don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第215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！
opinion people have of tailors； and he told me to see if there would
he enough for two。 I guessed what he would be at； and I said 'yes。'
He； still following up his original unworthy notion； went on adding
cap after cap； and I 'yes' after 'yes；' until we got as far as five。
He has just this moment come for them； I gave them to him； but he
won't pay me for the making； on the contrary； he calls upon me to
pay him； or else return his cloth。〃
〃Is all this true； brother？〃 said Sancho。
〃Yes；〃 replied the man； 〃but will your worship make him show the
five caps he has made me？〃
〃With all my heart；〃 said the tailor； and drawing his hand from
under his cloak he showed five caps stuck upon the five fingers of it；
and said； 〃there are the caps this good man asks for； and by God and
upon my conscience I haven't a scrap of cloth left； and I'll let the
work be examined by the inspectors of the trade。〃
All present laughed at the number of caps and the novelty of the
suit； Sancho set himself to think for a moment； and then said； 〃It
seems to me that in this case it is not necessary to deliver
long…winded arguments； but only to give off…hand the judgment of an
honest man； and so my decision is that the tailor lose the making
and the labourer the cloth； and that the caps go to the prisoners in
the gaol； and let there be no more about it。〃
If the previous decision about the cattle dealer's purse excited the
admiration of the bystanders； this provoked their laughter； however；
the governor's orders were after all executed。 All this； having been
taken down by his chronicler； was at once despatched to the duke；
who was looking out for it with great eagerness； and here let us leave
the good Sancho； for his master； sorely troubled in mind by
Altisidora's music； has pressing claims upon us now。
CHAPTER XLVI
OF THE TERRIBLE BELL AND CAT FRIGHT THAT DON QUIXOTE GOT IN THE
COURSE OF THE ENAMOURED ALTISIDORA'S WOOING
WE left Don Quixote wrapped up in the reflections which the music of
the enamourned maid Altisidora had given rise to。 He went to bed
with them； and just like fleas they would not let him sleep or get a
moment's rest； and the broken stitches of his stockings helped them。
But as Time is fleet and no obstacle can stay his course； he came
riding on the hours； and morning very soon arrived。 Seeing which Don
Quixote quitted the soft down； and； nowise slothful； dressed himself
in his chamois suit and put on his travelling boots to hide the
disaster to his stockings。 He threw over him his scarlet mantle； put
on his head a montera of green velvet trimmed with silver edging；
flung across his shoulder the baldric with his good trenchant sword；
took up a large rosary that he always carried with him； and with great
solemnity and precision of gait proceeded to the antechamber where the
duke and duchess were already dressed and waiting for him。 But as he
passed through a gallery； Altisidora and the other damsel； her friend；
were lying in wait for him； and the instant Altisidora saw him she
pretended to faint； while her friend caught her in her lap； and
began hastily unlacing the bosom of her dress。
Don Quixote observed it； and approaching them said； 〃I know very
well what this seizure arises from。〃
〃I know not from what；〃 replied the friend； 〃for Altisidora is the
healthiest damsel in all this house； and I have never heard her
complain all the time I have known her。 A plague on all the
knights…errant in the world； if they be all ungrateful！ Go away； Senor
Don Quixote； for this poor child will not come to herself again so
long as you are here。〃
To which Don Quixote returned； 〃Do me the favour； senora； to let a
lute be placed in my chamber to…night； and I will comfort this poor
maiden to the best of my power； for in the early stages of love a
prompt disillusion is an approved remedy；〃 and with this he retired；
so as not to be remarked by any who might see him there。
He had scarcely withdrawn when Altisidora； recovering from her
swoon； said to her companion； 〃The lute must be left； for no doubt Don
Quixote intends to give us some music； and being his it will not be
bad。〃
They went at once to inform the duchess of what was going on； and of
the lute Don Quixote asked for； and she； delighted beyond measure；
plotted with the duke and her two damsels to play him a trick that
should be amusing but harmless； and in high glee they waited for
night； which came quickly as the day had come； and as for the day； the
duke and duchess spent it in charming conversation with Don Quixote。
When eleven o'clock came； Don Quixote found a guitar in his chamber；
he tried it； opened the window； and perceived that some persons were
walking in the garden； and having passed his fingers over the frets of
the guitar and tuned it as well as he could； he spat and cleared his
chest； and then with a voice a little hoarse but full…toned； he sang
the following ballad； which he had himself that day composed：
Mighty Love the hearts of maidens
Doth unsettle and perplex；
And the instrument he uses
Most of all is idleness。
Sewing； stitching； any labour；
Having always work to do；
To the poison Love instilleth
Is the antidote most sure。
And to proper…minded maidens
Who desire the matron's name
Modesty's a marriage portion；
Modesty their highest praise。
Men of prudence and discretion；
Courtiers gay and gallant knights；
With the wanton damsels dally；
But the modest take to wife。
There are passions； transient； fleeting；
Loves in hostelries declar'd；
Sunrise loves； with sunset ended；
When the guest hath gone his way。
Love that springs up swift and sudden；
Here to…day； to…morrow flown；
Passes； leaves no trace behind it；
Leaves no image on the soul。
Painting that is laid on painting
Maketh no display or show；
Where one beauty's in possession
There no other can take hold。
Dulcinea del Toboso
Painted on my heart I wear；
Never from its tablets； never；
Can her image be eras'd。
The quality of all in lovers
Most esteemed is constancy；
'T is by this that love works wonders；
This exalts them to the skies。
Don Quixote had got so far with his song； to which the duke； the
duchess； Altisidora； and nearly the whole household of the castle were
listening； when all of a sudden from a gallery above that was
exactly over his window they let down a cord with more than a
hundred bells attached to it； and immediately after that discharged
a great sack full of cats； which also had bells of smaller size tied
to their tails。 Such was the din of the bells and the squalling of the
cats； that though the duke and duchess were the contrivers of the joke
they were startled by it； while Don Quixote stood paralysed with fear；
and as luck would have it； two or three of the cats made their way
in through the grating of his chamber； and flying from one side to the
other； made it seem as if there was a legion of devils at large in it。
They extinguished the candles that were burning in the room； and
rushed about seeking some way of escape； the cord with the large bells
never ceased rising and falling； and most of the people of the castle；
not knowing what was really the matter； were at their wits' end with
astonishment。 Don Quixote sprang to his feet； and drawing his sword；
began making passes at the grating； shouting out； 〃Avaunt； malignant
enchanters！ avaunt； ye witchcraft…working rabble！ I am Don Quixote
of La Mancha； against whom your evil machinations avail not nor have
any power。〃 And turning upon the cats that were running about the
room； he made several cuts at them。 They dashed at the grating and
escaped by it； save one that； finding itself hard pressed by the
slashes of Don Quixote's sword； flew at his face and held on to his
nose tooth and nail； with the pain of which he began to shout his
loudest。 The duke and duchess hearing this； and guessing what it
was； ran with
