beautiful stories from shakespeare-第13部分

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he　good　King。　　And　as　they　spoke　the　King's　ghost　again　appeared　before　Hamlet；　but　the　Queen　could　not　see　it。　　So　when　the　ghost　had　gone；　they　parted。

When　the　Queen　told　Claudius　what　had　passed；　and　how　Polonius　was　dead；　he　said；　〃This　shows　plainly　that　Hamlet　is　mad；　and　since　he　has　killed　the　Chancellor；　it　is　for　his　own　safety　that　we　must　carry　out　our　plan；　and　send　him　away　to　England。〃

So　Hamlet　was　sent；　under　charge　of　two　courtiers　who　served　the　King；　and　these　bore　letters　to　the　English　Court；　requiring　that　Hamlet　should　be　put　to　death。　　But　Hamlet　had　the　good　sense　to　get　at　these　letters；　and　put　in　others　instead；　with　the　names　of　the　two　courtiers　who　were　so　ready　to　betray　him。　　Then；　as　the　vessel　went　to　England；　Hamlet　escaped　on　board　a　pirate　ship；　and　the　two　wicked　courtiers　left　him　to　his　fate；　and　went　on　to　meet　theirs。

Hamlet　hurried　home；　but　in　the　meantime　a　dreadful　thing　had　happened。　　Poor　pretty　Ophelia；　having　lost　her　lover　and　her　father；　lost　her　wits　too；　and　went　in　sad　madness　about　the　Court；　with　straws；　and　weeds；　and　flowers　in　her　hair；　singing　strange　scraps　of　songs；　and　talking　poor；　foolish；　pretty　talk　with　no　heart　of　meaning　to　it。　　And　one　day；　coming　to　a　stream　where　willows　grew；　she　tried　to　bang　a　flowery　garland　on　a　willow；　and　fell　into　the　water　with　all　her　flowers；　and　so　died。

And　Hamlet　had　loved　her；　though　his　plan　of　seeming　madness　had　made　him　hide　it；　and　when　he　came　back；　he　found　the　King　and　Queen；　and　the　Court；　weeping　at　the　funeral　of　his　dear　love　and　lady。

Ophelia's　brother；　Laertes；　had　also　just　come　to　Court　to　ask　justice　for　the　death　of　his　father；　old　Polonius；　and　now；　wild　with　grief；　he　leaped　into　his　sister's　grave；　to　clasp　her　in　his　arms　once　more。

〃I　loved　her　more　than　forty　thousand　brothers；〃　cried　Hamlet；　and　leapt　into　the　grave　after　him；　and　they　fought　till　they　were　parted。

Afterwards　Hamlet　begged　Laertes　to　forgive　him。

〃I　could　not　bear；〃　he　said；　〃that　any；　even　a　brother；　should　seem　to　love　her　more　than　I。〃

But　the　wicked　Claudius　would　not　let　them　be　friends。　　He　told　Laertes　how　Hamlet　had　killed　old　Polonius；　and　between　them　they　made　a　plot　to　slay　Hamlet　by　treachery。

Laertes　challenged　him　to　a　fencing　match；　and　all　the　Court　were　present。　　Hamlet　had　the　blunt　foil　always　used　in　fencing；　but　Laertes　had　prepared　for　himself　a　sword；　sharp；　and　tipped　with　poison。　　And　the　wicked　King　had　made　ready　a　bowl　of　poisoned　wine；　which　he　meant　to　give　poor　Hamlet　when　he　should　grow　warm　with　the　sword　play；　and　should　call　for　drink。

So　Laertes　and　Hamlet　fought；　and　Laertes；　after　some　fencing；　gave　Hamlet　a　sharp　sword　thrust。　　Hamlet；　angry　at　this　treacheryfor　they　had　been　fencing；　not　as　men　fight；　but　as　they　playclosed　with　Laertes　in　a　struggle；　both　dropped　their　swords；　and　when　they　picked　them　up　again；　Hamlet；　without　noticing　it；　had　exchanged　his　own　blunt　sword　for　Laertes'　sharp　and　poisoned　one。　And　with　one　thrust　of　it　he　pierced　Laertes；　who　fell　dead　by　his　own　treachery。

At　this　moment　the　Queen　cried　out；　〃The　drink；　the　drink！　　Oh；　my　dear　Hamlet！　　I　am　poisoned！〃

She　had　drunk　of　the　poisoned　bowl　the　King　had　prepared　for　Hamlet；　and　the　King　saw　the　Queen；　whom；　wicked　as　he　was；　he　really　loved；　fall　dead　by　his　means。

Then　Ophelia　being　dead；　and　Polonius；　and　the　Queen；　and　Laertes；　and　the　two　courtiers　who　had　been　sent　to　England；　Hamlet　at　last　found　courage　to　do　the　ghost's　bidding　and　avenge　his　father's　murderwhich；　if　he　had　braced　up　his　heart　to　do　long　before；　all　these　lives　had　been　spared；　and　none　had　suffered　but　the　wicked　King；　who　well　deserved　to　die。

Hamlet；　his　heart　at　last　being　great　enough　to　do　the　deed　he　ought；　turned　the　poisoned　sword　on　the　false　King。

〃Thenvenomdo　thy　work！〃　he　cried；　and　the　King　died。

So　Hamlet　in　the　end　kept　the　promise　he　had　made　his　father。　　And　all　being　now　accomplished；　he　himself　died。　　And　those　who　stood　by　saw　him　die；　with　prayers　and　tears；　for　his　friends　and　his　people　loved　him　with　their　whole　hearts。　　Thus　ends　the　tragic　tale　of　Hamlet；　Prince　of　Denmark。




CYMBELINE



Cymbeline　was　the　King　of　Britain。　　He　had　three　children。　　The　two　sons　were　stolen　away　from　him　when　they　were　quite　little　children；　and　he　was　left　with　only　one　daughter；　Imogen。　　The　King　married　a　second　time；　and　brought　up　Leonatus；　the　son　of　a　dear　friend；　as　Imogen's　playfellow；　and　when　Leonatus　was　old　enough；　Imogen　secretly　married　him。　　This　made　the　King　and　Queen　very　angry；　and　the　King；　to　punish　Leonatus；　banished　him　from　Britain。

Poor　Imogen　was　nearly　heart…broken　at　parting　from　Leonatus；　and　he　was　not　less　unhappy。　　For　they　were　not　only　lovers　and　husband　and　wife；　but　they　had　been　friends　and　comrades　ever　since　they　were　quite　little　children。　　With　many　tears　and　kisses　they　said　〃Good…bye。〃　　They　promised　never　to　forget　each　other；　and　that　they　would　never　care　for　anyone　else　as　long　as　they　lived。

〃This　diamond　was　my　mother's；　love；〃　said　Imogen；　〃take　it；　my　heart；　and　keep　it　as　long　as　you　love　me。〃

〃Sweetest；　fairest；〃　answered　Leonatus；　〃wear　this　bracelet　for　my　sake。〃

〃Ah！〃　cried　Imogen；　weeping；　〃when　shall　we　meet　again？〃

And　while　they　were　still　in　each　other's　arms；　the　King　came　in；　and　Leonatus　had　to　leave　without　more　farewell。

When　he　was　come　to　Rome；　where　he　had　gone　to　stay　with　an　old　friend　of　his　father's；　he　spent　his　days　still　in　thinking　of　his　dear　Imogen；　and　his　nights　in　dreaming　of　her。　　One　day　at　a　feast　some　Italian　and　French　noblemen　were　talking　of　their　sweethearts；　and　swearing　that　they　were　the　most　faithful　and　honorable　and　beautiful　ladies　in　the　world。　　And　a　Frenchman　reminded　Leonatus　how　he　had　said　many　times　that　his　wife　Imogen　was　more　fair；　wise；　and　constant　than　any　of　the　ladies　in　France。

〃I　say　so　still；〃　said　Leonatus。

〃She　is　not　so　good　but　that　she　would　deceive；〃　said　Iachimo；　one　of　the　Italian　nobles。

〃She　never　would　deceive；〃　said　Leonatus。

〃I　wager；〃　said　Iachimo；　〃that；　if　I　go　to　Britain；　I　can　persuade　your　wife　to　do　whatever　I　wish；　even　if　it　should　be　against　your　wishes。〃

〃That　you　will　never　do；〃　said　Leonatus。　　〃I　wager　this　ring　upon　my　finger；〃　which　was　the　very　ring　Imogen　had　given　him　at　parting；　〃that　my　wife　will　keep　all　her　vows　to　me；　and　that　you　will　never　persuade　her　to　do　otherwise。〃

So　Iachimo　wagered　half　his　estate　against　the　ring　on　Leonatus's　finger；　and　started　forthwith　for　Britain；　with　a　letter　of　introduction　to　Leonatus's　wife。　　When　he　reached　there　he　was　received　with　all　kindness；　but　he　was　still　determined　to　win　his　wager。

He　told　Imogen　that　her　husband　thought　no　more　of　her；　and　went　on　to　tell　many　cruel　lies　about　him。　　Imogen　listened　at　first；　but　presently　perceived　what　a　wicked　person　Iachimo　was；　and　ordered　him　to　leave　her。　　Then　he　said

〃Pardon　me；　fair　lady；　all　that　I　have　said　is　untrue。　　I　only　told　you　this　to　see　whether　you　would　believe　me；　or　whether　you　were　as　much　to　be　trusted　as　your　husband　thinks。　　Will　you　forgive　me？〃

〃I　forgive　you　freely；〃　said　Imogen。

〃Then；〃　went　on　Iachimo；　〃perhaps　you　will　prove　it　by　taking　charge　of　a　trunk；　containing　a　number　of　jewels　which　your　husband　and　I　and　some　other　gentlemen　have　bought　as　a　present　for　the　Emperor　of　Rome。〃

〃I　will　indeed；〃　said　Imogen；　〃do　anything　for　my　husband　and　a　friend　of　my　husband's。　　Have　the　jewels　sent　into　my　room；　and　I　will　take　care　of　them。〃

〃It　is　only　for　one　night；〃　said　Iachimo；　〃for　I　leave　Britain　again　to…morrow。〃

So　the　trunk　was　carried　into　Imogen's　room；　and　that　night　she　went　to　bed　and　to　sleep。　　When　she　was　fast　asleep；　the　lid　of　the　trunk　opened　and　a　man　got　out。　　It　was　Iachimo。　　The　story　about　the　jewels　was　as　untrue　as　the　rest　of　the　things　he　had　said。　　He　had　only　wished　to　get　into　her　room　to　win　his　wicked　wager。　　He　looked　about　him　and　noticed　the　furniture；　and　then　crept　to　the　side　of　the　bed　where　Imogen　was　asleep　and　took　from　her　arm　the　gold　bracelet　which　had　been　the　parting　gift　of　her　husband。　　Then　he　crept　back　to　the　trunk；　and　next　morning　sailed　for　Rome。

When　he　met　Leonatus；　he　said

〃I　have　been　to　Britain　and　I　have　won　the　wager；　for　your　wife　no　longer　thinks　about　you。　　She　stayed　talking　with　me　all　one　night　in　her　room；　which　is　hung　with　tapestry　and　has　a　carved　chimney…piece；　and　silver　andirons　in　the　shape　of　two　winking　Cupids。〃

〃I　do　not　believe　she　has　forgotten　me；　I　do　not　believe　she　stayed　talking　with　you　in　her　room。　　You　have　heard　her　room　described　by　the　servants。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Iachimo；　〃but　she　gave　me　this　bracelet。　　She　took　it　from　her　arm。　　I　see　her　yet。　　Her　pretty　action　did　outsell　her　gift；　and　yet　enriched　it　too。　　She　gave　it　me；　and　said　she　prized　it　once。〃

〃Take　the　ring；〃　cried　Leonatus；　〃you　have　won；　and　you　might　have　won　my　life　as　well；　for　I　care　nothing　for　it　now　I　know　my　lady　has　forgotten　me。〃

And　mad　with　anger；　he　wrote　letters　to　Britain　to　his　old　servant；　Pisanio；　ordering　him　to　take　Imogen　to　Milford　Haven；　and　to　murder　her；　because　she