The TempestShakespeare’s First Folio
Scans: Bodleian Libraries, Arch. G c.7.
The First Folio
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On the page
Source transcription. Original spelling retained.
Reading The Tempest
Comedies · First Folio, 1623
A storm puts rank under pressure before Prospero appears. Sailors need room to work, while their passengers expect authority to travel with them. On the island, Prospero can arrange encounters and direct what others see, but his control depends on Ariel's service and Caliban's labour. Reading The Tempest in the First Folio makes those theatrical arrangements unusually visible: sounds, entrances, disappearances, and a masque all ask the reader to imagine bodies in performance. Begin with the shipwreck, then follow who is permitted to give orders and who must make those orders happen.
The first direction calls for thunder and lightning before the ship's master and boatswain enter. Notice how the arriving nobles interrupt the work of the crew. The opening printed page also begins the next scene, so a page turn and a change of scene are not the same event.
Context: The Tempest at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Scans and transcription: Bodleian Libraries, Arch. G c.7.
On the opening page
THE TEMPEST Actus primus, Scena prima. [Act 1, Scene 1] A tempestuous noise of Thunder and Lightning heard: En ter a Ship‑master, and a Boteswaine. Master. BOte‑swaine. Botes. Heere Master: What cheere? Mast. Good: Speake to th' Mariners: fall too't, yarely, or we run our selves a ground, bestirre, bestirre. Exit. Enter Mariners. Botes. Heigh my hearts, cheerely, cheerely my harts: yare, yare: Take in the toppe‑sale: Tend to th'Masters whistle: Blow till thou burst thy winde, if roome e nough. Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Anthonio, Ferdinando, Gonzalo, and others. Alon. Good Boteswaine haue care: where's the Ma ster? Play the men. Botes. I pray now keepe below. Anth. Where is the Master, Boson? Botes: Do you not heare him? you marre our labour, Keepe your Cabines: you do assist the storme. Gonz. Nay, good be patient. Botes. When the Sea is: hence, what cares these roa rers for the name of King? to Cabine; silence: trouble vs not. Gon. Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboord. Botes. None that I more loue then my selfe. You are a Counsellor, if you can command these Elements to si lence, and worke the peace of the present, wee will not hand a rope more, vse your authoritie: If you cannot, giue thankes you haue liu'd so long, and make your selfe readie in your Cabine for the mischance of the houre, if it so hap. Cheerely good hearts: out of our way I say. Exit. Gon. I haue great comfort from this fellow: methinks he hath no drowning marke vpon him, his complexion is perfect Gallowes: stand fast good Fate to his han
An opening excerpt from the Bodleian transcription, with original spelling retained. Continue in the reader. Text CC BY 3.0.