240 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO , STUDIES 



"O, woe the day!" "No harm," repeats Prospero, "I have done nothing but in 

 care of thee." In this we see the motive of the tempest: Prospero has caifsed it solely 

 in the interest of his daughter, who is the rightful heir of Milan. He throws aside 

 the magic garment which is necessary to his control of the spirit, and proceeds to 

 narrate in simple paternal manner the history of his life, so far as Miranda needs to 

 know it, in order to understand why her father has been seemingly cruel. ^ 



He calls upon Miranda to look searchingly into "the dark backward and abysm 

 of time" in origin to bring back her origin. She has only the vaguest remembrance. 

 Prospero presents the facts. Prospero had been duke of a state without a parallel 

 for the liberal arts — meaning presumably, the arts of war and peace, science, philoso- 

 phy, literature, sculpture, architecture, mathematics, and other branches of study. 

 Prospero emphasizes the superiority of his signiory; it was the first, and Prospero 

 the prime duke. This is important, inasmuch as it makes his downfall more strik- 

 ing. Here follows a long and exceedingly strong description of the ambition, treach- 

 ery, and success of the usurping Antonio. Alonso is described as an inveterate 

 enemy of the student Prospero. Antonio becomes a tributary of this king in order 

 to procure his assistance in supplanting his brother. The story is told with intense 

 vigor, every sentence full of indignation and of the emphasis of one who has brooded 

 over his wrongs.^ 



"In few, they hurried us aboard a bark. 



Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepared 



A rotten carcass of a boat, not rigged, 



Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats 



Instinctively have quit it." 

 The goodness of Gonzalo is spoken of as a manifestation of Providence divine. Food, 

 fresh water, rich garments, linens, stuflfs, and necessaries, and volumes from his own 

 library, prized above his dukedom, were the means of his preservation, and of 

 the after-progress of his finally successful researches. ^ 



Prospero has spent his leisure in study; love of learning was the cause of his 

 banishment, and, though he feels his brother's treachery, he has been happy with 

 his books and the education of Miranda. 



Prospero, about to speak of the present and to summon Ariel, resumes his magic 

 robe. 



Fortune, formerly his enemy, is now in league with him, and he seizes his oppor- 

 tunity to assert his rights and regain his dukedom, lost for twelve years. 



He suggests sleep to Miranda, tells her it is a good dulness, and to give it way. 

 Miranda, in spite of the exciting revelation she has listened to, falls asleep. 



■ This garment indicates his purely philosophical point of view: without it he plays a simple role among 

 other mortals, and with like passions. 



' A story as old as that of Cain and Abel. 



3 If there were any "allegory" or "enigma" in the play, this might suggest the renascence of the Hellenic 

 spirit in Shakespeare's age. 



