don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第164章
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him this sonnet on the fable or story of Pyramus and Thisbe。
SONNET
The lovely maid； she pierces now the wall；
Heart…pierced by her young Pyramus doth lie；
And Love spreads wing from Cyprus isle to fly；
A chink to view so wondrous great and small。
There silence speaketh； for no voice at all
Can pass so strait a strait； but love will ply
Where to all other power 'twere vain to try；
For love will find a way whate'er befall。
Impatient of delay； with reckless pace
The rash maid wins the fatal spot where she
Sinks not in lover's arms but death's embrace。
So runs the strange tale； how the lovers twain
One sword； one sepulchre； one memory；
Slays； and entombs； and brings to life again。
〃Blessed be God；〃 said Don Quixote when he had heard Don Lorenzo's
sonnet； 〃that among the hosts there are of irritable poets I have
found one consummate one； which； senor； the art of this sonnet
proves to me that you are！〃
For four days was Don Quixote most sumptuously entertained in Don
Diego's house； at the end of which time he asked his permission to
depart； telling him he thanked him for the kindness and hospitality he
had received in his house； but that； as it did not become
knights…errant to give themselves up for long to idleness and
luxury； he was anxious to fulfill the duties of his calling in seeking
adventures； of which he was informed there was an abundance in that
neighbourhood； where he hoped to employ his time until the day came
round for the jousts at Saragossa； for that was his proper
destination； and that； first of all； he meant to enter the cave of
Montesinos； of which so many marvellous things were reported all
through the country； and at the same time to investigate and explore
the origin and true source of the seven lakes commonly called the
lakes of Ruidera。
Don Diego and his son commended his laudable resolution； and bade
him furnish himself with all he wanted from their house and
belongings； as they would most gladly be of service to him； which；
indeed； his personal worth and his honourable profession made
incumbent upon them。
The day of his departure came at length； as welcome to Don Quixote
as it was sad and sorrowful to Sancho Panza； who was very well
satisfied with the abundance of Don Diego's house； and objected to
return to the starvation of the woods and wilds and the
short…commons of his ill…stocked alforjas； these； however； he filled
and packed with what he considered needful。 On taking leave； Don
Quixote said to Don Lorenzo； 〃I know not whether I have told you
already； but if I have I tell you once more； that if you wish to spare
yourself fatigue and toil in reaching the inaccessible summit of the
temple of fame； you have nothing to do but to turn aside out of the
somewhat narrow path of poetry and take the still narrower one of
knight…errantry； wide enough； however； to make you an emperor in the
twinkling of an eye。〃
In this speech Don Quixote wound up the evidence of his madness； but
still better in what he added when he said； 〃God knows； I would gladly
take Don Lorenzo with me to teach him how to spare the humble； and
trample the proud under foot； virtues that are part and parcel of
the profession I belong to； but since his tender age does not allow of
it； nor his praiseworthy pursuits permit it； I will simply content
myself with impressing it upon your worship that you will become
famous as a poet if you are guided by the opinion of others rather
than by your own； because no fathers or mothers ever think their own
children ill…favoured； and this sort of deception prevails still
more strongly in the case of the children of the brain。〃
Both father and son were amazed afresh at the strange medley Don
Quixote talked； at one moment sense； at another nonsense； and at the
pertinacity and persistence he displayed in going through thick and
thin in quest of his unlucky adventures； which he made the end and aim
of his desires。 There was a renewal of offers of service and
civilities； and then； with the gracious permission of the lady of
the castle； they took their departure； Don Quixote on Rocinante； and
Sancho on Dapple。
CHAPTER XIX
IN WHICH IS RELATED THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENAMOURED SHEPHERD；
TOGETHER WITH OTHER TRULY DROLL INCIDENTS
DON QUIXOTE had gone but a short distance beyond Don Diego's
village； when he fell in with a couple of either priests or
students； and a couple of peasants； mounted on four beasts of the
ass kind。 One of the students carried； wrapped up in a piece of
green buckram by way of a portmanteau； what seemed to be a little
linen and a couple of pairs of…ribbed stockings； the other carried
nothing but a pair of new fencing…foils with buttons。 The peasants
carried divers articles that showed they were on their way from some
large town where they had bought them； and were taking them home to
their village； and both students and peasants were struck with the
same amazement that everybody felt who saw Don Quixote for the first
time； and were dying to know who this man； so different from
ordinary men； could be。 Don Quixote saluted them； and after
ascertaining that their road was the same as his； made them an offer
of his company； and begged them to slacken their pace； as their
young asses travelled faster than his horse； and then； to gratify
them； he told them in a few words who he was and the calling and
profession he followed； which was that of a knight…errant seeking
adventures in all parts of the world。 He informed them that his own
name was Don Quixote of La Mancha； and that he was called； by way of
surname； the Knight of the Lions。
All this was Greek or gibberish to the peasants； but not so to the
students； who very soon perceived the crack in Don Quixote's pate； for
all that； however； they regarded him with admiration and respect；
and one of them said to him； 〃If you； sir knight； have no fixed
road； as it is the way with those who seek adventures not to have any；
let your worship come with us； you will see one of the finest and
richest weddings that up to this day have ever been celebrated in La
Mancha； or for many a league round。〃
Don Quixote asked him if it was some prince's； that he spoke of it
in this way。 〃Not at all；〃 said the student； 〃it is the wedding of a
farmer and a farmer's daughter； he the richest in all this country；
and she the fairest mortal ever set eyes on。 The display with which it
is to be attended will be something rare and out of the common； for it
will be celebrated in a meadow adjoining the town of the bride； who is
called； par excellence； Quiteria the fair； as the bridegroom is called
Camacho the rich。 She is eighteen； and he twenty…two； and they are
fairly matched； though some knowing ones； who have all the pedigrees
in the world by heart； will have it that the family of the fair
Quiteria is better than Camacho's； but no one minds that now…a…days；
for wealth can solder a great many flaws。 At any rate； Camacho is
free…handed； and it is his fancy to screen the whole meadow with
boughs and cover it in overhead； so that the sun will have hard work
if he tries to get in to reach the grass that covers the soil。 He
has provided dancers too； not only sword but also bell…dancers； for in
his own town there are those who ring the changes and jingle the bells
to perfection； of shoe…dancers I say nothing； for of them he has
engaged a host。 But none of these things； nor of the many others I
have omitted to mention； will do more to make this a memorable wedding
than the part which I suspect the despairing Basilio will play in
it。 This Basilio is a youth of the same village as Quiteria； and he
lived in the house next door to that of her parents； of which
circumstance Love took advantage to reproduce to the word the
long…forgotten loves of Pyramus and Thisbe； for Basilio loved Quiteria
from his earliest years； and she responded to his passion with
countless modest proofs of affection； so that the loves of the two
children； Basilio and Quiteria； were the talk and the amusement of the
town。 As they grew up； the father of Quiteria made
