1    There be some sports are painful, and their labour
2    Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness
3    Are nobly undergone and most poor matters
4    Point to rich ends. This my mean task
5    Would be as heavy to me as odious, but
6    The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead
7    And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is
8    Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed,
9    And he's composed of harshness. I must remove
10   Some thousands of these logs and pile them up,
11   Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress
12   Weeps when she sees me work, and says, such baseness
13   Had never like executor. I forget:
14   But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours,
15   Most busy lest, when I do it.

16   Alas, now, pray you,
17   Work not so hard: I would the lightning had
18   Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin'd to pile!
19   Pray, set it down and rest you: when this burns,
20   'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father
21   Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;
22   He's safe for these three hours.

23   O most dear mistress,
24   The sun will set before I shall discharge
25   What I must strive to do.

26   If you'll sit down,
27   I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that;
28   I'll carry it to the pile.

29   No, precious creature;
30   I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
31   Than you should such dishonour undergo,
32   While I sit lazy by.

33   It would become me
34   As well as it does you: and I should do it
35   With much more ease; for my good will is to it,
36   And yours it is against.

37   Poor worm, thou art infected!
38   This visitation shows it.

39   You look wearily.

40   No, noble mistress;'tis fresh morning with me
41   When you are by at night. I do beseech you--
42   Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers--
43   What is your name?

44   Miranda.--O my father,
45   I have broke your hest to say so!

46   Admired Miranda!
47   Indeed the top of admiration! worth
48   What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady
49   I have eyed with best regard and many a time
50   The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
51   Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues
52   Have I liked several women; never any
53   With so fun soul, but some defect in her
54   Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed
55   And put it to the foil: but you, O you,
56   So perfect and so peerless, are created
57   Of every creature's best!

58   I do not know
59   One of my sex; no woman's face remember,
60   Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen
61   More that I may call men than you, good friend,
62   And my dear father: how features are abroad,
63   I am skilless of; but, by my modesty,
64   The jewel in my dower, I would not wish
65   Any companion in the world but you,
66   Nor can imagination form a shape,
67   Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle
68   Something too wildly and my father's precepts
69   I therein do forget.

70   I am in my condition
71   A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;
72   I would, not so!--and would no more endure
73   This wooden slavery than to suffer
74   The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:
75   The very instant that I saw you, did
76   My heart fly to your service; there resides,
77   To make me slave to it; and for your sake
78   Am I this patient log--man.

79   Do you love me?

80   O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound
81   And crown what I profess with kind event
82   If I speak true! if hollowly, invert
83   What best is boded me to mischief! I
84   Beyond all limit of what else i' the world
85   Do love, prize, honour you.

86   I am a fool
87   To weep at what I am glad of.

88   Fair encounter
89   Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
90   On that which breeds between 'em!

91   Wherefore weep you?

92   At mine unworthiness that dare not offer
93   What I desire to give, and much less take
94   What I shall die to want. But this is trifling;
95   And all the more it seeks to hide itself,
96   The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!
97   And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
98   I am your wife, it you will marry me;
99   If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow
100  You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,
101  Whether you will or no.

102  My mistress, dearest;
103  And I thus humble ever.

104  My husband, then?

105  Ay, with a heart as willing
106  As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.

107  And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewell
108  Till half an hour hence.

109  A thousand thousand!

110  So glad of this as they I cannot be,
111  Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing
112  At nothing can be more. I'll to my book,
113  For yet ere supper-time must I perform
114  Much business appertaining.