the complete plays-第60章
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yours is the only woman's face I have seen during that
time。 I think it is a sweet face。
RUTH： It is oh； it is！
FREDERIC： I say I think it is； that is my impression。 But as I
have never had an opportunity of comparing you with
other women； it is just possible I may be mistaken。
KING： True。
FREDERIC： What a terrible thing it would be if I were to marry
this innocent person； and then find out that she is； on
the whole； plain！
KING： Oh； Ruth is very well； very well indeed。
SAMUEL： Yes； there are the remains of a fine woman about Ruth。
FREDERIC： Do you really think so？
SAMUEL： I do。
FREDERIC： Then I will not be so selfish as to take her from you。
In justice to her； and in consideration for you； I will
leave her behind。 （Hands RUTH to KING）
KING： No； Frederic； this must not be。 We are rough men； who
lead a rough life； but we are not so utterly heartless
as to deprive thee of thy love。 I think I am right in
saying that there is not one here who would rob thee of
this inestimable treasure for all the world holds dear。
ALL： （loudly） Not one！
KING： No； I thought there wasn't。 Keep thy love； Frederic；
keep thy love。 （Hands her back to FREDERIC）
FREDERIC： You're very good； I'm sure。 （Exit RUTH）
KING： Well； it's the top of the tide； and we must be off。
Farewell； Frederic。 When your process of extermination
begins； let our deaths be as swift and painless as you
can conveniently make them。
FREDERIC： I will！ By the love I have for you； I swear it！ Would
that you could render this extermination unnecessary by
accompanying me back to civilization！
KING： No； Frederic； it cannot be。 I don't think much of our
profession； but； contrasted with respectability； it is
comparatively honest。 No； Frederic； I shall live and
die a Pirate King。
SONG PIRATE KING
KING： Oh； better far to live and die
Under the brave black flag I fly；
Than play a sanctimonious part
With a pirate head and a pirate heart。
Away to the cheating world go you；
Where pirates all are well…to…do；
But I'll be true to the song I sing；
And live and die a Pirate King。
For I am a Pirate King！
And it is； it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King！
For I am a Pirate King！
ALL： You are！
Hurrah for the Pirate King！
KING： And it is； it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King。
ALL： It is！
Hurrah for the Pirate King！
Hurrah for the Pirate King！
KING： When I sally forth to seek my prey
I help myself in a royal way。
I sink a few more ships； it's true；
Than a well…bred monarch ought to do；
But many a king on a first…class throne；
If he wants to call his crown his own；
Must manage somehow to get through
More dirty work than e'er I do；
For I am a Pirate King！
And it is； it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King！
For I am a Pirate King！
ALL： You are！
Hurrah for the Pirate King！
KING： And it is； it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King。
ALL： It is！
Hurrah for the Pirate King！
Hurrah for the Pirate King！
（Exeunt all except FREDERIC。 Enter RUTH。）
RUTH： Oh； take me with you！ I cannot live if I am left
behind。
FREDERIC： Ruth； I will be quite candid with you。 You are very
dear to me； as you know； but I must be circumspect。
You see； you are considerably older than I。 A lad of
twenty…one usually looks for a wife of seventeen。
RUTH： A wife of seventeen！ You will find me a wife of a
thousand！
FREDERIC： No； but I shall find you a wife of forty…seven； and
that is quite enough。 Ruth； tell me candidly and
without reserve： compared with other women； how are
you？
RUTH： I will answer you truthfully； master： I have a slight
cold； but otherwise I am quite well。
FREDERIC： I am sorry for your cold； but I was referring rather to
your personal appearance。 Compared with other women；
are you beautiful？
RUTH： （bashfully） I have been told so； dear master。
FREDERIC： Ah； but lately？
RUTH： Oh； no； years and years ago。
FREDERIC： What do you think of yourself？
RUTH： It is a delicate question to answer； but I think I am a
fine woman。
FREDERIC： That is your candid opinion？
RUTH： Yes； I should be deceiving you if I told you otherwise。
FREDERIC： Thank you； Ruth。 I believe you； for I am sure you
would not practice on my inexperience。 I wish to do
the right thing； and if… I say if… you are really a
fine woman； your age shall be no obstacle to our union！
（Shakes hands with her。 Chorus of girls heard in the
distance； 〃climbing over rocky mountain；〃 etc。） Hark！
Surely I hear voices！ Who has ventured to approach our
all but inaccessible lair？ Can it be Custom House？ No；
it does not sound like Custom House。
RUTH： （aside） Confusion！ it is the voices of young girls！
If he should see them I am lost。
FREDERIC： （looking off） By all that's marvellous； a bevy of
beautiful maidens！
RUTH： （aside） Lost！ lost！ lost！
FREDERIC： How lovely； how surpassingly lovely is the plainest of
them！ What grace… what delicacy… what refinement！ And
Ruth Ruth told me she was beautiful！
RECITATIVE
FREDERIC： Oh； false one； you have deceived me！
RUTH： I have deceived you？
FREDERIC： Yes； deceived me！
（Denouncing her。）
FREDERIC： You told me you were fair as gold！
RUTH： （wildly） And； master； am I not so？
FREDERIC： And now I see you're plain and old。
RUTH： I'm sure I'm not a jot so。
FREDERIC： Upon my innocence you play。
RUTH： I'm not the one to plot so。
FREDERIC： Your face is lined； your hair is grey。
RUTH： It's gradually got so。
FREDERIC： Faithless woman； to deceive me；
I who trusted so！
RUTH： Master； master； do not leave me！
Hear me； ere you go！
My love without reflecting；
Oh； do not be rejecting！
Take a maiden tender； her affection raw and green；
At very highest rating；
Has been accumulating
Summers seventeen； summers seventeen。
Don't； beloved master；
Crush me with disaster。
What is such a dower to the dower I have here？
My love unabating
Has been accumulating
Forty…seven yearforty…seven year！
ENSEMBLE
RUTH FREDERIC
Don't； beloved master； Yes； your former master
Crush me with disaster。 Saves you from disaster。
What is such a dower to the Your love would be uncomfortably
dower I have here fervid； it is clear
My love unabating If； as you are stating
Has been accumulating It's been accumulating
Forty…seven year； forty…seven Forty…seven yearforty…seven year！
year！ Faithless woman to deceive me； I
who trusted so！
Master； master； do not leave Faithless woma
