don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第12章

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oath　to　be　observed　in　spite　of　all　the　inconvenience　and　discomfort
it　will　be　to　sleep　in　your　clothes；　and　not　to　sleep　in　a　house；
and　a　thousand　other　mortifications　contained　in　the　oath　of　that
old　fool　the　Marquis　of　Mantua；　which　your　worship　is　now　wanting　to
revive？　Let　your　worship　observe　that　there　are　no　men　in　armour
travelling　on　any　of　these　roads；　nothing　but　carriers　and　carters；
who　not　only　do　not　wear　helmets；　but　perhaps　never　heard　tell　of　them
all　their　lives。〃
　　〃Thou　art　wrong　there；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃for　we　shall　not　have
been　above　two　hours　among　these　cross…roads　before　we　see　more　men　in
armour　than　came　to　Albraca　to　win　the　fair　Angelica。〃
　　〃Enough；〃　said　Sancho；　〃so　be　it　then；　and　God　grant　us　success；　and
that　the　time　for　winning　that　island　which　is　costing　me　so　dear
may　soon　come；　and　then　let　me　die。〃
　　〃I　have　already　told　thee；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃not　to　give
thyself　any　uneasiness　on　that　score；　for　if　an　island　should　fail；
there　is　the　kingdom　of　Denmark；　or　of　Sobradisa；　which　will　fit
thee　as　a　ring　fits　the　finger；　and　all　the　more　that；　being　on
terra　firma；　thou　wilt　all　the　better　enjoy　thyself。　But　let　us
leave　that　to　its　own　time；　see　if　thou　hast　anything　for　us　to　eat　in
those　alforjas；　because　we　must　presently　go　in　quest　of　some　castle
where　we　may　lodge　to…night　and　make　the　balsam　I　told　thee　of；　for
I　swear　to　thee　by　God；　this　ear　is　giving　me　great　pain。〃
　　〃I　have　here　an　onion　and　a　little　cheese　and　a　few　scraps　of
bread；〃　said　Sancho；　〃but　they　are　not　victuals　fit　for　a　valiant
knight　like　your　worship。〃
　　〃How　little　thou　knowest　about　it；〃　answered　Don　Quixote；　〃I　would
have　thee　to　know；　Sancho；　that　it　is　the　glory　of　knights…errant　to
go　without　eating　for　a　month；　and　even　when　they　do　eat；　that　it
should　be　of　what　comes　first　to　hand；　and　this　would　have　been
clear　to　thee　hadst　thou　read　as　many　histories　as　I　have；　for；　though
they　are　very　many；　among　them　all　I　have　found　no　mention　made　of
knights…errant　eating；　unless　by　accident　or　at　some　sumptuous
banquets　prepared　for　them；　and　the　rest　of　the　time　they　passed　in
dalliance。　And　though　it　is　plain　they　could　not　do　without　eating　and
performing　all　the　other　natural　functions；　because；　in　fact；　they
were　men　like　ourselves；　it　is　plain　too　that；　wandering　as　they　did
the　most　part　of　their　lives　through　woods　and　wilds　and　without　a
cook；　their　most　usual　fare　would　be　rustic　viands　such　as　those
thou　now　offer　me；　so　that；　friend　Sancho；　let　not　that　distress
thee　which　pleases　me；　and　do　not　seek　to　make　a　new　world　or
pervert　knight…errantry。〃
　　〃Pardon　me；　your　worship；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for；　as　I　cannot　read　or
write；　as　I　said　just　now；　I　neither　know　nor　comprehend　the　rules
of　the　profession　of　chivalry：　henceforward　I　will　stock　the
alforjas　with　every　kind　of　dry　fruit　for　your　worship；　as　you　are　a
knight；　and　for　myself；　as　I　am　not　one；　I　will　furnish　them　with
poultry　and　other　things　more　substantial。〃
　　〃I　do　not　say；　Sancho；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃that　it　is
imperative　on　knights…errant　not　to　eat　anything　else　but　the　fruits
thou　speakest　of；　only　that　their　more　usual　diet　must　be　those；　and
certain　herbs　they　found　in　the　fields　which　they　knew　and　I　know
too。〃
　　〃A　good　thing　it　is；〃　answered　Sancho；　〃to　know　those　herbs；　for
to　my　thinking　it　will　be　needful　some　day　to　put　that　knowledge
into　practice。〃
　　And　here　taking　out　what　he　said　he　had　brought；　the　pair　made　their
repast　peaceably　and　sociably。　But　anxious　to　find　quarters　for　the
night；　they　with　all　despatch　made　an　end　of　their　poor　dry　fare；
mounted　at　once；　and　made　haste　to　reach　some　habitation　before
night　set　in；　but　daylight　and　the　hope　of　succeeding　in　their
object　failed　them　close　by　the　huts　of　some　goatherds；　so　they
determined　to　pass　the　night　there；　and　it　was　as　much　to　Sancho's
discontent　not　to　have　reached　a　house；　as　it　was　to　his　master's
satisfaction　to　sleep　under　the　open　heaven；　for　he　fancied　that
each　time　this　happened　to　him　he　performed　an　act　of　ownership　that
helped　to　prove　his　chivalry。

　　CHAPTER　XI
　　OF　WHAT　BEFELL　DON　QUIXOTE　WITH　CERTAIN　GOATHERDS

　　HE　WAS　cordially　welcomed　by　the　goatherds；　and　Sancho；　having　as
best　he　could　put　up　Rocinante　and　the　ass；　drew　towards　the　fragrance
that　came　from　some　pieces　of　salted　goat　simmering　in　a　pot　on　the
fire；　and　though　he　would　have　liked　at　once　to　try　if　they　were　ready
to　be　transferred　from　the　pot　to　the　stomach；　he　refrained　from　doing
so　as　the　goatherds　removed　them　from　the　fire；　and　laying
sheepskins　on　the　ground；　quickly　spread　their　rude　table；　and　with
signs　of　hearty　good…will　invited　them　both　to　share　what　they　had。
Round　the　skins　six　of　the　men　belonging　to　the　fold　seated
themselves；　having　first　with　rough　politeness　pressed　Don　Quixote
to　take　a　seat　upon　a　trough　which　they　placed　for　him　upside　down。
Don　Quixote　seated　himself；　and　Sancho　remained　standing　to　serve
the　cup；　which　was　made　of　horn。　Seeing　him　standing；　his　master
said　to　him：
　　〃That　thou　mayest　see；　Sancho；　the　good　that　knight…errantry
contains　in　itself；　and　how　those　who　fill　any　office　in　it　are　on　the
high　road　to　be　speedily　honoured　and　esteemed　by　the　world；　I
desire　that　thou　seat　thyself　here　at　my　side　and　in　the　company　of
these　worthy　people；　and　that　thou　be　one　with　me　who　am　thy　master
and　natural　lord；　and　that　thou　eat　from　my　plate　and　drink　from
whatever　I　drink　from；　for　the　same　may　be　said　of　knight…errantry
as　of　love；　that　it　levels　all。〃
　　〃Great　thanks；〃　said　Sancho；　〃but　I　may　tell　your　worship　that
provided　I　have　enough　to　eat；　I　can　eat　it　as　well；　or　better；
standing；　and　by　myself；　than　seated　alongside　of　an　emperor。　And
indeed；　if　the　truth　is　to　be　told；　what　I　eat　in　my　corner　without
form　or　fuss　has　much　more　relish　for　me；　even　though　it　be　bread
and　onions；　than　the　turkeys　of　those　other　tables　where　I　am　forced
to　chew　slowly；　drink　little；　wipe　my　mouth　every　minute；　and　cannot
sneeze　or　cough　if　I　want　or　do　other　things　that　are　the　privileges
of　liberty　and　solitude。　So；　senor；　as　for　these　honours　which　your
worship　would　put　upon　me　as　a　servant　and　follower　of
knight…errantry；　exchange　them　for　other　things　which　may　be　of　more
use　and　advantage　to　me；　for　these；　though　I　fully　acknowledge　them　as
received；　I　renounce　from　this　moment　to　the　end　of　the　world。〃
　　〃For　all　that；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃thou　must　seat　thyself；　because
him　who　humbleth　himself　God　exalteth；〃　and　seizing　him　by　the　arm
he　forced　him　to　sit　down　beside　himself。
　　The　goatherds　did　not　understand　this　jargon　about　squires　and
knights…errant；　and　all　they　did　was　to　eat　in　silence　and　stare　at
their　guests；　who　with　great　elegance　and　appetite　were　stowing　away
pieces　as　big　as　one's　fist。　The　course　of　meat　finished；　they
spread　upon　the　sheepskins　a　great　heap　of　parched　acorns；　and　with
them　they　put　down　a　half　cheese　harder　than　if　it　had　been　made　of
mortar。　All　this　while　the　horn　was　not　idle；　for　it　went　round　so
constantly；　now　full；　now　empty；　like　the　bucket　of　a　water…wheel；
that　it　soon　drained　one　of　the　two　wine…skins　that　were　in　sight。
When　Don　Quixote　had　quite　appeased　his　appetite　he　took　up　a
handful　of　the　acorns；　and　contemplating　them　attentively　delivered
himself　somewhat　in　this　fashion：
　　〃Happy　the　age；　happy　the　time；　to　which　the　ancients　gave　the
name　of　golden；　not　because　in　that　fortunate　age　the　gold　so
coveted　in　this　our　iron　one　was　gained　without　toil；　but　because　they
that　lived　in　it　knew　not　the　two　words　〃mine〃　and　〃thine〃！　In　that
blessed　age　all　things　were　in　common；　to　win　the　daily　food　no　labour
was　required　of　any　save　to　stretch　forth　his　hand　and　gather　it
from　the　sturdy　oaks　that　stood　generously　inviting　him　with　their
sweet　ripe　fruit。　The　clear　streams　and　running　brooks　yielded　their
savoury　limpid　waters　in　noble　abundance。　The　busy　and　sagacious
bees　fixed　their　republic　in　the　clefts　of　the　rocks　and　hollows　of
the　trees；　offering　without　usance　the　plenteous　produce　of　their
fragrant　toil　to　every　hand。　The　mighty　cork　trees；　unenforced　save　of
their　own　courtesy；　shed　the　broad　light　bark　that　served　at　first
to　roof　the　houses　supported　by　rude　stakes；　a　protection　against
the　inclemency　of　heaven　alone。　Then　all　was　peace；　all　friendship；
all　concord；　as　yet　the　dull　share　of　the　crooked　plough　had　not　dared
to　rend　and　pierce　the　tender　bowels　of　our　first　mother　that
without　compulsion　yielded　from　every　portion　of　her　broad　fertile
bosom　all　that　could　satisfy；　sustain；　and　delight　the　children　that
then　possessed　her。　Then　was　it　that　the　innocent　and　fair　young
shepherdess　roamed　from　vale　to　vale　and　hill　to　hill；　with　flowing
locks；　and　no　more　garments　than　were　needful　modestly　to　cover　what
modesty　seeks　and　ever　sought　to　hide。　Nor　were　their　ornaments　like
those　in　use　to…day；　set　off　by　Tyrian　purple；　and　silk　tortured　in
endless　fashions；　but　the　wreathed　leaves　of　the　green　dock　and　ivy；
wherewith　they　went　as　bravely　and　becomingly　decked　as　our　Court
dames　with　all　the　rare　and　far…fetched　artifices　that　idle
curiosity　has　taught　them。　Then　the　love…thoughts　of　the　heart　clothed
themselves　simply　and　naturally　as　the　heart　conceived　them；　nor
sought　to　commend　themselves　by　forced　and　rambling　verbiage。　Fraud；
deceit；　or　malice　had　then　not　yet　mingled　with　truth　and　sincerity。
Justice　held　her　ground；　undisturbed　and　unassailed　by　the　efforts
of　favour　and　of　interest；　that　now　so　much　impair；　pervert；　and　beset
her。　Arbitrary　law　had　not　yet　established　itself　in　the　mind　of　the
judge；　for　then　there　was　no　cause　to　judge　and　no　one　to　be　judged。
Maidens　and　modesty；　as　I　have　said；　wandered　at　will　alone　and
unattended；　without　fear　of　insult　from　lawlessness　or　libertine
assault；　and　if　they　were　undone　it　was　of　their　own　will　and
pleasure。　But　now　in　this　hateful　age　of　ours　not　one　is　safe；　not
though　some　new　labyrinth　like　that　of　Crete　conceal　and　surround　her；
even　there　the　pestilence　of　gallantry　will　make　its　way　to　them
through　chinks　or　on　the　air　by　the　zeal　of　its　accursed
importunity；　and；　despite　of　all　seclusion；　lead　them　to　ruin。　In
defence　of　these；　as　time　advanced　and　wickedness　increased；　the　order
of　knights…errant　was　instituted；　to　defend　maidens；　to　protect　widows
and　to　succour　the　orphans　and　the　needy。　To　this　order　I　belong；
brother　goatherds；　to　whom　I　return　thanks　for　the　hospitality　and
kindly　welcome　ye　offer　me　and　my　squire；　for　though　by　natural　law
all　living　are　bound　to　show　favour　to　knights…errant；　yet；　seeing
that　without　knowing　this　obligation　ye　have　welcomed　and　feasted
me；　it　is　right　that　with　all　the　good…will　in　my　power　I　should　thank
you　for　yours。〃
　　All　this　long　harangue　（which　might　very　well　have　been　spared）
our　knight　delivered　because　the　acorns　they　gave　him　reminded　him
of　the　golden　age；　and　the　whim　seized　him　to　address　all　this
unnecessary　argument　to　the　goatherds；　who　listened　to　him　gaping　in
amazement　without　saying　a　word　in　reply。　Sancho　likewise　held　his
peace　and　ate　acorns；　and　paid