don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第216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！
had it in his hand； he did not want him to flatter himself with the
idea that he had read it； for our thoughts； and still more our eyes；
should keep themselves aloof from what is obscene and filthy。
They asked him whither he meant to direct his steps。 He replied；
to Saragossa； to take part in the harness jousts which were held in
that city every year。 Don Juan told him that the new history described
how Don Quixote； let him be who he might； took part there in a tilting
at the ring； utterly devoid of invention； poor in mottoes； very poor
in costume； though rich in sillinesses。
〃For that very reason；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃I will not set foot in
Saragossa； and by that means I shall expose to the world the lie of
this new history writer； and people will see that I am not the Don
Quixote he speaks of。〃
〃You will do quite right；〃 said Don Jeronimo； 〃and there are other
jousts at Barcelona in which Senor Don Quixote may display his
prowess。〃
〃That is what I mean to do；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and as it is now
time； I pray your worships to give me leave to retire to bed； and to
place and retain me among the number of your greatest friends and
servants。〃
〃And me too；〃 said Sancho； 〃maybe I'll be good for something。〃
With this they exchanged farewells； and Don Quixote and Sancho
retired to their room； leaving Don Juan and Don Jeronimo amazed to see
the medley he made of his good sense and his craziness； and they
felt thoroughly convinced that these； and not those their Aragonese
author described； were the genuine Don Quixote and Sancho。 Don Quixote
rose betimes； and bade adieu to his hosts by knocking at the partition
of the other room。 Sancho paid the landlord magnificently； and
recommended him either to say less about the providing of his inn or
to keep it better provided。
CHAPTER LX
OF WHAT HAPPENED DON QUIXOTE ON HIS WAY TO BARCELONA
IT WAS a fresh morning giving promise of a cool day as Don Quixote
quitted the inn； first of all taking care to ascertain the most direct
road to Barcelona without touching upon Saragossa； so anxious was he
to make out this new historian； who they said abused him so； to be a
liar。 Well； as it fell out； nothing worthy of being recorded
happened him for six days； at the end of which； having turned aside
out of the road； he was overtaken by night in a thicket of oak or cork
trees； for on this point Cide Hamete is not as precise as he usually
is on other matters。
Master and man dismounted from their beasts； and as soon as they had
settled themselves at the foot of the trees； Sancho； who had had a
good noontide meal that day； let himself； without more ado； pass the
gates of sleep。 But Don Quixote； whom his thoughts； far more than
hunger； kept awake； could not close an eye； and roamed in fancy to and
fro through all sorts of places。 At one moment it seemed to him that
he was in the cave of Montesinos and saw Dulcinea； transformed into
a country wench； skipping and mounting upon her she…ass； again that
the words of the sage Merlin were sounding in his ears； setting
forth the conditions to be observed and the exertions to be made for
the disenchantment of Dulcinea。 He lost all patience when he
considered the laziness and want of charity of his squire Sancho；
for to the best of his belief he had only given himself five lashes； a
number paltry and disproportioned to the vast number required。 At this
thought he felt such vexation and anger that he reasoned the matter
thus： 〃If Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot； saying； 'To cut
comes to the same thing as to untie；' and yet did not fail to become
lord paramount of all Asia； neither more nor less could happen now
in Dulcinea's disenchantment if I scourge Sancho against his will；
for； if it is the condition of the remedy that Sancho shall receive
three thousand and odd lashes； what does it matter to me whether he
inflicts them himself； or some one else inflicts them； when the
essential point is that he receives them； let them come from
whatever quarter they may？〃
With this idea he went over to Sancho； having first taken
Rocinante's reins and arranged them so as to be able to flog him
with them； and began to untie the points （the common belief is he
had but one in front） by which his breeches were held up； but the
instant he approached him Sancho woke up in his full senses and
cried out； 〃What is this？ Who is touching me and untrussing me？〃
〃It is I；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and I come to make good thy
shortcomings and relieve my own distresses； I come to whip thee；
Sancho； and wipe off some portion of the debt thou hast undertaken。
Dulcinea is perishing； thou art living on regardless； I am dying of
hope deferred； therefore untruss thyself with a good will； for mine it
is； here； in this retired spot； to give thee at least two thousand
lashes。〃
〃Not a bit of it；〃 said Sancho； 〃let your worship keep quiet； or
else by the living God the deaf shall hear us； the lashes I pledged
myself to must be voluntary and not forced upon me； and just now I
have no fancy to whip myself； it is enough if I give you my word to
flog and flap myself when I have a mind。〃
〃It will not do to leave it to thy courtesy； Sancho；〃 said Don
Quixote； 〃for thou art hard of heart and； though a clown； tender of
flesh；〃 and at the same time he strove and struggled to untie him。
Seeing this Sancho got up； and grappling with his master he
gripped him with all his might in his arms； giving him a trip with the
heel stretched him on the ground on his back； and pressing his right
knee on his chest held his hands in his own so that he could neither
move nor breathe。
〃How now； traitor！〃 exclaimed Don Quixote。 〃Dost thou revolt against
thy master and natural lord？ Dost thou rise against him who gives thee
his bread？〃
〃I neither put down king； nor set up king；〃 said Sancho； 〃I only
stand up for myself who am my own lord； if your worship promises me to
be quiet； and not to offer to whip me now； I'll let you go free and
unhindered； if not…
Traitor and Dona Sancha's foe；
Thou diest on the spot。〃
Don Quixote gave his promise； and swore by the life of his
thoughts not to touch so much as a hair of his garments； and to
leave him entirely free and to his own discretion to whip himself
whenever he pleased。
Sancho rose and removed some distance from the spot； but as he was
about to place himself leaning against another tree he felt
something touch his head； and putting up his hands encountered
somebody's two feet with shoes and stockings on them。 He trembled with
fear and made for another tree； where the very same thing happened
to him； and he fell a…shouting； calling upon Don Quixote to come and
protect him。 Don Quixote did so； and asked him what had happened to
him； and what he was afraid of。 Sancho replied that all the trees were
full of men's feet and legs。 Don Quixote felt them； and guessed at
once what it was； and said to Sancho； 〃Thou hast nothing to be
afraid of； for these feet and legs that thou feelest but canst not see
belong no doubt to some outlaws and freebooters that have been
hanged on these trees； for the authorities in these parts are wont
to hang them up by twenties and thirties when they catch them； whereby
I conjecture that I must be near Barcelona；〃 and it was； in fact； as
he supposed； with the first light they looked up and saw that the
fruit hanging on those trees were freebooters' bodies。
And now day dawned； and if the dead freebooters had scared them；
their hearts were no less troubled by upwards of forty living ones；
who all of a sudden surrounded them； and in the Catalan tongue bade
them stand and wait until their captain came up。 Don Quixote was on
foot with his horse unbridled and his lance leaning against a tree；
and in short completely defenceless； he thought it best therefore to
fold his arms and bow his head and reserve himself for a more
favourable occasion and opportunity。 The robbers made haste to
search Dapple； and did not leave him a single thing of all he
carried in the alforjas and in the valise； and lucky it was for Sancho
that the duke's crowns and those he brought from home were in a girdle
that he wore round him； but for all that these good folk would have
stripped him； and even looked to see what he had hidden between the
skin and flesh； but for the arrival at that moment of their captain；
who was about thirty…four years of age apparently； strongly built；
above the middle height； of stern aspect and swarthy complexion。 He
was mounted upon a powerful horse； and had on a coat of mail； with
four of the pistols they call petronels in that country at his
waist。 He saw that his squires （for so they call those who follow that
trade） were about to rifle Sancho Panza； but he ordered them to desist
and was at once obeyed； so the girdle escaped。 He wondered to see
the lance leaning against the tree； the shield on the ground； and
Don Quixote in armour and dejected； with the saddest and most
melancholy face that sadness itself could produce； and going up to him
he said； 〃Be not so cast down； good man； for you have not fallen
into the hands of any inhuman Busiris； but into Roque Guinart's； which
are
