don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第220节
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with him that day； and all showed honour to Don Quixote and treated
him as a knight…errant； and he becoming puffed up and exalted in
consequence could not contain himself for satisfaction。 Such were
the drolleries of Sancho that all the servants of the house； and all
who heard him； were kept hanging upon his lips。 While at table Don
Antonio said to him； 〃We hear； worthy Sancho； that you are so fond
of manjar blanco and forced…meat balls； that if you have any left； you
keep them in your bosom for the next day。〃
〃No； senor； that's not true；〃 said Sancho； 〃for I am more cleanly
than greedy； and my master Don Quixote here knows well that we two are
used to live for a week on a handful of acorns or nuts。 To be sure； if
it so happens that they offer me a heifer； I run with a halter； I
mean； I eat what I'm given； and make use of opportunities as I find
them； but whoever says that I'm an out…of…the…way eater or not
cleanly； let me tell him that he is wrong； and I'd put it in a
different way if I did not respect the honourable beards that are at
the table。〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃Sancho's moderation and cleanliness
in eating might be inscribed and graved on plates of brass； to be kept
in eternal remembrance in ages to come。 It is true that when he is
hungry there is a certain appearance of voracity about him； for he
eats at a great pace and chews with both jaws； but cleanliness he is
always mindful of； and when he was governor he learned how to eat
daintily； so much so that he eats grapes； and even pomegranate pips；
with a fork。〃
〃What！〃 said Don Antonio； 〃has Sancho been a governor？〃
〃Ay；〃 said Sancho； 〃and of an island called Barataria。 I governed it
to perfection for ten days； and lost my rest all the time； and learned
to look down upon all the governments in the world； I got out of it by
taking to flight； and fell into a pit where I gave myself up for dead；
and out of which I escaped alive by a miracle。〃
Don Quixote then gave them a minute account of the whole affair of
Sancho's government； with which he greatly amused his hearers。
On the cloth being removed Don Antonio； taking Don Quixote by the
hand； passed with him into a distant room in which there was nothing
in the way of furniture except a table； apparently of jasper；
resting on a pedestal of the same； upon which was set up； after the
fashion of the busts of the Roman emperors； a head which seemed to
be of bronze。 Don Antonio traversed the whole apartment with Don
Quixote and walked round the table several times； and then said； 〃Now；
Senor Don Quixote； that I am satisfied that no one is listening to us；
and that the door is shut； I will tell you of one of the rarest
adventures； or more properly speaking strange things； that can be
imagined； on condition that you will keep what I say to you in the
remotest recesses of secrecy。〃
〃I swear it；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and for greater security I will put
a flag…stone over it； for I would have you know； Senor Don Antonio〃
（he had by this time learned his name）； 〃that you are addressing one
who； though he has ears to hear； has no tongue to speak； so that you
may safely transfer whatever you have in your bosom into mine； and
rely upon it that you have consigned it to the depths of silence。〃
〃In reliance upon that promise；〃 said Don Antonio； 〃I will
astonish you with what you shall see and hear； and relieve myself of
some of the vexation it gives me to have no one to whom I can
confide my secrets； for they are not of a sort to be entrusted to
everybody。〃
Don Quixote was puzzled； wondering what could be the object of
such precautions； whereupon Don Antonio taking his hand passed it over
the bronze head and the whole table and the pedestal of jasper on
which it stood； and then said； 〃This head； Senor Don Quixote； has been
made and fabricated by one of the greatest magicians and wizards the
world ever saw； a Pole； I believe； by birth； and a pupil of the famous
Escotillo of whom such marvellous stories are told。 He was here in
my house； and for a consideration of a thousand crowns that I gave him
he constructed this head； which has the property and virtue of
answering whatever questions are put to its ear。 He observed the
points of the compass； he traced figures； he studied the stars； he
watched favourable moments； and at length brought it to the perfection
we shall see to…morrow； for on Fridays it is mute； and this being
Friday we must wait till the next day。 In the interval your worship
may consider what you would like to ask it； and I know by experience
that in all its answers it tells the truth。〃
Don Quixote was amazed at the virtue and property of the head； and
was inclined to disbelieve Don Antonio； but seeing what a short time
he had to wait to test the matter； he did not choose to say anything
except that he thanked him for having revealed to him so mighty a
secret。 They then quitted the room； Don Antonio locked the door； and
they repaired to the chamber where the rest of the gentlemen were
assembled。 In the meantime Sancho had recounted to them several of the
adventures and accidents that had happened his master。
That afternoon they took Don Quixote out for a stroll； not in his
armour but in street costume； with a surcoat of tawny cloth upon
him； that at that season would have made ice itself sweat。 Orders were
left with the servants to entertain Sancho so as not to let him
leave the house。 Don Quixote was mounted； not on Rocinante； but upon a
tall mule of easy pace and handsomely caparisoned。 They put the
surcoat on him； and on the back； without his perceiving it； they
stitched a parchment on which they wrote in large letters； 〃This is
Don Quixote of La Mancha。〃 As they set out upon their excursion the
placard attracted the eyes of all who chanced to see him； and as
they read out； 〃This is Don Quixote of La Mancha；〃 Don Quixote was
amazed to see how many people gazed at him； called him by his name；
and recognised him； and turning to Don Antonio； who rode at his
side； he observed to him； 〃Great are the privileges knight…errantry
involves； for it makes him who professes it known and famous in
every region of the earth； see； Don Antonio； even the very boys of
this city know me without ever having seen me。〃
〃True； Senor Don Quixote；〃 returned Don Antonio； 〃for as fire cannot
be hidden or kept secret； virtue cannot escape being recognised； and
that which is attained by the profession of arms shines
distinguished above all others。〃
It came to pass； however； that as Don Quixote was proceeding amid
the acclamations that have been described； a Castilian； reading the
inscription on his back； cried out in a loud voice； 〃The devil take
thee for a Don Quixote of La Mancha！ What！ art thou here； and not dead
of the countless drubbings that have fallen on thy ribs？ Thou art mad；
and if thou wert so by thyself； and kept thyself within thy madness；
it would not be so bad； but thou hast the gift of making fools and
blockheads of all who have anything to do with thee or say to thee。
Why； look at these gentlemen bearing thee company！ Get thee home；
blockhead； and see after thy affairs； and thy wife and children； and
give over these fooleries that are sapping thy brains and skimming
away thy wits。〃
〃Go your own way； brother；〃 said Don Antonio； 〃and don't offer
advice to those who don't ask you for it。 Senor Don Quixote is in
his full senses； and we who bear him company are not fools； virtue
is to be honoured wherever it may be found； go； and bad luck to you；
and don't meddle where you are not wanted。〃
〃By God； your worship is right；〃 replied the Castilian； 〃for to
advise this good man is to kick against the pricks； still for all that
it fills me with pity that the sound wit they say the blockhead has in
everything should dribble away by the channel of his
knight…errantry； but may the bad luck your worship talks of follow
me and all my descendants； if； from this day forth； though I should
live longer than Methuselah； I ever give advice to anybody even if
he asks me for it。〃
The advice…giver took himself off； and they continued their
stroll； but so great was the press of the boys and people to read
the placard； that Don Antonio was forced to remove it as if he were
taking off something else。
Night came and they went home； and there was a ladies' dancing
party； for Don Antonio's wife； a lady of rank and gaiety； beauty and
wit； had invited some friends of hers to come and do honour to her
guest and amuse themselves with his strange delusions。 Several of them
came； they supped sumptuously； the dance began at about ten o'clock。
Among the ladies were two of a mischievous and frolicsome turn； and；
though perfectly modest； somewhat free in playing tricks for
harmless diversion sake。 These two were so indefatigable in taking Don
Quixote out to dance that they tired him down； not only in body but in
spirit。 It was a sight to see the figure Don Quixote made； long； lank；
lean； and yellow； his garments clinging tight to him； ungainly； and
above all anything but agile。 The gay ladies made secret love to
him； and he on his part secretly repelled them； but finding himself
hard pressed by their blandishm
