There was a certain island in the sea, the only inhabitants of which were an old man, whose name was Prospero, and his daughter Miranda, a very beautiful young lady. She came to this island so young, that she had no memory of having seen any other human face than her father's.
This is the beginning of the story of one of his tales.
"My quaint Ariel", said Prospero to the little sprite when he made him free, 'I shall miss you; yet you shall have your freedom."'Thank you, my dear master,' said Ariel; 'but give me attend your ship home with prosperous gales, before you bid farewell to the assistance of your faithful spirit; and then, master, when I am free, how merrily I shall live! Here Ariel sang this pretty song:
"Where the bee sucks there suck I:
In a cowslip's bell, I lie
There I crouch when owls do cry.
On the bat's back, I do fly
After summer merrily.
Merrily, merrily shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough."
to be continued
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Another good point in this tale is the scene in which Prospero had commanded Ferdinand to pile up some heavy logs of wood. Kings' son not being much used to laborious work, Miranda soon after found her lover almost dying with fatigue. 'Alas! ' said she ,' do not work so hard; my after is at his studies, he is safe for these three hours; pray rest yourself."
'O my dear lady . said Ferdinand . "I dare not. I must finish the task before I take my rest.'
'If you will sit down,' said Miranda, I will carry your logs the while." But this Ferdinand would by no means agree to. Instead of help, Miranda became a hindrance , for they began a long conversation so that the business of log-carrying went on slowly.
Prospero, who had enjoined Ferdinand this task merely as a trial of his love, was not at his books, as his daughter supposed, but was standing by them invisible to overhear what they said.
Ferdinand inquired her name, which she told , saying it was against her father's express command she did so.
Prospero only smiled at this first instance of his daughter's disobedience, for having by his magic art caused his daughter to fall in love so suddenly, he was not angry that she showed her love by forgetting to obey his commands. And he listened well pleased to a long speech of Ferdinand's, in which he professed to love her above all the ladies he ever saw.
In answer to his praises of her beauty, which he said exceeded all the women in the world, she replied: "I do not remember the face of any woman, nor have I seen any more men than you, my good friend, and my dear father. How features are abroad, I know not: but believe me, sir, I would not wish any companion in the world but you, nor can my imagination form any shape but yours that I could like. But, sir, I fear I talk to you too freely, and my father's precepts I forget."
At this Prospero smiled, and nodded his head, as to say: "This goes on exactly as I could wish; my girl will be the queen of Naples.
And then Ferdinand, in another fine long speech, told the innocent Miranda he was heir to the crown of Naples, and that she should be his queen.