don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第20章

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plumed　herself　greatly　on　being　a　lady　and　held　it　no　disgrace　to　be
in　such　an　employment　as　servant　in　an　inn；　because；　she　said；
misfortunes　and　ill…luck　had　brought　her　to　that　position。　The　hard；
narrow；　wretched；　rickety　bed　of　Don　Quixote　stood　first　in　the　middle
of　this　star…lit　stable；　and　close　beside　it　Sancho　made　his；　which
merely　consisted　of　a　rush　mat　and　a　blanket　that　looked　as　if　it
was　of　threadbare　canvas　rather　than　of　wool。　Next　to　these　two　beds
was　that　of　the　carrier；　made　up；　as　has　been　said；　of　the
pack…saddles　and　all　the　trappings　of　the　two　best　mules　he　had；
though　there　were　twelve　of　them；　sleek；　plump；　and　in　prime
condition；　for　he　was　one　of　the　rich　carriers　of　Arevalo；　according
to　the　author　of　this　history；　who　particularly　mentions　this
carrier　because　he　knew　him　very　well；　and　they　even　say　was　in　some
degree　a　relation　of　his；　besides　which　Cide　Hamete　Benengeli　was　a
historian　of　great　research　and　accuracy　in　all　things；　as　is　very
evident　since　he　would　not　pass　over　in　silence　those　that　have　been
already　mentioned；　however　trifling　and　insignificant　they　might　be；
an　example　that　might　be　followed　by　those　grave　historians　who　relate
transactions　so　curtly　and　briefly　that　we　hardly　get　a　taste　of　them；
all　the　substance　of　the　work　being　left　in　the　inkstand　from
carelessness；　perverseness；　or　ignorance。　A　thousand　blessings　on
the　author　of　〃Tablante　de　Ricamonte〃　and　that　of　the　other　book　in
which　the　deeds　of　the　Conde　Tomillas　are　recounted；　with　what
minuteness　they　describe　everything！
　　To　proceed；　then：　after　having　paid　a　visit　to　his　team　and　given
them　their　second　feed；　the　carrier　stretched　himself　on　his
pack…saddles　and　lay　waiting　for　his　conscientious　Maritornes。
Sancho　was　by　this　time　plastered　and　had　lain　down；　and　though　he
strove　to　sleep　the　pain　of　his　ribs　would　not　let　him；　while　Don
Quixote　with　the　pain　of　his　had　his　eyes　as　wide　open　as　a　hare's。
The　inn　was　all　in　silence；　and　in　the　whole　of　it　there　was　no
light　except　that　given　by　a　lantern　that　hung　burning　in　the　middle
of　the　gateway。　This　strange　stillness；　and　the　thoughts；　always
present　to　our　knight's　mind；　of　the　incidents　described　at　every　turn
in　the　books　that　were　the　cause　of　his　misfortune；　conjured　up　to　his
imagination　as　extraordinary　a　delusion　as　can　well　be　conceived；
which　was　that　he　fancied　himself　to　have　reached　a　famous　castle
（for；　as　has　been　said；　all　the　inns　he　lodged　in　were　castles　to
his　eyes）；　and　that　the　daughter　of　the　innkeeper　was　daughter　of
the　lord　of　the　castle；　and　that　she；　won　by　his　high…bred　bearing；
had　fallen　in　love　with　him；　and　had　promised　to　come　to　his　bed　for　a
while　that　night　without　the　knowledge　of　her　parents；　and　holding　all
this　fantasy　that　he　had　constructed　as　solid　fact；　he　began　to　feel
uneasy　and　to　consider　the　perilous　risk　which　his　virtue　was　about　to
encounter；　and　he　resolved　in　his　heart　to　commit　no　treason　to　his
lady　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　even　though　the　queen　Guinevere　herself
and　the　dame　Quintanona　should　present　themselves　before　him。
　　While　he　was　taken　up　with　these　vagaries；　then；　the　time　and　the
hour…　an　unlucky　one　for　him…　arrived　for　the　Asturian　to　come；　who　in
her　smock；　with　bare　feet　and　her　hair　gathered　into　a　fustian　coif；
with　noiseless　and　cautious　steps　entered　the　chamber　where　the
three　were　quartered；　in　quest　of　the　carrier；　but　scarcely　had　she
gained　the　door　when　Don　Quixote　perceived　her；　and　sitting　up　in
his　bed　in　spite　of　his　plasters　and　the　pain　of　his　ribs；　he
stretched　out　his　arms　to　receive　his　beauteous　damsel。　The
Asturian；　who　went　all　doubled　up　and　in　silence　with　her　hands　before
her　feeling　for　her　lover；　encountered　the　arms　of　Don　Quixote；　who
grasped　her　tightly　by　the　wrist；　and　drawing　her　towards　him；　while
she　dared　not　utter　a　word；　made　her　sit　down　on　the　bed。　He　then　felt
her　smock；　and　although　it　was　of　sackcloth　it　appeared　to　him　to　be
of　the　finest　and　softest　silk：　on　her　wrists　she　wore　some　glass
beads；　but　to　him　they　had　the　sheen　of　precious　Orient　pearls：　her
hair；　which　in　some　measure　resembled　a　horse's　mane；　he　rated　as
threads　of　the　brightest　gold　of　Araby；　whose　refulgence　dimmed　the
sun　himself：　her　breath；　which　no　doubt　smelt　of　yesterday's　stale
salad；　seemed　to　him　to　diffuse　a　sweet　aromatic　fragrance　from　her
mouth；　and；　in　short；　he　drew　her　portrait　in　his　imagination　with　the
same　features　and　in　the　same　style　as　that　which　he　had　seen　in　his
books　of　the　other　princesses　who；　smitten　by　love；　came　with　all
the　adornments　that　are　here　set　down；　to　see　the　sorely　wounded
knight；　and　so　great　was　the　poor　gentleman's　blindness　that　neither
touch；　nor　smell；　nor　anything　else　about　the　good　lass　that　would
have　made　any　but　a　carrier　vomit；　were　enough　to　undeceive　him；　on
the　contrary；　he　was　persuaded　he　had　the　goddess　of　beauty　in　his
arms；　and　holding　her　firmly　in　his　grasp　he　went　on　to　say　in　low；
tender　voice：
　　〃Would　that　found　myself；　lovely　and　exalted　lady；　in　a　position
to　repay　such　a　favour　as　that　which　you；　by　the　sight　of　your　great
beauty；　have　granted　me；　but　fortune；　which　is　never　weary　of
persecuting　the　good；　has　chosen　to　place　me　upon　this　bed；　where　I
lie　so　bruised　and　broken　that　though　my　inclination　would　gladly
comply　with　yours　it　is　impossible；　besides；　to　this　impossibility
another　yet　greater　is　to　be　added；　which　is　the　faith　that　I　have
pledged　to　the　peerless　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　sole　lady　of　my　most
secret　thoughts；　and　were　it　not　that　this　stood　in　the　way　I　should
not　be　so　insensible　a　knight　as　to　miss　the　happy　opportunity　which
your　great　goodness　has　offered　me。〃
　　Maritornes　was　fretting　and　sweating　at　finding　herself　held　so　fast
by　Don　Quixote；　and　not　understanding　or　heeding　the　words　he
addressed　to　her；　she　strove　without　speaking　to　free　herself。　The
worthy　carrier；　whose　unholy　thoughts　kept　him　awake；　was　aware　of　his
doxy　the　moment　she　entered　the　door；　and　was　listening　attentively　to
all　Don　Quixote　said；　and　jealous　that　the　Asturian　should　have　broken
her　word　with　him　for　another；　drew　nearer　to　Don　Quixote's　bed　and
stood　still　to　see　what　would　come　of　this　talk　which　he　could　not
understand；　but　when　he　perceived　the　wench　struggling　to　get　free　and
Don　Quixote　striving　to　hold　her；　not　relishing　the　joke　he　raised　his
arm　and　delivered　such　a　terrible　cuff　on　the　lank　jaws　of　the　amorous
knight　that　be　bathed　all　his　mouth　in　blood；　and　not　content　with
this　he　mounted　on　his　ribs　and　with　his　feet　tramped　all　over　them　at
a　pace　rather　smarter　than　a　trot。　The　bed　which　was　somewhat　crazy
and　not　very　firm　on　its　feet；　unable　to　support　the　additional　weight
of　the　carrier；　came　to　the　ground；　and　at　the　mighty　crash　of　this
the　innkeeper　awoke　and　at　once　concluded　that　it　must　be　some　brawl
of　Maritornes'；　because　after　calling　loudly　to　her　he　got　no
answer。　With　this　suspicion　he　got　up；　and　lighting　a　lamp　hastened　to
the　quarter　where　he　had　heard　the　disturbance。　The　wench；　seeing　that
her　master　was　coming　and　knowing　that　his　temper　was　terrible；
frightened　and　panic…stricken　made　for　the　bed　of　Sancho　Panza；　who
still　slept；　and　crouching　upon　it　made　a　ball　of　herself。
　　The　innkeeper　came　in　exclaiming；　〃Where　art　thou；　strumpet？　Of
course　this　is　some　of　thy　work。〃　At　this　Sancho　awoke；　and　feeling
this　mass　almost　on　top　of　him　fancied　he　had　the　nightmare　and
began　to　distribute　fisticuffs　all　round；　of　which　a　certain　share
fell　upon　Maritornes；　who；　irritated　by　the　pain　and　flinging
modesty　aside；　paid　back　so　many　in　return　to　Sancho　that　she　woke　him
up　in　spite　of　himself。　He　then；　finding　himself　so　handled；　by　whom
he　knew　not；　raising　himself　up　as　well　as　he　could；　grappled　with
Maritornes；　and　he　and　she　between　them　began　the　bitterest　and
drollest　scrimmage　in　the　world。　The　carrier；　however；　perceiving　by
the　light　of　the　innkeeper　candle　how　it　fared　with　his　ladylove；
quitting　Don　Quixote；　ran　to　bring　her　the　help　she　needed；　and　the
innkeeper　did　the　same　but　with　a　different　intention；　for　his　was
to　chastise　the　lass；　as　he　believed　that　beyond　a　doubt　she　alone　was
the　cause　of　all　the　harmony。　And　so；　as　the　saying　is；　cat　to　rat；
rat　to　rope；　rope　to　stick；　the　carrier　pounded　Sancho；　Sancho　the
lass；　she　him；　and　the　innkeeper　her；　and　all　worked　away　so　briskly
that　they　did　not　give　themselves　a　moment's　rest；　and　the　best　of
it　was　that　the　innkeeper's　lamp　went　out；　and　as　they　were　left　in
the　dark　they　all　laid　on　one　upon　the　other　in　a　mass　so　unmercifully
that　there　was　not　a　sound　spot　left　where　a　hand　could　light。
　　It　so　happened　that　there　was　lodging　that　night　in　the　inn　a
caudrillero　of　what　they　call　the　Old　Holy　Brotherhood　of　Toledo；　who；
also　hearing　the　extraordinary　noise　of　the　conflict；　seized　his　staff
and　the　tin　case　with　his　warrants；　and　made　his　way　in　the　dark
into　the　room　crying：　〃Hold！　in　the　name　of　the　Jurisdiction！　Hold！　in
the　name　of　the　Holy　Brotherhood！〃
　　The　first　that　he　came　upon　was　the　pummelled　Don　Quixote；　who　lay
stretched　senseless　on　his　back　upon　his　broken…down　bed；　and；　his
hand　falling　on　the　beard　as　he　felt　about；　he　continued　to　cry；　〃Help
for　the　Jurisdiction！〃　but　perceiving　that　he　whom　he　had　laid　hold　of
did　not　move　or　stir；　he　concluded　that　he　was　dead　and　that　those
in　the　room　were　his　murderers；　and　with　this　suspicion　he　raised
his　voice　still　higher；　calling　out；　〃Shut　the　inn　gate；　see　that　no
one　goes　out；　they　have　killed　a　man　here！〃　This　cry　startled　them
all；　and　each　dropped　the　contest　at　the　point　at　which　the　voice
reached　him。　The　innkeeper　retreated　to　his　room；　the　carrier　to　his
pack…saddles；　the　lass　to　her　crib；　the　unlucky　Don　Quixote　and　Sancho
alone　were　unable　to　move　from　where　they　were。　The　cuadrillero　on
this　let　go　Don　Quixote's　beard；　and　went　out　to　look　for　a　light　to
search　for　and　apprehend　the　culprits；　but　not　finding　one；　as　the
innkeeper　had　purposely　extinguished　the　lantern　on　retreating　to
his　room；　he　was　compelled　to　have　recourse　to　the　hearth；　where　after
much　time　and　trouble　he　lit　another　lamp。

　　CHAPTER　XVII
　　IN　WHICH　ARE　CONTAINED　THE　INNUMERABLE　TROUBLES　WHICH　THE　BRAVE
DON　QUIXOTE　AND　HIS　GOOD　SQUIRE　SANCHO　PANZA　ENDURED　IN　THE　INN；　WHICH
TO　HIS　MISFORTUNE　HE　TOOK　TO　BE　A　CASTLE

　　BY　THIS　time　Don　Quixote　had　recovered　from　his　swoon；　and　in　the
same　tone　of　voice　in　which　he　had　called　to　his　squire　the　day　before
when　he　lay　stretched　〃in　the　vale　of　the　stakes；〃　he　began　calling　to
him　now；　〃Sancho；　my　friend；　art　thou　asleep？　sleepest　thou；　friend
Sancho？〃
　　〃How　can　I　sleep；　curses　on　it！〃　returned　Sancho　discontentedly
and　bitterly；　〃when　it　is　plain　that　all　the　devils　have　been　at　me
this　night？〃
　　〃Thou　mayest　well　believe　that；〃　answered　Don　Quixote；　〃because；
either　I　know　little；　or　this　castle　is　enchanted；　for　thou　must　know…
but　this　that　I　am　now　about　to　tell　thee　thou　must　swear　to　keep
secret　until　after　my　death。〃
　　〃I　swear　it；〃　answered　Sancho。
　　〃I　say　so；〃　continued　Don　Quixote；　〃because　I　hate　taking　away
anyone's　g