第 9 节
作者:古诗乐      更新:2024-11-30 11:15      字数:9322
  known from nature。
  32
  … Page 33…
  THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
  Why will   mankind be fools; and be deceived; And why are friends'
  and lovers' oaths believed; When each; who searches strictly his own mind;
  May so much fraud and power of baseness find?
  33
  … Page 34…
  THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
  ACT III。
  SCENE I。
  LORD TOUCHWOOD and LADY TOUCHWOOD。
  LADY  TOUCH。          My   lord;   can   you   blame   my   brother   Plyant   if   he
  refuse   his   daughter  upon   this   provocation?  The   contract's   void   by   this
  unheard…of impiety。
  LORD TOUCH。           I don't believe it true; he has better principles。 Pho;
  'tis nonsense。    Come; come; I know my Lady Plyant has a large eye; and
  would centre everything in her own circle; 'tis not the first time she has
  mistaken respect for love; and made Sir Paul jealous of the civility of an
  undesigning   person;   the   better   to   bespeak   his   security   in   her   unfeigned
  pleasures。
  LADY TOUCH。           You censure hardly; my lord; my sister's honour is
  very well known。
  LORD       TOUCH。       Yes;    I  believe   I  know   some    that  have    been
  familiarly   acquainted    with   it。 This    is  a  little  trick  wrought  by   some
  pitiful contriver; envious of my nephew's merit。
  LADY TOUCH。           Nay;   my  lord; it   may  be   so;  and   I  hope  it   will   be
  found   so。   But   that   will   require   some   time;   for   in   such   a   case   as   this;
  demonstration is necessary。
  LORD       TOUCH。       There    should   have   been   demonstration     of  the
  contrary too; before it had been believed。
  LADY TOUCH。           So I suppose there was。
  LORD TOUCH。           How?     Where?      When?
  LADY TOUCH。           That I can't tell; nay; I don't say there was。        I am
  willing to believe as favourably of my nephew as I can。
  LORD TOUCH。           I don't know that。     'Half aside。'
  LADY TOUCH。           How?      Don't you believe that; say you; my lord?
  LORD TOUCH。           No; I don't say so。     I confess I am troubled to find
  34
  … Page 35…
  THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
  you so cold in his defence。
  LADY       TOUCH。       His    defence!     Bless    me;   would     you   have   me
  defend an ill thing?
  LORD TOUCH。           You believe it; then?
  LADY   TOUCH。          I   don't   know;   I   am   very   unwilling   to   speak   my
  thoughts in anything that may be to my cousin's disadvantage:                 besides; I
  find;   my   lord;   you   are   prepared   to   receive   an   ill   impression   from   any
  opinion of mine which is not consenting with your own。                 But; since I am
  like to be suspected in the end; and 'tis a pain any longer to dissemble; I
  own it to you; in short I do believe it; nay; and can believe anything worse;
  if it were laid to his charge。 Don't ask me my reasons; my lord; for they are
  not fit to be told you。
  LORD TOUCH。            I'm   amazed:     there   must be   something   more   than
  ordinary in this。     'Aside。'     Not fit to be told me; madam?          You can have
  no    interests  wherein    I  am   not   concerned;    and   consequently     the   same
  reasons ought   to   be   convincing   to   me;   which   create   your   satisfaction   or
  disquiet。
  LADY TOUCH。            But those which cause my disquiet I am willing to
  have remote from your hearing。           Good my lord; don't press me。
  LORD TOUCH。           Don't oblige me to press you。
  LADY TOUCH。            Whatever it was; 'tis past。       And that is better to be
  unknown   which   cannot   be   prevented;   therefore   let   me   beg   you   to   rest
  satisfied。
  LORD TOUCH。           When you have told me; I will。
  LADY TOUCH。           You won't。
  LORD TOUCH。           By my life; my dear; I will。
  LADY TOUCH。           What if you can't?
  LORD TOUCH。            How?      Then I must know; nay; I will。           No more
  trifling。   I   charge   you   tell   me。 By   all   our   mutual   peace   to   come;   upon
  your duty …
  LADY TOUCH。            Nay; my lord; you need say no more; to make me
  lay my heart before you; but don't be thus transported; compose yourself。
  It   is   not   of   concern   to   make   you   lose   one   minute's   temper。 'Tis   not;
  indeed; my dear。       Nay; by this kiss you shan't be angry。         O Lord; I wish I
  35
  … Page 36…
  THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
  had not told you anything。        Indeed; my lord; you have frighted me。            Nay;
  look pleased; I'll tell you。
  LORD TOUCH。           Well; well。
  LADY TOUCH。           Nay; but will you be calm?          Indeed it's nothing but
  …
  LORD TOUCH。           But what?
  LADY  TOUCH。           But   will   you   promise   me   not   to   be   angry? Nay;
  you mustnot to be angry with Mellefont?               I dare swear he's sorry; and
  were it to do again; would not …
  LORD TOUCH。           Sorry for what?       'Death; you rack me with delay。
  LADY      TOUCH。        Nay;    no   great   matter;   onlywell;    I  have   your
  promise。     Pho;   why   nothing;    only   your   nephew     had  a  mind    to  amuse
  himself sometimes with a little gallantry towards me。               Nay; I can't think
  he meant anything seriously; but methought it looked oddly。
  LORD TOUCH。           Confusion and hell; what do I hear?
  LADY TOUCH。            Or; may be; he thought he was not enough akin to
  me; upon your account; and had a mind to create a nearer relation on his
  own; a lover you know; my lord。            Ha; ha; ha。      Well; but that's all。 Now
  you   have   it;   well   remember   your   promise;   my   lord;   and   don't   take   any
  notice of it to him。
  LORD TOUCH。           No; no; no。      Damnation!
  LADY TOUCH。           Nay; I swear you must not。         A little harmless mirth;
  only   misplaced;   that's   all。  But   if   it   were   more;   'tis   over   now;   and   all's
  well。    For my part I have forgot it; and so has he; I hope; for I have not
  heard anything from him these two days。
  LORD TOUCH。           These two days!        Is it so fresh?    Unnatural villain!
  Death;    I'll  have  him   stripped    and  turned    naked   out   of  my   doors   this
  moment; and let him rot and perish; incestuous brute!
  LADY TOUCH。           Oh; for heav'n's sake; my lord; you'll ruin me if you
  take such public notice of it; it will be a town talk。            Consider your own
  and my honour; nay; I told you you would not be satisfied when you knew
  it。
  LORD   TOUCH。          Before   I've   done   I   will   be   satisfied。 Ungrateful
  monster! how long?
  36
  … Page 37…
  THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
  LADY   TOUCH。          Lord;   I  don't  know;   I  wish   my   lips  had  grown
  together when I told you。       Almost a twelvemonth。        Nay; I won't tell you
  any more till you are yourself。       Pray; my lord; don't let the company see
  you in this disorder。     Yet; I confess; I can't blame you; for I think I was
  never   so   surprised   in   my   life。 Who   would   have   thought   my   nephew
  could   have   so   misconstrued   my   kindness?    But   will   you   go   into   your
  closet; and recover your temper。        I'll make an excuse of sudden business
  to the company; and come to you。          Pray; good; dear my lord; let me beg
  you do now。      I'll come immediately and tell you all; will you; my lord?
  LORD TOUCH。           I willI am mute with wonder。
  LADY TOUCH。           Well; but go now; here's somebody coming。
  LORD TOUCH。           Well; I go。    You won't stay? for I would hear more
  of this。
  LADY TOUCH。           I follow instantly。    So。
  SCENE II。
  LADY TOUCHWOOD; MASKWELL。
  MASK。       This was a masterpiece; and did not need my help; though I
  stood ready for a cue to come in and confirm all; had there been occasion。
  LADY TOUCH。           Have you seen Mellefont?
  MASK。       I have; and am to meet him here about this time。
  LADY TOUCH。           How does he bear his disappointment?
  MASK。       Secure in my assistance; he seemed not much afflicted; but
  rather   laughed    at  the  shallow   artifi