# The Tempest (Rackham)/Act 1

ACT THE FIRST.
SCENE I.
On a ship at sea: a tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard.
Enter a Ship-master and a Boatswain.
Master.
Boatswain!
Boatswain.
Here, master: what cheer?
Master.
Good, speak to the 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 the 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, boatswain?
Boatswain.
Do you not hear him? You mar our labour: keep your cabins: you do assist the storm.
Gonzalo.
Nay, good, be patient.
Boastswain.
When the sea is. Hence! What care 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 a 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 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 doth little advantage. If he be not born to be hanged, our case is miserable. [Exeunt.
Re-enter Boatswain.
Boatswain.
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.
Sebastian.
A pox o’ your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable dog!
Boatswain.
Work you then.
Antonio.
Hang, cur! hang, you whoreson, insolent noise-maker! We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art.
Gonzalo.
I’ll warrant him for drowning; though the ship were no stronger than a nutshell and as leaky as an unstanched wench.
Boatswain.
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!
Boatswain.
What, must our mouths be cold?
Gonzalo.
The king and prince at prayers! let’s assist them, For our case is as theirs.
Sebastian.
For our case is as theirs.‍I’m out of patience.
Antonio.
We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards: This wide-chapp’d rascal—would thou mightst lie drowning The washing of ten tides!
Gonzalo.
The washing of ten tides!‍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!”]
Antonio.
Let ’s all sink with the king.
Sebastian.
Let ’s take leave of him. [Exeunt Antonio and Sebastian.
Gonzalo.
Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of
2
Had I not Four or five women once that tended me?
I. ii. 46.
SCENE II.
The island: before Prospero’s cell. Enter Prospero and Miranda.
Miranda.
Prospero.
The fraughting souls within her. ‍Be collected:
Miranda.
There ’s no harm done. ‍O, woe the day!
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Out three years old. ‍Certainly, sir, I can.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
How thou camest here thou mayst. ‍But that I do not.
Prospero.
Miranda.
A prince of power. ‍Sir, are not you my father?
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
3
Safely in harbour Is the king’s ship
I. ii. 226.
Miranda.
Dost thou attend me? ‍Sir, most heedfully.
Prospero.
Miranda.
O, good sir, I do.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Dost thou hear? ‍Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.
Prospero.
Miranda.
To most ignoble stooping. ‍O the heavens!
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Against what should ensue. ‍How came we ashore?
Prospero.
4
Re-enter Ariel like a water-nymph I. ii. 316.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Enter Ariel.
Ariel.
Prospero.
Ariel.
Prospero.
Ariel.
Prospero.
Ariel.
But was not this nigh shore? ‍Close by, my master.
Prospero.
But are they, Ariel, safe?
Ariel.
Prospero.
Ariel.
Prospero.
Ariel.
What is the time o’ the day? ‍Past the mid season.
Prospero.
Ariel.
Prospero.
Ariel.
What is ’t thou canst demand? ‍My liberty.
Prospero.
Before the time be out? no more!
Ariel.
Prospero.
Ariel.
From what a torment I did free thee? ‍No.
Prospero.
Ariel.
When it is baked with frost. ‍I do not, sir.
Prospero.
Ariel.
No, sir.
Prospero.
No, sir. ‍Thou hast. Where was she born? speak; tell me.
Ariel.
Sir, in Argier.
Prospero.
Ariel.
Ay, sir.
Prospero.
5
Come unto these yellow sands
I. ii. 376.
Ariel.
A human shape. ‍Yes, Caliban her son.
Prospero.
Ariel.
The pine and let thee out. ‍I thank thee, master.
Prospero.
Ariel.
Prospero.
Ariel.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Caliban.
Thou earth, thou! spea‍[Within] There ’s wood enough within.
Prospero.
Ariel.
Prospero.
Caliban.
Prospero.
Caliban.
Prospero.
Caliban.
Prospero.
Caliban.
Prospero.
Caliban.
Prospero.
Re-enter Ariel, invisible, playing and singing; Ferdinand following.
Ferdinand.
6
Burthen [dispersedly] Hark, hark!
I. ii. 382.
Ariel.
Ferdinand.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Ferdinand.
Miranda.
Ferdinand.
Prospero.
Ferdinand.
Miranda.
The king my father wreck’d. ‍Alack, for mercy!
Ferdinand.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Ferdinand.
Prospero.
Ferdinand.
From me, the lord on ’t. ‍No, as I am a man.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Ferdinand.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
And make thy weapon drop. ‍Beseech you, father.
Prospero.
Hence! hang not on my garments.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Ferdinand.
Prospero.
Miranda.
Prospero.
Ariel.
All points of my command. ‍To the syllable.
Prospero.
Come, follow. Speak not for him.[Exeunt.
7
This music crept by me upon the waters
I. ii. 391.