内容正文:
Scene V.Court before the Duke of Albany's
Palace.
Enter Lear,Kent and Fool.
Lear.Go you before to Gloucester with these letters.Acquaint my daughter
no further with anything you know than comes from her demand out
of the letter.If your diligence be not speedy,I shall be there afore
you.
Kent.I will not sleep,my lord,till I have delivered your letter.
Exit.
Fool.If a man's brains were in's heels,were't not in danger of kibes?
Lear.Ay,boy.
Fool.Then I prithee be merry.Thy wit shall ne'er go slipshod.
Lear.Ha,ha,ha!
Fool.Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly;for though she's as like
this as a crab's like an apple,yet I can tell what I can tell.
Lear.What canst tell,boy?
Fool.She'll taste as like this as a crab does to a crab.Thou canst tell why
·072·
第五场
奥尔巴尼公爵府外庭
李尔、肯特及弄人上。
李尔你带着这几封信,先到格洛斯特去。我的女儿看
了我的信,倘然有什么话问你,你就照你所知道的
①afore[s'f6:]ad.在…之
回答她,此外不可多说什么。要是你在路上偷懒耽
前
搁时间,也许我会比你先到的。
②kibe[kaib]n.(古〉冻疮
肯特陛下,我在没有把您的信送到以前,决不打一次
③slipshod['slipfod]a.不整
吨。(下)
洁的:衣衫褴楼的
弄人要是一个人的脑筋生在脚跟上,它会不会长起脓
疱来呢?
李尔嗯,孩子。
弄人那么你放心吧:幸亏你的脑筋安在头上,尽管路
再有多远,
它也不用拖了鞋跟走路。
李尔哈哈哈!
弄人你到了你那另外一个女儿的地方,就可以知道她会
待你多么好:因为虽然她跟这一个就像野苹果跟家苹
果一样相像,可是我可以告诉你我所知道的事情。
李尔你可以告诉我什么,孩子?
弄人你一尝到她的滋味,就会知道她跟这一个完全相
同,正像两只野苹果一般没有分别。你能够告诉我
·073
ACTI
one's nose stands i'th'middle on's face?
Lear.No.
Fool.Why,to keep one's eyes of either side's nose,that what a man cannot
smell out,he may spy into.
Lear.I did her wrong.
Fool.Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?
Lear.No.
Fool.Nor I neither;but I can tell why a snail has a house.
Lear.Why?
Fool.Why,to put's head in;not to give it away to his daughters,and leave his
horns without a case.
Lear.I will forget my nature.So kind a father!Be my horses ready?
Fool.Thy asses are gone about 'em.The reason why the seven stars are no
moe than seven is a pretty reason.
Lear.Because they are not eight.
Fool.Yes indeed.Thou wouldst make a good fool.
Lear.To tak't again perforce!Monster ingratitude!
Fool.If thou wen my Fool,nuncle,I'ld have thee beaten for being old before
thy time.
Lear.How's that?
Fool.Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.
Lear.O,let me not be mad,not mad,sweet heaven!
Keep me in temper;I would not be mad!
Enter a Gentleman.
How now?Are the horses ready?
Gent.Ready,my lord.
Lear.Come,boy.
Fool.She that's a maid now,and laughs at my departure,
Shall not be a maid long,unless things be cut shorter.
Exeunt.
·074·
第一幕
为什么一个人的鼻子生在脸中间吗?
李尔不能。
弄人因为中间放了鼻子,两旁就可以安放眼睛:鼻子
嗅不出来的,眼睛可以看个仔细。
李尔我对不起她
①oyster['oista)n.牡蛎
弄人你知道牡蛎怎样造它的壳吗?
李尔不知道。
弄人我也不知道:可是我知道蜗牛为什么背着一个屋子。
李尔为什么?
弄人因为可以把它的头放在里面:它不会把它的屋子
送给它的女儿,害得它的角也没有地方安顿。
李尔我也顾不得什么天性之情了。我这做父亲的有什
么地方亏待了她!我的马儿都已经预备好了吗?
弄人你的驴子们正在那儿给你预备呢。北斗七星为什
么只有七颗星,其中有一个绝妙的理由。
李尔因为它们没有第八颗吗?
2ingratitude [in'gratitju:d]
n忘恩负义
弄人正是,一点不错:你可以做一个很好的傻瓜。
李尔用武力夺回来!忘恩负义的畜生!
弄人假如你是我的傻瓜,老伯伯,我就要打你,因为
你不到时候就老了。
李尔那是什么意思?
弄人你应该懂得些世故再老呀。
李尔啊!不要让我发疯!天哪,抑制住我的怒气,不
要让我发疯!我不想发疯!
待臣上。
李尔怎么!马预备好了吗?
侍臣预备好了,陛下。
李尔来,孩子。(同下)
弄人哪一个姑娘嘲笑我走这一遭,
贞操眼看就要保不牢。
·075·