don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第130部分

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depository　and　muniment…house；　but　let　us　make　haste；　and　reach　my
village；　where　you　shall　take　rest　after　your　late　exertions；　for　if
they　have　not　been　of　the　body　they　have　been　of　the　spirit；　and　these
sometimes　tend　to　produce　bodily　fatigue。〃
　　〃I　take　the　invitation　as　a　great　favour　and　honour；　Senor　Don
Diego；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　and　pressing　forward　at　a　better　pace
than　before；　at　about　two　in　the　afternoon　they　reached　the　village
and　house　of　Don　Diego；　or；　as　Don　Quixote　called　him；　〃The　Knight
of　the　Green　Gaban。〃
　　

CHAPTER　XVIII
　　OF　WHAT　HAPPENED　DON　QUIXOTE　IN　THE　CASTLE　OR　HOUSE　OF　THE　KNIGHT　OF
THE　GREEN　GABAN；　TOGETHER　WITH　OTHER　MATTERS　OUT　OF　THE　COMMON

　　DON　QUIXOTE　found　Don　Diego　de　Miranda's　house　built　in　village
style；　with　his　arms　in　rough　stone　over　the　street　door；　in　the　patio
was　the　store…room；　and　at　the　entrance　the　cellar；　with　plenty　of
wine…jars　standing　round；　which；　coming　from　El　Toboso；　brought　back
to　his　memory　his　enchanted　and　transformed　Dulcinea；　and　with　a　sigh；
and　not　thinking　of　what　he　was　saying；　or　in　whose　presence　he　was；
he　exclaimed…

　　　　　〃O　ye　sweet　treasures；　to　my　sorrow　found！
　　　　　Once　sweet　and　welcome　when　'twas　heaven's　good…will。

O　ye　Tobosan　jars；　how　ye　bring　back　to　my　memory　the　sweet　object
of　my　bitter　regrets！〃
　　The　student　poet；　Don　Diego's　son；　who　had　come　out　with　his
mother　to　receive　him；　heard　this　exclamation；　and　both　mother　and　son
were　filled　with　amazement　at　the　extraordinary　figure　he　presented；
he；　however；　dismounting　from　Rocinante；　advanced　with　great
politeness　to　ask　permission　to　kiss　the　lady's　hand；　while　Don
Diego　said；　〃Senora；　pray　receive　with　your　wonted　kindness　Senor
Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　whom　you　see　before　you；　a　knight…errant；
and　the　bravest　and　wisest　in　the　world。〃
　　The　lady；　whose　name　was　Dona　Christina；　received　him　with　every
sign　of　good…will　and　great　courtesy；　and　Don　Quixote　placed　himself
at　her　service　with　an　abundance　of　well…chosen　and　polished
phrases。　Almost　the　same　civilities　were　exchanged　between　him　and　the
student；　who　listening　to　Don　Quixote；　took　him　to　be　a　sensible；
clear…headed　person。
　　Here　the　author　describes　minutely　everything　belonging　to　Don
Diego's　mansion；　putting　before　us　in　his　picture　the　whole　contents
of　a　rich　gentleman…farmer's　house；　but　the　translator　of　the
history　thought　it　best　to　pass　over　these　and　other　details　of　the
same　sort　in　silence；　as　they　are　not　in　harmony　with　the　main　purpose
of　the　story；　the　strong　point　of　which　is　truth　rather　than　dull
digressions。
　　They　led　Don　Quixote　into　a　room；　and　Sancho　removed　his　armour；
leaving　him　in　loose　Walloon　breeches　and　chamois…leather　doublet；　all
stained　with　the　rust　of　his　armour；　his　collar　was　a　falling　one　of
scholastic　cut；　without　starch　or　lace；　his　buskins　buff…coloured；　and
his　shoes　polished。　He　wore　his　good　sword；　which　hung　in　a　baldric　of
sea…wolf's　skin；　for　he　had　suffered　for　many　years；　they　say；　from　an
ailment　of　the　kidneys；　and　over　all　he　threw　a　long　cloak　of　good
grey　cloth。　But　first　of　all；　with　five　or　six　buckets　of　water　（for
as　regard　the　number　of　buckets　there　is　some　dispute）；　he　washed
his　head　and　face；　and　still　the　water　remained　whey…coloured；
thanks　to　Sancho's　greediness　and　purchase　of　those　unlucky　curds　that
turned　his　master　so　white。　Thus　arrayed；　and　with　an　easy；　sprightly；
and　gallant　air；　Don　Quixote　passed　out　into　another　room；　where　the
student　was　waiting　to　entertain　him　while　the　table　was　being　laid；
for　on　the　arrival　of　so　distinguished　a　guest；　Dona　Christina　was
anxious　to　show　that　she　knew　how　and　was　able　to　give　a　becoming
reception　to　those　who　came　to　her　house。
　　While　Don　Quixote　was　taking　off　his　armour；　Don　Lorenzo　（for　so　Don
Diego's　son　was　called）　took　the　opportunity　to　say　to　his　father；
〃What　are　we　to　make　of　this　gentleman　you　have　brought　home　to　us；
sir？　For　his　name；　his　appearance；　and　your　describing　him　as　a
knight…errant　have　completely　puzzled　my　mother　and　me。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　what　to　say；　my　son；〃　replied。　Don　Diego；　〃all　I　can
tell　thee　is　that　I　have　seen　him　act　the　acts　of　the　greatest
madman　in　the　world；　and　heard　him　make　observations　so　sensible
that　they　efface　and　undo　all　he　does；　do　thou　talk　to　him　and　feel
the　pulse　of　his　wits；　and　as　thou　art　shrewd；　form　the　most
reasonable　conclusion　thou　canst　as　to　his　wisdom　or　folly；　though；　to
tell　the　truth；　I　am　more　inclined　to　take　him　to　be　mad　than　sane。〃
　　With　this　Don　Lorenzo　went　away　to　entertain　Don　Quixote　as　has　been
said；　and　in　the　course　of　the　conversation　that　passed　between　them
Don　Quixote　said　to　Don　Lorenzo；　〃Your　father；　Senor　Don　Diego　de
Miranda；　has　told　me　of　the　rare　abilities　and　subtle　intellect　you
possess；　and；　above　all；　that　you　are　a　great　poet。〃
　　〃A　poet；　it　may　be；〃　replied　Don　Lorenzo；　〃but　a　great　one；　by　no
means。　It　is　true　that　I　am　somewhat　given　to　poetry　and　to　reading
good　poets；　but　not　so　much　so　as　to　justify　the　title　of　'great'
which　my　father　gives　me。〃
　　〃I　do　not　dislike　that　modesty；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃for　there　is
no　poet　who　is　not　conceited　and　does　not　think　he　is　the　best　poet　in
the　world。〃
　　〃There　is　no　rule　without　an　exception；〃　said　Don　Lorenzo；　〃there
may　be　some　who　are　poets　and　yet　do　not　think　they　are。〃
　　〃Very　few；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃but　tell　me；　what　verses　are　those
which　you　have　now　in　hand；　and　which　your　father　tells　me　keep　you
somewhat　restless　and　absorbed？　If　it　be　some　gloss；　I　know
something　about　glosses；　and　I　should　like　to　hear　them；　and　if　they
are　for　a　poetical　tournament；　contrive　to　carry　off　the　second　prize；
for　the　first　always　goes　by　favour　or　personal　standing；　the　second
by　simple　justice；　and　so　the　third　comes　to　be　the　second；　and　the
first；　reckoning　in　this　way；　will　be　third；　in　the　same　way　as
licentiate　degrees　are　conferred　at　the　universities；　but；　for　all
that；　the　title　of　first　is　a　great　distinction。〃
　　〃So　far；〃　said　Don　Lorenzo　to　himself；　〃I　should　not　take　you　to
be　a　madman；　but　let　us　go　on。〃　So　he　said　to　him；　〃Your　worship　has
apparently　attended　the　schools；　what　sciences　have　you　studied？〃
　　〃That　of　knight…errantry；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃which　is　as　good　as
that　of　poetry；　and　even　a　finger　or　two　above　it。〃
　　〃I　do　not　know　what　science　that　is；〃　said　Don　Lorenzo；　〃and　until
now　I　have　never　heard　of　it。〃
　　〃It　is　a　science；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃that　comprehends　in　itself　all
or　most　of　the　sciences　in　the　world；　for　he　who　professes　it　must
be　a　jurist；　and　must　know　the　rules　of　justice；　distributive　and
equitable；　so　as　to　give　to　each　one　what　belongs　to　him　and　is　due　to
him。　He　must　be　a　theologian；　so　as　to　be　able　to　give　a　clear　and
distinctive　reason　for　the　Christian　faith　he　professes；　wherever　it
may　be　asked　of　him。　He　must　be　a　physician；　and　above　all　a
herbalist；　so　as　in　wastes　and　solitudes　to　know　the　herbs　that　have
the　property　of　healing　wounds；　for　a　knight…errant　must　not　go
looking　for　some　one　to　cure　him　at　every　step。　He　must　be　an
astronomer；　so　as　to　know　by　the　stars　how　many　hours　of　the　night
have　passed；　and　what　clime　and　quarter　of　the　world　he　is　in。　He　must
know　mathematics；　for　at　every　turn　some　occasion　for　them　will
present　itself　to　him；　and；　putting　it　aside　that　he　must　be　adorned
with　all　the　virtues；　cardinal　and　theological；　to　come　down　to
minor　particulars；　he　must；　I　say；　be　able　to　swim　as　well　as　Nicholas
or　Nicolao　the　Fish　could；　as　the　story　goes；　he　must　know　how　to　shoe
a　horse；　and　repair　his　saddle　and　bridle；　and；　to　return　to　higher
matters；　he　must　be　faithful　to　God　and　to　his　lady；　he　must　be　pure
in　thought；　decorous　in　words；　generous　in　works；　valiant　in　deeds；
patient　in　suffering；　compassionate　towards　the　needy；　and；　lastly；　an
upholder　of　the　truth　though　its　defence　should　cost　him　his　life。
Of　all　these　qualities；　great　and　small；　is　a　true　knight…errant
made　up；　judge　then；　Senor　Don　Lorenzo；　whether　it　be　a　contemptible
science　which　the　knight　who　studies　and　professes　it　has　to　learn；
and　whether　it　may　not　compare　with　the　very　loftiest　that　are
taught　in　the　schools。〃
　　〃If　that　be　so；〃　replied　Don　Lorenzo；　〃this　science；　I　protest；
surpasses　all。〃
　　〃How；　if　that　be　so？〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　〃What　I　mean　to　say；〃　said　Don　Lorenzo；　〃is；　that　I　doubt　whether
there　are　now；　or　ever　were；　any　knights…errant；　and　adorned　with　such
virtues。〃
　　〃Many　a　time；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃have　I　said　what　I　now　say　once
more；　that　the　majority　of　the　world　are　of　opinion　that　there　never
were　any　knights…errant　in　it；　and　as　it　is　my　opinion　that；　unless
heaven　by　some　miracle　brings　home　to　them　the　truth　that　there　were
and　are；　all　the　pains　one　takes　will　be　in　vain　（as　experience　has
often　proved　to　me）；　I　will　not　now　stop　to　disabuse　you　of　the
error　you　share　with　the　multitude。　All　I　shall　do　is　to　pray　to
heaven　to　deliver　you　from　it；　and　show　you　how　beneficial　and
necessary　knights…errant　were　in　days　of　yore；　and　how　useful　they
would　be　in　these　days　were　they　but　in　vogue；　but　now；　for　the　sins
of　the　people；　sloth　and　indolence；　gluttony　and　luxury　are
triumphant。〃
　　〃Our　guest　has　broken　out　on　our　hands；〃　said　Don　Lorenzo　to　himself
at　this　point；　〃but；　for　all　that；　he　is　a　glorious　madman；　and　I
should　be　a　dull　blockhead　to　doubt　it。〃
　　Here；　being　summoned　to　dinner；　they　brought　their　colloquy　to　a
close。　Don　Diego　asked　his　son　what　he　had　been　able　to　make　out　as　to
the　wits　of　their　guest。　To　which　he　replied；　〃All　the　doctors　and
clever　scribes　in　the　world　will　not　make　sense　of　the　scrawl　of　his
madness；　he　is　a　madman　full　of　streaks；　full　of　lucid　intervals。〃
　　They　went　in　to　dinner；　and　the　repast　was　such　as　Don　Diego　said　on
the　road　he　was　in　the　habit　of　giving　to　his　guests；　neat；　plentiful；
and　tasty；　but　what　pleased　Don　Quixote　most　was　the　marvellous
silence　that　reigned　throughout　the　house；　for　it　was　like　a
Carthusian　monastery。
　　When　the　cloth　had　been　removed；　grace　said　and　their　hands
washed；　Don　Quixote　earnestly　pressed　Don　Lorenzo　to　repeat　to　him　his
ver