Prospero reveals that his tests of Ferdinand and Miranda "were but my trials of thy love," but he quickly

moves on to warning Ferdinand not to "break her virgin-knot before/All sanctimonious ceremonies
may/With full and holy rite be administered." Prospero even threatens great ill will come to the couple if
they sleep together before the marriage and in the end they would hate it both. This warning reveals
Prospero's view of marriage as a holy contract, as well as his acceptance of certain social and religious
mores. Although he has been living on an isolated island all these years, he still embraces the moral laws
of a "civilized" society and wants that for his daughter. Prospero also wants to protect his only child, a
very innocent girl who has spent her youth far from the rest of the world.

Act four scene one of The Tempest is a vigorous celebration scene where Prospero proposes Ferdinand
to marry Miranda. The engagement of Miranda and Ferdinand is solemnized. Ferdinand withstands all
the trials and tribulations by his fortitude and virility.

He wins Prospero’s affection by virtue of his inner goodness. And this is what Prospero says to Ferdinand
–
If I have too austerely punish’d you,
Your compensation makes amends; for I
Have given you a third of mine own life,
Or that for which I live.

Thus Prospero arranges the holy occasion by calling on Ariel to provide entertainment to celebrate the
betrothal; Ariel’s fellow sprites partake of a masque where they play the role of goddesses Iris, Ceres
and Juno. Hymen, the God of marriage, attends the ceremony holding a blazing torch in his hand. Soft
music begins playing. Iris, the goddess of rainbow, appears to shower her benediction on the couple.
Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, shows up. Iris appears to celebrate true love.

Miranda and Ferdinand are mesmerized; Prospero says these are the spirits he has called upon. Nymphs
and land reapers are summoned and they perform a beautiful dance. Ferdinand exclaims in surprise
saying:

This is a most majestic vision, and

Harmonious charmingly.

After agreeing to the betrothal of Ferdinand and Miranda, Prospero calls for a celebratory masque in
honor of the engagement. The masque exemplifies the hopes for this young couple's union, and the
mythological goddesses in the performance symbolize fertility, harvest, and eternal love. By blessing the
union with the masque, Prospero hopes to bring about abundance within the human relationship as well
as in the natural surroundings. The masque also honors the institution of marriage itself as an important
and honorable social structure in society. Finally the masque reveals Prospero's own power as a
magician, which he tells Ariel: "I must/Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple/Some vanity of mine
art."

Prospero has been using his magic to manipulate and control the play's other characters. Now he steps
into the role of playwright and "writes" the masque. In the process, he displays his full power, so
amazing and humbling Ferdinand that the boy is now in awe of his father-in-law.
Prospero tries to dismiss his tyrannical demands for Ferdinand's service as "trials of thy love"‹but also
makes mention in this first scene that he has "punished" Ferdinand, which implies a need for retribution
for a wrongdoing (IV.i.6). The word "punished" that he uses recalls the fabricated charges Prospero
raises against Ferdinand in the first act, of Ferdinand being a spy or a potential usurper; and the irony is
that Prospero heaps his suspicion on Ferdinand, who has no such designs, while forgetting the very real
plots of Caliban and his brothers.