beautiful stories from shakespeare-第15节

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l　of　Duncan's　kind　words；　he　would　fain　have　spared　his　guest。

〃Would　you　live　a　coward？〃　demanded　Lady　Macbeth；　who　seems　to　have　thought　that　morality　and　cowardice　were　the　same。

〃I　dare　do　all　that　may　become　a　man；〃　replied　Macbeth；　〃who　dare　do　more　is　none。〃

〃Why　did　you　write　that　letter　to　me？〃　she　inquired　fiercely；　and　with　bitter　words　she　egged　him　on　to　murder；　and　with　cunning　words　she　showed　him　how　to　do　it。

After　supper　Duncan　went　to　bed；　and　two　grooms　were　placed　on　guard　at　his　bedroom　door。　　Lady　Macbeth　caused　them　to　drink　wine　till　they　were　stupefied。　　She　then　took　their　daggers　and　would　have　killed　the　King　herself　if　his　sleeping　face　had　not　looked　like　her　father's。

Macbeth　came　later；　and　found　the　daggers　lying　by　the　grooms；　and　soon　with　red　hands　he　appeared　before　his　wife；　saying；　〃Methought　I　heard　a　voice　cry；　'Sleep　no　more！　　Macbeth　destroys　the　sleeping。'〃

〃Wash　your　hands；〃　said　she。　　〃Why　did　you　not　leave　the　daggers　by　the　grooms？　　Take　them　back；　and　smear　the　grooms　with　blood。〃

〃I　dare　not；〃　said　Macbeth。

His　wife　dared；　and　she　returned　to　him　with　hands　red　as　his　own；　but　a　heart　less　white；　she　proudly　told　him；　for　she　scorned　his　fear。

The　murderers　heard　a　knocking；　and　Macbeth　wished　it　was　a　knocking　which　could　wake　the　dead。　　It　was　the　knocking　of　Macduff；　the　chieftain　of　Fife；　who　had　been　told　by　Duncan　to　visit　him　early。　Macbeth　went　to　him；　and　showed　him　the　door　of　the　King's　room。

Macduff　entered；　and　came　out　again　crying；　〃O　horror！　horror！　horror！〃

Macbeth　appeared　as　horror…stricken　as　Macduff；　and　pretending　that　he　could　not　bear　to　see　life　in　Duncan's　murderers；　he　slew　the　two　grooms　with　their　own　daggers　before　they　could　proclaim　their　innocence。

These　murders　did　not　shriek　out；　and　Macbeth　was　crowned　at　Scone。　One　of　Duncan's　sons　went　to　Ireland；　the　other　to　England。　Macbeth　was　King。　　But　he　was　discontented。　　The　prophecy　concerning　Banquo　oppressed　his　mind。　　If　Fleance　were　to　rule；　a　son　of　Macbeth　would　not　rule。　　Macbeth　determined；　therefore；　to　murder　both　Banquo　and　his　son。　　He　hired　two　ruffians；　who　slew　Banquo　one　night　when　he　was　on　his　way　with　Fleance　to　a　banquet　which　Macbeth　was　giving　to　his　nobles。　　Fleance　escaped。

Meanwhile　Macbeth　and　his　Queen　received　their　guests　very　graciously；　and　he　expressed　a　wish　for　them　which　has　been　uttered　thousands　of　times　since　his　day〃Now　good　digestion　wait　on　appetite；　and　health　on　both。〃

〃We　pray　your　Majesty　to　sit　with　us；〃　said　Lennox；　a　Scotch　noble；　but　ere　Macbeth　could　reply；　the　ghost　of　Banquo　entered　the　banqueting　hall　and　sat　in　Macbeth's　place。

Not　noticing　the　ghost；　Macbeth　observed　that；　if　Banquo　were　present；　he　could　say　that　he　had　collected　under　his　roof　the　choicest　chivalry　of　Scotland。　　Macduff；　however；　had　curtly　declined　his　invitation。

The　King　was　again　pressed　to　take　a　seat；　and　Lennox；　to　whom　Banquo's　ghost　was　invisible；　showed　him　the　chair　where　it　sat。

But　Macbeth；　with　his　eyes　of　genius；　saw　the　ghost。　　He　saw　it　like　a　form　of　mist　and　blood；　and　he　demanded　passionately；　〃Which　of　you　have　done　this？〃

Still　none　saw　the　ghost　but　he；　and　to　the　ghost　Macbeth　said；　〃Thou　canst　not　say　I　did　it。〃

The　ghost　glided　out；　and　Macbeth　was　impudent　enough　to　raise　a　glass　of　wine　〃to　the　general　joy　of　the　whole　table；　and　to　our　dear　friend　Banquo；　whom　we　miss。〃

The　toast　was　drunk　as　the　ghost　of　Banquo　entered　for　the　second　time。

〃Begone！〃　cried　Macbeth。　　〃You　are　senseless；　mindless！　Hide　in　the　earth；　thou　horrible　shadow。〃

Again　none　saw　the　ghost　but　he。

〃What　is　it　your　Majesty　sees？〃　asked　one　of　the　nobles。

The　Queen　dared　not　permit　an　answer　to　be　given　to　this　question。　She　hurriedly　begged　her　guests　to　quit　a　sick　man　who　was　likely　to　grow　worse　if　he　was　obliged　to　talk。

Macbeth；　however；　was　well　enough　next　day　to　converse　with　the　witches　whose　prophecies　had　so　depraved　him。

He　found　them　in　a　cavern　on　a　thunderous　day。　　They　were　revolving　round　a　cauldron　in　which　were　boiling　particles　of　many　strange　and　horrible　creatures；　and　they　knew　he　was　coming　before　he　arrived。

〃Answer　me　what　I　ask　you；〃　said　the　King。

〃Would　you　rather　hear　it　from　us　or　our　masters？〃　asked　the　first　witch。

〃Call　them；〃　replied　Macbeth。

Thereupon　the　witches　poured　blood　into　the　cauldron　and　grease　into　the　flame　that　licked　it；　and　a　helmeted　head　appeared　with　the　visor　on；　so　that　Macbeth　could　only　see　its　eyes。

He　was　speaking　to　the　head；　when　the　first　witch　said　gravely；　〃He　knows　thy　thought；〃　and　a　voice　in　the　head　said；　〃Macbeth；　beware　Macduff；　the　chieftain　of　Fife。〃　　The　head　then　descended　Into　the　cauldron　till　it　disappeared。

〃One　word　more；〃　pleaded　Macbeth。

〃He　will　not　be　commanded；〃　said　the　first　witch；　and　then　a　crowned　child　ascended　from　the　cauldron　bearing　a　tree　in　his　hand　The　child　said

　　　　〃Macbeth　shall　be　unconquerable　till　　　　　　The　Wood　of　Birnam　climbs　Dunsinane　Hill。〃

〃That　will　never　be；〃　said　Macbeth；　and　he　asked　to　be　told　if　Banquo's　descendants　would　ever　rule　Scotland。

The　cauldron　sank　into　the　earth；　music　was　heard；　and　a　procession　of　phantom　kings　filed　past　Macbeth；　behind　them　was　Banquo's　ghost。　　In　each　king；　Macbeth　saw　a　likeness　to　Banquo；　and　he　counted　eight　kings。

Then　he　was　suddenly　left　alone。

His　next　proceeding　was　to　send　murderers　to　Macduff's　castle。　They　did　not　find　Macduff；　and　asked　Lady　Macduff　where　he　was。　She　gave　a　stinging　answer；　and　her　questioner　called　Macduff　a　traitor。　　〃Thou　liest！〃　shouted　Macduff's　little　son；　who　was　immediately　stabbed；　and　with　his　last　breath　entreated　his　mother　to　fly。　　The　murderers　did　not　leave　the　castle　while　one　of　its　inmates　remained　alive。

Macduff　was　in　England　listening；　with　Malcolm；　to　a　doctor's　tale　of　cures　wrought　by　Edward　the　Confessor　when　his　friend　Ross　came　to　tell　him　that　his　wife　and　children　were　no　more。　　At　first　Ross　dared　not　speak　the　truth；　and　turn　Macduff's　bright　sympathy　with　sufferers　relieved　by　royal　virtue　into　sorrow　and　hatred。　But　when　Malcolm　said　that　England　was　sending　an　army　into　Scotland　against　Macbeth；　Ross　blurted　out　his　news；　and　Macduff　cried；　〃〃All　dead；　did　you　say？　　All　my　pretty　ones　and　their　mother？　Did　you　say　all？〃

His　sorry　hope　was　in　revenge；　but　if　he　could　have　looked　into　Macbeth's　castle　on　Dunsinane　Hill；　he　would　have　seen　at　work　a　force　more　solemn　than　revenge。　　Retribution　was　working；　for　Lady　Macbeth　was　mad。　　She　walked　in　her　sleep　amid　ghastly　dreams。　She　was　wont　to　wash　her　hands　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour　at　a　time；　but　after　all　her　washing；　would　still　see　a　red　spot　of　blood　upon　her　skin。　　It　was　pitiful　to　hear　her　cry　that　all　the　perfumes　of　Arabia　could　not　sweeten　her　little　hand。

〃Canst　thou　not　minister　to　a　mind　diseased？〃　inquired　Macbeth　of　the　doctor；　but　the　doctor　replied　that　his　patient　must　minister　to　her　own　mind。　　This　reply　gave　Macbeth　a　scorn　of　medicine。　〃Throw　physic　to　the　dogs；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　none　of　it。〃

One　day　he　heard　a　sound　of　women　crying。　　An　officer　approched　him　and　said；　〃The　Queen；　your　Majesty；　is　dead。〃　　〃Out；　brief　candle；〃　muttered　Macbeth；　meaning　that　life　was　like　a　candle；　at　the　mercy　of　a　puff　of　air。　　He　did　not　weep；　he　was　too　familiar　with　death。

Presently　a　messenger　told　him　that　he　saw　Birnam　Wood　on　the　march。　Macbeth　called　him　a　liar　and　a　slave；　and　threatened　to　hang　him　if　he　had　made　a　mistake。　　〃If　you　are　right　you　can　hang　me；〃　he　said。

From　the　turret　windows　of　Dunsinane　Castle；　Birnam　Wood　did　indeed　appear　to　be　marching。　　Every　soldier　of　the　English　army　held　aloft　a　bough　which　he　had　cut　from　a　tree　in　that　wood；　and　like　human　trees　they　climbed　Dunsinane　Hill。

Macbeth　had　still　his　courage。　　He　went　to　battle　to　conquer　or　die；　and　the　first　thing　he　did　was　to　kill　the　English　general's　son　in　single　combat。　　Macbeth　then　felt　that　no　man　could　fight　him　and　live；　and　when　Macduff　came　to　him　blazing　for　revenge；　Macbeth　said　to　him；　〃Go　back；　I　have　spilt　too　much　of　your　blood　already。〃

〃My　voice　is　in　my　sword；〃　replied　Macduff；　and　hacked　at　him　and　bade　him　yield。

〃I　will　not　yield！〃　said　Macbeth；　but　his　last　hour　had　struck。　He　fell。

Macbeth's　men　were　in　retreat　when　Macduff　came　before　Malcolm　holding　a　King's　head　by　the　hair。

〃Hail；　King！〃　he　said；　and　the　new　King　looked　at　the　old。

So　Malcolm　reigned　after　Macbeth；　but　in　years　that　came　afterwards　the　descendants　of　Banquo　were　kings。




THE　COMEDY　OF　ERRORS



AEGEON　was　a　merchant　of　Syracuse；　which　is　a　seaport　in　Sicily。　His　wife　was　AEmilia；　and　they　were　very　happy　until　AEgeon's　manager　died；　and　he　was　obliged　to　go　by　himself　to　a　place　called　Epidamnum　on　the　Adriatic。　　As　soon　as　she　could　AEmilia　followed　him；　and　after　they　had　been　together　some　time　two　baby　boys　were　born　to　them。　　The　babies　were　exactly　alike；　even　when　they　were　dressed　differently　they　looked　the　same。

And　now　you　must　believe　a　very　strange　thing。　　At　the　same　inn　where　these　children　were　born；　and　on　the　same　day；　two　baby　boys　were　born　to　a　much　poorer　couple　t