Complete Plays, The Read online

  Antonio

  Go sleep, and hear us.

  All sleep except Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio

  Alonso

  What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes

  Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: I find

  They are inclined to do so.

  Sebastian

  Please you, sir,

  Do not omit the heavy offer of it:

  It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth,

  It is a comforter.

  Antonio

  We two, my lord,

  Will guard your person while you take your rest,

  And watch your safety.

  Alonso

  Thank you. Wondrous heavy.

  Alonso sleeps. Exit Ariel

  Sebastian

  What a strange drowsiness possesses them!

  Antonio

  It is the quality o’ the climate.

  Sebastian

  Why

  Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not

  Myself disposed to sleep.

  Antonio

  Nor I; my spirits are nimble.

  They fell together all, as by consent;

  They dropp’d, as by a thunder-stroke. What might,

  Worthy Sebastian? O, what might?— No more:—

  And yet me thinks I see it in thy face,

  What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee, and

  My strong imagination sees a crown

  Dropping upon thy head.

  Sebastian

  What, art thou waking?

  Antonio

  Do you not hear me speak?

  Sebastian

  I do; and surely

  It is a sleepy language and thou speak’st

  Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say?

  This is a strange repose, to be asleep

  With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving,

  And yet so fast asleep.

  Antonio

  Noble Sebastian,

  Thou let’st thy fortune sleep — die, rather; wink’st

  Whiles thou art waking.

  Sebastian

  Thou dost snore distinctly;

  There’s meaning in thy snores.

  Antonio

  I am more serious than my custom: you

  Must be so too, if heed me; which to do

  Trebles thee o’er.

  Sebastian

  Well, I am standing water.

  Antonio

  I’ll teach you how to flow.

  Sebastian

  Do so: to ebb

  Hereditary sloth instructs me.

  Antonio

  O,

  If you but knew how you the purpose cherish

  Whiles thus you mock it! how, in stripping it,

  You more invest it! Ebbing men, indeed,

  Most often do so near the bottom run

  By their own fear or sloth.

  Sebastian

  Prithee, say on:

  The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim

  A matter from thee, and a birth indeed

  Which throes thee much to yield.

  Antonio

  Thus, sir:

  Although this lord of weak remembrance, this,

  Who shall be of as little memory

  When he is earth’d, hath here almost persuade,—

  For he’s a spirit of persuasion, only

  Professes to persuade,— the king his son’s alive,

  ’Tis as impossible that he’s undrown’d

  And he that sleeps here swims.

  Sebastian

  I have no hope

  That he’s undrown’d.

  Antonio

  O, out of that ‘no hope’

  What great hope have you! no hope that way is

  Another way so high a hope that even

  Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond,

  But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me

  That Ferdinand is drown’d?

  Sebastian

  He’s gone.

  Antonio

  Then, tell me,

  Who’s the next heir of Naples?

  Sebastian

  Claribel.

  Antonio

  She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells

  Ten leagues beyond man’s life; she that from Naples

  Can have no note, unless the sun were post —

  The man i’ the moon’s too slow — till new-born chins

  Be rough and razorable; she that — from whom?

  We all were sea-swallow’d, though some cast again,

  And by that destiny to perform an act

  Whereof what’s past is prologue, what to come

  In yours and my discharge.

  Sebastian

  What stuff is this! how say you?

  ’Tis true, my brother’s daughter’s queen of Tunis;

  So is she heir of Naples; ’twixt which regions

  There is some space.

  Antonio

  A space whose every cubit

  Seems to cry out, ‘How shall that Claribel

  Measure us back to Naples? Keep in Tunis,

  And let Sebastian wake.’ Say, this were death

  That now hath seized them; why, they were no worse

  Than now they are. There be that can rule Naples

  As well as he that sleeps; lords that can prate

  As amply and unnecessarily

  As this Gonzalo; I myself could make

  A chough of as deep chat. O, that you bore

  The mind that I do! what a sleep were this

  For your advancement! Do you understand me?

  Sebastian

  Methinks I do.

  Antonio

  And how does your content

  Tender your own good fortune?

  Sebastian

  I remember

  You did supplant your brother Prospero.

  Antonio

  True:

  And look how well my garments sit upon me;

  Much feater than before: my brother’s servants

  Were then my fellows; now they are my men.

  Sebastian

  But, for your conscience?

  Antonio

  Ay, sir; where lies that? if ’twere a kibe,

  ’Twould put me to my slipper: but I feel not

  This deity in my bosom: twenty consciences,

  That stand ’twixt me and Milan, candied be they

  And melt ere they molest! Here lies your brother,

  No better than the earth he lies upon,

  If he were that which now he’s like, that’s dead;

  Whom I, with this obedient steel, three inches of it,

  Can lay to bed for ever; whiles you, doing thus,

  To the perpetual wink for aye might put

  This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who

  Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest,

  They’ll take suggestion as a cat laps milk;

  They’ll tell the clock to any business that

  We say befits the hour.

  Sebastian

  Thy case, dear friend,

  Shall be my precedent; as thou got’st Milan,

  I’ll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke

  Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest;

  And I the king shall love thee.

  Antonio

  Draw together;

  And when I rear my hand, do you the like,

  To fall it on Gonzalo.

  Sebastian

  O, but one word.

  They talk apart

  Re-enter Ariel, invisible

  Ariel

  My master through his art foresees the danger

  That you, his friend, are in; and sends me forth —

  For else his project dies — to keep them living.

  Sings in Gonzalo’s ear

  While you here do snoring lie,

  Open-eyed conspiracy

  His
time doth take.

  If of life you keep a care,

  Shake off slumber, and beware:

  Awake, awake!

  Antonio

  Then let us both be sudden.

  Gonzalo

  Now, good angels

  Preserve the king.

  They wake

  Alonso

  Why, how now? ho, awake! Why are you drawn?

  Wherefore this ghastly looking?

  Gonzalo

  What’s the matter?

  Sebastian

  Whiles we stood here securing your repose,

  Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing

  Like bulls, or rather lions: did’t not wake you?

  It struck mine ear most terribly.

  Alonso

  I heard nothing.

  Antonio

  O, ’twas a din to fright a monster’s ear,

  To make an earthquake! sure, it was the roar

  Of a whole herd of lions.

  Alonso

  Heard you this, Gonzalo?

  Gonzalo

  Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,

  And that a strange one too, which did awake me:

  I shaked you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes open’d,

  I saw their weapons drawn: there was a noise,

  That’s verily. ’Tis best we stand upon our guard,

  Or that we quit this place; let’s draw our weapons.

  Alonso

  Lead off this ground; and let’s make further search

  For my poor son.

  Gonzalo

  Heavens keep him from these beasts!

  For he is, sure, i’ the island.

  Alonso

  Lead away.

  Ariel

  Prospero my lord shall know what I have done:

  So, king, go safely on to seek thy son.

  Exeunt

  SCENE II. 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’ the 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’ the 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; 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 lazy out ten to see a dead Indian. Legged 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 a thunderbolt.

  Thunder

  Alas, the storm is come again! my best way is to creep under his gaberdine; there is no other shelter hereabouts: 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

  Sings

  The master, the swabber, the boatswain and I,

  The gunner and his mate

  Loved Mall, Meg and Marian and Margery,

  But none of us cared for Kate;

  For she had a tongue with a tang,

  Would cry to a sailor, Go hang!

  She loved 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: Oh!

  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 scaped 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’s nostrils.

  Caliban

  The spirit torments me; Oh!

  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 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 drowned; 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. Come. Amen! I will pour some in thy other mouth.

  Trinculo

  Stephano!

  Stephano

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

  Trinculo

  Stephano! If thou beest Stephano, touch me and speak to me: for I am Trinculo — be not afeard — thy good friend Trinculo.

  Stephano

  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 camest thou to be the siege of this moon-calf? can he vent Trinculos?

  Trinculo

  I took him to be killed with a thunder-stroke. But art thou not drowned, Stephano? I hope now thou art not drowned. Is the storm overblown? I hid me under the dead moon-calf’s gaberdine for fear of the storm. And art thou living, Stephano? O Stephano, two Neapolitans ’scaped!

  Stephano

  Prithee, do not turn me about; my stomach is not
constant.

  Caliban

  [Aside] These be fine things, an if they be not sprites. That’s a brave god and bears celestial liquor. I will kneel to him.

  Stephano

  How didst thou ’scape? How camest thou hither? swear by this bottle how thou camest hither. I escaped upon a butt of sack which the sailors heaved o’erboard, by this bottle; which I made of the bark of a tree with mine own hands since I was cast ashore.

  Caliban

  I’ll swear upon that bottle to be thy true subject; for the liquor is not earthly.

  Stephano

  Here; swear then how thou escapedst.

  Trinculo

  Swum ashore. man, like a duck: I can swim like a duck, I’ll be sworn.

  Stephano

  Here, kiss the book. Though thou canst swim like a duck, thou art made like a goose.

  Trinculo

  O Stephano. hast any more of this?

  Stephano

  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?

  Caliban

  Hast thou not dropp’d from heaven?

  Stephano

  Out o’ the moon, I do assure thee: I was the man i’ the moon when time was.

  Caliban

  I have seen thee in her and I do adore thee:

  My mistress show’d me thee and thy dog and thy bush.

  Stephano

  Come, swear to that; kiss the book: I will furnish it anon with new contents swear.

  Trinculo

  By this good light, this is a very shallow monster! I afeard of him! A very weak monster! The man i’ the moon! A most poor credulous monster! Well drawn, monster, in good sooth!

  Caliban

  I’ll show thee every fertile inch o’ th’ island;

  And I will kiss thy foot: I prithee, be my god.

  Trinculo

  By this light, a most perfidious and drunken monster! when ’s god’s asleep, he’ll rob his bottle.

  Caliban

  I’ll kiss thy foot; I’ll swear myself thy subject.

  Stephano

  Come on then; down, and swear.

  Trinculo

  I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy-headed monster. A most scurvy monster! I could find in my heart to beat him,—

  Stephano

  Come, kiss.

  Trinculo

  But that the poor monster’s in drink: an abominable monster!

  Caliban

  I’ll show thee the best springs; I’ll pluck thee berries;

  I’ll fish for thee and get thee wood enough.

  A plague upon the tyrant that I serve!

  I’ll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee,

  Thou wondrous man.

  Trinculo

  A most ridiculous monster, to make a wonder of a

  Poor drunkard!

  Caliban

  I prithee, let me bring thee where crabs grow;

  And I with my long nails will dig thee pignuts;