don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第81章

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well　if　one　of　us　went　round　the　inn；　lest　he　should　escape　over　the
wall　of　the　yard。〃　〃So　be　it；〃　said　another；　and　while　two　of　them
went　in；　one　remained　at　the　gate　and　the　other　made　the　circuit　of
the　inn；　observing　all　which；　the　landlord　was　unable　to　conjecture
for　what　reason　they　were　taking　all　these　precautions；　though　he
understood　they　were　looking　for　the　youth　whose　description　they
had　given　him。
　　It　was　by　this　time　broad　daylight；　and　for　that　reason；　as　well
as　in　consequence　of　the　noise　Don　Quixote　had　made；　everybody　was
awake　and　up；　but　particularly　Dona　Clara　and　Dorothea；　for　they　had
been　able　to　sleep　but　badly　that　night；　the　one　from　agitation　at
having　her　lover　so　near　her；　the　other　from　curiosity　to　see　him。　Don
Quixote；　when　he　saw　that　not　one　of　the　four　travellers　took　any
notice　of　him　or　replied　to　his　challenge；　was　furious　and　ready　to
die　with　indignation　and　wrath；　and　if　he　could　have　found　in　the
ordinances　of　chivalry　that　it　was　lawful　for　a　knight…errant　to
undertake　or　engage　in　another　enterprise；　when　he　had　plighted　his
word　and　faith　not　to　involve　himself　in　any　until　he　had　made　an
end　of　the　one　to　which　he　was　pledged；　he　would　have　attacked　the
whole　of　them；　and　would　have　made　them　return　an　answer　in　spite　of
themselves。　But　considering　that　it　would　not　become　him；　nor　be
right；　to　begin　any　new　emprise　until　he　had　established　Micomicona　in
her　kingdom；　he　was　constrained　to　hold　his　peace　and　wait　quietly
to　see　what　would　be　the　upshot　of　the　proceedings　of　those　same
travellers；　one　of　whom　found　the　youth　they　were　seeking　lying　asleep
by　the　side　of　a　muleteer；　without　a　thought　of　anyone　coming　in
search　of　him；　much　less　finding　him。
　　The　man　laid　hold　of　him　by　the　arm；　saying；　〃It　becomes　you　well
indeed；　Senor　Don　Luis；　to　be　in　the　dress　you　wear；　and　well　the
bed　in　which　I　find　you　agrees　with　the　luxury　in　which　your　mother
reared　you。〃
　　The　youth　rubbed　his　sleepy　eyes　and　stared　for　a　while　at　him　who
held　him；　but　presently　recognised　him　as　one　of　his　father's
servants；　at　which　he　was　so　taken　aback　that　for　some　time　he　could
not　find　or　utter　a　word；　while　the　servant　went　on　to　say；　〃There
is　nothing　for　it　now；　Senor　Don　Luis；　but　to　submit　quietly　and
return　home；　unless　it　is　your　wish　that　my　lord；　your　father；
should　take　his　departure　for　the　other　world；　for　nothing　else　can　be
the　consequence　of　the　grief　he　is　in　at　your　absence。〃
　　〃But　how　did　my　father　know　that　I　had　gone　this　road　and　in　this
dress？〃　said　Don　Luis。
　　〃It　was　a　student　to　whom　you　confided　your　intentions；〃　answered
the　servant；　〃that　disclosed　them；　touched　with　pity　at　the　distress
he　saw　your　father　suffer　on　missing　you；　he　therefore　despatched　four
of　his　servants　in　quest　of　you；　and　here　we　all　are　at　your
service；　better　pleased　than　you　can　imagine　that　we　shall　return　so
soon　and　be　able　to　restore　you　to　those　eyes　that　so　yearn　for　you。〃
　　〃That　shall　be　as　I　please；　or　as　heaven　orders；〃　returned　Don　Luis。
　　〃What　can　you　please　or　heaven　order；〃　said　the　other；　〃except　to
agree　to　go　back？　Anything　else　is　impossible。〃
　　All　this　conversation　between　the　two　was　overheard　by　the
muleteer　at　whose　side　Don　Luis　lay；　and　rising；　he　went　to　report
what　had　taken　place　to　Don　Fernando；　Cardenio；　and　the　others；　who
had　by　this　time　dressed　themselves；　and　told　them　how　the　man　had
addressed　the　youth　as　〃Don；〃　and　what　words　had　passed；　and　how　he
wanted　him　to　return　to　his　father；　which　the　youth　was　unwilling　to
do。　With　this；　and　what　they　already　knew　of　the　rare　voice　that
heaven　had　bestowed　upon　him；　they　all　felt　very　anxious　to　know
more　particularly　who　he　was；　and　even　to　help　him　if　it　was　attempted
to　employ　force　against　him；　so　they　hastened　to　where　he　was　still
talking　and　arguing　with　his　servant。　Dorothea　at　this　instant　came
out　of　her　room；　followed　by　Dona　Clara　all　in　a　tremor；　and　calling
Cardenio　aside；　she　told　him　in　a　few　words　the　story　of　the
musician　and　Dona　Clara；　and　he　at　the　same　time　told　her　what　had
happened；　how　his　father's　servants　had　come　in　search　of　him；　but
in　telling　her　so；　he　did　not　speak　low　enough　but　that　Dona　Clara
heard　what　he　said；　at　which　she　was　so　much　agitated　that　had　not
Dorothea　hastened　to　support　her　she　would　have　fallen　to　the
ground。　Cardenio　then　bade　Dorothea　return　to　her　room；　as　he　would
endeavour　to　make　the　whole　matter　right；　and　they　did　as　he
desired。　All　the　four　who　had　come　in　quest　of　Don　Luis　had　now　come
into　the　inn　and　surrounded　him；　urging　him　to　return　and　console
his　father　at　once　and　without　a　moment's　delay。　He　replied　that　he
could　not　do　so　on　any　account　until　he　had　concluded　some　business　in
which　his　life；　honour；　and　heart　were　at　stake。　The　servants
pressed　him；　saying　that　most　certainly　they　would　not　return
without　him；　and　that　they　would　take　him　away　whether　he　liked　it
or　not。
　　〃You　shall　not　do　that；〃　replied　Don　Luis；　〃unless　you　take　me　dead；
though　however　you　take　me；　it　will　be　without　life。〃
　　By　this　time　most　of　those　in　the　inn　had　been　attracted　by　the
dispute；　but　particularly　Cardenio；　Don　Fernando；　his　companions；
the　Judge；　the　curate；　the　barber；　and　Don　Quixote；　for　he　now
considered　there　was　no　necessity　for　mounting　guard　over　the　castle
any　longer。　Cardenio　being　already　acquainted　with　the　young　man's
story；　asked　the　men　who　wanted　to　take　him　away；　what　object　they　had
in　seeking　to　carry　off　this　youth　against　his　will。
　　〃Our　object；〃　said　one　of　the　four；　〃is　to　save　the　life　of　his
father；　who　is　in　danger　of　losing　it　through　this　gentleman's
disappearance。〃
　　Upon　this　Don　Luis　exclaimed；　〃There　is　no　need　to　make　my　affairs
public　here；　I　am　free；　and　I　will　return　if　I　please；　and　if　not；
none　of　you　shall　compel　me。〃
　　〃Reason　will　compel　your　worship；〃　said　the　man；　〃and　if　it　has　no
power　over　you；　it　has　power　over　us；　to　make　us　do　what　we　came
for；　and　what　it　is　our　duty　to　do。〃
　　〃Let　us　hear　what　the　whole　affair　is　about；〃　said　the　Judge　at
this；　but　the　man；　who　knew　him　as　a　neighbour　of　theirs；　replied；　〃Do
you　not　know　this　gentleman；　Senor　Judge？　He　is　the　son　of　your
neighbour；　who　has　run　away　from　his　father's　house　in　a　dress　so
unbecoming　his　rank；　as　your　worship　may　perceive。〃
　　The　judge　on　this　looked　at　him　more　carefully　and　recognised　him；
and　embracing　him　said；　〃What　folly　is　this；　Senor　Don　Luis；　or　what
can　have　been　the　cause　that　could　have　induced　you　to　come　here　in
this　way；　and　in　this　dress；　which　so　ill　becomes　your　condition？〃
　　Tears　came　into　the　eyes　of　the　young　man；　and　he　was　unable　to
utter　a　word　in　reply　to　the　Judge；　who　told　the　four　servants　not
to　be　uneasy；　for　all　would　be　satisfactorily　settled；　and　then　taking
Don　Luis　by　the　hand；　he　drew　him　aside　and　asked　the　reason　of　his
having　come　there。
　　But　while　he　was　questioning　him　they　heard　a　loud　outcry　at　the
gate　of　the　inn；　the　cause　of　which　was　that　two　of　the　guests　who　had
passed　the　night　there；　seeing　everybody　busy　about　finding　out　what
it　was　the　four　men　wanted；　had　conceived　the　idea　of　going　off
without　paying　what　they　owed；　but　the　landlord；　who　minded　his　own
affairs　more　than　other　people's；　caught　them　going　out　of　the　gate
and　demanded　his　reckoning；　abusing　them　for　their　dishonesty　with
such　language　that　he　drove　them　to　reply　with　their　fists；　and　so
they　began　to　lay　on　him　in　such　a　style　that　the　poor　man　was
forced　to　cry　out；　and　call　for　help。　The　landlady　and　her　daughter
could　see　no　one　more　free　to　give　aid　than　Don　Quixote；　and　to　him
the　daughter　said；　〃Sir　knight；　by　the　virtue　God　has　given　you；
help　my　poor　father；　for　two　wicked　men　are　beating　him　to　a　mummy。〃
　　To　which　Don　Quixote　very　deliberately　and　phlegmatically　replied；
〃Fair　damsel；　at　the　present　moment　your　request　is　inopportune；　for　I
am　debarred　from　involving　myself　in　any　adventure　until　I　have
brought　to　a　happy　conclusion　one　to　which　my　word　has　pledged　me；　but
that　which　I　can　do　for　you　is　what　I　will　now　mention：　run　and　tell
your　father　to　stand　his　ground　as　well　as　he　can　in　this　battle；
and　on　no　account　to　allow　himself　to　be　vanquished；　while　I　go　and
request　permission　of　the　Princess　Micomicona　to　enable　me　to
succour　him　in　his　distress；　and　if　she　grants　it；　rest　assured　I　will
relieve　him　from　it。〃
　　〃Sinner　that　I　am；〃　exclaimed　Maritornes；　who　stood　by；　〃before
you　have　got　your　permission　my　master　will　be　in　the　other　world。〃
　　〃Give　me　leave；　senora；　to　obtain　the　permission　I　speak　of；〃
returned　Don　Quixote；　〃and　if　I　get　it；　it　will　matter　very　little
if　he　is　in　the　other　world；　for　I　will　rescue　him　thence　in　spite
of　all　the　same　world　can　do；　or　at　any　rate　I　will　give　you　such　a
revenge　over　those　who　shall　have　sent　him　there　that　you　will　be　more
than　moderately　satisfied；〃　and　without　saying　anything　more　he　went
and　knelt　before　Dorothea；　requesting　her　Highness　in　knightly　and
errant　phrase　to　be　pleased　to　grant　him　permission　to　aid　and　succour
the　castellan　of　that　castle；　who　now　stood　in　grievous　jeopardy。
The　princess　granted　it　graciously；　and　he　at　once；　bracing　his
buckler　on　his　arm　and　drawing　his　sword；　hastened　to　the　inn…gate；
where　the　two　guests　were　still　handling　the　landlord　roughly；　but
as　soon　as　he　reached　the　spot　he　stopped　short　and　stood　still；
though　Maritornes　and　the　landlady　asked　him　why　he　hesitated　to
help　their　master　and　husband。
　　〃I　hesitate；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃because　it　is　not　lawful　for　me
to　draw　sword　against　persons　of　squirely　condition；　but　call　my
squire　Sancho　to　me；　for　this　defence　and　vengeance　are　his　affair　and
business。〃
　　Thus　matters　stood　at　the　inn…gate；　where　there　was　a　very　lively
exchange　of　fisticuffs　and　punches；　to　the　sore　damage　of　the　landlord
and　to　the　wrath　of　Maritornes；　the　landlady；　and　her　daughter；　who
were　furious　when　they　saw　the　pusillanimity　of　Don　Quixote；　and　the
hard　treatment　their　master；　husband　and　father　was　undergoing。　But
let　us　leave　him　there；　for　he　will　surely　find　some　one　to　help
him；　and　if　not；　let　him　suffer　and　hold　his　tongue　who　attempts
more　than　his　strength　allows　him　to　do；　and　let　us　go　back　fifty
paces　to　see　what　Don　Luis　said　in　reply　to　the　Judge　whom　we　left
questioning　him　privately　as　to　his　reasons　for　coming　on　foot　and
so　meanly　dressed。
　　To　which　the　youth；　pressing　his　hand　in　a　way　that　showed　his　heart
was　troubled　by　some　great　sorrow；　and　shedding　a　flood　of　tears；　made
answer：
　　〃Senor；　I　have　no　more　to　tell　you　than　that　from　the　moment　when；
through　heaven's　will　and　our　being　near　neighbours；　I　first　saw
Dona　Clara；　your　daughter　and　my　lady；　from　that　instant　I　made　her
the　mistress　of　my　will；　and　if　yours；　my　true　lord　and　father；　offers
no　impediment；　this　very　day　she　shall　become　my　wife。　For　her　I
left　my　father's　house；　and　for　her　I　assumed　this　disguise；　to　follow
her　whithersoever　she　may　go；　as　the　arrow　seeks　its　mark　or　the
sailor　the　pole…star。　She　knows　nothing　more　of　my　passion　than　what
she　may　have　learned　from　having　sometimes　seen　from　a　distance　that
my