Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 38

_Steph._ If thou be'st Trinculo, come forth: I'll pull thee by the lesser legs: if any be Trinculo's legs, these are they. [_Pulls TRINCULO out._] Thou art very Trinculo indeed! How earnest thou to be the siege[414-21] of this moon-calf?[414-22]

_Trin._ I took him to be kill'd with a thunder-stroke. But art thou not drown'd, Stephano? I hope, now, thou art not drown'd?[415-23] 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!

_Steph._ Pr'ythee, do not turn me about; my stomach is not constant.[415-24]

_Cal._ [_Aside._] These be fine things, an if[415-25] they be not sprites.

That's a brave G.o.d, and bears celestial liquor: I will kneel to him.

_Steph._ How didst thou 'scape? How camest thou hither? swear, by this bottle, how thou camest hither. I escaped upon a b.u.t.t of sack,[415-26]

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 ash.o.r.e.

_Cal._ I'll swear, upon that bottle, to be thy True subject; for the liquor is not earthly.

_Steph._ Here; swear, man, how thou escapedst.

_Trin._ Swam ash.o.r.e, man, like a duck: I can swim like a duck, I'll be sworn.

_Steph._ Here kiss the book. [_Gives him drink._] Though thou canst swim like a duck, thou art made like a goose.

_Trin._ O Stephano, hast any more of this?

_Steph._ The whole b.u.t.t, man: my cellar is in a rock by the sea-side, where my wine is hid.--How now, moon-calf! how does thine ague?

_Cal._ Hast thou not dropp'd from heaven?

_Steph._ Out o' the Moon, I do a.s.sure thee: I was the Man-i'-the-moon when time was.

_Cal._ I've seen thee in her, and I do adore thee: My mistress show'd me thee, and thy dog, and thy bush.[416-27]

_Steph._ Come, swear to that; kiss the book: I will furnish it anon with new contents: swear. [_Gives CALIBAN drink._

_Trin._ By this good light, this is a very shallow monster!--I afeared of him!--a very weak monster!--_The Man-i'-the-moon!_--a most poor credulous monster!--Well drawn,[416-28] monster, in good sooth.

_Cal._ I'll show thee every fertile inch o' the island; And I will kiss thy foot: I pr'ythee, be my G.o.d.

_Trin._ By this light, a most perfidious and drunken monster! when his G.o.d's asleep, he'll rob his bottle.

_Cal._ I'll kiss thy foot; I'll swear myself thy subject.

_Steph._ 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,--

_Steph._ Come, kiss. [_Gives CALIBAN drink._

_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, Thou wondrous man.

_Trin._ A most ridiculous monster, to make a wonder of a poor drunkard!

_Cal._ I pr'ythee, let me bring thee where crabs grow; And I with my long nails will dig thee pig-nuts;[417-29]

Show thee a jay's nest, and instruct thee how To snare the nimble marmozet; I'll bring thee To cl.u.s.tering filberts, and sometimes I'll get thee Young staniels[417-30] from the rock. Wilt thou go with me?

_Steph._ I pr'ythee now, lead the way without any more talking.

Trinculo, the King and all our company else being drown'd, we will inherit here. Here, bear my bottle: fellow Trinculo, we'll fill him by-and-by again.

_Cal._ [_Sings drunkenly._] Farewell, master; farewell, farewell.

_Trin._ A howling monster; a drunken monster!

_Cal._ No more dams I'll make for fish; Nor fetch in firing at requiring; Nor sc.r.a.pe trencher, nor wash dish: 'Ban, 'Ban, Ca--Caliban Has a new master; get a new man.

Freedom, hey-day, hey-day, freedom! freedom, hey-day, freedom!

_Steph._ O brave monster! lead the way.

[_Exeunt._

ACT III

SCENE I.--_Before PROSPERO'S Cell._

_Enter FERDINAND, bearing a log._

There be some sports are painful, and their labour Delight in them sets off:[418-1] some kinds of baseness[418-2]

Are n.o.bly undergone; and most poor matters Point to rich ends. This my mean task would be As heavy to me as 'tis odious, but The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead, And makes my labours pleasures:[418-3] O, she is Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed, And he's composed of harshness. I must remove Some thousands of these logs, and pile them up, Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress Weeps when she sees me work; and says such baseness Had never like executor. I forget: But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labour; Most busy when I do it least.[419-4]

_Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO behind._

_Mira._ Alas, now, pray you, Work not so hard: I would the lightning had Burnt up those logs that you're enjoin'd to pile!

Pray, set it down, and rest you: when this burns, 'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself: He's safe for these three hours.

_Ferd._ O most dear mistress, The Sun will set before I shall discharge What I must strive to do.

_Mira._ If you'll sit down, I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that; I'll carry't to the pile.

_Ferd._ No, precious creature; I'd rather crack my sinews, break my back, Than you should such dishonour undergo, While I sit lazy by.

_Mira._ It would become me As well as it does you: and I should do it With much more ease; for my good will is to it, And yours it is against.

_Pros._ [_Aside._] Poor worm, thou art infected!

This visitation shows it.

_Mira._ You look wearily.