SCENE changes to another part of the Island. Ste. Enter Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo. TEL drink water, not ELL not me; when the butt is out, we will drink water, not a drop before; therefore bear up, and board 'em, fervant-monster (21); drink to me. Trin. Servant - monfter! the folly of this Ifland! they fay, there's but five upon this Ifle; we are three of them, if the other two be brain'd like us, the state totters. Ste. Drink, fervant-monster, when I bid thee; thy eyes are almost fet in thy head. Trin. Where should they be fet elfe? he were a brave monfter indeed, if they were fet in his tail. Ste. My man-monfter hath drown'd his tongue in fack; for my part, the fea cannot drown me. Ifwam, ere I could recover the fhore, five and thirty leagues, off and on; by this light, thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my standard. Trin. Your lieutenant, if you lift; he's no standard, (21) Servant-Monfter.] The Part of Caliban has been efteem'd a fignal Inftance of the Copioufnefs of Shakespeare's Invention; and that he had fhewn an Extent of Genius, in creating a Perfon which was not in Nature. And for this, as well as his other magical and ideal Characters, a juft Admiration has been paid him. I can't help taking notice, on this Occafion, of the Virulence of Ben. Jonfon, who, in the Induction to his Bartlemew Fair, has endeavour'd to throw Dirt, not only at this single Character, but at this whole Play. "If there be never a Servant Monster in the "Fair, who can help it, (he fays,) nor a Neft of Anticks? He is loth to "make Nature afraid in his Plays, like Thofe that beget Tales, Tempefts, "and fuch like Drolleries, to mix his Head with other Mens Heels." Shakespeare, as the Tradition runs, was the Perfon who firft brought Jonfon upon the Stage; and this is the Stab we find given in Requital for fuch a Service, when his Benefactor was retreated from the Scene. A Circumstance, that ftrangely aggravates the Ingratitude. But this furly Saucinefs was familiar with Ben; when the Publick were ever out of Humour at his Performances, he would revenge it on them, by being out of Humour with those Pieces which had belt pleas'd them.- I'll only add, that his Conduct in This was very contradictory to his cooler Profeffions, that "if Men would impartially look towards the Offices and Functions of a "Poet, they would eafily conclude to themselves the Impoffibility of any "Man's being the good Poet, without first being a good Man. 66 Stea Ste. We'll not run, monfieur monster. Trin. Nor go neither: but you'll lie like dogs, and yet fay nothing neither. Ste. Moon-calf, fpeak once in thy life, if thou beeft a good moon-calf. Cal. How does thy honour? let me lick thy fhoe; I'll not serve him, he is not valiant. Trin. Thou lieft, moft ignorant monfter, I am in case to justle a constable; why, thou debofh'd fish thou, was there ever man a coward that hath drunk fo much fack as I to-day? wilt thou tell a monftrous lie, being but half a fish, and half a monster? Cal. Lo, how he mocks me: wilt thou let him, my lord? Trin. Lord, quoth he! that a monfter fhould be fuch a natural! Cal. Lo, lo, again; bite him to death, I pr'ythee. Ste. Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head; if you prove a mutineer, the next tree the poor monfter's my subject, and he fhall not fuffer indignity. Cal. I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleas'd to hearken once again to the fuit I made to thee? Ste. Marry, will I; kneel and repeat it; I will ftand, and fo fhall Trinculo. Enter Ariel invifible. Cal. As I told thee before, I am fubject to a tyrant, a forcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the Ifland. Ari. Thou lieft. Cal. Thou lieft, thou jefting monkey, thou; I would, my valiant mafter would destroy thee; Ste. Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in's tale, by this hand, I will fupplant fome of your teeth. Trin. Why, I faid nothing. Ste. Mum then, and no more; proceed. Ste. Ste. That's most certain. Cal. Thou shalt be lord of it, and I'll ferve thee. Ste. How now fhall this be compaft? canft thou bring me to the party? Cal. Yea, yea, my lord, I'll yield him thee afleep, Where thou may'st knock a nail into his head. Ari. Thou lieft, thou canft not. Cal. What a py'd ninny's this? thou fcurvy patch! I do befeech thy greatness, give him blows, And take his bottle from him; when that's gone, Ste. Trinculo, run into no further danger: interrupt the monster one word further, and, by this hand, I'll turn my mercy out of doors, and make a ftock-fifh of thee. Trin. Why, what did I? I did nothing; I'll go further off. Ste. Didft thou not fay, he ly'd? Ari. Thou lieft. Ste. Do I fo? take you that. [Beats him. As you like this, give me the lie another time. Trin. I did not give thee the lie; out o'your wits, and hearing too? A pox o' your bottle! this can fack and drinking do. A murrain on your monfter, and the devil take your fingers. Cal. Ha, ha, ha. Ste. Now, forward with your tale; pr'ythee, ftand 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'th' afternoon to fleep; there thou may'st brain him, Having firft feiz'd his books: or with a log Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake, As As rootedly as I. Burn but his books; Which, when he has an house, he'll deck withal. The beauty of his Daughter; he himself As greatest does the leaft. Ste. Is it fo brave a lafs? Cal. Ay, lord; fhe 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, fave our Graces: and Trinculo and thy felf fhall be Vice-Roys. Doft thou like the plot, Trinculo? Trin. Excellent. Ste. Give me thy hand; I am forry, I beat thee: but, while thou liv'ft, keep a good tongue in thy head. Cal. Within this half hour will he be afleep; Wilt thou destroy him then? Ste. Ay, on my honour. Ari. This will I tell my mafter. Cal. Thou mak'ft me merry; I am full of pleasure; Let us be jocund. Will you troul the catch, You taught me but while-ere? Ste. At thy requeft, monfter, I will do reafon, any reafon: come on, Trinculo, let us fing. [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 fame? Trin. This is the tune of our catch, plaid by the picture of no-body. Ste. If thou be'ft a man, fhew thy felf in thy likeness; if thou be'st a devil, take't as thou lift. Trin. O, forgive me my fins! Ste. He that dies, pays all debts: I defie thee. Mercy upon us!. Cal. Cal. Art thou afraid? Ste. No, monfter, not I. Cal. Be not afraid; the ifle is full of noifes, Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not? Sometimes a thousand twanging inftruments Will hum about mine ears, and fometimes voices; That, if I then had wak'd after long fleep, Will make me fleep again; and then in dreaming, The clouds, methought, would open, and fhew 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 fhall have my mufick for nothing. Cal. When Profpero is deftroy'd. Ste. That fhall be by and by: I remember the ftory: Trin. The found is going away; let's follow it, and after do our work. Ste. Lead, monfter; we'll follow. I would I could fee this taborer. He lays it on. Trin. Wilt come? I'll follow Stephano. [Exeunt. SCENE changes to another Part of the Ifland. Enter Alonfo, Sebaftian, Anthonio, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francifco, &. Y'R lakin, I can go no further, Sir, Gon. BY My old bones ake: here's a maze trod, indeed, Through forth-rights and meanders! by your patience, I needs must reft me. Alon. Old lord, I cannot blame thee, Who am my self attach'd with weariness, Seb |