 | The Tempest ; Or, The Enchanted Island |  |
SCENE II.
An open Part of the Island.Enter Trinculo, Caliban, and Stephano, with a Keg.
Step.
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:—
Why, thy eyes are almost set in thy head.
Trin.
Where should they be set else? he were a
brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.
My man-monster hath drown'd his tongue in
sack: Thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my
standard.
Trin.
Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no standard.
Step.
Mooncalf, speak once in thy life, if thou be'st
a good mooncalf.
Cal.
How does thy honour? let me lick thy shoe:
I'll not serve him, he is not valiant.
Trin.
Thou ly'st, most ignorant monster; why, thou
debosh'd fish thou, was there ever a 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?
Cal.
Lo, how he mocks me!—Wilt thou let him,
my lord?
Trin.
Lord, quoth he!—O lord, O lord, that a
monster should be such a natural!
Cal.
Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I pr'ythee.
Step.
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.
Cal.
I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased
to hearken once again to the suit I made thee?
Step.
Marry will I: kneel and repeat it: I will
stand, and so shall Trinculo.
[Caliban kneels.
Enter Ariel, invisible to them, with a Tabor and Pipe.
Cal.
As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant,
a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of
this island.
Ari.
Thou ly'st.
Cal.
Thou ly'st, thou jesting monkey, thou;—
[Rises.
I would, my valiant master would destroy thee;
I do not lie.
Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in
his tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your
teeth.
Trin.
Why, I said nothing.
Step.
Mum then, and no more.—Proceed.
Cal.
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,—
I'll yield him thee asleep,
Where thou may'st knock a nail into his head.
Ari.
Thou ly'st, thou canst not.
Cal.
What a py'd ninny's this! Thou scurvy patch!
I do beseech thy greatness give him blows.
Step.
Trinculo, run into no further danger; interrupt
the monster one word further, and by this hand,
I'll turn my mercy out of doors, and make a stockfish
of thee.
Trin.
Why, what did I? I did nothing; I'll go
further off.
Step.
Did'st thou not say, he ly'd?
Ari.
Thou ly'st.
Step.
Do I so? take thou that.
[Strikes Trinculo.—Caliban laughs.
As you like this, give me the lie another time.
Trin.
You lie, I did not give you the lie:—Out
o'your wits, and hearing too?—A plague o'your
bottle! this can sack and drinking do.—A murrain
on your monster, and the devil take your fingers!
Cal.
Ha! ha! ha!
Step.
Now forward with your tale.—Pr'ythee, stand
further off.
Cal.
Beat him enough: After a little time,
I'll beat him too.
Step.
Stand further.—Come, proceed.
Cal.
Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him
I'the afternoon to sleep: there thou may'st brain him,
Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake,
Or cut his weazand 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.
Step.
Monster, I will kill this man, and be myself
king of the island. Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?
Trin.
Stephano, hear me: I will speak for the people,
because there are none in the island to speak for
themselves.—Know then, we are all content, that Stephano
shall be king, on condition I may be viceroy
over him. Speak, good people, are you agreed?
What, no man answer? Then, we may take their silence
for consent.
Step.
Give me thy hand.—I am sorry I beat thee:
but, while thou liv'st, keep a good tongue in thy
head.
Cal.
Within this half hour will he be asleep;
Wilt thou destroy him then?
Step.
Ay, on mine honour.
Ari.
This will I tell my master.
[Exit Ariel.
Cal.
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?
Step.
At thy request, monster, I will do reason,
any reason: Come on, Trinculo, let us sing.
They sing and dance.
Flout 'em, and skout 'em;
And skout 'em, and flout 'em;
Thought is free.
[Ariel plays on the Tabor and Pipe without.
Cal.
That's not the tune.
Step.
What is this same?
This is the tune of our catch, played by the
picture of nobody.
Step.
If thou be'st a man, show thyself in thy likeness:
if thou be'st a devil, take't as thou list.
[Ariel plays again.
Trin.
O, forgive me my sins!
[Falls on his Knees.
Step.
He that dies, pays all debts:—I defy thee.
[Ariel plays again.
Mercy upon us!
[Falls on his Knees.
Cal.
Art thou afeard?
Step.
No, monster, not I.
Cal.
Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not.
[Stephano and Trinculo rise.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime 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 cry'd to dream again.
Step.
This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where
I shall have my music for nothing.
Cal.
When Prospero is destroy'd.
Step.
That shall be by and by: I remember the
story.
[Ariel plays again at some Distance; and continues to do so, retiring more and more, till the End of the Scene.
Trin.
The sound is going away: let's follow it, and
after do our work.
Step.
Lead, monster; we'll follow.—I would, I
could see this taborer: he lays it on.—Wilt come?
Trin.
I'll follow, Stephano.
[Exeunt.
| The Tempest ; Or, The Enchanted Island | |