don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第138章
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my gratification； he is to tell it as he knows it； though he should
not finish it these six days； and if he took so many they would be
to me the pleasantest I ever spent。〃
〃Well then； sirs； I say；〃 continued Sancho； 〃that this same
gentleman； whom I know as well as I do my own hands； for it's not a
bowshot from my house to his； invited a poor but respectable
labourer…〃
〃Get on； brother；〃 said the churchman； 〃at the rate you are going
you will not stop with your story short of the next world。〃
〃I'll stop less than half…way； please God；〃 said Sancho； 〃and so I
say this labourer； coming to the house of the gentleman I spoke of
that invited him… rest his soul； he is now dead； and more by token
he died the death of an angel； so they say； for I was not there； for
just at that time I had gone to reap at Tembleque…〃
〃As you live； my son；〃 said the churchman； 〃make haste back from
Tembleque； and finish your story without burying the gentleman； unless
you want to make more funerals。〃
〃Well then； it so happened；〃 said Sancho； 〃that as the pair of
them were going to sit down to table …and I think I can see them now
plainer than ever…〃
Great was the enjoyment the duke and duchess derived from the
irritation the worthy churchman showed at the long…winded； halting way
Sancho had of telling his story； while Don Quixote was chafing with
rage and vexation。
〃So； as I was saying；〃 continued Sancho； 〃as the pair of them were
going to sit down to table； as I said； the labourer insisted upon
the gentleman's taking the head of the table； and the gentleman
insisted upon the labourer's taking it； as his orders should be obeyed
in his house； but the labourer； who plumed himself on his politeness
and good breeding； would not on any account； until the gentleman；
out of patience； putting his hands on his shoulders； compelled him
by force to sit down； saying； 'Sit down； you stupid lout； for wherever
I sit will he the head to you； and that's the story； and； troth； I
think it hasn't been brought in amiss here。〃
Don Quixote turned all colours； which； on his sunburnt face； mottled
it till it looked like jasper。 The duke and duchess suppressed their
laughter so as not altogether to mortify Don Quixote； for they saw
through Sancho's impertinence； and to change the conversation； and
keep Sancho from uttering more absurdities； the duchess asked Don
Quixote what news he had of the lady Dulcinea； and if he had sent
her any presents of giants or miscreants lately； for he could not
but have vanquished a good many。
To which Don Quixote replied； 〃Senora； my misfortunes； though they
had a beginning； will never have an end。 I have vanquished giants
and I have sent her caitiffs and miscreants； but where are they to
find her if she is enchanted and turned into the most ill…favoured
peasant wench that can be imagined？〃
〃I don't know；〃 said Sancho Panza； 〃to me she seems the fairest
creature in the world； at any rate； in nimbleness and jumping she
won't give in to a tumbler； by my faith； senora duchess； she leaps
from the ground on to the back of an ass like a cat。〃
〃Have you seen her enchanted； Sancho？〃 asked the duke。
〃What； seen her！〃 said Sancho； 〃why； who the devil was it but myself
that first thought of the enchantment business？ She is as much
enchanted as my father。〃
The ecclesiastic； when he heard them talking of giants and
caitiffs and enchantments； began to suspect that this must be Don
Quixote of La Mancha； whose story the duke was always reading； and
he had himself often reproved him for it； telling him it was foolish
to read such fooleries； and becoming convinced that his suspicion
was correct； addressing the duke； he said very angrily to him； 〃Senor；
your excellence will have to give account to God for what this good
man does。 This Don Quixote； or Don Simpleton； or whatever his name is；
cannot； I imagine； be such a blockhead as your excellence would have
him； holding out encouragement to him to go on with his vagaries and
follies。〃 Then turning to address Don Quixote he said； 〃And you；
num…skull； who put it into your head that you are a knight…errant； and
vanquish giants and capture miscreants？ Go your ways in a good hour；
and in a good hour be it said to you。 Go home and bring up your
children if you have any； and attend to your business； and give over
going wandering about the world； gaping and making a laughing…stock of
yourself to all who know you and all who don't。 Where； in heaven's
name； have you discovered that there are or ever were
knights…errant？ Where are there giants in Spain or miscreants in La
Mancha； or enchanted Dulcineas； or all the rest of the silly things
they tell about you？〃
Don Quixote listened attentively to the reverend gentleman's
words； and as soon as he perceived he had done speaking； regardless of
the presence of the duke and duchess； he sprang to his feet with angry
looks and an agitated countenance； and said …But the reply deserves
a chapter to itself。
CHAPTER XXXII
OF THE REPLY DON QUIXOTE GAVE HIS CENSURER； WITH OTHER INCIDENTS；
GRAVE AND DROLL
DON QUIXOTE； then； having risen to his feet； trembling from head
to foot like a man dosed with mercury； said in a hurried； agitated
voice； 〃The place I am in； the presence in which I stand； and the
respect I have and always have had for the profession to which your
worship belongs； hold and bind the hands of my just indignation； and
as well for these reasons as because I know； as everyone knows； that a
gownsman's weapon is the same as a woman's； the tongue； I will with
mine engage in equal combat with your worship； from whom one might
have expected good advice instead of foul abuse。 Pious； well…meant
reproof requires a different demeanour and arguments of another
sort； at any rate； to have reproved me in public； and so roughly；
exceeds the bounds of proper reproof； for that comes better with
gentleness than with rudeness； and it is not seemly to call the sinner
roundly blockhead and booby； without knowing anything of the sin
that is reproved。 Come； tell me； for which of the stupidities you have
observed in me do you condemn and abuse me； and bid me go home and
look after my house and wife and children； without knowing whether I
have any？ Is nothing more needed than to get a footing； by hook or
by crook； in other people's houses to rule over the masters （and that；
perhaps； after having been brought up in all the straitness of some
seminary； and without having ever seen more of the world than may
lie within twenty or thirty leagues round）； to fit one to lay down the
law rashly for chivalry； and pass judgment on knights…errant？ Is it；
haply； an idle occupation； or is the time ill…spent that is spent in
roaming the world in quest； not of its enjoyments； but of those
arduous toils whereby the good mount upwards to the abodes of
everlasting life？ If gentlemen； great lords； nobles； men of high
birth； were to rate me as a fool I should take it as an irreparable
insult； but I care not a farthing if clerks who have never entered
upon or trod the paths of chivalry should think me foolish。 Knight I
am； and knight I will die； if such be the pleasure of the Most High。
Some take the broad road of overweening ambition； others that of
mean and servile flattery； others that of deceitful hypocrisy； and
some that of true religion； but I； led by my star； follow the narrow
path of knight…errantry； and in pursuit of that calling I despise
wealth； but not honour。 I have redressed injuries； righted wrongs；
punished insolences； vanquished giants； and crushed monsters； I am
in love； for no other reason than that it is incumbent on
knights…errant to be so； but though I am； I am no carnal…minded lover；
but one of the chaste； platonic sort。 My intentions are always
directed to worthy ends； to do good to all and evil to none； and if he
who means this； does this； and makes this his practice deserves to
be called a fool； it is for your highnesses to say； O most excellent
duke and duchess。〃
〃Good； by God！〃 cried Sancho； 〃say no more in your own defence；
master mine； for there's nothing more in the world to be said；
thought； or insisted on； and besides； when this gentleman denies； as
he has； that there are or ever have been any knights…errant in the
world； is it any wonder if he knows nothing of what he has been
talking about？〃
〃Perhaps； brother；〃 said the ecclesiastic； 〃you are that Sancho
Panza that is mentioned； to whom your master has promised an island？〃
〃Yes； I am；〃 said Sancho； 〃and what's more； I am one who deserves it
as much as anyone； I am one of the sort… 'Attach thyself to the
good； and thou wilt be one of them；' and of those； 'Not with whom thou
art bred； but with whom thou art fed；' and of those； 'Who leans
against a good tree； a good shade covers him；' I have leant upon a
good master； and I have been for months going about with him； and
please God I shall be just such another； long life to him and long
life to me； for neither will he be in any want of empires to rule；
or I of islands to govern。〃
〃No； Sancho my friend； certainly not；〃 said the duke； 〃for in the
name of Senor Don Quixote I confer upon you the government of one of
no small importance that I have at my disposal。〃
〃Go down on thy knees； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and kiss the feet
of his excellence for the favour he has bestowed upon thee。〃
Sancho obeyed； and on seeing this the ecclesiastic stood up from
table completely out of temper； exclaiming； 〃By the gown I wear； I
am almost inclined to say that your excellence is as great a fool as
these sinners。 No wonder they are mad； when people who are in their
senses sanction their madness！ I leave your excellence with them；
for so long as they are in the house； I will remain in my own； and
spare myself the trouble of reproving what I cannot remedy；〃 and
without uttering another word； or eating another morsel； he went
off； the entreaties of the duke and duchess being entirely
unavailing to stop him； not that the duke said much to him； for he
could not； because of the laughter his uncalled…for anger provoked。
When he had done laughing； he said to Don Quixote； 〃You have replied
on your own behalf so stoutly； Sir Knight of the Lions； that there
is no occasion to seek further satisfaction for this； which； though it
may look like an offence； is not so at all； for； as women can give
no offence； no more can ecclesiastics； as you very well know。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and the reason is； that he who is
not liable to offence cannot give offence to anyone。 Women；
children； and ecclesiastics； as they cannot defend themselves；
though they may receive offence cannot be insulted； because between
the offence and the insult there is； as your excellence very well
knows； this difference： the insult comes from one who is capable of
offering it； and does so； and maintains it； the offence may come
from any quarter without carrying insult。 To take an example： a man is
standing unsuspectingly in the street and ten others come up armed and
beat him； he draws his sword and quits himself like a man； but the
number of his antagonists makes it impossible for him to effect his
purpose and avenge himself； this ma
