beautiful stories from shakespeare- 第12部分

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　had　forgotten　him　and　given　away　his　gift。　At　the　same　time　he　wrote　to　Imogen　herself；　telling　her　to　go　with　Pisanio；　his　old　servant；　to　Milford　Haven；　and　that　he；　her　husband；　would　be　there　to　meet　her。

Now　when　Pisanio　got　this　letter　he　was　too　good　to　carry　out　its　orders；　and　too　wise　to　let　them　alone　altogether。　　So　he　gave　Imogen　the　letter　from　her　husband；　and　started　with　her　for　Milford　Haven。　　Before　he　left；　the　wicked　Queen　gave　him　a　drink　which；　she　said；　would　be　useful　in　sickness。　　She　hoped　he　would　give　it　to　Imogen；　and　that　Imogen　would　die；　and　the　wicked　Queen's　son　could　be　King。　　For　the　Queen　thought　this　drink　was　a　poison；　but　really　and　truly　it　was　only　a　sleeping…draft。

When　Pisanio　and　Imogen　came　near　to　Milford　Haven；　he　told　her　what　was　really　in　the　letter　he　had　had　from　her　husband。

〃I　must　go　on　to　Rome；　and　see　him　myself；〃　said　Imogen。

And　then　Pisanio　helped　her　to　dress　in　boy's　clothes；　and　sent　her　on　her　way；　and　went　back　to　the　Court。　　Before　he　went　he　gave　her　the　drink　he　had　had　from　the　Queen。

Imogen　went　on；　getting　more　and　more　tired；　and　at　last　came　to　a　cave。　　Someone　seemed　to　live　there；　but　no　one　was　in　just　then。　　So　she　went　in；　and　as　she　was　almost　dying　of　hunger；　she　took　some　food　she　saw　there；　and　had　just　done　so；　when　an　old　man　and　two　boys　came　into　the　cave。　　She　was　very　much　frightened　when　she　saw　them；　for　she　thought　that　they　would　be　angry　with　her　for　taking　their　food；　though　she　had　meant　to　leave　money　for　it　on　the　table。　　But　to　her　surprise　they　welcomed　her　kindly。　She　looked　very　pretty　in　her　boy's　clothes　and　her　face　was　good；　as　well　as　pretty。

〃You　shall　be　our　brother；〃　said　both　the　boys；　and　so　she　stayed　with　them；　and　helped　to　cook　the　food；　and　make　things　comfortable。　But　one　day　when　the　old　man；　whose　name　was　Bellarius；　was　out　hunting　with　the　two　boys；　Imogen　felt　ill；　and　thought　she　would　try　the　medicine　Pisanio　had　given　her。　　So　she　took　it；　and　at　once　became　like　a　dead　creature；　so　that　when　Bellarius　and　the　boys　came　back　from　hunting；　they　thought　she　was　dead；　and　with　many　tears　and　funeral　songs；　they　carried　her　away　and　laid　her　in　the　wood；　covered　with　flowers。

They　sang　sweet　songs　to　her；　and　strewed　flowers　on　her；　pale　primroses；　and　the　azure　harebell；　and　eglantine；　and　furred　moss；　and　went　away　sorrowful。　　No　sooner　had　they　gone　than　Imogen　awoke；　and　not　knowing　how　she　came　there；　nor　where　she　was；　went　wandering　through　the　wood。

Now　while　Imogen　had　been　living　in　the　cave；　the　Romans　had　decided　to　attack　Britain；　and　their　army　had　come　over；　and　with　them　Leonatus；　who　had　grown　sorry　for　his　wickedness　against　Imogen；　so　had　come　back；　not　to　fight　with　the　Romans　against　Britain；　but　with　the　Britons　against　Rome。　　So　as　Imogen　wandered　alone；　she　met　with　Lucius；　the　Roman　General；　and　took　service　with　him　as　his　page。

When　the　battle　w