PROSPERO Behold, Sir King, The wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero.

For more assurance that a living prince Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body; And to thee and thy company I bid A hearty welcome.

ALONSO Whe’er thou be’st he or no, Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me, As late I have been, I not know. Thy pulse Beats, as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee, Th’ affliction of my mind amends, with which, I fear, a madness held me. This must craveAn if this be at all-a most strange story.

Thy dukedom I resign, and do entreat Thou pardon me my wrongs. But how should Prospero Be living and be here? PROSPERO First, noble friend, Let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot Be measur’d or confin’d.

GONZALO Whether this be Or be not, I’ll not swear.

PROSPERO You do yet taste Some subtleties o’ th’ isle, that will not let you Believe things certain. Welcome, my friends all!

[Aside to SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO] But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded, I here could pluck his Highness’ frown upon you, And justify you traitors; at this time I will tell no tales.

SEBASTIAN

[Aside] The devil speaks in him. PROSPERO No.

For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive Thy rankest fault-all of them; and require My dukedom of thee, which perforce I know Thou must restore.

ALONSO If thou beest Prospero, Give us particulars of thy preservation; How thou hast met us here, whom three hours since Were wreck’d upon this shore; where I have lostHow sharp the point of this remembrance is!My dear son Ferdinand.

PROSPERO I am woe for’t, sir.

ALONSO Irreparable is the loss; and patience Says it is past her cure.

PROSPERO I rather think You have not sought her help, of whose soft grace For the like loss I have her sovereign aid, And rest myself content.

ALONSO

You the like loss! PROSPERO As great to me as late; and, supportable To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker Than you may call to comfort you, for I Have lost my daughter.