Читать книгу William Shakespeare: Complete Works - William Shakespeare - Страница 106

Enter CLOTEN and the two LORDS

CLOTEN. Was there ever man had such luck! When I kiss'd the jack,

upon an up-cast to be hit away! I had a hundred pound on't; and

then a whoreson jackanapes must take me up for swearing, as if I

borrowed mine oaths of him, and might not spend them at my

pleasure.

FIRST LORD. What got he by that? You have broke his pate with your

bowl.

SECOND LORD. [Aside] If his wit had been like him that broke it, it

would have run all out.

CLOTEN. When a gentleman is dispos'd to swear, it is not for any

standers-by to curtail his oaths. Ha?

SECOND LORD. No, my lord; [Aside] nor crop the ears of them.

CLOTEN. Whoreson dog! I give him satisfaction? Would he had been

one of my rank!

SECOND LORD. [Aside] To have smell'd like a fool.

CLOTEN. I am not vex'd more at anything in th' earth. A pox on't! I

had rather not be so noble as I am; they dare not fight with me,

because of the Queen my mother. Every jackslave hath his bellyful

of fighting, and I must go up and down like a cock that nobody

can match.

SECOND LORD. [Aside] You are cock and capon too; and you crow,

cock, with your comb on.

CLOTEN. Sayest thou?

SECOND LORD. It is not fit your lordship should undertake every

companion that you give offence to.

CLOTEN. No, I know that; but it is fit I should commit offence to

my inferiors.

SECOND LORD. Ay, it is fit for your lordship only.

CLOTEN. Why, so I say.

FIRST LORD. Did you hear of a stranger that's come to court

to-night?

CLOTEN. A stranger, and I not known on't?

SECOND LORD. [Aside] He's a strange fellow himself, and knows it

not.

FIRST LORD. There's an Italian come, and, 'tis thought, one of

Leonatus' friends.

CLOTEN. Leonatus? A banish'd rascal; and he's another, whatsoever

he be. Who told you of this stranger?

FIRST LORD. One of your lordship's pages.

CLOTEN. Is it fit I went to look upon him? Is there no derogation

in't?

SECOND LORD. You cannot derogate, my lord.

CLOTEN. Not easily, I think.

SECOND LORD. [Aside] You are a fool granted; therefore your issues,

being foolish, do not derogate.

CLOTEN. Come, I'll go see this Italian. What I have lost to-day at

bowls I'll win to-night of him. Come, go.

SECOND LORD. I'll attend your lordship.

Exeunt CLOTEN and FIRST LORD

That such a crafty devil as is his mother

Should yield the world this ass! A woman that

Bears all down with her brain; and this her son

Cannot take two from twenty, for his heart,

And leave eighteen. Alas, poor princess,

Thou divine Imogen, what thou endur'st,

Betwixt a father by thy step-dame govern'd,

A mother hourly coining plots, a wooer

More hateful than the foul expulsion is

Of thy dear husband, than that horrid act

Of the divorce he'd make! The heavens hold firm

The walls of thy dear honour, keep unshak'd

That temple, thy fair mind, that thou mayst stand

T' enjoy thy banish'd lord and this great land! Exit