Sir Robert Chiltern: Stop! You want me to withdraw the report and to make a short speech stating that I believe there are possibilities in the scheme?
Mrs. Cheveley: [sitting down on the sofa] Those are my 32)terms.
罗伯特•奇尔顿爵士: 你的提议是决不可能办到的。
彻弗利夫人: 你必须办到。你要使它办得到。罗伯特爵士,你很了解你们英国的报纸是怎样的。假设我一离开这栋房子,就让马车去到某家报馆,向他们抖出这桩丑闻并提供证据!想想看他们会怎样的幸灾乐祸,那种即将把你拉下台的兴奋,还有他们要把你拖进去的烂泥潭。想想看那肥头大耳的伪君子如何奸笑着撰写社论,并安排张贴布告公布你的丑行。
罗伯特•奇尔顿爵士: 够了!你是要我撤回报告,然后发表一个简短的声明,说我认为你那个计划有希望成功,对吗?
彻弗利夫人: (在沙发上坐下)那些正是我的条件。
Sir Robert Chiltern: [in a low voice] I will give you any sum of money you want.
Mrs. Cheveley: Even you are not rich enough, Sir Robert, to buy back your past. No man is.
Sir Robert Chiltern: I will not do what you ask me. I will not.
Mrs. Cheveley: You have to. If you don’t... [rises from the sofa]
Sir Robert Chiltern: [bewildered and 33)unnerved] Wait a moment! What did you propose? You said that you would give me back my letter, didn’t you?
Mrs. Cheveley: Yes. That is agreed. I will be in 34)the Ladies’ Gallery tomorrow night at half-past eleven. If by that time—and you will have had 35)heaps of opportunity—you have made an announcement to the House in the terms I wish, I shall hand you back your letter with the prettiest thanks, and the best, or at any rate the most suitable, compliment I can think of…
Sir Robert Chiltern: You must let me have time to consider your proposal. Give me a week—three days!
Mrs. Cheveley: No, you must settle now! I have got to telegraph to 36)Vienna tonight. [moves towards the door]
Sir Robert Chiltern: Don’t go. I consent. The report shall be withdrawn. I will arrange for a question to be put to me on the subject.
Mrs. Cheveley: Thank you. I knew we should come to an 37)amicable agreement. I understood your nature from the first. I analyzed you, though you did not adore me. And now you can get my carriage for me, Sir Robert.
[Exit Sir Robert Chiltern.] …
罗伯特•奇尔顿爵士: (压低声音)我可以给你一笔钱,数目由你定。
彻弗利夫人: 罗伯特爵士,即便是你,也没有富到可以买回你的过去的地步。谁都没有那么富有。
罗伯特•奇尔顿爵士: 我不会听任你摆布的。不会的。
彻弗利夫人: 你别无选择。如果你拒绝……(从沙发上起身)
罗伯特•奇尔顿爵士: (不知所措且慌张的)等一下!你刚才怎么提议的?你说你会把我的信还给我,是吗?
彻弗利夫人: 是的,就这么说定了。明天晚上11点半我会在下院的妇女旁听席恭候。假如在那时之前,你在议院按我的条件作了发言——你有大把机会那样做,那我就会满怀感激地把信交还给你,并向你致以我能想到的最好的,或者至少是最恰当的赞美。……
罗伯特•奇尔顿爵士: 你得给我时间考虑一下你的提议。给我一周时间——三天!
彻弗利夫人: 不行,你现在就得作决定!我今晚还得给维也纳那边发电报。(向门口走去)
罗伯特•奇尔顿爵士: 别走。我同意。原报告会被撤回。我将安排好在该项目上我会被问到的问题。
彻弗利夫人: 谢谢你!我早知道我们会达成友好协议的。我从一开始就深知你的本性。我分析过你,虽然你不见得喜欢我。好了,现在你可以帮我叫马车了,罗伯特爵士。
(罗伯特•奇尔顿爵士退场)……
作者简介:
奥斯卡·王尔德(Oscar Wilde,1854—1900),19世纪末英国唯美派剧作家、诗人、小说家和文学批评家,英国唯美主义艺术运动的倡导者。
王尔德在文学上有多方面的才能,其作品以词藻华美、立意新颖和观点鲜明而闻名。他的早期作品有著名童话《快乐王子集》,后期的重要作品有诗集《惨痛的呼声》和《累丁狱之歌》。但王尔德的主要成就是戏剧创作,其主要剧作有:《温德米尔夫人的扇子》、《一个无足轻重的妇女》、《理想的丈夫》和《认真的重要性》。这些剧本通过俏皮的对话对上流社会的虚伪、腐败作了某些批评。王尔德的剧作台词洗练、俏皮、锋利,在英国戏剧的发展史上起了某种承先启后的作用。
《理想的丈夫》是王尔德最机智诙谐的剧作之一,曾3次被搬上银幕。