sir thomas more(托马斯·莫尔骑士)-第3节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
SURESBY。 Aye； marry； Lifter； wherefor serve they？
＇Shrugging gladly。＇
LIFTER。 Only to feel Whether you go full under sail or no； Or that
your lading be aboard your bark。
SURESBY。 In plainer English； Lifter； if my purse Be stored or no？
LIFTER。 Ye have it； sir。
SURESBY。 Excellent； excellent。
LIFTER。 Then； sir； you cannot but for manner's sake Walk on with
him； for he will walk your way； Alleging either you have much forgot him；
Or he mistakes you。
SURESBY。 But in this time has he my purse or no？
LIFTER。 Not yet； sir； fie！ ＇Aside。｝ No； nor I have not yours。
＇Enter Lord Mayor； &c。＇
But now we must forbear； my lords return。
SURESBY。 A murren on't！Lifter； we'll more anon： Aye； thou sayest
true； there are shrewd knaves indeed：
＇He sits down。＇
But let them gull me； widgen me； rook me； fop me！ Yfaith； yfaith； they
are too short for me。 Knaves and fools meet when purses go： Wise men
look to their purses well enough。
MORE。 ＇Aside。＇ Lifter； is it done？
LIFTER。 ＇Aside。＇ Done； Master Shreeve； and there it is。
MORE。 ＇Aside。＇ Then build upon my word。 I'll save thy life。
11
… Page 12…
SIR THOMAS MORE
RECORDER。 Lifter； stand to the bar： The jury have returned the guilty；
thou must die； According to the custom。Look to it； Master Shreeve。
LORD MAYOR。 Then； gentlemen； as you are wont to do； Because as
yet we have no burial place； What charity your meaning's to bestow
Toward burial of the prisoners now condemned； Let it be given。 There is
first for me。
RECORDER。 And there for me。
ANOTHER。 And me。
SURESBY。 Body of me； my purse is gone！
MORE。 Gone； sir！ what； here！ how can that be？
LORD MAYOR。 Against all reason； sitting on the bench。
SURESBY。 Lifter； I talked with you； you have not lifted me？ ha！
LIFTER。 Suspect ye me； sir？ Oh； what a world is this！
MORE。 But hear ye； master Suresby； are ye sure Ye had a purse about
ye？
SURESBY。 Sure； Master Shrieve！ as sure as you are there； And in it
seven pounds； odd money； on my faith。
MORE。 Seven pounds； odd money！ what； were you so mad； Being a
wise man and a magistrate； To trust your purse with such a liberal sum？
Seven pounds； odd money！ fore God； it is a shame； With such a sum to
tempt necessity： I promise ye； a man that goes abroad With an intent of
truth； meeting such a booty； May be wrought to that he never thought。
What makes so many pilferers and felons； But these fond baits that foolish
people lay To tempt the needy miserable wretch？ Should he be taken now
that has your purse； I'd stand to't； you are guilty of his death； For；
questionless； he would be cast by law。 Twere a good deed to fine ye as
much more； To the relief of the poor prisoners； To teach ye lock your
money up at home。
SURESBY。 Well； Master More； you are a merry man； I find ye； sir； I
find ye well enough。
MORE。 Nay； ye shall see； sir； trusting thus your money； And Lifter
here in trial for like case； But that the poor man is a prisoner； It would be
now suspected that he had it。 Thus may ye see what mischief often comes
By the fond carriage of such needless sums。
12
… Page 13…
SIR THOMAS MORE
LORD MAYOR。 Believe me； Master Suresby； this is strange； You；
being a man so settled in assurance； Will fall in that which you condemned
in other。
MORE。 Well； Master Suresby； there's your purse again； And all your
money： fear nothing of More； Wisdom still keeps the mean and locks the
door。
13
… Page 14…
SIR THOMAS MORE
SCENE III。 London。 A state apartment。
＇Enter the Earls of Shrewsbury and Surrey； Sir Thomas Palmer； and Sir
Roger Cholmley。＇
SHREWSBURY。 My lord of Surrey； and Sir Thomas Palmer Might I
with patience tempt your grave advise； I tell ye true； that in these
dangerous times I do not like this frowning vulgar brow： My searching eye
did never entertain A more distracted countenance of grief Than I have late
observed In the displeased commons of the city。
SURREY。 Tis strange that from his princely clemency； So well a
tempered mercy and a grace； To all the aliens in this fruitful land； That this
high…crested insolence should spring From them that breathe from his
majestic bounty； That； fattened with the traffic of our country； Already
leaps into his subject's face。
PALMER。 Yet Sherwin； hindered to commence his suit Against De
Barde by the ambassador； By supplication made unto the king； Who
having first enticed away his wife； And got his plate； near worth four
hundred pound； To grieve some wronged citizens that found This vile
disgrace oft cast into their teeth； Of late sues Sherwin； and arrested him
For money for the boarding of his wife。
SURREY。 The more knave Barde； that； using Sherwin's goods； Doth
ask him interest for the occupation。 I like not that； my lord of Shrewsbury：
He's ill bested that lends a well paced horse Unto a man that will not find
him meet。 CHOLMLEY。 My lord of Surrey will be pleasant still。
PALMER。 Aye； being then employed by your honors To stay the broil
that fell about the same； Where by persuasion I enforced the wrongs； And
urged the grief of the displeased city； He answered me； and with a solemn
oath； That； if he had the Mayor of London's wife； He would keep her in
despite of any English。
SURREY。 Tis good； Sir Thomas； then； for you and me； Your wife is
dead； and I a bachelor： If no man can possess his wife alone； I am glad； Sir
Thomas Palmer； I have none。
CHOLMLEY。 If a take a wife； a shall find her meet。
SURREY。 And reason good； Sir Roger Cholmley； too。 If these hot
14
… Page 15…
SIR THOMAS MORE
Frenchmen needsly will have sport； They should in kindness yet defray the
charge： Tis hard when men possess our wives in quiet； And yet leave us in；
to discharge their diet。
SHREWSBURY。 My lord； our catours shall not use the market For our
provision； but some stranger now Will take the vittailes from him he hath
bought： A carpenter； as I was late informed； Who having bought a pair of
doves in Cheap； Immediately a Frenchman took them from him； And beat
the poor man for resisting him； And when the fellow did complain his
wrongs； He was severely punished for his labor。
SURREY。 But if the English blood be once but up； As I perceive their
hearts already full； I fear me much； before their spleens be cold； Some of
these saucy aliens for their pride Will pay for 't soundly； wheresoere it
lights： This tide of rage that with the eddy strives； I fear me much； will
drown too many lives。
CHOLMLEY。 Now； afore God； your honors； pardon me： Men of your
place and greatness are to blame。 I tell ye true； my lords； in that his
majesty Is not informed of this base abuse And daily wrongs are offered to
his subjects； For； if he were； I know his gracious wisdom Would soon
redress it。
＇Enter a Messenger。＇
SHREWSBURY。 Sirrah； what news？
CHOLMLEY。 None good； I fear。
MESSENGER。 My lord； ill news； and worse； I fear； will follow； If
speedily it be not looked unto： The city is in an uproar； and the Mayor Is
threatened； if he come out of his house。 A number poor artificers are up In
arms and threaten to avenge their wrongs。
CHOLMLEY。 We feared what this would come unto： This follows on
the doctors publishing The bill of wrongs in public at the Spittle。
SHREWSBURY。 That Doctor Beale may chance beshrew himself For
reading of the bill。
PALMER。 Let us go gather forces to the Mayor； For quick suppressing
this rebellious route。
SURREY。 Now I bethink myself of Master More； One of the sheriffs；
a wise and learned gentleman； And in especial favour with the people： He；
15
… Page 16…
SIR THOMAS MORE
backed with other grave and sober men； May by his gentle and persuasive
speech Perhaps prevail more than we can wit
