the complete plays-第141章
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LIEUT。 Who fired that shot？ At once the truth declare？
WILFRED My lord； 'twas I to rashly judge forebear！
POINT My lord； 'twas he to rashly judge forebear！
WILFRED Like a ghost his vigil keeping
POINT Or a spectre all…appalling
WILFRED I beheld a figure creeping
POINT I should rather call it crawling
WILFRED He was creeping
POINT He was crawling
WILFRED He was creeping； creeping
POINT Crawling！
WILFRED He was creeping
POINT He was crawling
WILFRED He was creeping； creeping
POINT Crawling！
WILFRED Not a moment's hesitation
I myself upon him flung；
With a hurried exclamation
To his draperies I hung；
Then we closed with one another
In a rough…and…tumble smother；
Col'nel Fairfax and no other
Was the man to whom I clung！
ALL Col'nel Fairfax and no other；
Was the man to whom he clung！
WILFRED After mighty tug and tussle
POINT It resembled more a struggle
WILFRED He； by dint of stronger muscle
POINT Or by some infernal juggle
WILFRED From my clutches quickly sliding
POINT I should rather call it slipping
WILFRED With a view； no doubt； of hiding
POINT Or escaping to the shipping
WILFRED With a gasp； and with a quiver
POINT I'd describe it as a shiver
WILFRED Down he dived into the river；
And； alas； I cannot swim。
ALL It's enough to make one shiver；
With a gasp； and with a quiver；
Down he dived into the river；
It was very brave of him！
WILFRED Ingenuity is catching；
With the view my King of pleasing；
Arquebus from sentry snatching
POINT I should rather call it seizing
WILFRED With an ounce or two of lead
I dispatched him through the head！
ALL With an ounce or two of lead
He dispatched him through the head！
WILFRED I discharged it without winking；
Little time I lost in thinking；
Like a stone I saw him sinking
POINT I should say a lump of lead。
ALL He discharged it without winking；
Little time he lost in thinking。
WILFRED Like a stone I saw him sinking
POINT I should say a lump of lead。
WILFRED Like a stone； my boy； I said
POINT Like a heavy lump of lead。
WILFRED Like a stone； my boy； I said
POINT Like a heavy lump of lead。
WILFRED Anyhow； the man is dead；
Whether stone or lump of lead！
ALL Anyhow； the man is dead；
Whether stone or lump of lead！
Arquebus from sentry seizing；
With the view his King of pleasing；
Arquebus from sentry seizing；
With the view his King of pleasing；
Wilfred shot him through the head；
And he's very； very dead！
And it matters very little
Whether stone or lump of lead；
It is very； very certain that
he's very； very dead！
LIEUT。 The river must be dragged no time be lost；
The body must be found； at any cost。
To this attend without undue delay；
So set to work with what dispatch ye may！
＇Exit LIEUTENANT
ALL Yes； yes；
We'll set to work with what dispatch we may！
＇Men raise WILFRED； and carry him off on their shoulders。
ALL Hail the valiant fellow who
Did this deed of derring…do！
Honours wait on such an one；
By my head； 'twas bravely done；
'twas bravely done！
Now； by my head； 'twas bravely done！
＇Exeunt all but ELSIE； POINT； FAIRFAX； and PHOEBE。
POINT ＇to ELSIE； who is weeping＇ Nay； sweetheart； be
comforted。 This Fairfax was but a pestilent fellow；
and； as he had to die； he might as well die thus as
any other way。 'Twas a good death。
ELSIE Still； he was my husband； and had he not been； he was
nevertheless a living man； and now he is dead； and so；
by your leave； my tears may flow unchidden； Master
Point。
FAIRFAX And thou didst see all this？
POINT Aye； with both eyes at once this and that。 The
testimony of one eye is naught he may lie。 But when
it is corroborated by the other； it is good evidence
that none may gainsay。 Here are both present in court；
ready to swear to him！
PHOEBE But art thou sure it was Colonel Fairfax？ Saw you his
face？
POINT Aye； and a plaguey ill…favoured face too。 A very hang…
dog face a felon face a face to fright the headsman
himself； and make him strike awry。 Oh； a plaguey； bad
face； take my word for it。 ＇PHOEBE and FAIRFAX laugh＇
How they laugh！ 〃Tis ever thus with simple folk an
accepted wit has but to say 〃Pass the mustard；〃 and
they roar their ribs out！
FAIRFAX ＇aside＇ If ever I come to life again； thou shalt pay
for this； Master Point！
POINT Now； Elsie； thou art free to choose again； so behold
me： I am young and well…favoured。 I have a pretty wit。
I can jest you； jibe you； quip you； crank you； wrack
you； riddle you
FAIRFAX Tush； man； thou knowest not how to woo。 'Tis not to be
done with time…worn jests and thread…bare sophistries；
with quips； conundrums； rhymes； and paradoxes。 'Tis an
art in itself； and must be studied gravely and
conscientiously。
No。 19。 A man who would woo a fair maid
（TRIO）
Elsie； Phoebe； and Fairfax
FAIRFAX A man who would woo a fair maid；
Should 'prentice himself to the trade；
And study all day；
In methodical way；
How to flatter； cajole； and persuade。
He should 'prentice himself at fourteen；
And practise from morning to e'en；
And when he's of age；
If he will； I'll engage；
He may capture the heart of a queen；
the heart of a queen！
ALL It is purely a matter of skill；
Which all may attain if they will。
But every Jack
He must study the knack
If he wants to make sure of his Jill！
If he wants to make sure of his Jill！
ELSIE If he's made the best use of his time；
His twig he'll so carefully lime
That every bird
Will come down at his word；
Whatever its plumage and clime。
He must learn that the thrill of a touch
May mean little； or nothing； or much；
It's an instrument rare；
