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Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
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SCENE II. Changes to another part of the Island. Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo, with a bottle.

Ste.

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.

Trin.

Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They say, there's but five upon this isle; we are three of them, if the other two be brain'd like us, the state totters.

Ste.

Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee. 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.

Ste.

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.

Trin.

Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no standard.

Ste.

We'll not run, monsieur monster.

Trin.

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

Ste.

Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest good moon-calf.

-- 53 --

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; 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!—That a monster should be such a natural!

Cal.

Lo, lo, again; bite him to death, I pr'ythee.

Ste.

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 pleas'd to hearken once again to the suit I made to thee?

Ste.

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.

Cal.
Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou;
I would, my valiant master would destroy thee:
I do not lie.

Ste.

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.

Ste.

Mum then, and no more—[To Caliban.] 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,
But this thing dares not.—)

Ste.
That's most certain.

Cal.
Thou shalt be lord of it, and I'll serve thee.

-- 54 --

Ste.

How now shall this be compast? canst thou bring me to the party?

Cal.
Yea, yea, my lord, I'll yield him thee asleep,
Where thou may'st knock a nail into his head.

Ari.
Thou liest, thou canst not.

Cal.
What a py'd ninny's this!1 note



thou scurvy patch!
I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows,
And take this bottle from him; when that's gone,
He shall drink nought but brine, for I'll not shew him
Where the quick freshes are.

Ste.

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 of thee.

Trin.

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

Ste.

Didst thou not say, he ly'd?

Ari.

Thou liest.

Ste.
Do I so? take you that. [Beats 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 of your bottle! this can sack and drinking do. A murrain on your monster, and the devil take your fingers!

Cal.

Ha, ha, ha.

Ste.

Now, forward with your tale; pr'ythee stand further off.

Cal.
Beat him enough; after a little time
I'll beat him too.

-- 55 --

Ste.
Stand further. Come, proceed.

Cal.
Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him
I'th' afternoon to sleep; there thou may'st brain him,
Having first seiz'd 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 an house, he'll deck withal.
And that most deeply to consider, is
The beauty of his daughter; he himself
Calls her a non-pareil: I ne'er saw woman,
But only Sycorax my dam, and she:
But she as far surpasses Sycorax,
As greatest does the least.

Ste.
Is it so brave a Lass?

Cal.
Ay, lord; she will become thy bed, I warrant,
And bring thee forth brave brood.

Ste.

Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be King and Queen, save our Graces: and Trinculo and thyself shall be Vice-Roys. Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?

Trin.

Excellent.

Ste.

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?

Ste.
Ay, on my honour.

Ari.
This will I tell my master.

Cal.
Thou mak'st me merry; I am full of pleasure;
Let us be jocund. Will you troul the catch,
You taught me but while-ere?

Ste.

At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any reason: come on, Trinculo, let us sing.

[Sings.

-- 56 --



Flout 'em, and skout 'em; and skout 'em, and flout 'em; thought is free.

Cal.

That's not the tune.

[Ariel plays the Tune on a Tabor and Pipe.

Ste.

What is this same?

Trin.

This is the tune of our catch, plaid by the picture of no-body.

Ste.

If thou be'st a man, shew thyself in the likeness; if thou be'st a devil, take't as thou list.

Trin.

O, forgive me my sins!

Ste.

He that dies, pays all debts: I defie thee. Mercy upon us!

Cal.

Art thou afraid?

Ste.

No, monster, not I.

Cal.
Be not afraid; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not,
Sometimes a thousand twanging instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometimes 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 shew riches
Ready to drop upon me; then when I wak'd,
I cry'd to dream again.

Ste.

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

Cal.

When Prospero is destroy'd.

Ste.

That shall be by and by: I remember the story.

Trin.

The sound is going away; let's follow it, and after do our work.

Ste.

Lead, monster; we'll follow. I wou'd I could see this taborer. He lays it on.

Trin.

Wilt come? I'll follow Stephano.

[Exeunt.

-- 57 --

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Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
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