ACT IV - Scene III 小说：All's Well That Ends Well     作者：William Shakespeare [ 阅读设置与语言切换 ] 设置背景颜色： 段落首字母是否突出显示： 是 否 段落文本是否两端对齐： 是 否 翻页快捷键：上一章（左箭头：←）下一章（右箭头：→） The Florentine campEnter the two FRENCH LORDS, and two or three SOLDIERSSECOND LORDYou have not given him his mother's letter?FIRST LORDI have deliv'red it an hour since. There is something in't that stings his nature; for on the reading it he chang'd almost into another man.SECOND LORDHe has much worthy blame laid upon him for shaking off so good a wife and so sweet a lady.FIRST LORDEspecially he hath incurred the everlasting displeasure of the King, who had even tun'd his bounty to sing happiness to him. I will tell you a thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly with you.SECOND LORDWhen you have spoken it, 'tis dead, and I am the grave of it.FIRST LORDHe hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in Florence, of a most chaste renown; and this night he fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour. He hath given her his monumental ring, and thinks himself made in the unchaste composition.SECOND LORDNow, God delay our rebellion! As we are ourselves, what things are we!FIRST LORDMerely our own traitors. And as in the common course of all treasons we still see them reveal themselves till they attain to their abhorr'd ends; so he that in this action contrives against his own nobility, in his proper stream, o'erflows himself.SECOND LORDIs it not meant damnable in us to be trumpeters of our unlawful intents? We shall not then have his company to-night?FIRST LORDNot till after midnight; for he is dieted to his hour.SECOND LORDThat approaches apace. I would gladly have him see his company anatomiz'd, that he might take a measure of his own judgments, wherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit.FIRST LORDWe will not meddle with him till he come; for his presence must be the whip of the other.SECOND LORDIn the meantime, what hear you of these wars?FIRST LORDI hear there is an overture of peace.SECOND LORDNay, I assure you, a peace concluded.FIRST LORDWhat will Count Rousillon do then? Will he travel higher, or return again into France?SECOND LORDI perceive, by this demand, you are not altogether of his counsel.FIRST LORDLet it be forbid, sir! So should I be a great deal of his act.SECOND LORDSir, his wife, some two months since, fled from his house. Her pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques le Grand; which holy undertaking with most austere sanctimony she accomplish'd; and, there residing, the tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her grief; in fine, made a groan of her last breath, and now she sings in heaven.FIRST LORDHow is this justified?SECOND LORDThe stronger part of it by her own letters, which makes her story true even to the point of her death. Her death itself, which could not be her office to say is come, was faithfully confirm'd by the rector of the place.FIRST LORDHath the Count all this intelligence?SECOND LORDAy, and the particular confirmations, point from point, to the full arming of the verity.FIRST LORDI am heartily sorry that he'll be glad of this.SECOND LORDHow mightily sometimes we make us comforts of our losses!FIRST LORDAnd how mightily some other times we drown our gain in tears! The great dignity that his valour hath here acquir'd for him shall at home be encount'red with a shame as ample.SECOND LORDThe web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together. Our virtues would be proud if our faults whipt them not; and our crimes would despair if they were not cherish'd by our virtues.Enter a MESSENGERHow now? Where's your master?SERVANTHe met the Duke in the street, sir; of whom he hath taken a solemn leave. His lordship will next morning for France. The Duke hath offered him letters of commendations to the King.SECOND LORDThey shall be no more than needful there, if they were more than they can commend.FIRST LORDThey cannot be too sweet for the King's tartness. Here's his lordship now.Enter BERTRAMHow now, my lord, is't not after midnight?BERTRAMI have to-night dispatch'd sixteen businesses, a month's length apiece; by an abstract of success: I have congied with the Duke, done my adieu with his nearest; buried a wife, mourn'd for her; writ to my lady mother I am returning; entertain'd my convoy; and between these main parcels of dispatch effected many nicer needs. The last was the greatest, but that I have not ended yet.SECOND LORDIf the business be of any difficulty and this morning your departure hence, it requires haste of your lordship.BERTRAMI mean the business is not ended, as fearing to hear of it hereafter. But shall we have this dialogue between the Fool and the Soldier? Come, bring forth this counterfeit module has deceiv'd me like a double-meaning prophesier.SECOND LORDBring him forth. [Exeunt SOLDIERS] Has sat i' th' stocks all night, poor gallant knave.BERTRAMNo matter; his heels have deserv'd it, in usurping his spurs so long. How does he carry himself?SECOND LORDI have told your lordship already the stocks carry him. But to answer you as you would be understood: he weeps like a wench that had shed her milk; he hath confess'd himself to Morgan, whom he supposes to be a friar, from the time of his remembrance to this very instant disaster of his setting i' th' stocks. And what think you he hath confess'd?BERTRAMNothing of me, has 'a?SECOND LORDHis confession is taken, and it shall be read to his face; if your lordship be in't, as I believe you are, you must have the patience to hear it.Enter PAROLLES guarded, and FIRST SOLDIER as interpreterBERTRAMA plague upon him! muffled! He can say nothing of me.SECOND LORDHush, hush! Hoodman comes. Portotartarossa.FIRST SOLDIERHe calls for the tortures. What will you say without 'em?PAROLLESI will confess what I know without constraint; if ye pinch me like a pasty, I can say no more.FIRST SOLDIERBosko chimurcho.SECOND LORDBoblibindo chicurmurco.FIRST SOLDIERYou are a merciful general. Our General bids you answer to what I shall ask you out of a note.PAROLLESAnd truly, as I hope to live.FIRST SOLDIER'First demand of him how many horse the Duke is strong.' What say you to that?PAROLLESFive or six thousand; but very weak and unserviceable. The troops are all scattered, and the commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation and credit, and as I hope to live.FIRST SOLDIERShall I set down your answer so?PAROLLESDo; I'll take the sacrament on 't, how and which way you will.BERTRAMAll's one to him. What a past-saving slave is this!SECOND LORDY'are deceiv'd, my lord; this is Monsieur Parolles, the gallant militarist-that was his own phrase-that had the whole theoric of war in the knot of his scarf, and the practice in the chape of his dagger.FIRST LORDI will never trust a man again for keeping his sword clean; nor believe he can have everything in him by wearing his apparel neatly.FIRST SOLDIERWell, that's set down.PAROLLES'Five or six thousand horse' I said-I will say true- 'or thereabouts' set down, for I'll speak truth.SECOND LORDHe's very near the truth in this.BERTRAMBut I con him no thanks for't in the nature he delivers it.PAROLLES'Poor rogues' I pray you say.FIRST SOLDIERWell, that's set down.PAROLLESI humbly thank you, sir. A truth's a truth-the rogues are marvellous poor.FIRST SOLDIER'Demand of him of what strength they are a-foot.' What say you to that?PAROLLESBy my troth, sir, if I were to live this present hour, I will tell true. Let me see: Spurio, a hundred and fifty; Sebastian, so many; Corambus, so many; Jaques, so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodowick, and Gratii, two hundred fifty each; mine own company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred fifty each; so that the muster-file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand poll; half of the which dare not shake the snow from off their cassocks lest they shake themselves to pieces.BERTRAMWhat shall be done to him?SECOND LORDNothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my condition, and what credit I have with the Duke.FIRST SOLDIERWell, that's set down. 'You shall demand of him whether one Captain Dumain be i' th' camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation is with the Duke, what his valour, honesty, expertness in wars; or whether he thinks it were not possible, with well-weighing sums of gold, to corrupt him to a revolt.' What say you to this? What do you know of it?PAROLLESI beseech you, let me answer to the particular of the inter'gatories. Demand them singly.FIRST SOLDIERDo you know this Captain Dumain?PAROLLESI know him: 'a was a botcher's prentice in Paris, from whence he was whipt for getting the shrieve's fool with child-a dumb innocent that could not say him nay.BERTRAMNay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls.FIRST SOLDIERWell, is this captain in the Duke of Florence's camp?PAROLLESUpon my knowledge, he is, and lousy.SECOND LORDNay, look not so upon me; we shall hear of your lordship anon.FIRST SOLDIERWhat is his reputation with the Duke?PAROLLESThe Duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine; and writ to me this other day to turn him out o' th' band. I think I have his letter in my pocket.FIRST SOLDIERMarry, we'll search.PAROLLESIn good sadness, I do not know; either it is there or it is upon a file with the Duke's other letters in my tent.FIRST SOLDIERHere 'tis; here's a paper. Shall I read it to you?PAROLLESI do not know if it be it or no.BERTRAMOur interpreter does it well.SECOND LORDExcellently.FIRST SOLDIER[Reads] 'Dian, the Count's a fool, and full of gold.'PAROLLESThat is not the Duke's letter, sir; that is an advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one Count Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but for all that very ruttish. I pray you, sir, put it up again.FIRST SOLDIERNay, I'll read it first by your favour.PAROLLESMy meaning in't, I protest, was very honest in the behalf of the maid; for I knew the young Count to be a dangerous and lascivious boy, who is a whale to virginity, and devours up all the fry it finds.BERTRAMDamnable both-sides rogue!FIRST SOLDIER.[Reads] 'When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it; After he scores, he never pays the score. Half won is match well made; match, and well make it; He ne'er pays after-debts, take it before. And say a soldier, Dian, told thee this: Men are to mell with, boys are not to kiss; For count of this, the Count's a fool, I know it, Who pays before, but not when he does owe it. Thine, as he vow'd to thee in thine ear, PAROLLES.'BERTRAMHe shall be whipt through the army with this rhyme in's forehead.FIRST LORDThis is your devoted friend, sir, the manifold linguist, and the amnipotent soldier.BERTRAMI could endure anything before but a cat, and now he's a cat to me.FIRST SOLDIERI perceive, sir, by our General's looks we shall be fain to hang you.PAROLLESMy life, sir, in any case! Not that I am afraid to die, but that, my offences being many, I would repent out the remainder of nature. Let me live, sir, in a dungeon, i' th' stocks, or anywhere, so I may live.FIRST SOLDIERWe'll see what may be done, so you confess freely; therefore, once more to this Captain Dumain: you have answer'd to his reputation with the Duke, and to his valour; what is his honesty?PAROLLESHe will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister; for rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus. He professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking 'em he is stronger than Hercules. He will lie, sir, with such volubility that you would think truth were a fool. Drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will be swine-drunk; and in his sleep he does little harm, save to his bedclothes about him; but they know his conditions and lay him in straw. I have but little more to say, sir, of his honesty. He has everything that an honest man should not have; what an honest man should have he has nothing.SECOND LORDI begin to love him for this.BERTRAMFor this description of thine honesty? A pox upon him! For me, he's more and more a cat.FIRST SOLDIERWhat say you to his expertness in war?PAROLLESFaith, sir, has led the drum before the English tragedians-to belie him I will not-and more of his soldier-ship I know not, except in that country he had the honour to be the officer at a place there called Mile-end to instruct for the doubling of files-I would do the man what honour I can-but of this I am not certain.SECOND LORDHe hath out-villain'd villainy so far that the rarity redeems him.BERTRAMA pox on him! he's a cat still.FIRST SOLDIERHis qualities being at this poor price, I need not to ask you if gold will corrupt him to revolt.PAROLLESSir, for a cardecue he will sell the fee-simple of his salvation, the inheritance of it; and cut th' entail from all remainders and a perpetual succession for it perpetually.FIRST SOLDIERWhat's his brother, the other Captain Dumain?FIRST LORDWhy does he ask him of me?FIRST SOLDIERWhat's he?PAROLLESE'en a crow o' th' same nest; not altogether so great as the first in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil. He excels his brother for a coward; yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is. In a retreat he outruns any lackey: marry, in coming on he has the cramp.FIRST SOLDIERIf your life be saved, will you undertake to betray the Florentine?PAROLLESAy, and the Captain of his Horse, Count Rousillon.FIRST SOLDIERI'll whisper with the General, and know his pleasure.PAROLLES[Aside] I'll no more drumming. A plague of all drums! Only to seem to deserve well, and to beguile the supposition of that lascivious young boy the Count, have I run into this danger. Yet who would have suspected an ambush where I was taken?FIRST SOLDIERThere is no remedy, sir, but you must die. The General says you that have so traitorously discover'd the secrets of your army, and made such pestiferous reports of men very nobly held, can serve the world for no honest use; therefore you must die. Come, headsman, off with his head.PAROLLESO Lord, sir, let me live, or let me see my death!FIRST SOLDIERThat shall you, and take your leave of all your friends. [Unmuffling him] So look about you; know you any here?BERTRAMGood morrow, noble Captain.FIRST LORDGod bless you, Captain Parolles.SECOND LORDGod save you, noble Captain.FIRST LORDCaptain, what greeting will you to my Lord Lafeu? I am for France.SECOND LORDGood Captain, will you give me a copy of the sonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the Count Rousillon? An I were not a very coward I'd compel it of you; but fare you well.Exeunt BERTRAM and LORDSFIRST SOLDIERYou are undone, Captain, all but your scarf; that has a knot on 't yet.PAROLLESWho cannot be crush'd with a plot?FIRST SOLDIERIf you could find out a country where but women were that had received so much shame, you might begin an impudent nation. Fare ye well, sir; I am for France too; we shall speak of you there.Exit with SOLDIERSPAROLLESYet am I thankful. If my heart were great, 'Twould burst at this. Captain I'll be no more; But I will eat, and drink, and sleep as soft As captain shall. Simply the thing I am Shall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart, Let him fear this; for it will come to pass That every braggart shall be found an ass. Rust, sword; cool, blushes; and, Parolles, live Safest in shame. Being fool'd, by fool'ry thrive. There's place and means for every man alive. I'll after them.Exit Previous Chapter Next Chapter