WORK NOT SO HARD]

_Ferd._ I am, in my condition,
A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king,--
I would not so![420-6]--and would no more endure
This wooden slavery than to suffer
The flesh-fly blow[422-7] my mouth. Hear my soul speak:
The very instant that I saw you, did
My heart fly to your service; there resides,
To make me slave to it; and for your sake
Am I this patient log-man.

_Mira._ Do you love me?

_Ferd._ O Heaven, O Earth, bear witness to this sound,
And crown what I profess with kind event,
If I speak true! if hollowly,[422-8] invert
What best is boded me to mischief! I,
Beyond all limit of what else[422-9] i' the world,
Do love, prize, honour you.

_Mira._ I am a fool
To weep at what I'm glad of.

_Pros._ [_Aside._] Fair encounter
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
On that which breeds between them!

_Ferd._ Wherefore weep you?

_Mira._ At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer
What I desire to give; and much less take
What I shall die to want.[422-10] But this is trifling;
And all the more it seeks to hide itself,
The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
I am your wife, if you will marry me;
If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow[423-11]
You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.

_Ferd._ My mistress, dearest,
And I thus humble ever.

_Mira._ My husband, then?

_Ferd._ Ay, with a heart as willing
As bondage[423-12] e'er of freedom: here's my hand.

_Mira._ And mine, with my heart in't: and now farewell
Till half an hour hence.

_Ferd._ A thousand thousand![423-13]

[_Exeunt FERDINAND and MIRANDA._

_Pros._ So glad of this as they, I cannot be,
Who am surprised withal;[423-14] but my rejoicing
At nothing can be more. I'll to my book;
For yet, ere supper-time, must I perform
Much business appertaining. [_Exit._

SCENE II.--_Another part of the Island._

_Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, with a bottle._

_Steph._ Tell not me: when the butt is out, we will drink water; not a
drop before: therefore bear up, and board '