William Shakespeare: The Tempest

ACT 2 2. SCENE II. Another part of the island (continued)

[Enter STEPHANO singing; a bottle in his hand]

STEPHANO.
I shall no more to sea, to sea,
Here shall I die 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 Margery,
But none of us car'd 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 tailor might scratch her wher-e'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: O!

STEPHANO.
What's the matter? Have we devils here? Do you
put tricks upon us 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: O!

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, 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.