nt sicklemen, of August weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry: 135
Make holiday; your rye-straw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing.
_Enter certain Reapers, properly habited: they join with the
Nymphs in a graceful dance; towards the end whereof PROSPERO
starts suddenly, and speaks; after which, to a strange, hollow,
and confused noise, they heavily vanish._
_Pros._ [_Aside_] I had forgot that foul conspiracy
Of the beast Caliban and his confederates 140
Against my life: the minute of their plot
Is almost come. [_To the Spirits._] Well done! avoid; no more!
_Fer._ This is strange: your father's in some passion
That works him strongly.
_Mir._ Never till this day
Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd. 145
_Pros._ You do look, my son, in a moved sort,
As if you were dismay'd: be cheerful, sir.
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air: 150
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, 155
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vex'd;
Bear with my weakness; my old brain is troubled:
Be not disturb'd with my infirmity: 160
If you be pleased, retire into my cell,
And there repose: a turn or two I'll walk,
To still my beating mind.
_Fer._ _Mir._ We wish your peace. [_Exeunt._
_Pros._ Come with a thought. I thank thee, Ariel: come.
_Enter ARIEL._
_Ari._ Thy thoughts I cleave to. What's thy pleasure? 165
_Pros._ Spirit,
We must prepare to meet with Caliban.
_Ari._ Ay, my commander: when I presented Ceres,
I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd
Lest I might anger thee.
_Pros._ Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets? 170
_Ari._ I told you, sir, they were red-hot with drinking;
So full of valour that they smote the air
For breathing in their faces; beat the ground
For kissing of their feet;
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