贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the old bachelor >

第7章

the old bachelor-第7章

小说: the old bachelor 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



son; for his ease; sometimes confesses secrets his heart knows nothing of。

VAIN。  I should rather think favours; so gained; to be due rewards to indefatigable devotion。  For as love is a deity; he must be served by prayer。

BELIN。  O Gad; would you would all pray to love; then; and let us alone。

VAIN。  You are the temples of love; and 'tis through you; our devotion must be conveyed。

ARAM。  Rather poor silly idols of your own making; which upon the least displeasure you forsake and set up new。  Every man now changes his mistress and his religion as his humour varies; or his interest。

VAIN。  O madam …

ARAM。  Nay; come; I find we are growing serious; and then we are in great danger of being dull。  If my music…master be not gone; I'll entertain you with a new song; which comes pretty near my own opinion of love and your sex。  Who's there?  Is Mr。 Gavot gone? 'Calls。'

FOOT。  Only to the next door; madam。  I'll call him。


SCENE VIII。


ARAMINTA; BELINDA; VAINLOVE; and BELLMOUR。

BELL。  Why; you won't hear me with patience。

ARAM。  What's the matter; cousin?

BELL。  Nothing; madam; only …

BELIN。  Prithee hold thy tongue。  Lard; he has so pestered me with flames and stuff; I think I sha'n't endure the sight of a fire this twelvemonth。

BELL。  Yet all can't melt that cruel frozen heart。

BELIN。  O Gad; I hate your hideous fancyyou said that once beforeif you must talk impertinently; for Heaven's sake let it be with variety; don't come always; like the devil; wrapt in flames。 I'll not hear a sentence more; that begins with an 'I burn'or an 'I beseech you; madam。'

BELL。  But tell me how you would be adored。  I am very tractable。

BELIN。  Then know; I would be adored in silence。

BELL。  Humph; I thought so; that you might have all the talk to yourself。  You had better let me speak; for if my thoughts fly to any pitch; I shall make villainous signs。

BELIN。  What will you get by that; to make such signs as I won't understand?

BELL。  Ay; but if I'm tongue…tied; I must have all my actions free toquicken your apprehensionand I…gad let me tell you; my most prevailing argument is expressed in dumb show。


SCENE IX。


'To them' MUSIC…MASTER。

ARAM。  Oh; I am glad we shall have a song to divert the discourse。 Pray oblige us with the last new song。

SONG。

I。

Thus to a ripe; consenting maid; Poor; old; repenting Delia said; Would you long preserve your lover? Would you still his goddess reign? Never let him all discover; Never let him much obtain。

II。

Men will admire; adore and die; While wishing at your feet they lie: But admitting their embraces; Wakes 'em from the golden dream; Nothing's new besides our faces; Every woman is the same。

ARAM。  So; how de'e like the song; gentlemen?

BELL。  Oh; very well performed; but I don't much admire the words。

ARAM。  I expected it; there's too much truth in 'em。  If Mr。 Gavot will walk with us in the garden; we'll have it once again; you may like it better at second hearing。  You'll bring my cousin。

BELL。  Faith; madam; I dare not speak to her; but I'll make signs。 'Addresses Belinda in dumb show。'

BELIN。  Oh; foh; your dumb rhetoric is more ridiculous than your talking impertinence; as an ape is a much more troublesome animal than a parrot。

ARAM。  Ay; cousin; and 'tis a sign the creatures mimic nature well; for there are few men but do more silly things than they say。

BELL。  Well; I find my apishness has paid the ransom for my speech; and set it at libertythough; I confess; I could be well enough pleased to drive on a love…bargain in that silent manner'twould save a man a world of lying and swearing at the year's end。 Besides; I have had a little experience; that brings to mind …

When wit and reason both have failed to move; Kind looks and actions (from success) do prove; Ev'n silence may be eloquent in love。



ACT III。SCENE I。



SCENE:  The Street。

SILVIA and LUCY。

SILV。  Will he not come; then?

LUCY。  Yes; yes; come; I warrant him; if you will go in and be ready to receive him。

SILV。  Why did you not tell me?  Whom mean you?

LUCY。  Whom you should mean; Heartwell。

SILV。  Senseless creature; I meant my Vainlove。

LUCY。  You may as soon hope to recover your own maiden…head as his love。  Therefore; e'en set your heart at rest; and in the name of opportunity mind your own business。  Strike Heartwell home before the bait's worn off the hook。  Age will come。  He nibbled fairly yesterday; and no doubt will be eager enough to…day to swallow the temptation。

SILV。  Well; since there's no remedyyet tell mefor I would know; though to the anguish of my soul; how did he refuse?  Tell me; how did he receive my letterin anger or in scorn?

LUCY。  Neither; but what was ten times worse; with damned senseless indifference。  By this light I could have spit in his face。 Receive it!  Why; he received it as I would one of your lovers that should come empty…handed; as a court lord does his mercer's bill or a begging dedicationhe received it as if 't had been a letter from his wife。

SILV。  What! did he not read it?

LUCY。  Hummed it over; gave you his respects; and said he would take time to peruse itbut then he was in haste。

SILV。  Respects; and peruse it!  He's gone; and Araminta has bewitched him from me。  Oh; how the name of rival fires my blood。 I could curse 'em both; eternal jealousy attend her love; and disappointment meet his。  Oh that I could revenge the torment he has caused; methinks I feel the woman strong within me; and vengeance kindles in the room of love。

LUCY。  I have that in my head may make mischief。

SILV。  How; dear Lucy?

LUCY。  You know Araminta's dissembled coyness has won; and keeps him hers …

SILV。  Could we persuade him that she loves another …

LUCY。  No; you're out; could we persuade him that she dotes on him; himself。  Contrive a kind letter as from her; 'twould disgust his nicety; and take away his stomach。

SILV。  Impossible; 'twill never take。

LUCY。  Trouble not your head。  Let me aloneI will inform myself of what passed between 'em to…day; and about it straight。  Hold; I'm mistaken; or that's Heartwell; who stands talking at the corner'tis hego get you in; madam; receive him pleasantly; dress up your face in innocence and smiles; and dissemble the very want of dissimulation。  You know what will take him。

SILV。  'Tis as hard to counterfeit love as it is to conceal it: but I'll do my weak endeavour; though I fear I have not art。

LUCY。  Hang art; madam; and trust to nature for dissembling。

Man was by nature woman's cully made: We never are but by ourselves betrayed。


SCENE II。


HEARTWELL; VAINLOVE and BELLMOUR following。

BELL。  Hist; hist; is not that Heartwell going to Silvia?

VAIN。  He's talking to himself; I think; prithee let's try if we can hear him。

HEART。  Why; whither in the devil's name am I agoing now?  Humlet me thinkis not this Silvia's house; the cave of that enchantress; and which consequently I ought to shun as I would infection?  To enter here is to put on the envenomed shirt; to run into the embraces of a fever; and in some raving fit; be led to plunge myself into that more consuming fire; a woman's arms。  Ha! well recollected; I will recover my reason; and be gone。

BELL。  Now Venus forbid!

VAIN。  Hush …

HEART。  Well; why do you not move?  Feet; do your officenot one inch; no; fore Gad I'm caught。  There stands my north; and thither my needle points。  Now could I curse myself; yet cannot repent。  O thou delicious; damned; dear; destructive woman!  S'death; how the young fellows will hoot me!  I shall be the jest of the town:  nay; in two days I expect to be chronicled in ditty; and sung in woful ballad; to the tune of the Superannuated Maiden's Comfort; or the Bachelor's Fall; and upon the third; I shall be hanged in effigy; pasted up for the exemplary ornament of necessary houses and cobblers' stalls。  Death; I can't think on'tI'll run into the danger to lose the apprehension。


SCENE III。


BELLMOUR; VAINLOVE。

BELL。  A very certain remedy; probatum est。  Ha; ha; ha; poor George; thou art i' th' right; thou hast sold thyself to laughter; the ill…natured town will find the jest just where thou

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的