The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

magical power, little short of omnipo- tence. This magical power is executed by Ariel, which we\interpret to be noth- ing more or less than imagination or thought which must always be free, or as beautifully expressed by Byron:
 "O'er the glad waters of the dark blue sea,
 Our thoughts as boundless and our souls as free"
 Shakespeare's Ariel assumes the char acter of a minister of destiny, and as such is placed at the beck and call of Pros- pero. The reader will also recall to mem ory that about 12 years after the usurpa- tion of Milan, Alonso took his fair daugh- ter Claribel, with his noble retinue to Tunis where he married her to the King of that country; and after the nuptial festivity was over, he set sail for Naples, the voyage home being comparatively smooth sailing until the vessel heaves in sight of Prospero's island. when Ariel, at the command Of Prospero, raises a most terrific storm at sea, and causes the very blood to dance frenziedly through the veins of the entire crew. It is at this point that the first scene of "The Temp est" opens.
 The opening scene Is indeed one of great vigor. The growing thunder, the zig gag lightning, the upheaving of the foam Ing waves, which madly toss the Kings ship to and fro; the bowling wind, and the sob of the distressed sea are most terrible. The sailors are terrified and know not what to do. Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Ferdinand, Gonzalo and others rush from the cabin below to the deck, frantically wringing their hands, and ask the sailors what they must do. At the announcement, All lost!' they Tall to prayers. The fierceness of the tempest increases, and Ferdinand, the Kings son, In a fit of desperation, is the first man to leap into the boiling sea, exclaiming most pathetically, Hell is empty and all the devils are here"
 This terrific storm and complete ship wreck is witnessed by Miranda from the beach of Prospero's island. The heart rending spectacle so affects her compass sion for the crew that she puts off In run for her father, whom she finds in his cell. With fearful eyes she implores him to assuage the storm, and to save the poor creatures. The scene between father and daughter is touchingly described. Prospero assures Miranda that not even so much as an hair of the head Of any of the crew shall be hurt, and for the first time recounts to her the history of their punishment, after which he puts her to sleep by sort of mesmerism. Where-
 
 master that his behests have been dis charged to the letter; that the storm was raised the vessel was nigh about wrecked, though now safely anchored in a deep nook the crew landed and dis- persed about the island.
 Miranda now awakes and accompanies her father to an odd angle of the island. where they discover Ferdinand sitting on a bank weeping for his father, whom he believes has been drowned. His grief Is increased and rendered almost unbearable by the mysterious and dirge-like music which creeps by him upon the waters. Ariel sings:
 Full fathom five thy father lies;
 Of his bones are coral made"
 Miranda is completely enamored with his noble appearance, and turns to her father and inquires, What is it? A spirit?" He tells her that this gallant, which thou seest. was in the wreck" and that he has been separated from his com panions The admiration which Ferdn- ands person arouses in Miranda is hardly equal to a similar feeling which awakens In him for her. Forsooth 1t is a genuine case of love at first sight. Ferdinand to Miranda is noble. grand, di- vine. Miranda to Ferdinand is the love- Hest thing he ever saw--an angel dropped from heaven, whose short petticoat. which waves around her graceful limbs makes her the most interesting goddess that love, beauty and grace ever blushed upon.
 In act four we see Prospero very low ingly giving away Miranda to Ferdinand. Tn tender little speech he advises him how he should act. The uniqueness of the scene Is heightened by the appearance of Juno, who slowly descends with her train of peacocks from the clouds, and showers blessings upon the young couple.