don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第33章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



　　SEEING　himself　served　in　this　way；　Don　Quixote　said　to　his　squire；
〃I　have　always　heard　it　said；　Sancho；　that　to　do　good　to　boors　is　to
throw　water　into　the　sea。　If　I　had　believed　thy　words；　I　should　have
avoided　this　trouble；　but　it　is　done　now；　it　is　only　to　have
patience　and　take　warning　for　the　future。〃
　　〃Your　worship　will　take　warning　as　much　as　I　am　a　Turk；〃　returned
Sancho；　〃but；　as　you　say　this　mischief　might　have　been　avoided　if
you　had　believed　me；　believe　me　now；　and　a　still　greater　one　will　be
avoided；　for　I　tell　you　chivalry　is　of　no　account　with　the　Holy
Brotherhood；　and　they　don't　care　two　maravedis　for　all　the
knights…errant　in　the　world；　and　I　can　tell　you　I　fancy　I　hear　their
arrows　whistling　past　my　ears　this　minute。〃
　　〃Thou　art　a　coward　by　nature；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃but　lest
thou　shouldst　say　I　am　obstinate；　and　that　I　never　do　as　thou　dost
advise；　this　once　I　will　take　thy　advice；　and　withdraw　out　of　reach　of
that　fury　thou　so　dreadest；　but　it　must　be　on　one　condition；　that
never；　in　life　or　in　death；　thou　art　to　say　to　anyone　that　I　retired
or　withdrew　from　this　danger　out　of　fear；　but　only　in　compliance
with　thy　entreaties；　for　if　thou　sayest　otherwise　thou　wilt　lie
therein；　and　from　this　time　to　that；　and　from　that　to　this；　I　give
thee　lie；　and　say　thou　liest　and　wilt　lie　every　time　thou　thinkest
or　sayest　it；　and　answer　me　not　again；　for　at　the　mere　thought　that
I　am　withdrawing　or　retiring　from　any　danger；　above　all　from　this；
which　does　seem　to　carry　some　little　shadow　of　fear　with　it；　I　am
ready　to　take　my　stand　here　and　await　alone；　not　only　that　Holy
Brotherhood　you　talk　of　and　dread；　but　the　brothers　of　the　twelve
tribes　of　Israel；　and　the　Seven　Maccabees；　and　Castor　and　Pollux；
and　all　the　brothers　and　brotherhoods　in　the　world。〃
　　〃Senor；〃　replied　Sancho；　〃to　retire　is　not　to　flee；　and　there　is
no　wisdom　in　waiting　when　danger　outweighs　hope；　and　it　is　the　part　of
wise　men　to　preserve　themselves　to…day　for　to…morrow；　and　not　risk　all
in　one　day；　and　let　me　tell　you；　though　I　am　a　clown　and　a　boor；　I
have　got　some　notion　of　what　they　call　safe　conduct；　so　repent　not
of　having　taken　my　advice；　but　mount　Rocinante　if　you　can；　and　if
not　I　will　help　you；　and　follow　me；　for　my　mother…wit　tells　me　we　have
more　need　of　legs　than　hands　just　now。〃
　　Don　Quixote　mounted　without　replying；　and；　Sancho　leading　the　way　on
his　ass；　they　entered　the　side　of　the　Sierra　Morena；　which　was　close
by；　as　it　was　Sancho's　design　to　cross　it　entirely　and　come　out
again　at　El　Viso　or　Almodovar　del　Campo；　and　hide　for　some　days
among　its　crags　so　as　to　escape　the　search　of　the　Brotherhood　should
they　come　to　look　for　them。　He　was　encouraged　in　this　by　perceiving
that　the　stock　of　provisions　carried　by　the　ass　had　come　safe　out　of
the　fray　with　the　galley　slaves；　a　circumstance　that　he　regarded　as
a　miracle；　seeing　how　they　pillaged　and　ransacked。
　　That　night　they　reached　the　very　heart　of　the　Sierra　Morena；　where
it　seemed　prudent　to　Sancho　to　pass　the　night　and　even　some　days；　at
least　as　many　as　the　stores　he　carried　might　last；　and　so　they
encamped　between　two　rocks　and　among　some　cork　trees；　but　fatal
destiny；　which；　according　to　the　opinion　of　those　who　have　not　the
light　of　the　true　faith；　directs；　arranges；　and　settles　everything
in　its　own　way；　so　ordered　it　that　Gines　de　Pasamonte；　the　famous
knave　and　thief　who　by　the　virtue　and　madness　of　Don　Quixote　had
been　released　from　the　chain；　driven　by　fear　of　the　Holy
Brotherhood；　which　he　had　good　reason　to　dread；　resolved　to　take
hiding　in　the　mountains；　and　his　fate　and　fear　led　him　to　the　same
spot　to　which　Don　Quixote　and　Sancho　Panza　had　been　led　by　theirs；
just　in　time　to　recognise　them　and　leave　them　to　fall　asleep：　and　as
the　wicked　are　always　ungrateful；　and　necessity　leads　to　evildoing；
and　immediate　advantage　overcomes　all　considerations　of　the　future；
Gines；　who　was　neither　grateful　nor　well…principled；　made　up　his
mind　to　steal　Sancho　Panza's　ass；　not　troubling　himself　about
Rocinante；　as　being　a　prize　that　was　no　good　either　to　pledge　or　sell。
While　Sancho　slept　he　stole　his　ass；　and　before　day　dawned　he　was
far　out　of　reach。
　　Aurora　made　her　appearance　bringing　gladness　to　the　earth　but
sadness　to　Sancho　Panza；　for　he　found　that　his　Dapple　was　missing；　and
seeing　himself　bereft　of　him　he　began　the　saddest　and　most　doleful
lament　in　the　world；　so　loud　that　Don　Quixote　awoke　at　his
exclamations　and　heard　him　saying；　〃O　son　of　my　bowels；　born　in　my
very　house；　my　children's　plaything；　my　wife's　joy；　the　envy　of　my
neighbours；　relief　of　my　burdens；　and　lastly；　half　supporter　of
myself；　for　with　the　six…and…twenty　maravedis　thou　didst　earn　me　daily
I　met　half　my　charges。〃
　　Don　Quixote；　when　he　heard　the　lament　and　learned　the　cause；
consoled　Sancho　with　the　best　arguments　he　could；　entreating　him　to　be
patient；　and　promising　to　give　him　a　letter　of　exchange　ordering　three
out　of　five　ass…colts　that　he　had　at　home　to　be　given　to　him。　Sancho
took　comfort　at　this；　dried　his　tears；　suppressed　his　sobs；　and
returned　thanks　for　the　kindness　shown　him　by　Don　Quixote。　He　on　his
part　was　rejoiced　to　the　heart　on　entering　the　mountains；　as　they
seemed　to　him　to　be　just　the　place　for　the　adventures　he　was　in
quest　of。　They　brought　back　to　his　memory　the　marvellous　adventures
that　had　befallen　knights…errant　in　like　solitudes　and　wilds；　and　he
went　along　reflecting　on　these　things；　so　absorbed　and　carried　away　by
them　that　he　had　no　thought　for　anything　else。　Nor　had　Sancho　any
other　care　（now　that　he　fancied　he　was　travelling　in　a　safe　quarter）
than　to　satisfy　his　appetite　with　such　remains　as　were　left　of　the
clerical　spoils；　and　so　he　marched　behind　his　master　laden　with　what
Dapple　used　to　carry；　emptying　the　sack　and　packing　his　paunch；　and　so
long　as　he　could　go　that　way；　he　would　not　have　given　a　farthing　to
meet　with　another　adventure。
　　While　so　engaged　he　raised　his　eyes　and　saw　that　his　master　had
halted；　and　was　trying　with　the　point　of　his　pike　to　lift　some　bulky
object　that　lay　upon　the　ground；　on　which　he　hastened　to　join　him
and　help　him　if　it　were　needful；　and　reached　him　just　as　with　the
point　of　the　pike　he　was　raising　a　saddle…pad　with　a　valise　attached
to　it；　half　or　rather　wholly　rotten　and　torn；　but　so　heavy　were　they
that　Sancho　had　to　help　to　take　them　up；　and　his　master　directed　him
to　see　what　the　valise　contained。　Sancho　did　so　with　great　alacrity；
and　though　the　valise　was　secured　by　a　chain　and　padlock；　from　its
torn　and　rotten　condition　he　was　able　to　see　its　contents；　which
were　four　shirts　of　fine　holland；　and　other　articles　of　linen　no
less　curious　than　clean；　and　in　a　handkerchief　he　found　a　good　lot
of　gold　crowns；　and　as　soon　as　he　saw　them　he　exclaimed：
　　〃Blessed　be　all　Heaven　for　sending　us　an　adventure　that　is　good
for　something！〃
　　Searching　further　he　found　a　little　memorandum　book　richly　bound；
this　Don　Quixote　asked　of　him；　telling　him　to　take　the　money　and
keep　it　for　himself。　Sancho　kissed　his　hands　for　the　favour；　and
cleared　the　valise　of　its　linen；　which　he　stowed　away　in　the　provision
sack。　Considering　the　whole　matter；　Don　Quixote　observed：
　　〃It　seems　to　me；　Sancho…　and　it　is　impossible　it　can　be　otherwise…
that　some　strayed　traveller　must　have　crossed　this　sierra　and　been
attacked　and　slain　by　footpads；　who　brought　him　to　this　remote　spot　to
bury　him。〃
　　〃That　cannot　be；〃　answered　Sancho；　〃because　if　they　had　been　robbers
they　would　not　have　left　this　money。〃
　　〃Thou　art　right；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and　I　cannot　guess　or　explain
what　this　may　mean；　but　stay；　let　us　see　if　in　this　memorandum　book
there　is　anything　written　by　which　we　may　be　able　to　trace　out　or
discover　what　we　want　to　know。〃
　　He　opened　it；　and　the　first　thing　he　found　in　it；　written　roughly
but　in　a　very　good　hand；　was　a　sonnet；　and　reading　it　aloud　that
Sancho　might　hear　it；　he　found　that　it　ran　as　follows：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SONNET

　　　　　Or　Love　is　lacking　in　intelligence；
　　　　　　　Or　to　the　height　of　cruelty　attains；
　　　　　　　Or　else　it　is　my　doom　to　suffer　pains
　　　　　Beyond　the　measure　due　to　my　offence。
　　　　　But　if　Love　be　a　God；　it　follows　thence
　　　　　　　That　he　knows　all；　and　certain　it　remains
　　　　　　　No　God　loves　cruelty；　then　who　ordains
　　　　　This　penance　that　enthrals　while　it　torments？
　　　　　It　were　a　falsehood；　Chloe；　thee　to　name；
　　　　　　　Such　evil　with　such　goodness　cannot　live；
　　　　　And　against　Heaven　I　dare　not　charge　the　blame；
　　　　　　　I　only　know　it　is　my　fate　to　die。
　　　　　　　To　him　who　knows　not　whence　his　malady
　　　　　　　A　miracle　alone　a　cure　can　give。

　　〃There　is　nothing　to　be　learned　from　that　rhyme；〃　said　Sancho；
〃unless　by　that　clue　there's　in　it；　one　may　draw　out　the　ball　of　the
whole　matter。〃
　　〃What　clue　is　there？〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　〃I　thought　your　worship　spoke　of　a　clue　in　it；〃　said　Sancho。
　　〃I　only　said　Chloe；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃and　that　no　doubt；　is　the
name　of　the　lady　of　whom　the　author　of　the　sonnet　complains；　and；
faith；　he　must　be　a　tolerable　poet；　or　I　know　little　of　the　craft。〃
　　〃Then　your　worship　understands　rhyming　too？〃
　　〃And　better　than　thou　thinkest；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃as　thou　shalt
see　when　thou　carriest　a　letter　written　in　verse　from　beginning　to　end
to　my　lady　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　for　I　would　have　thee　know；　Sancho；
that　all　or　most　of　the　knights…errant　in　days　of　yore　were　great
troubadours　and　great　musicians；　for　both　of　these　accomplishments；　or
more　properly　speaking　gifts；　are　the　peculiar　property　of
lovers…errant：　true　it　is　that　the　verses　of　the　knights　of　old　have
more　spirit　than　neatness　in　them。〃
　　〃Read　more；　your　worship；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　you　will　find　something
that　will　enlighten　us。〃
　　Don　Quixote　turned　the　page　and　said；　〃This　is　prose　and　seems　to　be
a　letter。〃
　　〃A　correspondence　letter；　senor？〃
　　〃From　the　beginning　it　seems　to　be　a　love　letter；〃　replied　Don
Quixote。
　　〃Then　let　your　worship　read　it　aloud；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for　I　am　very
fond　of　love　matters。〃
　　〃With　all　my　heart；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　and　reading　it　aloud　as
Sancho　had　requested　him；　he　found　it　ran　thus：

　　Thy　false　promise　and　my　sure　misforutne　carry　me　to　a　place
whence　the　news　of　my　death　will　reach　thy　ears　before　the　words　of　my
complaint。　Ungrateful　one；　thou　hast　rejected　me　for　one　more　wealthy；
but　not　more　worthy；　but　if　virtue　were　esteemed　wealth　I　should
neither　envy　the　fortunes　of　others　nor　weep　for　misfortunes　of　my
own。　What　thy　beauty　raised　up　thy　deeds　have　laid　low；　by　it　I
believed　thee　to　be　an　angel；　by　them　I　know　thou　art　a　woman。　Peace
be　with　thee　who　hast　sent　war　to　me；　and　Heaven　grant　that　the　deceit
of　thy　husband　be　ever　hidden　from　thee；　so　that　thou　repent　not　of
what　thou　hast　done；　and　I　reap　not　a　revenge　I　would　not　have。

　　When　he　had　finished　the　letter；　Don　Quixote　said；　〃There　is　less　to
be　gathered　from　this　than　from　the　verses；　except　that　he　who　wrote
it　is　some　rejected　lover；〃　and　turning　over　nearly　all　the　pages　of
the　book　he　found　more　verses　and　letters；　some　of　which　he　could
read；　while　others　he　could　not；　but　they　were　all　made　up　of
complaints；　laments；　misgivin