don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第53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！


thinkest　thou　I　ought　to　do　about　my　lady's　command　to　go　and　see　her？
For　though　I　feel　that　I　am　bound　to　obey　her　mandate；　I　feel　too　that
I　am　debarred　by　the　boon　I　have　accorded　to　the　princess　that
accompanies　us；　and　the　law　of　chivalry　compels　me　to　have　regard
for　my　word　in　preference　to　my　inclination；　on　the　one　hand　the
desire　to　see　my　lady　pursues　and　harasses　me；　on　the　other　my
solemn　promise　and　the　glory　I　shall　win　in　this　enterprise　urge　and
call　me；　but　what　I　think　I　shall　do　is　to　travel　with　all　speed　and
reach　quickly　the　place　where　this　giant　is；　and　on　my　arrival　I　shall
cut　off　his　head；　and　establish　the　princess　peacefully　in　her
realm；　and　forthwith　I　shall　return　to　behold　the　light　that
lightens　my　senses；　to　whom　I　shall　make　such　excuses　that　she　will　be
led　to　approve　of　my　delay；　for　she　will　see　that　it　entirely　tends　to
increase　her　glory　and　fame；　for　all　that　I　have　won；　am　winning；　or
shall　win　by　arms　in　this　life；　comes　to　me　of　the　favour　she
extends　to　me；　and　because　I　am　hers。〃
　　〃Ah！　what　a　sad　state　your　worship's　brains　are　in！〃　said　Sancho。
〃Tell　me；　senor；　do　you　mean　to　travel　all　that　way　for　nothing；　and
to　let　slip　and　lose　so　rich　and　great　a　match　as　this　where　they　give
as　a　portion　a　kingdom　that　in　sober　truth　I　have　heard　say　is　more
than　twenty　thousand　leagues　round　about；　and　abounds　with　all
things　necessary　to　support　human　life；　and　is　bigger　than　Portugal
and　Castile　put　together？　Peace；　for　the　love　of　God！　Blush　for　what
you　have　said；　and　take　my　advice；　and　forgive　me；　and　marry　at　once
in　the　first　village　where　there　is　a　curate；　if　not；　here　is　our
licentiate　who　will　do　the　business　beautifully；　remember；　I　am　old
enough　to　give　advice；　and　this　I　am　giving　comes　pat　to　the
purpose；　for　a　sparrow　in　the　hand　is　better　than　a　vulture　on　the
wing；　and　he　who　has　the　good　to　his　hand　and　chooses　the　bad；　that
the　good　he　complains　of　may　not　come　to　him。〃
　　〃Look　here；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote。　〃If　thou　art　advising　me　to
marry；　in　order　that　immediately　on　slaying　the　giant　I　may　become
king；　and　be　able　to　confer　favours　on　thee；　and　give　thee　what　I　have
promised；　let　me　tell　thee　I　shall　be　able　very　easily　to　satisfy
thy　desires　without　marrying；　for　before　going　into　battle　I　will　make
it　a　stipulation　that；　if　I　come　out　of　it　victorious；　even　I　do　not
marry；　they　shall　give　me　a　portion　portion　of　the　kingdom；　that　I　may
bestow　it　upon　whomsoever　I　choose；　and　when　they　give　it　to　me　upon
whom　wouldst　thou　have　me　bestow　it　but　upon　thee？〃
　　〃That　is　plain　speaking；〃　said　Sancho；　〃but　let　your　worship　take
care　to　choose　it　on　the　seacoast；　so　that　if　I　don't　like　the　life；　I
may　be　able　to　ship　off　my　black　vassals　and　deal　with　them　as　I
have　said；　don't　mind　going　to　see　my　lady　Dulcinea　now；　but　go　and
kill　this　giant　and　let　us　finish　off　this　business；　for　by　God　it
strikes　me　it　will　be　one　of　great　honour　and　great　profit。〃
　　〃I　hold　thou　art　in　the　right　of　it；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and
I　will　take　thy　advice　as　to　accompanying　the　princess　before　going　to
see　Dulcinea；　but　I　counsel　thee　not　to　say　anything　to　any　one；　or　to
those　who　are　with　us；　about　what　we　have　considered　and　discussed；
for　as　Dulcinea　is　so　decorous　that　she　does　not　wish　her　thoughts
to　be　known　it　is　not　right　that　I　or　anyone　for　me　should　disclose
them。〃
　　〃Well　then；　if　that　be　so；〃　said　Sancho；　〃how　is　it　that　your
worship　makes　all　those　you　overcome　by　your　arm　go　to　present
themselves　before　my　lady　Dulcinea；　this　being　the　same　thing　as
signing　your　name　to　it　that　you　love　her　and　are　her　lover？　And　as
those　who　go　must　perforce　kneel　before　her　and　say　they　come　from
your　worship　to　submit　themselves　to　her；　how　can　the　thoughts　of　both
of　you　be　hid？〃
　　〃O；　how　silly　and　simple　thou　art！〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃seest　thou
not；　Sancho；　that　this　tends　to　her　greater　exaltation？　For　thou
must　know　that　according　to　our　way　of　thinking　in　chivalry；　it　is　a
high　honour　to　a　lady　to　have　many　knights…errant　in　her　service；
whose　thoughts　never　go　beyond　serving　her　for　her　own　sake；　and　who
look　for　no　other　reward　for　their　great　and　true　devotion　than　that
she　should　be　willing　to　accept　them　as　her　knights。〃
　　〃It　is　with　that　kind　of　love；〃　said　Sancho；　〃I　have　heard　preachers
say　we　ought　to　love　our　Lord；　for　himself　alone；　without　being
moved　by　the　hope　of　glory　or　the　fear　of　punishment；　though　for　my
part；　I　would　rather　love　and　serve　him　for　what　he　could　do。〃
　　〃The　devil　take　thee　for　a　clown！〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and　what
shrewd　things　thou　sayest　at　times！　One　would　think　thou　hadst
studied。〃
　　〃In　faith；　then；　I　cannot　even　read。〃
　　Master　Nicholas　here　called　out　to　them　to　wait　a　while；　as　they
wanted　to　halt　and　drink　at　a　little　spring　there　was　there。　Don
Quixote　drew　up；　not　a　little　to　the　satisfaction　of　Sancho；　for　he
was　by　this　time　weary　of　telling　so　many　lies；　and　in　dread　of　his
master　catching　him　tripping；　for　though　he　knew　that　Dulcinea　was　a
peasant　girl　of　El　Toboso；　he　had　never　seen　her　in　all　his　life。
Cardenio　had　now　put　on　the　clothes　which　Dorothea　was　wearing　when
they　found　her；　and　though　they　were　not　very　good；　they　were　far
better　than　those　he　put　off。　They　dismounted　together　by　the　side
of　the　spring；　and　with　what　the　curate　had　provided　himself　with　at
the　inn　they　appeased；　though　not　very　well；　the　keen　appetite　they
all　of　them　brought　with　them。
　　While　they　were　so　employed　there　happened　to　come　by　a　youth
passing　on　his　way；　who　stopping　to　examine　the　party　at　the　spring；
the　next　moment　ran　to　Don　Quixote　and　clasping　him　round　the　legs；
began　to　weep　freely；　saying；　〃O；　senor；　do　you　not　know　me？　Look　at
me　well；　I　am　that　lad　Andres　that　your　worship　released　from　the
oak…tree　where　I　was　tied。〃
　　Don　Quixote　recognised　him；　and　taking　his　hand　he　turned　to　those
present　and　said：　〃That　your　worships　may　see　how　important　it　is　to
have　knights…errant　to　redress　the　wrongs　and　injuries　done　by
tyrannical　and　wicked　men　in　this　world；　I　may　tell　you　that　some　days
ago　passing　through　a　wood；　I　heard　cries　and　piteous　complaints　as　of
a　person　in　pain　and　distress；　I　immediately　hastened；　impelled　by
my　bounden　duty；　to　the　quarter　whence　the　plaintive　accents　seemed　to
me　to　proceed；　and　I　found　tied　to　an　oak　this　lad　who　now　stands
before　you；　which　in　my　heart　I　rejoice　at；　for　his　testimony　will　not
permit　me　to　depart　from　the　truth　in　any　particular。　He　was；　I　say；
tied　to　an　oak；　naked　from　the　waist　up；　and　a　clown；　whom　I
afterwards　found　to　be　his　master；　was　scarifying　him　by　lashes　with
the　reins　of　his　mare。　As　soon　as　I　saw　him　I　asked　the　reason　of　so
cruel　a　flagellation。　The　boor　replied　that　he　was　flogging　him
because　he　was　his　servant　and　because　of　carelessness　that
proceeded　rather　from　dishonesty　than　stupidity；　on　which　this　boy
said；　'Senor；　he　flogs　me　only　because　I　ask　for　my　wages。'　The　master
made　I　know　not　what　speeches　and　explanations；　which；　though　I
listened　to　them；　I　did　not　accept。　In　short；　I　compelled　the　clown　to
unbind　him；　and　to　swear　he　would　take　him　with　him；　and　pay　him
real　by　real；　and　perfumed　into　the　bargain。　Is　not　all　this　true；
Andres　my　son？　Didst　thou　not　mark　with　what　authority　I　commanded
him；　and　with　what　humility　he　promised　to　do　all　I　enjoined；
specified；　and　required　of　him？　Answer　without　hesitation；　tell
these　gentlemen　what　took　place；　that　they　may　see　that　it　is　as　great
an　advantage　as　I　say　to　have　knights…errant　abroad。〃
　　〃All　that　your　worship　has　said　is　quite　true；〃　answered　the　lad；
〃but　the　end　of　the　business　turned　out　just　the　opposite　of　what　your
worship　supposes。〃
　　〃How！　the　opposite？〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃did　not　the　clown　pay　thee
then？〃
　　〃Not　only　did　he　not　pay　me；〃　replied　the　lad；　〃but　as　soon　as
your　worship　had　passed　out　of　the　wood　and　we　were　alone；　he　tied
me　up　again　to　the　same　oak　and　gave　me　a　fresh　flogging；　that　left　me
like　a　flayed　Saint　Bartholomew；　and　every　stroke　he　gave　me　he
followed　up　with　some　jest　or　gibe　about　having　made　a　fool　of　your
worship；　and　but　for　the　pain　I　was　suffering　I　should　have　laughed　at
the　things　he　said。　In　short　he　left　me　in　such　a　condition　that　I
have　been　until　now　in　a　hospital　getting　cured　of　the　injuries
which　that　rascally　clown　inflicted　on　me　then；　for　all　which　your
worship　is　to　blame；　for　if　you　had　gone　your　own　way　and　not　come
where　there　was　no　call　for　you；　nor　meddled　in　other　people's
affairs；　my　master　would　have　been　content　with　giving　me　one　or　two
dozen　lashes；　and　would　have　then　loosed　me　and　paid　me　what　he　owed
me；　but　when　your　worship　abused　him　so　out　of　measure；　and　gave　him
so　many　hard　words；　his　anger　was　kindled；　and　as　he　could　not　revenge
himself　on　you；　as　soon　as　he　saw　you　had　left　him　the　storm　burst
upon　me　in　such　a　way；　that　I　feel　as　if　I　should　never　be　a　man
again。〃
　　〃The　mischief；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃lay　in　my　going　away；　for　I
should　not　have　gone　until　I　had　seen　thee　paid；　because　I　ought　to
have　known　well　by　long　experience　that　there　is　no　clown　who　will
keep　his　word　if　he　finds　it　will　not　suit　him　to　keep　it；　but　thou
rememberest；　Andres；　that　I　swore　if　he　did　not　pay　thee　I　would　go
and　seek　him；　and　find　him　though　he　were　to　hide　himself　in　the
whale's　belly。〃
　　〃That　is　true；〃　said　Andres；　〃but　it　was　of　no　use。〃
　　〃Thou　shalt　see　now　whether　it　is　of　use　or　not；〃　said　Don
Quixote；　and　so　saying；　he　got　up　hastily　and　bade　Sancho　bridle
Rocinante；　who　was　browsing　while　they　were　eating。　Dorothea　asked　him
what　he　meant　to　do。　He　replied　that　he　meant　to　go　in　search　of
this　clown　and　chastise　him　for　such　iniquitous　conduct；　and　see
Andres　paid　to　the　last　maravedi；　despite　and　in　the　teeth　of　all
the　clowns　in　the　world。　To　which　she　replied　that　he　must　remember
that　in　accordance　with　his　promise　he　could　not　engage　in　any
enterprise　until　he　had　concluded　hers；　and　that　as　he　knew　this
better　than　anyone；　he　should　restrain　his　ardour　until　his　return
from　her　kingdom。
　　〃That　is　true；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and　Andres　must　have　patience
until　my　return　as　you　say；　senora；　but　I　once　more　swear　and
promise　not　to　stop　until　I　have　seen　him　avenged　and　paid。〃
　　〃I　have　no　faith　in　those　oaths；〃　said　Andres；　〃I　would　rather
have　now　something　to　help　me　to　get　to　Seville　than　all　the
revenges　in　the　world；　if　you　have　here　anything　to　eat　that　I　can
take　with　me；　give　it　me；　and　God　be　with　your　worship　and　all
knights…errant；　and　may　their　errands　turn　out　as　well　for
themselves　as　they　have　for　me。〃
　　Sancho　took　out　from　his　store　a　piece　of　bread　and　another　of
cheese；　and　giving　them　to　the　lad　he　said；　〃Here；　take　this；
brother　Andres；　for　we　have　all　of　us　a　share　in　your　misfortune。〃
　　〃Why；　what　share　have　you　got？〃
　　〃This　share　of　bread　and　cheese　I　am　giving　you；〃　answered　Sancho；
〃and　God　knows　whether　I　shall　feel　the　want　of　it　myself　or　not；
for　I　would　have　you　know；　friend；　that　we　squires　to　knights…errant
have　to　bear　a　great　deal　of　hunger　and　hard　fortune；　and　even　other
things　more　easily　felt　than　told。〃