don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第151部分

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they　were　treating　him　like　a　knight…errant。　When　his　armour　was
removed；　there　stood　Don　Quixote　in　his　tight…fitting　breeches　and
chamois　doublet；　lean；　lanky；　and　long；　with　cheeks　that　seemed　to
be　kissing　each　other　inside；　such　a　figure；　that　if　the　damsels
waiting　on　him　had　not　taken　care　to　check　their　merriment　（which
was　one　of　the　particular　directions　their　master　and　mistress　had
given　them）；　they　would　have　burst　with　laughter。　They　asked　him　to
let　himself　be　stripped　that　they　might　put　a　shirt　on　him；　but　he
would　not　on　any　account；　saying　that　modesty　became　knights…errant
just　as　much　as　valour。　However；　he　said　they　might　give　the　shirt
to　Sancho；　and　shutting　himself　in　with　him　in　a　room　where　there
was　a　sumptuous　bed；　he　undressed　and　put　on　the　shirt；　and　then；
finding　himself　alone　with　Sancho；　he　said　to　him；　〃Tell　me；　thou
new…fledged　buffoon　and　old　booby；　dost　thou　think　it　right　to
offend　and　insult　a　duenna　so　deserving　of　reverence　and　respect　as
that　one　just　now？　Was　that　a　time　to　bethink　thee　of　thy　Dapple；　or
are　these　noble　personages　likely　to　let　the　beasts　fare　badly　when
they　treat　their　owners　in　such　elegant　style？　For　God's　sake；　Sancho；
restrain　thyself；　and　don't　show　the　thread　so　as　to　let　them　see　what
a　coarse；　boorish　texture　thou　art　of。　Remember；　sinner　that　thou　art；
the　master　is　the　more　esteemed　the　more　respectable　and　well…bred　his
servants　are；　and　that　one　of　the　greatest　advantages　that　princes
have　over　other　men　is　that　they　have　servants　as　good　as　themselves
to　wait　on　them。　Dost　thou　not　see…　shortsighted　being　that　thou
art；　and　unlucky　mortal　that　I　am！…　that　if　they　perceive　thee　to　be　a
coarse　clown　or　a　dull　blockhead；　they　will　suspect　me　to　be　some
impostor　or　swindler？　Nay；　nay；　Sancho　friend；　keep　clear；　oh；　keep
clear　of　these　stumbling…blocks；　for　he　who　falls　into　the　way　of
being　a　chatterbox　and　droll；　drops　into　a　wretched　buffoon　the
first　time　he　trips；　bridle　thy　tongue；　consider　and　weigh　thy　words
before　they　escape　thy　mouth；　and　bear　in　mind　we　are　now　in
quarters　whence；　by　God's　help；　and　the　strength　of　my　arm；　we　shall
come　forth　mightily　advanced　in　fame　and　fortune。〃
　　Sancho　promised　him　with　much　earnestness　to　keep　his　mouth　shut；
and　to　bite　off　his　tongue　before　he　uttered　a　word　that　was　not
altogether　to　the　purpose　and　well　considered；　and　told　him　he　might
make　his　mind　easy　on　that　point；　for　it　should　never　be　discovered
through　him　what　they　were。
　　Don　Quixote　dressed　himself；　put　on　his　baldric　with　his　sword；
threw　the　scarlet　mantle　over　his　shoulders；　placed　on　his　head　a
montera　of　green　satin　that　the　damsels　had　given　him；　and　thus
arrayed　passed　out　into　the　large　room；　where　he　found　the　damsels
drawn　up　in　double　file；　the　same　number　on　each　side；　all　with　the
appliances　for　washing　the　hands；　which　they　presented　to　him　with
profuse　obeisances　and　ceremonies。　Then　came　twelve　pages；　together
with　the　seneschal；　to　lead　him　to　dinner；　as　his　hosts　were　already
waiting　for　him。　They　placed　him　in　the　midst　of　them；　and　with　much
pomp　and　stateliness　they　conducted　him　into　another　room；　where　there
was　a　sumptuous　table　laid　with　but　four　covers。　The　duchess　and　the
duke　came　out　to　the　door　of　the　room　to　receive　him；　and　with　them
a　grave　ecclesiastic；　one　of　those　who　rule　noblemen's　houses；　one
of　those　who；　not　being　born　magnates　themselves；　never　know　how　to
teach　those　who　are　how　to　behave　as　such；　one　of　those　who　would　have
the　greatness　of　great　folk　measured　by　their　own　narrowness　of
mind；　one　of　those　who；　when　they　try　to　introduce　economy　into　the
household　they　rule；　lead　it　into　meanness。　One　of　this　sort；　I　say；
must　have　been　the　grave　churchman　who　came　out　with　the　duke　and
duchess　to　receive　Don　Quixote。
　　A　vast　number　of　polite　speeches　were　exchanged；　and　at　length；
taking　Don　Quixote　between　them；　they　proceeded　to　sit　down　to
table。　The　duke　pressed　Don　Quixote　to　take　the　head　of　the　table；
and；　though　he　refused；　the　entreaties　of　the　duke　were　so　urgent　that
he　had　to　accept　it。
　　The　ecclesiastic　took　his　seat　opposite　to　him；　and　the　duke　and
duchess　those　at　the　sides。　All　this　time　Sancho　stood　by；　gaping　with
amazement　at　the　honour　he　saw　shown　to　his　master　by　these
illustrious　persons；　and　observing　all　the　ceremonious　pressing　that
had　passed　between　the　duke　and　Don　Quixote　to　induce　him　to　take
his　seat　at　the　head　of　the　table；　he　said；　〃If　your　worship　will　give
me　leave　I　will　tell　you　a　story　of　what　happened　in　my　village
about　this　matter　of　seats。〃
　　The　moment　Sancho　said　this　Don　Quixote　trembled；　making　sure　that
he　was　about　to　say　something　foolish。　Sancho　glanced　at　him；　and
guessing　his　thoughts；　said；　〃Don't　be　afraid　of　my　going　astray；
senor；　or　saying　anything　that　won't　be　pat　to　the　purpose；　I
haven't　forgotten　the　advice　your　worship　gave　me　just　now　about
talking　much　or　little；　well　or　ill。〃
　　〃I　have　no　recollection　of　anything；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃say
what　thou　wilt；　only　say　it　quickly。〃
　　〃Well　then；〃　said　Sancho；　〃what　I　am　going　to　say　is　so　true　that　my
master　Don　Quixote；　who　is　here　present；　will　keep　me　from　lying。〃
　　〃Lie　as　much　as　thou　wilt　for　all　I　care；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；
〃for　I　am　not　going　to　stop　thee；　but　consider　what　thou　art　going
to　say。〃
　　〃I　have　so　considered　and　reconsidered；〃　said　Sancho；　〃that　the
bell…ringer's　in　a　safe　berth；　as　will　be　seen　by　what　follows。〃
　　〃It　would　be　well；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃if　your　highnesses　would
order　them　to　turn　out　this　idiot；　for　he　will　talk　a　heap　of
nonsense。〃
　　〃By　the　life　of　the　duke；　Sancho　shall　not　be　taken　away　from　me　for
a　moment；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃I　am　very　fond　of　him；　for　I　know　he
is　very　discreet。〃
　　〃Discreet　be　the　days　of　your　holiness；〃　said　Sancho；　〃for　the
good　opinion　you　have　of　my　wit；　though　there's　none　in　me；　but　the
story　I　want　to　tell　is　this。　There　was　an　invitation　given　by　a
gentleman　of　my　town；　a　very　rich　one；　and　one　of　quality；　for　he
was　one　of　the　Alamos　of　Medina　del　Campo；　and　married　to　Dona
Mencia　de　Quinones；　the　daughter　of　Don　Alonso　de　Maranon；　Knight　of
the　Order　of　Santiago；　that　was　drowned　at　the　Herradura…　him　there
was　that　quarrel　about　years　ago　in　our　village；　that　my　master　Don
Quixote　was　mixed　up　in；　to　the　best　of　my　belief；　that　Tomasillo
the　scapegrace；　the　son　of　Balbastro　the　smith；　was　wounded　in。…　Isn't
all　this　true；　master　mine？　As　you　live；　say　so；　that　these　gentlefolk
may　not　take　me　for　some　lying　chatterer。〃
　　〃So　far；〃　said　the　ecclesiastic；　〃I　take　you　to　be　more　a
chatterer　than　a　liar；　but　I　don't　know　what　I　shall　take　you　for
by…and…by。〃
　　〃Thou　citest　so　many　witnesses　and　proofs；　Sancho；〃　said　Don
Quixote；　〃that　I　have　no　choice　but　to　say　thou　must　be　telling　the
truth；　go　on；　and　cut　the　story　short；　for　thou　art　taking　the　way　not
to　make　an　end　for　two　days　to　come。〃
　　〃He　is　not　to　cut　it　short；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃on　the　contrary；　for
my　gratification；　he　is　to　tell　it　as　he　knows　it；　though　he　should
not　finish　it　these　six　days；　and　if　he　took　so　many　they　would　be
to　me　the　pleasantest　I　ever　spent。〃
　　〃Well　then；　sirs；　I　say；〃　continued　Sancho；　〃that　this　same
gentleman；　whom　I　know　as　well　as　I　do　my　own　hands；　for　it's　not　a
bowshot　from　my　house　to　his；　invited　a　poor　but　respectable
labourer…〃
　　〃Get　on；　brother；〃　said　the　churchman；　〃at　the　rate　you　are　going
you　will　not　stop　with　your　story　short　of　the　next　world。〃
　　〃I'll　stop　less　than　half…way；　please　God；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　so　I
say　this　labourer；　coming　to　the　house　of　the　gentleman　I　spoke　of
that　invited　him…　rest　his　soul；　he　is　now　dead；　and　more　by　token
he　died　the　death　of　an　angel；　so　they　say；　for　I　was　not　there；　for
just　at　that　time　I　had　gone　to　reap　at　Tembleque…〃
　　〃As　you　live；　my　son；〃　said　the　churchman；　〃make　haste　back　from
Tembleque；　and　finish　your　story　without　burying　the　gentleman；　unless
you　want　to　make　more　funerals。〃
　　〃Well　then；　it　so　happened；〃　said　Sancho；　〃that　as　the　pair　of
them　were　going　to　sit　down　to　table　…and　I　think　I　can　see　them　now
plainer　than　ever…〃
　　Great　was　the　enjoyment　the　duke　and　duchess　derived　from　the
irritation　the　worthy　churchman　showed　at　the　long…winded；　halting　way
Sancho　had　of　telling　his　story；　while　Don　Quixote　was　chafing　with
rage　and　vexation。
　　〃So；　as　I　was　saying；〃　continued　Sancho；　〃as　the　pair　of　them　were
going　to　sit　down　to　table；　as　I　said；　the　labourer　insisted　upon
the　gentleman's　taking　the　head　of　the　table；　and　the　gentleman
insisted　upon　the　labourer's　taking　it；　as　his　orders　should　be　obeyed
in　his　house；　but　the　labourer；　who　plumed　himself　on　his　politeness
and　good　breeding；　would　not　on　any　account；　until　the　gentleman；
out　of　patience；　putting　his　hands　on　his　shoulders；　compelled　him
by　force　to　sit　down；　saying；　'Sit　down；　you　stupid　lout；　for　wherever
I　sit　will　he　the　head　to　you；　and　that's　the　story；　and；　troth；　I
think　it　hasn't　been　brought　in　amiss　here。〃
　　Don　Quixote　turned　all　colours；　which；　on　his　sunburnt　face；　mottled
it　till　it　looked　like　jasper。　The　duke　and　duchess　suppressed　their
laughter　so　as　not　altogether　to　mortify　Don　Quixote；　for　they　saw
through　Sancho's　impertinence；　and　to　change　the　conversation；　and
keep　Sancho　from　uttering　more　absurdities；　the　duchess　asked　Don
Quixote　what　news　he　had　of　the　lady　Dulcinea；　and　if　he　had　sent
her　any　presents　of　giants　or　miscreants　lately；　for　he　could　not
but　have　vanquished　a　good　many。
　　To　which　Don　Quixote　replied；　〃Senora；　my　misfortunes；　though　they
had　a　beginning；　will　never　have　an　end。　I　have　vanquished　giants
and　I　have　sent　her　caitiffs　and　miscreants；　but　where　are　they　to
find　her　if　she　is　enchanted　and　turned　into　the　most　ill…favoured
peasant　wench　that　can　be　imagined？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Sancho　Panza；　〃to　me　she　seems　the　fairest
creature　in　the　world；　at　any　rate；　in　nimbleness　and　jumping　she
won't　give　in　to　a　tumbler；　by　my　faith；　senora　duchess；　she　leaps
from　the　ground　on　to　the　back　of　an　ass　like　a　cat。〃
　　〃Have　you　seen　her　enchanted；　Sancho？〃　asked　the　duke。
　　〃Wh