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I thank my noble lord

Caliban
I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased
to harken once again to the suit I made to thee?
Stephano
Marry, will I. Kneel and repeat it. I will
stand, and so shall Trinculo.
 Enter Ariel, invisible.
Caliban, kneeling
As I told thee before, I am subject
to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath
cheated me of the island.

Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not.

Ariel, in Trinculo’s voice
Thou liest.
Caliban, to Trinculo
Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou.
 He stands.
I would my valiant master would destroy thee.
I do not lie.
Stephano
Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in ’s
tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.
Trinculo
Why, I said nothing.
Stephano
Mum then, and no more.
 Trinculo stands aside.
Proceed.
Caliban
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 dare not.
Stephano
That’s most certain.
Caliban
Thou shalt be lord of it, and I’ll serve thee.
Stephano
How now shall this be compassed? Canst
thou bring me to the party?
Caliban
Yea, yea, my lord. I’ll yield him thee asleep,
Where thou mayst knock a nail into his head.
Ariel, in Trinculo’s voice
Thou liest. Thou canst not.
Caliban
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 naught but brine, for I’ll not show him
Where the quick freshes are.
Stephano
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
stockfish of thee.
Trinculo
Why, what did I? I did nothing. I’ll go
farther off.
Stephano
Didst thou not say he lied?
Ariel, in Trinculo’s voice
Thou liest.
Stephano
Do I so? Take thou that.
 He beats Trinculo.
As you like this, give me the lie another time.
Trinculo
I did not give 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!
Caliban
Ha, ha, ha!
Stephano
Now forward with your tale. To Trinculo.
Prithee, stand further off.
Caliban
Beat him enough. After a little time
I’ll beat him too.
Stephano
Stand farther.
 Trinculo moves farther away.
Come, proceed.
Caliban
Why, as I told thee, ’tis a custom with him
I’ th’ afternoon to sleep. There 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 weasand 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.
Stephano
Is it so brave a lass?
Caliban
Ay, lord, she will become thy bed, I warrant,
And bring thee forth brave brood.
Stephano
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?
Trinculo
Excellent.
Stephano
Give me thy hand. I am sorry I beat thee.
But while thou liv’st, keep a good tongue in thy head.
Caliban
Within this half hour will he be asleep.
Wilt thou destroy him then?
Stephano
Ay, on mine honor.
Ariel, aside
This will I tell my master.
Caliban
Thou mak’st me merry. I am full of pleasure.
Let us be jocund. Will you troll the catch
You taught me but whilere?
Stephano
At thy request, monster, I will do reason,
any reason.—Come on, Trinculo, let us sing.
 Sings.

Flout ’em and cout ’em
And scout ’em and flout ’em!
 Thought is free.

Caliban
That’s not the tune.
 Ariel plays the tune on a tabor and pipe.
Stephano
What is this same?
Trinculo
This is the tune of our catch played by the
picture of Nobody.
Stephano, to the invisible musician
If thou be’st a man, show thyself in thy likeness.
If thou be’st a devil, take ’t as thou list.
Trinculo
O, forgive me my sins!
Stephano
He that dies pays all debts.—I defy thee!—
Mercy upon us!
Caliban
Art thou afeard?
Stephano
No, monster, not I.
Caliban
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 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.
Stephano
This will prove a brave kingdom to me,
where I shall have my music for nothing.
Caliban
When Prospero is destroyed.
Stephano
That shall be by and by. I remember the story.
Trinculo
The sound is going away. Let’s follow it, and
after do our work.
Stephano
Lead, monster. We’ll follow.—I would I could
see this taborer. He lays it on. Wilt come?
Trinculo
I’ll follow, Stephano.
 They exit.

 

Source:
Act 3
Scene 2
Line 42

Source Type:
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Spoken by:
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