the complete plays-第87章
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Gives peace enduring；
O my love！
ROSE。 If heart both true and tender；
O my love！
A life…love can engender；
O my love！
A truce to sighing
And tears of brine；
For joy undying
Shall aye be mine；
BOTH。 And thou and I； love；
Shall live and die； love；
Without a sigh； love
My own； my love！
（Enter Robin； with Chorus of Bridesmaids。）
CHORUS。
If well his suit has sped；
Oh； may they soon be wed！
Oh； tell us； tell us； pray；
What doth the maiden say？
In singing are we justified；
Hall the Bridegroomhail the Bride！
Let the nuptial knot be tied：
In fair phrases
Hymn their praises；
Hail the Bridegroomhall the Bride？
ROB。 Wellwhat news？ Have you spoken to her？
RICH。 Aye； my lad； I haveso to speakspoke her。
ROB。 And she refuses？
RICH。 Why； no； I can't truly say she do。
ROB。 Then she accepts！ My darling！ （Embraces her。）
BRIDESMAIDS。
Hail the Bridegroomhail the Bride！ etc。
ROSE （aside； referring to her book）。 Now； what should a
maiden do when she is embraced by the wrong gentleman？
RICH。 Belay； my lad； belay。 You don't understand。
ROSE。 Oh； sir； belay； I beseech you！
RICH。 You see； it's like this： she acceptsbut it's me！
ROB。 You！ （Richard embraces Rose。）
BRIDESMAIDS。
Hail the Bridegroomhail the Bride！
When the nuptial knot is tied
ROB。 （interrupting angrily）。 Hold your tongues； will you！
Now then； what does this mean？
RICH。 My poor lad； my heart grieves for thee； but it's like
this： the moment I see her； and just as I was a…goin' to mention
your name； my heart it up and it says； says it〃Dick； you've
fell in love with her yourself；〃 it says； 〃be honest and
sailor…likedon't skulk under false coloursspeak up；〃 it says；
〃take her； you dog； and with her my blessin'！〃
BRIDESMAIDS。
Hail the Bridegroomhail the bride
ROB。 Will you be quiet！ Go away！ （Chorus makes faces at
him and exeunt。） Vulgar girls！
RICH。 What could I do？ I'm bound to obey my heart's
dictates。
ROB。 Of courseno doubt。 It's quite rightI don't
mindthat is； not particularlyonly it'sit is disappointing；
you know。
ROSE （to Robin）。 Oh； but； sir； I knew not that thou didst
seek me in wedlock； or in very truth I should not have hearkened
unto this man； for behold； he is but a lowly mariner； and very
poor withal； whereas thou art a tiller of the land； and thou hast
fat oxen； and many sheep and swine； a considerable dairy farm and
much corn and oil！
RICH。 That's true； my lass； but it's done now； ain't it；
Rob？
ROSE。 Still it may be that I should not be happy in thy
love。 I am passing young and little able to judge。 Moreover； as
to thy character I know naught！
ROB。 Nay； Rose； I'll answer for that。 Dick has won thy
love fairly。 Broken…hearted as I am； I'll stand up for Dick
through thick and thin！
RICH。 （with emotion）。 Thankye； messmate！ that's well said。
That's spoken honest。 Thankye； Rob！ （Grasps his hand。）
ROSE。 Yet methinks I have heard that sailors are but
worldly men； and little prone to lead serious and thoughtful
lives！
ROB。 And what then？ Admit that Dick is not a steady
character； and that when he's excited he uses language that would
make your hair curl。 Grant thathe does。 It's the truth； and
I'm not going to deny it。 But look at his good qualities。 He's
as nimble as a pony； and his hornpipe is the talk of the fleet！
RICH。 Thankye； Rob！ That's well spoken。 Thankye； Rob！
ROSE。 But it may be that he drinketh strong waters which do
bemuse a man； and make him even as the wild beasts of the desert！
ROB。 Well； suppose he does； and I don't say he don't； for
rum's his bane； and ever has been。 He does drinkI won't deny
it。 But what of that？ Look at his armstattooed to the
shoulder！ （Rich。 rolls up his sleeves。） No； noI won't hear a
word against Dick！
ROSE。 But they say that mariners are but rarely true to
those whom they profess to love！
ROB。 Grantedgrantedand I don't say that Dick isn't as
bad as any of 'em。 （Rich。 chuckles。） You are； you know you are；
you dog！ a devil of a fellowa regular out…and…out Lothario！
But what then？ You can't have everything； and a better hand at
turning…in a dead…eye don't walk a deck！ And what an
accomplishment that is in a family man！ No； nonot a word
against Dick。 I'll stick up for him through thick and thin！
RICH。 Thankye； Rob； thankye。 You're a true friend。 I've
acted accordin' to my heart's dictates； and such orders as them
no man should disobey。
ENSEMBLERICHARD； ROBIN； and ROSE。
In sailing o'er life's ocean wide
Your heart should be your only guide；
With summer sea and favouring wind；
Yourself in port you'll surely find。
SOLORICHARD。
My heart says； 〃To this maiden strike
She's captured you。
She's just the sort of girl you like
You know you do。
If other man her heart should gain；
I shall resign。〃
That's what it says to me quite plain；
This heart of mine。
SOLOROBIN。
My heart says； 〃You've a prosperous lot；
With acres wide；
You mean to settle all you've got
Upon your bride。〃
It don't pretend to shape my acts
By word or sign；
It merely states these simple facts；
This heart of mine！
SOLOROSE。
Ten minutes since my heart said 〃white〃
It now says 〃black〃。
It then said 〃left〃it now says 〃right〃
Hearts often tack。
I must obey its latest strain
You tell me so。 （To Richard。）
But should it change its mind again；
I'll let you know。
（Turning from Richard to Robin； who embraces her。）
ENSEMBLE。
In sailing o'er life's ocean wide
No doubt the heart should be your guide；
But it is awkward when you find
A heart that does not know its mind！
（Exeunt Robin with Rose L。； and Richard； weeping； R。）
（Enter Mad Margaret。 She is wildly dressed in picturesque tatters；
and is an obvious caricature of theatrical madness。）
SCENAMARGARET。
Cheerily carols the lark
Over the cot。
Merrily whistles the clerk
Scratching a blot。
But the lark
And the clerk；
I remark；
Comfort me not！
Over the ripening peach
Buzzes the bee。
Splash on the billowy beach
Tumbles the sea。
But the peach
And the beach
They are each
Nothing to me！
And why？
Who am I？
Daft Madge！ Crazy Meg！
Mad Margaret！ Poor Peg！
He！ he！ he！ he！ （chuckling）。
