don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第18章

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in　the　course　of　this　veracious　history；　of　which　the　Second　Part　ends
here。

　　CHAPTER　XV
　　IN　WHICH　IS　RELATED　THE　UNFORTUNATE　ADVENTURE　THAT　DON　QUIXOTE
FELL　IN　WITH　WHEN　HE　FELL　OUT　WITH　CERTAIN　HEARTLESS　YANGUESANS

　　THE　sage　Cide　Hamete　Benengeli　relates　that　as　soon　as　Don　Quixote
took　leave　of　his　hosts　and　all　who　had　been　present　at　the　burial
of　Chrysostom；　he　and　his　squire　passed　into　the　same　wood　which
they　had　seen　the　shepherdess　Marcela　enter；　and　after　having　wandered
for　more　than　two　hours　in　all　directions　in　search　of　her　without
finding　her；　they　came　to　a　halt　in　a　glade　covered　with　tender　grass；
beside　which　ran　a　pleasant　cool　stream　that　invited　and　compelled
them　to　pass　there　the　hours　of　the　noontide　heat；　which　by　this
time　was　beginning　to　come　on　oppressively。　Don　Quixote　and　Sancho
dismounted；　and　turning　Rocinante　and　the　ass　loose　to　feed　on　the
grass　that　was　there　in　abundance；　they　ransacked　the　alforjas；　and
without　any　ceremony　very　peacefully　and　sociably　master　and　man
made　their　repast　on　what　they　found　in　them。　Sancho　had　not　thought
it　worth　while　to　hobble　Rocinante；　feeling　sure；　from　what　he　knew　of
his　staidness　and　freedom　from　incontinence；　that　all　the　mares　in　the
Cordova　pastures　would　not　lead　him　into　an　impropriety。　Chance；
however；　and　the　devil；　who　is　not　always　asleep；　so　ordained　it
that　feeding　in　this　valley　there　was　a　drove　of　Galician　ponies
belonging　to　certain　Yanguesan　carriers；　whose　way　it　is　to　take　their
midday　rest　with　their　teams　in　places　and　spots　where　grass　and　water
abound；　and　that　where　Don　Quixote　chanced　to　be　suited　the
Yanguesans'　purpose　very　well。　It　so　happened；　then；　that　Rocinante
took　a　fancy　to　disport　himself　with　their　ladyships　the　ponies；　and
abandoning　his　usual　gait　and　demeanour　as　he　scented　them；　he；
without　asking　leave　of　his　master；　got　up　a　briskish　little　trot
and　hastened　to　make　known　his　wishes　to　them；　they；　however；　it
seemed；　preferred　their　pasture　to　him；　and　received　him　with　their
heels　and　teeth　to　such　effect　that　they　soon　broke　his　girths　and
left　him　naked　without　a　saddle　to　cover　him；　but　what　must　have
been　worse　to　him　was　that　the　carriers；　seeing　the　violence　he　was
offering　to　their　mares；　came　running　up　armed　with　stakes；　and　so
belaboured　him　that　they　brought　him　sorely　battered　to　the　ground。
　　By　this　time　Don　Quixote　and　Sancho；　who　had　witnessed　the
drubbing　of　Rocinante；　came　up　panting；　and　said　Don　Quixote　to
Sancho：
　　〃So　far　as　I　can　see；　friend　Sancho；　these　are　not　knights　but
base　folk　of　low　birth：　I　mention　it　because　thou　canst　lawfully　aid
me　in　taking　due　vengeance　for　the　insult　offered　to　Rocinante
before　our　eyes。〃
　　〃What　the　devil　vengeance　can　we　take；〃　answered　Sancho；　〃if　they
are　more　than　twenty；　and　we　no　more　than　two；　or；　indeed；　perhaps　not
more　than　one　and　a　half？〃
　　〃I　count　for　a　hundred；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　and　without　more　words
he　drew　his　sword　and　attacked　the　Yanguesans　and　excited　and　impelled
by　the　example　of　his　master；　Sancho　did　the　same；　and　to　begin
with；　Don　Quixote　delivered　a　slash　at　one　of　them　that　laid　open
the　leather　jerkin　he　wore；　together　with　a　great　portion　of　his
shoulder。　The　Yanguesans；　seeing　themselves　assaulted　by　only　two
men　while　they　were　so　many；　betook　themselves　to　their　stakes；　and
driving　the　two　into　the　middle　they　began　to　lay　on　with　great　zeal
and　energy；　in　fact；　at　the　second　blow　they　brought　Sancho　to　the
ground；　and　Don　Quixote　fared　the　same　way；　all　his　skill　and　high
mettle　availing　him　nothing；　and　fate　willed　it　that　he　should　fall　at
the　feet　of　Rocinante；　who　had　not　yet　risen；　whereby　it　may　be　seen
how　furiously　stakes　can　pound　in　angry　boorish　hands。　Then；　seeing
the　mischief　they　had　done；　the　Yanguesans　with　all　the　haste　they
could　loaded　their　team　and　pursued　their　journey；　leaving　the　two
adventurers　a　sorry　sight　and　in　sorrier　mood。
　　Sancho　was　the　first　to　come　to；　and　finding　himself　close　to　his
master　he　called　to　him　in　a　weak　and　doleful　voice；　〃Senor　Don
Quixote；　ah；　Senor　Don　Quixote！〃
　　〃What　wouldst　thou；　brother　Sancho？〃　answered　Don　Quixote　in　the
same　feeble　suffering　tone　as　Sancho。
　　〃I　would　like；　if　it　were　possible；〃　answered　Sancho　Panza；　〃your
worship　to　give　me　a　couple　of　sups　of　that　potion　of　the　fiery
Blas；　if　it　be　that　you　have　any　to　hand　there；　perhaps　it　will
serve　for　broken　bones　as　well　as　for　wounds。〃
　　〃If　I　only　had　it　here；　wretch　that　I　am；　what　more　should　we　want？〃
said　Don　Quixote；　〃but　I　swear　to　thee；　Sancho　Panza；　on　the　faith
of　a　knight…errant；　ere　two　days　are　over；　unless　fortune　orders
otherwise；　I　mean　to　have　it　in　my　possession；　or　my　hand　will　have
lost　its　cunning。〃
　　〃But　in　how　many　does　your　worship　think　we　shall　have　the　use　of
our　feet？〃　answered　Sancho　Panza。
　　〃For　myself　I　must　say　I　cannot　guess　how　many；〃　said　the　battered
knight　Don　Quixote；　〃but　I　take　all　the　blame　upon　myself；　for　I　had
no　business　to　put　hand　to　sword　against　men　who　where　not　dubbed
knights　like　myself；　and　so　I　believe　that　in　punishment　for　having
transgressed　the　laws　of　chivalry　the　God　of　battles　has　permitted
this　chastisement　to　be　administered　to　me；　for　which　reason；
brother　Sancho；　it　is　well　thou　shouldst　receive　a　hint　on　the
matter　which　I　am　now　about　to　mention　to　thee；　for　it　is　of　much
importance　to　the　welfare　of　both　of　us。　It　is　at　when　thou　shalt
see　rabble　of　this　sort　offering　us　insult　thou　art　not　to　wait　till　I
draw　sword　against　them；　for　I　shall　not　do　so　at　all；　but　do　thou
draw　sword　and　chastise　them　to　thy　heart's　content；　and　if　any
knights　come　to　their　aid　and　defence　I　will　take　care　to　defend
thee　and　assail　them　with　all　my　might；　and　thou　hast　already　seen
by　a　thousand　signs　and　proofs　what　the　might　of　this　strong　arm　of
mine　is　equal　to〃…　so　uplifted　had　the　poor　gentleman　become　through
the　victory　over　the　stout　Biscayan。
　　But　Sancho　did　not　so　fully　approve　of　his　master's　admonition　as　to
let　it　pass　without　saying　in　reply；　〃Senor；　I　am　a　man　of　peace；　meek
and　quiet；　and　I　can　put　up　with　any　affront　because　I　have　a　wife　and
children　to　support　and　bring　up；　so　let　it　be　likewise　a　hint　to　your
worship；　as　it　cannot　be　a　mandate；　that　on　no　account　will　I　draw
sword　either　against　clown　or　against　knight；　and　that　here　before　God
I　forgive　the　insults　that　have　been　offered　me；　whether　they　have
been；　are；　or　shall　be　offered　me　by　high　or　low；　rich　or　poor；
noble　or　commoner；　not　excepting　any　rank　or　condition　whatsoever。〃
　　To　all　which　his　master　said　in　reply；　〃I　wish　I　had　breath　enough
to　speak　somewhat　easily；　and　that　the　pain　I　feel　on　this　side
would　abate　so　as　to　let　me　explain　to　thee；　Panza；　the　mistake　thou
makest。　Come　now；　sinner；　suppose　the　wind　of　fortune；　hitherto　so
adverse；　should　turn　in　our　favour；　filling　the　sails　of　our　desires
so　that　safely　and　without　impediment　we　put　into　port　in　some　one
of　those　islands　I　have　promised　thee；　how　would　it　be　with　thee　if　on
winning　it　I　made　thee　lord　of　it？　Why；　thou　wilt　make　it　well…nigh
impossible　through　not　being　a　knight　nor　having　any　desire　to　be　one；
nor　possessing　the　courage　nor　the　will　to　avenge　insults　or　defend
thy　lordship；　for　thou　must　know　that　in　newly　conquered　kingdoms
and　provinces　the　minds　of　the　inhabitants　are　never　so　quiet　nor　so
well　disposed　to　the　new　lord　that　there　is　no　fear　of　their　making
some　move　to　change　matters　once　more；　and　try；　as　they　say；　what
chance　may　do　for　them；　so　it　is　essential　that　the　new　possessor
should　have　good　sense　to　enable　him　to　govern；　and　valour　to　attack
and　defend　himself；　whatever　may　befall　him。〃
　　〃In　what　has　now　befallen　us；〃　answered　Sancho；　〃I'd　have　been
well　pleased　to　have　that　good　sense　and　that　valour　your　worship
speaks　of；　but　I　swear　on　the　faith　of　a　poor　man　I　am　more　fit　for
plasters　than　for　arguments。　See　if　your　worship　can　get　up；　and　let
us　help　Rocinante；　though　he　does　not　deserve　it；　for　he　was　the
main　cause　of　all　this　thrashing。　I　never　thought　it　of　Rocinante；　for
I　took　him　to　be　a　virtuous　person　and　as　quiet　as　myself。　After
all；　they　say　right　that　it　takes　a　long　time　to　come　to　know
people；　and　that　there　is　nothing　sure　in　this　life。　Who　would　have
said　that；　after　such　mighty　slashes　as　your　worship　gave　that　unlucky
knight…errant；　there　was　coming；　travelling　post　and　at　the　very　heels
of　them；　such　a　great　storm　of　sticks　as　has　fallen　upon　our
shoulders？〃
　　〃And　yet　thine；　Sancho；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃ought　to　be　used　to
such　squalls；　but　mine；　reared　in　soft　cloth　and　fine　linen；　it　is
plain　they　must　feel　more　keenly　the　pain　of　this　mishap；　and　if　it
were　not　that　I　imagine…　why　do　I　say　imagine？…　know　of　a　certainty
that　all　these　annoyances　are　very　necessary　accompaniments　of　the
calling　of　arms；　I　would　lay　me　down　here　to　die　of　pure　vexation。〃
　　To　this　the　squire　replied；　〃Senor；　as　these　mishaps　are　what　one
reaps　of　chivalry；　tell　me　if　they　happen　very　often；　or　if　they
have　their　own　fixed　times　for　coming　to　pass；　because　it　seems　to
me　that　after　two　harvests　we　shall　be　no　good　for　the　third；　unless
God　in　his　infinite　mercy　helps　us。〃
　　〃Know；　friend　Sancho；〃　answered　Don　Quixote；　〃that　the　life　of
knights…errant　is　subject　to　a　thousand　dangers　and　reverses；　and
neither　more　nor　less　is　it　within　immediate　possibility　for
knights…errant　to　become　kings　and　emperors；　as　experience　has　shown
in　the　case　of　many　different　knights　with　whose　histories　I　am
thoroughly　acquainted；　and　I　could　tell　thee　now；　if　the　pain　would
let　me；　of　some　who　simply　by　might　of　arm　have　risen　to　the　high
stations　I　have　mentioned；　and　those　same；　both　before　and　after；
experienced　divers　misfortunes　and　miseries；　for　the　valiant　Amadis　of
Gaul　found　himself　in　the　power　of　his　mortal　enemy　Arcalaus　the
magician；　who；　it　is　positively　asserted；　holding　him　captive；　gave
him　more　than　two　hundred　lashes　with　the　reins　of　his　horse　while
tied　to　one　of　the　pillars　of　a　court；　and　moreover　there　is　a　certain
recondite　author　of　no　small　authority　who　says　that　the　Knight　of
Phoebus；　being　caught　in　a　certain　pitfall；　which　opened　under　his
feet　in　a　certain　castle；　on　falling　found　himself　bound　hand　and　foot
in　a　deep　pit　underground；　where　they　administered　to　him　one　of　those
things　they　call　clysters；　of　sand　and　snow…water；　that　well…nigh
finished　him；　and　if　he　had　not　been　succoured　in　that　sore
extremity　by　a　sage；　a　great　friend　of　his；　it　would　have　gone　very
hard　with　the　poor　knight；　so　I　may　well　suffer　in　company　with　such
worthy　folk；　for　greater　were　the　indignities　which　they　had　to　suffer
than　those　which　we　suffer。　For　I　would　have　thee　know；　Sancho；　that
wounds　caused　by　any　instruments　which　happen　by　chance　to　be　in
hand　inflict　no　indignity；　and　this　is　laid　down　in　the　law　of　the
duel　in　express　words：　if；　for　instance；　the　cobbler　strikes　another
with　the　last　which　he　has　in　his　hand；　though　it　be　in　fact　a　piece
of　wood；　it　cannot　be　said　for　that　reason　that　he　whom　he　struck　with
it　has　been　cudgelled。　I　say　this　lest　thou　shouldst　imagine