Page:Tempest (1918) Yale.djvu/20

The Tempest, I. ii

Pro. Now the condition.

This King of Naples, being an enemy

To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit;

Which was, that he, in lieu o' the premises

Of homage and I know not how much tribute,

Should presently extirpate me and mine

Out of the dukedom, and confer fair Milan,

With all the honours on my brother: whereon,

A treacherous army levied, one midnight

Fated to the purpose did Antonio open

The gates of Milan; and, i' the dead of darkness,

The ministers for the purpose hurried thence

Me and thy crying self.

Mira. Alack, for pity!

I, not rememb'ring how I cried out then,

Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint,

That wrings mine eyes to 't.

Pro. Hear a little further,

And then I'll bring thee to the present business

Which now's upon us; without the which this story

Were most impertinent.

Mira. Wherefore did they not

That hour destroy us?

Pro. Well demanded, wench:

My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not,

So dear the love my people bore me, nor set

A mark so bloody on the business; but

With colours fairer painted their foul ends.

In few, they hurried us aboard a bark,

Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepar'd

 123 in premises: in consideration of the conditions

125 presently: at once

134 hint: theme

