Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 31

You’re reading novel Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 31 online at LightNovelFree.com. Please use the follow button to get notification about the latest chapter next time when you visit LightNovelFree.com. Use F11 button to read novel in full-screen(PC only). Drop by anytime you want to read free – fast – latest novel. It’s great if you could leave a comment, share your opinion about the new chapters, new novel with others on the internet. We’ll do our best to bring you the finest, latest novel everyday. Enjoy!

_Mira._ O good sir, I do.

_Pros._ I pray thee, mark me.

I thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated To closeness,[374-24] and the bettering of my mind With that which, but[374-25] by being so retired, O'er-prized all popular rate,[374-26] in my false brother Awaked an evil nature; and my trust, Like a good parent, did beget of him A falsehood, in its contrary as great As my trust was; which had indeed no limit, A confidence sans[375-27] bound. He being thus lorded, Not only with what my revenue yielded, But what my power might else exact,--like one Who having unto truth, by falsing of it,[375-28]

Made such a sinner of his memory To[375-29] credit his own lie,--he did believe He was indeed the Duke; out o' the subst.i.tution,[375-30]

And executing the outward face of royalty, With all prerogative: hence his ambition growing,-- Dost thou hear?[375-31]



_Mira._ Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.

_Pros._ To have no screen between this part he play'd And them he play'd it for, he needs will be Absolute Milan.[375-32] Me,[375-33] poor man, my library Was dukedom large enough: of temporal royalties He thinks me now incapable; confederates-- So dry he was for sway[376-34]--wi' th' King of Naples To give him annual tribute, do him homage, Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend The dukedom, yet unbow'd,--alas, poor Milan![376-35]-- To most ign.o.ble stooping.[376-36]

_Mira._ O the Heavens!

_Pros._ This King of Naples, being an enemy To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit; Which was, that he, in lieu[376-37] o' the premises,-- Of homage, and I know not how much tribute,-- Should presently[376-38] extirpate me and mine Out of the dukedom, and confer fair Milan, With all the honours, on my brother: whereon, A treacherous army levied, one midnight Fated to th' practice[376-39] did Antonio open The gates of Milan; and, i' the dead of darkness, The ministers for th' purpose hurried thence Me and thy crying self.[376-40]

_Mira._ Alack, for pity!

I, not remembering how I cried on't then, Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint[377-41]

That wrings mine eyes to't.

_Pros._ Hear a little further, And then I'll bring thee to the present business Which now's upon's;[377-42] without the which this story Were most impertinent.[377-43]

_Mira._ Wherefore did they not That hour destroy us?

_Pros._ Well demanded, wench:[377-44]

My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not-- So dear the love my people bore me--set A mark so b.l.o.o.d.y on the business; but With colours fairer painted their foul ends.

In few,[377-45] they hurried us aboard a bark, Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepared A rotten carca.s.s of a boat, not rigg'd, Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats Instinctively had quit it: there they hoist[377-46] us, To cry to th' sea that roar'd to us; to sigh To th' winds, whose pity, sighing back again, Did us but loving wrong.

_Mira._ Alack, what trouble Was I then to you!

_Pros._ O, a cherubim Thou wast that did preserve me! Thou didst smile, Infused with a fort.i.tude from Heaven, When I have degg'd[378-47] the sea with drops full salt, Under my burden groan'd; which raised in me An undergoing stomach,[378-48] to bear up Against what should ensue.

_Mira._ How came we ash.o.r.e?

_Pros._ By Providence divine.

Some food we had, and some fresh water, that A n.o.ble Neapolitan, Gonzalo, Out of his charity,--being then appointed Master of this design,--did give us; with Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries, Which since have steaded[378-49] much; so, of his gentleness, Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me, From mine own library, with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.

_Mira._ Would I might But ever see that man!

_Pros._ Now I arise:[378-50]

Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow.

Here in this island we arrived; and here Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit[378-51]

Than other princesses can, that have more time For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful.

_Mira._ Heavens thank you for't! And now, I pray you, sir,-- For still 'tis beating in my mind,--your reason For raising this sea-storm?

_Pros._ Know thus far forth: By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune-- Now my dear lady--hath mine enemies Brought to this sh.o.r.e; and by my prescience I find my zenith[379-52] doth depend upon A most auspicious star, whose influence If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes Will ever after droop.[379-53] Here cease more questions: Thou art inclined to sleep; 'tis a good dulness, And give it way: I know thou canst not choose.[379-54]

[_MIRANDA sleeps._ Come away, servant, come! I'm ready now: Approach, my Ariel; come!

_Enter ARIEL._

_Ari._ All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly, To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride On the curl'd clouds: to thy strong bidding task Ariel and all his quality.[379-55]

_Pros._ Hast thou, spirit, Perform'd to point[379-56] the tempest that I bade thee?

_Ari._ To every article.

I boarded the King's s.h.i.+p; now on the beak,[379-57]

Now in the waist,[380-58] the deck, in every cabin, I flamed amazement: sometime I'd divide, And burn in many places; on the top-mast, The yards, and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,[380-59]

Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary[380-60]

And sight-outrunning were not: the fire, and cracks Of sulphurous roaring, the most mighty Neptune Seem'd to besiege, and make his bold waves tremble.

Yea, his dread trident shake.

_Pros._ My brave spirit!

Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil[380-61]

Would not infect his reason?

_Ari._ Not a soul But felt a fever of the mad,[380-62] and play'd Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners Plunged in the foaming brine, and quit the vessel.

Then all a-fire with me: The King's son, Ferdinand, With hair up-staring,[380-63]--then like reeds, not hair,-- Was the first man that leap'd; cried, _h.e.l.l is empty, And all the devils are here_.

_Pros._ Why, that's my spirit!

But was not this nigh sh.o.r.e?

_Ari._ Close by, my master.

_Pros._ But are they, Ariel, safe?

_Ari._ Not a hair perish'd; On their unstaining[381-64] garments not a blemish, But fresher than before: and, as thou badest me, In troops I have dispersed them 'bout the isle.

The King's son have I landed by himself; Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs In an odd angle[381-65] of the isle, and sitting, His arms in this sad knot.[381-66]

_Pros._ Of the King's s.h.i.+p The mariners, say, how hast thou disposed, And all the rest o' the fleet?[381-67]

_Ari._ Safely in harbour Is the King's s.h.i.+p; in the deep nook, where once Thou call'dst me up at midnight to fetch dew From the still-vex'd Bermoothes,[381-68] there she's hid: The mariners all under hatches stow'd; Who, with a charm join'd to their suffer'd labour, I've left asleep:[381-69] and, for the rest o' the fleet Which I dispersed, they all have met again, And are upon the Mediterranean flote,[382-70]

Bound sadly home for Naples; Supposing that they saw the King's s.h.i.+p wreck'd, And his great person perish.

_Pros._ Ariel, thy charge Exactly is performed: but there's more work.

What is the time o' the day?

_Ari._ Past the mid season, At least two gla.s.ses.[382-71]

_Pros._ The time 'twixt six and now Must by us both be spent most preciously.

_Ari._ Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, Let me remember[382-72] thee what thou hast promised, Which is not yet perform'd[382-73] me.

_Pros._ How now! moody?

What is't thou canst demand?

_Ari._ My liberty.

_Pros._ Before the time be out? no more![382-74]

_Ari._ I pr'ythee, Remember I have done thee worthy service; Told thee no lies, made no mistakings, served Without or grudge or grumblings: thou didst promise To bate me a full year.[382-75]

Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 31

You're reading novel Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 31 online at LightNovelFree.com. You can use the follow function to bookmark your favorite novel ( Only for registered users ). If you find any errors ( broken links, can't load photos, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. And when you start a conversation or debate about a certain topic with other people, please do not offend them just because you don't like their opinions.


Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 31 summary

You're reading Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 31. This novel has been translated by Updating. Author: Charles Herbert Sylvester already has 652 views.

It's great if you read and follow any novel on our website. We promise you that we'll bring you the latest, hottest novel everyday and FREE.

LightNovelFree.com is a most smartest website for reading novel online, it can automatic resize images to fit your pc screen, even on your mobile. Experience now by using your smartphone and access to LightNovelFree.com