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第10章

she stoops to conquer(屈身求爱)-第10章

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    TONY。       I have been saying no soft things; but that it's very hard to be 

followed about so。       Ecod! I've not a place in the house now that's left to 

myself; but the stable。 

    MRS。   HARDCASTLE。             Never   mind   him;   Con;   my   dear。    He's   in 

another story behind your back。 

    MISS NEVILLE。           There's something generous in my cousin's manner。 

He falls out before faces to be forgiven in private。 

    TONY。       That's a damned confoundedcrack。 

    MRS。 HARDCASTLE。              Ah! he's a sly one。      Don't you think they are 

like each other about the mouth; Mr。 Hastings?           The Blenkinsop mouth to 

a T。   They're of a size too。      Back to back; my pretties; that Mr。 Hastings 

may see you。      Come; Tony。 

    TONY。       You had as good not make me; I tell you。          (Measuring。) 

    MISS NEVILLE。           O lud! he has almost cracked my head。 

    MRS。 HARDCASTLE。               O; the monster!      For shame; Tony。        You a 

man; and behave so! 

    TONY。       If I'm a man; let me have my fortin。         Ecod! I'll not be made 

a fool of no longer。 

    MRS。 HARDCASTLE。               Is this; ungrateful boy; all that I'm to get for 

the pains I have taken in your education?          I that have rocked you in your 

cradle;   and   fed   that   pretty   mouth   with   a   spoon! Did   not   I   work   that 

waistcoat to   make   you   genteel?     Did   not   I   prescribe   for   you   every  day; 

and weep while the receipt was operating? 

    TONY。       Ecod! you had reason to weep; for you have been dosing me 

ever since I was born。      I have gone through every receipt in the Complete 

Huswife   ten   times   over;   and   you   have   thoughts   of   coursing   me   through 

Quincy next spring。       But; ecod! I tell you; I'll not be made a fool of no 

longer。 

    MRS。 HARDCASTLE。               Wasn't it all for your good; viper?      Wasn't it 

all for your good? 

    TONY。       I wish you'd let me and my good alone; then。           Snubbing this 

way when I'm in spirits。       If I'm to have any good; let it come of itself; not 

to keep dinging it; dinging it into one so。 

    MRS。 HARDCASTLE。               That's false; I never see you when you're in 



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spirits。   No; Tony; you then go to the alehouse or kennel。                 I'm never to 

be delighted with your agreeable wild notes; unfeeling monster! 

     TONY。      Ecod! mamma; your own notes are the wildest of the two。 

     MRS。  HARDCASTLE。               Was   ever the  like?      But   I see  he   wants   to 

break my heart; I see he does。 

     HASTINGS。           Dear     madam;      permit     me    to   lecture   the   young 

gentleman a little。      I'm certain I can persuade him to his duty。 

     MRS。 HARDCASTLE。                Well; I must retire。       Come; Constance; my 

love。    You see; Mr。 Hastings; the wretchedness of my situation: was ever 

poor   woman   so   plagued   with   a   dear   sweet;   pretty;   provoking;   undutiful 

boy?     'Exeunt MRS。 HARDCASTLE and MISS NEVILLE。' 

     TONY。      (Singing。)      〃There     was   a   young   man   riding   by;   and  fain 

would   have   his   will。   Rang   do   didlo   dee。〃Don't   mind   her。     Let   her 

cry。    It's the comfort of her heart。        I have seen her and sister cry over a 

book for an hour together; and they said they liked the book the better the 

more it made them cry。 

     HASTINGS。          Then   you're   no   friend   to   the   ladies;   I   find;   my   pretty 

young gentleman? 

     TONY。      That's as I find 'um。 

     HASTINGS。         Not   to   her   of   your   mother's   choosing;   I   dare   answer? 

And yet she appears to me a pretty well…tempered girl。 

     TONY。       That's   because   you   don't   know   her   as   well   as   I。 Ecod!   I 

know every inch about her; and there's not a more bitter cantankerous toad 

in all Christendom。 

     HASTINGS。         (Aside。)     Pretty encouragement this for a lover! 

     TONY。      I have seen her since the   height of that。           She has as   many 

tricks as a hare in a thicket; or a colt the first day's breaking。 

     HASTINGS。         To me she appears sensible and silent。 

     TONY。       Ay;   before   company。      But   when   she's   with   her   playmate; 

she's as loud as a hog in a gate。 

     HASTINGS。         But there is a meek modesty about her that charms me。 

     TONY。       Yes;   but   curb   her   never   so   little;   she   kicks   up;   and   you're 

flung in a ditch。 

     HASTINGS。          Well; but you must allow her a little beauty。Yes; you 



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must allow her some beauty。 

    TONY。       Bandbox!      She's all a made…up thing; mun。         Ah! could you 

but see Bet Bouncer of these parts; you might then talk of beauty。              Ecod; 

she has two eyes as black as sloes; and cheeks as broad and red as a pulpit 

cushion。     She'd make two of she。 

    HASTINGS。          Well;   what   say   you   to   a   friend   that   would   take   this 

bitter bargain off your hands? 

    TONY。      Anon。 

    HASTINGS。          Would   you   thank   him   that   would   take   Miss   Neville; 

and leave you to happiness and your dear Betsy? 

    TONY。       Ay; but where is there such a friend; for who would take her? 

    HASTINGS。         I am he。     If you but assist me; I'll engage to whip her 

off to France; and you shall never hear more of her。 

    TONY。       Assist you!     Ecod I will; to the last drop of my blood。          I'll 

clap a pair of horses to your chaise that shall trundle you off in a twinkling; 

and may be   get you   a part of her fortin   beside; in jewels;  that you   little 

dream of。 

    HASTINGS。         My dear 'squire; this looks like a lad of spirit。 

    TONY。       Come along; then; and you shall see more of my spirit before 

you have done with me。 

    (Singing。) 〃We are the boys That fears no noise Where the thundering 

cannons roar。〃      'Exeunt。' 



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                       ACT THE THIRD。 



       Enter HARDCASTLE; alone。 

       HARDCASTLE。           What   could   my   old   friend   Sir   Charles   mean   by 

recommending his son as the modestest young man in town?                   To me he 

appears the most impudent piece of brass that ever spoke with a tongue。 

He   has   taken   possession   of   the   easy   chair   by   the   fire…side   already。 He 

took off his boots in the parlour; and desired me to see them taken care of。 

I'm desirous to know how his impudence affects my daughter。                 She will 

certainly be shocked at it。 

       Enter MISS HARDCASTLE; plainly dressed。 

       HARDCASTLE。          Well; my Kate; I see you have changed your dress; 

as I bade you; and yet; I believe; there was no great occasion。 

    MISS  HARDCASTLE。              I  find   such   a pleasure;  sir;  in   obeying   your 

commands;   that   I   take   care   to   observe   them  without   ever   debating   their 

propriety。 

    HARDCASTLE。            And yet; Kate; I sometimes give you some cause; 

particularly when I recommended my modest gentleman to you as a lover 

to…day。 

    MISS      HARDCASTLE。            You     taught    me   to   expect    something 

extraordinary; and I find the original exceeds the description。 

    HARDCASTLE。            I was never so surprised in my life!        He has quite 

confounded all my faculties! 

    MISS   HARDCASTLE。             I   never  saw   anything   like   it:   and  a   man   of 

the worl

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