ARKCODEX
Act III, Scene 2
1Another part of the island.
2Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo.
3StephanoTell 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.
4TrinculoServant-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.
5StephanoDrink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes are almost set in thy head.
6TrinculoWhere should they be set else? he were a brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.
7StephanoMy 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.
8TrinculoYour lieutenant, if you list; he’s no standard.
9StephanoWe’ll not run, Monsieur Monster.
10TrinculoNor go neither; but you’ll lie like dogs and yet say nothing neither.
11StephanoMoon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a good moon-calf.
12CalibanHow does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe.
I’ll not serve him; he’s not valiant.
13TrinculoThou 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?
14CalibanLo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?
15Trinculo“Lord” quoth he! That a monster should be such a natural!
16CalibanLo, lo, again! bite him to death, I prithee.
17StephanoTrinculo, 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.
18CalibanI thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased to hearken once again to the suit I made to thee?
19StephanoMarry, will I: kneel and repeat it; I will stand, and so shall Trinculo.
20Enter Ariel, invisible.
21CalibanAs I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.
22ArielThou liest.
23CalibanThou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou:
I would my valiant master would destroy thee!
I do not lie.
24StephanoTrinculo, if you trouble him any more in’s tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.
25TrinculoWhy, I said nothing.
26StephanoMum, then, and no more. Proceed.
27CalibanI 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—
28StephanoThat’s most certain.
29CalibanThou shalt be lord of it and I’ll serve thee.
30StephanoHow now shall this be compassed? Canst thou bring me to the party?
31CalibanYea, yea, my lord: I’ll yield him thee asleep,
Where thou mayst knock a nail into his head.
32ArielThou liest; thou canst not.
33CalibanWhat 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.
34StephanoTrinculo, 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.
35TrinculoWhy, what did I? I did nothing. I’ll go farther off.
36StephanoDidst thou not say he lied?
37ArielThou liest.
38StephanoDo I so? take thou that. Beats Trinculo. As you like this, give me the lie another time.
39TrinculoI 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!
40CalibanHa, ha, ha!
41StephanoNow, forward with your tale. Prithee, stand farther off.
42CalibanBeat him enough: after a little time
I’ll beat him too.
43StephanoStand farther. Come, proceed.
44CalibanWhy, 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.
45StephanoIs it so brave a lass?
46CalibanAy, lord; she will become thy bed, I warrant.
And bring thee forth brave brood.
47StephanoMonster, 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?
48TrinculoExcellent.
49StephanoGive me thy hand: I am sorry I beat thee; but, while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head.
50CalibanWithin this half hour will he be asleep:
Wilt thou destroy him then?
51StephanoAy, on mine honour.
52ArielThis will I tell my master.
53CalibanThou makest me merry; I am full of pleasure:
Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch
You taught me but while-ere?
54StephanoAt thy request, monster, I will do reason, any reason. Come on, Trinculo, let us sing. Sings.
55Flout ’em and scout ’em
And scout ’em and flout ’em;
Thought is free.
56CalibanThat’s not the tune. Ariel plays the tune on a tabor and pipe.
57StephanoWhat is this same?
58TrinculoThis is the tune of our catch, played by the picture of Nobody.
59StephanoIf thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness: if thou beest a devil, take’t as thou list.
60TrinculoO, forgive me my sins!
61StephanoHe that dies pays all debts: I defy thee. Mercy upon us!
62CalibanArt thou afeard?
63StephanoNo, monster, not I.
64CalibanBe 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.
65StephanoThis will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall have my music for nothing.
66CalibanWhen Prospero is destroyed.
67StephanoThat shall be by and by: I remember the story.
68TrinculoThe sound is going away; let’s follow it, and after do our work.
69StephanoLead, monster; we’ll follow. I would I could see this tabourer; he lays it on.
70TrinculoWilt come? I’ll follow, Stephano. Exeunt.