dead of his reputation,) I am satisfied I could never have received so much honour, in being thought the author of any poem, how excellent soever, as I shall from the joining my imperfections with the merit and name of Shakespeare and Sir William DaJOHN DRYDEN.

venant.

December 1. 1669.

PROLOGUE.

As when a tree's cut down, the secret root
Lives under ground, and thence new branches shoot;
So, from old Shakespeare's honoured dust, this day
Springs up and buds a new-reviving play:

Shakespeare, who (taught by none) did first impart
To Fletcher wit, to labouring Jonson art.

He, monarch-like, gave those, his subjects, law;
And is that nature which they paint and draw.
Fletcher reached that which on his heights did grow,
Whilst Jonson crept, and gathered all below.
This did his love, and this his mirth, digest:
One imitates him most, the other best.

If they have since outwrit all other men,

"Tis with the drops which fell from Shakespeare's pen.
The storm, which vanished on the neighbouring shore,
Was taught by Shakespeare's Tempest first to roar.
That innocence and beauty, which did smile
In Fletcher, grew on this enchanted isle.
But Shakespeare's magic could not copied be;
Within that circle none durst walk but he.
I must confess 'twas bold, nor would you now
That liberty to vulgar wits allow,

Which works by magic supernatural things:
But Shakespeare's power is sacred as a king's.
Those legends from old priesthood were received,
And he then writ, as people then believed.
But if for Shakespeare we your grace implore,
We for our theatre shall want it more:

Who, by our dearth of youths, are forced to employ
One of our women to present a boy;

And that's a transformation, you will say,
Exceeding all the magic in the play.
Let none expect, in the last act, to find

Her sex transformed from man to womankind.
Whate'er she was before the play began,

All

you shall see of her is perfect man. Or, if your fancy will be farther led To find her woman-it must be a-bed,

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

ALONZO, Duke of Savoy, and Usurper of the Dukedom of Mantua.

FERDINAND, his Son.

PROSPERO, right Duke of Milan.

ANTONIO, his Brother, Usurper of the Dukedom.
GONZALO, a Nobleman of Savoy.

HIPPOLITO, one that never saw woman, right Heir
of the Dukedom of Mantua.
STEPHANO, Master of the Ship.

MUSTACHO, his Mate.

TRINCALÓ, Boatswain.

VENTOSO, a Mariner.
Several Mariners.

A Cabin-Boy.

MIRANDA, Daughters to PROSPERO, that never DORINDA,

saw man.

ARIEL, an airy Spirit, Attendant on PROSPERO.
Several Spirits, Guards to PROSPERO.

CALIBAN,

SYCORAX, his Sister.} Two Monsters of the Isle.

THE

TEMPEST.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-The front of the stage is opened, and the band of twenty-four violins, with the harpsicals and theorbos which accompany the voices, are placed between the pit and the stage. While the overture is playing, the curtain rises, and discovers a new frontispiece, joined to the great pilasters, on each side of the stage. This frontispiece is a noble arch, supported by large wreathed columns of the Corinthian order; the wreathings of the columns are beautified with roses wound round them, and several Cupids flying about them. On the cornice, just over the capitals, sits on either side a figure, with a trumpet in one hand, and a palm in the other, representing Fame. A little farther, on the same cornice, on each side of a compass-pediment, lie a lion and a unicorn, the supporters of the royal arms of England. In the middle of the arch are several angels, holding the king's arms, as if they were placing them in the midst of that compass-pediment. Behind this is the scene, which represents a thick cloudy sky, a very rocky coast, and a tempestuous sea in perpetual agitation. This tempest (supposed to be raised by magick) has many dreadful ob

jects in it, as several spirits in horrid shapes flying down amongst the sailors, then rising and crossing in the air. And when the ship is sinking, the whole house is darkened, and a shower of fire falls upon them. This is accompanied with lightning, and several claps of thunder, to the end of the storm.

Enter MUSTACHO and VENTOSO.

Vent. What a sea comes in!

Must. A foaming sea; we shall have foul weather.

Enter TRINCALO.

Trinc. The scud comes against the wind, 'twill blow hard.

Enter STEPHANO.

Steph. Boatswain!

Trinc. Here, master, what say you?

Steph. Ill weather; let's off to sea.

Must. Let's have sea room enough, and then let it blow the devil's head off.

Steph. Boy! Boy!

Enter Cabin Boy.

Boy. Yaw, yaw, here, master.

Steph. Give the pilot a dram of the bottle.

[Exeunt STEPHANO and boy.

Enter Mariners, and pass over the stage.

Trinc. Bring the cable to the capstorm.

Enter ALONSO, ANTONIO, and GONZALO. Alon. Good boatswain, have a care; where's the master? Play the men.

Trinc. Pray keep below.

Anto. Where's the master, boatswain?

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