beautiful stories from shakespeare-第7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！


Orsino；　the　Duke　of　Illyria；　was　deeply　in　love　with　a　beautiful　Countess　named　Olivia。　　Yet　was　all　his　love　in　vain；　for　she　disdained　his　suit；　and　when　her　brother　died；　she　sent　back　a　messenger　from　the　Duke；　bidding　him　tell　his　master　that　for　seven　years　she　would　not　let　the　very　air　behold　her　face；　but　that；　like　a　nun；　she　would　walk　veiled；　and　all　this　for　the　sake　of　a　dead　brother's　love；　which　she　would　keep　fresh　and　lasting　in　her　sad　remembrance。

The　Duke　longed　for　someone　to　whom　he　could　tell　his　sorrow；　and　repeat　over　and　over　again　the　story　of　his　love。　　And　chance　brought　him　such　a　companion。　　For　about　this　time　a　goodly　ship　was　wrecked　on　the　Illyrian　coast；　and　among　those　who　reached　land　in　safety　were　the　captain　and　a　fair　young　maid；　named　Viola。　But　she　was　little　grateful　for　being　rescued　from　the　perils　of　the　sea；　since　she　feared　that　her　twin　brother　was　drowned；　Sebastian；　as　dear　to　her　as　the　heart　in　her　bosom；　and　so　like　her　that；　but　for　the　difference　in　their　manner　of　dress；　one　could　hardly　be　told　from　the　other。　　The　captain；　for　her　comfort；　told　her　that　he　had　seen　her　brother　bind　himself　〃to　a　strong　mast　that　lived　upon　the　sea；〃　and　that　thus　there　was　hope　that　he　might　be　saved。

Viola　now　asked　in　whose　country　she　was；　and　learning　that　the　young　Duke　Orsino　ruled　there；　and　was　as　noble　in　his　nature　as　in　his　name；　she　decided　to　disguise　herself　in　male　attire；　and　seek　for　employment　with　him　as　a　page。

In　this　she　succeeded；　and　now　from　day　to　day　she　had　to　listen　to　the　story　of　Orsino's　love。　　At　first　she　sympathized　very　truly　with　him；　but　soon　her　sympathy　grew　to　love。　　At　last　it　occurred　to　Orsino　that　his　hopeless　love…suit　might　prosper　better　if　he　sent　this　pretty　lad　to　woo　Olivia　for　him。　　Viola　unwillingly　went　on　this　errand；　but　when　she　came　to　the　house；　Malvolio；　Olivia's　steward；　a　vain；　officious　man；　sick；　as　his　mistress　told　him；　of　self…love；　forbade　the　messenger　admittance。

Viola；　however　（who　was　now　called　Cesario）；　refused　to　take　any　denial；　and　vowed　to　have　speech　with　the　Countess。　　Olivia；　hearing　how　her　instructions　were　defied　and　curious　to　see　this　daring　youth；　said；　〃We'll　once　more　hear　Orsino's　embassy。〃

When　Viola　was　admitted　to　her　presence　and　the　servants　had　been　sent　away；　she　listened　patiently　to　the　reproaches　which　this　bold　messenger　from　the　Duke　poured　upon　her；　and　listening　she　fell　in　love　with　the　supposed　Cesario；　and　when　Cesario　had　gone；　Olivia　longed　to　send　some　love…token　after　him。　　So；　calling　Malvolio；　she　bade　him　follow　the　boy。

〃He　left　this　ring　behind　him；〃　she　said；　taking　one　from　her　finger。　　〃Tell　him　I　will　none　of　it。〃

Malvolio　did　as　he　was　bid；　and　then　Viola；　who　of　course　knew　perfectly　well　that　she　had　left　no　ring　behind　her；　saw　with　a　woman's　quickness　that　Olivia　loved　her。　　Then　she　went　back　to　the　Duke；　very　sad　at　heart　for　her　lover；　and　for　Olivia；　and　for　herself。

It　was　but　cold　comfort　she　could　give　Orsino；　who　now　sought　to　ease　the　pangs　of　despised　love　by　listening　to　sweet　music；　while　Cesario　stood　by　his　side。

〃Ah；〃　said　the　Duke　to　his　page　that　night；　〃you　too　have　been　in　love。〃

〃A　little；〃　answered　Viola。

〃What　kind　of　woman　is　it？〃　he　asked。

〃Of　your　complexion；〃　she　answered。

〃What　years；　i'　faith？〃　was　his　next　question。

To　this　came　the　pretty　answer；　〃About　your　years；　my　lord。〃

〃Too　old；　by　Heaven！〃　cried　the　Duke。　　〃Let　still　the　woman　take　an　elder　than　herself。〃

And　Viola　very　meekly　said；　〃I　think　it　well；　my　lord。〃

By　and　by　Orsino　begged　Cesario　once　more　to　visit　Olivia　and　to　plead　his　love…suit。　　But　she；　thinking　to　dissuade　him；　said

〃If　some　lady　loved　you　as　you　love　Olivia？〃

〃Ah！　that　cannot　be；〃　said　the　Duke。

〃But　I　know；〃　Viola　went　on；　〃what　love　woman　may　have　for　a　man。　My　father　had　a　daughter　loved　a　man；　as　it　might　be；〃　she　added　blushing；　〃perhaps；　were　I　a　woman；　I　should　love　your　lordship。〃

〃And　what　is　her　history？〃　he　asked。

〃A　blank；　my　lord；〃　Viola　answered。　　〃She　never　told　her　love；　but　let　concealment　like　a　worm　in　the　bud　feed　on　her　damask　cheek：　she　pined　in　thought；　and　with　a　green　and　yellow　melancholy　she　sat；　like　Patience　on　a　monument；　smiling　at　grief。　　Was　not　this　love　indeed？〃

〃But　died　thy　sister　of　her　love；　my　boy？〃　the　Duke　asked；　and　Viola；　who　had　all　the　time　been　telling　her　own　love　for　him　in　this　pretty　fashion；　said

〃I　am　all　the　daughters　my　father　has　and　all　the　brothers　Sir；　shall　I　go　to　the　lady？〃

〃To　her　in　haste；〃　said　the　Duke；　at　once　forgetting　all　about　the　story；　〃and　give　her　this　jewel。〃

So　Viola　went；　and　this　time　poor　Olivia　was　unable　to　hide　her　love；　and　openly　confessed　it　with　such　passionate　truth；　that　Viola　left　her　hastily；　saying

〃Nevermore　will　I　deplore　my　master's　tears　to　you。〃

But　in　vowing　this；　Viola　did　not　know　the　tender　pity　she　would　feel　for　other's　suffering。　　So　when　Olivia；　in　the　violence　of　her　love；　sent　a　messenger；　praying　Cesario　to　visit　her　once　more；　Cesario　had　no　heart　to　refuse　the　request。

But　the　favors　which　Olivia　bestowed　upon　this　mere　page　aroused　the　jealousy　of　Sir　Andrew　Aguecheek；　a　foolish；　rejected　lover　of　hers；　who　at　that　time　was　staying　at　her　house　with　her　merry　old　uncle　Sir　Toby。　　This　same　Sir　Toby　dearly　loved　a　practical　joke；　and　knowing　Sir　Andrew　to　be　an　arrant　coward；　he　thought　that　if　he　could　bring　off　a　duel　between　him　and　Cesario；　there　would　be　rare　sport　indeed。　　So　he　induced　Sir　Andrew　to　send　a　challenge；　which　he　himself　took　to　Cesario。　　The　poor　page；　in　great　terror；　said

〃I　will　return　again　to　the　house；　I　am　no　fighter。〃

〃Back　you　shall　not　to　the　house；〃　said　Sir　Toby；　〃unless　you　fight　me　first。〃

And　as　he　looked　a　very　fierce　old　gentleman；　Viola　thought　it　best　to　await　Sir　Andrew's　coming；　and　when　he　at　last　made　his　appearance；　in　a　great　fright；　if　the　truth　had　been　known；　she　tremblingly　drew　her　sword；　and　Sir　Andrew　in　like　fear　followed　her　example。　　Happily　for　them　both；　at　this　moment　some　officers　of　the　Court　came　on　the　scene；　and　stopped　the　intended　duel。　Viola　gladly　made　off　with　what　speed　she　might；　while　Sir　Toby　called　after　her

〃A　very　paltry　boy；　and　more　a　coward　than　a　hare！〃

Now；　while　these　things　were　happening；　Sebastian　had　escaped　all　the　dangers　of　the　deep；　and　had　landed　safely　in　Illyria；　where　he　determined　to　make　his　way　to　the　Duke's　Court。　　On　his　way　thither　he　passed　Olivia's　house　just　as　Viola　had　left　it　in　such　a　hurry；　and　whom　should　he　meet　but　Sir　Andrew　and　Sir　Toby。　Sir　Andrew；　mistaking　Sebastian　for　the　cowardly　Cesario；　took　his　courage　in　both　hands；　and　walking　up　to　him　struck　him；　saying；　〃There's　for　you。〃

〃Why；　there's　for　you；　and　there；　and　there！〃　said　Sebastian；　bitting　back　a　great　deal　harder；　and　again　and　again；　till　Sir　Toby　came　to　the　rescue　of　his　friend。　　Sebastian；　however；　tore　himself　free　from　Sir　Toby's　clutches；　and　drawing　his　sword　would　have　fought　them　both；　but　that　Olivia　herself；　having　heard　of　the　quarrel；　came　running　in；　and　with　many　reproaches　sent　Sir　Toby　and　his　friend　away。　　Then　turning　to　Sebastian；　whom　she　too　thought　to　be　Cesario；　she　besought　him　with　many　a　pretty　speech　to　come　into　the　house　with　her。

Sebastian；　half　dazed　and　all　delighted　with　her　beauty　and　grace；　readily　consented；　and　that　very　day；　so　great　was　Olivia's　baste；　they　were　married　before　she　had　discovered　that　he　was　not　Cesario；　or　Sebastian　was　quite　certain　whether　or　not　he　was　in　a　dream。

Meanwhile　Orsino；　hearing　how　ill　Cesario　sped　with　Olivia；　visited　her　himself；　taking　Cesario　with　him。　　Olivia　met　them　both　before　her　door；　and　seeing；　as　she　thought；　her　husband　there；　reproached　him　for　leaving　her；　while　to　the　Duke　she　said　that　his　suit　was　as　fat　and　wholesome　to　her　as　howling　after　music。

〃Still　so　cruel？〃　said　Orsino。

〃Still　so　constant；〃　she　answered。

Then　Orsino's　anger　growing　to　cruelty；　he　vowed　that；　to　be　revenged　on　her；　he　would　kill　Cesario；　whom　he　knew　she　loved。　　〃Come；　boy；〃　he　said　to　the　page。

And　Viola；　following　him　as　he　moved　away；　said；　〃I；　to　do　you　rest；　a　thousand　deaths　would　die。〃

A　great　fear　took　hold　on　Olivia；　and　she　cried　aloud；　〃Cesario；　husband；　stay！〃

〃Her　husband？〃　asked　the　Duke　angrily。

〃No；　my　lord；　not　I；〃　said　Viola。

〃Call　forth　the　holy　father；〃　cried　Olivia。

And　the　priest　who　had　married　Sebastian　and　Olivia；　coming　in；　declared　Cesario　to　be　the　bridegroom。

〃O　thou　dissembling　cub！〃　the　Duke　exclaimed。　　〃Farewell；　and　take　her；　but　go　where　thou　and　I　henceforth　may　never　meet。〃

At　this　moment　Sir　Andrew　came　up　with　bleeding　crown；　complaining　that　Cesario　had　broken　his　head；　and　Sir　Toby's　as　well。

〃I　never　hurt　you；〃　said　Viola；　very　positively；　〃you　drew　your　sword　on　me；　but　I　bespoke　you　fair；　and　hurt　you　not。〃

Yet；　for　all　her　protesting；　no　one　there　believed　her；　but　all　their　thoughts　were　on　a　sudden　changed　to　wonder；　when　Sebastian　came　in。

〃I　am　sorry；　madam；〃　he　said　to　his　wife；　〃I　have　hurt　your　kinsman。　Pardon　me；　sweet；　even　for　the　vows　we　made　each　other　so　late