don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第163节
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the gift by more than one of the high and mighty ones of the town； I
did not care two farthings for it； and that you may see I am telling
the truth； wait a bit and listen； for this art； like swimming； once
learnt is never forgotten；〃 and then； taking hold of his nose； he
began to bray so vigorously that all the valleys around rang again。
One of those； however； that stood near him； fancying he was
mocking them； lifted up a long staff he had in his hand and smote
him such a blow with it that Sancho dropped helpless to the ground。
Don Quixote； seeing him so roughly handled； attacked the man who had
struck him lance in hand； but so many thrust themselves between them
that he could not avenge him。 Far from it； finding a shower of
stones rained upon him； and crossbows and muskets unnumbered
levelled at him； he wheeled Rocinante round and； as fast as his best
gallop could take him； fled from the midst of them； commending himself
to God with all his heart to deliver him out of this peril； in dread
every step of some ball coming in at his back and coming out at his
breast； and every minute drawing his breath to see whether it had gone
from him。 The members of the band； however； were satisfied with seeing
him take to flight； and did not fire on him。 They put up Sancho；
scarcely restored to his senses； on his ass； and let him go after
his master； not that he was sufficiently in his wits to guide the
beast； but Dapple followed the footsteps of Rocinante； from whom he
could not remain a moment separated。 Don Quixote having got some way
off looked back； and seeing Sancho coming； waited for him； as he
perceived that no one followed him。 The men of the troop stood their
ground till night； and as the enemy did not come out to battle； they
returned to their town exulting； and had they been aware of the
ancient custom of the Greeks； they would have erected a trophy on
the spot。
CHAPTER XXVIII
OF MATTERS THAT BENENGELI SAYS HE WHO READS THEM WILL KNOW； IF HE
READS THEM WITH ATTENTION
WHEN the brave man flees； treachery is manifest and it is for wise
men to reserve themselves for better occasions。 This proved to be
the case with Don Quixote； who； giving way before the fury of the
townsfolk and the hostile intentions of the angry troop； took to
flight and； without a thought of Sancho or the danger in which he
was leaving him； retreated to such a distance as he thought made him
safe。 Sancho； lying across his ass； followed him； as has been said；
and at length came up； having by this time recovered his senses； and
on joining him let himself drop off Dapple at Rocinante's feet；
sore； bruised； and belaboured。 Don Quixote dismounted to examine his
wounds； but finding him whole from head to foot； he said to him；
angrily enough； 〃In an evil hour didst thou take to braying； Sancho！
Where hast thou learned that it is well done to mention the rope in
the house of the man that has been hanged？ To the music of brays
what harmonies couldst thou expect to get but cudgels？ Give thanks
to God； Sancho； that they signed the cross on thee just now with a
stick； and did not mark thee per signum crucis with a cutlass。〃
〃I'm not equal to answering；〃 said Sancho； 〃for I feel as if I was
speaking through my shoulders； let us mount and get away from this；
I'll keep from braying； but not from saying that knights…errant fly
and leave their good squires to be pounded like privet； or made meal
of at the hands of their enemies。〃
〃He does not fly who retires；〃 returned Don Quixote； 〃for I would
have thee know； Sancho； that the valour which is not based upon a
foundation of prudence is called rashness； and the exploits of the
rash man are to be attributed rather to good fortune than to
courage； and so I own that I retired； but not that I fled； and therein
I have followed the example of many valiant men who have reserved
themselves for better times； the histories are full of instances of
this； but as it would not be any good to thee or pleasure to me； I
will not recount them to thee now。〃
Sancho was by this time mounted with the help of Don Quixote； who
then himself mounted Rocinante； and at a leisurely pace they proceeded
to take shelter in a grove which was in sight about a quarter of a
league off。 Every now and then Sancho gave vent to deep sighs and
dismal groans； and on Don Quixote asking him what caused such acute
suffering； he replied that； from the end of his back…bone up to the
nape of his neck； he was so sore that it nearly drove him out of his
senses。
〃The cause of that soreness；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃will be； no
doubt； that the staff wherewith they smote thee being a very long one；
it caught thee all down the back； where all the parts that are sore
are situated； and had it reached any further thou wouldst be sorer
still。〃
〃By God；〃 said Sancho； 〃your worship has relieved me of a great
doubt； and cleared up the point for me in elegant style！ Body o' me！
is the cause of my soreness such a mystery that there's any need to
tell me I am sore everywhere the staff hit me？ If it was my ankles
that pained me there might be something in going divining why they
did； but it is not much to divine that I'm sore where they thrashed
me。 By my faith； master mine； the ills of others hang by a hair； every
day I am discovering more and more how little I have to hope for
from keeping company with your worship； for if this time you have
allowed me to be drubbed； the next time； or a hundred times more；
we'll have the blanketings of the other day over again； and all the
other pranks which； if they have fallen on my shoulders now； will be
thrown in my teeth by…and…by。 I would do a great deal better （if I was
not an ignorant brute that will never do any good all my life）； I
would do a great deal better； I say； to go home to my wife and
children and support them and bring them up on what God may please
to give me； instead of following your worship along roads that lead
nowhere and paths that are none at all； with little to drink and
less to eat。 And then when it comes to sleeping！ Measure out seven
feet on the earth； brother squire； and if that's not enough for you；
take as many more； for you may have it all your own way and stretch
yourself to your heart's content。 Oh that I could see burnt and turned
to ashes the first man that meddled with knight…errantry or at any
rate the first who chose to be squire to such fools as all the
knights…errant of past times must have been！ Of those of the present
day I say nothing； because； as your worship is one of them； I
respect them； and because I know your worship knows a point more
than the devil in all you say and think。〃
〃I would lay a good wager with you； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that
now that you are talking on without anyone to stop you； you don't feel
a pain in your whole body。 Talk away； my son； say whatever comes
into your head or mouth； for so long as you feel no pain； the
irritation your impertinences give me will he a pleasure to me； and if
you are so anxious to go home to your wife and children； God forbid
that I should prevent you； you have money of mine； see how long it
is since we left our village this third time； and how much you can and
ought to earn every month； and pay yourself out of your own hand。〃
〃When I worked for Tom Carrasco； the father of the bachelor Samson
Carrasco that your worship knows；〃 replied Sancho； 〃I used to earn two
ducats a month besides my food； I can't tell what I can earn with your
worship； though I know a knight…errant's squire has harder times of it
than he who works for a farmer； for after all； we who work for
farmers； however much we toil all day； at the worst； at night； we have
our olla supper and sleep in a bed； which I have not slept in since
I have been in your worship's service； if it wasn't the short time
we were in Don Diego de Miranda's house； and the feast I had with
the skimmings I took off Camacho's pots； and what I ate； drank； and
slept in Basilio's house； all the rest of the time I have been
sleeping on the hard ground under the open sky； exposed to what they
call the inclemencies of heaven； keeping life in me with scraps of
cheese and crusts of bread； and drinking water either from the
brooks or from the springs we come to on these by…paths we travel。〃
〃I own； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that all thou sayest is true；
how much； thinkest thou； ought I to give thee over and above what
Tom Carrasco gave thee？〃
〃I think；〃 said Sancho； 〃that if your worship was to add on two
reals a month I'd consider myself well paid； that is； as far as the
wages of my labour go； but to make up to me for your worship's
pledge and promise to me to give me the government of an island； it
would be fair to add six reals more； making thirty in all。〃
〃Very good；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃it is twenty…five days since we left
our village； so reckon up； Sancho； according to the wages you have
made out for yourself； and see how much I owe you in proportion； and
pay yourself； as I said before； out of your own hand。〃
〃O body o' me！〃 said Sancho； 〃but your worship is very much out in
that reckoning； for when it comes to the promise of the island we must
count from the day
