don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第144节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


as　I　must　have　seemed　to　you。　A　gallant　knight　shows　to　advantage
bringing　his　lance　to　bear　adroitly　upon　a　fierce　bull　under　the
eyes　of　his　sovereign；　in　the　midst　of　a　spacious　plaza；　a　knight
shows　to　advantage　arrayed　in　glittering　armour；　pacing　the　lists
before　the　ladies　in　some　joyous　tournament；　and　all　those　knights
show　to　advantage　that　entertain；　divert；　and；　if　we　may　say　so；
honour　the　courts　of　their　princes　by　warlike　exercises；　or　what
resemble　them；　but　to　greater　advantage　than　all　these　does　a
knight…errant　show　when　he　traverses　deserts；　solitudes；
cross…roads；　forests；　and　mountains；　in　quest　of　perilous
adventures；　bent　on　bringing　them　to　a　happy　and　successful　issue；　all
to　win　a　glorious　and　lasting　renown。　To　greater　advantage；　I
maintain；　does　the　knight…errant　show　bringing　aid　to　some　widow　in
some　lonely　waste；　than　the　court　knight　dallying　with　some　city
damsel。　All　knights　have　their　own　special　parts　to　play；　let　the
courtier　devote　himself　to　the　ladies；　let　him　add　lustre　to　his
sovereign's　court　by　his　liveries；　let　him　entertain　poor　gentlemen
with　the　sumptuous　fare　of　his　table；　let　him　arrange　joustings；
marshal　tournaments；　and　prove　himself　noble；　generous；　and
magnificent；　and　above　all　a　good　Christian；　and　so　doing　he　will
fulfil　the　duties　that　are　especially　his；　but　let　the　knight…errant
explore　the　corners　of　the　earth　and　penetrate　the　most　intricate
labyrinths；　at　each　step　let　him　attempt　impossibilities；　on
desolate　heaths　let　him　endure　the　burning　rays　of　the　midsummer
sun；　and　the　bitter　inclemency　of　the　winter　winds　and　frosts；　let
no　lions　daunt　him；　no　monsters　terrify　him；　no　dragons　make　him
quail；　for　to　seek　these；　to　attack　those；　and　to　vanquish　all；　are　in
truth　his　main　duties。　I；　then；　as　it　has　fallen　to　my　lot　to　be　a
member　of　knight…errantry；　cannot　avoid　attempting　all　that　to　me
seems　to　come　within　the　sphere　of　my　duties；　thus　it　was　my　bounden
duty　to　attack　those　lions　that　I　just　now　attacked；　although　I　knew
it　to　be　the　height　of　rashness；　for　I　know　well　what　valour　is；
that　it　is　a　virtue　that　occupies　a　place　between　two　vicious
extremes；　cowardice　and　temerity；　but　it　will　be　a　lesser　evil　for　him
who　is　valiant　to　rise　till　he　reaches　the　point　of　rashness；　than
to　sink　until　he　reaches　the　point　of　cowardice；　for；　as　it　is
easier　for　the　prodigal　than　for　the　miser　to　become　generous；　so　it
is　easier　for　a　rash　man　to　prove　truly　valiant　than　for　a　coward　to
rise　to　true　valour；　and　believe　me；　Senor　Don　Diego；　in　attempting
adventures　it　is　better　to　lose　by　a　card　too　many　than　by　a　card
too　few；　for　to　hear　it　said；　'such　a　knight　is　rash　and　daring；'
sounds　better　than　'such　a　knight　is　timid　and　cowardly。'〃
　　〃I　protest；　Senor　Don　Quixote；〃　said　Don　Diego；　〃everything　you　have
said　and　done　is　proved　correct　by　the　test　of　reason　itself；　and　I
believe；　if　the　laws　and　ordinances　of　knight…errantry　should　be　lost；
they　might　be　found　in　your　worship's　breast　as　in　their　own　proper
depository　and　muniment…house；　but　let　us　make　haste；　and　reach　my
village；　where　you　shall　take　rest　after　your　late　exertions；　for　if
they　have　not　been　of　the　body　they　have　been　of　the　spirit；　and　these
sometimes　tend　to　produce　bodily　fatigue。〃
　　〃I　take　the　invitation　as　a　great　favour　and　honour；　Senor　Don
Diego；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　and　pressing　forward　at　a　better　pace
than　before；　at　about　two　in　the　afternoon　they　reached　the　village
and　house　of　Don　Diego；　or；　as　Don　Quixote　called　him；　〃The　Knight
of　the　Green　Gaban。〃
　　

CHAPTER　XVIII
　　OF　WHAT　HAPPENED　DON　QUIXOTE　IN　THE　CASTLE　OR　HOUSE　OF　THE　KNIGHT　OF
THE　GREEN　GABAN；　TOGETHER　WITH　OTHER　MATTERS　OUT　OF　THE　COMMON

　　DON　QUIXOTE　found　Don　Diego　de　Miranda's　house　built　in　village
style；　with　his　arms　in　rough　stone　over　the　street　door；　in　the　patio
was　the　store…room；　and　at　the　entrance　the　cellar；　with　plenty　of
wine…jars　standing　round；　which；　coming　from　El　Toboso；　brought　back
to　his　memory　his　enchanted　and　transformed　Dulcinea；　and　with　a　sigh；
and　not　thinking　of　what　he　was　saying；　or　in　whose　presence　he　was；
he　exclaimed…

　　　　　〃O　ye　sweet　treasures；　to　my　sorrow　found！
　　　　　Once　sweet　and　welcome　when　'twas　heaven's　good…will。

O　ye　Tobosan　jars；　how　ye　bring　back　to　my　memory　the　sweet　object
of　my　bitter　regrets！〃
　　The　student　poet；　Don　Diego's　son；　who　had　come　out　with　his
mother　to　receive　him；　heard　this　exclamation；　and　both　mother　and　son
were　filled　with　amazement　at　the　extraordinary　figure　he　presented；
he；　however；　dismounting　from　Rocinante；　advanced　with　great
politeness　to　ask　permission　to　kiss　the　lady's　hand；　while　Don
Diego　said；　〃Senora；　pray　receive　with　your　wonted　kindness　Senor
Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　whom　you　see　before　you；　a　knight…errant；
and　the　bravest　and　wisest　in　the　world。〃
　　The　lady；　whose　name　was　Dona　Christina；　received　him　with　every
sign　of　good…will　and　great　courtesy；　and　Don　Quixote　placed　himself
at　her　service　with　an　abundance　of　well…chosen　and　polished
phrases。　Almost　the　same　civilities　were　exchanged　between　him　and　the
student；　who　listening　to　Don　Quixote；　took　him　to　be　a　sensible；
clear…headed　person。
　　Here　the　author　describes　minutely　everything　belonging　to　Don
Diego's　mansion；　putting　before　us　in　his　picture　the　whole　contents
of　a　rich　gentleman…farmer's　house；　but　the　translator　of　the
history　thought　it　best　to　pass　over　these　and　other　details　of　the
same　sort　in　silence；　as　they　are　not　in　harmony　with　the　main　purpose
of　the　story；　the　strong　point　of　which　is　truth　rather　than　dull
digressions。
　　They　led　Don　Quixote　into　a　room；　and　Sancho　removed　his　armour；
leaving　him　in　loose　Walloon　breeches　and　chamois…leather　doublet；　all
stained　with　the　rust　of　his　armour；　his　collar　was　a　falling　one　of
scholastic　cut；　without　starch　or　lace；　his　buskins　buff…coloured；　and
his　shoes　polished。　He　wore　his　good　sword；　which　hung　in　a　baldric　of
sea…wolf's　skin；　for　he　had　suffered　for　many　years；　they　say；　from　an
ailment　of　the　kidneys；　and　over　all　he　threw　a　long　cloak　of　good
grey　cloth。　But　first　of　all；　with　five　or　six　buckets　of　water　（for
as　regard　the　number　of　buckets　there　is　some　dispute）；　he　washed
his　head　and　face；　and　still　the　water　remained　whey…coloured；
thanks　to　Sancho's　greediness　and　purchase　of　those　unlucky　curds　that
turned　his　master　so　white。　Thus　arrayed；　and　with　an　easy；　sprightly；
and　gallant　air；　Don　Quixote　passed　out　into　another　room；　where　the
student　was　waiting　to　entertain　him　while　the　table　was　being　laid；
for　on　the　arrival　of　so　distinguished　a　guest；　Dona　Christina　was
anxious　to　show　that　she　knew　how　and　was　able　to　give　a　becoming
reception　to　those　who　came　to　her　house。
　　While　Don　Quixote　was　taking　off　his　armour；　Don　Lorenzo　（for　so　Don
Diego's　son　was　called）　took　the　opportunity　to　say　to　his　father；
〃What　are　we　to　make　of　this　gentleman　you　have　brought　home　to　us；
sir？　For　his　name；　his　appearance；　and　your　describing　him　as　a
knight…errant　have　completely　puzzled　my　mother　and　me。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　what　to　say；　my　son；〃　replied。　Don　Diego；　〃all　I　can
tell　thee　is　that　I　have　seen　him　act　the　acts　of　the　greatest
madman　in　the　world；　and　heard　him　make　observations　so　sensible
that　they　efface　and　undo　all　he　does；　do　thou　talk　to　him　and　feel
the　pulse　of　his　wits；　and　as　thou　art　shrewd；　form　the　most
reasonable　conclusion　thou　canst　as　to　his　wisdom　or　folly；　though；　to
tell　the　truth；　I　am　more　inclined　to　take　him　to　be　mad　than　sane。〃
　　With　this　Don　Lorenzo　went　away　to　entertain　Don　Quixote　as　has　been
said；　and　in　the　course　of　the　conversation　that　passed　between　them
Don　Quixote　said　to　Don　Lorenzo；　〃Your　father；　Senor　Don　Diego　de
Miranda；　has　told　me　of　the　rare　abilities　and　subtle　intellect　you
possess；　and；　above　all；　that　you　are　a　great　poet。〃
　　〃A　poet；　it　may　be；〃　replied　Don　Lorenzo；　〃but　a　great　one；　by　no
means。　It　is　true　that　I　am　somewhat　given　to　poetry　and　to　reading
good　poets；　but　not　so　much　so　as　to　justify　the　title　of　'great'
which　my　father　gives　me。〃
　　〃I　do　not　dislike　that　modesty；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃for　there　is
no　poet　who　is　not　conceited　and　does　not　think　he　is　the　best　poet　in
the　world。〃
　　〃There　is　no　rule　without　an　exception；〃　said　Don　Lorenzo；　〃there
may　be　some　who　are　poets　and　yet　do　not　think　they　are。〃
　　〃Very　few；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃but　tell　me；　what　verses　are　those
which　you　have　now　in　hand；　and　which　your　father　tells　me　keep　you
somewhat　restless　and　absorbed？　If　it　be　some　gloss；　I　know
something　about　glosses；　and　I　should　like　to　hear　them；　and　if　they
are　for　a　poetical　tournament；　contrive　to　carry　off　the　second　prize；
for　the　first　always　goes　by　favour　or　personal　standing；　the　second
by　simple　justice；　and　so　the　third　comes　to　be　the　second；　and　the
first；　reckoning　in　this　way；　will　be　third；　in　the　same　way　as
licentiate　degrees　are　conferred　at　the　universities；　but；　for　all
that；　the　title　of　first　is　a　great　distinction。〃
　　〃So　far；〃　said　Don　Lorenzo　to　himself；　〃I　should　not　take　you　to
be　a　madman；　but　let　us　go　on。〃　So　he　said　to　him；　〃Your　wo