_Prosp._ They durst not, girl, in Milan, for the love My people bore me; in short, they hurried us Away to Savoy, and thence aboard a bark at Nissa's port, Bore us some leagues to sea, where they prepared A rotten carcase of a boat, not rigged, No tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats Instinctively had quit it. _Mir._ Alack! what trouble Was I then to you? _Prosp._ Thou and thy sister were Two cherubims, which did preserve me: You both Did smile, infused with fortitude from heaven. _Mir._ How came we ashore? _Prosp._ By providence divine. Some food we had, and some fresh water, which A nobleman of Savoy, called Gonzalo, Appointed master of that black design, Gave us; with rich garments, and all necessaries, Which since have steaded much; And of his gentleness (Knowing I loved my books) he furnished me, From mine own library, with volumes, which I prize above my dukedom. _Mir._ Would I might see that man! _Prosp._ Here in this island we arrived, and here Have I your tutor been. But by my skill I find, that my mid-heaven doth depend On a most happy star, whose influence If I now court not, but omit, my fortunes Will ever after droop: Here cease more questions; Thou art inclined to sleep: 'Tis a good dulness, And give it way; I know thou can'st not chuse. [_She falls asleep._ Come away, my spirit: I am ready now; approach, My Ariel, come. _Enter_ ARIEL. _Ariel._ All hail, great master, grave Sir, hail! I come to answer thy best pleasure, Be it to fly, to swim, to shoot into the fire, To ride into the curled clouds; to thy strong bidding Task Ariel, and all his qualities. _Prosp._ Hast thou, spirit, performed to point The tempest, that I bade thee? _Ariel._ To every article. I boarded the duke's ship; now on the beak, Now in the waste, the deck, in every cabin, I flamed amazement; and sometimes I seemed To burn in many places; on the top-mast, The yards, and bow-sprit, I did flame distinctly; Nay, once I rained a shower of fire upon them. _Prosp._ My brave spirit!-- Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil Did not infect his reason? _Ariel._ Not a soul, But felt a fever of the mind, and played Some tricks of desperation; all, But mariners, plunged in the foaming brine, And quit the vessel: The duke's son, Ferdinand, With hair upstaring, (more like reeds than hair) Was the first man that leaped; cried, _Hell is empty! And all the devils are here!_ _Prosp._ Why, that's my spirit!-- But, was not this nigh shore? _Ariel._ Close by, my master. _Prosp._ But, Ariel, are they safe? _Ariel._ Not a hair perished. In troops I have dispersed them round this isle: The duke's son I have landed by himself, Whom I have left warming the air with sighs, In an odd angle of the isle, and sitting, His arms enfolded in this sad knot.