quet before them; but only to appear again as a monster, a voracious harpy with wings, who carried the untasted food away. Then he spoke to them, still in the form of a harpy, and reminded them of the shameful way in which they had treated Prospero and his little child, adding that in punishment this shipwreck had befallen them.

The king and Antonio were greatly distressed at this; and Ariel declared that though he was but a sprite, he could not but pity them, their grief seemed so sincere.

66

Bring them here," cried Prospero. "Bring them quickly, my good Ariel; for if you feel for them, much more should I who am a human being, such as they, take compassion on them in their misfortune and freely forgive the past."

So Ariel brought the king and Prospero's brother into his presence; and with them came Gonzalo, who had proved his love for his master by putting food and apparel into the boat in which he had been left to the mercy of the winds and waves.

When Prospero spoke to Gonzalo, and called him the preserver of his life, Antonio knew this old man must be his own much-injured brother, and he began to implore his pardon with many tears; the king also asked forgiveness for the part he had taken against him.

Prospero assured them that he freely forgave all; and, opening a door, he showed them Ferdinand, who was engaged in a game of chess with Miranda. What joy was

this to the father and son, both of whom believed the other had been lost in the storm!

The king of Naples was astonished at the beauty of Miranda. "Is this a goddess," he asked, "who parted us that she might bring us together?"

"Not a goddess," answered Ferdinand, smiling. "A fair maiden whom I have asked to be my bride. She is the daughter of the duke of Milan, who, in giving her to me, has made himself my second father.”

"Then I must be her father," said the king; "and, first, I must ask her forgiveness."

"Not so," interrupted Prospero; "let us rather forget the past and think only of the happy present." And then, embracing his brother, he declared that all his troubles had been overruled by Providence; as, but for their meeting on the desert island, perhaps Ferdinand would never have known and loved Miranda.

The ship was safe in harbor, the sailors were on board, and the whole company intended to depart together in the morning; but for that last evening they partook of some refreshments in the cavern, which was so soon now to be deserted, while Prospero gave them the story of his adventures.

Before he left the island he dismissed Ariel from his service, to the joy of the active sprite, who loved liberty above all else. "But, master, I shall attend your passage home, and get for you prosperous winds; and then how merrily I'll live." And at this Ariel broke into a sweet song, which went like this:

"Where the bee sucks, there suck I:
In a cowslip's bell I lie;

There I couch when owls do cry.
On the bat's back I do fly

After summer merrily.
Merrily, merrily shall I live now,

Under the blossom that hangs on the bough."

Prospero's last act was to bury all his magical books and his wand; for he meant to have nothing more to do with the art, but to spend the rest of his life in his native land, watching over the welfare of his people, and at peace with

all the world.

As soon as the party reached Naples, the marriage of Ferdinand and Miranda took place with much splendor, thus completing the happiness of Prospero, now again duke of Milan, but whom we have learned to know as the old man of the island.

-Adapted from Lambs' Tales from Shakespeare.

To-day is ours; what do we fear?
To-day is ours; we have it here.
Let's treat it kindly, that it may
Wish, at least, with us to stay.

- ABRAHAM COWLEY.

THE BEGGAR MAID

HER arms across her breast she laid,
She was more fair than words can say:
Barefooted came the beggar maid
Before the king, Cophetua.

In robe and crown the king stept down,
To meet and greet her on her way;
"It is no wonder," said the lords,
"She is more beautiful than day."

As shines the moon in clouded skies,
She in her poor attire was seen;
One praised her ankles, one her eyes,
One her dark hair and lovesome mien.

So sweet a face, such angel grace,

In all that land had never been:

Cophetua sware a royal oath :

"This beggar maid shall be my queen!'

ALFRED TENNYSON.

There never was any heart truly great and generous that was not also tender and compassionate; it is this noble quality that makes all men to be of one kind.