don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第120章

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time；　and　were　dying　to　know　who　this　man；　so　different　from
ordinary　men；　could　be。　Don　Quixote　saluted　them；　and　after
ascertaining　that　their　road　was　the　same　as　his；　made　them　an　offer
of　his　company；　and　begged　them　to　slacken　their　pace；　as　their
young　asses　travelled　faster　than　his　horse；　and　then；　to　gratify
them；　he　told　them　in　a　few　words　who　he　was　and　the　calling　and
profession　he　followed；　which　was　that　of　a　knight…errant　seeking
adventures　in　all　parts　of　the　world。　He　informed　them　that　his　own
name　was　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　and　that　he　was　called；　by　way　of
surname；　the　Knight　of　the　Lions。
　　All　this　was　Greek　or　gibberish　to　the　peasants；　but　not　so　to　the
students；　who　very　soon　perceived　the　crack　in　Don　Quixote's　pate；　for
all　that；　however；　they　regarded　him　with　admiration　and　respect；
and　one　of　them　said　to　him；　〃If　you；　sir　knight；　have　no　fixed
road；　as　it　is　the　way　with　those　who　seek　adventures　not　to　have　any；
let　your　worship　come　with　us；　you　will　see　one　of　the　finest　and
richest　weddings　that　up　to　this　day　have　ever　been　celebrated　in　La
Mancha；　or　for　many　a　league　round。〃
　　Don　Quixote　asked　him　if　it　was　some　prince's；　that　he　spoke　of　it
in　this　way。　〃Not　at　all；〃　said　the　student；　〃it　is　the　wedding　of　a
farmer　and　a　farmer's　daughter；　he　the　richest　in　all　this　country；
and　she　the　fairest　mortal　ever　set　eyes　on。　The　display　with　which　it
is　to　be　attended　will　be　something　rare　and　out　of　the　common；　for　it
will　be　celebrated　in　a　meadow　adjoining　the　town　of　the　bride；　who　is
called；　par　excellence；　Quiteria　the　fair；　as　the　bridegroom　is　called
Camacho　the　rich。　She　is　eighteen；　and　he　twenty…two；　and　they　are
fairly　matched；　though　some　knowing　ones；　who　have　all　the　pedigrees
in　the　world　by　heart；　will　have　it　that　the　family　of　the　fair
Quiteria　is　better　than　Camacho's；　but　no　one　minds　that　now…a…days；
for　wealth　can　solder　a　great　many　flaws。　At　any　rate；　Camacho　is
free…handed；　and　it　is　his　fancy　to　screen　the　whole　meadow　with
boughs　and　cover　it　in　overhead；　so　that　the　sun　will　have　hard　work
if　he　tries　to　get　in　to　reach　the　grass　that　covers　the　soil。　He
has　provided　dancers　too；　not　only　sword　but　also　bell…dancers；　for　in
his　own　town　there　are　those　who　ring　the　changes　and　jingle　the　bells
to　perfection；　of　shoe…dancers　I　say　nothing；　for　of　them　he　has
engaged　a　host。　But　none　of　these　things；　nor　of　the　many　others　I
have　omitted　to　mention；　will　do　more　to　make　this　a　memorable　wedding
than　the　part　which　I　suspect　the　despairing　Basilio　will　play　in
it。　This　Basilio　is　a　youth　of　the　same　village　as　Quiteria；　and　he
lived　in　the　house　next　door　to　that　of　her　parents；　of　which
circumstance　Love　took　advantage　to　reproduce　to　the　word　the
long…forgotten　loves　of　Pyramus　and　Thisbe；　for　Basilio　loved　Quiteria
from　his　earliest　years；　and　she　responded　to　his　passion　with
countless　modest　proofs　of　affection；　so　that　the　loves　of　the　two
children；　Basilio　and　Quiteria；　were　the　talk　and　the　amusement　of　the
town。　As　they　grew　up；　the　father　of　Quiteria　made　up　his　mind　to
refuse　Basilio　his　wonted　freedom　of　access　to　the　house；　and　to
relieve　himself　of　constant　doubts　and　suspicions；　he　arranged　a　match
for　his　daughter　with　the　rich　Camacho；　as　he　did　not　approve　of
marrying　her　to　Basilio；　who　had　not　so　large　a　share　of　the　gifts
of　fortune　as　of　nature；　for　if　the　truth　be　told　ungrudgingly；　he
is　the　most　agile　youth　we　know；　a　mighty　thrower　of　the　bar；　a
first…rate　wrestler；　and　a　great　ball…player；　he　runs　like　a　deer；　and
leaps　better　than　a　goat；　bowls　over　the　nine…pins　as　if　by　magic；
sings　like　a　lark；　plays　the　guitar　so　as　to　make　it　speak；　and；　above
all；　handles　a　sword　as　well　as　the　best。〃
　　〃For　that　excellence　alone；〃　said　Don　Quixote　at　this；　〃the　youth
deserves　to　marry；　not　merely　the　fair　Quiteria；　but　Queen　Guinevere
herself；　were　she　alive　now；　in　spite　of　Launcelot　and　all　who　would
try　to　prevent　it。〃
　　〃Say　that　to　my　wife；〃　said　Sancho；　who　had　until　now　listened　in
silence；　〃for　she　won't　hear　of　anything　but　each　one　marrying　his
equal；　holding　with　the　proverb　'each　ewe　to　her　like。'　What　I　would
like　is　that　this　good　Basilio　（for　I　am　beginning　to　take　a　fancy
to　him　already）　should　marry　this　lady　Quiteria；　and　a　blessing　and
good　luck…　I　meant　to　say　the　opposite…　on　people　who　would　prevent
those　who　love　one　another　from　marrying。〃
　　〃If　all　those　who　love　one　another　were　to　marry；〃　said　Don　Quixote；
〃it　would　deprive　parents　of　the　right　to　choose；　and　marry　their
children　to　the　proper　person　and　at　the　proper　time；　and　if　it　was
left　to　daughters　to　choose　husbands　as　they　pleased；　one　would　be　for
choosing　her　father's　servant；　and　another；　some　one　she　has　seen
passing　in　the　street　and　fancies　gallant　and　dashing；　though　he　may
be　a　drunken　bully；　for　love　and　fancy　easily　blind　the　eyes　of　the
judgment；　so　much　wanted　in　choosing　one's　way　of　life；　and　the
matrimonial　choice　is　very　liable　to　error；　and　it　needs　great　caution
and　the　special　favour　of　heaven　to　make　it　a　good　one。　He　who　has
to　make　a　long　journey；　will；　if　he　is　wise；　look　out　for　some
trusty　and　pleasant　companion　to　accompany　him　before　he　sets　out。
Why；　then；　should　not　he　do　the　same　who　has　to　make　the　whole　journey
of　life　down　to　the　final　halting…place　of　death；　more　especially　when
the　companion　has　to　be　his　companion　in　bed；　at　board；　and
everywhere；　as　the　wife　is　to　her　husband？　The　companionship　of
one's　wife　is　no　article　of　merchandise；　that；　after　it　has　been
bought；　may　be　returned；　or　bartered；　or　changed；　for　it　is　an
inseparable　accident　that　lasts　as　long　as　life　lasts；　it　is　a　noose
that；　once　you　put　it　round　your　neck；　turns　into　a　Gordian　knot；
which；　if　the　scythe　of　Death　does　not　cut　it；　there　is　no　untying。
I　could　say　a　great　deal　more　on　this　subject；　were　I　not　prevented　by
the　anxiety　I　feel　to　know　if　the　senor　licentiate　has　anything　more
to　tell　about　the　story　of　Basilio。〃
　　To　this　the　student；　bachelor；　or；　as　Don　Quixote　called　him；
licentiate；　replied；　〃I　have　nothing　whatever　to　say　further；　but　that
from　the　moment　Basilio　learned　that　the　fair　Quiteria　was　to　be
married　to　Camacho　the　rich；　he　has　never　been　seen　to　smile；　or　heard
to　utter　rational　word；　and　he　always　goes　about　moody　and　dejected；
talking　to　himself　in　a　way　that　shows　plainly　he　is　out　of　his
senses。　He　eats　little　and　sleeps　little；　and　all　he　eats　is　fruit；
and　when　he　sleeps；　if　he　sleeps　at　all；　it　is　in　the　field　on　the
hard　earth　like　a　brute　beast。　Sometimes　he　gazes　at　the　sky；　at　other
times　he　fixes　his　eyes　on　the　earth　in　such　an　abstracted　way　that　he
might　be　taken　for　a　clothed　statue；　with　its　drapery　stirred　by　the
wind。　In　short；　he　shows　such　signs　of　a　heart　crushed　by　suffering；
that　all　we　who　know　him　believe　that　when　to…morrow　the　fair　Quiteria
says　'yes；'　it　will　be　his　sentence　of　death。〃
　　〃God　will　guide　it　better；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for　God　who　gives　the
wound　gives　the　salve；　nobody　knows　what　will　happen；　there　are　a　good
many　hours　between　this　and　to…morrow；　and　any　one　of　them；　or　any
moment；　the　house　may　fall；　I　have　seen　the　rain　coming　down　and　the
sun　shining　all　at　one　time；　many　a　one　goes　to　bed　in　good　health　who
can't　stir　the　next　day。　And　tell　me；　is　there　anyone　who　can　boast　of
having　driven　a　nail　into　the　wheel　of　fortune？　No；　faith；　and　between
a　woman's　'yes'　and　'no'　I　wouldn't　venture　to　put　the　point　of　a　pin；
for　there　would　not　be　room　for　it；　if　you　tell　me　Quiteria　loves
Basilio　heart　and　soul；　then　I'll　give　him　a　bag　of　good　luck；　for
love；　I　have　heard　say；　looks　through　spectacles　that　make　copper　seem
gold；　poverty　wealth；　and　blear　eyes　pearls。〃
　　〃What　art　thou　driving　at；　Sancho？　curses　on　thee！〃　said　Don
Quixote；　〃for　when　thou　takest　to　stringing　proverbs　and　sayings
together；　no　one　can　understand　thee　but　Judas　himself；　and　I　wish
he　had　thee。　Tell　me；　thou　animal；　what　dost　thou　know　about　nails
or　wheels；　or　anything　else？〃
　　〃Oh；　if　you　don't　understand　me；〃　replied　Sancho；　〃it　is　no　wonder
my　words　are　taken　for　nonsense；　but　no　matter；　I　understand　myself；
and　I　know　I　have　not　said　anything　very　foolish　in　what　I　have
said；　only　your　worship；　senor；　is　always　gravelling　at　everything　I
say；　nay；　everything　I　do。〃
　　〃Cavilling；　not　gravelling；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃thou　prevaricator　of
honest　language；　God　confound　thee！〃
　　〃Don't　find　fault　with　me；　your　worship；〃　returned　Sancho；　〃for
you　know　I　have　not　been　bred　up　at　court　or　trained　at　Salamanca；
to　know　whether　I　am　adding　or　dropping　a　letter　or　so　in　my　words。
Why！　God　bless　me；　it's　not　fair　to　force　a　Sayago…man　to　speak　like　a
Toledan；　maybe　there　are　Toledans　who　do　not　hit　it　off　when　it
comes　to　polished　talk。〃
　　〃That　is　true；〃　said　the　licentiate；　〃for　those　who　have　been　bred
up　in　the　Tanneries　and　the　Zocodover　cannot　talk　like　those　who　are
almost　all　day　pacing　the　cathedral　cloisters；　and　yet　they　are　all
Toledans。　Pure；　correct；　elegant　and　lucid　language　will　be　met　with
in　men　of　courtly　breeding　and　discrimination；　though　they　may　have
been　born　in　Majalahonda；　I　say　of　discrimination；　because　there　are
many　who　are　not　so；　and　discrimination　is　the　grammar　of　good
language；　if　it　be　accompanied　by　practice。　I；　sirs；　for　my　sins
have　studied　canon　law　at　Salamanca；　and　I　rather　pique　myself　on
expressing　my　meaning　in　clear；　plain；　and　intelligible　language。〃
　　〃If　you　did　not　pique　yourself　more　on　your　dexterity　with　those
foils　you　carry　than　on　dexterity　of　tongue；〃　said　the　other
student；　〃you　would　have　been　head　of　the　degrees；　where　you　are　now
tail。〃
　　〃Look　here；　bachelor　Corchuelo；〃　returned　the　licentiate；　〃you
have　the　most　mistaken　idea　in　the　world　about　skill　with　the　sword；
if　you　think　it　useless。〃
　　〃It　is　no　idea　on　my　part；　but　an　established　truth；〃　replied
Corchuelo；　〃and　if　you　wish　me　to　prove　it　to　you　by　experiment；　you
have　swords　there；　and　it　is　a　good　opportunity；　I　have　a　steady
hand　and　a　strong　arm；　and　these　joined　with　my　resolution；　which　is
not　small；　will　make　you　confess　that　I　am　not　mistaken。　Dismount
and　put　in　practice　your　positions　and　circles　and　angles　and　science；
for　I　hope　to　make　you　see　stars　at　noonday　with　my　rude　raw
swordsmanship；　in　which；　next　to　God；　I　place　my　trust　that　the　man　is
yet　to　be　born　who　will　make　me　turn　my　back；　and　that　there　is　not
one　in　the　world　I　will　not　compel　to　give　ground。〃
　　〃As　to　whether　you　turn　your　back　or　not；　I　do　not　concern
myself；〃　replied　the　master　of　fence；　〃though　it　might　be　that　your
grave　would　be　dug　on　the　spot　where　you　planted　your　foot　the　first
time；　I　mean　that　you　would　be　stretched　dead　there　for　despising
skill　with　the　sword。〃
　　〃We　shall　soon　see；〃　replied　Corchuelo；　and　getting　off　his　ass
briskly；　he　drew　out　furiously　one　of　the　swords　the　licentiate
carried　on　his　beast。
　　〃It　must　not　be　that　way；〃　said　Don　Quixote　at　this　point；　〃I　will
be　the　director　of　this　fencing　match；　and　judge　of　this　often
disputed　question；〃　and　dismounting　from　Rocinante　and　grasping　his
lance；　he　planted　himself　in　the　middle　o