Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/302

276 into small groups those who swam to land, so that each party supposed the others lost. In one part of the island he drew some of the lower officers of the ship’s crew; in another sheltered portion of the shores were placed the King Alonzo, Duke Antonio, Sebastian the King’s brother, and some other nobles; and by some strange music, that had enchantment in it, he led the son of the King, Prince Ferdinand, to the entrance of the cave, where Prospero awaited him.

Ferdinand was amazed at this wondrous sweet music, which seemed to float over his head, and although he was grieving for the loss of his father and all his friends, whom he thought dead, he could not help listening to and admiring this sweet song:

As Ariel ended, Ferdinand looked up and met the eyes of the loveliest maiden he had ever