第 20 节
作者:
上访不如上网 更新:2021-04-30 16:09 字数:9322
RICHARD。 Look what is done cannot be now amended。 Men shall deal
unadvisedly sometimes; Which after…hours gives leisure to repent。 If I did
take the kingdom from your sons; To make amends I'll give it to your
daughter。 If I have kill'd the issue of your womb; To quicken your increase
I will beget Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter。 A grandam's
name is little less in love Than is the doating title of a mother; They are as
children but one step below; Even of your metal; of your very blood; Of all
one pain; save for a night of groans Endur'd of her; for whom you bid like
sorrow。 Your children were vexation to your youth; But mine shall be a
comfort to your age。 The loss you have is but a son being King; And by
that loss your daughter is made Queen。 I cannot make you what amends I
would; Therefore accept such kindness as I can。 Dorset your son; that with
a fearful soul Leads discontented steps in foreign soil; This fair alliance
quickly shall can home To high promotions and great dignity。 The King;
that calls your beauteous daughter wife; Familiarly shall call thy Dorset
brother; Again shall you be mother to a king; And all the ruins of
distressful times Repair'd with double riches of content。 What! we have
many goodly days to see。 The liquid drops of tears that you have shed
Shall come again; transform'd to orient pearl; Advantaging their loan with
interest Of ten times double gain of happiness。 Go; then; my mother; to thy
daughter go; Make bold her bashful years with your experience; Prepare
her ears to hear a wooer's tale; Put in her tender heart th' aspiring flame Of
golden sovereignty; acquaint the Princes With the sweet silent hours of
marriage joys。 And when this arm of mine hath chastised The petty rebel;
dull…brain'd Buckingham; Bound with triumphant garlands will I come;
And lead thy daughter to a conqueror's bed; To whom I will retail my
conquest won; And she shall be sole victoress; Caesar's Caesar。 QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 What were I best to say? Her father's brother Would be her
lord? Or shall I say her uncle? Or he that slew her brothers and her uncles?
Under what title shall I woo for thee That God; the law; my honour; and
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her love Can make seem pleasing to her tender years? KING RICHARD。
Infer fair England's peace by this alliance。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Which
she shall purchase with still…lasting war。 KING RICHARD。 Tell her the
King; that may command; entreats。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 That at her
hands which the King's King forbids。 KING RICHARD。 Say she shall be
a high and mighty queen。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 To wail the title; as her
mother doth。 KING RICHARD。 Say I will love her everlastingly。 QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 But how long shall that title 'ever' last? KING RICHARD。
Sweetly in force unto her fair life's end。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 But how
long fairly shall her sweet life last? KING RICHARD。 As long as heaven
and nature lengthens it。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 As long as hell and
Richard likes of it。 KING RICHARD。 Say I; her sovereign; am her subject
low。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 But she; your subject; loathes such
sovereignty。 KING RICHARD。 Be eloquent in my behalf to her。 QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 An honest tale speeds best being plainly told。 KING
RICHARD。 Then plainly to her tell my loving tale。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。
Plain and not honest is too harsh a style。 KING RICHARD。 Your reasons
are too shallow and too quick。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 O; no; my reasons
are too deep and dead… Too deep and dead; poor infants; in their graves。
KING RICHARD。 Harp not on that string; madam; that is past。 QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 Harp on it still shall I till heartstrings break。 KING
RICHARD。 Now; by my George; my garter; and my crown… QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 Profan'd; dishonour'd; and the third usurp'd。 KING
RICHARD。 I swear… QUEEN ELIZABETH。 By nothing; for this is no
oath: Thy George; profan'd; hath lost his lordly honour; Thy garter;
blemish'd; pawn'd his knightly virtue; Thy crown; usurp'd; disgrac'd his
kingly glory。 If something thou wouldst swear to be believ'd; Swear then
by something that thou hast not wrong'd。 KING RICHARD。 Then; by my
self… QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Thy self is self…misus'd。 KING RICHARD。
Now; by the world… QUEEN ELIZABETH。 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs。
KING RICHARD。 My father's death… QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Thy life
hath it dishonour'd。 KING RICHARD。 Why; then; by God… QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 God's wrong is most of all。 If thou didst fear to break an
oath with Him; The unity the King my husband made Thou hadst not
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broken; nor my brothers died。 If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by Him;
Th' imperial metal; circling now thy head; Had grac'd the tender temples
of my child; And both the Princes had been breathing here; Which now;
two tender bedfellows for dust; Thy broken faith hath made the prey for
worms。 What canst thou swear by now? KING RICHARD。 The time to
come。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 That thou hast wronged in the time o'erpast;
For I myself have many tears to wash Hereafter time; for time past
wrong'd by thee。 The children live whose fathers thou hast slaughter'd;
Ungovern'd youth; to wail it in their age; The parents live whose children
thou hast butcheed; Old barren plants; to wail it with their age。 Swear not
by time to come; for that thou hast Misus'd ere us'd; by times ill…us'd
o'erpast。 KING RICHARD。 As I intend to prosper and repent; So thrive I
in my dangerous affairs Of hostile arms! Myself myself confound! Heaven
and fortune bar me happy hours! Day; yield me not thy light; nor; night;
thy rest! Be opposite all planets of good luck To my proceeding!…if; with
dear heart's love; Immaculate devotion; holy thoughts; I tender not thy
beauteous princely daughter。 In her consists my happiness and thine;
Without her; follows to myself and thee; Herself; the land; and many a
Christian soul; Death; desolation; ruin; and decay。 It cannot be avoided but
by this; It will not be avoided but by this。 Therefore; dear mother…I must
call you so… Be the attorney of my love to her; Plead what I will be; not
what I have been; Not my deserts; but what I will deserve。 Urge the
necessity and state of times; And be not peevish…fond in great designs。
QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Shall I be tempted of the devil thus? KING
RICHARD。 Ay; if the devil tempt you to do good。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。
Shall I forget myself to be myself? KING RICHARD。 Ay; if your self's
remembrance wrong yourself。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Yet thou didst kill
my children。 KING RICHARD。 But in your daughter's womb I bury them;
Where; in that nest of spicery; they will breed Selves of themselves; to
your recomforture。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Shall I go win my daughter to
thy will? KING RICHARD。 And be a happy mother by the deed。 QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 I go。 Write to me very shortly; And you shall understand
from me her mind。 KING RICHARD。 Bear her my true love's kiss; and so;
farewell。 Kissing her。 Exit QUEEN ELIZABETH Relenting fool; and
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shallow; changing woman!
Enter RATCLIFF; CATESBY following
How now! what news? RATCLIFF。 Most mighty sovereign; on the
western coast Rideth a puissant navy; to our shores Throng many doubtful
hollow…hearted friends; Unarm'd; and unresolv'd to beat them back。 'Tis
thought that Richmond is their admiral; And there they hull; expecting but
the aid Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore。 KING RICHARD。 Some
light…foot friend post to the Duke of Norfolk。 Ratcliff; thyself…or Catesby;
where is he? CATESBY。 Here; my good lord。 KING RICHARD。 Catesby;
fly to the Duke。 CATESBY。 I will my lord; with all convenient haste。
KING RICHARD。 Ratcliff; come hither。 Post to Salisbury; When thou
com'st thithe