The Tempest - Young People's Shakespeare Series


ACT III Scene 2.

Stephano:	Servant monster, drink to me.
Trinculo:	Servant monster? The folly of this island! They say there's but five upon this isle: we are three of them. If the other two be brained like us, the state totters.
Stephano:	Mooncalf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a good mooncalf.
Caliban:	How does thy honor? Let me lick thy shoe. (Points to Trinculo) I'll not serve him; he is not valiant.
Trinculo:	That monster should be such a fool!
Caliban:	Bite him to death, I prithee!
Stephano:	Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head. The poor monster's my subject, and he shall not suffer indignity.
(Enter Ariel, invisible)
Caliban:	I thank my noble lord. As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, A sorcerer, that by his cunning hath Cheated me of the island.
Ariel:	(In Caliban's ear, who thinks it's Trinculo) Thou liest.
Caliban:	(To Trinculo) Thou liest, thou jesting monkey thou! I do not lie.
Stephano:	If you trouble him any more, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.
Trinculo:	(Puzzled) Why, I said nothing.
Stephano:	Mum then, and no more. (To Caliban) Proceed.
Caliban:	I say by sorcery he got this isle; If thy greatness will Revenge it on him, Thou shalt be lord of it, And I'll serve thee.
Stephano:	Canst thou bring me to the party?
Caliban:	Yea, yea, my lord! Thou mayst knock a nail into his head.
Ariel:	(Into Caliban's ear) Thou liest; thou cannot.
Caliban:	(Who thinks it's Trinculo) What a pied ninny's this! Thou scurvy patch! I do beseech thy greatness give him blows!
Stephano:	Trinculo, interrupt the monster one word further and I'll make a stockfish of thee.
Trinculo:	Why, what did I? I did nothing, I'll go farther off.
Stephano:	Did thou say he lied?
Ariel:	(In Stephano's ear) Thou liest.
Stephano:	Do I so? Take thou that! (Strikes Trinculo)
Trinculo:	I did not give the lie. Out of your wits, and hearing too?
Stephano:	(To Caliban) Now forward with your tale. (To Trinculo) Prithee stand further off.
Caliban:	After a little time I'll beat him too.
Stephano:	(To Trinculo) Stand further. (To Caliban) Come, Proceed.
Caliban:	Tis a custom with Prospero In the afternoon to sleep; there thou mayst brain him, Having first seized his books, For without them he has not One spirit to command.
Stephano:	Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be king And queen, and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys. (To Trinculo) Give me thy hand. I am sorry I beat thee.
Caliban:	Within the hour he will asleep. Wilt thou destroy him then?
(ALERT:* Storytellers, Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francisco, spirits with food.)
Stephano:	Ay, on mine honor.
Ariel (Aside):	This I will tell my master.
Caliban:	This makest me merry; I am full of pleasure.
(Ariel plays a tune)
Stephano:	Mercy upon us!
Caliban:	Be not afeard: the isle is full of noises, Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears.
Trinculo:	The sound is going away: let's follow it, and after do our work.
Stephano:	Lead, monster; we'll follow.
(All exit)