CAMILLA, though her personal sorrows were blunted by the view of the calamities1 and resignation of her sister, was so little disposed for amusement, that she had accepted the invitation of Mrs. Arlbery, only from wanting spirit to resist its urgency. Mr Tyrold was well pleased that such a recreation came in her way, but desired Lavinia might be of the party; not only that she might partake of the same pleasure, but from a greater security in her prudence2, than in that of her naturally thoughtless sister.
The town of Etherington afforded no theatre; and the room fitted up for the night’s performance could contain but two boxes, one of which was secured for Mrs. Arlbery and her friends.
The attentive3 Major was ready to offer his hand to Camilla upon her arrival. The rest of the officers were in the box.
The play was Othello; and so miserably4 represented, that Lavinia would willingly have retired5 after the first scene: but the native spirits of Camilla revisited her in the view of the ludicrous personages of the drama. And they were soon joined by Sir Sedley Clarendel, whose quaint6 conceits7 and remarks assisted the risibility8 of the scene. She thought him the least comprehensible person she had ever known; but as he was totally indifferent to her, his oddity entertained without tormenting9 her.
The actors were of the lowest strolling kind, and so utterly10 without merit, that they had never yet met with sufficient encouragement to remain one week in the same place. They had only a single scene for the whole performance, which depictured a camp, and which here served for a street, a senate, a city, a castle, and a bed-chamber.
The dresses were almost equally parsimonious11, everyone being obliged to take what would fit him, from a wardrobe that did not allow quite two dresses a person for all the plays they had to enact12. Othello, therefore, was equipped as King Richard the Third, save that instead of a regal front he had a black wig13, to imitate wool: while his face had been begrimed with a smoked cork14.
Iago wore a suit of cloaths originally made for Lord Foppington: Brabantio had borrowed the armour15 of Hamlet’s Ghost: Cassio, the Lieutenant16 General in the christian17 army, had only been able to equip himself in Osmyn’s Turkish vest; and Roderigo, accoutred in the garment of Shylock, came forth18 a complete Jew.
Desdemona, attired19 more suitably to her fate than to her expectations, went through the whole of her part, except the last scene, in the sable20 weeds of Isabella. And Amelia was fain to content herself with the habit of the first witch in Macbeth.
The gestures, both of the gentlemen and ladies, were as outrageous21 as if meant rather to intimidate22 the audience, than to shew their own animation23; and the men approached each other so closely with arms a-kimbo, or double fists, that Sir Sedley, with pretended alarm, said they were giving challenges for a boxing match.
The ladies also, in the energy of their desire not to be eclipsed, took so much exercise in their action, that they tore out the sleeves of their gowns; which, though pinned up every time they left the stage, completely exposed their shoulders at the end of every act; and they raised their arms so high while facing each other, that Sir Sedley expressed frequent fears they meant to finish by pulling caps.
So imperfect were they also in their parts, that the prompter was the only person from whom any single speech passed without a blunder.
Iago, who was the master of the troop, was the sole performer who spoke24 not with a provincial25 dialect; the rest all betrayed their birth and parentage the first line they uttered.
Cassio proclaimed himself from Norfolk:
The Deuk dew greet yew26, General,
- - - - - - - - - - -
Being not at yew’re lodging27 to be feund - - -
The senate sent above tree several quests, &c.
Othello himself proved a true Londoner; and with his famed soldier-like eloquence28 in the senate-scene, thus began his celebrated29 defence.
Most potent30, grawe, and rewerend Seignors,
My wery noble and approwed good masters,
That I have ta’en avay this old man’s darter–
I vill a round, unwarnish’d tale deliver
Of my whole course of love; vhat drugs, vhat charms,
Vhat conjuration, and vhat mighty31 magic
I von his darter with - - -
Her father lov’d me, oft inwited me - -
- - - My story being done,
She gave me for my pains a vorld of sighs,
She svore in faith ‘tvas strange, ‘tvas passing strange,
‘Tvas pitiful, ‘tvas vondrous pitiful;
She vish’d she had not heard it; yet she vish’d
That Heawen had made her such a man. - -
This only is the vitchcraft I have us’d;
Here comes the lady, let her vitness it.
This happily making the gentle Desdemona recognised, notwithstanding her appearance was so little bridal, her Somersetshire father cried:
I preay you hear ‘ur zpeak.
If a confez that a waz half the woer
Deztruction on my head, if my bead32 bleame
Light o’ the mon!
His daughter, in the Worcestershire pronunciation, answered:
Noble father,
Hi do perceive ere a divided duty;
To you hi howe my life hand heducation,
My life hand heducation both do teach me
Ow to respect you. You’re the lord hof duty;
Hi’m itherto your daughter: but ere’s my usband!–
The fond Othello then exclaimed:
Your woices, lords! beseech33 you let her vill
Have a free vay! - - -
And Brabantio took leave with
Look to ‘ur, Moor34! if th’ azt eyez to zee;
A haz deceiv’d ‘ur veather, and may thee. -
They were detained so long between the first and second act, that Sir Sedley said he feared poor Desdemona had lost the thread-paper from which she was to mend her gown, and recommended to the two young ladies to have the charity to go and assist her. ‘Consider,’ he said, ‘the trepidation35 of a fair bride but just entered into her shackles36. Who knows but Othello may be giving her a strapping37, in private, for wearing out her cloaths so fast! you young ladies think nothing of these little conjugal38 freedoms.’
Mrs. Arlbery, though for some time she had been as well diverted by the play as Camilla, less new to such exhibitions, was soon tired of the sameness of the blunders, and, at the end of the fourth act, proposed retiring. But Camilla, who had long not felt so much entertained, looked so disappointed, that her good humour overcame her fatigue39, and she was insisting upon staying; when a gentleman, who visited them from the opposite box, proposed that the young ladies should be carried home by his mother, a lady who lived at Etherington, and was acquainted at the rectory, and who intended to stay out not only the play but the farce40. Lavinia consented; the son went with the proposition, and the business was soon arranged. Mrs. Arlbery, who had three miles to go beyond the parsonage-house, and who, though she delighted to oblige, was but little in the habit of practising self-denial, then consigned41 the young ladies to General Kinsale, to be conducted to the opposite box, and was handed by Colonel Andover to her coach.
The General guarded the eldest42 sister; the Major took care of Camilla: but they were all stopt in their passage by the sudden seizure43 of a pickpocket44, and forced hastily back to the box they had quitted.
This commotion45, though it had disturbed all the audience, had not stopt the performance; and Desdemona being just now discovered in bed, Camilla, not to lose the interesting scene, persuaded her sister to wait till the play was over, before they attempted again to cross to the opposite box; into which, in a few minutes after, she saw Mandlebert enter.
They had both already seated themselves as much out of sight as possible; and Camilla now began to regret she had not accompanied Mrs. Arlbery. She had thought only of the play and its entertainment, till the sight of Mandlebert told her that her situation was improper46; and the idea only occurred to her by considering that it would occur to him.
Mandlebert had dined out with a party of men, and had stept in to see what was going forwards, without any knowledge whom he should meet: he instantly discerned Lavinia, and felt anxious to know why Camilla was not with her, and why she sat so much out of sight: but Camilla so completely hid herself, he could only see there was a female, whom he concluded to be some Etherington lady; and he determined47 to make further enquiry when the act should be over.
The performance now became so truly ludicrous, that Camilla, notwithstanding all her uneasiness, was excited to almost perpetual laughter.
Desdemona, either from the effect of a bad cold, or to give more of nature to her repose48, breathed so hard, as to raise a general laugh in the audience; Sir Sedley, stopping his ears, exclaimed, ‘O! if she snores I shall plead for her no more, if she tear her gown to tatters! Suffocation49 is much too lenient50 for her. She’s an immense horrid51 personage! nasal to alarm!’
Othello then entered, with a tallow candle in his hand, staring and dropping grease at every step; and, having just declared he would not
Scar that vhiter skin of hers than snow,
perceived a thief in the candle, which made it run down so fast over his hand, and the sleeve of his coat, that, the moment not being yet arrived for extinguishing it, he was forced to lay down his sword, and, for want of better means, snuff it with his fingers.
Sir Sedley now protested himself completely disordered: ‘I must be gone,’ cried he, ‘incontinently; this exceeds resistance: I shan’t be alive in another minute. Are you able to form a notion of anything more annihilating52? If I did not build upon the pleasure of seeing him stop up those distressing53 nostrils54 of the gentle Desdemona, I could not breathe here another instant.’
But just after, while Othello leant over the bed to say–
Vhen I’ve pluck’d the rose
I cannot give it wital growth again,
It needs must vither–––
his black locks caught fire.
The candle now fell from his hand, and he attempted to pull off his wig; but it had been tied close on, to appear more natural, and his fright disabled him; he therefore flung himself upon the bed, and rolled the coverlid over his head.
Desdemona, excessively frightened, started up, and jumped out, shrieking55 aloud–‘O, Lord! I shall be burnt!’
This noble Venetian Dame57 then exhibited, beneath an old white satin bedgown, made to cover her arms and breast, the dress in which she had equipped herself, between the acts, to be ready for trampling58 home; namely, a dirty red and white linen59 gown, an old blue stuff quilted coat, and black shoes and stockings.
In this pitiable condition, she was running, screaming, off the stage, when Othello, having quenched60 the fire, unconscious that half his curls had fallen a sacrifice to the flames, hastily pursued her, and, in a violent passion, called her a fool, and brought her back to the bed; in which he assisted her to compose herself, and then went behind the scenes to light his candle; which having done, he gravely returned, and, very carefully putting it down, renewed his part with the line.
Be thus vhen thou art dead, and I vill kill thee
And love thee after–
Amidst roars of laughter from the whole audience, who, when he kissed her, almost with one voice called out–‘Ay ay, that’s right-kiss and friends!’
And when he said–
I must veep - - -
‘So must I too, my good friend,’ cried Sir Sedley, wiping his eyes, ‘for never yet did sorrow cost me more salt rheum! Poor Blacky! Thou hast been most indisolubly comic, I confess. Thou hast unstrung me to a degree. A baby of half an hour might demolish61 me.’
And again, when Othello exclaimed–
She vakes!
‘The deuce she does?’ cried Sir Sedley, ‘what! has she been asleep again already? She’s a very caricature of Morpheus. Ay, do thy worst, honest Mungo. I can’t possibly beg her off. I would sooner snift thy farthing candle than sustain that nasal cadence62 ever more.’
‘He’s the finest fellow upon the face of the earth,’ cried Mr. Macdersey, who had listened to the whole play with the most serious interest; ‘the instant he suspects his wife, he cuts her off without ceremony; though she’s dearer to him than his eye sight, and beautiful as an angel. How I envy him!’
‘Don’t you think ’twould have been as well,’ said General Kinsale, ‘if he’d first made some little enquiry?’
‘He can do that afterwards, General; and then nobody will dare surmise63 it’s out of weakness. For to be sure and certain, he ought to right her fame; that’s no more than his duty, after once he has satisfied his own. But a man’s honour is dearest to him of all things. A wife’s a bauble64 to it-not worth a thought.’
The suffocating65 was now beginning but just as Desdemona begged to be spared–
But alf han our–
the door-keeper forced his way into the pit, and called out–‘Pray, is one Miss Tyrold here in the play-house?’
The sisters, in much amazement66 hung back, entreating67 the gentlemen to screen them; and the man, receiving no answer, went away.
While wondering what this could mean, the play was finished, when one of the comedians68, a brother of the Worcestershire Desdemona, came to the pit door, calling out–‘Hi’m desired to hask hif Miss Camilla Tyrold’s hany way ere hin the ouse, for hi’m hordered to call er hout, for her Huncle’s hill and dying.’
A piercing shriek56 from Camilla now completed the interruption of all attention to the performance, and betrayed her hiding place. Concealment69, indeed, was banished70 her thoughts, and she would herself have opened the box door to rush out, had not the Major anticipated her, seizing, at the same time, her hand to conduct her through the crowd.
收听单词发音 |
1
calamities
|
|
| n.灾祸，灾难( calamity的名词复数 )；不幸之事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
prudence
|
|
| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
attentive
|
|
| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
miserably
|
|
| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
quaint
|
|
| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
conceits
|
|
| 高傲( conceit的名词复数 )； 自以为； 巧妙的词语； 别出心裁的比喻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
risibility
|
|
| n.爱笑，幽默感 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
9
tormenting
|
|
| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
parsimonious
|
|
| adj.吝啬的，质量低劣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
enact
|
|
| vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
wig
|
|
| n.假发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
cork
|
|
| n.软木，软木塞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
armour
|
|
| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
attired
|
|
| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
sable
|
|
| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
outrageous
|
|
| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
intimidate
|
|
| vt.恐吓，威胁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
animation
|
|
| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
provincial
|
|
| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
yew
|
|
| n.紫杉属树木 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
lodging
|
|
| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
eloquence
|
|
| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
potent
|
|
| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
bead
|
|
| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
beseech
|
|
| v.祈求，恳求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
moor
|
|
| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
trepidation
|
|
| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
shackles
|
|
| 手铐( shackle的名词复数 )； 脚镣； 束缚； 羁绊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
strapping
|
|
| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
conjugal
|
|
| adj.婚姻的，婚姻性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
fatigue
|
|
| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
farce
|
|
| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
consigned
|
|
| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
eldest
|
|
| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
seizure
|
|
| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
pickpocket
|
|
| n.扒手；v.扒窃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
commotion
|
|
| n.骚动，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
improper
|
|
| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
suffocation
|
|
| n.窒息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
lenient
|
|
| adj.宽大的，仁慈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
horrid
|
|
| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
annihilating
|
|
| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的现在分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
distressing
|
|
| a.使人痛苦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
nostrils
|
|
| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
shrieking
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
dame
|
|
| n.女士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
trampling
|
|
| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
linen
|
|
| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
quenched
|
|
| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
demolish
|
|
| v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
cadence
|
|
| n.（说话声调的）抑扬顿挫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
surmise
|
|
| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
bauble
|
|
| n.美观而无价值的饰物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
suffocating
|
|
| a.使人窒息的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
entreating
|
|
| 恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
comedians
|
|
| n.喜剧演员，丑角( comedian的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
concealment
|
|
| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
banished
|
|
| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |