11
THE BATTALION.
Ail the while Prospero, in the distance, is looking on and
here calls Miranda’s attention to the young prince.
“The fring’d curtains of thine eye advance
And say what thou seest yond.”
Miranda:—“What is ’t? A spirit?
Lord! how it moves about! Believe me sir,
It carries a brave form—but tis a spirit.”
It is Prospero's wish that the two shall love one another
and his plans, work well; for Miranda, never having seen so
young and handsome a man, thinks him a superior being at
first, but in a few minutes has fallen deeply in love. Ferdi
nand, coming upon so rare a specimen of womanhood in so
unexpected a place, loves her from the first and takes little
pains to hide his feelings. Prospero is delighted with the
success of his plans, and by pretending to be displeased and
severe he binds them together with the chords of pity and
sympathy on the one hand and those of gratitude and admi
ration on the other. He does not let Ferdinand toil long at
his arduous task, but in the scene before the cell gives him
the hand of Miranda. Their betrothal is celebrated by a
quaint exhibition of Prospero’s art. He sends Ariel to sum
mon other spirits, and presently Iris enters, calling on Ceres
to follow.
“Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas
Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats and pease.
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,
And flat meads thatched wdth stover, them to keep;
Thy banks with pion’d and twill’d brims,
Which spongy April at thy best betrims,
To make cold nymphs chaste crowns, and thy broom-
groves,
Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves.