Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 37

_Anto._ Ay, sir; and where lies that? if 'twere a kibe,[408-68]

'Twould put me to my slipper: but I feel not This deity in my bosom: twenty consciences, That stand 'twixt me and Milan, candied[408-69] 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; whom I, With this obedient steel, three inches of it, Can lay to bed for ever; whiles you, doing thus, To the perpetual wink[408-70] for aye might put This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest, They'll take suggestion[408-71] as a cat laps milk; They'll tell the clock to any business that We say befits the hour.[408-72]

_Sebas._ Thy case, dear friend, Shall be my precedent; as thou gott'st Milan, I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke Shall free thee from the tribute which thou pay'st; And I the King shall love thee.

_Anto._ Draw together;[408-73]

And when I rear my hand, do you the like, To fall it on Gonzalo.

_Sebas._ O, but one word.

[_They converse apart._

_Music. Re-enter ARIEL, invisible._

_Ari._ 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 thee 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!

_Anto._ Then let us both be sudden.

_Gonza._ [_Waking._] Now, good angels Preserve the King!--[_To SEBAS. and ANTO._] Why, how now!--[_To ALON._] Ho, awake!-- [_To SEBAS. and ANTO._] Why are you drawn?[409-74] wherefore this ghastly looking?[409-75]

_Alon._ [_Waking._] What's the matter?

_Sebas._ 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.

_Alon._ I heard nothing.

_Anto._ 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.

_Alon._ Heard you this, Gonzalo?

_Gonza._ 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 verity. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard, Or that we quit this place: let's draw our weapons.

_Alon._ Lead off this ground; and let's make further search For my poor son.

_Gonza._ Heavens keep him from these beasts!

For he is, sure, i' the island.

_Alon._ Lead away.

[_Exit with the others._

_Ari._ Prospero my lord shall know what I have done:-- So, King, go safely on to seek thy son. [_Exit._

SCENE II.--_Another part of the Island._

_Enter CALIBAN, with a burden of wood. A noise of Thunder heard._

_Cal._ All the infections that the Sun sucks up From bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall, and make him By inch-meal[410-1] a disease! His spirits hear me, And yet I needs must curse. But they'll nor pinch, Fright me with urchin-shows,[410-2] pitch me i' the mire, Nor lead me, like a fire-brand,[410-3] in the dark Out of my way, unless he bid 'em: but For every trifle are they set upon me; Sometime[410-4] like apes, that mow[410-5] and chatter at me And after bite me; then like hedgehogs, which Lie tumbling in my barefoot way, and mount Their p.r.i.c.ks[411-6] at my foot-fall; sometime am I All wound with adders, who with cloven tongues Do hiss me into madness. 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.[411-7]

_Enter TRINCULO._

_Trin._ Here's neither bush nor shrub, to bear off[411-8] 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[411-9] 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.[411-10] A strange fis.h.!.+ 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:[411-11] 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 islander, that hath lately suffered by a thunder-bolt.

[_Thunder._] Alas, the storm is come again! my best way is to creep under his gaberdine;[412-12] there is no other shelter hereabout: misery acquaints a man with strange bed-fellows. I will here shroud till the dregs of the storm be past.

[_Creeps under CALIBAN'S garment._

_Enter STEPHANO, singing; a bottle in his hand._

Steph. _I shall no more to sea, to sea, Here shall I die ash.o.r.e;--_

This is a very scurvy tune to sing at a man's funeral: well, here's my comfort. [_Drinks._

[Sings.] _The master, the swabber,[412-13] 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,[412-14]

Would cry to a sailor, _Go hang!

_She loved not the savour of tar nor of pitch: Then to sea, boys, and let her go hang!_

This is a scurvy tune too: but here's my comfort. [_Drinks._

_Cal._ Do not torment me:--O!

_Steph._ What's the matter? Have we devils here? Do you put tricks upon's with savages and men of Inde,[413-15] ha? I have not 'scaped drowning, to be afeared 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.

_Cal._ The spirit torments me:--O!

_Steph._ 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.[413-16]

_Cal._ Do not torment me, pr'ythee: I'll bring my wood home faster.

_Steph._ 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;[413-17] 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.

_Steph._ Come on your ways; open your mouth; here is that which will give a language to you, cat:[413-18] open your mouth; this will shake your shaking, I can tell you, and that soundly: [_Gives him drink._] you cannot tell who's your friend; open your chops again. [_Gives him more drink._

_Trin._ I should know that voice: it should be--but he is drown'd; and these are devils:--O, defend me!

_Steph._ 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: [_Gives him drink._]--Come,--Amen![414-19] I will pour some in thy other mouth.

_Trin._ Stephano!

_Steph._ Doth thy other mouth call me?--Mercy, mercy! This is a devil and no monster: I will leave him; I have no long spoon.[414-20]

_Trin._ Stephano!--If thou be'st Stephano, touch me, and speak to me; for I am Trinculo,--be not afeared,--thy good friend Trinculo.