don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第143章

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you。　I　recollect　having　heard　an　old　ballad　sung　that　says；

　　　　　　　By　bears　be　thou　devoured；　as　erst
　　　　　　　　　　　Was　famous　Favila。〃

　　〃That；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃was　a　Gothic　king；　who；　going
a…hunting；　was　devoured　by　a　bear。〃
　　〃Just　so；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　I　would　not　have　kings　and　princes
expose　themselves　to　such　dangers　for　the　sake　of　a　pleasure　which；　to
my　mind；　ought　not　to　be　one；　as　it　consists　in　killing　an　animal　that
has　done　no　harm　whatever。〃
　　〃Quite　the　contrary；　Sancho；　you　are　wrong　there；〃　said　the　duke；
〃for　hunting　is　more　suitable　and　requisite　for　kings　and　princes　than
for　anybody　else。　The　chase　is　the　emblem　of　war；　it　has　stratagems；
wiles；　and　crafty　devices　for　overcoming　the　enemy　in　safety；　in　it
extreme　cold　and　intolerable　heat　have　to　be　borne；　indolence　and
sleep　are　despised；　the　bodily　powers　are　invigorated；　the　limbs　of
him　who　engages　in　it　are　made　supple；　and；　in　a　word；　it　is　a　pursuit
which　may　be　followed　without　injury　to　anyone　and　with　enjoyment　to
many；　and　the　best　of　it　is；　it　is　not　for　everybody；　as
field…sports　of　other　sorts　are；　except　hawking；　which　also　is　only
for　kings　and　great　lords。　Reconsider　your　opinion　therefore；
Sancho；　and　when　you　are　governor　take　to　hunting；　and　you　will　find
the　good　of　it。〃
　　〃Nay；〃　said　Sancho；　〃the　good　governor　should　have　a　broken　leg
and　keep　at　home；〃　it　would　be　a　nice　thing　if；　after　people　had
been　at　the　trouble　of　coming　to　look　for　him　on　business；　the
governor　were　to　be　away　in　the　forest　enjoying　himself；　the
government　would　go　on　badly　in　that　fashion。　By　my　faith；　senor；
hunting　and　amusements　are　more　fit　for　idlers　than　for　governors；
what　I　intend　to　amuse　myself　with　is　playing　all　fours　at　Eastertime；
and　bowls　on　Sundays　and　holidays；　for　these　huntings　don't　suit　my
condition　or　agree　with　my　conscience。〃
　　〃God　grant　it　may　turn　out　so；〃　said　the　duke；　〃because　it's　a
long　step　from　saying　to　doing。〃
　　〃Be　that　as　it　may；〃　said　Sancho；　〃'pledges　don't　distress　a　good
payer；'　and　'he　whom　God　helps　does　better　than　he　who　gets　up　early；'
and　'it's　the　tripes　that　carry　the　feet　and　not　the　feet　the　tripes；'
I　mean　to　say　that　if　God　gives　me　help　and　I　do　my　duty　honestly；
no　doubt　I'll　govern　better　than　a　gerfalcon。　Nay；　let　them　only　put　a
finger　in　my　mouth；　and　they'll　see　whether　I　can　bite　or　not。〃
　　〃The　curse　of　God　and　all　his　saints　upon　thee；　thou　accursed
Sancho！〃　exclaimed　Don　Quixote；　〃when　will　the　day　come…　as　I　have
often　said　to　thee…　when　I　shall　hear　thee　make　one　single　coherent；
rational　remark　without　proverbs？　Pray；　your　highnesses；　leave　this
fool　alone；　for　he　will　grind　your　souls　between；　not　to　say　two；
but　two　thousand　proverbs；　dragged　in　as　much　in　season；　and　as　much
to　the　purpose　as…　may　God　grant　as　much　health　to　him；　or　to　me　if
I　want　to　listen　to　them！〃
　　〃Sancho　Panza's　proverbs；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃though　more　in
number　than　the　Greek　Commander's；　are　not　therefore　less　to　be
esteemed　for　the　conciseness　of　the　maxims。　For　my　own　part；　I　can　say
they　give　me　more　pleasure　than　others　that　may　be　better　brought　in
and　more　seasonably　introduced。〃
　　In　pleasant　conversation　of　this　sort　they　passed　out　of　the　tent
into　the　wood；　and　the　day　was　spent　in　visiting　some　of　the　posts　and
hiding…places；　and　then　night　closed　in；　not；　however；　as
brilliantly　or　tranquilly　as　might　have　been　expected　at　the　season；
for　it　was　then　midsummer；　but　bringing　with　it　a　kind　of　haze　that
greatly　aided　the　project　of　the　duke　and　duchess；　and　thus；　as
night　began　to　fall；　and　a　little　after　twilight　set　in；　suddenly
the　whole　wood　on　all　four　sides　seemed　to　be　on　fire；　and　shortly
after；　here；　there；　on　all　sides；　a　vast　number　of　trumpets　and
other　military　instruments　were　heard；　as　if　several　troops　of　cavalry
were　passing　through　the　wood。　The　blaze　of　the　fire　and　the　noise
of　the　warlike　instruments　almost　blinded　the　eyes　and　deafened　the
ears　of　those　that　stood　by；　and　indeed　of　all　who　were　in　the　wood。
Then　there　were　heard　repeated　lelilies　after　the　fashion　of　the　Moors
when　they　rush　to　battle；　trumpets　and　clarions　brayed；　drums　beat；
fifes　played；　so　unceasingly　and　so　fast　that　he　could　not　have　had
any　senses　who　did　not　lose　them　with　the　confused　din　of　so　many
instruments。　The　duke　was　astounded；　the　duchess　amazed；　Don　Quixote
wondering；　Sancho　Panza　trembling；　and　indeed；　even　they　who　were
aware　of　the　cause　were　frightened。　In　their　fear；　silence　fell　upon
them；　and　a　postillion；　in　the　guise　of　a　demon；　passed　in　front　of
them；　blowing；　in　lieu　of　a　bugle；　a　huge　hollow　horn　that　gave　out
a　horrible　hoarse　note。
　　〃Ho　there！　brother　courier；〃　cried　the　duke；　〃who　are　you？　Where　are
you　going？　What　troops　are　these　that　seem　to　be　passing　through　the
wood？〃
　　To　which　the　courier　replied　in　a　harsh；　discordant　voice；　〃I　am　the
devil；　I　am　in　search　of　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　those　who　are
coming　this　way　are　six　troops　of　enchanters；　who　are　bringing　on　a
triumphal　car　the　peerless　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　she　comes　under
enchantment；　together　with　the　gallant　Frenchman　Montesinos；　to　give
instructions　to　Don　Quixote　as　to　how；　she　the　said　lady；　may　be
disenchanted。〃
　　〃If　you　were　the　devil；　as　you　say　and　as　your　appearance
indicates；〃　said　the　duke；　〃you　would　have　known　the　said　knight　Don
Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　for　you　have　him　here　before　you。〃
　　〃By　God　and　upon　my　conscience；〃　said　the　devil；　〃I　never　observed
it；　for　my　mind　is　occupied　with　so　many　different　things　that　I　was
forgetting　the　main　thing　I　came　about。〃
　　〃This　demon　must　be　an　honest　fellow　and　a　good　Christian；〃　said
Sancho；　〃for　if　he　wasn't　he　wouldn't　swear　by　God　and　his　conscience；
I　feel　sure　now　there　must　be　good　souls　even　in　hell　itself。〃
　　Without　dismounting；　the　demon　then　turned　to　Don　Quixote　and
said；　〃The　unfortunate　but　valiant　knight　Montesinos　sends　me　to　thee；
the　Knight　of　the　Lions　（would　that　I　saw　thee　in　their　claws）；
bidding　me　tell　thee　to　wait　for　him　wherever　I　may　find　thee；　as　he
brings　with　him　her　whom　they　call　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　that　he　may
show　thee　what　is　needful　in　order　to　disenchant　her；　and　as　I　came
for　no　more　I　need　stay　no　longer；　demons　of　my　sort　be　with　thee；　and
good　angels　with　these　gentles；〃　and　so　saying　he　blew　his　huge
horn；　turned　about　and　went　off　without　waiting　for　a　reply　from
anyone。
　　They　all　felt　fresh　wonder；　but　particularly　Sancho　and　Don　Quixote；
Sancho　to　see　how；　in　defiance　of　the　truth；　they　would　have　it　that
Dulcinea　was　enchanted；　Don　Quixote　because　he　could　not　feel　sure
whether　what　had　happened　to　him　in　the　cave　of　Montesinos　was　true　or
not；　and　as　he　was　deep　in　these　cogitations　the　duke　said　to　him；　〃Do
you　mean　to　wait；　Senor　Don　Quixote？〃
　　〃Why　not？〃　replied　he；　〃here　will　I　wait；　fearless　and　firm；
though　all　hell　should　come　to　attack　me。〃
　　〃Well　then；　if　I　see　another　devil　or　hear　another　horn　like　the
last；　I'll　wait　here　as　much　as　in　Flanders；〃　said　Sancho。
　　Night　now　closed　in　more　completely；　and　many　lights　began　to　flit
through　the　wood；　just　as　those　fiery　exhalations　from　the　earth；　that
look　like　shooting…stars　to　our　eyes；　flit　through　the　heavens；　a
frightful　noise；　too；　was　heard；　like　that　made　by　the　solid　wheels
the　ox…carts　usually　have；　by　the　harsh；　ceaseless　creaking　of
which；　they　say；　the　bears　and　wolves　are　put　to　flight；　if　there
happen　to　be　any　where　they　are　passing。　In　addition　to　all　this
commotion；　there　came　a　further　disturbance　to　increase　the　tumult；
for　now　it　seemed　as　if　in　truth；　on　all　four　sides　of　the　wood；
four　encounters　or　battles　were　going　on　at　the　same　time；　in　one
quarter　resounded　the　dull　noise　of　a　terrible　cannonade；　in　another
numberless　muskets　were　being　discharged；　the　shouts　of　the　combatants
sounded　almost　close　at　hand；　and　farther　away　the　Moorish　lelilies
were　raised　again　and　again。　In　a　word；　the　bugles；　the　horns；　the
clarions；　the　trumpets；　the　drums；　the　cannon；　the　musketry；　and　above
all　the　tremendous　noise　of　the　carts；　all　made　up　together　a　din　so
confused　and　terrific　that　Don　Quixote　had　need　to　summon　up　all　his
courage　to　brave　it；　but　Sancho's　gave　way；　and　he　fell　fainting　on
the　skirt　of　the　duchess's　robe；　who　let　him　lie　there　and　promptly
bade　them　throw　water　in　his　face。　This　was　done；　and　he　came　to
himself　by　the　time　that　one　of　the　carts　with　the　creaking　wheels
reached　the　spot。　It　was　drawn　by　four　plodding　oxen　all　covered
with　black　housings；　on　each　horn　they　had　fixed　a　large　lighted　wax
taper；　and　on　the　top　of　the　cart　was　constructed　a　raised　seat；　on
which　sat　a　venerable　old　man　with　a　beard　whiter　than　the　very
snow；　and　so　long　that　it　fell　below　his　waist；　he　was　dressed　in　a
long　robe　of　black　buckram；　for　as　the　cart　was　thickly　set　with　a
multitude　of　candles　it　was　easy　to　make　out　everything　that　was　on
it。　Leading　it　were　two　hideous　demons；　also　clad　in　buckram；　with
countenances　so　frightful　that　Sancho；　having　once　seen　them；　shut　his
eyes　so　as　not　to　see　them　again。　As　soon　as　the　cart　came　opposite
the　spot　the　old　man　rose　from　his　lofty　seat；　and　standing　up　said　in
a　loud　voice；　〃I　am　the　sage　Lirgandeo；〃　and　without　another　word
the　cart　then　passed　on。　Behind　it　came　another　of　the　same　form；　with
another　aged　man　enthroned；　who；　stopping　the　cart；　said　in　a　voice　no
less　solemn　than　that　of　the　first；　〃I　am　the　sage　Alquife；　the
great　friend　of　Urganda　the　Unknown；〃　and　passed　on。　Then　another　cart
came　by　at　the　same　pace；　but　the　occupant　of　the　throne　was　not　old
like　the　others；　but　a　man　stalwart　and　robust；　and　of　a　forbidding
countenance；　who　as　he　came　up　said　in　a　voice　far　hoarser　and　more
devilish；　〃I　am　the　enchanter　Archelaus；　the　mortal　enemy　of　Amadis　of
Gaul　and　all　his　kindred；〃　and　then　passed　on。　Having　gone　a　short
distance　the　three　carts　halted　and　the　monotonous　noise　of　their
wheels　ceased；　and　soon　after　they　heard　another；　not　noise；　but　sound
of　sweet；　harmonious　music；　of　which　Sancho　was　very　glad；　taking　it
to　be　a　good　sign；　and　said　he　to　the　duchess；　from　whom　he　did　not
stir　a　step；　or　for　a　single　instant；　〃Senora；　where　there's　music
there　can't　be　mischief。〃
　　〃Nor　where　there　are　lights　and　it　is　bright；〃　said　the　duchess；
to　which　Sancho　replied；　〃Fire　gives　light；　and　it's　bright　where
there　are　bonfires；　as　we　see　by　those　that　are　all　round　us　and
perhaps　may　burn　us；　but　music　is　a　sign　of　mirth　and　merrymaking。〃
　　〃That　remains　to　be　seen；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　who　was　listening　to
all　that　passed；　and　he　was　right；　as　is　shown　in　the　following
chapter。


　　CHAPTER　XXXV
　　WHEREIN　IS　CONTINUED　THE　INSTRUCTION　GIVEN　TO　DON　QUIXOTE　TOUCHING
THE　DISENCHANTMENT　OF　DULCINEA；　TOGETHER　WITH　OTHER　MARVELLOUS
INCIDENTS

　　THEY　saw　advancing　towards　them；　to　the　sound　of　this　pleasing
music；　what　they　call　a　triumphal　car；　drawn　by　six　grey　mules　with
white　linen　housings；　on　each　of　which　was　mounted　a　penitent；　robed
also　in　white；　with　a　large　lighted　wax　taper　in　his　hand。　The　car　was
twice　or；　perhaps；　three　times　as　large　as　the　former　ones；　and　in
front　and　on　the　sides　s