the complete plays-第116节
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feet square。 Poor Colonel Fairfax； who's to die to…
day； is to be removed to no。 14 in the Cold Harbour
that he may have his last hour alone with his
confessor； and I've to see to that。
2ND
YEOMAN Poor gentleman！ He'll die bravely。 I fought under him
two years since； and he valued his life as it were a
feather！
PHOEBE He's the bravest； the handsomest； and the best young
gentleman in England！ He twice saved my father's life；
and it's a cruel thing； a wicked thing； and a
barbarous thing that so gallant a hero should lose his
head for it's the handsomest head in England！
DAME For dealings with the devil。 Aye！ if all were beheaded
who dealt with him； there'd be busy things on Tower
Green。
PHOEBE You know very well that Colonel Fairfax is a student
of alchemy nothing more； and nothing less； but this
wicked Tower； like a cruel giant in a fairy…tale； must
be fed with blood； and that blood must be the best and
bravest in England； or it's not good enough for the
old Blunderbore。 Ugh！
DAME Silence； you silly girl； you know not what you say。 I
was born in the old keep； and I've grown grey in it；
and； please God； I shall die and be buried in it； and
there's not a stone in its walls that is not as dear
tome as my right hand。
No。 3。 When our gallant Norman foes
（SONG WITH CHORUS）
Dame Carruthers and Yeomen
DAME When our gallant Norman foes
Made our merry land their own；
And the Saxons from the Conqueror were flying；
At his bidding it arose；
In its panoply of stone；
A sentinel unliving and undying。
Insensible； I trow；
As a sentinel should be；
Though a queen to save her head should
come a…suing；
There's a legend on its brow
That is eloquent to me；
And it tells of duty done and duty doing。
The screw may twist and the rack may turn；
And men may bleed and men may burn；
O'er London town and its golden hoard
I keep my silent watch and ward！
CHORUS The screw may twist and the rack may turn；
O'er London town and all its hoard；
And men may bleed and men may burn；
O'er London town and all its hoard；
O'er London town and its golden hoard
I keep my silent watch and ward！
DAME Within its wall of rock
The flower of the brave
Have perished with a constancy unshaken。
From the dungeon to the block；
From the scaffold to the grave；
Is a journey many gallant hearts have taken。
And the wicked flames may hiss
Round the heroes who have fought
For conscience and for home in all its beauty；
But the grim old fortalice
Takes little heed of aught
That comes not in the measure of its duty。
The screw may twist and the rack may turn；
And men may bleed and men may burn；
O'er London town and its golden hoard
I keep my silent watch and ward！
CHORUS The screw may twist and the rack may turn；
O'er London town and all its hoard；
And men may bleed and men may burn；
O'er London town and all its hoard；
O'er London town and its golden hoard
I keep my silent watch and ward！
＇Exeunt all but PHOEBE。 Enter SERGEANT MERYLL。
PHOEBE Father！ Has no reprieve arrived for the poor
gentleman？
MERYLL No； my lass； but there's one hope yet。 Thy brother
Leonard； who； as a reward for his valour in saving his
standard and cutting his way through fifty foes who
would have hanged him； has been appointed a Yeoman of
the Guard； will arrive to…day； and as he comes
straight from Windsor； where the Court is； it may be
it may be that he will bring the expected reprieve
with him。
PHOEBE Oh； that he may！
MERYLL Amen to that！ For the Colonel twice saved my life； and
I'd give the rest of my life to save his！ And wilt
thou not be glad to welcome thy brave brother； with
the fame of whose exploits all England is a…ringing？
PHOEBE Aye； truly； if he brings the reprieve。
MERYLL And not otherwise？
PHOEBE Well； he's a brave fellow indeed； and I love brave
men。
MERYLL All brave men？
PHOEBE Most of them； I verily believe！ But I hope Leonard
will not be too strict with me they say he is a very
dragon of virtue and circumspection！ Now； my dear old
father is kindness itself； and
MERYLL And leaves thee pretty well to thine own ways； eh？
Well； I've no fears for thee； thou hast a feather…
brain； but thou'rt a good lass。
PHOEBE Yes； that's all very well； but if Leonard is going to
tell me that I may not do this and I may not do that；
and I must not talk to this one； or walk with that
one； but go through the world with my lips pursed up
and my eyes cats down； like a poor nun who has
renounced mankind why； as I have not renounced
mankind； and don't mean to renounce mankind； I won't
have it there！
MERYLL Nay； he'll not check thee more than is good for thee；
Phoebe！ He's a brave fellow； and bravest among brave
fellows； and yet it seems but yesterday that he robbed
the Lieutenant's orchard。
No。 3A。 A laughing boy
（OPTIONAL SONG）
Sergeant Meryll
MERYLL A laughing boy but yesterday；
A merry urchin blithe and gay；
Whose joyous shout came ringing out
Unchecked by care or sorrow。
Today a warrior all sunbrown；
When deeds of soldierly renown
Are not the boast of London town；
A veteran tomorrow； today a warrior；
A veteran tomorrow！
When at my Leonard's deeds sublime；
A soldier's pulse beats double time；
And grave hearts thrill as brave hearts will
At tales of martial glory。
I burn with flush of pride and joy；
A pride unbittered by alloy；
To find my boy； my darling boy；
The theme of song and story；
To find my darling boy
The theme of song and story！
To find my boy； my darling boy；
The theme of song and story！
＇Enter LEONARD MERYLL
LEONARD Father！
MERYLL Leonard！ my brave boy！ I'm right glad to see thee； and
so is Phoebe！
PHOEBE Aye hast thou brought Colonel Fairfax's reprieve？
LEONARD Nay； I have here a despatch for the Lieutenant； but no
reprieve for the Colonel！
PHOEBE Poor gentleman！ poor gentleman！
LEONARD Aye； I would I had brought better news。 I'd give my
right hand nay； my body my life； to save his！
MERYLL Dost thou speak in earnest； my lad？
LEONARD Aye； father I'm no braggart。 Did he not save thy
life？ and am I not his foster…brother？
MERYLL Then hearken to me。 Thou hast come to join the Yeomen
of the Guard！
LEONARD Well？
MERYLL None has seen thee but ourselves？
LEONARD And a sentry； who took scant notice of me。
MERYLL Now to prove thy words。 Give me the despatch and get
thee hence at once！ Here is money； and I'll send thee
more。 Lie hidden for a space； and let no one know。
I'll convey a suit of Yeoman's uniform to the
Colonel's cell he shall shave off his beard； so that
none shall know him； and I'll own him as my son； the
brave Leonard Meryll； who saved his flag and cut his
way through fifty foes who thirsted for his life。 He
will be welcomed without question by my brother…
Yeomen； I'll warrant that。 Now； how to get access to
the Colonel's cell？ ＇To PHOEBE＇ The key is with they
sour…faced admirer； Wilfred Shadbolt。
PHOEBE ＇demurely＇ I think I say； I think I can get anything
I want from Wilfred。 I think mind I say； I th
