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！
it without controlment。 You have of late stood out against your brother；
and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace； where it is impossible you
should take true root but by the fair weather that you make yourself。 It is
needful that you frame the season for your own harvest。
John。 I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace； and it
better fits my blood to be disdain'd of all than to fashion a carriage to rob
love from any。 In this； though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest
man； it must not be denied but I am a plain…dealing villain。 I am trusted
with a muzzle and enfranchis'd with a clog； therefore I have decreed not to
sing in my cage。 If I had my mouth； I would bite； if I had my liberty； I
would do my liking。 In the meantime let me be that I am； and seek not to
alter me。
Con。 Can you make no use of your discontent？
John。 I make all use of it； for I use it only。
＇Enter Borachio。＇
Who comes here？ What news； Borachio？
13
… Page 14…
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Bora。 I came yonder from a great supper。 The Prince your brother is
royally entertain'd by Leonato； and I can give you intelligence of an
intended marriage。
John。 Will it serve for any model to build mischief on？ What is he for a
fool that betroths himself to unquietness？
Bora。 Marry； it is your brother's right hand。
John。 Who？ the most exquisite Claudio？
Bora。 Even he。
John。 A proper squire！ And who？ and who？ which way looks he？
Bora。 Marry； on Hero； the daughter and heir of Leonato。
John。 A very forward March…chick！ How came you to this？
Bora。 Being entertain'd for a perfumer； as I was smoking a musty room；
comes me the Prince and Claudio； hand in hand in sad conference。 I whipt
me behind the arras and there heard it agreed upon that the Prince should
woo Hero for himself； and having obtain'd her； give her to Count Claudio。
John。 Come； come； let us thither。 This may prove food to my
displeasure。 That young start…up hath all the glory of my overthrow。 If I
can cross him any way； I bless myself every way。 You are both sure； and
will assist me？
Con。 To the death； my lord。
John。 Let us to the great supper。 Their cheer is the greater that I am
subdued。 Would the cook were o' my mind！ Shall we go prove what's to be
done？
Bora。 We'll wait upon your lordship。 ＇Exeunt。＇
15
… Page 16…
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
ACT II。
16
… Page 17…
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
SCENE I。
A hall in Leonato's house。
＇Enter Leonato； ＇Antonio＇ his Brother； Hero his Daughter； and
Beatrice his Niece； and a Kinsman； ＇also Margaret and Ursula。＇
Leon。 Was not Count John here at supper？
Ant。 I saw him not。
Beat。 How tartly that gentleman looks！ I never can see him but I am
heart…burn'd an hour after。
Hero。 He is of a very melancholy disposition。
Beat。 He were an excellent man that were made just in the midway
between him and Benedick。 The one is too like an image and says nothing；
and the other too like my lady's eldest son； evermore tattling。
Leon。 Then half Signior Benedick's tongue in Count John's mouth； and
half Count John's melancholy in Signior Benedick's face
Beat。 With a good leg and a good foot； uncle； and money enough in
his purse； such a man would win any woman in the worldif 'a could get
her good will。
Leon。 By my troth； niece； thou wilt never get thee a husband if thou be
so shrewd of thy tongue。
Ant。 In faith； she's too curst。
Beat。 Too curst is more than curst。 I shall lessen God's sending that
way； for it is said； 'God sends a curst cow short horns；' but to a cow too
curst he sends none。
Leon。 So； by being too curst； God will send you no horns。
Beat。 Just； if he send me no husband； for the which blessing I am at
him upon my knees every morning and evening。 Lord； I could not endure
a husband with a beard on his face。 I had rather lie in the woollen！
Leon。 You may light on a husband that hath no beard。
Beat。 What should I do with him？ dress him in my apparel and make
him my waiting gentlewoman？ He that hath a beard is more than a youth；
and he that hath no beard is less than a man； and he that is more than a
youth is not for me； and he that is less than a man； I am not for him。
Therefore I will even take sixpence in earnest of the berrord and lead his
17
… Page 18…
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
apes into hell。
Leon。 Well then； go you into hell？
Beat。 No； but to the gate； and there will the devil meet me like an old
cuckold with horns on his head； and say 'Get you to heaven； Beatrice； get
you to heaven。 Here's no place for you maids。' So deliver I up my apes；
and away to Saint Peterfor the heavens。 He shows me where the
bachelors sit； and there live we as merry as the day is long。
Ant。 ＇to Hero＇ Well； niece； I trust you will be rul'd by your father。
Beat。 Yes faith。 It is my cousin's duty to make cursy and say； 'Father； as
it please you。' But yet for all that； cousin； let him be a handsome fellow； or
else make another cursy； and say； 'Father； as it please me。'
Leon。 Well； niece； I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband。
Beat。 Not till God make men of some other metal than earth。 Would it
not grieve a woman to be overmaster'd with a piece of valiant dust？ to
make an account of her life to a clod of wayward marl？ No