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Enter FERDINAND, bearing a log.
FERDINAND
1 There be some sports are painful, and their labor
2 Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness
3 Are nobly undergone and most poor matters
4 Point to rich ends. This my mean task
5 Would be as heavy to me as odious, but
6 The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead
7 And makes my labors pleasures: O, she is
8 Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed,
9 And he's composed of harshness. I must remove
10 Some thousands of these logs and pile them up,
11 Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress
12 Weeps when she sees me work, and says, such baseness
13 Had never like executor. I forget:
14 But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labors,
15 Most busy lest, when I do it.
Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO.
[at a distance, unseen].
MIRANDA
15 Alas, now, pray you,
16 Work not so hard: I would the lightning had
17 Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin'd to pile!
18 Pray, set it down and rest you: when this burns,
19 'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father
20 Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;
21 He's safe for these three hours.
FERDINAND
21 O most dear mistress,
22 The sun will set before I shall discharge
23 What I must strive to do.
MIRANDA
23 If you'll sit down,
24 I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that;
25 I'll carry it to the pile.
FERDINAND
25 No, precious creature;
26 I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
27 Than you should such dishonour undergo,
28 While I sit lazy by.
MIRANDA
28 It would become me
29 As well as it does you: and I should do it
30 With much more ease; for my good will is to it,
31 And yours it is against.
31 Poor worm, thou art infected!
32 This visitation shows it.
FERDINAND
33 No, noble mistress;'tis fresh morning with me
34 When you are by at night. I do beseech you—
35 Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers—
36 What is your name?
MIRANDA
36 Miranda.—O my father,
37 I have broke your hest to say so!
FERDINAND
37 Admired Miranda!
38 Indeed the top of admiration! worth
39 What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady
40 I have eyed with best regard and many a time
41 The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
42 Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues
43 Have I liked several women; never any
44 With so full soul, but some defect in her
45 Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd
46 And put it to the foil: but you, O you,
47 So perfect and so peerless, are created
48 Of every creature's best!
MIRANDA
48 I do not know
49 One of my sex; no woman's face remember,
50 Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen
51 More that I may call men than you, good friend,
52 And my dear father: how features are abroad,
53 I am skilless of; but, by my modesty,
54 The jewel in my dower, I would not wish
55 Any companion in the world but you,
56 Nor can imagination form a shape,
57 Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle
58 Something too wildly and my father's precepts
59 I therein do forget.
FERDINAND
59 I am in my condition
60 A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;
61 I would, not so!—and would no more endure
62 This wooden slavery than to suffer
63 The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:
64 The very instant that I saw you, did
65 My heart fly to your service; there resides,
66 To make me slave to it; and for your sake
67 Am I this patient log—man.
FERDINAND
68 O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound
69 And crown what I profess with kind event
70 If I speak true! if hollowly, invert
71 What best is boded me to mischief! I
72 Beyond all limit of what else i' the world
73 Do love, prize, honor you.
MIRANDA
73 I am a fool
74 To weep at what I am glad of.
74 Fair encounter
75 Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
76 On that which breeds between 'em!
FERDINAND
76 Wherefore weep you?
MIRANDA
77 At mine unworthiness that dare not offer
78 What I desire to give, and much less take
79 What I shall die to want. But this is trifling;
80 And all the more it seeks to hide itself,
81 The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!
82 And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
83 I am your wife, it you will marry me;
84 If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow
85 You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,
86 Whether you will or no.
FERDINAND
86 My mistress, dearest;
87 And I thus humble ever.
FERDINAND
88 Ay, with a heart as willing
89 As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.
MIRANDA
90 And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewell
91 Till half an hour hence.
FERDINAND
91 A thousand thousand!
Exeunt [FERDINAND and MIRANDA severally].
PROSPERO
92 So glad of this as they I cannot be,
93 Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing
94 At nothing can be more. I'll to my book,
95 For yet ere supper-time must I perform
96 Much business appertaining.
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