Although this lord of weak remembrance, this
Who shall be of as little memory 241
When he is earth'd, hath here almost persuaded,—
For he's a spirit of persuasion, only
Professes to persuade,—the king his son's alive.
'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd 245
As he that sleeps here swims.
Seb. I have no hope
That he's undrown'd.
Ant. O! out of that 'no hope'
What great hope have you! no hope that way is
Another way so high a hope that even 249
Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond,
But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me
That Ferdinand is drown'd?
Seb. He's gone.
Ant. Then tell me 252
Who's the next heir of Naples?
Seb. Claribel.
Ant. She that is Queen of Tunis; she that dwells
Ten leagues beyond man's life; she that from Naples
Can have no note, unless the sun were post— 256
The man i' th' moon's too slow—till new-born chins
Be rough and razorable: she that from whom
We all were sea-swallow'd, though some cast again,
And by that destiny to perform an act 260
Whereof what's past is prologue, what to come
In yours and my discharge.
Seb. What stuff is this !—How say you?
'Tis true my brother's daughter's Queen of Tunis;
So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions
240 weak remembrance: failing memory
242 earth'd: buried
243, 244 only Professes: makes it his sole profession
250 Cf. n.
256 note: information
post: messenger
258 she that, etc.; cf. n.
259 cast: disgorged, with pun on 'casting of actors' for a play
262 In . . . discharge: to be determined by what you and I do
