少奶奶的扇子 英文版 Lady Windermere's Fan
奥斯卡.王尔德 Oscar Wilde
FIRST ACT Page 2
(Exeunt DUCHESS and LADY AGATHA C.)
LADY WINDERMERE. How horrible! I understand now what LordDarlington meant by the imaginary instance of the couple not twoyears married. Oh! it can't be true--she spoke of enormous sums ofmoney paid to this woman. I know where Arthur keeps his bank book--in one of the drawers of that desk. I might find out by that. IWILL find out. (Opens drawer.) No, it is some hideous mistake.(Rises and goes C.) Some silly scandal! He loves ME! He lovesME! But why should I not look? I am his wife, I have a right tolook! (Returns to bureau, takes out book and examines it page bypage, smiles and gives a sigh of relief.) I knew it! there is nota word of truth in this stupid story. (Puts book back in dranver.As the does so, starts and takes out another book.) A second book--private--locked! (Tries to open it, but fails. Sees paper knifeon bureau, and with it cuts cover from book. Begins to start atthe first page.) 'Mrs. Erlynne--600 pounds--Mrs. Erlynne--700pounds--Mrs. Erlynne--400 pounds.' Oh! it is true! It is true!How horrible! (Throws book on floor.) (Enter LORD WINDERMERE C.)
LORD WINDERMERE. Well, dear, has the fan been sent home yet?(Going R.C. Sees book.) Margaret, you have cut open my bank book.You have no right to do such a thing!
LADY WINDERMERE. You think it wrong that you are found out, don'tyou?
LORD WINDERMERE. I think it wrong that a wife should spy on herhusband.
LADY WINDERMERE. I did not spy on you. I never knew of thiswoman's existence till half an hour ago. Some one who pitied mewas kind enough to tell me what every one in London knows already--your daily visits to Curzon Street, your mad infatuation, themonstrous sums of money you squander on this infamous woman!(Crossing L.)
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret! don't talk like that of Mrs. Erlynne,you don't know how unjust it is!
LADY WINDERMERE. (Turning to him.) You are very jealous of Mrs.Erlynne's honour. I wish you had been as jealous of mine.
LORD WINDERMERE. Your honour is untouched, Margaret. You don'tthink for a moment that--(Puts book back into desk.)
LADY WINDERMERE. I think that you spend your money strangely.That is all. Oh, don't imagine I mind about the money. As far asI am concerned, you may squander everything we have. But what I DOmind is that you who have loved me, you who have taught me to loveyou, should pass from the love that is given to the love that isbought. Oh, it's horrible! (Sits on sofa.) And it is I who feeldegraded! YOU don't feel anything. I feel stained, utterlystained. You can't realise how hideous the last six months seemsto me now--every kiss you have given me is tainted in my memory.
LORD WINDERMERE. (Crossing to her.) Don't say that, Margaret. Inever loved any one in the whole world but you.
LADY WINDERMERE. (Rises.) Who is this woman, then? Why do youtake a house for her?
LORD WINDERMERE. I did not take a house for her.
LADY WINDERMERE. You gave her the money to do it, which is thesame thing.
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, as far as I have known Mrs. Erlynne -
is not a GOOD woman in London who !
LADY WINDERMERE. Is there a Mr. Erlynne--or is he a myth?
LORD WINDERMERE. Her husband died many years ago. She is alone inthe world.
LADY WINDERMERE. No relations? (A pause.)
in the whole world!
LORD WINDERMERE. None.
LADY WINDERMERE. Rather curious, isn't it? (L.)
LORD WINDERMERE. (L.C.) Margaret, I was saying to you--and I begyou to listen to me--that as far as I have known Mrs. Erlynne, shehas conducted herself well. If years ago -
kind.(Crossing L. ?
LADY WINDERMERE. Oh! (Crossing R.C.) I don't want details abouther life!
LORD WINDERMERE. (C.) I am not going to give you any detailsabout her life. I tell you simply this--Mrs. Erlynne was oncehonoured, loved, respected. She was well born, she had position--she lost everything--threw it away, if you like. That makes it allthe more bitter. Misfortunes one can endure--they come fromoutside, they are accidents. But to suffer for one's own faults--ah!--there is the sting of life. It was twenty years ago, too.She was little more than a girl then. She had been a wife for evenless time than you have.
LADY WINDERMERE. I am not interested in her--and--you should notmention this woman and me in the same breath. It is an error oftaste. (Sitting R. at desk.)
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, you could save this woman. She wantsto get back into society, and she wants you to help her. (Crossingto her.)
LADY WINDERMERE. Me!
LORD WINDERMERE. Yes, you.
LADY WINDERMERE. How impertinent of her! (A pause.)
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, I came to ask you a great favour, and Istill ask it of you, though you have discovered what I had intendedyou should never have known that I have given Mrs. Erlynne a largesum of money. I want you to send her an invitation for our partyto-night. (Standing L. of her.)
LADY WINDERMERE. You are mad! (Rises.)
LORD WINDERMERE. I entreat you. People may chatter about her, dochatter about her, of course, but they don't know anything definiteagainst her. She has been to several houses--not to houses whereyou would go, I admit, but still to houses where women who are inwhat is called Society nowadays do go. That does not content her.She wants you to receive her once.
LADY WINDERMERE. As a triumph for her, I suppose?
LORD WINDERMERE. No; but because she knows that you are a goodwoman--and that if she comes here once she will have a chance of ahappier, a surer life than she has had. She will make no furthereffort to know you. Won't you help a woman who is trying to getback?
LADY WINDERMERE. No! If a woman really repents, she never wishesto return to the society that has made or seen her ruin.
LORD WINDERMERE. I beg of you.
LADY WINDERMERE. (Crossing to door R.) I am going to dress fordinner, and don't mention the subject again this evening. Arthur(going to him C.), you fancy because I have no father or motherthat I am alone in the world, and that you can treat me as youchoose. You are wrong, I have friends, many friends.
LORD WINDERMERE. (L.C.) Margaret, you are talking foolishly,recklessly. I won't argue with you, but I insist upon your askingMrs. Erlynne to-night.
LADY WINDERMERE. (R.C.) I shall do nothing of the kind.(Crossing L. C.)
LORD WINDERMERE. You refuse? (C.)
LADY WINDERMERE. Absolutely!
LORD WINDERMERE. Ah, Margaret, do this for my sake; it is her lastchance.
LADY WINDERMERE. What has that to do with me?
LORD WINDERMERE. How hard good women are!
LADY WINDERMERE. How weak bad men are!
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, none of us men may be good enough forthe women we marry--that is quite true--but you don't imagine Iwould ever--oh, the suggestion is monstrous!
LADY WINDERMERE. Why should YOU be different from other men? I amtold that there is hardly a husband in London who does not wastehis life over SOME shameful passion.
LORD WINDERMERE. I am not one of them.
LADY WINDERMERE. I am not sure of that!
LORD WINDERMERE. You are sure in your heart. But don't make chasmafter chasm between us. God knows the last few minutes have thrustus wide enough apart. Sit down and write the card.
LADY WINDERMERE. Nothing in the whole world would induce me.
LORD WINDERMERE. (Crossing to bureau.) Then I will! (Ringselectric bell, sits and writes card.)
LADY WINDERMERE. You are going to invite this woman? (Crossing tohim.)
LORD WINDERMERE. Yes. (Pause. Enter PARKER.) Parker!
PARKER. Yes, my lord. (Comes down L.C.)
LORD WINDERMERE. Have this note sent to Mrs. Erlynne at No. 84ACurzon Street. (Crossing to L.C. and giving note to PARKER.)There is no answer!
LADY WINDERMERE. Arthur, if that woman comes here, I shall insulther.
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, don't say that.
LADY WINDERMERE. I mean it.
LORD WINDERMERE. Child, if you did such a thing, there's not awoman in London who wouldn't pity you.
LADY WINDERMERE. There is not a GOOD woman in London who would notapplaud me. We have been too lax. We must make an example. Ipropose to begin to-night. (Picking up fan.) Yes, you gave methis fan to-day; it was your birthday present. If that womancrosses my threshold, I shall strike her across the face with it.
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, you couldn't do such a thing.
LADY WINDERMERE. You don't know me! (Moves R.)
(Enter PARKER.)
Parker!
PARKER. Yes, my lady.
LADY WINDERMERE. I shall dine in my own room. I don't wantdinner, in fact. See that everything is ready by half-past ten.And, Parker, be sure you pronounce the names of the guests verydistinctly to-night. Sometimes you speak so fast that I miss them.I am particularly anxious to hear the names quite clearly, so as tomake no mistake. You understand, Parker?
PARKER. Yes, my lady.
LADY WINDERMERE. That will do!
(Exit PARKER C.)
(Speaking to LORD WINDERMERE) Arthur, if that woman comes here--Iwarn you -
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, you'll ruin us!
LADY WINDERMERE. Us! From this moment my life is separate fromyours. But if you wish to avoid a public scandal, write at once tothis woman, and tell her that I forbid her to come here!
LORD WINDERMERE. I will not--I cannot--she must come!
LADY WINDERMERE. Then I shall do exactly as I have said. (GoesR.) You leave me no choice. (Exit R.)
LORD WINDERMERE. (Calling after her.) Margaret! Margaret! (Apause.) My God! What shall I do? I dare not tell her who thiswoman really is. The shame would kill her. (Sinks down into achair and buries his face in his hands.)
ACT DROP