accomplished his appointed work of punishment and pardon, bows himself again to human conditions, and of his own accord surrenders the omnipotence which he has only valued as the instrument of impersonal ends. But it is not its "criticism of life" that gives The Tempest so secure a place in our affections. Its most powerful appeal is to that primary human instinct, which craves escape from the limiting conditions of the material universe, and joys to roam in the "ampler aether", the "diviner air" of poetic wonderlands. In seasons when there is danger of the world being too much with us, it is an enfranchisement of the spirit to breathe the atmosphere of the enchanted island, and to have glimpses as fresh and pure as those for which the modern poet yearned when he was fain to "Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea, Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn". THE TEMPEST SCENE I. ACT I. On a ship at sea; a tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard. Enter a Ship-Master and a Boatswain. Mast. Boatswain! Boats. Here, master: what cheer? Mast. Good, speak to the mariners: fall to 't, yarely, or we run ourselves aground: bestir, bestir. Enter Mariners. [Exit. Boats. Heigh, my hearts! cheerly, cheerly, my hearts! yare, yare! Take in the topsail. Tend to the master's whistle. Blow, till thou burst thy wind, if room enough! Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, FERDINAND, GonZALO, and others. Alon. Good boatswain, have care. Where's the master? Play the men. Boats. I pray now, keep below. Ant. Where is the master, boatswain? IO Boats. Do you not hear him? You mar our labour: keep your cabins: you do assist the storm. Gon. Nay, good, be patient. Hence! What cares these roarers for the name of king? To cabin: silence! trouble us not. 18 You are a Gon. Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard. Boats. None that I more love than myself. counsellor; if you can command these elements to silence, and work the peace of the present, we will not hand a rope more; use your authority: if you cannot, give thanks you have lived so long, and make yourself ready in your cabin for (M 344 ) C the mischance of the hour, if it so hap. hearts! Out of our way, I say. Cheerly, good [Exit. 25 Gon. I have great comfort from this fellow: methinks he hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is perfect gallows. Stand fast, 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 hanged, our case is miserable. [Exeunt. Re-enter Boatswain. Boats. Down with the topmast! yare! lower, lower! Bring her to try with main-course. [A cry within.] A plague upon this howling! they are louder than the weather or our office. Re-enter SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, and GONZALO. 34 Yet again! what do you here? Shall we give o'er and drown? Have you a mind to sink? Seb. A pox o' your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable dog! Boats. Work you then. Ant. Hang, cur! hang, you insolent noisemaker! We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art. 40 Gon. I'll warrant him for drowning; though the ship were no stronger than a nutshell. Boats. Lay her a-hold, a-hold! set her two courses off to sea again; lay her off. Enter Mariners wet. Mariners. All lost! to prayers, to prayers! all lost! Gon. The king and prince at prayers! let's assist them, For our case is as theirs. Seb. I'm out of patience. Ant. We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards: 50 This wide-chapp'd rascal—would thou mightst lie drowning The washing of ten tides! Gon. He'll be hang'd yet, Though every drop of water swear against it And gape at widest to glut him. [A confused noise within: 'Mercy on us!' 'We split, we split!'—' Farewell my wife and children !'— Farewell, brother!'-'We split, we split, we split!'] Ant. Let's all sink with the king. Seb. Let's take leave of him. 57 [Exeunt Ant. ana Seb. Gon. Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea 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. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The island. Before PROSPERO'S cell. Enter PROSPERO and MIRANDA. Mir. If by your art, my dearest father, you have Pros. Mir. Pros. O, woe the day! No harm. I have done nothing but in care of thee, Mir. More to know Did never meddle with my thoughts. 'Tis time I should inform thee farther. Lend thy hand, So: IO 20 [Lays down his mantle. Lie there, my art. Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort. The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd The very virtue of compassion in thee, 30 |