beautiful stories from shakespeare-第7章

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〃I　can　be　as　dumb　as　a　mute；〃　apologized　Benedick　to　Claudio；　〃but　his　Grace　commands　my　speech。〃　　To　Don　Pedro　he　said；　〃Claudio　is　in　love　with　Hero；　Leonato's　short　daughter。〃

Don　Pedro　was　pleased；　for　he　admired　Hero　and　was　fond　of　Claudio。　When　Benedick　had　departed；　he　said　to　Claudio；　〃Be　steadfast　in　your　love　for　Hero；　and　I　will　help　you　to　win　her。　　To…night　her　father　gives　a　masquerade；　and　I　will　pretend　I　am　Claudio；　and　tell　her　how　Claudio　loves　her；　and　if　she　be　pleased；　I　will　go　to　her　father　and　ask　his　consent　to　your　union。〃

Most　men　like　to　do　their　own　wooing；　but　if　you　fall　in　love　with　a　Governor's　only　daughter；　you　are　fortunate　if　you　can　trust　a　prince　to　plead　for　you。

Claudio　then　was　fortunate；　but　he　was　unfortunate　as　well；　for　he　had　an　enemy　who　was　outwardly　a　friend。　　This　enemy　was　Don　Pedro's　stepbrother　Don　John；　who　was　jealous　of　Claudio　because　Don　Pedro　preferred　him　to　Don　John。

It　was　to　Don　John　that　Borachio　came　with　the　interesting　conversation　which　he　had　overheard。

〃I　shall　have　some　fun　at　that　masquerade　myself；〃　said　Don　John　when　Borachio　ceased　speaking。

On　the　night　of　the　masquerade；　Don　Pedro；　masked　and　pretending　he　was　Claudio；　asked　Hero　if　he　might　walk　with　her。

They　moved　away　together；　and　Don　John　went　up　to　Claudio　and　said；　〃Signor　Benedick；　I　believe？〃　　〃The　same；〃　fibbed　Claudio。

〃I　should　be　much　obliged　then；〃　said　Don　John；　〃if　you　would　use　your　influence　with　my　brother　to　cure　him　of　his　love　for　Hero。　She　is　beneath　him　in　rank。〃

〃How　do　you　know　he　loves　her？〃　inquired　Claudio。

〃I　heard　him　swear　his　affection；〃　was　the　reply；　and　Borachio　chimed　in　with；　〃So　did　I　too。〃

Claudio　was　then　left　to　himself；　and　his　thought　was　that　his　Prince　had　betrayed　him。　　〃Farewell；　Hero；〃　he　muttered；　〃I　was　a　fool　to　trust　to　an　agent。〃

Meanwhile　Beatrice　and　Benedick　（who　was　masked）　were　having　a　brisk　exchange　of　opinions。

〃Did　Benedick　ever　make　you　laugh？〃　asked　she。

〃Who　is　Benedick？〃　he　inquired。

〃A　Prince's　jester；〃　replied　Beatrice；　and　she　spoke　so　sharply　that　〃I　would　not　marry　her；〃　he　declared　afterwards；　〃if　her　estate　were　the　Garden　of　Eden。〃

But　the　principal　speaker　at　the　masquerade　was　neither　Beatrice　nor　Benedick。　　It　was　Don　Pedro；　who　carried　out　his　plan　to　the　letter；　and　brought　the　light　back　to　Claudio's　face　in　a　twinkling；　by　appearing　before　him　with　Leonato　and　Hero；　and　saying；　〃Claudio；　when　would　you　like　to　go　to　church？〃

〃To…morrow；〃　was　the　prompt　answer。　　〃Time　goes　on　crutches　till　I　marry　Hero。〃

〃Give　her　a　week；　my　dear　son；〃　said　Leonato；　and　Claudio's　heart　thumped　with　joy。

〃And　now；〃　said　the　amiable　Don　Pedro；　〃we　must　find　a　wife　for　Signor　Benedick。　　It　is　a　task　for　Hercules。〃

〃I　will　help　you；〃　said　Leonato；　〃if　I　have　to　sit　up　ten　nights。〃

Then　Hero　spoke。　　〃I　will　do　what　I　can；　my　lord；　to　find　a　good　husband　for　Beatrice。〃

Thus；　with　happy　laughter；　ended　the　masquerade　which　had　given　Claudio　a　lesson　for　nothing。

Borachio　cheered　up　Don　John　by　laying　a　plan　before　him　with　which　he　was　confident　he　could　persuade　both　Claudio　and　Don　Pedro　that　Hero　was　a　fickle　girl　who　had　two　strings　to　her　bow。　　Don　John　agreed　to　this　plan　of　hate。

Don　Pedro；　on　the　other　hand；　had　devised　a　cunning　plan　of　love。　〃If；〃　he　said　to　Leonato；　〃we　pretend；　when　Beatrice　is　near　enough　to　overhear　us；　that　Benedick　is　pining　for　her　love；　she　will　pity　him；　see　his　good　qualities；　and　love　him。　　And　if；　when　Benedick　thinks　we　don't　know　he　is　listening；　we　say　how　sad　it　is　that　the　beautiful　Beatrice　should　be　in　love　with　a　heartless　scoffer　like　Benedick；　he　will　certainly　be　on　his　knees　before　her　in　a　week　or　less。〃

So　one　day；　when　Benedick　was　reading　in　a　summer…house；　Claudio　sat　down　outside　it　with　Leonato；　and　said；　〃Your　daughter　told　me　something　about　a　letter　she　wrote。〃

〃Letter！〃　exclaimed　Leonato。　　〃She　will　get　up　twenty　times　in　the　night　and　write　goodness　knows　what。　　But　once　Hero　peeped；　and　saw　the　words　'Benedick　and　Beatrice'　on　the　sheet；　and　then　Beatrice　tore　it　up。〃

〃Hero　told　me；〃　said　Claudio；　〃that　she　cried；　'O　sweet　Benedick！'〃

Benedick　was　touched　to　the　core　by　this　improbable　story；　which　he　was　vain　enough　to　believe。　　〃She　is　fair　and　good；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃I　must　not　seem　proud。　　I　feel　that　I　love　her。　People　will　laugh；　of　course；　but　their　paper　bullets　will　do　me　no　harm。〃

At　this　moment　Beatrice　came　to　the　summerhouse；　and　said；　〃Against　my　will；　I　have　come　to　tell　you　that　dinner　is　ready。〃

〃Fair　Beatrice；　I　thank　you；〃　said　Benedick。

〃I　took　no　more　pains　to　come　than　you　take　pains　to　thank　me；〃　was　the　rejoinder；　intended　to　freeze　him。

But　it　did　not　freeze　him。　　It　warmed　him。　　The　meaning　he　squeezed　out　of　her　rude　speech　was　that　she　was　delighted　to　come　to　him。

Hero；　who　had　undertaken　the　task　of　melting　the　heart　of　Beatrice；　took　no　trouble　to　seek　an　occasion。　　She　simply　said　to　her　maid　Margaret　one　day；　〃Run　into　the　parlor　and　whisper　to　Beatrice　that　Ursula　and　I　are　talking　about　her　in　the　orchard。〃

Having　said　this；　she　felt　as　sure　that　Beatrice　would　overhear　what　was　meant　for　her　ears　as　if　she　had　made　an　appointment　with　her　cousin。

In　the　orchard　was　a　bower；　screened　from　the　sun　by　honeysuckles；　and　Beatrice　entered　it　a　few　minutes　after　Margaret　had　gone　on　her　errand。

〃But　are　you　sure；〃　asked　Ursula；　who　was　one　of　Hero's　attendants；　〃that　Benedick　loves　Beatrice　so　devotedly？〃

〃So　say　the　Prince　and　my　betrothed；〃　replied　Hero；　〃and　they　wished　me　to　tell　her；　but　I　said；　'No！　　Let　Benedick　get　over　it。'〃

〃Why　did　you　say　that？〃

〃Because　Beatrice　is　unbearably　proud。　　Her　eyes　sparkle　with　disdain　and　scorn。　　She　is　too　conceited　to　love。　　I　should　not　like　to　see　her　making　game　of　poor　Benedick's　love。　　I　would　rather　see　Benedick　waste　away　like　a　covered　fire。〃

〃I　don't　agree　with　you；〃　said　Ursula。　　〃I　think　your　cousin　is　too　clear…sighted　not　to　see　the　merits　of　Benedick。〃　　〃He　is　the　one　man　in　Italy；　except　Claudio；〃　said　Hero。

The　talkers　then　left　the　orchard；　and　Beatrice；　excited　and　tender；　stepped　out　of　the　summer…house；　saying　to　herself；　〃Poor　dear　Benedick；　be　true　to　me；　and　your　love　shall　tame　this　wild　heart　of　mine。〃

We　now　return　to　the　plan　of　hate。

The　night　before　the　day　fixed　for　Claudio's　wedding；　Don　John　entered　a　room　in　which　Don　Pedro　and　Claudio　were　conversing；　and　asked　Claudio　if　he　intended　to　be　married　to…morrow。

〃You　know　he　does！〃　said　Don　Pedro。

〃He　may　know　differently；〃　said　Don　John；　〃when　he　has　seen　what　I　will　show　him　if　he　will　follow　me。〃

They　followed　him　into　the　garden；　and　they　saw　a　lady　leaning　out　of　Hero's　window　talking　love　to　Borachio。

Claudio　thought　the　lady　was　Hero；　and　said；　〃I　will　shame　her　for　it　to…morrow！〃　Don　Pedro　thought　she　was　Hero；　too；　but　she　was　not　Hero；　she　was　Margaret。

Don　John　chuckled　noiselessly　when　Claudio　and　Don　Pedro　quitted　the　garden；　he　gave　Borachio　a　purse　containing　a　thousand　ducats。

The　money　made　Borachio　feel　very　gay；　and　when　he　was　walking　in　the　street　with　his　friend　Conrade；　he　boasted　of　his　wealth　and　the　giver；　and　told　what　he　had　done。

A　watchman　overheard　them；　and　thought　that　a　man　who　had　been　paid　a　thousand　ducats　for　villainy　was　worth　taking　in　charge。　　He　therefore　arrested　Borachio　and　Conrade；　who　spent　the　rest　of　the　night　in　prison。

Before　noon　of　the　next　day　half　the　aristocrats　in　Messina　were　at　church。　　Hero　thought　it　was　her　wedding　day；　and　she　was　there　in　her　wedding　dress；　no　cloud　on　her　pretty　face　or　in　her　frank　and　shining　eyes。

The　priest　was　Friar　Francis。

Turning　to　Claudio；　he　said；　〃You　come　hither；　my　lord；　to　marry　this　lady？〃　　〃No！〃　contradicted　Claudio。

Leonato　thought　he　was　quibbling　over　grammar。　　〃You　should　have　said；　Friar；〃　said　he；　〃'You　come　to　be　married　to　her。'〃

Friar　Francis　turned　to　Hero。　　〃Lady；〃　he　said；　〃you　come　hither　to　be　married　to　this　Count？〃　　〃I　do；〃　replied　Hero。

〃If　either　of　you　know　any　impediment　to　this　marriage；　I　charge　you　to　utter　it；〃　said　the　Friar。

〃Do　you　know　of　any；　Hero？〃　asked　Claudio。　　〃None；〃　said　she。

〃Know　you　of　any；　Count？〃　demanded　the　Friar。　　〃I　dare　reply　for　him；　'None；'〃　said　Leonato。

Claudio　exclaimed　bitterly；　〃O！　what　will　not　men　dare　say！　Father；〃　he　continued；　〃will　you　give　me　your　daughter？〃　　〃As　freely；〃　replied　Leonato；　〃as　God　gave　her　to　me。〃

〃And　what　can　I　give　you；〃　asked　Claudio；　〃which　is　worthy　of　this　gift？〃　　〃Nothing；〃　said　Don　Pedro；　〃unless　you　give　the　gift　back　to　the　giver。〃

〃Sweet　Prince；　you　teach　me；〃　said　Claudio。　　〃There；　Leonato；　take　her　back。〃

These　brutal　words　were　followed　by　others　which　flew　from　Claudio；　Don　Pedro　and　Don　John。

The　church　seemed　no　longer　sacred。　　Hero　took　her　own　part　as　long　as　she　could；　then　she　swooned。　　All　her　persecutors　left　the　church；　except　her　father；　who　was　befooled　by　the　accusations　against　her；　and　cried；　〃Hence　from　her！　　Let　her　die！〃

But　Friar　Francis　saw　Hero　blameless　with　his　clear　eyes　that　probed　the　soul。　　〃She　is　innocent；〃　he　said；　〃a　thousand　signs　have　told　me　so。〃

Hero　revived　under　his　kind　gaze。　　Her　father；　flurried　and　angry；　knew　not　what　to　think；　and　the　Friar　said；　〃They　have　left　her　as　one　dead　with　shame。　　Let　us　pretend　that　she　is　dead　until　the　truth　is　declared；　and　slander　turns　to　remorse。〃

〃The　Friar　advises　well；〃　said　Benedick。　　Then　Hero　was　led　away　into　a　retreat；　and　Beatrice　and　Benedick　remained　alone　in　the　church。

Benedick　knew　she　had　been　weeping　bitterly　and　long。　　〃Surely　I　do　believe　your　fair　cousin　is　wronged；〃　he　said。　　She　still　wept。

〃Is　it　not　strange；〃　asked　Benedick；　gently；　〃that　I　love　nothing　in　the　world　as　well　as　you？〃

〃It　were　as　possible　for　me　to　say　I　loved　nothing　as　well　as　you；〃　said　Beatrice；　〃but　I　do　not　say　it。　　I　am　sorry　for　my　cousin。〃

〃Tell　me　what　to　do　for　her；〃　said　Benedick。　　〃Kill　Claudio。〃

〃Ha！　not　for　the　wide　world；〃　said　Benedick。　　〃Your　refusal　kills　me；〃　said　Beatrice。　　〃Farewell。〃

〃Enough！　　I　will　challenge　him；〃　cried　Benedick。

During　this　scene　Borachio　and　Conrade　were　in　prison。　　There　they　were　examined　by　a　constable　called　Dogberry。

The　watchman　gave　evidence　to　the　effect　that　Borachio　had　said　that　he　had　received　a　thousand　ducats　for　conspiring　against　Hero。

Leonato　was　not　present　at　this　examination；　but　he　was　nevertheless　now　thoroughly　convinced　Of　Hero's　innocence。　　He　played　the　part　of　bereaved　father　very　well；　and　when　Don　Pedro　and　Claudio　called　on　him　in　a　friendly　way；　he　said　to　the　Italian；　〃You　have　slandered　my　child　to　death；　and　I　challenge　you　to　combat。〃

〃I　cannot　fight　an　old　man；〃　said　Claudio。

〃You　could　kill　a　girl；〃　sneered　Leonato；　and　Claudio　crimsoned。

Hot　words　grew　from　hot　words；　and　both　Don　Pedro　and　Claudio　were　feeling　scorched　when　Leonato　left　the　room　and　Benedick　entered。

〃The　old　man；〃　said　Claudio；　〃was　like　to　have　snapped　my　nose　off。〃

〃You　are　a　villain！〃　said　Benedick；　shortly。　　〃Fight　me　when　and　with　what　weapon　you　please；　or　I　call　you　a　coward。〃

Claudio　was　astounde