24 , THE TEMPEST.

under the spell of a fell witch, Sycorax, who had imprisoned in the
trunks of trees all the good spirits she found there. She died shortly
before Prospero was cast on those shores, but the spirits, of whom Ariel
was the chief, still remained in their prisons.

Prospero wags a great magician, for he had devoted himself almost
entirely to the study of magic during the years in which he allowed his
brother to manage the affairs of Milan. By his art he set free the im-
prisoned spirits, yet kept them obedient to his will, and they were more
truly his subjects than his people in Milan had been. For he treated
them kindly as long as they did his bidding, and he exercised his power
over them wisely and well. One creature alone he found it necessary to
treat with harshness: this was Caliban, the son of the wicked old witch,
a hideous, deformed monster, horrible to look on, and vicious and brutal
in all his habits.

When Miranda was grown up into a maiden, sweet and fair to sce,
it chanced that Antonio, and Alonso with Sebastian, his brother, and
Ferdinand, his son, were at sea together with old Gonzalo, and their ship
came near Prospero’s island. Prospero, knowing they were there, raised
by his art a great storm, so that even the sailors on board gave them-
selves up for lost; and first among them all Prince Ferdinand leaped
into the sea, and, as as his father thought in his grief, was drowned. But

Se Aviel brought him safe ashore ;
and all a rest of the crew,
although they were washed
overboard, were landed unhurt
in different parts of the island,
and the good ship herself, which
they all thought had been
wrecked, lay at anchor in
the harbour whither Ariel
had brought her. Such
wonders could Prospero

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

  

Miranda —
charmed ”

  

) fo sleep P and his spirits perform.
WY i While yet the tem-
t My, pest was raging, Prospero
Lae: i < showed his daughter the
es