When Prince Ferdinand Was Wrecked On The Island Miranda Was Fifteen
Years Old.
We can hardly suppose that she had ever seen Ariel, and
Caliban was a detestable object whom her father took good care to
keep as much out of her way as possible.
Caliban was like the man
cook on a back-country run. "'Tis a villain, sir," says Miranda. "I
do not love to look on." "But as 'tis," returns Prospero, "we cannot
miss him; he does make our fire, fetch in our wood, and serve in
offices that profit us." Hands were scarce, and Prospero was obliged
to put up with Caliban in spite of the many drawbacks with which his
services were attended; in fact, no one on the island could have
liked him, for Ariel owed him a grudge on the score of the cruelty
with which he had been treated by Sycorax, and we have already heard
what Miranda and Prospero had to say about him. He may therefore
pass for nobody. Prospero was an old man, or at any rate in all
probability some forty years of age; therefore it is no wonder that
when Miranda saw Prince Ferdinand she should have fallen violently in
love with him. "Nothing ill," according to her view, "could dwell in
such a temple - if the ill Spirit have so fair an house, good things
will strive to dwell with 't." A very natural sentiment for a girl
in Miranda's circumstances, but nevertheless one which betrayed a
charming inexperience of the ways of the world and of the real value
of good looks.
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