don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第74章

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content　myself　with　saying　that　more　pearls　hung　from　her　fair　neck；
her　ears；　and　her　hair　than　she　had　hairs　on　her　head。　On　her
ankles；　which　as　is　customary　were　bare；　she　had　carcajes　（for　so
bracelets　or　anklets　are　called　in　Morisco）　of　the　purest　gold；　set
with　so　many　diamonds　that　she　told　me　afterwards　her　father　valued
them　at　ten　thousand　doubloons；　and　those　she　had　on　her　wrists　were
worth　as　much　more。　The　pearls　were　in　profusion　and　very　fine；　for
the　highest　display　and　adornment　of　the　Moorish　women　is　decking
themselves　with　rich　pearls　and　seed…pearls；　and　of　these　there　are
therefore　more　among　the　Moors　than　among　any　other　people。
Zoraida's　father　had　to　the　reputation　of　possessing　a　great　number；
and　the　purest　in　all　Algiers；　and　of　possessing　also　more　than　two
hundred　thousand　Spanish　crowns；　and　she；　who　is　now　mistress　of　me
only；　was　mistress　of　all　this。　Whether　thus　adorned　she　would　have
been　beautiful　or　not；　and　what　she　must　have　been　in　her
prosperity；　may　be　imagined　from　the　beauty　remaining　to　her　after
so　many　hardships；　for；　as　everyone　knows；　the　beauty　of　some　women
has　its　times　and　its　seasons；　and　is　increased　or　diminished　by
chance　causes；　and　naturally　the　emotions　of　the　mind　will　heighten　or
impair　it；　though　indeed　more　frequently　they　totally　destroy　it。　In　a
word　she　presented　herself　before　me　that　day　attired　with　the
utmost　splendour；　and　supremely　beautiful；　at　any　rate；　she　seemed
to　me　the　most　beautiful　object　I　had　ever　seen；　and　when；　besides；
I　thought　of　all　I　owed　to　her　I　felt　as　though　I　had　before　me　some
heavenly　being　come　to　earth　to　bring　me　relief　and　happiness。
　　As　she　approached　her　father　told　her　in　his　own　language　that　I　was
a　captive　belonging　to　his　friend　the　Arnaut　Mami；　and　that　I　had　come
for　salad。
　　She　took　up　the　conversation；　and　in　that　mixture　of　tongues　I
have　spoken　of　she　asked　me　if　I　was　a　gentleman；　and　why　I　was　not
ransomed。
　　I　answered　that　I　was　already　ransomed；　and　that　by　the　price　it
might　be　seen　what　value　my　master　set　on　me；　as　I　had　given　one
thousand　five　hundred　zoltanis　for　me；　to　which　she　replied；　〃Hadst
thou　been　my　father's；　I　can　tell　thee；　I　would　not　have　let　him
part　with　thee　for　twice　as　much；　for　you　Christians　always　tell
lies　about　yourselves　and　make　yourselves　out　poor　to　cheat　the
Moors。〃
　　〃That　may　be；　lady；〃　said　I；　〃but　indeed　I　dealt　truthfully　with
my　master；　as　I　do　and　mean　to　do　with　everybody　in　the　world。〃
　　〃And　when　dost　thou　go？〃　said　Zoraida。
　　〃To…morrow；　I　think；〃　said　I；　〃for　there　is　a　vessel　here　from
France　which　sails　to…morrow；　and　I　think　I　shall　go　in　her。〃
　　〃Would　it　not　be　better；〃　said　Zoraida；　〃to　wait　for　the　arrival
of　ships　from　Spain　and　go　with　them　and　not　with　the　French　who　are
not　your　friends？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　I；　〃though　if　there　were　intelligence　that　a　vessel
were　now　coming　from　Spain　it　is　true　I　might；　perhaps；　wait　for　it；
however；　it　is　more　likely　I　shall　depart　to…morrow；　for　the　longing　I
feel　to　return　to　my　country　and　to　those　I　love　is　so　great　that　it
will　not　allow　me　to　wait　for　another　opportunity；　however　more
convenient；　if　it　be　delayed。〃
　　〃No　doubt　thou　art　married　in　thine　own　country；〃　said　Zoraida；　〃and
for　that　reason　thou　art　anxious　to　go　and　see　thy　wife。〃
　　〃I　am　not　married；〃　I　replied；　〃but　I　have　given　my　promise　to　marry
on　my　arrival　there。〃
　　〃And　is　the　lady　beautiful　to　whom　thou　hast　given　it？〃　said
Zoraida。
　　〃So　beautiful；〃　said　I；　〃that；　to　describe　her　worthily　and　tell
thee　the　truth；　she　is　very　like　thee。〃
　　At　this　her　father　laughed　very　heartily　and　said；　〃By　Allah；
Christian；　she　must　be　very　beautiful　if　she　is　like　my　daughter；
who　is　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　all　this　kingdom：　only　look　at
her　well　and　thou　wilt　see　I　am　telling　the　truth。〃
　　Zoraida's　father　as　the　better　linguist　helped　to　interpret　most
of　these　words　and　phrases；　for　though　she　spoke　the　bastard　language；
that；　as　I　have　said；　is　employed　there；　she　expressed　her　meaning
more　by　signs　than　by　words。
　　While　we　were　still　engaged　in　this　conversation；　a　Moor　came
running　up；　exclaiming　that　four　Turks　had　leaped　over　the　fence　or
wall　of　the　garden；　and　were　gathering　the　fruit　though　it　was　not　yet
ripe。　The　old　man　was　alarmed　and　Zoraida　too；　for　the　Moors　commonly；
and；　so　to　speak；　instinctively　have　a　dread　of　the　Turks；　but
particularly　of　the　soldiers；　who　are　so　insolent　and　domineering　to
the　Moors　who　are　under　their　power　that　they　treat　them　worse　than　if
they　were　their　slaves。　Her　father　said　to　Zoraida；　〃Daughter；
retire　into　the　house　and　shut　thyself　in　while　I　go　and　speak　to
these　dogs；　and　thou；　Christian；　pick　thy　herbs；　and　go　in　peace；
and　Allah　bring　thee　safe　to　thy　own　country。〃
　　I　bowed；　and　he　went　away　to　look　for　the　Turks；　leaving　me　alone
with　Zoraida；　who　made　as　if　she　were　about　to　retire　as　her　father
bade　her；　but　the　moment　he　was　concealed　by　the　trees　of　the
garden；　turning　to　me　with　her　eyes　full　of　tears　she　said；　Tameji；
cristiano；　tameji？〃　that　is　to　say；　〃Art　thou　going；　Christian；　art
thou　going？〃
　　I　made　answer；　〃Yes；　lady；　but　not　without　thee；　come　what　may：　be
on　the　watch　for　me　on　the　next　Juma；　and　be　not　alarmed　when　thou
seest　us；　for　most　surely　we　shall　go　to　the　land　of　the　Christians。〃
　　This　I　said　in　such　a　way　that　she　understood　perfectly　all　that
passed　between　us；　and　throwing　her　arm　round　my　neck　she　began　with
feeble　steps　to　move　towards　the　house；　but　as　fate　would　have　it　（and
it　might　have　been　very　unfortunate　if　Heaven　had　not　otherwise
ordered　it）；　just　as　we　were　moving　on　in　the　manner　and　position　I
have　described；　with　her　arm　round　my　neck；　her　father；　as　he　returned
after　having　sent　away　the　Turks；　saw　how　we　were　walking　and　we
perceived　that　he　saw　us；　but　Zoraida；　ready　and　quickwitted；　took
care　not　to　remove　her　arm　from　my　neck；　but　on　the　contrary　drew
closer　to　me　and　laid　her　head　on　my　breast；　bending　her　knees　a
little　and　showing　all　the　signs　and　tokens　of　ainting；　while　I　at　the
same　time　made　it　seem　as　though　I　were　supporting　her　against　my
will。　Her　father　came　running　up　to　where　we　were；　and　seeing　his
daughter　in　this　state　asked　what　was　the　matter　with　her；　she；
however；　giving　no　answer；　he　said；　〃No　doubt　she　has　fainted　in　alarm
at　the　entrance　of　those　dogs；〃　and　taking　her　from　mine　he　drew　her
to　his　own　breast；　while　she　sighing；　her　eyes　still　wet　with　tears；
said　again；　〃Ameji；　cristiano；　ameji〃…　〃Go；　Christian；　go。〃　To　this
her　father　replied；　〃There　is　no　need；　daughter；　for　the　Christian
to　go；　for　he　has　done　thee　no　harm；　and　the　Turks　have　now　gone；　feel
no　alarm；　there　is　nothing　to　hurt　thee；　for　as　I　say；　the　Turks　at　my
request　have　gone　back　the　way　they　came。〃
　　〃It　was　they　who　terrified　her；　as　thou　hast　said；　senor；〃　said　I　to
her　father；　〃but　since　she　tells　me　to　go；　I　have　no　wish　to　displease
her：　peace　be　with　thee；　and　with　thy　leave　I　will　come　back　to　this
garden　for　herbs　if　need　be；　for　my　master　says　there　are　nowhere
better　herbs　for　salad　then　here。〃
　　〃Come　back　for　any　thou　hast　need　of；〃　replied　Hadji　Morato；　〃for　my
daughter　does　not　speak　thus　because　she　is　displeased　with　thee　or
any　Christian：　she　only　meant　that　the　Turks　should　go；　not　thou；　or
that　it　was　time　for　thee　to　look　for　thy　herbs。〃
　　With　this　I　at　once　took　my　leave　of　both；　and　she；　looking　as
though　her　heart　were　breaking；　retired　with　her　father。　While
pretending　to　look　for　herbs　I　made　the　round　of　the　garden　at　my
ease；　and　studied　carefully　all　the　approaches　and　outlets；　and　the
fastenings　of　the　house　and　everything　that　could　be　taken　advantage
of　to　make　our　task　easy。　Having　done　so　I　went　and　gave　an　account　of
all　that　had　taken　place　to　the　renegade　and　my　comrades；　and　looked
forward　with　impatience　to　the　hour　when；　all　fear　at　an　end；　I　should
find　myself　in　possession　of　the　prize　which　fortune　held　out　to　me　in
the　fair　and　lovely　Zoraida。　The　time　passed　at　length；　and　the
appointed　day　we　so　longed　for　arrived；　and；　all　following　out　the
arrangement　and　plan　which；　after　careful　consideration　and　many　a
long　discussion；　we　had　decided　upon；　we　succeeded　as　fully　as　we
could　have　wished；　for　on　the　Friday　following　the　day　upon　which　I
spoke　to　Zoraida　in　the　garden；　the　renegade　anchored　his　vessel　at
nightfall　almost　opposite　the　spot　where　she　was。　The　Christians　who
were　to　row　were　ready　and　in　hiding　in　different　places　round
about；　all　waiting　for　me；　anxious　and　elated；　and　eager　to　attack　the
vessel　they　had　before　their　eyes；　for　they　did　not　know　the
renegade's　plan；　but　expected　that　they　were　to　gain　their　liberty
by　force　of　arms　and　by　killing　the　Moors　who　were　on　board　the
vessel。　As　soon；　then；　as　I　and　my　comrades　made　our　appearance；　all
those　that　were　in　hiding　seeing　us　came　and　joined　us。　It　was　now　the
time　when　the　city　gates　are　shut；　and　there　was　no　one　to　be　seen
in　all　the　space　outside。　When　we　were　collected　together　we　debated
whether　it　would　be　better　first　to　go　for　Zoraida；　or　to　make
prisoners　of　the　Moorish　rowers　who　rowed　in　the　vessel；　but　while
we　were　still　uncertain　our　renegade　came　up　asking　us　what　kept　us；
as　it　was　now　the　time；　and　all　the　Moors　were　off　their　guard　and
most　of　them　asleep。　We　told　him　why　we　hesitated；　but　he　said　it
was　of　more　importance　first　to　secure　the　vessel；　which　could　be　done
with　the　greatest　ease　and　without　any　danger；　and　then　we　could　go
for　Zoraida。　We　all　approved　of　what　he　said；　and　so　without　further
delay；　guided　by　him　we　made　for　the　vessel；　and　he　leaping　on　board
first；　drew　his　cutlass　and　said　in　Morisco；　〃Let　no　one　stir　from
this　if　he　does　not　want　it　to　cost　him　his　life。〃　By　this　almost
all　the　Christians　were　on　board；　and　the　Moors；　who　were
fainthearted；　hearing　their　captain　speak　in　this　way；　were　cowed；　and
without　any　one　of　them　taking　to　his　arms　（and　indeed　they　had　few　or
hardly　any）　they　submitted　without　saying　a　word　to　be　bound　by　the
Christians；　who　quickly　secured　them；　threatening　them　that　if　they
raised　any　kind　of　outcry　they　would　be　all　put　to　the　sword。　This
having　been　accomplished；　and　half　of　our　party　being　left　to　keep
guard　over　them；　the　rest　of　us；　again　taking　the　renegade　as　our
guide；　hastened　towards　Hadji　Morato's　garden；　and　as　good　luck
would　have　it；　on　trying　the　gate　it　opened　as　easily　as　if　it　had　not
been　locked；　and　so；　quite　quietly　and　in　silence；　we　reached　the
house　without　being　perceived　by　anybody。　The　lovely　Zoraida　was
watching　for　us　at　a　window；　and　as　soon　as　she　perceived　that　there
were　people　there；　she　asked　in　a　low　voice　if　we　were　〃Nizarani；〃
as　much　as　to　say　or　ask　if　we　were　Christians。　I　answered　that　we
were；　and　begged　her　to　come　down。　As　soon　as　she　recognised　me　she
did　not　delay　an　instant；　but　without　answering　a　word　came　down
immediately；　opened　the　door　and　presented　herself　before　us　all；　so
beautiful　and　so　richly　attired　that　I　cannot　attempt　to　describe　her。
The　moment　I　saw　her　I　took　her　hand　and　kissed　it；　and　the　renegade
and　my　two　comrades　did　the　same；