做王是一桩危险的买卖，随时有杀生之祸，莎翁在他的名剧《理查二世》中说得极其透彻。让我们一起来欣赏英国名角 David Tennant（就是电视剧《神秘博士》Dr. Who 里倒数第三任 Dr. Who）所演的这个段子。Tennant 的表演也许并不是最经典的，略有过火之嫌，但每个角色的演绎都和演员的理解和其自身性格分不开，看他的这段演绎倒也让我有触目惊心的感觉。
For God's sake, let us sit upon the ground
看在上帝的份上，让我们都坐在地上吧，
And tell sad stories of the death of kings;
细说那些国王的死因，
How some have been deposed; some slain in war,
他们有些被被废黜，有些抛尸沙场，
Some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed;
有些被自己所废黜的鬼魂缠绕，
Some poison'd by their wives: some sleeping kill'd;
有些被妻子下了毒药，还有些在睡梦中就被害死了；
All murder'd: for within the hollow crown
都不得好死！因为这空荡荡的王冠
That rounds the mortal temples of a king
戴在这凡世国王的头上，
Keeps Death his court and there the antic sits,
里面装的却是死神的宫廷，坐着荒诞的死神，
Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp,
在嘲弄着他的尊严，揶揄他的荣华，
Allowing him a breath, a little scene,
允许他一丝的呼吸，赐给他一个舞台，
To monarchize, be fear'd and kill with looks,
让他君临天下、万人敬畏，眨眨眼就主生杀；
Infusing him with self and vain conceit,
让他自负虚荣、妄自尊大，
As if this flesh which walls about our life,
误以为包裹着血肉的这张皮囊，
Were brass impregnable, and humour'd thus
是一堵不可摧毁的铜墙铁壁，却不知
Comes at the last and with a little pin
当末日来临之际，一个小小的针尖
Bores through his castle wall, and farewell king!
就可以刺破他的城墙，于是乎，再见吧国王！
Cover your heads and mock not flesh and blood
请带好你们的帽子吧，不要轻蔑这肉体凡胎。
With solemn reverence: throw away respect,
请带着庄严的敬意，抛开虚伪的尊严、
Tradition, form and ceremonious duty,
摒弃传统、虚文和礼仪，
For you have but mistook me all this while:
因为你们一向都把我认错了，
I live with bread like you, feel want,
我和你们一样靠面包生活、有七情六欲、
Taste grief, need friends: subjected thus,
懂得悲哀、需要朋友。既然如此，
How can you say to me, I am a king?
我又有何颜面做你们的君王？
（翻译：南涧采萍）
