the complete plays-第142章
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It's an instrument rare；
To be handled with care；
And ought to be treated as such；
Ought to be treated as such。
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！
PHOEBE Then a glance may be timid or free；
It will vary in mighty degree；
From an impudent stare
To a look of despair
That no maid without pity can see！
And a glance of despair is no guide
It may have its ridiculous side；
It may draw you a tear
Or a box on the ear；
You can never be sure till you've tried！
Never be sure till you've tried！
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！
But every Jack；
He must study the knack；
But every Jack；
Must study the knack
If he wants to make sure of his Jill！
Yes； every Jack；
Must study the knack
If he wants to make sure of his Jill！
FAIRFAX ＇aside to POINT＇ Now； listen to me 'tis done thus
＇aloud＇ Mistress Elsie； there is one here who； as thou
knowest； loves thee right well！
POINT ＇aside＇ That he does right well！
FAIRFAX He is but a man of poor estate； but he hath a loving；
honest heart。 He will be a true and trusty husband to
thee； and if thou wilt be his wife； thou shalt lie
curled up in his heart； like a little squirrel in its
nest！
POINT ＇aside＇ 'Tis a pretty figure。 A maggot in a nut lies
closer； but a squirrel will do。
FAIRFAX He knoweth that thou wast a wife an unloved and
unloving wife； and his poor heart was near to
breaking。 But now that thine unloving husband is dead；
and thou art free； he would fain pray that thou
wouldst hearken unto him； and give him hope that thou
wouldst one day be his！
PHOEBE ＇alarmed＇ He presses her hands and whispers in her
ear！ Ods bodikins； what does it mean？
FAIRFAX Now； sweetheart； tell me wilt thou be this poor
goodfellow's wife？
ELSIE If the good； brave man is he a brave man？
FAIRFAX So men say。
POINT ＇aside＇ That's not true； but let it pass。
ELSIE If the brave man will be content with a poor；
penniless； untaught maid
POINT ＇aside＇ Widow but let that pass。
ELSIE I will be his true and loving wife； and that with my
heart of hearts！
FAIRFAX My own dear love！ ＇Embracing her＇
PHOEBE ＇in great agitation＇ Why； what's all this？ Brother
brother it is not seemly！
POINT ＇also alarmed； aside＇ Oh； I can't let that pass！
＇Aloud＇ Hold； enough； Master Leonard！ An advocate
should have his fee； but methinks thou art over…paying
thyself！
FAIRFAX Nay； that is for Elsie to say。 I promised thee I would
show thee how to woo； and herein lies the proof of the
virtue of my teaching。 Go thou； and apply it
elsewhere！ ＇PHOEBE bursts into tears＇
No。 20。 When a wooer goes a…wooing
（QUARTET）
Elsie； Phoebe； Fairfax； and Point
ELSIE When a wooer Goes a…wooing；
Naught is truer Than his joy。
FAIRFAX Maiden hushing All his suing
Boldly blushing； bravely coy！
Bravely coy！ Boldly blushing
ELSIE Boldly blushing； bravely coy！
ALL Oh； the happy days of doing！
Oh； the sighing and the suing！
When a wooer goes a…wooing；
Oh the sweets that never cloy！
PHOEBE ＇weeping＇ When a brother leaves his sister
For another； sister weeps；
Tears that trickle；
Tears that blister
'Tis but mickle Sister reaps！
ALL Oh； the doing and undoing；
Oh； the sighing and the suing；
When a brother goes a…wooing；
And a sobbing sister weeps！
POINT When a jester Is outwitted；
Feelings fester； Heart is lead！
Food for fishes Only fitted；
Jester wishes He was dead！
Food for fishes Only fitted；
Jester wishes He was dead！
ALL Oh； the doing and undoing；
Oh； the sighing and the suing；
When a jester goes a…wooing；
And he wishes he was dead！
Oh； the doing and undoing；
Oh； the sighing and the suing；
When a jester goes a…wooing；
And he wishes he was dead；
And he wishes he was dead！
＇Exeunt all but PHOEBE； who remains weeping。
PHOEBE And I helped that man to escape； and I've kept his
secret； and pretended that I was his dearly loving
sister； and done everything I could think of to make
folk believe I was his loving sister； and this is his
gratitude！ Before I pretend to be sister to anybody
again； I'll turn nun； and be sister to everybody one
as much as another！
＇Enter WILFRED
WILFRED In tears； eh？ What a plague art thou grizzling for
now？
PHOEBE Why am I grizzling？ Thou hast often wept for jealousy
well； 'tis for jealousy I weep now。 Aye； yellow；
bilious； jaundiced jealousy。 So make the most of that；
Master Wilfred。
WILFRED But I have never given thee cause for jealousy。 The
Lieutenant's cook…maid and I are but the merest
gossips！
PHOEBE Jealous of thee！ Bah！ I'm jealous of no craven cock…
on…a…hill； who crows about what he'd do an he dared！
I am jealous of another and a better man than thou
set that down； Master Wilfred。 And he is to marry
Elsie Maynard； the pale little fool set that down
Master Wilfred and my heart is wellnigh broken！
There； thou hast it all！ Make the most of it！
WILFRED The man thou lovest is to marry Elsie Maynard？ Why；
that is no other than thy brother； Leonard Meryll！
PHOEBE ＇aside＇ Oh； mercy！ what have I said？
WILFRED Why； what matter of brother is this； thou lying little
jade？ Speak！ Who is this man whom thou hast called
brother； and fondled； and coddled； and kissed！ with
my connivance； too！ Oh Lord！ with my connivance！ Ha！
should it be this Fairfax！ ＇PHOEBE starts＇ It is！ It
is this accursed Fairfax！ It's Fairfax！ Fairfax； who
PHOEBE Whom thou hast just shot through the head； and who
lies at the bottom of the river！
WILFRED A I I may have been mistaken。 We are but fallible
mortals； the best of us。 But I'll make sure I'll make
