don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第150部分

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him；　but　in　getting　down　off　Dapple　he　was　so　unlucky　as　to　hitch
his　foot　in　one　of　the　ropes　of　the　pack…saddle　in　such　a　way　that
he　was　unable　to　free　it；　and　was　left　hanging　by　it　with　his　face　and
breast　on　the　ground。　Don　Quixote；　who　was　not　used　to　dismount
without　having　the　stirrup　held；　fancying　that　Sancho　had　by　this　time
come　to　hold　it　for　him；　threw　himself　off　with　a　lurch　and　brought
Rocinante's　saddle　after　him；　which　was　no　doubt　badly　girthed；　and
saddle　and　he　both　came　to　the　ground；　not　without　discomfiture　to　him
and　abundant　curses　muttered　between　his　teeth　against　the　unlucky
Sancho；　who　had　his　foot　still　in　the　shackles。　The　duke　ordered　his
huntsmen　to　go　to　the　help　of　knight　and　squire；　and　they　raised　Don
Quixote；　sorely　shaken　by　his　fall；　and　he；　limping；　advanced　as
best　he　could　to　kneel　before　the　noble　pair。　This；　however；　the
duke　would　by　no　means　permit；　on　the　contrary；　dismounting　from　his
horse；　he　went　and　embraced　Don　Quixote；　saying；　〃I　am　grieved；　Sir
Knight　of　the　Rueful　Countenance；　that　your　first　experience　on　my
ground　should　have　been　such　an　unfortunate　one　as　we　have　seen；　but
the　carelessness　of　squires　is　often　the　cause　of　worse　accidents。〃
　　〃That　which　has　happened　me　in　meeting　you；　mighty　prince；〃
replied　Don　Quixote；　〃cannot　be　unfortunate；　even　if　my　fall　had　not
stopped　short　of　the　depths　of　the　bottomless　pit；　for　the　glory　of
having　seen　you　would　have　lifted　me　up　and　delivered　me　from　it。　My
squire；　God's　curse　upon　him；　is　better　at　unloosing　his　tongue　in
talking　impertinence　than　in　tightening　the　girths　of　a　saddle　to　keep
it　steady；　but　however　I　may　be；　allen　or　raised　up；　on　foot　or　on
horseback；　I　shall　always　be　at　your　service　and　that　of　my　lady　the
duchess；　your　worthy　consort；　worthy　queen　of　beauty　and　paramount
princess　of　courtesy。〃
　　〃Gently；　Senor　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；〃　said　the　duke；　〃where　my
lady　Dona　Dulcinea　del　Toboso　is；　it　is　not　right　that　other
beauties　should　he　praised。〃
　　Sancho；　by　this　time　released　from　his　entanglement；　was　standing
by；　and　before　his　master　could　answer　he　said；　〃There　is　no
denying；　and　it　must　be　maintained；　that　my　lady　Dulcinea　del　Toboso
is　very　beautiful；　but　the　hare　jumps　up　where　one　least　expects　it；
and　I　have　heard　say　that　what　we　call　nature　is　like　a　potter　that
makes　vessels　of　clay；　and　he　who　makes　one　fair　vessel　can　as　well
make　two；　or　three；　or　a　hundred；　I　say　so　because；　by　my　faith；　my
lady　the　duchess　is　in　no　way　behind　my　mistress　the　lady　Dulcinea　del
Toboso。〃
　　Don　Quixote　turned　to　the　duchess　and　said；　〃Your　highness　may
conceive　that　never　had　knight…errant　in　this　world　a　more　talkative
or　a　droller　squire　than　I　have；　and　he　will　prove　the　truth　of　what　I
say；　if　your　highness　is　pleased　to　accept　of　my　services　for　a　few
days。〃
　　To　which　the　duchess　made　answer；　〃that　worthy　Sancho　is　droll　I
consider　a　very　good　thing；　because　it　is　a　sign　that　he　is　shrewd；
for　drollery　and　sprightliness；　Senor　Don　Quixote；　as　you　very　well
know；　do　not　take　up　their　abode　with　dull　wits；　and　as　good　Sancho　is
droll　and　sprightly　I　here　set　him　down　as　shrewd。〃
　　〃And　talkative；〃　added　Don　Quixote。
　　〃So　much　the　better；〃　said　the　duke；　〃for　many　droll　things　cannot
be　said　in　few　words；　but　not　to　lose　time　in　talking；　come；　great
Knight　of　the　Rueful　Countenance…〃
　　〃Of　the　Lions；　your　highness　must　say；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for　there　is
no　Rueful　Countenance　nor　any　such　character　now。〃
　　〃He　of　the　Lions　be　it；〃　continued　the　duke；　〃I　say；　let　Sir
Knight　of　the　Lions　come　to　a　castle　of　mine　close　by；　where　he
shall　be　given　that　reception　which　is　due　to　so　exalted　a
personage；　and　which　the　duchess　and　I　are　wont　to　give　to　all
knights…errant　who　come　there。〃
　　By　this　time　Sancho　had　fixed　and　girthed　Rocinante's　saddle；　and
Don　Quixote　having　got　on　his　back　and　the　duke　mounted　a　fine
horse；　they　placed　the　duchess　in　the　middle　and　set　out　for　the
castle。　The　duchess　desired　Sancho　to　come　to　her　side；　for　she
found　infinite　enjoyment　in　listening　to　his　shrewd　remarks。　Sancho
required　no　pressing；　but　pushed　himself　in　between　them　and　the　duke；
who　thought　it　rare　good　fortune　to　receive　such　a　knight…errant　and
such　a　homely　squire　in　their　castle。

　　CHAPTER　XXXI
　　WHICH　TREATS　OF　MANY　AND　GREAT　MATTERS

　　SUPREME　was　the　satisfaction　that　Sancho　felt　at　seeing　himself；
as　it　seemed；　an　established　favourite　with　the　duchess；　for　he　looked
forward　to　finding　in　her　castle　what　he　had　found　in　Don　Diego's
house　and　in　Basilio's；　he　was　always　fond　of　good　living；　and
always　seized　by　the　forelock　any　opportunity　of　feasting　himself
whenever　it　presented　itself。　The　history　informs　us；　then；　that
before　they　reached　the　country　house　or　castle；　the　duke　went　on　in
advance　and　instructed　all　his　servants　how　they　were　to　treat　Don
Quixote；　and　so　the　instant　he　came　up　to　the　castle　gates　with　the
duchess；　two　lackeys　or　equerries；　clad　in　what　they　call　morning
gowns　of　fine　crimson　satin　reaching　to　their　feet；　hastened　out；
and　catching　Don　Quixote　in　their　arms　before　he　saw　or　heard　them；
said　to　him；　〃Your　highness　should　go　and　take　my　lady　the　duchess　off
her　horse。〃　Don　Quixote　obeyed；　and　great　bandying　of　compliments
followed　between　the　two　over　the　matter；　but　in　the　end　the　duchess's
determination　carried　the　day；　and　she　refused　to　get　down　or　dismount
from　her　palfrey　except　in　the　arms　of　the　duke；　saying　she　did　not
consider　herself　worthy　to　impose　so　unnecessary　a　burden　on　so
great　a　knight。　At　length　the　duke　came　out　to　take　her　down；　and　as
they　entered　a　spacious　court　two　fair　damsels　came　forward　and
threw　over　Don　Quixote's　shoulders　a　large　mantle　of　the　finest
scarlet　cloth；　and　at　the　same　instant　all　the　galleries　of　the
court　were　lined　with　the　men…servants　and　women…servants　of　the
household；　crying；　〃Welcome；　flower　and　cream　of　knight…errantry！〃
while　all　or　most　of　them　flung　pellets　filled　with　scented　water　over
Don　Quixote　and　the　duke　and　duchess；　at　all　which　Don　Quixote　was
greatly　astonished；　and　this　was　the　first　time　that　he　thoroughly
felt　and　believed　himself　to　be　a　knight…errant　in　reality　and　not
merely　in　fancy；　now　that　he　saw　himself　treated　in　the　same　way　as　he
had　read　of　such　knights　being　treated　in　days　of　yore。
　　Sancho；　deserting　Dapple；　hung　on　to　the　duchess　and　entered　the
castle；　but　feeling　some　twinges　of　conscience　at　having　left　the
ass　alone；　he　approached　a　respectable　duenna　who　had　come　out　with
the　rest　to　receive　the　duchess；　and　in　a　low　voice　he　said　to　her；
〃Senora　Gonzalez；　or　however　your　grace　may　be　called…〃
　　〃I　am　called　Dona　Rodriguez　de　Grijalba；〃　replied　the　duenna；
〃what　is　your　will；　brother？〃　To　which　Sancho　made　answer；　〃I　should
be　glad　if　your　worship　would　do　me　the　favour　to　go　out　to　the　castle
gate；　where　you　will　find　a　grey　ass　of　mine；　make　them；　if　you
please；　put　him　in　the　stable；　or　put　him　there　yourself；　for　the　poor
little　beast　is　rather　easily　frightened；　and　cannot　bear　being
alone　at　all。〃
　　〃If　the　master　is　as　wise　as　the　man；〃　said　the　duenna；　〃we　have　got
a　fine　bargain。　Be　off　with　you；　brother；　and　bad　luck　to　you　and
him　who　brought　you　here；　go；　look　after　your　ass；　for　we；　the　duennas
of　this　house；　are　not　used　to　work　of　that　sort。〃
　　〃Well　then；　in　troth；〃　returned　Sancho；　〃I　have　heard　my　master；　who
is　the　very　treasure…finder　of　stories；　telling　the　story　of
Lancelot　when　he　came　from　Britain；　say　that　ladies　waited　upon　him
and　duennas　upon　his　hack；　and；　if　it　comes　to　my　ass；　I　wouldn't
change　him　for　Senor　Lancelot's　hack。〃
　　〃If　you　are　a　jester；　brother；〃　said　the　duenna；　〃keep　your
drolleries　for　some　place　where　they'll　pass　muster　and　be　paid　for；
for　you'll　get　nothing　from　me　but　a　fig。〃
　　〃At　any　rate；　it　will　be　a　very　ripe　one；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for　you
won't　lose　the　trick　in　years　by　a　point　too　little。〃
　　〃Son　of　a　bitch；〃　said　the　duenna；　all　aglow　with　anger；　〃whether
I'm　old　or　not；　it's　with　God　I　have　to　reckon；　not　with　you；　you
garlic…stuffed　scoundrel！〃　and　she　said　it　so　loud；　that　the　duchess
heard　it；　and　turning　round　and　seeing　the　duenna　in　such　a　state　of
excitement；　and　her　eyes　flaming　so；　asked　whom　she　was　wrangling
with。
　　〃With　this　good　fellow　here；〃　said　the　duenna；　〃who　has　particularly
requested　me　to　go　and　put　an　ass　of　his　that　is　at　the　castle　gate
into　the　stable；　holding　it　up　to　me　as　an　example　that　they　did　the
same　I　don't　know　where…　that　some　ladies　waited　on　one　Lancelot；
and　duennas　on　his　hack；　and　what　is　more；　to　wind　up　with；　he
called　me　old。〃
　　〃That；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃I　should　have　considered　the　greatest
affront　that　could　be　offered　me；〃　and　addressing　Sancho；　she　said
to　him；　〃You　must　know；　friend　Sancho；　that　Dona　Rodriguez　is　very
youthful；　and　that　she　wears　that　hood　more　for　authority　and　custom
sake　than　because　of　her　years。〃
　　〃May　all　the　rest　of　mine　be　unlucky；〃　said　Sancho；　〃if　I　meant　it
that　way；　I　only　spoke　because　the　affection　I　have　for　my　ass　is　so
great；　and　I　thought　I　could　not　commend　him　to　a　more　kind…hearted
person　than　the　lady　Dona　Rodriguez。〃
　　Don　Quixote；　who　was　listening；　said　to　him；　〃Is　this　proper
conversation　for　the　place；　Sancho？〃
　　〃Senor；〃　replied　Sancho；　〃every　one　must　mention　what　he　wants
wherever　he　may　be；　I　thought　of　Dapple　here；　and　I　spoke　of　him　here；
if　I　had　thought　of　him　in　the　stable　I　would　have　spoken　there。〃
　　On　which　the　duke　observed；　〃Sancho　is　quite　right；　and　there　is
no　reason　at　all　to　find　fault　with　him；　Dapple　shall　be　fed　to　his
heart's　content；　and　Sancho　may　rest　easy；　for　he　shall　be　treated
like　himself。〃
　　While　this　conversation；　amusing　to　all　except　Don　Quixote；　was
proceeding；　they　ascended　the　staircase　and　ushered　Don　Quixote　into　a
chamber　hung　with　rich　cloth　of　gold　and　brocade；　six　damsels　relieved
him　of　his　armour　and　waited　on　him　like　pages；　all　of　them　prepared
and　instructed　by　the　duke　and　duchess　as　to　what　they　were　to　do；　and
how　they　were　to　treat　Don　Quixote；　so　that　he　might　see　and　believe
they　were　treating　him　like　a　knight…errant。