don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第38章

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she　may　answer　I　shall　escape　from　the　struggle　and　affliction　in
which　thou　wilt　leave　me；　enjoying　in　my　senses　the　boon　thou
bearest　me；　or　as　a　madman　not　feeling　the　evil　thou　bringest　me。
But　tell　me；　Sancho；　hast　thou　got　Mambrino's　helmet　safe？　for　I　saw
thee　take　it　up　from　the　ground　when　that　ungrateful　wretch　tried　to
break　it　in　pieces　but　could　not；　by　which　the　fineness　of　its
temper　may　be　seen。〃
　　To　which　Sancho　made　answer；　〃By　the　living　God；　Sir　Knight　of　the
Rueful　Countenance；　I　cannot　endure　or　bear　with　patience　some　of
the　things　that　your　worship　says；　and　from　them　I　begin　to　suspect
that　all　you　tell　me　about　chivalry；　and　winning　kingdoms　and　empires；
and　giving　islands；　and　bestowing　other　rewards　and　dignities　after
the　custom　of　knights…errant；　must　be　all　made　up　of　wind　and　lies；
and　all　pigments　or　figments；　or　whatever　we　may　call　them；　for　what
would　anyone　think　that　heard　your　worship　calling　a　barber's　basin
Mambrino's　helmet　without　ever　seeing　the　mistake　all　this　time；　but
that　one　who　says　and　maintains　such　things　must　have　his　brains
addled？　I　have　the　basin　in　my　sack　all　dinted；　and　I　am　taking　it
home　to　have　it　mended；　to　trim　my　beard　in　it；　if；　by　God's　grace；
I　am　allowed　to　see　my　wife　and　children　some　day　or　other。〃
　　〃Look　here；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃by　him　thou　didst　swear　by
just　now　I　swear　thou　hast　the　most　limited　understanding　that　any
squire　in　the　world　has　or　ever　had。　Is　it　possible　that　all　this　time
thou　hast　been　going　about　with　me　thou　hast　never　found　out　that
all　things　belonging　to　knights…errant　seem　to　be　illusions　and
nonsense　and　ravings；　and　to　go　always　by　contraries？　And　not
because　it　really　is　so；　but　because　there　is　always　a　swarm　of
enchanters　in　attendance　upon　us　that　change　and　alter　everything　with
us；　and　turn　things　as　they　please；　and　according　as　they　are　disposed
to　aid　or　destroy　us；　thus　what　seems　to　thee　a　barber's　basin　seems
to　me　Mambrino's　helmet；　and　to　another　it　will　seem　something　else；
and　rare　foresight　it　was　in　the　sage　who　is　on　my　side　to　make　what
is　really　and　truly　Mambrine's　helmet　seem　a　basin　to　everybody；
for；　being　held　in　such　estimation　as　it　is；　all　the　world　would
pursue　me　to　rob　me　of　it；　but　when　they　see　it　is　only　a　barber's
basin　they　do　not　take　the　trouble　to　obtain　it；　as　was　plainly
shown　by　him　who　tried　to　break　it；　and　left　it　on　the　ground
without　taking　it；　for；　by　my　faith；　had　he　known　it　he　would　never
have　left　it　behind。　Keep　it　safe；　my　friend；　for　just　now　I　have　no
need　of　it；　indeed；　I　shall　have　to　take　off　all　this　armour　and
remain　as　naked　as　I　was　born；　if　I　have　a　mind　to　follow　Roland
rather　than　Amadis　in　my　penance。〃
　　Thus　talking　they　reached　the　foot　of　a　high　mountain　which　stood
like　an　isolated　peak　among　the　others　that　surrounded　it。　Past　its
base　there　flowed　a　gentle　brook；　all　around　it　spread　a　meadow　so
green　and　luxuriant　that　it　was　a　delight　to　the　eyes　to　look　upon　it；
and　forest　trees　in　abundance；　and　shrubs　and　flowers；　added　to　the
charms　of　the　spot。　Upon　this　place　the　Knight　of　the　Rueful
Countenance　fixed　his　choice　for　the　performance　of　his　penance；　and
as　he　beheld　it　exclaimed　in　a　loud　voice　as　though　he　were　out　of　his
senses：
　　〃This　is　the　place；　oh；　ye　heavens；　that　I　select　and　choose　for
bewailing　the　misfortune　in　which　ye　yourselves　have　plunged　me：
this　is　the　spot　where　the　overflowings　of　mine　eyes　shall　swell　the
waters　of　yon　little　brook；　and　my　deep　and　endless　sighs　shall　stir
unceasingly　the　leaves　of　these　mountain　trees；　in　testimony　and　token
of　the　pain　my　persecuted　heart　is　suffering。　Oh；　ye　rural　deities；
whoever　ye　be　that　haunt　this　lone　spot；　give　ear　to　the　complaint
of　a　wretched　lover　whom　long　absence　and　brooding　jealousy　have
driven　to　bewail　his　fate　among　these　wilds　and　complain　of　the　hard
heart　of　that　fair　and　ungrateful　one；　the　end　and　limit　of　all
human　beauty！　Oh；　ye　wood　nymphs　and　dryads；　that　dwell　in　the
thickets　of　the　forest；　so　may　the　nimble　wanton　satyrs　by　whom　ye　are
vainly　wooed　never　disturb　your　sweet　repose；　help　me　to　lament　my
hard　fate　or　at　least　weary　not　at　listening　to　it！　Oh；　Dulcinea　del
Toboso；　day　of　my　night；　glory　of　my　pain；　guide　of　my　path；　star　of
my　fortune；　so　may　Heaven　grant　thee　in　full　all　thou　seekest　of　it；
bethink　thee　of　the　place　and　condition　to　which　absence　from　thee　has
brought　me；　and　make　that　return　in　kindness　that　is　due　to　my
fidelity！　Oh；　lonely　trees；　that　from　this　day　forward　shall　bear　me
company　in　my　solitude；　give　me　some　sign　by　the　gentle　movement　of
your　boughs　that　my　presence　is　not　distasteful　to　you！　Oh；　thou；　my
squire；　pleasant　companion　in　my　prosperous　and　adverse　fortunes；
fix　well　in　thy　memory　what　thou　shalt　see　me　do　here；　so　that　thou
mayest　relate　and　report　it　to　the　sole　cause　of　all；〃　and　so　saying
he　dismounted　from　Rocinante；　and　in　an　instant　relieved　him　of　saddle
and　bridle；　and　giving　him　a　slap　on　the　croup；　said；　〃He　gives　thee
freedom　who　is　bereft　of　it　himself；　oh　steed　as　excellent　in　deed
as　thou　art　unfortunate　in　thy　lot；　begone　where　thou　wilt；　for　thou
bearest　written　on　thy　forehead　that　neither　Astolfo's　hippogriff；　nor
the　famed　Frontino　that　cost　Bradamante　so　dear；　could　equal　thee　in
speed。〃
　　Seeing　this　Sancho　said；　〃Good　luck　to　him　who　has　saved　us　the
trouble　of　stripping　the　pack…saddle　off　Dapple！　By　my　faith　he
would　not　have　gone　without　a　slap　on　the　croup　and　something　said
in　his　praise；　though　if　he　were　here　I　would　not　let　anyone　strip
him；　for　there　would　be　no　occasion；　as　he　had　nothing　of　the　lover　or
victim　of　despair　about　him；　inasmuch　as　his　master；　which　I　was　while
it　was　God's　pleasure；　was　nothing　of　the　sort；　and　indeed；　Sir　Knight
of　the　Rueful　Countenance；　if　my　departure　and　your　worship's
madness　are　to　come　off　in　earnest；　it　will　be　as　well　to　saddle
Rocinante　again　in　order　that　he　may　supply　the　want　of　Dapple；
because　it　will　save　me　time　in　going　and　returning：　for　if　I　go　on
foot　I　don't　know　when　I　shall　get　there　or　when　I　shall　get　back；
as　I　am；　in　truth；　a　bad　walker。〃
　　〃I　declare；　Sancho；〃　returned　Don　Quixote；　〃it　shall　be　as　thou
wilt；　for　thy　plan　does　not　seem　to　me　a　bad　one；　and　three　days　hence
thou　wilt　depart；　for　I　wish　thee　to　observe　in　the　meantime　what　I　do
and　say　for　her　sake；　that　thou　mayest　be　able　to　tell　it。〃
　　〃But　what　more　have　I　to　see　besides　what　I　have　seen？〃　said　Sancho。
　　〃Much　thou　knowest　about　it！〃　said　Don　Quixote。　〃I　have　now　got　to
tear　up　my　garments；　to　scatter　about　my　armour；　knock　my　head　against
these　rocks；　and　more　of　the　same　sort　of　thing；　which　thou　must
witness。〃
　　〃For　the　love　of　God；〃　said　Sancho；　〃be　careful；　your　worship；　how
you　give　yourself　those　knocks　on　the　head；　for　you　may　come　across
such　a　rock；　and　in　such　a　way；　that　the　very　first　may　put　an　end
to　the　whole　contrivance　of　this　penance；　and　I　should　think；　if
indeed　knocks　on　the　head　seem　necessary　to　you；　and　this　business
cannot　be　done　without　them；　you　might　be　content　…as　the　whole
thing　is　feigned；　and　counterfeit；　and　in　joke…　you　might　be
content；　I　say；　with　giving　them　to　yourself　in　the　water；　or
against　something　soft；　like　cotton；　and　leave　it　all　to　me；　for
I'll　tell　my　lady　that　your　worship　knocked　your　head　against　a
point　of　rock　harder　than　a　diamond。〃
　　〃I　thank　thee　for　thy　good　intentions；　friend　Sancho；〃　answered
Don　Quixote；　〃but　I　would　have　thee　know　that　all　these　things　I　am
doing　are　not　in　joke；　but　very　much　in　earnest；　for　anything　else
would　be　a　transgression　of　the　ordinances　of　chivalry；　which　forbid
us　to　tell　any　lie　whatever　under　the　penalties　due　to　apostasy；　and
to　do　one　thing　instead　of　another　is　just　the　same　as　lying；　so　my
knocks　on　the　head　must　be　real；　solid；　and　valid；　without　anything
sophisticated　or　fanciful　about　them；　and　it　will　be　needful　to
leave　me　some　lint　to　dress　my　wounds；　since　fortune　has　compelled
us　to　do　without　the　balsam　we　lost。〃
　　〃It　was　worse　losing　the　ass；〃　replied　Sancho；　〃for　with　him　lint
and　all　were　lost；　but　I　beg　of　your　worship　not　to　remind　me　again　of
that　accursed　liquor；　for　my　soul；　not　to　say　my　stomach；　turns　at
hearing　the　very　name　of　it；　and　I　beg　of　you；　too；　to　reckon　as
past　the　three　days　you　allowed　me　for　seeing　the　mad　things　you　do；
for　I　take　them　as　seen　already　and　pronounced　upon；　and　I　will　tell
wonderful　stories　to　my　lady；　so　write　the　letter　and　send　me　off　at
once；　for　I　long　to　return　and　take　your　worship　out　of　this　purgatory
where　I　am　leaving　you。〃
　　〃Purgatory　dost　thou　call　it；　Sancho？〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃rather
call　it　hell；　or　even　worse　if　there　be　anything　worse。〃
　　〃For　one　who　is　in　hell；〃　said　Sancho；　〃nulla　est　retentio；　as　I
have　heard　say。〃
　　〃I　do　not　understand　what　retentio　means；〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　〃Retentio；〃　answered　Sancho；　〃means　that　whoever　is　in　hell　never
comes　nor　can　come　out　of　it；　which　will　be　the　opposite　case　with
your　worship　or　my　legs　will　be　idle；　that　is　if　I　have　spurs　to
enliven　Rocinante：　let　me　once　get　to　El　Toboso　and　into　the
presence　of　my　lady　Dulcinea；　and　I　will　tell　her　such　things　of　the
follies　and　madnesses　（for　it　is　all　one）　that　your　worship　has　done
and　is　still　doing；　that　I　will　manage　to　make　her　softer　than　a　glove
though　I　find　her　harder　than　a　cork　tree；　and　with　her　sweet　and
honeyed　answer　I　will　come　back　through　the　air　like　a　witch；　and　take
your　worship　out　of　this　purgatory　that　seems　to　be　hell　but　is　not；
as　there　is　hope　of　getting　out　of　it；　which；　as　I　have　said；　those　in
hell　have　not；　and　I　believe　your　worship　will　not　say　anything　to　the
contrary。〃
　　〃That　is　true；〃　said　he　of　the　Rueful　Countenance；　〃but　how　shall　we
manage　to　write　the　letter？〃
　　〃And　the　ass…colt　order　too；〃　added　Sancho。
　　〃All　shall　be　included；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and　as　there　is　no
paper；　it　would　be　well　done　to　write　it　on　the　leaves　of　trees；　as
the　ancients　did；　or　on　tablets　of　wax；　though　that　would　be　as　hard
to　find　just　now　as　paper。　But　it　has　just　occurred　to　me　how　it　may
be　conveniently　and　even　more　than　conveniently　written；　and　that　is
in　the　note…book　that　belonged　to　Cardenio；　and　thou　wilt　take　care　to
have　it　copied　on　paper；　in　a　good　hand；　at　the　first　village　thou
comest　to　where　there　is　a　schoolmaster；　or　if　not；　any　sacristan　will
copy　it；　but　see　thou　give　it　not　to　any　notary　to　copy；　for　they
write　a　law　hand　that　Satan　could　not　make　out。〃
　　〃But　what　is　to　be　done　about　the　signature？〃　said　Sancho。
　　〃The　letters　of　Amadis　were　never　signed；〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　〃That　is　all　very　well；〃　said　Sancho；　〃but　the　order　must　needs　be
signed；　and　if　it　is　copied　they　will　say　the　signature　is　false；
and　I　shall　be　left　without　ass…colts。〃
　　〃The　order　shall　go　signed　in　the　same　book；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and
on　seeing　it　my　niece　will　make　no　difficulty　about　obeying　it；　as
to　the　loveletter　thou　canst　put　by　way　of　signature；　'Yours　till
death；　the　Knight　of　the　Rueful　Countenance。'　And　it　will　be　no
great　matter　if　it　is　in　some　other　person's　hand；　for　as　well　as　I
recollect　Dulci