don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第79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！


　　　　　　　　　As　thou　above　me　beamest；
　　　　　　　When　thou　shalt　hide　thee　from　my　sight
　　　　　　　　　I'll　know　that　death　is　near　me。

　　The　singer　had　got　so　far　when　it　struck　Dorothea　that　it　was　not
fair　to　let　Clara　miss　hearing　such　a　sweet　voice；　so；　shaking　her
from　side　to　side；　she　woke　her；　saying：
　　〃Forgive　me；　child；　for　waking　thee；　but　I　do　so　that　thou　mayest
have　the　pleasure　of　hearing　the　best　voice　thou　hast　ever　heard；
perhaps；　in　all　thy　life。〃
　　Clara　awoke　quite　drowsy；　and　not　understanding　at　the　moment　what
Dorothea　said；　asked　her　what　it　was；　she　repeated　what　she　had
said；　and　Clara　became　attentive　at　once；　but　she　had　hardly　heard　two
lines；　as　the　singer　continued；　when　a　strange　trembling　seized　her；
as　if　she　were　suffering　from　a　severe　attack　of　quartan　ague；　and
throwing　her　arms　round　Dorothea　she　said：
　　〃Ah；　dear　lady　of　my　soul　and　life！　why　did　you　wake　me？　The
greatest　kindness　fortune　could　do　me　now　would　be　to　close　my　eyes
and　ears　so　as　neither　to　see　or　hear　that　unhappy　musician。〃
　　〃What　art　thou　talking　about；　child？〃　said　Dorothea。　〃Why；　they
say　this　singer　is　a　muleteer！〃
　　〃Nay；　he　is　the　lord　of　many　places；〃　replied　Clara；　〃and　that　one
in　my　heart　which　he　holds　so　firmly　shall　never　be　taken　from　him；
unless　he　be　willing　to　surrender　it。〃
　　Dorothea　was　amazed　at　the　ardent　language　of　the　girl；　for　it
seemed　to　be　far　beyond　such　experience　of　life　as　her　tender　years
gave　any　promise　of；　so　she　said　to　her：
　　〃You　speak　in　such　a　way　that　I　cannot　understand　you；　Senora　Clara；
explain　yourself　more　clearly；　and　tell　me　what　is　this　you　are　saying
about　hearts　and　places　and　this　musician　whose　voice　has　so　moved
you？　But　do　not　tell　me　anything　now；　I　do　not　want　to　lose　the
pleasure　I　get　from　listening　to　the　singer　by　giving　my　attention
to　your　transports；　for　I　perceive　he　is　beginning　to　sing　a　new
strain　and　a　new　air。〃
　　〃Let　him；　in　Heaven's　name；〃　returned　Clara；　and　not　to　hear　him　she
stopped　both　ears　with　her　hands；　at　which　Dorothea　was　again
surprised；　but　turning　her　attention　to　the　song　she　found　that　it　ran
in　this　fashion：

　　　　　　　　　Sweet　Hope；　my　stay；
　　　　　　　That　onward　to　the　goal　of　thy　intent
　　　　　　　　　Dost　make　thy　way；
　　　　　　　Heedless　of　hindrance　or　impediment；
　　　　　　　　　Have　thou　no　fear
　　　　　　　If　at　each　step　thou　findest　death　is　near。

　　　　　　　　　No　victory；
　　　　　　　No　joy　of　triumph　doth　the　faint　heart　know；
　　　　　　　　　Unblest　is　he
　　　　　　　That　a　bold　front　to　Fortune　dares　not　show；
　　　　　　　　　But　soul　and　sense
　　　　　　　In　bondage　yieldeth　up　to　indolence。

　　　　　　　　　If　Love　his　wares
　　　　　　　Do　dearly　sell；　his　right　must　be　contest；
　　　　　　　　　What　gold　compares
　　　　　　　With　that　whereon　his　stamp　he　hath　imprest？
　　　　　　　　　And　all　men　know
　　　　　　　What　costeth　little　that　we　rate　but　low。

　　　　　　　　　Love　resolute
　　　　　　　Knows　not　the　word　〃impossibility；〃
　　　　　　　　　And　though　my　suit
　　　　　　　Beset　by　endless　obstacles　I　see；
　　　　　　　　　Yet　no　despair
　　　　　　　Shall　hold　me　bound　to　earth　while　heaven　is　there。

　　Here　the　voice　ceased　and　Clara's　sobs　began　afresh；　all　which
excited　Dorothea's　curiosity　to　know　what　could　be　the　cause　of
singing　so　sweet　and　weeping　so　bitter；　so　she　again　asked　her　what　it
was　she　was　going　to　say　before。　On　this　Clara；　afraid　that　Luscinda
might　overhear　her；　winding　her　arms　tightly　round　Dorothea　put　her
mouth　so　close　to　her　ear　that　she　could　speak　without　fear　of　being
heard　by　anyone　else；　and　said：
　　〃This　singer；　dear　senora；　is　the　son　of　a　gentleman　of　Aragon；　lord
of　two　villages；　who　lives　opposite　my　father's　house　at　Madrid；　and
though　my　father　had　curtains　to　the　windows　of　his　house　in　winter；
and　lattice…work　in　summer；　in　some　way…　I　know　not　how…　this
gentleman；　who　was　pursuing　his　studies；　saw　me；　whether　in　church
or　elsewhere；　I　cannot　tell；　and；　in　fact；　fell　in　love　with　me；　and
gave　me　to　know　it　from　the　windows　of　his　house；　with　so　many　signs
and　tears　that　I　was　forced　to　believe　him；　and　even　to　love　him；
without　knowing　what　it　was　he　wanted　of　me。　One　of　the　signs　he
used　to　make　me　was　to　link　one　hand　in　the　other；　to　show　me　he
wished　to　marry　me；　and　though　I　should　have　been　glad　if　that　could
be；　being　alone　and　motherless　I　knew　not　whom　to　open　my　mind　to；　and
so　I　left　it　as　it　was；　showing　him　no　favour；　except　when　my
father；　and　his　too；　were　from　home；　to　raise　the　curtain　or　the
lattice　a　little　and　let　him　see　me　plainly；　at　which　he　would　show
such　delight　that　he　seemed　as　if　he　were　going　mad。　Meanwhile　the
time　for　my　father's　departure　arrived；　which　he　became　aware　of；
but　not　from　me；　for　I　had　never　been　able　to　tell　him　of　it。　He
fell　sick；　of　grief　I　believe；　and　so　the　day　we　were　going　away　I
could　not　see　him　to　take　farewell　of　him；　were　it　only　with　the　eyes。
But　after　we　had　been　two　days　on　the　road；　on　entering　the　posada
of　a　village　a　day's　journey　from　this；　I　saw　him　at　the　inn　door　in
the　dress　of　a　muleteer；　and　so　well　disguised；　that　if　I　did　not
carry　his　image　graven　on　my　heart　it　would　have　been　impossible　for
me　to　recognise　him。　But　I　knew　him；　and　I　was　surprised；　and　glad；　he
watched　me；　unsuspected　by　my　father；　from　whom　he　always　hides
himself　when　he　crosses　my　path　on　the　road；　or　in　the　posadas　where
we　halt；　and；　as　I　know　what　he　is；　and　reflect　that　for　love　of　me　he
makes　this　journey　on　foot　in　all　this　hardship；　I　am　ready　to　die
of　sorrow；　and　where　he　sets　foot　there　I　set　my　eyes。　I　know　not　with
what　object　he　has　come；　or　how　he　could　have　got　away　from　his
father；　who　loves　him　beyond　measure；　having　no　other　heir；　and
because　he　deserves　it；　as　you　will　perceive　when　you　see　him。　And
moreover；　I　can　tell　you；　all　that　he　sings　is　out　of　his　own　head；
for　I　have　heard　them　say　he　is　a　great　scholar　and　poet；　and　what　is
more；　every　time　I　see　him　or　hear　him　sing　I　tremble　all　over；　and　am
terrified　lest　my　father　should　recognise　him　and　come　to　know　of　our
loves。　I　have　never　spoken　a　word　to　him　in　my　life；　and　for　all　that
I　love　him　so　that　I　could　not　live　without　him。　This；　dear　senora；　is
all　I　have　to　tell　you　about　the　musician　whose　voice　has　delighted
you　so　much；　and　from　it　alone　you　might　easily　perceive　he　is　no
muleteer；　but　a　lord　of　hearts　and　towns；　as　I　told　you　already。〃
　　〃Say　no　more；　Dona　Clara；〃　said　Dorothea　at　this；　at　the　same　time
kissing　her　a　thousand　times　over；　〃say　no　more；　I　tell　you；　but
wait　till　day　comes；　when　I　trust　in　God　to　arrange　this　affair　of
yours　so　that　it　may　have　the　happy　ending　such　an　innocent
beginning　deserves。〃
　　〃Ah；　senora；〃　said　Dona　Clara；　〃what　end　can　be　hoped　for　when　his
father　is　of　such　lofty　position；　and　so　wealthy；　that　he　would
think　I　was　not　fit　to　be　even　a　servant　to　his　son；　much　less　wife？
And　as　to　marrying　without　the　knowledge　of　my　father；　I　would　not
do　it　for　all　the　world。　I　would　not　ask　anything　more　than　that
this　youth　should　go　back　and　leave　me；　perhaps　with　not　seeing　him；
and　the　long　distance　we　shall　have　to　travel；　the　pain　I　suffer　now
may　become　easier；　though　I　daresay　the　remedy　I　propose　will　do　me
very　little　good。　I　don't　know　how　the　devil　this　has　come　about；　or
how　this　love　I　have　for　him　got　in；　I　such　a　young　girl；　and　he
such　a　mere　boy；　for　I　verily　believe　we　are　both　of　an　age；　and　I
am　not　sixteen　yet；　for　I　will　be　sixteen　Michaelmas　Day；　next；　my
father　says。〃
　　Dorothea　could　not　help　laughing　to　hear　how　like　a　child　Dona　Clara
spoke。　〃Let　us　go　to　sleep　now；　senora；〃　said　she；　〃for　the　little
of　the　night　that　I　fancy　is　left　to　us：　God　will　soon　send　us
daylight；　and　we　will　set　all　to　rights；　or　it　will　go　hard　with　me。〃
　　With　this　they　fell　asleep；　and　deep　silence　reigned　all　through　the
inn。　The　only　persons　not　asleep　were　the　landlady's　daughter　and
her　servant　Maritornes；　who；　knowing　the　weak　point　of　Don　Quixote's
humour；　and　that　he　was　outside　the　inn　mounting　guard　in　armour　and
on　horseback；　resolved；　the　pair　of　them；　to　play　some　trick　upon　him；
or　at　any　rate　to　amuse　themselves　for　a　while　by　listening　to　his
nonsense。　As　it　so　happened　there　was　not　a　window　in　the　whole　inn
that　looked　outwards　except　a　hole　in　the　wall　of　a　straw…loft　through
which　they　used　to　throw　out　the　straw。　At　this　hole　the　two
demi…damsels　posted　themselves；　and　observed　Don　Quixote　on　his　horse；
leaning　on　his　pike　and　from　time　to　time　sending　forth　such　deep
and　doleful　sighs；　that　he　seemed　to　pluck　up　his　soul　by　the　roots
with　each　of　them；　and　they　could　hear　him；　too；　saying　in　a　soft；
tender；　loving　tone；　〃Oh　my　lady　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　perfection　of
all　beauty；　summit　and　crown　of　discretion；　treasure　house　of　grace；
depositary　of　virtue；　and　finally；　ideal　of　all　that　is　good；
honourable；　and　delectable　in　this　world！　What　is　thy　grace　doing　now？
Art　thou；　perchance；　mindful　of　thy　enslaved　knight　who　of　his　own
free　will　hath　exposed　himself　to　so　great　perils；　and　all　to　serve
thee？　Give　me　tidings　of　her；　oh　luminary　of　the　three　faces！
Perhaps　at　this　moment；　envious　of　hers；　thou　art　regarding　her；
either　as　she　paces　to　and　fro　some　gallery　of　her　sumptuous
palaces；　or　leans　over　some　balcony；　meditating　how；　whilst　preserving
her　purity　and　greatness；　she　may　mitigate　the　tortures　this
wretched　heart　of　mine　endures　for　her　sake；　what　glory　should
recompense　my　sufferings；　what　repose　my　toil；　and　lastly　what　death
my　life；　and　what　reward　my　services？　And　thou；　oh　sun；　that　art　now
doubtless　harnessing　thy　steeds　in　haste　to　rise　betimes　and　come
forth　to　see　my　lady；　when　thou　seest　her　I　entreat　of　thee　to
salute　her　on　my　behalf：　but　have　a　care；　when　thou　shalt　see　her
and　salute　her；　that　thou　kiss　not　her　face；　for　I　shall　be　more
jealous　of　thee　than　thou　wert　of　that　light…footed　ingrate　that
made　thee　sweat　and　run　so　on　the　plains　of　Thessaly；　or　on　the
banks　of　the　Peneus　（for　I　do　not　exactly　recollect　where　it　was
thou　didst　run　on　that　occasion）　in　thy　jealousy　and　love。〃
　　Don　Quixote　had　got　so　far　in　his　pathetic　speech　when　the
landlady's　daughter　began　to　signal　to　him；　saying；　〃Senor；　come
over　here；　please。〃
　　At　these　signals　and　voice　Don　Quixote　turned　his　head　and　saw　by
the　light　of　the　moon；　which　then　was　in　its　full　splendour；　that　some
one　was　calling　to　him　from　the　hole　in　the　wall；　which　seemed　to
him　to　be　a　window；　and　what　is　more；　with　a　gilt　grating；　as　rich
castles；　such　as　he　believed　the　inn　to　be；　ought　to　have；　and　it
immediately　suggested　itself　to　his　imagination　that；　as　on　the　former
occasion；　the　fair　damsel；　the　daughter　of　the　lady　of　the　castle；
overcome　by　love　for　him；　was　once　more　endeavouring　to　win　his
affections；　and　with　this　idea；　not　to　show　himself　discourteous；　or
ungrateful；　he　turned　Rocinante's　head　and　approached　the　hole；　and　as
he　perceived　the　two　wenches　he　said：
　　〃I　pity　you；　beauteous　lady；　that　you　should　have　directed　your
thoughts　of　love　to　a　quarter　from　whence　it　is　impossible　that　such　a
return　can　be　made　to　you　as　is　due　to　your　great　merit　and　gentle
birth；　for　which　you　must　not　blame　this　unhappy　knight…errant　whom
love　renders　incapable