A motley jest

By Oscar Fay Adams
AUTHOR OF “A DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN AUTHORS,” “THE STORY OF JANE AUSTEN’S LIFE,” “SICUT PATRIBUS AND OTHER VERSE,” ETC.; AMERICAN EDITOR OF THE HENRY IRVING SHAKESPEARE, ETC.
BOSTON Sherman, French & Company 1909
Copyright 1909 Sherman, French & Company
TO THE OLD CAMBRIDGE SHAKESPEARE ASSOCIATION THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED
The Sixth Act of The Merchant of Venice was first printed in the Cornhill Booklet for March, 1903. The Shakespearean Fantasy now appears for the first time in print.
A SHAKESPEAREAN FANTASY Scene I.
An island in the Middle Seas. A cave is seen on the right and before it, under a palm tree , Caliban is discovered sleeping .
Trinculo. Since the day when the old gentleman they call Prospero took it into his bald pate to disappear into air along with a most goodly company beside, there’s not a bottle to be found i’ this isle, as I am a good Christian, and, what is more, a good Christian man’s son.
Stephano. Bottle me no bottles, Trinculo. Had we ne’er shared a bottle betwixt us we had not been left to bide by ourselves in this whoreson isle in the hard service of the man-monster, Caliban, but might be in fair Naples at this very hour.
Trinculo. Sagely said, Master Stephano. Thou wast ever wise enow i’ the tail o’ the event. An’ thou could’st have looked it thus wisely i’ the mouth, thou hadst been a made man, Stephano, a made man, and a householder, to boot.
Stephano. By mine head, a scurvy trick o’ the King to give us over to a dog’s life in this heathen isle with a man-monster for a master, and none other company beside.