Page images
PDF
EPUB

PREFACE.

IN preparing the text of this volume, we have in general followed the same rules as in the so-called "Cambridge Shakespeare”: rules which wo adopted originally after much deliberation, and of which the soundness has been confirmed by our subsequent experience.

As, however, the two editions differ in plan, the one recording in foot-notes all the various readings and conject ural emendations, the other giving only the text we have in some particulars modified our rules.

For instance, in cases where the text of the earliest editions is manifestly faulty, but where it is impossible to decide with confidence which, if any, of several suggested emendations is right, we have in the "Cambridge Shakespeare " left the original reading in our text, mentioning in our notes all the proposed alterations: in this cdition, we have substituted in the text the emendation which seemed most probable, or in cases of absolute equality, the carlicst suggested. But the whole number of such variations between the texts of the two editions is very small.

In this volume, whenever the original text has been corrupted in such a way as to affect the senso, no admissible emendation having been proposed, or whenever a lacuna occurs too great to be filled up with any approach to certainty by conjecture, we have marked the passage with an obelus (†),

As in the larger work, we have numbered the lines or each scene for convenience of reference.

In the stage directions we have preserved as far as we could, consistently with clearness, the language of the oldest texts.

The Glossary has been prepared by the Rev. J. M. Jeph

son.

We trust that the title which has been chosen for the present edition will neither be thought presumptuous nor be found inappropriate. It seems indeed safe to predict that any volume which presents, in a convenient form, with clear type and at a moderate cost, the complete works of the foremost man in all literature, the greatest master of the language most widely spoken among men, will make its way to the remotest corners of the habitable globe.

WILLIAM GEORGE CLARK.

WILLIAM ALDIS WRIGHT.

TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGA

November, 1884.

[blocks in formation]

SCENE I. On a ship at sea: a tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard.

Enter a Ship-Master and a Boatswain.

Mast. Boatswain !

Boats. Here, master: what cheer?

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

Enter Mariners.

[Exit.

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

Alon. Good boatswain, have care.

[blocks in formation]

Where's the master?

Ant. Where is the master, boatswain?

11

Boats. Do you not hear him? You mar our labor: keep your cabins: you do assist the storm.

Gon. Nay, good, be patient.

Boats. When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers for the name of king? To cabin: silence ! trouble us not. Gon. Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard. 21 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 hour, if it so hap. Cheerly, good hearts! Out of our way, I say. [Exit.

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.

yare! lower, lower! [A cry within.] A

Re-enter Boatswain. Boats. Down with the topmast! Bring her to try with main-course. plague upon this howling! they are louder than the weather or our office.

40

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.

Mariners. All lost to prayers, to prayers! all lost!
Boats. What, must our mouths be cold?

Gon. The king and prince at prayers! let's assist them, For our case is as theirs.

Seb.

I'm out of patience.

Ant. We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards:

« PreviousContinue »