15
Will not, nor cannot, use such vigilance
As when they are fresh.
_Seb._ [_Aside to Ant._] I say, to-night: no more.
[_Solemn and strange music._
_Alon._ What harmony is this?--My good friends, hark!
_Gon._ Marvellous sweet music!
_Enter PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter several strange Shapes,
bringing in a banquet: they dance about it with gentle actions of
salutation; and, inviting the King, &c. to eat, they depart._
_Alon._ Give us kind keepers, heavens!--What were these? 20
_Seb._ A living drollery. Now I will believe
That there are unicorns; that in Arabia
There is one tree, the phoenix' throne; one phoenix
At this hour reigning there.
_Ant._ I'll believe both;
And what does else want credit, come to me, 25
And I'll be sworn 'tis true: travellers ne'er did lie,
Though fools at home condemn 'em.
_Gon._ If in Naples
I should report this now, would they believe me?
If I should say, I saw such islanders,--
For, certes, these are people of the island,-- 30
Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet, note,
Their manners are more gentle-kind than of
Our human generation you shall find
Many, nay, almost any.
_Pros._ [_Aside_] Honest lord,
Thou hast said well; for some of you there present 35
Are worse than devils.
_Alon._ I cannot too much muse
Such shapes, such gesture, and such sound, expressing--
Although they want the use of tongue--a kind
Of excellent dumb discourse.
_Pros._ [_Aside_] Praise in departing.
_Fran._ They vanish'd strangely.
_Seb._ No matter, since 40
They have left their viands behind; for we have stomachs.--
Will't please you taste of what is here?
_Alon._ Not I.
_Gon._ Faith, sir, you need not fear. When we were boys,
Who would believe that there were mountaineers
Dew-lapp'd like bulls, whose throats had hanging at 'em 45
Wallets of flesh? or that there were such men
Whose heads stood in their breasts? which now we find
Each putter-out of five for one will bring us
Good warrant of.
_Alon._ I will stand to, and feed,
Although my last: no matter, since I feel 50
The best is past. Brother, my lord the duke,
Stand to, and do as we.
_Thunder and lightnin
|