The Shakespeare Story-Book. Уильям Шекспир

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ replied Prospero quietly. “For you, most wicked sir,” he said to his brother Antonio, “I forgive all your faults, and require my dukedom of thee, which perforce I know thou must restore.”

      “If you are Prospero, tell us how you were saved, and how you have met us here,” said the King of Naples. “Three hours ago we were wrecked upon this shore – alas, where I have lost – how bitter is the remembrance! – my dear son Ferdinand.”

      “I am sorry for it, sir,” said Prospero.

      “The loss can never be made up, and is past the cure of patience.”

      “I rather think you have not sought the help of patience,” said Prospero. “For the like loss I have its sovereign aid, and rest myself content.”

      “You the like loss?”

      “As great to me; for I have lost my daughter.”

      “A daughter?” cried Alonso. “Oh, would that they were both living in Naples as King and Queen! When did you lose your daughter?”

      “In this last tempest,” said Prospero, smiling to himself. “But come, no more of this. Welcome, sir; this cell is my court. I have few attendants here, and no subjects abroad. Pray you, look in. Since you have given me back my dukedom, I will reward you with something equally good, or, at least, show you a wonder which will content you as much as my dukedom does me.”

      And, drawing aside the curtain which veiled the entrance to his cell, Prospero disclosed to view Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess.

      “Sweet lord, you play me false,” said Miranda.

      “No, my dearest love, I would not for the world,” said Ferdinand.

      “If this prove a vision of the island, I shall lose my dear son a second time,” murmured Alonso.

      “A most high miracle!” exclaimed Sebastian.

      “Though the seas threaten, they are merciful,” cried Ferdinand, springing from his seat at the sight of his father, and falling on his knees before him.

      “Now all the blessings of a glad father compass thee about,” said Alonso, overcome with joy to see his dear son again.

      Miranda in the meanwhile was gazing in wonder at all these strange visitors who had come to the island.

      “Oh, brave new world that has such people in it!” she cried in delight.

      “Who is this maiden?” Alonso asked his son. “Is she some goddess?”

      “Sir, she is mortal, and she is mine,” answered Ferdinand. “I chose her when I thought I had no father. She is daughter to the famous Duke of Milan, of whose renown I have so often heard.”

      Then Alonso gave his blessing to the young couple, and the good Gonzalo breathed a hearty “Amen!”

      At this moment Ariel appeared, followed by the astonished master of the King’s ship and the boatswain. They were overjoyed to see the King and his companions again, and brought word that the ship was as safe and bravely rigged as when they first put out to sea.

      “Sir, all this service have I done since I left you,” whispered Ariel to Prospero. “Was it well done?”

      “Bravely, good spirit,” said Prospero. “Thou shalt soon be free.”

      Then he commanded him to go and take off the spell from Caliban and his companions, and after a few minutes’ absence Ariel returned driving in the three men, clad in their stolen apparel.

      “Mark these men, my lords,” said Prospero. “These three have robbed me, and this witch’s son had plotted with the others to take my life. Two of these fellows you must know and own; this thing of darkness I acknowledge mine.”

      “Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?” said the King of Naples.

      “Why, how now, Stephano?” said Sebastian mockingly.

      “You would be King of the isle, sirrah?” demanded Prospero.

      “I should have been a sore one, then,” groaned Stephano, for he and his worthless friends were still aching all over from the punishment inflicted on them.

      “That is as strange a thing as ever I looked on,” said Alonso, pointing to Caliban.

      “His manners are as ugly as his appearance,” answered Prospero. “Go, sirrah, to my cell. Take your companions with you, and if you hope to have my pardon, behave properly.”

      “Ay, that I will,” said Caliban; “and I will be wise hereafter, and try to be better. What a thrice-double ass I was to take that drunkard for my master!”

      And he departed with his companions, glad to have escaped so lightly.

      Then Prospero invited the King and his other guests into his cell, where they were to rest for one night. The next morning they were all to set sail for Naples, where the marriage between Prince Ferdinand and Miranda was to take place, after which Prospero would retire to his own dukedom of Milan. Finally he gave his last charge to Ariel, and bade him see that the King’s ship should have calm seas and fair winds to waft it quickly on its way.

      “My Ariel, chick, that is thy charge,” said Prospero. “Then be free as the elements, and fare thee well!”

      Two Gentlemen of Verona

      “Now let us take our Leave”

      There lived once in Verona two friends who loved each other dearly; their names were Valentine and Proteus. They were both young and gallant gentlemen, but they were very different in character, as you will presently see. Valentine was simple and honest, a loyal and devoted friend, and too candid and sincere himself to think of treachery in others. Proteus had warm affections, but he was fickle and changeable, carried away by impulse, and always so desperately eager for what he happened to want at the moment that he stopped at no means to gain his ends.

      Valentine and Proteus were very happy together as companions, but at last the time came when they were to part. Valentine was not content to settle down at Verona; he wanted to see something of the world and its wider life.

      “Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits,” he said to Proteus, who was trying to persuade him to stay. “If it were not that you were chained here by your affections I would rather beg your company to see the wonders of the world abroad. But since you are in love, love still, and thrive in it, even as I would when I once begin to love.”

      This he said because Proteus was deeply in love at that moment with a fair lady of Verona called Julia. And then Valentine went on to tease Proteus, pretending that all love was folly, and that only foolish people let themselves be deluded into it. He little knew how soon he was himself to be caught in the same folly, and how basely and treacherously his friend was going to act towards him.

      However, at that moment Proteus had no thought for anyone but Julia, and would not have left Verona on any account. The two friends took an affectionate farewell of each other, and Valentine went his way, to travel to the Court of Milan.

      “He hunts after honour, I after love,” thought Proteus, when his friend had left him. “He leaves his friends to bring more credit to them by improving himself. СКАЧАТЬ