don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第22章

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is　done　me　I　can　take　what　vengeance　seems　good　to　me；　the　only
thing　I　want　is　that　you　pay　me　the　score　that　you　have　run　up　in
the　inn　last　night；　as　well　for　the　straw　and　barley　for　your　two
beasts；　as　for　supper　and　beds。〃
　　〃Then　this　is　an　inn？〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　〃And　a　very　respectable　one；〃　said　the　innkeeper。
　　〃I　have　been　under　a　mistake　all　this　time；〃　answered　Don　Quixote；
〃for　in　truth　I　thought　it　was　a　castle；　and　not　a　bad　one；　but
since　it　appears　that　it　is　not　a　castle　but　an　inn；　all　that　can　be
done　now　is　that　you　should　excuse　the　payment；　for　I　cannot
contravene　the　rule　of　knights…errant；　of　whom　I　know　as　a　fact　（and
up　to　the　present　I　have　read　nothing　to　the　contrary）　that　they　never
paid　for　lodging　or　anything　else　in　the　inn　where　they　might　be；
for　any　hospitality　that　might　be　offered　them　is　their　due　by　law　and
right　in　return　for　the　insufferable　toil　they　endure　in　seeking
adventures　by　night　and　by　day；　in　summer　and　in　winter；　on　foot　and
on　horseback；　in　hunger　and　thirst；　cold　and　heat；　exposed　to　all
the　inclemencies　of　heaven　and　all　the　hardships　of　earth。〃
　　〃I　have　little　to　do　with　that；〃　replied　the　innkeeper；　〃pay　me　what
you　owe　me；　and　let　us　have　no　more　talk　of　chivalry；　for　all　I　care
about　is　to　get　my　money。〃
　　〃You　are　a　stupid；　scurvy　innkeeper；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　and
putting　spurs　to　Rocinante　and　bringing　his　pike　to　the　slope　he
rode　out　of　the　inn　before　anyone　could　stop　him；　and　pushed　on　some
distance　without　looking　to　see　if　his　squire　was　following　him。
　　The　innkeeper　when　he　saw　him　go　without　paying　him　ran　to　get
payment　of　Sancho；　who　said　that　as　his　master　would　not　pay　neither
would　he；　because；　being　as　he　was　squire　to　a　knight…errant；　the　same
rule　and　reason　held　good　for　him　as　for　his　master　with　regard　to　not
paying　anything　in　inns　and　hostelries。　At　this　the　innkeeper　waxed
very　wroth；　and　threatened　if　he　did　not　pay　to　compel　him　in　a　way
that　he　would　not　like。　To　which　Sancho　made　answer　that　by　the　law　of
chivalry　his　master　had　received　he　would　not　pay　a　rap；　though　it
cost　him　his　life；　for　the　excellent　and　ancient　usage　of
knights…errant　was　not　going　to　be　violated　by　him；　nor　should　the
squires　of　such　as　were　yet　to　come　into　the　world　ever　complain　of
him　or　reproach　him　with　breaking　so　just　a　privilege。
　　The　ill…luck　of　the　unfortunate　Sancho　so　ordered　it　that　among
the　company　in　the　inn　there　were　four　woolcarders　from　Segovia；　three
needle…makers　from　the　Colt　of　Cordova；　and　two　lodgers　from　the
Fair　of　Seville；　lively　fellows；　tender…hearted；　fond　of　a　joke；　and
playful；　who；　almost　as　if　instigated　and　moved　by　a　common　impulse；
made　up　to　Sancho　and　dismounted　him　from　his　ass；　while　one　of　them
went　in　for　the　blanket　of　the　host's　bed；　but　on　flinging　him　into　it
they　looked　up；　and　seeing　that　the　ceiling　was　somewhat　lower　what
they　required　for　their　work；　they　decided　upon　going　out　into　the
yard；　which　was　bounded　by　the　sky；　and　there；　putting　Sancho　in　the
middle　of　the　blanket；　they　began　to　raise　him　high；　making　sport　with
him　as　they　would　with　a　dog　at　Shrovetide。
　　The　cries　of　the　poor　blanketed　wretch　were　so　loud　that　they
reached　the　ears　of　his　master；　who；　halting　to　listen　attentively；
was　persuaded　that　some　new　adventure　was　coming；　until　he　clearly
perceived　that　it　was　his　squire　who　uttered　them。　Wheeling　about　he
came　up　to　the　inn　with　a　laborious　gallop；　and　finding　it　shut　went
round　it　to　see　if　he　could　find　some　way　of　getting　in；　but　as　soon
as　he　came　to　the　wall　of　the　yard；　which　was　not　very　high；　he
discovered　the　game　that　was　being　played　with　his　squire。　He　saw
him　rising　and　falling　in　the　air　with　such　grace　and　nimbleness　that；
had　his　rage　allowed　him；　it　is　my　belief　he　would　have　laughed。　He
tried　to　climb　from　his　horse　on　to　the　top　of　the　wall；　but　he　was　so
bruised　and　battered　that　he　could　not　even　dismount；　and　so　from
the　back　of　his　horse　he　began　to　utter　such　maledictions　and
objurgations　against　those　who　were　blanketing　Sancho　as　it　would　be
impossible　to　write　down　accurately：　they；　however；　did　not　stay　their
laughter　or　their　work　for　this；　nor　did　the　flying　Sancho　cease　his
lamentations；　mingled　now　with　threats；　now　with　entreaties　but　all　to
little　purpose；　or　none　at　all；　until　from　pure　weariness　they　left
off。　They　then　brought　him　his　ass；　and　mounting　him　on　top　of　it　they
put　his　jacket　round　him；　and　the　compassionate　Maritornes；　seeing　him
so　exhausted；　thought　fit　to　refresh　him　with　a　jug　of　water；　and　that
it　might　be　all　the　cooler　she　fetched　it　from　the　well。　Sancho　took
it；　and　as　he　was　raising　it　to　his　mouth　he　was　stopped　by　the
cries　of　his　master　exclaiming；　〃Sancho；　my　son；　drink　not　water；
drink　it　not；　my　son；　for　it　will　kill　thee；　see；　here　I　have　the
blessed　balsam　（and　he　held　up　the　flask　of　liquor）；　and　with　drinking
two　drops　of　it　thou　wilt　certainly　be　restored。〃
　　At　these　words　Sancho　turned　his　eyes　asquint；　and　in　a　still　louder
voice　said；　〃Can　it　be　your　worship　has　forgotten　that　I　am　not　a
knight；　or　do　you　want　me　to　end　by　vomiting　up　what　bowels　I　have
left　after　last　night？　Keep　your　liquor　in　the　name　of　all　the　devils；
and　leave　me　to　myself！〃　and　at　one　and　the　same　instant　he　left　off
talking　and　began　drinking；　but　as　at　the　first　sup　he　perceived　it
was　water　he　did　not　care　to　go　on　with　it；　and　begged　Maritornes　to
fetch　him　some　wine；　which　she　did　with　right　good　will；　and　paid
for　it　with　her　own　money；　for　indeed　they　say　of　her　that；　though　she
was　in　that　line　of　life；　there　was　some　faint　and　distant　resemblance
to　a　Christian　about　her。　When　Sancho　had　done　drinking　he　dug　his
heels　into　his　ass；　and　the　gate　of　the　inn　being　thrown　open　he
passed　out　very　well　pleased　at　having　paid　nothing　and　carried　his
point；　though　it　had　been　at　the　expense　of　his　usual　sureties；　his
shoulders。　It　is　true　that　the　innkeeper　detained　his　alforjas　in
payment　of　what　was　owing　to　him；　but　Sancho　took　his　departure　in
such　a　flurry　that　he　never　missed　them。　The　innkeeper；　as　soon　as
he　saw　him　off；　wanted　to　bar　the　gate　close；　but　the　blanketers　would
not　agree　to　it；　for　they　were　fellows　who　would　not　have　cared　two
farthings　for　Don　Quixote；　even　had　he　been　really　one　of　the
knights…errant　of　the　Round　Table。

　　CHAPTER　XVIII
　　IN　WHICH　IS　RELATED　THE　DISCOURSE　SANCHO　PANZA　HELD　WITH　HIS　MASTER；
DON　QUIXOTE；　AND　OTHER　ADVENTURES　WORTH　RELATING

　　SANCHO　reached　his　master　so　limp　and　faint　that　he　could　not　urge
on　his　beast。　When　Don　Quixote　saw　the　state　he　was　in　he　said；　〃I
have　now　come　to　the　conclusion；　good　Sancho；　that　this　castle　or
inn　is　beyond　a　doubt　enchanted；　because　those　who　have　so　atrociously
diverted　themselves　with　thee；　what　can　they　be　but　phantoms　or　beings
of　another　world？　and　I　hold　this　confirmed　by　having　noticed　that
when　I　was　by　the　wall　of　the　yard　witnessing　the　acts　of　thy　sad
tragedy；　it　was　out　of　my　power　to　mount　upon　it；　nor　could　I　even
dismount　from　Rocinante；　because　they　no　doubt　had　me　enchanted；　for　I
swear　to　thee　by　the　faith　of　what　I　am　that　if　I　had　been　able　to
climb　up　or　dismount；　I　would　have　avenged　thee　in　such　a　way　that
those　braggart　thieves　would　have　remembered　their　freak　for　ever；
even　though　in　so　doing　I　knew　that　I　contravened　the　laws　of
chivalry；　which；　as　I　have　often　told　thee；　do　not　permit　a　knight
to　lay　hands　on　him　who　is　not　one；　save　in　case　of　urgent　and　great
necessity　in　defence　of　his　own　life　and　person。〃
　　〃I　would　have　avenged　myself　too　if　I　could；〃　said　Sancho；
〃whether　I　had　been　dubbed　knight　or　not；　but　I　could　not；　though
for　my　part　I　am　persuaded　those　who　amused　themselves　with　me　were
not　phantoms　or　enchanted　men；　as　your　worship　says；　but　men　of
flesh　and　bone　like　ourselves；　and　they　all　had　their　names；　for　I
heard　them　name　them　when　they　were　tossing　me；　and　one　was　called
Pedro　Martinez；　and　another　Tenorio　Hernandez；　and　the　innkeeper；　I
heard；　was　called　Juan　Palomeque　the　Left…handed；　so　that；　senor；　your
not　being　able　to　leap　over　the　wall　of　the　yard　or　dismount　from　your
horse　came　of　something　else　besides　enchantments；　and　what　I　make　out
clearly　from　all　this　is；　that　these　adventures　we　go　seeking　will
in　the　end　lead　us　into　such　misadventures　that　we　shall　not　know
which　is　our　right　foot；　and　that　the　best　and　wisest　thing；　according
to　my　small　wits；　would　be　for　us　to　return　home；　now　that　it　is
harvest…time；　and　attend　to　our　business；　and　give　over　wandering　from
Zeca　to　Mecca　and　from　pail　to　bucket；　as　the　saying　is。〃
　　〃How　little　thou　knowest　about　chivalry；　Sancho；〃　replied　Don
Quixote；　〃hold　thy　peace　and　have　patience；　the　day　will　come　when
thou　shalt　see　with　thine　own　eyes　what　an　honourable　thing　it　is　to
wander　in　the　pursuit　of　this　calling；　nay；　tell　me；　what　greater
pleasure　can　there　be　in　the　world；　or　what　delight　can　equal　that
of　winning　a　battle；　and　triumphing　over　one's　enemy？　None；　beyond　all
doubt。〃
　　〃Very　likely；〃　answered　Sancho；　〃though　I　do　not　know　it；　all　I　know
is　that　since　we　have　been　knights…errant；　or　since　your　worship　has
been　one　（for　I　have　no　right　to　reckon　myself　one　of　so　honourable
a　number）　we　have　never　won　any　battle　except　the　one　with　the
Biscayan；　and　even　out　of　that　your　worship　car…ne　with　half　an　ear
and　half　a　helmet　the　less；　and　from　that　till　now　it　has　been　all
cudgellings　and　more　cudgellings；　cuffs　and　more　cuffs；　I　getting
the　blanketing　over　and　above；　and　falling　in　with　enchanted　persons
on　whom　I　cannot　avenge　myself　so　as　to　know　what　the　delight；　as　your
worship　calls　it；　of　conquering　an　enemy　is　like。〃
　　〃That　is　what　vexes　me；　and　what　ought　to　vex　thee；　Sancho；〃　replied
Don　Quixote；　〃but　henceforward　I　will　endeavour　to　have　at　hand　some
sword　made　by　such　craft　that　no　kind　of　enchantments　can　take
effect　upon　him　who　carries　it；　and　it　is　even　possible　that　fortune
may　procure　for　me　that　which　belonged　to　Amadis　when　he　was　called
'The　Knight　of　the　Burning　Sword；'　which　was　one　of　the　best　swords
that　ever　knight　in　the　world　possessed；　for；　besides　having　the
said　virtue；　it　cut　like　a　razor；　and　there　was　no　armour；　however
strong　and　enchanted　it　might　be；　that　could　resist　it。〃
　　〃Such　is　my　luck；〃　said　Sancho；　〃that　even　if　that　happened　and　your
worship　found　some　such　sword；　it　would；　like　the　balsam；　turn　out
serviceable　and　good　for　dubbed　knights　only；　and　as　for　the
squires；　they　might　sup　sorrow。〃
　　〃Fear　not　that；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote：　〃Heaven　will　deal
better　by　thee。〃
　　Thus　talking；　Don　Quixote　and　his　squire　were　going　along；　when；
on　the　road　they　were　following；　Don　Quixote　perceived　approaching
them　a　large　and　thick　cloud　of　dust；　on　seeing　which　he　turned　to
Sancho　and　said：
　　〃This　is　the　day；　Sancho；　on　which　will　be　seen　the　boon　my
fortune　is　reserving　for　me；　this；　I　say；　is　the　day　on　which　as
much　as　on　any　other　shall　be　displayed　the　might　of　my　arm；　and　on
which　I　shall　do　deeds　that　shall　remain　written　in　the　book　of　fame
for　all　ages　to　come。　Seest　thou　that　cloud　of　dust　which　rises
yonder？　Well；　then；　al