don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第158部分

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all　the　tremendous　noise　of　the　carts；　all　made　up　together　a　din　so
confused　and　terrific　that　Don　Quixote　had　need　to　summon　up　all　his
courage　to　brave　it；　but　Sancho's　gave　way；　and　he　fell　fainting　on
the　skirt　of　the　duchess's　robe；　who　let　him　lie　there　and　promptly
bade　them　throw　water　in　his　face。　This　was　done；　and　he　came　to
himself　by　the　time　that　one　of　the　carts　with　the　creaking　wheels
reached　the　spot。　It　was　drawn　by　four　plodding　oxen　all　covered
with　black　housings；　on　each　horn　they　had　fixed　a　large　lighted　wax
taper；　and　on　the　top　of　the　cart　was　constructed　a　raised　seat；　on
which　sat　a　venerable　old　man　with　a　beard　whiter　than　the　very
snow；　and　so　long　that　it　fell　below　his　waist；　he　was　dressed　in　a
long　robe　of　black　buckram；　for　as　the　cart　was　thickly　set　with　a
multitude　of　candles　it　was　easy　to　make　out　everything　that　was　on
it。　Leading　it　were　two　hideous　demons；　also　clad　in　buckram；　with
countenances　so　frightful　that　Sancho；　having　once　seen　them；　shut　his
eyes　so　as　not　to　see　them　again。　As　soon　as　the　cart　came　opposite
the　spot　the　old　man　rose　from　his　lofty　seat；　and　standing　up　said　in
a　loud　voice；　〃I　am　the　sage　Lirgandeo；〃　and　without　another　word
the　cart　then　passed　on。　Behind　it　came　another　of　the　same　form；　with
another　aged　man　enthroned；　who；　stopping　the　cart；　said　in　a　voice　no
less　solemn　than　that　of　the　first；　〃I　am　the　sage　Alquife；　the
great　friend　of　Urganda　the　Unknown；〃　and　passed　on。　Then　another　cart
came　by　at　the　same　pace；　but　the　occupant　of　the　throne　was　not　old
like　the　others；　but　a　man　stalwart　and　robust；　and　of　a　forbidding
countenance；　who　as　he　came　up　said　in　a　voice　far　hoarser　and　more
devilish；　〃I　am　the　enchanter　Archelaus；　the　mortal　enemy　of　Amadis　of
Gaul　and　all　his　kindred；〃　and　then　passed　on。　Having　gone　a　short
distance　the　three　carts　halted　and　the　monotonous　noise　of　their
wheels　ceased；　and　soon　after　they　heard　another；　not　noise；　but　sound
of　sweet；　harmonious　music；　of　which　Sancho　was　very　glad；　taking　it
to　be　a　good　sign；　and　said　he　to　the　duchess；　from　whom　he　did　not
stir　a　step；　or　for　a　single　instant；　〃Senora；　where　there's　music
there　can't　be　mischief。〃
　　〃Nor　where　there　are　lights　and　it　is　bright；〃　said　the　duchess；
to　which　Sancho　replied；　〃Fire　gives　light；　and　it's　bright　where
there　are　bonfires；　as　we　see　by　those　that　are　all　round　us　and
perhaps　may　burn　us；　but　music　is　a　sign　of　mirth　and　merrymaking。〃
　　〃That　remains　to　be　seen；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　who　was　listening　to
all　that　passed；　and　he　was　right；　as　is　shown　in　the　following
chapter。


　　CHAPTER　XXXV
　　WHEREIN　IS　CONTINUED　THE　INSTRUCTION　GIVEN　TO　DON　QUIXOTE　TOUCHING
THE　DISENCHANTMENT　OF　DULCINEA；　TOGETHER　WITH　OTHER　MARVELLOUS
INCIDENTS

　　THEY　saw　advancing　towards　them；　to　the　sound　of　this　pleasing
music；　what　they　call　a　triumphal　car；　drawn　by　six　grey　mules　with
white　linen　housings；　on　each　of　which　was　mounted　a　penitent；　robed
also　in　white；　with　a　large　lighted　wax　taper　in　his　hand。　The　car　was
twice　or；　perhaps；　three　times　as　large　as　the　former　ones；　and　in
front　and　on　the　sides　stood　twelve　more　penitents；　all　as　white　as
snow　and　all　with　lighted　tapers；　a　spectacle　to　excite　fear　as　well
as　wonder；　and　on　a　raised　throne　was　seated　a　nymph　draped　in　a
multitude　of　silver…tissue　veils　with　an　embroidery　of　countless
gold　spangles　glittering　all　over　them；　that　made　her　appear；　if　not
richly；　at　least　brilliantly；　apparelled。　She　had　her　face　covered
with　thin　transparent　sendal；　the　texture　of　which　did　not　prevent　the
fair　features　of　a　maiden　from　being　distinguished；　while　the　numerous
lights　made　it　possible　to　judge　of　her　beauty　and　of　her　years；　which
seemed　to　be　not　less　than　seventeen　but　not　to　have　yet　reached
twenty。　Beside　her　was　a　figure　in　a　robe　of　state；　as　they　call　it；
reaching　to　the　feet；　while　the　head　was　covered　with　a　black　veil。
But　the　instant　the　car　was　opposite　the　duke　and　duchess　and　Don
Quixote　the　music　of　the　clarions　ceased；　and　then　that　of　the　lutes
and　harps　on　the　car；　and　the　figure　in　the　robe　rose　up；　and　flinging
it　apart　and　removing　the　veil　from　its　face；　disclosed　to　their
eyes　the　shape　of　Death　itself；　fleshless　and　hideous；　at　which
sight　Don　Quixote　felt　uneasy；　Sancho　frightened；　and　the　duke　and
duchess　displayed　a　certain　trepidation。　Having　risen　to　its　feet；
this　living　death；　in　a　sleepy　voice　and　with　a　tongue　hardly　awake；
held　forth　as　follows：

　　I　am　that　Merlin　who　the　legends　say
　　The　devil　had　for　father；　and　the　lie
　　Hath　gathered　credence　with　the　lapse　of　time。
　　Of　magic　prince；　of　Zoroastric　lore
　　Monarch　and　treasurer；　with　jealous　eye
　　I　view　the　efforts　of　the　age　to　hide
　　The　gallant　deeds　of　doughty　errant　knights；
　　Who　are；　and　ever　have　been；　dear　to　me。
　　　　Enchanters　and　magicians　and　their　kind
　　Are　mostly　hard　of　heart；　not　so　am　I；
　　For　mine　is　tender；　soft；　compassionate；
　　And　its　delight　is　doing　good　to　all。
　　In　the　dim　caverns　of　the　gloomy　Dis；
　　Where；　tracing　mystic　lines　and　characters；
　　My　soul　abideth　now；　there　came　to　me
　　The　sorrow…laden　plaint　of　her；　the　fair；
　　The　peerless　Dulcinea　del　Toboso。
　　I　knew　of　her　enchantment　and　her　fate；
　　From　high…born　dame　to　peasant　wench　transformed
　　And　touched　with　pity；　first　I　turned　the　leaves
　　Of　countless　volumes　of　my　devilish　craft；
　　And　then；　in　this　grim　grisly　skeleton
　　Myself　encasing；　hither　have　I　come
　　To　show　where　lies　the　fitting　remedy
　　To　give　relief　in　such　a　piteous　case。
　　　　O　thou；　the　pride　and　pink　of　all　that　wear
　　The　adamantine　steel！　O　shining　light；
　　O　beacon；　polestar；　path　and　guide　of　all
　　Who；　scorning　slumber　and　the　lazy　down；
　　Adopt　the　toilsome　life　of　bloodstained　arms！
　　To　thee；　great　hero　who　all　praise　transcends；
　　La　Mancha's　lustre　and　Iberia's　star；
　　Don　Quixote；　wise　as　brave；　to　thee　I　say…
　　For　peerless　Dulcinea　del　Toboso
　　Her　pristine　form　and　beauty　to　regain；
　　'T　is　needful　that　thy　esquire　Sancho　shall；
　　On　his　own　sturdy　buttocks　bared　to　heaven；
　　Three　thousand　and　three　hundred　lashes　lay；
　　And　that　they　smart　and　sting　and　hurt　him　well。
　　Thus　have　the　authors　of　her　woe　resolved。
　　And　this　is；　gentles；　wherefore　I　have　come。

　　〃By　all　that's　good；〃　exclaimed　Sancho　at　this；　〃I'll　just　as　soon
give　myself　three　stabs　with　a　dagger　as　three；　not　to　say　three
thousand；　lashes。　The　devil　take　such　a　way　of　disenchanting！　I
don't　see　what　my　backside　has　got　to　do　with　enchantments。　By　God；　if
Senor　Merlin　has　not　found　out　some　other　way　of　disenchanting　the
lady　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　she　may　go　to　her　grave　enchanted。〃
　　〃But　I'll　take　you；　Don　Clown　stuffed　with　garlic；〃　said　Don
Quixote；　〃and　tie　you　to　a　tree　as　naked　as　when　your　mother　brought
you　forth；　and　give　you；　not　to　say　three　thousand　three　hundred；
but　six　thousand　six　hundred　lashes；　and　so　well　laid　on　that　they
won't　be　got　rid　of　if　you　try　three　thousand　three　hundred　times；
don't　answer　me　a　word　or　I'll　tear　your　soul　out。〃
　　On　hearing　this　Merlin　said；　〃That　will　not　do；　for　the　lashes
worthy　Sancho　has　to　receive　must　be　given　of　his　own　free　will　and
not　by　force；　and　at　whatever　time　he　pleases；　for　there　is　no　fixed
limit　assigned　to　him；　but　it　is　permitted　him；　if　he　likes　to　commute
by　half　the　pain　of　this　whipping；　to　let　them　be　given　by　the　hand　of
another；　though　it　may　be　somewhat　weighty。〃
　　〃Not　a　hand；　my　own　or　anybody　else's；　weighty　or　weighable；　shall
touch　me；〃　said　Sancho。　〃Was　it　I　that　gave　birth　to　the　lady　Dulcinea
del　Toboso；　that　my　backside　is　to　pay　for　the　sins　of　her　eyes？　My
master；　indeed；　that's　a　part　of　her…　for；he's　always　calling　her
'my　life'　and　'my　soul；'　and　his　stay　and　prop…　may　and　ought　to
whip　himself　for　her　and　take　all　the　trouble　required　for　her
disenchantment。　But　for　me　to　whip　myself！　Abernuncio！〃
　　As　soon　as　Sancho　had　done　speaking　the　nymph　in　silver　that　was
at　the　side　of　Merlin's　ghost　stood　up；　and　removing　the　thin　veil
from　her　face　disclosed　one　that　seemed　to　all　something　more　than
exceedingly　beautiful；　and　with　a　masculine　freedom　from　embarrassment
and　in　a　voice　not　very　like　a　lady's；　addressing　Sancho　directly；
said；　〃Thou　wretched　squire；　soul　of　a　pitcher；　heart　of　a　cork
tree；　with　bowels　of　flint　and　pebbles；　if；　thou　impudent　thief；
they　bade　thee　throw　thyself　down　from　some　lofty　tower；　if；　enemy
of　mankind；　they　asked　thee　to　swallow　a　dozen　of　toads；　two　of
lizards；　and　three　of　adders；　if　they　wanted　thee　to　slay　thy　wife　and
children　with　a　sharp　murderous　scimitar；　it　would　be　no　wonder　for
thee　to　show　thyself　stubborn　and　squeamish。　But　to　make　a　piece　of
work　about　three　thousand　three　hundred　lashes；　what　every　poor　little
charity…boy　gets　every　month…　it　is　enough　to　amaze；　astonish；　astound
the　compassionate　bowels　of　all　who　hear　it；　nay；　all　who　come　to　hear
it　in　the　course　of　time。　Turn；　O　miserable；　hard…hearted　animal；
turn；　I　say；　those　timorous　owl's　eyes　upon　these　of　mine　that　are
compared　to　radiant　stars；　and　thou　wilt　see　them　weeping　trickling
streams　and　rills；　and　tracing　furrows；　tracks；　and　paths　over　the
fair　fields　of　my　cheeks。　Let　it　move　thee；　crafty；　ill…conditioned
monster；　to　see　my　blooming　youth…　still　in　its　teens；　for　I　am　not
yet　twenty…　wasting　and　withering　away　beneath　the　husk　of　a　rude
peasant　wench；　and　if　I　do　not　appear　in　that　shape　now；　it　is　a
special　favour　Senor　Merlin　here　has　granted　me；　to　the　sole　end
that　my　beauty　may　soften　thee；　for　the　tears　of　beauty　in　distress
turn　rocks　into　cotton　and　tigers　into　ewes。　Lay　on　to　that　hide　of
thine；　thou　great　untamed　brute；　rouse　up　thy　lusty　vigour　that　only
urges　thee　to　eat　and　eat；　and　set　free　the　softness　of　my　flesh；
the　gentleness　of　my　nature；　and　the　fairness　of　my　face。　And　if
thou　wilt　not　relent　or　come　to　reason　for　me；　do　so　for　the　sake　of
that　poor　knight　thou　hast　beside　thee；　thy　master　I　mean；　whose
soul　I　can　this　moment　see；　how　he　has　it　stuck　in　his　throat　not
ten　fingers　from　his　lips；　and　only　waiting　for　thy　inflexible　or
yielding　reply　to　make　its　escape　by　his　mou