Ste. What's the matter? Have we devils here? Do you put tricks upon us with savages, and men or Inde? Ha! I have not 'scaped drowning, to be afeard now of your four legs; for it hath been said, As proper a man as ever went on four legs cannot make him give ground; and it shall be said sc again, while Stephano breathes at nostrils. Cal. The spirit torments me. O! Ste. This is some monster of the isle, with four legs; who hath got, as I take it, an ague. Where the devil should he learn our language? I will give him some relief, if it be but for that: if I can recover him, and keep him tame, and get to Naples with him, he's a present for any emperor that ever trod on neat's-leather. Cal. Do not torment me, pr'ythee; I'll bring my wood home faster. Ste. He's in his fit now; and does not talk after the wisest. He shall taste of my bottle: if he have never drunk wine afore, it will go near to remove his fit: if I can recover him, and keep him tame, I will not take too much for him: he shall pay for him that hath him, and that soundly. Cal. Thou dost me yet but little hurt; thou wilt anon, I know it by thy trembling: now Prosper works upon thee. Ste. Come on your ways; open your mouth; here is that which will give language to you, cat; 1 1 Alluding to an old proverb, that good liquor will make a cat speak.' open your mouth: this will shake your shaking,1 I can tell you, and that soundly: you cannot tell who's your friend; open your chaps again. Trin. I should know that voice: it should beBut he is drowned, and these are devils. O! defend me! Ste. Four legs, and two voices! a most delicate monster! His forward voice now is to speak well of his friend; his backward voice is to utter foul speeches, and to detract. If all the wine in my bottle will recover him, I will help his ague. Come, -Amen! I will pour some in thy other mouth. Trin. Stephano, Ste. Doth thy other mouth call me? Mercy! mercy! This is a devil, and no monster: I will leave him; I have no long spoon." Trin. Stephano!-if thou beest Stephano, touch me, and speak to me; for I am Trinculo: be not afeard, thy good friend Trinculo. Ste. If thou beest Trinculo, come forth: I'll pull thee by the lesser legs: 3 if any be Trinculo's legs, these are they. Thou art very Trinculo, indeed. How camest thou to be the siege of this mooncalf? 5 Can he vent Trinculos? 1 Dispel your fears. 2 Alluding to the proverb, a long spoon to eat with the devil.' 3 Trinculo's legs were somewhat shorter than those of Caliban. 4 Stool. 5 A moon-calf is an inanimate, shapeless mass, supposed by Pliny to be engendered of woman only. Trin. I took him to be killed with a thunderstroke. But art thou not drowned, Stephano? I hope now, thou art not drowned. Is the storm overblown? I hid me under the dead moon-calf's gaberdine, for fear of the storm. And art thou living, Stephano? O Stephano, two Neapolitans 'scaped! Ste. Pr'ythee, do not turn me about; my stomach is not constant. Cal. These be fine things, an if they be not sprites. That's a brave god, and bears celestial liquor : Ste. How didst thou 'scape? How camest thou hither? Swear by this bottle, how thou camest hither. I escaped upon a butt of sack, which the sailors heaved overboard, by this bottle! which I made of the bark of a tree, with mine own hands, since I was cast a-shore. Cal. I'll swear, upon that bottle, to be thy true subject; for the liquor is not earthly. Ste. Here; swear then how thou escapedst. Trin. Swam a-shore, man, like a duck: I can swim like a duck, I'll be sworn. Ste. Here, kiss the book. Though thou canst swim like a duck, thou art made like a goose. Trin. O Stephano, hast any more of this? Ste. The whole butt, man; my cellar is in a rock by the sea-side, where my wine is hid. How now, moon-calf! how does thine ague? Cal. Hast thou not dropped from heaven? Ste. Out o' the moon, I do assure thee: I was the man in the moon, when time was.1 Cal. I have seen thee in her, and I do adore thee: My mistress show'd me thee, and thy dog, and thy bush.2 Ste. Come, swear to that; kiss the book: I will furnish it anon with new contents: swear. Trin. By this good light, this is a very shallow monster :-I afeard of him ?—a very weak monster. The man i' the moon?-a most poor, credulous monster. Well drawn, monster, in good sooth. Cal. I'll show thee every fertile inch o' the island; And I will kiss thy foot: I pr'ythee, be my god. Trin. By this light, a most perfidious and drunken monster when his god's asleep, he 'll rob his bottle. Cal. I'll kiss thy foot: I'll swear myself thy : subject. Ste. Come on then; down, and swear. Trin. I shall laugh myself to death at this puppyheaded monster. A most scurvy monster! I could find in my heart to beat him,— Ste. Come, kiss. Trin. —but that the poor monster's in drink : An abominable monster! Cal. I'll show thee the best springs; I'll pluck thee berries; 1 Formerly. 2 It was a popular legend, that in the moon's circle could be seen a man, bearing a bundle of sticks, or bush, and leading a dog. I'll fish for thee, and get thee wood enough. I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee, Trin. A most ridiculous monster, to make a wonder of a poor drunkard. Cal. I pr'ythee, let me bring thee where crabs grow; And I with my long nails will dig thee pig-nuts; 1 To snare the nimble marmozet; 2 I'll bring thee Ste. I pr'ythee now, lead the way, without any more talking. Trinculo, the king and all our company else being drowned, we will inherit here. Here; bear my bottle. Fellow Trinculo, we'll fill him by and by again. Cal. Farewell, master; farewell, farewell.' [sings drunkenly Trin. A howling monster; a drunken monster. Cal. No more dams I'll make for fish ; At requiring, Nor scrape trenchering, nor wash dish; Ban Ban, Ca-Caliban, Has a new master-Get a new man. Earth-nuts. 2 A small monkey. 3 Sea-gulls. SHAK. I. D |