LESSON 91

PRINCE HENRY AND FALSTAFF

亨利王子和福尔斯塔夫

PRINCE HENRY and POINS, in a back room, in a tavern. Enter FALSTAFF, GADSHILL, BARDOLPH, and PETO.

Poins. Welcome, Jack. Where hast thou been?

Falstaff. A plague of all cowards, I say, and a vengeance too! marry, and amen! Give me a cup of sack, boy. Ere I lead this life long, I’ll sew nether stocks, and mend them, and foot them, too. A plague of all cowards! Give me a cup of sack, rogue. Is there no virtue extant? (He drinks, and then continues.) You rogue, here’s lime in this sack, too; there is nothing but roguery to be found in villainous man: yet a coward is worse than a cup of sack with lime in it. A villainous coward! Go thy ways, old Jack; die when thou wilt: if manhood, good manhood, be not forgot upon the face of the earth, then am I a shotten herring. There live not three good men unhanged, in England; and one of them is fat and grows old; a bad world, I say! I would I were a weaver; I could sing psalms, or anything. A plague of all cowards, I say still.

Prince Henry. How now, woolsack? What mutter you?

Fal. A king’s son! If I do not beat thee out of thy kingdom with a dagger of lath, and drive all thy subjects afore thee like a flock of wild geese, I’ll never wear hair on my face more. You, Prince of Wales!

P. Henry. Why, you baseborn dog! What’s the matter?

Fal. Are you not a coward? Answer me to that; and Poins there?

Poins. Ye fat braggart, an ye call me coward, I’ll stab thee.

Fal. I call thee coward? I’ll see thee gibbeted ere I call thee coward: but I would give a thousand pounds I could run as fast as thou canst. You are straight enough in the shoulders, you care not who sees your back: call you that backing of your friends? A plague upon such backing! Give me them that will face me. Give me a cup of sack. I am a rogue, if I have drunk to-day.

P. Henry. O villain! thy lips ate scarce wiped since thou drunkest last.

Fal. All’s one for that. A plague of all cowards, still say I. (He drinks.)

P. Henry. What’s the matter?

Fal. What’s the matter! There be four of us here have ta’en a thousand pounds this morning.

P. Henry. Where is it, Jack? where is it?

Fal. Where is it? Taken from us it is; a hundred upon poor four of us.

P. Henry. What! a hundred, man?

Fal. I am a rogue, if I were not at half-sword with a dozen of them two hours together. I have ’scaped by miracle. I am eight times thrust through the doublet; four, through the hose; my buckler cut through and through; my sword hacked like a handsaw; look here! (shows his sword.) I never dealt better since I was a man; all would not do. A plague of all cowards! Let them speak (pointing to GADSHILL, BARDOLPH, and PETO); if they speak more or less than truth, they are villains and the sons of darkness.

P. Henry. Speak, sirs; how was it?

Gadshill. We four set upon some dozen—

Fal. Sixteen, at least, my lord.

Gad. And bound them.

Peta. No, no, they were not bound.

Fal. You rogue, they were bound, every man of them; or I am a Jew, else—an Ebrew Jew.

Gad. As we were sharing, some six or seven fresh men set upon us—

Fal. And unbound the rest; and then come in the other.

P. Henry. What! fought ye with them all?

Fal. All? I know not what ye call all; but if I fought not with fifty of them, I am a bunch of radish: if there were not two or three and fifty upon poor old Jack, then I am no two-legged creature.

P. Henry. Pray heaven, you have not murdered some of them.

Fal. Nay, that’s past praying for; for I have peppered two of them; two I am sure I have paid; two rogues in buckram suits. I tell thee what, Hal, if I tell thee a lie, spit in my face, and call me a horse. Thou knowest my old ward; (he draws his sword and stands if about to fight) here I lay, and thus I bore my point. Four rogues in buckram let drive at me—

P. Henry. What! four? Thou saidst but two even now.

Fal. Four, Hal; I told thee four.

Poins. Ay, ay, he said four.

Fal. These four came all afront, and mainly thrust at me. I made no more ado, but took all their seven points in my target, thus.

P. Henry. Seven? Why, there were but four, even now.

Fal. In buckram?

Poins. Ay, four, in buckram suits.

Fal. Seven, by these hilts, or I am a villain else.

P. Henry. Prithee, let him alone; we shall have more anon.

Fal. Dost thou hear me, Hal?

P. Henry. Ay, and mark thee, too, Jack.

Fal. Do so, for it is worth the listening to. These nine in buckram, that I told thee of—

P. Henry. So, two more already.

Fal. Their points being broken, began to give me ground; but I followed me close, came in foot and hand; and, with a thought, seven of the eleven I paid.

P. Henry. O, monstrous! eleven buckram men grown out of two!

Fal. But three knaves, in Kendal green, came at my back, and let drive at me; for it was so dark, Hal, that thou couldst not see thy hand.

P. Henry. These lies are like the father of them; gross as a mountain, open, palpable. Why, thou clay-brained, nott-pated fool; thou greasy tallow keech—

Fal. What! Art thou mad! Art thou mad? Is not the truth the truth?

P. Henry. Why, how couldst thou know these men in Kendal green, when it was so dark thou couldst not see thy hand? Come, tell us your reason; what sayest thou to this?

Poins. Come, your reason, Jack, your reason.

Fal. What, upon compulsion? No, were I at the strap-pado, or all the racks in the world, I would not tell you on compulsion. Give you a reason on compulsion! If reasons were as plentiful as blackberries, I would give no man a reason on compulsion, I.

P. Henry. I’ll be no longer guilty of this sin: this sanguine coward, this horseback breaker, this huge hill of flesh—

Fal. Away! you starveling, you eel skin, you dried neat’s tongue, you stockfish! Oh for breath to utter what is like thee!—you tailor’s yard, you sheath, you bow case, you—

P. Henry. Well, breathe awhile, and then to it again; and when thou hast tired thyself in base comparisons, hear me speak but this.

Poins. Mark, Jack.

P. Henry. We two saw you four set on four; you bound them, and were masters of their wealth. Mark now, how a plain tale shall put you down. Then did we two set on you four, and with a word outfaced you from your prize, and have it; yea, and can show it you here in the house.—And, Falstaff, you carried yourself away as nimbly, with as quick dexterity, and roared for mercy, and still ran and roared, as ever I heard a calf. What a slave art thou, to hack thy sword as thou hast done, and then say it was in fight! What trick, what device, what starting hole, canst thou now find out to hide thee from this open and apparent shame?

Poins. Come, let’s hear, Jack. What trick hast thou now?

Fal. Why, I knew ye as well as he that made ye. Why, hear ye, my masters: was it for me to kill the heir apparent? Should I turn upon the true prince? Why, thou knowest I am as valiant as Hercules; but beware instinct; the lion will not touch the true prince; instinct is a great matter; I was a coward on instinct. I shall think the better of myself and thee during my life; I for a valiant lion, and thou for a true prince. But, lads, I am glad you have the money. Hostess, clap to the doors. Watch to-night, pray to-morrow. Gallants, lads, boys, hearts of gold; all the titles of good-fellowship come to you! What! shall we be merry? Shall we have a play extempore?

P. Henry. Content; and the argument shall be thy running away.

Fal. Ah, no more of that, Hal, an thou lovest me!

Shakespeare.-Henry IV, Part I, Act ii, Scene iv.

【中文阅读】

亨利王子和伯因斯在小酒馆的里屋。福尔斯塔夫、加兹希尔、巴尔多夫和裴托上场。

伯因斯 欢迎你，杰克，你从哪儿来啊？

福尔斯塔夫 愿所有孬种都遭瘟疫，我说，要让他们遭天谴！哎呀，阿门！替我倒一杯酒来，堂倌。日子没有改变之前，缝袜子，补袜子和上袜底这些劳什都得自己来。愿所有孬种都遭瘟疫！替我倒一杯酒来，混蛋！难道这世上就没有勇士了吗？（他饮酒，然后继续。）你这混蛋，酒里也搀着石灰水呢；恶棍只能干坏事；然而，一个孬种却比一杯搀石灰水的酒更坏，一个卑鄙无耻的懦夫！走你自己的路吧，老杰克；愿意什么时候死，就什么时候去死吧。在这世界上，要是还有人记得什么是大丈夫气概，堂堂大丈夫气概的话，我就是一条排了卵的鲱鱼。好人都上了绞架，在英国只剩下不到三个好人了，其中的一个不但发胖了，还老态龙钟。这是个啥世道啊！我真希望自己是一个织工；我真想唱赞美诗，或者诸如此类的事情。愿所有孬种都遭瘟疫，我还要这么说。

亨利亲王 怎么，你这长毛的夯货？嘟囔些什么呢？

福尔斯塔夫 一个国王的儿子！要是我不用一柄木刀把你赶出你的王国，像驱赶一群野鹅一样驱赶你的所有臣民，我就不是一个爷们。你这威尔士亲王！

亨利亲王 呵，你这下贱胚子，到底怎么回事？

福尔斯塔夫 你不是一个孬种吗？回答我那个问题。还有波因斯，哪儿呢？

伯因斯 你这胖皮囊，你再骂我是孬种，我就用刀子捅了你。

福尔斯塔夫 我就骂你是孬种，怎么了？在我骂你是孬种前，宁愿看你上绞架；不过，我要是跑起来能像你一样快，那么我情愿出一千镑。你的肩膀足够挺直了，不在乎有人看见你的背；难道这样就算是朋友的支持了吗？拉到吧，这种支持简直该诅咒！那些愿意与我面对面的人，才算是真正的朋友。替我倒一杯酒来。我今天要是喝了酒的话，就是个混蛋。

亨利亲王 哎，这混蛋！你刚才喝的酒，还留在唇上没干哩。

福尔斯塔夫 都是一码事。愿所有孬种都遭瘟疫！我还这么说。（他饮酒）

亨利亲王 怎么回事？

福尔斯塔夫 哼，怎么回事！咱们四个人今天早上抢到手一千镑。

亨利亲王 在哪儿，杰克？在哪儿？

福尔斯塔夫 在哪儿？又给人家抢去了呗；一百个人把我们四人围住，好可怜啊。

亨利亲王 什么！一百个人？

福尔斯塔夫 我一个人跟他们十二个人大战了两个钟头，要是胡诌的话，我就是个混蛋。我白捡了一条命，真是一个奇迹。他们的剑有八次穿透我的紧身上衣，有四次穿透我的连裤袜；我的盾牌像筛子似的全是洞，我的剑砍得像一把手锯似的，都卷刃了；你们上眼！（出示他的剑）我从来不曾这样像个爷们。愿所有孬种都遭瘟疫！叫他们来说（指着加兹希尔，巴尔多夫和裴托）；要是他们说的话与事实不符，那他们就是坏家伙，魔鬼的儿子。

亨利亲王 说吧，诸位；到底怎么回事？

加兹希尔 我们四个与差不多十二个人交上手了。

福尔斯塔夫 至少有十六个，殿下。

加兹希尔 把他们绑了起来。

裴托 不，不，没绑住他们。

福尔斯塔夫 你这混蛋，他们挨个都让咱们给绑起来了，我要是说瞎话，就是个犹太人，一个希伯来的犹太人。

加兹希尔 我们正在分赃的时候，又来了六七个人跟我们打起来了——

福尔斯塔夫 他们替那些人松了绑，接着其他人又赶来了。

亨利亲王 什么，你们跟他们全交手了？

福尔斯塔夫 全交手了！我不晓得什么叫全交手了啊。我要是没有一个人和他们五十个交手的话，我就是一捆大萝卜；要是没有五十二三个人一齐向可怜的老杰克进攻的话，我就不是两条腿的生物。

亨利亲王 求求上帝了，但愿你没杀死他们几个人就好。

福尔斯塔夫 哼，祷告上帝已经来不及了。他们中间有两个人让我打成重伤了；我敢肯定有两个人让我弄死了，就是那两个穿硬麻布衣服的恶棍；告诉你吧，哈尔，我要是跟你说谎了话，你就唾我的脸，骂我是畜生。你晓得我一贯的防守招数；（他拔出剑，摆出击剑的架势。）我埋伏在这儿，挺着剑。四个穿硬麻布衣服的恶棍朝我扑了上来——

亨利亲王 什么，四个？你刚才还说只有两个呢。

福尔斯塔夫 四个，哈尔，我告诉你四个的。

伯因斯 哦，哦，他是说四个来着。

福尔斯塔夫 这四个人迎面扑来，一齐刺我。我没费什么力气，他们七个人的剑头便一齐扎在盾牌上了。

亨利亲王 七个？啧，刚才还只有四个呢。

福尔斯塔夫 都穿硬麻布衣服。

伯因斯 哦，四个穿麻衣的人。

福尔斯塔夫 我以这些剑发誓，我说谎的话我就是坏蛋。

亨利亲王 求求你，让他自己去吧；说不定一会儿一堆人了呢。

福尔斯塔夫 你在听我说话吗，哈尔？

亨利亲王 噢，杰克，我洗耳恭听呢。

福尔斯塔夫 这就对了，因为很值得一听的。我刚才告诉你的这九个穿硬麻布衣服的人——

亨利亲王 嚯，又冒出两个。

福尔斯塔夫 只见他们的剑头折断了——开始向后退；不过，我步步紧逼，一顿拳脚，这十一个人中很快就有七个人倒下了。

亨利亲王 啊，好奇怪啊！本来两个穿硬麻布衣服的人，转眼就变成十一个了。

福尔斯塔夫 可是三个穿草绿色衣服的恶棍从我的背后杀了出来，朝我举刀猛砍；因为当时天很黑，哈尔，伸手不见五指。

亨利亲王 这些荒诞不经的谎话，听着怪唬人的，谁信啊。喂，你这脑子里进土的夯货，你这糊涂蛋一样的傻瓜；满脑子油脂的东西。

福尔斯塔夫 说些什么啊！疯了吧你？疯了吧你啊？难道这样不是事实吗？

亨利亲王 哼，既然天黑得伸手不见五指，你怎么会知道这些人穿的衣服是草绿色的？过来，把你的理由说给我听。没话说了吧？

伯因斯 说啊，你的理由，杰克，看你还说什么。

福尔斯塔夫 什么，强迫我啊？休想，即使你们把我反绑双手吊起来，或是把全世界所有的刑具拿来拷问我，你们也休想强迫我说出一个理由来。竟然强迫我给你们一个理由！即使理由多得像黑莓一般，我也不会在强迫下给谁一个理由的，我就是这样的人！

亨利亲王 我可不希望再担这桩罪名了；你这满面红光的孬种，你这能压塌马背的家伙，这大肉山——

福尔斯塔夫 滚开！你这饿鬼，你这皮包骨的，你这干牛舌，你这鱼干！啊，叫你气得我都喘不过气来了——你这裁缝的尺，你这刀鞘，你这弓袋，你——

亨利亲王 呵，喘口气再说吧；等你絮叨完这些下贱的比喻后，且听我说。

伯因斯 听着，杰克。

亨利亲王 我们两人看到你们四个袭击四个行人那一幕了；你们把他们捆绑起来，将他们的银钱据为己有。现在听着，用不了几句话就能把你驳得体无完肤。那会儿，我们两人朝你们佯攻，只一声断喝你们就吓得连抢来的钱都扔下了；那赃物就在这屋子里呢，咱们可以验明。福尔斯塔夫，你跑得那叫敏捷，撒丫子一溜风，边高呼饶命，边狂奔，听着就像一头牛犊子似的。你这个泼皮奴才，剑砍了几个豁口，却说成跟人家大战了一场！你还有什么鬼话，什么手段，什么藏身的洞，替你遮掩这场再明显不过的羞辱？

伯因斯 来，让我们听听吧，杰克；你现在还有什么鬼话？

福尔斯塔夫 我当然晓得是你们。你们听着，我的大人们，我会胆大包天去杀亲王吗？我会向真正的储君下手吗？呵，你们晓得我像赫克勒斯一样勇敢的；可是，人有本能啊；狮子再怎么凶，也不敢碰当今的储君啊。本能可是了不起的东西，正是因为本能我才成了一个孬种的。这一生我都会高看自己和你的；我是一头勇敢的狮子，而你是真正的储君。可是，孩子们，我很高兴钱落到你们手里。喂，老板娘，看好大门啊；今晚给我们守夜，明天一早祈祷。帅小伙们，孩子们，伙伴们，心肠比金子还闪光的兄弟们，世间所有好人的称呼都怕配不上你们！什么！咱们乐和乐和怎么样？演上一出即兴剧怎么样？

亨利亲王 好啊，就把你的落荒而逃作为戏剧主题吧。

福尔斯塔夫 哎，哈尔，你爱我的话，就别提起那那档子事儿了！

（莎士比亚《亨利四世》第一部第二幕第四场）