don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第197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！
brings with him her whom they call Dulcinea del Toboso； that he may
show thee what is needful in order to disenchant her； and as I came
for no more I need stay no longer； demons of my sort be with thee； and
good angels with these gentles；〃 and so saying he blew his huge
horn； turned about and went off without waiting for a reply from
anyone。
They all felt fresh wonder； but particularly Sancho and Don Quixote；
Sancho to see how； in defiance of the truth； they would have it that
Dulcinea was enchanted； Don Quixote because he could not feel sure
whether what had happened to him in the cave of Montesinos was true or
not； and as he was deep in these cogitations the duke said to him； 〃Do
you mean to wait； Senor Don Quixote？〃
〃Why not？〃 replied he； 〃here will I wait； fearless and firm；
though all hell should come to attack me。〃
〃Well then； if I see another devil or hear another horn like the
last； I'll wait here as much as in Flanders；〃 said Sancho。
Night now closed in more completely； and many lights began to flit
through the wood； just as those fiery exhalations from the earth； that
look like shooting…stars to our eyes； flit through the heavens； a
frightful noise； too； was heard； like that made by the solid wheels
the ox…carts usually have； by the harsh； ceaseless creaking of
which； they say； the bears and wolves are put to flight； if there
happen to be any where they are passing。 In addition to all this
commotion； there came a further disturbance to increase the tumult；
for now it seemed as if in truth； on all four sides of the wood；
four encounters or battles were going on at the same time； in one
quarter resounded the dull noise of a terrible cannonade； in another
numberless muskets were being discharged； the shouts of the combatants
sounded almost close at hand； and farther away the Moorish lelilies
were raised again and again。 In a word； the bugles； the horns； the
clarions； the trumpets； the drums； the cannon； the musketry； and above
all the tremendous noise of the carts； all made up together a din so
confused and terrific that Don Quixote had need to summon up all his
courage to brave it； but Sancho's gave way； and he fell fainting on
the skirt of the duchess's robe； who let him lie there and promptly
bade them throw water in his face。 This was done； and he came to
himself by the time that one of the carts with the creaking wheels
reached the spot。 It was drawn by four plodding oxen all covered
with black housings； on each horn they had fixed a large lighted wax
taper； and on the top of the cart was constructed a raised seat； on
which sat a venerable old man with a beard whiter than the very
snow； and so long that it fell below his waist； he was dressed in a
long robe of black buckram； for as the cart was thickly set with a
multitude of candles it was easy to make out everything that was on
it。 Leading it were two hideous demons； also clad in buckram； with
countenances so frightful that Sancho； having once seen them； shut his
eyes so as not to see them again。 As soon as the cart came opposite
the spot the old man rose from his lofty seat； and standing up said in
a loud voice； 〃I am the sage Lirgandeo；〃 and without another word
the cart then passed on。 Behind it came another of the same form； with
another aged man enthroned； who； stopping the cart； said in a voice no
less solemn than that of the first； 〃I am the sage Alquife； the
great friend of Urganda the Unknown；〃 and passed on。 Then another cart
came by at the same pace； but the occupant of the throne was not old
like the others； but a man stalwart and robust； and of a forbidding
countenance； who as he came up said in a voice far hoarser and more
devilish； 〃I am the enchanter Archelaus； the mortal enemy of Amadis of
Gaul and all his kindred；〃 and then passed on。 Having gone a short
distance the three carts halted and the monotonous noise of their
wheels ceased； and soon after they heard another； not noise； but sound
of sweet； harmonious music； of which Sancho was very glad； taking it
to be a good sign； and said he to the duchess； from whom he did not
stir a step； or for a single instant； 〃Senora； where there's music
there can't be mischief。〃
〃Nor where there are lights and it is bright；〃 said the duchess；
to which Sancho replied； 〃Fire gives light； and it's bright where
there are bonfires； as we see by those that are all round us and
perhaps may burn us； but music is a sign of mirth and merrymaking。〃
〃That remains to be seen；〃 said Don Quixote； who was listening to
all that passed； and he was right； as is shown in the following
chapter。
CHAPTER XXXV
WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO DON QUIXOTE TOUCHING
THE DISENCHANTMENT OF DULCINEA； TOGETHER WITH OTHER MARVELLOUS
INCIDENTS
THEY saw advancing towards them； to the sound of this pleasing
music； what they call a triumphal car； drawn by six grey mules with
white linen housings； on each of which was mounted a penitent； robed
also in white； with a large lighted wax taper in his hand。 The car was
twice or； perhaps； three times as large as the former ones； and in
front and on the sides stood twelve more penitents； all as white as
snow and all with lighted tapers； a spectacle to excite fear as well
as wonder； and on a raised throne was seated a nymph draped in a
multitude of silver…tissue veils with an embroidery of countless
gold spangles glittering all over them； that made her appear； if not
richly； at least brilliantly； apparelled。 She had her face covered
with thin transparent sendal； the texture of which did not prevent the
fair features of a maiden from being distinguished； while the numerous
lights made it possible to judge of her beauty and of her years； which
seemed to be not less than seventeen but not to have yet reached
twenty。 Beside her was a figure in a robe of state； as they call it；
reaching to the feet； while the head was covered with a black veil。
But the instant the car was opposite the duke and duchess and Don
Quixote the music of the clarions ceased； and then that of the lutes
and harps on the car； and the figure in the robe rose up； and flinging
it apart and removing the veil from its face； disclosed to their
eyes the shape of Death itself； fleshless and hideous； at which
sight Don Quixote felt uneasy； Sancho frightened； and the duke and
duchess displayed a certain trepidation。 Having risen to its feet；
this living death； in a sleepy voice and with a tongue hardly awake；
held forth as follows：
I am that Merlin who the legends say
The devil had for father； and the lie
Hath gathered credence with the lapse of time。
Of magic prince； of Zoroastric lore
Monarch and treasurer； with jealous eye
I view the efforts of the age to hide
The gallant deeds of doughty errant knights；
Who are； and ever have been； dear to me。
Enchanters and magicians and their kind
Are mostly hard of heart； not so am I；
For mine is tender； soft； compassionate；
And its delight is doing good to all。
In the dim caverns of the gloomy Dis；
Where； tracing mystic lines and characters；
My soul abideth now； there came to me
The sorrow…laden plaint of her； the fair；
The peerless Dulcinea del Toboso。
I knew of her enchantment and her fate；
From high…born dame to peasant wench transformed
And touched with pity； first I turned the leaves
Of countless volumes of my devilish craft；
And then； in this grim grisly skeleton
Myself encasing； hither have I come
To show where lies the fitting remedy
To give relief in such a piteous case。
O thou； the pride and pink of all that wear
The adamantine steel！ O shining light；
O beacon； polestar； path and guide of all
Who； scorning slumber and the lazy down；
Adopt the toilsome life of bloodstained arms！
To thee； great hero who all praise transcends；
La Mancha's lustre and Iberia's star；
Don Quixote； wise as brave； to thee I say…
For peerless Dulcinea del Toboso
Her pristine form and beauty to regain；
'T is needful that thy esquire Sancho shall；
On his own sturdy buttocks bared to heaven；
Three thousand and three hundred lashes lay；
And that they smart and sting and hurt him
