don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第101章

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to　our　Lord　to　deliver　you　speedily　from　all　that　hard　fortune。〃
　　〃I　can　tell　you；　wife；〃　said　Sancho；　〃if　I　did　not　expect　to　see
myself　governor　of　an　island　before　long；　I　would　drop　down　dead　on
the　spot。〃
　　〃Nay；　then；　husband；〃　said　Teresa；　〃let　the　hen　live；　though　it　be
with　her　pip；　live；　and　let　the　devil　take　all　the　governments　in
the　world；　you　came　out　of　your　mother's　womb　without　a　government；
you　have　lived　until　now　without　a　government；　and　when　it　is　God's
will　you　will　go；　or　be　carried；　to　your　grave　without　a　government。
How　many　there　are　in　the　world　who　live　without　a　government；　and
continue　to　live　all　the　same；　and　are　reckoned　in　the　number　of　the
people。　The　best　sauce　in　the　world　is　hunger；　and　as　the　poor　are
never　without　that；　they　always　eat　with　a　relish。　But　mind；　Sancho；
if　by　good　luck　you　should　find　yourself　with　some　government；　don't
forget　me　and　your　children。　Remember　that　Sanchico　is　now　full
fifteen；　and　it　is　right　he　should　go　to　school；　if　his　uncle　the
abbot　has　a　mind　to　have　him　trained　for　the　Church。　Consider；　too；
that　your　daughter　Mari…Sancha　will　not　die　of　grief　if　we　marry
her；　for　I　have　my　suspicions　that　she　is　as　eager　to　get　a　husband　as
you　to　get　a　government；　and；　after　all；　a　daughter　looks　better　ill
married　than　well　whored。〃
　　〃By　my　faith；〃　replied　Sancho；　〃if　God　brings　me　to　get　any　sort
of　a　government；　I　intend；　wife；　to　make　such　a　high　match　for
Mari…Sancha　that　there　will　be　no　approaching　her　without　calling
her　'my　lady。〃
　　〃Nay；　Sancho；〃　returned　Teresa；　〃marry　her　to　her　equal；　that　is　the
safest　plan；　for　if　you　put　her　out　of　wooden　clogs　into　high…heeled
shoes；　out　of　her　grey　flannel　petticoat　into　hoops　and　silk　gowns；
out　of　the　plain　'Marica'　and　'thou；'　into　'Dona　So…and…so'　and　'my
lady；'　the　girl　won't　know　where　she　is；　and　at　every　turn　she　will
fall　into　a　thousand　blunders　that　will　show　the　thread　of　her
coarse　homespun　stuff。〃
　　〃Tut；　you　fool；〃　said　Sancho；　〃it　will　be　only　to　practise　it　for
two　or　three　years；　and　then　dignity　and　decorum　will　fit　her　as
easily　as　a　glove；　and　if　not；　what　matter？　Let　her　he　'my　lady；'
and　never　mind　what　happens。〃
　　〃Keep　to　your　own　station；　Sancho；〃　replied　Teresa；　〃don't　try　to
raise　yourself　higher；　and　bear　in　mind　the　proverb　that　says；　'wipe
the　nose　of　your　neigbbour's　son；　and　take　him　into　your　house。'　A
fine　thing　it　would　be；　indeed；　to　marry　our　Maria　to　some　great　count
or　grand　gentleman；　who；　when　the　humour　took　him；　would　abuse　her　and
call　her　clown…bred　and　clodhopper's　daughter　and　spinning　wench。　I
have　not　been　bringing　up　my　daughter　for　that　all　this　time；　I　can
tell　you；　husband。　Do　you　bring　home　money；　Sancho；　and　leave　marrying
her　to　my　care；　there　is　Lope　Tocho；　Juan　Tocho's　son；　a　stout；　sturdy
young　fellow　that　we　know；　and　I　can　see　he　does　not　look　sour　at
the　girl；　and　with　him；　one　of　our　own　sort；　she　will　be　well　married；
and　we　shall　have　her　always　under　our　eyes；　and　be　all　one　family；
parents　and　children；　grandchildren　and　sons…in…law；　and　the　peace　and
blessing　of　God　will　dwell　among　us；　so　don't　you　go　marrying　her　in
those　courts　and　grand　palaces　where　they　won't　know　what　to　make　of
her；　or　she　what　to　make　of　herself。〃
　　〃Why；　you　idiot　and　wife　for　Barabbas；〃　said　Sancho；　〃what　do　you
mean　by　trying；　without　why　or　wherefore；　to　keep　me　from　marrying
my　daughter　to　one　who　will　give　me　grandchildren　that　will　be
called　'your　lordship'？　Look　ye；　Teresa；　I　have　always　heard　my　elders
say　that　he　who　does　not　know　how　to　take　advantage　of　luck　when　it
comes　to　him；　has　no　right　to　complain　if　it　gives　him　the　go…by；
and　now　that　it　is　knocking　at　our　door；　it　will　not　do　to　shut　it
out；　let　us　go　with　the　favouring　breeze　that　blows　upon　us。〃
　　It　is　this　sort　of　talk；　and　what　Sancho　says　lower　down；　that
made　the　translator　of　the　history　say　he　considered　this　chapter
apocryphal。
　　〃Don't　you　see；　you　animal；〃　continued　Sancho；　〃that　it　will　be　well
for　me　to　drop　into　some　profitable　government　that　will　lift　us　out
of　the　mire；　and　marry　Mari…Sancha　to　whom　I　like；　and　you　yourself
will　find　yourself　called　'Dona　Teresa　Panza；'　and　sitting　in　church
on　a　fine　carpet　and　cushions　and　draperies；　in　spite　and　in
defiance　of　all　the　born　ladies　of　the　town？　No；　stay　as　you　are；
growing　neither　greater　nor　less；　like　a　tapestry　figure…　Let　us　say
no　more　about　it；　for　Sanchica　shall　be　a　countess；　say　what　you
will。〃
　　〃Are　you　sure　of　all　you　say；　husband？〃　replied　Teresa。　〃Well；　for
all　that；　I　am　afraid　this　rank　of　countess　for　my　daughter　will　be
her　ruin。　You　do　as　you　like；　make　a　duchess　or　a　princess　of　her；　but
I　can　tell　you　it　will　not　be　with　my　will　and　consent。　I　was　always　a
lover　of　equality；　brother；　and　I　can't　bear　to　see　people　give
themselves　airs　without　any　right。　They　called　me　Teresa　at　my
baptism；　a　plain；　simple　name；　without　any　additions　or　tags　or
fringes　of　Dons　or　Donas；　Cascajo　was　my　father's　name；　and　as　I　am
your　wife；　I　am　called　Teresa　Panza；　though　by　right　I　ought　to　he
called　Teresa　Cascajo；　but　'kings　go　where　laws　like；'　and　I　am
content　with　this　name　without　having　the　'Don'　put　on　top　of　it　to
make　it　so　heavy　that　I　cannot　carry　it；　and　I　don't　want　to　make
people　talk　about　me　when　they　see　me　go　dressed　like　a　countess　or
governor's　wife；　for　they　will　say　at　once；　'See　what　airs　the　slut
gives　herself！　Only　yesterday　she　was　always　spinning　flax；　and　used
to　go　to　mass　with　the　tail　of　her　petticoat　over　her　head　instead
of　a　mantle；　and　there　she　goes　to…day　in　a　hooped　gown　with　her
broaches　and　airs；　as　if　we　didn't　know　her！'　If　God　keeps　me　in　my
seven　senses；　or　five；　or　whatever　number　I　have；　I　am　not　going　to
bring　myself　to　such　a　pass；　go　you；　brother；　and　be　a　government　or
an　island　man；　and　swagger　as　much　as　you　like；　for　by　the　soul　of
my　mother；　neither　my　daughter　nor　I　are　going　to　stir　a　step　from　our
village；　a　respectable　woman　should　have　a　broken　leg　and　keep　at
home；　and　to　he　busy　at　something　is　a　virtuous　damsel's　holiday；　be
off　to　your　adventures　along　with　your　Don　Quixote；　and　leave　us　to
our　misadventures；　for　God　will　mend　them　for　us　according　as　we
deserve　it。　I　don't　know；　I'm　sure；　who　fixed　the　'Don'　to　him；　what
neither　his　father　nor　grandfather　ever　had。〃
　　〃I　declare　thou　hast　a　devil　of　some　sort　in　thy　body！〃　said　Sancho。
〃God　help　thee；　what　a　lot　of　things　thou　hast　strung　together；　one
after　the　other；　without　head　or　tail！　What　have　Cascajo；　and　the
broaches　and　the　proverbs　and　the　airs；　to　do　with　what　I　say？　Look
here；　fool　and　dolt　（for　so　I　may　call　you；　when　you　don't
understand　my　words；　and　run　away　from　good　fortune）；　if　I　had　said
that　my　daughter　was　to　throw　herself　down　from　a　tower；　or　go　roaming
the　world；　as　the　Infanta　Dona　Urraca　wanted　to　do；　you　would　be　right
in　not　giving　way　to　my　will；　but　if　in　an　instant；　in　less　than　the
twinkling　of　an　eye；　I　put　the　'Don'　and　'my　lady'　on　her　back；　and
take　her　out　of　the　stubble；　and　place　her　under　a　canopy；　on　a
dais；　and　on　a　couch；　with　more　velvet　cushions　than　all　the　Almohades
of　Morocco　ever　had　in　their　family；　why　won't　you　consent　and　fall　in
with　my　wishes？〃
　　〃Do　you　know　why；　husband？〃　replied　Teresa；　〃because　of　the
proverb　that　says　'who　covers　thee；　discovers　thee。'　At　the　poor　man
people　only　throw　a　hasty　glance；　on　the　rich　man　they　fix　their　eyes；
and　if　the　said　rich　man　was　once　on　a　time　poor；　it　is　then　there
is　the　sneering　and　the　tattle　and　spite　of　backbiters；　and　in　the
streets　here　they　swarm　as　thick　as　bees。〃
　　〃Look　here；　Teresa；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　listen　to　what　I　am　now　going
to　say　to　you；　maybe　you　never　heard　it　in　all　your　life；　and　I　do　not
give　my　own　notions；　for　what　I　am　about　to　say　are　the　opinions　of
his　reverence　the　preacher；　who　preached　in　this　town　last　Lent；　and
who　said；　if　I　remember　rightly；　that　all　things　present　that　our　eyes
behold；　bring　themselves　before　us；　and　remain　and　fix　themselves　on
our　memory　much　better　and　more　forcibly　than　things　past。〃
　　These　observations　which　Sancho　makes　here　are　the　other　ones　on
account　of　which　the　translator　says　he　regards　this　chapter　as
apocryphal；　inasmuch　as　they　are　beyond　Sancho's　capacity。
　　〃Whence　it　arises；〃　he　continued；　〃that　when　we　see　any　person
well　dressed　and　making　a　figure　with　rich　garments　and　retinue　of
servants；　it　seems　to　lead　and　impel　us　perforce　to　respect　him；
though　memory　may　at　the　same　moment　recall　to　us　some　lowly　condition
in　which　we　have　seen　him；　but　which；　whether　it　may　have　been　poverty
or　low　birth；　being　now　a　thing　of　the　past；　has　no　existence；　while
the　only　thing　that　has　any　existence　is　what　we　see　before　us；　and　if
this　person　whom　fortune　has　raised　from　his　original　lowly　state
（these　were　the　very　words　the　padre　used）　to　his　present　height　of
prosperity；　be　well　bred；　generous；　courteous　to　all；　without
seeking　to　vie　with　those　whose　nobility　is　of　ancient　date；　depend
upon　it；　Teresa；　no　one　will　remember　what　he　was；　and　everyone　will
respect　what　he　is；　except　indeed　the　envious；　from　whom　no　fair
fortune　is　safe。〃
　　〃I　do　not　understand　you；　husband；〃　replied　Teresa；　〃do　as　you　like；
and　don't　break　my　head　with　any　more　speechifying　and　rethoric；　and
if　you　have　revolved　to　do　what　you　say…〃
　　〃Resolved；　you　should　say；　woman；〃　said　Sancho；　〃not　revolved。〃
　　〃Don't　set　yourself　to　wrangle　with　me；　husband；〃　said　Teresa；　〃I
speak　as　God　pleases；　and　don't　deal　in　out…of…the…way　phrases；　and
I　say　if　you　are　bent　upon　having　a　government；　take　your　son　Sancho
with　you；　and　teach　him　from　this　time　on　how　to　hold　a　government；
for　sons　ought　to　inherit　and　learn　the　trades　of　their　fathers。〃
　　〃As　soon　as　I　have　the　government；〃　said　Sancho；　〃I　will　send　for
him　by　post；　and　I　will　send　thee　money；　of　which　I　shall　have　no
lack；　for　there　is　never　any　want　of　people　to　lend　it　to　governors
when　they　have　not　got　it；　and　do　thou　dress　him　so　as　to　hide　what　he
is　and　make　him　look　what　he　is　to　be。〃
　　〃You　send　the　money；〃　said　Teresa；　〃and　I'll　dress　him　up　for　you　as
fine　as　you　please。〃
　　〃Then　we　are　agreed　that　our　daughter　is　to　be　a　countess；〃　said
Sancho。
　　〃The　day　that　I　see　her　a　countess；〃　replied　Teresa；　〃it　will　be　the
same　to　me　as　if　I　was　burying　her；　but　once　more　I　say　do　as　you
please；　for　we　women　are　born　to　this　burden　of　being　obedient　to
our　husbands；　though　they　be　dogs；〃　and　with　this　she　began　to　weep　in
earnest；　as　if　she　already　saw　Sanchica　dead　and　buried。
　　Sancho　consoled　her　by　saying　that　though　he　must　make　her　a
countess；　he　would　put　it　off　as　long　as　possible。　Here　their
conversation　came　to　an　end；　and　Sancho　went　back　to　see　Don
Quixote；　and　make　arrangements　for　their　departure。

　　CHAPTER　VI
　　OF　WHAT　TOOK　PLACE　BETWEEN　DON　QUIXOTE　AND　HIS　NIECE　AND
HOUSEKEEPER；　ONE　OF　THE　MOST　IMPORTANT　CHAPTERS　IN　THE　WHOLE　HISTORY

　　WHILE　Sancho　Panza　and　his　wife；　Teresa　Cascajo；　held　the　above
irrelevant　conversation；　Don　Quixote's　niece　and　housekeeper　were
not　idle；　for　by　a　thousand　signs　they　began　to　perceive　that　their
uncle