don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第48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！


reasonably　do；　to　show　me　where　I　may　pass　my　life　unharassed　by　the
fear　and　dread　of　discovery　by　those　who　are　in　search　of　me；　for
though　the　great　love　my　parents　bear　me　makes　me　feel　sure　of　being
kindly　received　by　them；　so　great　is　my　feeling　of　shame　at　the　mere
thought　that　I　cannot　present　myself　before　them　as　they　expect；
that　I　had　rather　banish　myself　from　their　sight　for　ever　than　look
them　in　the　face　with　the　reflection　that　they　beheld　mine　stripped　of
that　purity　they　had　a　right　to　expect　in　me。〃
　　With　these　words　she　became　silent；　and　the　colour　that　overspread
her　face　showed　plainly　the　pain　and　shame　she　was　suffering　at　heart。
In　theirs　the　listeners　felt　as　much　pity　as　wonder　at　her
misfortunes；　but　as　the　curate　was　just　about　to　offer　her　some
consolation　and　advice　Cardenio　forestalled　him；　saying；　〃So　then；
senora；　you　are　the　fair　Dorothea；　the　only　daughter　of　the　rich
Clenardo？〃　Dorothea　was　astonished　at　hearing　her　father's　name；　and
at　the　miserable　appearance　of　him　who　mentioned　it；　for　it　has　been
already　said　how　wretchedly　clad　Cardenio　was；　so　she　said　to　him：
　　〃And　who　may　you　be；　brother；　who　seem　to　know　my　father's　name　so
well？　For　so　far；　if　I　remember　rightly；　I　have　not　mentioned　it　in
the　whole　story　of　my　misfortunes。〃
　　〃I　am　that　unhappy　being；　senora；〃　replied　Cardenio；　〃whom；　as　you
have　said；　Luscinda　declared　to　be　her　husband；　I　am　the　unfortunate
Cardenio；　whom　the　wrong…doing　of　him　who　has　brought　you　to　your
present　condition　has　reduced　to　the　state　you　see　me　in；　bare；
ragged；　bereft　of　all　human　comfort；　and　what　is　worse；　of　reason；　for
I　only　possess　it　when　Heaven　is　pleased　for　some　short　space　to
restore　it　to　me。　I；　Dorothea；　am　he　who　witnessed　the　wrong　done　by
Don　Fernando；　and　waited　to　hear　the　'Yes'　uttered　by　which　Luscinda
owned　herself　his　betrothed：　I　am　he　who　had　not　courage　enough　to　see
how　her　fainting　fit　ended；　or　what　came　of　the　paper　that　was　found
in　her　bosom；　because　my　heart　had　not　the　fortitude　to　endure　so　many
strokes　of　ill…fortune　at　once；　and　so　losing　patience　I　quitted　the
house；　and　leaving　a　letter　with　my　host；　which　I　entreated　him　to
place　in　Luscinda's　hands；　I　betook　myself　to　these　solitudes；
resolved　to　end　here　the　life　I　hated　as　if　it　were　my　mortal　enemy。
But　fate　would　not　rid　me　of　it；　contenting　itself　with　robbing　me
of　my　reason；　perhaps　to　preserve　me　for　the　good　fortune　I　have　had
in　meeting　you；　for　if　that　which　you　have　just　told　us　be　true；　as
I　believe　it　to　be；　it　may　be　that　Heaven　has　yet　in　store　for　both　of
us　a　happier　termination　to　our　misfortunes　than　we　look　for；
because　seeing　that　Luscinda　cannot　marry　Don　Fernando；　being　mine；　as
she　has　herself　so　openly　declared；　and　that　Don　Fernando　cannot　marry
her　as　he　is　yours；　we　may　reasonably　hope　that　Heaven　will　restore　to
us　what　is　ours；　as　it　is　still　in　existence　and　not　yet　alienated
or　destroyed。　And　as　we　have　this　consolation　springing　from　no　very
visionary　hope　or　wild　fancy；　I　entreat　you；　senora；　to　form　new
resolutions　in　your　better　mind；　as　I　mean　to　do　in　mine；　preparing
yourself　to　look　forward　to　happier　fortunes；　for　I　swear　to　you　by
the　faith　of　a　gentleman　and　a　Christian　not　to　desert　you　until　I　see
you　in　possession　of　Don　Fernando；　and　if　I　cannot　by　words　induce　him
to　recognise　his　obligation　to　you；　in　that　case　to　avail　myself　of
the　right　which　my　rank　as　a　gentleman　gives　me；　and　with　just　cause
challenge　him　on　account　of　the　injury　he　has　done　you；　not
regarding　my　own　wrongs；　which　I　shall　leave　to　Heaven　to　avenge；
while　I　on　earth　devote　myself　to　yours。〃
　　Cardenio's　words　completed　the　astonishment　of　Dorothea；　and　not
knowing　how　to　return　thanks　for　such　an　offer；　she　attempted　to
kiss　his　feet；　but　Cardenio　would　not　permit　it；　and　the　licentiate
replied　for　both；　commended　the　sound　reasoning　of　Cardenio；　and
lastly；　begged；　advised；　and　urged　them　to　come　with　him　to　his
village；　where　they　might　furnish　themselves　with　what　they　needed；
and　take　measures　to　discover　Don　Fernando；　or　restore　Dorothea　to　her
parents；　or　do　what　seemed　to　them　most　advisable。　Cardenio　and
Dorothea　thanked　him；　and　accepted　the　kind　offer　he　made　them；　and
the　barber；　who　had　been　listening　to　all　attentively　and　in
silence；　on　his　part　some　kindly　words　also；　and　with　no　less
good…will　than　the　curate　offered　his　services　in　any　way　that　might
be　of　use　to　them。　He　also　explained　to　them　in　a　few　words　the　object
that　had　brought　them　there；　and　the　strange　nature　of　Don　Quixote's
madness；　and　how　they　were　waiting　for　his　squire；　who　had　gone　in
search　of　him。　Like　the　recollection　of　a　dream；　the　quarrel　he　had
had　with　Don　Quixote　came　back　to　Cardenio's　memory；　and　he
described　it　to　the　others；　but　he　was　unable　to　say　what　the
dispute　was　about。
　　At　this　moment　they　heard　a　shout；　and　recognised　it　as　coming
from　Sancho　Panza；　who；　not　finding　them　where　he　had　left　them；　was
calling　aloud　to　them。　They　went　to　meet　him；　and　in　answer　to　their
inquiries　about　Don　Quixote；　be　told　them　how　he　had　found　him
stripped　to　his　shirt；　lank；　yellow；　half　dead　with　hunger；　and
sighing　for　his　lady　Dulcinea；　and　although　he　had　told　him　that　she
commanded　him　to　quit　that　place　and　come　to　El　Toboso；　where　she
was　expecting　him；　he　had　answered　that　he　was　determined　not　to
appear　in　the　presence　of　her　beauty　until　he　had　done　deeds　to　make
him　worthy　of　her　favour；　and　if　this　went　on；　Sancho　said；　he　ran　the
risk　of　not　becoming　an　emperor　as　in　duty　bound；　or　even　an
archbishop；　which　was　the　least　he　could　be；　for　which　reason　they
ought　to　consider　what　was　to　be　done　to　get　him　away　from　there。
The　licentiate　in　reply　told　him　not　to　be　uneasy；　for　they　would
fetch　him　away　in　spite　of　himself。　He　then　told　Cardenio　and　Dorothea
what　they　had　proposed　to　do　to　cure　Don　Quixote；　or　at　any　rate
take　him　home；　upon　which　Dorothea　said　that　she　could　play　the
distressed　damsel　better　than　the　barber；　especially　as　she　had
there　the　dress　in　which　to　do　it　to　the　life；　and　that　they　might
trust　to　her　acting　the　part　in　every　particular　requisite　for
carrying　out　their　scheme；　for　she　had　read　a　great　many　books　of
chivalry；　and　knew　exactly　the　style　in　which　afflicted　damsels　begged
boons　of　knights…errant。
　　〃In　that　case；〃　said　the　curate；　〃there　is　nothing　more　required
than　to　set　about　it　at　once；　for　beyond　a　doubt　fortune　is
declaring　itself　in　our　favour；　since　it　has　so　unexpectedly　begun
to　open　a　door　for　your　relief；　and　smoothed　the　way　for　us　to　our
object。〃
　　Dorothea　then　took　out　of　her　pillow…case　a　complete　petticoat　of
some　rich　stuff；　and　a　green　mantle　of　some　other　fine　material；　and　a
necklace　and　other　ornaments　out　of　a　little　box；　and　with　these　in　an
instant　she　so　arrayed　herself　that　she　looked　like　a　great　and　rich
lady。　All　this；　and　more；　she　said；　she　had　taken　from　home　in　case　of
need；　but　that　until　then　she　had　had　no　occasion　to　make　use　of　it。
They　were　all　highly　delighted　with　her　grace；　air；　and　beauty；　and
declared　Don　Fernando　to　be　a　man　of　very　little　taste　when　he
rejected　such　charms。　But　the　one　who　admired　her　most　was　Sancho
Panza；　for　it　seemed　to　him　（what　indeed　was　true）　that　in　all　the
days　of　his　life　he　had　never　seen　such　a　lovely　creature；　and　he
asked　the　curate　with　great　eagerness　who　this　beautiful　lady　was；　and
what　she　wanted　in　these　out…of…the…way　quarters。
　　〃This　fair　lady；　brother　Sancho；〃　replied　the　curate；　〃is　no　less
a　personage　than　the　heiress　in　the　direct　male　line　of　the　great
kingdom　of　Micomicon；　who　has　come　in　search　of　your　master　to　beg　a
boon　of　him；　which　is　that　he　redress　a　wrong　or　injury　that　a
wicked　giant　has　done　her；　and　from　the　fame　as　a　good　knight　which
your　master　has　acquired　far　and　wide；　this　princess　has　come　from
Guinea　to　seek　him。〃
　　〃A　lucky　seeking　and　a　lucky　finding！〃　said　Sancho　Panza　at　this；
〃especially　if　my　master　has　the　good　fortune　to　redress　that
injury；　and　right　that　wrong；　and　kill　that　son　of　a　bitch　of　a
giant　your　worship　speaks　of；　as　kill　him　he　will　if　he　meets　him；
unless；　indeed；　he　happens　to　be　a　phantom；　for　my　master　has　no　power
at　all　against　phantoms。　But　one　thing　among　others　I　would　beg　of
you；　senor　licentiate；　which　is；　that；　to　prevent　my　master　taking　a
fancy　to　be　an　archbishop；　for　that　is　what　I'm　afraid　of；　your
worship　would　recommend　him　to　marry　this　princess　at　once；　for　in
this　way　he　will　be　disabled　from　taking　archbishop's　orders；　and　will
easily　come　into　his　empire；　and　I　to　the　end　of　my　desires；　I　have
been　thinking　over　the　matter　carefully；　and　by　what　I　can　make　out
I　find　it　will　not　do　for　me　that　my　master　should　become　an
archbishop；　because　I　am　no　good　for　the　Church；　as　I　am　married；
and　for　me　now；　having　as　I　have　a　wife　and　children；　to　set　about
obtaining　dispensations　to　enable　me　to　hold　a　place　of　profit　under
the　Church；　would　be　endless　work；　so　that；　senor；　it　all　turns　on
my　master　marrying　this　lady　at　once…　for　as　yet　I　do　not　know　her
grace；　and　so　I　cannot　call　her　by　her　name。〃
　　〃She　is　called　the　Princess　Micomicona；〃　said　the　curate；　〃for　as
her　kingdom　is　Micomicon；　it　is　clear　that　must　be　her　name。〃
　　〃There's　no　doubt　of　that；〃　replied　Sancho；　〃for　I　have　known　many
to　take　their　name　and　title　from　the　place　where　they　were　born　and
call　themselves　Pedro　of　Alcala；　Juan　of　Ubeda；　and　Diego　of
Valladolid；　and　it　may　be　that　over　there　in　Guinea　queens　have　the
same　way　of　taking　the　names　of　their　kingdoms。〃
　　〃So　it　may；〃　said　the　curate；　〃and　as　for　your　master's　marrying；
I　will　do　all　in　my　power　towards　it：〃　with　which　Sancho　was　as　much
pleased　as　the　curate　was　amazed　at　his　simplicity　and　at　seeing
what　a　hold　the　absurdities　of　his　master　had　taken　of　his　fancy；
for　he　had　evidently　persuaded　himself　that　he　was　going　to　be　an
emperor。
　　By　this　time　Dorothea　had　seated　herself　upon　the　curate's　mule；　and
the　barber　had　fitted　the　ox…tail　beard　to　his　face；　and　they　now　told
Sancho　to　conduct　them　to　where　Don　Quixote　was；　warning　him　not　to
say　that　he　knew　either　the　licentiate　or　the　barber；　as　his
master's　becoming　an　emperor　entirely　depended　on　his　not
recognising　them；　neither　the　curate　nor　Cardenio；　however；　thought
fit　to　go　with　them；　Cardenio　lest　he　should　remind　Don　Quixote　of　the
quarrel　he　had　with　him；　and　the　curate　as　there　was　no　necessity
for　his　presence　just　yet；　so　they　allowed　the　others　to　go　on
before　them；　while　they　themselves　followed　slowly　on　foot。　The　curate
did　not　forget　to　instruct　Dorothea　how　to　act；　but　she　said　they
might　make　their　minds　easy；　as　everything　would　be　done　exactly　as
the　books　of　chivalry　required　and　described。
　　They　had　gone　about　three…quarters　of　a　league　when　they
discovered　Don　Quixote　in　a　wilderness　of　rocks；　by　this　time　clothed；
but　without　his　armour；　and　as　soon　as　Dorothea　saw　him　and　was　told
by　Sancho　that　that　was　Don　Quixote；　she　whipped　her　palfrey；　the
well…bearded　barber　following　her；　and　on　coming　up　to　him　her
squire　sprang　from　his　mule　and　came　forward　to　receive　her　in　his
ar