The Tempest, Act 3, Scene 2

Tell not me:—when the butt is out we will drink water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board ’em. Servant-monster, drink to me.

Don't argue with me — when the barrel's empty we'll drink water; not a drop before then. So keep your courage up and go at them. Servant-monster, drink to me.

Servant-monster! The folly of this island! They say there’s but five upon this isle; we are three of them; if th’ other two be brained like us, the state totters.

Servant-monster! The madness of this island! They say there are only five people on this island; we're three of them. If the other two have brains like ours, the government is shaky.

Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes are almost set in thy head.

Drink, servant-monster, when I tell you to: your eyes are nearly sunk into your head.

Where should they be set else? He were a brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.

Where else should they be set? He'd be a fine monster indeed if they were set in his tail.

My man-monster hath drown’d his tongue in sack: for my part, the sea cannot drown me; I swam, ere I could recover the shore, five-and-thirty leagues, off and on, by this light. Thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my standard.

My man-monster has drowned his tongue in wine. As for me, the sea can't drown me: I swam thirty-five leagues before I could reach the shore, back and forth, I swear by this daylight. You'll be my lieutenant, monster, or my flag-bearer.

Your lieutenant, if you list; he’s no standard.

Your lieutenant, if you want; he can't stand as a flag-pole.

We’ll not run, Monsieur monster.

We won't run, Monsieur monster.

Nor go neither. But you’ll lie like dogs, and yet say nothing neither.

Nor walk either. But you'll lie down like dogs, and still say nothing at all.

Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a good moon-calf.

Moon-calf, speak once in your life, if you're a decent moon-calf.

How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe. I’ll not serve him, he is not valiant.

How is your honour? Let me lick your shoe. I won't serve him, he isn't brave.

Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to justle a constable. Why, thou deboshed fish thou, was there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much sack as I today? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish and half a monster?

You're lying, you utterly ignorant monster: I'm in a state to shove a constable around. Why, you debauched fish, was there ever a man a coward who had drunk as much wine as I have today? Will you tell a monstrous lie, when you're only half a fish and half a monster?

Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?

Look how he mocks me! Will you allow it, my lord?

“Lord” quoth he! That a monster should be such a natural!

"Lord," he says! That a monster should be such an idiot!

Lo, lo again! bite him to death, I prithee.

Look, look, again! Bite him to death, I beg you.

Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you prove a mutineer, the next tree! The poor monster’s my subject, and he shall not suffer indignity.

Trinculo, keep a civil tongue in your head. If you turn out to be a mutineer, it's the nearest tree for you! The poor monster is my subject, and he shall not be insulted.

I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleas’d to hearken once again to the suit I made to thee?

I thank my noble lord. Will you be willing to listen once again to the request I made to you?

Marry. will I. Kneel and repeat it. I will stand, and so shall Trinculo.

Indeed I will. Kneel and say it again. I'll stand, and so will Trinculo.

As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.

As I told you before, I'm the subject of a tyrant, a sorcerer, who by his trickery has cheated me out of the island.

Thou liest.

You're lying.

Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou; I would my valiant master would destroy thee; I do not lie.

You're the liar, you mocking monkey, you. I wish my brave master would destroy you. I am not lying.

Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in his tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.

Trinculo, if you interrupt his story any more, by this hand, I'll knock out some of your teeth.

Why, I said nothing.

Why, I didn't say anything.

Mum, then, and no more. Proceed.

Silence then, and no more. Go on.

I say, by sorcery he got this isle; From me he got it. If thy greatness will, Revenge it on him,—for I know thou dar’st; But this thing dare not,—

I tell you, he got this island by sorcery; he got it from me. If your greatness is willing, take revenge on him for it — because I know you dare; but this creature doesn't dare —

That’s most certain.

That's absolutely certain.

Thou shalt be lord of it and I’ll serve thee.

You'll be lord of it and I'll serve you.

How now shall this be compassed? Canst thou bring me to the party?

Well then, how is this to be managed? Can you take me to the man?

Yea, yea, my lord: I’ll yield him thee asleep, Where thou mayst knock a nail into his head.

Yes, yes, my lord: I'll hand him over to you asleep, where you can knock a nail into his head.

Thou liest. Thou canst not.

You're lying. You can't.

What a pied ninny’s this! Thou scurvy patch! I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows, And take his bottle from him: when that’s gone He shall drink nought but brine; for I’ll not show him Where the quick freshes are.

What a patchwork fool this is! You scabby clown! I beg your greatness, hit him, and take his bottle away from him: when that's gone he'll have nothing to drink but salt water, because I won't show him where the running fresh springs are.

Trinculo, run into no further danger: interrupt the monster one word further, and by this hand, I’ll turn my mercy out o’ doors, and make a stock-fish of thee.

Trinculo, don't run into any more danger: interrupt the monster one more word, and by this hand, I'll throw my mercy out of doors and make dried cod of you.

Why, what did I? I did nothing. I’ll go farther off.

Why, what did I do? I did nothing. I'll move further away.

Didst thou not say he lied?

Didn't you say he was lying?

Thou liest.

You're lying.

Do I so? Take thou that.

Am I? Take that, then.

As you like this, give me the lie another time.

Since you enjoy this, call me a liar another time.

I did not give the lie. Out o’ your wits and hearing too? A pox o’ your bottle! this can sack and drinking do. A murrain on your monster, and the devil take your fingers!

I didn't call you a liar. Have you lost your wits and your hearing too? A plague on your bottle! This is what wine and drinking do. A disease on your monster, and the devil take your fingers!

Ha, ha, ha!

Ha, ha, ha!

Now, forward with your tale.—Prithee stand further off.

Now, on with your story. — Please stand further off.

Beat him enough: after a little time, I’ll beat him too.

Beat him thoroughly: after a while, I'll beat him too.

Stand farther.—Come, proceed.

Stand further away. — Come on, go on.

Why, as I told thee, ’tis a custom with him I’ th’ afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst brain him, Having first seiz’d his books; or with a log Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake, Or cut his wezand with thy knife. Remember First to possess his books; for without them He’s but a sot, as I am, nor hath not One spirit to command: they all do hate him As rootedly as I. Burn but his books. He has brave utensils,—for so he calls them,— Which, when he has a house, he’ll deck withal. And that most deeply to consider is The beauty of his daughter; he himself Calls her a nonpareil: I never saw a woman But only Sycorax my dam and she; But she as far surpasseth Sycorax As great’st does least.

Well, as I told you, it's his habit to sleep in the afternoon; then you can smash his brains out, once you've first seized his books; or with a log batter his skull, or stab him in the belly with a stake, or cut his windpipe with your knife. Remember to get hold of his books first, because without them he's only a fool, as I am, and he has not a single spirit to command: they all hate him as deeply as I do. Just burn his books. He has fine equipment — that's what he calls it — which he'll furnish a house with, when he has one. And the thing most worth considering is the beauty of his daughter; he himself calls her one of a kind. I've never seen a woman except Sycorax my mother and her; but she surpasses Sycorax as much as the greatest thing does the least.

Is it so brave a lass?

Is she such a fine girl?

Ay, lord, she will become thy bed, I warrant, And bring thee forth brave brood.

Yes, lord, she'll suit your bed, I promise you, and give you splendid children.

Monster, I will kill this man. His daughter and I will be king and queen,—save our graces!—and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys. Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?

Monster, I'll kill this man. His daughter and I will be king and queen — God save our graces! — and Trinculo and you will be viceroys. Do you like the plan, Trinculo?

Excellent.

Excellent.

Give me thy hand: I am sorry I beat thee; but while thou liv’st, keep a good tongue in thy head.

Give me your hand: I'm sorry I hit you; but as long as you live, keep a civil tongue in your head.

Within this half hour will he be asleep. Wilt thou destroy him then?

Within the next half hour he'll be asleep. Will you destroy him then?

Ay, on mine honour.

Yes, on my honour.

This will I tell my master.

I'll tell my master about this.

Thou mak’st me merry. I am full of pleasure. Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch You taught me but while-ere?

You make me happy. I'm full of delight. Let's be cheerful: will you sing out the round you taught me a little while ago?

At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any reason. Come on, Trinculo, let us sing.

At your request, monster, I'll do what's reasonable, anything reasonable. Come on, Trinculo, let's sing.

Flout ’em and cout ’em, and scout ’em and flout ’em: Thought is free.

Mock them and cheat them, and jeer at them and mock them: thought is free.

That’s not the tune.

That's not the tune.

What is this same?

What's this?

This is the tune of our catch, played by the picture of Nobody.

This is the tune of our round, played by the picture of Nobody.

If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness: if thou beest a devil, take ’t as thou list.

If you're a man, show yourself in your own shape; if you're a devil, take it however you please.

O, forgive me my sins!

Oh, forgive me my sins!

He that dies pays all debts: I defy thee. Mercy upon us!

Whoever dies pays off all his debts: I defy you. Have mercy on us!

Art thou afeard?

Are you afraid?

No, monster, not I.

No, monster, not me.

Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak’d after long sleep, Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches Ready to drop upon me; that, when I wak’d, I cried to dream again.

Don't be afraid. The island is full of noises, sounds and sweet tunes, that give pleasure and do no harm. Sometimes a thousand twanging instruments will hum around my ears; and sometimes voices that, if I had just woken from a long sleep, will send me to sleep again. And then, in my dreams, the clouds seemed to open and show riches ready to fall on me, so that when I woke I cried to go on dreaming.

This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall have my music for nothing.

This will turn out to be a fine kingdom for me, where I'll get my music for free.

When Prospero is destroyed.

Once Prospero is destroyed.

That shall be by and by: I remember the story.

That will happen very soon. I remember the plan.

The sound is going away. Let’s follow it, and after do our work.

The sound is moving off. Let's follow it, and do our job afterwards.

Lead, monster: we’ll follow. I would I could see this taborer! he lays it on. Wilt come?

Lead the way, monster; we'll follow. I wish I could see this drummer! He really hits hard. Are you coming?

I’ll follow, Stephano.

I'll follow, Stephano.