don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第142章

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form；　and　then　Sancho　will　he　disabused　of　the　error　he　is　under　at
present。〃
　　〃All　that's　very　possible；〃　said　Sancho　Panza；　〃and　now　I'm
willing　to　believe　what　my　master　says　about　what　he　saw　in　the　cave
of　Montesinos；　where　he　says　he　saw　the　lady　Dulcinea　del　Toboso　in
the　very　same　dress　and　apparel　that　I　said　I　had　seen　her　in　when　I
enchanted　her　all　to　please　myself。　It　must　be　all　exactly　the　other
way；　as　your　ladyship　says；　because　it　is　impossible　to　suppose　that
out　of　my　poor　wit　such　a　cunning　trick　could　be　concocted　in　a
moment；　nor　do　I　think　my　master　is　so　mad　that　by　my　weak　and
feeble　persuasion　he　could　be　made　to　believe　a　thing　so　out　of　all
reason。　But；　senora；　your　excellence　must　not　therefore　think　me
ill…disposed；　for　a　dolt　like　me　is　not　bound　to　see　into　the　thoughts
and　plots　of　those　vile　enchanters。　I　invented　all　that　to　escape　my
master's　scolding；　and　not　with　any　intention　of　hurting　him；　and　if
it　has　turned　out　differently；　there　is　a　God　in　heaven　who　judges　our
hearts。〃
　　〃That　is　true；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃but　tell　me；　Sancho；　what　is　this
you　say　about　the　cave　of　Montesinos；　for　I　should　like　to　know。〃
　　Sancho　upon　this　related　to　her；　word　for　word；　what　has　been　said
already　touching　that　adventure；　and　having　heard　it　the　duchess　said；
〃From　this　occurrence　it　may　be　inferred　that；　as　the　great　Don
Quixote　says　he　saw　there　the　same　country　wench　Sancho　saw　on　the　way
from　El　Toboso；　it　is；　no　doubt；　Dulcinea；　and　that　there　are　some
very　active　and　exceedingly　busy　enchanters　about。〃
　　〃So　I　say；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　if　my　lady　Dulcinea　is　enchanted；　so
much　the　worse　for　her；　and　I'm　not　going　to　pick　a　quarrel　with　my
master's　enemies；　who　seem　to　be　many　and　spiteful。　The　truth　is
that　the　one　I　saw　was　a　country　wench；　and　I　set　her　down　to　be　a
country　wench；　and　if　that　was　Dulcinea　it　must　not　be　laid　at　my
door；　nor　should　I　be　called　to　answer　for　it　or　take　the
consequences。　But　they　must　go　nagging　at　me　at　every　step…　'Sancho
said　it；　Sancho　did　it；　Sancho　here；　Sancho　there；'　as　if　Sancho　was
nobody　at　all；　and　not　that　same　Sancho　Panza　that's　now　going　all
over　the　world　in　books；　so　Samson　Carrasco　told　me；　and　he's　at　any
rate　one　that's　a　bachelor　of　Salamanca；　and　people　of　that　sort　can't
lie；　except　when　the　whim　seizes　them　or　they　have　some　very　good
reason　for　it。　So　there's　no　occasion　for　anybody　to　quarrel　with
me；　and　then　I　have　a　good　character；　and；　as　I　have　heard　my　master
say；　'a　good　name　is　better　than　great　riches；'　let　them　only　stick　me
into　this　government　and　they'll　see　wonders；　for　one　who　has　been　a
good　squire　will　be　a　good　governor。〃
　　〃All　worthy　Sancho's　observations；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃are
Catonian　sentences；　or　at　any　rate　out　of　the　very　heart　of　Michael
Verino　himself；　who　florentibus　occidit　annis。　In　fact；　to　speak　in
his　own　style；　'under　a　bad　cloak　there's　often　a　good　drinker。'〃
　　〃Indeed；　senora；〃　said　Sancho；　〃I　never　yet　drank　out　of　wickedness；
from　thirst　I　have　very　likely；　for　I　have　nothing　of　the　hypocrite　in
me；　I　drink　when　I'm　inclined；　or；　if　I'm　not　inclined；　when　they
offer　it　to　me；　so　as　not　to　look　either　strait…laced　or　ill…bred；　for
when　a　friend　drinks　one's　health　what　heart　can　be　so　hard　as　not
to　return　it？　But　if　I　put　on　my　shoes　I　don't　dirty　them；　besides；
squires　to　knights…errant　mostly　drink　water；　for　they　are　always
wandering　among　woods；　forests　and　meadows；　mountains　and　crags；
without　a　drop　of　wine　to　be　had　if　they　gave　their　eyes　for　it。〃
　　〃So　I　believe；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃and　now　let　Sancho　go　and　take
his　sleep；　and　we　will　talk　by…and…by　at　greater　length；　and　settle
how　he　may　soon　go　and　stick　himself　into　the　government；　as　he　says。〃
　　Sancho　once　more　kissed　the　duchess's　hand；　and　entreated　her　to　let
good　care　be　taken　of　his　Dapple；　for　he　was　the　light　of　his　eyes。
　　〃What　is　Dapple？〃　said　the　duchess。
　　〃My　ass；〃　said　Sancho；　〃which；　not　to　mention　him　by　that　name；
I'm　accustomed　to　call　Dapple；　I　begged　this　lady　duenna　here　to
take　care　of　him　when　I　came　into　the　castle；　and　she　got　as　angry
as　if　I　had　said　she　was　ugly　or　old；　though　it　ought　to　be　more
natural　and　proper　for　duennas　to　feed　asses　than　to　ornament
chambers。　God　bless　me！　what　a　spite　a　gentleman　of　my　village　had
against　these　ladies！〃
　　〃He　must　have　been　some　clown；〃　said　Dona　Rodriguez　the　duenna；　〃for
if　he　had　been　a　gentleman　and　well…born　he　would　have　exalted　them
higher　than　the　horns　of　the　moon。〃
　　〃That　will　do；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃no　more　of　this；　hush；　Dona
Rodriguez；　and　let　Senor　Panza　rest　easy　and　leave　the　treatment　of
Dapple　in　my　charge；　for　as　he　is　a　treasure　of　Sancho's；　I'll　put　him
on　the　apple　of　my　eye。〃
　　〃It　will　be　enough　for　him　to　he　in　the　stable；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for
neither　he　nor　I　are　worthy　to　rest　a　moment　in　the　apple　of　your
highness's　eye；　and　I'd　as　soon　stab　myself　as　consent　to　it；　for
though　my　master　says　that　in　civilities　it　is　better　to　lose　by　a
card　too　many　than　a　card　too　few；　when　it　comes　to　civilities　to
asses　we　must　mind　what　we　are　about　and　keep　within　due　bounds。〃
　　〃Take　him　to　your　government；　Sancho；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃and
there　you　will　be　able　to　make　as　much　of　him　as　you　like；　and　even
release　him　from　work　and　pension　him　off。〃
　　〃Don't　think；　senora　duchess；　that　you　have　said　anything　absurd；〃
said　Sancho；　〃I　have　seen　more　than　two　asses　go　to　governments；　and
for　me　to　take　mine　with　me　would　he　nothing　new。〃
　　Sancho's　words　made　the　duchess　laugh　again　and　gave　her　fresh
amusement；　and　dismissing　him　to　sleep　she　went　away　to　tell　the
duke　the　conversation　she　had　had　with　him；　and　between　them　they
plotted　and　arranged　to　play　a　joke　upon　Don　Quixote　that　was　to　be
a　rare　one　and　entirely　in　knight…errantry　style；　and　in　that　same
style　they　practised　several　upon　him；　so　much　in　keeping　and　so
clever　that　they　form　the　best　adventures　this　great　history　contains。

　　CHAPTER　XXXIV
　　WHICH　RELATES　HOW　THEY　LEARNED　THE　WAY　IN　WHICH　THEY　WERE　TO
DISENCHANT　THE　PEERLESS　DULCINEA　DEL　TOBOSO；　WHICH　IS　ONE　OF　THE
RAREST　ADVENTURES　IN　THIS　BOOK

　　GREAT　was　the　pleasure　the　duke　and　duchess　took　in　the　conversation
of　Don　Quixote　and　Sancho　Panza；　and；　more　bent　than　ever　upon　the
plan　they　had　of　practising　some　jokes　upon　them　that　should　have
the　look　and　appearance　of　adventures；　they　took　as　their　basis　of
action　what　Don　Quixote　had　already　told　them　about　the　cave　of
Montesinos；　in　order　to　play　him　a　famous　one。　But　what　the　duches
marvelled　at　above　all　was　that　Sancho's　simplicity　could　be　so
great　as　to　make　him　believe　as　absolute　truth　that　Dulcinea　had
been　enchanted；　when　it　was　he　himself　who　had　been　the　enchanter
and　trickster　in　the　business。　Having；　therefore；　instructed　their
servants　in　everything　they　were　to　do；　six　days　afterwards　they
took　him　out　to　hunt；　with　as　great　a　retinue　of　huntsmen　and
beaters　as　a　crowned　king。
　　They　presented　Don　Quixote　with　a　hunting　suit；　and　Sancho　with
another　of　the　finest　green　cloth；　but　Don　Quixote　declined　to　put　his
on；　saying　that　he　must　soon　return　to　the　hard　pursuit　of　arms；　and
could　not　carry　wardrobes　or　stores　with　him。　Sancho；　however；　took
what　they　gave　him；　meaning　to　sell　it　the　first　opportunity。
　　The　appointed　day　having　arrived；　Don　Quixote　armed　himself；　and
Sancho　arrayed　himself；　and　mounted　on　his　Dapple　（for　he　would　not
give　him　up　though　they　offered　him　a　horse）；　he　placed　himself　in　the
midst　of　the　troop　of　huntsmen。　The　duchess　came　out　splendidly
attired；　and　Don　Quixote；　in　pure　courtesy　and　politeness；　held　the
rein　of　her　palfrey；　though　the　duke　wanted　not　to　allow　him；　and　at
last　they　reached　a　wood　that　lay　between　two　high　mountains；　where；
after　occupying　various　posts；　ambushes；　and　paths；　and　distributing
the　party　in　different　positions；　the　hunt　began　with　great　noise；
shouting；　and　hallooing；　so　that；　between　the　baying　of　the　hounds　and
the　blowing　of　the　horns；　they　could　not　hear　one　another。　The　duchess
dismounted；　and　with　a　sharp　boar…spear　in　her　hand　posted　herself
where　she　knew　the　wild　boars　were　in　the　habit　of　passing。　The　duke
and　Don　Quixote　likewise　dismounted　and　placed　themselves　one　at
each　side　of　her。　Sancho　took　up　a　position　in　the　rear　of　all　without
dismounting　from　Dapple；　whom　he　dared　not　desert　lest　some　mischief
should　befall　him。　Scarcely　had　they　taken　their　stand　in　a　line
with　several　of　their　servants；　when　they　saw　a　huge　boar；　closely
pressed　by　the　hounds　and　followed　by　the　huntsmen；　making　towards
them；　grinding　his　teeth　and　tusks；　and　scattering　foam　from　his
mouth。　As　soon　as　he　saw　him　Don　Quixote；　bracing　his　shield　on　his
arm；　and　drawing　his　sword；　advanced　to　meet　him；　the　duke　with
boar…spear　did　the　same；　but　the　duchess　would　have　gone　in　front　of
them　all　had　not　the　duke　prevented　her。　Sancho　alone；　deserting
Dapple　at　the　sight　of　the　mighty　beast；　took　to　his　heels　as　hard
as　he　could　and　strove　in　vain　to　mount　a　tall　oak。　As　he　was　clinging
to　a　branch；　however；　half…way　up　in　his　struggle　to　reach　the　top；
the　bough；　such　was　his　ill…luck　and　hard　fate；　gave　way；　and　caught
in　his　fall　by　a　broken　limb　of　the　oak；　he　hung　suspended　in　the
air　unable　to　reach　the　ground。　Finding　himself　in　this　position；
and　that　the　green　coat　was　beginning　to　tear；　and　reflecting　that
if　the　fierce　animal　came　that　way　he　might　be　able　to　get　at　him；
he　began　to　utter　such　cries；　and　call　for　help　so　earnestly；　that　all
who　heard　him　and　did　not　see　him　felt　sure　he　must　be　in　the　teeth　of
some　wild　beast。　In　the　end　the　tusked　boar　fell　pierced　by　the　blades
of　the　many　spears　they　held　in　front　of　him；　and　Don　Quixote；　turning
round　at　the　cries　of　Sancho；　for　he　knew　by　them　that　it　was　he；
saw　him　hanging　from　the　oak　head　downwards；　with　Dapple；　who　did
not　forsake　him　in　his　distress；　close　beside　him；　and　Cide　Hamete
observes　that　he　seldom　saw　Sancho　Panza　without　seeing　Dapple；　or
Dapple　without　seeing　Sancho　Panza；　such　was　their　attachment　and
loyalty　one　to　the　other。　Don　Quixote　went　over　and　unhooked　Sancho；
who；　as　soon　as　he　found　himself　on　the　ground；　looked　at　the　rent
in　his　huntingcoat　and　was　grieved　to　the　heart；　for　he　thought　he　had
got　a　patrimonial　estate　in　that　suit。
　　Meanwhile　they　had　slung　the　mighty　boar　across　the　back　of　a
mule；　and　having　covered　it　with　sprigs　of　rosemary　and　branches　of
myrtle；　they　bore　it　away　as　the　spoils　of　victory　to　some　large
field…tents　which　had　been　pitched　in　the　middle　of　the　wood；　where
they　found　the　tables　laid　and　dinner　served；　in　such　grand　and
sumptuous　style　that　it　was　easy　to　see　the　rank　and　magnificence　of
those　who　had　provided　it。　Sancho；　as　he　showed　the　rents　in　his
torn　suit　to　the　duchess；　observed；　〃If　we　had　been　hunting　hares；
or　after　small　birds；　my　coat　would　have　been　safe　from　being　in　the
plight　it's　in；　I　don't　know　what　pleasure　one　can　find　in　lying　in
wait　for　an　animal　that　may　take　your　life　with　his　tusk　if　he　gets　at
you。　I　recollect　having　heard　an　old　ballad　sung　that　says；

　　　　　　　By　bears　be　thou　devoured；　as　erst