don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第164章

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peasant　woman；　she　has　been　known　to　send　to　ask　for　the　loan　of　a
comb　from　one　of　her　neighbours；　for　I　would　have　your　worships　know
that　the　ladies　of　Aragon；　though　they　are　just　as　illustrious；　are
not　so　punctilious　and　haughty　as　the　Castilian　ladies；　they　treat
people　with　greater　familiarity。〃
　　In　the　middle　of　this　conversation　Sanchica　came　in　with　her　skirt
full　of　eggs；　and　said　she　to　the　page；　〃Tell　me；　senor；　does　my
father　wear　trunk…hose　since　he　has　been　governor？〃
　　〃I　have　not　noticed；〃　said　the　page；　〃but　no　doubt　he　wears　them。〃
　　〃Ah！　my　God！〃　said　Sanchica；　〃what　a　sight　it　must　be　to　see　my
father　in　tights！　Isn't　it　odd　that　ever　since　I　was　born　I　have　had　a
longing　to　see　my　father　in　trunk…hose？〃
　　〃As　things　go　you　will　see　that　if　you　live；〃　said　the　page；　〃by　God
he　is　in　the　way　to　take　the　road　with　a　sunshade　if　the　government
only　lasts　him　two　months　more。〃
　　The　curate　and　the　bachelor　could　see　plainly　enough　that　the　page
spoke　in　a　waggish　vein；　but　the　fineness　of　the　coral　beads；　and
the　hunting　suit　that　Sancho　sent　（for　Teresa　had　already　shown　it
to　them）　did　away　with　the　impression；　and　they　could　not　help
laughing　at　Sanchica's　wish；　and　still　more　when　Teresa　said；　〃Senor
curate；　look　about　if　there's　anybody　here　going　to　Madrid　or
Toledo；　to　buy　me　a　hooped　petticoat；　a　proper　fashionable　one　of
the　best　quality；　for　indeed　and　indeed　I　must　do　honour　to　my
husband's　government　as　well　as　I　can；　nay；　if　I　am　put　to　it　and　have
to；　I'll　go　to　Court　and　set　a　coach　like　all　the　world；　for　she　who
has　a　governor　for　her　husband　may　very　well　have　one　and　keep　one。〃
　　〃And　why　not；　mother！〃　said　Sanchica；　〃would　to　God　it　were　to…day
instead　of　to…morrow；　even　though　they　were　to　say　when　they　saw　me
seated　in　the　coach　with　my　mother；　'See　that　rubbish；　that
garlic…stuffed　fellow's　daughter；　how　she　goes　stretched　at　her　ease
in　a　coach　as　if　she　was　a　she…pope！'　But　let　them　tramp　through　the
mud；　and　let　me　go　in　my　coach　with　my　feet　off　the　ground。　Bad　luck
to　backbiters　all　over　the　world；　'let　me　go　warm　and　the　people　may
laugh。'　Do　I　say　right；　mother？〃
　　〃To　be　sure　you　do；　my　child；〃　said　Teresa；　〃and　all　this　good　luck；
and　even　more；　my　good　Sancho　foretold　me；　and　thou　wilt　see；　my
daughter；　he　won't　stop　till　he　has　made　me　a　countess；　for　to　make
a　beginning　is　everything　in　luck；　and　as　I　have　heard　thy　good　father
say　many　a　time　（for　besides　being　thy　father　he's　the　father　of
proverbs　too）；　'When　they　offer　thee　a　heifer；　run　with　a　halter；　when
they　offer　thee　a　government；　take　it；　when　they　would　give　thee　a
county；　seize　it；　when　they　say；　〃Here；　here！〃　to　thee　with
something　good；　swallow　it。'　Oh　no！　go　to　sleep；　and　don't　answer
the　strokes　of　good　fortune　and　the　lucky　chances　that　are　knocking　at
the　door　of　your　house！〃
　　〃And　what　do　I　care；〃　added　Sanchica；　〃whether　anybody　says　when
he　sees　me　holding　my　head　up；　'The　dog　saw　himself　in　hempen
breeches；'　and　the　rest　of　it？〃
　　Hearing　this　the　curate　said；　〃I　do　believe　that　all　this　family
of　the　Panzas　are　born　with　a　sackful　of　proverbs　in　their　insides；
every　one　of　them；　I　never　saw　one　of　them　that　does　not　pour　them　out
at　all　times　and　on　all　occasions。〃
　　〃That　is　true；〃　said　the　page；　〃for　Senor　Governor　Sancho　utters
them　at　every　turn；　and　though　a　great　many　of　them　are　not　to　the
purpose；　still　they　amuse　one；　and　my　lady　the　duchess　and　the　duke
praise　them　highly。〃
　　〃Then　you　still　maintain　that　all　this　about　Sancho's　government
is　true；　senor；〃　said　the　bachelor；　〃and　that　there　actually　is　a
duchess　who　sends　him　presents　and　writes　to　him？　Because　we；　although
we　have　handled　the　present　and　read　the　letters；　don't　believe　it　and
suspect　it　to　be　something　in　the　line　of　our　fellow…townsman　Don
Quixote；　who　fancies　that　everything　is　done　by　enchantment；　and　for
this　reason　I　am　almost　ready　to　say　that　I'd　like　to　touch　and　feel
your　worship　to　see　whether　you　are　a　mere　ambassador　of　the
imagination　or　a　man　of　flesh　and　blood。〃
　　〃All　I　know；　sirs；〃　replied　the　page；　〃is　that　I　am　a　real
ambassador；　and　that　Senor　Sancho　Panza　is　governor　as　a　matter　of
fact；　and　that　my　lord　and　lady　the　duke　and　duchess　can　give；　and
have　given　him　this　same　government；　and　that　I　have　heard　the　said
Sancho　Panza　bears　himself　very　stoutly　therein；　whether　there　be
any　enchantment　in　all　this　or　not；　it　is　for　your　worships　to　settle
between　you；　for　that's　all　I　know　by　the　oath　I　swear；　and　that　is　by
the　life　of　my　parents　whom　I　have　still　alive；　and　love　dearly。〃
　　〃It　may　be　so；〃　said　the　bachelor；　〃but　dubitat　Augustinus。〃
　　〃Doubt　who　will；〃　said　the　page；　〃what　I　have　told　you　is　the　truth；
and　that　will　always　rise　above　falsehood　as　oil　above　water；　if　not
operibus　credite；　et　non　verbis。　Let　one　of　you　come　with　me；　and　he
will　see　with　his　eyes　what　he　does　not　believe　with　his　ears。〃
　　〃It's　for　me　to　make　that　trip；〃　said　Sanchica；　〃take　me　with　you；
senor；　behind　you　on　your　horse；　for　I'll　go　with　all　my　heart　to
see　my　father。〃
　　〃Governors'　daughters；〃　said　the　page；　〃must　not　travel　along　the
roads　alone；　but　accompanied　by　coaches　and　litters　and　a　great　number
of　attendants。〃
　　〃By　God；〃　said　Sanchica；　〃I　can　go　just　as　well　mounted　on　a　she…ass
as　in　a　coach；　what　a　dainty　lass　you　must　take　me　for！〃
　　〃Hush；　girl；〃　said　Teresa；　〃you　don't　know　what　you're　talking
about；　the　gentleman　is　quite　right；　for　'as　the　time　so　the
behaviour；'　when　it　was　Sancho　it　was　'Sancha；'　when　it　is　governor
it's　'senora；'　I　don't　know　if　I'm　right。〃
　　〃Senora　Teresa　says　more　than　she　is　aware　of；〃　said　the　page；
〃and　now　give　me　something　to　eat　and　let　me　go　at　once；　for　I　mean　to
return　this　evening。〃
　　〃Come　and　do　penance　with　me；〃　said　the　curate　at　this；　〃for
Senora　Teresa　has　more　will　than　means　to　serve　so　worthy　a　guest。〃
　　The　page　refused；　but　had　to　consent　at　last　for　his　own　sake；　and
the　curate　took　him　home　with　him　very　gladly；　in　order　to　have　an
opportunity　of　questioning　him　at　leisure　about　Don　Quixote　and　his
doings。　The　bachelor　offered　to　write　the　letters　in　reply　for　Teresa；
but　she　did　not　care　to　let　him　mix　himself　up　in　her　affairs；　for　she
thought　him　somewhat　given　to　joking；　and　so　she　gave　a　cake　and　a
couple　of　eggs　to　a　young　acolyte　who　was　a　penman；　and　he　wrote　for
her　two　letters；　one　for　her　husband　and　the　other　for　the　duchess；
dictated　out　of　her　own　head；　which　are　not　the　worst　inserted　in　this
great　history；　as　will　be　seen　farther　on。


　　CHAPTER　LI
　　OF　THE　PROGRESS　OF　SANCHO'S　GOVERNMENT；　AND　OTHER　SUCH
ENTERTAINING　MATTERS

　　DAY　came　after　the　night　of　the　governor's　round；　a　night　which
the　head…carver　passed　without　sleeping；　so　were　his　thoughts　of　the
face　and　air　and　beauty　of　the　disguised　damsel；　while　the　majordomo
spent　what　was　left　of　it　in　writing　an　account　to　his　lord　and　lady
of　all　Sancho　said　and　did；　being　as　much　amazed　at　his　sayings　as
at　his　doings；　for　there　was　a　mixture　of　shrewdness　and　simplicity　in
all　his　words　and　deeds。　The　senor　governor　got　up；　and　by　Doctor
Pedro　Recio's　directions　they　made　him　break　his　fast　on　a　little
conserve　and　four　sups　of　cold　water；　which　Sancho　would　have
readily　exchanged　for　a　piece　of　bread　and　a　bunch　of　grapes；　but
seeing　there　was　no　help　for　it；　he　submitted　with　no　little　sorrow　of
heart　and　discomfort　of　stomach；　Pedro　Recio　having　persuaded　him　that
light　and　delicate　diet　enlivened　the　wits；　and　that　was　what　was　most
essential　for　persons　placed　in　command　and　in　responsible　situations；
where　they　have　to　employ　not　only　the　bodily　powers　but　those　of
the　mind　also。
　　By　means　of　this　sophistry　Sancho　was　made　to　endure　hunger；　and
hunger　so　keen　that　in　his　heart　he　cursed　the　government；　and　even
him　who　had　given　it　to　him；　however；　with　his　hunger　and　his　conserve
he　undertook　to　deliver　judgments　that　day；　and　the　first　thing　that
came　before　him　was　a　question　that　was　submitted　to　him　by　a
stranger；　in　the　presence　of　the　majordomo　and　the　other　attendants；
and　it　was　in　these　words：　〃Senor；　a　large　river　separated　two
districts　of　one　and　the　same　lordship…　will　your　worship　please　to
pay　attention；　for　the　case　is　an　important　and　a　rather　knotty　one？
Well　then；　on　this　river　there　was　a　bridge；　and　at　one　end　of　it　a
gallows；　and　a　sort　of　tribunal；　where　four　judges　commonly　sat　to
administer　the　law　which　the　lord　of　river；　bridge　and　the　lordship
had　enacted；　and　which　was　to　this　effect；　'If　anyone　crosses　by
this　bridge　from　one　side　to　the　other　he　shall　declare　on　oath
where　he　is　going　to　and　with　what　object；　and　if　he　swears　truly；
he　shall　be　allowed　to　pass；　but　if　falsely；　he　shall　be　put　to
death　for　it　by　hanging　on　the　gallows　erected　there；　without　any
remission。'　Though　the　law　and　its　severe　penalty　were　known；　many
persons　crossed；　but　in　their　declarations　it　was　easy　to　see　at
once　they　were　telling　the　truth；　and　the　judges　let　them　pass　free。
It　happened；　however；　that　one　man；　when　they　came　to　take　his
declaration；　swore　and　said　that　by　the　oath　he　took　he　was　going　to
die　upon　that　gallows　that　stood　there；　and　nothing　else。　The　judges
held　a　consultation　over　the　oath；　and　they　said；　'If　we　let　this
man　pass　free　he　has　sworn　falsely；　and　by　the　law　he　ought　to　die；
but　if　we　hang　him；　as　he　swore　he　was　going　to　die　on　that　gallows；
and　therefore　swore　the　truth；　by　the　same　law　he　ought　to　go　free。'
It　is　asked　of　your　worship；　senor　governor；　what　are　the　judges　to　do
with　this　man？　For　they　are　still　in　doubt　and　perplexity；　and
having　heard　of　your　worship's　acute　and　exalted　intellect；　they
have　sent　me　to　entreat　your　worship　on　their　behalf　to　give　your
opinion　on　this　very　intricate　and　puzzling　case。〃
　　To　this　Sancho　made　answer；　〃Indeed　those　gentlemen　the　judges
that　send　you　to　me　might　have　spared　themselves　the　trouble；　for　I
have　more　of　the　obtuse　than　the　acute　in　me；　but　repeat　the　case　over
again；　so　that　I　may　understand　it；　and　then　perhaps　I　may　be　able
to　hit　the　point。〃
　　The　querist　repeated　again　and　again　what　he　had　said　before；　and
then　Sancho　said；　〃It　seems　to　me　I　can　set　the　matter　right　in　a
moment；　and　in　this　way；　the　man　swears　that　he　is　going　to　die　upon
the　gallows；　but　if　he　dies　upon　it；　he　has　sworn　the　truth；　and　by
the　law　enacted　deserves　to　go　free　and　pass　over　the　bridge；　but　if
they　don't　hang　him；　then　he　has　sworn　falsely；　and　by　the　same　law
deserves　to　be　hanged。〃
　　〃It　is　as　the　senor　governor　says；〃　said　the　messenger；　〃and　as
regards　a　complete　comprehension　of　the　case；　there　is　nothing　left　to
desire　or　hesitate　about。〃
　　〃Well　then　I　say；〃　said　Sancho；　〃that　of　this　man　they　should　let
pass　the　part　that　has　sworn　truly；　and　hang　the　part　that　has　lied；
and　in　this　way　the　conditions　of　the　passage　will　be　fully　complied
with。〃
　　〃But　then；　senor　governor；〃　replied　the　querist；　〃the　man　will
have　to　be　divided　into　two　parts；　and　if　he　is　divided　of　course　he
will　die；　and　so　none　of　the　requirements　of　the　law　will　be　carried
out；　and　it　is　absolutely　necessary　to　comply　with　it。〃
　　〃Look　here；　m