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story was at an early date performed in Germany, and that if it were not taken from Shakespeare's play, it was perhaps derived from the same unknown source. Mr. Thoms is preparing a translation of it for the Shakespeare Society, and we shall then be better able to form an opinion, as to the real or supposed connection between the two.

When Coleridge tells us (Lit. Rem. ii. p. 94.) that "The Tempest' is a specimen of the purely romantic Drama," he of course refers to the nature of the plot and personages: in one sense of the words, it is not a "romantic drama," inasmuch as there are few plays, ancient or modern, in which the unities are more exactly observed: the whole of the events occupy only a few hours. At the same time it is perfectly true, as the same enlightened and fanciful commentator adds, "It is a species of drama, which owes no allegiance to time or space, and in which, therefore, errors of chronology and geography-no mortal sins in any species-are venial faults, and count for nothing: it addresses itself entirely to the imaginative faculty." This opinion was delivered in 1818; and three years earlier Coleridge had spoken of "The Tempest," as certainly one of Shakespeare's latest works, judging from the language only: Schlegel was of the same opinion, without, however, assigning any distinct reason, and instituted a comparison between "The Tempest" and "Midsummer Night's Dream," adding, "The preponderance of thought in 'The Tempest,' exhibited in its profound and original characterisation, strikes us at once; but we must also admire the deep sense of the art (tiefsinnige Kunst) which is apparent in the structure of the whole, in the wise economy of its means, and in the skill with which the scaffolding is raised to sustain the marvellous aerial structure." Ueber Dram. Kunst und Litt. Vol. iii. p. 123. edit. 1817.

THE TEMPEST.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

ALONSO, King of Naples.

SEBASTIAN, his Brother.

PROSPERO, the right Duke of Milan.

ANTONIO, his Brother, the usurping Duke of
Milan.

FERDINAND, Son to the King of Naples.
GONZALO, an honest old Counsellor.

ADRIAN,

FRANCISCO, Lords.

CALIBAN, a savage and deformed Slave.
TRINCULO, a Jester.

STEPHANO, a drunken Butler.

Master of a Ship, Boatswain, Mariners.

MIRANDA, Daughter to Prospero.

ARIEL, an airy Spirit.

IRIS,

CERES,

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Other Spirits attending on Prospero.

SCENE, a Ship at Sea; afterwards an uninhabited

Island.

1 Former editions: the sea with a ship.

THE TEMPEST.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-On a Ship at Sea.

A tempestuous noise of Thunder and Lightning heard.1 Enter a Ship-master and a Boatswain, as on ship-board, shaking off wet.2

Master. Boatswain !

Boats. Here, master: what cheer?

3

Mast. Good. Speak to the mariners: fall to 't yarely, or we run ourselves aground: bestir, bestir. [Exit.

Enter Mariners.

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 ALONZO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, FERDINAND, GONZALO, and Others, from the Cabin.*

Alon. Good boatswain, have a care. Where's the master? Play the men.

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.

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 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

1 heard not in f. e. 2 as on ship-board, etc.: not in f. e. 3 Nimbly. 4 from the cabin: not in f. e. 5 a not in f. e.

hour, if it so hap.

Cheerly, good hearts !-Out of our

[Exit.

way, say. 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 top-mast : 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.

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 whoreson, insolent noisemaker, we are less afraid to be drowned than thou art.

Gon. I'll warrant him for drowning; though the ship were no stronger than a nutshell, and as leaky as an unstanched wench.

Boats. Lay her a-hold, a-hold. Set her two courses : off to sea again; lay her off.

Enter Mariners, wet.

Mar. All lost! to prayers, to prayers! all lost! [Ex. Boats. What ! must our mouths be cold ? [them. Gon. The king and prince at prayers! let us assist For our case is as theirs.

Seb. I am out of patience.

Ant. We are merely1 cheated of our lives by drunk

ards.

This wide-chapp'd rascal,-would, thou might'st lie

drowning,

The washing of ten tides !

Gon.

He'll be hanged yet,

Though every drop of water swear against it, And gape at wid'st to glut him. [A confused noise within.] Mercy on us!

We split, we split-Farewell, my wife and children !—

1 Absolutely.

Farewell, brother !—We split, we split, we split !-
Ant. Let's all sink with the king.
Seb. Let's take leave of him.

[Exit. Exit.

Gon. Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground; long heath, brown furze, any thing. The wilts above be done! but I would fain die a dry death..

[Exit.

SCENE II.-The Island: before the cell of PROSPERO. Enter PROSPERO and MIRANDA.

Mira. If by your art, my dearest father, you have Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them. The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch, But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's heat,' Dashes the fire out. O! I have suffer'd With those that I saw suffer a brave vessel, Who had no doubt some noble creatures2 in her, Dash'd all to pieces. O! the cry did knock Against my very heart. Poor souls, they perish'd. Had I been any god of power, I would

Have sunk the sea within the earth, or e'er

It should the good ship so have swallow'd, and
The fraughting souls within her.

Pro.

Be collected:

No more amazement. Tell your piteous heart,
There's no harm done.

Mira. Pro.

O, woe the day!

I have done nothing but in care of thee,

No harm.

(Of thee, my dear one! thee, my daughter!) who
Art ignorant of what thou art, nought knowing
Of whence I am; nor that I am more better
Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell,
And thy no greater father.

Mira.

More to know

'Tis time

Did never meddle with my thoughts.

Pro.

I should inform thee farther. Lend thy hand,
And pluck my magic garment

from me.-So:

[Lays down his robe.3 Lie there my art.-Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort. The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd

1 cheek in f. e. 2 creature: in f. e. 3 mantle in f. e.

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