don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第29节

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two　fingers　of　his　hand。　Such　was　the　force　of　the　first　blow　and　of
the　second；　that　the　poor　knight　in　spite　of　himself　came　down
backwards　off　his　horse。　The　shepherds　came　up；　and　felt　sure　they　had
killed　him；　so　in　all　haste　they　collected　their　flock　together；
took　up　the　dead　beasts；　of　which　there　were　more　than　seven；　and　made
off　without　waiting　to　ascertain　anything　further。
　　All　this　time　Sancho　stood　on　the　hill　watching　the　crazy　feats
his　master　was　performing；　and　tearing　his　beard　and　cursing　the
hour　and　the　occasion　when　fortune　had　made　him　acquainted　with　him。
Seeing　him；　then；　brought　to　the　ground；　and　that　the　shepherds　had
taken　themselves　off；　he　ran　to　him　and　found　him　in　very　bad　case；
though　not　unconscious；　and　said　he：
　　〃Did　I　not　tell　you　to　come　back；　Senor　Don　Quixote；　and　that　what
you　were　going　to　attack　were　not　armies　but　droves　of　sheep？〃
　　〃That's　how　that　thief　of　a　sage；　my　enemy；　can　alter　and　falsify
things；〃　answered　Don　Quixote；　〃thou　must　know；　Sancho；　that　it　is　a
very　easy　matter　for　those　of　his　sort　to　make　us　believe　what　they
choose；　and　this　malignant　being　who　persecutes　me；　envious　of　the
glory　he　knew　I　was　to　win　in　this　battle；　has　turned　the　squadrons　of
the　enemy　into　droves　of　sheep。　At　any　rate；　do　this　much；　I　beg　of
thee；　Sancho；　to　undeceive　thyself；　and　see　that　what　I　say　is　true；
mount　thy　ass　and　follow　them　quietly；　and　thou　shalt　see　that　when
they　have　gone　some　little　distance　from　this　they　will　return　to
their　original　shape　and；　ceasing　to　be　sheep；　become　men　in　all
respects　as　I　described　them　to　thee　at　first。　But　go　not　just　yet；
for　I　want　thy　help　and　assistance；　come　hither；　and　see　how　many　of
my　teeth　and　grinders　are　missing；　for　I　feel　as　if　there　was　not
one　left　in　my　mouth。〃
　　Sancho　came　so　close　that　he　almost　put　his　eyes　into　his　mouth；　now
just　at　that　moment　the　balsam　had　acted　on　the　stomach　of　Don
Quixote；　so；　at　the　very　instant　when　Sancho　came　to　examine　his
mouth；　he　discharged　all　its　contents　with　more　force　than　a　musket；
and　full　into　the　beard　of　the　compassionate　squire。
　　〃Holy　Mary！〃　cried　Sancho；　〃what　is　this　that　has　happened　me？
Clearly　this　sinner　is　mortally　wounded；　as　he　vomits　blood　from　the
mouth；〃　but　considering　the　matter　a　little　more　closely　he
perceived　by　the　colour；　taste；　and　smell；　that　it　was　not　blood　but
the　balsam　from　the　flask　which　he　had　seen　him　drink；　and　he　was
taken　with　such　a　loathing　that　his　stomach　turned；　and　he　vomited
up　his　inside　over　his　very　master；　and　both　were　left　in　a　precious
state。　Sancho　ran　to　his　ass　to　get　something　wherewith　to　clean
himself；　and　relieve　his　master；　out　of　his　alforjas；　but　not
finding　them；　he　well…nigh　took　leave　of　his　senses；　and　cursed
himself　anew；　and　in　his　heart　resolved　to　quit　his　master　and
return　home；　even　though　he　forfeited　the　wages　of　his　service　and　all
hopes　of　the　promised　island。
　　Don　Quixote　now　rose；　and　putting　his　left　hand　to　his　mouth　to　keep
his　teeth　from　falling　out　altogether；　with　the　other　he　laid　hold
of　the　bridle　of　Rocinante；　who　had　never　stirred　from　his　master's
side…　so　loyal　and　well…behaved　was　he…　and　betook　himself　to　where
the　squire　stood　leaning　over　his　ass　with　his　hand　to　his　cheek；　like
one　in　deep　dejection。　Seeing　him　in　this　mood；　looking　so　sad；　Don
Quixote　said　to　him：
　　〃Bear　in　mind；　Sancho；　that　one　man　is　no　more　than　another；
unless　he　does　more　than　another；　all　these　tempests　that　fall　upon　us
are　signs　that　fair　weather　is　coming　shortly；　and　that　things　will　go
well　with　us；　for　it　is　impossible　for　good　or　evil　to　last　for
ever；　and　hence　it　follows　that　the　evil　having　lasted　long；　the
good　must　be　now　nigh　at　hand；　so　thou　must　not　distress　thyself　at
the　misfortunes　which　happen　to　me；　since　thou　hast　no　share　in　them。〃
　　〃How　have　I　not？〃　replied　Sancho；　〃was　he　whom　they　blanketed
yesterday　perchance　any　other　than　my　father's　son？　and　the　alforjas
that　are　missing　to…day　with　all　my　treasures；　did　they　belong　to
any　other　but　myself？〃
　　〃What！　are　the　alforjas　missing；　Sancho？〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　〃Yes；　they　are　missing；〃　answered　Sancho。
　　〃In　that　case　we　have　nothing　to　eat　to…day；〃　replied　Don　Quixote。
　　〃It　would　be　so；〃　answered　Sancho；　〃if　there　were　none　of　the
herbs　your　worship　says　you　know　in　these　meadows；　those　with　which
knights…errant　as　unlucky　as　your　worship　are　wont　to　supply　such…like
shortcomings。〃
　　〃For　all　that；〃　answered　Don　Quixote；　〃I　would　rather　have　just
now　a　quarter　of　bread；　or　a　loaf　and　a　couple　of　pilchards'　heads；
than　all　the　herbs　described　by　Dioscorides；　even　with　Doctor　Laguna's
notes。　Nevertheless；　Sancho　the　Good；　mount　thy　beast　and　come　along
with　me；　for　God；　who　provides　for　all　things；　will　not　fail　us
（more　especially　when　we　are　so　active　in　his　service　as　we　are）；
since　he　fails　not　the　midges　of　the　air；　nor　the　grubs　of　the
earth；　nor　the　tadpoles　of　the　water；　and　is　so　merciful　that　he
maketh　his　sun　to　rise　on　the　good　and　on　the　evil；　and　sendeth　rain
on　the　unjust　and　on　the　just。〃
　　〃Your　worship　would　make　a　better　preacher　than　knight…errant；〃　said
Sancho。
　　〃Knights…errant　knew　and　ought　to　know　everything；　Sancho；〃　said　Don
Quixote；　〃for　there　were　knights…errant　in　former　times　as　well
qualified　to　deliver　a　sermon　or　discourse　in　the　middle　of　an
encampment；　as　if　they　had　graduated　in　the　University　of　Paris；
whereby　we　may　see　that　the　lance　has　never　blunted　the　pen；　nor　the
pen　the　lance。〃
　　〃Well；　be　it　as　your　worship　says；〃　replied　Sancho；　〃let　us　be　off
now　and　find　some　place　of　shelter　for　the　night；　and　God　grant　it　may
be　somewhere　where　there　are　no　blankets；　nor　blanketeers；　nor
phantoms；　nor　enchanted　Moors；　for　if　there　are；　may　the　devil　take
the　whole　concern。〃
　　〃Ask　that　of　God；　my　son；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　and　do　thou　lead　on
where　thou　wilt；　for　this　time　I　leave　our　lodging　to　thy　choice；
but　reach　me　here　thy　hand；　and　feel　with　thy　finger；　and　find　out　how
many　of　my　teeth　and　grinders　are　missing　from　this　right　side　of
the　upper　jaw；　for　it　is　there　I　feel　the　pain。〃
　　Sancho　put　in　his　fingers；　and　feeling　about　asked　him；　〃How　many
grinders　used　your　worship　have　on　this　side？〃
　　〃Four；〃　replied　Don　Quixote；　〃besides　the　back…tooth；　all　whole
and　quite　sound。〃
　　〃Mind　what　you　are　saying；　senor。〃
　　〃I　say　four；　if　not　five；〃　answered　Don　Quixote；　〃for　never　in　my
life　have　I　had　tooth　or　grinder　drawn；　nor　has　any　fallen　out　or　been
destroyed　by　any　decay　or　rheum。〃
　　〃Well；　then；〃　said　Sancho；　〃in　this　lower　side　your　worship　has　no
more　than　two　grinders　and　a　half；　and　in　the　upper　neither　a　half　nor
any　at　all；　for　it　is　all　as　smooth　as　the　palm　of　my　hand。〃
　　〃Luckless　that　I　am！〃　said　Don　Quixote；　hearing　the　sad　news　his
squire　gave　him；　〃I　had　rather　they　despoiled　me　of　an　arm；　so　it　were
not　the　sword…arm；　for　I　tell　thee；　Sancho；　a　mouth　without　teeth　is
like　a　mill　without　a　millstone；　and　a　tooth　is　much　more　to　be　prized
than　a　diamond；　but　we　who　profess　the　austere　order　of　chivalry　are
liable　to　all　this。　Mount；　friend；　and　lead　the　way；　and　I　will　follow
thee　at　whatever　pace　thou　wilt。〃
　　Sancho　did　as　he　bade　him；　and　proceeded　in　the　direction　in　which
he　thought　he　might　find　refuge　without　quitting　the　high　road；
which　was　there　very　much　frequented。　As　they　went　along；　then；　at　a
slow　pace…　for　the　pain　in　Don　Quixote's　jaws　kept　him　uneasy　and
ill…disposed　for　speed…　Sancho　thought　it　well　to　amuse　and　divert　him
by　talk　of　some　kind；　and　among　the　things　he　said　to　him　was　that
which　will　be　told　in　the　following　chapter。

　　CHAPTER　XIX
　　OF　THE　SHREWD　DISCOURSE　WHICH　SANCHO　HELD　WITH　HIS　MASTER；　AND　OF
THE　ADVENTURE　THAT　BEFELL　HIM　WITH　A　DEAD　BODY；　TOGETHER　WITH　OTHER
NOTABLE　OCCURRENCES

　　〃IT　SEEMS　to　me；　senor；　that　all　these　mishaps　that　have　befallen　us
of　late　have　been　without　any　doubt　a　punishment　for　the　offence
committed　by　your　worship　against　the　order　of　chivalry　in　not　keeping
the　oath　you　made　not　to　eat　bread　off　a　tablecloth　or　embrace　the
queen；　and　all　the　rest　of　it　that　your　worship　swore　to　observe　until
you　had　taken　that　helmet　of　Malandrino's；　or　whatever　the　Moor　is
called；　for　I　do　not　very　well　remember。〃
　　〃Thou　art　very　right；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃but　to　tell　the
truth；　it　had　escaped　my　memory；　and　likewise　thou　mayest　rely　upon　it
that　the　affair　of　the　blanket　happened　to　thee　because　of　thy　fault
in　not　reminding　me　of　it　in　time；　but　I　will　make　amends；　for　there
are　ways　of　compounding　for　everything　in　the　order　of　chivalry。〃
　　〃Why！　have　I　taken　an　oath　of　some　sort；　then？〃　said　Sancho。
　　〃It　makes　no　matter　that　thou　hast　not　taken　an　oath；〃　said　Don
Quixote；　〃suffice　it　that　I　see　thou　art　not　quite　clear　of
complicity；　and　whether　or　no；　it　will　not　be　ill　done　to　provide
ourselves　with　a　remedy。〃
　　〃In　that　case；〃　said　Sancho；　〃mind　that　your　worship　does　not　forget
this　as　you　did　the　oath；　perhaps　the　phantoms　may　take　it　into
their　heads　to　amuse　themselves　once　more　with　me；　or　even　with　your
worship　if　they　see　you　so　obstinate。〃
　　While　engaged　in　this　an