the hunchback-第6章
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A maid; and bid good night a sober wife!
Julia。 That Monday week; I trust; will never come;
That brags to make a sober wife of me!
Helen。 How changed you are; my Julia!
Julia。 Change makes change。
Helen。 Why wedd'st thou; then?
Julia。 Because I promised him!
Helen。 Thou lovest him?
Julia。 Do I?
Helen。 He's a man to love!
A right well…favoured man!
Julia。 Your point's well favoured。
Where did you purchase it? In Gracechurch Street?
Helen。 Pshaw! never mind my point; but talk of him。
Julia。 I'd rather talk with thee about the lace。
Where bought you it? In Gracechurch Street; Cheapside;
Whitechapel; Little Britain? Can't you say
Where 'twas you bought the lace?
Helen。 In Cheapside; then。
And now; then; to Sir Thomas! He is just
The height I like a man。
Julia。 Thy feather's just
The height I like a feather! Mine's too short!
What shall I give thee in exchange for it?
Helen。 What shall I give thee for a minute's talk
About Sir Thomas?
Julia。 Why; thy feather。
Helen。 Take it!
Clif。 'Aside to Modus。' What; likes she not to speak of me?
Helen。 And now
Let's talk about Sir Thomasmuch I'm sure
He loves you。
Julia。 Much I'm sure; he has a right!
Those know I who would give their eyes to be
Sir Thomas; for my sake!
Helen。 Such too; know I。
But 'mong them none that can compare with him;
Not one so graceful。
Julia。 What a graceful set
Your feather has!
Helen。 Nay; give it back to me;
Unless you pay me for't。
Julia。 What was't to get?
Helen。 A minute's talk with thee about Sir Thomas。
Julia。 Talk of his title; and his fortune then。
Clif。 'Aside。' Indeed! I would not listen; yet I must!
Julia。 An ample fortune; HelenI shall be
A happy wife! What routs; what balls; what masques;
What gala…days!
Clif。 'Aside。' For these she marries me!
She'll talk of these!
Julia。 Think not; when I am wed;
I'll keep the house as owlet does her tower;
Alone;when every other bird's on wing。
I'll use my palfrey; Helen; and my coach;
My barge; too; for excursion on the Thames:
What drives to Barnet; Hackney; Islington!
What rides to Epping; Hounslow; and Blackheath!
What sails to Greenwich; Woolwich; Fulham; Kew!
I'll set a pattern to your lady wives!
Clif。 'Aside。' Ay; lady? Trust me; not at my expense。
Julia。 And what a wardrobe! I'll have change of suits
For every day in the year! and sets for days!
My morning dress; my noon dress; dinner dress;
And evening dress! Then will I show you lace
A foot deep; can I purchase; if not;
I'll specially bespeak it。 Diamonds too!
Not buckles; rings; and earrings onlybut
Whole necklaces and stomachers of gems!
I'll shine! be sure I will。
Clif。 'Aside。' Then shine away;
Who covets thee may wear thee;I'm not he!
Julia。 And then my title! Soon as I put on
The ring; I'm Lady Clifford。 So I take
Precedence of plain mistress; were she e'en
The richest heiress in the land! At town
Or country ball; you'll see me take the lead;
While wives that carry on their backs the wealth
To dower a princess; shall give place to me; …
Will I not profit; think you; by my right?
Be sure I will! marriage shall prove to me
A never…ending pageant。 Every day
Shall show how I am spoused! I will be known
For Lady Clifford all the city through;
And fifty miles the country round about。
Wife of Sir Thomas Clifford; baronet …
Not perishable knightwho; when he makes
A lady of me; doubtless must expect
To see me play the part of one。
Clif。 'Coming forward。' Most true;
But not the part which you design to play。
Julia。 A listener; sir!
Clif。 By chance; and not intent;
Your speech was forced upon mine ear; that ne'er
More thankless duty to my heart discharged!
Would for that heart it ne'er had known the sense
Which tells it 'tis a bankrupt; there; where most
It coveted to be rich; and thought it was so!
O Julia; is it you? Could I have set
A coronet upon that stately brow;
Where partial nature hath already bound
A brighter circletradiant beauty's own …
I had been proud to see thee proud of it;
So for the donor thou hadst ta'en the gift;
Not for the gift ta'en him。 Could I have poured
The wealth of richest Croesus in thy lap;
I had been blest to see thee scatter it;
So I was still thy riches paramount!
Julia。 Know you me; sir!
Clif。 I do。 On Monday week
We were to wedand areso you're content;
The day that weds; wives you to be widowed。 Take
The privilege of my wife; be Lady Clifford!
Outshine the title in the wearing on't!
My coffers; lands; all are at thy command;
Wear all! but; for myself; she wears not me;
Although the coveted of every eye;
Who would not wear me for myself alone。
Julia。 And do you carry it so proudly; sir?
Clif。 Proudly; but still more sorrowfully; lady!
I'll lead thee to the church on Monday week。
Till then; farewell and then; farewell for ever!
O Julia; I have ventured for thy love;
As the bold merchant; who; for only hope
Of some rich gain; all former gains will risk。
Before I asked a portion of thy heart;
I perilled all my own; and now; all's lost!
'CLIFFORD and MODUS go out。'
Julia。 Helen!
Helen。 What ails you; sweet?
Julia。 I cannot breathequick; loose my girdle; oh!
'Faints。'
'MASTER WALTER and MASTER HEARTWELL come forward。'
Wal。 Good Master Heartwell; help to take her in;
Whilst I make after him! and look to her!
Unlucky chance that took me out of town!
'They go out severally。'
SCENE III。The Street。
'Enter CLIFFORD and STEPHEN; meeting。'
Ste。 Letters; Sir Thomas。
Clif。 Take them home again;
I shall not read them now。
Ste。 Your pardon; sir;
But here is one directed strangely。
Clif。 How?
Ste。 〃To Master Clifford; gentleman; now styled
Sir Thomas Clifford; baronet。〃
Clif。 Indeed!
Whence comes that letter?
Ste。 From abroad。
Clif。 Which is it?
Ste。 So please you; this; Sir Thomas。
Clif。 Give it me。
Ste。 That letter brings not news to wish him joy upon。 If he was
disturbed before; which I guessed by his looks he was; he is not
more at ease now。 His hand to his head! A most unwelcome letter!
If it brings him news of disaster; fortune does not give him his
deserts; for never waited servant upon a kinder master。
Clif。 Stephen!
Ste。 Sir Thomas!
Clif。 From my door remove
The plate that bears my name。
Ste。 The plate; Sir Thomas!
Clif。 The platecollect my servants and instruct them
To make out each their claims; unto the end
Of their respective terms; and give them in
To my steward。 Him and them apprise; good fellow;
That I keep house no more。 As you go home;
Call at my coachmaker's and bid him stop
The carriage I bespoke。 The one I have
Send with my horses to the mart whereat
Such things are sold by auction。 They're for sale;
Pack up my wardrobe; have my trunks conveyed
To the inn in the next street; and when that's done;
Go round my tradesmen and collect their bills;
And bring them to me at the inn。
Ste。 The inn!
Clif。 Yes; I go home no more。 Why; what's the matter?
What has fallen out to make your eyes fill up?
You'll get another place。 I'll certify
You're honest and industrious; and all
That a servant ought to be。
Ste。 I see; Sir Thomas;
Some great misfortune has befallen you?
Clif。 No!
I have health; I have strength; my reason; Stephen; and
A heart that's clear in truth; with trust in God。
No great disaster can befall the man
Who's still possessed of these! Good fellow; leave me。
What you would learn; and have a right to know;
I would not tell you now。 Good Stephen; hence!
Mischance has fallen on mebut what of that?
Mischance has fallen on many a better man。
I prithee leave me。 I grow sadder while
I see the eye with which you view my grief。
'Sdeath; they will out! I would have been a man;
Had you been less a kind and gentle one。
Now; as you love me; leave me。
Ste。 Never master
So well deserved the love of him that served him。
'STEPHEN goes out。'
Clif。 Misfortune liketh company; it seldom
Visits its friends alone。 Ha! Master Walter;
And ruffled too。 I'm in no mood for him。
'Enter MASTER WALTER。'