beautiful stories from shakespeare-第8章

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

Claudio　was　astounded；　but　said；　〃I'll　meet　you。　　Nobody　shall　say　I　can't　carve　a　calf's　head。〃

Benedick　smiled；　and　as　it　was　time　for　Don　Pedro　to　receive　officials；　the　Prince　sat　down　in　a　chair　of　state　and　prepared　his　mind　for　justice。

The　door　soon　opened　to　admit　Dogberry　and　his　prisoners。

〃What　offence；〃　said　Don　Pedro；　〃are　these　men　charged　with？〃

Borachio　thought　the　moment　a　happy　one　for　making　a　clean　breast　of　it。　　He　laid　the　whole　blame　on　Don　John；　who　had　disappeared。　〃The　lady　Hero　being　dead；〃　he　said；　〃I　desire　nothing　but　the　reward　of　a　murderer。〃

Claudio　heard　with　anguish　and　deep　repentance。

Upon　the　re…entrance　of　Leonato　be　said　to　him；　〃This　slave　makes　clear　your　daughter's　innocence。　　Choose　your　revenge。

〃Leonato；〃　said　Don　Pedro；　humbly；　〃I　am　ready　for　any　penance　you　may　impose。〃

〃I　ask　you　both；　then；〃　said　Leonato；　〃to　proclaim　my　daughter's　innocence；　and　to　honor　her　tomb　by　singing　her　praise　before　it。　As　for　you；　Claudio；　I　have　this　to　say：　my　brother　has　a　daughter　so　like　Hero　that　she　might　be　a　copy　of　her。　　Marry　her；　and　my　vengeful　feelings　die。〃

〃Noble　sir；〃　said　Claudio；　〃I　am　yours。〃　　Claudio　then　went　to　his　room　and　composed　a　solemn　song。　　Going　to　the　church　with　Don　Pedro　and　his　attendants；　he　sang　it　before　the　monument　of　Leonato's　family。　　When　he　had　ended　he　said；　〃Good　night；　Hero。　Yearly　will　I　do　this。〃

He　then　gravely；　as　became　a　gentleman　whose　heart　was　Hero's；　made　ready　to　marry　a　girl　whom　he　did　not　love。　　He　was　told　to　meet　her　in　Leonato's　house；　and　was　faithful　to　his　appointment。

He　was　shown　into　a　room　where　Antonio　（Leonato's　brother）　and　several　masked　ladies　entered　after　him。　　Friar　Francis；　Leonato；　and　Benedick　were　present。

Antonio　led　one　of　the　ladies　towards　Claudio。

〃Sweet；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃let　me　see　your　face。〃

〃Swear　first　to　marry　her；〃　said　Leonato。

〃Give　me　your　hand；〃　said　Claudio　to　the　lady；　〃before　this　holy　friar　I　swear　to　marry　you　if　you　will　be　my　wife。〃

〃Alive　I　was　your　wife；〃　said　the　lady；　as　she　drew　off　her　mask。

〃Another　Hero！〃　exclaimed　Claudio。

〃Hero　died；〃　explained　Leonato；　〃only　while　slander　lived。〃

The　Friar　was　then　going　to　marry　the　reconciled　pair；　but　Benedick　interrupted　him　with；　〃Softly；　Friar；　which　of　these　ladies　is　Beatrice？〃

Hereat　Beatrice　unmasked；　and　Benedick　said；　〃You　love　me；　don't　you？〃

〃Only　moderately；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃Do　you　love　me？〃

〃Moderately；〃　answered　Benedick。

〃I　was　told　you　were　well…nigh　dead　for　me；〃　remarked　Beatrice。

〃Of　you　I　was　told　the　same；〃　said　Benedick。

〃Here's　your　own　hand　in　evidence　of　your　love；〃　said　Claudio；　producing　a　feeble　sonnet　which　Benedick　had　written　to　his　sweetheart。　　〃And　here；〃　said　Hero；　〃is　a　tribute　to　Benedick；　which　I　picked　out　of　the　'　pocket　of　Beatrice。〃

〃A　miracle！〃　exclaimed　Benedick。　　〃Our　hands　are　against　our　hearts！　Come；　I　will　marry　you；　Beatrice。〃

〃You　shall　be　my　husband　to　save　your　life；〃　was　the　rejoinder。

Benedick　kissed　her　on　the　mouth；　and　the　Friar　married　them　after　he　had　married　Claudio　and　Hero。

〃How　is　Benedick　the　married　man？〃　asked　Don　Pedro。

〃Too　happy　to　be　made　unhappy；〃　replied　Benedick。　　〃Crack　what　jokes　you　will。　　As　for　you；　Claudio；　I　had　hoped　to　run　you　through　the　body；　but　as　you　are　now　my　kinsman；　live　whole　and　love　my　cousin。〃

〃My　cudgel　was　in　love　with　you；　Benedick；　until　to…day；〃　said　Claudio；　but；　〃Come；　come；　let's　dance；〃　said　Benedick。

And　dance　they　did。　　Not　even　the　news　of　the　capture　of　Don　John　was　able　to　stop　the　flying　feet　of　the　happy　lovers；　for　revenge　is　not　sweet　against　an　evil　man　who　has　failed　to　do　harm。




ROMEO　AND　JULIET



Once　upon　a　time　there　lived　in　Verona　two　great　families　named　Montagu　and　Capulet。　　They　were　both　rich；　and　I　suppose　they　were　as　sensible；　in　most　things；　as　other　rich　people。　　But　in　one　thing　they　were　extremely　silly。　　There　was　an　old；　old　quarrel　between　the　two　families；　and　instead　of　making　it　up　like　reasonable　folks；　they　made　a　sort　of　pet　of　their　quarrel；　and　would　not　let　it　die　out。　　So　that　a　Montagu　wouldn't　speak　to　a　Capulet　if　he　met　one　in　the　streetnor　a　Capulet　to　a　Montaguor　if　they　did　speak；　it　was　to　say　rude　and　unpleasant　things；　which　often　ended　in　a　fight。　　And　their　relations　and　servants　were　just　as　foolish；　so　that　street　fights　and　duels　and　uncomfortablenesses　of　that　kind　were　always　growing　out　of　the　Montagu…and…Capulet　quarrel。

Now　Lord　Capulet；　the　head　of　that　family；　gave　a　party　a　grand　supper　and　a　danceand　he　was　so　hospitable　that　he　said　anyone　might　come　to　it　except　（of　course）　the　Montagues。　　But　there　was　a　young　Montagu　named　Romeo；　who　very　much　wanted　to　be　there；　because　Rosaline；　the　lady　he　loved；　had　been　asked。　　This　lady　had　never　been　at　all　kind　to　him；　and　he　had　no　reason　to　love　her；　but　the　fact　was　that　he　wanted　to　love　somebody；　and　as　he　hadn't　seen　the　right　lady；　he　was　obliged　to　love　the　wrong　one。　So　to　the　Capulet's　grand　party　he　came；　with　his　friends　Mercutio　and　Benvolio。

Old　Capulet　welcomed　him　and　his　two　friends　very　kindlyand　young　Romeo　moved　about　among　the　crowd　of　courtly　folk　dressed　in　their　velvets　and　satins；　the　men　with　jeweled　sword　hilts　and　collars；　and　the　ladies　with　brilliant　gems　on　breast　and　arms；　and　stones　of　price　set　in　their　bright　girdles。　　Romeo　was　in　his　best　too；　and　though　he　wore　a　black　mask　over　his　eyes　and　nose；　everyone　could　see　by　his　mouth　and　his　hair；　and　the　way　he　held　his　head；　that　he　was　twelve　times　handsomer　than　anyone　else　in　the　room。

Presently　amid　the　dancers　he　saw　a　lady　so　beautiful　and　so　lovable　that　from　that　moment　he　never　again　gave　one　thought　to　that　Rosaline　whom　he　had　thought　he　loved。　　And　he　looked　at　this　other　fair　lady；　as　she　moved　in　the　dance　in　her　white　satin　and　pearls；　and　all　the　world　seemed　vain　and　worthless　to　him　compared　with　her。　　And　he　was　saying　this；　or　something　like　it；　when　Tybalt；　Lady　Capulet's　nephew；　hearing　his　voice；　knew　him　to　be　Romeo。　　Tybalt；　being　very　angry；　went　at　once　to　his　uncle；　and　told　him　how　a　Montagu　had　come　uninvited　to　the　feast；　but　old　Capulet　was　too　fine　a　gentleman　to　be　discourteous　to　any　man　under　his　own　roof；　and　he　bade　Tybalt　be　quiet。　　But　this　young　man　only　waited　for　a　chance　to　quarrel　with　Romeo。

In　the　meantime　Romeo　made　his　way　to　the　fair　lady；　and　told　her　in　sweet　words　that　he　loved　her；　and　kissed　her。　　Just　then　her　mother　sent　for　her；　and　then　Romeo　found　out　that　the　lady　on　whom　he　had　set　his　heart's　hopes　was　Juliet；　the　daughter　of　Lord　Capulet；　his　sworn　foe。　　So　he　went　away；　sorrowing　indeed；　but　loving　her　none　the　less。

Then　Juliet　said　to　her　nurse：

〃Who　is　that　gentleman　that　would　not　dance？〃

〃His　name　is　Romeo；　and　a　Montagu；　the　only　son　of　your　great　enemy；〃　answered　the　nurse。

Then　Juliet　went　to　her　room；　and　looked　out　of　her　window；　over　the　beautiful　green…grey　garden；　where　the　moon　was　shining。　　And　Romeo　was　hidden　in　that　garden　among　the　treesbecause　he　could　not　bear　to　go　right　away　without　trying　to　see　her　again。　　So　shenot　knowing　him　to　be　therespoke　her　secret　thought　aloud；　and　told　the　quiet　garden　how　she　loved　Romeo。

And　Romeo　heard　and　was　glad　beyond　measure。　　Hidden　below；　he　looked　up　and　saw　her　fair　face　in　the　moonlight；　framed　in　the　blossoming　creepers　that　grew　round　her　window；　and　as　he　looked　and　listened；　he　felt　as　though　he　had　been　carried　away　in　a　dream；　and　set　down　by　some　magician　in　that　beautiful　and　enchanted　garden。

〃Ahwhy　are　you　called　Romeo？〃　said　Juliet。　　〃Since　I　love　you；　what　does　it　matter　what　you　are　called？〃

〃Call　me　but　love；　and　I'll　be　new　baptizedhenceforth　I　never　will　be　Romeo；〃　he　cried；　stepping　into　the　full　white　moonlight　from　the　shade　of　the　cypresses　and　oleanders　that　had　hidden　him。

She　was　frightened　at　first；　but　when　she　saw　that　it　was　Romeo　himself；　and　no　stranger；　she　too　was　glad；　and；　he　standing　in　the　garden　below　and　she　leaning　from　the　window；　they　spoke　long　together；　each　one　trying　to　find　the　sweetest　words　in　the　world；　to　make　that　pleasant　talk　that　lovers　use。　　And　the　tale　of　all　they　said；　and　the　sweet　music　their　voices　made　together；　is　all　set　down　in　a　golden　book；　where　you　children　may　read　it　for　yourselves　some　day。

And　the　time　passed　so　quickly；　as　it　does　for　folk　who　love　each　other　and　are　together；　that　when　the　time　came　to　part；　it　seemed　as　though　they　had　met　but　that　moment　and　indeed　they　hardly　knew　how　to　part。

〃I　will　send　to　you　to…morrow；〃　said　Juliet。

And　so　at　last；　with　lingering　and　longing；　they　said　good…bye。

Juliet　went　into　her　room；　and　a　dark　curtain　bid　her　bright　window。　Romeo　went　away　through　the　still　and　dewy　garden　like　a　man　in　a　dream。

The　next　morning；　very　early；　Romeo　went　to　Friar　Laurence；　a　priest；　and；　telling　him　all　the　story；　begged　him　to　marry　him　to　Juliet　without　delay。　　And　this；　after　some　talk；　the　priest　consented　to　do。

So　when　Juliet　sent　her　old　nurse　to　Romeo　that　day　to　know　what　he　purposed　to　do；　the　old　woman　took　back　a　a　message　that　all　was　well；　and　all　things　ready　for　the　marriage　of　Juliet　and　Romeo　on　the　next　morning。

The　young　lovers　were　afraid　to　ask　their　parents'　consent　to　their　marriage；　as　young　people　should　do；　because　of　this　foolish　old　quarrel　between　the　Capulets　and　the　Montagues。

And　Friar　Laurence　was　willing　to　help　the　young　lovers　secretly；　because　he　thought　that　when　they　were　once　married　their　parents　might　soon　be　told；　and　that　the　match　might　put　a　happy　end　to　the　old　quarrel。

So　the　next　morning　early；　Romeo　and　Juliet　were　married　at　Friar　Laurence's　cell；　and　parted　with　tears　and　kisses。　　And　Romeo　promised　to　come　into　the　garden　that　evening；　and　the　nurse　got　ready　a　rope…ladder　to　let　down　from　the　window；　so　that　Romeo　could　climb　up　and　talk　to　his　dear　wife　quietly　and　alone。

But　that　very　day　a　dreadful　thing　happened。

Tybalt；　the　young　man　who　had　been　so　vexed　at　Romeo's　going　to　the　Capulet's　feast；　met　him　and　his　two　friends；　Mercutio　and　Benvolio；　in　the　street；　called　Romeo　a　villain；　and　asked　him　to　fight。　　Romeo　had　no　wish　to　fight　with　Juliet's　cousin；　but　Mercutio　drew　his　sword；　and　he　and　Tybalt　fought。　　And　Mercutio　was　killed。　　When　Romeo　saw　that　this　friend　was　dead；　he　forgot　everything　except　anger　at　the　man　who　had　killed　him；　and　he　and　Tybalt　fought　till　Tybalt　fell　dead。

So；　on　the　very　day　of　his　wedding；　Romeo　killed　his　dear　Juliet's　cousin；　and　was　sentenced　to　be　banished。　　Poor　Juliet　and　her　young　husband　met　that　night　indeed；　he　climbed　the　rope…ladder　among　the　flowers；　and　found　her　window；　but　their　meeting　was　a　sad　one；　and　they　parted　with　bitter　tears　and　hearts　heavy；　because　they　could　not　know　when　they　should　meet　again。

Now　Juliet's　father；　who；　of　course；　had　no　idea　that　she　was　married；　wished　her　to　wed　a　gentleman　named　Paris；　and　was　so　angry　when　she　refused；　that　she　hurried　away　to　ask　Friar　Laurence　what　she　should　do。　　He　ad