don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第64节
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glover？〃
〃All I can say is；〃 said Sancho； 〃that I did perceive a little
odour； something goaty； it must have been that she was all in a
sweat with hard work。〃
〃It could not be that；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but thou must have been
suffering from cold in the head； or must have smelt thyself； for I
know well what would be the scent of that rose among thorns； that lily
of the field； that dissolved amber。〃
〃Maybe so；〃 replied Sancho； 〃there often comes from myself that same
odour which then seemed to me to come from her grace the lady
Dulcinea； but that's no wonder； for one devil is like another。〃
〃Well then；〃 continued Don Quixote； 〃now she has done sifting the
corn and sent it to the mill； what did she do when she read the
letter？〃
〃As for the letter；〃 said Sancho； 〃she did not read it； for she said
she could neither read nor write； instead of that she tore it up
into small pieces； saying that she did not want to let anyone read
it lest her secrets should become known in the village； and that
what I had told her by word of mouth about the love your worship
bore her； and the extraordinary penance you were doing for her sake；
was enough； and； to make an end of it； she told me to tell your
worship that she kissed your hands； and that she had a greater
desire to see you than to write to you； and that therefore she
entreated and commanded you； on sight of this present； to come out
of these thickets； and to have done with carrying on absurdities；
and to set out at once for El Toboso； unless something else of greater
importance should happen； for she had a great desire to see your
worship。 She laughed greatly when I told her how your worship was
called The Knight of the Rueful Countenance； I asked her if that
Biscayan the other day had been there； and she told me he had； and
that he was an honest fellow； I asked her too about the galley slaves；
but she said she had not seen any as yet。〃
〃So far all goes well；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but tell me what jewel
was it that she gave thee on taking thy leave； in return for thy
tidings of me？ For it is a usual and ancient custom with knights and
ladies errant to give the squires； damsels； or dwarfs who bring
tidings of their ladies to the knights； or of their knights to the
ladies； some rich jewel as a guerdon for good news；' and
acknowledgment of the message。〃
〃That is very likely；〃 said Sancho； 〃and a good custom it was； to my
mind； but that must have been in days gone by； for now it would seem
to be the custom only to give a piece of bread and cheese； because
that was what my lady Dulcinea gave me over the top of the yard…wall
when I took leave of her； and more by token it was sheep's…milk
cheese。〃
〃She is generous in the extreme；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and if she
did not give thee a jewel of gold； no doubt it must have been
because she had not one to hand there to give thee； but sleeves are
good after Easter； I shall see her and all shall be made right。 But
knowest thou what amazes me； Sancho？ It seems to me thou must have
gone and come through the air； for thou hast taken but little more
than three days to go to El Toboso and return； though it is more
than thirty leagues from here to there。 From which I am inclined to
think that the sage magician who is my friend； and watches over my
interests （for of necessity there is and must be one； or else I should
not be a right knight…errant）； that this same； I say； must have helped
thee to travel without thy knowledge； for some of these sages will
catch up a knight…errant sleeping in his bed； and without his
knowing how or in what way it happened； he wakes up the next day
more than a thousand leagues away from the place where he went to
sleep。 And if it were not for this； knights…errant would not be able
to give aid to one another in peril； as they do at every turn。 For a
knight； maybe； is fighting in the mountains of Armenia with some
dragon； or fierce serpent； or another knight； and gets the worst of
the battle； and is at the point of death； but when he least looks
for it； there appears over against him on a cloud； or chariot of fire；
another knight； a friend of his； who just before had been in
England； and who takes his part； and delivers him from death； and at
night he finds himself in his own quarters supping very much to his
satisfaction； and yet from one place to the other will have been two
or three thousand leagues。 And all this is done by the craft and skill
of the sage enchanters who take care of those valiant knights； so
that； friend Sancho； I find no difficulty in believing that thou
mayest have gone from this place to El Toboso and returned in such a
short time； since； as I have said； some friendly sage must have
carried thee through the air without thee perceiving it。〃
〃That must have been it；〃 said Sancho； 〃for indeed Rocinante went
like a gipsy's ass with quicksilver in his ears。〃
〃Quicksilver！〃 said Don Quixote； 〃aye and what is more； a legion
of devils； folk that can travel and make others travel without being
weary； exactly as the whim seizes them。 But putting this aside； what
thinkest thou I ought to do about my lady's command to go and see her？
For though I feel that I am bound to obey her mandate； I feel too that
I am debarred by the boon I have accorded to the princess that
accompanies us； and the law of chivalry compels me to have regard
for my word in preference to my inclination； on the one hand the
desire to see my lady pursues and harasses me； on the other my
solemn promise and the glory I shall win in this enterprise urge and
call me； but what I think I shall do is to travel with all speed and
reach quickly the place where this giant is； and on my arrival I shall
cut off his head； and establish the princess peacefully in her
realm； and forthwith I shall return to behold the light that
lightens my senses； to whom I shall make such excuses that she will be
led to approve of my delay； for she will see that it entirely tends to
increase her glory and fame； for all that I have won； am winning； or
shall win by arms in this life； comes to me of the favour she
extends to me； and because I am hers。〃
〃Ah！ what a sad state your worship's brains are in！〃 said Sancho。
〃Tell me； senor； do you mean to travel all that way for nothing； and
to let slip and lose so rich and great a match as this where they give
as a portion a kingdom that in sober truth I have heard say is more
than twenty thousand leagues round about； and abounds with all
things necessary to support human life； and is bigger than Portugal
and Castile put together？ Peace； for the love of God！ Blush for what
you have said； and take my advice； and forgive me； and marry at once
in the first village where there is a curate； if not； here is our
licentiate who will do the business beautifully； remember； I am old
enough to give advice； and this I am giving comes pat to the
purpose； for a sparrow in the hand is better than a vulture on the
wing； and he who has the good to his hand and chooses the bad； that
the good he complains of may not come to him。〃
〃Look here； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote。 〃If thou art advising me to
marry； in order that immediately on slaying the giant I may become
king； and be able to confer favours on thee； and give thee what I have
promised； let me tell thee I shall be able very easily to satisfy
thy desires without marrying； for before going into battle I will make
it a stipulation that； if I come out of it victorious； even I do not
marry； they shall give me a portion portion of the kingdom； that I may
bestow it upon whomsoever I choose； and when they give it to me upon
whom wouldst thou have me bestow it but upon thee？〃
〃That is plain speaking；〃 said Sancho； 〃but let your worship take
care to choose it on the seacoast； so that if I don't like the life； I
may be able to ship off my black vassals and deal with them as I
have said； don't mind going to see my lady Dulcinea now； but go and
kill this giant and let us finish off this business； for by God it
strikes me it will be one of great honour and great profit。〃
〃I hold thou art in the right of it； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and
I will take thy advice as to accompanying the princess before going to
see Dulcinea； but I counsel thee not to say anything to any one； or to
those who are with us； about what we have considered and discussed；
for as Dulcinea is so decorous that she does not wish her thoughts
to be known it is not right that I or anyone for me should disclose
them。〃
〃Well then； if that be so；〃 said Sancho； 〃how is it that your
worship makes all those you overcome by your arm go to present
themselves before my lady Dulcinea； this being the same thing as
signing your name to it that you love her and are her lover？ And as
those who go must perforce kneel before her and say they come from
your worship to submit themselves to her； how can the thoughts of both
of you be hid？〃
〃O； how silly and simple thou art！〃 said Don Quixote； 〃seest thou
not； Sancho； that this tends to her greater exaltation？ For thou
must know that according to our way of thinking in chivalry； it is a
high honour to a lady to have many knights…errant in her service；
whose thoughts nev
