Brick Shakespeare: The Comedies—A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew (42 page)

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!