don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第168章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Poetry withdrew； and on the side of Interest Liberality advanced；
and after having gone through her figures； said：
To give； while shunning each extreme；
The sparing hand； the over…free；
Therein consists； so wise men deem；
The virtue Liberality。
But thee； fair lady； to enrich；
Myself a prodigal I'll prove；
A vice not wholly shameful； which
May find its fair excuse in love。
In the same manner all the characters of the two bands advanced
and retired； and each executed its figures； and delivered its
verses； some of them graceful； some burlesque； but Don Quixote's
memory （though he had an excellent one） only carried away those that
have been just quoted。 All then mingled together； forming chains and
breaking off again with graceful； unconstrained gaiety； and whenever
Love passed in front of the castle he shot his arrows up at it；
while Interest broke gilded pellets against it。 At length； after
they had danced a good while； Interest drew out a great purse； made of
the skin of a large brindled cat and to all appearance full of
money； and flung it at the castle； and with the force of the blow
the boards fell asunder and tumbled down； leaving the damsel exposed
and unprotected。 Interest and the characters of his band advanced； and
throwing a great chain of gold over her neck pretended to take her and
lead her away captive； on seeing which； Love and his supporters made
as though they would release her； the whole action being to the
accompaniment of the tabors and in the form of a regular dance。 The
wild men made peace between them； and with great dexterity
readjusted and fixed the boards of the castle； and the damsel once
more ensconced herself within； and with this the dance wound up； to
the great enjoyment of the beholders。
Don Quixote asked one of the nymphs who it was that had composed and
arranged it。 She replied that it was a beneficiary of the town who had
a nice taste in devising things of the sort。 〃I will lay a wager；〃
said Don Quixote； 〃that the same bachelor or beneficiary is a
greater friend of Camacho's than of Basilio's； and that he is better
at satire than at vespers； he has introduced the accomplishments of
Basilio and the riches of Camacho very neatly into the dance。〃
Sancho Panza； who was listening to all this； exclaimed； 〃The king is
my cock； I stick to Camacho。〃 〃It is easy to see thou art a clown；
Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and one of that sort that cry 'Long life
to the conqueror。'〃
〃I don't know of what sort I am；〃 returned Sancho； 〃but I know
very well I'll never get such elegant skimmings off Basilio's pots
as these I have got off Camacho's；〃 and he showed him the bucketful of
geese and hens； and seizing one began to eat with great gaiety and
appetite； saying； 〃A fig for the accomplishments of Basilio！ As much
as thou hast so much art thou worth； and as much as thou art worth
so much hast thou。 As a grandmother of mine used to say； there are
only two families in the world； the Haves and the Haven'ts； and she
stuck to the Haves； and to this day； Senor Don Quixote； people would
sooner feel the pulse of 'Have；' than of 'Know；' an ass covered with
gold looks better than a horse with a pack…saddle。 So once more I
say I stick to Camacho； the bountiful skimmings of whose pots are
geese and hens； hares and rabbits； but of Basilio's； if any ever
come to hand； or even to foot； they'll be only rinsings。〃
〃Hast thou finished thy harangue； Sancho？〃 said Don Quixote。 〃Of
course I have finished it；〃 replied Sancho； 〃because I see your
worship takes offence at it； but if it was not for that； there was
work enough cut out for three days。〃
〃God grant I may see thee dumb before I die； Sancho；〃 said Don
Quixote。
〃At the rate we are going；〃 said Sancho； 〃I'll be chewing clay
before your worship dies； and then； maybe； I'll be so dumb that I'll
not say a word until the end of the world； or； at least； till the
day of judgment。〃
〃Even should that happen； O Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃thy
silence will never come up to all thou hast talked； art talking； and
wilt talk all thy life； moreover； it naturally stands to reason；
that my death will come before thine； so I never expect to see thee
dumb； not even when thou art drinking or sleeping； and that is the
utmost I can say。〃
〃In good faith； senor；〃 replied Sancho； 〃there's no trusting that
fleshless one； I mean Death； who devours the lamb as soon as the
sheep； and； as I have heard our curate say； treads with equal foot
upon the lofty towers of kings and the lowly huts of the poor。 That
lady is more mighty than dainty； she is no way squeamish； she
devours all and is ready for all； and fills her alforjas with people
of all sorts； ages； and ranks。 She is no reaper that sleeps out the
noontide； at all times she is reaping and cutting down； as well the
dry grass as the green； she never seems to chew； but bolts and
swallows all that is put before her； for she has a canine appetite
that is never satisfied； and though she has no belly； she shows she
has a dropsy and is athirst to drink the lives of all that live； as
one would drink a jug of cold water。〃
〃Say no more； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote at this； 〃don't try to
better it； and risk a fall； for in truth what thou hast said about
death in thy rustic phrase is what a good preacher might have said。
I tell thee； Sancho； if thou hadst discretion equal to thy mother wit；
thou mightst take a pulpit in hand； and go about the world preaching
fine sermons。〃 〃He preaches well who lives well；〃 said Sancho； 〃and
I know no more theology than that。〃
〃Nor needst thou；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but I cannot conceive or
make out how it is that； the fear of God being the beginning of
wisdom； thou； who art more afraid of a lizard than of him； knowest
so much。〃
〃Pass judgment on your chivalries； senor；〃 returned Sancho； 〃and
don't set yourself up to judge of other men's fears or braveries；
for I am as good a fearer of God as my neighbours； but leave me to
despatch these skimmings； for all the rest is only idle talk that we
shall be called to account for in the other world；〃 and so saying；
he began a fresh attack on the bucket； with such a hearty appetite
that he aroused Don Quixote's； who no doubt would have helped him
had he not been prevented by what must be told farther on。
CHAPTER XXI
IN WHICH CAMACHO'S WEDDING IS CONTINUED； WITH OTHER DELIGHTFUL
INCIDENTS
WHILE Don Quixote and Sancho were engaged in the discussion set
forth the last chapter； they heard loud shouts and a great noise；
which were uttered and made by the men on the mares as they went at
full gallop； shouting； to receive the bride and bridegroom； who were
approaching with musical instruments and pageantry of all sorts around
them； and accompanied by the priest and the relatives of both； and all
the most distinguished people of the surrounding villages。 When Sancho
saw the bride； he exclaimed； 〃By my faith； she is not dressed like a
country girl； but like some fine court lady； egad； as well as I can
make out； the patena she wears rich coral； and her green Cuenca
stuff is thirty…pile velvet； and then the white linen trimming… by
my oath； but it's satin！ Look at her hands… jet rings on them！ May I
never have luck if they're not gold rings； and real gold； and set with
pearls as white as a curdled milk； and every one of them worth an
eye of one's head！ Whoreson baggage； what hair she has！ if it's not
a wig； I never saw longer or fairer all the days of my life。 See how
bravely she bears herself… and her shape！ Wouldn't you say she was
like a walking palm tree loaded with clusters of dates？ for the
trinkets she has hanging from her hair and neck look just like them。 I
swear in my heart she is a brave lass； and fit 'to pass over the banks
of Flanders。'〃
Don Quixote laughed at Sancho's boorish eulogies and thought that；
saving his lady Dulcinea del Toboso； he had never seen a more
beautiful woman。 The fair Quiteria appeared somewhat pale； which
was； no doubt； because of the bad night brides always pass dressing
themselves out for their wedding on the morrow。 They advanced
towards a theatre
