Another part of the island
[Enter CALIBAN, with a burden of wood.A noise of thunder heard] CALIBAN.All the infections that the sun sucks up From bogs, fens,flats, on Prosper fall, and make him By inch-meal a disease! His spirits hear me, And yet I needs must curse.But they'll nor pinch, Fright me with urchin-shows, pitch me i' th' mire, Nor lead me, like a firebrand, in the dark Out of my way, unless he bid 'em; but For every trifle are they set upon me; Sometime like apes that mow and chatter at me, And after bite me; then like hedgehogs which Lie tumbling in my barefoot way, and mount Their pricks at my footfall; sometime am I All wound with adders, who with cloven tongues Do hiss me into madness.
[Enter TRINCULO]
Lo, now, lo! Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me For bringing wood in slowly.I'll fall flat; Perchance he will not mind me.TRINCULO.Here's neither bush nor shrub to bear off any weather at all, and another storm brewing; I hear it sing i' th' wind.Yond same black cloud, yond huge one, looks like a foul bombard that would shed his liquor.If it should thunder as it did before, I know not where to hide my head.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; 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 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.Legg'd 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 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]
STEPHANO.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.[Drinks]
The master, the swabber, the boatswain, and I, The gunner, and his mate, Lov'd Mall, Meg, and Marian, and Margery, But none of us car'd for Kate; For she had a tongue with a tang, Would cry to a sailor 'Go hang!' She lov'd not the savour of tar nor of pitch, Yet a tailor might scratch her where'er she did itch.Then to sea, boys, and let her go hang!
This is a scurvy tune too; but here's my comfort.[Drinks] CALIBAN.Do not torment me.O! STEPHANO.What's the matter? Have we devils here? Do you put tricks upon 's with savages and men of Ind? Ha! I have not scap'd 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.CALIBAN.The spirit torments me.O! STEPHANO.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.CALIBAN.Do not torment me, prithee; I'll bring my wood home faster.STEPHANO.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 shall pay for him that hath him, and that soundly.CALIBAN.Thou dost me yet but little hurt; thou wilt anon, I know it by thy trembling; now Prosper works upon thee.STEPHANO.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.TRINCULO.I should know that voice; it should be-but he is drown'd; and these are devils.O, defend me! STEPHANO.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.