don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第77章

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would　be　down　upon　us。　Nor　did　our　expectation　deceive　us；　for　two
hours　had　not　passed　when；　coming　out　of　the　brushwood　into　the　open
ground；　we　perceived　some　fifty　mounted　men　swiftly　approaching　us
at　a　hand…gallop。　As　soon　as　we　saw　them　we　stood　still；　waiting　for
them；　but　as　they　came　close　and；　instead　of　the　Moors　they　were　in
quest　of；　saw　a　set　of　poor　Christians；　they　were　taken　aback；　and　one
of　them　asked　if　it　could　be　we　who　were　the　cause　of　the　shepherd
having　raised　the　call　to　arms。　I　said　〃Yes；〃　and　as　I　was　about　to
explain　to　him　what　had　occurred；　and　whence　we　came　and　who　we
were；　one　of　the　Christians　of　our　party　recognised　the　horseman　who
had　put　the　question　to　us；　and　before　I　could　say　anything　more　he
exclaimed：
　　〃Thanks　be　to　God；　sirs；　for　bringing　us　to　such　good　quarters；　for；
if　I　do　not　deceive　myself；　the　ground　we　stand　on　is　that　of　Velez
Malaga　unless；　indeed；　all　my　years　of　captivity　have　made　me　unable
to　recollect　that　you；　senor；　who　ask　who　we　are；　are　Pedro　de
Bustamante；　my　uncle。〃
　　The　Christian　captive　had　hardly　uttered　these　words；　when　the
horseman　threw　himself　off　his　horse；　and　ran　to　embrace　the　young
man；　crying：
　　〃Nephew　of　my　soul　and　life！　I　recognise　thee　now；　and　long　have　I
mourned　thee　as　dead；　I；　and　my　sister；　thy　mother；　and　all　thy　kin
that　are　still　alive；　and　whom　God　has　been　pleased　to　preserve　that
they　may　enjoy　the　happiness　of　seeing　thee。　We　knew　long　since　that
thou　wert　in　Algiers；　and　from　the　appearance　of　thy　garments　and
those　of　all　this　company；　I　conclude　that　ye　have　had　a　miraculous
restoration　to　liberty。〃
　　〃It　is　true；〃　replied　the　young　man；　〃and　by…and…by　we　will　tell　you
all。〃
　　As　soon　as　the　horsemen　understood　that　we　were　Christian
captives；　they　dismounted　from　their　horses；　and　each　offered　his　to
carry　us　to　the　city　of　Velez　Malaga；　which　was　a　league　and　a　half
distant。　Some　of　them　went　to　bring　the　boat　to　the　city；　we　having
told　them　where　we　had　left　it；　others　took　us　up　behind　them；　and
Zoraida　was　placed　on　the　horse　of　the　young　man's　uncle。　The　whole
town　came　out　to　meet　us；　for　they　had　by　this　time　heard　of　our
arrival　from　one　who　had　gone　on　in　advance。　They　were　not
astonished　to　see　liberated　captives　or　captive　Moors；　for　people　on
that　coast　are　well　used　to　see　both　one　and　the　other；　but　they
were　astonished　at　the　beauty　of　Zoraida；　which　was　just　then
heightened；　as　well　by　the　exertion　of　travelling　as　by　joy　at　finding
herself　on　Christian　soil；　and　relieved　of　all　fear　of　being　lost；　for
this　had　brought　such　a　glow　upon　her　face；　that　unless　my　affection
for　her　were　deceiving　me；　I　would　venture　to　say　that　there　was　not　a
more　beautiful　creature　in　the　world…　at　least；　that　I　had　ever　seen。
　We　went　straight　to　the　church　to　return　thanks　to　God　for　the
mercies　we　had　received；　and　when　Zoraida　entered　it　she　said　there
were　faces　there　like　Lela　Marien's。　We　told　her　they　were　her　images；
and　as　well　as　he　could　the　renegade　explained　to　her　what　they　meant；
that　she　might　adore　them　as　if　each　of　them　were　the　very　same　Lela
Marien　that　had　spoken　to　her；　and　she；　having　great　intelligence
and　a　quick　and　clear　instinct；　understood　at　once　all　he　said　to
her　about　them。　Thence　they　took　us　away　and　distributed　us　all　in
different　houses　in　the　town；　but　as　for　the　renegade；　Zoraida；　and
myself；　the　Christian　who　came　with　us　brought　us　to　the　house　of
his　parents；　who　had　a　fair　share　of　the　gifts　of　fortune；　and　treated
us　with　as　much　kindness　as　they　did　their　own　son。
　　We　remained　six　days　in　Velez；　at　the　end　of　which　the　renegade；
having　informed　himself　of　all　that　was　requisite　for　him　to　do；　set
out　for　the　city　of　Granada　to　restore　himself　to　the　sacred　bosom
of　the　Church　through　the　medium　of　the　Holy　Inquisition。　The　other
released　captives　took　their　departures；　each　the　way　that　seemed　best
to　him；　and　Zoraida　and　I　were　left　alone；　with　nothing　more　than
the　crowns　which　the　courtesy　of　the　Frenchman　had　bestowed　upon
Zoraida；　out　of　which　I　bought　the　beast　on　which　she　rides；　and；　I
for　the　present　attending　her　as　her　father　and　squire　and　not　as
her　husband；　we　are　now　going　to　ascertain　if　my　father　is　living；
or　if　any　of　my　brothers　has　had　better　fortune　than　mine　has　been；
though；　as　Heaven　has　made　me　the　companion　of　Zoraida；　I　think　no
other　lot　could　be　assigned　to　me；　however　happy；　that　I　would
rather　have。　The　patience　with　which　she　endures　the　hardships　that
poverty　brings　with　it；　and　the　eagerness　she　shows　to　become　a
Christian；　are　such　that　they　fill　me　with　admiration；　and　bind　me
to　serve　her　all　my　life；　though　the　happiness　I　feel　in　seeing　myself
hers；　and　her　mine；　is　disturbed　and　marred　by　not　knowing　whether　I
shall　find　any　corner　to　shelter　her　in　my　own　country；　or　whether
time　and　death　may　not　have　made　such　changes　in　the　fortunes　and
lives　of　my　father　and　brothers；　that　I　shall　hardly　find　anyone　who
knows　me；　if　they　are　not　alive。
　　I　have　no　more　of　my　story　to　tell　you；　gentlemen；　whether　it　be
an　interesting　or　a　curious　one　let　your　better　judgments　decide；
all　I　can　say　is　I　would　gladly　have　told　it　to　you　more　briefly；
although　my　fear　of　wearying　you　has　made　me　leave　out　more　than　one
circumstance。

　　CHAPTER　XLII
　　WHICH　TREATS　OF　WHAT　FURTHER　TOOK　PLACE　IN　THE　INN；　AND　OF　SEVERAL
OTHER　THINGS　WORTH　KNOWING

　　WITH　these　words　the　captive　held　his　peace；　and　Don　Fernando　said
to　him；　〃In　truth；　captain；　the　manner　in　which　you　have　related
this　remarkable　adventure　has　been　such　as　befitted　the　novelty　and
strangeness　of　the　matter。　The　whole　story　is　curious　and　uncommon；
and　abounds　with　incidents　that　fill　the　hearers　with　wonder　and
astonishment；　and　so　great　is　the　pleasure　we　have　found　in
listening　to　it　that　we　should　be　glad　if　it　were　to　begin　again；　even
though　to…morrow　were　to　find　us　still　occupied　with　the　same　tale。〃
And　while　he　said　this　Cardenio　and　the　rest　of　them　offered　to　be
of　service　to　him　in　any　way　that　lay　in　their　power；　and　in　words　and
language　so　kindly　and　sincere　that　the　captain　was　much　gratified
by　their　good…will。　In　particular　Don　Fernando　offered；　if　he　would　go
back　with　him；　to　get　his　brother　the　marquis　to　become　godfather　at
the　baptism　of　Zoraida；　and　on　his　own　part　to　provide　him　with　the
means　of　making　his　appearance　in　his　own　country　with　the　credit
and　comfort　he　was　entitled　to。　For　all　this　the　captive　returned
thanks　very　courteously；　although　he　would　not　accept　any　of　their
generous　offers。
　　By　this　time　night　closed　in；　and　as　it　did；　there　came　up　to　the
inn　a　coach　attended　by　some　men　on　horseback；　who　demanded
accommodation；　to　which　the　landlady　replied　that　there　was　not　a
hand's　breadth　of　the　whole　inn　unoccupied。
　　〃Still；　for　all　that；〃　said　one　of　those　who　had　entered　on
horseback；　〃room　must　be　found　for　his　lordship　the　Judge　here。〃
　　At　this　name　the　landlady　was　taken　aback；　and　said；　〃Senor；　the
fact　is　I　have　no　beds；　but　if　his　lordship　the　Judge　carries　one　with
him；　as　no　doubt　he　does；　let　him　come　in　and　welcome；　for　my
husband　and　I　will　give　up　our　room　to　accommodate　his　worship。〃
　　〃Very　good；　so　be　it；〃　said　the　squire；　but　in　the　meantime　a　man
had　got　out　of　the　coach　whose　dress　indicated　at　a　glance　the
office　and　post　he　held；　for　the　long　robe　with　ruffled　sleeves　that
he　wore　showed　that　he　was；　as　his　servant　said；　a　Judge　of　appeal。　He
led　by　the　hand　a　young　girl　in　a　travelling　dress；　apparently　about
sixteen　years　of　age；　and　of　such　a　high…bred　air；　so　beautiful　and　so
graceful；　that　all　were　filled　with　admiration　when　she　made　her
appearance；　and　but　for　having　seen　Dorothea；　Luscinda；　and　Zoraida；
who　were　there　in　the　inn；　they　would　have　fancied　that　a　beauty
like　that　of　this　maiden's　would　have　been　hard　to　find。　Don　Quixote
was　present　at　the　entrance　of　the　Judge　with　the　young　lady；　and　as
soon　as　he　saw　him　he　said；　〃Your　worship　may　with　confidence　enter
and　take　your　ease　in　this　castle；　for　though　the　accommodation　be
scanty　and　poor；　there　are　no　quarters　so　cramped　or　inconvenient　that
they　cannot　make　room　for　arms　and　letters；　above　all　if　arms　and
letters　have　beauty　for　a　guide　and　leader；　as　letters　represented
by　your　worship　have　in　this　fair　maiden；　to　whom　not　only　ought
castles　to　throw　themselves　open　and　yield　themselves　up；　but　rocks
should　rend　themselves　asunder　and　mountains　divide　and　bow　themselves
down　to　give　her　a　reception。　Enter；　your　worship；　I　say；　into　this
paradise；　for　here　you　will　find　stars　and　suns　to　accompany　the
heaven　your　worship　brings　with　you；　here　you　will　find　arms　in
their　supreme　excellence；　and　beauty　in　its　highest　perfection。〃
　　The　Judge　was　struck　with　amazement　at　the　language　of　Don
Quixote；　whom　he　scrutinized　very　carefully；　no　less　astonished　by　his
figure　than　by　his　talk；　and　before　he　could　find　words　to　answer
him　he　had　a　fresh　surprise；　when　he　saw　opposite　to　him　Luscinda；
Dorothea；　and　Zoraida；　who；　having　heard　of　the　new　guests　and　of
the　beauty　of　the　young　lady；　had　come　to　see　her　and　welcome　her；　Don
Fernando；　Cardenio；　and　the　curate；　however；　greeted　him　in　a　more
intelligible　and　polished　style。　In　short；　the　Judge　made　his　entrance
in　a　state　of　bewilderment；　as　well　with　what　he　saw　as　what　he　heard；
and　the　fair　ladies　of　the　inn　gave　the　fair　damsel　a　cordial　welcome。
On　the　whole　he　could　perceive　that　all　who　were　there　were　people
of　quality；　but　with　the　figure；　countenance；　and　bearing　of　Don
Quixote　he　was　at　his　wits'　end；　and　all　civilities　having　been
exchanged；　and　the　accommodation　of　the　inn　inquired　into；　it　was
settled；　as　it　had　been　before　settled；　that　all　the　women　should
retire　to　the　garret　that　has　been　already　mentioned；　and　that　the　men
should　remain　outside　as　if　to　guard　them；　the　Judge；　therefore；　was
very　well　pleased　to　allow　his　daughter；　for　such　the　damsel　was；　to
go　with　the　ladies；　which　she　did　very　willingly；　and　with　part　of　the
host's　narrow　bed　and　half　of　what　the　Judge　had　brought　with　him；
they　made　a　more　comfortable　arrangement　for　the　night　than　they　had
expected。
　　The　captive；　whose　heart　had　leaped　within　him　the　instant　he　saw
the　Judge；　telling　him　somehow　that　this　was　his　brother；　asked　one　of
the　servants　who　accompanied　him　what　his　name　was；　and　whether　he
knew　from　what　part　of　the　country　he　came。　The　servant　replied　that
he　was　called　the　Licentiate　Juan　Perez　de　Viedma；　and　that　he　had
heard　it　said　he　came　from　a　village　in　the　mountains　of　Leon。　From
this　statement；　and　what　he　himself　had　seen；　he　felt　convinced　that
this　was　his　brother　who　had　adopted　letters　by　his　father's　advice；
and　excited　and　rejoiced；　he　called　Don　Fernando　and　Cardenio　and
the　curate　aside；　and　told　them　how　the　matter　stood；　assuring　them
that　the　judge　was　his　brother。　The　servant　had　further　informed　him
that　he　was　now　going　to　the　Indies　with　the　appointment　of　Judge　of
the　Supreme　Court　of　Mexico；　and　he　had　learned；　likewise；　that　the
young　lady　was　his　daughter；　whose　mother　had　died　in　giving　birth
to　her；　and　that　he　was　very　r