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年轻帅气的Paris伯爵前来提亲，Old Capulet斟酌过后，决定让女儿Juliet在晚宴上自行选择。而为爱所困的Romeo误打误撞得知了晚宴地点，决定随好友一同前去。
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Romeo and Juliet
– Chapter 4 –
Scene IV.
Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio—another friend of theirs, and a cousin of the Prince’s—decided to go to the feast(宴会) together.
But since they were not expected guests, they felt it would be better to come after the meal, for the dancing.
“Do you think we should make a speech to introduce ourselves?” asked Romeo.
“No, such formalities(礼节) are too old-fashioned,” said Benvolio.
“Let’s just go in, and join the dancing!”
“Then give me the torch(火炬),” said Romeo.
“I do not feel like dancing. Since I feel so heavy, I will bring light.”
“But you must dance, Romeo!” said Mercutio.
“The soles(鞋底) of your dancing shoes are light and nimble(灵活的), but my soul is as heavy as lead.
It weighs me down, so that I cannot move.”
“You are a lover—borrow Cupid’s wings, and use them to fly higher than all the rest!” said Mercutio.
“I have been too deeply wounded by his arrow to fly with his wings,” Romeo replied.
“You should not let such a sweet and tender(温柔的) thing as love get you down,” said Mercutio.
“Is love a tender thing? I don’t think so,” Romeo replied.
“It plays too roughly with us, and pricks(刺穿) as sharply(尖锐地) as a thorn(荆棘).”
“If love is rough with you, then be rough with it!” said Mercutio.
“If it hurts you, hurt it right back! Now let me find a mask.
Did we bring one ugly enough for this ugly face of mine?”
“Now let us go in, and dance!” said Benvolio.
“Give me a torch to carry, and I will watch,” said Romeo.
“As they say, ‘the spectators(观众) see the most of the game.’ ”
“Why don’t you want to dance?” asked Benvolio.
“I know you mean well,” Romeo replied.
“But I am afraid, I dreamed a dream last night.”
“Oh, did Mab the Fairy(仙女) Queen visit you then?” said Mercutio.
“She is the midwife(接生婆) to our dreams.
She comes in a coach made out of a nut-shell, with a gnat(小虫) for a coachman(马车夫).
She rides through lovers’ brains, and they dream of love；over ladies’ lips，
and they dream of kisses；over lawyers’ fingers，and they dream of fees.
She passes over the neck of a soldier, and he dreams of ambushes(伏击), cutting throats, and swords of fine Spanish steel.
He frightens himself, says a prayer, and goes to sleep again.
It is Queen Mab who teaches girls how to conceive(怀胎) a child, and how to bear one.
It is she who . . .” But Romeo interrupted him.
“Enough, Mercutio! You are talking rubbish!” he said.
“I am, for that is what dreams are—the rubbish of the day that at night the mind tries to get rid of(消除),” said Mercutio.
“They are as empty as the air, and as changeable as the distracted(分散的) wind that blows now from the North, now from the South.”
“The distracted(思绪纷乱的) wind you talk of has distracted(使分心) us also,” said Benvolio.
“Dinner is already over, we should go in before it is too late.”
“I fear we may have come too early,” said Romeo.
“I have a fearful misgiving(担心) that I cannot name, that this night may have some fateful(命中注定的) consequence that ends this hateful life of mine.
But now, lead on! You brought me here, so now direct my course.
On, young gentlemen!”
And so, despite Romeo’s fears, they went in to Old Capulet’s party.
Scene V.
They came in just as the servants were busy clearing away the last of the dishes, tables, and chairs after dinner.
“Take out the serving-trays and the silver, then the stools(凳子), then fold up the trestle-tables and take them out too!” said the head servant.
“And save me some of that marzipan(杏仁蛋白糖) while you are about it!
Look lively now, and get the room ready for dancing!”
Old Capulet gave a short speech: “Welcome, one and all!
Ladies, please stand up to dance and show us those pretty legs of yours.
If you do not stand up, we will know it is because your legs are not pretty enough.
Gentlemen, I remember the days when I myself would wear a mask and whisper sweet nothings(无关紧要的事) in a lady’s ear.
Those days are past for me, but not for you.
Musicians, play! Make space now, and dance!” And the dancing began.
“Servants, bring more lights!” he continued.
“And put out the fire, otherwise we will get too hot! Welcome, cousin Capulet!” he said (welcoming a relative of his own age).
“How long is it since you and I last went to a masked ball?”
“It must be thirty years,” his cousin replied.
“It cannot be that long!” said Old Capulet.
“I was at Lucentio’s marriage feast.”
“Sir, Lucentio’s son is now thirty years old.”
“It seems only yesterday that he was just a boy!” said Old Capulet.
读完了，去做题 ❯