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！
must allow her some beauty。
TONY。 Bandbox！ She's all a made…up thing； mun。 Ah！ could you
but see Bet Bouncer of these parts； you might then talk of beauty。 Ecod；
she has two eyes as black as sloes； and cheeks as broad and red as a pulpit
cushion。 She'd make two of she。
HASTINGS。 Well； what say you to a friend that would take this
bitter bargain off your hands？
TONY。 Anon。
HASTINGS。 Would you thank him that would take Miss Neville；
and leave you to happiness and your dear Betsy？
TONY。 Ay； but where is there such a friend； for who would take her？
HASTINGS。 I am he。 If you but assist me； I'll engage to whip her
off to France； and you shall never hear more of her。
TONY。 Assist you！ Ecod I will； to the last drop of my blood。 I'll
clap a pair of horses to your chaise that shall trundle you off in a twinkling；
and may be get you a part of her fortin beside； in jewels； that you little
dream of。
HASTINGS。 My dear 'squire； this looks like a lad of spirit。
TONY。 Come along； then； and you shall see more of my spirit before
you have done with me。
（Singing。） 〃We are the boys That fears no noise Where the thundering
cannons roar。〃 ＇Exeunt。＇
35
… Page 36…
〃SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER〃
ACT THE THIRD。
Enter HARDCASTLE； alone。
HARDCASTLE。 What could my old friend Sir Charles mean by
recommending his son as the modestest young man in town？ To me he
appears the most impudent piece of brass that ever spoke with a tongue。
He has taken possession of the easy chair by the fire…side already。 He
took off his boots in the parlour； and desired me to see them taken care of。
I'm desirous to know how his impudence affects my daughter。 She will
certainly be shocked at it。
Enter MISS HARDCASTLE； plainly dressed。
HARDCASTLE。 Well； my Kate； I see you have changed your dress；
as I bade you； and yet； I believe； there was no great occasion。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 I find such a pleasure； sir； in obeying your
commands； that I take care to observe them without ever debating their
propriety。
HARDCASTLE。 And yet； Kate； I sometimes give you some cause；
particularly when I recommended my modest gentleman to you as a lover
to…day。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 You taught me to expect something
extraordinary； and I find the original exceeds the description。
HARDCASTLE。 I was never so surprised in my life！ He has quite
confounded all my faculties！
MISS HARDCASTLE。 I never saw anything like it： and a man of
the world too！
HARDCASTLE。 Ay； he learned it all abroadwhat a fool was I； to
think a young man could learn modesty by travelling。 He might as soon
learn wit at a masquerade。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 It seems all natural to him。
HARDCASTLE。 A good deal assisted by bad company and a French
dancing…master。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Sure you mistake； papa！ A French
dancing…master could never have taught him that timid lookthat
awkward addressthat bashful manner
36
… Page 37…
〃SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER〃
HARDCASTLE。 Whose look？ whose manner； child？
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Mr。 Marlow's： his mauvaise honte； his
timidity； struck me at the first sight。
HARDCASTLE。 Then your first sight deceived you； for I think him
one of the most brazen first sights that ever astonished my senses。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Sure； sir； you rally！ I never saw any one so
modest。
HARDCASTLE。 And can you be serious？ I never saw such a
bouncing； swaggering puppy since I was born。 Bully Dawson was but a
fool to him。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Surprising！ He met me with a respectful
bow； a stammering voice； and a look fixed on the ground。
HARDCASTLE。 He met me with a loud voice； a lordly air； and a
familiarity that made my blood freeze again。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 He treated me with diffidence and respect；
censured the manners of the age； admired the prudence of girls that never
laughed； tired me with apologies for being tiresome； then left the room
with a bow； and 〃Madam； I would not for the world detain you。〃
HARDCASTLE。 He spoke to me as if he knew me all his life before；
asked twenty questions； and never waited for an answer； interrupted my
best remarks with some silly pun； and when I was in my best story of the
Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene； he asked if I had not a good
hand at making punch。 Yes； Kate； he asked your father if he was a maker
of punch！
MISS HARDCASTLE。 One of us must certainly be mistaken。
HARDCASTLE。 If he be what he has shown himself； I'm
determined he shall never have my consent。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 And if he be the sullen thing I take him； he
shall never have mine。
HARDCASTLE。 In one thing then we are agreedto reject him。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Yes： but upon conditions。 For if you
should find him less impudent； and I more presumingif you find him
more respectful； and I more importunateI don't knowthe fellow is well
enough for a manCertainly； we don't meet many such at a horse…race in
37
… Page 38…
〃SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER〃
the country。
HARDCASTLE。 If we should find him soBut that's impossible。
The first appearance has done my business。 I'm seldom deceived in that。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 And yet there may be many good qualities
under that first appearance。
HARDCASTLE。 Ay； when a girl finds a fellow's outside to her taste；
she then sets about guessing the rest of his furniture。 With her； a smooth
face stands for good sense； and a genteel figure for every virtue。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 I hope； sir； a conversation begun with a
compliment to my good sense； won't end with a sneer at my
understanding？
H