The Collected Plays of George Bernard Shaw - 60 Titles in One Edition (Illustrated Edition). GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
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Название: The Collected Plays of George Bernard Shaw - 60 Titles in One Edition (Illustrated Edition)
Автор: GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
Издательство: Bookwire
Жанр: Языкознание
isbn: 9788027202218
isbn:
MONTANELLI [controlling himself] What do you want with me, my daughter?
GEMMA. Have you seen Rivarez?
MONTANELLI. Yes.
GEMMA. You know then that he does not believe in priests?
MONTANELLI. I know that he does not believe in anything.
GEMMA. Not even in women?
MONTANELLI. A man who does not believe in priests, my daughter, is not likely to believe in women.
GEMMA. Arthur Burton believed in women until his girl comrade struck him in the face because he trusted a political secret to a priest.
MONTANELLI. And drove him to his death by that act. Thank God, it was not the priest’s sin that broke his heart!
GEMMA. Are you sure that he is dead?
MONTANELLI. He drowned himself.
GEMMA. Did you find his body?
MONTANELLI. He left word that it would not be found.
GEMMA. How did he know that it would not be found?
MONTANELLI [trembling] Signora Bolla: you are doing a thing to me that a man born of a woman should hesitate to do to his worst enemy. You are turning the greatest sorrow of my life into a political weapon to save your fellow conspirator. You are trying to persuade me that Rivarez learnt his wickedness from Arthur.
GEMMA. Cardinal: Rivarez is Arthur.
MONTANELLI [springing up] In God’s name, no!
GEMMA. As surely as it was this hand that struck him. He chose this dangerous duty because he longed to see you. He loves you.
MONTANELLI. No, no, no.
GEMMA. Your duty was nothing to you when you brought him into the world. Is it so sacred now that you must send him out of it?
MONTANELLI. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. It is the vengeance of God that has fallen on me as it fell upon David. I have defiled his sanctuary, and taken the body of the Lord into polluted hands. He has been very patient with me; but now it has come. “For thou didst it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun: the child that is born unto thee shall surely die!”
He falls insensible. Gemma runs to him and stoops over his body.
ACT IV.
SCENE I
Scene. The condemned cell. Night. The Gadfly asleep on a pallet. His coat is hanging on a chair beside it. A gaoler enters with a lamp, followed by Montanelli, who dismisses him.
MONTANELLI [seating himself beside the pallet and bending over the sleeper] Arthur.
GADFLY [rousing himself ] Yes! I am ready. Is it time?
[He recognizes Montanelli, and utters a cry of delight].
MONTANELLI. Have you come back to me from the dead?
GADFLY [shivering] From the dead?
MONTANELLI. You have come back — you have come back at last.
GADFLY [sighing wearily] Yes — and you have to fight me, or to kill me.
MONTANELLI. Oh, hush, Carino! We have been like two children lost in the dark, mistaking one another for phantoms. My poor boy, how changed you are — how changed! You look as if all the ocean of the world’s misery had passed over your head — you! who used to be so full of the joy of life! Arthur, is it really you? Remember, I thought I had killed you.
GADFLY. You have that still to do.
MONTANELLI [in terror] Arthur!
GADFLY. Let us be honest, whatever we do, and not shilly-shally. There can be nothing between us but war, and war, and war. What do you want to hold my hand for? Can’t you see that while you believe in your Cause, we can’t be anything but enemies?
MONTANELLI. As you will, Arthur; but I will do what I can. I will arrange your escape; and when you are safe you shall have your revenge. I will have an accident in the mountains, or take the wrong sleepingdraught by mistake — whatever you like to choose. Will that content you? It is all I can do. It is a great sin; but I think He will forgive me. He is more merciful — gadfly [with a sharp cry] Oh, that is too much! What have I done that you should think of me that way? What right have you — as if I wanted to be revenged on you! Can’t you see that I only want to save you? Will you never understand that I love you?
[He catches hold of Montanelli’s hands and kisses them]
Padre! come away with us. What have you to do with this dead world of priests and idols? They are full of the dust of bygone ages; they are rotten; they are pestilent and foul! Come out of this plague-stricken Church — come away with us into the light! Padre, it is we that are life and youth; it is we that are the everlasting springtime; it is we that are the future. Padre, the dawn is close upon us — will you miss your part in the sunrise? Wake up; and let us forget the horrible nightmares; wake up; and we will begin our life again! Padre, I have always loved you — always, even when you killed me. Will you kill me again?
MONTANELLI [tearing his hands away] Oh, God have mercy on me! You have your mother’s eyes! [a silence] Have you anything more to say? Any hope to give me?
GADFLY. No. My life is of no use to me except to fight priests. I am not a man; I am a knife. If you let me live, you sanction knives.
MONTANELLI [falling on his knees and raising his clasped hands to heaven] Hear me, O God — [A clash of muskets interrupts him as the door opens and the soldiers enter, commanded by the wounded officer, whose arm is in a sling], GADFLY [springing up and putting on his coat] Well answered, and promptly!
OFFICER. The time has come, Rivarez.
GADFLY [turning to the kneeling Montanelli, and placing his hand affectionately on his shoulder] There is no use in talking any more. [Montanelli rises like a man in a dream] [The Gadfly points upward] You still believe?
MONTANELLI. Though He slay me, I will trust in Him.
GADFLY [confidentially] He understands me. [Whispering] I don’t want to live. [He turns to the soldiers] March!
They go out — Montanelli stands like a man before his God. The scene changes.
SCENE II
The Courtyard of the prison, lighted by torches. A fig tree at the back, a little to the right, with an open grave newly dug, close to it. A gate СКАЧАТЬ