don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第181节
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sheath a huge broad scimitar； and seizing me by the hair he made as
though he meant to cut my throat and shear my head clean off。 I was
terror…stricken； my voice stuck in my throat； and I was in the deepest
distress； nevertheless I summoned up my strength as well as I could；
and in a trembling and piteous voice I addressed such words to him
as induced him to stay the infliction of a punishment so severe。 He
then caused all the duennas of the palace； those that are here
present； to be brought before him； and after having dwelt upon the
enormity of our offence； and denounced duennas； their characters；
their evil ways and worse intrigues； laying to the charge of all
what I alone was guilty of； he said he would not visit us with capital
punishment； but with others of a slow nature which would be in
effect civil death for ever； and the very instant he ceased speaking
we all felt the pores of our faces opening； and pricking us； as if
with the points of needles。 We at once put our hands up to our faces
and found ourselves in the state you now see。〃
Here the Distressed One and the other duennas raised the veils
with which they were covered； and disclosed countenances all bristling
with beards； some red； some black； some white； and some grizzled； at
which spectacle the duke and duchess made a show of being filled
with wonder。 Don Quixote and Sancho were overwhelmed with amazement；
and the bystanders lost in astonishment； while the Trifaldi went on to
say： 〃Thus did that malevolent villain Malambruno punish us；
covering the tenderness and softness of our faces with these rough
bristles！ Would to heaven that he had swept off our heads with his
enormous scimitar instead of obscuring the light of our countenances
with these wool…combings that cover us！ For if we look into the
matter； sirs （and what I am now going to say I would say with eyes
flowing like fountains； only that the thought of our misfortune and
the oceans they have already wept； keep them as dry as barley
spears； and so I say it without tears）； where； I ask； can a duenna
with a beard to to？ What father or mother will feel pity for her？
Who will help her？ For； if even when she has a smooth skin； and a face
tortured by a thousand kinds of washes and cosmetics； she can hardly
get anybody to love her； what will she do when she shows a
countenace turned into a thicket？ Oh duennas； companions mine！ it
was an unlucky moment when we were born and an ill…starred hour when
our fathers begot us！〃 And as she said this she showed signs of
being about to faint。
CHAPTER XL
OF MATTERS RELATING AND BELONGING TO THIS ADVENTURE AND TO THIS
MEMORABLE HISTORY
VERILY and truly all those who find pleasure in histories like
this ought show their gratitude to Cide Hamete； its original author；
for the scrupulous care he has taken to set before us all its minute
particulars； not leaving anything； however trifling it may be； that he
does not make clear and plain。 He portrays the thoughts； he reveals
the fancies； he answers implied questions； clears up doubts； sets
objections at rest； and； in a word； makes plain the smallest points
the most inquisitive can desire to know。 O renowned author！ O happy
Don Quixote！ O famous famous droll Sancho！ All and each； may ye live
countless ages for the delight and amusement of the dwellers on earth！
The history goes on to say that when Sancho saw the Distressed One
faint he exclaimed： 〃I swear by the faith of an honest man and the
shades of all my ancestors the Panzas； that never I did see or hear
of； nor has my master related or conceived in his mind； such an
adventure as this。 A thousand devils… not to curse thee… take thee；
Malambruno； for an enchanter and a giant！ Couldst thou find no other
sort of punishment for these sinners but bearding them？ Would it not
have been better… it would have been better for them… to have taken
off half their noses from the middle upwards； even though they'd
have snuffled when they spoke； than to have put beards on them？ I'll
bet they have not the means of paying anybody to shave them。〃
〃That is the truth； senor；〃 said one of the twelve； 〃we have not the
money to get ourselves shaved； and so we have； some of us； taken to
using sticking…plasters by way of an economical remedy； for by
applying them to our faces and plucking them off with a jerk we are
left as bare and smooth as the bottom of a stone mortar。 There are； to
be sure； women in Kandy that go about from house to house to remove
down； and trim eyebrows； and make cosmetics for the use of the
women； but we； the duennas of my lady； would never let them in； for
most of them have a flavour of agents that have ceased to be
principals； and if we are not relieved by Senor Don Quixote we shall
be carried to our graves with beards。〃
〃I will pluck out my own in the land of the Moors；〃 said Don
Quixote； 〃if I don't cure yours。〃
At this instant the Trifaldi recovered from her swoon and said； 〃The
chink of that promise； valiant knight； reached my ears in the midst of
my swoon； and has been the means of reviving me and bringing back my
senses； and so once more I implore you； illustrious errant；
indomitable sir； to let your gracious promises be turned into deeds。〃
〃There shall be no delay on my part；〃 said Don Quixote。 〃Bethink
you； senora； of what I must do； for my heart is most eager to serve
you。〃
〃The fact is；〃 replied the Distressed One； 〃it is five thousand
leagues； a couple more or less； from this to the kingdom of Kandy；
if you go by land； but if you go through the air and in a straight
line； it is three thousand two hundred and twenty…seven。 You must
know； too； that Malambruno told me that； whenever fate provided the
knight our deliverer； he himself would send him a steed far better and
with less tricks than a post…horse； for he will be that same wooden
horse on which the valiant Pierres carried off the fair Magalona；
which said horse is guided by a peg he has in his forehead that serves
for a bridle； and flies through the air with such rapidity that you
would fancy the very devils were carrying him。 This horse； according
to ancient tradition； was made by Merlin。 He lent him to Pierres；
who was a friend of his； and who made long journeys with him； and；
as has been said； carried off the fair Magalona； bearing her through
the air on its haunches and making all who beheld them from the
earth gape with astonishment； and he never lent him save to those whom
he loved or those who paid him well； and since the great Pierres we
know of no one having mounted him until now。 From him Malambruno stole
him by his magic art； and he has him now in his possession； and
makes use of him in his journeys which he constantly makes through
different parts of the world； he is here to…day； to…morrow in
France； and the next day in Potosi； and the best of it is the said
horse neither eats nor sleeps nor wears out shoes； and goes at an
ambling pace through the air without wings； so that he whom he has
mounted upon him can carry a cup full of water in his hand without
spilling a drop； so smoothly and easily does he go； for which reason
the fair Magalona enjoyed riding him greatly。〃
〃For going smoothly and easily；〃 said Sancho at this； 〃give me my
Dapple； though he can't go through the air； but on the ground I'll
back him against all the amblers in the world。〃
They all laughed； and the Distressed One continued： 〃And this same
horse； if so be that Malambruno is disposed to put an end to our
sufferings； will be here before us ere the night shall have advanced
half an hour； for he announced to me that the sign he would give me
whereby I might know that I had found the knight I was in quest of；
would be to send me the horse wherever he might be； speedily and
promptly。〃
〃And how many is there room for on this horse？〃 asked Sancho。
〃Two；〃 said the Distressed One； 〃one in the saddle； and the other on
the croup； and generally these two are knight and squire； when there
is no damsel that's being carried off。〃
〃I'd like to know； Senora Distressed One；〃 said Sancho； 〃what is the
name of this horse？〃
〃His name；〃 said the Distressed One； 〃is not the same as
Bellerophon's horse that was called Pegasus； or Alexander the Great's；
called Bucephalus； or Orlando Furioso's； the name of which was
Brigliador； nor yet Bayard； the horse of Reinaldos of Montalvan； nor
Frontino like Ruggiero's； nor Bootes or Peritoa； as they say the
horses of the sun were called； nor is he called Orelia； like the horse
on which the unfortunate Rodrigo； the last king of the Goths； rode
to the battle where he lost his life and his kingdom。〃
〃I'll bet；〃 said Sancho； 〃that as they have given him none of
these famous names of well…known horses； no more have they given him
the name of my master's Rocinante； which for being apt surpasses all
that have been mentioned。〃
〃That is true；〃 said the bearded countess； 〃still it fits him very
well； for he is called Clavileno the Swift； which name is in
accordance with his being made of wood； with the peg he has in his
forehead； and with the swift pace at which he travels； and so； as
far as name goes； he may compare with the famous Rocinante。〃
〃I h
