don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第137节
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Dulcinea del Toboso； once upon a time called Aldonza Lorenzo； just
as I call mine Casildea de Vandalia because her name is Casilda and
she is of Andalusia。 If all these tokens are not enough to vindicate
the truth of what I say； here is my sword； that will compel
incredulity itself to give credence to it。〃
〃Calm yourself； sir knight；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and give ear to what
I am about to say to you。 you。I would have you know that this Don
Quixote you speak of is the greatest friend I have in the world； so
much so that I may say I regard him in the same light as my own
person； and from the precise and clear indications you have given I
cannot but think that he must be the very one you have vanquished。
On the other hand； I see with my eyes and feel with my hands that it
is impossible it can have been the same； unless indeed it be that；
as he has many enemies who are enchanters； and one in particular who
is always persecuting him； some one of these may have taken his
shape in order to allow himself to be vanquished； so as to defraud him
of the fame that his exalted achievements as a knight have earned
and acquired for him throughout the known world。 And in confirmation
of this； I must tell you； too； that it is but ten hours since these
said enchanters his enemies transformed the shape and person of the
fair Dulcinea del Toboso into a foul and mean village lass； and in the
same way they must have transformed Don Quixote； and if all this
does not suffice to convince you of the truth of what I say； here is
Don Quixote himself； who will maintain it by arms； on foot or on
horseback or in any way you please。〃
And so saying he stood up and laid his hand on his sword； waiting to
see what the Knight of the Grove would do； who in an equally calm
voice said in reply； 〃Pledges don't distress a good payer； he who
has succeeded in vanquishing you once when transformed； Sir Don
Quixote； may fairly hope to subdue you in your own proper shape； but
as it is not becoming for knights to perform their feats of arms in
the dark； like highwaymen and bullies； let us wait till daylight； that
the sun may behold our deeds； and the conditions of our combat shall
be that the vanquished shall be at the victor's disposal； to do all
that he may enjoin； provided the injunction be such as shall be
becoming a knight。〃
〃I am more than satisfied with these conditions and terms；〃
replied Don Quixote； and so saying； they betook themselves to where
their squires lay； and found them snoring； and in the same posture
they were in when sleep fell upon them。 They roused them up； and
bade them get the horses ready； as at sunrise they were to engage in a
bloody and arduous single combat； at which intelligence Sancho was
aghast and thunderstruck； trembling for the safety of his master
because of the mighty deeds he had heard the squire of the Grove
ascribe to his； but without a word the two squires went in quest of
their cattle； for by this time the three horses and the ass had
smelt one another out； and were all together。
On the way； he of the Grove said to Sancho； 〃You must know； brother；
that it is the custom with the fighting men of Andalusia； when they
are godfathers in any quarrel； not to stand idle with folded arms
while their godsons fight； I say so to remind you that while our
masters are fighting； we； too； have to fight； and knock one another to
shivers。〃
〃That custom； sir squire；〃 replied Sancho； 〃may hold good among
those bullies and fighting men you talk of； but certainly not among
the squires of knights…errant； at least； I have never heard my
master speak of any custom of the sort； and he knows all the laws of
knight…errantry by heart； but granting it true that there is an
express law that squires are to fight while their masters are
fighting； I don't mean to obey it； but to pay the penalty that may
be laid on peacefully minded squires like myself； for I am sure it
cannot be more than two pounds of wax； and I would rather pay that；
for I know it will cost me less than the lint I shall be at the
expense of to mend my head； which I look upon as broken and split
already； there's another thing that makes it impossible for me to
fight； that I have no sword； for I never carried one in my life。〃
〃I know a good remedy for that；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃I have
here two linen bags of the same size； you shall take one； and I the
other； and we will fight at bag blows with equal arms。〃
〃If that's the way； so be it with all my heart；〃 said Sancho； 〃for
that sort of battle will serve to knock the dust out of us instead
of hurting us。〃
〃That will not do；〃 said the other； 〃for we must put into the
bags； to keep the wind from blowing them away； half a dozen nice
smooth pebbles； all of the same weight； and in this way we shall be
able to baste one another without doing ourselves any harm or
mischief。〃
〃Body of my father！〃 said Sancho； 〃see what marten and sable； and
pads of carded cotton he is putting into the bags； that our heads
may not be broken and our bones beaten to jelly！ But even if they
are filled with toss silk； I can tell you； senor； I am not going to
fight； let our masters fight； that's their lookout； and let us drink
and live； for time will take care to ease us of our lives； without our
going to look for fillips so that they may be finished off before
their proper time comes and they drop from ripeness。〃
〃Still；〃 returned he of the Grove； 〃we must fight； if it be only for
half an hour。〃
〃By no means；〃 said Sancho； 〃I am not going to be so discourteous or
so ungrateful as to have any quarrel； be it ever so small； with one
I have eaten and drunk with； besides； who the devil could bring
himself to fight in cold blood； without anger or provocation？〃
〃I can remedy that entirely；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃and in this
way： before we begin the battle； I will come up to your worship fair
and softly； and give you three or four buffets； with which I shall
stretch you at my feet and rouse your anger； though it were sleeping
sounder than a dormouse。〃
〃To match that plan；〃 said Sancho； 〃I have another that is not a
whit behind it； I will take a cudgel； and before your worship comes
near enough to waken my anger I will send yours so sound to sleep with
whacks； that it won't waken unless it be in the other world； where
it is known that I am not a man to let my face be handled by anyone；
let each look out for the arrow… though the surer way would be to
let everyone's anger sleep； for nobody knows the heart of anyone；
and a man may come for wool and go back shorn； God gave his blessing
to peace and his curse to quarrels； if a hunted cat； surrounded and
hard pressed； turns into a lion； God knows what I； who am a man； may
turn into； and so from this time forth I warn you； sir squire； that
all the harm and mischief that may come of our quarrel will be put
down to your account。〃
〃Very good；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃God will send the dawn and we
shall be all right。〃
And now gay…plumaged birds of all sorts began to warble in the
trees； and with their varied and gladsome notes seemed to welcome
and salute the fresh morn that was beginning to show the beauty of her
countenance at the gates and balconies of the east； shaking from her
locks a profusion of liquid pearls； in which dulcet moisture bathed；
the plants； too； seemed to shed and shower down a pearly spray； the
willows distilled sweet manna； the fountains laughed； the brooks
babbled； the woods rejoiced； and the meadows arrayed themselves in all
their glory at her coming。 But hardly had the light of day made it
possible to see and distinguish things； when the first object that
presented itself to the eyes of Sancho Panza was the squire of the
Grove's nose； which was so big that it almost overshadowed his whole
body。 It is； in fact； stated； that it was of enormous size； hooked
in the middle； covered with warts； and of a mulberry colour like an
egg…plant； it hung down two fingers' length below his mouth； and the
size； the colour； the warts； and the bend of it； made his face so
hideous； that Sancho； as he looked at him； began to tremble hand and
foot like a child in convulsions； and he vowed in his heart to let
himself be given two hundred buffets； sooner than be provoked to fight
that monster。 Don Quixote examined his adversary； and found that he
already had his helmet on and visor lowered； so that he could not
see his face； he observed； however； that he was a sturdily built
man； but not very tall in stature。 Over his armour he wore a surcoat
or cassock of what seemed to be the finest cloth of gold； all
bespangled with glittering mirrors like little moons； which gave him
an extremely gallant and splendid appearance； above his helmet
fluttered a great quantity of plumes； green； yellow； and white； and
his lance； which was leaning against a tree； was very long and
stout； and had a steel point more than a palm in length。
Don Quixote observed all； and took note of all； and from what he saw
and observed he concluded that the said knight must be a man of
great strength； but he did not for all that give way to fear； like
Sancho Panza； on the contrary； with a composed and dauntless air； he
sai
