the way of the world(如此世道)-第14节
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lady at the time when that rascal who is to act Sir Rowland is with her。 It
shall come as from an unknown handfor the less I appear to know of the
truth the better I can play the incendiary。 Besides； I would not have Foible
provoked if I could help it； because； you know； she knows some passages。
Nay； I expect all will come out。 But let the mine be sprung first； and then I
care not if I am discovered。
FAIN。 If the worst come to the worst； I'll turn my wife to grass。 I have
already a deed of settlement of the best part of her estate； which I
wheedled out of her； and that you shall partake at least。
MRS。 MAR。 I hope you are convinced that I hate Mirabell now？ You'll
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be no more jealous？
FAIN。 Jealous？ No； by this kiss。 Let husbands be jealous； but let the
lover still believe： or if he doubt； let it be only to endear his pleasure； and
prepare the joy that follows； when he proves his mistress true。 But let
husbands' doubts convert to endless jealousy； or if they have belief； let it
corrupt to superstition and blind credulity。 I am single and will herd no
more with 'em。 True； I wear the badge； but I'll disown the order。 And since
I take my leave of 'em； I care not if I leave 'em a common motto to their
common crest。
All husbands must or pain or shame endure； The wise too jealous are；
fools too secure。
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ACT IV。
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SCENE I。
Scene Continues。
LADY WISHFORT and FOIBLE。
LADY。 Is Sir Rowland coming； say'st thou； Foible？ And are things in
order？
FOIB。 Yes； madam。 I have put wax…lights in the sconces； and placed
the footmen in a row in the hall； in their best liveries； with the coachman
and postillion to fill up the equipage。
LADY。 Have you pulvilled the coachman and postillion； that they may
not stink of the stable when Sir Rowland comes by？
FOIB。 Yes； madam。
LADY。 And are the dancers and the music ready； that he may be
entertained in all points with correspondence to his passion？
FOIB。 All is ready； madam。
LADY。 Andwelland how do I look； Foible？
FOIB。 Most killing well； madam。
LADY。 Well； and how shall I receive him？ In what figure shall I give
his heart the first impression？ There is a great deal in the first impression。
Shall I sit？ No； I won't sit； I'll walk；ay； I'll walk from the door upon his
entrance； and then turn full upon him。 No； that will be too sudden。 I'll lie；
ay； I'll lie down。 I'll receive him in my little dressing…room； there's a
couchyes； yes； I'll give the first impression on a couch。 I won't lie neither；
but loll and lean upon one elbow； with one foot a little dangling off；
jogging in a thoughtful way。 Yes； and then as soon as he appears； start； ay；
start and be surprised； and rise to meet him in a pretty disorder。 Yes； oh；
nothing is more alluring than a levee from a couch in some confusion。 It
shows the foot to advantage； and furnishes with blushes and re…composing
airs beyond comparison。 Hark！ There's a coach。
FOIB。 'Tis he； madam。
LADY。 Oh dear； has my nephew made his addresses to Millamant？ I
ordered him。
FOIB。 Sir Wilfull is set in to drinking； madam； in the parlour。
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LADY。 Ods my life； I'll send him to her。 Call her down； Foible； bring
her hither。 I'll send him as I go。 When they are together； then come to me；
Foible； that I may not be too long alone with Sir Rowland。
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SCENE II。
MRS。 MILLAMANT； MRS。 FAINALL； FOIBLE。
FOIB。 Madam； I stayed here to tell your ladyship that Mr。 Mirabell has
waited this half hour for an opportunity to talk with you； though my lady's
orders were to leave you and Sir Wilfull together。 Shall I tell Mr。 Mirabell
that you are at leisure？
MILLA。 No。 What would the dear man have？ I am thoughtful and
would amuse myself； bid him come another time。
There never yet was woman made； Nor shall； but to be cursed。
＇Repeating and walking about。＇
That's hard！
MRS。 FAIN。 You are very fond of Sir John Suckling to…day； Millamant；
and the poets。
MILLA。 He？ Ay； and filthy verses。 So I am。
FOIB。 Sir Wilfull is coming； madam。 Shall I send Mr。 Mirabell away？
MILLA。 Ay； if you please； Foible； send him away； or send him hither；
just as you will； dear Foible。 I think I'll see him。 Shall I？ Ay； let the wretch
come。
Thyrsis； a youth of the inspired train。 ＇Repeating＇
Dear Fainall； entertain Sir Wilfull：… thou hast philosophy to undergo a
fool； thou art married and hast patience。 I would confer with my own
thoughts。
MRS。 FAIN。 I am obliged to you that you would make me your proxy
in this affair； but I have business of my own。
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SCENE III。
＇To them＇ SIR WILFULL。
MRS。 FAIN。 O Sir Wilfull； you are come at the critical instant。 There's
your mistress up to the ears in love and contemplation； pursue your point；
now or never。
SIR WIL。 Yes； my aunt will have it so。 I would gladly have been
encouraged with a bottle or two； because I'm somewhat wary at first；
before I am acquainted。 ＇This while MILLAMANT walks about repeating
to herself。＇ But I hope； after a time； I shall break my mindthat is； upon
further acquaintance。So for the present； cousin； I'll take my leave。 If so
be you'll be so kind to make my excuse； I'll return to my company …
MRS。 FAIN。 Oh； fie； Sir Wilfull！ What； you must not be daunted。
SIR WIL。 Daunted？ No； that's not it； it is not so much for that for if
so be that I set on't I'll do't。 But only for the present； 'tis sufficient till
further acquaintance； that's allyour servant。
MRS。 FAIN。 Nay； I'll swear you shall never lose so favourable an
opportunity； if I can help it。 I'll leave you together and lock the door。
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SCENE IV。
SIR WILFULL； MILLAMANT。
SIR WIL。 Nay； nay； cousin。 I have forgot my gloves。 What d'ye do？
'Sheart； a has locked the door indeed； I think。Nay； cousin Fainall； open
the door。 Pshaw； what a vixen trick is this？ Nay； now a has seen me too。
Cousin； I made bold to pass through as it wereI think this door's
enchanted。
MILLA。 ＇repeating＇：…
I prithee spare me； gentle boy； Press me no more for that slight toy。
SIR WIL。 Anan？ Cousin； your servant。
MILLA。 That foolish trifle of a heart … Sir Wilfull！
SIR WIL。 Yesyour servant。 No offence； I hope； cousin？
MILLA。 ＇repeating＇：…
I swear it will not do its part； Though thou dost thine； employ'st thy
power and art。
Natural； easy Suckling！
SIR WIL。 Anan？ Suckling？ No such suckling neither； cousin； nor
stripling： I thank heaven I'm no minor。
MILLA。 Ah； rustic； ruder than Gothic。
SIR WIL。 Well； well； I shall understand your lingo one of these days；
cousin； in the meanwhile I must answer in plain English。
MILLA。 Have you any business with me； Sir Wilfull？
SIR WIL。 Not at present； cousin。 Yes； I made bold to see； to come and
know if that how you were disposed to fetch a walk this evening； if so be
that I might not be troublesome； I would have sought a walk with you。
MILLA。 A walk？ What then？
SIR WIL。 Nay； nothing。 Only for the walk's sake； that's all。
MILLA。 I nauseate walking： 'tis a country diversion； I loathe the
country and everything that relates to it。
SIR WIL。 Indeed！ Hah！ Look ye； look ye； you do？ Nay； 'tis like you
may。 Here are choice of pastimes here in town； as plays and the like； that
must be confessed indeed …
MILLA。 Ah； L'ETOURDI！
