Act III, Scene 2

Another part of the island.

[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.

• Ariel. Thou liest.

• 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.

• Trinculo. Why, I said nothing.

• 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,—

• Stephano. That's most certain.

• 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. Didst thou not say he lied?

• Ariel. Thou liest.

• 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

• Caliban. Ha, ha, ha!

• 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.

• Stephano. Is it so brave a lass?

• 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

• Trinculo. Excellent.

• 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

• Stephano. Ay, on mine honour.

• 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.

• Caliban. That's not the tune.

[Ariel plays the tune on a tabour and pipe]

• Stephano. What is this same?

• 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.

• Trinculo. O, forgive me my sins!

• Stephano. He that dies pays all debts: I defy thee. Mercy upon us! 1530

• Caliban. Art thou afeard?

• 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 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]