don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第132章

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what　you　have　seen。　If　the　result　has　been　the　opposite　of　what　I
intended；　it　is　no　fault　of　mine；　but　of　those　wicked　beings　that
persecute　me；　but；　for　all　that；　I　am　willing　to　condemn　myself　in
costs　for　this　error　of　mine；　though　it　did　not　proceed　from　malice；
let　Master　Pedro　see　what　he　wants　for　the　spoiled　figures；　for　I
agree　to　pay　it　at　once　in　good　and　current　money　of　Castile。〃
　　Master　Pedro　made　him　a　bow；　saying；　〃I　expected　no　less　of　the　rare
Christianity　of　the　valiant　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　true　helper
and　protector　of　all　destitute　and　needy　vagabonds；　master　landlord
here　and　the　great　Sancho　Panza　shall　be　the　arbitrators　and
appraisers　between　your　worship　and　me　of　what　these　dilapidated
figures　are　worth　or　may　be　worth。〃
　　The　landlord　and　Sancho　consented；　and　then　Master　Pedro　picked　up
from　the　ground　King　Marsilio　of　Saragossa　with　his　head　off；　and
said；　〃Here　you　see　how　impossible　it　is　to　restore　this　king　to　his
former　state；　so　I　think；　saving　your　better　judgments；　that　for　his
death；　decease；　and　demise；　four　reals　and　a　half　may　be　given　me。〃
　　〃Proceed；〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　〃Well　then；　for　this　cleavage　from　top　to　bottom；〃　continued
Master　Pedro；　taking　up　the　split　Emperor　Charlemagne；　〃it　would　not
be　much　if　I　were　to　ask　five　reals　and　a　quarter。〃
　　〃It's　not　little；〃　said　Sancho。
　　〃Nor　is　it　much；〃　said　the　landlord；　〃make　it　even；　and　say　five
reals。〃
　　〃Let　him　have　the　whole　five　and　a　quarter；〃　said　Don　Quixote；
〃for　the　sum　total　of　this　notable　disaster　does　not　stand　on　a
quarter　more　or　less；　and　make　an　end　of　it　quickly；　Master　Pedro；　for
it's　getting　on　to　supper…time；　and　I　have　some　hints　of　hunger。〃
　　〃For　this　figure；〃　said　Master　Pedro；　〃that　is　without　a　nose；　and
wants　an　eye；　and　is　the　fair　Melisendra；　I　ask；　and　I　am　reasonable
in　my　charge；　two　reals　and　twelve　maravedis。〃
　　〃The　very　devil　must　be　in　it；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃if　Melisendra　and
her　husband　are　not　by　this　time　at　least　on　the　French　border；　for
the　horse　they　rode　on　seemed　to　me　to　fly　rather　than　gallop；　so
you　needn't　try　to　sell　me　the　cat　for　the　hare；　showing　me　here　a
noseless　Melisendra　when　she　is　now；　may　be；　enjoying　herself　at　her
ease　with　her　husband　in　France。　God　help　every　one　to　his　own；　Master
Pedro；　and　let　us　all　proceed　fairly　and　honestly；　and　now　go　on。〃
　　Master　Pedro；　perceiving　that　Don　Quixote　was　beginning　to　wander；
and　return　to　his　original　fancy；　was　not　disposed　to　let　him
escape；　so　he　said　to　him；　〃This　cannot　be　Melisendra；　but　must　be　one
of　the　damsels　that　waited　on　her；　so　if　I'm　given　sixty　maravedis　for
her；　I'll　be　content　and　sufficiently　paid。〃
　　And　so　he　went　on；　putting　values　on　ever　so　many　more　smashed
figures；　which；　after　the　two　arbitrators　had　adjusted　them　to　the
satisfaction　of　both　parties；　came　to　forty　reals　and
three…quarters；　and　over　and　above　this　sum；　which　Sancho　at　once
disbursed；　Master　Pedro　asked　for　two　reals　for　his　trouble　in
catching　the　ape。
　　〃Let　him　have　them；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃not　to　catch　the
ape；　but　to　get　drunk；　and　two　hundred　would　I　give　this　minute　for
the　good　news；　to　anyone　who　could　tell　me　positively；　that　the　lady
Dona　Melisandra　and　Senor　Don　Gaiferos　were　now　in　France　and　with
their　own　people。〃
　　〃No　one　could　tell　us　that　better　than　my　ape；〃　said　Master　Pedro；
〃but　there's　no　devil　that　could　catch　him　now；　I　suspect；　however；
that　affection　and　hunger　will　drive　him　to　come　looking　for　me
to…night；　but　to…morrow　will　soon　be　here　and　we　shall　see。〃
　　In　short；　the　puppet…show　storm　passed　off；　and　all　supped　in
peace　and　good　fellowship　at　Don　Quixote's　expense；　for　he　was　the
height　of　generosity。　Before　it　was　daylight　the　man　with　the　lances
and　halberds　took　his　departure；　and　soon　after　daybreak　the　cousin
and　the　page　came　to　bid　Don　Quixote　farewell；　the　former　returning
home；　the　latter　resuming　his　journey；　towards　which；　to　help　him；　Don
Quixote　gave　him　twelve　reals。　Master　Pedro　did　not　care　to　engage
in　any　more　palaver　with　Don　Quixote；　whom　he　knew　right　well；　so　he
rose　before　the　sun；　and　having　got　together　the　remains　of　his　show
and　caught　his　ape；　he　too　went　off　to　seek　his　adventures。　The
landlord；　who　did　not　know　Don　Quixote；　was　as　much　astonished　at
his　mad　freaks　as　at　his　generosity。　To　conclude；　Sancho；　by　his
master's　orders；　paid　him　very　liberally；　and　taking　leave　of　him　they
quitted　the　inn　at　about　eight　in　the　morning　and　took　to　the　road；
where　we　will　leave　them　to　pursue　their　journey；　for　this　is
necessary　in　order　to　allow　certain　other　matters　to　be　set　forth；
which　are　required　to　clear　up　this　famous　history。
　　

CHAPTER　XXVII
　　WHEREIN　IT　IS　SHOWN　WHO　MASTER　PEDRO　AND　HIS　APE　WERE；　TOGETHER　WITH
THE　MISHAP　DON　QUIXOTE　HAD　IN　THE　BRAYING　ADVENTURE；　WHICH　HE　DID
NOT　CONCLUDE　AS　HE　WOULD　HAVE　LIKED　OR　AS　HE　HAD　EXPECTED

　　CIDE　HAMETE；　the　chronicler　of　this　great　history；　begins　this
chapter　with　these　words；　〃I　swear　as　a　Catholic　Christian；〃　with
regard　to　which　his　translator　says　that　Cide　Hamete's　swearing　as　a
Catholic　Christian；　he　being…　as　no　doubt　he　was…　a　Moor；　only　meant
that；　just　as　a　Catholic　Christian　taking　an　oath　swears；　or　ought
to　swear；　what　is　true；　and　tell　the　truth　in　what　he　avers；　so　he　was
telling　the　truth；　as　much　as　if　he　swore　as　a　Catholic　Christian；
in　all　he　chose　to　write　about　Quixote；　especially　in　declaring　who
Master　Pedro　was　and　what　was　the　divining　ape　that　astonished　all　the
villages　with　his　divinations。　He　says；　then；　that　he　who　has　read　the
First　Part　of　this　history　will　remember　well　enough　the　Gines　de
Pasamonte　whom；　with　other　galley　slaves；　Don　Quixote　set　free　in
the　Sierra　Morena：　a　kindness　for　which　he　afterwards　got　poor
thanks　and　worse　payment　from　that　evil…minded；　ill…conditioned　set。
This　Gines　de　Pasamonte…　Don　Ginesillo　de　Parapilla；　Don　Quixote
called　him…　it　was　that　stole　Dapple　from　Sancho　Panza；　which；　because
by　the　fault　of　the　printers　neither　the　how　nor　the　when　was　stated
in　the　First　Part；　has　been　a　puzzle　to　a　good　many　people；　who
attribute　to　the　bad　memory　of　the　author　what　was　the　error　of　the
press。　In　fact；　however；　Gines　stole　him　while　Sancho　Panza　was　asleep
on　his　back；　adopting　the　plan　and　device　that　Brunello　had　recourse
to　when　he　stole　Sacripante's　horse　from　between　his　legs　at　the　siege
of　Albracca；　and；　as　has　been　told；　Sancho　afterwards　recovered　him。
This　Gines；　then；　afraid　of　being　caught　by　the　officers　of　justice；
who　were　looking　for　him　to　punish　him　for　his　numberless
rascalities　and　offences　（which　were　so　many　and　so　great　that　he
himself　wrote　a　big　book　giving　an　account　of　them）；　resolved　to　shift
his　quarters　into　the　kingdom　of　Aragon；　and　cover　up　his　left　eye；
and　take　up　the　trade　of　a　puppet…showman；　for　this；　as　well　as
juggling；　he　knew　how　to　practise　to　perfection。　From　some　released
Christians　returning　from　Barbary；　it　so　happened；　he　bought　the
ape；　which　he　taught　to　mount　upon　his　shoulder　on　his　making　a
certain　sign；　and　to　whisper；　or　seem　to　do　so；　in　his　ear。　Thus
prepared；　before　entering　any　village　whither　he　was　bound　with　his
show　and　his　ape；　he　used　to　inform　himself　at　the　nearest　village；　or
from　the　most　likely　person　he　could　find；　as　to　what　particular
things　had　happened　there；　and　to　whom；　and　bearing　them　well　in　mind；
the　first　thing　be　did　was　to　exhibit　his　show；　sometimes　one　story；
sometimes　another；　but　all　lively；　amusing；　and　familiar。　As　soon　as
the　exhibition　was　over　he　brought　forward　the　accomplishments　of
his　ape；　assuring　the　public　that　he　divined　all　the　past　and　the
present；　but　as　to　the　future　he　had　no　skill。　For　each　question
answered　he　asked　two　reals；　and　for　some　he　made　a　reduction；　just　as
he　happened　to　feel　the　pulse　of　the　questioners；　and　when　now　and
then　he　came　to　houses　where　things　that　he　knew　of　had　happened　to
the　people　living　there；　even　if　they　did　not　ask　him　a　question；
not　caring　to　pay　for　it；　he　would　make　the　sign　to　the　ape　and　then
declare　that　it　had　said　so　and　so；　which　fitted　the　case　exactly。
In　this　way　he　acquired　a　prodigious　name　and　all　ran　after　him；　on
other　occasions；　being　very　crafty；　he　would　answer　in　such　a　way　that
the　answers　suited　the　questions；　and　as　no　one　cross…questioned　him
or　pressed　him　to　tell　how　his　ape　divined；　he　made　fools　of　them
all　and　filled　his　pouch。　The　instant　he　entered　the　inn　he　knew　Don
Quixote　and　Sancho；　and　with　that　knowledge　it　was　easy　for　him　to
astonish　them　and　all　who　were　there；　but　it　would　have　cost　him
dear　had　Don　Quixote　brought　down　his　hand　a　little　lower　when　he
cut　off　King　Marsilio's　head　and　destroyed　all　his　horsemen；　as
related　in　the　preceeding　chapter。
　　So　much　for　Master　Pedro　and　his　ape；　and　now　to　return　to　Don
Quixote　of　La　Mancha。　After　he　had　left　the　inn　he　determined　to
visit；　first　of　all；　the　banks　of　the　Ebro　and　that　neighbourhood；
before　entering　the　city　of　Saragossa；　for　the　ample　time　there　was
still　to　spare　before　the　jousts　left　him　enough　for　all。　With　this
object　in　view　he　followed　the　road　and　travelled　along　it　for　two
days；　without　meeting　any　adventure　worth　committing　to　writing
until　on　the　third　day；　as　he　was　ascending　a　hill；　he　heard　a　great
noise　of　drums；　trumpets；　and　musket…shots。　At　first　he　imagined
some　regiment　of　soldiers　was　passing　that　way；　and　to　see　them　he
spurred　Rocinante　and　mounted　the　hill。　On　reaching　the　top　he　saw
at　the　foot　of　it　over　two　hundred　men；　as　it　seemed　to　him；　armed
with　weapons　of　various　sorts；　lances；　crossbows；　partisans；　halberds；
and　pikes；　and　a　few　muskets　and　a　great　many　bucklers。　He　descended
the　slope　and　approached　the　band　near　enough　to　see　distinctly　the
flags；　make　out　the　colours　and　distinguish　the　devices　they　bore；
especially　one　on　a　standard　or　ensign　of　white　satin；　on　which
there　was　painted　in　a　very　life…like　style　an　ass　like　a　little　sard；
with　its　head　up；　its　mouth　open　and　its　tongue　out；　as　if　it　were
in　the　act　and　attitude　of　braying；　and　round　it　were　inscribed　in
large　characters　these　two　lines…

　　　　　　　　　They　did　not　bray　in　vain；
　　　　　　　　　Our　alcaldes　twain。

From　this　device　Don　Quixote　concluded　that　these　people　must　be
from　the　braying　town；　and　he　said　so　to　Sancho；　explaining　to　him
what　was　written　on　the　standard。　At　the　same　time　be　observed　that
the　man　who　had　told　them　about　the　matter　was　wrong　in　saying　that
the　two　who　brayed　were　regidors；　for　according　to　the　lines　of　the
standard　they　were　alcaldes。　To　which　Sancho　replied；　〃Senor；
there's　nothing　to　stick　at　in　that；　for　maybe　the　regidors　who　brayed
then　came　to　he　alcaldes　of　their　town　afterwards；　and　so　they　may
go　by　both　titles；　moreover；　it　has　nothing　to　do　with　the　truth　of
the　story　whether　the　brayers　were　alcaldes　or　regidors；　provided　at
any　rate　they　did　bray；　for　an　alcalde　is　just　as　likely　to　bray　as
a　regidor。〃　They　perceived；　in　short；　clearly　that　the　town　which
had　been　twitted　had　turned　out　to　do　battle　with　some　other　that
had　jeered　it　more　than　was　fair　or　neighbourly。
　　Don　Quixote　proceeded　to　join　th