don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第193章

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site　and　beauty。　And　though　the　adventures　that　befell　me　there　are
not　by　any　means　matters　of　enjoyment；　but　rather　of　regret；　I　do
not　regret　them；　simply　because　I　have　seen　it。　In　a　word；　Senor　Don
Alvaro　Tarfe；　I　am　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　the　one　that　fame
speaks　of；　and　not　the　unlucky　one　that　has　attempted　to　usurp　my　name
and　deck　himself　out　in　my　ideas。　I　entreat　your　worship　by　your
devoir　as　a　gentleman　to　be　so　good　as　to　make　a　declaration　before
the　alcalde　of　this　village　that　you　never　in　all　your　life　saw　me
until　now；　and　that　neither　am　I　the　Don　Quixote　in　print　in　the
Second　Part；　nor　this　Sancho　Panza；　my　squire；　the　one　your　worship
knew。〃
　　〃That　I　will　do　most　willingly；〃　replied　Don　Alvaro；　〃though　it
amazes　me　to　find　two　Don　Quixotes　and　two　Sancho　Panzas　at　once；　as
much　alike　in　name　as　they　differ　in　demeanour；　and　again　I　say　and
declare　that　what　I　saw　I　cannot　have　seen；　and　that　what　happened
me　cannot　have　happened。〃
　　〃No　doubt　your　worship　is　enchanted；　like　my　lady　Dulcinea　del
Toboso；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　would　to　heaven　your　disenchantment
rested　on　my　giving　myself　another　three　thousand　and　odd　lashes
like　what　I'm　giving　myself　for　her；　for　I'd　lay　them　on　without
looking　for　anything。〃
　　〃I　don't　understand　that　about　the　lashes；〃　said　Don　Alvaro。
Sancho　replied　that　it　was　a　long　story　to　tell；　but　he　would　tell　him
if　they　happened　to　he　going　the　same　road。
　　By　this　dinner…time　arrived；　and　Don　Quixote　and　Don　Alvaro　dined
together。　The　alcalde　of　the　village　came　by　chance　into　the　inn
together　with　a　notary；　and　Don　Quixote　laid　a　petition　before　him；
showing　that　it　was　requisite　for　his　rights　that　Don　Alvaro　Tarfe；
the　gentleman　there　present；　should　make　a　declaration　before　him　that
he　did　not　know　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　also　there　present；　and　that
he　was　not　the　one　that　was　in　print　in　a　history　entitled　〃Second
Part　of　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　by　one　Avellaneda　of　Tordesillas。〃
The　alcalde　finally　put　it　in　legal　form；　and　the　declaration　was　made
with　all　the　formalities　required　in　such　cases；　at　which　Don
Quixote　and　Sancho　were　in　high　delight；　as　if　a　declaration　of　the
sort　was　of　any　great　importance　to　them；　and　as　if　their　words　and
deeds　did　not　plainly　show　the　difference　between　the　two　Don　Quixotes
and　the　two　Sanchos。　Many　civilities　and　offers　of　service　were
exchanged　by　Don　Alvaro　and　Don　Quixote；　in　the　course　of　which　the
great　Manchegan　displayed　such　good　taste　that　he　disabused　Don　Alvaro
of　the　error　he　was　under；　and　he；　on　his　part；　felt　convinced　he　must
have　been　enchanted；　now　that　he　had　been　brought　in　contact　with
two　such　opposite　Don　Quixotes。
　　Evening　came；　they　set　out　from　the　village；　and　after　about　half
a　league　two　roads　branched　off；　one　leading　to　Don　Quixote's　village；
the　other　the　road　Don　Alvaro　was　to　follow。　In　this　short　interval
Don　Quixote　told　him　of　his　unfortunate　defeat；　and　of　Dulcinea's
enchantment　and　the　remedy；　all　which　threw　Don　Alvaro　into　fresh
amazement；　and　embracing　Don　Quixote　and　Sancho　he　went　his　way；　and
Don　Quixote　went　his。　That　night　he　passed　among　trees　again　in
order　to　give　Sancho　an　opportunity　of　working　out　his　penance；
which　he　did　in　the　same　fashion　as　the　night　before；　at　the　expense
of　the　bark　of　the　beech　trees　much　more　than　of　his　back；　of　which　he
took　such　good　care　that　the　lashes　would　not　have　knocked　off　a　fly
had　there　been　one　there。　The　duped　Don　Quixote　did　not　miss　a
single　stroke　of　the　count；　and　he　found　that　together　with　those　of
the　night　before　they　made　up　three　thousand　and　twenty…nine。　The
sun　apparently　had　got　up　early　to　witness　the　sacrifice；　and　with　his
light　they　resumed　their　journey；　discussing　the　deception　practised
on　Don　Alvaro；　and　saying　how　well　done　it　was　to　have　taken　his
declaration　before　a　magistrate　in　such　an　unimpeachable　form。　That
day　and　night　they　travelled　on；　nor　did　anything　worth　mention　happen
them；　unless　it　was　that　in　the　course　of　the　night　Sancho　finished
off　his　task；　whereat　Don　Quixote　was　beyond　measure　joyful。　He
watched　for　daylight；　to　see　if　along　the　road　he　should　fall　in
with　his　already　disenchanted　lady　Dulcinea；　and　as　he　pursued　his
journey　there　was　no　woman　he　met　that　he　did　not　go　up　to；　to　see
if　she　was　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　as　he　held　it　absolutely　certain
that　Merlin's　promises　could　not　lie。　Full　of　these　thoughts　and
anxieties；　they　ascended　a　rising　ground　wherefrom　they　descried　their
own　village；　at　the　sight　of　which　Sancho　fell　on　his　knees
exclaiming；　〃Open　thine　eyes；　longed…for　home；　and　see　how　thy　son
Sancho　Panza　comes　back　to　thee；　if　not　very　rich；　very　well
whipped！　Open　thine　arms　and　receive；　too；　thy　son　Don　Quixote；　who；
if　he　comes　vanquishe　by　the　arm　of　another；　comes　victor　over
himself；　which；　as　he　himself　has　told　me；　is　the　greatest　victory
anyone　can　desire。　I'm　bringing　back　money；　for　if　I　was　well　whipped；
I　went　mounted　like　a　gentleman。〃
　　〃Have　done　with　these　fooleries；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃let　us　push
on　straight　and　get　to　our　own　place；　where　we　will　give　free　range　to
our　fancies；　and　settle　our　plans　for　our　future　pastoral　life。〃
　　With　this　they　descended　the　slope　and　directed　their　steps　to　their
village。
　　

CHAPTER　LXXIII
　　OF　THE　OMENS　DON　QUIXOTE　HAD　AS　HE　ENTERED　HIS　OWN　VILLAGE；　AND
OTHER　INCIDENTS　THAT　EMBELLISH　AND　GIVE　A　COLOUR　TO　THIS　GREAT　HISTORY

　　AT　THE　entrance　of　the　village；　so　says　Cide　Hamete；　Don　Quixote　saw
two　boys　quarrelling　on　the　village　threshing…floor　one　of　whom　said
to　the　other；　〃Take　it　easy；　Periquillo；　thou　shalt　never　see　it　again
as　long　as　thou　livest。〃
　　Don　Quixote　heard　this；　and　said　he　to　Sancho；　〃Dost　thou　not
mark；　friend；　what　that　boy　said；　'Thou　shalt　never　see　it　again　as
long　as　thou　livest'？〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　Sancho；　〃what　does　it　matter　if　the　boy　said　so？〃
　　〃What！〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃dost　thou　not　see　that；　applied　to　the
object　of　my　desires；　the　words　mean　that　I　am　never　to　see　Dulcinea
more？〃
　　Sancho　was　about　to　answer；　when　his　attention　was　diverted　by
seeing　a　hare　come　flying　across　the　plain　pursued　by　several
greyhounds　and　sportsmen。　In　its　terror　it　ran　to　take　shelter　and
hide　itself　under　Dapple。　Sancho　caught　it　alive　and　presented　it　to
Don　Quixote；　who　was　saying；　〃Malum　signum；　malum　signum！　a　hare
flies；　greyhounds　chase　it；　Dulcinea　appears　not。〃
　　〃Your　worship's　a　strange　man；〃　said　Sancho；　〃let's　take　it　for
granted　that　this　hare　is　Dulcinea；　and　these　greyhounds　chasing　it
the　malignant　enchanters　who　turned　her　into　a　country　wench；　she
flies；　and　I　catch　her　and　put　her　into　your　worship's　hands；　and
you　hold　her　in　your　arms　and　cherish　her；　what　bad　sign　is　that；　or
what　ill　omen　is　there　to　be　found　here？〃
　　The　two　boys　who　had　been　quarrelling　came　over　to　look　at　the　hare；
and　Sancho　asked　one　of　them　what　their　quarrel　was　about。　He　was
answered　by　the　one　who　had　said；　〃Thou　shalt　never　see　it　again　as
long　as　thou　livest；〃　that　he　had　taken　a　cage　full　of　crickets　from
the　other　boy；　and　did　not　mean　to　give　it　back　to　him　as　long　as　he
lived。　Sancho　took　out　four　cuartos　from　his　pocket　and　gave　them　to
the　boy　for　the　cage；　which　he　placed　in　Don　Quixote's　hands；
saying；　〃There；　senor！　there　are　the　omens　broken　and　destroyed；　and
they　have　no　more　to　do　with　our　affairs；　to　my　thinking；　fool　as　I
am；　than　with　last　year's　clouds；　and　if　I　remember　rightly　I　have
heard　the　curate　of　our　village　say　that　it　does　not　become　Christians
or　sensible　people　to　give　any　heed　to　these　silly　things；　and　even
you　yourself　said　the　same　to　me　some　time　ago；　telling　me　that　all
Christians　who　minded　omens　were　fools；　but　there's　no　need　of
making　words　about　it；　let　us　push　on　and　go　into　our　village。〃
　　The　sportsmen　came　up　and　asked　for　their　hare；　which　Don　Quixote
gave　them。　They　then　went　on；　and　upon　the　green　at　the　entrance　of
the　town　they　came　upon　the　curate　and　the　bachelor　Samson　Carrasco
busy　with　their　breviaries。　It　should　be　mentioned　that　Sancho　had
thrown；　by　way　of　a　sumpter…cloth；　over　Dapple　and　over　the　bundle
of　armour；　the　buckram　robe　painted　with　flames　which　they　had　put
upon　him　at　the　duke's　castle　the　night　Altisidora　came　back　to
life。　He　had　also　fixed　the　mitre　on　Dapple's　head；　the　oddest
transformation　and　decoration　that　ever　ass　in　the　world　underwent。
They　were　at　once　recognised　by　both　the　curate　and　the　bachelor；
who　came　towards　them　with　open　arms。　Don　Quixote　dismounted　and
received　them　with　a　close　embrace；　and　the　boys；　who　are　lynxes
that　nothing　escapes；　spied　out　the　ass's　mitre　and　came　running　to
see　it；　calling　out　to　one　another；　〃Come　here；　boys；　and　see　Sancho
Panza's　ass　figged　out　finer　than　Mingo；　and　Don　Quixote's　beast
leaner　than　ever。〃
　　So　at　length；　with　the　boys　capering　round　them；　and　accompanied
by　the　curate　and　the　bachelor；　they　made　their　entrance　into　the
town；　and　proceeded　to　Don　Quixote's　house；　at　the　door　of　which
they　found　his　housekeeper　and　niece；　whom　the　news　of　his　arrival　had
already　reached。　It　had　been　brought　to　Teresa　Panza；　Sancho's　wife；
as　well；　and　she　with　her　hair　all　loose　and　half　naked；　dragging
Sanchica　her　daughter　by　the　hand；　ran　out　to　meet　her　husband；　but
seeing　him　coming　in　by　no　means　as　good　case　as　she　thought　a
governor　ought　to　be；　she　said　to　him；　〃How　is　it　you　come　this　way；
husband？　It　seems　to　me　you　come　tramping　and　footsore；　and　looking
more　like　a　disorderly　vagabond　than　a　governor。〃
　　〃Hold　your　tongue；　Teresa；〃　said　Sancho；　〃often　'where　there　are
pegs　there　are　no　flitches；'　let's　go　into　the　house　and　there
you'll　hear　strange　things。　I　bring　money；　and　that's　the　main
thing；　got　by　my　own　industry　without　wronging　anybody。〃
　　〃You　bring　the　money；　my　good　husband；〃　said　Teresa；　〃and　no
matter　whether　it　was　got　this　way　or　that；　for；　however　you　may
have　got　it；　you'll　not　have　brought　any　new　practice　into　the　world。〃
　　Sanchica　embraced　her　father　and　asked　him　if　he　brought　her
anything；　for　she　had　been　looking　out　for　him　as　for　the　showers　of
May；　and　she　taking　hold　of　him　by　the　girdle　on　one　side；　and　his
wife　by　the　hand；　while　the　daughter　led　Dapple；　they　made　for　their
house；　leaving　Don　Quixote　in　his；　in　the　hands　of　his　niece　and
housekeeper；　and　in　the　company　of　the　curate　and　the　bachelor。
　　Don　Quixote　at　once；　without　any　regard　to　time　or　season；
withdrew　in　private　with　the　bachelor　and　the　curate；　and　in　a　few
words　told　them　of　his　defeat；　and　of　the　engagement　he　was　under
not　to　quit　his　village　for　a　year；　which　he　meant　to　keep　to　the
letter　without　departing　a　hair's　breadth　from　it；　as　became　a
knight…errant　bound　by　scrupulous　good　faith　and　the　laws　of
knight…errantry；　and　of　how　he　thought　of　turning　shepherd　for　that
year；　and　taking　his　diversion　in　the　solitude　of　the　fields；　where　he
could　with　perfect　freedom　give　range　to　his　thoughts　of　love　while　he
followed　the　virtuous　pastoral　calling；　and　he　besought　them；　if
they　had　not　a　great　deal　to　do　and　were　not　prevented　by　more
important　business；　to　consent　to　be　his　companions；　for　he　would
b