yond same cloud cannot choose but fall by pailfuls. What have we here? a man or a fish? dead or alive? A fish: he smells like a fish; a very ancient and fish-like smell; a kind of not of the newest Poor-John. A strange fish! Were I in England now, as once I was, and had but this fish painted, not a holiday fool there but would give 30 a piece of silver: there would this monster make a man; any strange beast there makes a man: when they will not give a doit to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out ten to see a dead Indian. Legged like a man! and his fins like arms! Warm o' my troth! I do now let loose my opinion; hold it no longer this is no fish, but an islander, that hath lately suffered by a thunderbolt. [Thunder.] Alas, the storm is come again! my best way is to creep under his gaberdine; there is no other shelter hereabout: misery acquaints a man with strange bed-fellows. I will here shroud till the dregs of the storm be past. Enter STEPHANO, singing: a bottle in his hand. Ste. I shall no more to sea, to sea, Here shall I die ashore This is a very scurvy tune to sing at a man's funeral well, here's my comfort. [Sings. [Drinks. The master, the swabber, the boatswain and I, 28. Poor-John, salted hake. for half a year. 40 31. make a man, make a man's future. 33. doit, the smallest coin. Eighty doits made one shilling. 40. gaberdine, long coarse smock-frock. Loved Mall, Meg and Marian and Margery, She loved not the savour of tar nor of pitch, Then to sea, boys, and let her go hang! This is a scurvy tune too: but here's my comfort. [Drinks. 50 Cal. Do not torment me: Oh! Ste. What's the matter? Have we devils here? Do you put tricks upon 's with savages and 60 men of Ind, 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 so again while Stephano breathes at nostrils. Cal. The spirit torments me; Oh! 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, prithee; I'll bring my wood home faster. 70 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 80 shall pay for him that hath him, and that soundly. 52. tang, shrill sound. 61. men of Ind, a synonym for 'savages.' VOL. IV 449 2 G 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: open your mouth; this will shake your shaking, 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 be -but 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 Trinculobe not afeard thy good friend Trinculo. Ste. If thou beest Trinculo, come forth: I'll pull thee by the lesser legs: if any be Trinculo's legs, these are they. Thou art very Trinculo indeed! How camest thou to be the siege of this moon-calf? can he vent Trinculos? Trin. I took him to be killed with a thunderstroke. But art thou not drowned, Stephano? I 83. trembling, a reputed sign of being 'possessed.' 86. cat; with reference to the proverb that 'good liquor will make a cat speak.' 98. Amen, i.e. Enough (for this mouth). 110. siege, stool, excrement. III. moon-calf, abortion. 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. Prithee, do not turn me about; my stomach is not constant. Cal. [Aside] 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 o'erboard, by this bottle! which I made of the bark of a tree with mine own hands since I was cast ashore. 120 Cal. I'll swear upon that bottle to be thy true 130 subject; for the liquor is not earthly. Ste. Here; swear then how thou escapedst. Trin. Swum ashore, 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. now, moon-calf! how does thine ague? How Cal. Hast thou not dropp'd from heaven? Ste. Out o' the moon, I do assure thee: I was the man i' the moon when time was. Cal. I have seen thee in her and I do adore thee: My mistress show'd me thee and thy dog and thy bush. Ste. Come, swear to that; kiss the book: I will furnish it anon with new contents: swear. 120. is not constant, is qualmish. 140 126. sack, Spanish white wine. 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' th' island; And I will kiss thy foot: I prithee, be my god. Trin. By this light, a most perfidious and drunken monster! when 's 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 puppy-headed 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; I'll fish for thee and get thee wood enough. A plague upon the tyrant that I serve! 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 prithee, let me bring thee where crabs And I with my long nails will dig thee pig-nuts; 150 160 170 150. Well drawn, a good bulbous root-stock of the plant draught.' Bunium flexuosum. 172. pig-nuts, the edible 174. marmoset, small monkey. |
