don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第110章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


stand　thus；　gazing　thoughtfully　on　the　ground；　for　three　days；　or　at
least　so　long　as　they　were　left　alone；　or　hunger　did　not　drive　them　to
go　and　look　for　food。　I　may　add　that　they　say　the　author　left　it　on
record　that　he　likened　their　friendship　to　that　of　Nisus　and　Euryalus；
and　Pylades　and　Orestes；　and　if　that　be　so；　it　may　be　perceived；　to
the　admiration　of　mankind；　how　firm　the　friendship　must　have　been
between　these　two　peaceful　animals；　shaming　men；　who　preserve
friendships　with　one　another　so　badly。　This　was　why　it　was　said…

　　　　　　　For　friend　no　longer　is　there　friend；
　　　　　　　The　reeds　turn　lances　now。

And　some　one　else　has　sung…

　　　　　　　Friend　to　friend　the　bug；　&c。

And　let　no　one　fancy　that　the　author　was　at　all　astray　when　he
compared　the　friendship　of　these　animals　to　that　of　men；　for　men
have　received　many　lessons　from　beasts；　and　learned　many　important
things；　as；　for　example；　the　clyster　from　the　stork；　vomit　and
gratitude　from　the　dog；　watchfulness　from　the　crane；　foresight　from
the　ant；　modesty　from　the　elephant；　and　loyalty　from　the　horse。
　　Sancho　at　last　fell　asleep　at　the　foot　of　a　cork　tree；　while　Don
Quixote　dozed　at　that　of　a　sturdy　oak；　but　a　short　time　only　had
elapsed　when　a　noise　he　heard　behind　him　awoke　him；　and　rising　up
startled；　he　listened　and　looked　in　the　direction　the　noise　came　from；
and　perceived　two　men　on　horseback；　one　of　whom；　letting　himself
drop　from　the　saddle；　said　to　the　other；　〃Dismount；　my　friend；　and
take　the　bridles　off　the　horses；　for；　so　far　as　I　can　see；　this
place　will　furnish　grass　for　them；　and　the　solitude　and　silence　my
love…sick　thoughts　need　of。〃　As　he　said　this　he　stretched　himself　upon
the　ground；　and　as　he　flung　himself　down；　the　armour　in　which　he　was
clad　rattled；　whereby　Don　Quixote　perceived　that　he　must　be　a
knight…errant；　and　going　over　to　Sancho；　who　was　asleep；　he　shook
him　by　the　arm　and　with　no　small　difficulty　brought　him　back　to　his
senses；　and　said　in　a　low　voice　to　him；　〃Brother　Sancho；　we　have　got
an　adventure。〃
　　〃God　send　us　a　good　one；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　where　may　her　ladyship
the　adventure　be？〃
　　〃Where；　Sancho？〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃turn　thine　eyes　and　look；　and
thou　wilt　see　stretched　there　a　knight…errant；　who；　it　strikes　me；
is　not　over　and　above　happy；　for　I　saw　him　fling　himself　off　his　horse
and　throw　himself　on　the　ground　with　a　certain　air　of　dejection；　and
his　armour　rattled　as　he　fell。〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　Sancho；　〃how　does　your　worship　make　out　that　to　be　an
adventure？〃
　　〃I　do　not　mean　to　say；〃　returned　Don　Quixote；　〃that　it　is　a　complete
adventure；　but　that　it　is　the　beginning　of　one；　for　it　is　in　this
way　adventures　begin。　But　listen；　for　it　seems　he　is　tuning　a　lute
or　guitar；　and　from　the　way　he　is　spitting　and　clearing　his　chest　he
must　be　getting　ready　to　sing　something。〃
　　〃Faith；　you　are　right；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　no　doubt　he　is　some
enamoured　knight。〃
　　〃There　is　no　knight…errant　that　is　not；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃but
let　us　listen　to　him；　for；　if　he　sings；　by　that　thread　we　shall
extract　the　ball　of　his　thoughts；　because　out　of　the　abundance　of
the　heart　the　mouth　speaketh。〃
　　Sancho　was　about　to　reply　to　his　master；　but　the　Knight　of　the
Grove's　voice；　which　was　neither　very　bad　nor　very　good；　stopped
him；　and　listening　attentively　the　pair　heard　him　sing　this

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SONNET

　　　　　Your　pleasure；　prithee；　lady　mine；　unfold；
　　　　　　　Declare　the　terms　that　I　am　to　obey；
　　　　　My　will　to　yours　submissively　I　mould；
　　　　　　　And　from　your　law　my　feet　shall　never　stray。
　　　　　　　Would　you　I　die；　to　silent　grief　a　prey？
　　　　　Then　count　me　even　now　as　dead　and　cold；
　　　　　　　Would　you　I　tell　my　woes　in　some　new　way？
　　　　　Then　shall　my　tale　by　Love　itself　be　told。
　　　　　The　unison　of　opposites　to　prove；
　　　　　　　Of　the　soft　wax　and　diamond　hard　am　I；
　　　　　But　still；　obedient　to　the　laws　of　love；
　　　　　　　Here；　hard　or　soft；　I　offer　you　my　breast；
　　　　　　　Whate'er　you　grave　or　stamp　thereon　shall　rest
　　　　　　　　　　　　Indelible　for　all　eternity。

With　an　〃Ah　me！〃　that　seemed　to　be　drawn　from　the　inmost　recesses　of
his　heart；　the　Knight　of　the　Grove　brought　his　lay　to　an　end；　and
shortly　afterwards　exclaimed　in　a　melancholy　and　piteous　voice；　〃O
fairest　and　most　ungrateful　woman　on　earth！　What！　can　it　be；　most
serene　Casildea　de　Vandalia；　that　thou　wilt　suffer　this　thy　captive
knight　to　waste　away　and　perish　in　ceaseless　wanderings　and　rude　and
arduous　toils？　It　is　not　enough　that　I　have　compelled　all　the
knights　of　Navarre；　all　the　Leonese；　all　the　Tartesians；　all　the
Castilians；　and　finally　all　the　knights　of　La　Mancha；　to　confess
thee　the　most　beautiful　in　the　world？〃
　　〃Not　so；〃　said　Don　Quixote　at　this；　〃for　I　am　of　La　Mancha；　and　I
have　never　confessed　anything　of　the　sort；　nor　could　I　nor　should　I
confess　a　thing　so　much　to　the　prejudice　of　my　lady's　beauty；　thou
seest　how　this　knight　is　raving；　Sancho。　But　let　us　listen；　perhaps　he
will　tell　us　more　about　himself。〃
　　〃That　he　will；〃　returned　Sancho；　〃for　he　seems　in　a　mood　to　bewail
himself　for　a　month　at　a　stretch。〃
　　But　this　was　not　the　case；　for　the　Knight　of　the　Grove；　hearing
voices　near　him；　instead　of　continuing　his　lamentation；　stood　up　and
exclaimed　in　a　distinct　but　courteous　tone；　〃Who　goes　there？　What
are　you？　Do　you　belong　to　the　number　of　the　happy　or　of　the
miserable？〃
　　〃Of　the　miserable；〃　answered　Don　Quixote。
　　〃Then　come　to　me；〃　said　he　of　the　Grove；　〃and　rest　assured　that　it
is　to　woe　itself　and　affliction　itself　you　come。〃
　　Don　Quixote；　finding　himself　answered　in　such　a　soft　and　courteous
manner；　went　over　to　him；　and　so　did　Sancho。
　　The　doleful　knight　took　Don　Quixote　by　the　arm；　saying；　〃Sit　down
here；　sir　knight；　for；　that　you　are　one；　and　of　those　that　profess
knight…errantry；　it　is　to　me　a　sufficient　proof　to　have　found　you　in
this　place；　where　solitude　and　night；　the　natural　couch　and　proper
retreat　of　knights…errant；　keep　you　company。〃　To　which　Don　made
answer；　〃A　knight　I　am　of　the　profession　you　mention；　and　though
sorrows；　misfortunes；　and　calamities　have　made　my　heart　their　abode；
the　compassion　I　feel　for　the　misfortunes　of　others　has　not　been
thereby　banished　from　it。　From　what　you　have　just　now　sung　I　gather
that　yours　spring　from　love；　I　mean　from　the　love　you　bear　that　fair
ingrate　you　named　in　your　lament。〃
　　In　the　meantime；　they　had　seated　themselves　together　on　the　hard
ground　peaceably　and　sociably；　just　as　if；　as　soon　as　day　broke；
they　were　not　going　to　break　one　another's　heads。
　　〃Are　you；　sir　knight；　in　love　perchance？〃　asked　he　of　the　Grove　of
Don　Quixote。
　　〃By　mischance　I　am；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃though　the　ills　arising
from　well…bestowed　affections　should　be　esteemed　favours　rather　than
misfortunes。〃
　　〃That　is　true；〃　returned　he　of　the　Grove；　〃if　scorn　did　not　unsettle
our　reason　and　understanding；　for　if　it　be　excessive　it　looks　like
revenge。〃
　　〃I　was　never　scorned　by　my　lady；〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　〃Certainly　not；〃　said　Sancho；　who　stood　close　by；　〃for　my　lady　is　as
a　lamb；　and　softer　than　a　roll　of　butter。〃
　　〃Is　this　your　squire？〃　asked　he　of　the　Grove。
　　〃He　is；〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　〃I　never　yet　saw　a　squire；〃　said　he　of　the　Grove；　〃who　ventured　to
speak　when　his　master　was　speaking；　at　least；　there　is　mine；　who　is　as
big　as　his　father；　and　it　cannot　be　proved　that　he　has　ever　opened　his
lips　when　I　am　speaking。〃
　　〃By　my　faith　then；〃　said　Sancho；　〃I　have　spoken；　and　am　fit　to
speak；　in　the　presence　of　one　as　much；　or　even…　but　never　mind…　it
only　makes　it　worse　to　stir　it。〃
　　The　squire　of　the　Grove　took　Sancho　by　the　arm；　saying　to　him；
〃Let　us　two　go　where　we　can　talk　in　squire　style　as　much　as　we　please；
and　leave　these　gentlemen　our　masters　to　fight　it　out　over　the　story
of　their　loves；　and；　depend　upon　it；　daybreak　will　find　them　at　it
without　having　made　an　end　of　it。〃
　　〃So　be　it　by　all　means；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　I　will　tell　your
worship　who　I　am；　that　you　may　see　whether　I　am　to　be　reckoned　among
the　number　of　the　most　talkative　squires。〃
　　With　this　the　two　squires　withdrew　to　one　side；　and　between　them
there　passed　a　conversation　as　droll　as　that　which　passed　between
their　masters　was　serious。

　　CHAPTER　XIII
　　IN　WHICH　IS　CONTINUED　THE　ADVENTURE　OF　THE　KNIGHT　OF　THE　GROVE；
TOGETHER　WITH　THE　SENSIBLE；　ORIGINAL；　AND　TRANQUIL　COLLOQUY　THAT
PASSED　BETWEEN　THE　TWO　SQUIRES

　　THE　knights　and　the　squires　made　two　parties；　these　telling　the
story　of　their　lives；　the　others　the　story　of　their　loves；　but　the
history　relates　first　of　all　the　conversation　of　the　servants；　and
afterwards　takes　up　that　of　the　masters；　and　it　says　that；　withdrawing
a　little　from　the　others；　he　of　the　Grove　said　to　Sancho；　〃A　hard　life
it　is　we　lead　and　live；　senor；　we　that　are　squires　to
knights…errant；　verily；　we　eat　our　bread　in　the　sweat　of　our　faces；
which　is　one　of　the　curses　God　laid　on　our　first　parents。〃
　　〃It　may　be　said；　too；〃　added　Sancho；　〃that　we　eat　it　in　the　chill　of
our　bodies；　for　who　gets　more　heat　and　cold　than　the　miserable　squires
of　knight…errantry？　Even　so　it　would　not　be　so　bad　if　we　had　something
to　eat；　for　woes　are　lighter　if　there's　bread；　but　sometimes　we　go　a
day　or　two　without　breaking　our　fast；　except　with　the　wind　that
blows。〃
　　〃All　that；〃　said　he　of　the　Grove；　〃may　be　endured　and　put　up　with
when　we　have　hopes　of　reward；　for；　unless　the　knight…errant　he
serves　is　excessively　unlucky；　after　a　few　turns　the　squire　will　at
least　find　himself　rewarded　with　a　fine　government　of　some　island　or
some　fair　county。〃
　　〃I；〃　said　Sancho；　〃have　already　told　my　master　that　I　shall　be
content　with　the　government　of　some　island；　and　he　is　so　noble　and
generous　that　he　has　promised　it　to　me　ever　so　many　times。〃
　　〃I；〃　said　he　of　the　Grove；　〃shall　be　satisfied　with　a　canonry　for　my
services；　and　my　master　has　already　assigned　me　one。〃
　　〃Your　master；〃　said　Sancho；　〃no　doubt　is　a　knight　in　the　Church
line；　and　can　bestow　rewards　of　that　sort　on　his　good　squire；　but　mine
is　only　a　layman；　though　I　remember　some　clever；　but；　to　my　mind；
designing　people；　strove　to　persuade　him　to　try　and　become　an
archbishop。　He；　however；　would　not　be　anything　but　an　emperor；　but　I
was　trembling　all　the　time　lest　he　should　take　a　fancy　to　go　into
the　Church；　not　finding　myself　fit　to　hold　office　in　it；　for　I　may
tell　you；　though　I　seem　a　man；　I　am　no　better　than　a　beast　for　the
Church。〃
　　〃Well；　then；　you　are　wrong　there；〃　said　he　of　the　Grove；　〃for
those　island　governments　are　not　all　satisfactory；　some　are　awkward；
some　are　poor；　some　are　dull；　and；　in　short；　the　highest　and
choicest　brings　with　it　a　heavy　burden　of　cares　and　troubles　which　the
unhappy　wight　to　whose　lot　it　has　fallen　bears　upon　his　shoulders。　Far
better　would　it　be　for　us　who　have　adopted　this　accursed　service　to　go
back　to　our　own　houses；　and　there　employ　ourselves　in　pleasanter
occupations　…in　hunting　or　fishing；　for　instance；　for　what　squire　in
the　world　is　there　so　poor　as　not　to　have　a　hack　and　a　couple　of
greyhounds　and　a　fishingrod　to　amuse　himself　with　in　his　own　village？〃
　　〃I　am　not　in　want　of　any　of　those　things；〃　said　Sancho；　〃to　be
sure　I　have　no　hack；　but　I　have　an　ass　that　is　wort