don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第186章

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relieved　of　the　fear　in　which　our　vast　numbers　kept　it。　Heroic　resolve
of　the　great　Philip　the　Third；　and　unparalleled　wisdom　to　have
entrusted　it　to　the　said　Don　Bernardino　de　Velasco！〃
　　〃At　any　rate；〃　said　Don　Antonio；　〃when　I　am　there　I　will　make　all
possible　efforts；　and　let　heaven　do　as　pleases　it　best；　Don　Gregorio
will　come　with　me　to　relieve　the　anxiety　which　his　parents　must　be
suffering　on　account　of　his　absence；　Ana　Felix　will　remain　in　my　house
with　my　wife；　or　in　a　monastery；　and　I　know　the　viceroy　will　be　glad
that　the　worthy　Ricote　should　stay　with　him　until　we　see　what　terms
I　can　make。〃
　　The　viceroy　agreed　to　all　that　was　proposed；　but　Don　Gregorio　on
learning　what　had　passed　declared　he　could　not　and　would　not　on　any
account　leave　Ana　Felix；　however；　as　it　was　his　purpose　to　go　and
see　his　parents　and　devise　some　way　of　returning　for　her；　he　fell　in
with　the　proposed　arrangement。　Ana　Felix　remained　with　Don　Antonio's
wife；　and　Ricote　in　the　viceroy's　house。
　　The　day　for　Don　Antonio's　departure　came；　and　two　days　later　that
for　Don　Quixote's　and　Sancho's；　for　Don　Quixote's　fall　did　not
suffer　him　to　take　the　road　sooner。　There　were　tears　and　sighs；
swoonings　and　sobs；　at　the　parting　between　Don　Gregorio　and　Ana　Felix。
Ricote　offered　Don　Gregorio　a　thousand　crowns　if　he　would　have　them；
but　he　would　not　take　any　save　five　which　Don　Antonio　lent　him　and
he　promised　to　repay　at　the　capital。　So　the　two　of　them　took　their
departure；　and　Don　Quixote　and　Sancho　afterwards；　as　has　been
already　said；　Don　Quixote　without　his　armour　and　in　travelling　gear；
and　Sancho　on　foot；　Dapple　being　loaded　with　the　armour。


　　CHAPTER　LXVI
　　WHICH　TREATS　OF　WHAT　HE　WHO　READS　WILL　SEE；　OR　WHAT　HE　WHO　HAS　IT
READ　TO　HIM　WILL　HEAR

　　AS　HE　left　Barcelona；　Don　Quixote　turned　gaze　upon　the　spot　where　he
had　fallen。　〃Here　Troy　was；〃　said　he；　〃here　my　ill…luck；　not　my
cowardice；　robbed　me　of　all　the　glory　I　had　won；　here　Fortune　made
me　the　victim　of　her　caprices；　here　the　lustre　of　my　achievements
was　dimmed；　here；　in　a　word；　fell　my　happiness　never　to　rise　again。〃
　　〃Senor；〃　said　Sancho　on　hearing　this；　〃it　is　the　part　of　brave
hearts　to　be　patient　in　adversity　just　as　much　as　to　be　glad　in
prosperity；　I　judge　by　myself；　for；　if　when　I　was　a　governor　I　was
glad；　now　that　I　am　a　squire　and　on　foot　I　am　not　sad；　and　I　have
heard　say　that　she　whom　commonly　they　call　Fortune　is　a　drunken
whimsical　jade；　and；　what　is　more；　blind；　and　therefore　neither　sees
what　she　does；　nor　knows　whom　she　casts　down　or　whom　she　sets　up。〃
　　〃Thou　art　a　great　philosopher；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃thou
speakest　very　sensibly；　I　know　not　who　taught　thee。　But　I　can　tell
thee　there　is　no　such　thing　as　Fortune　in　the　world；　nor　does　anything
which　takes　place　there；　be　it　good　or　bad；　come　about　by　chance；
but　by　the　special　preordination　of　heaven；　and　hence　the　common
saying　that　'each　of　us　is　the　maker　of　his　own　Fortune。'　I　have
been　that　of　mine；　but　not　with　the　proper　amount　of　prudence；　and
my　self…confidence　has　therefore　made　me　pay　dearly；　for　I　ought　to
have　reflected　that　Rocinante's　feeble　strength　could　not　resist　the
mighty　bulk　of　the　Knight　of　the　White　Moon's　horse。　In　a　word；　I
ventured　it；　I　did　my　best；　I　was　overthrown；　but　though　I　lost　my
honour　I　did　not　lose　nor　can　I　lose　the　virtue　of　keeping　my　word。
When　I　was　a　knight…errant；　daring　and　valiant；　I　supported　my
achievements　by　hand　and　deed；　and　now　that　I　am　a　humble　squire　I
will　support　my　words　by　keeping　the　promise　I　have　given。　Forward
then；　Sancho　my　friend；　let　us　go　to　keep　the　year　of　the　novitiate　in
our　own　country；　and　in　that　seclusion　we　shall　pick　up　fresh　strength
to　return　to　the　by　me　never…forgotten　calling　of　arms。〃
　　〃Senor；〃　returned　Sancho；　〃travelling　on　foot　is　not　such　a　pleasant
thing　that　it　makes　me　feel　disposed　or　tempted　to　make　long
marches。　Let　us　leave　this　armour　hung　up　on　some　tree；　instead　of
some　one　that　has　been　hanged；　and　then　with　me　on　Dapple's　back　and
my　feet　off　the　ground　we　will　arrange　the　stages　as　your　worship
pleases　to　measure　them　out；　but　to　suppose　that　I　am　going　to
travel　on　foot；　and　make　long　ones；　is　to　suppose　nonsense。〃
　　〃Thou　sayest　well；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃let　my　armour　be　hung
up　for　a　trophy；　and　under　it　or　round　it　we　will　carve　on　the　trees
what　was　inscribed　on　the　trophy　of　Roland's　armour…

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　These　let　none　move
　　　　　Who　dareth　not　his　might　with　Roland　prove。〃

　　〃That's　the　very　thing；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　if　it　was　not　that　we
should　feel　the　want　of　Rocinante　on　the　road；　it　would　be　as　well
to　leave　him　hung　up　too。〃
　　〃And　yet；　I　had　rather　not　have　either　him　or　the　armour　hung　up；〃
said　Don　Quixote；　〃that　it　may　not　be　said；　'for　good　service　a　bad
return。'〃
　　〃Your　worship　is　right；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for；　as　sensible　people　hold；
'the　fault　of　the　ass　must　not　be　laid　on　the　pack…saddle；'　and；　as　in
this　affair　the　fault　is　your　worship's；　punish　yourself　and　don't　let
your　anger　break　out　against　the　already　battered　and　bloody　armour；
or　the　meekness　of　Rocinante；　or　the　tenderness　of　my　feet；　trying
to　make　them　travel　more　than　is　reasonable。〃
　　In　converse　of　this　sort　the　whole　of　that　day　went　by；　as　did　the
four　succeeding　ones；　without　anything　occurring　to　interrupt　their
journey；　but　on　the　fifth　as　they　entered　a　village　they　found　a　great
number　of　people　at　the　door　of　an　inn　enjoying　themselves；　as　it
was　a　holiday。　Upon　Don　Quixote's　approach　a　peasant　called　out；
〃One　of　these　two　gentlemen　who　come　here；　and　who　don't　know　the
parties；　will　tell　us　what　we　ought　to　do　about　our　wager。〃
　　〃That　I　will；　certainly；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and　according　to　the
rights　of　the　case；　if　I　can　manage　to　understand　it。〃
　　〃Well；　here　it　is；　worthy　sir；〃　said　the　peasant；　〃a　man　of　this
village　who　is　so　fat　that　he　weighs　twenty　stone　challenged
another；　a　neighbour　of　his；　who　does　not　weigh　more　than　nine；　to　run
a　race。　The　agreement　was　that　they　were　to　run　a　distance　of　a
hundred　paces　with　equal　weights；　and　when　the　challenger　was　asked
how　the　weights　were　to　be　equalised　he　said　that　the　other；　as　he
weighed　nine　stone；　should　put　eleven　in　iron　on　his　back；　and　that　in
this　way　the　twenty　stone　of　the　thin　man　would　equal　the　twenty　stone
of　the　fat　one。〃
　　〃Not　at　all；〃　exclaimed　Sancho　at　once；　before　Don　Quixote　could
answer；　〃it's　for　me；　that　only　a　few　days　ago　left　off　being　a
governor　and　a　judge；　as　all　the　world　knows；　to　settle　these　doubtful
questions　and　give　an　opinion　in　disputes　of　all　sorts。〃
　　〃Answer　in　God's　name；　Sancho　my　friend；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃for　I
am　not　fit　to　give　crumbs　to　a　cat；　my　wits　are　so　confused　and
upset。〃
　　With　this　permission　Sancho　said　to　the　peasants　who　stood　clustered
round　him；　waiting　with　open　mouths　for　the　decision　to　come　from　his；
〃Brothers；　what　the　fat　man　requires　is　not　in　reason；　nor　has　it　a
shadow　of　justice　in　it；　because；　if　it　be　true；　as　they　say；　that　the
challenged　may　choose　the　weapons；　the　other　has　no　right　to　choose
such　as　will　prevent　and　keep　him　from　winning。　My　decision；
therefore；　is　that　the　fat　challenger　prune；　peel；　thin；　trim　and
correct　himself；　and　take　eleven　stone　of　his　flesh　off　his　body；　here
or　there；　as　he　pleases；　and　as　suits　him　best；　and　being　in　this
way　reduced　to　nine　stone　weight；　he　will　make　himself　equal　and
even　with　nine　stone　of　his　opponent；　and　they　will　be　able　to　run
on　equal　terms。〃
　　〃By　all　that's　good；〃　said　one　of　the　peasants　as　he　heard
Sancho's　decision；　〃but　the　gentleman　has　spoken　like　a　saint；　and
given　judgment　like　a　canon！　But　I'll　be　bound　the　fat　man　won't
part　with　an　ounce　of　his　flesh；　not　to　say　eleven　stone。〃
　　〃The　best　plan　will　be　for　them　not　to　run；〃　said　another；　〃so
that　neither　the　thin　man　break　down　under　the　weight；　nor　the　fat　one
strip　himself　of　his　flesh；　let　half　the　wager　be　spent　in　wine；　and
let's　take　these　gentlemen　to　the　tavern　where　there's　the　best；　and
'over　me　be　the　cloak　when　it　rains。〃
　　〃I　thank　you；　sirs；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃but　I　cannot　stop　for　an
instant；　for　sad　thoughts　and　unhappy　circumstances　force　me　to　seem
discourteous　and　to　travel　apace；〃　and　spurring　Rocinante　he　pushed
on；　leaving　them　wondering　at　what　they　had　seen　and　heard；　at　his　own
strange　figure　and　at　the　shrewdness　of　his　servant；　for　such　they
took　Sancho　to　be；　and　another　of　them　observed；　〃If　the　servant　is　so
clever；　what　must　the　master　be？　I'll　bet；　if　they　are　going　to
Salamanca　to　study；　they'll　come　to　be　alcaldes　of　the　Court　in　a
trice；　for　it's　a　mere　joke…　only　to　read　and　read；　and　have
interest　and　good　luck；　and　before　a　man　knows　where　he　is　he　finds
himself　with　a　staff　in　his　hand　or　a　mitre　on　his　head。〃
　　That　night　master　and　man　passed　out　in　the　fields　in　the　open
air；　and　the　next　day　as　they　were　pursuing　their　journey　they　saw
coming　towards　them　a　man　on　foot　with　alforjas　at　the　neck　and　a
javelin　or　spiked　staff　in　his　hand；　the　very　cut　of　a　foot　courier；
who；　as　soon　as　he　came　close　to　Don　Quixote；　increased　his　pace　and
half　running　came　up　to　him；　and　embracing　his　right　thigh；　for　he
could　reach　no　higher；　exclaimed　with　evident　pleasure；　〃O　Senor　Don
Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　what　happiness　it　will　be　to　the　heart　of　my
lord　the　duke　when　he　knows　your　worship　is　coming　back　to　his　castle；
for　he　is　still　there　with　my　lady　the　duchess！〃
　　〃I　do　not　recognise　you；　friend；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃nor　do　I　know
who　you　are；　unless　you　tell　me。〃
　　〃I　am　Tosilos；　my　lord　the　duke's　lacquey；　Senor　Don　Quixote；〃
replied　the　courier；　〃he　who　refused　to　fight　your　worship　about
marrying　the　daughter　of　Dona　Rodriguez。〃
　　〃God　bless　me！〃　exclaimed　Don　Quixote；　〃is　it　possible　that　you
are　the　one　whom　mine　enemies　the　enchanters　changed　into　the
lacquey　you　speak　of　in　order　to　rob　me　of　the　honour　of　that　battle？〃
　　〃Nonsense；　good　sir！〃　said　the　messenger；　〃there　was　no
enchantment　or　transformation　at　all；　I　entered　the　lists　just　as　much
lacquey　Tosilos　as　I　came　out　of　them　lacquey　Tosilos。　I　thought　to
marry　without　fighting；　for　the　girl　had　taken　my　fancy；　but　my　scheme
had　a　very　different　result；　for　as　soon　as　your　worship　had　left
the　castle　my　lord　the　duke　had　a　hundred　strokes　of　the　stick　given
me　for　having　acted　contrary　to　the　orders　he　gave　me　before
engaging　in　the　combat；　and　the　end　of　the　whole　affair　is　that　the
girl　has　become　a　nun；　and　Dona　Rodriguez　has　gone　back　to　Castile；
and　I　am　now　on　my　way　to　Barcelona　with　a　packet　of　letters　for　the
viceroy　which　my　master　is　sending　him。　If　your　worship　would　like　a
drop；　sound　though　warm；　I　have　a　gourd　here　full　of　the　best；　and
some　scraps　of　Tronchon　cheese　that　will　serve　as　a　provocative　and
wakener　of　your　thirst　if　so　be　it　is　asleep。〃
　　〃I　take　the　offer；〃　said　Sancho；　〃no　more　compliments　about　it；　pour
out；　good　Tosilos；　in　spite　of　all　the　enchanters　in　the　Indies。〃
　　〃Thou　art　indeed　the　greatest　glutton　in　the　world；　Sancho；〃　said
Don　Quixote；　〃and　the　greatest　booby　on　earth；　not　to　be　able　to　see
that　this　courier　is　enchanted　and　this　Tosilos　a　sham