dona perecta-第7章

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〃During　the　many　years　that　I　have　lived　in　Orbajosa；〃　said　the　priest；　with　a　frown；　〃I　have　seen　innumerable　persons　come　here　from　the　capital；　some　brought　by　the　electoral　hurly…burly；　others　to　visit　some　abandoned　site；　or　to　see　the　antiquities　of　the　cathedral；　and　they　all　talk　to　us　about　the　English　ploughs　and　threshing…machines　and　water…power　and　banks；　and　I　don't　know　how　many　other　absurdities。　The　burden　of　their　song　is　that　this　place　is　very　backward；　and　that　it　could　be　improved。　Let　them　keep　away　from　us；　in　the　devil's　name！　We　are　well　enough　as　we　are；　without　the　gentlemen　from　the　capital　visiting　us；　a　great　deal　better　off　without　hearing　that　continual　clamor　about　our　poverty　and　the　grandeurs　and　the　wonders　of　other　places。　The　fool　in　his　own　house　is　wiser　than　the　wise　man　in　another's。　Is　it　not　so；　Senor　Don　Jose？　Of　course；　you　mustn't　imagine；　even　remotely；　that　I　say　this　on　your　account。　Not　at　all！　Of　course　not！　I　know　that　we　have　before　us　one　of　the　most　eminent　young　men　of　modern　Spain；　a　man　who　would　be　able　to　transform　into　fertile　lands　our　arid　wastes。　And　I　am　not　at　all　angry　because　you　sing　us　the　same　old　song　about　the　English　ploughs　and　arboriculture　and　silviculture。　Not　in　the　least。　Men　of　such　great；　such　very　great　merit；　may　be　excused　for　the　contempt　which　they　manifest　for　our　littleness。　No；　no；　my　friend；　no；　no；　Senor　Don　Jose！　you　are　entitled　to　say　any　thing　you　please；　even　to　tell　us　that　we　are　not　much　better　than　Kaffirs。〃

This　philippic；　concluded　in　a　marked　tone　of　irony；　and　all　of　it　impertinent　enough；　did　not　please　the　young　man；　but　he　refrained　from　manifesting　the　slightest　annoyance　and　continued　the　conversation；　endeavoring　to　avoid　as　far　as　possible　the　subjects　in　which　the　over…　sensitive　patriotism　of　the　canon　might　find　cause　of　offence。　The　latter　rose　when　Dona　Perfecta　began　to　speak　to　her　nephew　about　family　matters；　and　took　a　few　turns　about　the　room。

This　was　a　spacious　and　well…lighted　apartment；　the　walls　of　which　were　covered　with　an　old…fashioned　paper　whose　flowers　and　branches；　although　faded；　preserved　their　original　pattern；　thanks　to　the　cleanliness　which　reigned　in　each　and　every　part　of　the　dwelling。　The　clock；　from　the　case　of　which　hung；　uncovered；　the　apparently　motionless　weights　and　the　voluble　pendulum；　perpetually　repeating　No；　no；　occupied；　with　its　variegated　dial；　the　most　prominent　place　among　the　solid　pieces　of　furniture　of　the　dining…room；　the　adornment　of　the　walls　being　completed　by　a　series　of　French　engravings　representing　the　exploits　of　the　conqueror　of　Mexico；　with　prolix　explanations　at　the　foot　of　each　concerning　a　Ferdinand　Cortez；　and　a　Donna　Marine；　as　little　true　to　nature　as　were　the　figures　delineated　by　the　ignorant　artist。　In　the　space　between　the　two　glass　doors　which　communicated　with　the　garden　was　an　apparatus　of　brass；　which　it　is　not　necessary　to　describe　further　than　to　say　that　it　served　to　support　a　parrot；　which　maintained　itself　on　it　with　the　air　of　gravity　and　circumspection　peculiar　to　those　animals；　taking　note　of　everything　that　went　on。　The　hard　and　ironical　expression　of　the　parrot　tribe；　their　green　coats；　their　red　caps；　their　yellow　boots；　and　finally；　the　hoarse；　mocking　words　which　they　generally　utter；　give　them　a　strange　and　repulsive　aspect；　half　serious；　half…comic。　There　is　in　their　air　an　indescribable　something　of　the　stiffness　of　diplomats。　At　times　they　remind　one　of　buffoons；　and　they　always　resemble　those　absurdly　conceited　people　who；　in　their　desire　to　appear　very　superior；　look　like　caricatures。

The　Penitentiary　was　very　fond　of　the　parrot。　When　he　left　Dona　Perfecta　and　Rosario　conversing　with　the　traveller；　he　went　over　to　the　bird；　and；　allowing　it　to　bite　his　forefinger　with　the　greatest　good　humor；　said　to　it：

〃Rascal；　knave；　why　don't　you　talk？　You　would　be　of　little　account　if　you　weren't　a　prater。　The　world　of　birds；　as　well　as　men；　is　full　of　praters。〃

Then；　with　his　own　venerable　hand；　he　took　some　peas　from　the　dish　beside　him；　and　gave　them　to　the　bird　to　eat。　The　parrot　began　to　call　to　the　maid；　asking　her　for　some　chocolate；　and　its　words　diverted　the　two　ladies　and　the　young　man　from　a　conversation　which　could　not　have　been　very　engrossing。



CHAPTER　VI

IN　WHICH　IT　IS　SEEN　THAT　DISAGREEMENT　MAY　ARISE　WHEN　LEAST　EXPECTED

Suddenly　Don　Cayetano　Polentinos；　Dona　Perfecta's　brother…in…law；　appeared　at　the　door；　and　entering　the　room　with　outstretched　arms；　cried：

〃Let　me　embrace　you；　my　dear　Don　Jose。〃

They　embraced　each　other　cordially。　Don　Cayetano　and　Pepe　were　already　acquainted　with　each　other；　for　the　eminent　scholar　and　bibliophile　was　in　the　habit　of　making　a　trip　to　Madrid　whenever　an　executor's　sale　of　the　stock　of　some　dealer　in　old　books　was　advertised。　Don　Cayetano　was　tall　and　thin；　of　middle　age；　although　constant　study　or　ill…health　had　given　him　a　worn　appearance；　he　expressed　himself　with　a　refined　correctness　which　became　him　admirably；　and　he　was　affectionate　and　amiable　in　his　manners；　at　times　to　excess。　With　respect　to　his　vast　learning；　what　can　be　said　but　that　he　was　a　real　prodigy？　In　Madrid　his　name　was　always　mentioned　with　respect；　and　if　Don　Cayetano　had　lived　in　the　capital；　he　could　not　have　escaped　becoming　a　member；　in　spite　of　his　modesty；　of　every　academy　in　it；　past；　present；　and　to　come。　But　he　was　fond　of　quiet　and　retirement；　and　the　place　which　vanity　occupies　in　the　souls　of　others；　a　pure　passion　for　books；　a　love　of　solitary　and　secluded　study；　without　any　other　aim　or　incentive　than　the　books　and　the　study　themselves；　occupied　in　his。

He　had　formed　in　Orbajosa　one　of　the　finest　libraries　that　is　to　be　found　in　all　Spain；　and　among　his　books　he　passed　long　hours　of　the　day　and　of　the　night；　compiling；　classifying；　taking　notes；　and　selecting　various　sorts　of　precious　information；　or　composing；　perhaps；　some　hitherto　unheard…of　and　undreamed…of　work；　worthy　of　so　great　a　mind。　His　habits　were　patriarchal；　he　ate　little；　drank　less；　and　his　only　dissipations　consisted　of　a　luncheon　in　the　Alamillos　on　very　great　occasions；　and　daily　walks　to　a　place　called　Mundogrande；　where　were　often　disinterred　from　the　accumulated　dust　of　twenty　centuries；　medals；　bits　of　architecture；　and　occasionally　an　amphora　or　cubicularia　of　inestimable　value。

Don　Cayetano　and　Dona　Perfecta　lived　in　such　perfect　harmony　that　the　peace　of　Paradise　was　not　to　be　compared　to　it。　They　never　disagreed。　It　is　true　that　Don　Cayetano　never　interfered　in　the　affairs　of　the　house　nor　Dona　Perfecta　in　those　of　the　library；　except　to　have　it　swept　and　dusted　every　Saturday；　regarding　with　religious　respect　the　books　and　papers　that　were　in　use　on　the　table　or　anywhere　else　in　the　room。

After　the　questions　and　answers　proper　to　the　occasion　had　been　interchanged　Don　Cayetano　said：

〃I　have　already　looked　at　the　books。　I　am　very　sorry　that　you　did　not　bring　me　the　edition　of　1527。　I　shall　have　to　make　a　journey　to　Madrid　myself。　Are　you　going　to　remain　with　us　long？　The　longer　the　better；　my　dear　Pepe。　How　glad　I　am　to　have　you　here！　Between　us　both　we　will　arrange　a　part　of　my　library　and　make　an　index　of　the　writers　on　the　Art　of　Horsemanship。　It　is　not　always　one　has　at　hand　a　man　of　your　talents。　You　shall　see　my　library。　You　can　take　your　fill　of　reading　thereas　often　as　you　like。　You　will　see　marvels；　real　marvels；　inestimable　treasures；　rare　works　that　no　one　but　myself　has　a　copy　of。　But　I　think　it　must　be　time　for　dinner；　is　it　not；　Jose？　Is　it　not；　Perfecta？　Is　it　not；　Rosarito？　Is　it　not；　Senor　Don　Inocencio？　To…day　you　are　doubly　a　PenitentiaryI　mean　because　you　will　accompany　us　in　doing　penance。〃

The　canon　bowed　and　smiled；　manifesting　his　pleased　acquiescence。　The　dinner　was　substantial；　and　in　all　the　dishes　there　was　noticeable　the　excessive　abundance　of　country　banquets；　realized　at　the　expense　of　variety。　There　was　enough　to　surfeit　twice　as　many　persons　as　sat　down　to　table。　The　conversation　turned　on　various　subjects。

〃You　must　visit　our　cathedral　as　soon　as　possible；〃　said　the　canon。　〃There　are　few　cathedrals　like　ours；　Senor　Don　Jose！　But　of　course　you；　who　have　seen　so　many　wonders　in　foreign　countries；　will　find　nothing　remarkable　in　our　old　church。　We　poor　provincials　of　Orbajosa；　however；　think　it　divine。　Master　Lopez　of　Berganza；　one　of　the　prebendaries　of　the　cathedral；　called　it　in　the　sixteenth　century　/pulchra　augustissima/。　But　perhaps　for　a　man　of　your　learning　it　would　possess　no　merit；　and　some　market　constructed　of　iron　would　seem　more　beautiful。〃

The　ironical　remarks　of　the　wily　canon　annoyed　Pepe　Rey　more　and　more　every　moment；　but；　determined　to　control　himself　and　to　conceal　his　anger；　he　answered　only　with　vague　words。　Dona　Perfecta　then　took　up　the　theme　and　said　playfully：

〃Take　care；　Pepito；　I　warn　you　that　if　you　speak　ill　of　our　holy　church　we　shall　cease　to　be　friends。　You　know　a　great　deal；　you　are　a　man　eminent　for　your　knowledge　on　every　subject；　but　if　you　are　going　to　discover　that　that　grand　edifice　is　not　the　eighth　wonder　of　the　world　you　will　do　well　to　keep　your　knowledge　to　yourself　and　leave　us　in　our　ignorance。〃

〃Far　from　thinking　that　the　building　is　not　handsome；〃　responded　Pepe；　〃the　little　I　have　seen　of　its　exterior　has　seemed　to　me　of　imposing　beauty。　So　there　is　no　need　for　you　to　be　alarmed；　aunt。　And　I　am　very　far　from　being　a　savant。〃

〃Softly；　softly；〃　said　the　canon；　extending　his　hand　and　giving　his　mouth　a　truce　from　eating　in　order　to　talk。　〃Stop　theredon't　come　now　pretending　modesty；　Senor　Don　Jose；　we　are　too　well　aware　of　your　great　merit；　of　the　high　reputation　you　enjoy　and　the　important　part　you　play　wherever　you　are；　for　that。　Men　like　you　are　not　to　be　met　with　every　day。　But　now　that　I　have　extolled　your　merits　in　this　way〃

He　stopped　to　eat　a　mouthful；　and　when　his　tongue　was　once　more　at　liberty　he　continued　thus：

〃Now　that　I　have　extolled　your　merits　in　this　way；　permit　me　to　express　a　different　opinion　with　the　frankness　which　belongs　to　my　character。　Yes；　Senor　Don　Jose；　yes；　Senor　Don　Cayetano；　yes；　senora　and　senorita；　science；　as　the　moderns　study　and　propagate　it；　is　the　death　of　sentiment　and　of　every　sweet　illusion。　Under　its　influence　the　life　of　the　spirit　declines；　every　thing　is　reduced　to　fixed　rules；　and　even　the　sublime　charms　of　nature　disappear。　Science　destroys　the　marvellous　in　the　arts；　as　well　as　faith　in　the　soul。　Science　says　that　every　thing　is　a　lie；　and　would　reduce　every　thing　to　figures　and　lines；　not　only　/maria　ac　terras/；　where　we　are；　but　/coelumque　profundum/；　where　God　is。　The　wonderful　visions　of　the　soul；　its　mystic　raptures；　even　the　inspiration　of　the　poets；　are　all　a　lie。　The　heart　is　a　sponge；　the　brain；　a　place　for　breeding　maggots。〃

Every　one　laughed；　while　the　canon　took　a　draught　of　wine。

〃Come；　now；　will　Senor　Don　Jose　deny；〃　continued　the　ecclesiastic；　〃that　science；　as　it　is　taught　and　propagated　to…day；　is　fast　making　of　the　world　and　of　the　human　race　a　great　machine？〃

〃That　depends；〃　said　Don　Cayetano。　〃Every　thing　has　its　/pro/　and　its　/contra/。〃

〃Take　some　more　salad；　Senor　Penitentiary；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta；　〃it　is　just　a