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第12章

don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第12章

小说: don quixote(堂·吉珂德) 字数: 每页4000字

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him; but as he drove his lance…point into the sail the wind whirled it
round with such force that it shivered the lance to pieces; sweeping
with it horse and rider; who went rolling over on the plain; in a
sorry condition。 Sancho hastened to his assistance as fast as his
ass could go; and when he came up found him unable to move; with
such a shock had Rocinante fallen with him。
  〃God bless me!〃 said Sancho; 〃did I not tell your worship to mind
what you were about; for they were only windmills? and no one could
have made any mistake about it but one who had something of the same
kind in his head。〃
  〃Hush; friend Sancho;〃 replied Don Quixote; 〃the fortunes of war
more than any other are liable to frequent fluctuations; and
moreover I think; and it is the truth; that that same sage Friston who
carried off my study and books; has turned these giants into mills
in order to rob me of the glory of vanquishing them; such is the
enmity he bears me; but in the end his wicked arts will avail but
little against my good sword。〃
  〃God order it as he may;〃 said Sancho Panza; and helping him to rise
got him up again on Rocinante; whose shoulder was half out; and
then; discussing the late adventure; they followed the road to
Puerto Lapice; for there; said Don Quixote; they could not fail to
find adventures in abundance and variety; as it was a great
thoroughfare。 For all that; he was much grieved at the loss of his
lance; and saying so to his squire; he added; 〃I remember having
read how a Spanish knight; Diego Perez de Vargas by name; having
broken his sword in battle; tore from an oak a ponderous bough or
branch; and with it did such things that day; and pounded so many
Moors; that he got the surname of Machuca; and he and his
descendants from that day forth were called Vargas y Machuca。 I
mention this because from the first oak I see I mean to rend such
another branch; large and stout like that; with which I am
determined and resolved to do such deeds that thou mayest deem thyself
very fortunate in being found worthy to come and see them; and be an
eyewitness of things that will with difficulty be believed。〃
  〃Be that as God will;〃 said Sancho; 〃I believe it all as your
worship says it; but straighten yourself a little; for you seem all on
one side; may be from the shaking of the fall。〃
  〃That is the truth;〃 said Don Quixote; 〃and if I make no complaint
of the pain it is because knights…errant are not permitted to complain
of any wound; even though their bowels be coming out through it。〃
  〃If so;〃 said Sancho; 〃I have nothing to say; but God knows I
would rather your worship complained when anything ailed you。 For my
part; I confess I must complain however small the ache may be;
unless this rule about not complaining extends to the squires of
knights…errant also。〃
  Don Quixote could not help laughing at his squire's simplicity;
and he assured him he might complain whenever and however he chose;
just as he liked; for; so far; he had never read of anything to the
contrary in the order of knighthood。
  Sancho bade him remember it was dinner…time; to which his master
answered that he wanted nothing himself just then; but that he might
eat when he had a mind。 With this permission Sancho settled himself as
comfortably as he could on his beast; and taking out of the alforjas
what he had stowed away in them; he jogged along behind his master
munching deliberately; and from time to time taking a pull at the bota
with a relish that the thirstiest tapster in Malaga might have envied;
and while he went on in this way; gulping down draught after
draught; he never gave a thought to any of the promises his master had
made him; nor did he rate it as hardship but rather as recreation
going in quest of adventures; however dangerous they might be。 Finally
they passed the night among some trees; from one of which Don
Quixote plucked a dry branch to serve him after a fashion as a
lance; and fixed on it the head he had removed from the broken one。
All that night Don Quixote lay awake thinking of his lady Dulcinea; in
order to conform to what he had read in his books; how many a night in
the forests and deserts knights used to lie sleepless supported by the
memory of their mistresses。 Not so did Sancho Panza spend it; for
having his stomach full of something stronger than chicory water he
made but one sleep of it; and; if his master had not called him;
neither the rays of the sun beating on his face nor all the cheery
notes of the birds welcoming the approach of day would have had
power to waken him。 On getting up he tried the bota and found it
somewhat less full than the night before; which grieved his heart
because they did not seem to be on the way to remedy the deficiency
readily。 Don Quixote did not care to break his fast; for; as has
been already said; he confined himself to savoury recollections for
nourishment。
  They returned to the road they had set out with; leading to Puerto
Lapice; and at three in the afternoon they came in sight of it。 〃Here;
brother Sancho Panza;〃 said Don Quixote when he saw it; 〃we may plunge
our hands up to the elbows in what they call adventures; but
observe; even shouldst thou see me in the greatest danger in the
world; thou must not put a hand to thy sword in my defence; unless
indeed thou perceivest that those who assail me are rabble or base
folk; for in that case thou mayest very properly aid me; but if they
be knights it is on no account permitted or allowed thee by the laws
of knighthood to help me until thou hast been dubbed a knight。〃
  〃Most certainly; senor;〃 replied Sancho; 〃your worship shall be
fully obeyed in this matter; all the more as of myself I am peaceful
and no friend to mixing in strife and quarrels: it is true that as
regards the defence of my own person I shall not give much heed to
those laws; for laws human and divine allow each one to defend himself
against any assailant whatever。〃
  〃That I grant;〃 said Don Quixote; 〃but in this matter of aiding me
against knights thou must put a restraint upon thy natural
impetuosity。〃
  〃I will do so; I promise you;〃 answered Sancho; 〃and will keep
this precept as carefully as Sunday。〃
  While they were thus talking there appeared on the road two friars
of the order of St。 Benedict; mounted on two dromedaries; for not less
tall were the two mules they rode on。 They wore travelling
spectacles and carried sunshades; and behind them came a coach
attended by four or five persons on horseback and two muleteers on
foot。 In the coach there was; as afterwards appeared; a Biscay lady on
her way to Seville; where her husband was about to take passage for
the Indies with an appointment of high honour。 The friars; though
going the same road; were not in her company; but the moment Don
Quixote perceived them he said to his squire; 〃Either I am mistaken;
or this is going to be the most famous adventure that has ever been
seen; for those black bodies we see there must be; and doubtless
are; magicians who are carrying off some stolen princess in that
coach; and with all my might I must undo this wrong。〃
  〃This will be worse than the windmills;〃 said Sancho。 〃Look;
senor; those are friars of St。 Benedict; and the coach plainly belongs
to some travellers: I tell you to mind well what you are about and
don't let the devil mislead you。〃
  〃I have told thee already; Sancho;〃 replied Don Quixote; 〃that on
the subject of adventures thou knowest little。 What I say is the
truth; as thou shalt see presently。〃
  So saying; he advanced and posted himself in the middle of the
road along which the friars were coming; and as soon as he thought
they had come near enough to hear what he said; he cried aloud;
〃Devilish and unnatural beings; release instantly the highborn
princesses whom you are carrying off by force in this coach; else
prepare to meet a speedy death as the just punishment of your evil
deeds。〃
  The friars drew rein and stood wondering at the appearance of Don
Quixote as well as at his words; to which they replied; 〃Senor
Caballero; we are not devilish or unnatural; but two brothers of St。
Benedict following our road; nor do we know whether or not there a

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