don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第175章

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not　enough　I　make　them　known　publicly；　for　he　who　declares　and　makes
known　the　good　deeds　done　to　him　would　repay　them　by　others　if　it　were
in　his　power；　and　for　the　most　part　those　who　receive　are　the
inferiors　of　those　who　give。　Thus；　God　is　superior　to　all　because　he
is　the　supreme　giver；　and　the　offerings　of　man　fall　short　by　an
infinite　distance　of　being　a　full　return　for　the　gifts　of　God；　but
gratitude　in　some　degree　makes　up　for　this　deficiency　and　shortcoming。
I　therefore；　grateful　for　the　favour　that　has　been　extended　to　me
here；　and　unable　to　make　a　return　in　the　same　measure；　restricted　as　I
am　by　the　narrow　limits　of　my　power；　offer　what　I　can　and　what　I
have　to　offer　in　my　own　way；　and　so　I　declare　that　for　two　full　days　I
will　maintain　in　the　middle　of　this　highway　leading　to　Saragossa；　that
these　ladies　disguised　as　shepherdesses；　who　are　here　present；　are　the
fairest　and　most　courteous　maidens　in　the　world；　excepting　only　the
peerless　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　sole　mistress　of　my　thoughts；　be　it　said
without　offence　to　those　who　hear　me；　ladies　and　gentlemen。〃
　　On　hearing　this　Sancho；　who　had　been　listening　with　great　attention；
cried　out　in　a　loud　voice；　〃Is　it　possible　there　is　anyone　in　the
world　who　will　dare　to　say　and　swear　that　this　master　of　mine　is　a
madman？　Say；　gentlemen　shepherds；　is　there　a　village　priest；　be　he
ever　so　wise　or　learned；　who　could　say　what　my　master　has　said；　or
is　there　knight…errant；　whatever　renown　he　may　have　as　a　man　of
valour；　that　could　offer　what　my　master　has　offered　now？〃
　　Don　Quixote　turned　upon　Sancho；　and　with　a　countenance　glowing
with　anger　said　to　him；　〃Is　it　possible；　Sancho；　there　is　anyone　in
the　whole　world　who　will　say　thou　art　not　a　fool；　with　a　lining　to
match；　and　I　know　not　what　trimmings　of　impertinence　and　roguery？
Who　asked　thee　to　meddle　in　my　affairs；　or　to　inquire　whether　I　am　a
wise　man　or　a　blockhead？　Hold　thy　peace；　answer　me　not　a　word；
saddle　Rocinante　if　he　be　unsaddled；　and　let　us　go　to　put　my　offer
into　execution；　for　with　the　right　that　I　have　on　my　side　thou
mayest　reckon　as　vanquished　all　who　shall　venture　to　question　it；〃　and
in　a　great　rage；　and　showing　his　anger　plainly；　he　rose　from　his　seat；
leaving　the　company　lost　in　wonder；　and　making　them　feel　doubtful
whether　they　ought　to　regard　him　as　a　madman　or　a　rational　being。　In
the　end；　though　they　sought　to　dissuade　him　from　involving　himself
in　such　a　challenge；　assuring　him　they　admitted　his　gratitude　as　fully
established；　and　needed　no　fresh　proofs　to　be　convinced　of　his　valiant
spirit；　as　those　related　in　the　history　of　his　exploits　were
sufficient；　still　Don　Quixote　persisted　in　his　resolve；　and　mounted　on
Rocinante；　bracing　his　buckler　on　his　arm　and　grasping　his　lance；　he
posted　himself　in　the　middle　of　a　high　road　that　was　not　far　from
the　green　meadow。　Sancho　followed　on　Dapple；　together　with　all　the
members　of　the　pastoral　gathering；　eager　to　see　what　would　be　the
upshot　of　his　vainglorious　and　extraordinary　proposal。
　　Don　Quixote；　then；　having；　as　has　been　said；　planted　himself　in
the　middle　of　the　road；　made　the　welkin　ring　with　words　to　this
effect：　〃Ho　ye　travellers　and　wayfarers；　knights；　squires；　folk　on
foot　or　on　horseback；　who　pass　this　way　or　shall　pass　in　the　course　of
the　next　two　days！　Know　that　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；
knight…errant；　is　posted　here　to　maintain　by　arms　that　the　beauty
and　courtesy　enshrined　in　the　nymphs　that　dwell　in　these　meadows　and
groves　surpass　all　upon　earth；　putting　aside　the　lady　of　my　heart；
Dulcinea　del　Toboso。　Wherefore；　let　him　who　is　of　the　opposite　opinion
come　on；　for　here　I　await　him。〃
　　Twice　he　repeated　the　same　words；　and　twice　they　fell　unheard　by　any
adventurer；　but　fate；　that　was　guiding　affairs　for　him　from　better
to　better；　so　ordered　it　that　shortly　afterwards　there　appeared　on　the
road　a　crowd　of　men　on　horseback；　many　of　them　with　lances　in　their
hands；　all　riding　in　a　compact　body　and　in　great　haste。　No　sooner
had　those　who　were　with　Don　Quixote　seen　them　than　they　turned　about
and　withdrew　to　some　distance　from　the　road；　for　they　knew　that　if
they　stayed　some　harm　might　come　to　them；　but　Don　Quixote　with
intrepid　heart　stood　his　ground；　and　Sancho　Panza　shielded　himself
with　Rocinante's　hind…quarters。　The　troop　of　lancers　came　up；　and
one　of　them　who　was　in　advance　began　shouting　to　Don　Quixote；　〃Get　out
of　the　way；　you　son　of　the　devil；　or　these　bulls　will　knock　you　to
pieces！〃
　　〃Rabble！〃　returned　Don　Quixote；　〃I　care　nothing　for　bulls；　be　they
the　fiercest　Jarama　breeds　on　its　banks。　Confess　at　once；
scoundrels；　that　what　I　have　declared　is　true；　else　ye　have　to　deal
with　me　in　combat。〃
　　The　herdsman　had　no　time　to　reply；　nor　Don　Quixote　to　get　out　of　the
way　even　if　he　wished；　and　so　the　drove　of　fierce　bulls　and　tame
bullocks；　together　with　the　crowd　of　herdsmen　and　others　who　were
taking　them　to　be　penned　up　in　a　village　where　they　were　to　be　run　the
next　day；　passed　over　Don　Quixote　and　over　Sancho；　Rocinante　and
Dapple；　hurling　them　all　to　the　earth　and　rolling　them　over　on　the
ground。　Sancho　was　left　crushed；　Don　Quixote　scared；　Dapple　belaboured
and　Rocinante　in　no　very　sound　condition。　They　all　got　up；　however；　at
length；　and　Don　Quixote　in　great　haste；　stumbling　here　and　falling
there；　started　off　running　after　the　drove；　shouting　out；　〃Hold！　stay！
ye　rascally　rabble；　a　single　knight　awaits　you；　and　he　is　not　of　the
temper　or　opinion　of　those　who　say；　'For　a　flying　enemy　make　a
bridge　of　silver。'〃　The　retreating　party　in　their　haste；　however；
did　not　stop　for　that；　or　heed　his　menaces　any　more　than　last　year's
clouds。　Weariness　brought　Don　Quixote　to　a　halt；　and　more　enraged　than
avenged　he　sat　down　on　the　road　to　wait　until　Sancho；　Rocinante　and
Dapple　came　up。　When　they　reached　him　master　and　man　mounted　once
more；　and　without　going　back　to　bid　farewell　to　the　mock　or
imitation　Arcadia；　and　more　in　humiliation　than　contentment；　they
continued　their　journey。


　　CHAPTER　LIX
　　WHEREIN　IS　RELATED　THE　STRANGE　THING；　WHICH　MAY　BE　REGARDED　AS　AN
ADVENTURE；　THAT　HAPPENED　DON　QUIXOTE

　　A　CLEAR　limpid　spring　which　they　discovered　in　a　cool　grove　relieved
Don　Quixote　and　Sancho　of　the　dust　and　fatigue　due　to　the　unpolite
behaviour　of　the　bulls；　and　by　the　side　of　this；　having　turned
Dapple　and　Rocinante　loose　without　headstall　or　bridle；　the　forlorn
pair；　master　and　man；　seated　themselves。　Sancho　had　recourse　to　the
larder　of　his　alforjas　and　took　out　of　them　what　he　called　the　prog；
Don　Quixote　rinsed　his　mouth　and　bathed　his　face；　by　which　cooling
process　his　flagging　energies　were　revived。　Out　of　pure　vexation　he
remained　without　eating；　and　out　of　pure　politeness　Sancho　did　not
venture　to　touch　a　morsel　of　what　was　before　him；　but　waited　for　his
master　to　act　as　taster。　Seeing；　however；　that；　absorbed　in　thought；
he　was　forgetting　to　carry　the　bread　to　his　mouth；　he　said　never　a
word；　and　trampling　every　sort　of　good　breeding　under　foot；　began　to
stow　away　in　his　paunch　the　bread　and　cheese　that　came　to　his　hand。
　　〃Eat；　Sancho　my　friend；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃support　life；　which　is
of　more　consequence　to　thee　than　to　me；　and　leave　me　to　die　under
the　pain　of　my　thoughts　and　pressure　of　my　misfortunes。　I　was　born；
Sancho；　to　live　dying；　and　thou　to　die　eating；　and　to　prove　the
truth　of　what　I　say；　look　at　me；　printed　in　histories；　famed　in
arms；　courteous　in　behaviour；　honoured　by　princes；　courted　by　maidens；
and　after　all；　when　I　looked　forward　to　palms；　triumphs；　and　crowns；
won　and　earned　by　my　valiant　deeds；　I　have　this　morning　seen　myself
trampled　on；　kicked；　and　crushed　by　the　feet　of　unclean　and　filthy
animals。　This　thought　blunts　my　teeth；　paralyses　my　jaws；　cramps　my
hands；　and　robs　me　of　all　appetite　for　food；　so　much　so　that　I　have
a　mind　to　let　myself　die　of　hunger；　the　cruelest　death　of　all　deaths。〃
　　〃So　then；〃　said　Sancho；　munching　hard　all　the　time；　〃your　worship
does　not　agree　with　the　proverb　that　says；　'Let　Martha　die；　but　let
her　die　with　a　full　belly。'　I；　at　any　rate；　have　no　mind　to　kill
myself；　so　far　from　that；　I　mean　to　do　as　the　cobbler　does；　who
stretches　the　leather　with　his　teeth　until　he　makes　it　reach　as　far　as
he　wants。　I'll　stretch　out　my　life　by　eating　until　it　reaches　the
end　heaven　has　fixed　for　it；　and　let　me　tell　you；　senor；　there's　no
greater　folly　than　to　think　of　dying　of　despair　as　your　worship
does；　take　my　advice；　and　after　eating　lie　down　and　sleep　a　bit　on
this　green　grass…mattress；　and　you　will　see　that　when　you　awake　you'll
feel　something　better。〃
　　Don　Quixote　did　as　he　recommended；　for　it　struck　him　that　Sancho's
reasoning　was　more　like　a　philosopher's　than　a　blockhead's；　and　said
he；　〃Sancho；　if　thou　wilt　do　for　me　what　I　am　going　to　tell　thee　my
ease　of　mind　would　be　more　assured　and　my　heaviness　of　heart　not　so
great；　and　it　is　this；　to　go　aside　a　little　while　I　am　sleeping　in
accordance　with　thy　advice；　and；　making　bare　thy　carcase　to　the　air；
to　give　thyself　three　or　four　hundred　lashes　with　Rocinante's　reins；
on　account　of　the　three　thousand　and　odd　thou　art　to　give　thyself
for　the　disenchantment　of　Dulcinea；　for　it　is　a　great　pity　that　the
poor　lady　should　be　left　enchanted　through　thy　carelessness　and
negligence。〃
　　〃There　is　a　good　deal　to　be　said　on　that　point；〃　said　Sancho；　〃let
us　both　go　to　sleep　now；　and　after　that；　God　has　decreed　what　will
happen。　Let　me　tell　your　worship　that　for　a　man　to　whip　himself　in
cold　blood　is　a　hard　thing；　especially　if　the　stripes　fall　upon　an
ill…nourished　and　worse…fed　body。　Let　my　lady　Dulcinea　have
patience；　and　when　she　is　least　expecting　it；　she　will　see　me　made　a
riddle　of　with　whipping；　and　'until　death　it's　all　life；'　I　mean
that　I　have　still　life　in　me；　and　the　desire　to　make　good　what　I
have　promised。〃
　　Don　Quixote　thanked　him；　and　ate　a　little；　and　Sancho　a　good　deal；
and　then　they　both　lay　down　to　sleep；　leaving　those　two　inseparable
friends　and　comrades；　Rocinante　and　Dapple；　to　their　own　devices　and
to　feed　unrestrained　upon　the　abundant　grass　with　which　the　meadow　was
furnished。　They　woke　up　rather　late；　mounted　once　more　and　resumed
their　journey；　pushing　on　to　reach　an　inn　which　was　in　sight；
apparently　a　league　off。　I　say　an　inn；　because　Don　Quixote　called　it
so；　contrary　to　his　usual　practice　of　calling　all　inns　castles。　They
reached　it；　and　asked　the　landlord　if　they　could　put　up　there。　He　said
yes；　with　as　much　comfort　and　as　good　fare　as　they　could　find　in
Saragossa。　They　dismounted；　and　Sancho　stowed　away　his　larder　in　a
room　of　which　the　landlord　gave　him　the　key。　He　took　the　beasts　to　the
stable；　fed　them；　and　came　back　to　see　what　orders　Don　Quixote；　who
was　seated　on　a　bench　at　the　door；　had　for　him；　giving　special
thanks　to　heaven　that　this　inn　had　not　been　taken　for　a　castle　by
his　master。　Supper…time　came；　and　they　repaired　to　their　room；　and
Sancho　asked　the　landlord　what　he　had　to　give　them　for　supper。　To　this
the　landlord　replied　that　his　mouth　should　be　the　measure；　he　had　only
to　ask　what　he　would；　for　that　inn　was　provided　with　the　birds　of
the　air　and　the　fowls　of　the　earth　and　the　fish　of　the　sea。
　　〃There's　no　need　of　all　that；〃