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Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin,

I flam'd amazement: sometime I'd divide

And burn in many places; on the topmast,

The yards, and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,

Then meet, and join: Jove's lightnings, the precursors

O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary

And sight-outrunning were not: the fire and cracks

Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune

Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble,

Yea, his dread trident shake.

Pro. My brave spirit!

Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil

Would not infect his reason?

Ari. Not a soul

But felt a fever of the mad and play'd

Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners

Plunged in the foaming brine and quit the vessel,

Then all a-fire with me: the king's son, Ferdinand,

With hair up-staring,—then like reeds, not hair,—

Was the first man that leap'd; cried, 'Hell is empty,

And all the devils are here.'

Pro. Why, that's my spirit!

But was not this nigh shore?

Ari. Close by, my master.

Pro. But are they, Ariel, safe?

Ari. Not a hair perish'd;

On their sustaining garments not a blemish,

But fresher than before: and, as thou bad'st me,

In troops I have dispers'd them 'bout the isle.

The king's son have I landed by himself;

 197 in the waist: amidships

200 distinctly: separately

202 momentary: instantaneous

207 coil: tumult

218 sustaining garments: garments which held them up (?)

