don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第151章

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former　complexion　the　countenances　of　those　venerable　duennas；　he
advanced　towards　the　duke　and　duchess；　who　had　not　yet　come　to
themselves；　and　taking　the　duke　by　the　hand　he　said；　〃Be　of　good
cheer；　worthy　sir；　be　of　good　cheer；　it's　nothing　at　all；　the
adventure　is　now　over　and　without　any　harm　done；　as　the　inscription
fixed　on　this　post　shows　plainly。〃
　　The　duke　came　to　himself　slowly　and　like　one　recovering
consciousness　after　a　heavy　sleep；　and　the　duchess　and　all　who　had
fallen　prostrate　about　the　garden　did　the　same；　with　such
demonstrations　of　wonder　and　amazement　that　they　would　have　almost
persuaded　one　that　what　they　pretended　so　adroitly　in　jest　had
happened　to　them　in　reality。　The　duke　read　the　placard　with
half…shut　eyes；　and　then　ran　to　embrace　Don　Quixote　with…open　arms；
declaring　him　to　be　the　best　knight　that　had　ever　been　seen　in　any
age。　Sancho　kept　looking　about　for　the　Distressed　One；　to　see　what　her
face　was　like　without　the　beard；　and　if　she　was　as　fair　as　her　elegant
person　promised；　but　they　told　him　that；　the　instant　Clavileno
descended　flaming　through　the　air　and　came　to　the　ground；　the　whole
band　of　duennas　with　the　Trifaldi　vanished；　and　that　they　were　already
shaved　and　without　a　stump　left。
　　The　duchess　asked　Sancho　how　he　had　fared　on　that　long　journey；　to
which　Sancho　replied；　〃I　felt；　senora；　that　we　were　flying　through　the
region　of　fire；　as　my　master　told　me；　and　I　wanted　to　uncover　my
eyes　for　a　bit；　but　my　master；　when　I　asked　leave　to　uncover　myself；
would　not　let　me；　but　as　I　have　a　little　bit　of　curiosity　about　me；
and　a　desire　to　know　what　is　forbidden　and　kept　from　me；　quietly　and
without　anyone　seeing　me　I　drew　aside　the　handkerchief　covering　my
eyes　ever　so　little；　close　to　my　nose；　and　from　underneath　looked
towards　the　earth；　and　it　seemed　to　me　that　it　was　altogether　no
bigger　than　a　grain　of　mustard　seed；　and　that　the　men　walking　on　it
were　little　bigger　than　hazel　nuts；　so　you　may　see　how　high　we　must
have　got　to　then。〃
　　To　this　the　duchess　said；　〃Sancho；　my　friend；　mind　what　you　are
saying；　it　seems　you　could　not　have　seen　the　earth；　but　only　the　men
walking　on　it；　for　if　the　earth　looked　to　you　like　a　grain　of
mustard　seed；　and　each　man　like　a　hazel　nut；　one　man　alone　would
have　covered　the　whole　earth。〃
　　〃That　is　true；〃　said　Sancho；　〃but　for　all　that　I　got　a　glimpse　of
a　bit　of　one　side　of　it；　and　saw　it　all。〃
　　〃Take　care；　Sancho；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃with　a　bit　of　one　side　one
does　not　see　the　whole　of　what　one　looks　at。〃
　　〃I　don't　understand　that　way　of　looking　at　things；〃　said　Sancho；
〃I　only　know　that　your　ladyship　will　do　well　to　bear　in　mind　that　as
we　were　flying　by　enchantment　so　I　might　have　seen　the　whole　earth　and
all　the　men　by　enchantment　whatever　way　I　looked；　and　if　you　won't
believe　this；　no　more　will　you　believe　that；　uncovering　myself
nearly　to　the　eyebrows；　I　saw　myself　so　close　to　the　sky　that　there
was　not　a　palm　and　a　half　between　me　and　it；　and　by　everything　that
I　can　swear　by；　senora；　it　is　mighty　great！　And　it　so　happened　we　came
by　where　the　seven　goats　are；　and　by　God　and　upon　my　soul；　as　in　my
youth　I　was　a　goatherd　in　my　own　country；　as　soon　as　I　saw　them　I　felt
a　longing　to　be　among　them　for　a　little；　and　if　I　had　not　given　way　to
it　I　think　I'd　have　burst。　So　I　come　and　take；　and　what　do　I　do？
without　saying　anything　to　anybody；　not　even　to　my　master；　softly
and　quietly　I　got　down　from　Clavileno　and　amused　myself　with　the
goats…　which　are　like　violets；　like　flowers…　for　nigh　three…quarters
of　an　hour；　and　Clavileno　never　stirred　or　moved　from　one　spot。〃
　　〃And　while　the　good　Sancho　was　amusing　himself　with　the　goats；〃　said
the　duke；　〃how　did　Senor　Don　Quixote　amuse　himself？〃
　　To　which　Don　Quixote　replied；　〃As　all　these　things　and　such　like
occurrences　are　out　of　the　ordinary　course　of　nature；　it　is　no
wonder　that　Sancho　says　what　he　does；　for　my　own　part　I　can　only　say
that　I　did　not　uncover　my　eyes　either　above　or　below；　nor　did　I　see
sky　or　earth　or　sea　or　shore。　It　is　true　I　felt　that　I　was　passing
through　the　region　of　the　air；　and　even　that　I　touched　that　of　fire；
but　that　we　passed　farther　I　cannot　believe；　for　the　region　of　fire
being　between　the　heaven　of　the　moon　and　the　last　region　of　the　air；
we　could　not　have　reached　that　heaven　where　the　seven　goats　Sancho
speaks　of　are　without　being　burned；　and　as　we　were　not　burned；
either　Sancho　is　lying　or　Sancho　is　dreaming。〃
　　〃I　am　neither　lying　nor　dreaming；〃　said　Sancho；　〃only　ask　me　the
tokens　of　those　same　goats；　and　you'll　see　by　that　whether　I'm　telling
the　truth　or　not。〃
　　〃Tell　us　them　then；　Sancho；〃　said　the　duchess。
　　〃Two　of　them；〃　said　Sancho；　〃are　green；　two　blood…red；　two　blue；　and
one　a　mixture　of　all　colours。〃
　　〃An　odd　sort　of　goat；　that；〃　said　the　duke；　〃in　this　earthly
region　of　ours　we　have　no　such　colours；　I　mean　goats　of　such　colours。〃
　　〃That's　very　plain；〃　said　Sancho；　〃of　course　there　must　be　a
difference　between　the　goats　of　heaven　and　the　goats　of　the　earth。〃
　　〃Tell　me；　Sancho；〃　said　the　duke；　〃did　you　see　any　he…goat　among
those　goats？〃
　　〃No；　senor；〃　said　Sancho；　〃but　I　have　heard　say　that　none　ever
passed　the　horns　of　the　moon。〃
　　They　did　not　care　to　ask　him　anything　more　about　his　journey；　for
they　saw　he　was　in　the　vein　to　go　rambling　all　over　the　heavens　giving
an　account　of　everything　that　went　on　there；　without　having　ever
stirred　from　the　garden。　Such；　in　short；　was　the　end　of　the
adventure　of　the　Distressed　Duenna；　which　gave　the　duke　and　duchess
laughing　matter　not　only　for　the　time　being；　but　for　all　their
lives；　and　Sancho　something　to　talk　about　for　ages；　if　he　lived　so
long；　but　Don　Quixote；　coming　close　to　his　ear；　said　to　him；
〃Sancho；　as　you　would　have　us　believe　what　you　saw　in　heaven；　I
require　you　to　believe　me　as　to　what　I　saw　in　the　cave　of
Montesinos；　I　say　no　more。〃


　　CHAPTER　XLII
　　OF　THE　COUNSELS　WHICH　DON　QUIXOTE　GAVE　SANCHO　PANZA　BEFORE　HE　SET
OUT　TO　GOVERN　THE　ISLAND；　TOGETHER　WITH　OTHER　WELL…CONSIDERED　MATTERS

　　THE　duke　and　duchess　were　so　well　pleased　with　the　successful　and
droll　result　of　the　adventure　of　the　Distressed　One；　that　they
resolved　to　carry　on　the　joke；　seeing　what　a　fit　subject　they　had　to
deal　with　for　making　it　all　pass　for　reality。　So　having　laid　their
plans　and　given　instructions　to　their　servants　and　vassals　how　to
behave　to　Sancho　in　his　government　of　the　promised　island；　the　next
day；　that　following　Clavileno's　flight；　the　duke　told　Sancho　to
prepare　and　get　ready　to　go　and　be　governor；　for　his　islanders　were
already　looking　out　for　him　as　for　the　showers　of　May。
　　Sancho　made　him　an　obeisance；　and　said；　〃Ever　since　I　came　down　from
heaven；　and　from　the　top　of　it　beheld　the　earth；　and　saw　how　little　it
is；　the　great　desire　I　had　to　be　a　governor　has　been　partly　cooled
in　me；　for　what　is　there　grand　in　being　ruler　on　a　grain　of　mustard
seed；　or　what　dignity　or　authority　in　governing　half　a　dozen　men　about
as　big　as　hazel　nuts；　for；　so　far　as　I　could　see；　there　were　no　more
on　the　whole　earth？　If　your　lordship　would　be　so　good　as　to　give　me
ever　so　small　a　bit　of　heaven；　were　it　no　more　than　half　a　league；　I'd
rather　have　it　than　the　best　island　in　the　world。〃
　　〃Recollect；　Sancho；〃　said　the　duke；　〃I　cannot　give　a　bit　of
heaven；　no　not　so　much　as　the　breadth　of　my　nail；　to　anyone；　rewards
and　favours　of　that　sort　are　reserved　for　God　alone。　What　I　can　give　I
give　you；　and　that　is　a　real；　genuine　island；　compact；　well
proportioned；　and　uncommonly　fertile　and　fruitful；　where；　if　you
know　how　to　use　your　opportunities；　you　may；　with　the　help　of　the
world's　riches；　gain　those　of　heaven。〃
　　〃Well　then；〃　said　Sancho；　〃let　the　island　come；　and　I'll　try　and
be　such　a　governor；　that　in　spite　of　scoundrels　I'll　go　to　heaven；　and
it's　not　from　any　craving　to　quit　my　own　humble　condition　or　better
myself；　but　from　the　desire　I　have　to　try　what　it　tastes　like　to　be
a　governor。〃
　　〃If　you　once　make　trial　of　it；　Sancho；〃　said　the　duke；　〃you'll　eat
your　fingers　off　after　the　government；　so　sweet　a　thing　is　it　to
command　and　be　obeyed。　Depend　upon　it　when　your　master　comes　to　be
emperor　（as　he　will　beyond　a　doubt　from　the　course　his　affairs　are
taking）；　it　will　be　no　easy　matter　to　wrest　the　dignity　from　him；
and　he　will　be　sore　and　sorry　at　heart　to　have　been　so　long　without
becoming　one。〃
　　〃Senor；〃　said　Sancho；　〃it　is　my　belief　it's　a　good　thing　to　be　in
command；　if　it's　only　over　a　drove　of　cattle。〃
　　〃May　I　be　buried　with　you；　Sancho；〃　said　the　duke；　〃but　you　know
everything；　I　hope　you　will　make　as　good　a　governor　as　your　sagacity
promises；　and　that　is　all　I　have　to　say；　and　now　remember　to…morrow　is
the　day　you　must　set　out　for　the　government　of　the　island；　and　this
evening　they　will　provide　you　with　the　proper　attire　for　you　to
wear；　and　all　things　requisite　for　your　departure。〃
　　〃Let　them　dress　me　as　they　like；〃　said　Sancho；　〃however　I'm
dressed　I'll　be　Sancho　Panza。〃
　　〃That's　true；〃　said　the　duke；　〃but　one's　dress　must　be　suited　to　the
office　or　rank　one　holds；　for　it　would　not　do　for　a　jurist　to　dress
like　a　soldier；　or　a　soldier　like　a　priest。　You；　Sancho；　shall　go
partly　as　a　lawyer；　partly　as　a　captain；　for；　in　the　island　I　am
giving　you；　arms　are　needed　as　much　as　letters；　and　letters　as　much　as
arms。〃
　　〃Of　letters　I　know　but　little；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for　I　don't　even
know　the　A　B　C；　but　it　is　enough　for　me　to　have　the　Christus　in　my
memory　to　be　a　good　governor。　As　for　arms；　I'll　handle　those　they　give
me　till　I　drop；　and　then；　God　be　my　help！〃
　　〃With　so　good　a　memory；〃　said　the　duke；　〃Sancho　cannot　go　wrong　in
anything。〃
　　Here　Don　Quixote　joined　them；　and　learning　what　passed；　and　how　soon
Sancho　was　to　go　to　his　government；　he　with　the　duke's　permission　took
him　by　the　hand；　and　retired　to　his　room　with　him　for　the　purpose　of
giving　him　advice　as　to　how　he　was　to　demean　himself　in　his　office。　As
soon　as　they　had　entered　the　chamber　he　closed　the　door　after　him；　and
almost　by　force　made　Sancho　sit　down　beside　him；　and　in　a　quiet　tone
thus　addressed　him：　〃I　give　infinite　thanks　to　heaven；　friend
Sancho；　that；　before　I　have　met　with　any　good　luck；　fortune　has　come
forward　to　meet　thee。　I　who　counted　upon　my　good　fortune　to
discharge　the　recompense　of　thy　services；　find　myself　still　waiting
for　advancement；　while　thou；　before　the　time；　and　contrary　to　all
reasonable　expectation；　seest　thyself　blessed　in　the　fulfillment　of
thy　desires。　Some　will　bribe；　beg；　solicit；　rise　early；　entreat；
persist；　without　attaining　the　object　of　their　suit；　while　another
comes；　and　without　knowing　why　or　wherefore；　finds　himself　invested
with　the　place　or　office　so　many　have　sued　for；　and　here　it　is　that
the　common　saying；　'There　is　good　luck　as　well　as　bad　luck　in
suits；'　applies。　Thou；　who；　to　my　thinking；　art　beyond　all　doubt　a
dullard；　without　early　rising　or　night　watching　or　taking　any　trouble；
with　the　mere　breath　of　knight…errantry　that　has　breathed　upon　thee；
seest　thyself　without　more　ado　governor　of　an　island；　as　though　it
were　a　mere　matter　of　course。　This　I　say；　Sancho；　that　thou
attribute　not　the　favour　thou　hast　received　to　thine　own　merits；　but