the way of the world(如此世道)-第21节
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MIRABELL。
SIR WIL。 Look up； man； I'll stand by you； 'sbud； an she do frown； she
can't kill you。 Besidesharkee； she dare not frown desperately； because
her face is none of her own。 'Sheart； an she should； her forehead would
wrinkle like the coat of a cream cheese； but mum for that； fellow…traveller。
MIRA。 If a deep sense of the many injuries I have offered to so good a
lady； with a sincere remorse and a hearty contrition； can but obtain the
least glance of compassion。 I am too happy。 Ah； madam； there was a time…
…but let it be forgotten。 I confess I have deservedly forfeited the high place
I once held； of sighing at your feet； nay； kill me not by turning from me in
disdain； I come not to plead for favour。 Nay； not for pardon： I am a
suppliant only for pity：… I am going where I never shall behold you more。
SIR WIL。 How； fellow…traveller？ You shall go by yourself then。
MIRA。 Let me be pitied first； and afterwards forgotten。 I ask no more。
SIR WIL。 By'r lady； a very reasonable request； and will cost you
nothing； aunt。 Come； come； forgive and forget； aunt。 Why you must an
you are a Christian。
MIRA。 Consider； madam； in reality you could not receive much
prejudice： it was an innocent device； though I confess it had a face of
guiltinessit was at most an artifice which love contrived… …and errors
which love produces have ever been accounted venial。 At least think it is
punishment enough that I have lost what in my heart I hold most dear； that
to your cruel indignation I have offered up this beauty； and with her my
peace and quiet； nay； all my hopes of future comfort。
SIR WIL。 An he does not move me； would I may never be o' the
quorum。 An it were not as good a deed as to drink； to give her to him again；
I would I might never take shipping。 Aunt； if you don't forgive quickly； I
shall melt； I can tell you that。 My contract went no farther than a little
mouth…glue； and that's hardly dry； one doleful sigh more from my fellow…
traveller and 'tis dissolved。
LADY。 Well； nephew； upon your account。 Ah； he has a false
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insinuating tongue。 Well； sir； I will stifle my just resentment at my
nephew's request。 I will endeavour what I can to forget； but on proviso that
you resign the contract with my niece immediately。
MIRA。 It is in writing and with papers of concern； but I have sent my
servant for it； and will deliver it to you； with all acknowledgments for your
transcendent goodness。
LADY。 Oh； he has witchcraft in his eyes and tongue； when I did not
see him I could have bribed a villain to his assassination； but his
appearance rakes the embers which have so long lain smothered in my
breast。 ＇Aside。＇
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SCENE X。
＇To them＇ FAINALL； MRS。 MARWOOD。
FAIN。 Your date of deliberation； madam； is expired。 Here is the
instrument； are you prepared to sign？
LADY。 If I were prepared； I am not impowered。 My niece exerts a
lawful claim； having matched herself by my direction to Sir Wilfull。
FAIN。 That sham is too gross to pass on me； though 'tis imposed on
you； madam。
MILLA。 Sir； I have given my consent。
MIRA。 And； sir； I have resigned my pretensions。
SIR WIL。 And； sir； I assert my right； and will maintain it in defiance of
you； sir； and of your instrument。 'Sheart； an you talk of an instrument sir； I
have an old fox by my thigh shall hack your instrument of ram vellum to
shreds； sir。 It shall not be sufficient for a Mittimus or a tailor's measure；
therefore withdraw your instrument； sir； or； by'r lady； I shall draw mine。
LADY。 Hold； nephew； hold。
MILLA。 Good Sir Wilfull； respite your valour。
FAIN。 Indeed？ Are you provided of your guard； with your single beef…
eater there？ But I'm prepared for you； and insist upon my first proposal。
You shall submit your own estate to my management； and absolutely make
over my wife's to my sole use； as pursuant to the purport and tenor of this
other covenant。 I suppose； madam； your consent is not requisite in this
case； nor； Mr。 Mirabell； your resignation； nor； Sir Wilfull； your right。 You
may draw your fox if you please； sir； and make a bear…garden flourish
somewhere else； for here it will not avail。 This； my Lady Wishfort； must
be subscribed； or your darling daughter's turned adrift； like a leaky hulk to
sink or swim； as she and the current of this lewd town can agree。
LADY。 Is there no means； no remedy； to stop my ruin？ Ungrateful
wretch！ Dost thou not owe thy being； thy subsistance； to my daughter's
fortune？
FAIN。 I'll answer you when I have the rest of it in my possession。
MIRA。 But that you would not accept of a remedy from my handsI
own I have not deserved you should owe any obligation to me； or else；
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perhaps； I could devise …
LADY。 Oh； what？ what？ To save me and my child from ruin； from
want； I'll forgive all that's past； nay； I'll consent to anything to come； to be
delivered from this tyranny。
MIRA。 Ay； madam； but that is too late； my reward is intercepted。 You
have disposed of her who only could have made me a compensation for all
my services。 But be it as it may； I am resolved I'll serve you； you shall not
be wronged in this savage manner。
LADY。 How？ Dear Mr。 Mirabell； can you be so generous at last？ But it
is not possible。 Harkee； I'll break my nephew's match； you shall have my
niece yet； and all her fortune； if you can but save me from this imminent
danger。
MIRA。 Will you？ I take you at your word。 I ask no more。 I must have
leave for two criminals to appear。
LADY。 Ay； ay； anybody； anybody。
MIRA。 Foible is one； and a penitent。
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SCENE XI。
＇To them＇ MRS。 FAINALL； FOIBLE； MINCING。
MRS。 MAR。 O my shame！ ＇MIRABELL and LADY go to MRS。
FAINALL and FOIBLE。＇ These currupt things are brought hither to
expose me。 ＇To FAINALL。＇
FAIN。 If it must all come out； why let 'em know it； 'tis but the way of
the world。 That shall not urge me to relinquish or abate one tittle of my
terms； no； I will insist the more。
FOIB。 Yes； indeed； madam； I'll take my bible…oath of it。
MINC。 And so will I； mem。
LADY。 O Marwood； Marwood； art thou false？ My friend deceive me？
Hast thou been a wicked accomplice with that profligate man？
MRS。 MAR。 Have you so much ingratitude and injustice to give credit；
against your friend； to the aspersions of two such mercenary trulls？
MINC。 Mercenary； mem？ I scorn your words。 'Tis true we found you
and Mr。 Fainall in the blue garret； by the same token； you swore us to
secrecy upon Messalinas's poems。 Mercenary？ No； if we would have been
mercenary； we should have held our tongues； you would have bribed us
sufficiently。
FAIN。 Go； you are an insignificant thing。 Well； what are you the better
for this？ Is this Mr。 Mirabell's expedient？ I'll be put off no longer。 You；
thing； that was a wife； shall smart for this。 I will not leave thee
wherewithal to hide thy shame： your body shall be naked as your
reputation。
MRS。 FAIN。 I despise you and defy your malice。 You have aspersed
me wrongfullyI have proved your falsehood。 Go； you and your
treacherousI will not name it； but starve together。 Perish。
FAIN。 Not while you are worth a groat； indeed； my dear。 Madam； I'll
be fooled no longer。
LADY。 Ah； Mr。 Mirabell； this is small comfort； the detection of this
affair。
MIRA。 Oh； in good time。 Your leave for the other offender and
penitent to appear； madam。
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