don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第166章

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disputed　question；〃　and　dismounting　from　Rocinante　and　grasping　his
lance；　he　planted　himself　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　just　as　the
licentiate；　with　an　easy；　graceful　bearing　and　step；　advanced
towards　Corchuelo；　who　came　on　against　him；　darting　fire　from　his
eyes；　as　the　saying　is。　The　other　two　of　the　company；　the　peasants；
without　dismounting　from　their　asses；　served　as　spectators　of　the
mortal　tragedy。　The　cuts；　thrusts；　down　strokes；　back　strokes　and
doubles；　that　Corchuelo　delivered　were　past　counting；　and　came　thicker
than　hops　or　hail。　He　attacked　like　an　angry　lion；　but　he　was　met　by　a
tap　on　the　mouth　from　the　button　of　the　licentiate's　sword　that
checked　him　in　the　midst　of　his　furious　onset；　and　made　him　kiss　it　as
if　it　were　a　relic；　though　not　as　devoutly　as　relics　are　and　ought
to　he　kissed。　The　end　of　it　was　that　the　licentiate　reckoned　up　for
him　by　thrusts　every　one　of　the　buttons　of　the　short　cassock　he
wore；　tore　the　skirts　into　strips；　like　the　tails　of　a　cuttlefish；
knocked　off　his　hat　twice；　and　so　completely　tired　him　out；　that　in
vexation；　anger；　and　rage；　he　took　the　sword　by　the　hilt　and　flung
it　away　with　such　force；　that　one　of　the　peasants　that　were　there；　who
was　a　notary；　and　who　went　for　it；　made　an　affidavit　afterwards　that
he　sent　it　nearly　three…quarters　of　a　league；　which　testimony　will
serve；　and　has　served；　to　show　and　establish　with　all　certainty　that
strength　is　overcome　by　skill。
　　Corchuelo　sat　down　wearied；　and　Sancho　approaching　him　said；　〃By
my　faith；　senor　bachelor；　if　your　worship　takes　my　advice；　you　will
never　challenge　anyone　to　fence　again；　only　to　wrestle　and　throw　the
bar；　for　you　have　the　youth　and　strength　for　that；　but　as　for　these
fencers　as　they　call　them；　I　have　heard　say　they　can　put　the　point
of　a　sword　through　the　eye　of　a　needle。〃
　　〃I　am　satisfied　with　having　tumbled　off　my　donkey；〃　said
Corchuelo；　〃and　with　having　had　the　truth　I　was　so　ignorant　of
proved　to　me　by　experience；〃　and　getting　up　he　embraced　the
licentiate；　and　they　were　better　friends　than　ever；　and　not　caring
to　wait　for　the　notary　who　had　gone　for　the　sword；　as　they　saw　he
would　be　a　long　time　about　it；　they　resolved　to　push　on　so　as　to　reach
the　village　of　Quiteria；　to　which　they　all　belonged；　in　good　time。
　　During　the　remainder　of　the　journey　the　licentiate　held　forth　to
them　on　the　excellences　of　the　sword；　with　such　conclusive
arguments；　and　such　figures　and　mathematical　proofs；　that　all　were
convinced　of　the　value　of　the　science；　and　Corchuelo　cured　of　his
dogmatism。
　　It　grew　dark；　but　before　they　reached　the　town　it　seemed　to　them　all
as　if　there　was　a　heaven　full　of　countless　glittering　stars　in　front
of　it。　They　heard；　too；　the　pleasant　mingled　notes　of　a　variety　of
instruments；　flutes；　drums；　psalteries；　pipes；　tabors；　and　timbrels；
and　as　they　drew　near　they　perceived　that　the　trees　of　a　leafy
arcade　that　had　been　constructed　at　the　entrance　of　the　town　were
filled　with　lights　unaffected　by　the　wind；　for　the　breeze　at　the
time　was　so　gentle　that　it　had　not　power　to　stir　the　leaves　on　the
trees。　The　musicians　were　the　life　of　the　wedding；　wandering　through
the　pleasant　grounds　in　separate　bands；　some　dancing；　others
singing；　others　playing　the　various　instruments　already　mentioned。
In　short；　it　seemed　as　though　mirth　and　gaiety　were　frisking　and
gambolling　all　over　the　meadow。　Several　other　persons　were　engaged
in　erecting　raised　benches　from　which　people　might　conveniently　see
the　plays　and　dances　that　were　to　be　performed　the　next　day　on　the
spot　dedicated　to　the　celebration　of　the　marriage　of　Camacho　the
rich　and　the　obsequies　of　Basilio。　Don　Quixote　would　not　enter　the
village；　although　the　peasant　as　well　as　the　bachelor　pressed　him；
he　excused　himself；　however；　on　the　grounds；　amply　sufficient　in　his
opinion；　that　it　was　the　custom　of　knights…errant　to　sleep　in　the
fields　and　woods　in　preference　to　towns；　even　were　it　under　gilded
ceilings；　and　so　turned　aside　a　little　out　of　the　road；　very　much
against　Sancho's　will；　as　the　good　quarters　he　had　enjoyed　in　the
castle　or　house　of　Don　Diego　came　back　to　his　mind。

　　CHAPTER　XX
　　WHEREIN　AN　ACCOUNT　IS　GIVEN　OF　THE　WEDDING　OF　CAMACHO　THE　RICH；
TOGETHER　WITH　THE　INCIDENT　OF　BASILIO　THE　POOR

　　SCARCE　had　the　fair　Aurora　given　bright　Phoebus　time　to　dry　the
liquid　pearls　upon　her　golden　locks　with　the　heat　of　his　fervent　rays；
when　Don　Quixote；　shaking　off　sloth　from　his　limbs；　sprang　to　his　feet
and　called　to　his　squire　Sancho；　who　was　still　snoring；　seeing　which
Don　Quixote　ere　he　roused　him　thus　addressed　him：　〃Happy　thou；　above
all　the　dwellers　on　the　face　of　the　earth；　that；　without　envying　or
being　envied；　sleepest　with　tranquil　mind；　and　that　neither　enchanters
persecute　nor　enchantments　affright。　Sleep；　I　say；　and　will　say　a
hundred　times；　without　any　jealous　thoughts　of　thy　mistress　to　make
thee　keep　ceaseless　vigils；　or　any　cares　as　to　how　thou　art　to　pay　the
debts　thou　owest；　or　find　to…morrow's　food　for　thyself　and　thy　needy
little　family；　to　interfere　with　thy　repose。　Ambition　breaks　not　thy
rest；　nor　doth　this　world's　empty　pomp　disturb　thee；　for　the　utmost
reach　of　thy　anxiety　is　to　provide　for　thy　ass；　since　upon　my
shoulders　thou　hast　laid　the　support　of　thyself；　the　counterpoise
and　burden　that　nature　and　custom　have　imposed　upon　masters。　The
servant　sleeps　and　the　master　lies　awake　thinking　how　he　is　to　feed
him；　advance　him；　and　reward　him。　The　distress　of　seeing　the　sky
turn　brazen；　and　withhold　its　needful　moisture　from　the　earth；　is
not　felt　by　the　servant　but　by　the　master；　who　in　time　of　scarcity　and
famine　must　support　him　who　has　served　him　in　times　of　plenty　and
abundance。〃
　　To　all　this　Sancho　made　no　reply　because　he　was　asleep；　nor　would　he
have　wakened　up　so　soon　as　he　did　had　not　Don　Quixote　brought　him　to
his　senses　with　the　butt　of　his　lance。　He　awoke　at　last；　drowsy　and
lazy；　and　casting　his　eyes　about　in　every　direction；　observed；
〃There　comes；　if　I　don't　mistake；　from　the　quarter　of　that　arcade　a
steam　and　a　smell　a　great　deal　more　like　fried　rashers　than
galingale　or　thyme；　a　wedding　that　begins　with　smells　like　that；　by　my
faith；　ought　to　be　plentiful　and　unstinting。〃
　　〃Have　done；　thou　glutton；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃come；　let　us　go　and
witness　this　bridal；　and　see　what　the　rejected　Basilio　does。〃
　　〃Let　him　do　what　he　likes；〃　returned　Sancho；　〃be　he　not　poor；　he
would　marry　Quiteria。　To　make　a　grand　match　for　himself；　and　he
without　a　farthing；　is　there　nothing　else？　Faith；　senor；　it's　my
opinion　the　poor　man　should　be　content　with　what　he　can　get；　and　not
go　looking　for　dainties　in　the　bottom　of　the　sea。　I　will　bet　my　arm
that　Camacho　could　bury　Basilio　in　reals；　and　if　that　be　so；　as　no
doubt　it　is；　what　a　fool　Quiteria　would　be　to　refuse　the　fine
dresses　and　jewels　Camacho　must　have　given　her　and　will　give　her；
and　take　Basilio's　bar…throwing　and　sword…play。　They　won't　give　a　pint
of　wine　at　the　tavern　for　a　good　cast　of　the　bar　or　a　neat　thrust　of
the　sword。　Talents　and　accomplishments　that　can't　be　turned　into
money；　let　Count　Dirlos　have　them；　but　when　such　gifts　fall　to　one
that　has　hard　cash；　I　wish　my　condition　of　life　was　as　becoming　as
they　are。　On　a　good　foundation　you　can　raise　a　good　building；　and
the　best　foundation　in　the　world　is　money。〃
　　〃For　God's　sake；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote　here；　〃stop　that
harangue；　it　is　my　belief；　if　thou　wert　allowed　to　continue　all　thou
beginnest　every　instant；　thou　wouldst　have　no　time　left　for　eating
or　sleeping；　for　thou　wouldst　spend　it　all　in　talking。〃
　　〃If　your　worship　had　a　good　memory；〃　replied　Sancho；　〃you　would
remember　the　articles　of　our　agreement　before　we　started　from　home
this　last　time；　one　of　them　was　that　I　was　to　be　let　say　all　I
liked；　so　long　as　it　was　not　against　my　neighbour　or　your　worship's
authority；　and　so　far；　it　seems　to　me；　I　have　not　broken　the　said
article。〃
　　〃I　remember　no　such　article；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃and　even　if
it　were　so；　I　desire　you　to　hold　your　tongue　and　come　along；　for　the
instruments　we　heard　last　night　are　already　beginning　to　enliven　the
valleys　again；　and　no　doubt　the　marri