beautiful stories from shakespeare-第24节

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〃You　are　discharged　from　your　office；〃　said　the　Duke。　　The　Provost　then　departed。　　Angelo　said；　〃I　am　sorry　to　have　caused　such　sorrow。　　I　prefer　death　to　mercy。〃　　Soon　there　was　a　motion　in　the　crowd。　　The　Provost　re…appeared　with　Claudio。　　Like　a　big　child　the　Provost　said；　〃I　saved　this　man；　he　is　like　Claudio。〃　The　Duke　was　amused；　and　said　to　Isabella；　〃I　pardon　him　because　he　is　like　your　brother。　　He　is　like　my　brother；　too；　if　you；　dear　Isabel；　will　be　mine。〃

She　was　his　with　a　smile；　and　the　Duke　forgave　Angelo；　and　promoted　the　Provost。

Lucio　he　condemned　to　marry　a　stout　woman　with　a　bitter　tongue。




TWO　GENTLEMEN　OF　VERONA



Only　one　of　them　was　really　a　gentleman；　as　you　will　discover　later。　Their　names　were　Valentine　and　Proteus。　　They　were　friends；　and　lived　at　Verona；　a　town　in　northern　Italy。　　Valentine　was　happy　in　his　name　because　it　was　that　of　the　patron　saint　of　lovers；　it　is　hard　for　a　Valentine　to　be　fickle　or　mean。　　Proteus　was　unhappy　in　his　name；　because　it　was　that　of　a　famous　shape…changer；　and　therefore　it　encouraged　him　to　be　a　lover　at　one　time　and　a　traitor　at　another。

One　day；　Valentine　told　his　friend　that　he　was　going　to　Milan。　〃I'm　not　in　love　like　you；〃　said　he；　〃and　therefore　I　don't　want　to　stay　at　home。〃

Proteus　was　in　love　with　a　beautiful　yellow…haired　girl　called　Julia；　who　was　rich；　and　had　no　one　to　order　her　about。　　He　was；　however；　sorry　to　part　from　Valentine；　and　he　said；　〃If　ever　you　are　in　danger　tell　me；　and　I　will　pray　for　you。〃　　Valentine　then　went　to　Milan　with　a　servant　called　Speed；　and　at　Milan　he　fell　in　love　with　the　Duke　of　Milan's　daughter；　Silvia。

When　Proteus　and　Valentine　parted　Julia　had　not　acknowledged　that　she　loved　Proteus。　　Indeed；　she　had　actually　torn　up　one　of　his　letters　in　the　presence　of　her　maid；　Lucetta。　　Lucetta；　however；　was　no　simpleton；　for　when　she　saw　the　pieces　she　said　to　herself；　〃All　she　wants　is　to　be　annoyed　by　another　letter。〃　　Indeed；　no　sooner　had　Lucetta　left　her　alone　than　Julia　repented　of　her　tearing；　and　placed　between　her　dress　and　her　heart　the　torn　piece　of　paper　on　which　Proteus　had　signed　his　name。　　So　by　tearing　a　letter　written　by　Proteus　she　discovered　that　she　loved　him。　Then；　like　a　brave；　sweet　girl；　she　wrote　to　Proteus；　〃Be　patient；　and　you　shall　marry　me。〃

Delighted　with　these　words　Proteus　walked　about；　flourishing　Julia's　letter　and　talking　to　himself。

〃What　have　you　got　there？〃　asked　his　father；　Antonio。

〃A　letter　from　Valentine；〃　fibbed　Proteus。

〃Let　me　read　it；〃　said　Antonio。

〃There　is　no　news；〃　said　deceitful　Proteus；　〃he　only　says　that　he　is　very　happy；　and　the　Duke　of　Milan　is　kind　to　him；　and　that　he　wishes　I　were　with　him。〃

This　fib　had　the　effect　of　making　Antonio　think　that　his　son　should　go　to　Milan　and　enjoy　the　favors　in　which　Valentine　basked。　　〃You　must　go　to…morrow；〃　he　decreed。　　Proteus　was　dismayed。　　〃Give　me　time　to　get　my　outfit　ready。〃　　He　was　met　with　the　promise；　〃What　you　need　shall　be　sent　after　you。〃

It　grieved　Julia　to　part　from　her　lover　before　their　engagement　was　two　days'　old。　　She　gave　him　a　ring；　and　said；　〃Keep　this　for　my　sake；〃　and　he　gave　her　a　ring；　and　they　kissed　like　two　who　intend　to　be　true　till　death。　　Then　Proteus　departed　for　Milan。

Meanwhile　Valentine　was　amusing　Silvia；　whose　grey　eyes；　laughing　at　him　under　auburn　hair；　had　drowned　him　in　love。　　One　day　she　told　him　that　she　wanted　to　write　a　pretty　letter　to　a　gentleman　whom　she　thought　well　of；　but　had　no　time：　would　he　write　it？　　Very　much　did　Valentine　dislike　writing　that　letter；　but　he　did　write　it；　and　gave　it　to　her　coldly。　　〃Take　it　back；〃　she　said；　〃you　did　it　unwillingly。〃

〃Madam；〃　he　said；　〃it　was　difficult　to　write　such　a　letter　for　you。〃

〃Take　it　back；〃　she　commanded；　〃you　did　not　write　tenderly　enough。〃

Valentine　was　left　with　the　letter；　and　condemned　to　write　another；　but　his　servant　Speed　saw　that；　in　effect；　the　Lady　Silvia　had　allowed　Valentine　to　write　for　her　a　love…letter　to　Valentine's　own　self。　　〃The　joke；〃　he　said；　〃is　as　invisible　as　a　weather…cock　on　a　steeple。〃　　He　meant　that　it　was　very　plain；　and　he　went　on　to　say　exactly　what　it　was：　〃If　master　will　write　her　love…letters；　he　must　answer　them。〃

On　the　arrival　of　Proteus；　he　was　introduced　by　Valentine　to　Silvia　and　afterwards；　when　they　were　alone；　Valentine　asked　Proteus　how　his　love　for　Julia　was　prospering。

〃Why；〃　said　Proteus；　〃you　used　to　get　wearied　when　I　spoke　of　her。〃

〃Aye；〃　confessed　Valentine；　〃but　it's　different　now。　　I　can　eat　and　drink　all　day　with　nothing　but　love　on　my　plate　and　love　in　my　cup。〃

〃You　idolize　Silvia；〃　said　Proteus。

〃She　is　divine；〃　said　Valentine。

〃Come；　come！〃　remonstrated　Proteus。

〃Well；　if　she's　not　divine；〃　said　Valentine；　〃she　is　the　queen　of　all　women　on　earth。〃

〃Except　Julia；〃　said　Proteus。

〃Dear　boy；〃　said　Valentine；　〃Julia　is　not　excepted；　but　I　will　grant　that　she　alone　is　worthy　to　bear　my　lady's　train。〃

〃Your　bragging　astounds　me；〃　said　Proteus。

But　he　had　seen　Silvia；　and　he　felt　suddenly　that　the　yellow…haired　Julia　was　black　in　comparison。　　He　became　in　thought　a　villain　without　delay；　and　said　to　himself　what　he　had　never　said　before〃I　to　myself　am　dearer　than　my　friend。〃

It　would　have　been　convenient　for　Valentine　if　Proteus　had　changed；　by　the　power　of　the　god　whose　name　he　bore；　the　shape　of　his　body　at　the　evil　moment　when　he　despised　Julia　in　admiring　Silvia。　But　his　body　did　not　change；　his　smile　was　still　affectionate；　and　Valentine　confided　to　him　the　great　secret　that　Silvia　had　now　promised　to　run　away　with　him。　　〃In　the　pocket　of　this　cloak；〃　said　Valentine；　〃I　have　a　silken　rope　ladder；　with　hooks　which　will　clasp　the　window…bar　of　her　room。〃

Proteus　knew　the　reason　why　Silvia　and　her　lover　were　bent　on　flight。　　The　Duke　intended　her　to　wed　Sir　Thurio；　a　gentlemanly　noodle　for　whom　she　did　not　care　a　straw。

Proteus　thought　that　if　he　could　get　rid　of　Valentine　he　might　make　Silvia　fond　of　him；　especially　if　the　Duke　insisted　on　her　enduring　Sir　Thurio's　tiresome　chatter。　　He　therefore　went　to　the　Duke；　and　said；　〃Duty　before　friendship！　　It　grieves　me　to　thwart　my　friend　Valentine；　but　your　Grace　should　know　that　he　intends　to…night　to　elope　with　your　Grace's　daughter。〃　　He　begged　the　Duke　not　to　tell　Valentine　the　giver　of　this　information；　and　the　Duke　assured　him　that　his　name　would　not　be　divulged。

Early　that　evening　the　Duke　summoned　Valentine；　who　came　to　him　wearing　a　large　cloak　with　a　bulging　pocket。

〃You　know；〃　said　the　Duke；　〃my　desire　to　marry　my　daughter　to　Sir　Thurio？〃

〃I　do；〃　replied　Valentine。　　〃He　is　virtuous　and　generous；　as　befits　a　man　so　honored　in　your　Grace's　thoughts。〃

〃Nevertheless　she　dislikes　him；〃　said　the　Duke。　　〃She　is　a　peevish；　proud；　disobedient　girl；　and　I　should　be　sorry　to　leave　her　a　penny。　　I　intend；　therefore；　to　marry　again。〃

Valentine　bowed。

〃I　hardly　know　how　the　young　people　of　to…day　make　love；〃　continued　the　Duke；　〃and　I　thought　that　you　would　be　just　the　man　to　teach　me　how　to　win　the　lady　of　my　choice。〃

〃Jewels　have　been　known　to　plead　rather　well；〃　said　Valentine。

〃I　have　tried　them；〃　said　the　Duke。

〃The　habit　of　liking　the　giver　may　grow　if　your　Grace　gives　her　some　more。〃

〃The　chief　difficulty；〃　pursued　the　Duke；　〃is　this。　　The　lady　is　promised　to　a　young　gentleman；　and　it　is　hard　to　have　a　word　with　her。　　She　is；　in　fact；　locked　up。〃

〃Then　your　Grace　should　propose　an　elopement；〃　said　Valentine。　〃Try　a　rope　ladder。〃

〃But　how　should　I　carry　it？〃　asked　the　Duke。

〃A　rope　ladder　is　light；〃　said　Valentine；　〃You　can　carry　it　in　a　cloak。〃

〃Like　yours？〃

〃Yes；　your　Grace。〃

〃Then　yours　will　do。　　Kindly　lend　it　to　me。〃

Valentine　had　talked　himself　into　a　trap。　　He　could　not　refuse　to　lend　his　cloak；　and　when　the　Duke　had　donned　it；　his　Grace　drew　from　the　pocket　a　sealed　missive　addressed　to　Silvia。　　He　coolly　opened　it；　and　read　these　words：　〃Silvia；　you　shall　be　free　to…night。〃

〃Indeed；〃　he　said；　〃and　here's　the　rope　ladder。　　Prettily　contrived；　but　not　perfectly。　　I　give　you；　sir；　a　day　to　leave　my　dominions。　If　you　are　in　Milan　by　this　time　to…morrow；　you　die。〃

Poor　Valentine　was　saddened　to　the　core。　　〃Unless　I　look　on　Silvia　in　the　day；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　no　day　for　me　to　look　upon。〃

Before　he　went　he　took　farewell　of　Proteus；　who　proved　a　hypocrite　of　the　first　order。　　〃Hope　is　a　lover's　staff；〃　said　Valentine's　betrayer；　〃walk　hence　with　that。〃

After　leaving　Milan；　Valentine　and　his　servant　wandered　into　a　forest　near　Mantua　where　the　great　poet　Virgil　lived。　　In　the　forest；　however；　the　poets　（if　any）　were　brigands；　who　bade　the　travelers　stand。　　They　obeyed；　and　Valentine　made　so　good　an　impression　upon　his　captors　that　they　offered　him　his　life　on　condition　that　he　became　their　captain。

〃I　accept；〃　said　Valentine；　〃provided　you　release　my　servant；　and　are　not　violent　to　women　or　the　poor。〃

The　reply　was　worthy　of　Virgil；　and　Valentine　became　a　brigand　chief。

We　return　now　to　Julia；　who　found　Verona　too　dull　to　live　in　since　Proteus　had　gone。　　She　begged　her　maid　Lucetta　to　devise　a　way　by　which　she　could　see　him。　　〃Better　wait　for　him　to　return；〃　said　Lucetta；　an