Do you not hear him? You mar our labor. Keep your cabins.
You do assist the storm.
BOATSWAIN
He's busy, can't you hear him giving orders?
You're getting in the way of our work. Stay in your
cabins. You're helping the storm, not us.
GONZALO
Nay, good, be patient.
GONZALO
Don't get wound up, my good man.
BOATSWAIN
When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers for the name of
king? To cabin, silence! Trouble us not.
BOATSWAIN
I'm only wound up because the sea's wound
up. Now get out of here! Do you think these waves care anything
about kings and officials? Go to your cabins and be quiet!
Don't bother us up here.
GONZALO
Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.
GONZALO
Just remember who you've got on board with you, good
man.
BOATSWAIN
15
None that I more love than myself. You are a councilor. 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.
BOATSWAIN
Nobody I care about more than myself. You're a
king's advisor. If you can order the storm to calm down,
we can all put down our ropes and rest. Go ahead, use your
authority. If you can't do it, be grateful
you've lived this long and go wait to die in your cabin,
if it comes to that.—Harder, men!—Now get out
of our way, I'm telling you.
Exit BOATSWAIN
The BOATSWAIN
exits.
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.
GONZALO
I feel a lot better after talking to this guy. He
doesn't look like a person who would drown—he
looks like he was born to be hanged
. I hope he lives long enough to be hanged. The rope that
hangs him will do more good than all the ropes on this ship, since
it'll guarantee he stays alive through this storm. But if
he's not destined to die by hanging, then our chances
don't look too good.
