William Shakespeare: The Tempest

ACT 5 1. SCENE I. Before the cell of PROSPERO. (continued)

[The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers
FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess.]

MIRANDA.
Sweet lord, you play me false.

FERDINAND.
No, my dearest love,
I would not for the world.

MIRANDA.
Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle,
And I would call it fair play.

ALONSO.
If this prove
A vision of the island, one dear son
Shall I twice lose.

SEBASTIAN.
A most high miracle!

FERDINAND.
Though the seas threaten, they are merciful:
I have curs'd them without cause.

[Kneels to ALONSO.]

ALONSO.
Now all the blessings
Of a glad father compass thee about!
Arise, and say how thou cam'st here.

MIRANDA.
O, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world
That has such people in't!

PROSPERO.
'Tis new to thee.

ALONSO.
What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play?
Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours:
Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us,
And brought us thus together?

FERDINAND.
Sir, she is mortal;
But by 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,
Of whom so often I have heard renown,
But never saw before; of whom I have
Receiv'd a second life: and second father
This lady makes him to me.

ALONSO.
I am hers:
But, O! how oddly will it sound that I
Must ask my child forgiveness!

PROSPERO.
There, sir, stop:
Let us not burden our remembrances with
A heaviness that's gone.