don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第36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！


delay；　and　to　defer　the　disposal　of　her　hand　until　I　should　see　what
the　Duke　Ricardo　sought　of　me：　he　gave　me　the　promise；　and　she
confirmed　it　with　vows　and　swoonings　unnumbered。　Finally；　I
presented　myself　to　the　duke；　and　was　received　and　treated　by　him　so
kindly　that　very　soon　envy　began　to　do　its　work；　the　old　servants
growing　envious　of　me；　and　regarding　the　duke's　inclination　to　show　me
favour　as　an　injury　to　themselves。　But　the　one　to　whom　my　arrival　gave
the　greatest　pleasure　was　the　duke's　second　son；　Fernando　by　name；　a
gallant　youth；　of　noble；　generous；　and　amorous　disposition；　who　very
soon　made　so　intimate　a　friend　of　me　that　it　was　remarked　by
everybody；　for　though　the　elder　was　attached　to　me；　and　showed　me
kindness；　he　did　not　carry　his　affectionate　treatment　to　the　same
length　as　Don　Fernando。　It　so　happened；　then；　that　as　between
friends　no　secret　remains　unshared；　and　as　the　favour　I　enjoyed　with
Don　Fernando　had　grown　into　friendship；　he　made　all　his　thoughts　known
to　me；　and　in　particular　a　love　affair　which　troubled　his　mind　a
little。　He　was　deeply　in　love　with　a　peasant　girl；　a　vassal　of　his
father's；　the　daughter　of　wealthy　parents；　and　herself　so　beautiful；
modest；　discreet；　and　virtuous；　that　no　one　who　knew　her　was　able　to
decide　in　which　of　these　respects　she　was　most　highly　gifted　or　most
excelled。　The　attractions　of　the　fair　peasant　raised　the　passion　of
Don　Fernando　to　such　a　point　that；　in　order　to　gain　his　object　and
overcome　her　virtuous　resolutions；　he　determined　to　pledge　his　word　to
her　to　become　her　husband；　for　to　attempt　it　in　any　other　way　was　to
attempt　an　impossibility。　Bound　to　him　as　I　was　by　friendship；　I
strove　by　the　best　arguments　and　the　most　forcible　examples　I　could
think　of　to　restrain　and　dissuade　him　from　such　a　course；　but
perceiving　I　produced　no　effect　I　resolved　to　make　the　Duke　Ricardo；
his　father；　acquainted　with　the　matter；　but　Don　Fernando；　being
sharp…witted　and　shrewd；　foresaw　and　apprehended　this；　perceiving　that
by　my　duty　as　a　good　servant　I　was　bound　not　to　keep　concealed　a　thing
so　much　opposed　to　the　honour　of　my　lord　the　duke；　and　so；　to
mislead　and　deceive　me；　he　told　me　he　could　find　no　better　way　of
effacing　from　his　mind　the　beauty　that　so　enslaved　him　than　by
absenting　himself　for　some　months；　and　that　he　wished　the　absence　to
be　effected　by　our　going；　both　of　us；　to　my　father's　house　under　the
pretence；　which　he　would　make　to　the　duke；　of　going　to　see　and　buy
some　fine　horses　that　there　were　in　my　city；　which　produces　the　best
in　the　world。　When　I　heard　him　say　so；　even　if　his　resolution　had
not　been　so　good　a　one　I　should　have　hailed　it　as　one　of　the
happiest　that　could　be　imagined；　prompted　by　my　affection；　seeing　what
a　favourable　chance　and　opportunity　it　offered　me　of　returning　to
see　my　Luscinda。　With　this　thought　and　wish　I　commended　his　idea　and
encouraged　his　design；　advising　him　to　put　it　into　execution　as
quickly　as　possible；　as；　in　truth；　absence　produced　its　effect　in
spite　of　the　most　deeply　rooted　feelings。　But；　as　afterwards　appeared；
when　he　said　this　to　me　he　had　already　enjoyed　the　peasant　girl
under　the　title　of　husband；　and　was　waiting　for　an　opportunity　of
making　it　known　with　safety　to　himself；　being　in　dread　of　what　his
father　the　duke　would　do　when　he　came　to　know　of　his　folly。　It
happened；　then；　that　as　with　young　men　love　is　for　the　most　part
nothing　more　than　appetite；　which；　as　its　final　object　is　enjoyment；
comes　to　an　end　on　obtaining　it；　and　that　which　seemed　to　be　love
takes　to　flight；　as　it　cannot　pass　the　limit　fixed　by　nature；　which
fixes　no　limit　to　true　love…　what　I　mean　is　that　after　Don　Fernando
had　enjoyed　this　peasant　girl　his　passion　subsided　and　his　eagerness
cooled；　and　if　at　first　he　feigned　a　wish　to　absent　himself　in　order
to　cure　his　love；　he　was　now　in　reality　anxious　to　go　to　avoid　keeping
his　promise。
　　〃The　duke　gave　him　permission；　and　ordered　me　to　accompany　him；　we
arrived　at　my　city；　and　my　father　gave　him　the　reception　due　to　his
rank；　I　saw　Luscinda　without　delay；　and；　though　it　had　not　been　dead
or　deadened；　my　love　gathered　fresh　life。　To　my　sorrow　I　told　the
story　of　it　to　Don　Fernando；　for　I　thought　that　in　virtue　of　the　great
friendship　he　bore　me　I　was　bound　to　conceal　nothing　from　him。　I
extolled　her　beauty；　her　gaiety；　her　wit；　so　warmly；　that　my　praises
excited　in　him　a　desire　to　see　a　damsel　adorned　by　such　attractions。
To　my　misfortune　I　yielded　to　it；　showing　her　to　him　one　night　by
the　light　of　a　taper　at　a　window　where　we　used　to　talk　to　one　another。
As　she　appeared　to　him　in　her　dressing…gown；　she　drove　all　the
beauties　he　had　seen　until　then　out　of　his　recollection；　speech　failed
him；　his　head　turned；　he　was　spell…bound；　and　in　the　end　love…smitten；
as　you　will　see　in　the　course　of　the　story　of　my　misfortune；　and　to
inflame　still　further　his　passion；　which　he　hid　from　me　and　revealed
to　Heaven　alone；　it　so　happened　that　one　day　he　found　a　note　of　hers
entreating　me　to　demand　her　of　her　father　in　marriage；　so　delicate；　so
modest；　and　so　tender；　that　on　reading　it　he　told　me　that　in
Luscinda　alone　were　combined　all　the　charms　of　beauty　and
understanding　that　were　distributed　among　all　the　other　women　in　the
world。　It　is　true；　and　I　own　it　now；　that　though　I　knew　what　good
cause　Don　Fernando　had　to　praise　Luscinda；　it　gave　me　uneasiness　to
hear　these　praises　from　his　mouth；　and　I　began　to　fear；　and　with
reason　to　feel　distrust　of　him；　for　there　was　no　moment　when　he　was
not　ready　to　talk　of　Luscinda；　and　he　would　start　the　subject
himself　even　though　he　dragged　it　in　unseasonably；　a　circumstance　that
aroused　in　me　a　certain　amount　of　jealousy；　not　that　I　feared　any
change　in　the　constancy　or　faith　of　Luscinda；　but　still　my　fate　led　me
to　forebode　what　she　assured　me　against。　Don　Fernando　contrived　always
to　read　the　letters　I　sent　to　Luscinda　and　her　answers　to　me；　under
the　pretence　that　he　enjoyed　the　wit　and　sense　of　both。　It　so
happened；　then；　that　Luscinda　having　begged　of　me　a　book　of　chivalry
to　read；　one　that　she　was　very　fond　of；　Amadis　of　Gaul…〃
　　Don　Quixote　no　sooner　heard　a　book　of　chivalry　mentioned；　than　he
said：
　　〃Had　your　worship　told　me　at　the　beginning　of　your　story　that　the
Lady　Luscinda　was　fond　of　books　of　chivalry；　no　other　laudation
would　have　been　requisite　to　impress　upon　me　the　superiority　of　her
understanding；　for　it　could　not　have　been　of　the　excellence　you
describe　had　a　taste　for　such　delightful　reading　been　wanting；　so；
as　far　as　I　am　concerned；　you　need　waste　no　more　words　in　describing
her　beauty；　worth；　and　intelligence；　for；　on　merely　hearing　what　her
taste　was；　I　declare　her　to　be　the　most　beautiful　and　the　most
intelligent　woman　in　the　world；　and　I　wish　your　worship　had；　along
with　Amadis　of　Gaul；　sent　her　the　worthy　Don　Rugel　of　Greece；　for　I
know　the　Lady　Luscinda　would　greatly　relish　Daraida　and　Garaya；　and
the　shrewd　sayings　of　the　shepherd　Darinel；　and　the　admirable　verses
of　his　bucolics；　sung　and　delivered　by　him　with　such　sprightliness；
wit；　and　ease；　but　a　time　may　come　when　this　omission　can　be　remedied；
and　to　rectify　it　nothing　more　is　needed　than　for　your　worship　to　be
so　good　as　to　come　with　me　to　my　village；　for　there　I　can　give　you
more　than　three　hundred　books　which　are　the　delight　of　my　soul　and　the
entertainment　of　my　life；…　though　it　occurs　to　me　that　I　have　not
got　one　of　them　now；　thanks　to　the　spite　of　wicked　and　envious
enchanters；…　but　pardon　me　for　having　broken　the　promise　we　made　not
to　interrupt　your　discourse；　for　when　I　hear　chivalry　or
knights…errant　mentioned；　I　can　no　more　help　talking　about　them　than
the　rays　of　the　sun　can　help　giving　heat；　or　those　of　the　moon
moisture；　pardon　me；　therefore；　and　proceed；　for　that　is　more　to　the
purpose　now。〃
　　While　Don　Quixote　was　saying　this；　Cardenio　allowed　his　head　to　fall
upon　his　breast；　and　seemed　plunged　in　deep　thought；　and　though
twice　Don　Quixote　bade　him　go　on　with　his　story；　he　neither　looked
up　nor　uttered　a　word　in　reply；　but　after　some　time　he　raised　his　head
and　said；　〃I　cannot　get　rid　of　the　idea；　nor　will　anyone　in　the
world　remove　it；　or　make　me　think　otherwise　…and　he　would　be　a
blockhead　who　would　hold　or　believe　anything　else　than　that　that
arrant　knave　Master　Elisabad　made　free　with　Queen　Madasima。〃
　　〃That　is　not　true；　by　all　that's　good；〃　said　Don　Quixote　in　high
wrath；　turning　upon　him　angrily；　as　his　way　was；　〃and　it　is　a　very
great　slander；　or　rather　villainy。　Queen　Madasima　was　a　very
illustrious　lady；　and　it　is　not　to　be　supposed　that　so　exalted　a
princess　would　have　made　free　with　a　quack；　and　whoever　maintains
the　contrary　lies　like　a　great　scoundrel；　and　I　will　give　him　to
know　it；　on　foot　or　on　horseback；　armed　or　unarmed；　by　night　or　by
day；　or　as　he　likes　best。〃
　　Cardenio　was　looking　at　him　steadily；　and　his　mad　fit　having　now
come　upon　him；　he　had　no　disposition　to　go　on　with　his　story；　nor
would　Don　Quixote　have　listened　to　it；　so　much　had　what　he　had　heard
about　Madasima　disgusted　him。　Strange　to　say；　he　stood　up　for　her　as
if　she　were　in　earnest　his　veritable　born　lady；　to　such　a　pass　had　his
unholy　books　brought　him。　Cardenio；　then；　being；　as　I　said；　now　mad；
when　he　heard　himself　given　the　lie；　and　called　a　scoundrel　and
other　insulting　names；　not　relishing　the　jest；　snatched　up　a　stone
that　he　found　near　him；　and　with　it　delivered　such　a　blow　on　Don
Quixote's　breast　that　he　laid　him　on　his　back。　Sancho　Panza；　seeing
his　master　treated　in　this　fashion；　attacked　the　madman　with　his
closed　fist；　but　the　Ragged　One　received　him　in　such　a　way　that　with　a
blow　of　his　fist　he　stretched　him　at　his　feet；　and　then　mounting
upon　him　crushed　his　ribs　to　his　own　satisfaction；　the　goatherd；　who
came　to　the　rescue；　shared　the　same　fate；　and　having　beaten　and
pummelled　them　all　he　left　them　and　quietly　withdrew　to　his
hiding…place　on　the　mountain。　Sancho　rose；　and　with　the　rage　he　felt
at　finding　himself　so　belaboured　without　deserving　it；　ran　to　take
vengeance　on　the　goatherd；　accusing　him　of　not　giving　them　warning
that　this　man　was　at　times　taken　with　a　mad　fit；　for　if　they　had　known
it　they　would　have　been　on　their　guard　to　protect　themselves。　The
goatherd　replied　that　he　had　said　so；　and　that　if　he　had　not　heard
him；　that　was　no　fault　of　his。　Sancho　retorted；　and　the　goatherd
rejoined；　and　the　altercation　ended　in　their　seizing　each　other　by　the
beard；　and　exchanging　such　fisticuffs　that　if　Don　Quixote　had　not　made
peace　between　them；　they　would　have　knocked　one　another　to　pieces。
　　〃Leave　me　alone；　Sir　Knight　of　the　Rueful　Countenance；〃　said　Sancho；
grappling　with　the　goatherd；　〃for　of　this　fellow；　who　is　a　clown
like　myself；　and　no　dubbed　knight；　I　can　safely　take　satisfaction
for　the　affront　he　has　offered　me；　fighting　with　him　hand　to　hand　like
an　honest　man。〃
　　〃That　is　true；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃but　I　know　that　he　is　not　to
blame　for　what　has　happened。〃
　　With　this　he　pacified　them；　and　again　asked　the　goatherd　if　it　would
be　possible　to　find　Cardenio；　as　he　felt　the　greatest　anxiety　to
know　the　end　of　his　story。　The　goatherd　told　him；　as　he　had　told　him
before；　that　there　was　no　kn