head: yond same cloud cannot choose but fall 24
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. A strange fish! 28
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 32
there makes a man. 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 36
now let loose my opinion, hold it no longer;
this is no fish, but an islander, that hath lately
suffered by a thunderbolt. [Thunder.] Alas!
the storm is come again: my best way is to creep 40
under his gaberdine; there is no other shelter
hereabout: misery acquaints a man with strange
bedfellows. I will here shroud till the dregs of
the storm be past. 44
Enter Stephano, singing [a bottle in his hand].
Ste. '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.
Sings:
'The master, the swabber, the boatswain and I, 49
The gunner and his mate,
Lov'd Mall, Meg, and Marian and Margery,
28 Poor-John: salt hake
30 had . . . painted: had but a painting of this fish
32 make a man: make a man's fortune
34 doit: a small coin
41 gaberdine: cloak
43 shroud: take cover
