60 Plays: The George Bernard Shaw Edition (Illustrated). GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
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Название: 60 Plays: The George Bernard Shaw Edition (Illustrated)
Автор: GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
Издательство: Bookwire
Жанр: Языкознание
isbn: 9788027230655
isbn:
GADFLY. Nothing, my dear lady, nothing. He has left it all behind now, and wants to hear nothing more of it.
GEMMA. I want to see this man. What is his other name? Where is he to be found?
GADFLY. Oh, he has lots of other names — Rivarez, the Gadfly — plenty of them. [The Angelus rings] Sh! Listen! That’s his death knell. [He takes out the castanets and marks the bolero rhythm softly with them, mocking the bell]
GEMMA. Stop clacking those horrible things. Do you mean that you are — gadfly. The man that convoyed the arms from Genoa to the caves? Precisely. And I am nobody else.
And I shall soon be nobody at all. So bid me adieu, beautiful widow of Bolla the Betrayed.
GEMMA. Adieu. But remember, the revolution wants men who intend to live for it and not to die for it.
GADFLY [seriously] I shall do my best with what is left of me.
GEMMA. If you are taken at Brisighella, appeal to Montanelli. He is merciful.
GADFLY. The more fool he!
GEMMA. We will do all we can ourselves.
GADFLY. Oh, look after the revolution, not after me. When the rush comes there will be no time to stop to pick me up. Besides, I have had all I wanted now. It was not much — only a fancy to see somebody again.
And I hate this cursed world, with its infamous cruelties and tyrannies, its slaves and cowards, holding each other down for priests and kings to devour. [relapsing into his flippant tone] Ah! excuse my talking shop.
GEMMA. It becomes you better than the other sort of talk. Goodbye. And remember, Montanelli once knew an Arthur whom he loved like his own son.
GADFLY [implacably] And whose mother he probably betrayed.
GEMMA. Do you never forgive old injuries?
GADFLY. Only when I have deserved them. I kiss the hands I have betrayed [he kisses her hand suddenly and lightly] — not the hands that betrayed me. And now off to Brisighella where I will test my disguise by confessing myself with all speed to Montanelli — to Father Montanelli. Goodbye, Gemma.
He embraces her and then hurries away up the steps.
As he reaches the terrace, Zita is heard singing within.
He stops and looks quaintly back at Gemma; then goes off accompanying the song with the castanets.
ACT II.
The steps of the Cathedral at Brisighella. Sunset. The Gadfly, disguised in ragged white locks as an old Spanish pilgrim, is sitting on the steps. The square in front of the Cathedral is crowded with peasants and pilgrims. Michele, disguised as a hawker of rosaries, medals, pious chap-books and tapers, approaches the Gadfly and sets down his basket before him.
MICHELE. Are you one of the pilgrims, Father?
GADFLY [loudly] I am a miserable sinner. [privately] Well, where do we meet?
MICHELE. In the market-place in front of the Cardinal’s Palace.
GADFLY. Oh! he manages to live in a Palace, then, in spite of being a saint.
MICHELE. He lives in one wing of it and has turned the rest into a hospital. He is inside there now [pointing to the Cathedral].
The Cathedral doors open and the organ is heard.
THE CROWD. His Eminence — His Eminence is coming out. Stand aside, His Eminence is coming.
MICHELE. Pray for me when you get to Rome, Father.
He gets out of the way.
The Cardinal appears at the Cathedral doors in his violet Lenten robe and scarlet cap, blessing the people with outstretched arms. He comes slowly down the steps.
The people crowd about him to kiss his hands. Some kneel down and put the hem of his cassock to their lips.
The Gadfly sits motionless with his teeth clenched and his eyes on the ground.
MONTANELLI. Peace be with you, my children.
A WOMAN [lifting her child] His Eminence will bless you as the dear Lord blessed the children.
The Gadfly groans.
MONTANELLI. Are you a pilgrim? gadfly lama miserable sinner.
POLICE OFFICIAL [stepping forward] Forgive my intruding, your Eminence. I think the old man is not quite sound in his mind. He is perfectly harmless, and his papers are in order; so we don’t interfere with him. He has been in penal servitude for a great crime, and is now doing penance.
GADFLY [shaking his head slowly] A great crime.
MONTANELLI. Thank you, Captain, [to the people] Stand aside a little, please, [to the Gadfly] My friend, nothing is hopeless if a man has sincerely repented. Will you not come to me this evening?
GADFLY. Would your Eminence receive a man who is answerable for the death of his own son?
MONTANELLI [solemnly] Is not God Himself answerable for the death of His own Son? If you will come to me I will receive you as I pray that He may one day receive me.
GADFLY [stretching out his hands with sudden passion] Listen! [to the people] And listen all of you, Christians! If a man has killed his own son — his son who loved and trusted him, who was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone; if he has led his son into a deathtrap with lies and deceit, is there hope for that man in earth or Heaven?
MONTANELLI. It is written: “A broken and contrite heart shalt thou not despise.”
The Gadfly bends his head to receive the benediction.
Go to Rome, and ask the blessing of the Holy Father.
Peace be with you. [His voice falters, and becomes almost entreating] When you receive the Holy Eucharist in Rome, pray for one in deep affliction — for one on whose soul the hand of the Lord is heavy.
GADFLY [sanctimoniously] Who am I, that He should hear my prayers? A leper and an outcast! If I could bring to His throne, as your Eminence can, the offering of a holy life — of a soul without spot or secret shame —
MONTANELLI [turning abruptly away — in a voice of agony] I have only one offering to give — a broken heart.
The organ is heard.
Montanelli goes on his way, the people following him.
It is getting dark. When they are gone, the gipsy woman is seen near the Gadfly, who has seated himself on the steps. She is old, and poorly dressed, with a brown wrinkled face and keen black eyes; a bright-coloured scarf is twisted round her head.
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