don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第124章

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wine…jars　from　which　he　had　taken　his　delectable　skimmings；
considering　that；　as　a　holy　place；　that　spot　would　be　respected。
　　〃Hold；　sirs；　hold！〃　cried　Don　Quixote　in　a　loud　voice；　〃we　have　no
right　to　take　vengeance　for　wrongs　that　love　may　do　to　us：　remember
love　and　war　are　the　same　thing；　and　as　in　war　it　is　allowable　and
common　to　make　use　of　wiles　and　stratagems　to　overcome　the　enemy；　so
in　the　contests　and　rivalries　of　love　the　tricks　and　devices
employed　to　attain　the　desired　end　are　justifiable；　provided　they　be
not　to　the　discredit　or　dishonour　of　the　loved　object。　Quiteria
belonged　to　Basilio　and　Basilio　to　Quiteria　by　the　just　and　beneficent
disposal　of　heaven。　Camacho　is　rich；　and　can　purchase　his　pleasure
when；　where；　and　as　it　pleases　him。　Basilio　has　but　this　ewe…lamb；　and
no　one；　however　powerful　he　may　be；　shall　take　her　from　him；　these　two
whom　God　hath　joined　man　cannot　separate；　and　he　who　attempts　it
must　first　pass　the　point　of　this　lance；〃　and　so　saying　he
brandished　it　so　stoutly　and　dexterously　that　he　overawed　all　who
did　not　know　him。
　　But　so　deep　an　impression　had　the　rejection　of　Quiteria　made　on
Camacho's　mind　that　it　banished　her　at　once　from　his　thoughts；　and
so　the　counsels　of　the　priest；　who　was　a　wise　and　kindly　disposed　man；
prevailed　with　him；　and　by　their　means　he　and　his　partisans　were
pacified　and　tranquillised；　and　to　prove　it　put　up　their　swords　again；
inveighing　against　the　pliancy　of　Quiteria　rather　than　the
craftiness　of　Basilio；　Camacho　maintaining　that；　if　Quiteria　as　a
maiden　had　such　a　love　for　Basilio；　she　would　have　loved　him　too　as
a　married　woman；　and　that　he　ought　to　thank　heaven　more　for　having
taken　her　than　for　having　given　her。
　　Camacho　and　those　of　his　following；　therefore；　being　consoled　and
pacified；　those　on　Basilio's　side　were　appeased；　and　the　rich　Camacho；
to　show　that　he　felt　no　resentment　for　the　trick；　and　did　not　care
about　it；　desired　the　festival　to　go　on　just　as　if　he　were　married
in　reality。　Neither　Basilio；　however；　nor　his　bride；　nor　their
followers　would　take　any　part　in　it；　and　they　withdrew　to　Basilio's
village；　for　the　poor；　if　they　are　persons　of　virtue　and　good　sense；
have　those　who　follow；　honour；　and　uphold　them；　just　as　the　rich
have　those　who　flatter　and　dance　attendance　on　them。　With　them　they
carried　Don　Quixote；　regarding　him　as　a　man　of　worth　and　a　stout
one。　Sancho　alone　had　a　cloud　on　his　soul；　for　he　found　himself
debarred　from　waiting　for　Camacho's　splendid　feast　and　festival；　which
lasted　until　night；　and　thus　dragged　away；　he　moodily　followed　his
master；　who　accompanied　Basilio's　party；　and　left　behind　him　the
flesh…pots　of　Egypt；　though　in　his　heart　he　took　them　with　him；　and
their　now　nearly　finished　skimmings　that　he　carried　in　the　bucket
conjured　up　visions　before　his　eyes　of　the　glory　and　abundance　of
the　good　cheer　he　was　losing。　And　so；　vexed　and　dejected　though　not
hungry；　without　dismounting　from　Dapple　he　followed　in　the　footsteps
of　Rocinante。

　　CHAPTER　XXII
　　WHERIN　IS　RELATED　THE　GRAND　ADVENTURE　OF　THE　CAVE　OF　MONTESINOS　IN
THE　HEART　OF　LA　MANCHA；　WHICH　THE　VALIANT　DON　QUIXOTE　BROUGHT　TO　A
HAPPY　TERMINATION

　　MANY　and　great　were　the　attentions　shown　to　Don　Quixote　by　the　newly
married　couple；　who　felt　themselves　under　an　obligation　to　him　for
coming　forward　in　defence　of　their　cause；　and　they　exalted　his
wisdom　to　the　same　level　with　his　courage；　rating　him　as　a　Cid　in
arms；　and　a　Cicero　in　eloquence。　Worthy　Sancho　enjoyed　himself　for
three　days　at　the　expense　of　the　pair；　from　whom　they　learned　that　the
sham　wound　was　not　a　scheme　arranged　with　the　fair　Quiteria；　but　a
device　of　Basilio's；　who　counted　on　exactly　the　result　they　had
seen；　he　confessed；　it　is　true；　that　he　had　confided　his　idea　to
some　of　his　friends；　so　that　at　the　proper　time　they　might　aid　him
in　his　purpose　and　insure　the　success　of　the　deception。
　　〃That；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃is　not　and　ought　not　to　be　called
deception　which　aims　at　virtuous　ends；〃　and　the　marriage　of　lovers
he　maintained　to　be　a　most　excellent　end；　reminding　them；　however；
that　love　has　no　greater　enemy　than　hunger　and　constant　want；　for　love
is　all　gaiety；　enjoyment；　and　happiness；　especially　when　the　lover
is　in　the　possession　of　the　object　of　his　love；　and　poverty　and　want
are　the　declared　enemies　of　all　these；　which　he　said　to　urge　Senor
Basilio　to　abandon　the　practice　of　those　accomplishments　he　was
skilled　in；　for　though　they　brought　him　fame；　they　brought　him　no
money；　and　apply　himself　to　the　acquisition　of　wealth　by　legitimate
industry；　which　will　never　fail　those　who　are　prudent　and　persevering。
The　poor　man　who　is　a　man　of　honour　（if　indeed　a　poor　man　can　be　a　man
of　honour）　has　a　jewel　when　he　has　a　fair　wife；　and　if　she　is　taken
from　him；　his　honour　is　taken　from　him　and　slain。　The　fair　woman　who
is　a　woman　of　honour；　and　whose　husband　is　poor；　deserves　to　be
crowned　with　the　laurels　and　crowns　of　victory　and　triumph。　Beauty
by　itself　attracts　the　desires　of　all　who　behold　it；　and　the　royal
eagles　and　birds　of　towering　flight　stoop　on　it　as　on　a　dainty　lure；
but　if　beauty　be　accompanied　by　want　and　penury；　then　the　ravens　and
the　kites　and　other　birds　of　prey　assail　it；　and　she　who　stands　firm
against　such　attacks　well　deserves　to　be　called　the　crown　of　her
husband。　〃Remember；　O　prudent　Basilio；〃　added　Don　Quixote；　〃it　was　the
opinion　of　a　certain　sage；　I　know　not　whom；　that　there　was　not　more
than　one　good　woman　in　the　whole　world；　and　his　advice　was　that　each
one　should　think　and　believe　that　this　one　good　woman　was　his　own
wife；　and　in　this　way　he　would　live　happy。　I　myself　am　not　married；
nor；　so　far；　has　it　ever　entered　my　thoughts　to　be　so；　nevertheless
I　would　venture　to　give　advice　to　anyone　who　might　ask　it；　as　to　the
mode　in　which　he　should　seek　a　wife　such　as　he　would　be　content　to
marry。　The　first　thing　I　would　recommend　him；　would　be　to　look　to　good
name　rather　than　to　wealth；　for　a　good　woman　does　not　win　a　good
name　merely　by　being　good；　but　by　letting　it　he　seen　that　she　is　so；
and　open　looseness　and　freedom　do　much　more　damage　to　a　woman's　honour
than　secret　depravity。　If　you　take　a　good　woman　into　your　house　it
will　he　an　easy　matter　to　keep　her　good；　and　even　to　make　her　still
better；　but　if　you　take　a　bad　one　you　will　find　it　hard　work　to　mend
her；　for　it　is　no　very　easy　matter　to　pass　from　one　extreme　to
another。　I　do　not　say　it　is　impossible；　but　I　look　upon　it　as
difficult。〃
　　Sancho；　listening　to　all　this；　said　to　himself；　〃This　master　of
mine；　when　I　say　anything　that　has　weight　and　substance；　says　I
might　take　a　pulpit　in　hand；　and　go　about　the　world　preaching　fine
sermons；　but　I　say　of　him　that；　when　he　begins　stringing　maxims
together　and　giving　advice　not　only　might　he　take　a　pulpit　in　hand；
but　two　on　each　finger；　and　go　into　the　market…places　to　his　heart's
content。　Devil　take　you　for　a　knight…errant；　what　a　lot　of　things
you　know！　I　used　to　think　in　my　heart　that　the　only　thing　he　knew
was　what　belonged　to　his　chivalry；　but　there　is　nothing　he　won't
have　a　finger　in。〃
　　Sancho　muttered　this　somewhat　aloud；　and　his　master　overheard　him；
and　asked；　〃What　art　thou　muttering　there；　Sancho？〃
　　〃I'm　not　saying　anything　or　muttering　anything；〃　said　Sancho；　〃I　was
only　saying　to　myself　that　I　wish　I　had　heard　what　your　worship　has
said　just　now　before　I　married；　perhaps　I'd　say　now；　'The　ox　that's
loose　licks　himself　well。'〃
　　〃Is　thy　Teresa　so　bad　then；　Sancho？〃
　　〃She　is　not　very　bad；〃　replied　Sancho；　〃but　she　is　not　very　good；　at
least　she　is　not　as　good　as　I　could　wish。〃
　　〃Thou　dost　wrong；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃to　speak　ill　of　thy
wife；　for　after　all　she　is　the　mother　of　thy　children。〃　〃We　are
quits；〃　returned　Sancho；　〃for　she　speaks　ill　of　me　whenever　she
takes　it　into　her　head；　especially　when　she　is　jealous；　and　Satan
himself　could　not　put　up　with　her　then。〃
　　In　fine；　they　remained　three　days　with　the　newly　married　couple；
by　whom　they　were　entertained　and　treated　like　kings。　Don　Quixote
begged　the　fencing　licentiate　to　find　him　a　guide　to　show　him　the
way　to　the　cave　of　Montesinos；　as　he　had　a　great　desire　to　enter　it
and　see　with　his　own　eyes　if　the　wonderful　tales　that　were　told　of
it　all　over　the　country　were　true。　The　licentiate　said　he　would　get
him　a　cousin　of　his　own；　a　famous　scholar；　and　one　very　much　given
to　reading　books　of　chivalry；　who　would　have　great　pleasure　in
conducting　him　to　the　mouth　of　the　very　cave；　and　would　show　him　the
lakes　of　Ruidera；　which　were　likewise　famous　all　over　La　Mancha；　and
even　all　over　Spain；　and　he　assured　him　he　would　find　him
entertaining；　for　he　was　a　youth　who　could　write　books　good　enough
to　be　printed　and　dedicated　to　princes。　The　cousin　arrived　at　last；
leading　an　ass　in　foal；　with　a　pack…saddle　covered　with　a
parti…coloured　carpet　or　sackcloth；　Sancho　saddled　Rocinante；　got
Dapple　ready；　and　stocked　his　alforjas；　along　with　which　went　those　of
the　cousin；　likewise　well　filled；　and　so；　commending　themselves　to　God
and　bidding　farewell　to　all；　they　set　out；　taking　the　road　for　the
famous　cave　of　Montesinos。
　　On　the　way　Don　Quixote　asked　the　cousin　of　what　sort　and　character
his　pursuits；　avocations；　and　studies　were；　to　which　he　replied　that
he　was　by　profession　a　humanist；　and　that　his　pursuits　and　studies
were　making　books　for　the　press；　all　of　great　utility　and　no　less
entertainment　to　the　nation。　One　was　called　〃The　Book　of　Liveries；〃　in
which　he　described　seven　hundred　and　three　liveries；　with　their
colours；　mottoes；　and　ciphers；　from　which　gentlemen　of　the　court　might
pick　and　choose　any　they　fancied　for　festivals　and　revels；　without
having　to　go　a…begging　for　them　from　anyone；　or　puzzling　their　brains；
as　the　saying　is；　to　have　them　appropriate　to　their　objects　and
purposes；　〃for；〃　said　he；　〃I　give　the　jealous；　the　rejected；　the
forgotten；　the　absent；　what　will　suit　them；　and　fit　them　without　fail。
I　have　another　book；　too；　which　I　shall　call　'Metamorphoses；　or　the
Spanish　Ovid；'　one　of　rare　and　original　invention；　for　imitating
Ovid　in　burlesque　style；　I　show　in　it　who　the　Giralda　of　Seville　and
the　Angel　of　the　Magdalena　were；　what　the　sewer　of　Vecinguerra　at
Cordova　was；　what　the　bulls　of　Guisando；　the　Sierra　Morena；　the
Leganitos　and　Lavapies　fountains　at　Madrid；　not　forgetting　those　of
the　Piojo；　of　the　Cano　Dorado；　and　of　the　Priora；　and　all　with　their
allegories；　metaphors；　and　changes；　so　that　they　are　amusing；
interesting；　and　instructive；　all　at　once。　Another　book　I　have　which　I
call　'The　Supplement　to　Polydore　Vergil；'　which　treats　of　the
invention　of　things；　and　is　a　work　of　great　erudition　and　research；
for　I　establish　and　elucidate　elegantly　some　things　of　great
importance　which　Polydore　omitted　to　mention。　He　forgot　to　tell　us　who
was　the　first　man　in　the　world　that　had　a　cold　in　his　head；　and　who
was　the　first　to　try　salivation　for　the　French　disease；　but　I　give
it　accurately　set　forth；　and　quote　more　than　five…and…twenty　authors
in　proof　of　it；　so　you　may　perceive　I　have　laboured　to　good　purpose
and　that　the　book　will　be　of　service　to　the　whole　world。〃
　　Sancho；　who　had　been　very　attentive　to　the　cou