beautiful stories from shakespeare-第12章

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Then　Cymbeline　looked　on　the　page；　who　was　his　own　daughter；　Imogen；　in　disguise；　and　though　he　did　not　recognize　her；　he　felt　such　a　kindness　that　he　not　only　spared　the　boy's　life；　but　he　said

〃He　shall　have　any　boon　he　likes　to　ask　of　me；　even　though　he　ask　a　prisoner；　the　noblest　taken。〃

Then　Imogen　said；　〃The　boon　I　ask　is　that　this　gentleman　shall　say　from　whom　he　got　the　ring　he　has　on　his　finger；〃　and　she　pointed　to　Iachimo。

〃Speak；〃　said　Cymbeline；　〃how　did　you　get　that　diamond？〃

Then　Iachimo　told　the　whole　truth　of　his　villainy。　　At　this；　Leonatus　was　unable　to　contain　himself；　and　casting　aside　all　thought　of　disguise；　he　came　forward；　cursing　himself　for　his　folly　in　having　believed　Iachimo's　lying　story；　and　calling　again　and　again　on　his　wife　whom　he　believed　dead。

〃Oh；　Imogen；　my　love；　my　life！〃　he　cried。　　〃Oh；　Imogen！

〃Then　Imogen；　forgetting　she　was　disguised；　cried　out；　〃Peace；　my　lordhere；　here！〃

Leonatus　turned　to　strike　the　forward　page　who　thus　interfered　in　his　great　trouble；　and　then　he　saw　that　it　was　his　wife；　Imogen；　and　they　fell　into　each　other's　arms。

The　King　was　so　glad　to　see　his　dear　daughter　again；　and　so　grateful　to　the　man　who　had　rescued　him　（whom　he　now　found　to　be　Leonatus）；　that　he　gave　his　blessing　on　their　marriage；　and　then　he　turned　to　Bellarius；　and　the　two　boys。　　Now　Bellarius　spoke

〃I　am　your　old　servant；　Bellarius。　　You　accused　me　of　treason　when　I　had　only　been　loyal　to　you；　and　to　be　doubted；　made　me　disloyal。　So　I　stole　your　two　sons；　and　see；they　are　here！〃　　And　he　brought　forward　the　two　boys；　who　had　sworn　to　be　brothers　to　Imogen　when　they　thought　she　was　a　boy　like　themselves。

The　wicked　Queen　was　dead　of　some　of　her　own　poisons；　and　the　King；　with　his　three　children　about　him；　lived　to　a　happy　old　age。

So　the　wicked　were　punished；　and　the　good　and　true　lived　happy　ever　after。　　So　may　the　wicked　suffer；　and　honest　folk　prosper　till　the　world's　end。




MACBETH



When　a　person　is　asked　to　tell　the　story　of　Macbeth；　he　can　tell　two　stories。　　One　is　of　a　man　called　Macbeth　who　came　to　the　throne　of　Scotland　by　a　crime　in　the　year　of　our　Lord　1039；　and　reigned　justly　and　well；　on　the　whole；　for　fifteen　years　or　more。　　This　story　is　part　of　Scottish　history。　　The　other　story　issues　from　a　place　called　Imagination；　it　is　gloomy　and　wonderful；　and　you　shall　hear　it。

A　year　or　two　before　Edward　the　Confessor　began　to　rule　England；　a　battle　was　won　in　Scotland　against　a　Norwegian　King　by　two　generals　named　Macbeth　and　Banquo。　　After　the　battle；　the　generals　walked　together　towards　Forres；　in　Elginshire；　where　Duncan；　King　of　Scotland；　was　awaiting　them。

While　they　were　crossing　a　lonely　heath；　they　saw　three　bearded　women；　sisters；　hand　in　hand；　withered　in　appearance　and　wild　in　their　attire。

〃Speak；　who　are　you？〃　demanded　Macbeth。

〃Hail；　Macbeth；　chieftain　of　Glamis；〃　said　the　first　woman。

〃Hail；　Macbeth；　chieftain　of　Cawdor；〃　said　the　second　woman。

〃Hail；　Macbeth；　King　that　is　to　be；〃　said　the　third　woman。

Then　Banquo　asked；　〃What　of　me？〃　and　the　third　woman　replied；　〃Thou　shalt　be　the　father　of　kings。〃

〃Tell　me　more；〃　said　Macbeth。　　〃By　my　father's　death　I　am　chieftain　of　Glamis；　but　the　chieftain　of　Cawdor　lives；　and　the　King　lives；　and　his　children　live。　　Speak；　I　charge　you！〃

The　women　replied　only　by　vanishing；　as　though　suddenly　mixed　with　the　air。

Banquo　and　Macbeth　knew　then　that　they　had　been　addressed　by　witches；　and　were　discussing　their　prophecies　when　two　nobles　approached。　One　of　them　thanked　Macbeth；　in　the　King's　name；　for　his　military　services；　and　the　other　said；　〃He　bade　me　call　you　chieftain　of　Cawdor。〃

Macbeth　then　learned　that　the　man　who　had　yesterday　borne　that　title　was　to　die　for　treason；　and　he　could　not　help　thinking；　〃The　third　witch　called　me；　'King　that　is　to　be。'〃

〃Banquo；〃　he　said；　〃you　see　that　the　witches　spoke　truth　concerning　me。　　Do　you　not　believe；　therefore；　that　your　child　and　grandchild　will　be　kings？〃

Banquo　frowned。　　Duncan　had　two　sons；　Malcolm　and　Donalbain；　and　he　deemed　it　disloyal　to　hope　that　his　son　Fleance　should　rule　Scotland。　　He　told　Macbeth　that　the　witches　might　have　intended　to　tempt　them　both　into　villainy　by　their　prophecies　concerning　the　throne。　　Macbeth；　however；　thought　the　prophecy　that　he　should　be　King　too　pleasant　to　keep　to　himself；　and　he　mentioned　it　to　his　wife　in　a　letter。

Lady　Macbeth　was　the　grand…daughter　of　a　King　of　Scotland　who　had　died　in　defending　his　crown　against　the　King　who　preceded　Duncan；　and　by　whose　order　her　only　brother　was　slain。　　To　her；　Duncan　was　a　reminder　of　bitter　wrongs。　　Her　husband　had　royal　blood　in　his　veins；　and　when　she　read　his　letter；　she　was　determined　that　he　should　be　King。

When　a　messenger　arrived　to　inform　her　that　Duncan　would　pass　a　night　in　Macbeth's　castle；　she　nerved　herself　for　a　very　base　action。

She　told　Macbeth　almost　as　soon　as　she　saw　him　that　Duncan　must　spend　a　sunless　morrow。　　She　meant　that　Duncan　must　die；　and　that　the　dead　are　blind。　　〃We　will　speak　further；〃　said　Macbeth　uneasily；　and　at　night；　with　his　memory　full　of　Duncan's　kind　words；　he　would　fain　have　spared　his　guest。

〃Would　you　live　a　coward？〃　demanded　Lady　Macbeth；　who　seems　to　have　thought　that　morality　and　cowardice　were　the　same。

〃I　dare　do　all　that　may　become　a　man；〃　replied　Macbeth；　〃who　dare　do　more　is　none。〃

〃Why　did　you　write　that　letter　to　me？〃　she　inquired　fiercely；　and　with　bitter　words　she　egged　him　on　to　murder；　and　with　cunning　words　she　showed　him　how　to　do　it。

After　supper　Duncan　went　to　bed；　and　two　grooms　were　placed　on　guard　at　his　bedroom　door。　　Lady　Macbeth　caused　them　to　drink　wine　till　they　were　stupefied。　　She　then　took　their　daggers　and　would　have　killed　the　King　herself　if　his　sleeping　face　had　not　looked　like　her　father's。

Macbeth　came　later；　and　found　the　daggers　lying　by　the　grooms；　and　soon　with　red　hands　he　appeared　before　his　wife；　saying；　〃Methought　I　heard　a　voice　cry；　'Sleep　no　more！　　Macbeth　destroys　the　sleeping。'〃

〃Wash　your　hands；〃　said　she。　　〃Why　did　you　not　leave　the　daggers　by　the　grooms？　　Take　them　back；　and　smear　the　grooms　with　blood。〃

〃I　dare　not；〃　said　Macbeth。

His　wife　dared；　and　she　returned　to　him　with　hands　red　as　his　own；　but　a　heart　less　white；　she　proudly　told　him；　for　she　scorned　his　fear。

The　murderers　heard　a　knocking；　and　Macbeth　wished　it　was　a　knocking　which　could　wake　the　dead。　　It　was　the　knocking　of　Macduff；　the　chieftain　of　Fife；　who　had　been　told　by　Duncan　to　visit　him　early。　Macbeth　went　to　him；　and　showed　him　the　door　of　the　King's　room。

Macduff　entered；　and　came　out　again　crying；　〃O　horror！　horror！　horror！〃

Macbeth　appeared　as　horror…stricken　as　Macduff；　and　pretending　that　he　could　not　bear　to　see　life　in　Duncan's　murderers；　he　slew　the　two　grooms　with　their　own　daggers　before　they　could　proclaim　their　innocence。

These　murders　did　not　shriek　out；　and　Macbeth　was　crowned　at　Scone。　One　of　Duncan's　sons　went　to　Ireland；　the　other　to　England。　Macbeth　was　King。　　But　he　was　discontented。　　The　prophecy　concerning　Banquo　oppressed　his　mind。　　If　Fleance　were　to　rule；　a　son　of　Macbeth　would　not　rule。　　Macbeth　determined；　therefore；　to　murder　both　Banquo　and　his　son。　　He　hired　two　ruffians；　who　slew　Banquo　one　night　when　he　was　on　his　way　with　Fleance　to　a　banquet　which　Macbeth　was　giving　to　his　nobles。　　Fleance　escaped。

Meanwhile　Macbeth　and　his　Queen　received　their　guests　very　graciously；　and　he　expressed　a　wish　for　them　which　has　been　uttered　thousands　of　times　since　his　day〃Now　good　digestion　wait　on　appetite；　and　health　on　both。〃

〃We　pray　your　Majesty　to　sit　with　us；〃　said　Lennox；　a　Scotch　noble；　but　ere　Macbeth　could　reply；　the　ghost　of　Banquo　entered　the　banqueting　hall　and　sat　in　Macbeth's　place。

Not　noticing　the　ghost；　Macbeth　observed　that；　if　Banquo　were　present；　he　could　say　that　he　had　collected　under　his　roof　the　choicest　chivalry　of　Scotland。　　Macduff；　however；　had　curtly　declined　his　invitation。

The　King　was　again　pressed　to　take　a　seat；　and　Lennox；　to　whom　Banquo's　ghost　was　invisible；　showed　him　the　chair　where　it　sat。

But　Macbeth；　with　his　eyes　of　genius；　saw　the　ghost。　　He　saw　it　like　a　form　of　mist　and　blood；　and　he　demanded　passionately；　〃Which　of　you　have　done　this？〃

Still　none　saw　the　ghost　but　he；　and　to　the　ghost　Macbeth　said；　〃Thou　canst　not　say　I　did　it。〃

The　ghost　glided　out；　and　Macbeth　was　impudent　enough　to　raise　a　glass　of　wine　〃to　the　general　joy　of　the　whole　table；　and　to　our　dear　friend　Banquo；　whom　we　miss。〃

The　toast　was　drunk　as　the　ghost　of　Banquo　entered　for　the　second　time。

〃Begone！〃　cried　Macbeth。　　〃You　are　senseless；　mindless！　Hide　in　the　earth；　thou　horrible　shadow。〃

Again　none　saw　the　ghost　but　he。

〃What　is　it　your　Majesty　sees？〃　asked　one　of　the　nobles。

The　Queen　dared　not　permit　an　answer　to　be　given　to　this　question。　She　hurriedly　begged　her　guests　to　quit　a　sick　man　who　was　likely　to　grow　worse　if　he　was　obliged　to　talk。

Macbeth；　however；　was　well　enough　next　day　to　converse　with　the　witches　whose　prophecies　had　so　depraved　him。

He　found　them　in　a　cavern　on　a　thunderous　day。　　They　were　revolving　round　a　cauldron　in　which　were　boiling　particles　of　many　strange　and　horrible　creatures；　and　they　knew　he　was　coming　before　he　arrived。

〃Answer　me　what　I　ask　you；〃　said　the　King。

〃Would　you　rather　hear　it　from　us　or　our　masters？〃　asked　the　first　witch。

〃Call　them；〃　replied　Macbeth。

Thereupon　the　witches　poured　blood　into　the　cauldron　and　grease　into　the　flame　that　licked　it；　and　a　helmeted　head　appeared　with　the　visor　on；　so　that　Macbeth　could　only　see　its　eyes。

He　was　speaking　to　the　head；　when　the　first　witch　said　gravely；　〃He　knows　thy　thought；〃　and　a　voice　in　the　head　said；　〃Macbeth；　beware　Macduff；　the　chieftain　of　Fife。〃　　The　head　then　descended　Into　the　cauldron　till　it　disappeared。

〃One　word　more；〃　pleaded　Macbeth。

〃He　will　not　be　commanded；〃　said　the　first　witch；　and　then　a　crowned　child　ascended　from　the　cauldron　bearing　a　tree　in　his　hand　The　child　said

　　　　〃Macbeth　shall　be　unconquerable　till　　　　　　The　Wood　of　Birnam　climbs　Dunsinane　Hill。〃

〃That　will　never　be；〃　said　Macbeth；　and　he　asked　to　be　told　if　Banquo's　descendants　would　ever　rule　Scotland。

The　cauldron　sank　into　the　earth；　music　was　heard；　and　a　procession　of　phantom　kings　filed　past　Macbeth；　behind　them　was　Banquo's　ghost。　　In　each　king；　Macbeth　saw　a　likeness　to　Banquo；　and　he　counted　eight　kings。

Then　he　was　suddenly　left　alone。

His　next　proceeding　was　to　send　murderers　to　Macduff's　castle。　They　did　not　find　Macduff；　and　asked　Lady　Macduff　where　he　was。　She　gave　a　stinging　answer；　and　her　questioner　called　Macduff　a　traitor。　　〃Thou　liest！〃　shouted　Macduff's　little　son；　who　was　immediately　stabbed；　and　with　his　last　breath　entreated　his　mother　to　fly。　　The　murderers　did　not　leave　the　castle　while　one　of　its　inmates　remained　alive。

Macduff　was　in　England　listening；　with　Malcolm；　to　a　doctor's　tale　of　cures　wrought　by　Edward　the　Confessor　when　his　friend　Ross　came　to　tell　him　that　his　wife　and　children　were　no　more。　　At　first　Ross　dared　not　speak　the　truth；　and　turn　Macduff's　bright　sympathy　with　sufferers　relieved　by　royal　virtue　into　s