don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第212章
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orators on earth could bestow upon her。〃
〃Well； well； Senor Don Quixote；〃 said the duchess； is nearly
supper…time； and the duke is is probably waiting； come let us go to
supper； and retire to rest early； for the journey you made yesterday
from Kandy was not such a short one but that it must have caused you
some fatigue。〃
〃I feel none； senora；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for I would go so far as
to swear to your excellence that in all my life I never mounted a
quieter beast； or a pleasanter paced one； than Clavileno； and I
don't know what could have induced Malambruno to discard a steed so
swift and so gentle； and burn it so recklessly as he did。〃
〃Probably；〃 said the duchess； 〃repenting of the evil he had done
to the Trifaldi and company； and others； and the crimes he must have
committed as a wizard and enchanter； he resolved to make away with all
the instruments of his craft； and so burned Clavileno as the chief
one； and that which mainly kept him restless； wandering from land to
land； and by its ashes and the trophy of the placard the valour of the
great Don Quixote of La Mancha is established for ever。〃
Don Quixote renewed his thanks to the duchess； and having supped；
retired to his chamber alone； refusing to allow anyone to enter with
him to wait on him； such was his fear of encountering temptations that
might lead or drive him to forget his chaste fidelity to his lady
Dulcinea； for he had always present to his mind the virtue of
Amadis； that flower and mirror of knights…errant。 He locked the door
behind him； and by the light of two wax candles undressed himself； but
as he was taking off his stockings… O disaster unworthy of such a
personage！… there came a burst； not of sighs； or anything belying
his delicacy or good breeding； but of some two dozen stitches in one
of his stockings； that made it look like a window…lattice。 The
worthy gentleman was beyond measure distressed； and at that moment
he would have given an ounce of silver to have had half a drachm of
green silk there； I say green silk； because the stockings were green。
Here Cide Hamete exclaimed as he was writing； 〃O poverty； poverty！ I
know not what could have possessed the great Cordovan poet to call
thee 'holy gift ungratefully received。' Although a Moor； I know well
enough from the intercourse I have had with Christians that holiness
consists in charity； humility； faith； obedience； and poverty； but
for all that； I say he must have a great deal of godliness who can
find any satisfaction in being poor； unless； indeed； it be the kind of
poverty one of their greatest saints refers to； saying； 'possess all
things as though ye possessed them not；' which is what they call
poverty in spirit。 But thou； that other poverty… for it is of thee I
am speaking now… why dost thou love to fall out with gentlemen and men
of good birth more than with other people？ Why dost thou compel them
to smear the cracks in their shoes； and to have the buttons of their
coats； one silk； another hair； and another glass？ Why must their ruffs
be always crinkled like endive leaves； and not crimped with a crimping
iron？〃 （From this we may perceive the antiquity of starch and
crimped ruffs。） Then he goes on： 〃Poor gentleman of good family！
always cockering up his honour； dining miserably and in secret； and
making a hypocrite of the toothpick with which he sallies out into the
street after eating nothing to oblige him to use it！ Poor fellow； I
say； with his nervous honour； fancying they perceive a league off
the patch on his shoe； the sweat…stains on his hat； the shabbiness
of his cloak； and the hunger of his stomach！〃
All this was brought home to Don Quixote by the bursting of his
stitches； however； he comforted himself on perceiving that Sancho
had left behind a pair of travelling boots； which he resolved to
wear the next day。 At last he went to bed； out of spirits and heavy at
heart； as much because he missed Sancho as because of the
irreparable disaster to his stockings； the stitches of which he
would have even taken up with silk of another colour； which is one
of the greatest signs of poverty a gentleman can show in the course of
his never…failing embarrassments。 He put out the candles； but the
night was warm and he could not sleep； he rose from his bed and opened
slightly a grated window that looked out on a beautiful garden； and as
he did so he perceived and heard people walking and talking in the
garden。 He set himself to listen attentively； and those below raised
their voices so that he could hear these words：
〃Urge me not to sing； Emerencia； for thou knowest that ever since
this stranger entered the castle and my eyes beheld him； I cannot sing
but only weep； besides my lady is a light rather than a heavy sleeper；
and I would not for all the wealth of the world that she found us
here； and even if she were asleep and did not waken； my singing
would be in vain； if this strange AEneas； who has come into my
neighbourhood to flout me； sleeps on and wakens not to hear it。〃
〃Heed not that； dear Altisidora；〃 replied a voice； 〃the duchess is
no doubt asleep； and everybody in the house save the lord of thy heart
and disturber of thy soul； for just now I perceived him open the
grated window of his chamber； so he must be awake； sing； my poor
sufferer； in a low sweet tone to the accompaniment of thy harp； and
even if the duchess hears us we can lay the blame on the heat of the
night。〃
〃That is not the point； Emerencia；〃 replied Altisidora； 〃it is
that I would not that my singing should lay bare my heart； and that
I should be thought a light and wanton maiden by those who know not
the mighty power of love； but come what may； better a blush on the
cheeks than a sore in the heart；〃 and here a harp softly touched
made itself heard。 As he listened to all this Don Quixote was in a
state of breathless amazement； for immediately the countless
adventures like this； with windows； gratings； gardens； serenades；
lovemakings； and languishings； that he had read of in his trashy books
of chivalry； came to his mind。 He at once concluded that some damsel
of the duchess's was in love with him； and that her modesty forced her
to keep her passion secret。 He trembled lest he should fall； and
made an inward resolution not to yield； and commending himself with
all his might and soul to his lady Dulcinea he made up his mind to
listen to the music； and to let them know he was there he gave a
pretended sneeze； at which the damsels were not a little delighted；
for all they wanted was that Don Quixote should hear them。 So having
tuned the harp； Altisidora； running her hand across the strings； began
this ballad：
O thou that art above in bed；
Between the holland sheets；
A…lying there from night till morn；
With outstretched legs asleep；
O thou； most valiant knight of all
The famed Manchegan breed；
Of purity and virtue more
Than gold of Araby；
Give ear unto a suffering maid；
Well…grown but evil…starr'd；
For those two suns of thine have lit
A fire within her heart。
Adventures seeking thou dost rove；
To others bringing woe；
Thou scatterest wounds； but； ah； the balm
To heal them dost withhold！
Say； valiant youth； and so may God
Thy enterprises speed；
Didst thou the light mid Libya's sands
Or Jaca's rocks first see？
Did scaly serpents give thee suck？
Who nursed thee when a babe？
Wert cradled in the forest rude；
Or gloomy mountain cave？
O Dulcinea may be proud；
That plump and lusty maid；
For she alone hath had the power
A tiger fierce to tame。
And she for this shall famous be
From Tagus to Jarama；
From Manzanares to Genil；
From Duero to Arlanza。
Fain would I change with her； and give
A petticoat to boot；
The best and bravest that I have；
All trimmed with gold galloon。
O for to be the happy fair
Thy mighty arms enfold；
Or even sit beside thy bed
And scratch thy dusty p
