don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第58章

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truth　as　regards　our　stratagem；　and　so　regain　thy　place　in　her　esteem；
and　as　thou　art　venturing　so　little；　and　by　the　venture　canst　afford
me　so　much　satisfaction；　refuse　not　to　undertake　it；　even　if　further
difficulties　present　themselves　to　thee；　for；　as　I　have　said；　if
thou　wilt　only　make　a　beginning　I　will　acknowledge　the　issue　decided。〃
　　Lothario　seeing　the　fixed　determination　of　Anselmo；　and　not
knowing　what　further　examples　to　offer　or　arguments　to　urge　in　order
to　dissuade　him　from　it；　and　perceiving　that　he　threatened　to
confide　his　pernicious　scheme　to　some　one　else；　to　avoid　a　greater
evil　resolved　to　gratify　him　and　do　what　he　asked；　intending　to　manage
the　business　so　as　to　satisfy　Anselmo　without　corrupting　the　mind　of
Camilla；　so　in　reply　he　told　him　not　to　communicate　his　purpose　to　any
other；　for　he　would　undertake　the　task　himself；　and　would　begin　it
as　soon　as　he　pleased。　Anselmo　embraced　him　warmly　and　affectionately；
and　thanked　him　for　his　offer　as　if　he　had　bestowed　some　great
favour　upon　him；　and　it　was　agreed　between　them　to　set　about　it　the
next　day；　Anselmo　affording　opportunity　and　time　to　Lothario　to
converse　alone　with　Camilla；　and　furnishing　him　with　money　and
jewels　to　offer　and　present　to　her。　He　suggested；　too；　that　he
should　treat　her　to　music；　and　write　verses　in　her　praise；　and　if　he
was　unwilling　to　take　the　trouble　of　composing　them；　he　offered　to
do　it　himself。　Lothario　agreed　to　all　with　an　intention　very　different
from　what　Anselmo　supposed；　and　with　this　understanding　they
returned　to　Anselmo's　house；　where　they　found　Camilla　awaiting　her
husband　anxiously　and　uneasily；　for　he　was　later　than　usual　in
returning　that　day。　Lothario　repaired　to　his　own　house；　and　Anselmo
remained　in　his；　as　well　satisfied　as　Lothario　was　troubled　in　mind；
for　he　could　see　no　satisfactory　way　out　of　this　ill…advised　business。
That　night；　however；　he　thought　of　a　plan　by　which　he　might　deceive
Anselmo　without　any　injury　to　Camilla。　The　next　day　he　went　to　dine
with　his　friend；　and　was　welcomed　by　Camilla；　who　received　and　treated
him　with　great　cordiality；　knowing　the　affection　her　husband　felt
for　him。　When　dinner　was　over　and　the　cloth　removed；　Anselmo　told
Lothario　to　stay　there　with　Camilla　while　he　attended　to　some　pressing
business；　as　he　would　return　in　an　hour　and　a　half。　Camilla　begged　him
not　to　go；　and　Lothario　offered　to　accompany　him；　but　nothing　could
persuade　Anselmo；　who　on　the　contrary　pressed　Lothario　to　remain
waiting　for　him　as　he　had　a　matter　of　great　importance　to　discuss　with
him。　At　the　same　time　he　bade　Camilla　not　to　leave　Lothario　alone
until　he　came　back。　In　short　he　contrived　to　put　so　good　a　face　on　the
reason；　or　the　folly；　of　his　absence　that　no　one　could　have
suspected　it　was　a　pretence。
　　Anselmo　took　his　departure；　and　Camilla　and　Lothario　were　left　alone
at　the　table；　for　the　rest　of　the　household　had　gone　to　dinner。
Lothario　saw　himself　in　the　lists　according　to　his　friend's　wish；
and　facing　an　enemy　that　could　by　her　beauty　alone　vanquish　a　squadron
of　armed　knights；　judge　whether　he　had　good　reason　to　fear；　but　what
he　did　was　to　lean　his　elbow　on　the　arm　of　the　chair；　and　his　cheek
upon　his　hand；　and；　asking　Camilla's　pardon　for　his　ill　manners；　he
said　he　wished　to　take　a　little　sleep　until　Anselmo　returned。
Camilla　in　reply　said　he　could　repose　more　at　his　ease　in　the
reception…room　than　in　his　chair；　and　begged　of　him　to　go　in　and　sleep
there；　but　Lothario　declined；　and　there　he　remained　asleep　until　the
return　of　Anselmo；　who　finding　Camilla　in　her　own　room；　and　Lothario
asleep；　imagined　that　he　had　stayed　away　so　long　as　to　have　afforded
them　time　enough　for　conversation　and　even　for　sleep；　and　was　all
impatience　until　Lothario　should　wake　up；　that　he　might　go　out　with
him　and　question　him　as　to　his　success。　Everything　fell　out　as　he
wished；　Lothario　awoke；　and　the　two　at　once　left　the　house；　and
Anselmo　asked　what　he　was　anxious　to　know；　and　Lothario　in　answer　told
him　that　he　had　not　thought　it　advisable　to　declare　himself　entirely
the　first　time；　and　therefore　had　only　extolled　the　charms　of　Camilla；
telling　her　that　all　the　city　spoke　of　nothing　else　but　her　beauty　and
wit；　for　this　seemed　to　him　an　excellent　way　of　beginning　to　gain
her　good…will　and　render　her　disposed　to　listen　to　him　with　pleasure
the　next　time；　thus　availing　himself　of　the　device　the　devil　has
recourse　to　when　he　would　deceive　one　who　is　on　the　watch；　for　he
being　the　angel　of　darkness　transforms　himself　into　an　angel　of　light；
and；　under　cover　of　a　fair　seeming；　discloses　himself　at　length；　and
effects　his　purpose　if　at　the　beginning　his　wiles　are　not
discovered。　All　this　gave　great　satisfaction　to　Anselmo；　and　he　said
he　would　afford　the　same　opportunity　every　day；　but　without　leaving
the　house；　for　he　would　find　things　to　do　at　home　so　that　Camilla
should　not　detect　the　plot。
　　Thus；　then；　several　days　went　by；　and　Lothario；　without　uttering　a
word　to　Camilla；　reported　to　Anselmo　that　he　had　talked　with　her　and
that　he　had　never　been　able　to　draw　from　her　the　slightest
indication　of　consent　to　anything　dishonourable；　nor　even　a　sign　or
shadow　of　hope；　on　the　contrary；　he　said　she　would　inform　her
husband　of　it。
　　〃So　far　well；〃　said　Anselmo；　〃Camilla　has　thus　far　resisted　words；
we　must　now　see　how　she　will　resist　deeds。　I　will　give　you　to…morrow
two　thousand　crowns　in　gold　for　you　to　offer　or　even　present；　and　as
many　more　to　buy　jewels　to　lure　her；　for　women　are　fond　of　being
becomingly　attired　and　going　gaily　dressed；　and　all　the　more　so　if
they　are　beautiful；　however　chaste　they　may　be；　and　if　she　resists
this　temptation；　I　will　rest　satisfied　and　will　give　you　no　more
trouble。〃
　　Lothario　replied　that　now　he　had　begun　he　would　carry　on　the
undertaking　to　the　end；　though　he　perceived　he　was　to　come　out　of　it
wearied　and　vanquished。　The　next　day　he　received　the　four　thousand
crowns；　and　with　them　four　thousand　perplexities；　for　he　knew　not　what
to　say　by　way　of　a　new　falsehood；　but　in　the　end　he　made　up　his　mind
to　tell　him　that　Camilla　stood　as　firm　against　gifts　and　promises　as
against　words；　and　that　there　was　no　use　in　taking　any　further
trouble；　for　the　time　was　all　spent　to　no　purpose。
　　But　chance；　directing　things　in　a　different　manner；　so　ordered　it
that　Anselmo；　having　left　Lothario　and　Camilla　alone　as　on　other
occasions；　shut　himself　into　a　chamber　and　posted　himself　to　watch　and
listen　through　the　keyhole　to　what　passed　between　them；　and
perceived　that　for　more　than　half　an　hour　Lothario　did　not　utter　a
word　to　Camilla；　nor　would　utter　a　word　though　he　were　to　be　there　for
an　age；　and　he　came　to　the　conclusion　that　what　his　friend　had　told
him　about　the　replies　of　Camilla　was　all　invention　and　falsehood；
and　to　ascertain　if　it　were　so；　he　came　out；　and　calling　Lothario
aside　asked　him　what　news　he　had　and　in　what　humour　Camilla　was。
Lothario　replied　that　he　was　not　disposed　to　go　on　with　the
business；　for　she　had　answered　him　so　angrily　and　harshly　that　he
had　no　heart　to　say　anything　more　to　her。
　　〃Ah；　Lothario；　Lothario；〃　said　Anselmo；　〃how　ill　dost　thou　meet
thy　obligations　to　me；　and　the　great　confidence　I　repose　in　thee！　I
have　been　just　now　watching　through　this　keyhole；　and　I　have　seen　that
thou　has　not　said　a　word　to　Camilla；　whence　I　conclude　that　on　the
former　occasions　thou　hast　not　spoken　to　her　either；　and　if　this　be
so；　as　no　doubt　it　is；　why　dost　thou　deceive　me；　or　wherefore
seekest　thou　by　craft　to　deprive　me　of　the　means　I　might　find　of
attaining　my　desire？〃
　　Anselmo　said　no　more；　but　he　had　said　enough　to　cover　Lothario
with　shame　and　confusion；　and　he；　feeling　as　it　were　his　honour
touched　by　having　been　detected　in　a　lie；　swore　to　Anselmo　that　he
would　from　that　moment　devote　himself　to　satisfying　him　without　any
deception；　as　he　would　see　if　he　had　the　curiosity　to　watch；　though　he
need　not　take　the　trouble；　for　the　pains　he　would　take　to　satisfy
him　would　remove　all　suspicions　from　his　mind。　Anselmo　believed　him；
and　to　afford　him　an　opportunity　more　free　and　less　liable　to
surprise；　he　resolved　to　absent　himself　from　his　house　for　eight　days；
betaking　himself　to　that　of　a　friend　of　his　who　lived　in　a　village　not
far　from　the　city；　and；　the　better　to　account　for　his　departure　to
Camilla；　he　so　arranged　it　that　the　friend　should　send　him　a　very
pressing　invitation。
　　Unhappy；　shortsighted　Anselmo；　what　art　thou　doing；　what　art　thou
plotting；　what　art　thou　devising？　Bethink　thee　thou　art　working
against　thyself；　plotting　thine　own　dishonour；　devising　thine　own
ruin。　Thy　wife　Camilla　is　virtuous；　thou　dost　possess　her　in　peace　and
quietness；　no　one　assails　thy　happiness；　her　thoughts　wander　not
beyond　the　walls　of　thy　house；　thou　art　her　heaven　on　earth；　the
object　of　her　wishes；　the　fulfilment　of　her　desires；　the　measure
wherewith　she　measures　her　will；　making　it　conform　in　all　things　to
thine　and　Heaven's。　If；　then；　the　mine　of　her　honour；　beauty；
virtue；　and　modesty　yields　thee　without　labour　all　the　wealth　it
contains　and　thou　canst　wish　for；　why　wilt　thou　dig　the　earth　in
search　of　fresh　veins；　of　new　unknown　treasure；　risking　the　collapse
of　all；　since　it　but　rests　on　the　feeble　props　of　her　weak　nature？
Bethink　thee　that　from　him　who　seeks　impossibilities　that　which　is
possible　may　with　justice　be　withheld；　as　was　better　expressed　by　a
poet　who　said：

　　　　　　　'Tis　mine　to　seek　for　life　in　death；
　　　　　　　　　Health　in　disease　seek　I；
　　　　　　　I　seek　in　prison　freedom's　breath；
　　　　　　　　　In　traitors　loyalty。

　　　　　　　So　Fate　that　ever　scorns　to　grant
　　　　　　　　　Or　grace　or　boon　to　me；
　　　　　　　Since　what　can　never　be　I　want；
　　　　　　　　　Denies　me　what　might　be。

　　The　next　day　Anselmo　took　his　departure　for　the　village；　leaving
instructions　with　Camilla　that　during　his　absence　Lothario　would
come　to　look　after　his　house　and　to　dine　with　her；　and　that　she　was　to
treat　him　as　she　would　himself。　Camilla　was　distressed；　as　a
discreet　and　right…minded　woman　would　be；　at　the　orders　her　husband
left　her；　and　bade　him　remember　that　it　was　not　becoming　that　anyone
should　occupy　his　seat　at　the　table　during　his　absence；　and　if　he
acted　thus　from　not　feeling　confidence　that　she　would　be　able　to
manage　his　house；　let　him　try　her　this　time；　and　he　would　find　by
experience　that　she　was　equal　to　greater　responsibilities。　Anselmo
replied　that　it　was　his　pleasure　to　have　it　so；　and　that　she　had
only　to　submit　and　obey。　Camilla　said　she　would　do　so；　though
against　her　will。
　　Anselmo　went；　and　the　next　day　Lothario　came　to　his　house；　where
he　was　received　by　Camilla　with　a　friendly　and　modest　welcome；　but　she
never　suffered　Lothario　to　see　her　alone；　for　she　was　always
attended　by　her　men　and　women　servants；　especially　by　a　handmaid　of
hers；　Leonela　by　name；　to　whom　she　was　much　attached　（for　they　had
been　brought　up　together　from　childhood　in　her　father's　house）；　and
whom　she　had　kept　with　her　after　her　marriage　with　Anselmo。　The
first　three　days　Lothario　did　not　speak　to　her；　though　he　might　have
done　so　when　they　removed　the　cloth　and　the　servants　retired　to　dine
hastily；　for　such　were　Camilla's　orders；　nay　more；