beautiful stories from shakespeare-第14节

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And　mad　with　anger；　he　wrote　letters　to　Britain　to　his　old　servant；　Pisanio；　ordering　him　to　take　Imogen　to　Milford　Haven；　and　to　murder　her；　because　she　had　forgotten　him　and　given　away　his　gift。　At　the　same　time　he　wrote　to　Imogen　herself；　telling　her　to　go　with　Pisanio；　his　old　servant；　to　Milford　Haven；　and　that　he；　her　husband；　would　be　there　to　meet　her。

Now　when　Pisanio　got　this　letter　he　was　too　good　to　carry　out　its　orders；　and　too　wise　to　let　them　alone　altogether。　　So　he　gave　Imogen　the　letter　from　her　husband；　and　started　with　her　for　Milford　Haven。　　Before　he　left；　the　wicked　Queen　gave　him　a　drink　which；　she　said；　would　be　useful　in　sickness。　　She　hoped　he　would　give　it　to　Imogen；　and　that　Imogen　would　die；　and　the　wicked　Queen's　son　could　be　King。　　For　the　Queen　thought　this　drink　was　a　poison；　but　really　and　truly　it　was　only　a　sleeping…draft。

When　Pisanio　and　Imogen　came　near　to　Milford　Haven；　he　told　her　what　was　really　in　the　letter　he　had　had　from　her　husband。

〃I　must　go　on　to　Rome；　and　see　him　myself；〃　said　Imogen。

And　then　Pisanio　helped　her　to　dress　in　boy's　clothes；　and　sent　her　on　her　way；　and　went　back　to　the　Court。　　Before　he　went　he　gave　her　the　drink　he　had　had　from　the　Queen。

Imogen　went　on；　getting　more　and　more　tired；　and　at　last　came　to　a　cave。　　Someone　seemed　to　live　there；　but　no　one　was　in　just　then。　　So　she　went　in；　and　as　she　was　almost　dying　of　hunger；　she　took　some　food　she　saw　there；　and　had　just　done　so；　when　an　old　man　and　two　boys　came　into　the　cave。　　She　was　very　much　frightened　when　she　saw　them；　for　she　thought　that　they　would　be　angry　with　her　for　taking　their　food；　though　she　had　meant　to　leave　money　for　it　on　the　table。　　But　to　her　surprise　they　welcomed　her　kindly。　She　looked　very　pretty　in　her　boy's　clothes　and　her　face　was　good；　as　well　as　pretty。

〃You　shall　be　our　brother；〃　said　both　the　boys；　and　so　she　stayed　with　them；　and　helped　to　cook　the　food；　and　make　things　comfortable。　But　one　day　when　the　old　man；　whose　name　was　Bellarius；　was　out　hunting　with　the　two　boys；　Imogen　felt　ill；　and　thought　she　would　try　the　medicine　Pisanio　had　given　her。　　So　she　took　it；　and　at　once　became　like　a　dead　creature；　so　that　when　Bellarius　and　the　boys　came　back　from　hunting；　they　thought　she　was　dead；　and　with　many　tears　and　funeral　songs；　they　carried　her　away　and　laid　her　in　the　wood；　covered　with　flowers。

They　sang　sweet　songs　to　her；　and　strewed　flowers　on　her；　pale　primroses；　and　the　azure　harebell；　and　eglantine；　and　furred　moss；　and　went　away　sorrowful。　　No　sooner　had　they　gone　than　Imogen　awoke；　and　not　knowing　how　she　came　there；　nor　where　she　was；　went　wandering　through　the　wood。

Now　while　Imogen　had　been　living　in　the　cave；　the　Romans　had　decided　to　attack　Britain；　and　their　army　had　come　over；　and　with　them　Leonatus；　who　had　grown　sorry　for　his　wickedness　against　Imogen；　so　had　come　back；　not　to　fight　with　the　Romans　against　Britain；　but　with　the　Britons　against　Rome。　　So　as　Imogen　wandered　alone；　she　met　with　Lucius；　the　Roman　General；　and　took　service　with　him　as　his　page。

When　the　battle　was　fought　between　the　Romans　and　Britons；　Bellarius　and　his　two　boys　fought　for　their　own　country；　and　Leonatus；　disguised　as　a　British　peasant；　fought　beside　them。　　The　Romans　had　taken　Cymbeline　prisoner；　and　old　Bellarius；　with　his　sons　and　Leonatus；　bravely　rescued　the　King。　　Then　the　Britons　won　the　battle；　and　among　the　prisoners　brought　before　the　King　were　Lucius；　with　Imogen；　Iachimo；　and　Leonatus；　who　had　put　on　the　uniform　of　a　Roman　soldier。　　He　was　tired　of　his　life　since　he　had　cruelly　ordered　his　wife　to　be　killed；　and　he　hoped　that；　as　a　Roman　soldier；　he　would　be　put　to　death。

When　they　were　brought　before　the　King；　Lucius　spoke　out

〃A　Roman　with　a　Roman's　heart　can　suffer；〃　he　said。　　〃If　I　must　die；　so　be　it。　　This　one　thing　only　will　I　entreat。　　My　boy；　a　Briton　born；　let　him　be　ransomed。　　Never　master　had　a　page　so　kind；　so　duteous；　diligent；　true。　　He　has　done　no　Briton　harm；　though　he　has　served　a　Roman。　　Save　him；　Sir。〃

Then　Cymbeline　looked　on　the　page；　who　was　his　own　daughter；　Imogen；　in　disguise；　and　though　he　did　not　recognize　her；　he　felt　such　a　kindness　that　he　not　only　spared　the　boy's　life；　but　he　said

〃He　shall　have　any　boon　he　likes　to　ask　of　me；　even　though　he　ask　a　prisoner；　the　noblest　taken。〃

Then　Imogen　said；　〃The　boon　I　ask　is　that　this　gentleman　shall　say　from　whom　he　got　the　ring　he　has　on　his　finger；〃　and　she　pointed　to　Iachimo。

〃Speak；〃　said　Cymbeline；　〃how　did　you　get　that　diamond？〃

Then　Iachimo　told　the　whole　truth　of　his　villainy。　　At　this；　Leonatus　was　unable　to　contain　himself；　and　casting　aside　all　thought　of　disguise；　he　came　forward；　cursing　himself　for　his　folly　in　having　believed　Iachimo's　lying　story；　and　calling　again　and　again　on　his　wife　whom　he　believed　dead。

〃Oh；　Imogen；　my　love；　my　life！〃　he　cried。　　〃Oh；　Imogen！

〃Then　Imogen；　forgetting　she　was　disguised；　cried　out；　〃Peace；　my　lordhere；　here！〃

Leonatus　turned　to　strike　the　forward　page　who　thus　interfered　in　his　great　trouble；　and　then　he　saw　that　it　was　his　wife；　Imogen；　and　they　fell　into　each　other's　arms。

The　King　was　so　glad　to　see　his　dear　daughter　again；　and　so　grateful　to　the　man　who　had　rescued　him　（whom　he　now　found　to　be　Leonatus）；　that　he　gave　his　blessing　on　their　marriage；　and　then　he　turned　to　Bellarius；　and　the　two　boys。　　Now　Bellarius　spoke

〃I　am　your　old　servant；　Bellarius。　　You　accused　me　of　treason　when　I　had　only　been　loyal　to　you；　and　to　be　doubted；　made　me　disloyal。　So　I　stole　your　two　sons；　and　see；they　are　here！〃　　And　he　brought　forward　the　two　boys；　who　had　sworn　to　be　brothers　to　Imogen　when　they　thought　she　was　a　boy　like　themselves。

The　wicked　Queen　was　dead　of　some　of　her　own　poisons；　and　the　King；　with　his　three　children　about　him；　lived　to　a　happy　old　age。

So　the　wicked　were　punished；　and　the　good　and　true　lived　happy　ever　after。　　So　may　the　wicked　suffer；　and　honest　folk　prosper　till　the　world's　end。




MACBETH



When　a　person　is　asked　to　tell　the　story　of　Macbeth；　he　can　tell　two　stories。　　One　is　of　a　man　called　Macbeth　who　came　to　the　throne　of　Scotland　by　a　crime　in　the　year　of　our　Lord　1039；　and　reigned　justly　and　well；　on　the　whole；　for　fifteen　years　or　more。　　This　story　is　part　of　Scottish　history。　　The　other　story　issues　from　a　place　called　Imagination；　it　is　gloomy　and　wonderful；　and　you　shall　hear　it。

A　year　or　two　before　Edward　the　Confessor　began　to　rule　England；　a　battle　was　won　in　Scotland　against　a　Norwegian　King　by　two　generals　named　Macbeth　and　Banquo。　　After　the　battle；　the　generals　walked　together　towards　Forres；　in　Elginshire；　where　Duncan；　King　of　Scotland；　was　awaiting　them。

While　they　were　crossing　a　lonely　heath；　they　saw　three　bearded　women；　sisters；　hand　in　hand；　withered　in　appearance　and　wild　in　their　attire。

〃Speak；　who　are　you？〃　demanded　Macbeth。

〃Hail；　Macbeth；　chieftain　of　Glamis；〃　said　the　first　woman。

〃Hail；　Macbeth；　chieftain　of　Cawdor；〃　said　the　second　woman。

〃Hail；　Macbeth；　King　that　is　to　be；〃　said　the　third　woman。

Then　Banquo　asked；　〃What　of　me？〃　and　the　third　woman　replied；　〃Thou　shalt　be　the　father　of　kings。〃

〃Tell　me　more；〃　said　Macbeth。　　〃By　my　father's　death　I　am　chieftain　of　Glamis；　but　the　chieftain　of　Cawdor　lives；　and　the　King　lives；　and　his　children　live。　　Speak；　I　charge　you！〃

The　women　replied　only　by　vanishing；　as　though　suddenly　mixed　with　the　air。

Banquo　and　Macbeth　knew　then　that　they　had　been　addressed　by　witches；　and　were　discussing　their　prophecies　when　two　nobles　approached。　One　of　them　thanked　Macbeth；　in　the　King's　name；　for　his　military　services；　and　the　other　said；　〃He　bade　me　call　you　chieftain　of　Cawdor。〃

Macbeth　then　learned　that　the　man　who　had　yesterday　borne　that　title　was　to　die　for　treason；　and　he　could　not　help　thinking；　〃The　third　witch　called　me；　'King　that　is　to　be。'〃

〃Banquo；〃　he　said；　〃you　see　that　the　witches　spoke　truth　concerning　me。　　Do　you　not　believe；　therefore；　that　your　child　and　grandchild　will　be　kings？〃

Banquo　frowned。　　Duncan　had　two　sons；　Malcolm　and　Donalbain；　and　he　deemed　it　disloyal　to　hope　that　his　son　Fleance　should　rule　Scotland。　　He　told　Macbeth　that　the　witches　might　have　intended　to　tempt　them　both　into　villainy　by　their　prophecies　concerning　the　throne。　　Macbeth；　however；　thought　the　prophecy　that　he　should　be　King　too　pleasant　to　keep　to　himself；　and　he　mentioned　it　to　his　wife　in　a　letter。

Lady　Macbeth　was　the　grand…daughter　of　a　King　of　Scotland　who　had　died　in　defending　his　crown　against　the　King　who　preceded　Duncan；　and　by　whose　order　her　only　brother　was　slain。　　To　her；　Duncan　was　a　reminder　of　bitter　wrongs。　　Her　husband　had　royal　blood　in　his　veins；　and　when　she　read　his　letter；　she　was　determined　that　he　should　be　King。

When　a　messenger　arrived　to　inform　her　that　Duncan　would　pass　a　night　in　Macbeth's　castle；　she　nerved　herself　for　a　very　base　action。

She　told　Macbeth　almost　as　soon　as　she　saw　him　that　Duncan　must　spend　a　sunless　morrow。　　She　meant　that　Duncan　must　die；　and　that　the　dead　are　blind。　　〃We　will　speak　further；〃　said　Macbeth　uneasily；　and　at　night；　with　his　memory　full　of　Duncan's　kind　words；　he　would　fain　have