Trin. Why, what did I? I did nothing: I'll go further off. Ste. Ari. Didst thou not say, he lied? Thou liest. Ste. Do I so? take thou that. [Strikes him.] As you like this, give me the lie another time. - Out o' your wits Trin. I did not give the lie: :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! Cal. Ha, ha, ha! Ste. Now, forward with your tale. Pr'ythee stand further off. Cal. Beat him enough: after a little time, I'll beat him too. Ste. Stand further.-Come, proceed. Cal. Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him I'the afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst brain him, Having first seiz'd his books; or with a log Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake, Or cut his wezand 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. Ste. Is it so brave a lass? i. e. throat or windpipe. Sot here means fool; from the French. Cal. Ay, lord; she will become thy bed, I warrant, And bring thee forth brave brood. Ste. 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? Trin. Excellent. Ste. Give me thy hand; I am sorry I beat thee: but, while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head. Cal. Within this half hour will he be asleep : Wilt thou destroy him then? Ste. Ay, on mine honour. Ari. This will I tell my master. Cal. Thou mak'st me merry: I am full of pleasure. Let us be jocund: Will you troll the catch You taught me but while-ere? Ste. At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any reason: Come on, Trinculo, let us sing. [Sings. Flout 'em, and skout 'em; and skout 'em, and flout 'em; Thought is free. Cal. That's not the tune. [ARIEL plays the tune on a tabor and pipe. Ste. What is this same ? Trin. This is the tune of our catch, play'd by the picture of Nobody." Ste. If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness if thou beest a devil, take't as thou list. Trin. O, forgive me my sins! Ste. He that dies, pays all debts: I defy thee:Mercy upon us! The picture of Nobody was a common sign, and consisted of a head upon two legs, with arms. There was also a wood-cul prefixed to an old play of Nobody and Somebody, which repre sented this personage. H Cal. 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 wak'd 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 wak'd, I cry'd to dream again. Ste. This will prove a brave kingdom to me, Where I shall have my music for nothing. Cal. When Prospero is destroy'd. Ste. That shall be by and by: I remember the story. Trin. The sound is going away: let's follow it, and after do our work. I would I Ste. Lead, monster; we'll follow. could see this taborer: he lays it on. Trin. Wilt come? I'll follow, Stephano. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Another part of the Island. Enter ALONZO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others. Gon By'r lakin,' I can go no further, sir; My old bones ache: here's a maze trod, indeed, 8 "You shall heare in the ayre the sound of tabers and other instruments, to put the travellers in feare, by evil spirites that makes these soundes, and also do call diverse of the travellers by their names." Travels of Marcus Paulus, by John Frampton, 4to. 1579. To some of these circumstances Milton also alludes: "calling shapes, and beckoning shadows dire; 1 By'r lakin is a contraction of By our ladykin, the diminu tive of om lady Through forth-rights, and meanders! by your patience, I needs must rest me. Alon. Old lord, I cannot blame thee, Who am myself attach'd with weariness, To the dulling of my spirits: sit down, and rest. Our frustrate search on land: and the sea mocks Well, let him go Ant. [Aside to SEB.] I am right glad that he's so out of hope. Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose That you resolv'd to effect. Seb. Will we take throughly. Ant. The next advantage Let it be to-night: For, now they are oppress'd with travel, they As when they are fresh. Seb. I say, to-night: no more. Solemn and strange music; and PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter several strange Shapes, bringing in a banquet: they dance about it with gentle actions of salutation; and inviting the King, &c. te eat, they depart. Alon. What harmony is this? my good friends, hark! Gon. Marvellous sweet music! Alon. Give us kind keepers, heavens! What were these? • Forth-rights means straight lines; meanders, croɔked ones H. Seb. A living drollery: Now I will believe That there are unicorns; that in Arabia There is one tree, the phoenix' throne; one phoenix At this hour reigning there. Ant. I'll believe both; And what does else want credit, come to me, And I'll be sworn 'tis true: Travellers ne'er did lie, Though fools at home condemn them. Gon. If in Naples I should report this now, would they believe me? If I should say I saw such islanders, 5 (For, certes, these are people of the island,) Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet note, Many, nay, almost any. Pro. [Aside.] Honest lord, Thou hast said well; for some of you there present Are worse than devils. Alon. I cannot too much muse, Such shapes, such gesture, and such sound, ex pressing (Although they want the use of tongue) a kind Of excellent dumb discourse. Pro. [Aside.] Praise in departing." 3 Shows, called Drolleries, were in Shakespeare's time performed by puppets only. From these our modern drolls exhibited at fairs, &c. took their name. "A living drollery" is therefore a drollery not by wooden but by living personages. 4 "I myself have heard strange things of this kind of tree; namely, in regard of the bird Phoenix, which is supposed to have taken that name of this date tree (called in Greek yourž); for it was assured unto me, that the said bird died with that tree, and revived of itselfe as the tree sprung againe."— Holland's Translation of Pliny, B. xiii. C. 4. ♪ Certainly. 6 Wonder. "Praise in departing," is a proverbial phrase signifying, Do not praise your entertainment too soon, lest you should have rea son to retract your commendation. |