don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第17节
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The girl grew up with such beauty that it reminded us of her mother's；
which was very great； and yet it was thought that the daughter's would
exceed it； and so when she reached the age of fourteen to fifteen
years nobody beheld her but blessed God that had made her so
beautiful； and the greater number were in love with her past
redemption。 Her uncle kept her in great seclusion and retirement；
but for all that the fame of her great beauty spread so that； as
well for it as for her great wealth； her uncle was asked； solicited；
and importuned； to give her in marriage not only by those of our
town but of those many leagues round； and by the persons of highest
quality in them。 But he； being a good Christian man； though he desired
to give her in marriage at once； seeing her to be old enough； was
unwilling to do so without her consent； not that he had any eye to the
gain and profit which the custody of the girl's property brought him
while he put off her marriage； and； faith； this was said in praise
of the good priest in more than one set in the town。 For I would
have you know； Sir Errant； that in these little villages everything is
talked about and everything is carped at； and rest assured； as I am；
that the priest must be over and above good who forces his
parishioners to speak well of him； especially in villages。〃
〃That is the truth；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but go on； for the story
is very good； and you； good Pedro； tell it with very good grace。〃
〃May that of the Lord not be wanting to me；〃 said Pedro； 〃that is
the one to have。 To proceed； you must know that though the uncle put
before his niece and described to her the qualities of each one in
particular of the many who had asked her in marriage； begging her to
marry and make a choice according to her own taste； she never gave any
other answer than that she had no desire to marry just yet； and that
being so young she did not think herself fit to bear the burden of
matrimony。 At these； to all appearance； reasonable excuses that she
made； her uncle ceased to urge her； and waited till she was somewhat
more advanced in age and could mate herself to her own liking。 For；
said he… and he said quite right… parents are not to settle children
in life against their will。 But when one least looked for it； lo and
behold！ one day the demure Marcela makes her appearance turned
shepherdess； and； in spite of her uncle and all those of the town that
strove to dissuade her； took to going a…field with the other
shepherd…lasses of the village； and tending her own flock。 And so；
since she appeared in public； and her beauty came to be seen openly； I
could not well tell you how many rich youths； gentlemen and
peasants； have adopted the costume of Chrysostom； and go about these
fields making love to her。 One of these； as has been already said； was
our deceased friend； of whom they say that he did not love but adore
her。 But you must not suppose； because Marcela chose a life of such
liberty and independence； and of so little or rather no retirement；
that she has given any occasion； or even the semblance of one； for
disparagement of her purity and modesty； on the contrary； such and
so great is the vigilance with which she watches over her honour； that
of all those that court and woo her not one has boasted； or can with
truth boast； that she has given him any hope however small of
obtaining his desire。 For although she does not avoid or shun the
society and conversation of the shepherds； and treats them courteously
and kindly； should any one of them come to declare his intention to
her； though it be one as proper and holy as that of matrimony； she
flings him from her like a catapult。 And with this kind of disposition
she does more harm in this country than if the plague had got into it；
for her affability and her beauty draw on the hearts of those that
associate with her to love her and to court her； but her scorn and her
frankness bring them to the brink of despair； and so they know not
what to say save to proclaim her aloud cruel and hard…hearted； and
other names of the same sort which well describe the nature of her
character； and if you should remain here any time； senor； you would
hear these hills and valleys resounding with the laments of the
rejected ones who pursue her。 Not far from this there is a spot
where there are a couple of dozen of tall beeches； and there is not
one of them but has carved and written on its smooth bark the name
of Marcela； and above some a crown carved on the same tree as though
her lover would say more plainly that Marcela wore and deserved that
of all human beauty。 Here one shepherd is sighing； there another is
lamenting； there love songs are heard； here despairing elegies。 One
will pass all the hours of the night seated at the foot of some oak or
rock； and there； without having closed his weeping eyes； the sun finds
him in the morning bemused and bereft of sense； and another without
relief or respite to his sighs； stretched on the burning sand in the
full heat of the sultry summer noontide； makes his appeal to the
compassionate heavens； and over one and the other； over these and all；
the beautiful Marcela triumphs free and careless。 And all of us that
know her are waiting to see what her pride will come to； and who is to
be the happy man that will succeed in taming a nature so formidable
and gaining possession of a beauty so supreme。 All that I have told
you being such well…established truth； I am persuaded that what they
say of the cause of Chrysostom's death； as our lad told us； is the
same。 And so I advise you； senor； fail not to be present to…morrow
at his burial； which will be well worth seeing； for Chrysostom had
many friends； and it is not half a league from this place to where
he directed he should be buried。〃
〃I will make a point of it；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and I thank you
for the pleasure you have given me by relating so interesting a tale。〃
〃Oh；〃 said the goatherd； 〃I do not know even the half of what has
happened to the lovers of Marcela； but perhaps to…morrow we may fall
in with some shepherd on the road who can tell us； and now it will
be well for you to go and sleep under cover； for the night air may
hurt your wound； though with the remedy I have applied to you there is
no fear of an untoward result。〃
Sancho Panza； who was wishing the goatherd's loquacity at the devil；
on his part begged his master to go into Pedro's hut to sleep。 He
did so； and passed all the rest of the night in thinking of his lady
Dulcinea； in imitation of the lovers of Marcela。 Sancho Panza
settled himself between Rocinante and his ass； and slept； not like a
lover who had been discarded； but like a man who had been soundly
kicked。
CHAPTER XIII
IN WHICH IS ENDED THE STORY OF THE SHEPHERDESS MARCELA； WITH OTHER
INCIDENTS
BUT hardly had day begun to show itself through the balconies of the
east； when five of the six goatherds came to rouse Don Quixote and
tell him that if he was still of a mind to go and see the famous
burial of Chrysostom they would bear him company。 Don Quixote； who
desired nothing better； rose and ordered Sancho to saddle and pannel
at once； which he did with all despatch； and with the same they all
set out forthwith。 They had not gone a quarter of a league when at the
meeting of two paths they saw coming towards them some six shepherds
dressed in black sheepskins and with their heads crowned with garlands
of cypress and bitter oleander。 Each of them carried a stout holly
staff in his hand； and along with them there came two men of quality
on horseback in handsome travelling dress； with three servants on foot
accompanying them。 Courteous salutations were exchanged on meeting；
and inquiring one of the other which way each party was going； they
learned that all were bound for the scene of the burial； so they
went on all together。
One of those on horseback addressing his companion said to him；
〃It seems to me； Senor Vivaldo； that we may reckon as well spent the
delay we shall incur in seeing this remarkable funeral； for remarkable
it cannot but be judging by the strange things these shepherds have
told us； of both the dead shepherd and homicide shepherdess。〃
〃So I think too；〃 replied Vivaldo； 〃and I would delay not to say a
day； but four； for the sake of seeing it。〃
Don Quixote asked them what it was they had heard of Marcela and
Chrysostom。 The traveller answered that the same morning they had
met these shepherds； and seeing them dressed in this mournful
fashion they had asked them the reason of their appearing in such a
guise； which one of them gave； describing the strange behaviour and
beauty of a shepherdess called Marcela； and the loves of many who
courted her； together with the death of that Chrysostom to whose
burial they were going。 In short； he repeated all that Pedro had
related to Don Quixote。
This conversation dropped； and another was commenced by him who
was called Vivaldo asking Don Quixote what was the reason that led him
to go armed in that fashion in a country so peaceful。 To which Don
Quixote replied； 〃The pursuit of my calling does not allow or permit
me to go in any other fashion； easy life； enjoyment； an
