the old bachelor-第8节
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here for you。
SIR JO。 You may stay until the day of judgment; then; by the Lord Harry。 I know better things than to be run through the guts for a hundred pounds。 Why; I gave that hundred pound for being saved; and de'e think; an there were no danger; I'll be so ungrateful to take it from the gentleman again?
BLUFF。 Well; go to him from metell him; I say; he must refund or Bilbo's the world; and slaughter will ensue。 If he refuse; tell himbut whisper thattell himI'll pink his soul。 But whisper that softly to him。
SIR JO。 So softly that he shall never hear on't; I warrant you。 Why; what a devil's the matter; Bully; are you mad? or de'e think I'm mad? Agad; for my part; I don't love to be the messenger of ill news; 'tis an ungrateful officeso tell him yourself。
BLUFF。 By these hilts I believe he frightened you into this composition: I believe you gave it him out of fear; pure; paltry fearconfess。
SIR JO。 No; no; hang't; I was not afraid neitherthough I confess he did in a manner snap me upyet I can't say that it was altogether out of fear; but partly to prevent mischieffor he was a devilish choleric fellow。 And if my choler had been up too; agad; there would have been mischief done; that's flat。 And yet I believe if you had been by; I would as soon have let him a' had a hundred of my teeth。 Adsheart; if he should come just now when I'm angry; I'd tell himMum。
SCENE VIII。
'To them' BELLMOUR; SHARPER。
BELL。 Thou 'rt a lucky rogue; there's your benefactor; you ought to return him thanks now you have received the favour。
SHARP。 Sir Joseph! Your note was accepted; and the money paid at sight。 I'm come to return my thanks …
SIR JO。 They won't be accepted so readily as the bill; sir。
BELL。 I doubt the knight repents; Tom。 He looks like the knight of the sorrowful face。
SHARP。 This is a double generosity: do me a kindness and refuse my thanks。 But I hope you are not offended that I offered them。
SIR JO。 May be I am; sir; may be I am not; sir; may be I am both; sir; what then? I hope I may be offended without any offence to you; sir。
SHARP。 Hey day! Captain; what's the matter? You can tell。
BLUFF。 Mr。 Sharper; the matter is plain: Sir Joseph has found out your trick; and does not care to be put upon; being a man of honour。
SHARP。 Trick; sir?
SIR JO。 Ay; trick; sir; and won't be put upon; sir; being a man of honour; sir; and so; sir …
SHARP。 Harkee; Sir Joseph; a word with ye。 In consideration of some favours lately received; I would not have you draw yourself into a PREMUNIRE; by trusting to that sign of a man therethat pot…gun charged with wind。
SIR JO。 O Lord; O Lord; Captain; come justify yourselfI'll give him the lie if you'll stand to it。
SHARP。 Nay; then; I'll be beforehand with you; take that; oaf。 'Cuffs him。'
SIR JO。 Captain; will you see this? Won't you pink his soul?
BLUFF。 Husht; 'tis not so convenient nowI shall find a time。
SHARP。 What do you mutter about a time; rascal? You were the incendiary。 There's to put you in mind of your time。A memorandum。 'Kicks him。'
BLUFF。 Oh; this is your time; sir; you had best make use on't。
SHARP。 IGad and so I will: there's again for you。 'Kicks him。'
BLUFF。 You are obliging; sir; but this is too public a place to thank you in。 But in your ear; you are to be seen again?
SHARP。 Ay; thou inimitable coward; and to be feltas for example。 'Kicks him。'
BELL。 Ha; ha; ha; prithee come away; 'tis scandalous to kick this puppy unless a man were cold and had no other way to get himself aheat。
SCENE IX。
SIR JOSEPH; BLUFFE。
BLUFF。 Very wellvery finebut 'tis no matter。 Is not this fine; Sir Joseph?
SIR JO。 Indifferent; agad; in my opinion; very indifferent。 I'd rather go plain all my life than wear such finery。
BLUFF。 Death and hell to be affronted thus! I'll die before I'll suffer it。 'Draws'
SIR JO。 O Lord; his anger was not raised before。 Nay; dear Captain; don't be in passion now he's gone。 Put up; put up; dear Back; 'tis your Sir Joseph begs; come let me kiss thee; so; so; put up; put up。
BLUFF。 By heaven; 'tis not to be put up。
SIR JO。 What; Bully?
BLUFF。 The affront。
SIR JO。 No; aged; no more 'tis; for that's put up all already; thy sword; I mean。
BLUFF。 Well; Sir Joseph; at your entreatyBut were not you; my friend; abused; and cuffed; and kicked? 'Putting up his sword。'
SIR JO。 Ay; ay; so were you too; no matter; 'tis past。
BLUFF。 By the immortal thunder of great guns; 'tis falsehe sucks not vital air who dares affirm it to this face。 'Looks big。'
SIR JO。 To that face I grant you; Captain。 No; no; I grant you not to that face; by the Lord Harry。 If you had put on your fighting face before; you had done his businesshe durst as soon have kissed you; as kicked you to your face。 But a man can no more help what's done behind his back than what's saidCome; we'll think no more of what's past。
BLUFF。 I'll call a council of war within to consider of my revenge to come。
SCENE X。
HEARTWELL; SILVIA。 Silvia's apartment。
SONG。
As Amoret and Thyrsis lay Melting the hours in gentle play; Joining faces; mingling kisses; And exchanging harmless blisses: He trembling cried; with eager haste; O let me feed as well as taste; I die; if I'm not wholly blest。 'After the song a dance of antics。'
SILV。 Indeed it is very fine。 I could look upon 'em all day。
HEART。 Well has this prevailed for me; and will you look upon me?
SILV。 If you could sing and dance so; I should love to look upon you too。
HEART。 Why; 'twas I sung and danced; I gave music to the voice; and life to their measures。 Look you here; Silvia; 'pulling out a purse and chinking it' here are songs and dances; poetry and music… …hark! how sweetly one guinea rhymes to anotherand how they dance to the music of their own chink。 This buys all t'otherand this thou shalt have; this; and all that I am worth; for the purchase of thy love。 Say; is it mine then; ha? Speak; SyrenOons; why do I look on her! Yet I must。 Speak; dear angel; devil; saint; witch; do not rack me with suspense。
SILV。 Nay; don't stare at me so。 You make me blushI cannot look。
HEART。 O manhood; where art thou? What am I come to? A woman's toy; at these years! Death; a bearded baby for a girl to dandle。 O dotage; dotage! That ever that noble passion; lust; should ebb to this degree。 No reflux of vigorous blood: but milky love supplies the empty channels; and prompts me to the softness of a childa mere infant and would suck。 Can you love me; Silvia? Speak。
SILV。 I dare not speak until I believe you; and indeed I'm afraid to believe you yet。
HEART。 Death; how her innocence torments and pleases me! Lying; child; is indeed the art of love; and men are generally masters in it: but I'm so newly entered; you cannot distrust me of any skill in the treacherous mystery。 Now; by my soul; I cannot lie; though it were to serve a friend or gain a mistress。
SILV。 Must you lie; then; if you say you love me?
HEART。 No; no; dear ignorance; thou beauteous changelingI tell thee I do love thee; and tell it for a truth; a naked truth; which I'm ashamed to discover。
SILV。 But love; they say; is a tender thing; that will smooth frowns; and make calm an angry face; will soften a rugged temper; and make ill…humoured people good。 You look ready to fright one; and talk as if your passion were not love; but anger。
HEART。 'Tis both; for I am angry with myself when I am pleased with you。 And a pox upon me for loving thee so wellyet I must on。 'Tis a bearded arrow; and will more easily be thrust forward than drawn back。
SILV。 Indeed; if I were well assured you loved; but how can I be well assured?
HEART。 Take the symptomsand ask all the tyrants of thy sex if their fools are not known by this party…coloured livery。 I am melancholic when thou art absent; look like an ass when thou art present; wake for thee when I should sleep; and even dream of thee when I am awake; sigh much; drink little; eat less; court solitude; am grown very entertaining to myself; and (as I am informed) very troublesome to everybody else。 If this be not love; it is madness; and then it is pardonable。 Nay; yet a more certain sign than all this; I give thee my money。
SILV。 Ay; but that is no sign; for they say; gentlemen will give money to any naughty woman to come to bed to them。 O Gemini; I hope you don't mean sofor I won't be a whore。
HEART。 The more is the pity。 'Aside。'
SILV。 Nay; if you would marry me; you should not come to bed to meyou have such a beard; and would so prickle one。 But do you intend to marry me?
HEART。 That a fool should ask such a malicious question! Death; I shall be drawn in before I know where I am。 However; I find I am pretty sure of her consent; if I am put to it。 'Aside。' Marry you? No; no; I'll love you。
SILV。 Nay; but if you love me; you must marry me。 What; don't I know my father loved my mother and was married to her?
HEART。 Ay; ay; in old days people married where they loved; but that fashion is changed; child。
SILV。 Never tell me that; I know it is not changed by myself: for I love you; and would