don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第174节

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　　WHICH　RELATES　HOW　THEY　LEARNED　THE　WAY　IN　WHICH　THEY　WERE　TO
DISENCHANT　THE　PEERLESS　DULCINEA　DEL　TOBOSO；　WHICH　IS　ONE　OF　THE
RAREST　ADVENTURES　IN　THIS　BOOK

　　GREAT　was　the　pleasure　the　duke　and　duchess　took　in　the　conversation
of　Don　Quixote　and　Sancho　Panza；　and；　more　bent　than　ever　upon　the
plan　they　had　of　practising　some　jokes　upon　them　that　should　have
the　look　and　appearance　of　adventures；　they　took　as　their　basis　of
action　what　Don　Quixote　had　already　told　them　about　the　cave　of
Montesinos；　in　order　to　play　him　a　famous　one。　But　what　the　duches
marvelled　at　above　all　was　that　Sancho's　simplicity　could　be　so
great　as　to　make　him　believe　as　absolute　truth　that　Dulcinea　had
been　enchanted；　when　it　was　he　himself　who　had　been　the　enchanter
and　trickster　in　the　business。　Having；　therefore；　instructed　their
servants　in　everything　they　were　to　do；　six　days　afterwards　they
took　him　out　to　hunt；　with　as　great　a　retinue　of　huntsmen　and
beaters　as　a　crowned　king。
　　They　presented　Don　Quixote　with　a　hunting　suit；　and　Sancho　with
another　of　the　finest　green　cloth；　but　Don　Quixote　declined　to　put　his
on；　saying　that　he　must　soon　return　to　the　hard　pursuit　of　arms；　and
could　not　carry　wardrobes　or　stores　with　him。　Sancho；　however；　took
what　they　gave　him；　meaning　to　sell　it　the　first　opportunity。
　　The　appointed　day　having　arrived；　Don　Quixote　armed　himself；　and
Sancho　arrayed　himself；　and　mounted　on　his　Dapple　（for　he　would　not
give　him　up　though　they　offered　him　a　horse）；　he　placed　himself　in　the
midst　of　the　troop　of　huntsmen。　The　duchess　came　out　splendidly
attired；　and　Don　Quixote；　in　pure　courtesy　and　politeness；　held　the
rein　of　her　palfrey；　though　the　duke　wanted　not　to　allow　him；　and　at
last　they　reached　a　wood　that　lay　between　two　high　mountains；　where；
after　occupying　various　posts；　ambushes；　and　paths；　and　distributing
the　party　in　different　positions；　the　hunt　began　with　great　noise；
shouting；　and　hallooing；　so　that；　between　the　baying　of　the　hounds　and
the　blowing　of　the　horns；　they　could　not　hear　one　another。　The　duchess
dismounted；　and　with　a　sharp　boar…spear　in　her　hand　posted　herself
where　she　knew　the　wild　boars　were　in　the　habit　of　passing。　The　duke
and　Don　Quixote　likewise　dismounted　and　placed　themselves　one　at
each　side　of　her。　Sancho　took　up　a　position　in　the　rear　of　all　without
dismounting　from　Dapple；　whom　he　dared　not　desert　lest　some　mischief
should　befall　him。　Scarcely　had　they　taken　their　stand　in　a　line
with　several　of　their　servants；　when　they　saw　a　huge　boar；　closely
pressed　by　the　hounds　and　followed　by　the　huntsmen；　making　towards
them；　grinding　his　teeth　and　tusks；　and　scattering　foam　from　his
mouth。　As　soon　as　he　saw　him　Don　Quixote；　bracing　his　shield　on　his
arm；　and　drawing　his　sword；　advanced　to　meet　him；　the　duke　with
boar…spear　did　the　same；　but　the　duchess　would　have　gone　in　front　of
them　all　had　not　the　duke　prevented　her。　Sancho　alone；　deserting
Dapple　at　the　sight　of　the　mighty　beast；　took　to　his　heels　as　hard
as　he　could　and　strove　in　vain　to　mount　a　tall　oak。　As　he　was　clinging
to　a　branch；　however；　half…way　up　in　his　struggle　to　reach　the　top；
the　bough；　such　was　his　ill…luck　and　hard　fate；　gave　way；　and　caught
in　his　fall　by　a　broken　limb　of　the　oak；　he　hung　suspended　in　the
air　unable　to　reach　the　ground。　Finding　himself　in　this　position；
and　that　the　green　coat　was　beginning　to　tear；　and　reflecting　that
if　the　fierce　animal　came　that　way　he　might　be　able　to　get　at　him；
he　began　to　utter　such　cries；　and　call　for　help　so　earnestly；　that　all
who　heard　him　and　did　not　see　him　felt　sure　he　must　be　in　the　teeth　of
some　wild　beast。　In　the　end　the　tusked　boar　fell　pierced　by　the　blades
of　the　many　spears　they　held　in　front　of　him；　and　Don　Quixote；　turning
round　at　the　cries　of　Sancho；　for　he　knew　by　them　that　it　was　he；
saw　him　hanging　from　the　oak　head　downwards；　with　Dapple；　who　did
not　forsake　him　in　his　distress；　close　beside　him；　and　Cide　Hamete
observes　that　he　seldom　saw　Sancho　Panza　without　seeing　Dapple；　or
Dapple　without　seeing　Sancho　Panza；　such　was　their　attachment　and
loyalty　one　to　the　other。　Don　Quixote　went　over　and　unhooked　Sancho；
who；　as　soon　as　he　found　himself　on　the　ground；　looked　at　the　rent
in　his　huntingcoat　and　was　grieved　to　the　heart；　for　he　thought　he　had
got　a　patrimonial　estate　in　that　suit。
　　Meanwhile　they　had　slung　the　mighty　boar　across　the　back　of　a
mule；　and　having　covered　it　with　sprigs　of　rosemary　and　branches　of
myrtle；　they　bore　it　away　as　the　spoils　of　victory　to　some　large
field…tents　which　had　been　pitched　in　the　middle　of　the　wood；　where
they　found　the　tables　laid　and　dinner　served；　in　such　grand　and
sumptuous　style　that　it　was　easy　to　see　the　rank　and　magnificence　of
those　who　had　provided　it。　Sancho；　as　he　showed　the　rents　in　his
torn　suit　to　the　duchess；　observed；　〃If　we　had　been　hunting　hares；
or　after　small　birds；　my　coat　would　have　been　safe　from　being　in　the
plight　it's　in；　I　don't　know　what　pleasure　one　can　find　in　lying　in
wait　for　an　animal　that　may　take　your　life　with　his　tusk　if　he　gets　at
you。　I　recollect　having　heard　an　old　ballad　sung　that　says；

　　　　　　　By　bears　be　thou　devoured；　as　erst
　　　　　　　　　　　Was　famous　Favila。〃

　　〃That；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃was　a　Gothic　king；　who；　going
a…hunting；　was　devoured　by　a　bear。〃
　　〃Just　so；〃　said　Sancho；　〃and　I　would　not　have　kings　and　princes
expose　themselves　to　such　dangers　for　the　sake　of　a　pleasure　which；　to
my　mind；　ought　not　to　be　one；　as　it　consists　in　killing　an　animal　that
has　done　no　harm　whatever。〃
　　〃Quite　the　contrary；　Sancho；　you　are　wrong　there；〃　said　the　duke；
〃for　hunting　is　more　suitable　and　requisite　for　kings　and　princes　than
for　anybody　else。　The　chase　is　the　emblem　of　war；　it　has　stratagems；
wiles；　and　crafty　devices　for　overcoming　the　enemy　in　safety；　in　it
extreme　cold　and　intolerable　heat　have　to　be　borne；　indolence　and
sleep　are　despised；　the　bodily　powers　are　invigorated；　the　limbs　of
him　who　engages　in　it　are　made　supple；　and；　in　a　word；　it　is　a　pursuit
which　may　be　followed　without　injury　to　anyone　and　with　enjoyment　to
many；　and　the　best　of　it　is；　it　is　not　for　everybody；　as
field…sports　of　other　sorts　are；　except　hawking；　which　also　is　only
for　kings　and　great　lords。　Reconsider　your　opinion　therefore；
Sancho；　and　when　you　are　governor　take　to　hunting；　and　you　will　find
the　good　of　it。〃
　　〃Nay；〃　said　Sancho；　〃the　good　governor　should　have　a　broken　leg
and　keep　at　home；〃　it　would　be　a　nice　thing　if；　after　people　had
been　at　the　trouble　of　coming　to　look　for　him　on　business；　the
governor　were　to　be　away　in　the　forest　enjoying　himself；　the
government　would　go　on　badly　in　that　fashion。　By　my　faith；　senor；
hunting　and　amusements　are　more　fit　for　idlers　than　for　governors；
what　I　intend　to　amuse　myself　with　is　playing　all　fours　at　Eastertime；
and　bowls　on　Sundays　and　holidays；　for　these　huntings　don't　suit　my
condition　or　agree　with　my　conscience。〃
　　〃God　grant　it　may　turn　out　so；〃　said　the　duke；　〃because　it's　a
long　step　from　saying　to　doing。〃
　　〃Be　that　as　it　may；〃　said　Sancho；　〃'pledges　don't　distress　a　good
payer；'　and　'he　whom　God　helps　does　better　than　he　who　gets　up　early；'
and　'it's　the　tripes　that　carry　the　feet　and　not　the　feet　the　tripes；'
I　mean　to　say　that　if　God　gives　me　help　and　I　do　my　duty　honestly；
no　doubt　I'll　govern　better　than　a　gerfalcon。　Nay；　let　them　only　put　a
finger　in　my　mouth；　and　they'll　see　whether　I　can　bite　or　not。〃
　　〃The　curse　of　God　and　all　his　saints　upon　thee；　thou　accursed
Sancho！〃　exclaimed　Don　Quixote；　〃when　will　the　day　come…　as　I　have
often　said　to　thee…　when　I　shall　hear　thee　make　one　single　coherent；
rational　remark　without　proverbs？　Pray；　your　highnesses；　leave　this
fool　alone；　for　he　will　grind　your　souls　between；　not　to　say　two；
but　two　thousand　proverbs；　dragged　in　as　much　in　season；　and　as　much
to　the　purpose　as…　may　God　grant　as　much　health　to　him；　or　to　me　if
I　want　to　listen　to　them！〃
　　〃Sancho　Panza's　proverbs；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃though　more　in
number　than　the　Greek　Commander's；　are　not　therefore　less　to　be
esteemed　for　the　conciseness　of　the　maxims。　For　my　own　part；　I　can　say
they　give　me　more　pleasure　than　others　that　may　be　better　brought　in
and　more　seasonably　introduced。〃
　　In　pleasant　conversation　of　this　sort　they　passed　out　of　the　tent
into　the　wood；　and　the　day　was　spent　in　visiting　some　of　the　posts　and
hiding…places；　and　then　night　closed　in；　not；　however；　as
brilliantly　or　tranquilly　as　might　have　been　expected　at　the　season；
for　it　was　then　midsummer；　but　bringing　with　it　a　kind　of　haze　that
greatly　aided　the　project　of　the　duke　and　duchess；　and　thus；　as
night　began　to　fall；　and　a　little　after　twilight　set　in；　suddenly
the　whole　wood　on　all　four　sides　seemed　to　be　on　fire；　and　shortly
after；　here；　there；　on　all　sides；　a　vast　number　of　trumpets　and
other　military　instruments　were　heard；　as　if　several　troops　of　cavalry
were　passing　through　the　wood。　The　blaze　of　the　fire　and　the　noise
of　the　warlike　instruments　almost　blinded　the　eyes　and　deafened　the
ears　of　those　that　stood　by；　and　indeed　of　all　who　were　in　the　wood。
Then　there　were　heard　repeated　lelilies　after　the　fashion