plays-第29节

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and　that's　your　best　p'int　o'　sailing；　Commander；　intelleck　is
your　best　p'int　…　as　a　man　with　a　'ed　for　argyment；　how　do　I　make
it　out？

KIT。　　Aha；　you're　a　sly　dog；　you're　a　deep　dog；　Pew；　but　you
can't　get　the　weather　of　Kit　French。　　How　do　I　make　it　out？　　I'll
tell　you。　　I　make　it　out　like　this：　　Your　name's　Pew；　ain't　it？　
Very　well。　　And　you　know　Admiral　Guinea；　and　that's　his　name；　eh？　
Very　well。　　Then　you're　Pew；　and　the　Admiral's　the　Admiral；　and
you　know　the　Admiral；　and　by　George；　that's　all。　　Hey？　　Drink
about；　boys；　drink　about！

PEW。　　Lord　love　you；　if　I'd　a…had　a　'ed　like　yours！　　Why　the　
Admiral　was　my　first　cap'n。　　I　was　that　man's　bo'sun；　I　was；
aboard　the　ARETHUSA；　and　we　was　like　two　brothers。　　Did　you　never
hear　of　Guinea…land　and　the　black　ivory　business？　（SINGS）　…

'A　quick　run　to　the　south　we　had；　and　when　we　made　the　Bight　
We　kept　the　offing　all　day　long　and　crossed　the　bar　at　night。　
Six　hundred　niggers　in　the　hold　and　seventy　we　did　stow；　
And　when　we'd　clapped　the　hatches　on；　'twas　time　for　us　to　go。'

Lay　forward；　lads！

KIT　AND　PEW　（IN　CHORUS）　…

'Time　for　us　to　go；'　etc。

KIT。　　I　say；　Pew；　I　like　you；　you're　a　damned　ugly　dog；　but　I
like　you。　　But　look　ye　here；　Pew：　　fair　does　it；　you　know；　or　we
part　company　this　minute。　　If　you　and　the　Ad　…　the　Admirable　were
like　brothers　on　the　Guinea　coast；　why　aren't　you　like　brothers
here？

PEW。　　Ah；　I　see　you　coming。　　What　a　'ed！　what　a　'ed！　　Since　Pew
is　a　friend　of　the　family；　says　you；　why　didn't　he　sail　in　and
bear　a　hand；　says　you；　when　you　was　knocking　the　Admiral's　ship
about　his　ears　in　argyment？

KIT。　　Well；　Pew；　now　you　put　a　name　to　it；　why　not？

PEW。　　Ah；　why　not？　　There　I　recko'nise　you。　　＇Well；　see　here：　　
argyment's　my　weakness；　in　a　manner　of　speaking；　I　wouldn't
a…borne　down　and　spiled　sport；　not　for　gold　untold；　no；　not　for
rum；　I　wouldn't！　　And　besides；　Commander；　I　put　it　to　you；　as
between　man　and　man；　would　it　have　been　seaman…like　to　let　on　and
show　myself　to　a　old　shipmate；　when　he　was　yard…arm　to　yard…arm
with　a　craft　not　half　his　metal；　and　getting　blown　out　of　water
every　broadside？　　Would　it　have　been　'ansome？　　I　put　it　to　you；
as　between　man　and　man。

KIT。　　Pew；　I　may　have　gifts；　but　I　never　thought　of　that。　　Why；
no：　　not　seaman…like。　　Pew；　you've　a　heart；　that's　what　I　like
you　for。

PEW。　　Ah；　that　I　have：　　you'll　see。　　I　wanted　…　now　you　follow　me
…　I　wanted　to　keep　square　with　Admiral　Guinea。＇　　Why？　says　you。　　
Well；　put　it　that　I　know　a　fine　young　fellow　when　I　sees　him；　and
put　it　that　I　wish　him　well；　and　put　it；　for　the　sake　of
argyment；　that　the　father　of　that　lovely　female's　in　my　power。　
Aha？　　Pew's　Power！　　Why；　in　my　'ands　he's　like　this　pocket
'andke'cher。　　Now；　brave　boy；　do　you　see？

KIT。　　No；　Pew；　my　head's　gone；　I　don't　see。

PEW。　　Why；　cheer　up；　Commander！　　You　want　to　marry　this　lovely　
female？

KIT。　　Ay；　that　I　do；　but　I'm　not　fit　for　her；　Pew；　I'm　a　drunken　
dog；　and　I'm　not　fit　for　her。

PEW。　　Now；　Cap'n；　you'll　allow　a　old　seaman　to　be　judge：　　one　as　
sailed　with　'Awke　and　blessed　Benb…　with　'Awke　and　noble　Anson。　　
You've　been　open　and　above…board　with　me；　and　I'll　do　the　same　by
you：　　it　being　the　case　that　you're　hard　hit　about　a　lovely
woman；　which　many　a　time　and　oft　it　has　happened　to　old　Pew；　and
him　with　a　feeling　'art　that　bleeds　for　you；　Commander；　why　look
here：　　I'm　that　girl's　godfather；　promised　and　vowed　for　her；　I
did；　and　I　like　you；　and　you're　the　man　for　her；　and；　by　the
living　Jacob；　you　shall　splice！

KIT。　　David　Pew；　do　you　mean　what　you　say？

PEW。　　Do　I　mean　what　I　say？　　Does　David　Pew？　　Ask　Admiral　'Awke！　
Ask　old　Admiral　Byng　in　his　coffin；　where　I　laid　him　with　these　
lands！　　Pew　does；　is　what　those　naval　commanders　would　reply。　
Mean　it？　　I　reckon　so。

KIT。　　Then；　shake　hands。　　You're　an　honest　man；　Pew　…　old　Pew！　…　
and　I'll　make　your　fortune。　　But　there's　something　else；　if　I
could　keep　the　run　of　it。　　O；　ah！　　But　CAN　you？　　That's　the
point。　　Can　you；　don't　you　see？

PEW。　　Can　I？　　You　leave　that　to　me；　I'll　bring　you　to　your　
moorings；　I'm　the　man　that　can；　and　I'm　him　that　will。　　But　only；
look　here；　let's　understand　each　other。　　You're　a　bold　blade；
ain't　you？　　You　won't　stick　at　a　trifle　for　a　lovely　female？　
You'll　back　me　up？　　You're　a　man；　ain't　you？　a　man；　and　you'll
see　me　through　and　through　it；　hey？　　Come；　is　that　so？　　Are　you
fair　and　square　and　stick　at　nothing？

KIT。　　Me；　Pew？　　I'll　go　through　fire　and　water。

PEW。　　I'll　risk　it。　…　Well；　then；　see　here；　my　son：　　another　
swallow　and　we　jog。

KIT。　　No；　not　to…night；　Pew；　not　to…night！

PEW。　　Commander；　in　a　manner　of　speaking；　wherefore？

KIT。　　Wherefore；　Pew？　　'Cause　why；　Pew？　　'Cause　I'm　drunk；　and　be
damned　to　you！

PEW。　　Commander；　I　ax　your　pardon；　but；　saving　your　presence；　
that's　a　lie。　　What？　drunk？　a　man　with　a　'ed　for　argyment　like　
that？　just　you　get　up；　and　steady　yourself　on　your　two　pins；　and　
you'll　be　as　right　as　ninepence。

＇KIT。　　Pew；　before　we　budge；　let　me　shake　your　flipper　again。　　
You're　heart　of　oak；　Pew；　sure　enough；　and　if　you　can　bring　the　
Adam　…　Admirable　about；　why；　damme；　I'll　make　your　fortune！　　How　
you're　going　to　do　it；　I　don't　know；　but　I'll　stand　by；　and　I
know　you'll　do　it　if　anybody　can。　　But　I'm　drunk；　Pew；　you　can't
deny　that：　　I'm　as　drunk　as　a　Plymouth　fiddler；　Pew；　and　how
you're　going　to　do　it　is　a　mystery　to　me。

PEW。　　Ah；　you　leave　that　to　me。　　All　I　want　is　what　I've　got：　
your　promise　to　stand　by　and　bear　a　hand　（PRODUCING　A　DARK
LANTERN）。＇　　Now；　here；　you　see；　is　my　little　glim；　it　ain't　for
me；　because　I'm　blind；　worse　luck！　and　the　day　and　night　is　the
blessed　same　to　David　Pew。　　But　you　watch。　　You　put　the　candle
near　me。　　Here's　what　there　ain't　mony　blind　men　could　do；　take
the　pick　o'　them！　（LIGHTING　A　SCREW　OF　PAPER；　AND　WITH　THAT；　THE
LANTERN）。　　Hey？　　That's　it。　　Hey？　　Go　and　pity　the　poor　blind！

KIT　（WHILE　PEW　BLOWS　OUT　THE　CANDLES）。　　But　I　say；　Pew；　what　do
you　want　with　it？

PEW。　　To　see　by；　my　son。　　（HE　SHUTS　THE　LANTERN　AND　PUTS　IT　IN
HIS　POCKET。　　STAGE　QUITE　DARK。　　MOONLIGHT　AT　WINDOW。）　　All
ship…shape？　　No　sparks　about？　　No？　　Come；　then；　lean　on　me　and
heave　ahead　for　the　lovely　female。　　（SINGING　SOTTO　VOCE）　…

'Time　for　us　to　go；　Time　for　us　to　go；　And　when　we'd　clapped　the
hatches　on；　'Twas　time　for　us　to　go。'

DROP


ACT　III。

The　Stage　represents　the　Admiral's　house；　as　in　Act　I。　　GAUNT　
seated；　is　reading　aloud；　ARETHUSA　sits　at　his　feet。　　Candles

SCENE　I

ARETHUSA；　GAUNT

＇GAUNT　（READING）。　　'And　Ruth　said；　Intreat　me　not　to　leave　thee；
or　to　return　from　following　after　thee：　　for　whither　thou　goest；
I　will　go；　and　where　thou　lodgest；　I　will　lodge：　　thy　people
shall　be　my　people；　and　thy　God　my　God：　　Where　thou　diest；　will　I
die；　and　there　will　I　be　buried：　　the　Lord　do　so　to　me；　and　more
also；　if　aught　but　death　part　thee　and　me。'　　（HE　CLOSES　THE
BOOK。）　　Amen。

ARETHUSA。　　Amen。　　Father；　there　spoke　my　heart。＇

GAUNT。　　Arethusa；　the　Lord　in　his　mercy　has　seen　right　to　vex　us　
with　trials　of　many　kinds。　　It　is　a　little　matter　to　endure　the　
pangs　of　the　flesh：　　the　smart　of　wounds；　the　passion　of　hunger
and　thirst；　the　heaviness　of　disease；　and　in　this　world　I　have
learned　to　take　thought　for　nothing　save　the　quiet　of　your　soul。　
It　is　through　our　affections　that　we　are　smitten　with　the　true
pain；　even　the　pain　that　kills。

ARETHUSA。　　And　yet　this　pain　is　our　natural　lot。　　Father；　I　fear
to　boast；　but　I　know　that　I　can　bear　it。　　Let　my　life；　then；　flow
like　common　lives；　each　pain　rewarded　with　some　pleasure；　each
pleasure　linked　with　some　pain：　　nothing　pure　whether　for　good　or
evil：　　and　my　husband；　like　myself　and　all　the　rest　of　us；　only　a
poor；　kind…hearted　sinner；　striving　for　the　better　part。　　What
more　could　any　woman　ask？

GAUNT。　　Child；　child；　your　words　are　like　a　sword。　　What　would
she　ask？　　Look　upon　me　whom；　in　the　earthly　sense；　you　are
commanded　to　respect。　　Look　upon　me：　　do　I　bear　a　mark？　is　there
any　outward　sign　to　bid　a　woman　avoid　and　flee　from　me？

ARETHUSA。　　I　see　nothing　but　the　face　I　love。

GAUNT。　　There　is　none：　　nor　yet　on　the　young　man　Christopher；
whose　words　still　haunt　and　upbraid　me。　　Yes；　I　am　hard；　I　was
born　hard；　born　a　tyrant；　born　to　be　what　I　was；　a　slaver
captain。　　But　to…night；　and　to　save　you；　I　will　pluck　my　heart
out　of　my　bosom。　　You　shall　know　what　makes　me　what　I　am；　you
shall　hear；　out　of　my　own　life；　why　I　dread　and　deprecate　this
marriage。　　Child；　do　you　remember　your　mother？

ARETHUSA。　　Remember　her？　　Ah；　if　she　had　been　here　to…day！

GAUNT。　　It　is　thirteen　years　since　she　departed；　and　took　with
her　the　whole　sunshine　of　my　life。　　Do　you　remember　the　manner　of
her　departure？　　You　were　a　child；　and　cannot；　but　I　can　and　do。　　
Remember？　shall　I　ever　forget？　　Here　or　hereafter；　ever　forget！　　
Ten　years　she　was　my　wife；　and　ten　years　she　lay　a…dying。　　
Arethusa；　she　was　a　saint　on　earth；　and　it　was　I　that　killed　her。

ARETHUSA。　　Killed　her？　my　mother？　　You？

GAUNT。　　Not　with　my　hand；　for　I　loved　her。　　I　would　not　have　hurt
one　hair　upon　her　head。　　But　she　got　her　death　by　me；　as　sure　as
by　　a　blo