don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第136节
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Sancho kept spitting from time to time； and his spittle seemed
somewhat ropy and dry； observing which the compassionate squire of the
Grove said； 〃It seems to me that with all this talk of ours our
tongues are sticking to the roofs of our mouths； but I have a pretty
good loosener hanging from the saddle…bow of my horse；〃 and getting up
he came back the next minute with a large bota of wine and a pasty
half a yard across； and this is no exaggeration； for it was made of
a house rabbit so big that Sancho； as he handled it； took it to be
made of a goat； not to say a kid； and looking at it he said； 〃And do
you carry this with you； senor？〃
〃Why； what are you thinking about？〃 said the other； 〃do you take
me for some paltry squire？ I carry a better larder on my horse's croup
than a general takes with him when he goes on a march。〃
Sancho ate without requiring to be pressed； and in the dark bolted
mouthfuls like the knots on a tether； and said he； 〃You are a proper
trusty squire； one of the right sort； sumptuous and grand； as this
banquet shows； which； if it has not come here by magic art； at any
rate has the look of it； not like me； unlucky beggar； that have
nothing more in my alforjas than a scrap of cheese； so hard that one
might brain a giant with it； and； to keep it company； a few dozen
carobs and as many more filberts and walnuts； thanks to the
austerity of my master； and the idea he has and the rule he follows；
that knights…errant must not live or sustain themselves on anything
except dried fruits and the herbs of the field。〃
〃By my faith； brother；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃my stomach is not
made for thistles； or wild pears； or roots of the woods； let our
masters do as they like； with their chivalry notions and laws； and eat
what those enjoin； I carry my prog…basket and this bota hanging to the
saddle…bow； whatever they may say； and it is such an object of worship
with me； and I love it so； that there is hardly a moment but I am
kissing and embracing it over and over again；〃 and so saying he thrust
it into Sancho's hands； who raising it aloft pointed to his mouth；
gazed at the stars for a quarter of an hour； and when he had done
drinking let his head fall on one side； and giving a deep sigh；
exclaimed； 〃Ah； whoreson rogue； how catholic it is！〃
〃There； you see；〃 said he of the Grove； hearing Sancho's
exclamation； 〃how you have called this wine whoreson by way of
praise。〃
〃Well；〃 said Sancho； 〃I own it； and I grant it is no dishonour to
call anyone whoreson when it is to be understood as praise。 But tell
me； senor； by what you love best； is this Ciudad Real wine？〃
〃O rare wine…taster！〃 said he of the Grove； 〃nowhere else indeed
does it come from； and it has some years' age too。〃
〃Leave me alone for that；〃 said Sancho； 〃never fear but I'll hit
upon the place it came from somehow。 What would you say； sir squire；
to my having such a great natural instinct in judging wines that you
have only to let me smell one and I can tell positively its country；
its kind； its flavour and soundness； the changes it will undergo；
and everything that appertains to a wine？ But it is no wonder； for I
have had in my family； on my father's side； the two best
wine…tasters that have been known in La Mancha for many a long year；
and to prove it I'll tell you now a thing that happened them。 They
gave the two of them some wine out of a cask； to try； asking their
opinion as to the condition； quality； goodness or badness of the wine。
One of them tried it with the tip of his tongue； the other did no more
than bring it to his nose。 The first said the wine had a flavour of
iron； the second said it had a stronger flavour of cordovan。 The owner
said the cask was clean； and that nothing had been added to the wine
from which it could have got a flavour of either iron or leather。
Nevertheless； these two great wine…tasters held to what they had said。
Time went by； the wine was sold； and when they came to clean out the
cask； they found in it a small key hanging to a thong of cordovan； see
now if one who comes of the same stock has not a right to give his
opinion in such like cases。〃
〃Therefore； I say；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃let us give up going in
quest of adventures； and as we have loaves let us not go looking for
cakes； but return to our cribs； for God will find us there if it be
his will。〃
〃Until my master reaches Saragossa；〃 said Sancho； 〃I'll remain in
his service； after that we'll see。〃
The end of it was that the two squires talked so much and drank so
much that sleep had to tie their tongues and moderate their thirst；
for to quench it was impossible； and so the pair of them fell asleep
clinging to the now nearly empty bota and with half…chewed morsels
in their mouths； and there we will leave them for the present； to
relate what passed between the Knight of the Grove and him of the
Rueful Countenance。
CHAPTER XIV
WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE ADVENTURE OF THE KNIGHT OF THE GROVE
AMONG the things that passed between Don Quixote and the Knight of
the Wood； the history tells us he of the Grove said to Don Quixote；
〃In fine； sir knight； I would have you know that my destiny； or；
more properly speaking； my choice led me to fall in love with the
peerless Casildea de Vandalia。 I call her peerless because she has
no peer； whether it be in bodily stature or in the supremacy of rank
and beauty。 This same Casildea； then； that I speak of； requited my
honourable passion and gentle aspirations by compelling me； as his
stepmother did Hercules； to engage in many perils of various sorts； at
the end of each promising me that； with the end of the next； the
object of my hopes should be attained； but my labours have gone on
increasing link by link until they are past counting； nor do I know
what will be the last one that is to be the beginning of the
accomplishment of my chaste desires。 On one occasion she bade me go
and challenge the famous giantess of Seville； La Giralda by name；
who is as mighty and strong as if made of brass； and though never
stirring from one spot； is the most restless and changeable woman in
the world。 I came； I saw； I conquered； and I made her stay quiet and
behave herself； for nothing but north winds blew for more than a week。
Another time I was ordered to lift those ancient stones； the mighty
bulls of Guisando； an enterprise that might more fitly be entrusted to
porters than to knights。 Again； she bade me fling myself into the
cavern of Cabra… an unparalleled and awful peril… and bring her a
minute account of all that is concealed in those gloomy depths。 I
stopped the motion of the Giralda； I lifted the bulls of Guisando； I
flung myself into the cavern and brought to light the secrets of its
abyss； and my hopes are as dead as dead can be； and her scorn and
her commands as lively as ever。 To be brief； last of all she has
commanded me to go through all the provinces of Spain and compel all
the knights…errant wandering therein to confess that she surpasses all
women alive to…day in beauty； and that I am the most valiant and the
most deeply enamoured knight on earth； in support of which claim I
have already travelled over the greater part of Spain； and have
there vanquished several knights who have dared to contradict me；
but what I most plume and pride myself upon is having vanquished in
single combat that so famous knight Don Quixote of La Mancha； and made
him confess that my Casildea is more beautiful than his Dulcinea；
and in this one victory I hold myself to have conquered all the
knights in the world； for this Don Quixote that I speak of has
vanquished them all； and I having vanquished him； his glory； his fame；
and his honour have passed and are transferred to my person； for
The more the vanquished hath of fair renown；
The greater glory gilds the victor's crown。
Thus the innumerable achievements of the said Don Quixote are now
set down to my account and have become mine。〃
Don Quixote was amazed when he heard the Knight of the Grove； and
was a thousand times on the point of telling him he lied； and had
the lie direct already on the tip of his tongue； but he restrained
himself as well as he could； in order to force him to confess the
lie with his own lips； so he said to him quietly； 〃As to what you say；
sir knight； about having vanquished most of the knights of Spain； or
even of the whole world； I say nothing； but that you have vanquished
Don Quixote of La Mancha I consider doubtful； it may have been some
other that resembled him； although there are few like him。〃
〃How！ not vanquished？〃 said he of the Grove； 〃by the heaven that
is above us I fought Don Quixote and overcame him and made him
yield； and he is a man of tall stature； gaunt features； long； lank
limbs； with hair turning grey； an aquiline nose rather hooked； and
large black drooping moustaches； he does battle under the name of 'The
Countenance；' and he has for squire a peasant called Sancho Panza；
he presses the loins and rules the reins of a famous steed called
Rocinante； and lastly； he has for the mistress of his will a certain
Dulcinea del Toboso； once upon a time called Aldonza Lorenzo； just
as I call mine Casildea de Vandali
