Chapter 7

_Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, with a bottle._

_Steph._ Tell not me: when the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board 'em.[423-1] Servant-monster, drink to me.

_Trin._ 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.

_Steph._ Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes are almost set[424-2] in thy head.

[_CALIBAN drinks._

_Trin._ Where should they be set else? he were a brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.

_Steph._ 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.[424-3]

_Trin._ Your lieutenant, if you list: he's no standard.[424-4]

_Steph._ We'll not run, Monsieur Monster.

_Trin._ Nor go neither: but you'll lie like dogs, and yet say nothing neither.

_Steph._ Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou be'st a good moon-calf.

_Cal._ How does thy Honour? Let me lick thy shoe. I'll not serve him, he is not valiant.

_Trin._ Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to justle a constable.[424-5] Why, thou debosh'd[424-6] 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?

_Cal._ Boo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?

_Trin._ Lord, quoth he. That a monster should be such a natural![425-7]

_Cal._ Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I pr'ythee.

_Steph._ Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you prove a mutineer,--the next tree.[425-8] 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 the suit I made thee?

_Steph._ Marry, will I: kneel, and repeat it; I will stand, and so shall Trinculo.

_Enter ARIEL, invisible._

_Cal._ As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant; a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.

_Ari._ Thou liest.[425-9]

_Cal._ Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou: I would my valiant master would destroy thee! I do not lie.

_Steph._ Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in's tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.

_Trin._ Why, I said nothing.

_Steph._ Mum, then, and no more.-- [_To CAL._] 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 darest, But this thing[425-10] dare not,--

_Steph._ That's most certain.

_Cal._ Thou shalt be lord of it, and I will serve thee.

_Steph._ How now shall this be compass'd? Canst thou bring me to the party?

_Cal._ Yea, yea, my lord; I'll yield him thee asleep, Where thou mayst knock a nail into his head.

_Ari._ Thou liest; thou canst not.

_Cal._ What a pied ninny's[426-11] this!--Thou scurvy patch![426-12]-- 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[426-13] are.

_Steph._ 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 stock-fish[426-14] of thee.

_Trin._ Why, what did I? I did nothing. I'll go further off.

_Steph._ Didst thou not say he lied?

_Ari._ Thou liest.

_Steph._ Do I so? take thou that. [_Strikes him._] As you like this, give me the lie another time.

_Trin._ I did not give thee 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!

_Cal._ Ha, ha, ha!

_Steph._ Now, forward with your tale.--Pr'ythee stand further off.[427-15]

_Cal._ Beat him enough: after a little time, I'll beat him too.

_Steph._ Stand further.--Come, proceed.

_Cal._ Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him I' the afternoon to sleep; then 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 weazand[427-16] with thy knife. Remember First to possess his books; for without them He's but a sot,[427-17] 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[427-18] utensils,--for so he calls them,-- Which, when he has a house, he'll deck't withal: And that most deeply to consider is The beauty of his daughter; he himself Calls her a nonpareil: I ne'er saw woman, But only Sycorax my dam and she; But she as far surpasseth Sycorax As great'st does least.

_Steph._ Is it so brave a lass?

_Cal._ Ay, lord.

_Steph._ 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?

_Trin._ Excellent.

_Steph._ Give me thy hand: I am sorry I beat thee; but, while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head.

_Cal._ Within this half-hour will he be asleep: Wilt thou destroy him then?

_Steph._ Ay, on mine honour.

_Ari._ This will I tell my master.[428-19]

_Cal._ Thou makest me merry; I am full of pleasure: Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch[428-20] You taught me but while-ere?[428-21]

_Steph._ At thy request, monster, I will do reason,[428-22] any reason.--Come on, Trinculo, let us sing. [_Sings._ _Flout 'em and scout 'em, and scout 'em and flout 'em; Thought is free._

_Cal._ That's not the tune.

[_ARIEL plays the tune on a tabor and pipe._

_Steph._ What is this same?[428-23]

_Trin._ This is the tune of our catch, play'd by the picture of Nobody.[428-24]

_Steph._ If thou be'st a man, show thyself in thy likeness: if thou be'st a devil--take't as thou list.[429-25]

_Trin._ O, forgive me my sins!

_Steph._ He that dies pays all debts: I defy thee.--Mercy upon us!

_Cal._ Art thou afeard?

_Steph._ No, monster, not I.

_Cal._ Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not. Sometime[429-26] a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes 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.

_Steph._ This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall have my music for nothing.

_Cal._ When Prospero is destroy'd.

_Steph._ That shall be by-and-by: I remember the story.

_Cal._ The sound is going away; let's follow it. And after do our work.

_Steph._ Lead, monster; we'll follow.--I would I could see this taborer! he lays it on.--Wilt come?

_Trin._ I'll follow, Stephano. [_Exeunt._