Caliban From Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'.

Caliban (whose name means cannibal) is the noble savage in Shakespeare's play the Tempest. It's not clear if he is even human. He is the offspring of Sycorax the witch and the Devil. And in old manuscripts he is shown having a frog's head with green scales.

When he first meets Stephano and the other outsiders, he immediately starts talking elegantly and in prose, to impress them. And they say some of the play's most beautiful and moving lines are spoken by him.

Here are just a few.


"When thou camest first,
Thou strok'dst me, and mad'st much of me; wouldst give me
Water with berries in’t; and teach me how
To name the bigger light, and how the less,
That burn by day and night: and then I lov’d thee
And show’d thee all the qualities o' th' isle,
The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place, and fertile.
Cursed be I that did so!–All the charms
Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you!
For I am all the subjects that you have,
Which first was mine own king; and here you sty me
In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me
The rest o' th' island."

-The Tempest (Caliban),
Act I, Scene 2.


"Hast thou not dropped from heaven?"
"Out o' th' moon, I do assure thee. I was the man i’ the moon when time was."
"I have seen thee in her and I do adore thee. My mistress showed me thee and thy dog and thy bush."

-Caliban and Stephano,
Act II, Scene 2.


"These be fine things, and if they be not sprites. That’s a brave god and bears celestial liquor. I will kneel to him."

-Caliban,
Act II, Scene 2.


"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."

-Caliban,
Act III, Scene 2.


"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 sometime voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again."

-Caliban,
Act III, Scene 2.


"I'll be wise hereafter,
And seek for grace.”

-Caliban,
Act V, Scene 1.