e they, 270
And melt, ere they molest! Here lies your brother,
No better than the earth he lies upon,
If he were that which now he's like, that's dead;
Whom I, with this obedient steel, three inches of it,
Can lay to bed for ever; whiles you, doing thus, 275
To the perpetual wink for aye might put
This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who
Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest,
They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk;
They'll tell the clock to any business that 280
We say befits the hour.

_Seb._ Thy case, dear friend,
Shall be my precedent; as thou got'st Milan,
I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke
Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest;
And I the king shall love thee.

_Ant._ Draw together; 285
And when I rear my hand, do you the like,
To fall it on Gonzalo.

_Seb._ O, but one word. [_They talk apart._

_Re-enter ARIEL invisible._

_Ari._ My master through his art foresees the danger
That you, his friend, are in; and sends me forth,--
For else his project dies,--to keep them living. 290
[_Sings in Gonzalo's ear._

While you here do snoring lie,
Open-eyed conspiracy
His time doth take.
If of life you keep a care,
Shake off slumber, and beware: 295
Awake, awake!

_Ant._ Then let us both be sudden.

_Gon._ Now, good angels
Preserve the king! [_They wake._

_Alon._ Why, how now? ho, awake!--Why are you drawn?
Wherefore this ghastly looking?

_Gon._ What's the matter? 300

_Seb._ Whiles we stood here securing your repose,
Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing
Like bulls, or rather lions: did't not wake you?
It struck mine ear most terribly.

_Alon._ I heard nothing.

_Ant._ O, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear, 305
To make an earthquake! sure, it was the roar
Of a whole herd of lions.

_Alon._ Heard you this, Gonzalo?

_Gon._ Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,
And that a strange one too, which did awake me:
I shaked you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes open'd, 310
I saw their weapons drawn:--there was a noise,
That's verily. 'Tis best we stand upon our