don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第134部分

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from　those　paths　of　good　breeding　that　your　worship　has　made　in　my
parched　understanding。〃
　　Don　Quixote　laughed　at　Sancho's　affected　phraseology；　and
perceived　that　what　he　said　about　his　improvement　was　true；　for　now
and　then　he　spoke　in　a　way　that　surprised　him；　though　always；　or
mostly；　when　Sancho　tried　to　talk　fine　and　attempted　polite
language；　he　wound　up　by　toppling　over　from　the　summit　of　his
simplicity　into　the　abyss　of　his　ignorance；　and　where　he　showed　his
culture　and　his　memory　to　the　greatest　advantage　was　in　dragging　in
proverbs；　no　matter　whether　they　had　any　bearing　or　not　upon　the
subject　in　hand；　as　may　have　been　seen　already　and　will　be　noticed
in　the　course　of　this　history。
　　In　conversation　of　this　kind　they　passed　a　good　part　of　the　night；
but　Sancho　felt　a　desire　to　let　down　the　curtains　of　his　eyes；　as　he
used　to　say　when　he　wanted　to　go　to　sleep；　and　stripping　Dapple　he
left　him　at　liberty　to　graze　his　fill。　He　did　not　remove　Rocinante's
saddle；　as　his　master's　express　orders　were；　that　so　long　as　they　were
in　the　field　or　not　sleeping　under　a　roof　Rocinante　was　not　to　be
stripped…　the　ancient　usage　established　and　observed　by　knights…errant
being　to　take　off　the　bridle　and　hang　it　on　the　saddle…bow；　but　to
remove　the　saddle　from　the　horse…　never！　Sancho　acted　accordingly；　and
gave　him　the　same　liberty　he　had　given　Dapple；　between　whom　and
Rocinante　there　was　a　friendship　so　unequalled　and　so　strong；　that
it　is　handed　down　by　tradition　from　father　to　son；　that　the　author
of　this　veracious　history　devoted　some　special　chapters　to　it；
which；　in　order　to　preserve　the　propriety　and　decorum　due　to　a　history
so　heroic；　he　did　not　insert　therein；　although　at　times　he　forgets
this　resolution　of　his　and　describes　how　eagerly　the　two　beasts
would　scratch　one　another　when　they　were　together　and　how；　when　they
were　tired　or　full；　Rocinante　would　lay　his　neck　across　Dapple's；
stretching　half　a　yard　or　more　on　the　other　side；　and　the　pair　would
stand　thus；　gazing　thoughtfully　on　the　ground；　for　three　days；　or　at
least　so　long　as　they　were　left　alone；　or　hunger　did　not　drive　them　to
go　and　look　for　food。　I　may　add　that　they　say　the　author　left　it　on
record　that　he　likened　their　friendship　to　that　of　Nisus　and　Euryalus；
and　Pylades　and　Orestes；　and　if　that　be　so；　it　may　be　perceived；　to
the　admiration　of　mankind；　how　firm　the　friendship　must　have　been
between　these　two　peaceful　animals；　shaming　men；　who　preserve
friendships　with　one　another　so　badly。　This　was　why　it　was　said…

　　　　　　　For　friend　no　longer　is　there　friend；
　　　　　　　The　reeds　turn　lances　now。

And　some　one　else　has　sung…

　　　　　　　Friend　to　friend　the　bug；　&c。

And　let　no　one　fancy　that　the　author　was　at　all　astray　when　he
compared　the　friendship　of　these　animals　to　that　of　men；　for　men
have　received　many　lessons　from　beasts；　and　learned　many　important
things；　as；　for　example；　the　clyster　from　the　stork；　vomit　and
gratitude　from　the　dog；　watchfulness　from　the　crane；　foresight　from
the　ant；　modesty　from　the　elephant；　and　loyalty　from　the　horse。
　　Sancho　at　last　fell　asleep　at　the　foot　of　a　cork　tree；　while　Don
Quixote　dozed　at　that　of　a　sturdy　oak；　but　a　short　time　only　had
elapsed　when　a　noise　he　heard　behind　him　awoke　him；　and　rising　up
startled；　he　listened　and　looked　in　the　direction　the　noise　came　from；
and　perceived　two　men　on　horseback；　one　of　whom；　letting　himself
drop　from　the　saddle；　said　to　the　other；　〃Dismount；　my　friend；　and
take　the　bridles　off　the　horses；　for；　so　far　as　I　can　see；　this
place　will　furnish　grass　for　them；　and　the　solitude　and　silence　my
love…sick　thoughts　need　of。〃　As　he　said　this　he　stretched　himself　upon
the　ground；　and　as　he　flung　himself　down；　the　armour　in　which　he　was
clad　rattled；　whereby　Don　Quixote　perceived　that　he　must　be　a
knight…errant；　and　going　over　to　Sancho；　who　was　asleep；　he　shook
him　by　the　arm　and　with　no　small　difficulty　brought　him　back　to　his
senses；　and　said　in　a　low　voice　to　him；　〃Brother　Sancho；　we　have　got
an　adventure。〃
　　〃God　send　us　a　good　one；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　where　may　her　ladyship
the　adventure　be？〃
　　〃Where；　Sancho？〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃turn　thine　eyes　and　look；　and
thou　wilt　see　stretched　there　a　knight…errant；　who；　it　strikes　me；
is　not　over　and　above　happy；　for　I　saw　him　fling　himself　off　his　horse
and　throw　himself　on　the　ground　with　a　certain　air　of　dejection；　and
his　armour　rattled　as　he　fell。〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　Sancho；　〃how　does　your　worship　make　out　that　to　be　an
adventure？〃
　　〃I　do　not　mean　to　say；〃　returned　Don　Quixote；　〃that　it　is　a　complete
adventure；　but　that　it　is　the　beginning　of　one；　for　it　is　in　this
way　adventures　begin。　But　listen；　for　it　seems　he　is　tuning　a　lute
or　guitar；　and　from　the　way　he　is　spitting　and　clearing　his　chest　he
must　be　getting　ready　to　sing　something。〃
　　〃Faith；　you　are　right；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　no　doubt　he　is　some
enamoured　knight。〃
　　〃There　is　no　knight…errant　that　is　not；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃but
let　us　listen　to　him；　for；　if　he　sings；　by　that　thread　we　shall
extract　the　ball　of　his　thoughts；　because　out　of　the　abundance　of
the　heart　the　mouth　speaketh。〃
　　Sancho　was　about　to　reply　to　his　master；　but　the　Knight　of　the
Grove's　voice；　which　was　neither　very　bad　nor　very　good；　stopped
him；　and　listening　attentively　the　pair　heard　him　sing　this

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SONNET

　　　　　Your　pleasure；　prithee；　lady　mine；　unfold；
　　　　　　　Declare　the　terms　that　I　am　to　obey；
　　　　　My　will　to　yours　submissively　I　mould；
　　　　　　　And　from　your　law　my　feet　shall　never　stray。
　　　　　　　Would　you　I　die；　to　silent　grief　a　prey？
　　　　　Then　count　me　even　now　as　dead　and　cold；
　　　　　　　Would　you　I　tell　my　woes　in　some　new　way？
　　　　　Then　shall　my　tale　by　Love　itself　be　told。
　　　　　The　unison　of　opposites　to　prove；
　　　　　　　Of　the　soft　wax　and　diamond　hard　am　I；
　　　　　But　still；　obedient　to　the　laws　of　love；
　　　　　　　Here；　hard　or　soft；　I　offer　you　my　breast；
　　　　　　　Whate'er　you　grave　or　stamp　thereon　shall　rest
　　　　　　　　　　　　Indelible　for　all　eternity。

With　an　〃Ah　me！〃　that　seemed　to　be　drawn　from　the　inmost　recesses　of
his　heart；　the　Knight　of　the　Grove　brought　his　lay　to　an　end；　and
shortly　afterwards　exclaimed　in　a　melancholy　and　piteous　voice；　〃O
fairest　and　most　ungrateful　woman　on　earth！　What！　can　it　be；　most
serene　Casildea　de　Vandalia；　that　thou　wilt　suffer　this　thy　captive
knight　to　waste　away　and　perish　in　ceaseless　wanderings　and　rude　and
arduous　toils？　It　is　not　enough　that　I　have　compelled　all　the
knights　of　Navarre；　all　the　Leonese；　all　the　Tartesians；　all　the
Castilians；　and　finally　all　the　knights　of　La　Mancha；　to　confess
thee　the　most　beautiful　in　the　world？〃
　　〃Not　so；〃　said　Don　Quixote　at　this；　〃for　I　am　of　La　Mancha；　and　I
have　never　confessed　anything　of　the　sort；　nor　could　I　nor　should　I
confess　a　thing　so　much　to　the　prejudice　of　my　lady's　beauty；　thou
seest　how　this　knight　is　raving；　Sancho。　But　let　us　listen；　perhaps　he
will　tell　us　more　about　himself。〃
　　〃That　he　will；〃　returned　Sancho；　〃for　he　seems　in　a　mood　to　bewail
himself　for　a　month　at　a　stretch。〃
　　But　this　was　not　the　case；　for　the　Knight　of　the　Grove；　hearing
voices　near　him；　instead　of　continuing　his　lamentation；　stood　up　and
exclaimed　in　a　distinct　but　courteous　tone；　〃Who　goes　there？　What
are　you？　Do　you　belong　to　the　number　of　the　happy　or　of　the
miserable？〃
　　〃Of　the　miserable；〃　answered　Don　Quixote。
　　〃Then　come　to　me；〃　said　he　of　the　Grove；　〃and　rest　assured　that　it
is　to　woe　itself　and　affliction　itself　you　come。〃
　　Don　Quixote；　finding　himself　answered　in　such　a　soft　and　courteous
manner；　went　over　to　him；　and　so　did　Sancho。
　　The　doleful　knight　took　Don　Quixote　by　the　arm；　saying；　〃Sit　down
here；　sir　knight；　for；　that　you　are　one；　and　of　those　that　profess
knight…errantry；　it　is　to　me　a　sufficient　proof　to　have　found　you　in
this　place；　where　solitude　and　night；　the　natural　couch　and　proper
retreat　of　knights…errant；　keep　you　company。〃　To　which　Don　made
answer；　〃A　knight　I　am　of　the　profession　you　mention；　and　though
sorrows；　misfortunes；　and　calamities　have　made　my　heart　their　abode；
the　compassion　I　feel　for　the　misfortunes　of　others　has　not　been
thereby　banished　from　it。　From　what　you　have　just　now　sung　I　gather
that　yours　spring　from　love；　I　mean　from　the　love　you　bear　that　fair
ingrate　you　named　in　your　lament。〃
　　In　the　meantime；　they　had　seated　themselves　together　on　the　hard
ground　peaceably　and　sociably；　just　as　if；　as　soon　as　day　broke；
they　were　not　going　to　break　one　another's　heads。
　　〃Are　you；　sir　knight；　in　love　perchance？〃　asked　he　of　the　Grove　of
Don　Quixote。
　　〃By　mischance　I　am；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃though　the　ills　arising
from　well…bestowed　affections　should　be　esteemed　favours　rather　than
misfortunes。〃
　　〃That　is　true；〃　returned　he　of　the　Grove；　〃if　scorn　did　not　unsettle
our　reason　and　understanding；　for　if　it　be　excessive　it　looks　like
revenge。〃
　　〃I　was　never　scorned　by　my　lady；〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　〃Certainly　not；〃　said　Sancho；　who　stood　close　by；　〃for　my　lady　is　as
a　lamb；　and　softer　than　a　roll　of　butter。〃
　　〃Is　this　your　squire？〃　asked　he　of　the　Grove。
　　〃He　is；〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　〃I　never　yet　saw　a　squire；〃　said　h