don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第190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！


them　home　for　a　token　and　memento　of　that　unexampled　adventure。　The
duchess　said　they　must　leave　them　with　him；　for　he　knew　already　what　a
great　friend　of　his　she　was。　The　duke　then　gave　orders　that　the
court　should　be　cleared；　and　that　all　should　retire　to　their　chambers；
and　that　Don　Quixote　and　Sancho　should　be　conducted　to　their　old
quarters。


　　CHAPTER　LXX
　　WHICH　FOLLOWS　SIXTY…NINE　AND　DEALS　WITH　MATTERS　INDISPENSABLE　FOR
THE　CLEAR　COMPREHENSION　OF　THIS　HISTORY

　　SANCHO　slept　that　night　in　a　cot　in　the　same　chamber　with　Don
Quixote；　a　thing　he　would　have　gladly　excused　if　he　could　for　he
knew　very　well　that　with　questions　and　answers　his　master　would　not
let　him　sleep；　and　he　was　in　no　humour　for　talking　much；　as　he　still
felt　the　pain　of　his　late　martyrdom；　which　interfered　with　his　freedom
of　speech；　and　it　would　have　been　more　to　his　taste　to　sleep　in　a
hovel　alone；　than　in　that　luxurious　chamber　in　company。　And　so　well
founded　did　his　apprehension　prove；　and　so　correct　was　his
anticipation；　that　scarcely　had　his　master　got　into　bed　when　he
said；　〃What　dost　thou　think　of　tonight's　adventure；　Sancho？　Great
and　mighty　is　the　power　of　cold…hearted　scorn；　for　thou　with　thine　own
eyes　hast　seen　Altisidora　slain；　not　by　arrows；　nor　by　the　sword；
nor　by　any　warlike　weapon；　nor　by　deadly　poisons；　but　by　the　thought
of　the　sternness　and　scorn　with　which　I　have　always　treated　her。〃
　　〃She　might　have　died　and　welcome；〃　said　Sancho；　〃when　she　pleased
and　how　she　pleased；　and　she　might　have　left　me　alone；　for　I　never
made　her　fall　in　love　or　scorned　her。　I　don't　know　nor　can　I　imagine
how　the　recovery　of　Altisidora；　a　damsel　more　fanciful　than　wise；
can　have；　as　I　have　said　before；　anything　to　do　with　the　sufferings　of
Sancho　Panza。　Now　I　begin　to　see　plainly　and　clearly　that　there　are
enchanters　and　enchanted　people　in　the　world；　and　may　God　deliver　me
from　them；　since　I　can't　deliver　myself；　and　so　I　beg　of　your
worship　to　let　me　sleep　and　not　ask　me　any　more　questions；　unless
you　want　me　to　throw　myself　out　of　the　window。〃
　　〃Sleep；　Sancho　my　friend；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃if　the　pinprodding　and
pinches　thou　hast　received　and　the　smacks　administered　to　thee　will
let　thee。〃
　　〃No　pain　came　up　to　the　insult　of　the　smacks；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for　the
simple　reason　that　it　was　duennas；　confound　them；　that　gave　them　to
me；　but　once　more　I　entreat　your　worship　to　let　me　sleep；　for　sleep　is
relief　from　misery　to　those　who　are　miserable　when　awake。〃
　　〃Be　it　so；　and　God　be　with　thee；〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　They　fell　asleep；　both　of　them；　and　Cide　Hamete；　the　author　of
this　great　history；　took　this　opportunity　to　record　and　relate　what　it
was　that　induced　the　duke　and　duchess　to　get　up　the　elaborate　plot
that　has　been　described。　The　bachelor　Samson　Carrasco；　he　says；　not
forgetting　how　he　as　the　Knight　of　the　Mirrors　had　been　vanquished　and
overthrown　by　Don　Quixote；　which　defeat　and　overthrow　upset　all　his
plans；　resolved　to　try　his　hand　again；　hoping　for　better　luck　than
he　had　before；　and　so；　having　learned　where　Don　Quixote　was　from　the
page　who　brought　the　letter　and　present　to　Sancho's　wife；　Teresa
Panza；　he　got　himself　new　armour　and　another　horse；　and　put　a　white
moon　upon　his　shield；　and　to　carry　his　arms　he　had　a　mule　led　by　a
peasant；　not　by　Tom　Cecial　his　former　squire　for　fear　he　should　be
recognised　by　Sancho　or　Don　Quixote。　He　came　to　the　duke's　castle；　and
the　duke　informed　him　of　the　road　and　route　Don　Quixote　had　taken　with
the　intention　of　being　present　at　the　jousts　at　Saragossa。　He　told
him；　too；　of　the　jokes　he　had　practised　upon　him；　and　of　the　device
for　the　disenchantment　of　Dulcinea　at　the　expense　of　Sancho's
backside；　and　finally　he　gave　him　an　account　of　the　trick　Sancho　had
played　upon　his　master；　making　him　believe　that　Dulcinea　was　enchanted
and　turned　into　a　country　wench；　and　of　how　the　duchess；　his　wife；　had
persuaded　Sancho　that　it　was　he　himself　who　was　deceived；　inasmuch
as　Dulcinea　was　really　enchanted；　at　which　the　bachelor　laughed　not
a　little；　and　marvelled　as　well　at　the　sharpness　and　simplicity　of
Sancho　as　at　the　length　to　which　Don　Quixote's　madness　went。　The
duke　begged　of　him　if　he　found　him　（whether　he　overcame　him　or　not）　to
return　that　way　and　let　him　know　the　result。　This　the　bachelor　did；　he
set　out　in　quest　of　Don　Quixote；　and　not　finding　him　at　Saragossa；
he　went　on；　and　how　he　fared　has　been　already　told。　He　returned　to　the
duke's　castle　and　told　him　all；　what　the　conditions　of　the　combat
were；　and　how　Don　Quixote　was　now；　like　a　loyal　knight…errant；
returning　to　keep　his　promise　of　retiring　to　his　village　for　a　year；
by　which　time；　said　the　bachelor；　he　might　perhaps　be　cured　of　his
madness；　for　that　was　the　object　that　had　led　him　to　adopt　these
disguises；　as　it　was　a　sad　thing　for　a　gentleman　of　such　good　parts　as
Don　Quixote　to　be　a　madman。　And　so　he　took　his　leave　of　the　duke；
and　went　home　to　his　village　to　wait　there　for　Don　Quixote；　who　was
coming　after　him。　Thereupon　the　duke　seized　the　opportunity　of
practising　this　mystification　upon　him；　so　much　did　he　enjoy
everything　connected　with　Sancho　and　Don　Quixote。　He　had　the　roads
about　the　castle　far　and　near；　everywhere　he　thought　Don　Quixote　was
likely　to　pass　on　his　return；　occupied　by　large　numbers　of　his
servants　on　foot　and　on　horseback；　who　were　to　bring　him　to　the
castle；　by　fair　means　or　foul；　if　they　met　him。　They　did　meet　him；　and
sent　word　to　the　duke；　who；　having　already　settled　what　was　to　be
done；　as　soon　as　he　heard　of　his　arrival；　ordered　the　torches　and
lamps　in　the　court　to　be　lit　and　Altisidora　to　be　placed　on　the
catafalque　with　all　the　pomp　and　ceremony　that　has　been　described；　the
whole　affair　being　so　well　arranged　and　acted　that　it　differed　but
little　from　reality。　And　Cide　Hamete　says；　moreover；　that　for　his　part
he　considers　the　concocters　of　the　joke　as　crazy　as　the　victims　of　it；
and　that　the　duke　and　duchess　were　not　two　fingers'　breadth　removed
from　being　something　like　fools　themselves　when　they　took　such　pains
to　make　game　of　a　pair　of　fools。
　　As　for　the　latter；　one　was　sleeping　soundly　and　the　other　lying
awake　occupied　with　his　desultory　thoughts；　when　daylight　came　to　them
bringing　with　it　the　desire　to　rise；　for　the　lazy　down　was　never　a
delight　to　Don　Quixote；　victor　or　vanquished。　Altisidora；　come　back
from　death　to　life　as　Don　Quixote　fancied；　following　up　the　freak　of
her　lord　and　lady；　entered　the　chamber；　crowned　with　the　garland　she
had　worn　on　the　catafalque　and　in　a　robe　of　white　taffeta
embroidered　with　gold　flowers；　her　hair　flowing　loose　over　her
shoulders；　and　leaning　upon　a　staff　of　fine　black　ebony。　Don
Quixote；　disconcerted　and　in　confusion　at　her　appearance；　huddled
himself　up　and　well…nigh　covered　himself　altogether　with　the　sheets
and　counterpane　of　the　bed；　tongue…tied；　and　unable　to　offer　her　any
civility。　Altisidora　seated　herself　on　a　chair　at　the　head　of　the　bed；
and；　after　a　deep　sigh；　said　to　him　in　a　feeble；　soft　voice；　〃When
women　of　rank　and　modest　maidens　trample　honour　under　foot；　and　give　a
loose　to　the　tongue　that　breaks　through　every　impediment；　publishing
abroad　the　inmost　secrets　of　their　hearts；　they　are　reduced　to　sore
extremities。　Such　a　one　am　I；　Senor　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　crushed；
conquered；　love…smitten；　but　yet　patient　under　suffering　and　virtuous；
and　so　much　so　that　my　heart　broke　with　grief　and　I　lost　my　life。
For　the　last　two　days　I　have　been　dead；　slain　by　the　thought　of　the
cruelty　with　which　thou　hast　treated　me；　obdurate　knight；

　　　　　　　O　harder　thou　than　marble　to　my　plaint；

or　at　least　believed　to　be　dead　by　all　who　saw　me；　and　had　it　not　been
that　Love；　taking　pity　on　me；　let　my　recovery　rest　upon　the　sufferings
of　this　good　squire；　there　I　should　have　remained　in　the　other　world。〃
　　〃Love　might　very　well　have　let　it　rest　upon　the　sufferings　of　my
ass；　and　I　should　have　been　obliged　to　him；〃　said　Sancho。　〃But　tell
me；　senora…　and　may　heaven　send　you　a　tenderer　lover　than　my　master…
what　did　you　see　in　the　other　world？　What　goes　on　in　hell？　For　of
course　that's　where　one　who　dies　in　despair　is　bound　for。〃
　　〃To　tell　you　the　truth；〃　said　Altisidora；　〃I　cannot　have　died
outright；　for　I　did　not　go　into　hell；　had　I　gone　in；　it　is　very
certain　I　should　never　have　come　out　again；　do　what　I　might。　The　truth
is；　I　came　to　the　gate；　where　some　dozen　or　so　of　devils　were
playing　tennis；　all　in　breeches　and　doublets；　with　falling　collars
trimmed　with　Flemish　bonelace；　and　ruffles　of　the　same　that　served
them　for　wristbands；　with　four　fingers'　breadth　of　the　arms　exposed　to
make　their　hands　look　longer；　in　their　hands　they　held　rackets　of
fire；　but　what　amazed　me　still　more　was　that　books；　apparently　full　of
wind　and　rubbish；　served　them　for　tennis　balls；　a　strange　and
marvellous　thing；　this；　however；　did　not　astonish　me　so　much　as　to
observe　that；　although　with　players　it　is　usual　for　the　winners　to
be　glad　and　the　losers　sorry；　there　in　that　game　all　were　growling；
all　were　snarling；　and　all　were　cursing　one　another。〃　〃That's　no
wonder；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for　devils；　whether　playing　or　not；　can　never
be　content；　win　or　lose。〃
　　〃Very　likely；〃　said　Altisidora；　〃but　there　is　another　thing　that
surprises　me　too；　I　mean　surprised　me　then；　and　that　was　that　no
ball　outlasted　the　first　throw　or　was　of　any　use　a　second　time；　and　it
was　wonderful　the　constant　succession　there　was　of　books；　new　and　old。
To　one　of　them；　a　brand…new；　well…bound　one；　they　gave　such　a　stroke
that　they　knocked　the　guts　out　of　it　and　scattered　the　leaves　about。
'Look　what　book　that　is；'　said　one　devil　to　another；　and　the　other
replied；　'It　is　the　〃Second　Part　of　the　History　of　Don　Quixote　of　La
Mancha；〃　not　by　Cide　Hamete；　the　original　author；　but　by　an
Aragonese　who　by　his　own　account　is　of　Tordesillas。'　'Out　of　this　with
it；'　said　the　first；　'and　into　the　depths　of　hell　with　it　out　of　my
sight。'　'Is　it　so　bad？'　said　the　other。　'So　bad　is　it；'　said　the
first；　'that　if　I　had　set　myself　deliberately　to　make　a　worse；　I　could
not　have　done　it。'　They　then　went　on　with　their　game；　knocking　other
books　about；　and　I；　having　heard　them　mention　the　name　of　Don
Quixote　whom　I　love　and　adore　so；　took　care　to　retain　this　vision　in
my　memory。〃
　　〃A　vision　it　must　have　been；　no　doubt；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃for　there
is　no　other　I　in　the　world；　this　history　has　been　going　about　here　for
some　time　from　hand　to　hand；　but　it　does　not　stay　long　in　any；　for
everybody　gives　it　a　taste　of　his　foot。　I　am　not　disturbed　by
hearing　that　I　am　wandering　in　a　fantastic　shape　in　the　darkness　of
the　pit　or　in　the　daylight　above；　for　I　am　not　the　one　that　history
treats　of。　If　it　should　be　good；　faithful；　and　true；　it　will　have　ages
of　life；　but　if　it　should　be　bad；　from　its　birth　to　its　burial　will
not　be　a　very　long　journey。〃
　　Altisidora　was　about　to　proceed　with　her　complaint　against　Don
Quixote；　when　he　said　to　her；　〃I　have　several　times　told　you；　senora
that　it　grieves　me　you　should　have　set　your　affections　upon　me；　as
from　mine　they　can　only　receive　gratitude；　but　no　return。　I　was　born
to　belong　to　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　and　the　fates；　if　there　are　any；
dedi