导读

早在《无事生非》问世之前，意大利和欧洲各国已经流传着克劳狄奥和希罗类型的故事。克劳狄奥本是属于骑士文学中的英雄人物，他和希罗的终成眷属，该是英雄美人的风流韵事。但是来到莎士比亚的笔下，克劳狄奥这位英雄人物身上的光彩就一层层剥落，最后终于显现了一个纨绔子弟原形。

《无事生非》（简称《无》剧）写作年代在1598～1599年，是莎士比亚喜剧写作最成熟时期的创作，内容热闹欢乐，富有哲思。故事主旨为面具、伪装或游戏，剧中人物探寻的则是男女关系中的自我意识以及真诚与尊重。

在伊丽莎白时期的英国，“无事”（nothing）的发音与noting极为类似，因此“无事生非”也有“注意”、“纪录”、“窃听生非”的双关语暗示。“窃听”在剧中不仅常见，而且至关重要，是造成误解或澄清事实的关键。

比起莎士比亚的其他喜剧（如《连环错》、《仲夏夜之梦》、《皆大欢喜》、《第十二夜》等），本剧的特征是场景及语言都较为接近真实生活。《无》剧没有脱离现实的浪漫场景（如《皆大欢喜》里的亚登森林或《第十二夜》里的伊利里亚），而是在梅西那城；剧中人并非一见钟情（如罗密欧与朱丽叶、《皆大欢喜》的罗瑟琳与奥兰多），而是相识的友人；本剧语言也不像极度浪漫的诗文（如《皆大欢喜》、《第十二夜》），而是当时代的一般口语。诸如此类的安排，使得本剧真实性高，仿佛是一般人也会发生的故事。

剧中的架构主要由两对情侣所组成。希罗和贝特丽丝是情同手足的表姐妹，克劳狄奥和培尼狄克是亲王唐·彼德罗的好友，四人双双演出两种截然不同的爱情。希罗优雅沉静，克劳狄奥叱咤战场，两人代表传统的结合。贝特丽丝和培尼狄克之间则是永无休止的唇枪舌剑，尽管最终配对成功，但两人都仍坚持戴着原本尖酸嘲讽的面具。

这两条故事线，是莎士比亚取材不同故事改编而成。希罗和克劳狄奥的故事似乎是根据意大利的亚瑞欧托（Ariosto）1516年出版的《愤怒的奥兰多》（Orlando Furioso，英译本于1591年出版），以及邦代罗（Matteo Bandello）于1554年出版的《小说》（Novella）中的第二十二个短篇小说所改写而成。这则含悲剧成分的故事，带有浪漫多情的意大利风味。此外，在文艺复兴时期，时而可见未婚女子被污蔑的题材，其中也有不少以悲剧作收，史宾赛的《仙后》（Faerie Queene）中就有类似的例子。

贝特丽丝与培尼狄克的故事源自英式幽默。在中古时期的英国，两性战争是个常见的主题，乔叟和韦克非（Wakefield）都写过这类故事。莎士比亚早期的《驯悍记》也是类似的题材，凯瑟丽娜和比特鲁乔最初充满敌意，互相羞辱和攻击，最后却彼此倾心。贝特丽丝和培尼狄克的故事很成功，为英国的喜剧文学立下良好典范，王尔德和萧伯纳都是后来的佼佼者。

这两段感情的发展呈现不同的本质。贝特丽丝和培尼狄克这两个角色的心理层面较为复杂，他们都是自我意识很强的人，自恃较高，对伴侣的要求也高。然而这种生活态度往往和真实情感相左，因此需要助缘来让两人卸下高傲面具。另外，两人都是在偷听到友人的谈话之后，才知道自己的毛病，但都很诚恳大方地接受批评，并放下身段接受被设计而来的感情。

1861年，白辽士将此剧改编为歌剧时，将故事改名为《贝特丽丝与培尼狄克》（Beatrice et Benedict），无数的演员、观众及读者都能认同，但两人的恋情无法自成一个剧本，因为贝特丽丝如果不要求培尼狄克去杀克劳狄奥，就无法显示培尼狄克在旧友与新欢之间的为难与冲突，也无法证明他对爱情的承诺。

相形之下，希罗和克劳狄奥的故事就显得平板单调，因而往往被视为次要角色。希罗温驯听话，并不像希腊神话里的希罗，为爱打破宗教誓约，甚至牺牲性命。克劳狄奥对他和希罗的婚事很慎重，他请求亲王做媒，在确定希罗和她父亲都同意了之后才安心。这段姻缘理性而有计划，一切遵循社会规范与门第观念。

克劳狄奥冤枉希罗，看似是一场“无事生非”的误会，但那种惨痛经验却是剧中人的试练，绝非毫无意义。贝特丽丝和修道士深信希罗清白无辜，培尼狄克尽管内心挣扎，但也通过了贝特丽丝的考验。克劳狄奥轻易拒绝并羞辱所爱的女子，暴露了对自己和对希罗的无知，因此这场误会并不能完全归咎于为非作歹的唐·约翰。但尽管如此，希罗仍愿意原谅并接纳他，代表了某种高尚的情操。

希罗的父亲里奥那托一听到他人对女儿的指控，马上信以为真，以为女儿做出不名誉的事，又为确保女儿对未来夫婿忠贞不贰，甚至宁愿她就此死去。克劳狄奥、亲王和里奥那托的反应，反映了男人对女人不忠的深刻恐惧，同时也显示出社会文明所建构的似乎不过是外表的秩序，它忽略了人们内心真正的情感，因为两性情爱竟能如此轻易地就遭到破坏与误解。

在莎士比亚的喜剧中，几乎都是在与死神错身而过之后，才得到圆满结果，例如早期的《连环错》、《仲夏夜之梦》和后来的《皆大欢喜》等。但与《威尼斯商人》和《一报还一报》相较之下，本剧中的死亡威胁就显得毫不紧迫。私生子唐·约翰和《奥赛罗》中的伊阿古一样邪恶，善于利用人们不可靠的视觉和听觉来误导仇人。但他陷害希罗并不是为了求什么好处，只不过是想恼怒亲王兄长，让亲王和亲王周遭的人都变得和他自己一样阴郁罢了。剧中对唐·约翰这个角色的心理、性格和背景并未加以着墨，故只能说是为阻碍喜剧收场的一项安排。

1748年，在盖瑞克（David Garrick）重新搬演之前，《无事生非》只有零星的演出，之后才逐渐受到观众的欢迎。几年前过世的英国资深演员约翰·吉尔格爵士（Sir John Gielgud），就曾成功地扮演过培尼狄克。《无事生非》极少被搬演上大屏幕，1993年，布莱纳导演此剧，由埃玛·汤普森（Emma Thompson）与肯尼斯·布莱纳（Kenneth Branagh）分别饰演贝特丽丝与培尼狄克，广受好评。

BEATRICE

What fire is in mine ears?

Can this be true?

Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?

Contempt,farewell! and maiden pride,adieu!

No glory lives behind the back of such.

And,Benedick,love on;

I will requite thee,

Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand:

If thou dost love,my kindness shall incite thee

To bind our loves up in a holy band;

For others say thou dost deserve,

and I Believe it better than reportingly.

贝特丽丝

我的耳朵里怎么火一般热？果然会有这种事吗？难道我就让他们这样批评我的骄傲和轻蔑吗？去你的吧，那种狂妄！再会吧，处女的骄傲！人家在你的背后，是不会说你好话的。培尼狄克，爱下去吧，我一定会报答你；我要把这颗狂野的心收束起来，呈献在你温情的手里。你要是真的爱我，我的转变过来的温柔的态度，一定会鼓励你把我们的爱情用神圣的约束结合起来。人家说你值得我的爱，可是我比人家更知道你的好处。

BENEDICK

O,she misused me past the endurance of a block! an oak but with one green leaf on it would have answered her; my very visor began to assume lie and scold with her.She told me,not thinking I had been myself,that I was the prince's jester,that I was duller than a great thaw; huddling jest upon jest with such impossible conveyance upon me that I stood like a man at a mark,with a whole army shooting at me.She speaks poniards,and every word stabs: if her breath were as terrible as her terminations,there were no living near her; she would infect to the north star.I would not marry her,though she were endowed with all that Adam bad left him before he transgressed: she would have made Hercules have turned spit,yea,and have cleft his club to make the fire too.Come,talk not of her: you shall find her the infernal Ate in good apparel.I would to God some scholar would conjure her; for certainly,while she is here,a man may live as quiet in hell as in a sanctuary; and people sin upon purpose,because they would go thither; so,indeed,all disquiet,horror and perturbation follows her.

培尼狄克

啊，她才把我侮辱得连一块顽石都要气得直跳起来呢！一株秃得只剩一片青叶子的橡树，也会忍不住跟她拌嘴；就是我的脸罩也差不多给她骂活了，要跟她对骂一场哩。她不知道在她面前的就是我自己，对我说，我是亲王的弄人，我比融雪的天气还要无聊；她用一连串恶毒的讥讽，像乱箭似的向我射了过来，我简直变成了一个箭垛啦。她的每一句话都是一把钢刀，每一个字都刺到人心里；要是她嘴里的气息跟她的说话一样恶毒，那一定无论什么人走近她身边都不能活命的；她的毒气会把北极星都熏坏呢。即使亚当把他没有犯罪以前的全部家产传给她，我也不愿意娶她做妻子；她会叫赫拉克勒斯给她烤肉，把他的棍子劈碎了当柴烧的。好了，别讲她了。她就是母夜叉的变相，但愿上帝差一个有法力的人来把她一道咒赶回地狱里去，因为她一天留在这世上，人家就会觉得地狱里简直清静得像一座洞天福地，大家为了希望下地狱，都会故意犯起罪来，所以一切的混乱、恐怖、纷扰，都跟着她一起来了。

BENEDICK

I do much wonder that one man,seeing how much another man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviors to love,will,after he hath laughed at such shallow follies in others,become the argument of his own scorn by failing in love: and such a man is Claudio.I have known when there was no music with him but the drum and the fife; and now had he rather hear the tabour and the pipe: I have known when he would have walked ten mile a-foot to see a good armour; and now will he lie ten nights awake,carving the fashion of a new doublet.He was wont to speak plain and to the purpose,like an honest man and a soldier; and now is he turned orthography; his words are a very fantastical banquet,just so many strange dishes.May I be so converted and see with these eyes? I cannot tell; I think not: I will not be sworn,but love may transform me to an oyster; but I'll take my oath on it,till he have made an oyster of me,he shall never make me such a fool.One woman is fair,yet I am well; another is wise,yet I am well; another virtuous,yet I am well; but till all graces be in one woman,one woman shall not come in my grace.Rich she shall be,that's certain; wise,or I'll none; virtuous,or I'll never cheapen her; fair,or I'll never look on her; mild,or come not near me; noble,or not I for an angel; of good discourse,an excellent musician,and her hair shall be of what colour it please God.Ha! the prince and Monsieur Love! I will hide me in the arbour.

培尼狄克

我真不懂一个人明明知道沉迷在恋爱里是一件多么愚蠢的事，可是在讥笑他人的浅薄无聊以后，偏偏会自己打自己的耳光，照样跟人家闹起恋爱来；克劳狄奥就是这种人。从前我认识他的时候，战鼓和军笛是他的唯一的音乐；现在他却宁愿听小鼓和洞箫了。从前他会跑十里路去看一身好甲胄；现在他却会接连十个晚上不睡觉，为了设计一身新的紧身衣的式样。从前他说起话来，总是直接爽快，像个老老实实的军人；现在他却变成了个老学究，满嘴都是些稀奇古怪的话儿。我会不会眼看自己也变得像他一样呢？我不知道；我想不至于。我不敢说爱情不会叫我变成一个牡蛎；可是我可以发誓，在它没有把我变成牡蛎以前，它一定不能叫我变成这样一个傻瓜。好看的女人，聪明的女人，贤惠的女人，我都碰见过，可是我还是个原来的我；除非在一个女人身上能够集合一切女人的优点，否则没有一个女人会中我的意的。她一定要有钱，这是不用说的；她必须聪明，不然我就不要；她必须贤惠，不然我也不敢领教；她必须美貌，不然我看也不要看她；她必须温柔，否则不要叫她走近我的身；她必须有高贵的人品，否则我不愿花十先令把她买下来；她必须会讲话，精音乐，而且她的头发必须是天然的颜色。哈！亲王跟咱们这位多情种子来啦！让我到凉亭里去躲他一躲。

BENEDICK

This can be no trick: the conference was sadly borne.They have the truth of this from Hero.They seem to pity the lady: it seems her affections have their full bent.Love me! why,it must be requited.I hear how I am censured: they say I will bear myself proudly,if I perceive the love come from her; they say too that she will rather die than give any sign of affection.I did never think to marry: I must not seem proud: happy are they that hear their detractions and can put them to mending.They say the lady is fair; 'tis a truth,I can bear them witness; and virtuous; 'tis so,I cannot reprove it; and wise,but for loving me; by my troth,it is no addition to her wit,nor no great argument of her folly,for I will be horribly in love with her.I may chance have some odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me,because I have railed so long against marriage: but doth not the appetite alter? a man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of the brain awe a man from the career of his humour? No,the world must be peopled.When I said I would die a bachelor,I did not think I should live till I were married.Here comes Beatrice.By this day! she's a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in her.

培尼狄克

这不会是诡计；他们谈话的神气是很严肃的；他们从希罗嘴里听到了这一件事情，当然不会有假。他们好像很同情这姑娘；她的热情好像已经涨到最高度。爱我！哎哟，我一定要报答她才是。我已经听见他们怎样批评我，他们说要是我知道了她在爱我，我一定会摆架子；他们又说她宁死也不愿把她的爱情表示出来。结婚这件事我倒从来没有想起过。我一定不要摆架子；一个人知道了自己的短处，能够改过自新，就是有福的。他们说这姑娘长得漂亮，这是真的，我可以为他们证明；说她品行很好，这也是事实，我不能否认；说她除了爱我以外，别的地方都是很聪明的，其实这一件事情固然不足表示她的聪明，可是也不能因此反证她的愚蠢，因为就是我也要从此为她颠倒哩。也许人家会向我冷嘲热讽，因为我一向都是讥笑着结婚的无聊；可是难道一个人的口味是不会改变的吗？年轻的时候喜欢吃肉，也许老来一闻到肉味道就要受不住。难道这种不关痛痒的舌丸唇弹，就可以把人吓退，叫他放弃他的决心吗？不，人类是不能让它绝种的。当初我说我要一生一世做个单身汉，那是因为我没有想到我会活到结婚的一天。贝特丽丝来了。天日在上，她是个美貌的姑娘！我可以从她脸上看出她几分爱我的意思来。

LEONATO

Wherefore!

Why,doth not every earthly thing

Cry shame upon her?

Could she here deny

The story that is printed in her blood?

Do not live,Hero;

Do not ope thine eyes:

For,did I think thou wouldst not quickly die,

Thought I thy spirits were stronger than thy shames,

Myself would,on the rearward of reproaches,

Strike at thy life.

Grieved I,I had but one?

Chid I for that at frugal nature's frame?

O,one too much by thee!

Why had I one?

Why ever wast thou lovely in my eyes?

Why had I not with charitable hand

Took up a beggar's issue at my gates,

Who smirch'd thus and mired with infamy,

I might have said 'No part of it is mine;

This shame derives itself from unknown loins'?

But mine and mine I loved and mine

I praised And mine that I was proud on,mine so much

That I myself was to myself not mine,Valuing of her,—

Why,she,

O,she is fallen Into a pit of ink,

That the wide sea

Hath drops too few to wash her clean again

And salt too little which may season give

To her foul-tainted flesh!

里奥那托

为什么！不是整个世界都在斥责她的无耻吗？她可以否认已经刻下在她血液里的这一段丑事吗？不要活过来，希罗，不要睁开你的眼睛；因为要是你不能快快地死去，要是你的灵魂里载得下这样的羞耻，那么我在把你痛责以后，也会亲手把你杀死的。你以为我只有你这一个孩子，我会因为失去你而悲伤吗？我会埋怨造化的吝啬，不肯多给我几个子女吗？啊，像你这样的孩子，一个已经太多了！为什么我要有这么一个孩子呢？为什么你在我的眼睛里是这么可爱呢？为什么我不曾因为一时慈悲心起，在门口收养了一个叫花子的孩子，那么要是她长大以后干下这种丑事，我还可以说，“她的身上没有一部分是属于我的；这一种羞辱是她从不知名的血液里传下来的”？可是我自己亲生的孩子，我所钟爱的、我所赞美的、我所引为骄傲的孩子，为了爱她的缘故，我甚至把她看得比我自己还重；她——啊！她现在落下了污泥的坑里，大海的水也洗不净她的污秽，海里所有的盐也不够解除她肉体上的腐臭。

FRIAR FRANCIS

Marry,this well carried shall on her behalf

Change slander to remorse;

That is some good:

But not for that dream

I on this strange course,

But on this travail look for greater birth.

She dying,as it must so be maintain'd,

Upon the instant that she was accused,

Shall be lamented,pitied and excused

Of every hearer: for it so falls out

That what we have we prize not to the worth

Whiles we enjoy it,but being lack'd and lost,

Why,then we rack the value,then we find

The virtue that possession would not show us

Whiles it was ours.

So will it fare with Claudio:

When he shall hear she died upon his words,

The idea of her life shall sweetly creep

Into his study of imagination,

And every lovely organ of her life

Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit,

More moving-delicate and full of life,

Into the eye and prospect of his soul,

Than when she lived indeed; then shall he mourn,

If ever love had interest in his liver,

And wish he had not so accused her,

No,though he thought his accusation true.

Let this be so,and doubt not but success

Will fashion the event in better shape

Than I can lay it down in likelihood.

But if all aim but this be levell'd false,

The supposition of the lady's death

Will quench the wonder of her infamy:

And if it sort not well,you may conceal her,

As best befits her wounded reputation,

In some reclusive and religious life,

Out of all eyes,tongues,minds and injuries.

神父

要是照这样好好地做下去，就可以使诬蔑她的人不禁哀怜她的不幸，这也未始不是好事；可是我提起这样奇怪的办法，却另有更大的用意。人家听说她一听到这种诽谤立刻身死，一定都会悲悼她、可怜她，从而原谅她。我们往往在享有某一件东西的时候，一点不看重它的好处；等到失掉它以后，却会格外夸张它的价值，发现当它还在我们手里的时候所看不出来的优点。克劳狄奥一定也会这样：当他听到了他的无情的言语，已经致希罗于死地的时候，她生前可爱的影子一定会浮起在他的想象之中，她的生命中的每一部分都会在他的心目中变得比活在世上的她格外值得珍贵，格外优美动人，格外充满生命；要是爱情果然打动过他的心，那时他一定会悲伤哀恸，即使他仍旧以为他所指斥她的确是事实，他也会后悔不该给她这样大的难堪。您就照这么办吧，它的结果一定会比我所能预料的还要美满。即使退一步说，它并不能收到理想中的效果，至少也可以替她把这场羞辱掩盖过去，您不妨把她隐藏在什么僻静的地方，让她潜心修道，远离世人的耳目，隔绝任何的诽谤损害；对于名誉已受创伤的她，这是一个最适当的办法。

DOGBERRY

Dost thou not suspect my place? dost thou not suspect my years? O that he were here to write me down an ass! But,masters,remember that I am an ass; though it be not written down,yet forget not that I am an ass.No,thou villain,thou art full of piety,as shall be proved upon thee by good witness.I am a wise fellow,and,which is more,an officer,and,which is more,a householder,and,which is more,as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in Messina,and one that knows the law,go to; and a rich fellow enough,go to; and a fellow that hath had losses,and one that hath two gowns and every thing handsome about him.Bring him away.O that I had been writ down an ass!

道格培里

你难道瞧不起我的地位吗？你难道瞧不起我这一把年纪吗？啊，但愿他在这儿，给我写下我是头驴子！可是列位弟兄们，记住我是头驴子；虽然这句话没有写下来，可是别忘记我是头驴子。你这恶人，你简直是目中无人，这儿大家都可以做见证的。老实告诉你吧，我是个聪明人；而且是个官；而且是个有家小的人；再说，我的相貌也比得上梅西那地方无论哪一个人；我懂得法律，那可以不去说它；我身边老大有几个钱，那也可以不去说它；我不是不曾碰到过坏运气，可是我还有两件袍子，无论到什么地方去总还是体体面面的。把他带下去！啊，但愿他给我写下我是一头驴子！

LEONATO

I pray thee,cease thy counsel,

Which falls into mine ears as profitless

As water in a sieve: give not me counsel;

Nor let no comforter delight mine ear

But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine.

Bring me a father that so loved his child,

Whose joy of her is overwhelm'd like mine,

And bid him speak of patience;

Measure his woe the length and breadth of mine

And let it answer every strain for strain,

As thus for thus and such a grief for such,

In every lineament,branch,shape,and form:

If such a one will smile and stroke his beard,

Bid sorrow wag,cry 'hem!' when he should groan,

Patch grief with proverbs,make misfortune drunk

With candle-wasters; bring him yet to me,

And I of him will gather patience.

But there is no such man: for,brother,men

Can counsel and speak comfort to that grief

Which they themselves not feel; but,tasting it,

Their counsel turns to passion,which before

Would give preceptial medicine to rage,

Fetter strong madness in a silken thread,

Charm ache with air and agony with words:

No,no; 'tis all men's office to speak patience

To those that wring under the load of sorrow,

But no man's virtue nor sufficiency

To be so moral when he shall endure

The like himself.

Therefore give me no counsel:

My griefs cry louder than advertisement.

里奥那托

请你停止你的劝告；把这些话送进我的耳中，就像把水倒在筛里一样毫无用处。不要劝我；也不要让什么人安慰我，除非他也遭到跟我同样的不幸。给我找一个像我一样溺爱女儿的父亲，他那做父亲的欢乐，跟我一样完全给粉碎了，叫他来劝我安心忍耐；把他的悲伤跟我的悲伤两两相较，必须铢两悉称，毫发不爽，从外表、形象到细枝末节，都没有区别；要是这样一个人能够拈弄他的胡须微笑，把一切懊恼的事情放在脑后，用一些老生常谈自宽自解，忘却了悲叹，反而若无其事地干咳嗽，借着烛光，钻在书堆里，再也想不起自己的不幸——那么叫他来见我吧，我也许可以从他那里学到些忍耐的方法。可是世上不会有这样的人；因为，兄弟，人们对于自己并不感觉到的痛苦，是会用空洞的话来劝告慰藉的，可是他们要是自己尝到了这种痛苦的滋味，他们的理性就会让感情来主宰了，他们就会觉得他们给人家服用的药饵，对自己也不会发生效力；极度的疯狂，是不能用一根丝线把它拴住的，就像空话不能止痛一样。不，不，谁都会劝一个在悲哀的重压下辗转呻吟的人安心忍耐，可是谁也没有那样的修养和勇气，能够叫自己忍受同样的痛苦。所以不要给我劝告，我的悲哀的呼号会盖住劝告的声音。

BORACHIO

Sweet prince,let me go no farther to mine answer: do you hear me,and let this count kill me.I have deceived even your very eyes: what your wisdoms could not discover,these shallow fools have brought to light: who in the night overheard me confessing to this man how Don John your brother incensed me to slander the Lady Hero,how you were brought into the orchard and saw me court Margaret in Hero's garments,how you disgraced her,when you should marry her: my villany they have upon record; which I had rather seal with my death than repeat over to my shame.The lady is dead upon mine and my master's false accusation; and,briefly,I desire nothing but the reward of a villain.

波拉契奥

好殿下，我向您招认一切以后，请您不必再加追问，就让这位伯爵把我杀死了吧。我已经当着您的眼前把您欺骗；您的智慧所观察不到的，却让这些蠢货们揭发出来了。他们在晚上听见我承认这个人——您的兄弟唐·约翰怎样唆使我毁坏希罗小姐的名誉；你们怎样听了他的话到花园里去，瞧见我在那儿跟打扮做希罗样子的玛格莱特昵昵情话；以及你们怎样在举行婚礼的时候把她羞辱。我的罪恶已经给他们记录下来；我现在但求一死，不愿再把它重新叙述出来，增加我的惭愧。那位小姐是受了我跟我的主人诬陷而死的；总之，我不求别的，只请殿下处我应得之罪。