don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第239节
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are even now tottering； and doubtless doomed to fall for ever。
Farewell。〃
…THE END…
DEDICATION OF PART II
TO THE COUNT OF LEMOS：
THESE days past； when sending Your Excellency my plays； that had
appeared in print before being shown on the stage； I said； if I
remember well； that Don Quixote was putting on his spurs to go and
render homage to Your Excellency。 Now I say that 〃with his spurs； he
is on his way。〃 Should he reach destination methinks I shall have
rendered some service to Your Excellency； as from many parts I am
urged to send him off； so as to dispel the loathing and disgust caused
by another Don Quixote who； under the name of Second Part； has run
masquerading through the whole world。 And he who has shown the
greatest longing for him has been the great Emperor of China； who
wrote me a letter in Chinese a month ago and sent it by a special
courier。 He asked me； or to be truthful； he begged me to send him
Don Quixote； for he intended to found a college where the Spanish
tongue would be taught； and it was his wish that the book to be read
should be the History of Don Quixote。 He also added that I should go
and be the rector of this college。 I asked the bearer if His Majesty
had afforded a sum in aid of my travel expenses。 He answered； 〃No； not
even in thought。〃
〃Then； brother；〃 I replied； 〃you can return to your China； post
haste or at whatever haste you are bound to go； as I am not fit for so
long a travel and； besides being ill； I am very much without money；
while Emperor for Emperor and Monarch for Monarch； I have at Naples
the great Count of Lemos； who； without so many petty titles of
colleges and rectorships； sustains me； protects me and does me more
favour than I can wish for。〃
Thus I gave him his leave and I beg mine from you； offering Your
Excellency the 〃Trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda；〃 a book I shall
finish within four months； Deo volente； and which will be either the
worst or the best that has been composed in our language； I mean of
those intended for entertainment； at which I repent of having called
it the worst； for； in the opinion of friends； it is bound to attain
the summit of possible quality。 May Your Excellency return in such
health that is wished you； Persiles will be ready to kiss your hand
and I your feet； being as I am； Your Excellency's most humble servant。
From Madrid； this last day of October of the year one thousand six
hundred and fifteen。
At the service of Your Excellency：
MIGUEL DE CERVANTES SAAVEDRA
THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE
GOD bless me； gentle （or it may be plebeian） reader； how eagerly
must thou be looking forward to this preface； expecting to find
there retaliation； scolding； and abuse against the author of the
second Don Quixote… I mean him who was； they say； begotten at
Tordesillas and born at Tarragona！ Well then； the truth is； I am not
going to give thee that satisfaction； for； though injuries stir up
anger in humbler breasts； in mine the rule must admit of an exception。
Thou wouldst have me call him ass； fool； and malapert； but I have no
such intention； let his offence be his punishment； with his bread
let him eat it； and there's an end of it。 What I cannot help taking
amiss is that he charges me with being old and one…handed； as if it
had been in my power to keep time from passing over me； or as if the
loss of my hand had been brought about in some tavern； and not on
the grandest occasion the past or present has seen； or the future
can hope to see。 If my wounds have no beauty to the beholder's eye；
they are； at least； honourable in the estimation of those who know
where they were received； for the soldier shows to greater advantage
dead in battle than alive in flight； and so strongly is this my
feeling； that if now it were proposed to perform an impossibility
for me； I would rather have had my share in that mighty action； than
be free from my wounds this minute without having been present at
it。 Those the soldier shows on his face and breast are stars that
direct others to the heaven of honour and ambition of merited
praise； and moreover it is to be observed that it is not with grey
hairs that one writes； but with the understanding； and that commonly
improves with years。 I take it amiss； too； that he calls me envious；
and explains to me； as if I were ignorant； what envy is； for really
and truly； of the two kinds there are； I only know that which is holy；
noble； and high…minded； and if that be so； as it is； I am not likely
to attack a priest； above all if； in addition； he holds the rank of
familiar of the Holy Office。 And if he said what he did on account
of him on whose behalf it seems he spoke； he is entirely mistaken； for
I worship the genius of that person； and admire his works and his
unceasing and strenuous industry。 After all； I am grateful to this
gentleman； the author； for saying that my novels are more satirical
than exemplary； but that they are good； for they could not be that
unless there was a little of everything in them。
I suspect thou wilt say that I am taking a very humble line； and
keeping myself too much within the bounds of my moderation； from a
feeling that additional suffering should not be inflicted upon a
sufferer； and that what this gentleman has to endure must doubtless be
very great； as he does not dare to come out into the open field and
broad daylight； but hides his name and disguises his country as if
he had been guilty of some lese majesty。 If perchance thou shouldst
come to know him； tell him from me that I do not hold myself
aggrieved； for I know well what the temptations of the devil are；
and that one of the greatest is putting it into a man's head that he
can write and print a book by which he will get as much fame as money；
and as much money as fame； and to prove it I will beg of you； in
your own sprightly； pleasant way； to tell him this story。
There was a madman in Seville who took to one of the drollest
absurdities and vagaries that ever madman in the world gave way to。 It
was this： he made a tube of reed sharp at one end； and catching a
dog in the street； or wherever it might be； he with his foot held
one of its legs fast； and with his hand lifted up the other； and as
best he could fixed the tube where； by blowing； he made the dog as
round as a ball； then holding it in this position； he gave it a couple
of slaps on the belly； and let it go； saying to the bystanders （and
there were always plenty of them）： 〃Do your worships think； now；
that it is an easy thing to blow up a dog？〃… Does your worship think
now； that it is an easy thing to write a book？
And if this story does not suit him； you may； dear reader； tell
him this one； which is likewise of a madman and a dog。
In Cordova there was another madman； whose way it was to carry a
piece of marble slab or a stone； not of the lightest； on his head； and
when he came upon any unwary dog he used to draw close to him and
let the weight fall right on top of him； on which the dog in a rage；
barking and howling； would run three streets without stopping。 It so
happened； however； that one of the dogs he discharged his load upon
was a cap…maker's dog； of which his master was very fond。 The stone
came down hitting it on the head； the dog raised a yell at the blow；
the master saw the affair and was wroth； and snatching up a
measuring…yard rushed out at the madman and did not leave a sound bone
in his body； and at every stroke he gave him he said； 〃You dog； you
thief！ my lurcher！ Don't you see； you brute； that my dog is a
lurcher？〃 and so； repeating the word 〃lurcher〃 again and again； he
sent the madman away beaten to a jelly。 The madman took the lesson
to heart； and vanished； and for more than a month never once showed
himself in public； but after that he came out again with his old trick
and a heavier load than ever。 He came up to where there was a dog； and
examining it very carefully without venturing to let the stone fall；
he said： 〃This is a lurcher； ware！〃 In short； all the dogs he came
across； be they mastiffs or terriers； he said were lurchers； and he
discharged no more stones。 Maybe it will be the same with this
historian； that he will not venture another time to discharge the
weight of his wit in books； which； being bad； are harder than
stones。 Tell him； too； that I do not care a farthing for the threat he
holds out to me of depriving me of my profit by means of his book；
for； to borrow from the famous interlude of 〃The Perendenga；〃 I say in
answer to him； 〃Long life to my lord the Veintiquatro； and Christ be
with us all。〃 Long life to the great Conde de Lemos； whose Christian
charity and well…known generosity support me against all the strokes
of my curst fortune； and long life to the supreme benevolence of His
Eminence of Toledo； Don Bernardo de Sandoval y Rojas； and what
matter if there be no printing…presses in the world； or if they
print more books against me than there are letters in the verses of
Mingo Revulgo！ These two princes； unsought by any adulation or
flattery of mine； of their own goodness alone； have taken it upon them
to show me kindness and
