plays-第30节

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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　blow。

ARETHUSA。　　I　understand　…　I　can　see：　　you　brood　on　trifles；　
misunderstandings；　unkindnesses　you　think　them；　though　my　mother　
never　knew　of　them；　or　never　gave　them　a　second　thought。　　It　is　
natural；　when　death　has　come　between。

GAUNT。　　I　married　her　from　Falmouth。　　She　was　comely　as　the　roe；
I　　see　her　still　…　her　dove's　eyes　and　her　smile！　　I　was　older
than　　she；　and　I　had　a　name　for　hardness；　a　hard　and　wicked　man；
but　she　loved　me　…　my　Hester！　…　and　she　took　me　as　I　was。　　O　how
I　repaid　her　trust！　　Well；　our　child　was　born　to　us；　and　we　named
her　after　the　brig　I　had　built　and　sailed；　the　old　craft　whose
likeness　…　older　than　you；　girl　…　stands　there　above　our　heads。　
And　so　far；　that　was　happiness。　　But　she　yearned　for　my
salvation；　and　it　was　there　I　thwarted　her。　　My　sins　were　a
burden　upon　her　spirit；　a　shame　to　her　in　this　world；　her　terror
in　the　world　to　come。　　She　talked　much　and　often　of　my　leaving
the　devil's　trade　I　sailed　in。　　　She　had　a　tender　and　a　Christian
heart；　and　she　would　weep　and　pray　for　the　poor　heathen　creatures
that　I　bought　and　sold　and　shipped　into　misery；　till　my
conscience　grew　hot　within　me。　　I've　put　on　my　hat；　and　gone　out
and　made　oath　that　my　next　cargo　should　be　my　last；　but　it　never
was；　that　oath　was　never　kept。　　So　I　sailed　again　and　again　for
the　Guinea　coast；　until　the　trip　came　that　was　to　be　my　last
indeed。　　Well；　it　fell　out　that　we　had　good　luck　trading；　and　I
stowed　the　brig　with　these　poor　heathen　as　full　as　she　would
hold。　　We　had　a　fair　run　westward　till　we　were　past　the　line；　but
one　night　the　wind　rose　and　there　came　a　hurricane；　and　for　seven
days　we　were　tossed　on　the　deep　seas；　in　the　hardest　straits；　and
every　hand　on　deck。　　For　several　days　they　were　battened　down：　
all　that　time　we　heard　their　cries　and　lamentations；　but　worst　at
the　beginning；　and　when　at　last；　and　near　dead　myself；　I　crept
below　…　O！　some　they　were　starved；　some　smothered；　some　dead　of
broken　limbs；　and　the　hold　was　like　a　lazar…house　in　the　time　of
the　anger　of　the　Lord！

ARETHUSA。　　O！

GAUNT。　　It　was　two　hundred　and　five　that　we　threw　overboard：　　two
hundred　and　five　lost　souls　that　I　had　hurried　to　their　doom。　　I　
had　many　die　with　me　before；　but　not　like　that　…　not　such　a　
massacre　as　that；　and　I　stood　dumb　before　the　sight。　　For　I　saw　I
was　their　murderer　…　body　and　soul　their　murderer；　and；　Arethusa；
my　Hester　knew　it。　　That　was　her　death…stroke：　　it　felled　her。　
She　had　long　been　dying　slowly；　but　from　the　hour　she　heard　that
story；　the　garment　of　the　flesh　began　to　waste　and　perish；　the
fountains　of　her　life　dried　up；　she　faded　before　my　face；　and　in
two　months　from　my　landing　…　O　Hester；　Hester；　would　God　I　had
died　for　thee！

ARETHUSA。　　Mother！　　O　poor　soul！　　O　poor　father！　　O　father；　it
was　hard　on　you。

GAUNT。　　The　night　she　died；　she　lay　there；　in　her　bed。　　She　took
my　hand。　　'I　am　going；'　she　said；　'to　heaven。　　For　Christ's
sake；'　she　said；　'come　after　me；　and　bring　my　little　maid。　　I'll
be　waiting　and　wearying　till　you　come；'　and　she　kissed　my　hand；
the　hand　that　killed　her。　　At　that　I　broke　out　calling　on　her　to
stop；　for　it　was　more　than　I　could　bear。　　But　no；　she　said　she
must　still　tell　me　of　my　sins；　and　how　the　thought　of　them　had
bowed　down　her　life。　　'And　O！'　she　said；　'if　I　couldn't　prevail
on　you　alive；　let　my　death。'　。　。　。　Well；　then；　she　died。　　What
have　I　done　since　then？　　I've　laid　my　course　for　Hester。　　Sin；
temptation；　pleasure；　all　this　poor　shadow　of　a　world；　I　saw　them
not：　　I　saw　my　Hester　waiting；　waiting　and　wearying。　　I　have　made
my　election　sure；　my　sins　I　have　cast　them　out。　　Hester；　Hester；
I　will　come　to　you；　poor　waiting　one；　and　I'll　bring　your　little
maid：　　ay；　dearest　soul；　I'll　bring　your　little　maid　safe　with
me！

ARETHUSA。　　O　teach　me　how！　　Show　me　the　way！　only　show　me。　…　O　
mother；　mother！　…　If　it　were　paved　with　fire；　show　me　the　way；
and　I　will　walk　it　bare…foot！

GAUNT。　　They　call　me　a　miser。　　They　say　that　in　this　sea…chest　of
mine　I　hoard　my　gold。　　（HE　PASSES　R。　TO　CHEST；　TAKES　OUT　KEY；　AND
UNLOCKS　IT。）　　They　think　my　treasure　and　my　very　soul　are　locked
up　here。　　They　speak　after　the　flesh；　but　they　are　right。　　See！

ARETHUSA。　　Her　watch？　the　wedding　ring？　　O　father；　forgive　me！

GAUNT。　　Ay；　her　watch　that　counted　the　hours　when　I　was　away；
they　were　few　and　sorrowful；　my　Hester's　hours；　and　this　poor　
contrivance　numbered　them。　　The　ring　…　with　that　I　married　her。　　
This　chain；　it's　of　Guinea　gold；　I　brought　it　home　for　her；　the　
year　before　we　married；　and　she　wore　it　to　her　wedding。　　It　was　a
vanity：　　they　are　all　vanities；　but　they　are　the　treasure　of　my　
soul。　　Below　here；　see；　her　wedding　dress。　　Ay；　the　watch　has　
stopped：　　dead；　dead。　　And　I　know　that　my　Hester　died　of　me；　and　
day　and　night；　asleep　and　awake；　my　soul　abides　in　her
remembrance。

ARETHUSA。　　And　you　come　in　your　sleep　to　look　at　them。　　O　poor　
father！　　I　understand　…　I　understand　you　now。

GAUNT。　　In　my　sleep？　　Ay？　do　I　so？　　My　Hester！

ARETHUSA。　　And　why；　why　did　you　not　tell　me？　　I　thought　…　I　was　
like　the　rest！　…　I　feared　you　were　a　miser。　　O；　you　should　have　
told　me；　I　should　have　been　so　proud　…　so　proud　and　happy。　　I
knew　you　loved　her；　but　not　this；　not　this。

GAUNT。　　Why　should　I　have　spoken？　　It　was　all　between　my　Hester
and　me。

ARETHUSA。　　Father；　may　I　speak？　　May　I　tell　you　what　my　heart
tells　me？　　You　do　not　understand　about　my　mother。　　You　loved　her
…　O；　as　few　men　can　love。　　And　she　loved　you：　　think　how　she
loved　you！　　In　this　world；　you　know　…　you　have　told　me　…　there　is
nothing　perfect。　　All　we　men　and　women　have　our　sins；　and　they
are　a　pain　to　those　that　love　us；　and　the　deeper　the　love；　the
crueller　the　pain。　　That　is　life；　and　it　is　life　we　ask；　not
heaven；　and　what　matter　for　the　pain；　if　only　the　love　holds　on？　
Her　love　held：　　then　she　was　happy！　　Her　love　was　immortal；　and
when　she　died；　her　one　grief　was　to　be　parted　from　you；　her　one
hope　to　welcome　you　again。

GAUNT。　　And　you；　Arethusa：　　I　was　to　bring　her　little　maid。

ARETHUSA。　　God　bless　her；　yes；　and　me！　　But；　father；　can　you　not　
see　that　she　was　blessed　among　women？

GAUNT。　　Child；　child；　you　speak　in　ignorance；　you　touch　upon
griefs　you　cannot　fathom。

ARETHUSA。　　No；　dearest；　no。　　She　loved　you；　loved　you　and　died　of
it。　　Why　else　do　women　live？　　What　would　I　ask　but　just　to　love
my　Kit　and　die　for　him；　and　look　down　from　heaven；　and　see　him
keep　my　memory　holy　and　live　the　nobler　for　my　sake？

GAUNT。　　Ay；　do　you　so　love　him？

ARETHUSA。　　Even　as　my　mother　loved　my　father。

GAUNT。　　Ay？　　Then　we　will　see。　　What　right　have　I　…　You　are　your　
mother's　child：　　better；　tenderer；　wiser　than　I。　　Let　us　seek　
guidance　in　prayer。　　Good…night；　my　little　maid。

ARETHUSA。　　O　father；　I　know　you　at　last。


SCENE　II

GAUNT　and　ARETHUSA　go　out；　L。；　carrying　the　candles。　　Stage　dark。

A　distant　clock　chimes　the　quarters；　and　strikes　one。　　Then；　the　
tap…tapping　of　Pew's　stick　is　hear　without；　the　key　is　put　into
the　lock；　and　enter　PEW；　C。；　he　pockets　key；　and　is　followed　by
KIT；　with　dark　lantern

PEW。　　Quiet；　you　lubber！　　Can't　you　foot　it　soft；　you　that　has　
daylights　and　a　glim？

KIT。　　All　right；　old　boy。　　How　the　devil　did　we　get　through　the　
door？　　Shall　I　knock　him　up？

PEW。　　Stow　your　gab　（SEIZING　HIS　WRIST）。　　Under　your　breath！

KIT。　　Avast　that！　　You're　a　savage　dog；　aren't　you？

PEW。　　Turn　on　that　glim。

KIT。　　It's　as　right　as　a　trivet；　Pew。　　What　next？　　By　George；
Pew；　I'll　make　your　fortune。

PEW。　　Here；　now；　look　round　this　room；　and　sharp。　　D'ye　see　a　old
sea…chest？

KIT。　　See　it；　Pew？　why；　d'ye　think　I'm　blind？

PEW。　　Take　me　across；　and　let　me　feel　of　her。　　Mum；　catch　my
hand。　　Ah；　that's　her　（FEELING　THE　CHEST）；　that's　the　Golden
Mary。　　Now；　see　here；　my　bo；　if　you've　the　pluck　of　a　weevil　in　a
biscuit；　this　girl　is　yours；　if　you　hain't；　and　think　to　sheer
off；　I'm　blind；　but　I'm　deadly。

KIT。　　You'll　keep　a　civil　tongue　in　your　head　all　the　same。　　I'll
take　threats　from　nobody；　blind　or　not。　　Let's　knock　up　the
Admiral　and　be　done　with　it。　　What　I　want　is　to　get　rid　of　this
dark　lantern。　　It　makes　me　feel　like　a　housebreaker；　by　George。

PEW　（SEATED　ON　CHEST）。　　You　follow　this。　　I'm　sick　of　drinking　
bilge；　when　I　might　be　rolling　in　my　coach；　and　I'm　dog…sick　of　
Jack　Gaunt。　　Who's　he　to　be　wallowing　in　gold；　when　a　better　man
is　groping　crusts　in　the　gutter　and　spunging　for　rum？　　Now；　here
in　this　blasted　chest　is　the　gold　to　make　men　of　us　for　life：　
gold；　ay；　gobs　of　it；　and　writin's　too　…　things　that　if　I　had　the
proof　of　'em　I'd　hold　Jack　Gaunt　to　the　grindstone　till　his　face
was　flat。　　I'd　have　done　it　single…handed；　but　I'm　blind；　worse
luck：　　I'm　all　in　the　damned　dark　here；　poking　with　a　stick　…
Lord；　burn　up　with　lime　the　eyes　that　saw　it！　　That's　why　I　raked
up　you。　　Come；　out　with　your　iron；　and　prise　the　lid　off。　　You
shall　touch　your　snack；　and　have　the　wench　for　nothing；　ay；　and
fling　her　in　the　street；　when　done。

KIT。　　So　you　brought　me