don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第177章

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　　〃That　is　what　I　mean　to　do；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and　as　it　is　now
time；　I　pray　your　worships　to　give　me　leave　to　retire　to　bed；　and　to
place　and　retain　me　among　the　number　of　your　greatest　friends　and
servants。〃
　　〃And　me　too；〃　said　Sancho；　〃maybe　I'll　be　good　for　something。〃
　　With　this　they　exchanged　farewells；　and　Don　Quixote　and　Sancho
retired　to　their　room；　leaving　Don　Juan　and　Don　Jeronimo　amazed　to　see
the　medley　he　made　of　his　good　sense　and　his　craziness；　and　they
felt　thoroughly　convinced　that　these；　and　not　those　their　Aragonese
author　described；　were　the　genuine　Don　Quixote　and　Sancho。　Don　Quixote
rose　betimes；　and　bade　adieu　to　his　hosts　by　knocking　at　the　partition
of　the　other　room。　Sancho　paid　the　landlord　magnificently；　and
recommended　him　either　to　say　less　about　the　providing　of　his　inn　or
to　keep　it　better　provided。
　　

CHAPTER　LX
　　OF　WHAT　HAPPENED　DON　QUIXOTE　ON　HIS　WAY　TO　BARCELONA

　　IT　WAS　a　fresh　morning　giving　promise　of　a　cool　day　as　Don　Quixote
quitted　the　inn；　first　of　all　taking　care　to　ascertain　the　most　direct
road　to　Barcelona　without　touching　upon　Saragossa；　so　anxious　was　he
to　make　out　this　new　historian；　who　they　said　abused　him　so；　to　be　a
liar。　Well；　as　it　fell　out；　nothing　worthy　of　being　recorded
happened　him　for　six　days；　at　the　end　of　which；　having　turned　aside
out　of　the　road；　he　was　overtaken　by　night　in　a　thicket　of　oak　or　cork
trees；　for　on　this　point　Cide　Hamete　is　not　as　precise　as　he　usually
is　on　other　matters。
　　Master　and　man　dismounted　from　their　beasts；　and　as　soon　as　they　had
settled　themselves　at　the　foot　of　the　trees；　Sancho；　who　had　had　a
good　noontide　meal　that　day；　let　himself；　without　more　ado；　pass　the
gates　of　sleep。　But　Don　Quixote；　whom　his　thoughts；　far　more　than
hunger；　kept　awake；　could　not　close　an　eye；　and　roamed　in　fancy　to　and
fro　through　all　sorts　of　places。　At　one　moment　it　seemed　to　him　that
he　was　in　the　cave　of　Montesinos　and　saw　Dulcinea；　transformed　into
a　country　wench；　skipping　and　mounting　upon　her　she…ass；　again　that
the　words　of　the　sage　Merlin　were　sounding　in　his　ears；　setting
forth　the　conditions　to　be　observed　and　the　exertions　to　be　made　for
the　disenchantment　of　Dulcinea。　He　lost　all　patience　when　he
considered　the　laziness　and　want　of　charity　of　his　squire　Sancho；
for　to　the　best　of　his　belief　he　had　only　given　himself　five　lashes；　a
number　paltry　and　disproportioned　to　the　vast　number　required。　At　this
thought　he　felt　such　vexation　and　anger　that　he　reasoned　the　matter
thus：　〃If　Alexander　the　Great　cut　the　Gordian　knot；　saying；　'To　cut
comes　to　the　same　thing　as　to　untie；'　and　yet　did　not　fail　to　become
lord　paramount　of　all　Asia；　neither　more　nor　less　could　happen　now
in　Dulcinea's　disenchantment　if　I　scourge　Sancho　against　his　will；
for；　if　it　is　the　condition　of　the　remedy　that　Sancho　shall　receive
three　thousand　and　odd　lashes；　what　does　it　matter　to　me　whether　he
inflicts　them　himself；　or　some　one　else　inflicts　them；　when　the
essential　point　is　that　he　receives　them；　let　them　come　from
whatever　quarter　they　may？〃
　　With　this　idea　he　went　over　to　Sancho；　having　first　taken
Rocinante's　reins　and　arranged　them　so　as　to　be　able　to　flog　him
with　them；　and　began　to　untie　the　points　（the　common　belief　is　he
had　but　one　in　front）　by　which　his　breeches　were　held　up；　but　the
instant　he　approached　him　Sancho　woke　up　in　his　full　senses　and
cried　out；　〃What　is　this？　Who　is　touching　me　and　untrussing　me？〃
　　〃It　is　I；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and　I　come　to　make　good　thy
shortcomings　and　relieve　my　own　distresses；　I　come　to　whip　thee；
Sancho；　and　wipe　off　some　portion　of　the　debt　thou　hast　undertaken。
Dulcinea　is　perishing；　thou　art　living　on　regardless；　I　am　dying　of
hope　deferred；　therefore　untruss　thyself　with　a　good　will；　for　mine　it
is；　here；　in　this　retired　spot；　to　give　thee　at　least　two　thousand
lashes。〃
　　〃Not　a　bit　of　it；〃　said　Sancho；　〃let　your　worship　keep　quiet；　or
else　by　the　living　God　the　deaf　shall　hear　us；　the　lashes　I　pledged
myself　to　must　be　voluntary　and　not　forced　upon　me；　and　just　now　I
have　no　fancy　to　whip　myself；　it　is　enough　if　I　give　you　my　word　to
flog　and　flap　myself　when　I　have　a　mind。〃
　　〃It　will　not　do　to　leave　it　to　thy　courtesy；　Sancho；〃　said　Don
Quixote；　〃for　thou　art　hard　of　heart　and；　though　a　clown；　tender　of
flesh；〃　and　at　the　same　time　he　strove　and　struggled　to　untie　him。
　　Seeing　this　Sancho　got　up；　and　grappling　with　his　master　he
gripped　him　with　all　his　might　in　his　arms；　giving　him　a　trip　with　the
heel　stretched　him　on　the　ground　on　his　back；　and　pressing　his　right
knee　on　his　chest　held　his　hands　in　his　own　so　that　he　could　neither
move　nor　breathe。
　　〃How　now；　traitor！〃　exclaimed　Don　Quixote。　〃Dost　thou　revolt　against
thy　master　and　natural　lord？　Dost　thou　rise　against　him　who　gives　thee
his　bread？〃
　　〃I　neither　put　down　king；　nor　set　up　king；〃　said　Sancho；　〃I　only
stand　up　for　myself　who　am　my　own　lord；　if　your　worship　promises　me　to
be　quiet；　and　not　to　offer　to　whip　me　now；　I'll　let　you　go　free　and
unhindered；　if　not…

　　　　　　　Traitor　and　Dona　Sancha's　foe；
　　　　　　　Thou　diest　on　the　spot。〃

　　Don　Quixote　gave　his　promise；　and　swore　by　the　life　of　his
thoughts　not　to　touch　so　much　as　a　hair　of　his　garments；　and　to
leave　him　entirely　free　and　to　his　own　discretion　to　whip　himself
whenever　he　pleased。
　　Sancho　rose　and　removed　some　distance　from　the　spot；　but　as　he　was
about　to　place　himself　leaning　against　another　tree　he　felt
something　touch　his　head；　and　putting　up　his　hands　encountered
somebody's　two　feet　with　shoes　and　stockings　on　them。　He　trembled　with
fear　and　made　for　another　tree；　where　the　very　same　thing　happened
to　him；　and　he　fell　a…shouting；　calling　upon　Don　Quixote　to　come　and
protect　him。　Don　Quixote　did　so；　and　asked　him　what　had　happened　to
him；　and　what　he　was　afraid　of。　Sancho　replied　that　all　the　trees　were
full　of　men's　feet　and　legs。　Don　Quixote　felt　them；　and　guessed　at
once　what　it　was；　and　said　to　Sancho；　〃Thou　hast　nothing　to　be
afraid　of；　for　these　feet　and　legs　that　thou　feelest　but　canst　not　see
belong　no　doubt　to　some　outlaws　and　freebooters　that　have　been
hanged　on　these　trees；　for　the　authorities　in　these　parts　are　wont
to　hang　them　up　by　twenties　and　thirties　when　they　catch　them；　whereby
I　conjecture　that　I　must　be　near　Barcelona；〃　and　it　was；　in　fact；　as
he　supposed；　with　the　first　light　they　looked　up　and　saw　that　the
fruit　hanging　on　those　trees　were　freebooters'　bodies。
　　And　now　day　dawned；　and　if　the　dead　freebooters　had　scared　them；
their　hearts　were　no　less　troubled　by　upwards　of　forty　living　ones；
who　all　of　a　sudden　surrounded　them；　and　in　the　Catalan　tongue　bade
them　stand　and　wait　until　their　captain　came　up。　Don　Quixote　was　on
foot　with　his　horse　unbridled　and　his　lance　leaning　against　a　tree；
and　in　short　completely　defenceless；　he　thought　it　best　therefore　to
fold　his　arms　and　bow　his　head　and　reserve　himself　for　a　more
favourable　occasion　and　opportunity。　The　robbers　made　haste　to
search　Dapple；　and　did　not　leave　him　a　single　thing　of　all　he
carried　in　the　alforjas　and　in　the　valise；　and　lucky　it　was　for　Sancho
that　the　duke's　crowns　and　those　he　brought　from　home　were　in　a　girdle
that　he　wore　round　him；　but　for　all　that　these　good　folk　would　have
stripped　him；　and　even　looked　to　see　what　he　had　hidden　between　the
skin　and　flesh；　but　for　the　arrival　at　that　moment　of　their　captain；
who　was　about　thirty…four　years　of　age　apparently；　strongly　built；
above　the　middle　height；　of　stern　aspect　and　swarthy　complexion。　He
was　mounted　upon　a　powerful　horse；　and　had　on　a　coat　of　mail；　with
four　of　the　pistols　they　call　petronels　in　that　country　at　his
waist。　He　saw　that　his　squires　（for　so　they　call　those　who　follow　that
trade）　were　about　to　rifle　Sancho　Panza；　but　he　ordered　them　to　desist
and　was　at　once　obeyed；　so　the　girdle　escaped。　He　wondered　to　see
the　lance　leaning　against　the　tree；　the　shield　on　the　ground；　and
Don　Quixote　in　armour　and　dejected；　with　the　saddest　and　most
melancholy　face　that　sadness　itself　could　produce；　and　going　up　to　him
he　said；　〃Be　not　so　cast　down；　good　man；　for　you　have　not　fallen
into　the　hands　of　any　inhuman　Busiris；　but　into　Roque　Guinart's；　which
are　more　merciful　than　cruel。〃
　　〃The　cause　of　my　dejection；〃　returned　Don　Quixote；　〃is　not　that　I
have　fallen　into　thy　hands；　O　valiant　Roque；　whose　fame　is　bounded
by　no　limits　on　earth；　but　that　my　carelessness　should　have　been　so
great　that　thy　soldiers　should　have　caught　me　unbridled；　when　it　is　my
duty；　according　to　the　rule　of　knight…errantry　which　I　profess；　to
be　always　on　the　alert　and　at　all　times　my　own　sentinel；　for　let　me
tell　thee；　great　Roque；　had　they　found　me　on　my　horse；　with　my　lance
and　shield；　it　would　not　have　been　very　easy　for　them　to　reduce　me
to　submission；　for　I　am　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　he　who　hath　filled
the　whole　world　with　his　achievements。〃
　　Roque　Guinart　at　once　perceived　that　Don　Quixote's　weakness　was　more
akin　to　madness　than　to　swagger；　and　though　he　had　sometimes　heard　him
spoken　of；　he　never　regarded　the　things　attributed　to　him　as　true；　nor
could　he　persuade　himself　that　such　a　humour　could　become　dominant
in　the　heart　of　man；　he　was　extremely　glad；　therefore；　to　meet　him　and
test　at　close　quarters　what　he　had　heard　of　him　at　a　distance；　so　he
said　to　him；　〃Despair　not；　valiant　knight；　nor　regard　as　an　untoward
fate　the　position　in　which　thou　findest　thyself；　it　may　be　that　by
these　slips　thy　crooked　fortune　will　make　itself　straight；　for
heaven　by　strange　circuitous　ways；　mysterious　and　incomprehensible
to　man；　raises　up　the　fallen　and　makes　rich　the　poor。〃
　　Don　Quixote　was　about　to　thank　him；　when　they　heard　behind　them　a
noise　as　of　a　troop　of　horses；　there　was；　however；　but　one；　riding
on　which　at　a　furious　pace　came　a　youth；　apparently　about　twenty　years
of　age；　clad　in　green　damask　edged　with　gold　and　breeches　and　a
loose　frock；　with　a　hat　looped　up　in　the　Walloon　fashion；
tight…fitting　polished　boots；　gilt　spurs；　dagger　and　sword；　and　in　his
hand　a　musketoon；　and　a　pair　of　pistols　at　his　waist。
　　Roque　turned　round　at　the　noise　and　perceived　this　comely　figure；
which　drawing　near　thus　addressed　him；　〃I　came　in　quest　of　thee；
valiant　Roque；　to　find　in　thee　if　not　a　remedy　at　least　relief　in　my
misfortune；　and　not　to　keep　thee　in　suspense；　for　I　see　thou　dost
not　recognise　me；　I　will　tell　thee　who　I　am；　I　am　Claudia　Jeronima；
the　daughter　of　Simon　Forte；　thy　good　friend；　and　special　enemy　of
Clauquel　Torrellas；　who　is　thine　also　as　being　of　the　faction
opposed　to　thee。　Thou　knowest　that　this　Torrellas　has　a　son　who　is
called；　or　at　least　was　not　two　hours　since；　Don　Vicente　Torrellas。
Well；　to　cut　short　the　tale　of　my　misfortune；　I　will　tell　thee　in　a
few　words　what　this　youth　has　brought　upon　me。　He　saw　me；　he　paid
court　to　me；　I　listened　to　him；　and；　unknown　to　my　father；　I　loved
him；　for　there　is　no　woman；　however　secluded　she　may　live　or　close　she
may　be　kept；　who　will　not　have　opportunities　and　to　spare　for
following　her　headlong　impulses。　In　a　word；　he　pledged　himself　to　be
mine；　and　I　promised　to　be　his；　without　carrying　matters　any
further。　Yesterday　I　learned　that