Dramatis Perfonæ. ALONSO, King of Naples Profpero, the rightful Duke of Milan. Gonzalo, an honeft old Counsellor of Naples. Adrian, } Lords. Caliban, a Salvage and deformed Slave. Stephano a drunken Butler. Mafter of a Ship, Boatfwain, and Mariners. Miranda, Daughter to Profpero. Ariel, an aiery Spirit. * THE TEMPEST. ACT I. SCENE I. On a Ship at Sea. A tempefluous noife of thunder and lightning heard: B OATSWAIN. MASTER. Boats. Here, Mafter: what cheer? Maft. Good, fpeak to th' mariners fall to't yarely, or we run ourselves a-ground; beftir, beftir. [Exit. Enter Mariners. Boats. Hey, my hearts; cheerly, my hearts; yare, yare; take in the top-fail; tend to th' mafter's whiftle; blow, 'till thou burft thy wind, if room enough. Enter Alonfo, Sebastian, Anthonio, Ferdinand, Alon. Good Boatfwain, have care: where's the master? play the men. *These two Plays, the Tempest and the Midsummer-night's Dream, are the nobleft Efforts of that fublime and amazing Imagination, peculiar to Shakespear, which foars above the Bounds of Nature without forfaking Senfe; yet feems to carry Nature along with him beyond her established Limits. 1 Boatf. I pray now, keep below. Ant. Where is the mafter, boatswain? Boats. Do you not hear him? you mar our labour; keep your cabins; you do affift the ftorm. Gonz. Nay, good, be patient. Boats. When the sea is. Hence—what care thefe Roarers for the name of King? to cabin; filence; trouble us not. Gonz. Good, yet remember whom thou haft aboard. Boats. None, that I more love than myfelf. You are a counsellor; if you can command thefe elements to filence, and work the peace o'the prefent, we will not hand a rope more; ufe your authority. If you cannot, give thanks you have liv'd fo long, and make yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of the hour, if it fo hap. Cheerly, good hearts: out of our way, I fay. [Exit. Gonz. I have great comfort from this fellow; methinks, he hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is perfect gallows. Stand faft, good fate, to his hanging; make the rope of his destiny our cable, for our own doth little advantage: if he be not born to be hang'd, our cafe is miferable. [Exeunt. Re-enter Boatswain. Boats. Down with the top-maft: yare, lower, lower; bring her to try with main-courfe. A plague upon this howling! A cry within. Re-enter Sebaftian, Anthonio, and Gonzalo. they are louder than the weather, or our office. Yet again? what do you here? fhall we give o'er, and drown? have you a mind to fink? Seb. A pox o' your throat, you bawling, blafphemous, uncharitable dog.. Boats. Work you then. Ant. Ant. Hang, cur, hang; you whorefon infolent, noifemaker; we are less afraid to be drown'd than thou art. Gonz. I'll warrant him from drowning, tho' the fhip were no ftronger than a nut-fhell, and as leaky as an unftanch'd wench. Boats. Lay her a-hold, a-hold; set her two courses off to sea again, lay her off. Enter Mariners wet. Mar. All loft! to prayers! to prayers! all loft! [Exe. Gonz. The King and Prince at pray'rs ! let us affist 'em. For our cafe is as theirs. Seb. I'm out of patience. [kards. Ant. We're merely cheated of our lives by drunThis wide-chopt rascal-'Would, thou might'ft lie drowning. The washing of ten tides! Gonz. He'll be hang'd yet, Though every drop of water fwear against it, A confufed noife within] Mercy on us! We fplit, we split! Farewel, my Wife and Children! Brother, farewel! we fplit, we fplit, we split! Ant. Let's all fink with the King. Seb. Let's take leave of him. [Exit. Exit. Gonz. Now would I give a thousand furlongs of fea for an acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, any thing; the wills above be done, but I would fain die a dry death! [Exit. |