Act 3 — Scene II.—Another part of the Island.

Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo, with a bottle.

Steph. Tell not me: when the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board ’em.423-1 Servant-monster, drink to me.

Trin. Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They say there’s but five upon this isle: we are three of them; if th’ other two be brain’d like us, the State totters.

Steph. Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes are almost set424-2 in thy head.

[Caliban drinks.

Trin. Where should they be set else? he were a brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.

Steph. My man-monster hath drown’d his tongue in sack: for my part, the sea cannot drown me; I swam, ere I could recover the shore, five-and-thirty leagues, off and on, by this light.—Thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my standard.424-3

Trin. Your lieutenant, if you list: he’s no standard.424-4

Steph. We’ll not run, Monsieur Monster.

Trin. Nor go neither: but you’ll lie like dogs, and yet say nothing neither.

Steph. Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou be’st a good moon-calf.

Cal. How does thy Honour? Let me lick thy shoe. I’ll not serve him, he is not valiant.

Trin. Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to justle a constable.424-5 Why, thou debosh’d424-6 fish, thou, was there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish and half a monster?

Cal. Boo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?

Trin. Lord, quoth he. That a monster should be such a natural!425-7

Cal. Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I pr’ythee.

Steph. Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you prove a mutineer,—the next tree.425-8 The poor monster’s my subject, and he shall not suffer indignity.

Cal. I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased To hearken once again the suit I made thee?

Steph. Marry, will I: kneel, and repeat it; I will stand, and so shall Trinculo.

Enter Ariel, invisible.

Cal. As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant; a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.

Ari. Thou liest.425-9

Cal. Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou: I would my valiant master would destroy thee! I do not lie.

Steph. Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in’s tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.

Trin. Why, I said nothing.

Steph. Mum, then, and no more.— [To Cal.] Proceed.

Cal. I say, by sorcery he got this isle; From me he got it. If thy Greatness will Revenge it on him,—for, I know, thou darest, But this thing425-10 dare not,—

Steph. That’s most certain.

Cal. Thou shalt be lord of it, and I will serve thee.

Steph. How now shall this be compass’d? Canst thou bring me to the party?

Cal. Yea, yea, my lord; I’ll yield him thee asleep, Where thou mayst knock a nail into his head.

Ari. Thou liest; thou canst not.

Cal. What a pied ninny’s426-11 this!—Thou scurvy patch!426-12— I do beseech thy Greatness, give him blows, And take his bottle from him: when that’s gone, He shall drink nought but brine; for I’ll not show him Where the quick freshes426-13 are.

Steph. Trinculo, run into no further danger: interrupt the monster one word further, and, by this hand, I’ll turn my mercy out of doors, and make a stock-fish426-14 of thee.

Trin. Why, what did I? I did nothing. I’ll go further off.

Steph. Didst thou not say he lied?

Ari. Thou liest.

Steph. Do I so? take thou that. [Strikes him.] As you like this, give me the lie another time.

Trin. I did not give thee the lie. Out o’ your wits and hearing too? A pox o’ your bottle! this can sack and drinking do. A murrain on your monster, and the Devil take your fingers!

Cal. Ha, ha, ha!

Steph. Now, forward with your tale.—Pr’ythee stand further off.427-15

Cal. Beat him enough: after a little time, I’ll beat him too.

Steph. Stand further.—Come, proceed.

Cal. Why, as I told thee, ’tis a custom with him I’ the afternoon to sleep; then thou mayst brain him, Having first seized his books; or with a log Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake, Or cut his weazand427-16 with thy knife. Remember First to possess his books; for without them He’s but a sot,427-17 as I am, nor hath not One spirit to command: they all do hate him As rootedly as I. Burn but his books. He has brave427-18 utensils,—for so he calls them,— Which, when he has a house, he’ll deck’t withal: And that most deeply to consider is The beauty of his daughter; he himself Calls her a nonpareil: I ne’er saw woman, But only Sycorax my dam and she; But she as far surpasseth Sycorax As great’st does least.

Steph. Is it so brave a lass?

Cal. Ay, lord.

Steph. Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be king and queen,—save our Graces!—and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys.—Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?

Trin. Excellent.

Steph. Give me thy hand: I am sorry I beat thee; but, while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head.

Cal. Within this half-hour will he be asleep: Wilt thou destroy him then?

Steph. Ay, on mine honour.

Ari. This will I tell my master.428-19

Cal. Thou makest me merry; I am full of pleasure: Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch428-20 You taught me but while-ere?428-21

Steph. At thy request, monster, I will do reason,428-22 any reason.—Come on, Trinculo, let us sing.

[Sings.

Flout ’em and scout ’em, and scout ’em and flout ’em; Thought is free.

Cal. That’s not the tune.

[Ariel plays the tune on a tabor and pipe.

Steph. What is this same?428-23

Trin. This is the tune of our catch, play’d by the picture of Nobody.428-24

Steph. If thou be’st a man, show thyself in thy likeness: if thou be’st a devil—take’t as thou list.429-25

Trin. O, forgive me my sins!

Steph. He that dies pays all debts: I defy thee.—Mercy upon us!

Cal. Art thou afeard?

Steph. No, monster, not I.

Cal. Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not. Sometime429-26 a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had waked after long sleep, Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open, and show riches Ready to drop upon me; that, when I waked, I cried to dream again.

Steph. This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall have my music for nothing.

Cal. When Prospero is destroy’d.

Steph. That shall be by-and-by: I remember the story.

Cal. The sound is going away; let’s follow it. And after do our work.

Steph. Lead, monster; we’ll follow.—I would I could see this taborer! he lays it on.—Wilt come?

Trin. I’ll follow, Stephano. [Exeunt.