1

ON THE Fable AND

The TEM

HE Tempest and The M. dram coolest efforts of that sub ar to Shakspere, which soar bout forsaking sense: or, with him beyond her establi ady to have admired the aimitation of them, The S perdens. After him, Sir ted the brightest fire of says; which shines fantasm much more nobly and sere

No one has been hitherto

ance on which Shakspere m play, the beauties of whic m of Ben Jonson, whos than equal to his wit. in he says: "If there be ter, who can help it, nor an make nature afraid in his pla Tempests, and such like drol This observed of The Tempes author of the Revisal thir etal effect of the story, not in whatever might be Shal ping the plot, he hath

E Tempest and The Midsummer's Night's Dream, are oblest efforts of that sublime and amazing imagination Har to Shakspere, which soars above the bounds of nature but forsaking sense : or, more properly, carries nature with him beyond her established limits. Fletcher seems cularly to have admired these two plays, and hath wrote n imitation of them, The Sea Voyage and The Faithful herdess. After him, Sir John Suckling and Milton med the brightest fire of their imagination from these plays; which shines fantastically indeed in The Goblins, much more nobly and serenely in The Mask at Ludlow!e. WARBURTON.

o one has been hitherto lucky enough to discover the ince on which Shakspere may be supposed to have founded play, the beauties of which could not secure it from the cism of Ben Jonson, whose malignity appears to have been : than equal to his wit. In the induction to Bartholomeru , he says: "If there be never a servant monster in the ir, who can help it, nor a nest of antiques? He is loth to ake nature afraid in his plays, like those that beget Tales, empests, and such like drolleries." STEEVENS. t is observed of The Tempest, that its plan is regular; this, author of the Revisal thinks, what I think too, an acci tal effect of the story, not intended or regarded by our author, whatever might be Shakspere's intention in forming or pting the plot, he hath made it instrumental to the proA ij duction

duction of many characters, diversified with boundless inven-
tion, and preserved with profound skill in nature, extensive
knowledge of opinions, and accurate observation of life. In
a single drama are here exhibited princes, courtiers, and sailors,
all speaking in their real characters. Here is the agency of
airy spirits, and of an earthly goblin. The operations of
magic, the tumults of a storm, the adventures of a desart
island, the native effusion of untaught affection, the punish-
ment of guilt, and the final happiness of the pair for whom
our passions and reason are equally interested.

Dramatis Personse,

TEMPE

ACT 1. SCE

JOHNSON,

Ship at Sea.

MEN,

Lightning heard. Enter a S

A tempestuou

ALONSO, King of Naples,

SEBASTIAN, bis Brother.

Master.

PROSPERO, the rightful Duke of Milan.

FERDINAND, Son to the King of Naples.

ANTHONIO, bis Brother, the usurping Duke of Milan,

DOATSWAIN

GONZALO, an honest old Counsellor of Naples.

Hast. Good: speak to t!

Boats. Here, master: What

ely, or we run ourselves ag

TRINCULO, a Jester.

CALIBAN, a savage and deformed Slave.

STEPHANO, a drunken Butler.

Enter Mari

"Master of a Ship," Boatswain, “ and Mariners."

WOMEN.

ens; yare, yare: Take in

Boats. Heigh, my hearts;

4

ARIEL, an airy Spirit.

MIRANDA, Daughter to Prospero.

room enough!

master's whistle; -Blow,

Other Spirits attending on Prospero.
SCENE, the Sea, with a Ship; afterward's, an uninhabited

Island.

NAND, GONZALO

Alon, Good boatswain, h ster? Play the men.

Ai

WUT ALONSO, SEBASTIAN

TEMPEST.

ACT I. SCENE I.

Ship at Sea. A tempestuous Noise of Thunder and Enter a Ship-Master and a Boat

htning heard.

ats. Here, master: What cheer?

st. Good: speak to the mariners:-fall to't

, or we run ourselves aground: bestir, bestir.

Enter Mariners.

[Exit.

ats. Heigh, my hearts; cheerly, cheerly, my s; yare, yare: Take in the top-sail; Tend to master's whistle; -Blow, till thou burst thy wind, Om enough!

ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTHONIO, FERDINAND, GONZALO, and others.

on, Good boatswain, have care,. Where's the er? Play the men.

Aiij

:

10

Boats. i

1

Boats. I pray now, keep below:
Ant. Where is the master, boatswain ?

Boats. Do you not hear him? You mar our labour;

Keep your cabins: you do assist the storm.

Gon. Nay, good, be patient.

Boats. When the sea is. Hence! What care these roarers for the name of king? To cabin; silence: trouble us not.

20

Gon. Good; yet remember whom thou hast
aboard.
Boats. None that I more love than myself. You
are a counsellor; if you can command these elements
to silence, and work the peace of the present, we will
not handle a rope imore; use your authority. If you
cannot, give thanks you have liv'd so long, and make
yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of the
hour, if it so hap. Cheerly, good hearts-Out of our
way, I say.
[Exit.

TEMPEST

AT SEBASTIAN, ANTHO

"Tet again? What do your
er and drown? Have you
d. A pox o' your throat !
uncharitable dog!
Sats. Work you then.
dt. Hang, cur, hang!
maker! we are less afra

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 gur cable, for our own doth little advantage: If he be not born to be hang'd, our case is miserable.

Re-enter Boatswain,

[Exeunt.

[A cry within.]

art.

Enter Marin

Ner. All lost! to prayers

"Boats. What, must our "Gon. The king and prin them,

For our case is as theirs. "Seb. I am out of patien "Ant. We're merely c drunkards."This wide-chopp'd rascal lie drowning, ** The washing of ten tides "Gon. He'll be hang'dy

Boats. Down with the top-mast; yare, lower, lower;
bring her to try with main-course.
A plague upon this howling! "they are louder than
the weather, or our office."

Re-enter