In act 2 of Shakespeare's The Tempest, Ferdinand falls in love at first sight with Prospero's daughter, Miranda.
In order to test Ferdinand's love for Miranda, Prospero charges Ferdinand with falsely claiming to be the Prince of Naples and with being a spy and traitor who intends to take his island from him. Prospero enslaves him with his magic and leads him away.
The next time we see Ferdinand in act 3, scene 1, Prospero has put him to hard physical labor stacking logs. Miranda comes to see Ferdinand, and they profess their love for one another as Prospero observes them from a distance.
In act 4, Prospero apologizes to Ferdinand for enslaving him and making him undergo such a hard test of his love for Miranda, gives him permission to marry Miranda, and praises Miranda to him.
PROSPERO: [to Ferdinand] If I have too austerely punished you,Your compensation makes amends, for IHave given you here a third of mine own life—Or that for which I live—who once againI tender to thy hand. All thy vexations(5)Were but my trials of thy love, and thouHast strangely stood the test. Here, afore Heaven,I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,Do not smile at me that I boast of her,For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise,(10)And make it halt behind her.
FERDINAND: I do believe itAgainst an oracle.
PROSPERO: Then, as my gift and thine own acquisitionWorthily purchased take my daughter . . . [4.1.1-15]
In ancient Greece, an oracle was most often a priest or priestess through whom the gods were believed to speak directly, and who gave advice and made prophecies based on the will of the gods. Oracles were believed to tell the truth, although their prophecies were sometimes cryptic and difficult to understand.
Ferdinand is comparing Prospero to an oracle, and saying that he truly believes what Prospero is telling him about Miranda.
At the beginning of act 4, scene 1, Prospero gives his blessing to Ferdinand and explains that he has passed his test remarkably. Prospero refers to Miranda as a "rich gift" that he will give Ferdinand and tells him to stop smiling at him for bragging about Miranda so much.
Prospero then says, "For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise / And make it halt behind her" (4.1.10). Prospero is essentially telling Ferdinand that Miranda will outshine any praise in her favor and Ferdinand responds, "I do believe it Against an oracle" (4.1.11). This basically means that Ferdinand would believe that Miranda would outshine all praise even if an oracle told him differently. Oracles were messengers of the gods whose words were considered accurate and taken very seriously.
Ferdinand's statement emphasizes his strong opinion of Miranda, who has captivated his soul and is the primary object of his affection. Prospero then instructs Ferdinand to not break Miranda's "virgin knot" before the wedding, and Ferdinand complies.
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