don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第213节

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their　jerkins　and　sayas　were　of　fine　brocade；　that　is　to　say；　the
sayas　were　rich　farthingales　of　gold　embroidered　tabby。　Their　hair；
that　in　its　golden　brightness　vied　with　the　beams　of　the　sun　itself；
fell　loose　upon　their　shoulders　and　was　crowned　with　garlands　twined
with　green　laurel　and　red　everlasting；　and　their　years　to　all
appearance　were　not　under　fifteen　nor　above　eighteen。　Such　was　the
spectacle　that　filled　Sancho　with　amazement；　fascinated　Don　Quixote；
made　the　sun　halt　in　his　course　to　behold　them；　and　held　all　four　in　a
strange　silence。　One　of　the　shepherdesses；　at　length；　was　the　first　to
speak　and　said　to　Don　Quixote；　〃Hold；　sir　knight；　and　do　not　break
these　nets；　for　they　are　not　spread　here　to　do　you　any　harm；　but
only　for　our　amusement；　and　as　I　know　you　will　ask　why　they　have
been　put　up；　and　who　we　are；　I　will　tell　you　in　a　few　words。　In　a
village　some　two　leagues　from　this；　where　there　are　many　people　of
quality　and　rich　gentlefolk；　it　was　agreed　upon　by　a　number　of　friends
and　relations　to　come　with　their　wives；　sons　and　daughters；
neighbours；　friends　and　kinsmen；　and　make　holiday　in　this　spot；
which　is　one　of　the　pleasantest　in　the　whole　neighbourhood；　setting　up
a　new　pastoral　Arcadia　among　ourselves；　we　maidens　dressing
ourselves　as　shepherdesses　and　the　youths　as　shepherds。　We　have
prepared　two　eclogues；　one　by　the　famous　poet　Garcilasso；　the　other　by
the　most　excellent　Camoens；　in　its　own　Portuguese　tongue；　but　we
have　not　as　yet　acted　them。　Yesterday　was　the　first　day　of　our
coming　here；　we　have　a　few　of　what　they　say　are　called　field…tents
pitched　among　the　trees　on　the　bank　of　an　ample　brook　that
fertilises　all　these　meadows；　last　night　we　spread　these　nets　in　the
trees　here　to　snare　the　silly　little　birds　that　startled　by　the
noise　we　make　may　fly　into　them。　If　you　please　to　he　our　guest；　senor；
you　will　be　welcomed　heartily　and　courteously；　for　here　just　now
neither　care　nor　sorrow　shall　enter。〃
　　She　held　her　peace　and　said　no　more；　and　Don　Quixote　made　answer；
〃Of　a　truth；　fairest　lady；　Actaeon　when　he　unexpectedly　beheld　Diana
bathing　in　the　stream　could　not　have　been　more　fascinated　and
wonderstruck　than　I　at　the　sight　of　your　beauty。　I　commend　your　mode
of　entertainment；　and　thank　you　for　the　kindness　of　your　invitation；
and　if　I　can　serve　you；　you　may　command　me　with　full　confidence　of
being　obeyed；　for　my　profession　is　none　other　than　to　show　myself
grateful；　and　ready　to　serve　persons　of　all　conditions；　but　especially
persons　of　quality　such　as　your　appearance　indicates；　and　if；
instead　of　taking　up；　as　they　probably　do；　but　a　small　space；　these
nets　took　up　the　whole　surface　of　the　globe；　I　would　seek　out　new
worlds　through　which　to　pass；　so　as　not　to　break　them；　and　that　ye　may
give　some　degree　of　credence　to　this　exaggerated　language　of　mine；
know　that　it　is　no　less　than　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha　that　makes
this　declaration　to　you；　if　indeed　it　be　that　such　a　name　has
reached　your　ears。〃
　　〃Ah！　friend　of　my　soul；〃　instantly　exclaimed　the　other
shepherdess；　〃what　great　good　fortune　has　befallen　us！　Seest　thou　this
gentleman　we　have　before　us？　Well　then　let　me　tell　thee　he　is　the　most
valiant　and　the　most　devoted　and　the　most　courteous　gentleman　in　all
the　world；　unless　a　history　of　his　achievements　that　has　been
printed　and　I　have　read　is　telling　lies　and　deceiving　us。　I　will　lay　a
wager　that　this　good　fellow　who　is　with　him　is　one　Sancho　Panza　his
squire；　whose　drolleries　none　can　equal。〃
　　〃That's　true；〃　said　Sancho；　〃I　am　that　same　droll　and　squire　you
speak　of；　and　this　gentleman　is　my　master　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；
the　same　that's　in　the　history　and　that　they　talk　about。〃
　　〃Oh；　my　friend；〃　said　the　other；　〃let　us　entreat　him　to　stay；　for　it
will　give　our　fathers　and　brothers　infinite　pleasure；　I　too　have　heard
just　what　thou　hast　told　me　of　the　valour　of　the　one　and　the
drolleries　of　the　other；　and　what　is　more；　of　him　they　say　that　he
is　the　most　constant　and　loyal　lover　that　was　ever　heard　of；　and
that　his　lady　is　one　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　to　whom　all　over　Spain　the
palm　of　beauty　is　awarded。〃
　　〃And　justly　awarded；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃unless；　indeed；　your
unequalled　beauty　makes　it　a　matter　of　doubt。　But　spare　yourselves　the
trouble；　ladies；　of　pressing　me　to　stay；　for　the　urgent　calls　of　my
profession　do　not　allow　me　to　take　rest　under　any　circumstances。〃
　　At　this　instant　there　came　up　to　the　spot　where　the　four　stood　a
brother　of　one　of　the　two　shepherdesses；　like　them　in　shepherd
costume；　and　as　richly　and　gaily　dressed　as　they　were。　They　told　him
that　their　companion　was　the　valiant　Don　Quixote　of　La　Mancha；　and　the
other　Sancho　his　squire；　of　whom　he　knew　already　from　having　read
their　history。　The　gay　shepherd　offered　him　his　services　and　begged
that　he　would　accompany　him　to　their　tents；　and　Don　Quixote　had　to
give　way　and　comply。　And　now　the　gave　was　started；　and　the　nets　were
filled　with　a　variety　of　birds　that　deceived　by　the　colour　fell　into
the　danger　they　were　flying　from。　Upwards　of　thirty　persons；　all　gaily
attired　as　shepherds　and　shepherdesses；　assembled　on　the　spot；　and
were　at　once　informed　who　Don　Quixote　and　his　squire　were；　whereat
they　were　not　a　little　delighted；　as　they　knew　of　him　already
through　his　history。　They　repaired　to　the　tents；　where　they　found
tables　laid　out；　and　choicely；　plentifully；　and　neatly　furnished。　They
treated　Don　Quixote　as　a　person　of　distinction；　giving　him　the　place
of　honour；　and　all　observed　him；　and　were　full　of　astonishment　at
the　spectacle。　At　last　the　cloth　being　removed；　Don　Quixote　with　great
composure　lifted　up　his　voice　and　said：
　　〃One　of　the　greatest　sins　that　men　are　guilty　of　is…　some　will　say
pride…　but　I　say　ingratitude；　going　by　the　common　saying　that　hell
is　full　of　ingrates。　This　sin；　so　far　as　it　has　lain　in　my　power；　I
have　endeavoured　to　avoid　ever　since　I　have　enjoyed　the　faculty　of
reason；　and　if　I　am　unable　to　requite　good　deeds　that　have　been　done
me　by　other　deeds；　I　substitute　the　desire　to　do　so；　and　if　that　be
not　enough　I　make　them　known　publicly；　for　he　who　declares　and　makes
known　the　good　deeds　done　to　him　would　repay　them　by　others　if　it　were
in　his　power；　and　for　the　most　part　those　who　receive　are　the
inferiors　of　those　who　give。　Thus；　God　is　superior　to　all　because　he
is　the　supreme　giver；　and　the　offerings　of　man　fall　short　by　an
infinite　distance　of　being　a　full　return　for　the　gifts　of　God；　but
gratitude　in　some　degree　makes　up　for　this　deficiency　and　shortcoming。
I　therefore；　grateful　for　the　favour　that　has　been　extended　to　me
here；　and　unable　to　make　a　return　in　the　same　measure；　restricted　as　I
am　by　the　narrow　limits　of　my　power；　offer　what　I　can　and　what　I
have　to　offer　in　my　own　way；　and　so　I　declare　that　for　two　full　days　I
will　maintain　in　the　middle　of　this　highway　leading　to　Saragossa；　that
these　ladies　disguised　as　shepherdesses；　who　are　here　present；　are　the
fairest　and　most　courteous　maidens　in　the　world；　excepting　only　the
peerless　Dulcinea　del　Toboso；　sole　mistress　of　my　thoughts；　be　it　said
without　offence　to　those　who　hear　me；　ladies　and　gentlemen。〃
　　On　hearing　this　Sancho；　who　had　been　listening　with　great　attention；
cried　out　in　a　loud　voice；　〃Is　it　possible　there　is　anyone　in　the
world　who　will　dare　to　say　and　swear　that　this　master　of　mine　is　a
madman？　Say；　gentlemen　shepherds；　is　there　a　village　priest；　be　he
ever　so　wise　or　learned；　who　could　say　what　my　master　has　said；　or
is　there　knight…errant；　whatever　renown　he　may　have　as　a　man　of
valour；　that　could　offer　what　my　master　has　offered　now？〃
　　Don　Quixote　turned　upon　Sancho；　and　with　a　countenance　glowing
with　anger　said　to　him；　〃Is　it　possible；　Sancho；　there　is　anyone　in
the　whole　world　who　will　say　thou　art　not　a　fool；　with　a　lining　to
match；　and　I　know　not　what　trimmings　of　impertinence　and　roguery？
Who　asked　thee　to　meddle　in　my　affairs；　or　to　inquire　whether　I　am　a
wise　man　or　a　blockhead？　Hold　thy　peace；　answer　me　not　a　word；
saddle　Rocinante　if　he　be　unsaddled；　and　let　us　go　to　put　my　offer
into　execution；　for　with　the　right　that　I　have　on　my　side　thou
mayest　reckon　as　vanquished　all　who　shall　venture　to　question　it；〃　and
in　a　great　rage；　and　showing　his　anger　plainly；　he　rose　from　his　seat；
leaving　the　company　lost　in　wonder；　and　making　them　feel　doubtful
whether　they　ought　to　regard　him　as　a　madman　or　a　rational　being。　In
the　end；　though　they　sought　to　dissuade　him　from　involving　himself
in　such　a　challenge；　assuring　him　they　admitted　his　gratitude　as　fully
established；　and　needed　no　fresh　proofs　to　be　convinced　of　his　valiant
spirit；　as　those　related　in　the　history　of　his　exploits　were
sufficient；　still　Don　Quixote　persisted　in　his　resolve；　and　mounted　on
Rocinante；　bracing　his　buckler　on　his　arm　and　grasping　his　lance；　he
posted　himself　in　the　middle　of　a　high　road　that　was　not　far　from
the　green　meadow。　Sancho　followed　on　Dapple；　together　with　all　the
members　of　the　pastoral　gathering；　eager　to　see　what　would　be　the
upshot　of　his　vainglorious　and　extraordinary　proposal。
　　Don　Quixote；　then；　having；　as　has　been　said；　planted　himself　in
the　middle　of　the　road；　made　the　wel