don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第199部分

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and　quietly　crept　to　the　door　of　the　room　and　posted　themselves　so
close　to　it　that　they　could　hear　all　that　was　said　inside。　But　when
the　duchess　heard　how　the　Rodriguez　had　made　public　the　Aranjuez　of
her　issues　she　could　not　restrain　herself；　nor　Altisidora　either；
and　so；　filled　with　rage　and　thirsting　for　vengeance；　they　burst
into　the　room　and　tormented　Don　Quixote　and　flogged　the　duenna　in
the　manner　already　described；　for　indignities　offered　to　their
charms　and　self…esteem　mightily　provoke　the　anger　of　women　and　make
them　eager　for　revenge。　The　duchess　told　the　duke　what　had　happened；
and　he　was　much　amused　by　it；　and　she；　in　pursuance　of　her　design　of
making　merry　and　diverting　herself　with　Don　Quixote；　despatched　the
page　who　had　played　the　part　of　Dulcinea　in　the　negotiations　for　her
disenchantment　（which　Sancho　Panza　in　the　cares　of　government　had
forgotten　all　about）　to　Teresa　Panza　his　wife　with　her　husband's
letter　and　another　from　herself；　and　also　a　great　string　of　fine　coral
beads　as　a　present。
　　Now　the　history　says　this　page　was　very　sharp　and　quick…witted；
and　eager　to　serve　his　lord　and　lady　he　set　off　very　willingly　for
Sancho's　village。　Before　he　entered　it　he　observed　a　number　of　women
washing　in　a　brook；　and　asked　them　if　they　could　tell　him　whether
there　lived　there　a　woman　of　the　name　of　Teresa　Panza；　wife　of　one
Sancho　Panza；　squire　to　a　knight　called　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha。　At
the　question　a　young　girl　who　was　washing　stood　up　and　said；　〃Teresa
Panza　is　my　mother；　and　that　Sancho　is　my　father；　and　that　knight　is
our　master。〃
　　〃Well　then；　miss；〃　said　the　page；　〃come　and　show　me　where　your
mother　is；　for　I　bring　her　a　letter　and　a　present　from　your　father。〃
　　〃That　I　will　with　all　my　heart；　senor；〃　said　the　girl；　who　seemed　to
be　about　fourteen；　more　or　less；　and　leaving　the　clothes　she　was
washing　to　one　of　her　companions；　and　without　putting　anything　on
her　head　or　feet；　for　she　was　bare…legged　and　had　her　hair　hanging
about　her；　away　she　skipped　in　front　of　the　page's　horse；　saying；
〃Come；　your　worship；　our　house　is　at　the　entrance　of　the　town；　and
my　mother　is　there；　sorrowful　enough　at　not　having　had　any　news　of
my　father　this　ever　so　long。〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　the　page；　〃I　am　bringing　her　such　good　news　that　she
will　have　reason　to　thank　God。〃
　　And　then；　skipping；　running；　and　capering；　the　girl　reached　the
town；　but　before　going　into　the　house　she　called　out　at　the　door；
〃Come　out；　mother　Teresa；　come　out；　come　out；　here's　a　gentleman
with　letters　and　other　things　from　my　good　father。〃　At　these　words　her
mother　Teresa　Panza　came　out　spinning　a　bundle　of　flax；　in　a　grey
petticoat　（so　short　was　it　one　would　have　fancied　〃they　to　her　shame
had　cut　it　short〃）；　a　grey　bodice　of　the　same　stuff；　and　a　smock。
She　was　not　very　old；　though　plainly　past　forty；　strong；　healthy；
vigorous；　and　sun…dried；　and　seeing　her　daughter　and　the　page　on
horseback；　she　exclaimed；　〃What's　this；　child？　What　gentleman　is
this？〃
　　〃A　servant　of　my　lady；　Dona　Teresa　Panza；〃　replied　the　page；　and
suiting　the　action　to　the　word　he　flung　himself　off　his　horse；　and
with　great　humility　advanced　to　kneel　before　the　lady　Teresa；
saying；　〃Let　me　kiss　your　hand；　Senora　Dona　Teresa；　as　the　lawful
and　only　wife　of　Senor　Don　Sancho　Panza；　rightful　governor　of　the
island　of　Barataria。〃
　　〃Ah；　senor；　get　up；　do　that；〃　said　Teresa；　〃for　I'm　not　a　bit　of　a
court　lady；　but　only　a　poor　country　woman；　the　daughter　of　a
clodcrusher；　and　the　wife　of　a　squire…errant　and　not　of　any　governor
at　all。〃
　　〃You　are；〃　said　the　page；　〃the　most　worthy　wife　of　a　most
arch…worthy　governor；　and　as　a　proof　of　what　I　say　accept　this
letter　and　this　present；〃　and　at　the　same　time　he　took　out　of　his
pocket　a　string　of　coral　beads　with　gold　clasps；　and　placed　it　on
her　neck；　and　said；　〃This　letter　is　from　his　lordship　the　governor；
and　the　other　as　well　as　these　coral　beads　from　my　lady　the　duchess；
who　sends　me　to　your　worship。〃
　　Teresa　stood　lost　in　astonishment；　and　her　daughter　just　as　much；
and　the　girl　said；　〃May　I　die　but　our　master　Don　Quixote's　at　the
bottom　of　this；　he　must　have　given　father　the　government　or　county
he　so　often　promised　him。〃
　　〃That　is　the　truth；〃　said　the　page；　〃for　it　is　through　Senor　Don
Quixote　that　Senor　Sancho　is　now　governor　of　the　island　of
Barataria；　as　will　be　seen　by　this　letter。〃
　　〃Will　your　worship　read　it　to　me；　noble　sir？〃　said　Teresa；　〃for
though　I　can　spin　I　can't　read；　not　a　scrap。〃
　　〃Nor　I　either；〃　said　Sanchica；　〃but　wait　a　bit；　and　I'll　go　and
fetch　some　one　who　can　read　it；　either　the　curate　himself　or　the
bachelor　Samson　Carrasco；　and　they'll　come　gladly　to　hear　any　news
of　my　father。〃
　　〃There　is　no　need　to　fetch　anybody；〃　said　the　page；　〃for　though　I
can't　spin　I　can　read；　and　I'll　read　it；〃　and　so　he　read　it　through；
but　as　it　has　been　already　given　it　is　not　inserted　here；　and　then
he　took　out　the　other　one　from　the　duchess；　which　ran　as　follows：

　　Friend　Teresa；…　Your　husband　Sancho's　good　qualities；　of　heart　as
well　as　of　head；　induced　and　compelled　me　to　request　my　husband　the
duke　to　give　him　the　government　of　one　of　his　many　islands。　I　am
told　he　governs　like　a　gerfalcon；　of　which　I　am　very　glad；　and　my　lord
the　duke；　of　course；　also；　and　I　am　very　thankful　to　heaven　that　I
have　not　made　a　mistake　in　choosing　him　for　that　same　government；
for　I　would　have　Senora　Teresa　know　that　a　good　governor　is　hard　to
find　in　this　world　and　may　God　make　me　as　good　as　Sancho's　way　of
governing。　Herewith　I　send　you；　my　dear；　a　string　of　coral　beads
with　gold　clasps；　I　wish　they　were　Oriental　pearls；　but　〃he　who
gives　thee　a　bone　does　not　wish　to　see　thee　dead；〃　a　time　will　come
when　we　shall　become　acquainted　and　meet　one　another；　but　God　knows
the　future。　Commend　me　to　your　daughter　Sanchica；　and　tell　her　from　me
to　hold　herself　in　readiness；　for　I　mean　to　make　a　high　match　for
her　when　she　least　expects　it。　They　tell　me　there　are　big　acorns　in
your　village；　send　me　a　couple　of　dozen　or　so；　and　I　shall　value
them　greatly　as　coming　from　your　hand；　and　write　to　me　at　length　to
assure　me　of　your　health　and　well…being；　and　if　there　be　anything
you　stand　in　need　of；　it　is　but　to　open　your　mouth；　and　that　shall
be　the　measure；　and　so　God　keep　you。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　From　this　place。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Your　loving　friend；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　DUCHESS。

　　〃Ah；　what　a　good；　plain；　lowly　lady！〃　said　Teresa　when　she　heard　the
letter；　〃that　I　may　be　buried　with　ladies　of　that　sort；　and　not　the
gentlewomen　we　have　in　this　town；　that　fancy　because　they　are
gentlewomen　the　wind　must　not　touch　them；　and　go　to　church　with　as
much　airs　as　if　they　were　queens；　no　less；　and　seem　to　think　they
are　disgraced　if　they　look　at　a　farmer's　wife！　And　see　here　how　this
good　lady；　for　all　she's　a　duchess；　calls　me　'friend；'　and　treats　me
as　if　I　was　her　equal…　and　equal　may　I　see　her　with　the　tallest
church…tower　in　La　Mancha！　And　as　for　the　acorns；　senor；　I'll　send　her
ladyship　a　peck　and　such　big　ones　that　one　might　come　to　see　them　as　a
show　and　a　wonder。　And　now；　Sanchica；　see　that　the　gentleman　is
comfortable；　put　up　his　horse；　and　get　some　eggs　out　of　the　stable；
and　cut　plenty　of　bacon；　and　let's　give　him　his　dinner　like　a
prince；　for　the　good　news　he　has　brought；　and　his　own　bonny　face
deserve　it　all；　and　meanwhile　I'll　run　out　and　give　the　neighbours　the
news　of　our　good　luck；　and　father　curate；　and　Master　Nicholas　the
barber；　who　are　and　always　have　been　such　friends　of　thy　father's。〃
　　〃That　I　will；　mother；〃　said　Sanchica；　〃but　mind；　you　must　give　me
half　of　that　string；　for　I　don't　think　my　lady　the　duchess　could
have　been　so　stupid　as　to　send　it　all　to　you。〃
　　〃It　is　all　for　thee；　my　child；〃　said　Teresa；　〃but　let　me　wear　it
round　my　neck　for　a　few　days；　for　verily　it　seems　to　make　my　heart
glad。〃
　　〃You　will　be　glad　too；〃　said　the　page；　〃when　you　see　the　bundle
there　is　in　this　portmanteau；　for　it　is　a　suit　of　the　finest　cloth；
that　the　governor　only　wore　one　day　out　hunting　and　now　sends；　all　for
Senora　Sanchica。〃
　　〃May　he　live　a　thousand　years；〃　said　Sanchica；　〃and　the　bearer　as
many；　nay　two　thousand；　if　needful。〃
　　With　this　Teresa　hurried　out　of　the　house　with　the　letters；　and　with
the　string　of　beads　round　her　neck；　and　went　along　thrumming　the
letters　as　if　they　were　a　tambourine；　and　by　chance　coming　across
the　curate　and　Samson　Carrasco　she　began　capering　and　saying；　〃None　of
us　poor　now；　faith！　We've　got　a　little　government！　Ay；　let　the
finest　fine　lady　tackle　me；　and　I'll　give　her　a　setting　down！〃
　　〃What's　all　this；　Teresa　Panza；〃　said　they；　〃what　madness　is　this；
and　what　papers　are　those？〃
　　〃The　madness　is　only　this；〃　said　she；　〃that　these　are　the　letters　of
duchesses　and　governors；　and　these　I　have　on　my　neck　are　fine　coral
beads；　with　ave…marias　and　paternosters　of　beaten　gold；　and　I　am　a
governess。〃
　　〃God　help　us；〃　said　the　curate；　〃we　don't　understand　you；　Teresa；　or
know　what　you　are　talking　about。〃
　　〃There；　you　may　see　it　yourselves；〃　said　Teresa；　and　she　handed　them
the　letters。
　　The　curate　read　them　out　for　Samson　Carrasco　t