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the hunchback-第7部分

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My barge; too; for excursion on the Thames:
What drives to Barnet; Hackney; Islington!
What rides to Epping; Hounslow; and Blackheath!
What sails to Greenwich; Woolwich; Fulham; Kew!
I'll set a pattern to your lady wives!

Clif。  'Aside。'  Ay; lady?  Trust me; not at my expense。

Julia。  And what a wardrobe!  I'll have change of suits
For every day in the year! and sets for days!
My morning dress; my noon dress; dinner dress;
And evening dress!  Then will I show you lace
A foot deep; can I purchase; if not;
I'll specially bespeak it。  Diamonds too!
Not buckles; rings; and earrings onlybut
Whole necklaces and stomachers of gems!
I'll shine! be sure I will。

Clif。  'Aside。'  Then shine away;
Who covets thee may wear thee;I'm not he!

Julia。  And then my title!  Soon as I put on
The ring; I'm Lady Clifford。  So I take
Precedence of plain mistress; were she e'en
The richest heiress in the land!  At town
Or country ball; you'll see me take the lead;
While wives that carry on their backs the wealth
To dower a princess; shall give place to me; …
Will I not profit; think you; by my right?
Be sure I will! marriage shall prove to me
A never…ending pageant。  Every day
Shall show how I am spoused!  I will be known
For Lady Clifford all the city through;
And fifty miles the country round about。
Wife of Sir Thomas Clifford; baronet …
Not perishable knightwho; when he makes
A lady of me; doubtless must expect
To see me play the part of one。

Clif。  'Coming forward。'  Most true;
But not the part which you design to play。

Julia。  A listener; sir!

Clif。  By chance; and not intent;
Your speech was forced upon mine ear; that ne'er
More thankless duty to my heart discharged!
Would for that heart it ne'er had known the sense
Which tells it 'tis a bankrupt; there; where most
It coveted to be rich; and thought it was so!
O Julia; is it you?  Could I have set
A coronet upon that stately brow;
Where partial nature hath already bound
A brighter circletradiant beauty's own …
I had been proud to see thee proud of it;
So for the donor thou hadst ta'en the gift;
Not for the gift ta'en him。  Could I have poured
The wealth of richest Croesus in thy lap;
I had been blest to see thee scatter it;
So I was still thy riches paramount!

Julia。  Know you me; sir!

Clif。  I do。  On Monday week
We were to wedand areso you're content;
The day that weds; wives you to be widowed。  Take
The privilege of my wife; be Lady Clifford!
Outshine the title in the wearing on't!
My coffers; lands; all are at thy command;
Wear all! but; for myself; she wears not me;
Although the coveted of every eye;
Who would not wear me for myself alone。

Julia。  And do you carry it so proudly; sir?

Clif。  Proudly; but still more sorrowfully; lady!
I'll lead thee to the church on Monday week。
Till then; farewell and then; farewell for ever!
O Julia; I have ventured for thy love;
As the bold merchant; who; for only hope
Of some rich gain; all former gains will risk。
Before I asked a portion of thy heart;
I perilled all my own; and now; all's lost!

'CLIFFORD and MODUS go out。'

Julia。  Helen!

Helen。  What ails you; sweet?

Julia。  I cannot breathequick; loose my girdle; oh!

'Faints。'

'MASTER WALTER and MASTER HEARTWELL come forward。'

Wal。  Good Master Heartwell; help to take her in;
Whilst I make after him! and look to her!
Unlucky chance that took me out of town!

'They go out severally。'


SCENE III。The Street。


'Enter CLIFFORD and STEPHEN; meeting。'

Ste。  Letters; Sir Thomas。

Clif。  Take them home again;
I shall not read them now。

Ste。  Your pardon; sir;
But here is one directed strangely。

Clif。  How?

Ste。  〃To Master Clifford; gentleman; now styled
Sir Thomas Clifford; baronet。〃

Clif。  Indeed!
Whence comes that letter?

Ste。  From abroad。

Clif。  Which is it?

Ste。  So please you; this; Sir Thomas。

Clif。  Give it me。

Ste。  That letter brings not news to wish him joy upon。  If he was
disturbed before; which I guessed by his looks he was; he is not
more at ease now。  His hand to his head!  A most unwelcome letter!
If it brings him news of disaster; fortune does not give him his
deserts; for never waited servant upon a kinder master。

Clif。  Stephen!

Ste。  Sir Thomas!

Clif。  From my door remove
The plate that bears my name。

Ste。  The plate; Sir Thomas!

Clif。  The platecollect my servants and instruct them
To make out each their claims; unto the end
Of their respective terms; and give them in
To my steward。  Him and them apprise; good fellow;
That I keep house no more。  As you go home;
Call at my coachmaker's and bid him stop
The carriage I bespoke。  The one I have
Send with my horses to the mart whereat
Such things are sold by auction。  They're for sale;
Pack up my wardrobe; have my trunks conveyed
To the inn in the next street; and when that's done;
Go round my tradesmen and collect their bills;
And bring them to me at the inn。

Ste。  The inn!

Clif。  Yes; I go home no more。  Why; what's the matter?
What has fallen out to make your eyes fill up?
You'll get another place。  I'll certify
You're honest and industrious; and all
That a servant ought to be。

Ste。  I see; Sir Thomas;
Some great misfortune has befallen you?

Clif。  No!
I have health; I have strength; my reason; Stephen; and
A heart that's clear in truth; with trust in God。
No great disaster can befall the man
Who's still possessed of these!  Good fellow; leave me。
What you would learn; and have a right to know;
I would not tell you now。  Good Stephen; hence!
Mischance has fallen on mebut what of that?
Mischance has fallen on many a better man。
I prithee leave me。  I grow sadder while
I see the eye with which you view my grief。
'Sdeath; they will out!  I would have been a man;
Had you been less a kind and gentle one。
Now; as you love me; leave me。

Ste。  Never master
So well deserved the love of him that served him。

'STEPHEN goes out。'

Clif。  Misfortune liketh company; it seldom
Visits its friends alone。  Ha!  Master Walter;
And ruffled too。  I'm in no mood for him。

'Enter MASTER WALTER。'

Wal。  So; SirSir Thomas Clifford! what with speed
And cholerI do gasp for want of breath。

Clif。  Well; Master Walter?

Wal。  You're a rash young man; sir;
Strong…headed and wrong…headed; and I fear; sir;
Not over delicate in that fine sense
Which men of honour pride themselves upon!

Clif。  Well; Master Walter?

Wal。  A young woman's heart; sir;
Is not a stone to carve a posy on!
Which knows not what is writ on't; which you may buy;
Exchange; or sell; sir; keep or give away; sir:
It is a richeryet a poorer thing;
Priceless to him that owns and prizes it;
Worthless; when owned; not prized; which makes the man
That covets it; obtains it; and discards it …
A fool; if not a villain; sir。

Clif。  Well; sir?

Wal。  You never loved my ward; sir!

Clif。  The bright Heavens
Bear witness that I did!

Wal。  The bright Heavens; sir;
Bear not false witness。  That you loved her not
Is clearfor had you loved her; you'd have plucked
Your heart from out your breast; ere cast her from your heart!
Old as I am; I know what pass
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