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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. Proceed.

Cal. I say, by sorcery he got this isle;

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52

Cal. Thou shalt be lord of it and I'll serve thee. Ste. How now shall this be compass'd? Canst thou bring me to the party?

61

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 this! Thou scurvy patch!

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 are.

69

Ste. Trinculo, run into no further danger: interrupt the monster one word further, and, by this hand, I'll turn my mercy out o' doors and make a stock-fish

of thee.

Trin. Why, what did I? I did nothing. I'll go farther off.

Ste. Didst thou not say he lied?

57. this thing: Trinculo again.

65. pied ninny: Trinculo is the Court fool, and wears a motley, or pied, dress. W.

65. patch = a paltry fellow. It is sometimes supposed here to refer to Trinculo's motley.

69. quick = living, as quickens above.

Ari. Thou liest.

Ste. Do I so? take thou that. As you like this, give me the lie Trin. I did not give the lie.

[Beats Trin.] another time.

79

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!

Ste. Now, forward with your tale. Prithee, stand farther off.

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

Ste.

Stand farther. Come, proceed.

Cal. Why, as I told thee, 't is a custom with him, I' th' afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst 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 a house, he 'll deck withal.
And that most deeply to consider is

The beauty of his daughter; he himself
Calls her a nonpareil: I never saw a woman,
But only Sycorax my dam and she;

But she as far surpasseth Sycorax

As great'st does least.

93. wezand = windpipe.

91

100

96. they all do hate him: this was merely Caliban's idea, but a not unnatural one, considering his limitations.

Ste.

Cal. Ay, lord.

Is it so brave a lass?

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 viceroys. Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?

Trin. Excellent.

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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 mine 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 troll the catch

You taught me but while-ere?

120

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

reason.

Flout 'em and scout 'em

And scout 'em and flout 'em;

Thought is free.

Cal. That's not the tune.

[Sings.

[Ariel plays the tune on a tabor and pipe.

Ste. What is this same ?

Trin. This is the tune of our catch, played by the picture of Nobody.

Ste. If thou be'st a man, show thyself in any likeness if thou be'st a devil, take 't as thou list.

Trin. O, forgive me my sins!

131

125. Thought is free: cf. the note on Act II. Sc. ii. 1. 184. 129. Nobody: plainly an allusion to an old grotesque figure, all head and limbs, with no body. W.

Ste. He that dies pays all debts: I defy thee.

Mercy upon us!

Cal. Art thou afeard?

Ste. No, monster, not I.

140

Cal. Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not. 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 cri'd to dream again.

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

Cal. When Prospero is destroy'd.

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

150

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

Ste. Lead, monster; we'll follow. I would I could see this taborer; he lays it on.

Trin. Wilt come? I'll follow, Stephano.

SCENE III. Another part of the island.

[Exeunt.

Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others.

Gon. By 'r lakin, I can go no further, sir; My old bones ache: here's a maze trod indeed

1. lakin = ladykin or little lady; the Virgin Mary. W. 2. maze a labyrinth made by hedges was a feature of some old gardens.

Through forth-rights and meanders! By your patience,

I needs must rest me.

Alon.

Old lord, I cannot blame thee,

Who am myself attach'd with weariness,

To th' dulling of my spirits: sit down, and rest.
Even here I will put off my hope and keep it
No longer for my flatterer: he is drown'd
Whom thus we stray to find, and the sea mocks
Our frustrate search on land. Well, let him go.
Ant. [Aside to Seb.] I am right glad that he's
so out of hope.

Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose
That you resolv'd t' effect.

Seb. [Aside to Ant.] The next advantage
Will we take throughly.

Ant. [Aside to Seb.] Let it be to-night; For, now they are oppress'd with travel, they Will not, nor cannot, use such vigilance

As when they are fresh.

Seb. [Aside to Ant.] I say, to-night: no more.

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[Solemn and strange music.

Alon. What harmony is this? My good friends,

hark!

Gon. Marvellous sweet music!

Enter PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter several strange Shapes, bringing in a banquet; they dance about it with gentle actions of salutation; and, inviting the King, etc., to eat, they depart.

Alon. Give us kind keepers, heavens!

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What

20

5. attached the special word for being taken by a legal officer.

15. travel: not merely journeying, but with fatigue added. above: Prospero stands in the balcony at the back of the stage.

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