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第191章

don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第191章

小说: don quixote(堂·吉珂德) 字数: 每页4000字

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jokes of that sort! By my faith; I'm certain if Reinaldos of Montalvan
had heard the little man's words he would have given him such a
spank on the mouth that he wouldn't have spoken for the next three
years; ay; let him tackle them; and he'll see how he'll get out of
their hands!〃
  The duchess; as she listened to Sancho; was ready to die with
laughter; and in her own mind she set him down as droller and madder
than his master; and there were a good many just then who were of
the same opinion。
  Don Quixote finally grew calm; and dinner came to an end; and as the
cloth was removed four damsels came in; one of them with a silver
basin; another with a jug also of silver; a third with two fine
white towels on her shoulder; and the fourth with her arms bared to
the elbows; and in her white hands (for white they certainly were) a
round ball of Naples soap。 The one with the basin approached; and with
arch composure and impudence; thrust it under Don Quixote's chin; who;
wondering at such a ceremony; said never a word; supposing it to be
the custom of that country to wash beards instead of hands; he
therefore stretched his out as far as he could; and at the same
instant the jug began to pour and the damsel with the soap rubbed
his beard briskly; raising snow…flakes; for the soap lather was no
less white; not only over the beard; but all over the face; and over
the eyes of the submissive knight; so that they were perforce
obliged to keep shut。 The duke and duchess; who had not known anything
about this; waited to see what came of this strange washing。 The
barber damsel; when she had him a hand's breadth deep in lather;
pretended that there was no more water; and bade the one with the
jug go and fetch some; while Senor Don Quixote waited。 She did so; and
Don Quixote was left the strangest and most ludicrous figure that
could be imagined。 All those present; and there were a good many; were
watching him; and as they saw him there with half a yard of neck;
and that uncommonly brown; his eyes shut; and his beard full of
soap; it was a great wonder; and only by great discretion; that they
were able to restrain their laughter。 The damsels; the concocters of
the joke; kept their eyes down; not daring to look at their master and
mistress; and as for them; laughter and anger struggled within them;
and they knew not what to do; whether to punish the audacity of the
girls; or to reward them for the amusement they had received from
seeing Don Quixote in such a plight。
  At length the damsel with the jug returned and they made an end of
washing Don Quixote; and the one who carried the towels very
deliberately wiped him and dried him; and all four together making him
a profound obeisance and curtsey; they were about to go; when the
duke; lest Don Quixote should see through the joke; called out to
the one with the basin saying; 〃Come and wash me; and take care that
there is water enough。〃 The girl; sharp…witted and prompt; came and
placed the basin for the duke as she had done for Don Quixote; and
they soon had him well soaped and washed; and having wiped him dry
they made their obeisance and retired。 It appeared afterwards that the
duke had sworn that if they had not washed him as they had Don Quixote
he would have punished them for their impudence; which they adroitly
atoned for by soaping him as well。
  Sancho observed the ceremony of the washing very attentively; and
said to himself; 〃God bless me; if it were only the custom in this
country to wash squires' beards too as well as knights'。 For by God
and upon my soul I want it badly; and if they gave me a scrape of
the razor besides I'd take it as a still greater kindness。〃
  〃What are you saying to yourself; Sancho?〃 asked the duchess。
  〃I was saying; senora;〃 he replied; 〃that in the courts of other
princes; when the cloth is taken away; I have always heard say they
give water for the hands; but not lye for the beard; and that shows it
is good to live long that you may see much; to be sure; they say too
that he who lives a long life must undergo much evil; though to
undergo a washing of that sort is pleasure rather than pain。〃
  〃Don't be uneasy; friend Sancho;〃 said the duchess; 〃I will take
care that my damsels wash you; and even put you in the tub if
necessary。〃
  〃I'll be content with the beard;〃 said Sancho; 〃at any rate for
the present; and as for the future; God has decreed what is to be。〃
  〃Attend to worthy Sancho's request; seneschal;〃 said the duchess;
〃and do exactly what he wishes。〃
  The seneschal replied that Senor Sancho should be obeyed in
everything; and with that he went away to dinner and took Sancho along
with him; while the duke and duchess and Don Quixote remained at table
discussing a great variety of things; but all bearing on the calling
of arms and knight…errantry。
  The duchess begged Don Quixote; as he seemed to have a retentive
memory; to describe and portray to her the beauty and features of
the lady Dulcinea del Toboso; for; judging by what fame trumpeted
abroad of her beauty; she felt sure she must be the fairest creature
in the world; nay; in all La Mancha。
  Don Quixote sighed on hearing the duchess's request; and said; 〃If I
could pluck out my heart; and lay it on a plate on this table here
before your highness's eyes; it would spare my tongue the pain of
telling what can hardly be thought of; for in it your excellence would
see her portrayed in full。 But why should I attempt to depict and
describe in detail; and feature by feature; the beauty of the peerless
Dulcinea; the burden being one worthy of other shoulders than mine; an
enterprise wherein the pencils of Parrhasius; Timantes; and Apelles;
and the graver of Lysippus ought to be employed; to paint it in
pictures and carve it in marble and bronze; and Ciceronian and
Demosthenian eloquence to sound its praises?〃
  〃What does Demosthenian mean; Senor Don Quixote?〃 said the
duchess; 〃it is a word I never heard in all my life。〃
  〃Demosthenian eloquence;〃 said Don Quixote; 〃means the eloquence
of Demosthenes; as Ciceronian means that of Cicero; who were the two
most eloquent orators in the world。〃
  〃True;〃 said the duke; 〃you must have lost your wits to ask such a
question。 Nevertheless; Senor Don Quixote would greatly gratify us
if he would depict her to us; for never fear; even in an outline or
sketch she will be something to make the fairest envious。〃
  〃I would do so certainly;〃 said Don Quixote; 〃had she not been
blurred to my mind's eye by the misfortune that fell upon her a
short time since; one of such a nature that I am more ready to weep
over it than to describe it。 For your highnesses must know that; going
a few days back to kiss her hands and receive her benediction;
approbation; and permission for this third sally; I found her
altogether a different being from the one I sought; I found her
enchanted and changed from a princess into a peasant; from fair to
foul; from an angel into a devil; from fragrant to pestiferous; from
refined to clownish; from a dignified lady into a jumping tomboy; and;
in a word; from Dulcinea del Toboso into a coarse Sayago wench。〃
  〃God bless me!〃 said the duke aloud at this; 〃who can have done
the world such an injury? Who can have robbed it of the beauty that
gladdened it; of the grace and gaiety that charmed it; of the
modesty that shed a lustre upon it?〃
  〃Who?〃 replied Don Quixote; 〃who could it be but some malignant
enchanter of the many that persecute me out of envy… that accursed
race born into the world to obscure and bring to naught the
achievements of the good; and glorify and exalt the deeds of the
wicked? Enchanters have persecuted me; enchanters persecute me
still; and enchanters will continue to persecute me until they have
sunk me and my lofty chivalry in the deep abyss of oblivion; and
they injure and wound me where they know I feel it most。 For to
deprive a knight…errant of his lady is to deprive him of the eyes he
sees with; of the sun that gives him light; of the food whereby he
lives。 Many a time before have I said it; and I say it now once
more; a knight…errant without a lady is like a tree without leaves;
a building without a

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