don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第43章

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goodness；　virtue；　and　beauty　of　Luscinda；　and　that　she　had　qualities
that　would　do　honour　to　any　family　in　Spain；　but　because　I　was　aware
that　he　did　not　wish　me　to　marry　so　soon；　before　seeing　what　the
Duke　Ricardo　would　do　for　me。　In　short；　I　told　him　I　did　not　venture
to　mention　it　to　my　father；　as　well　on　account　of　that　difficulty；
as　of　many　others　that　discouraged　me　though　I　knew　not　well　what　they
were；　only　that　it　seemed　to　me　that　what　I　desired　was　never　to
come　to　pass。　To　all　this　Don　Fernando　answered　that　he　would　take
it　upon　himself　to　speak　to　my　father；　and　persuade　him　to　speak　to
Luscinda's　father。　O；　ambitious　Marius！　O；　cruel　Catiline！　O；　wicked
Sylla！　O；　perfidious　Ganelon！　O；　treacherous　Vellido！　O；　vindictive
Julian！　O；　covetous　Judas！　Traitor；　cruel；　vindictive；　and　perfidious；
wherein　had　this　poor　wretch　failed　in　his　fidelity；　who　with　such
frankness　showed　thee　the　secrets　and　the　joys　of　his　heart？　What
offence　did　I　commit？　What　words　did　I　utter；　or　what　counsels　did　I
give　that　had　not　the　furtherance　of　thy　honour　and　welfare　for
their　aim？　But；　woe　is　me；　wherefore　do　I　complain？　for　sure　it　is
that　when　misfortunes　spring　from　the　stars；　descending　from　on　high
they　fall　upon　us　with　such　fury　and　violence　that　no　power　on　earth
can　check　their　course　nor　human　device　stay　their　coming。　Who　could
have　thought　that　Don　Fernando；　a　highborn　gentleman；　intelligent；
bound　to　me　by　gratitude　for　my　services；　one　that　could　win　the
object　of　his　love　wherever　he　might　set　his　affections；　could　have
become　so　obdurate；　as　they　say；　as　to　rob　me　of　my　one　ewe　lamb
that　was　not　even　yet　in　my　possession？　But　laying　aside　these　useless
and　unavailing　reflections；　let　us　take　up　the　broken　thread　of　my
unhappy　story。
　　〃To　proceed；　then：　Don　Fernando　finding　my　presence　an　obstacle　to
the　execution　of　his　treacherous　and　wicked　design；　resolved　to　send
me　to　his　elder　brother　under　the　pretext　of　asking　money　from　him
to　pay　for　six　horses　which；　purposely；　and　with　the　sole　object　of
sending　me　away　that　he　might　the　better　carry　out　his　infernal
scheme；　he　had　purchased　the　very　day　he　offered　to　speak　to　my
father；　and　the　price　of　which　he　now　desired　me　to　fetch。　Could　I
have　anticipated　this　treachery？　Could　I　by　any　chance　have
suspected　it？　Nay；　so　far　from　that；　I　offered　with　the　greatest
pleasure　to　go　at　once；　in　my　satisfaction　at　the　good　bargain　that
had　been　made。　That　night　I　spoke　with　Luscinda；　and　told　her　what　had
been　agreed　upon　with　Don　Fernando；　and　how　I　had　strong　hopes　of
our　fair　and　reasonable　wishes　being　realised。　She；　as　unsuspicious　as
I　was　of　the　treachery　of　Don　Fernando；　bade　me　try　to　return
speedily；　as　she　believed　the　fulfilment　of　our　desires　would　be
delayed　only　so　long　as　my　father　put　off　speaking　to　hers。　I　know　not
why　it　was　that　on　saying　this　to　me　her　eyes　filled　with　tears；　and
there　came　a　lump　in　her　throat　that　prevented　her　from　uttering　a
word　of　many　more　that　it　seemed　to　me　she　was　striving　to　say　to
me。　I　was　astonished　at　this　unusual　turn；　which　I　never　before
observed　in　her。　for　we　always　conversed；　whenever　good　fortune　and　my
ingenuity　gave　us　the　chance；　with　the　greatest　gaiety　and
cheerfulness；　mingling　tears；　sighs；　jealousies；　doubts；　or　fears　with
our　words；　it　was　all　on　my　part　a　eulogy　of　my　good　fortune　that
Heaven　should　have　given　her　to　me　for　my　mistress；　I　glorified　her
beauty；　I　extolled　her　worth　and　her　understanding；　and　she　paid　me
back　by　praising　in　me　what　in　her　love　for　me　she　thought　worthy　of
praise；　and　besides　we　had　a　hundred　thousand　trifles　and　doings　of
our　neighbours　and　acquaintances　to　talk　about；　and　the　utmost
extent　of　my　boldness　was　to　take；　almost　by　force；　one　of　her　fair
white　hands　and　carry　it　to　my　lips；　as　well　as　the　closeness　of　the
low　grating　that　separated　us　allowed　me。　But　the　night　before　the
unhappy　day　of　my　departure　she　wept；　she　moaned；　she　sighed；　and
she　withdrew　leaving　me　filled　with　perplexity　and　amazement；
overwhelmed　at　the　sight　of　such　strange　and　affecting　signs　of
grief　and　sorrow　in　Luscinda；　but　not　to　dash　my　hopes　I　ascribed　it
all　to　the　depth　of　her　love　for　me　and　the　pain　that　separation　gives
those　who　love　tenderly。　At　last　I　took　my　departure；　sad　and
dejected；　my　heart　filled　with　fancies　and　suspicions；　but　not　knowing
well　what　it　was　I　suspected　or　fancied；　plain　omens　pointing　to　the
sad　event　and　misfortune　that　was　awaiting　me。
　　〃I　reached　the　place　whither　I　had　been　sent；　gave　the　letter　to　Don
Fernando's　brother；　and　was　kindly　received　but　not　promptly
dismissed；　for　he　desired　me　to　wait；　very　much　against　my　will；　eight
days　in　some　place　where　the　duke　his　father　was　not　likely　to　see　me；
as　his　brother　wrote　that　the　money　was　to　be　sent　without　his
knowledge；　all　of　which　was　a　scheme　of　the　treacherous　Don
Fernando；　for　his　brother　had　no　want　of　money　to　enable　him　to
despatch　me　at　once。
　　〃The　command　was　one　that　exposed　me　to　the　temptation　of　disobeying
it；　as　it　seemed　to　me　impossible　to　endure　life　for　so　many　days
separated　from　Luscinda；　especially　after　leaving　her　in　the　sorrowful
mood　I　have　described　to　you；　nevertheless　as　a　dutiful　servant　I
obeyed；　though　I　felt　it　would　be　at　the　cost　of　my　well…being。　But
four　days　later　there　came　a　man　in　quest　of　me　with　a　letter　which　he
gave　me；　and　which　by　the　address　I　perceived　to　be　from　Luscinda；
as　the　writing　was　hers。　I　opened　it　with　fear　and　trepidation；
persuaded　that　it　must　be　something　serious　that　had　impelled　her　to
write　to　me　when　at　a　distance；　as　she　seldom　did　so　when　I　was
near。　Before　reading　it　I　asked　the　man　who　it　was　that　had　given　it
to　him；　and　how　long　he　had　been　upon　the　road；　he　told　me　that　as
he　happened　to　be　passing　through　one　of　the　streets　of　the　city　at
the　hour　of　noon；　a　very　beautiful　lady　called　to　him　from　a　window；
and　with　tears　in　her　eyes　said　to　him　hurriedly；　'Brother；　if　you
are；　as　you　seem　to　be；　a　Christian；　for　the　love　of　God　I　entreat　you
to　have　this　letter　despatched　without　a　moment's　delay　to　the　place
and　person　named　in　the　address；　all　which　is　well　known；　and　by
this　you　will　render　a　great　service　to　our　Lord；　and　that　you　may
be　at　no　inconvenience　in　doing　so　take　what　is　in　this　handkerchief；'
and　said　he；　'with　this　she　threw　me　a　handkerchief　out　of　the
window　in　which　were　tied　up　a　hundred　reals　and　this　gold　ring
which　I　bring　here　together　with　the　letter　I　have　given　you。　And　then
without　waiting　for　any　answer　she　left　the　window；　though　not
before　she　saw　me　take　the　letter　and　the　handkerchief；　and　I　had　by
signs　let　her　know　that　I　would　do　as　she　bade　me；　and　so；　seeing
myself　so　well　paid　for　the　trouble　I　would　have　in　bringing　it　to
you；　and　knowing　by　the　address　that　it　was　to　you　it　was　sent　（for；
senor；　I　know　you　very　well）；　and　also　unable　to　resist　that　beautiful
lady's　tears；　I　resolved　to　trust　no　one　else；　but　to　come　myself
and　give　it　to　you；　and　in　sixteen　hours　from　the　time　when　it　was
given　me　I　have　made　the　journey；　which；　as　you　know；　is　eighteen
leagues。'
　　〃All　the　while　the　good…natured　improvised　courier　was　telling　me
this；　I　hung　upon　his　words；　my　legs　trembling　under　me　so　that　I
could　scarcely　stand。　However；　I　opened　the　letter　and　read　these
words：

　　〃'The　promise　Don　Fernando　gave　you　to　urge　your　father　to　speak
to　mine；　he　has　fulfilled　much　more　to　his　own　satisfaction　than　to
your　advantage。　I　have　to　tell　you；　senor；　that　be　has　demanded　me　for
a　wife；　and　my　father；　led　away　by　what　he　considers　Don　Fernando's
superiority　over　you；　has　favoured　his　suit　so　cordially；　that　in
two　days　hence　the　betrothal　is　to　take　place　with　such　secrecy　and　so
privately　that　the　only　witnesses　are　to　be　the　Heavens　above　and　a
few　of　the　household。　Picture　to　yourself　the　state　I　am　in；　judge
if　it　be　urgent　for　you　to　come；　the　issue　of　the　affair　will　show　you
whether　I　love　you　or　not。　God　grant　this　may　come　to　your　hand　before
mine　shall　be　forced　to　link　itself　with　his　who　keeps　so　ill　the
faith　that　he　has　pledged。'

　　〃Such；　in　brief；　were　the　words　of　the　letter；　words　that　made　me
set　out　at　once　without　waiting　any　longer　for　reply　or　money；　for　I
now　saw　clearly　that　it　was　not　the　purchase　of　horses　but　of　his
own　pleasure　that　had　made　Don　Fernando　send　me　to　his　brother。　The
exasperation　I　felt　against　Don　Fernando；　joined　with　the　fear　of
losing　the　prize　I　had　won　by　so　many　years　of　love　and　devotion；　lent
me　wings；　so　that　almost　flying　I　reached　home　the　same　day；　by　the
hour　which　served　for　speaking　with　Luscinda。　I　arrived　unobserved；
and　left　the　mule　on　which　I　had　come　at　the　house　of　the　worthy　man
who　had　brought　me　the　letter；　and　fortune　was　pleased　to　be　for
once　so　kind　that　I　found　Luscinda　at　the　grating　that　was　the　witness
of　our　loves。　She　recognised　me　at　once；　and　I　her；　but　not　as　she
ought　to　have　recognised　me；　or　I　her。　But　who　is　there　in　the　world
that　can　boast　of　having　fathomed　or　understood　the　wavering　mind
and　unstable　nature　of　a　woman？　Of　a　truth　no　one。　To　proceed：　as　soon
as　Luscinda　saw　me　she　said；　'Cardenio；　I　am　in　my　bridal　dress；　and
the　treacherous　Don　Fernando　and　my　covetous　father　are　waiting　for　me
in　the　hall　with　the　other　witnesses；　who　shall　be　the　witnesses　of　my
death　before　they　witness　my　betrothal。　Be　not　distressed；　my
friend；　but　contrive　to　be　present　at　this　sacrifice；　and　if　that
cannot　be　prevented　by　my　words；　I　have　a　dagger　concealed　which
will　prevent　more　deliberate　violence；　putting　an　end　to　my　life　and
giving　thee　a　first　proof　of　the　love　I　have　borne　and　bear　thee。'　I
replied　to　her　distractedly　and　hastily；　in　fear　lest　I　should　not
have　time　to　reply；　'May　thy　words　be　verified　by　thy　deeds；　lady；　and
if　thou　hast　a　dagger　to　save　thy　honour；　I　have　a　sword　to　defend
thee　or　kill　myself　if　fortune　be　against　us。'
　　〃I　think　she　could　not　have　heard　all　these　words；　for　I　perceived
that　they　called　her　away　in　haste；　as　the　bridegroom　was　waiting。　Now
the　night　of　my　sorrow　set　in；　the　sun　of　my　happiness　went　down；　I
felt　my　eyes　bereft　of　sight；　my　mind　of　reason。　I　could　not　enter　the
house；　nor　was　I　capable　of　any　movement；　but　reflecting　how　important
it　was　that　I　should　be　present　at　what　might　take　place　on　the
occasion；　I　nerved　myself　as　best　I　could　and　went　in；　for　I　well　knew
all　the　entrances　and　outlets；　and　besides；　with　the　confusion　that　in
secret　pervaded　the　house　no　one　took　notice　of　me；　so；　without
being　seen；　I　found　an　opportunity　of　placing　myself　in　the　recess
formed　by　a　window　of　the　hall　itself；　and　concealed　by　the　ends　and
borders　of　two　tapestries；　from　between　which　I　could；　without　being
seen；　see　all　that　took　place　in　the　room。　Who　could　describe　the
agitation　of　heart　I　suffered　as　I　stood　there…　the　thoughts　that　came
to　me…　the　reflections　that　passed　through　my　mind？　They　were　such
as　cannot　be；　nor　were　it　well　they　should　be；　told。　Suffice　it　to　say
that　the　bridegroom　entered　the　hall　in　his　usual　dress；　without
ornament　of　any　kind；　as　groomsman　he　had　with　him　a　cousin　of
Luscin