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第17章

don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第17章

小说: don quixote(堂·吉珂德) 字数: 每页4000字

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constantly; now full; now empty; like the bucket of a water…wheel;
that it soon drained one of the two wine…skins that were in sight。
When Don Quixote had quite appeased his appetite he took up a
handful of the acorns; and contemplating them attentively delivered
himself somewhat in this fashion:
  〃Happy the age; happy the time; to which the ancients gave the
name of golden; not because in that fortunate age the gold so
coveted in this our iron one was gained without toil; but because they
that lived in it knew not the two words 〃mine〃 and 〃thine〃! In that
blessed age all things were in common; to win the daily food no labour
was required of any save to stretch forth his hand and gather it
from the sturdy oaks that stood generously inviting him with their
sweet ripe fruit。 The clear streams and running brooks yielded their
savoury limpid waters in noble abundance。 The busy and sagacious
bees fixed their republic in the clefts of the rocks and hollows of
the trees; offering without usance the plenteous produce of their
fragrant toil to every hand。 The mighty cork trees; unenforced save of
their own courtesy; shed the broad light bark that served at first
to roof the houses supported by rude stakes; a protection against
the inclemency of heaven alone。 Then all was peace; all friendship;
all concord; as yet the dull share of the crooked plough had not dared
to rend and pierce the tender bowels of our first mother that
without compulsion yielded from every portion of her broad fertile
bosom all that could satisfy; sustain; and delight the children that
then possessed her。 Then was it that the innocent and fair young
shepherdess roamed from vale to vale and hill to hill; with flowing
locks; and no more garments than were needful modestly to cover what
modesty seeks and ever sought to hide。 Nor were their ornaments like
those in use to…day; set off by Tyrian purple; and silk tortured in
endless fashions; but the wreathed leaves of the green dock and ivy;
wherewith they went as bravely and becomingly decked as our Court
dames with all the rare and far…fetched artifices that idle
curiosity has taught them。 Then the love…thoughts of the heart clothed
themselves simply and naturally as the heart conceived them; nor
sought to commend themselves by forced and rambling verbiage。 Fraud;
deceit; or malice had then not yet mingled with truth and sincerity。
Justice held her ground; undisturbed and unassailed by the efforts
of favour and of interest; that now so much impair; pervert; and beset
her。 Arbitrary law had not yet established itself in the mind of the
judge; for then there was no cause to judge and no one to be judged。
Maidens and modesty; as I have said; wandered at will alone and
unattended; without fear of insult from lawlessness or libertine
assault; and if they were undone it was of their own will and
pleasure。 But now in this hateful age of ours not one is safe; not
though some new labyrinth like that of Crete conceal and surround her;
even there the pestilence of gallantry will make its way to them
through chinks or on the air by the zeal of its accursed
importunity; and; despite of all seclusion; lead them to ruin。 In
defence of these; as time advanced and wickedness increased; the order
of knights…errant was instituted; to defend maidens; to protect widows
and to succour the orphans and the needy。 To this order I belong;
brother goatherds; to whom I return thanks for the hospitality and
kindly welcome ye offer me and my squire; for though by natural law
all living are bound to show favour to knights…errant; yet; seeing
that without knowing this obligation ye have welcomed and feasted
me; it is right that with all the good…will in my power I should thank
you for yours。〃
  All this long harangue (which might very well have been spared)
our knight delivered because the acorns they gave him reminded him
of the golden age; and the whim seized him to address all this
unnecessary argument to the goatherds; who listened to him gaping in
amazement without saying a word in reply。 Sancho likewise held his
peace and ate acorns; and paid repeated visits to the second
wine…skin; which they had hung up on a cork tree to keep the wine
cool。
  Don Quixote was longer in talking than the supper in finishing; at
the end of which one of the goatherds said; 〃That your worship;
senor knight…errant; may say with more truth that we show you
hospitality with ready good…will; we will give you amusement and
pleasure by making one of our comrades sing: he will be here before
long; and he is a very intelligent youth and deep in love; and what is
more he can read and write and play on the rebeck to perfection。〃
  The goatherd had hardly done speaking; when the notes of the
rebeck reached their ears; and shortly after; the player came up; a
very good…looking young man of about two…and…twenty。 His comrades
asked him if he had supped; and on his replying that he had; he who
had already made the offer said to him:
  〃In that case; Antonio; thou mayest as well do us the pleasure of
singing a little; that the gentleman; our guest; may see that even
in the mountains and woods there are musicians: we have told him of
thy accomplishments; and we want thee to show them and prove that we
say true; so; as thou livest; pray sit down and sing that ballad about
thy love that thy uncle the prebendary made thee; and that was so much
liked in the town。〃
  〃With all my heart;〃 said the young man; and without waiting for
more pressing he seated himself on the trunk of a felled oak; and
tuning his rebeck; presently began to sing to these words。

                ANTONIO'S BALLAD

       Thou dost love me well; Olalla;
         Well I know it; even though
       Love's mute tongues; thine eyes; have never
         By their glances told me so。

       For I know my love thou knowest;
         Therefore thine to claim I dare:
       Once it ceases to be secret;
         Love need never feel despair。

       True it is; Olalla; sometimes
         Thou hast all too plainly shown
       That thy heart is brass in hardness;
         And thy snowy bosom stone。

       Yet for all that; in thy coyness;
         And thy fickle fits between;
       Hope is there… at least the border
         Of her garment may be seen。

       Lures to faith are they; those glimpses;
         And to faith in thee I hold;
       Kindness cannot make it stronger;
         Coldness cannot make it cold。

       If it be that love is gentle;
         In thy gentleness I see
       Something holding out assurance
         To the hope of winning thee。

       If it be that in devotion
         Lies a power hearts to move;
       That which every day I show thee;
         Helpful to my suit should prove。

       Many a time thou must have noticed…
         If to notice thou dost care…
       How I go about on Monday
         Dressed in all my Sunday wear。

       Love's eyes love to look on brightness;
         Love loves what is gaily drest;
       Sunday; Monday; all I care is
         Thou shouldst see me in my best。

       No account I make of dances;
         Or of strains that pleased thee so;
       Keeping thee awake from midnight
         Till the cocks began to crow;

       Or of how I roundly swore it
         That there's none so fair as thou;
       True it is; but as I said it;
         By the girls I'm hated now。

       For Teresa of the hillside
         At my praise of thee was sore;
       Said; 〃You think you love an angel;
         It's a monkey you adore;

       〃Caught by all her glittering trinkets;
         And her borrowed braids of hair;
       And a host of made…up beauties
         That would Love himself ensnare。〃

       'T was a lie; and so I told her;
         And her cousin at the word
       Gave me his defiance for it;
         And what followed thou hast heard。

       Mine is no high…flown affection;
         Mine no passion par amours…
       As they call it… what I offer
         Is an honest love; and pure。

       Cunning cords the holy Church has;
         Cords of softest silk they be;
       Put thy neck bene

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