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 of
them; if th' other two be brain'd 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
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,
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.
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 is not valiant.
TRINCULO Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case
to justle a constable. Why, thou debosh'd 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 fish and half a monster?
CALIBAN Lo, how he mocks me! Wilt thou let him, my
lord?
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.
CALIBAN I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleas'd 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,
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.
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;
From me he got it. If thy greatness will
Revenge it on him-for I know thou dar'st,
But this thing dare not-
STEPHANO That's most certain.
CALIBAN Thou shalt be lord of it, and I'll serve thee.
STEPHANO How now shall this be compass'd? 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 head.
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.
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
off.
STEPHANO Didst thou not say he lied?
ARIEL Thou liest.
STEPHANO Do I so? Take thou that.
[Beats him] As you like
this, give me the lie another time.
TRINCULO I did not give 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!
CALIBAN Ha, ha, ha!
STEPHANO Now, forward with your tale.-Prithee stand
further off.
CALIBAN Beat him enough; after a little time, I'll beat
him too.
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 seiz'd 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.
STEPHANO Is it so brave a lass?
CALIBAN Ay, lord; she will become thy bed, I warrant,
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?
TRINCULO Excellent.
STEPHANO Give me thy hand; I am sorry I beat thee; but
while thou liv'st, keep a good tongue in thy head.
CALIBAN Within this half hour will he be asleep.
Wilt thou destroy him then?
STEPHANO Ay, on mine honour.
ARIEL This will I tell my master.
CALIBAN Thou mak'st me merry; I am full of pleasure.
Let us be jocund; will you troll the catch
You taught me but while-ere?
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.
[ARIEL plays the tune on a tabor and pipe] STEPHANO What is this same?
TRINCULO This is the tune of our catch, play'd by the
picture 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!
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
Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices,
That, if I then had wak'd 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 wak'd,
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 destroy'd.
STEPHANO That shall be by and by; I remember the story.
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 taborer; he lays it on.
TRINCULO Wilt come? I'll follow, Stephano.
[Exeunt]