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all for love-第13部分

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DOLABELLA。  Men are but children of a larger growth; Our appetites as apt to change as theirs; And full as craving too; and full as vain; And yet the soul; shut up in her dark room; Viewing so clear abroad; at home sees nothing: But; like a mole in earth; busy and blind; Works all her folly up; and casts it outward To the world's open view:  Thus I discovered; And blamed the love of ruined Antony: Yet wish that I were he; to be so ruined。

     Enter VENTIDIUS above

VENTIDIUS。  Alone; and talking to himself? concerned too? Perhaps my guess is right; he loved her once; And may pursue it still。

DOLABELLA。  O friendship! friendship! Ill canst thou answer this; and reason; worse: Unfaithful in the attempt; hopeless to win; And if I win; undone:  mere madness all。 And yet the occasion's fair。  What injury To him; to wear the robe which he throws by!

VENTIDIUS。  None; none at all。  This happens as I wish; To ruin her yet more with Antony。

     Enter CLEOPATRA talking with ALEXAS;      CHARMION; IRAS on the other side。

DOLABELLA。  She comes!  What charms have sorrow on that face! Sorrow seems pleased to dwell with so much sweetness; Yet; now and then; a melancholy smile Breaks loose; like lightning in a winter's night; And shows a moment's day。

VENTIDIUS。  If she should love him too! her eunuch there? That porc'pisce bodes ill weather。  Draw; draw nearer; Sweet devil; that I may hear。

ALEXAS。  Believe me; try      'DOLABELLA goes over to CHARMION and IRAS;       seems to talk with them。' To make him jealous; jealousy is like A polished glass held to the lips when life's in doubt; If there be breath; 'twill catch the damp; and show it。

CLEOPATRA。  I grant you; jealousy's a proof of love; But 'tis a weak and unavailing medicine; It puts out the disease; and makes it show; But has no power to cure。

ALEXAS。  'Tis your last remedy; and strongest too: And then this Dolabella; who so fit To practise on?  He's handsome; valiant; young; And looks as he were laid for nature's bait; To catch weak women's eyes。 He stands already more than half suspected Of loving you:  the least kind word or glance; You give this youth; will kindle him with love: Then; like a burning vessel set adrift; You'll send him down amain before the wind; To fire the heart of jealous Antony。

CLEOPATRA。  Can I do this?  Ah; no; my love's so true; That I can neither hide it where it is; Nor show it where it is not。  Nature meant me A wife; a silly; harmless; household dove; Fond without art; and kind without deceit; But Fortune; that has made a mistress of me; Has thrust me out to the wide world; unfurnished Of falsehood to be happy。

ALEXAS。  Force yourself。 The event will be; your lover will return; Doubly desirous to possess the good Which once he feared to lose。

CLEOPATRA。  I must attempt it; But oh; with what regret!      'Exit ALEXAS。  She comes up to DOLABELLA。'

VENTIDIUS。  So; now the scene draws near; they're in my reach。

CLEOPATRA。  'to DOLABELLA。' Discoursing with my women! might not I Share in your entertainment?

CHARMION。  You have been The subject of it; madam。

CLEOPATRA。  How! and how!

IRAS。  Such praises of your beauty!

CLEOPATRA。  Mere poetry。 Your Roman wits; your Gallus and Tibullus; Have taught you this from Cytheris and Delia。

DOLABELLA。  Those Roman wits have never been in Egypt; Cytheris and Delia else had been unsung: I; who have seenhad I been born a poet; Should choose a nobler name。

CLEOPATRA。  You flatter me。 But; 'tis your nation's vice:  All of your country Are flatterers; and all false。  Your friend's like you。 I'm sure; he sent you not to speak these words。

DOLABELLA。  No; madam; yet he sent me

CLEOPATRA。  Well; he sent you

DOLABELLA。  Of a less pleasing errand。

CLEOPATRA。  How less pleasing? Less to yourself; or me?

DOLABELLA。  Madam; to both; For you must mourn; and I must grieve to cause it。

CLEOPATRA。  You; Charmion; and your fellow; stand at distance。 Hold up; my spirits。  'Aside。'Well; now your mournful matter; For I'm prepared; perhaps can guess it too。

DOLABELLA。  I wish you would; for 'tis a thankless office; To tell ill news:  And I; of all your sex; Most fear displeasing you。

CLEOPATRA。  Of all your sex; I soonest could forgive you; if you should。

VENTIDIUS。  Most delicate advances!  Women! women! Dear; damned; inconstant sex!

CLEOPATRA。  In the first place; I am to be forsaken; is't not so?

DOLABELLA。  I wish I could not answer to that question。

CLEOPATRA。  Then pass it o'er; because it troubles you: I should have been more grieved another time。 Next I'm to lose my kingdomFarewell; Egypt! Yet; is there ary more?

DOLABELLA。  Madam; I fear Your too deep sense of grief has turned your reason。

CLEOPATRA。  No; no; I'm not run mad; I can bear fortune: And love may be expelled by other love; As poisons are by poisons。

DOLABELLA。  You o'erjoy me; madam; To find your griefs so moderately borne。 You've heard the worst; all are not false like him。

CLEOPATRA。  No; Heaven forbid they should。

DOLABELLA。  Some men are constant。

CLEOPATRA。  And constancy deserves reward; that's certain。

DOLABELLA。  Deserves it not; but give it leave to hope。

VENTIDIUS。  I'll swear; thou hast my leave。  I have enough: But how to manage this!  Well; I'll consider。      'Exit。'

DOLABELLA。  I came prepared To tell you heavy news; news; which I thought Would fright the blood from your pale cheeks to hear: But you have met it with a cheerfulness; That makes my task more easy; and my tongue; Which on another's message was employed; Would gladly speak its own。

CLEOPATRA。  Hold; Dolabella。 First tell me; were you chosen by my lord? Or sought you this employment?

DOLABELLA。  He picked me out; and; as his bosom friend; He charged me with his words。

CLEOPATRA。  The message then I know was tender; and each accent smooth; To mollify that rugged word; DEPART。

DOLABELLA。  Oh; you mistake:  He chose the harshest words; With fiery eyes; and contracted brows; He coined his face in the severest stamp; And fury shook his fabric; like an earthquake; He heaved for vent; and burst like bellowing Aetna; In sounds scarce human〃Hence away for ever; Let her begone; the blot of my renown; And bane of all my hopes!〃      'All the time of this speech; CLEOPATRA seems more       and more concerned; till she sinks quite down。' 〃Let her be driven; as far as men can think; 》From man's commerce! she'll poison to the centre。〃

CLEOPATRA。  Oh; I can bear no more!

DOLABELLA。  Help; help!O wretch!  O cursed; cursed wretch! What have I done!

CHARMION。  Help; chafe her temples; Iras。

IRAS。  Bend; bend her forward quickly。

CHARMION。  Heaven be praised; She comes again。

CLEOPATRA。  Oh; let him not approach me。 Why have you brought me back to this loathed being; The abode of falsehood; violated vows; And injured love?  For pity; let me go; For; if there be a place of long repose; I'm sure I want it。  My disdainful lord Can never break that quiet; nor awake The sleeping soul; with hollowing in my tomb Such words as fright her hence。Unkind; unkind!

DOLABELLA。 Believe me; 'tis against myself I speak;      'Kneeling。' That sure desires belief; I injured him: My friend ne'er spoke those words。  Oh; had you seen How often he came back; and every time With something more obliging and more kind; To add to what he said; what dear farewells; How almost vanquished by his love he parted; And leaned to what unwillingly he left! I; traitor as I was; for love of you (But what can you not do; who made me false?) I forged that lie; for whose forgiveness kneels This self…accused; self…punished criminal。

CLEOPATRA。  With how much ease believe we what we wish! Rise; Dolabella; if you have been guilty; I have contributed; and too much love Has made me guilty too。 The advance of kindness; which I made; was feigned; To call back fleeting love by jealousy; But 'twould not last。  Oh; rather let me lose; Than so ignobly trifle with his heart。

DOLABELLA。  I find your breast fenced round from human reach; Transparent as a rock of solid crystal; Seen through; but never pierced。  My friend; my friend; What endless treasure hast thou thrown away; And scattered; like an infant; in the ocean; Vain sums of wealth; which none can gather thence!

CLEOPATRA。  Could you not beg An hour's admittance to his private ear? Like one; who wanders through long barren wilds And yet foreknows no hospitable inn Is near to succour hunger; eats his fill; Before his painful march; So would I feed a while my famished eyes Before we part; for I have far to go; If death be far; and never must return。

     VENTIDIUS with OCTAVIA; behind

VENTIDIUS。  From hence you may discoveroh; sweet; sweet! Would you indeed?  The pretty hand in earnest?

DOLABELLA。  I will; for this reward。      'Takes her hand。' Draw it not back。 'Tis all I e'er will beg。

VENTIDIUS。  They turn upon us。

OCTAVIA。  What quick eyes has guilt!

VENTIDIUS。  Seem not to have observed them; and go on。      'They enter。'

DOLABELLA。 Saw you the emperor; Ventidius?

VENTIDIUS。  No。 I sought him; but I heard that he was private; None with him but Hipparchus; his freedman。

DOLABELLA。  Know you his business?

VENTIDIUS。  Giving h
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