SHAKESPEARE AND PSYCHOGNOSIS 67 



Gonzalo reappears, after a long interval, in the third scene of Act III. He is 

 still with Alonso. Being an old man, he is rather used up by the fatigues of the 

 way. From the search for Ferdinand he rests, not because he would, but because 

 he needs must. The conspirators, seeing Gonzalo and Alonso oppressed with 

 travel, renew their plotting. The music introductory to the magic banquet pleases 

 Gonzalo. Of the strange shapes bringing in the banquet he says, " Their manners 

 are more gentle-kind than of our human generation you shall find many, nay, al- 

 most any,'" and he fears the Neapolitans would be skeptical if he were to tell them 

 of this adventure. Prospero here speaks of Gonzalo as " honest Lord," which 

 agrees with what he had reported of him to Miranda (in Act I, scene 2) where he 

 had called him " A noble NeapoUtan," who, out of his charity had given them 

 garments, and out of his gentleness saved his books for the banished Duke'-'. While 

 the others wonder at the magic table Gonzalo accepts it as if it were quite natural. 

 After the terrible arraignment of the " three men of sin," Gonzalo is very serious; 

 yet he beseeches those who can to follow the three and hinder them from desperate 

 acts. This scene shows Gonzalo's facility in accepting the supernatural as not 

 antecedently incredible, besides confirming former notions of his character. 



He appears in the last scene of the play, accompanying Alonso. He is one of 

 those who stand charmed within the circle which Prospero had made. But he is 

 addressed by Prospero in the following terms: 



" Holy Gonzalo, honourable man. 

 Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine, 

 Fall fellowly drops; " 

 and shortly after, in terms really remarkable, 



" O good Gonzalo! 

 My true preserver, and a loyal sir 

 To him thou followest, I will pay thy graces 

 Home, both in word and deed." 

 Gonzalo says Httle during this long scene. After the exit of Ariel he expresses 

 a wish that " Some heavenly power guide us out of this fearful country." When 

 Prospero addresses him again, it is in words that Prospero could use of no common 

 man. — 



" First, noble friend, 

 Let me embrace thine age, whose honours cannot 

 Be measured or confined." 

 To this great praise Gonzalo replies with customary equanimity, but professes 

 himself puzzled. After a long interval he says, 



" I have inly wept. 

 Or should have spoke ere this." 



* C. the idealism of In Memoriam. 2 Cf. the service of the church to philosophy. 



