don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第116章

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short；　all　the　ancient　poets　wrote　in　the　language　they　imbibed　with
their　mother's　milk；　and　never　went　in　quest　of　foreign　ones　to
express　their　sublime　conceptions；　and　that　being　so；　the　usage　should
in　justice　extend　to　all　nations；　and　the　German　poet　should　not　be
undervalued　because　he　writes　in　his　own　language；　nor　the
Castilian；　nor　even　the　Biscayan；　for　writing　in　his。　But　your　son；
senor；　I　suspect；　is　not　prejudiced　against　Spanish　poetry；　but
against　those　poets　who　are　mere　Spanish　verse　writers；　without　any
knowledge　of　other　languages　or　sciences　to　adorn　and　give　life　and
vigour　to　their　natural　inspiration；　and　yet　even　in　this　he　may　be
wrong；　for；　according　to　a　true　belief；　a　poet　is　born　one；　that　is　to
say；　the　poet　by　nature　comes　forth　a　poet　from　his　mother's　womb；　and
following　the　bent　that　heaven　has　bestowed　upon　him；　without　the
aid　of　study　or　art；　he　produces　things　that　show　how　truly　he　spoke
who　said；　'Est　Deus　in　nobis；'　&c。　At　the　same　time；　I　say　that　the
poet　by　nature　who　calls　in　art　to　his　aid　will　be　a　far　better
poet；　and　will　surpass　him　who　tries　to　be　one　relying　upon　his
knowledge　of　art　alone。　The　reason　is；　that　art　does　not　surpass
nature；　but　only　brings　it　to　perfection；　and　thus；　nature　combined
with　art；　and　art　with　nature；　will　produce　a　perfect　poet。　To　bring
my　argument　to　a　close；　I　would　say　then；　gentle　sir；　let　your　son
go　on　as　his　star　leads　him；　for　being　so　studious　as　he　seems　to
be；　and　having　already　successfully　surmounted　the　first　step　of　the
sciences；　which　is　that　of　the　languages；　with　their　help　he　will　by
his　own　exertions　reach　the　summit　of　polite　literature；　which　so　well
becomes　an　independent　gentleman；　and　adorns；　honours；　and
distinguishes　him；　as　much　as　the　mitre　does　the　bishop；　or　the　gown
the　learned　counsellor。　If　your　son　write　satires　reflecting　on　the
honour　of　others；　chide　and　correct　him；　and　tear　them　up；　but　if　he
compose　discourses　in　which　he　rebukes　vice　in　general；　in　the　style
of　Horace；　and　with　elegance　like　his；　commend　him；　for　it　is
legitimate　for　a　poet　to　write　against　envy　and　lash　the　envious　in
his　verse；　and　the　other　vices　too；　provided　he　does　not　single　out
individuals；　there　are；　however；　poets　who；　for　the　sake　of　saying
something　spiteful；　would　run　the　risk　of　being　banished　to　the
coast　of　Pontus。　If　the　poet　be　pure　in　his　morals；　he　will　be　pure　in
his　verses　too；　the　pen　is　the　tongue　of　the　mind；　and　as　the　thought
engendered　there；　so　will　be　the　things　that　it　writes　down。　And　when
kings　and　princes　observe　this　marvellous　science　of　poetry　in　wise；
virtuous；　and　thoughtful　subjects；　they　honour；　value；　exalt　them；　and
even　crown　them　with　the　leaves　of　that　tree　which　the　thunderbolt
strikes　not；　as　if　to　show　that　they　whose　brows　are　honoured　and
adorned　with　such　a　crown　are　not　to　be　assailed　by　anyone。〃
　　He　of　the　green　gaban　was　filled　with　astonishment　at　Don　Quixote's
argument；　so　much　so　that　he　began　to　abandon　the　notion　he　had　taken
up　about　his　being　crazy。　But　in　the　middle　of　the　discourse；　it　being
not　very　much　to　his　taste；　Sancho　had　turned　aside　out　of　the　road　to
beg　a　little　milk　from　some　shepherds；　who　were　milking　their　ewes
hard　by；　and　just　as　the　gentleman；　highly　pleased；　was　about　to　renew
the　conversation；　Don　Quixote；　raising　his　head；　perceived　a　cart
covered　with　royal　flags　coming　along　the　road　they　were　travelling；
and　persuaded　that　this　must　be　some　new　adventure；　he　called　aloud　to
Sancho　to　come　and　bring　him　his　helmet。　Sancho；　hearing　himself
called；　quitted　the　shepherds；　and；　prodding　Dapple　vigorously；　came
up　to　his　master；　to　whom　there　fell　a　terrific　and　desperate
adventure。
　　

CHAPTER　XVII
　　WHEREIN　IS　SHOWN　THE　FURTHEST　AND　HIGHEST　POINT　WHICH　THE　UNEXAMPLED
COURAGE　OF　DON　QUIXOTE　REACHED　OR　COULD　REACH；　TOGETHER　WITH　THE
HAPPILY　ACHIEVED　ADVENTURE　OF　THE　LIONS

　　THE　history　tells　that　when　Don　Quixote　called　out　to　Sancho　to
bring　him　his　helmet；　Sancho　was　buying　some　curds　the　shepherds
agreed　to　sell　him；　and　flurried　by　the　great　haste　his　master　was
in　did　not　know　what　to　do　with　them　or　what　to　carry　them　in；　so；　not
to　lose　them；　for　he　had　already　paid　for　them；　he　thought　it　best
to　throw　them　into　his　master's　helmet；　and　acting　on　this　bright　idea
he　went　to　see　what　his　master　wanted　with　him。　He；　as　he
approached；　exclaimed　to　him：
　　〃Give　me　that　helmet；　my　friend；　for　either　I　know　little　of
adventures；　or　what　I　observe　yonder　is　one　that　will；　and　does；
call　upon　me　to　arm　myself。〃
　　He　of　the　green　gaban；　on　hearing　this；　looked　in　all　directions；
but　could　perceive　nothing；　except　a　cart　coming　towards　them　with　two
or　three　small　flags；　which　led　him　to　conclude　it　must　be　carrying
treasure　of　the　King's；　and　he　said　so　to　Don　Quixote。　He；　however；
would　not　believe　him；　being　always　persuaded　and　convinced　that　all
that　happened　to　him　must　be　adventures　and　still　more　adventures；
so　he　replied　to　the　gentleman；　〃He　who　is　prepared　has　his　battle
half　fought；　nothing　is　lost　by　my　preparing　myself；　for　I　know　by
experience　that　I　have　enemies；　visible　and　invisible；　and　I　know
not　when；　or　where；　or　at　what　moment；　or　in　what　shapes　they　will
attack　me；〃　and　turning　to　Sancho　he　called　for　his　helmet；　and
Sancho；　as　he　had　no　time　to　take　out　the　curds；　had　to　give　it　just
as　it　was。　Don　Quixote　took　it；　and　without　perceiving　what　was　in
it　thrust　it　down　in　hot　haste　upon　his　head；　but　as　the　curds　were
pressed　and　squeezed　the　whey　began　to　run　all　over　his　face　and
beard；　whereat　he　was　so　startled　that　he　cried　out　to　Sancho：
　　〃Sancho；　what's　this？　I　think　my　head　is　softening；　or　my　brains　are
melting；　or　I　am　sweating　from　head　to　foot！　If　I　am　sweating　it　is
not　indeed　from　fear。　I　am　convinced　beyond　a　doubt　that　the　adventure
which　is　about　to　befall　me　is　a　terrible　one。　Give　me　something　to
wipe　myself　with；　if　thou　hast　it；　for　this　profuse　sweat　is
blinding　me。〃
　　Sancho　held　his　tongue；　and　gave　him　a　cloth；　and　gave　thanks　to　God
at　the　same　time　that　his　master　had　not　found　out　what　was　the
matter。　Don　Quixote　then　wiped　himself；　and　took　off　his　helmet　to　see
what　it　was　that　made　his　head　feel　so　cool；　and　seeing　all　that　white
mash　inside　his　helmet　he　put　it　to　his　nose；　and　as　soon　as　he　had
smelt　it　he　exclaimed：
　　〃By　the　life　of　my　lady　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　but　it　is　curds　thou
hast　put　here；　thou　treacherous；　impudent；　ill…mannered　squire！〃
　　To　which；　with　great　composure　and　pretended　innocence；　Sancho
replied；　〃If　they　are　curds　let　me　have　them；　your　worship；　and　I'll
eat　them；　but　let　the　devil　eat　them；　for　it　must　have　been　he　who　put
them　there。　I　dare　to　dirty　your　helmet！　You　have　guessed　the　offender
finely！　Faith；　sir；　by　the　light　God　gives　me；　it　seems　I　must　have
enchanters　too；　that　persecute　me　as　a　creature　and　limb　of　your
worship；　and　they　must　have　put　that　nastiness　there　in　order　to
provoke　your　patience　to　anger；　and　make　you　baste　my　ribs　as　you
are　wont　to　do。　Well；　this　time；　indeed；　they　have　missed　their　aim；
for　I　trust　to　my　master's　good　sense　to　see　that　I　have　got　no
curds　or　milk；　or　anything　of　the　sort；　and　that　if　I　had　it　is　in
my　stomach　I　would　put　it　and　not　in　the　helmet。〃
　　〃May　he　so；〃　said　Don　Quixote。　All　this　the　gentleman　was　observing；
and　with　astonishment；　more　especially　when；　after　having　wiped
himself　clean；　his　head；　face；　beard；　and　helmet；　Don　Quixote　put　it
on；　and　settling　himself　firmly　in　his　stirrups；　easing　his　sword　in
the　scabbard；　and　grasping　his　lance；　he　cried；　〃Now；　come　who　will；
here　am　I；　ready　to　try　conclusions　with　Satan　himself　in　person！〃

　　By　this　time　the　cart　with　the　flags　had　come　up；　unattended　by
anyone　except　the　carter　on　a　mule；　and　a　man　sitting　in　front。　Don
Quixote　planted　himself　before　it　and　said；　〃Whither　are　you　going；
brothers？　What　cart　is　this？　What　have　you　got　in　it？　What　flags　are
those？〃
　　To　this　the　carter　replied；　〃The　cart　is　mine；　what　is　in　it　is　a
pair　of　wild　caged　lions；　which　the　governor　of　Oran　is　sending　to
court　as　a　present　to　his　Majesty；　and　the　flags　are　our　lord　the
King's；　to　show　that　what　is　here　is　his　property。〃
　　〃And　are　the　lions　large？〃　asked　Don　Quixote。
　　〃So　large；〃　replied　the　man　who　sat　at　the　door　of　the　cart；　〃that
larger；　or　as　large；　have　never　crossed　from　Africa　to　Spain；　I　am　the
keeper；　and　I　have　brought　over　others；　but　never　any　like　these。　They
are　male　and　female；　the　male　is　in　that　first　cage　and　the　female
in　the　one　behind；　and　they　are　hungry　now；　for　they　have　eaten
nothing　to…day；　so　let　your　worship　stand　aside；　for　we　must　make
haste　to　the　place　where　we　are　to　feed　them。〃
　　Hereupon；　smiling　slightly；　Don　Quixote　exclaimed；　〃Lion…whelps　to
me！　to　me　whelps　of　lions；　and　at　such　a　time！　Then；　by　God！　those
gentlemen　who　send　them　here　shall　see　if　I　am　a　man　to　be
frightened　by　lions。　Get　down；　my　good　fellow；　and　as　you　are　the
keeper　open　the　cages；　and　turn　me　out　those　beasts；　and　in　the
midst　of　this　plain　I　will　let　them　know　who　Don　Quixote　of　La
Mancha　is；　in　spite　and　in　the　teeth　of　the　enchanters　who　send　them
to　me。〃
　　〃So；　so；〃　said　the　gentleman　to　himself　at　this；　〃our　worthy
knight　has　shown　of　what　sort　he　is；　the　curds；　no　doubt；　have
softened　his　skull　and　brought　his　brains　to　a　head。〃
　　At　this　instant　Sancho　came　up　to　him；　saying；　〃Senor；　for　God's
sake　do　something　to　keep　my　master；　Don　Quixote；　from　tackling
these　lions；　for　if　he　does　they'll　tear　us　all　to　pieces　here。〃
　　〃Is　your　master　then　so　mad；〃　asked　the　gentleman；　〃that　you　believe
and　are　afraid　he　will　engage　such　fierce　animals？〃
　　〃He　is　not　mad；〃　said　Sancho；　〃but　he　is　venturesome。〃
　　〃I　will　prevent　it；〃　said　the　gentleman；　and　going　over　to　Don
Quixote；　who　was　insisting　upon　the　keeper's　opening　the　cages；　he
said　to　him；　〃Sir　knight；　knights…errant　should　attempt　adventures
which　encourage　the　hope　of　a　successful　issue；　not　those　which
entirely　withhold　it；　for　valour　that　trenches　upon　temerity　savours
rather　of　madness　than　of　courage；　moreover；　these　lions　do　not　come
to　oppose　you；　nor　do　they　dream　of　such　a　thing；　they　are　going　as
presents　to　his　Majesty；　and　it　will　not　be　right　to　stop　them　or
delay　their　journey。〃
　　〃Gentle　sir；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃you　go　and　mind　your　tame
partridge　and　your　bold　ferret；　and　leave　everyone　to　manage　his　own
business；　this　is　mine；　and　I　know　whether　these　gentlemen　the　lions
come　to　me　or　not；〃　and　then　turning　to　the　keeper　he　exclaimed；　〃By
all　that's　good；　sir　scoundrel；　if　you　don't　open　the　cages　this
very　instant；　I'll　pin　you　to　the　cart　with　this　lance。〃
　　The　carter；　seeing　the　determination　of　this　apparition　in　armour；
said　to　him；　〃Please　your　worship；　for　charity's　sake；　senor；　let　me
unyoke　the　mules　and　place　myself　in　safety　along　with　them　before　the
lions　are　turned　out；　for　if　they　kill　them　on　me　I　am　ruined　for
life；　for　all　I　possess　is　this　cart　and　mules。〃
　　〃O　man　of　little　faith；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃get　down　and
unyoke；　you　will　soon　see　that　you　are　exerting　yourself　for
nothing；　and　that　you　might　have