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Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
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The Tempest (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editors: Brent Whitted, Paul Yachnin
Peer Reviewed
Scœna Secunda.
Enter Caliban, with a burthen of Wood (a noyse of
Thunder heard.)
1040Cal. All the infections that the Sunne suckes vp
From Bogs, Fens, Flats, on Prosper fall, and make him
By ynch-meale a disease: his Spirits heare me,
And yet I needes must curse. But they'll nor pinch,
Fright me with Vrchyn-shewes, pitch me i'th mire,
1045Nor lead me like a fire-brand, in the darke
Out of my way, vnlesse he bid 'em; but
For euery trifle, are they set vpon me,
Sometime like Apes, that moe and chatter at me,
And after bite me: then like Hedg-hogs, which
1050Lye tumbling in my bare-foote way, and mount
Their pricks at my foot-fall: sometime am I
All wound with Adders, who with clouen tongues
Doe hisse me into madnesse: Lo, now Lo,
Enter Trinculo.
Here comes a Spirit of his, and to torment me
1055For bringing wood in slowly: I'le fall flat,
Perchance he will not minde me.
Tri. Here's neither bush, nor shrub to beare off any
weather at all: and another Storme brewing, I heare it
sing ith' winde: yond same blacke cloud, yond huge
1060one, lookes like a foule bumbard that would shed his
licquor: if it should thunder, as it did before, I know
not where to hide my head: yond same cloud cannot
choose but fall by paile-fuls. What haue we here, a man,
or a fish? dead or aliue? a fish, hee smels like a fish: a
1065very ancient and fish-like smell: a kinde of, not of the
newest poore-Iohn: a strange fish: were I in England
now (as once I was) and had but this fish painted; not
a holiday-foole there but would giue a peece of siluer:
there, would this Monster, make a man: any strange
1070beast there, makes a man: when they will not giue a
doit to relieue a lame Begger, they will lay out ten to see
a dead Indian: Leg'd like a man; and his Finnes like
Armes: warme o' my troth: I doe now let loose my o-
pinion; hold it no longer; this is no fish, but an Islan-
1075der, that hath lately suffered by a Thunderbolt: Alas,
the storme is come againe: my best way is to creepe vn-
der his Gaberdine: there is no other shelter herea-
bout: Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfel-
lowes: I will here shrowd till the dregges of the storme
1080be past.
Enter Stephano singing.
Ste. I shall no more to sea, to sea, here shall I dye ashore.
This is a very scuruy tune to sing at a mans
Funerall: well, here's my comfort.
Drinkes.
1085
Sings.
The Master, the Swabber, the Boate-swaine & I;
The Gunner, and his Mate
Lou'd Mall, Meg, and Marrian, and Margerie,
But none of vs car'd for Kate.
For she had a tongue with a tang,
1090Would cry to a Sailor goe hang:
She lou'd not the sauour of Tar nor of Pitch,
Yet a Tailor might scratch her where ere she did itch.
Then to Sea Boyes, and let her goe hang.
This is a scuruy tune too:
1095But here's my comfort.
drinks.
Cal. Doe not torment me: oh.
Ste. What's the matter?
Haue we diuels here?
Doe you put trickes vpon's with Saluages, and Men of
1100Inde? ha? I haue not scap'd drowning, to be afeard
now of your foure legges: for it hath bin said; as pro-
per a man as euer went on foure legs, cannot make him
giue ground: and it shall be said so againe, while Ste-
phano breathes at' nostrils.
1105Cal. The Spirit torments me: oh.
Ste. This is some Monster of the Isle, with foure legs;
who hath got (as I take it) an Ague: where the diuell
should he learne our language? I will giue him some re-
liefe if it be but for that: if I can recouer him, and keepe
1110him tame, and get to Naples with him, he's a Pre-
sent for any Emperour that euer trod on Neates-lea-
ther.
Cal. Doe not torment me 'prethee: I'le bring my
wood home faster.
1115Ste. He's in his fit now; and doe's not talke after the
wisest; hee shall taste of my Bottle: if hee haue neuer
drunke wine afore, it will goe neere to remoue his Fit:
if I can recouer him, and keepe him tame, I will not take
too much for him; hee shall pay for him that hath him,
1120and that soundly.
Cal. Thou do'st me yet but little hurt; thou wilt a-
non, I know it by thy trembling: Now Prosper workes
vpon thee.
Ste. Come on your wayes: open your mouth: here
1125is that which will giue 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 againe.
Tri. I should know that voyce:
1130It should be,
But hee is dround; and these are diuels; O de-
fend me.
Ste. Foure legges and two voyces; a most delicate
Monster: his forward voyce now is to speake well of
1135his friend; his backward voice, is to vtter foule speeches,
and to detract: if all the wine in my bottle will recouer
him, I will helpe his Ague: Come: Amen, I will
poure some in thy other mouth.
Tri. Stephano.
1140Ste. Doth thy other mouth call me? Mercy, mercy:
This is a diuell, and no Monster: I will leaue him, I
haue no long Spoone.
Tri. Stephano: if thou beest Stephano, touch me, and
speake to me: for I am Trinculo; be not afeard, thy
1145good friend Trinculo.
Ste. If thou bee'st Trinculo: come foorth: I'le pull
thee by the lesser legges: if any be Trinculo's legges,
these are they: Thou art very Trinculo indeede: how
cam'st thou to be the siege of this Moone-calfe? Can
1150he vent Trinculo's?
Tri. I tooke him to be kil'd with a thunder-strok; but
art thou not dround Stephano: I hope now thou art
not dround: Is the Storme ouer-blowne? I hid mee
vnder the dead Moone-Calfes Gaberdine, for feare of
1155the Storme: And art thou liuing Stephano? O Stephano,
two Neapolitanes scap'd?
Ste. 'Prethee doe not turne me about, my stomacke
is not constant.
Cal. These be fine things, and if they be not sprights:
1160that's a braue God, and beares Celestiall liquor: I will
kneele to him.
Ste. How did'st thou scape?
How cam'st thou hither?
Sweare by this Bottle how thou cam'st hither: I escap'd
1165vpon a But of Sacke, which the Saylors heaued o're-
boord, by this Bottle which I made of the barke of
a Tree, with mine owne hands, since I was cast a'-
shore.
Cal. I'le sweare vpon that Bottle, to be thy true sub-
1170iect, for the liquor is not earthly.
St. Heere: sweare then how thou escap'dst.
Tri. Swom ashore (man) like a Ducke: I can swim
like a Ducke i'le be sworne.
Ste. Here, kisse the Booke.
1175Though thou canst swim like a Ducke, thou art made
like a Goose.
Tri. O Stephano, ha'st any more of this?
Ste. The whole But (man) my Cellar is in a rocke
by th'sea-side, where my Wine is hid:
1180How now Moone-Calfe, how do's thine Ague?
Cal. Ha'st thou not dropt from heauen?
Ste. Out o'th Moone I doe assure thee. I was the
Man ith' Moone, when time was.
Cal. I haue seene thee in her: and I doe adore thee:
1185My Mistris shew'd me thee, and thy Dog, and thy Bush.
Ste. Come, sweare to that: kisse the Booke: I will
furnish it anon with new Contents: Sweare.
Tri. By this good light, this is a very shallow Mon-
ster: I afeard of him? a very weake Monster:
1190The Man ith' Moone?
A most poore creadulous Monster:
Well drawne Monster, in good sooth.
Cal. Ile shew thee euery fertill ynch 'oth Island: and
I will kisse thy foote: I prethee be my god.
1195Tri. By this light, a most perfidious, and drunken
Monster, when's god's a sleepe he'll rob his Bottle.
Cal. Ile kisse thy foot. Ile sweare my selfe thy Subiect.
Ste. Come on then: downe and sweare.
Tri. I shall laugh my selfe to death at this puppi-hea-
1200ded Monster: a most scuruie Monster: I could finde in
my heart to beate him.
Ste. Come, kisse.
Tri. But that the poore Monster's in drinke:
An abhominable Monster.
1205Cal. I'le shew thee the best Springs: I'le plucke thee
Berries: I'le fish for thee; and get thee wood enough.
A plague vpon the Tyrant that I serue;
I'le beare him no more Stickes, but follow thee, thou
wondrous man.
1210Tri. A most rediculous Monster, to make a wonder of
a poore drunkard.
Cal. I 'prethee let me bring thee where Crabs grow;
and I with my long nayles will digge thee pig-nuts;
show thee a Iayes nest, and instruct thee how to snare
1215the nimble Marmazet: I'le bring thee to clustring
Philbirts, and sometimes I'le get thee young Scamels
from the Rocke: Wilt thou goe with me?
Ste. I pre'thee now lead the way without any more
talking. Trinculo, the King, and all our company else
1220being dround, wee will inherit here: Here; beare my
Bottle: Fellow Trinculo; we'll fill him by and by a-
gaine.
Caliban Sings drunkenly.
Farewell Master; farewell, farewell.
1225Tri. A howling Monster: a drunken Monster.
Cal. No more dams I'le make for fish,
Nor fetch in firing, at requiring,
Nor scrape trenchering, nor wash dish,
Ban' ban' Cacalyban
1230Has a new Master, get a new Man.
Freedome, high-day, high-day freedome, freedome high-
day, freedome.
Ste. O braue Monster; lead the way.
Exeunt.