[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.
CALIBAN
As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant,
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.
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;
From me he got it. If thy greatness will
Revenge it on him-for I know thou dar'st,
But this thing dare not-
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?
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!
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?
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?
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.
Flout 'em and scout 'em,
And scout 'em and flout 'em;
Thought is free.
[ARIEL plays the tune on a tabor and pipe]
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
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.
