don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第191章

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to　belong　to　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　and　the　fates；　if　there　are　any；
dedicated　me　to　her；　and　to　suppose　that　any　other　beauty　can　take　the
place　she　occupies　in　my　heart　is　to　suppose　an　impossibility。　This
frank　declaration　should　suffice　to　make　you　retire　within　the
bounds　of　your　modesty；　for　no　one　can　bind　himself　to　do
impossibilities。〃
　　Hearing　this；　Altisidora；　with　a　show　of　anger　and　agitation；
exclaimed；　〃God's　life！　Don　Stockfish；　soul　of　a　mortar；　stone　of　a
date；　more　obstinate　and　obdurate　than　a　clown　asked　a　favour　when
he　has　his　mind　made　up；　if　I　fall　upon　you　I'll　tear　your　eyes　out！
Do　you　fancy；　Don　Vanquished；　Don　Cudgelled；　that　I　died　for　your
sake？　All　that　you　have　seen　to…night　has　been　make…believe；　I'm　not
the　woman　to　let　the　black　of　my　nail　suffer　for　such　a　camel；　much
less　die！〃
　　〃That　I　can　well　believe；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for　all　that　about　lovers
pining　to　death　is　absurd；　they　may　talk　of　it；　but　as　for　doing　it…
Judas　may　believe　that！〃
　　While　they　were　talking；　the　musician；　singer；　and　poet；　who　had
sung　the　two　stanzas　given　above　came　in；　and　making　a　profound
obeisance　to　Don　Quixote　said；　〃Will　your　worship；　sir　knight；
reckon　and　retain　me　in　the　number　of　your　most　faithful　servants；　for
I　have　long　been　a　great　admirer　of　yours；　as　well　because　of　your
fame　as　because　of　your　achievements？〃　〃Will　your　worship　tell　me
who　you　are；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃so　that　my　courtesy　may　be
answerable　to　your　deserts？〃　The　young　man　replied　that　he　was　the
musician　and　songster　of　the　night　before。　〃Of　a　truth；〃　said　Don
Quixote；　〃your　worship　has　a　most　excellent　voice；　but　what　you　sang
did　not　seem　to　me　very　much　to　the　purpose；　for　what　have
Garcilasso's　stanzas　to　do　with　the　death　of　this　lady？〃
　　〃Don't　be　surprised　at　that；〃　returned　the　musician；　〃for　with　the
callow　poets　of　our　day　the　way　is　for　every　one　to　write　as　he
pleases　and　pilfer　where　he　chooses；　whether　it　be　germane　to　the
matter　or　not；　and　now…a…days　there　is　no　piece　of　silliness　they
can　sing　or　write　that　is　not　set　down　to　poetic　licence。〃
　　Don　Quixote　was　about　to　reply；　but　was　prevented　by　the　duke　and
duchess；　who　came　in　to　see　him；　and　with　them　there　followed　a　long
and　delightful　conversation；　in　the　course　of　which　Sancho　said　so
many　droll　and　saucy　things　that　he　left　the　duke　and　duchess
wondering　not　only　at　his　simplicity　but　at　his　sharpness。　Don　Quixote
begged　their　permission　to　take　his　departure　that　same　day；
inasmuch　as　for　a　vanquished　knight　like　himself　it　was　fitter　he
should　live　in　a　pig…sty　than　in　a　royal　palace。　They　gave　it　very
readily；　and　the　duchess　asked　him　if　Altisidora　was　in　his　good
graces。
　　He　replied；　〃Senora；　let　me　tell　your　ladyship　that　this　damsel's
ailment　comes　entirely　of　idleness；　and　the　cure　for　it　is　honest
and　constant　employment。　She　herself　has　told　me　that　lace　is　worn
in　hell；　and　as　she　must　know　how　to　make　it；　let　it　never　be　out　of
her　hands；　for　when　she　is　occupied　in　shifting　the　bobbins　to　and
fro；　the　image　or　images　of　what　she　loves　will　not　shift　to　and　fro
in　her　thoughts；　this　is　the　truth；　this　is　my　opinion；　and　this　is　my
advice。〃
　　〃And　mine；〃　added　Sancho；　〃for　I　never　in　all　my　life　saw　a
lace…maker　that　died　for　love；　when　damsels　are　at　work　their　minds
are　more　set　on　finishing　their　tasks　than　on　thinking　of　their　loves。
I　speak　from　my　own　experience；　for　when　I'm　digging　I　never　think
of　my　old　woman；　I　mean　my　Teresa　Panza；　whom　I　love　better　than　my
own　eyelids。〃　〃You　say　well；　Sancho；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃and　I　will
take　care　that　my　Altisidora　employs　herself　henceforward　in
needlework　of　some　sort；　for　she　is　extremely　expert　at　it。〃　〃There　is
no　occasion　to　have　recourse　to　that　remedy；　senora；〃　said　Altisidora；
〃for　the　mere　thought　of　the　cruelty　with　which　this　vagabond
villain　has　treated　me　will　suffice　to　blot　him　out　of　my　memory
without　any　other　device；　with　your　highness's　leave　I　will　retire；
not　to　have　before　my　eyes；　I　won't　say　his　rueful　countenance；　but
his　abominable；　ugly　looks。〃　〃That　reminds　me　of　the　common　saying；
that　'he　that　rails　is　ready　to　forgive；'〃　said　the　duke。
　　Altisidora　then；　pretending　to　wipe　away　her　tears　with　a
handkerchief；　made　an　obeisance　to　her　master　and　mistress　and　quitted
the　room。
　　〃Ill　luck　betide　thee；　poor　damsel；〃　said　Sancho；　〃ill　luck　betide
thee！　Thou　hast　fallen　in　with　a　soul　as　dry　as　a　rush　and　a　heart
as　hard　as　oak；　had　it　been　me；　i'faith　'another　cock　would　have
crowed　to　thee。'〃
　　So　the　conversation　came　to　an　end；　and　Don　Quixote　dressed
himself　and　dined　with　the　duke　and　duchess；　and　set　out　the　same
evening。
　　

CHAPTER　LXXI
　　OF　WHAT　PASSED　BETWEEN　DON　QUIXOTE　AND　HIS　SQUIRE　SANCHO　ON　THE
WAY　TO　THEIR　VILLAGE

　　THE　vanquished　and　afflicted　Don　Quixote　went　along　very　downcast　in
one　respect　and　very　happy　in　another。　His　sadness　arose　from　his
defeat；　and　his　satisfaction　from　the　thought　of　the　virtue　that　lay
in　Sancho；　as　had　been　proved　by　the　resurrection　of　Altisidora；
though　it　was　with　difficulty　he　could　persuade　himself　that　the
love…smitten　damsel　had　been　really　dead。　Sancho　went　along　anything
but　cheerful；　for　it　grieved　him　that　Altisidora　had　not　kept　her
promise　of　giving　him　the　smocks；　and　turning　this　over　in　his　mind　he
said　to　his　master；　〃Surely；　senor；　I'm　the　most　unlucky　doctor　in　the
world；　there's　many　a　physician　that；　after　killing　the　sick　man　he
had　to　cure；　requires　to　be　paid　for　his　work；　though　it　is　only
signing　a　bit　of　a　list　of　medicines；　that　the　apothecary　and　not　he
makes　up；　and；　there；　his　labour　is　over；　but　with　me　though　to　cure
somebody　else　costs　me　drops　of　blood；　smacks；　pinches；
pinproddings；　and　whippings；　nobody　gives　me　a　farthing。　Well；　I　swear
by　all　that's　good　if　they　put　another　patient　into　my　hands；
they'll　have　to　grease　them　for　me　before　I　cure　him；　for；　as　they
say；　'it's　by　his　singing　the　abbot　gets　his　dinner；'　and　I'm　not
going　to　believe　that　heaven　has　bestowed　upon　me　the　virtue　I　have；
that　I　should　be　dealing　it　out　to　others　all　for　nothing。〃
　　〃Thou　art　right；　Sancho　my　friend；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and
Altisidora　has　behaved　very　badly　in　not　giving　thee　the　smocks　she
promised；　and　although　that　virtue　of　thine　is　gratis　data…　as　it
has　cost　thee　no　study　whatever；　any　more　than　such　study　as　thy
personal　sufferings　may　be…　I　can　say　for　myself　that　if　thou
wouldst　have　payment　for　the　lashes　on　account　of　the　disenchant　of
Dulcinea；　I　would　have　given　it　to　thee　freely　ere　this。　I　am　not
sure；　however；　whether　payment　will　comport　with　the　cure；　and　I　would
not　have　the　reward　interfere　with　the　medicine。　I　think　there　will　be
nothing　lost　by　trying　it；　consider　how　much　thou　wouldst　have；
Sancho；　and　whip　thyself　at　once；　and　pay　thyself　down　with　thine
own　hand；　as　thou　hast　money　of　mine。〃
　　At　this　proposal　Sancho　opened　his　eyes　and　his　ears　a　palm's
breadth　wide；　and　in　his　heart　very　readily　acquiesced　in　whipping
himself；　and　said　he　to　his　master；　〃Very　well　then；　senor；　I'll
hold　myself　in　readiness　to　gratify　your　worship's　wishes　if　I'm　to
profit　by　it；　for　the　love　of　my　wife　and　children　forces　me　to　seem
grasping。　Let　your　worship　say　how　much　you　will　pay　me　for　each
lash　I　give　myself。〃
　　〃If　Sancho；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃I　were　to　requite　thee　as　the
importance　and　nature　of　the　cure　deserves；　the　treasures　of　Venice；
the　mines　of　Potosi；　would　be　insufficient　to　pay　thee。　See　what
thou　hast　of　mine；　and　put　a　price　on　each　lash。〃
　　〃Of　them；〃　said　Sancho；　〃there　are　three　thousand　three　hundred
and　odd；　of　these　I　have　given　myself　five；　the　rest　remain；　let　the
five　go　for　the　odd　ones；　and　let　us　take　the　three　thousand　three
hundred；　which　at　a　quarter　real　apiece　（for　I　will　not　take　less
though　the　whole　world　should　bid　me）　make　three　thousand　three
hundred　quarter　reals；　the　three　thousand　are　one　thousand　five
hundred　half　reals；　which　make　seven　hundred　and　fifty　reals；　and
the　three　hundred　make　a　hundred　and　fifty　half　reals；　which　come　to
seventy…five　reals；　which　added　to　the　seven　hundred　and　fifty　make
eight　hundred　and　twenty…five　reals　in　all。　These　I　will　stop　out　of
what　I　have　belonging　to　your　worship；　and　I'll　return　home　rich　and
content；　though　well　whipped；　for　'there's　no　taking　trout'…　but　I　say
no　more。〃
　　〃O　blessed　Sancho！　O　dear　Sancho！〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃how　we　shall
be　bound　to　serve　thee；　Dulcinea　and　I；　all　the　days　of　our　lives　that
heaven　may　grant　us！　If　she　returns　to　her　lost　shape　（and　it　cannot
be　but　that　she　will）　her　misfortune　will　have　been　good　fortune；
and　my　defeat　a　most　happy　triumph。　But　look　here；　Sancho；　when　wilt
thou　begin　the　scourging？　For　if　thou　wilt　make　short　work　of　it；　I
will　give　thee　a　hundred　reals　over　and　above。〃
　　〃When？〃　said　Sancho；　〃this　night　without　fail。　Let　your　worship
order　it　so　that　we　pass　it　out　of　doors　and　in　the　open　air；　and　I'll
scarify　myself。〃
　　Night；　longed　for　by　Don　Quixote　with　the　greatest　anxiety　in　the
world；　came　at　last；　though　it　seemed　to　him　that　the　wheels　of
Apollo's　car　had　broken　down；　and　that　the　day　was　drawing　itself
out　longer　than　usual；　just　as　is　the　case　with　lovers；　who　never　make
the　reckoning　of　their　desires　agree　with　time。　They　made　their　way　at
length　in　among　some　pleasant　trees　that　stood　a　little　distance
from　the　road；　and　there　vacating　Rocinante's　saddle　and　Dapple's
pack…saddle；　they　stretched　themselves　on　the　green　grass　and　made
their　supper　off　Sancho's　stores；　and　he　making　a　powerful　and
flexible　whip　out　of　Dapple's　halter　and　headstall　retreated　about
twenty　paces　from　his　master　among　some　beech　trees。　Don　Quixote
seeing　him　march　off　with　such　resolution　and　spirit；　said　to　him；
〃Take　care；　my　friend；　not　to　cut　thyself　to　pieces；　allow　the
lashes　to　wait　for　one　another；　and　do　not　be　in　so　great　a　hurry　as
to　run　thyself　out　of　breath　midway；　I　mean；　do　not　lay　on　so
strenuously　as　to　make　thy　life　fail　thee　before　thou　hast　reached　the
desired　number；　and　that　thou　mayest　not　lose　by　a　card　too　much　or
too　little；　I　will　station　myself　apart　and　count　on　my　rosary　here
the　lashes　thou　givest　thyself。　May　heaven　help　thee　as　thy　good
intention　deserves。〃
　　〃'Pledges　don't　distress　a　good　payer；'〃　said　Sancho；　〃I　mean　to　lay
on　in　such　a　way　as　without　killing　myself　to　hurt　myself；　for　in
that；　no　doubt；　lies　the　essence　of　this　miracle。〃
　　He　then　stripped　himself　from　the　waist　upwards；　and　snatching　up
the　rope　he　began　to　lay　on　and　Don　Quixote　to　count　the　lashes。　He
might　have　given　himself　six　or　eight　when　he　began　to　think　the
joke　no　trifle；　and　its　price　very　low；　and　holding　his　hand　for　a
moment；　he　told　his　master　that　he　cried　off　on　the　score　of　a　blind
bargain；　for　each　of　those　lashes　ought　to　be　paid　for　at　the　rate
of　half　a　real　instead　of　a　quarter。
　　〃Go　on；　Sancho　my　friend；　and　be　not　disheartened；〃　said　Don
Quixote；　〃for　I　double　the　stakes　as　to　price。〃
　　〃In　that　case；〃　said　Sancho；　〃in　God's　hand　be　it；　and　let　it　rain
lashes。〃　But　the　rogue　no　longer　laid　them　on　his　shoulders；　but
laid　on　to　the　trees；　with　such　gr