Open Source Shakespeare

Speeches (Lines) for Caliban
in "Tempest"

Total: 50

# Act, Scene, Line
(Click to see in context)
Speech text

1

I,2,460

Prospero. But, as 'tis,
We cannot miss him: he does make our fire,
Fetch in our wood and serves in offices
That profit us. What, ho! slave! Caliban!
Thou earth, thou! speak.

Caliban. [Within] There's wood enough within.


2

I,2,471

(stage directions). [Enter CALIBAN]

Caliban. As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd
With raven's feather from unwholesome fen
Drop on you both! a south-west blow on ye
And blister you all o'er!


3

I,2,481

Prospero. For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps,
Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up; urchins
Shall, for that vast of night that they may work,
All exercise on thee; thou shalt be pinch'd
As thick as honeycomb, each pinch more stinging
Than bees that made 'em.

Caliban. I must eat my dinner.
This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother,
Which thou takest from me. When thou camest first,
Thou strokedst me and madest much of me, wouldst give me
Water with berries in't, and teach me how
To name the bigger light, and how the less,
That burn by day and night: and then I loved thee
And show'd thee all the qualities o' the isle,
The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile:
Cursed be I that did so! All the charms
Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you!
For I am all the subjects that you have,
Which first was mine own king: and here you sty me
In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me
The rest o' the island.


4

I,2,501

Prospero. Thou most lying slave,
Whom stripes may move, not kindness! I have used thee,
Filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee
In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate
The honour of my child.

Caliban. O ho, O ho! would't had been done!
Thou didst prevent me; I had peopled else
This isle with Calibans.


5

I,2,517

Miranda. Abhorred slave,
Which any print of goodness wilt not take,
Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee,
Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour
One thing or other: when thou didst not, savage,
Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like
A thing most brutish, I endow'd thy purposes
With words that made them known. But thy vile race,
Though thou didst learn, had that in't which
good natures
Could not abide to be with; therefore wast thou
Deservedly confined into this rock,
Who hadst deserved more than a prison.

Caliban. You taught me language; and my profit on't
Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you
For learning me your language!


6

I,2,527

Prospero. Hag-seed, hence!
Fetch us in fuel; and be quick, thou'rt best,
To answer other business. Shrug'st thou, malice?
If thou neglect'st or dost unwillingly
What I command, I'll rack thee with old cramps,
Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar
That beasts shall tremble at thy din.

Caliban. No, pray thee.
[Aside]
I must obey: his art is of such power,
It would control my dam's god, Setebos,
and make a vassal of him.


7

II,2,1082

(stage directions). [Enter CALIBAN with a burden of wood. A noise of]
thunder heard]

Caliban. All the infections that the sun sucks up
From bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall and make him
By inch-meal a disease! His spirits hear me
And yet I needs must curse. But they'll nor pinch,
Fright me with urchin—shows, pitch me i' the mire,
Nor lead me, like a firebrand, in the dark
Out of my way, unless he bid 'em; but
For every trifle are they set upon me;
Sometime like apes that mow and chatter at me
And after bite me, then like hedgehogs which
Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount
Their pricks at my footfall; sometime am I
All wound with adders who with cloven tongues
Do hiss me into madness.
[Enter TRINCULO]
Lo, now, lo!
Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me
For bringing wood in slowly. I'll fall flat;
Perchance he will not mind me.


8

II,2,1147

(stage directions). [Drinks]

Caliban. Do not torment me: Oh!


9

II,2,1155

Stephano. What's the matter? Have we devils here? Do you put
tricks upon's with savages and men of Ind, ha? I
have not scaped drowning to be afeard now of your
four legs; for it hath been said, As proper a man as
ever went on four legs cannot make him give ground;
and it shall be said so again while Stephano
breathes at's nostrils.

Caliban. The spirit torments me; Oh!


10

II,2,1162

Stephano. This is some monster of the isle with four legs, who
hath got, as I take it, an ague. Where the devil
should he learn our language? I will give him some
relief, if it be but for that. if I can recover him
and keep him tame and get to Naples with him, he's a
present for any emperor that ever trod on neat's leather.

Caliban. Do not torment me, prithee; I'll bring my wood home faster.


11

II,2,1169

Stephano. He's in his fit now and does not talk after the
wisest. He shall taste of my bottle: if he have
never drunk wine afore will go near to remove his
fit. If I can recover him and keep him tame, I will
not take too much for him; he shall pay for him that
hath him, and that soundly.

Caliban. Thou dost me yet but little hurt; thou wilt anon, I
know it by thy trembling: now Prosper works upon thee.


12

II,2,1203

Stephano. Prithee, do not turn me about; my stomach is not constant.

Caliban. [Aside] These be fine things, an if they be
not sprites.
That's a brave god and bears celestial liquor.
I will kneel to him.


13

II,2,1213

Stephano. How didst thou 'scape? How camest thou hither?
swear by this bottle how thou camest hither. I
escaped upon a butt of sack which the sailors
heaved o'erboard, by this bottle; which I made of
the bark of a tree with mine own hands since I was
cast ashore.

Caliban. I'll swear upon that bottle to be thy true subject;
for the liquor is not earthly.


14

II,2,1224

Stephano. The whole butt, man: my cellar is in a rock by the
sea-side where my wine is hid. How now, moon-calf!
how does thine ague?

Caliban. Hast thou not dropp'd from heaven?


15

II,2,1227

Stephano. Out o' the moon, I do assure thee: I was the man i'
the moon when time was.

Caliban. I have seen thee in her and I do adore thee:
My mistress show'd me thee and thy dog and thy bush.


16

II,2,1235

Trinculo. By this good light, this is a very shallow monster!
I afeard of him! A very weak monster! The man i'
the moon! A most poor credulous monster! Well
drawn, monster, in good sooth!

Caliban. I'll show thee every fertile inch o' th' island;
And I will kiss thy foot: I prithee, be my god.


17

II,2,1239

Trinculo. By this light, a most perfidious and drunken
monster! when 's god's asleep, he'll rob his bottle.

Caliban. I'll kiss thy foot; I'll swear myself thy subject.


18

II,2,1246

Trinculo. But that the poor monster's in drink: an abominable monster!

Caliban. I'll show thee the best springs; I'll pluck thee berries;
I'll fish for thee and get thee wood enough.
A plague upon the tyrant that I serve!
I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee,
Thou wondrous man.


19

II,2,1253

Trinculo. A most ridiculous monster, to make a wonder of a
Poor drunkard!

Caliban. I prithee, let me bring thee where crabs grow;
And I with my long nails will dig thee pignuts;
Show thee a jay's nest and instruct thee how
To snare the nimble marmoset; I'll bring thee
To clustering filberts and sometimes I'll get thee
Young scamels from the rock. Wilt thou go with me?


20

II,2,1264

Stephano. I prithee now, lead the way without any more
talking. Trinculo, the king and all our company
else being drowned, we will inherit here: here;
bear my bottle: fellow Trinculo, we'll fill him by
and by again.

Caliban. [Sings drunkenly]
Farewell master; farewell, farewell!


21

II,2,1267

Trinculo. A howling monster: a drunken monster!

Caliban. No more dams I'll make for fish
Nor fetch in firing
At requiring;
Nor scrape trencher, nor wash dish
'Ban, 'Ban, Cacaliban
Has a new master: get a new man.
Freedom, hey-day! hey-day, freedom! freedom,
hey-day, freedom!


22

III,2,1418

Stephano. Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a
good moon-calf.

Caliban. How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe.
I'll not serve him; he's not valiant.


23

III,2,1425

Trinculo. Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to
justle a constable. Why, thou deboshed 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?

Caliban. Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?


24

III,2,1427

Trinculo. 'Lord' quoth he! That a monster should be such a natural!

Caliban. Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I prithee.


25

III,2,1431

Stephano. Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you
prove a mutineer,—the next tree! The poor monster's
my subject and he shall not suffer indignity.

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


26

III,2,1436

(stage directions). [Enter ARIEL, invisible]

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


27

III,2,1439

Ariel. Thou liest.

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


28

III,2,1445

Stephano. Mum, then, and no more. Proceed.

Caliban. 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 thing dare not,—


29

III,2,1450

Stephano. That's most certain.

Caliban. Thou shalt be lord of it and I'll serve thee.


30

III,2,1453

Stephano. How now shall this be compassed?
Canst thou bring me to the party?

Caliban. Yea, yea, my lord: I'll yield him thee asleep,
Where thou mayst knock a nail into his bead.


31

III,2,1456

Ariel. Thou liest; thou canst not.

Caliban. What a pied ninny's this! Thou scurvy patch!
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 freshes are.


32

III,2,1476

Trinculo. I did not give the lie. Out o' your
wits and bearing too? A pox o' your bottle!
this can sack and drinking do. A murrain on
your monster, and the devil take your fingers!

Caliban. Ha, ha, ha!


33

III,2,1479

Stephano. Now, forward with your tale. Prithee, stand farther
off.

Caliban. Beat him enough: after a little time
I'll beat him too.


34

III,2,1482

Stephano. Stand farther. Come, proceed.

Caliban. Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him,
I' th' afternoon to sleep: there 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 wezand with thy knife. Remember
First to possess his books; for without them
He's but a sot, 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 brave utensils,—for so he calls them—
Which when he has a house, he'll deck withal
And that most deeply to consider is
The beauty of his daughter; he himself
Calls her a nonpareil: I never saw a woman,
But only Sycorax my dam and she;
But she as far surpasseth Sycorax
As great'st does least.


35

III,2,1500

Stephano. Is it so brave a lass?

Caliban. Ay, lord; she will become thy bed, I warrant.
And bring thee forth brave brood.


36

III,2,1509

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

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


37

III,2,1513

Ariel. This will I tell my master.

Caliban. Thou makest me merry; I am full of pleasure:
Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch
You taught me but while-ere?


38

III,2,1522

Stephano. At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any
reason. Come on, Trinculo, let us sing.
[Sings]
Flout 'em and scout 'em
And scout 'em and flout 'em
Thought is free.

Caliban. That's not the tune.


39

III,2,1531

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

Caliban. Art thou afeard?


40

III,2,1533

Stephano. No, monster, not I.

Caliban. Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime 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.


41

III,2,1544

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

Caliban. When Prospero is destroyed.


42

IV,1,1937

Prospero. A devil, a born devil, on whose nature
Nurture can never stick; on whom my pains,
Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost;
And as with age his body uglier grows,
So his mind cankers. I will plague them all,
Even to roaring.
[Re-enter ARIEL, loaden with glistering apparel, &c]
Come, hang them on this line.
[PROSPERO and ARIEL remain invisible. Enter]
CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, all wet]

Caliban. Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not
Hear a foot fall: we now are near his cell.


43

IV,1,1947

Trinculo. Thou wert but a lost monster.

Caliban. Good my lord, give me thy favour still.
Be patient, for the prize I'll bring thee to
Shall hoodwink this mischance: therefore speak softly.
All's hush'd as midnight yet.


44

IV,1,1958

Stephano. I will fetch off my bottle, though I be o'er ears
for my labour.

Caliban. Prithee, my king, be quiet. Seest thou here,
This is the mouth o' the cell: no noise, and enter.
Do that good mischief which may make this island
Thine own for ever, and I, thy Caliban,
For aye thy foot-licker.


45

IV,1,1966

Trinculo. O king Stephano! O peer! O worthy Stephano! look
what a wardrobe here is for thee!

Caliban. Let it alone, thou fool; it is but trash.


46

IV,1,1972

Trinculo. Thy grace shall have it.

Caliban. The dropsy drown this fool I what do you mean
To dote thus on such luggage? Let's alone
And do the murder first: if he awake,
From toe to crown he'll fill our skins with pinches,
Make us strange stuff.


47

IV,1,1988

Trinculo. Monster, come, put some lime upon your fingers, and
away with the rest.

Caliban. I will have none on't: we shall lose our time,
And all be turn'd to barnacles, or to apes
With foreheads villanous low.


48

V,1,2333

Trinculo. If these be true spies which I wear in my head,
here's a goodly sight.

Caliban. O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed!
How fine my master is! I am afraid
He will chastise me.


49

V,1,2351

Prospero. Mark but the badges of these men, my lords,
Then say if they be true. This mis-shapen knave,
His mother was a witch, and one so strong
That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,
And deal in her command without her power.
These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil—
For he's a bastard one—had plotted with them
To take my life. Two of these fellows you
Must know and own; this thing of darkness I
Acknowledge mine.

Caliban. I shall be pinch'd to death.


50

V,1,2370

Prospero. He is as disproportion'd in his manners
As in his shape. Go, sirrah, to my cell;
Take with you your companions; as you look
To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.

Caliban. Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter
And seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass
Was I, to take this drunkard for a god
And worship this dull fool!