Now does my project gather to a head. My charms crack not, my spirits obey, and time Goes upright with his carriage. Now my plan is coming to its conclusion. My spells are not breaking, my spirits are obeying me, and everything is running smoothly. What time is it? On the sixth hour, at which time, my lord, You said our work should cease. I did say so When first I raised the tempest.
I did say that what I first created the storm at sea. Tell me, my spirit, how are the king and his followers? Confined together In the same fashion as you gave in charge, Just as you left them, all prisoners, sir, In the line grove which weather-fends your cell. They cannot budge till your release. The king, His brother, and yours, abide all three distracted, And the remainder mourning over them, Brimful of sorrow and dismay.
Your charm so strongly works 'em That if you now beheld them, your affections Would become tender. Locked up togetherβexactly as you commanded and just as you left them.
Sir, they are prisoners in the grove of lime trees that shields your hut from bad weather. The king, his brother, and your brother are waiting, out of their wits. Everyone else is worried about them, and completely shocked and sad. Tears run down his beard like melting snow from a thatched roof. Dost thou think so, spirit? Mine would, sir, were I human. And mine shall. Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling Of their afflictions, and shall not myself, One of their kind, that relish all as sharply Passion as they, be kindlier moved than thou art?
Though with their high wrongs I am struck to th' quick, Yet with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury Do I take part. The rarer action is In virtue than in vengeance. They being penitent, The sole drift of my purpose doth extend Not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel. As will I. If you, made of air, can feel slightly sorry for them, then I, a human like them who has experienced all the feelings they have, will be even more affected than you.
