Act 3, Scene 2: Another part of the island

SCENE II. 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 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
    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's not valiant.

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?

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 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.

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 darest,
    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 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.

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 TRINCULO
    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!

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.

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.

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 livest, 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 makest 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 tabour and pipe

STEPHANO

    What is this same?

TRINCULO

    This is the tune of our catch, played 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 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.

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.

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.

    Exeunt

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