sir thomas more(托马斯·莫尔骑士)-第2节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the premises considered； the redress must be of the common knit and
united to one part： and as the hurt and damage grieveth all men； so must
all men see to their willing power for remedy； and not suffer the said aliens
in their wealth； and the natural born men of this region to come to
confusion。
DOLL。 Before God； tis excellent； and I'll maintain the suit to be
honest。
SHERWIN。 Well； say tis read； what is your further meaning in the
matter？
GEORGE。 What！ marry； list to me。 No doubt but this will store us with
friends enow； whose names we will closely keep in writing； and on May
day next in the morning we'll go forth a Maying； but make it the worst
May day for the strangers that ever they saw。 How say ye？ do ye subscribe；
or are ye faint…hearted revolters？
DOLL。 Hold thee； George Betts； there's my hand and my heart： by the
Lord； I'll make a captain among ye； and do somewhat to be talk of for ever
after。
WILLIAMSON。 My masters； ere we part； let's friendly go and drink
together； and swear true secrecy upon our lives。
GEORGE。 There spake an angel。 Come； let us along； then。
＇Exeunt。＇
7
… Page 8…
SIR THOMAS MORE
SCENE II。 London。 The Sessions House。
＇An arras is drawn； and behind it as in sessions sit the Lord Mayor；
Justice Suresby； and other Justices； Sheriff More and the other Sheriff
sitting by。 Smart is the plaintiff； Lifter the prisoner at the bar。 Recorder；
Officers。＇
LORD MAYOR。 Having dispatched our weightier businesses； We may
give ear to petty felonies。 Master Sheriff More； what is this fellow？
MORE。 My lord； he stands indicted for a purse； He hath been tried； the
jury is together。
LORD MAYOR。 Who sent him in？
SURESBY。 That did I； my lord： Had he had right； he had been hanged
ere this； The only captain of the cutpurse crew。
LORD MAYOR。 What is his name？
SURESBY。 As his profession is； Lifter； my lord； One that can lift a
purse right cunningly。
LORD MAYOR。 And is that he accuses him？
SURESBY。 The same； my lord； whom； by your honors leave； I must
say somewhat too； because I find In some respects he is well worthy
blame。
LORD MAYOR。 Good Master Justice Suresby； speak your mind； We
are well pleased to give you audience。
SURESBY。 Hear me； Smart； thou art a foolish fellow： If Lifter be
convicted by the law； As I see not how the jury can acquit him； I'll stand
too 't thou art guilty of his death。
MORE。 My lord； that's worthy the hearing。
LORD MAYOR。 Listen； then； good Master More。
SURESBY。 I tell thee plain； it is a shame for thee； With such a sum to
tempt necessity； No less than ten pounds； sir； will serve your turn； To carry
in your purse about with ye； To crake and brag in taverns of your money： I
promise ye； a man that goes abroad With an intent of truth； meeting such a
booty； May be provoked to that he never meant。 What makes so many
pilferers and felons； But such fond baits that foolish people lay To tempt
the needy miserable wretch？ Ten pounds； odd money； this is a pretty sum
8
… Page 9…
SIR THOMAS MORE
To bear about； which were more safe at home。 Fore God； twere well to
fine ye as much more
＇Lord Mayor and More whisper。＇
To the relief of the poor prisoners； To teach ye be more careful of your
own； In sooth； I say ye were but rightly served； If ye had lost as much as
twice ten pounds。
MORE。 Good my lord； sooth a point or two for once； Only to try
conclusions in this case。
LORD MAYOR。 Content； good Master More： we'll rise awhile； And；
till the jury can return their verdict； Walk in the garden。How say ye；
Justices？
ALL。 We like it well； my lord； we'll follow ye。
＇Exeunt Lord Mayor and Justices。＇
MORE。 Nay； plaintiff； go you too；and officers；
＇Exeunt Smart。＇
Stand you aside； and leave the prisoner To me awhile。Lifter； come
hither。
LIFTER。 What is your worship's pleasure？
MORE。 Sirrah； you know that you are known to me； And I have often
saved ye from this place； Since first I came in office： thou seest beside；
That Justice Suresby is thy heavy friend； By all the blame that he pretends
to Smart； For tempting thee with such a sum of money。 I tell thee what；
devise me but a means To pick or cut his purse； and； on my credit； And as
I am a Christian and a man； I will procure they pardon for that jest。
LIFTER。 Good Master Shrieve； seek not my overthrow： You know； sir；
I have many heavy friends； And more indictments like to come upon me。
You are too deep for me to deal withal； You are known to be one of the
wisest men That is in England： I pray ye； Master Sheriff； Go not about to
undermine my life。
MORE。 Lifter； I am true subject to my king； Thou much mistake me：
and； for thou shall not think I mean by this to hurt thy life at all； I will
maintain the act when thou hast done it。 Thou knowest there are such
matters in my hands； As if I pleased to give them to the jury； I should not
need this way to circumvent thee。 All that I aim at is a merry jest： Perform
9
… Page 10…
SIR THOMAS MORE
it； Lifter； and expect my best。
LIFTER。 I thank your worship： God preserve your life！ But Master
Justice Suresby is gone in； I know not how to come near where he is。
MORE。 Let me alone for that； I'll be thy setter； I'll send him hither to
thee presently； Under the colour of thine own request； Of private matters
to acquaint him with。
LIFTER。 If ye do so； sir； then let me alone； Forty to one but then his
purse is gone。
MORE。 Well said： but see that thou diminish not One penny of the
money； but give it me； It is the cunning act that credits thee。
LIFTER。 I will； good Master Sheriff； I assure ye。
＇Exeunt More。＇
I see the purpose of this gentleman Is but to check the folly of the
Justice； For blaming others in a desperate case； Wherein himself may fall
as soon as any。 To save my life； it is a good adventure： Silence there； ho！
now doth the Justice enter。
＇Enter Justice Suresby。＇
SURESBY。 Now； sirrah； now； what is your will with me？ Wilt thou
discharge thy conscience like an honest man？ What sayest to me； sirrah？
be brief； be brief。
LIFTER。 As brief； sir； as I can。 ＇Aside。＇ If ye stand fair； I will be
brief anon。
SURESBY。 Speak out； and mumble not； what sayest thou； sirrah？
LIFTER。 Sir； I am charged； as God shall be my comfort； With more
than's true。
SURESBY。 Sir； sir； ye are indeed； with more than's true； For you are
flatly charged with felony； You're charged with more than truth； and that is
theft； More than a true man should be charged withal； Thou art a varlet；
that's no more than true。 Trifle not with me； do not； do not； sirrah； Confess
but what thou knowest； I ask no more。 LIFTER。 There be； sir； there be； if't
shall please your worship
SURESBY。 There be； varlet！ what be there？ tell me what there be。
Come off or on： there be！ what be there； knave？
LIFTER。 There be； sir； diverse very cunning fellows； That； while you
10
… Page 11…
SIR THOMAS MORE
stand and look them in the face； Will have your purse。
SURESBY。 Th'art an honest knave： Tell me what are they？ where they
may be caught？ Aye； those are they I look for。
LIFTER。 You talk of me； sir； Alas； I am a puny！ there's one indeed
Goes by my name； he puts down all for purses； He'll steal your worship's
purse under your nose。
SURESBY。 Ha； ha！ Art thou so sure； varlet？ Well； well； Be as familiar
as thou wilt； my knave； Tis this I long to know。
LIFTER。 And you shall have your longing ere ye go。 This fellow； sir；
perhaps will meet ye thus； Or thus； or thus； and in kind complement
Pretend acquaintance； somewhat doubtfully； And these embraces serve
SURESBY。 Aye； marry； Lifter； wherefor serve they？
＇Shrugging gladly。＇
LIFTER。 Only to f
