Romeo and Juliet
– Chapter 2 –
As they were leaving, Old Montague came up to Benvolio and asked him,
“All right, who started it this time? Were you there when the fight began?”
“It started as a fight between your servants and those of the Capulets,” said Benvolio;
“then I drew my sword to separate them.
Then the fiery(暴躁的) Tybalt came and started waving his sword about like crazy, fortunately without hurting anyone.
Then more and more Montagues and Capulets came and joined in the fight, until the Prince(亲王) finally came and stopped it all.”
“But where is Romeo, have you seen him today?” said Montague’s wife to Benvolio.
“I am very glad he was not at this fight.”
“Sometimes I want to escape from(远离)everyone’s company—even my own,” said Benvolio.
“This morning, in such a troubled state of mind, I went walking in the forest to the west of the city.
There I saw your son, it was an hour before sunrise.
I saw him, and I think he saw me, but he turned aside and hid himself deep in the woods.
I think he wanted to be alone, and since I wanted the same thing, I did not follow him.”
“He has been seen there many mornings,” said Old Montague,
“with his tears adding to the wetness of the morning dew(露水), and his sighs darkening the mood(氛围) of even the darkest clouds.
But as soon as the cheerful sun rises and opens the curtains of darkness around Aurora’s bed,
my son escapes from the light, steals home, hides in his room, closes the curtains, and makes himself an artificial(人造的) night.
Unless we can find out what is the trouble, I am afraid of what might happen to him.”
“My noble uncle, do you have any idea what his trouble is?” asked Benvolio.
“I do not—and he will not tell me,” Old Montague replied.
“And have you tried everything?”
“I have tried my best, and so have many of our friends, but he is so—I will not say ‘true to himself’;
perhaps ‘shut up(关闭) inside himself’ is a better term.
He keeps his secrets, like a rose-bud that is eaten away from within.
If only we could find out what the problem was, we would do everything we can to help him.”
“Look, here he comes now!” said Benvolio.
“I think it’s best if you leave now.
I am more likely to find out the truth if he and I can speak privately.”
“I hope you can get more out of him than I have,” said Old Montague.
“Come, wife, let us go home.”
“Good morning, cousin!” said Benvolio.
“Is it still morning? I thought it was later than that,” Romeo replied.
“The clock has only just struck nine.”
“Sad hours seem long!” said Romeo.
“Was that my father I saw leaving in such a hurry?”
“It was. What sadness makes your hours seem long?”
“Not having what would make them seem short,” Romeo replied.
“In love, then?” asked Benvolio.
“Out of favor with the girl with whom I am in love.”
“How can love, which seems such a sweet and gentle emotion(感情), treat us so cruelly and make us suffer so much?” said Benvolio.
“They say love is blind, and yet it can still find its way into our hearts and hurt us!” said Romeo.
“It looks as if there was a fight here in the street.
Did the two families fight again?
Each side fights because they hate the other family, but also because they love their own.
Oh angry love, and loving hate, that can start a love affair, or a fight, out of nothing!
This heavy lightness(轻盈), this too-serious pleasure, this beautiful face that hides a chaos(混乱) of ugly feelings(感情) behind it!
I feel this kind of love, but I am not in love with it, in fact, I do not even like it.
What are you laughing at(因…而发笑), Benvolio?”
“No, Romeo, I am crying.”
“Why, Benvolio?”
“For the suffering that you are going through.”
“That is what love does,” said Romeo.
“Not content with making me suffer, love makes you suffer as well, through your sympathy(同情)for me.
Your love for me adds even more suffering to the heavy burden that I already carry.
What is love? A misty view of something half-hidden in the smoke,
then when the smoke clears, a fire shining in the lovers’ eyes, then when love fails, a sea fed with(充满) lovers’ tears.
It is a hidden madness, a deadly poison, and a sweet-tasting medicine.
And now, I must say goodbye.”
“Do not leave now, when you are in this state of mind!” said Benvolio.
“I left already,” Romeo replied.
“This person you see is not Romeo; he is somewhere else.”
“Tell me seriously, who is it you love?” asked Benvolio.
“Must I sigh and complain(抱怨) while I tell you, then?” asked Romeo.
“No,” said Benvolio. “I mean, tell me, and feel free to show me your true feelings.”
“You are like someone who tells a sick man to make his will,” Romeo replied.
“I am not sure this is a good idea, but, if you must know, I love a woman.”
“I had already guessed that,” said Benvolio.
“A beautiful woman,” said Romeo.
“I thought perhaps she might be,” said Benvolio.
“But she is armored(有盔甲的) like the hunting goddess(狩猎女神) Diana against Cupid’s(丘比特)weak and feeble(虚弱无力的) arrows,” Romeo replied.
“No matter how I besiege(包围) her with words of love or try to conquer(征服) her with my eyes, she will not be taken.
Nor will even gold, which has seduced(引诱) so many saints(圣人), persuade her to open up to me.
She is rich in beauty, but when she dies, her beauty will die with her.”
“Then she has sworn(发誓) that she will never lie with a man?” asked Benvolio.
“She has,” said Romeo.
“So she will never have a child as beautiful as her.
By choosing to be virtuous(高尚的), she makes me suffer.
She’s sworn she will not love, and with that vow(誓言)
She strikes me dead, who live to tell it now.”
“Listen to me, Romeo, you need to stop thinking about her,” said Benvolio.
“But how can I forget to think?” Romeo asked.
“By giving your eyes the freedom to enjoy the sight of other beauties,” said Benvolio.
“That would only remind me how much more beautiful she is than them,” Romeo replied.
“Just as a black mask brings out the beauty of the face behind it,
so each beautiful face reminds me of the one I find most beautiful.
If that is the best advice you have to offer, I had better leave you.”
“I will help you, even if you do not want to be helped.
And I promise you, I will prove to you the wisdom of my advice. Goodbye, then!” said Benvolio, and left.