.

Dead or alive? A

we here?
a man or a fish?
fish: he smells like a fish;
a very ancient and
fish like smell; a 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 islan-
der, that hath lately suffer'd by a thunder - bolt.
[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 bedfellows I will here shroud,
till the dregs of the storm be past.

Enter STEPHANO, singing; a bottle in his hand.
Ste. I shall no more to sea, to sea,
Here shall I dye a -shore;

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 Mar-
gery,

But none of us card 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 taylor might scratch her where - e'er she did itch:

Then to sea, boys, and let her go hang.

This is a scurvy tune too: But here's my com fort. [Drinks.

Cal. Do not torment me: O!

Ste. What's the matter? Have we devils here? Do you put tricks upon us with savages, and men of Inde? Ha! I have not 'scap'd drowning, to be afcard now of your four legs; for it hath been said, As proper a man as ever went on four legs, cannot make him give grounds and it shall be said so again, while Stephano breathes at nostrils.

Cal. The spirit torments me: 0!

Ste. This is some monster of the isle, with four legs; who hath got, as I take it, an angue: 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.

Cal. Do not torment me, pr'ythee;

I'll bring my wood home faster.

Ste. 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. Cal. Thou dost me yet but little hurt; thou

wilt

Anon, I know it by thy trembling:
Now Prosper works upon thee.

Ste. Come on your ways; open your mouth; here is that which will give language to you cats 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.

Trin. I should know that voice: It should be But he is drown'd; and these are devils: 0! defend me! →

Ste. 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: Come, Amen! I will pour some in thy other mouth.

Trin. Stephano,

Ste. Doth thy other mouth call me? Mercy! mercy! This is a devil, and no monster: I will leave him; I have no long spoon.

Trin. Stephano! if thou beest Stephano, touch and speak to me; for I am Trinculo;

me,

not afeard,

be

thy good friend, Trinculo. Ste. If thou beest Trinculo, come forth; I'll pull thee by the lesser legs: if any be Trinculo's legs, these are they. Thou art very Trinculo, indeed: How cam'st thou to be the siege of this moon-calf? Can he vent Trinculos?

Trin. I took him to be kill'd with a thunderstroke: But art thou not drown'd, Stephano? I hope now, thou art not drown'd. Is the storm over - blown? I hid me under the dead mooncalf's gaberdine,, for fear of the storm: And arı thou living, Stephano? O Stephano, two Neapo litans 'scap'd!

Ste.. Pr'ythee, do not turn me about; my sto mach is not constant.

Cal. These be fine things, an if they be not sprites.

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

Ste. How did'st thou 'scape? How cam'st thou hither? swear by this bottle, how thou cam'st hither. I escap'd upon a butt of sack, which the sailors heav'd over-board, by this bottle! which I made of the bark of a tree, with mine own hands, since I was cast a shore.

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

Ste. Here; swear then how thou escap'dst. Trin. Swam a-shore, man, like a duck; I can swim like a duck, I'll be sworn.

Ste. Here, kiss the book: Though thou can'st syyim like a duck, thou art made like a goose. Trin. O Stephano, hast any more of this?

Ste. The whole butt, 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? Ste. Out o' the moon, I do assure thee: I was the man in the moon, when time was.

Cal. I have seen thee in her, and I do adore thee:

My Mistress shew'd me thee, thy dog, and bush. Ste. Come, swear to that; kiss the book; I will furnish it anon with new contents: swear. Trin. By this good light this is a very shallow monster: - 1 afeard of him? a very weak The man i' the moon?

monster:

-- a most

poor credulous monster: Well drawn, monster, in good sooth.

Cal. I'll shew thee every fertile inch o' the island; And kiss thy foot: I pr'ythee, be my god.

Trin. By this light, a most perfidions and drunken monster; when his god's asleep, he'll rob his bottle.

Cal. I'll kiss thy foot: I'll swear myself thy subject.

Ste. 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,

Ste. Come, kiss.

Trin.

but that the poor monster's in drink: An abominable monster!

Cal. I'll shew thee the best springs; I'll pluck thee berries;

I'll fish for thee, and get the 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;
Shew thee a jay's nest, and instruct thee how
To snare the nimble marmozet; I'll bring thee
To clust'ring filberds, and sometimes I'll get thee
Young sea-mells from the rock: Wilt thou go
with me?

Ste. 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. Farewell Master; farewell, farewell. [Singe drunkenly.

Trin. A howling monster; a drunken monster.