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she stoops to conquer-第4部分

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MARLOW。  Come to where four roads meet?

TONY。  Ay; but you must be sure to take only one of them。

MARLOW。  O; sir; you're facetious。

TONY。  Then keeping to the right; you are to go sideways till you come upon Crackskull Common: there you must look sharp for the track of the wheel; and go forward till you come to farmer Murrain's barn。  Coming to the farmer's barn; you are to turn to the right; and then to the left; and then to the right about again; till you find out the old mill

MARLOW。  Zounds; man! we could as soon find out the longitude!

HASTINGS。  What's to be done; Marlow?

MARLOW。  This house promises but a poor reception; though perhaps the landlord can accommodate us。

LANDLORD。  Alack; master; we have but one spare bed in the whole house。

TONY。  And to my knowledge; that's taken up by three lodgers already。  (After a pause; in which the rest seem disconcerted。)  I have hit it。  Don't you think; Stingo; our landlady could accommodate the gentlemen by the fire…side; withthree chairs and a bolster?

HASTINGS。  I hate sleeping by the fire…side。

MARLOW。  And I detest your three chairs and a bolster。

TONY。  You do; do you? then; let me seewhat if you go on a mile further; to the Buck's Head; the old Buck's Head on the hill; one of the best inns in the whole county?

HASTINGS。  O ho! so we have escaped an adventure for this night; however。

LANDLORD。  (apart to TONY)。  Sure; you ben't sending them to your father's as an inn; be you?

TONY。  Mum; you fool you。  Let THEM find that out。  (To them。)  You have only to keep on straight forward; till you come to a large old house by the road side。  You'll see a pair of large horns over the door。  That's the sign。  Drive up the yard; and call stoutly about you。

HASTINGS。  Sir; we are obliged to you。  The servants can't miss the way?

TONY。  No; no: but I tell you; though; the landlord is rich; and going to leave off business; so he wants to be thought a gentleman; saving your presence; he! he! he!  He'll be for giving you his company; and; ecod; if you mind him; he'll persuade you that his mother was an alderman; and his aunt a justice of peace。

LANDLORD。  A troublesome old blade; to be sure; but a keeps as good wines and beds as any in the whole country。

MARLOW。  Well; if he supplies us with these; we shall want no farther connexion。  We are to turn to the right; did you say?

TONY。  No; no; straight forward。  I'll just step myself; and show you a piece of the way。  (To the Landlord。)  Mum!

LANDLORD。  Ah; bless your heart; for a sweet; pleasantdamn'd mischievous son of a whore。  'Exeunt。'



ACT THE SECOND。


SCENEAn old…fashioned House。


Enter HARDCASTLE; followed by three or four awkward Servants。


HARDCASTLE。  Well; I hope you are perfect in the table exercise I have been teaching you these three days。  You all know your posts and your places; and can show that you have been used to good company; without ever stirring from home。

OMNES。  Ay; ay。

HARDCASTLE。  When company comes you are not to pop out and stare; and then run in again; like frightened rabbits in a warren。

OMNES。  No; no。

HARDCASTLE。  You; Diggory; whom I have taken from the barn; are to make a show at the side…table; and you; Roger; whom I have advanced from the plough; are to place yourself behind my chair。  But you're not to stand so; with your hands in your pockets。  Take your hands from your pockets; Roger; and from your head; you blockhead you。  See how Diggory carries his hands。  They're a little too stiff; indeed; but that's no great matter。

DIGGORY。  Ay; mind how I hold them。  I learned to hold my hands this way when I was upon drill for the militia。  And so being upon drill

HARDCASTLE。  You must not be so talkative; Diggory。  You must be all attention to the guests。  You must hear us talk; and not think of talking; you must see us drink; and not think of drinking; you must see us eat; and not think of eating。

DIGGORY。  By the laws; your worship; that's parfectly unpossible。  Whenever Diggory sees yeating going forward; ecod; he's always wishing for a mouthful himself。

HARDCASTLE。  Blockhead!  Is not a belly…full in the kitchen as good as a belly…full in the parlour?  Stay your stomach with that reflection。

DIGGORY。  Ecod; I thank your worship; I'll make a shift to stay my stomach with a slice of cold beef in the pantry。

HARDCASTLE。  Diggory; you are too talkative。Then; if I happen to say a good thing; or tell a good story at table; you must not all burst out a…laughing; as if you made part of the company。

DIGGORY。  Then ecod your worship must not tell the story of Ould Grouse in the gun…room: I can't help laughing at thathe! he! he!for the soul of me。  We have laughed at that these twenty yearsha! ha! ha!

HARDCASTLE。  Ha! ha! ha!  The story is a good one。  Well; honest Diggory; you may laugh at thatbut still remember to be attentive。  Suppose one of the company should call for a glass of wine; how will you behave?  A glass of wine; sir; if you please (to DIGGORY)。Eh; why don't you move?

DIGGORY。  Ecod; your worship; I never have courage till I see the eatables and drinkables brought upo' the table; and then I'm as bauld as a lion。

HARDCASTLE。  What; will nobody move?

FIRST SERVANT。  I'm not to leave this pleace。

SECOND SERVANT。  I'm sure it's no pleace of mine。

THIRD SERVANT。  Nor mine; for sartain。

DIGGORY。  Wauns; and I'm sure it canna be mine。

HARDCASTLE。  You numskulls! and so while; like your betters; you are quarrelling for places; the guests must be starved。  O you dunces!  I find I must begin all over againBut don't I hear a coach drive into the yard?  To your posts; you blockheads。  I'll go in the mean time and give my old friend's son a hearty reception at the gate。  'Exit HARDCASTLE。'

DIGGORY。  By the elevens; my pleace is gone quite out of my head。

ROGER。  I know that my pleace is to be everywhere。

FIRST SERVANT。  Where the devil is mine?

SECOND SERVANT。  My pleace is to be nowhere at all; and so I'ze go about my business。  'Exeunt Servants; running about as if frightened; different ways。'


Enter Servant with candles; showing in MARLOW and HASTINGS。


SERVANT。  Welcome; gentlemen; very welcome!  This way。

HASTINGS。  After the disappointments of the day; welcome once more; Charles; to the comforts of a clean room and a good fire。  Upon my word; a very well…looking house; antique but creditable。

MARLOW。  The usual fate of a large mansion。  Having first ruined the master by good housekeeping; it at last comes to levy contributions as an inn。

HASTINGS。  As you say; we passengers are to be taxed to pay all these fineries。  I have often seen a good sideboard; or a marble chimney…piece; though not actually put in the bill; inflame a reckoning confoundedly。

MARLOW。  Travellers; George; must pay in all places: the only difference is; that in good inns you pay dearly for luxuries; in bad inns you are fleeced and starved。

HASTINGS。  You have lived very much among them。  In truth; I have been often surprised; that you who have seen so much of the world; with your natural good sense; and your many opportunities; could never yet acquire a requisite share 
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