don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第33节
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looking…glass and a piece of a comb and some little pot or other of
paint for her face； but let her carry what she did； I am not going
to trouble myself to prove it； all I say is； that the shepherd； they
say； came with his flock to cross over the river Guadiana； which was
at that time swollen and almost overflowing its banks； and at the spot
he came to there was neither ferry nor boat nor anyone to carry him or
his flock to the other side； at which he was much vexed； for he
perceived that Torralva was approaching and would give him great
annoyance with her tears and entreaties； however； he went looking
about so closely that he discovered a fisherman who had alongside of
him a boat so small that it could only hold one person and one goat；
but for all that he spoke to him and agreed with him to carry
himself and his three hundred goats across。 The fisherman got into the
boat and carried one goat over； he came back and carried another over；
he came back again； and again brought over another… let your worship
keep count of the goats the fisherman is taking across； for if one
escapes the memory there will be an end of the story； and it will be
impossible to tell another word of it。 To proceed； I must tell you the
landing place on the other side was miry and slippery； and the
fisherman lost a great deal of time in going and coming； still he
returned for another goat； and another； and another。〃
〃Take it for granted he brought them all across；〃 said Don
Quixote； 〃and don't keep going and coming in this way； or thou wilt
not make an end of bringing them over this twelvemonth。〃
〃How many have gone across so far？〃 said Sancho。
〃How the devil do I know？〃 replied Don Quixote。
〃There it is；〃 said Sancho； 〃what I told you； that you must keep a
good count； well then； by God； there is an end of the story； for there
is no going any farther。〃
〃How can that be？〃 said Don Quixote； 〃is it so essential to the
story to know to a nicety the goats that have crossed over； that if
there be a mistake of one in the reckoning； thou canst not go on
with it？〃
〃No； senor； not a bit；〃 replied Sancho； 〃for when I asked your
worship to tell me how many goats had crossed； and you answered you
did not know； at that very instant all I had to say passed away out of
my memory； and； faith； there was much virtue in it； and
entertainment。〃
〃So； then；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃the story has come to an end？〃
〃As much as my mother has；〃 said Sancho。
〃In truth；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃thou hast told one of the rarest
stories； tales； or histories； that anyone in the world could have
imagined； and such a way of telling it and ending it was never seen
nor will be in a lifetime； though I expected nothing else from thy
excellent understanding。 But I do not wonder； for perhaps those
ceaseless strokes may have confused thy wits。〃
〃All that may be；〃 replied Sancho； 〃but I know that as to my
story； all that can be said is that it ends there where the mistake in
the count of the passage of the goats begins。〃
〃Let it end where it will； well and good；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and
let us see if Rocinante can go；〃 and again he spurred him； and again
Rocinante made jumps and remained where he was； so well tied was he。
Just then； whether it was the cold of the morning that was now
approaching； or that he had eaten something laxative at supper； or
that it was only natural （as is most likely）； Sancho felt a desire
to do what no one could do for him； but so great was the fear that had
penetrated his heart； he dared not separate himself from his master by
as much as the black of his nail； to escape doing what he wanted
was； however； also impossible； so what he did for peace's sake was
to remove his right hand； which held the back of the saddle； and
with it to untie gently and silently the running string which alone
held up his breeches； so that on loosening it they at once fell down
round his feet like fetters； he then raised his shirt as well as he
could and bared his hind quarters； no slim ones。 But； this
accomplished； which he fancied was all he had to do to get out of this
terrible strait and embarrassment； another still greater difficulty
presented itself； for it seemed to him impossible to relieve himself
without making some noise； and he ground his teeth and squeezed his
shoulders together； holding his breath as much as he could； but in
spite of his precautions he was unlucky enough after all to make a
little noise； very different from that which was causing him so much
fear。
Don Quixote； hearing it； said； 〃What noise is that； Sancho？〃
〃I don't know； senor；〃 said he； 〃it must be something new； for
adventures and misadventures never begin with a trifle。〃 Once more
he tried his luck； and succeeded so well； that without any further
noise or disturbance he found himself relieved of the burden that
had given him so much discomfort。 But as Don Quixote's sense of
smell was as acute as his hearing； and as Sancho was so closely linked
with him that the fumes rose almost in a straight line； it could not
be but that some should reach his nose； and as soon as they did he
came to its relief by compressing it between his fingers； saying in
a rather snuffing tone； 〃Sancho； it strikes me thou art in great
fear。〃
〃I am；〃 answered Sancho； 〃but how does your worship perceive it
now more than ever？〃
〃Because just now thou smellest stronger than ever； and not of
ambergris；〃 answered Don Quixote。
〃Very likely；〃 said Sancho； 〃but that's not my fault； but your
worship's； for leading me about at unseasonable hours and at such
unwonted paces。〃
〃Then go back three or four； my friend；〃 said Don Quixote； all the
time with his fingers to his nose； 〃and for the future pay more
attention to thy person and to what thou owest to mine； for it is my
great familiarity with thee that has bred this contempt。〃
〃I'll bet；〃 replied Sancho； 〃that your worship thinks I have done
something I ought not with my person。〃
〃It makes it worse to stir it； friend Sancho；〃 returned Don Quixote。
With this and other talk of the same sort master and man passed
the night； till Sancho； perceiving that daybreak was coming on
apace； very cautiously untied Rocinante and tied up his breeches。 As
soon as Rocinante found himself free； though by nature he was not at
all mettlesome； he seemed to feel lively and began pawing… for as to
capering； begging his pardon； he knew not what it meant。 Don
Quixote； then； observing that Rocinante could move； took it as a
good sign and a signal that he should attempt the dread adventure。
By this time day had fully broken and everything showed distinctly；
and Don Quixote saw that he was among some tall trees； chestnuts；
which cast a very deep shade； he perceived likewise that the sound
of the strokes did not cease； but could not discover what caused it；
and so without any further delay he let Rocinante feel the spur； and
once more taking leave of Sancho； he told him to wait for him there
three days at most； as he had said before； and if he should not have
returned by that time； he might feel sure it had been God's will
that he should end his days in that perilous adventure。 He again
repeated the message and commission with which he was to go on his
behalf to his lady Dulcinea； and said he was not to be uneasy as to
the payment of his services； for before leaving home he had made his
will； in which he would find himself fully recompensed in the matter
of wages in due proportion to the time he had served； but if God
delivered him safe； sound； and unhurt out of that danger； he might
look upon the promised island as much more than certain。 Sancho
began to weep afresh on again hearing the affecting words of his
good master； and resolved to stay with him until the final issue and
end of the business。 From these tears and this honourable resolve of
Sancho Panza's the author of this history infers that he must have
been of good birth and at least an old Christian； and the feeling he
displayed touched his but not so much as to make him show any
weakness； on the contrary； hiding what he felt as well as he could； he
began to move towards that quarter whence the sound of the water and
of the strokes seemed to come。
Sancho followed him on foot； leading by the halter； as his custom
was； his ass； his constant comrade in prosperity or adversity； and
advancing some distance through the shady chestnut trees they came
upon a little meadow at the foot of some high rocks； down which a
mighty rush of water flung itself。 At the foot of the rocks were
some rudely constructed houses looking more like ruins than houses；
from among which came； they perceived； the din and clatter of blows；
which still continued without intermission。 Rocinante took fright at
the noise of the water and of the blows； but quieting him Don
Quixote advanced step by step towards the houses； commending himself
with all his heart to his lady； imploring her support in that dread
pass and enterprise； and on the way commending himself to God； too；
not to forget him。 Sancho who never quitted his side； stretched his
neck as far as he could and peered between the legs of Rocinante to
see if he could now discover what
