beautiful stories from shakespeare-第25节

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〃Better　wait　for　him　to　return；〃　said　Lucetta；　and　she　talked　so　sensibly　that　Julia　saw　it　was　idle　to　hope　that　Lucetta　would　bear　the　blame　of　any　rash　and　interesting　adventure。　　Julia　therefore　said　that　she　intended　to　go　to　Milan　and　dressed　like　a　page。

〃You　must　cut　off　your　hair　then；〃　said　Lucetta；　who　thought　that　at　this　announcement　Julia　would　immediately　abandon　her　scheme。

〃I　shall　knot　it　up；〃　was　the　disappointing　rejoinder。

Lucetta　then　tried　to　make　the　scheme　seem　foolish　to　Julia；　but　Julia　had　made　up　her　mind　and　was　not　to　be　put　off　by　ridicule；　and　when　her　toilet　was　completed；　she　looked　as　comely　a　page　as　one　could　wish　to　see。

Julia　assumed　the　male　name　Sebastian；　and　arrived　in　Milan　in　time　to　hear　music　being　performed　outside　the　Duke's　palace。

〃They　are　serenading　the　Lady　Silvia；〃　said　a　man　to　her。

Suddenly　she　heard　a　voice　lifted　in　song；　and　she　knew　that　voice。　It　was　the　voice　of　Proteus。　　But　what　was　he　singing？

　　　〃Who　is　Silvia？　what　is　she；　　　　　　　That　all　our　swains　commend　her？　　　　　Holy；　fair；　and　wise　is　she；　　　　　　　The　heaven　such　grace　did　lend　her　　　　　That　she　might　admired　be。〃

Julia　tried　not　to　hear　the　rest；　but　these　two　lines　somehow　thundered　into　her　mind

　　　〃Then　to　Silvia　let　us　sing；　　　　　She　excels　each　mortal　thing。〃

Then　Proteus　thought　Silvia　excelled　Julia；　and；　since　he　sang　so　beautifully　for　all　the　world　to　hear；　it　seemed　that　he　was　not　only　false　to　Julia；　but　had　forgotten　her。　　Yet　Julia　still　loved　him。　　She　even　went　to　him；　and　asked　to　be　his　page；　and　Proteus　engaged　her。

One　day；　he　handed　to　her　the　ring　which　she　had　given　him；　and　said；　〃Sebastian；　take　that　to　the　Lady　Silvia；　and　say　that　I　should　like　the　picture　of　her　she　promised　me。〃

Silvia　had　promised　the　picture；　but　she　disliked　Proteus。　　She　was　obliged　to　talk　to　him　because　he　was　high　in　the　favor　of　her　father；　who　thought　he　pleaded　with　her　on　behalf　of　Sir　Thurio。　　Silvia　had　learned　from　Valentine　that　Proteus　was　pledged　to　a　sweetheart　in　Verona；　and　when　he　said　tender　things　to　her；　she　felt　that　he　was　disloyal　in　friendship　as　well　as　love。

Julia　bore　the　ring　to　Silvia；　but　Silvia　said；　〃I　will　not　wrong　the　woman　who　gave　it　him　by　wearing　it。〃

〃She　thanks　you；〃　said　Julia。

〃You　know　her；　then？〃　said　Silvia；　and　Julia　spoke　so　tenderly　of　herself　that　Silvia　wished　that　Sebastian　would　marry　Julia。

Silvia　gave　Julia　her　portrait　for　Proteus；　who　would　have　received　it　the　worse　for　extra　touches　on　the　nose　and　eyes　if　Julia　had　not　made　up　her　mind　that　she　was　as　pretty　as　Silvia。

Soon　there　was　an　uproar　in　the　palace。　　Silvia　had　fled。

The　Duke　was　certain　that　her　intention　was　to　join　the　exiled　Valentine；　and　he　was　not　wrong。

Without　delay　he　started　in　pursuit；　with　Sir　Thurio；　Proteus；　and　some　servants。

The　members　of　the　pursuing　party　got　separated；　and　Proteus　and　Julia　（in　her　page's　dress）　were　by　themselves　when　they　saw　Silvia；　who　had　been　taken　prisoner　by　outlaws　and　was　now　being　led　to　their　Captain。　　Proteus　rescued　her；　and　then　said；　〃I　have　saved　you　from　death；　give　me　one　kind　look。〃

〃O　misery；　to　be　helped　by　you！〃　cried　Silvia。　　〃I　would　rather　be　a　lion's　breakfast。〃

Julia　was　silent；　but　cheerful。　　Proteus　was　so　much　annoyed　with　Silvia　that　he　threatened　her；　and　seized　her　by　the　waist。

〃O　heaven！〃　cried　Silvia。

At　that　instant　there　was　a　noise　of　crackling　branches。　　Valentine　came　crashing　through　the　Mantuan　forest　to　the　rescue　of　his　beloved。　　Julia　feared　he　would　slay　Proteus；　and　hurried　to　help　her　false　lover。　　But　he　struck　no　blow；　he　only　said；　〃Proteus；　I　am　sorry　I　must　never　trust　you　more。〃

Thereat　Proteus　felt　his　guilt；　and　fell　on　his　knees；　saying；　〃Forgive　me！　　I　grieve！　　I　suffer！〃

〃Then　you　are　my　friend　once　more；〃　said　the　generous　Valentine。　〃If　Silvia；　that　is　lost　to　me；　will　look　on　you　with　favor；　I　promise　that　I　will　stand　aside　and　bless　you　both。〃

These　words　were　terrible　to　Julia；　and　she　swooned。　　Valentine　revived　her；　and　said；　〃What　was　the　matter；　boy？〃

〃I　remembered；〃　fibbed　Julia；　〃that　I　was　charged　to　give　a　ring　to　the　Lady　Silvia；　and　that　I　did　not。〃

〃Well；　give　it　to　me；〃　said　Proteus。

She　handed　him　a　ring；　but　it　was　the　ring　that　Proteus　gave　to　Julia　before　he　left　Verona。

Proteus　looked　at　her　hand；　and　crimsoned　to　the　roots　of　his　hair。

〃I　changed　my　shape　when　you　changed　your　mind；〃　said　she。

〃But　I　love　you　again；〃　said　he。

Just　then　outlaws　entered；　bringing　two　prizesthe　Duke　and　Sir　Thurio。

〃Forbear！〃　cried　Valentine；　sternly。　　〃The　Duke　is　sacred。〃

Sir　Thurio　exclaimed；　〃There's　Silvia；　she's　mine！〃

〃Touch　her；　and　you　die！〃　said　Valentine。

〃I　should　be　a　fool　to　risk　anything　for　her；〃　said　Sir　Thurio。

〃Then　you　are　base；〃　said　the　Duke。　　〃Valentine；　you　are　a　brave　man。　　Your　banishment　is　over。　　I　recall　you。　　You　may　marry　Silvia。　　You　deserve　her。〃

〃I　thank　your　Grace；〃　said　Valentine；　deeply　moved；　〃and　yet　must　ask　you　one　more　boon。〃

〃I　grant　it；〃　said　the　Duke。

〃Pardon　these　men；　your　Grace；　and　give　them　employment。　　They　are　better　than　their　calling。〃

〃I　pardon　them　and　you；〃　said　the　Duke。　　〃Their　work　henceforth　shall　be　for　wages。〃

〃What　think　you　of　this　page；　your　Grace？〃　asked　Valentine；　indicating　Julia。

The　Duke　glanced　at　her；　and　said；　〃I　think　the　boy　has　grace　in　him。〃

〃More　grace　than　boy；　say　I；〃　laughed　Valentine；　and　the　only　punishment　which　Proteus　had　to　bear　for　his　treacheries　against　love　and　friendship　was　the　recital　in　his　presence　of　the　adventures　of　Julia…Sebastian　of　Verona。




ALL'S　WELL　THAT　ENDS　WELL



In　the　year　thirteen　hundred　and　something；　the　Countess　of　Rousillon　was　unhappy　in　her　palace　near　the　Pyrenees。　　She　had　lost　her　husband；　and　the　King　of　France　had　summoned　her　son　Bertram　to　Paris；　hundreds　of　miles　away。

Bertram　was　a　pretty　youth　with　curling　hair；　finely　arched　eyebrows；　and　eyes　as　keen　as　a　hawk's。　　He　was　as　proud　as　ignorance　could　make　him；　and　would　lie　with　a　face　like　truth　itself　to　gain　a　selfish　end。　　But　a　pretty　youth　is　a　pretty　youth；　and　Helena　was　in　love　with　him。

Helena　was　the　daughter　of　a　great　doctor　who　had　died　in　the　service　of　the　Count　of　Rousillon。　　Her　sole　fortune　consisted　in　a　few　of　her　father's　prescriptions。

When　Bertram　had　gone；　Helena's　forlorn　look　was　noticed　by　the　Countess；　who　told　her　that　she　was　exactly　the　same　to　her　as　her　own　child。　　Tears　then　gathered　in　Helena's　eyes；　for　she　felt　that　the　Countess　made　Bertram　seem　like　a　brother　whom　she　could　never　marry。　　The　Countess　guessed　her　secret　forthwith；　and　Helena　confessed　that　Bertram　was　to　her　as　the　sun　is　to　the　day。

She　hoped；　however；　to　win　this　sun　by　earning　the　gratitude　of　the　King　of　France；　who　suffered　from　a　lingering　illness；　which　made　him　lame。　　The　great　doctors　attached　to　the　Court　despaired　of　curing　him；　but　Helena　had　confidence　in　a　prescription　which　her　father　had　used　with　success。

Taking　an　affectionate　leave　of　the　Countess；　she　went　to　Paris；　and　was　allowed　to　see　the　King。

He　was　very　polite；　but　it　was　plain　he　thought　her　a　quack。　　〃It　would　not　become　me；〃　he　said；　〃to　apply　to　a　simple　maiden　for　the　relief　which　all　the　learned　doctors　cannot　give　me。〃

〃Heaven　uses　weak　instruments　sometimes；〃　said　Helena；　and　she　declared　that　she　would　forfeit　her　life　if　she　failed　to　make　him　well。

〃And　if　you　succeed？〃　questioned　the　King。

〃Then　I　will　ask　your　Majesty　to　give　me　for　a　husband　the　man　whom　I　choose！〃

So　earnest　a　young　lady　could　not　be　resisted　forever　by　a　suffering　king。　　Helena；　therefore；　became　the　King's　doctor；　and　in　two　days　the　royal　cripple　could　skip。

He　summoned　his　courtiers；　and　they　made　a　glittering　throng　in　the　throne　room　of　his　palace。　　Well　might　the　country　girl　have　been　dazzled；　and　seen　a　dozen　husbands　worth　dreaming　of　among　the　handsome　young　noblemen　before　her。　　But　her　eyes　only　wandered　till　they　found　Bertram。　　Then　she　went　up　to　him；　and　said；　〃I　dare　not　say　I　take　you；　but　I　am　yours！〃　　Raising　her　voice　that　the　King　might　hear；　she　added；　〃This　is　the　Man！〃

〃Bertram；〃　said　the　King；　〃take　her；　she's　your　wife！〃

〃My　wife；　my　liege？〃　said　Bertram。　　〃I　beg　your　Majesty　to　permit　me　to　choose　a　wife。〃

〃Do　you　know；　Bertram；　what　she　has　done　for　your　King？〃　asked　the　monarch；　who　had　treated　Bertram　like　a　son。

〃Yes；　your　Majesty；〃　replied　Bertram；　〃but　why　should　I　marry　a　girl　who　owes　her　breeding　to　my　father's　charity？〃

〃You　disdain　her　for　lacking　a　title；　but　I　can　give　her　a　title；〃　said　the　King；　and　as　he　looked　at　the　sulky　youth　a　thought　came　to　him；　and　he　added；　〃Strange　that　you　think　so　much　of　blood　when　you　could　not　distinguish　your　own　from　a　beggar's　if　you　saw　them　mixed　together　in　a　bowl。〃

〃I　cannot　love　her；〃　asserted　Bertram；　and　Helena　said　gently；　〃Urge　him　not；　your　Majesty。　　I　am　glad　to　have　cured　my　King　for　my　country's　sake。〃

〃My　honor　requires　that　scornful　boy's　obedience；〃　said　the　King。　〃Bertram；　make　up　your　mind　to　this。　　You　marry　this　lady；　of　whom　you　are　so　unworthy；　or　you　learn　how