the way of the world(如此世道)-第7节
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FAIN。 Your fame I have preserved。 Your fortune has been bestowed as
the prodigality of your love would have it； in pleasures which we both
have shared。 Yet； had not you been false I had e'er this repaid it。 'Tis true
had you permitted Mirabell with Millamant to have stolen their marriage；
my lady had been incensed beyond all means of reconcilement： Millamant
had forfeited the moiety of her fortune； which then would have descended
to my wife。 And wherefore did I marry but to make lawful prize of a rich
widow's wealth； and squander it on love and you？
MRS。 MAR。 Deceit and frivolous pretence！
FAIN。 Death； am I not married？ What's pretence？ Am I not imprisoned；
fettered？ Have I not a wife？ Nay； a wife that was a widow； a young widow；
a handsome widow； and would be again a widow； but that I have a heart of
proof； and something of a constitution to bustle through the ways of
wedlock and this world。 Will you yet be reconciled to truth and me？
MRS。 MAR。 Impossible。 Truth and you are inconsistent。I hate you；
and shall for ever。
FAIN。 For loving you？
MRS。 MAR。 I loathe the name of love after such usage； and next to
the guilt with which you would asperse me； I scorn you most。 Farewell。
FAIN。 Nay； we must not part thus。
MRS。 MAR。 Let me go。
FAIN。 Come； I'm sorry。
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MRS。 MAR。 I care not。 Let me go。 Break my hands； doI'd leave 'em
to get loose。
FAIN。 I would not hurt you for the world。 Have I no other hold to keep
you here？
MRS。 MAR。 Well； I have deserved it all。
FAIN。 You know I love you。
MRS。 MAR。 Poor dissembling！ Oh； thatwell； it is not yet …
FAIN。 What？ What is it not？ What is it not yet？ It is not yet too late …
MRS。 MAR。 No； it is not yet too lateI have that comfort。
FAIN。 It is； to love another。
MRS。 MAR。 But not to loathe； detest； abhor mankind； myself； and the
whole treacherous world。
FAIN。 Nay； this is extravagance。 Come； I ask your pardon。 No tearsI
was to blame； I could not love you and be easy in my doubts。 Pray
forbearI believe you； I'm convinced I've done you wrong； and any way；
every way will make amends： I'll hate my wife yet more； damn her； I'll
part with her； rob her of all she's worth； and we'll retire somewhere；
anywhere； to another world； I'll marry theebe pacified。'Sdeath； they
come： hide your face； your tears。 You have a mask： wear it a moment。 This
way； this way： be persuaded。
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SCENE IV。
MIRABELL and MRS。 FAINALL。
MRS。 FAIN。 They are here yet。
MIRA。 They are turning into the other walk。
MRS。 FAIN。 While I only hated my husband； I could bear to see him；
but since I have despised him； he's too offensive。
MIRA。 Oh； you should hate with prudence。
MRS。 FAIN。 Yes； for I have loved with indiscretion。
MIRA。 You should have just so much disgust for your husband as may
be sufficient to make you relish your lover。
MRS。 FAIN。 You have been the cause that I have loved without
bounds； and would you set limits to that aversion of which you have been
the occasion？ Why did you make me marry this man？
MIRA。 Why do we daily commit disagreeable and dangerous actions？
To save that idol； reputation。 If the familiarities of our loves had produced
that consequence of which you were apprehensive； where could you have
fixed a father's name with credit but on a husband？ I knew Fainall to be a
man lavish of his morals； an interested and professing friend； a false and a
designing lover； yet one whose wit and outward fair behaviour have
gained a reputation with the town； enough to make that woman stand
excused who has suffered herself to be won by his addresses。 A better man
ought not to have been sacrificed to the occasion； a worse had not
answered to the purpose。 When you are weary of him you know your
remedy。
MRS。 FAIN。 I ought to stand in some degree of credit with you；
Mirabell。
MIRA。 In justice to you； I have made you privy to my whole design；
and put it in your power to ruin or advance my fortune。
MRS。 FAIN。 Whom have you instructed to represent your pretended
uncle？
MIRA。 Waitwell； my servant。
MRS。 FAIN。 He is an humble servant to Foible； my mother's woman；
and may win her to your interest。
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MIRA。 Care is taken for that。 She is won and worn by this time。 They
were married this morning。
MRS。 FAIN。 Who？
MIRA。 Waitwell and Foible。 I would not tempt my servant to betray
me by trusting him too far。 If your mother； in hopes to ruin me； should
consent to marry my pretended uncle； he might； like Mosca in the FOX；
stand upon terms； so I made him sure beforehand。
MRS。 FAIN。 So； if my poor mother is caught in a contract； you will
discover the imposture betimes； and release her by producing a certificate
of her gallant's former marriage。
MIRA。 Yes； upon condition that she consent to my marriage with her
niece； and surrender the moiety of her fortune in her possession。
MRS。 FAIN。 She talked last night of endeavouring at a match between
Millamant and your uncle。
MIRA。 That was by Foible's direction and my instruction； that she
might seem to carry it more privately。
MRS。 FAIN。 Well； I have an opinion of your success； for I believe my
lady will do anything to get an husband； and when she has this； which you
have provided for her； I suppose she will submit to anything to get rid of
him。
MIRA。 Yes； I think the good lady would marry anything that
resembled a man； though 'twere no more than what a butler could pinch
out of a napkin。
MRS。 FAIN。 Female frailty！ We must all come to it； if we live to be
old； and feel the craving of a false appetite when the true is decayed。
MIRA。 An old woman's appetite is depraved like that of a girl。 'Tis the
green…sickness of a second childhood； and； like the faint offer of a latter
spring； serves but to usher in the fall； and withers in an affected bloom。
MRS。 FAIN。 Here's your mistress。
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SCENE V。
＇To them＇ MRS。 MILLAMANT； WITWOUD； MINCING。
MIRA。 Here she comes； i'faith； full sail； with her fan spread and
streamers out； and a shoal of fools for tenders。Ha； no； I cry her mercy。
MRS。 FAIN。 I see but one poor empty sculler； and he tows her woman
after him。
MIRA。 You seem to be unattended； madam。 You used to have the
BEAU MONDE throng after you； and a flock of gay fine perukes
hovering round you。
WIT。 Like moths about a candle。 I had like to have lost my comparison
for want of breath。
MILLA。 Oh； I have denied myself airs to…day。 I have walked as fast
through the crowd …
WIT。 As a favourite just disgraced； and with as few followers。
MILLA。 Dear Mr。 Witwoud； truce with your similitudes； for I am as
sick of 'em …
WIT。 As a physician of a good air。 I cannot help it； madam； though 'tis
against myself。
MILLA。 Yet again！ Mincing； stand between me and his wit。
WIT。 Do； Mrs。 Mincing； like a screen before a great fire。 I confess I do
blaze to…day； I am too bright。
MRS。 FAIN。 But； dear Millamant； why were you so long？
MILLA。 Long！ Lord； have I not made violent haste？ I have asked
every living thing I met for you； I have enquired after you； as after a new
fashion。
WIT。 Madam； truce with your similitudes。No； you met her husband；
and did not ask him for her。
MIRA。 By your leave； Witwoud； that were like enquiring after an old
fashion to ask a husband for his wife。
WIT。 Hum； a hit； a hit； a palpable hit； I confess it。
MRS。 FAIN。 You were dressed before I came abroad。
MILLA。 Ay； that's true。 Oh； but then I hadMincing； what had I？ Why
was I so long？
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MINC。 O mem； your laship stayed t
