don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第141章

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ladies　great　favours　may　be　looked　for；　this　which　your　grace　has　done
me　today　cannot　be　requited　with　less　than　wishing　I　was　dubbed　a
knight…errant；　to　devote　myself　all　the　days　of　my　life　to　the　service
of　so　exalted　a　lady。　I　am　a　labouring　man；　my　name　is　Sancho　Panza；　I
am　married；　I　have　children；　and　I　am　serving　as　a　squire；　if　in　any
one　of　these　ways　I　can　serve　your　highness；　I　will　not　he　longer　in
obeying　than　your　grace　in　commanding。〃
　　〃It　is　easy　to　see；　Sancho；〃　replied　the　duchess；　〃that　you　have
learned　to　he　polite　in　the　school　of　politeness　itself；　I　mean　to　say
it　is　easy　to　see　that　you　have　been　nursed　in　the　bosom　of　Senor
Don　Quixote；　who　is；　of　course；　the　cream　of　good　breeding　and
flower　of　ceremony…　or　cirimony；　as　you　would　say　yourself。　Fair　be
the　fortunes　of　such　a　master　and　such　a　servant；　the　one　the　cynosure
of　knight…errantry；　the　other　the　star　of　squirely　fidelity！　Rise；
Sancho；　my　friend；　I　will　repay　your　courtesy　by　taking　care　that　my
lord　the　duke　makes　good　to　you　the　promised　gift　of　the　government　as
soon　as　possible。〃
　　With　this；　the　conversation　came　to　an　end；　and　Don　Quixote
retired　to　take　his　midday　sleep；　but　the　duchess　begged　Sancho；
unless　he　had　a　very　great　desire　to　go　to　sleep；　to　come　and　spend
the　afternoon　with　her　and　her　damsels　in　a　very　cool　chamber。
Sancho　replied　that；　though　he　certainly　had　the　habit　of　sleeping
four　or　five　hours　in　the　heat　of　the　day　in　summer；　to　serve　her
excellence　he　would　try　with　all　his　might　not　to　sleep　even　one
that　day；　and　that　he　would　come　in　obedience　to　her　command；　and　with
that　he　went　off。　The　duke　gave　fresh　orders　with　respect　to
treating　Don　Quixote　as　a　knight…errant；　without　departing　even　in
smallest　particular　from　the　style　in　which；　as　the　stories　tell　us；
they　used　to　treat　the　knights　of　old。
　　

CHAPTER　XXXIII
　　OF　THE　DELECTABLE　DISCOURSE　WHICH　THE　DUCHESS　AND　HER　DAMSELS　HELD
WITH　SANCHO　PANZA；　WELL　WORTH　READING　AND　NOTING

　　THE　history　records　that　Sancho　did　not　sleep　that　afternoon；　but　in
order　to　keep　his　word　came；　before　he　had　well　done　dinner；　to
visit　the　duchess；　who；　finding　enjoyment　in　listening　to　him；　made
him　sit　down　beside　her　on　a　low　seat；　though　Sancho；　out　of　pure　good
breeding；　wanted　not　to　sit　down；　the　duchess；　however；　told　him　he
was　to　sit　down　as　governor　and　talk　as　squire；　as　in　both　respects　he
was　worthy　of　even　the　chair　of　the　Cid　Ruy　Diaz　the　Campeador。　Sancho
shrugged　his　shoulders；　obeyed；　and　sat　down；　and　all　the　duchess's
damsels　and　duennas　gathered　round　him；　waiting　in　profound　silence　to
hear　what　he　would　say。　It　was　the　duchess；　however；　who　spoke
first；　saying：
　　〃Now　that　we　are　alone；　and　that　there　is　nobody　here　to　overhear
us；　I　should　be　glad　if　the　senor　governor　would　relieve　me　of　certain
doubts　I　have；　rising　out　of　the　history　of　the　great　Don　Quixote　that
is　now　in　print。　One　is：　inasmuch　as　worthy　Sancho　never　saw　Dulcinea；
I　mean　the　lady　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　nor　took　Don　Quixote's　letter
to　her；　for　it　was　left　in　the　memorandum　book　in　the　Sierra　Morena；
how　did　he　dare　to　invent　the　answer　and　all　that　about　finding　her
sifting　wheat；　the　whole　story　being　a　deception　and　falsehood；　and　so
much　to　the　prejudice　of　the　peerless　Dulcinea's　good　name；　a　thing
that　is　not　at　all　becoming　the　character　and　fidelity　of　a　good
squire？〃
　　At　these　words；　Sancho；　without　uttering　one　in　reply；　got　up　from
his　chair；　and　with　noiseless　steps；　with　his　body　bent　and　his　finger
on　his　lips；　went　all　round　the　room　lifting　up　the　hangings；　and　this
done；　he　came　back　to　his　seat　and　said；　〃Now；　senora；　that　I　have
seen　that　there　is　no　one　except　the　bystanders　listening　to　us　on　the
sly；　I　will　answer　what　you　have　asked　me；　and　all　you　may　ask　me；
without　fear　or　dread。　And　the　first　thing　I　have　got　to　say　is；
that　for　my　own　part　I　hold　my　master　Don　Quixote　to　be　stark　mad；
though　sometimes　he　says　things　that；　to　my　mind；　and　indeed
everybody's　that　listens　to　him；　are　so　wise；　and　run　in　such　a
straight　furrow；　that　Satan　himself　could　not　have　said　them　better；
but　for　all　that；　really；　and　beyond　all　question；　it's　my　firm　belief
he　is　cracked。　Well；　then；　as　this　is　clear　to　my　mind；　I　can
venture　to　make　him　believe　things　that　have　neither　head　nor　tail；
like　that　affair　of　the　answer　to　the　letter；　and　that　other　of　six　or
eight　days　ago；　which　is　not　yet　in　history；　that　is　to　say；　the
affair　of　the　enchantment　of　my　lady　Dulcinea；　for　I　made　him
believe　she　is　enchanted；　though　there's　no　more　truth　in　it　than　over
the　hills　of　Ubeda。
　　The　duchess　begged　him　to　tell　her　about　the　enchantment　or
deception；　so　Sancho　told　the　whole　story　exactly　as　it　had
happened；　and　his　hearers　were　not　a　little　amused　by　it；　and　then
resuming；　the　duchess　said；　〃In　consequence　of　what　worthy　Sancho
has　told　me；　a　doubt　starts　up　in　my　mind；　and　there　comes　a　kind　of
whisper　to　my　ear　that　says；　'If　Don　Quixote　be　mad；　crazy；　and
cracked；　and　Sancho　Panza　his　squire　knows　it；　and；　notwithstanding；
serves　and　follows　him；　and　goes　trusting　to　his　empty　promises；　there
can　be　no　doubt　he　must　be　still　madder　and　sillier　than　his　master；
and　that　being　so；　it　will　be　cast　in　your　teeth；　senora　duchess；　if
you　give　the　said　Sancho　an　island　to　govern；　for　how　will　he　who　does
not　know　how　to　govern　himself　know　how　to　govern　others？'〃
　　〃By　God；　senora；〃　said　Sancho；　〃but　that　doubt　comes　timely；　but
your　grace　may　say　it　out；　and　speak　plainly；　or　as　you　like；　for　I
know　what　you　say　is　true；　and　if　I　were　wise　I　should　have　left　my
master　long　ago；　but　this　was　my　fate；　this　was　my　bad　luck；　I　can't
help　it；　I　must　follow　him；　we're　from　the　same　village；　I've　eaten
his　bread；　I'm　fond　of　him；　I'm　grateful；　he　gave　me　his　ass…colts；
and　above　all　I'm　faithful；　so　it's　quite　impossible　for　anything　to
separate　us；　except　the　pickaxe　and　shovel。　And　if　your　highness
does　not　like　to　give　me　the　government　you　promised；　God　made　me
without　it；　and　maybe　your　not　giving　it　to　me　will　be　all　the
better　for　my　conscience；　for　fool　as　I　am　I　know　the　proverb　'to
her　hurt　the　ant　got　wings；'　and　it　may　be　that　Sancho　the　squire　will
get　to　heaven　sooner　than　Sancho　the　governor。　'They　make　as　good
bread　here　as　in　France；'　and　'by　night　all　cats　are　grey；'　and　'a
hard　case　enough　his；　who　hasn't　broken　his　fast　at　two　in　the
afternoon；'　and　'there's　no　stomach　a　hand's　breadth　bigger　than
another；'　and　the　same　can　he　filled　'with　straw　or　hay；'　as　the
saying　is；　and　'the　little　birds　of　the　field　have　God　for　their
purveyor　and　caterer；'　and　'four　yards　of　Cuenca　frieze　keep　one
warmer　than　four　of　Segovia　broad…cloth；'　and　'when　we　quit　this　world
and　are　put　underground　the　prince　travels　by　as　narrow　a　path　as
the　journeyman；'　and　'the　Pope's　body　does　not　take　up　more　feet　of
earth　than　the　sacristan's；'　for　all　that　the　one　is　higher　than　the
other；　for　when　we　go　to　our　graves　we　all　pack　ourselves　up　and
make　ourselves　small；　or　rather　they　pack　us　up　and　make　us　small　in
spite　of　us；　and　then…　good　night　to　us。　And　I　say　once　more；　if
your　ladyship　does　not　like　to　give　me　the　island　because　I'm　a
fool；　like　a　wise　man　I　will　take　care　to　give　myself　no　trouble　about
it；　I　have　heard　say　that　'behind　the　cross　there's　the　devil；'　and
that　'all　that　glitters　is　not　gold；'　and　that　from　among　the　oxen；
and　the　ploughs；　and　the　yokes；　Wamba　the　husbandman　was　taken　to　be
made　King　of　Spain；　and　from　among　brocades；　and　pleasures；　and
riches；　Roderick　was　taken　to　be　devoured　by　adders；　if　the　verses
of　the　old　ballads　don't　lie。〃
　　〃To　be　sure　they　don't　lie！〃　exclaimed　Dona　Rodriguez；　the　duenna；
who　was　one　of　the　listeners。　〃Why；　there's　a　ballad　that　says　they
put　King　Rodrigo　alive　into　a　tomb　full　of　toads；　and　adders；　and
lizards；　and　that　two　days　afterwards　the　king；　in　a　plaintive；　feeble
voice；　cried　out　from　within　the　tomb…

　　　　　　　They　gnaw　me　now；　they　gnaw　me　now；
　　　　　　　There　where　I　most　did　sin。

And　according　to　that　the　gentleman　has　good　reason　to　say　he　would
rather　be　a　labouring　man　than　a　king；　if　vermin　are　to　eat　him。〃
　　The　duchess　could　not　help　laughing　at　the　simplicity　of　her　duenna；
or　wondering　at　the　language　and　proverbs　of　Sancho；　to　whom　she　said；
〃Worthy　Sancho　knows　very　well　that　when　once　a　knight　has　made　a
promise　he　strives　to　keep　it；　though　it　should　cost　him　his　life。
My　lord　and　husband　the　duke；　though　not　one　of　the　errant　sort；　is
none　the　less　a　knight　for　that　reason；　and　will　keep　his　word　about
the　promised　island；　in　spite　of　the　envy　and　malice　of　the　world。　Let
Sancho　he　of　good　cheer；　for　when　he　least　expects　it　he　will　find
himself　seated　on　the　throne　of　his　island　and　seat　of　dignity；　and
will　take　possession　of　his　government　that　he　may　discard　it　for
another　of　three…bordered　brocade。　The　charge　I　give　him　is　to　be
careful　how　he　governs　his　vassals；　bearing　in　mind　that　they　are
all　loyal　and　well…born。〃
　　〃As　to　governing　them　well；〃　said　Sancho；　〃there's　no　need　of
charging　me　to　do　that；　for　I'm　kind…hearted　by　nature；　and　full　of
compassion　for　the　poor；　there's　no　stealing　the　loaf　from　him　who
kneads　and　bakes；'　and　by　my　faith　it　won't　do　to　throw　false　dice
with　me；　I　am　an　old　dog；　and　I　know　all　about　'tus；　tus；'　I　can　be
wide…awake　if　need　be；　and　I　don't　let　clouds　come　before　my　eyes；　for
I　know　where　the　shoe　pinches　me；　I　say　so；　because　with　me　the　good
will　have　support　and　protection；　and　the　bad　neither　footing　nor
access。　And　it　seems　to　me　that；　in　governments；　to　make　a　beginning
is　everything；　and　maybe；　after　having　been　governor　a　fortnight；　I'll
take　kindly　to　the　work　and　know　more　about　it　than　the　field　labour　I
have　been　brought　up　to。〃
　　〃You　are　right；　Sancho；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃for　no　one　is　born　ready
taught；　and　the　bishops　are　made　out　of　men　and　not　out　of　stones。　But
to　return　to　the　subject　we　were　discussing　just　now；　the
enchantment　of　the　lady　Dulcinea；　I　look　upon　it　as　certain；　and
something　more　than　evident；　that　Sancho's　idea　of　practising　a
deception　upon　his　master；　making　him　believe　that　the　peasant　girl
was　Dulcinea　and　that　if　he　did　not　recognise　her　it　must　be　because
she　was　enchanted；　was　all　a　device　of　one　of　the　enchanters　that
persecute　Don　Quixote。　For　in　truth　and　earnest；　I　know　from　good
authority　that　the　coarse　country　wench　who　jumped　up　on　the　ass　was
and　is　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　and　that　worthy　Sancho；　though　he
fancies　himself　the　deceiver；　is　the　one　that　is　deceived；　and　that
there　is　no　more　reason　to　doubt　the　truth　of　this；　than　of　anything
else　we　never　saw。　Senor　Sancho　Panza　must　know　that　we　too　have
enchanters　here　that　are　well　disposed　to　us；　and　tell　us　what　goes　on
in　the　world；　plainly　and　distinctly；　without　subterfuge　or　deception；
and　believe　me；　Sancho；　that　agile　country　lass　was　and　is　Dulcinea
del　Toboso；　who　is　as　much　enchanted　as　the　mother　that　bore　her；
and　when　we　least　expect　it；　we　shall　see　her　in　her　own　proper
form；　and　then　Sancho　will　he　disabused　of　the　error　he　is　under　at
present。〃
　　〃All　that's　very　possible；〃　sa