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第9章

the old bachelor-第9章

小说: the old bachelor 字数: 每页4000字

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SIR JO。  No; no; hang't; I was not afraid neitherthough I confess he did in a manner snap me upyet I can't say that it was altogether out of fear; but partly to prevent mischieffor he was a devilish choleric fellow。  And if my choler had been up too; agad; there would have been mischief done; that's flat。  And yet I believe if you had been by; I would as soon have let him a' had a hundred of my teeth。  Adsheart; if he should come just now when I'm angry; I'd tell himMum。


SCENE VIII。


'To them' BELLMOUR; SHARPER。

BELL。  Thou 'rt a lucky rogue; there's your benefactor; you ought to return him thanks now you have received the favour。

SHARP。  Sir Joseph!  Your note was accepted; and the money paid at sight。  I'm come to return my thanks …

SIR JO。  They won't be accepted so readily as the bill; sir。

BELL。  I doubt the knight repents; Tom。  He looks like the knight of the sorrowful face。

SHARP。  This is a double generosity:  do me a kindness and refuse my thanks。  But I hope you are not offended that I offered them。

SIR JO。  May be I am; sir; may be I am not; sir; may be I am both; sir; what then?  I hope I may be offended without any offence to you; sir。

SHARP。  Hey day!  Captain; what's the matter?  You can tell。

BLUFF。  Mr。 Sharper; the matter is plain:  Sir Joseph has found out your trick; and does not care to be put upon; being a man of honour。

SHARP。  Trick; sir?

SIR JO。  Ay; trick; sir; and won't be put upon; sir; being a man of honour; sir; and so; sir …

SHARP。  Harkee; Sir Joseph; a word with ye。  In consideration of some favours lately received; I would not have you draw yourself into a PREMUNIRE; by trusting to that sign of a man therethat pot…gun charged with wind。

SIR JO。  O Lord; O Lord; Captain; come justify yourselfI'll give him the lie if you'll stand to it。

SHARP。  Nay; then; I'll be beforehand with you; take that; oaf。 'Cuffs him。'

SIR JO。  Captain; will you see this?  Won't you pink his soul?

BLUFF。  Husht; 'tis not so convenient nowI shall find a time。

SHARP。  What do you mutter about a time; rascal?  You were the incendiary。  There's to put you in mind of your time。A memorandum。  'Kicks him。'

BLUFF。  Oh; this is your time; sir; you had best make use on't。

SHARP。  IGad and so I will:  there's again for you。  'Kicks him。'

BLUFF。  You are obliging; sir; but this is too public a place to thank you in。  But in your ear; you are to be seen again?

SHARP。  Ay; thou inimitable coward; and to be feltas for example。 'Kicks him。'

BELL。  Ha; ha; ha; prithee come away; 'tis scandalous to kick this puppy unless a man were cold and had no other way to get himself aheat。


SCENE IX。


SIR JOSEPH; BLUFFE。

BLUFF。  Very wellvery finebut 'tis no matter。  Is not this fine; Sir Joseph?

SIR JO。  Indifferent; agad; in my opinion; very indifferent。  I'd rather go plain all my life than wear such finery。

BLUFF。  Death and hell to be affronted thus!  I'll die before I'll suffer it。  'Draws'

SIR JO。  O Lord; his anger was not raised before。  Nay; dear Captain; don't be in passion now he's gone。  Put up; put up; dear Back; 'tis your Sir Joseph begs; come let me kiss thee; so; so; put up; put up。

BLUFF。  By heaven; 'tis not to be put up。

SIR JO。  What; Bully?

BLUFF。  The affront。

SIR JO。  No; aged; no more 'tis; for that's put up all already; thy sword; I mean。

BLUFF。  Well; Sir Joseph; at your entreatyBut were not you; my friend; abused; and cuffed; and kicked?  'Putting up his sword。'

SIR JO。  Ay; ay; so were you too; no matter; 'tis past。

BLUFF。  By the immortal thunder of great guns; 'tis falsehe sucks not vital air who dares affirm it to this face。  'Looks big。'

SIR JO。  To that face I grant you; Captain。  No; no; I grant you not to that face; by the Lord Harry。  If you had put on your fighting face before; you had done his businesshe durst as soon have kissed you; as kicked you to your face。  But a man can no more help what's done behind his back than what's saidCome; we'll think no more of what's past。

BLUFF。  I'll call a council of war within to consider of my revenge to come。


SCENE X。


HEARTWELL; SILVIA。  Silvia's apartment。

SONG。

As Amoret and Thyrsis lay Melting the hours in gentle play; Joining faces; mingling kisses; And exchanging harmless blisses: He trembling cried; with eager haste; O let me feed as well as taste; I die; if I'm not wholly blest。 'After the song a dance of antics。'

SILV。  Indeed it is very fine。  I could look upon 'em all day。

HEART。  Well has this prevailed for me; and will you look upon me?

SILV。  If you could sing and dance so; I should love to look upon you too。

HEART。  Why; 'twas I sung and danced; I gave music to the voice; and life to their measures。  Look you here; Silvia; 'pulling out a purse and chinking it' here are songs and dances; poetry and music… …hark! how sweetly one guinea rhymes to anotherand how they dance to the music of their own chink。  This buys all t'otherand this thou shalt have; this; and all that I am worth; for the purchase of thy love。  Say; is it mine then; ha?  Speak; SyrenOons; why do I look on her!  Yet I must。  Speak; dear angel; devil; saint; witch; do not rack me with suspense。

SILV。  Nay; don't stare at me so。  You make me blushI cannot look。

HEART。  O manhood; where art thou?  What am I come to?  A woman's toy; at these years!  Death; a bearded baby for a girl to dandle。 O dotage; dotage!  That ever that noble passion; lust; should ebb to this degree。  No reflux of vigorous blood:  but milky love supplies the empty channels; and prompts me to the softness of a childa mere infant and would suck。  Can you love me; Silvia? Speak。

SILV。  I dare not speak until I believe you; and indeed I'm afraid to believe you yet。

HEART。  Death; how her innocence torments and pleases me!  Lying; child; is indeed the art of love; and men are generally masters in it:  but I'm so newly entered; you cannot distrust me of any skill in the treacherous mystery。  Now; by my soul; I cannot lie; though it were to serve a friend or gain a mistress。

SILV。  Must you lie; then; if you say you love me?

HEART。  No; no; dear ignorance; thou beauteous changelingI tell thee I do love thee; and tell it for a truth; a naked truth; which I'm ashamed to discover。

SILV。  But love; they say; is a tender thing; that will smooth frowns; and make calm an angry face; will soften a rugged temper; and make ill…humoured people good。  You look ready to fright one; and talk as if your passion were not love; but anger。

HEART。  'Tis both; for I am angry with myself when I am pleased with you。  And a pox upon me for loving thee so wellyet I must on。  'Tis a bearded arrow; and will more easily be thrust forward than drawn back。

SILV。  Indeed; if I were well assured you loved; but how can I be well assured?

HEART。  Take the symptomsand ask all the tyrants of thy sex if their fools are not known by this party…coloured livery。  I am melancholic when thou art absent; look like an ass when thou art present; wake for thee when I should sleep; and even dream of thee when I am awake; sigh much; drink little; eat less; court solitude; am grown very entertaining to myself; and (as I am informed) very troublesome to everybody else。  If this be not love; it is madness; and then it is pardonable。  Nay; yet a more certain sign than all this; I give thee my money。

SILV。  Ay; but that is no sign; for they say; gentlemen will give money to any naughty woman to come to bed to them。  O Gemini; I hope you don't mean sofor I won't be a whore。

HEART。  The more is the pity。  'Aside。'

SILV。  Nay; if you would marry me; you should not come to bed to meyou have such a beard; and would so prickle one。  But do you intend to marry me?

HEART。  That a fool should ask such a malicious question!  Death; I shall be drawn in before I know where I am。  However; I find I am pretty sure of her consent; if I am put to it。  'Aside。'  Marry you?  No; no; I'll love you。

SILV。  Nay; but if you love me; you must marry me。  What; don't I know my father loved my mother and was married to her?

HEART。  Ay; ay; in old days people married where they loved; but that fashion is changed; child。

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