片段对白

Cardinal Richelieu: May we speak a little about foreign policy?

King Louis XIII: It's not about Buckingham, is it?

Cardinal Richelieu: I'm afraid it is. He's arriving in Paris tomorrow. His master, King James, has agreed to hear our peace proposal.

King Louis XIII: Good, good. Well, he knows better than to mess with me, then.

Cardinal Richelieu: There's also another matter. A dangerous rivalry has sprung between your Majesty's Musketeers and my personal guards.

King Louis XIII: Who was involved?

Cardinal Richelieu: Athos, Porthos, Aramis.

King Louis XIII: The usual suspects.

Cardinal Richelieu: And a young man called d'Artagnan. I have summoned them to the palace so that your Majesty can punish them severely.

Imperial bodyguard: His Majesty, the King!

King Louis XIII: Well, well, well. Brawling with the Cardinal's Guards. That's very bad. What have you got to say for yourselves?

D'Artagnan: We--

Aramis: Humbly beg your pardon, your Majesty.

King Louis XIII: Yes. Yes, I should hope so, too. So, tell me, how many were involved in the altercation?

Porthos: There were four of us against 40 of them, your Majesty.

King Louis XIII: Four against 40? And you beat them like a drum? And, uh, yes, you shall have to be reprimanded, of course, most harshly, I'm afraid. You do understand that, don't you?

Athos: We do, your Majesty.

Imperial bodyguard: Her Majesty, the Queen.

King Louis XIII: Anne. What a, what a pleasant surprise!

Queen Anne: My ladies and I wanted to see the valiant musketeers who stood against the Cardinal's Guards. Four against 40? Or was it 400?

Athos: Just 40, your Majesty. It was an off day.

King Louis XIII: That's my musketeers for you. By the time they write songs about them, it'll be 4,000.

Queen Anne: I hope you won't be too harsh with them. After all, boys will be boys. You must be d'Artagnan. My lady in waiting has told me about how brave and dashing you were yesterday. But you must try not to be so reckless.

D'Artagnan: Can't help myself, your Majesty.

Cardinal Richelieu: Your Majesty, the culprits.

King Louis XIII: Ah, yes, yes. Well, stand up, then. Athos. Porthos. Aramis. Forgive me for saying this, d'Artagnan, but you do look a little underdressed.

D'Artagnan: My father is a poor man, your Majesty. A former musketeer as well. These are the only clothes I have.

King Louis XIII: Oh, Lord. We shall have to rectify that. Can't have my musketeers, or the son of one, looking like tramps. New suits all 'round, I think. Yes. You'll see to that, Cardinal? And, yes, I think a purse of gold for each as a reward for your courage. You'll see to that as well, Cardinal. Oh, and, yes, before I forget, no more fighting with his Eminence's Guards. Or there'll be none of them left.

Cardinal Richelieu: Your Majesty, might I suggest a more....

Queen Anne: Forgive my impudence, Cardinal, but I doubt the king requires your advice in this matter. After all, they are his musketeers. Good day, gentlemen.

King Louis XIII: Well, now, off with you rascals. But, uh, be there for the parade tomorrow. New suits and all.

*************************

Cardinal Richelieu: I tire of these royal children. It's time to make our move. We shall use Buckingham's arrival to our advantage. During his visit, we will reveal that he arranged a secret rendezvous with the queen.

Milady: May I inquire how your Eminence has uncovered this scandalous affair?

Cardinal Richelieu: By reading Buckingham's letters to the queen, found in her possession.

Milady: Written in Buckingham's hand, then authenticated by his seal?

Cardinal Richelieu: A woman of your talents should have no trouble procuring either.

Milady: Your Eminence is too kind. However, I doubt that the king will accept such letters as definitive proof of his wife's indiscretion.

Cardinal Richelieu: Then we shall provide him with something a bit more substantial. A piece of the queen's jewelry given to Buckingham as a token of affection.

Milady: Buckingham will be humiliated.

Cardinal Richelieu: The king will be outraged.

Milady: The queen will be executed.

Cardinal Richelieu: France will have no choice but to go to war.

Milady: And in times like these, France will naturally turn to a stronger leader.

Cardinal Richelieu: Someone better equipped to rule a nation than a cuckolded teenager with a grudge.

Milady: Someone like your Eminence.

妙语佳句 活学活用

know better than: 很懂得（而不至于）；明白事理而不至于……

brawl: 争吵，吵架，打架

altercation: 争执。例：Evidently two of the girls there had an altercation and one pushed the other off the wharf and into the water.（显然，那里的两个女孩子互相有了争执，所以其中一个人把另一个人从泊船的地方推下了水。）

valiant: 英勇的，勇敢的

off day: 竞技状态不佳的时候；感到身体不舒服的日子。例：I do something stupid, it's an off day.（如果我做了蠢事，那是因为我那天不在状态。）

dashing: 闯劲十足的

reckless: 鲁莽的，不顾后果的

can't help myself: 无法控制自己

culprit: 罪犯，犯人

underdressed: 穿得过于朴素。例：Though I was a bit underdressed in a pair of khaki pants and a damp leather jacket I decided to step in and say hello to her.（虽然我当时穿着有些寒酸——黄褐色的裤子和潮湿的皮夹克，但我还是决定要走进去和她打个招呼。）

tramp: 流浪汉；乞丐

see to: 负责

his Eminence: 阁下（天主教中对红衣主教的尊称）

impudence: 冒失；无礼

rendezvous: 约会

authenticate: 证实，认证

procure: （设法）获得，把……弄到手。例：Can you procure some tickets for me?（你能替我弄到一些票吗？）

outraged: 义愤填膺的；愤慨的，气愤的

execute: 处死

cuckolded: 被戴绿帽子的。cuckold指“被戴绿帽子的男人，奸妇的丈夫”。