don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第145章

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with　a　message　from　Montesinos　but　from　myself；　for　Montesinos　is　in
his　cave　expecting；　or　more　properly　speaking；　waiting　for　his
disenchantment；　for　there's　the　tail　to　be　skinned　yet　for　him；　if
he　owes　you　anything；　or　you　have　any　business　to　transact　with　him；
I'll　bring　him　to　you　and　put　him　where　you　choose；　but　for　the
present　make　up　your　mind　to　consent　to　this　penance；　and　believe　me
it　will　be　very　good　for　you；　for　soul　as　well　for　body…　for　your　soul
because　of　the　charity　with　which　you　perform　it；　for　your　body
because　I　know　that　you　are　of　a　sanguine　habit　and　it　will　do　you
no　harm　to　draw　a　little　blood。〃
　　〃There　are　a　great　many　doctors　in　the　world；　even　the　enchanters
are　doctors；〃　said　Sancho；　〃however；　as　everybody　tells　me　the　same
thing　…though　I　can't　see　it　myself…　I　say　I　am　willing　to　give　myself
the　three　thousand　three　hundred　lashes；　provided　I　am　to　lay　them
on　whenever　I　like；　without　any　fixing　of　days　or　times；　and　I'll
try　and　get　out　of　debt　as　quickly　as　I　can；　that　the　world　may
enjoy　the　beauty　of　the　lady　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　as　it　seems；
contrary　to　what　I　thought；　that　she　is　beautiful　after　all。　It　must
be　a　condition；　too；　that　I　am　not　to　be　bound　to　draw　blood　with
the　scourge；　and　that　if　any　of　the　lashes　happen　to　he　fly…flappers
they　are　to　count。　Item；　that；　in　case　I　should　make　any　mistake　in
the　reckoning；　Senor　Merlin；　as　he　knows　everything；　is　to　keep　count；
and　let　me　know　how　many　are　still　wanting　or　over　the　number。〃
　　〃There　will　be　no　need　to　let　you　know　of　any　over；〃　said　Merlin；
〃because；　when　you　reach　the　full　number；　the　lady　Dulcinea　will　at
once；　and　that　very　instant；　be　disenchanted；　and　will　come　in　her
gratitude　to　seek　out　the　worthy　Sancho；　and　thank　him；　and　even
reward　him　for　the　good　work。　So　you　have　no　cause　to　be　uneasy
about　stripes　too　many　or　too　few；　heaven　forbid　I　should　cheat　anyone
of　even　a　hair　of　his　head。〃
　　〃Well　then；　in　God's　hands　be　it；〃　said　Sancho；　〃in　the　hard　case
I'm　in　I　give　in；　I　say　I　accept　the　penance　on　the　conditions　laid
down。〃
　　The　instant　Sancho　uttered　these　last　words　the　music　of　the
clarions　struck　up　once　more；　and　again　a　host　of　muskets　were
discharged；　and　Don　Quixote　hung　on　Sancho's　neck　kissing　him　again
and　again　on　the　forehead　and　cheeks。　The　duchess　and　the　duke
expressed　the　greatest　satisfaction；　the　car　began　to　move　on；　and
as　it　passed　the　fair　Dulcinea　bowed　to　the　duke　and　duchess　and
made　a　low　curtsey　to　Sancho。
　　And　now　bright　smiling　dawn　came　on　apace；　the　flowers　of　the　field；
revived；　raised　up　their　heads；　and　the　crystal　waters　of　the
brooks；　murmuring　over　the　grey　and　white　pebbles；　hastened　to　pay
their　tribute　to　the　expectant　rivers；　the　glad　earth；　the　unclouded
sky；　the　fresh　breeze；　the　clear　light；　each　and　all　showed　that　the
day　that　came　treading　on　the　skirts　of　morning　would　be　calm　and
bright。　The　duke　and　duchess；　pleased　with　their　hunt　and　at　having
carried　out　their　plans　so　cleverly　and　successfully；　returned　to
their　castle　resolved　to　follow　up　their　joke；　for　to　them　there　was
no　reality　that　could　afford　them　more　amusement。
　　

CHAPTER　XXXVI
　　WHEREIN　IS　RELATED　THE　STRANGE　AND　UNDREAMT…OF　ADVENTURE　OF　THE
DISTRESSED　DUENNA；　ALIAS　THE　COUNTESS　TRIFALDI；　TOGETHER　WITH　A　LETTER
WHICH　SANCHO　PANZA　WROTE　TO　HIS　WIFE；　TERESA　PANZA

　　THE　duke　had　a　majordomo　of　a　very　facetious　and　sportive　turn；
and　he　it　was　that　played　the　part　of　Merlin；　made　all　the
arrangements　for　the　late　adventure；　composed　the　verses；　and　got　a
page　to　represent　Dulcinea；　and　now；　with　the　assistance　of　his　master
and　mistress；　he　got　up　another　of　the　drollest　and　strangest
contrivances　that　can　be　imagined。
　　The　duchess　asked　Sancho　the　next　day　if　he　had　made　a　beginning
with　his　penance　task　which　he　had　to　perform　for　the　disenchantment
of　Dulcinea。　He　said　he　had；　and　had　given　himself　five　lashes
overnight。
　　The　duchess　asked　him　what　he　had　given　them　with。
　　He　said　with　his　hand。
　　〃That；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃is　more　like　giving　oneself　slaps　than
lashes；　I　am　sure　the　sage　Merlin　will　not　be　satisfied　with　such
tenderness；　worthy　Sancho　must　make　a　scourge　with　claws；　or　a
cat…o'…nine　tails；　that　will　make　itself　felt；　for　it's　with　blood
that　letters　enter；　and　the　release　of　so　great　a　lady　as　Dulcinea
will　not　be　granted　so　cheaply；　or　at　such　a　paltry　price；　and
remember；　Sancho；　that　works　of　charity　done　in　a　lukewarm　and
half…hearted　way　are　without　merit　and　of　no　avail。〃
　　To　which　Sancho　replied；　〃If　your　ladyship　will　give　me　a　proper
scourge　or　cord；　I'll　lay　on　with　it；　provided　it　does　not　hurt　too
much；　for　you　must　know；　boor　as　I　am；　my　flesh　is　more　cotton　than
hemp；　and　it　won't　do　for　me　to　destroy　myself　for　the　good　of　anybody
else。〃
　　〃So　be　it　by　all　means；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃tomorrow　I'll　give　you　a
scourge　that　will　be　just　the　thing　for　you；　and　will　accommodate
itself　to　the　tenderness　of　your　flesh；　as　if　it　was　its　own　sister。〃
　　Then　said　Sancho；　〃Your　highness　must　know；　dear　lady　of　my　soul；
that　I　have　a　letter　written　to　my　wife；　Teresa　Panza；　giving　her　an
account　of　all　that　has　happened　me　since　I　left　her；　I　have　it　here
in　my　bosom；　and　there's　nothing　wanting　but　to　put　the　address　to　it；
I'd　be　glad　if　your　discretion　would　read　it；　for　I　think　it　runs　in
the　governor　style；　I　mean　the　way　governors　ought　to　write。〃
　　〃And　who　dictated　it？〃　asked　the　duchess。
　　〃Who　should　have　dictated　but　myself；　sinner　as　I　am？〃　said　Sancho。
　　〃And　did　you　write　it　yourself？〃　said　the　duchess。
　　〃That　I　didn't；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for　I　can　neither　read　nor　write；
though　I　can　sign　my　name。〃
　　〃Let　us　see　it；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃for　never　fear　but　you　display
in　it　the　quality　and　quantity　of　your　wit。〃
　　Sancho　drew　out　an　open　letter　from　his　bosom；　and　the　duchess；
taking　it；　found　it　ran　in　this　fashion：

　　　　　　　SANCHO　PANZA'S　LETTER　TO　HIS　WIFE；　TERESA　PANZA

　　If　I　was　well　whipped　I　went　mounted　like　a　gentleman；　if　I　have　got
a　good　government　it　is　at　the　cost　of　a　good　whipping。　Thou　wilt
not　understand　this　just　now；　my　Teresa；　by…and…by　thou　wilt　know　what
it　means。　I　may　tell　thee；　Teresa；　I　mean　thee　to　go　in　a　coach；　for
that　is　a　matter　of　importance；　because　every　other　way　of　going　is
going　on　all…fours。　Thou　art　a　governor's　wife；　take　care　that
nobody　speaks　evil　of　thee　behind　thy　back。　I　send　thee　here　a　green
hunting　suit　that　my　lady　the　duchess　gave　me；　alter　it　so　as　to
make　a　petticoat　and　bodice　for　our　daughter。　Don　Quixote；　my
master；　if　I　am　to　believe　what　I　hear　in　these　parts；　is　a　madman
of　some　sense；　and　a　droll　blockhead；　and　I　am　no　way　behind　him。　We
have　been　in　the　cave　of　Montesinos；　and　the　sage　Merlin　has　laid　hold
of　me　for　the　disenchantment　of　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　her　that　is
called　Aldonza　Lorenzo　over　there。　With　three　thousand　three　hundred
lashes；　less　five；　that　I'm　to　give　myself；　she　will　be　left　as
entirely　disenchanted　as　the　mother　that　bore　her。　Say　nothing　of　this
to　anyone；　for；　make　thy　affairs　public；　and　some　will　say　they　are
white　and　others　will　say　they　are　black。　I　shall　leave　this　in　a
few　days　for　my　government；　to　which　I　am　going　with　a　mighty　great
desire　to　make　money；　for　they　tell　me　all　new　governors　set　out
with　the　same　desire；　I　will　feel　the　pulse　of　it　and　will　let　thee
know　if　thou　art　to　come　and　live　with　me　or　not。　Dapple　is　well　and
sends　many　remembrances　to　thee；　I　am　not　going　to　leave　him　behind
though　they　took　me　away　to　be　Grand　Turk。　My　lady　the　duchess
kisses　thy　hands　a　thousand　times；　do　thou　make　a　return　with　two
thousand；　for　as　my　master　says；　nothing　costs　less　or　is　cheaper　than
civility。　God　has　not　been　pleased　to　provide　another　valise　for　me
with　another　hundred　crowns；　like　the　one　the　other　day；　but　never
mind；　my　Teresa；　the　bell…ringer　is　in　safe　quarters；　and　all　will
come　out　in　the　scouring　of　the　government；　only　it　troubles　me
greatly　what　they　tell　me…　that　once　I　have　tasted　it　I　will　eat　my
hands　off　after　it；　and　if　that　is　so　it　will　not　come　very　cheap　to
me；　though　to　be　sure　the　maimed　have　a　benefice　of　their　own　in　the
alms　they　beg　for；　so　that　one　way　or　another　thou　wilt　be　rich　and　in
luck。　God　give　it　to　thee　as　he　can；　and　keep　me　to　serve　thee。　From
this　castle；　the　20th　of　July；　1614。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Thy　husband；　the　governor。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SANCHO　PANZA

　　When　she　had　done　reading　the　letter　the　duchess　said　to　Sancho；　〃On
two　points　the　worthy　governor　goes　rather　astray；　one　is　in　saying　or
hinting　that　this　government　has　been　bestowed　upon　him　for　the　lashes
that　he　is　to　give　himself；　when　he　knows　（and　he　cannot　deny　it）　that
when　my　lord　the　duke　promised　it　to　him　nobody　ever　dreamt　of　such
a　thing　as　lashes；　the　other　is　that　he　shows　himself　here　to　he
very　covetous；　and　I　would　not　have　him　a　money…seeker；　for
'covetousness　bursts　the　bag；'　and　the　covetous　governor　does
ungoverned　justice。〃
　　〃I　don't　mean　it　that　way；　senora；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　if　you　think
the　letter　doesn't　run　as　it　ought　to　do；　it's　only　to　tear　it　up
and　make　another；　and　maybe　it　will　be　a　worse　one　if　it　is　left　to　my
gumption。〃
　　〃No；　no；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃this　one　will　do；　and　I　wish　the　duke
to　see　it。〃
　　With　this　they　betook　themselves　to　a　garden　where　they　were　to
dine；　and　the　duchess　showed　Sancho's　letter　to　the　duke；　who　was
highly　delighted　with　it。　They　dined；　and　after　the　cloth　had　been
removed　and　they　had　amused　themselves　for　a　while　with　Sancho's
rich　conversation；　the　melancholy　sound　of　a　fife　and　harsh　discordant
drum　made　itself　heard。　All　seemed　somewhat　put　out　by　this　dull；
confused；　martial　harmony；　especially　Don　Quixote；　who　could　not
keep　his　seat　from　pure　disquietude；　as　to　Sancho；　it　is　needless　to
say　that　fear　drove　him　to　his　usual　refuge；　the　side　or　the　skirts　of
the　duchess；　and　indeed　and　in　truth　the　sound　they　heard　was　a　most
doleful　and　melancholy　one。　While　they　were　still　in　uncertainty
they　saw　advancing　towards　them　through　the　garden　two　men　clad　in
mourning　robes　so　long　and　flowing　that　they　trailed　upon　the
ground。　As　they　marched　they　beat　two　great　drums　which　were
likewise　draped　in　black；　and　beside　them　came　the　fife　player；
black　and　sombre　like　the　others。　Following　these　came　a　personage
of　gigantic　stature　enveloped　rather　than　clad　in　a　gown　of　the
deepest　black；　the　skirt　of　which　was　of　prodigious　dimensions。　Over
the　gown；　girdling　or　crossing　his　figure；　he　had　a　broad　baldric
which　was　also　black；　and　from　which　hung　a　huge　scimitar　with　a　black
scabbard　and　furniture。　He　had　his　face　covered　with　a　transparent
black　veil；　through　which　might　be　descried　a　very　long　beard　as　white
as　snow。　He　came　on　keeping　step　to　the　sound　of　the　drums　with
great　gravity　and　dignity；　and；　in　short；　his　stature；　his　gait；　the
sombreness　of　his　appearance　and　his　following　might　well　have
struck　with　astonishment；　as　they　did；　all　who　beheld　him　without
knowing　who　he　was。　With　this　measured　pace　and　in　this　guise　he
advanced　to　kneel　before　the　duke；　who；　with　the　others；　awa