don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第210节
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that was claimed against him and from all obligations to give
satisfaction。 The master of the ceremonies apportioned the sun to
them； and stationed them； each on the spot where he was to stand。
The drums beat； the sound of the trumpets filled the air； the earth
trembled under foot； the hearts of the gazing crowd were full of
anxiety； some hoping for a happy issue； some apprehensive of an
untoward ending to the affair； and lastly； Don Quixote； commending
himself with all his heart to God our Lord and to the lady Dulcinea
del Toboso； stood waiting for them to give the necessary signal for
the onset。 Our lacquey； however； was thinking of something very
different； he only thought of what I am now going to mention。
It seems that as he stood contemplating his enemy she struck him
as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen all his life； and the
little blind boy whom in our streets they commonly call Love had no
mind to let slip the chance of triumphing over a lacquey heart； and
adding it to the list of his trophies； and so； stealing gently upon
him unseen； he drove a dart two yards long into the poor lacquey's
left side and pierced his heart through and through； which he was able
to do quite at his ease； for Love is invisible； and comes in and
goes out as he likes； without anyone calling him to account for what
he does。 Well then； when they gave the signal for the onset our
lacquey was in an ecstasy； musing upon the beauty of her whom he had
already made mistress of his liberty； and so he paid no attention to
the sound of the trumpet； unlike Don Quixote； who was off the
instant he heard it； and； at the highest speed Rocinante was capable
of； set out to meet his enemy； his good squire Sancho shouting lustily
as he saw him start； 〃God guide thee； cream and flower of
knights…errant！ God give thee the victory； for thou hast the right
on thy side！〃 But though Tosilos saw Don Quixote coming at him he
never stirred a step from the spot where he was posted； and instead of
doing so called loudly to the marshal of the field； to whom when he
came up to see what he wanted he said； 〃Senor； is not this battle to
decide whether I marry or do not marry that lady？〃 〃Just so；〃 was
the answer。 〃Well then；〃 said the lacquey； 〃I feel qualms of
conscience； and I should lay a…heavy burden upon it if I were to
proceed any further with the combat； I therefore declare that I
yield myself vanquished； and that I am willing to marry the lady at
once。〃
The marshal of the field was lost in astonishment at the words of
Tosilos； and as he was one of those who were privy to the
arrangement of the affair he knew not what to say in reply。 Don
Quixote pulled up in mid career when he saw that his enemy was not
coming on to the attack。 The duke could not make out the reason why
the battle did not go on； but the marshal of the field hastened to him
to let him know what Tosilos said； and he was amazed and extremely
angry at it。 In the meantime Tosilos advanced to where Dona
Rodriguez sat and said in a loud voice； 〃Senora； I am willing to marry
your daughter； and I have no wish to obtain by strife and fighting
what I can obtain in peace and without any risk to my life。〃
The valiant Don Quixote heard him； and said； 〃As that is the case
I am released and absolved from my promise； let them marry by all
means； and as 'God our Lord has given her； may Saint Peter add his
blessing。'〃
The duke had now descended to the courtyard of the castle； and going
up to Tosilos he said to him； 〃Is it true； sir knight； that you
yield yourself vanquished； and that moved by scruples of conscience
you wish to marry this damsel？〃
〃It is； senor；〃 replied Tosilos。
〃And he does well；〃 said Sancho； 〃for what thou hast to give to
the mouse； give to the cat； and it will save thee all trouble。〃
Tosilos meanwhile was trying to unlace his helmet； and he begged
them to come to his help at once； as his power of breathing was
failing him； and he could not remain so long shut up in that
confined space。 They removed it in all haste； and his lacquey features
were revealed to public gaze。 At this sight Dona Rodriguez and her
daughter raised a mighty outcry； exclaiming； 〃This is a trick！ This is
a trick！ They have put Tosilos； my lord the duke's lacquey； upon us in
place of the real husband。 The justice of God and the king against
such trickery； not to say roguery！〃
〃Do not distress yourselves； ladies；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for this is
no trickery or roguery； or if it is； it is not the duke who is at
the bottom of it； but those wicked enchanters who persecute me； and
who； jealous of my reaping the glory of this victory； have turned your
husband's features into those of this person； who you say is a lacquey
of the duke's； take my advice； and notwithstanding the malice of my
enemies marry him； for beyond a doubt he is the one you wish for a
husband。〃
When the duke heard this all his anger was near vanishing in a fit
of laughter； and he said； 〃The things that happen to Senor Don Quixote
are so extraordinary that I am ready to believe this lacquey of mine
is not one； but let us adopt this plan and device； let us put off
the marriage for； say； a fortnight； and let us keep this person
about whom we are uncertain in close confinement； and perhaps in the
course of that time he may return to his original shape； for the spite
which the enchanters entertain against Senor Don Quixote cannot last
so long； especially as it is of so little advantage to them to
practise these deceptions and transformations。〃
〃Oh； senor；〃 said Sancho； 〃those scoundrels are well used to
changing whatever concerns my master from one thing into another。 A
knight that he overcame some time back； called the Knight of the
Mirrors； they turned into the shape of the bachelor Samson Carrasco of
our town and a great friend of ours； and my lady Dulcinea del Toboso
they have turned into a common country wench； so I suspect this
lacquey will have to live and die a lacquey all the days of his life。〃
Here the Rodriguez's daughter exclaimed； 〃Let him be who he may；
this man that claims me for a wife； I am thankful to him for the same；
for I had rather he the lawful wife of a lacquey than the cheated
mistress of a gentleman； though he who played me false is nothing of
the kind。〃
To be brief； all the talk and all that had happened ended in Tosilos
being shut up until it was seen how his transformation turned out。 All
hailed Don Quixote as victor； but the greater number were vexed and
disappointed at finding that the combatants they had been so anxiously
waiting for had not battered one another to pieces； just as the boys
are disappointed when the man they are waiting to see hanged does
not come out； because the prosecution or the court has pardoned him。
The people dispersed； the duke and Don Quixote returned to the castle；
they locked up Tosilos； Dona Rodriguez and her daughter remained
perfectly contented when they saw that any way the affair must end
in marriage； and Tosilos wanted nothing else。
CHAPTER LVII
WHICH TREATS OF HOW DON QUIXOTE TOOK LEAVE OF THE DUKE； AND OF
WHAT FOLLOWED WITH THE WITTY AND IMPUDENT ALTISIDORA； ONE OF THE
DUCHESS'S DAMSELS
DON QUIXOTE now felt it right to quit a life of such idleness as
he was leading in the castle； for he fancied that he was making
himself sorely missed by suffering himself to remain shut up and
inactive amid the countless luxuries and enjoyments his hosts lavished
upon him as a knight。 and he felt too that he would have to render a
strict account to heaven of that indolence and seclusion； and so one
day he asked the duke and duchess to grant him permission to take
his departure。 They gave it； showing at the same time that they were
very sorry he was leaving them。 The duchess gave his wife's letters to
Sancho Panza； who shed tears over them； saying； 〃Who would have
thought that such grand hopes as the news of my government bred in
my wife Teresa Panza's breast would end in my going back now to the
vagabond adventures of my master Don Quixote of La Mancha？ Still I'm
glad to see my Teresa behaved as she ought in sending the acorns；
for if she had not sent them I'd have been sorry； and she'd have shown
herself ungrateful。 It is a comfort to me that they can't call that
present a bribe； for I had got the government already when she sent
them； and it's but reasonable that those who have had a good turn done
them should show their gratitude； if it's only with a trifle。 After
all I went into the government naked； and I come out of it naked； so I
can say with a safe conscience …and that's no small matter… 'naked I
was born； naked I find myself； I neither lose nor gain。'〃
Thus did Sancho soliloquise on the day of their departure； as Don
Quixote； who had the night before taken leave of the duke and duchess；
coming out made his appearance at an early hour in full armour in
the courtyard of the castle。 The whole household of the castle were
watching him from the corridors； and the duke and duchess； too； came
out to see him。 Sancho was mounted on his Dapple； with his alforjas；
valise； and proven。 supremely happy because the duke's majordomo；
the same that had acted
