His speech stayed with me. It made our lives seem so insignificant. Looked
at that way, that was exactly what they were. It seemed a hopeless idea,
and it was no wonder that Prospero was so downcast if those were the
thoughts spinning round his head. But I tried to push them from my own mind
– I had a beautiful fiancée to get to know. We went and sat in the cave and
began a game of chess, complete with happy banter.
"Sweet lord," she laughed, "You play me false."
"No, my dearest love, I would not for the world," I smiled, taking her hand.
"Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, and I would call it fair play."
"If this prove a vision of the island, one dear son shall I twice lose." The voice interrupted our play, and I looked up, my heart in my mouth so to speak – I recognised the voice, and it was my father's. I couldn't believe it. I was speechless at first, but then I found my own voice.
"Though the seas threaten, they are merciful; I've cursed them without cause."
I knelt in front of my father, truly happy now – my father and all his best lords were alive, brought there it seemed by Prospero.
"Now all the blessings of a glad father compass thee about. Arise, and say how thou cam'st here." Before I could answer though, Miranda exclaimed in amazement – I realised what a sight this must be for her, only ever having seen three men.
"O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is" O brave new world that has such people in't."
"'Tis new to thee," Prospero smiled indulgently.
"What is this maid with whom thou wast at play?" asked my father, frowning slightly. "Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours. Is she the goddess that hath severed us, and brought us thus together?" I smiled; it was almost exactly what I had thought at first.
"Sir, she is mortal; but my immortal providence she's mine. I chose her when I could not ask my father for his advice, nor thought I had one. She is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan -" for Miranda had told me their story – when she was only a baby she and her father, Duke of Milan, were put to sea in a boat, so that his brother might become Duke in his place, which was how they had come to the island "- of whom so often I have heard renown, but never saw before; of whom I have received a second life; and second father this lady makes him to me."
"I am hers. But O, how oddly will it sound, that I must ask my child forgiveness!" But Prospero raised his hand.
"There, sir, stop. Let us not burden our remembrances with a heaviness that's gone." Instead, Gonzalo stepped forward and blessed us, his eyes filled with tears of happiness – he was the one who had given Prospero his books when he was pushed from the shore. Smiling at Miranda and myself, my father took our hands.
"Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart that doth not wish you joy."
And then more of the boat's company appeared – the Master and the Boatswain, led by Ariel and looking very much confused. But they were happy to see us, and told us that the ship which had seemed to be split in two was in fine condition. Watching Ariel and Prospero, I realised this was the strange creature's doing.
"Come hither, spirit," ordered Prospero, "Set Caliban and his companions free: untie the spell." I wondered suddenly if now I would finally meet Caliban; he intrigued me.
A few moments later three figures appeared; two I knew to be Stephano and Trinculo, the court jester and butler, but the third was not only someone I didn't know, but someone of whom I'd never seen the like – he seemed almost deformed, almost like a fish, and I didn't know whether I should pity him or be disgusted by him, I knew so little about him, but I noticed Miranda's reaction – she flinched as if in pain. I would have to ask her about it later, there was clearly something there I should know about, but right now it wasn't the time.
"Mark but the badges of these men, my lords, then say if they be true. This misshapen knave, his mother was a witch, and one so strong that could control the moon, make flows and ebbs, and deal in her command, without her power. These three have robbed me, and this demi-devil – for he's a bastard one – had plotted with them to take my life. Two of these fellows you must know and own; this thing of darkness I acknowledge mine." I wondered what he meant by that.
Stephano and Trinculo were clearly off their heads, drunk as anything; maybe I would have been understanding towards them, thinking they had been miserable over the deaths of their king and companions, but from the talk that passed between them, Prospero and my father I gathered that they had been plotting to overthrow my father-in-law, with the help of the creature Caliban. All three, however, seemed sorry for what they'd done, and headed off to return the clothing they had stolen from Prospero. Then my father and Prospero turned to each other, and it was decided that all of us would stay the night in his cave, before heading the next morning to Naples, with Miranda and Prospero aboard, to celebrate our wedding. What a thought! And then Prospero set Ariel free.
Taking Miranda's hand, I smiled at her, and with the rest of the company we going into the cave, leaving Prospero to his musings outside.
Oh yes, it's a darn good thing my sister Claribel married the King of Tunis.
"Sweet lord," she laughed, "You play me false."
"No, my dearest love, I would not for the world," I smiled, taking her hand.
"Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, and I would call it fair play."
"If this prove a vision of the island, one dear son shall I twice lose." The voice interrupted our play, and I looked up, my heart in my mouth so to speak – I recognised the voice, and it was my father's. I couldn't believe it. I was speechless at first, but then I found my own voice.
"Though the seas threaten, they are merciful; I've cursed them without cause."
I knelt in front of my father, truly happy now – my father and all his best lords were alive, brought there it seemed by Prospero.
"Now all the blessings of a glad father compass thee about. Arise, and say how thou cam'st here." Before I could answer though, Miranda exclaimed in amazement – I realised what a sight this must be for her, only ever having seen three men.
"O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is" O brave new world that has such people in't."
"'Tis new to thee," Prospero smiled indulgently.
"What is this maid with whom thou wast at play?" asked my father, frowning slightly. "Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours. Is she the goddess that hath severed us, and brought us thus together?" I smiled; it was almost exactly what I had thought at first.
"Sir, she is mortal; but my immortal providence she's mine. I chose her when I could not ask my father for his advice, nor thought I had one. She is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan -" for Miranda had told me their story – when she was only a baby she and her father, Duke of Milan, were put to sea in a boat, so that his brother might become Duke in his place, which was how they had come to the island "- of whom so often I have heard renown, but never saw before; of whom I have received a second life; and second father this lady makes him to me."
"I am hers. But O, how oddly will it sound, that I must ask my child forgiveness!" But Prospero raised his hand.
"There, sir, stop. Let us not burden our remembrances with a heaviness that's gone." Instead, Gonzalo stepped forward and blessed us, his eyes filled with tears of happiness – he was the one who had given Prospero his books when he was pushed from the shore. Smiling at Miranda and myself, my father took our hands.
"Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart that doth not wish you joy."
And then more of the boat's company appeared – the Master and the Boatswain, led by Ariel and looking very much confused. But they were happy to see us, and told us that the ship which had seemed to be split in two was in fine condition. Watching Ariel and Prospero, I realised this was the strange creature's doing.
"Come hither, spirit," ordered Prospero, "Set Caliban and his companions free: untie the spell." I wondered suddenly if now I would finally meet Caliban; he intrigued me.
A few moments later three figures appeared; two I knew to be Stephano and Trinculo, the court jester and butler, but the third was not only someone I didn't know, but someone of whom I'd never seen the like – he seemed almost deformed, almost like a fish, and I didn't know whether I should pity him or be disgusted by him, I knew so little about him, but I noticed Miranda's reaction – she flinched as if in pain. I would have to ask her about it later, there was clearly something there I should know about, but right now it wasn't the time.
"Mark but the badges of these men, my lords, then say if they be true. This misshapen knave, his mother was a witch, and one so strong that could control the moon, make flows and ebbs, and deal in her command, without her power. These three have robbed me, and this demi-devil – for he's a bastard one – had plotted with them to take my life. Two of these fellows you must know and own; this thing of darkness I acknowledge mine." I wondered what he meant by that.
Stephano and Trinculo were clearly off their heads, drunk as anything; maybe I would have been understanding towards them, thinking they had been miserable over the deaths of their king and companions, but from the talk that passed between them, Prospero and my father I gathered that they had been plotting to overthrow my father-in-law, with the help of the creature Caliban. All three, however, seemed sorry for what they'd done, and headed off to return the clothing they had stolen from Prospero. Then my father and Prospero turned to each other, and it was decided that all of us would stay the night in his cave, before heading the next morning to Naples, with Miranda and Prospero aboard, to celebrate our wedding. What a thought! And then Prospero set Ariel free.
Taking Miranda's hand, I smiled at her, and with the rest of the company we going into the cave, leaving Prospero to his musings outside.
Oh yes, it's a darn good thing my sister Claribel married the King of Tunis.