the way of the world(如此世道)-第20节
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tickled with the proceeding； simpers under a grey beard； and fidges off and
on his cushion as if he had swallowed cantharides； or sate upon cow…itch。
LADY。 Oh； 'tis very hard！
MRS。 MAR。 And then to have my young revellers of the Temple take
notes； like prentices at a conventicle； and after talk it over again in
Commons； or before drawers in an eating…house。
LADY。 Worse and worse。
MRS。 MAR。 Nay； this is nothing； if it would end here 'twere well。 But
it must after this be consigned by the shorthand writers to the public press；
and from thence be transferred to the hands； nay； into the throats and lungs；
of hawkers； with voices more licentious than the loud flounder…man's。 And
this you must hear till you are stunned； nay； you must hear nothing else for
some days。
LADY。 Oh 'tis insupportable。 No； no； dear friend； make it up； make it
up； ay； ay； I'll compound。 I'll give up all； myself and my all； my niece and
her all； anything； everything； for composition。
MRS。 MAR。 Nay； madam； I advise nothing； I only lay before you； as a
friend； the inconveniences which perhaps you have overseen。 Here comes
Mr。 Fainall； if he will be satisfied to huddle up all in silence； I shall be
glad。 You must think I would rather congratulate than condole with you。
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SCENE VI。
FAINALL； LADY WISHFORT； MRS。 MARWOOD。
LADY。 Ay； ay； I do not doubt it； dear Marwood。 No； no； I do not doubt
it。
FAIN。 Well； madam； I have suffered myself to be overcome by the
importunity of this lady； your friend； and am content you shall enjoy your
own proper estate during life； on condition you oblige yourself never to
marry； under such penalty as I think convenient。
LADY。 Never to marry？
FAIN。 No more Sir Rowlands；the next imposture may not be so
timely detected。
MRS。 MAR。 That condition； I dare answer； my lady will consent to；
without difficulty； she has already but too much experienced the
perfidiousness of men。 Besides； madam； when we retire to our pastoral
solitude； we shall bid adieu to all other thoughts。
LADY。 Ay； that's true； but in case of necessity； as of health； or some
such emergency …
FAIN。 Oh； if you are prescribed marriage； you shall be considered； I
will only reserve to myself the power to choose for you。 If your physic be
wholesome； it matters not who is your apothecary。 Next； my wife shall
settle on me the remainder of her fortune； not made over already； and for
her maintenance depend entirely on my discretion。
LADY。 This is most inhumanly savage： exceeding the barbarity of a
Muscovite husband。
FAIN。 I learned it from his Czarish Majesty's retinue； in a winter
evening's conference over brandy and pepper； amongst other secrets of
matrimony and policy； as they are at present practised in the northern
hemisphere。 But this must be agreed unto； and that positively。 Lastly； I will
be endowed； in right of my wife； with that six thousand pound； which is
the moiety of Mrs。 Millamant's fortune in your possession； and which she
has forfeited （as will appear by the last will and testament of your
deceased husband； Sir Jonathan Wishfort） by her disobedience in
contracting herself against your consent or knowledge； and by refusing the
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offered match with Sir Wilfull Witwoud； which you； like a careful aunt；
had provided for her。
LADY。 My nephew was NON COMPOS； and could not make his
addresses。
FAIN。 I come to make demandsI'll hear no objections。
LADY。 You will grant me time to consider？
FAIN。 Yes； while the instrument is drawing； to which you must set
your hand till more sufficient deeds can be perfected： which I will take
care shall be done with all possible speed。 In the meanwhile I will go for
the said instrument； and till my return you may balance this matter in your
own discretion。
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SCENE VII。
LADY WISHFORT； MRS。 MARWOOD。
LADY。 This insolence is beyond all precedent； all parallel。 Must I be
subject to this merciless villain？
MRS。 MAR。 'Tis severe indeed； madam； that you should smart for
your daughter's wantonness。
LADY。 'Twas against my consent that she married this barbarian； but
she would have him； though her year was not out。 Ah！ her first husband；
my son Languish； would not have carried it thus。 Well； that was my choice；
this is hers； she is matched now with a witness… …I shall be mad； dear
friend； is there no comfort for me？ Must I live to be confiscated at this
rebel…rate？ Here come two more of my Egyptian plagues too。
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SCENE VIII。
＇To them＇ MRS。 MILLAMANT； SIR WILFULL。
SIR WIL。 Aunt； your servant。
LADY。 Out； caterpillar； call not me aunt； I know thee not。
SIR WIL。 I confess I have been a little in disguise； as they say。 'Sheart！
and I'm sorry for't。 What would you have？ I hope I committed no offence；
auntand if I did I am willing to make satisfaction； and what can a man
say fairer？ If I have broke anything I'll pay for't； an it cost a pound。 And so
let that content for what's past； and make no more words。 For what's to
come； to pleasure you I'm willing to marry my cousin。 So； pray； let's all be
friends； she and I are agreed upon the matter before a witness。
LADY。 How's this； dear niece？ Have I any comfort？ Can this be true？
MILLA。 I am content to be a sacrifice to your repose； madam； and to
convince you that I had no hand in the plot； as you were misinformed。 I
have laid my commands on Mirabell to come in person； and be a witness
that I give my hand to this flower of knighthood； and for the contract that
passed between Mirabell and me； I have obliged him to make a resignation
of it in your ladyship's presence。 He is without and waits your leave for
admittance。
LADY。 Well； I'll swear I am something revived at this testimony of
your obedience； but I cannot admit that traitor；I fear I cannot fortify
myself to support his appearance。 He is as terrible to me as a Gorgon： if I
see him I swear I shall turn to stone； petrify incessantly。
MILLA。 If you disoblige him he may resent your refusal； and insist
upon the contract still。 Then 'tis the last time he will be offensive to you。
LADY。 Are you sure it will be the last time？ If I were sure of that
shall I never see him again？
MILLA。 Sir Wilfull； you and he are to travel together； are you not？
SIR WIL。 'Sheart； the gentleman's a civil gentleman； aunt； let him
come in； why； we are sworn brothers and fellow…travellers。 We are to be
Pylades and Orestes； he and I。 He is to be my interpreter in foreign parts。
He has been overseas once already； and with proviso that I marry my
cousin； will cross 'em once again； only to bear me company。 'Sheart； I'll
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call him in；an I set on't once； he shall come in； and see who'll hinder him。
＇Goes to the door and hems。＇
MRS。 MAR。 This is precious fooling； if it would pass； but I'll know
the bottom of it。
LADY。 O dear Marwood； you are not going？
MRS。 MAR。 Not far； madam； I'll return immediately。
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SCENE IX。
LADY WISHFORT； MRS。 MILLAMANT； SIR WILFULL；
MIRABELL。
SIR WIL。 Look up； man； I'll stand by you； 'sbud； an she do frown； she
can't kill you。
