ACT I.

SCENE 1

On a ship at sea; a tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard Enter a SHIPMASTER and a BOATSWAIN

MASTER Boatswain!

BOATSWAIN Here, master; what cheer? MASTER Good! Speak to th’ mariners; fall to’t yarely, or we run ourselves aground; bestir, bestir.

Exit Enter MARINERS BOATSWAIN Heigh, my hearts! cheerly, cheerly, my hearts! yare, yare! Take in the topsail. Tend to th’ master’s whistle. Blow till thou burst thy wind, if room enough.

Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, FERDINAND GONZALO, and OTHERS

ALONSO Good boatswain, have care. Where’s the master? Play the men.

BOATSWAIN I pray now, keep below.

ANTONIO Where is the master, boson? BOATSWAIN Do you not hear him? You mar our labour; keep your cabins; you do assist the storm.

GONZALO Nay, good, be patient.

BOATSWAIN When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers for the name of king? To cabin! silence! Trouble us not.

GONZALO Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.

BOATSWAIN None that I more love than myself. You are 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 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 GONZALO 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 both little advantage. If he be not born to be hang’d, our case is miserable.

Exeunt Re-enter BOATSWAIN BOATSWAIN Down with the topmast. Yare, lower, lower! Bring her to try wi’ th’ maincourse.