The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 03

SCENE I.--_The front of the stage is opened, and the band of twenty-four

Chapter 111,042 wordsPublic domain

violins, with the harpsicals and theorbos which accompany the voices, are placed between the pit and the stage. While the overture is playing, the curtain rises, and discovers a new frontispiece, joined to the great pilasters, on each side of the stage. This frontispiece is a noble arch, supported by large wreathed columns of the Corinthian order; the wreathings of the columns are beautified with roses wound round them, and several Cupids flying about them. On the cornice, just over the capitals, sits on either side a figure, with a trumpet in one hand, and a palm in the other, representing Fame. A little farther, on the same cornice, on each side of a compass-pediment, lie a lion and a unicorn, the supporters of the royal arms of England. In the middle of the arch are several angels, holding the king's arms, as if they were placing them in the midst of that compass-pediment. Behind this is the scene, which represents a thick cloudy sky, a very rocky coast, and a tempestuous sea in perpetual agitation. This tempest (supposed to be raised by magick) has many dreadful objects in it, as several spirits in horrid shapes flying down amongst the sailors, then rising and crossing in the air. And when the ship is sinking, the whole house is darkened, and a shower of fire falls upon them. This is accompanied with lightning, and several claps of thunder, to the end of the storm._

_Enter_ MUSTACHO _and_ VENTOSO.

_Vent._ What a sea comes in!

_Must._ A foaming sea; we shall have foul weather.

_Enter_ TRINCALO.

_Trinc._ The scud comes against the wind, 'twill blow hard.

_Enter_ STEPHANO.

_Steph._ Boatswain!

_Trinc._ Here, master, what say you?

_Steph._ Ill weather; let's off to sea.

_Must._ Let's have sea room enough, and then let it blow the devil's head off.

_Steph._ Boy! Boy!

_Enter Cabin Boy._

_Boy._ Yaw, yaw, here, master.

_Steph._ Give the pilot a dram of the bottle. [_Exeunt_ STEPHANO _and boy_.

_Enter Mariners, and pass over the stage._

_Trinc._ Bring the cable to the capstorm.

_Enter_ ALONSO, ANTONIO, _and_ GONZALO.

_Alon._ Good boatswain, have a care; where's the master? Play the men.

_Trinc._ Pray keep below.

_Anto._ Where's the master, boatswain?

_Trinc._ Do you not hear him? You hinder us: Keep your cabins, you help the storm.

_Gonz._ Nay, good friend, be patient.

_Trinc._ Ay, when the sea is: Hence! what care these roarers for the name of duke? To cabin; silence; trouble us not.

_Gonz._ Good friend, remember whom thou hast aboard.

_Trinc._ None that I love more than myself: You are a counsellor; if you can advise these elements to silenuse your wisdom: if yon cannot, make yourself ready in the cabin for the ill hour. Cheerly, good hearts! out of our way, sirs. [_Exeunt_ TRINCALO _and mariners_.

_Gonz._ I have great comfort from this fellow; methinks his complexion is perfect gallows: stand fast, good fate, to his hanging; make the rope of his destiny our cable, for our own does little advantage us; if he be not born to be hanged, we shall be drowned. [_Exit._

_Enter_ TRINCALO _and_ STEPHANO.

_Trinc._ Up aloft, lads. Come, reef both topsails.

_Steph._ Make haste, let's weigh, let's weigh, and off to sea. [_Exit_ STEPH.

_Enter two Mariners, and pass over the stage._

_Trinc._ Hands down! Man your main capstorm.

_Enter_ MUSTACHO _and_ VENTOSO _at the other door_.

_Must._ Up aloft! and man your seere capstorm.

_Vent._ My lads, my hearts of gold, get in your capstorm-bar. Hoa up, hoa up! [_Exeunt_ MUSTACHO _and_ VENTOSO.

_Enter_ STEPHANO.

_Steph._ Hold on well! hold on well! Nip well there; quarter-master, get's more nippers. [_Exit_ STEPH.

_Enter two Mariners, and pass over again._

_Trinc._ Turn out, turn out all hands to capstorm. You dogs, is this a time to sleep? Lubbord. Heave together, lads. [TRINCALO _whistles_. [_Exeunt_ MUSTACHO _and_ VENTOSO.

_Must. within._ Our vial's broke.

_Vent. within._ 'Tis but our vial-block has given way. Come, heave, lads! we are fixed again. Heave together, bullies.

_Enter_ STEPHANO.

_Steph._ Cut down the hammocks! cut down the hammocks! come, my lads: Come, bullies, chear up! heave lustily. The anchor's apeak.

_Trinc._ Is the anchor apeak?

_Steph._ Is a weigh! is a weigh.

_Trinc._ Up aloft, my lads, upon the fore-castle; cut the anchor, cut him.

_All within._ Haul catt, haul catt, haul catt, haul: Haul catt, haul. Below.

_Steph._ Aft, aft, and loose the mizen!

_Trinc._ Get the mizen-tack aboard. Haul aft mizen-sheet.

_Enter_ MUSTACHO.

_Must._ Loose the main-top sail!

_Steph._ Let him alone, there's too much wind.

_Trinc._ Loose fore-sail! haul aft both sheets! trim her right before the wind. Aft! aft! lads, and hale up the mizen here.

_Must._ A mackrel-gale, master.

_Steph. within._ Port hard, port! the wind veers forward, bring the tack aboard-port is. Starboard, starboard, a little steady; now steady, keep her thus, no nearer you cannot come, 'till the sails are loose.

_Enter_ VENTOSO.

_Vent._ Some hands down: The guns are loose. [_Exit_ MUST.

_Trinc._ Try the pump, try the pump. [_Exit_ VENT.

_Enter_ MUSTACHO _at the other door_.

_Must._ O master! six foot water in hold.

_Steph._ Clap the helm hard aweather! flat, flat, flat-in the fore-sheet there.

_Trinc._ Over-haul your fore-bowling.

_Steph._ Brace in the larboard. [_Exit._

_Trinc._ A curse upon this howling, [_A great cry within_.] They are louder than the weather.

_Enter_ ANTONIO _and_ GONZALO.

Yet again, what do you here? Shall we give over, and drown? Have you a mind to sink?

_Gonz._ A pox on your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, uncharitable dog.

_Trinc._ Work you then, and be poxed.

_Anto._ Hang, cur, hang, you whorson insolent noise-maker! We are less afraid to be drowned than you are.

_Trinc._ Ease the fore-brace a little. [_Exit._

_Gonz._ I'll warrant him for drowning, though the ship were no stronger than a nut-shell, and as leaky as an unstanched wench.

_Enter_ ALONZO _and_ FERDINAND.

_Ferd._ For myself I care not, but your loss brings a thousand deaths to me.

_Alon._ O name not me, I am grown old, my son; I now am tedious to the world, and that, By use, is so to me: But, Ferdinand, I grieve my subjects' loss in thee: Alas! I suffer justly for my crimes, but why Thou should'st--O heaven! [_A cry within._ Hark! farewell, my son, a long farewell!

_Enter_ TRINCALO, MUSTACHO, _and_ VENTOSO.

_Trinc._ What, must our mouths be cold then?

_Vent._ All's lost. To prayers, to prayers.

_Gonz._ The duke and prince are gone within to prayers. Let's assist them.

_Must._ Nay, we may e'en pray too, our Case is now alike.

_Ant._ Mercy upon us! we split, we split!

_Gonz._ Let's all sink with the duke, and the young prince. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ STEPHANO _and_ TRINCALO.

_Trinc._ The ship is sinking. [_A new cry within._

_Steph._ Run her ashore!

_Trinc._ Luff! luff! or we are all lost! there's a rock upon the starboard-bow.

_Steph._ She strikes, she strikes! All shift for themselves. [_Exeunt._