Act 3 — SCENE VI.—A Cave.
Reading edition
Enter Hippolito and Ferdinand.
Ferd. Your pity, noble youth, doth much oblige me. Indeed, 'twas sad to lose a father so. Hip. Ay, and an only father too; for sure You said, you had but one. Ferd. But one father! He's wondrous simple. [Aside. Hip. Are such misfortunes frequent in your world, Where many men live? Ferd. Such are we born to.— But, gentle youth, as you have questioned me, So give me leave to ask you, what you are?
Hip. Do not you know?
Ferd. How should I?
Hip. I well hoped I was a man, but, by your ignorance Of what I am, I fear it is not so.— Well, Prospero! this is now the second time You have deceived me. Ferd. Sir, there is no doubt You are a man: But I would know, of whence?
Hip. Why, of this world; I never was in yours.
Ferd. Have you a father?
Hip. I was told I had one, And that he was a man; yet I have been So much deceived, I dare not tell't you for A truth: But I have still been kept a prisoner, For fear of women. Ferd. They, indeed, are dangerous; For, since I came, I have beheld one here, Whose beauty pierced my heart.
Hip. How did she pierce? You seem not hurt.
Ferd. Alas! the wound was made by her bright eyes, And festers by her absence. But, to speak plainer to you, sir, I love her. Hip. Now, I suspect that love's the very thing, That I feel too!—Pray tell me truly, sir, Are you not grown unquiet since you saw her?
Ferd. I take no rest.
Hip. Just, just, my disease.— Do you not wish, you do not know for what?
Ferd. O, no! I know too well for what I wish.
Hip. There, I confess, I differ from you, sir: But you desire she may be always with you?
Ferd. I can have no felicity without her.
Hip. Just my condition.—Alas, gentle sir! I'll pity you, and you shall pity me. Ferd. I love so much, that, if I have her not, I find I cannot live. Hip. How! do you love her, And would you have her too? That must not be: For none but I must have her. Ferd. But perhaps we do not love the same: All beauties are not pleasing alike to all. Hip. Why, are there more fair women, sir, Besides that one I love? Ferd. That's a strange question. There are many more, Besides that beauty which you love. Hip. I will have all Of that kind, if there be a hundred of them.
Ferd. But, noble youth, you know not what you say.
Hip. Sir, they are things I love, I cannot be Without them!—O, how I rejoice!—More women!
Ferd. Sir, if you love, you must be tied to one.
Hip. Tied! How tied to her?
Ferd. To love none but her.
Hip. But, sir, I find it is against my nature. I must love where I like; and, I believe, I may like all,— All that are fair. Come, bring me to this woman, For I must have her. Ferd. His simplicity Is such, that I can scarce be angry with him.— [Aside. Perhaps, sweet youth, when you behold her, you Will find you do not love her. Hip. I find already I love, because she is another woman.
Ferd. You cannot love two women both at once.
Hip. Sure 'tis my duty to love all who do Resemble her, whom I've already seen. I'll have as many as I can, that are So good, and angel-like, as she I love; And will have yours.
Ferd. Pretty youth, you cannot.
Hip. I can do any thing for that I love.
Ferd. I may, perhaps, by force, restrain you from it.
Hip. Why, do so, if you can. But either promise me To love no woman, or you must try your force.
Ferd. I cannot help it, I must love.
Hip. Well, you may love; For Prospero taught me friendship too. You shall Love me, and other men, if you can find them; But all the angel women shall be mine. Ferd I must break off this conference, or he Will urge me else beyond what I can bear.— [Aside. Sweet youth, some other time we will speak Farther concerning both our loves; at present I am indisposed with weariness and grief, And would, if you're so pleased, retire a while. Hip. Some other time be it; but, sir, remember, That I both seek and much entreat your friendship; For, next to women, I find I can love you. Ferd. I thank you, sir, I will consider of it. [Exit Ferd. Hip. This stranger does insult, and comes into My world, to take those heavenly beauties from me, Which, I believe, I am inspired to love.— And yet he said, he did desire but one: He would be poor in love, but I'll be rich.— I now perceive that Prospero was cunning; For when he frightened me from womankind, Those precious things he for himself designed. [Exit.