don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第26章

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hunger　for　sauce；　they　breakfasted；　dined；　lunched；　and　supped　all
at　once；　satisfying　their　appetites　with　more　than　one　store　of　cold
meat　which　the　dead　man's　clerical　gentlemen　（who　seldom　put
themselves　on　short　allowance）　had　brought　with　them　on　their
sumpter　mule。　But　another　piece　of　ill…luck　befell　them；　which
Sancho　held　the　worst　of　all；　and　that　was　that　they　had　no　wine　to
drink；　nor　even　water　to　moisten　their　lips；　and　as　thirst　tormented
them；　Sancho；　observing　that　the　meadow　where　they　were　was　full　of
green　and　tender　grass；　said　what　will　be　told　in　the　following
chapter。

　　CHAPTER　XX
　　OF　THE　UNEXAMPLED　AND　UNHEARD…OF　ADVENTURE　WHICH　WAS　ACHIEVED　BY　THE
VALIANT　DON　QUIXOTE　OF　LA　MANCHA　WITH　LESS　PERIL　THAN　ANY　EVER
ACHIEVED　BY　ANY　FAMOUS　KNIGHT　IN　THE　WORLD

　　〃IT　CANNOT　be；　senor；　but　that　this　grass　is　a　proof　that　there　must
be　hard　by　some　spring　or　brook　to　give　it　moisture；　so　it　would　be
well　to　move　a　little　farther　on；　that　we　may　find　some　place　where　we
may　quench　this　terrible　thirst　that　plagues　us；　which　beyond　a
doubt　is　more　distressing　than　hunger。〃
　　The　advice　seemed　good　to　Don　Quixote；　and；　he　leading　Rocinante
by　the　bridle　and　Sancho　the　ass　by　the　halter；　after　he　had　packed
away　upon　him　the　remains　of　the　supper；　they　advanced　the　meadow
feeling　their　way；　for　the　darkness　of　the　night　made　it　impossible　to
see　anything；　but　they　had　not　gone　two　hundred　paces　when　a　loud
noise　of　water；　as　if　falling　from　great　rocks；　struck　their　ears。　The
sound　cheered　them　greatly；　but　halting　to　make　out　by　listening
from　what　quarter　it　came　they　heard　unseasonably　another　noise
which　spoiled　the　satisfaction　the　sound　of　the　water　gave　them；
especially　for　Sancho；　who　was　by　nature　timid　and　faint…hearted。　They
heard；　I　say；　strokes　falling　with　a　measured　beat；　and　a　certain
rattling　of　iron　and　chains　that；　together　with　the　furious　din　of　the
water；　would　have　struck　terror　into　any　heart　but　Don　Quixote's。
The　night　was；　as　has　been　said；　dark；　and　they　had　happened　to
reach　a　spot　in　among　some　tall　trees；　whose　leaves　stirred　by　a
gentle　breeze　made　a　low　ominous　sound；　so　that；　what　with　the
solitude；　the　place；　the　darkness；　the　noise　of　the　water；　and　the
rustling　of　the　leaves；　everything　inspired　awe　and　dread；　more
especially　as　they　perceived　that　the　strokes　did　not　cease；　nor　the
wind　lull；　nor　morning　approach；　to　all　which　might　be　added　their
ignorance　as　to　where　they　were。　But　Don　Quixote；　supported　by　his
intrepid　heart；　leaped　on　Rocinante；　and　bracing　his　buckler　on　his
arm；　brought　his　pike　to　the　slope；　and　said；　〃Friend　Sancho；　know
that　I　by　Heaven's　will　have　been　born　in　this　our　iron　age　to
revive　revive　in　it　the　age　of　gold；　or　the　golden　as　it　is　called；
I　am　he　for　whom　perils；　mighty　achievements；　and　valiant　deeds　are
reserved；　I　am；　I　say　again；　he　who　is　to　revive　the　Knights　of　the
Round　Table；　the　Twelve　of　France　and　the　Nine　Worthies；　and　he　who　is
to　consign　to　oblivion　the　Platirs；　the　Tablantes；　the　Olivantes　and
Tirantes；　the　Phoebuses　and　Belianises；　with　the　whole　herd　of
famous　knights…errant　of　days　gone　by；　performing　in　these　in　which
I　live　such　exploits；　marvels；　and　feats　of　arms　as　shall　obscure
their　brightest　deeds。　Thou　dost　mark　well；　faithful　and　trusty
squire；　the　gloom　of　this　night；　its　strange　silence；　the　dull
confused　murmur　of　those　trees；　the　awful　sound　of　that　water　in　quest
of　which　we　came；　that　seems　as　though　it　were　precipitating　and
dashing　itself　down　from　the　lofty　mountains　of　the　Moon；　and　that
incessant　hammering　that　wounds　and　pains　our　ears；　which　things　all
together　and　each　of　itself　are　enough　to　instil　fear；　dread；　and
dismay　into　the　breast　of　Mars　himself；　much　more　into　one　not　used　to
hazards　and　adventures　of　the　kind。　Well；　then；　all　this　that　I　put
before　thee　is　but　an　incentive　and　stimulant　to　my　spirit；　making
my　heart　burst　in　my　bosom　through　eagerness　to　engage　in　this
adventure；　arduous　as　it　promises　to　be；　therefore　tighten　Rocinante's
girths　a　little；　and　God　be　with　thee；　wait　for　me　here　three　days　and
no　more；　and　if　in　that　time　I　come　not　back；　thou　canst　return　to　our
village；　and　thence；　to　do　me　a　favour　and　a　service；　thou　wilt　go
to　El　Toboso；　where　thou　shalt　say　to　my　incomparable　lady　Dulcinea
that　her　captive　knight　hath　died　in　attempting　things　that　might　make
him　worthy　of　being　called　hers。〃
　　When　Sancho　heard　his　master's　words　he　began　to　weep　in　the　most
pathetic　way；　saying：
　　〃Senor；　I　know　not　why　your　worship　wants　to　attempt　this　so
dreadful　adventure；　it　is　night　now；　no　one　sees　us　here；　we　can
easily　turn　about　and　take　ourselves　out　of　danger；　even　if　we　don't
drink　for　three　days　to　come；　and　as　there　is　no　one　to　see　us；　all
the　less　will　there　be　anyone　to　set　us　down　as　cowards；　besides；　I
have　many　a　time　heard　the　curate　of　our　village；　whom　your　worship
knows　well；　preach　that　he　who　seeks　danger　perishes　in　it；　so　it　is
not　right　to　tempt　God　by　trying　so　tremendous　a　feat　from　which　there
can　be　no　escape　save　by　a　miracle；　and　Heaven　has　performed　enough　of
them　for　your　worship　in　delivering　you　from　being　blanketed　as　I　was；
and　bringing　you　out　victorious　and　safe　and　sound　from　among　all
those　enemies　that　were　with　the　dead　man；　and　if　all　this　does　not
move　or　soften　that　hard　heart；　let　this　thought　and　reflection　move
it；　that　you　will　have　hardly　quitted　this　spot　when　from　pure　fear
I　shall　yield　my　soul　up　to　anyone　that　will　take　it。　I　left　home
and　wife　and　children　to　come　and　serve　your　worship；　trusting　to　do
better　and　not　worse；　but　as　covetousness　bursts　the　bag；　it　has
rent　my　hopes　asunder；　for　just　as　I　had　them　highest　about　getting
that　wretched　unlucky　island　your　worship　has　so　often　promised　me；
I　see　that　instead　and　in　lieu　of　it　you　mean　to　desert　me　now　in　a
place　so　far　from　human　reach：　for　God's　sake；　master　mine；　deal　not
so　unjustly　by　me；　and　if　your　worship　will　not　entirely　give　up
attempting　this　feat；　at　least　put　it　off　till　morning；　for　by　what
the　lore　I　learned　when　I　was　a　shepherd　tells　me　it　cannot　want　three
hours　of　dawn　now；　because　the　mouth　of　the　Horn　is　overhead　and　makes
midnight　in　the　line　of　the　left　arm。〃
　　〃How　canst　thou　see；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃where　it　makes　that
line；　or　where　this　mouth　or　this　occiput　is　that　thou　talkest　of；
when　the　night　is　so　dark　that　there　is　not　a　star　to　be　seen　in　the
whole　heaven？〃
　　〃That's　true；〃　said　Sancho；　〃but　fear　has　sharp　eyes；　and　sees
things　underground；　much　more　above　in　heavens；　besides；　there　is　good
reason　to　show　that　it　now　wants　but　little　of　day。〃
　　〃Let　it　want　what　it　may；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃it　shall　not　be
said　of　me　now　or　at　any　time　that　tears　or　entreaties　turned　me　aside
from　doing　what　was　in　accordance　with　knightly　usage；　and　so　I　beg　of
thee；　Sancho；　to　hold　thy　peace；　for　God；　who　has　put　it　into　my　heart
to　undertake　now　this　so　unexampled　and　terrible　adventure；　will
take　care　to　watch　over　my　safety　and　console　thy　sorrow；　what　thou
hast　to　do　is　to　tighten　Rocinante's　girths　well；　and　wait　here；　for　I
shall　come　back　shortly；　alive　or　dead。〃
　　Sancho　perceiving　it　his　master's　final　resolve；　and　how　little
his　tears；　counsels；　and　entreaties　prevailed　with　him；　determined
to　have　recourse　to　his　own　ingenuity　and　compel　him；　if　he　could；
to　wait　till　daylight；　and　so；　while　tightening　the　girths　of　the
horse；　he　quietly　and　without　being　felt；　with　his　ass'　halter　tied
both　Rocinante's　legs；　so　that　when　Don　Quixote　strove　to　go　he　was
unable　as　the　horse　could　only　move　by　jumps。　Seeing　the　success　of
his　trick；　Sancho　Panza　said：
　　〃See　there；　senor！　Heaven；　moved　by　my　tears　and　prayers；　has　so
ordered　it　that　Rocinante　cannot　stir；　and　if　you　will　be　obstinate；
and　spur　and　strike　him；　you　will　only　provoke　fortune；　and　kick；　as
they　say；　against　the　pricks。〃
　　Don　Quixote　at　this　grew　desperate；　but　the　more　he　drove　his
heels　into　the　horse；　the　less　he　stirred　him；　and　not　having　any
suspicion　of　the　tying；　he　was　fain　to　resign　himself　and　wait　till
daybreak　or　until　Rocinante　could　move；　firmly　persuaded　that　all　this
came　of　something　other　than　Sancho's　ingenuity。　So　he　said　to　him；
〃As　it　is　so；　Sancho；　and　as　Rocinante　cannot　move；　I　am　content　to
wait　till　dawn　smiles　upon　us；　even　though　I　weep　while　it　delays
its　coming。〃
　　〃There　is　no　need　to　weep；〃　answered　Sancho；　〃for　I　will　amuse
your　worship　by　telling　stories　from　this　till　daylight；　unless　indeed
you　like　to　dismount　and　lie　down　to　sleep　a　little　on　the　green　grass
after　the　fashion　of　knights…errant；　so　as　to　be　fresher　when　day
comes　and　the　moment　arrives　for　attempting　this　extraordinary
adventure　you　are　looking　forward　to。〃
　　〃What　art　thou　talking　about　dismounting　or　sleeping　for？〃　said
Don　Quixote。　〃Am　I；　thinkest　thou；　one　of　those　knights　that　take
their　rest　in　the　presence　of　danger？　Sleep　thou　who　art　born　to
sleep；　or　do　as　thou　wilt；　for　I　will　act　as　I　think　most　consistent
with　my　character。〃
　　〃Be　not　angry；　master　mine；〃　replied　Sancho；　〃I　did　not　mean　to
say　that；〃　and　coming　close　to　him　he　laid　one　hand　on　the　pommel　of
the　saddle　and　the　other　on　the　cantle　so　that　he　held　his　master's
left　thigh　in　his　embrace；　not　daring　to　separate　a　finger's　width
from　him；　so　much　afraid　was　he　of　the　strokes　which　still　resounded
with　a　regular　beat。　Don　Quixote　bade　him　tell　some　story　to　amuse　him
as　he　had　proposed；　to　which　Sancho　replied　that　he　would　if　his　dread
of　what　he　heard　would　let　him；　〃Still；〃　said　he；　〃I　will　strive　to
tell　a　story　which；　if　I　can　manage　to　relate　it；　and　nobody
interferes　with　the　telling；　is　the　best　of　stories；　and　let　your
worship　give　me　your　attention；　for　here　I　begin。　What　was；　was；　and
may　the　good　that　is　to　come　be　for　all；　and　the　evil　for　him　who　goes
to　look　for　it　…your　worship　must　know　that　the　beginning　the　old　folk
used　to　put　to　their　tales　was　not　just　as　each　one　pleased；　it　was
a　maxim　of　Cato　Zonzorino　the　Roman；　that　says　'the　evil　for　him
that　goes　to　look　for　it；'　and　it　comes　as　pat　to　the　purpose　now　as
ring　to　finger；　to　show　that　your　worship　should　keep　quiet　and　not　go
looking　for　evil　in　any　quarter；　and　that　we　should　go　back　by　some
other　road；　since　nobody　forces　us　to　follow　this　in　which　so　many
terrors　affright　us。〃
　　〃Go　on　with　thy　story；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and　leave　the
choice　of　our　road　to　my　care。〃
　　〃I　say　then；〃　continued　Sancho；　〃that　in　a　village　of　Estremadura
there　was　a　goat…shepherd　…that　is　to　say；　one　who　tended　goats…　which
shepherd　or　goatherd；　as　my　story　goes；　was　called　Lope　Ruiz；　and　this
Lope　Ruiz　was　in　love　with　a　shepherdess　called　Torralva；　which
shepherdess　called　Torralva　was　the　daughter　of　a　rich　grazier；　and
this　rich　grazier…〃
　　〃If　that　is　the　way　thou　tellest　thy　tale；　Sancho；〃　said　Don
Quixote；　〃repeating　twice　all　thou　hast　to　say；　thou　wilt　not　have
done　these　two　days；　go　straight　on　with　it；　and　tell　it　like　a
reasonable　man；　or　else　say　nothing。〃
　　〃Tales　are　always　told　in　my　country　in　the　very　way　I　am　telling
this；〃　answered　Sancho；　〃