
_Pros._ [_Aside._] Poor worm, thou art infected!
This visitation shows it.
_Mira._ You look wearily.
_Ferd._ 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?
_Mira._ Miranda--O my father,
I've broke your best to say so!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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