Page 1031 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Four or five women once that tended me?

PROSPERO
Thou hadst, and more, Miranda. But how is it
That this lives in thy mind? What seest thou else
In the dark backward and abysm of time? [50]
If thou remembrest aught ere thou cam’st here,

How thou cam’st here thou mayst.

MIRANDA
But that I do not.

PROSPERO
Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since,
The father was the Duke of Milan, and

A prince of power.

MIRANDA

Sir, are not you my father? [55]

PROSPERO
The mother was a piece of virtue, and
She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father
Was Duke of Milan; and his only heir
And princess, no worse issued.

MIRANDA
O the heavens!
What foul play had we, that we came from thence? [60]
Or blessed was’t we did?

PROSPERO
Both, both, my girl:

By foul play, as thou say’st, were we heav’d thence,
But blessedly holp hither.

MIRANDA