登陆注册
5419900000033

第33章

BUT, True, dear Captain--but the recollection of your sad pale face seemed to chain me to the ship.I would fain see you smile before Igo.

CAPT.Ah! Little Buttercup, I fear it will be long before Irecover my accustomed cheerfulness, for misfortunes crowd upon me, and all my old friends seem to have turned against me!

BUT, Oh no--do not say "all", dear Captain.That were unjust to one, at least.

CAPT.True, for you are staunch to me.(Aside.) If ever Igave my heart again, methinks it would be to such a one as this! (Aloud.)I am touched to the heart by your innocent regard for me, and were we differently situated, I think I could have returned it.But as it is, Ifear I can never be more to you than a friend.

BUT, I understand! You hold aloof from me because you are rich and lofty--and I poor and lowly.But take care! The poor bumboat woman has gipsy blood in her veins, and she can read destinies.

CAPT.Destinies?

BUT.There is a change in store for you!

CAPT.A change?

BUT.Aye--be prepared!

DUET--LITTLE BUTTERCUP and CAPTAIN

BUT, Things are seldom what they seem, Skim milk masquerades as cream;Highlows pass as patent leathers;Jackdaws strut in peacock's feathers.

CAPT.(puzzled).Very true, So they do.

BUT.Black sheep dwell in every fold;All that glitters is not gold;Storks turn out to be but logs;

Bulls are but inflated frogs.

CAPT.(puzzled).So they be, Frequentlee.

BUT.Drops the wind and stops the mill;Turbot is ambitious brill;Gild the farthing if you will, Yet it is a farthing still.

CAPT.(puzzled).Yes, I know.

That is so.

Though to catch your drift I'm striving, It is shady--it is shady;I don't see at what you're driving, Mystic lady--mystic lady.

(Aside.) Stern conviction's o'er me stealing, That the mystic lady's dealing In oracular revealing.

BUT.(aside).Stern conviction's o'er him stealing, That the mystic lady's dealing In oracular revealing.

Yes, I know--

That is so!

CAPT.Though I'm anything but clever, I could talk like that for ever:

Once a cat was killed by care;

Only brave deserve the fair.

Very true, So they do.

CAPT.Wink is often good as nod;

Spoils the child who spares the rod;

Thirsty lambs run foxy dangers;

Dogs are found in many mangers.

BUT.Frequentlee, I agree.

Paw of cat the chestnut snatches;

Worn-out garments show new patches;

Only count the chick that hatches;

Men are grown-up catchy-catchies.

BUT.Yes, I know, That is so.

(Aside.) Though to catch my drift he's striving, I'll dissemble--I'll dissemble;When he sees at what I'm driving, Let him tremble--let him tremble!

ENSEMBLE

Though a mystic tone { I } borrow, you You will } learn the truth with sorrow, I shall Here to-day and gone to-morrow;Yes, I know--That is so!

[At the end exit LITTLE BUTTERCUP

melodramatically.

CAPT.Incomprehensible as her utterances are, I nevertheless feel that they are dictated by a sincere regard for me.But to what new misery is she referring? Time alone can tell!

Enter SIR JOSEPH

SIR JOSEPH.Captain Corcoran, I am much disappointed with your daughter.In fact, I don't think she will do.

CAPT.She won't do, Sir Joseph!

SIR JOSEPH.I'm afraid not.The fact is, that although I have urged my suit with as much eloquence as is consistent with an official utterance, I have done so hitherto without success.How do you account for this?

CAPT.Really, Sir Joseph, I hardly know.Josephine is of course sensible of your condescension.

SIR JOSEPH.She naturally would be.

CAPT.But perhaps your exalted rank dazzles her.

SIR JOSEPH.You think it does?

CAPT.I can hardly say; but she is a modest girl, and her social position is far below your own.It may be that she feels she is not worthy of you.

SIR JOSEPH.That is really a very sensible suggestion, and displays more knowledge of human nature than I had given you credit for.

CAPT.See, she comes.If your lordship would kindly reason with her and assure her officially that it is a standing rule at the Admiralty that love levels all ranks, her respect for an official utterance might induce her to look upon your offer in its proper light.

SIR JOSEPH.It is not unlikely.I will adopt your suggestion.

But soft, she is here.Let us withdraw, and watch our opportunity.

Enter JOSEPHINE from cabin.FIRST LORD and CAPTAIN retireSCENE--JOSEPHINEThe hours creep on apace, My guilty heart is quaking!

Oh, that I might retrace The step that I am taking!

Its folly it were easy to be showing, What I am giving up and whither going.

On the one hand, papa's luxurious home, Hung with ancestral armour and old brasses, Carved oak and tapestry from distant Rome, Rare "blue and white" Venetian finger-glasses, Rich oriental rugs, luxurious sofa pillows, And everything that isn't old, from Gillow's.

And on the other, a dark and dingy room, In some back street with stuffy children crying, Where organs yell, and clacking housewives fume, And clothes are hanging out all day a-drying.

With one cracked looking-glass to see your face in, And dinner served up in a pudding basin!

A simple sailor, lowly born, Unlettered and unknown, Who toils for bread from early mom Till half the night has flown!

No golden rank can he impart--

No wealth of house or land--

No fortune save his trusty heart And honest brown right hand!

And yet he is so wondrous fair That love for one so passing rare, So peerless in his manly beauty, Were little else than solemn duty!

Oh, god of love, and god of reason, say, Which of you twain shall my poor heart obey!

SIR JOSEPH and CAPTAIN enterSIR JOSEPH.Madam, it has been represented to me that you are appalled by my exalted rank.I desire to convey to you officially my assurance, that if your hesitation is attributable to that circumstance, it is uncalled for.

JOS.Oh! then your lordship is of opinion that married happiness is not inconsistent with discrepancy in rank?

SIR JOSEPH.I am officially of that opinion.

JOS.That the high and the lowly may be truly happy together, provided that they truly love one another?

同类推荐
  • 几策

    几策

    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。
  • 难经古义

    难经古义

    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。
  • 如来独证自誓三昧经

    如来独证自誓三昧经

    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。
  • 玉笥集

    玉笥集

    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。
  • 容斋五笔

    容斋五笔

    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。
热门推荐
  • 我爱足球之信仰力量

    我爱足球之信仰力量

    足球是世界第一运动,承载着无数人的梦想!农村少年木紫枫和他的小伙伴们,怀着对足球的挚爱与信仰,在绿茵场上,他们向着心的方向出发,为胜利而战;在学业上,他们一起互帮互助,进入理想的象牙塔;在事业上,他们怀着进取之心不断超越;在人生的道路上,他们怀着对生活最热忱的爱,一起创造崭新的历史!主人公机缘巧合,获得黄老传承;从一个家徒四壁的山村少年,踏上人生一个个崭新的阶梯;在全国大学生足球联赛展露才华;带领西北狼冲入中超联赛、夺得首冠;在意大利翡冷翠,创造传奇之路,成长为国际巨星;梦圆伯纳乌,创造足坛神话;带领国足勇夺2022大力神杯,傲立世界巅峰!亲情,友情,爱情,家庭,事业,一切都可以尽善尽美!
  • 南方风味小吃

    南方风味小吃

    《家庭美食坊丛书》根据四季的特点、不同的家常菜式、南北方的不同饮食习惯,精选了一千多道家常菜。食物搭配具有较强的针对性,富含营养,又有保健功效,让你吃得美味,吃出健康。《家庭美食坊丛书》内容丰富,实用性强,通俗易懂,还有相关的营养知识,是家庭食物调养的有益参考书。
  • 怪屋女孩

    怪屋女孩

    一桩离奇的谋杀,一段诡异的遗言,一沓匪夷所思的照片,一个深陷迷局的男孩,一次孤岛追寻之旅,遗雾重重,惊悚又充满真情。佛罗里达州男孩雅各布的爷爷离奇死去,留下支离破碎的怪异遗言。雅各布虽亲眼看见凶手,但同行的朋友却坚称没有看到。加之爷爷生前所讲的离奇故事以及所留下的照片,雅各布陷入了深深的困惑和担忧。但当他讲述所见事实,没有人相信,甚至将他送去进行精神治疗。为了找出真相,为了证明自己是个正常人,为了证明自己对至亲的爷爷的信任没有错,他远赴威尔士,由此展开惊心动魄的时光穿越之旅并发现自己的异能人身份。
  • 大乘北宗论

    大乘北宗论

    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。
  • 徒弟都是债

    徒弟都是债

    桃花坞里有位画中仙,一直被徒弟们拿药喂养着,喂得他容颜不老,结果,蜀山来认领,说此货是他们蜀山失踪十五年的掌门。这好比你千辛万苦收养了个儿子,正养得喜大普奔,一个恶霸蹦出来说这儿子是他生的。你是先灭了恶霸,还是先灭了儿子?
  • 面纱与革命

    面纱与革命

    深夜,怀孕少妇梦中惊醒被抓,罪名是捅死了自己丈夫,尸体却在几个街区之外,原告是丈夫的母亲和妹妹;当夜入狱即被判处死刑,既无法官也无律师,也不允许给外界打电话,更不能外出调查取证,认不认罪结果都一样,抗议上诉丝毫无效;刑场就在牢房外的院子里,处决囚犯的枪声也声声入耳!刑讯逼供、大病一场之后,全凭推理,找出了真凶,准确推断出证据藏匿之所……
  • 隐婚蜜宠:老公请节制

    隐婚蜜宠:老公请节制

    他是霸道冷酷的商业帝国总裁,她是为了还债替姐出嫁的富家千金。一纸契约,她和闪婚成为夫妻,从此生活再也没有平静……他冷酷残忍,杀伐果决,唯独对她下不了手;她一心想逃,却一步步陷入他的温柔陷阱。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 魏紫修仙传

    魏紫修仙传

    这就是一个天才本土少女,一路从南瞻小世界扶摇直上,屹立大千世界巅峰的故事。新书《仙瑜无瑕》已发布,欢迎各位小可爱跳坑。
  • 温暖一生的记忆

    温暖一生的记忆

    古往今来,一切闪光的人生,有价值的人生,都是在顽强拼搏和不懈进取中获得的。
  • 盛唐崛起

    盛唐崛起

    圣历元年,幽州昌平县郊外,少年杨守文意外被雷劈中,唤醒了尘封十七年的记忆。时,日月当空。开元盛世尚遥不可及,女主江山,在平静时局下,却似乎隐藏着激涌暗流。登幽州台念天地之悠悠的陈子昂;勇武善战,冷静睿智的李药师后人;垂垂老矣,却依旧心系李唐江山的狄仁杰;还有妖艳若罂粟花的太平公主;心思诡诈的上官婉儿……伴随着那些熟悉人物粉墨登场,杨守文发现,原来在这段并不为人所熟知的历史中,更隐藏着许多不为人知的秘密。+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++组建了一个新的读者群,欢迎大家加入:292273299另外,欢迎大家加入老新的微信公众号:打开微信通讯录,点击右上角的+号,搜索‘庚新’或者‘gengxin7512’即可。