登陆注册
5419900000128

第128章

We may succeed-- who can foretell?

May heav'n help our hope--

May heav'n help our hope, farewell!

May heav'n help our hope, Help our hope, farewell!

[LEONARD embraces MERYLL and PHOEBE, and then exits.PHOEBEweeping.

MERYLL[goes up to PHOEBE] Nay, lass, be of good cheer, we may save him yet.

PHOEBEOh! see, after-- they bring the poor gentleman from the Beauchamp! [pronounced Bee'cham] Oh, father! his hour is not yet come?

MERYLLNo, no-- they lead him to the Cold Harbour Tower to await his end in solitude.But softly-- the Lieutenant approaches! He should not see thee weep.

[Enter FAIRFAX, guarded by YEOMEN.The LIEUTENANT enters, meeting him.

LIEUT.Halt! Colonel Fairfax, my old friend, we meet but sadly.

FAIRFAX Sir, I greet you with all good-will; and I thank you for the zealous acre with which you have guarded me from the pestilent dangers which threaten human life outside.In this happy little community, Death, when he comes, doth so in punctual and business-like fashion; and, like a courtly gentleman, giveth due notice of his advent, that one may not be taken unawares.

LIEUT.Sir, you bear this bravely, as a brave man should.

FAIRFAX Why, sir, it is no light boon to die swiftly and surely at a given hour and in a given fashion! Truth to tell, I would gladly have my life; but if that may not be, I have the next best thing to it, which is death.Believe me, sir, my lot is not so much amiss!

PHOEBE[aside to MERYLL] Oh, father, father, I cannot bear it!

MERYLLMy poor lass!

FAIRFAX Nay, pretty one, why weepest thou? Come, be comforted.

Such a life as mine is not worth weeping for.[sees MERYLL] Sergeant Meryll, is it not? [to LIEUTENANT]

May I greet my old friend? [Shakes MERYLL's hand;MERYLL begins to weep] Why, man, what's all this? Thou and I have faced the grim old king a dozen times, and never has his majesty come to me in such goodly fashion.Keep a stout heart, good fellow-- we are soldiers, and we know how to die, thou and I.Take my word for it, it is easier to die well than to live well-- for, in sooth, I have tried both.

No.5.Is life a boon?

(BALLAD)

FairfaxFAIRFAX Is life a boon?

If so, it must befall That Death, whene'er he call, Must call too soon.

Though fourscore years he give, Yet one would pray to live Another moon!

What kind of plaint have I, Who perish in July, who perish in July?

I might have had to die, Perchance, in June!

I might have had to die, Perchance, in June!

Is life a thorn?

Then count it not a whit!

Nay, count it not a whit!

Man is well done with it;

Soon as he's born He should all means essay To put the plague away;And I, war-worn, Poor captured fugitive, My life most gladly give--I might have had to live, Another morn!

I might have had to live, Another morn!

[At the end, PHOEBE is led off, weeping, by MERYLL.

FAIRFAX And now, Sir Richard, I have a boon to beg.I am in this strait for no better reason than because my kinsman, Sir Clarence Poltwhistle, one of the Secretaries of State, has charged me with sorcery, in order that he may succeed in my estate, which devolves to him provided I die unmarried.

LIEUT.As thou wilt most surely do.

FAIRFAX Nay, as I will most surely not do, by your worship's grace! I have a mind to thwart this good cousin of mine.

LIEUT.How?

FAIRFAX By marrying forthwith, to be sure!

LIEUT.But heaven ha' mercy, whom wouldst thou marry?

FAIRFAX Nay, I am indifferent on that score.Coming Death hath made of me a true and chivalrous knight, who holds all womankind in such esteem that the oldest, and the meanest, and the worst-favoured of them is good enough for him.So, my good Lieutenant, if thou wouldst serve a poor soldier who has but an hour to live, find me the first that comes-- my confessor shall marry us, and her dower shall be my dishonoured name and a hundred crowns to boot.No such poor dower for an hour of matrimony!

LIEUT.A strange request.I doubt that I should be warranted in granting it.

FAIRFAX There never was a marriage fraught with so little of evil to the contracting parties.In an hour she'll be a widow, and I-- a bachelor again for aught I know!

LIEUT.Well, I will see what can be done, for I hold thy kinsman in abhorrence for the scurvy trick he has played thee.

FAIRFAX A thousand thanks, good sir; we meet again in this spot in an hour or so.I shall be a bridegroom then, and your worship will wish me joy.Till then, farewell.[To GUARD] I am ready, good fellows.

[Exit with GUARD into Cold Harbour Tower]

LIEUT.He is a brave fellow, and it is a pity that he should die.Now, how to find him a bride at such short notice? Well, the task should be easy! [Exit]

[Enter JACK POINT and ELSIE MAYNARD, pursued by a CROWD of men and women.POINT and ELSIE are much terrified; POINT, however, assuming an appearance of self-possession.

No.6.Here's a man of jollity (CHORUS)

People, Elsie, and Jack PointCHORUS Here's a man of jollity, Jibe, joke, jollify!

Give us of your quality, Come, fool, follify!

If you vapour vapidly, River runneth rapidly, Into it we fling Bird who doesn't sing!

Give us an experiment In the art of merriment;Into it we throw Cock who doesn't crow!

Banish your timidity, And with all rapidity Give us quip and quiddity--Willy-nilly, O!

River none can mollify;

Into it we throw Fool who doesn't follify, Cock who doesn't crow!

Banish your timidity, And with all rapidity Give us quip and quiddity--Willy-nilly, O!

POINT [alarmed] My masters, I pray you bear with us, and we will satisfy you, for we are merry folk who would make all merry as ourselves.For, look you, there is humour in all things, and the truest philosophy is that which teaches us to find it and to make the most of it.

ELSIE [struggling with 1ST CITIZEN] Hands off, I say, unmannerly fellow! [she boxes his ears]

POINT [to 1ST CITIZEN] Ha! Didst thou hear her say, "Hands off"?

1ST

CITIZEN Aye, I heard her say it, and I felt her do it! What then?

POINT Thou dost not see the humour of that?

1ST

CITIZEN Nay, if I do, hang me!

POINT Thou dost not? Now, observe.She said, "Hands off!

同类推荐
  • 唐六典

    唐六典

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 苌楚斋五笔

    苌楚斋五笔

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 经学历史

    经学历史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阿难分别经

    阿难分别经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明会要

    明会要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 别样红楼别样情

    别样红楼别样情

    推荐新文《这男人欠揍》秋花惨淡秋草黄,耿耿秋灯秋夜长.已觉秋窗秋不尽,那堪风雨助凄凉!助秋风雨来何速!惊破秋窗秋梦绿.抱得秋情不忍眠,自向秋屏移泪烛.泪烛摇摇爇短檠,牵愁照恨动离情.谁家秋院无风入?何处秋窗无雨声?罗衾不奈秋风力,残漏声催秋雨急.连宵脉脉复飕飕,灯前似伴离人泣.寒烟小院转萧条,疏竹虚窗时滴沥.不知风雨几时休,已教泪洒窗纱湿.林黛玉的命运就是一首读过就不会忘记,读过就永远心痛的诗!如此一个傲世独立的奇女子,何以如此悲惨?每每走进红楼,总是掩卷而哭!为她!今涂鸦红楼,还她一个微笑的人生!可爱的秋樱释的新文《爆君再爱我一次》温柔美女东走西顾的新文《杀神王妃》精灵一般的顽皮可爱的新文《夫多不教妻之过》
  • 泰山复仇(人猿泰山系列)

    泰山复仇(人猿泰山系列)

    人猿泰山系列是一部让中小学生开阔眼界、丰富想象力的书,是一部教给孩子动物是朋友、大自然是家园的温情冒险小说,是一部中小学图书馆和孩子的书架上不得不放的书,是父母与孩子共同阅读的睡前故事。小说情节奇谲精彩,主人公强悍而无畏,为孩子们打开了一扇充满着浪漫英雄主义的丛林世界大门。译者的话:上世纪四十年代,我们在读初中时,《人猿泰山》作为世界名著,曾经风靡一时。每逢课间十分钟,同学们几乎满教室争说泰山。当时,这部奇趣曼妙的小说,已经在我们心里扎根了。1988年,我俩六十岁退休后,曾到各地旅游,顺便到各省大图书馆、大学图书馆查询此书,不但译本遍寻不得,连原文本也没有了。
  • 三分制度,七分执行

    三分制度,七分执行

    用创新的理论、经典的案例以及全新的视角,诠释制度与执行的关系,点击执行的现实意义,探寻执行不力的根源,揭示“三分制度,七分执行”这一工作理念。执行能力是决定成败的重要因素。星巴克、麦当劳全世界开花,其经营手段和管理制度曝光于大庭广众之下,却没有哪一家企业能与之争锋。分析发现这些企业成功的关键原因在于它们的员工拥有超强的执行力。好的制度是非常重要的,但如果员工没有不折不扣地执行,这个制度也只是一纸空文。正如阿里巴巴董事长马云所说,三流的点子加上一流的执行,强于一流的点子加上三流的执行。公务员,企业员工需要遵守的工作理念。
  • 书边事

    书边事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 真正的优雅,是伤痛里开出的花

    真正的优雅,是伤痛里开出的花

    此书通过一个个精彩的女性励志故事,告诉每一位生于这世间的女子,唯有修炼自己,才能让自己破茧成蝶。任何外在的力量都不能使自己成长,唯有自己坚强,从心底生出勇气,以平和的心态接受这个世界的一切。看清这个世界的真相然而依然热爱世界,热爱生活,慢慢地在岁月的磨砺中,修炼出真正的优雅,做自己世界里的女王,主宰自己的生活。
  • 开国外交纪实:密访莫斯科

    开国外交纪实:密访莫斯科

    1949年6月21日这天深夜,准确地说是6月22日凌晨1点,一辆老式蒸汽火车头拉着有数节车厢的列车从市郊的清华园火车站悄悄地出发了。选择偏僻的清华园车站,选择深夜出发,就是为了保密。北平刚刚解放,情况还很复杂,美蒋特务还十分活跃,这次中共代表团出访苏联,是要求高度保密的。清华园火车站是个废弃了的小站,基本不用。当初党中央从西柏坡迁北平时,李克农就是看中了这个远离市区的小站,让毛泽东、周恩来等从这里下车,经颐和园去香山的。刘少奇率领的中共代表团成员还有王稼祥、戈宝权、邓力群和翻译师哲等。
  • 腹黑王爷的百变王妃

    腹黑王爷的百变王妃

    相传相府八小姐凤凌,生来丧母,相貌平淡,毫无武术天赋,连个丫鬟都打不过!谁知道她医术绝顶、智慧滔天、美貌无双,武功几乎登峰造极!世界第一律师凤凌,一朝穿越,成了相府八小姐,最害怕麻烦,却给了她麻烦最多的身份!小小婴儿刚会动,就爬到香炉处抓了一把灰抹在脸上,把自己擦得难看至极,果然让一心权贵的父亲打到偏院,从此再不过问。救个人救出个大麻烦!为毛这个韩炫萧缠上她了,都十年了他怎么还记得!一个蝴蝶胎记,成为红线,将两人的命运紧紧相连。不就是偷个药材嘛,那妖孽还是不是王爷了,不仅让手下假装睡觉放她进来,还把国库里的药材都打包送了,一个月的御医,我当!但是这个皇帝不要脸,我就是不听封,凭什么要被杀头!冲冠一怒为红颜,镇国王爷叛离翔羽,带走了所有的武官,天下二分。和亲失败,翔羽国皇帝看上了凤凌,凤凌出手,震惊四座,百姓造反,天下五分。当身份的秘密揭开,昔日的懒散化作前进的动力,会有一人与我并肩……真是雷人,什么叫巫族公主!既然留着巫族的血,我就定会报灭族之仇!神秘的引魂黑猫,冰雪的主宰白色雪狐,还有缓缓演奏的乱世之曲,盛世婚礼,却让王爷知道爱人身中剧毒,身是神医却不能解其自身之毒,堂堂王爷默然滴泪,在心中立下惊天誓言:倾尽一生,但爱王妃,王妃若去,绝不独活!两人比肩,盛世风华,倾一世妖娆只为你,既然你愿天下安,我就收了这天下送给你!————————本文前段轻松,后段平定天下外加解毒,有兴趣者可以加进书架哦,赠送片段。(一)“脱衣服。”凤凌缓缓道。“王妃不必这么急色,只是手接触到了而已。”凤凌差点没一手刀砍晕他,“白痴,这毒素已经通过你的手蔓延到肩膀处了。”韩炫萧笑笑,拉开衣襟,极慢的一件一件像是展览一样的剥离开,配上那脸,凤凌都受不了了,甩了甩袖子,“你慢慢脱,我出去吹风。”韩炫萧闻言,立刻速度了,“裤子要脱么?”“你脑残啊!肩膀跟裤子有毛关系啊!”“你个大男人,可别喊疼。”凤凌吓唬韩炫萧,银针刺穴,是不会疼的,因为刺都是穴道,但是韩炫萧却笑嘻嘻的说,“经过了王妃的手,就算毒药我都吃,更不要提疼不疼了。”凤凌对这妖孽彻底无语了,银针拿起,对着穴道就扎下去。更可恨的是等凤凌扎完了之后,韩炫萧先是愣了一下然后笑着说,“果然一点都没感觉到疼,王妃的手真是灵药啊。”默……
  • 快穿之盈满

    快穿之盈满

    (新文《快穿之带着刀剑穿越》求收藏求推荐)在所有人都选择抛弃一切带着金手指穿越的时候,只有她选择留了下来,想要陪祖父母终老,结果她的金手指却是最强大的。快穿小世界,修正扭曲的因果链。一周目世界:穿越剧情开始前。二周目世界:因果扭曲,重生穿书者横行。N周目世界:女主的一切都已经被看穿。
  • 画墨离华

    画墨离华

    他宠她她就可以随意任性;他陪她她就可以任意生气;他爱她她就可以做任何自己想要做的事情;她爱她所以,她配得上他。一切的阴谋终将大白于天下,一切的算计都会尘归尘土归土。岁月静好,等一人。定一生。缘分,是世界上最美的东西。也是,最真实的东西。属于你的终究,属于你。不属于你的,计划再完美,也没用。经历让我们成长为更出色的人。回过头,没事,我陪你!
  • 山村复仇记

    山村复仇记

    新中国成立初期,桂北地区的土匪活动十分猖獗。作者以自身剿匪经历为素材,写下了《山村复仇记》。书一出版便在社会上引起了轰动效应,以至时有“北有《林海雪原》,南有《山村复仇记》”之说。小说塑造了王群、徐翠、黄干等一批基层青年干部形象,他们在严峻的斗争形势下,通过组织发动群众,与土匪斗智斗勇——粉碎敌人暴动计划、挖出内部隐藏奸细、配合大军进行围剿……经过艰苦卓绝的斗争,最终根除了桂北地区的匪患。小说文笔流畅,情节曲折动人,真实再现了桂北地区惊心动魄的剿匪斗争过程。