don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第159章

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rotting　in　my　breast；　come　what　may。　I　mean；　senor；　that　I'd　like　your
worship　to　give　me　three　hundred　or　six　hundred　ducats　as　a　help　to　my
bachelor's　portion；　to　help　him　in　setting　up　house；　for　they　must；　in
short；　live　by　themselves；　without　being　subject　to　the
interferences　of　their　fathers…in…law。〃
　　〃Just　see　if　there's　anything　else　you'd　like；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and
don't　hold　back　from　mentioning　it　out　of　bashfulness　or　modesty。〃
　　〃No；　indeed　there　is　not；〃　said　the　farmer。
　　The　moment　he　said　this　the　governor　started　to　his　feet；　and
seizing　the　chair　he　had　been　sitting　on　exclaimed；　〃By　all　that's
good；　you　ill…bred；　boorish　Don　Bumpkin；　if　you　don't　get　out　of
this　at　once　and　hide　yourself　from　my　sight；　I'll　lay　your　head
open　with　this　chair。　You　whoreson　rascal；　you　devil's　own　painter；
and　is　it　at　this　hour　you　come　to　ask　me　for　six　hundred　ducats！
How　should　I　have　them；　you　stinking　brute？　And　why　should　I　give　them
to　you　if　I　had　them；　you　knave　and　blockhead？　What　have　I　to　do
with　Miguelturra　or　the　whole　family　of　the　Perlerines？　Get　out　I　say；
or　by　the　life　of　my　lord　the　duke　I'll　do　as　I　said。　You're　not
from　Miguelturra；　but　some　knave　sent　here　from　hell　to　tempt　me。　Why；
you　villain；　I　have　not　yet　had　the　government　half　a　day；　and　you
want　me　to　have　six　hundred　ducats　already！〃
　　The　carver　made　signs　to　the　farmer　to　leave　the　room；　which　he
did　with　his　head　down；　and　to　all　appearance　in　terror　lest　the
governor　should　carry　his　threats　into　effect；　for　the　rogue　knew　very
well　how　to　play　his　part。
　　But　let　us　leave　Sancho　in　his　wrath；　and　peace　be　with　them　all；
and　let　us　return　to　Don　Quixote；　whom　we　left　with　his　face
bandaged　and　doctored　after　the　cat　wounds；　of　which　he　was　not
cured　for　eight　days；　and　on　one　of　these　there　befell　him　what　Cide
Hamete　promises　to　relate　with　that　exactitude　and　truth　with　which　he
is　wont　to　set　forth　everything　connected　with　this　great　history；
however　minute　it　may　be。
　　

CHAPTER　XLVIII
　　OF　WHAT　BEFELL　DON　QUIXOTE　WITH　DONA　RODRIGUEZ；　THE　DUCHESS'S
DUENNA；　TOGETHER　WITH　OTHER　OCCURRENCES　WORTHY　OF　RECORD　AND　ETERNAL
REMEMBRANCE

　　EXCEEDINGLY　moody　and　dejected　was　the　sorely　wounded　Don　Quixote；
with　his　face　bandaged　and　marked；　not　by　the　hand　of　God；　but　by
the　claws　of　a　cat；　mishaps　incidental　to　knight…errantry。　Six　days　he
remained　without　appearing　in　public；　and　one　night　as　he　lay　awake
thinking　of　his　misfortunes　and　of　Altisidora's　pursuit　of　him；　he
perceived　that　some　one　was　opening　the　door　of　his　room　with　a　key；
and　he　at　once　made　up　his　mind　that　the　enamoured　damsel　was　coming
to　make　an　assault　upon　his　chastity　and　put　him　in　danger　of
failing　in　the　fidelity　he　owed　to　his　lady　Dulcinea　del　Toboso。　〃No；〃
said　he；　firmly　persuaded　of　the　truth　of　his　idea　（and　he　said　it
loud　enough　to　be　heard）；　〃the　greatest　beauty　upon　earth　shall　not
avail　to　make　me　renounce　my　adoration　of　her　whom　I　bear　stamped
and　graved　in　the　core　of　my　heart　and　the　secret　depths　of　my　bowels；
be　thou；　lady　mine；　transformed　into　a　clumsy　country　wench；　or　into　a
nymph　of　golden　Tagus　weaving　a　web　of　silk　and　gold；　let　Merlin　or
Montesinos　hold　thee　captive　where　they　will；　whereer　thou　art；　thou
art　mine；　and　where'er　I　am；　must　he　thine。〃　The　very　instant　he　had
uttered　these　words；　the　door　opened。　He　stood　up　on　the　bed　wrapped
from　head　to　foot　in　a　yellow　satin　coverlet；　with　a　cap　on　his
head；　and　his　face　and　his　moustaches　tied　up；　his　face　because　of　the
scratches；　and　his　moustaches　to　keep　them　from　drooping　and　falling
down；　in　which　trim　he　looked　the　most　extraordinary　scarecrow　that
could　be　conceived。　He　kept　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　door；　and　just　as　he
was　expecting　to　see　the　love…smitten　and　unhappy　Altisidora　make
her　appearance；　he　saw　coming　in　a　most　venerable　duenna；　in　a　long
white…bordered　veil　that　covered　and　enveloped　her　from　head　to
foot。　Between　the　fingers　of　her　left　hand　she　held　a　short　lighted
candle；　while　with　her　right　she　shaded　it　to　keep　the　light　from
her　eyes；　which　were　covered　by　spectacles　of　great　size；　and　she
advanced　with　noiseless　steps；　treading　very　softly。
　　Don　Quixote　kept　an　eye　upon　her　from　his　watchtower；　and
observing　her　costume　and　noting　her　silence；　he　concluded　that　it
must　be　some　witch　or　sorceress　that　was　coming　in　such　a　guise　to
work　him　some　mischief；　and　he　began　crossing　himself　at　a　great　rate。
The　spectre　still　advanced；　and　on　reaching　the　middle　of　the　room；
looked　up　and　saw　the　energy　with　which　Don　Quixote　was　crossing
himself；　and　if　he　was　scared　by　seeing　such　a　figure　as　hers；　she　was
terrified　at　the　sight　of　his；　for　the　moment　she　saw　his　tall
yellow　form　with　the　coverlet　and　the　bandages　that　disfigured　him；
she　gave　a　loud　scream；　and　exclaiming；　〃Jesus！　what's　this　I　see？〃
let　fall　the　candle　in　her　fright；　and　then　finding　herself　in　the
dark；　turned　about　to　make　off；　but　stumbling　on　her　skirts　in　her
consternation；　she　measured　her　length　with　a　mighty　fall。
　　Don　Quixote　in　his　trepidation　began　saying；　〃I　conjure　thee；
phantom；　or　whatever　thou　art；　tell　me　what　thou　art　and　what　thou
wouldst　with　me。　If　thou　art　a　soul　in　torment；　say　so；　and　all　that
my　powers　can　do　I　will　do　for　thee；　for　I　am　a　Catholic　Christian　and
love　to　do　good　to　all　the　world；　and　to　this　end　I　have　embraced
the　order　of　knight…errantry　to　which　I　belong；　the　province　of
which　extends　to　doing　good　even　to　souls　in　purgatory。〃
　　The　unfortunate　duenna　hearing　herself　thus　conjured；　by　her　own
fear　guessed　Don　Quixote's　and　in　a　low　plaintive　voice　answered；
〃Senor　Don　Quixote…　if　so　be　you　are　indeed　Don　Quixote…　I　am　no
phantom　or　spectre　or　soul　in　purgatory；　as　you　seem　to　think；　but
Dona　Rodriguez；　duenna　of　honour　to　my　lady　the　duchess；　and　I　come　to
you　with　one　of　those　grievances　your　worship　is　wont　to　redress。〃
　　〃Tell　me；　Senora　Dona　Rodriguez；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃do　you
perchance　come　to　transact　any　go…between　business？　Because　I　must
tell　you　I　am　not　available　for　anybody's　purpose；　thanks　to　the
peerless　beauty　of　my　lady　Dulcinea　del　Toboso。　In　short；　Senora
Dona　Rodriguez；　if　you　will　leave　out　and　put　aside　all　love　messages；
you　may　go　and　light　your　candle　and　come　back；　and　we　will　discuss
all　the　commands　you　have　for　me　and　whatever　you　wish；　saving　only；
as　I　said；　all　seductive　communications。〃
　　〃I　carry　nobody's　messages；　senor；〃　said　the　duenna；　〃little　you
know　me。　Nay；　I'm　not　far　enough　advanced　in　years　to　take　to　any　such
childish　tricks。　God　be　praised　I　have　a　soul　in　my　body　still；　and
all　my　teeth　and　grinders　in　my　mouth；　except　one　or　two　that　the
colds；　so　common　in　this　Aragon　country；　have　robbed　me　of。　But　wait　a
little；　while　I　go　and　light　my　candle；　and　I　will　return
immediately　and　lay　my　sorrows　before　you　as　before　one　who　relieves
those　of　all　the　world；〃　and　without　staying　for　an　answer　she　quitted
the　room　and　left　Don　Quixote　tranquilly　meditating　while　he　waited
for　her。　A　thousand　thoughts　at　once　suggested　themselves　to　him　on
the　subject　of　this　new　adventure；　and　it　struck　him　as　being　ill　done
and　worse　advised　in　him　to　expose　himself　to　the　danger　of　breaking
his　plighted　faith　to　his　lady；　and　said　he　to　himself；　〃Who　knows　but
that　the　devil；　being　wily　and　cunning；　may　be　trying　now　to　entrap　me
with　a　duenna；　having　failed　with　empresses；　queens；　duchesses；
marchionesses；　and　countesses？　Many　a　time　have　I　heard　it　said　by
many　a　man　of　sense　that　he　will　sooner　offer　you　a　flat…nosed　wench
than　a　roman…nosed　one；　and　who　knows　but　this　privacy；　this
opportunity；　this　silence；　may　awaken　my　sleeping　desires；　and　lead　me
in　these　my　latter　years　to　fall　where　I　have　never　tripped？　In
cases　of　this　sort　it　is　better　to　flee　than　to　await　the　battle。
But　I　must　be　out　of　my　senses　to　think　and　utter　such　nonsense；　for
it　is　impossible　that　a　long；　white…hooded　spectacled　duenna　could
stir　up　or　excite　a　wanton　thought　in　the　most　graceless　bosom　in
the　world。　Is　there　a　duenna　on　earth　that　has　fair　flesh？　Is　there
a　duenna　in　the　world　that　escapes　being　ill…tempered；　wrinkled；　and
prudish？　Avaunt；　then；　ye　duenna　crew；　undelightful　to　all　mankind。
Oh；　but　that　lady　did　well　who；　they　say；　had　at　the　end　of　her
reception　room　a　couple　of　figures　of　duennas　with　spectacles　and
lace…cushions；　as　if　at　work；　and　those　statues　served　quite　as　well
to　give　an　air　of　propriety　to　the　room　as　if　they　had　been　real
duennas。〃
　　So　saying　he　leaped　off　the　bed；　intending　to　close　the　door　and　not
allow　Senora　Rodriguez　to　enter；　but　as　he　went　to　shut　it　Senora
Rodriguez　returned　with　a　wax　candle　lighted；　and　having　a　closer　view
of　Don　Quixote；　with　the　coverlet　round　him；　and　his　bandages　and
night…cap；　she　was　alarmed　afresh；　and　retreating　a　couple　of　paces；
exclaimed；　〃Am　I　safe；　sir　knight？　for　I　don't　look　upon　it　as　a
sign　of　very　great　virtue　that　your　worship　should　have　got　up　out
of　bed。〃
　　〃I　may　well　ask　the　same；　senora；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and　I　do　ask
whether　I　shall　be　safe　from　being　assailed　and　forced？〃
　　〃Of　whom　and　against　whom　do　you　demand　that　security；　sir
knight？〃　said　the　duenna。
　　〃Of　you　and　against　you　I　ask　it；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃for　I　am　not
marble；　nor　are　you　brass；　nor　is　it　now　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning；
but　midnight；　or　a　trifle　past　it　I　fancy；　and　we　are　in　a　room　more
secluded　and　retired　than　the　cave　could　have　been　where　the
treacherous　and　daring　AEneas　enjoyed　the　fair　soft…hearted　Dido。
But　give　me　your　hand；　senora；　I　require　no　better　protection　than
my　own　continence；　and　my　own　sense　of　propriety；　as　well　as　that
which　is　inspired　by　that　venerable　head…dress；〃　and　so　saying　he
kissed　her　right　hand　and　took　it　in　his　own；　she　yielding　it　to　him
with　equal　ceremoniousness。　And　here　Cide　Hamete　inserts　a　parenthesis
in　which　he　says　that　to　have　seen　the　pair　marching　from　the　door
to　the　bed；　linked　hand　in　hand　in　this　way；　he　would　have　given　the
best　of　the　two　tunics　he　had。
　　Don　Quixote　finally　got　into　bed；　and　Dona　Rodriguez　took　her　seat
on　a　chair　at　some　little　distance　from　his　couch；　without　taking
off　her　spectacles　or　putting　aside　the　candle。　Don　Quixote　wrapped
the　bedclothes　round　him　and　covered　himself　up　completely；　leaving
nothing　but　his　face　visible；　and　as　soon　as　they　had　both　regained
their　composure　he　broke　silence；　saying；　〃Now；　Senora　Dona　Rodriguez；
you　may　unbosom　yourself　and　out　with　everything　you　have　in　your
sorrowful　heart　and　afflicted　bowels；　and　by　me　you　shall　be
listened　to　with　chaste　ears；　and　aided　by　compassionate　exertions。〃
　　〃I　believe　it；〃　replied　the　duenna；　〃from　your　worship's　gentle
and　winning　presence　only　such　a　Christian　answer　could　be　expected。
The　fact　is；　then；　Senor　Don　Quixote；　that　though　you　see　me　seated　in
this　chair；　here　in　the　middle　of　the　kingdom　of　Aragon；　and　in　the
attire　of　a　despised　outcast　duenna；　I　am　from　the　Asturias　of　Oviedo；
and　of　a　family　with　which　many　of　the　best　of　the　province　are
connected　by　blood；　but　my　untoward　fate　and　the　improvidence　of　my
parents；　who；　I　know　not　how；　were　unseasonably　re