the complete plays-第139章
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Though you suffer a deal；
They don't mind it a bit
They don't blame youso long as you're funny！
POINT And so thou wouldst be a jester eh？
WILFRED Aye！
POINT Now； listen！ My sweetheart； Elsie Maynard； was
secretly wed to this Fairfax half an hour ere he
escaped。
WILFRED She did well。
POINT She did nothing of the kind； so hold thy peace and
perpend。 Now； while he liveth she is dead to me and I
to her； and so； my jibes and jokes notwithstanding； I
am the saddest and the sorriest dog in England！
WILFRED Thou art a very dull dog indeed。
POINT Now； if thou wilt swear that thou didst shoot this
Fairfax while he was trying to swim across the river
it needs but the discharge of an arquebus on a dark
night and that he sank and was seen no more； I'll
make thee the very Archbishop of jesters； and that in
two days'time！ Now； what sayest thou？
WILFRED I am to lie？
POINT Heartily。 But thy lie must be a lie of circumstance；
which I will support with the testimony of eyes；
ears；and tongue。
WILFRED And thou wilt qualify me as a jester？
POINT As a jester among jesters。 I will teach thee all my
original songs； my self…constructed riddles； my own
ingenious paradoxes； nay； more； I will reveal to thee
the source whence I get them。 Now； what sayest thou？
WILFRED Why； if it be but a lie thou wantest of me； I hold it
cheap enough； and I say yes； it is a bargain！
No。 15。 Hereupon we're both agreed
（DUET）
Point and Wilfred
BOTH Hereupon we're both agreed；
All that we two
Do agree to
We'll secure by solemn deed；
To prevent all
Error mental。
POINT You on Elsie are to call
With a story
Grim and gory；
WILFRED How this Fairfax died； and all
I declare to
You're to swear to。
POINT I to swear to！
WILFRED I declare to；
POINT I to swear to！
WILFRED I declare to；
BOTH I to swear to；/I declare to；
You declare to；/You're to swear to；
I to swear to；/I declare to。
BOTH Tell a tale of cock and bull；
Of convincing detail full
Tale tremendous；
Heav'n defend us！
What a tale of cock and bull！
In return for your/my own part
You are/I am making； undertaking
To instruct me/you in the art
（Art amazing； wonder raising）
POINT Of a jester； jesting free。
Proud position
High ambition！
WILFRED And a lively one I'll be；
Wag…a…wagging；
Never flagging！
POINT Wag…a…wagging；
WILFRED Never flagging；
POINT Wag…a…wagging；
WILFRED Never flagging；
BOTH Never flagging；/Wag…a…wagging；
Wag…a…wagging；/Never flagging；
Never flagging；/Wag…a…wagging！
BOTH Tell a tale of cock and bull；
Of convincing detail full
Tale tremendous；
Heav'n defend us！
What a tale of cock and bull！
POINT What a tale of cock；
WILFRED What a tale of bull！
POINT What a tale of cock；
WILFRED What a tale of bull！
BOTH What a tale of cock and bull；
Cock and bull； cock and bull；
Heav'n defend us！
What a tale of cock and bull！
＇Exeunt together。
＇Enter FAIRFAX
FAIRFAX Two days gone； and no news of poor Fairfax。 The dolts！
They seek him everywhere save within a dozen yards of
his dungeon。 So I am free！ Free； but for the cursed
haste with which I hurried headlong into the bonds of
matrimony with Heaven knows whom！ As far as I
remember； she should have been young； but even had not
her face been concealed by her kerchief； I doubt
whether； in my then plight； I should have taken much
note of her。 Free？ Bah！ The Tower bonds were but a
thread of silk compared with these conjugal fetters
which I； fool that I was； placed upon mine own hands。
From the one I broke readily enough how to break the
other！
No。 16。 Free from his fetters grim
（BALLAD）
Fairfax
FAIRFAX Free from his fetters grim
Free to depart；
Free both in life and limb
In all but heart！
Bound to an unknown bride
For good and ill；
Ah； is not one so tied
A pris'ner still； a pris'ner still？
Ah； is not one so tied
A pris'ner still？
Free； yet in fetters held
Till his last hour；
Gyves that no smith can weld；
No rust devour！
Although a monarch's hand
Had set him free；
Of all the captive band
The saddest he； the saddest he！
Of all the captive band
The saddest； saddest he！
＇Enter SERGEANT MERYLL
FAIRFAX Well； Sergeant Meryll； and how fares thy pretty
charge；Elsie Maynard？
MERYLL Well enough； sir。 She is quite strong again； and
leaves us to…night。
FAIRFAX Thanks to Dame Carruthers' kind nursing； eh？
MERYLL Aye； deuce take the old witch！ Ah； 'twas but a sorry
trick you played me； sir； to bring the fainting girl
to me。 It gave the old lady an excuse for taking up
her quarters in my house； and for the last two years
I've shunned her like the plague。 Another day of it
and she would have married me！ ＇Enter DAME CARRUTHERS
and KATE＇ Good Lord； here she is again！ I'll e'en go。
＇Going＇
DAME Nay； Sergeant Meryll； don't go。 I have something of
grave import to say to thee。
MERYLL ＇aside＇ It's coming。
FAIRFAX ＇laughing＇ I'faith； I think I'； not wanted here。
＇Going＇
DAME Nay； Master Leonard； I've naught to say to thy father
that his son may not hear。
FAIRFAX ＇aside＇ True。 I'm one of the family； I had forgotten！
DAME 'Tis about this Elsie Maynard。 A pretty girl； Master
Leonard。
FAIRFAX Aye； fair as a peach blossom what then？
DAME She hath a liking for thee； or I mistake not。
FAIRFAX With all my heart。 She's as dainty a little amid as
you'll find in a midsummer day's march。
DAME Then be warned in time； and give not thy heart to her。
Oh； I know what it is to give my heart to one who will
have none of it！
MERYLL ＇aside＇ Aye； she knows all about that。
＇Aloud＇ And why is my boy to take heed of her？ She's
a good girl； Dame Carruthers。
DAME Good enough； for aught I know。 But she's no girl。
She's a married woman。
