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The Tempest

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Act III, Scene 2

Another part of the island.

       
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[Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO]

  • Stephano. Tell not me; when the butt is out, we will drink
    water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and
    board 'em. Servant-monster, drink to me.
  • Trinculo. Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They
    say there's but five upon this isle: we are three 1400
    of them; if th' other two be brained like us, the
    state totters.
  • Stephano. Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes
    are almost set in thy head.
  • Trinculo. Where should they be set else? he were a brave 1405
    monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.
  • Stephano. 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, 1410
    monster, or my standard.
  • Trinculo. Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no standard.
  • Stephano. We'll not run, Monsieur Monster.
  • Trinculo. Nor go neither; but you'll lie like dogs and yet say
    nothing neither. 1415
  • 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.
  • Trinculo. Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to 1420
    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? 1425
  • Trinculo. 'Lord' quoth he! That a monster should be such a natural!
  • Caliban. Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I prithee.
  • 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. 1430
  • Caliban. I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased to
    hearken once again to the suit I made to thee?
  • Stephano. Marry, will I. kneel and repeat it; I will stand,
    and so shall Trinculo.

[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.
  • Caliban. Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou: I would my
    valiant master would destroy thee! I do not lie. 1440
  • Stephano. Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in's tale, by
    this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.
  • Stephano. Mum, then, and no more. Proceed.
  • Caliban. I say, by sorcery he got this isle; 1445
    From me he got it. if thy greatness will
    Revenge it on him,—for I know thou darest,
    But this thing dare not,—
  • Caliban. Thou shalt be lord of it and I'll serve thee. 1450
  • 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.
  • Ariel. Thou liest; thou canst not. 1455
  • 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. 1460
  • Stephano. Trinculo, run into no further danger:
    interrupt the monster one word further, and,
    by this hand, I'll turn my mercy out o' doors
    and make a stock-fish of thee.
  • Trinculo. Why, what did I? I did nothing. I'll go farther 1465
    off.
  • Stephano. Do I so? take thou that.
    [Beats TRINCULO] 1470
    As you like this, give me the lie another time.
  • 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! 1475
  • Stephano. Now, forward with your tale. Prithee, stand farther
    off.
  • Caliban. Beat him enough: after a little time
    I'll beat him too. 1480
  • 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, 1485
    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. 1490
    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, 1495
    But only Sycorax my dam and she;
    But she as far surpasseth Sycorax
    As great'st does least.
  • Caliban. Ay, lord; she will become thy bed, I warrant. 1500
    And bring thee forth brave brood.
  • Stephano. 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? 1505
  • 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? 1510
  • 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? 1515
  • 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 1520
    Thought is free.

[Ariel plays the tune on a tabour and pipe]

  • Trinculo. This is the tune of our catch, played by the picture 1525
    of Nobody.
  • Stephano. If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness:
    if thou beest a devil, take't as thou list.
  • Stephano. He that dies pays all debts: I defy thee. Mercy upon us! 1530
  • 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 1535
    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, 1540
    I cried to dream again.
  • Stephano. This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall
    have my music for nothing.
  • Caliban. When Prospero is destroyed.
  • Stephano. That shall be by and by: I remember the story. 1545
  • Trinculo. The sound is going away; let's follow it, and
    after do our work.
  • Stephano. Lead, monster; we'll follow. I would I could see
    this tabourer; he lays it on.
  • Trinculo. Wilt come? I'll follow, Stephano. 1550

[Exeunt]