don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第224章
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〃Come； your worship； our house is at the entrance of the town； and
my mother is there； sorrowful enough at not having had any news of
my father this ever so long。〃
〃Well；〃 said the page； 〃I am bringing her such good news that she
will have reason to thank God。〃
And then； skipping； running； and capering； the girl reached the
town； but before going into the house she called out at the door；
〃Come out； mother Teresa； come out； come out； here's a gentleman
with letters and other things from my good father。〃 At these words her
mother Teresa Panza came out spinning a bundle of flax； in a grey
petticoat （so short was it one would have fancied 〃they to her shame
had cut it short〃）； a grey bodice of the same stuff； and a smock。
She was not very old； though plainly past forty； strong； healthy；
vigorous； and sun…dried； and seeing her daughter and the page on
horseback； she exclaimed； 〃What's this； child？ What gentleman is
this？〃
〃A servant of my lady； Dona Teresa Panza；〃 replied the page； and
suiting the action to the word he flung himself off his horse； and
with great humility advanced to kneel before the lady Teresa；
saying； 〃Let me kiss your hand； Senora Dona Teresa； as the lawful
and only wife of Senor Don Sancho Panza； rightful governor of the
island of Barataria。〃
〃Ah； senor； get up； do that；〃 said Teresa； 〃for I'm not a bit of a
court lady； but only a poor country woman； the daughter of a
clodcrusher； and the wife of a squire…errant and not of any governor
at all。〃
〃You are；〃 said the page； 〃the most worthy wife of a most
arch…worthy governor； and as a proof of what I say accept this
letter and this present；〃 and at the same time he took out of his
pocket a string of coral beads with gold clasps； and placed it on
her neck； and said； 〃This letter is from his lordship the governor；
and the other as well as these coral beads from my lady the duchess；
who sends me to your worship。〃
Teresa stood lost in astonishment； and her daughter just as much；
and the girl said； 〃May I die but our master Don Quixote's at the
bottom of this； he must have given father the government or county
he so often promised him。〃
〃That is the truth；〃 said the page； 〃for it is through Senor Don
Quixote that Senor Sancho is now governor of the island of
Barataria； as will be seen by this letter。〃
〃Will your worship read it to me； noble sir？〃 said Teresa； 〃for
though I can spin I can't read； not a scrap。〃
〃Nor I either；〃 said Sanchica； 〃but wait a bit； and I'll go and
fetch some one who can read it； either the curate himself or the
bachelor Samson Carrasco； and they'll come gladly to hear any news
of my father。〃
〃There is no need to fetch anybody；〃 said the page； 〃for though I
can't spin I can read； and I'll read it；〃 and so he read it through；
but as it has been already given it is not inserted here； and then
he took out the other one from the duchess； which ran as follows：
Friend Teresa；… Your husband Sancho's good qualities； of heart as
well as of head； induced and compelled me to request my husband the
duke to give him the government of one of his many islands。 I am
told he governs like a gerfalcon； of which I am very glad； and my lord
the duke； of course； also； and I am very thankful to heaven that I
have not made a mistake in choosing him for that same government；
for I would have Senora Teresa know that a good governor is hard to
find in this world and may God make me as good as Sancho's way of
governing。 Herewith I send you； my dear； a string of coral beads
with gold clasps； I wish they were Oriental pearls； but 〃he who
gives thee a bone does not wish to see thee dead；〃 a time will come
when we shall become acquainted and meet one another； but God knows
the future。 Commend me to your daughter Sanchica； and tell her from me
to hold herself in readiness； for I mean to make a high match for
her when she least expects it。 They tell me there are big acorns in
your village； send me a couple of dozen or so； and I shall value
them greatly as coming from your hand； and write to me at length to
assure me of your health and well…being； and if there be anything
you stand in need of； it is but to open your mouth； and that shall
be the measure； and so God keep you。
From this place。
Your loving friend；
THE DUCHESS。
〃Ah； what a good； plain； lowly lady！〃 said Teresa when she heard the
letter； 〃that I may be buried with ladies of that sort； and not the
gentlewomen we have in this town； that fancy because they are
gentlewomen the wind must not touch them； and go to church with as
much airs as if they were queens； no less； and seem to think they
are disgraced if they look at a farmer's wife！ And see here how this
good lady； for all she's a duchess； calls me 'friend；' and treats me
as if I was her equal… and equal may I see her with the tallest
church…tower in La Mancha！ And as for the acorns； senor； I'll send her
ladyship a peck and such big ones that one might come to see them as a
show and a wonder。 And now； Sanchica； see that the gentleman is
comfortable； put up his horse； and get some eggs out of the stable；
and cut plenty of bacon； and let's give him his dinner like a
prince； for the good news he has brought； and his own bonny face
deserve it all； and meanwhile I'll run out and give the neighbours the
news of our good luck； and father curate； and Master Nicholas the
barber； who are and always have been such friends of thy father's。〃
〃That I will； mother；〃 said Sanchica； 〃but mind； you must give me
half of that string； for I don't think my lady the duchess could
have been so stupid as to send it all to you。〃
〃It is all for thee； my child；〃 said Teresa； 〃but let me wear it
round my neck for a few days； for verily it seems to make my heart
glad。〃
〃You will be glad too；〃 said the page； 〃when you see the bundle
there is in this portmanteau； for it is a suit of the finest cloth；
that the governor only wore one day out hunting and now sends； all for
Senora Sanchica。〃
〃May he live a thousand years；〃 said Sanchica； 〃and the bearer as
many； nay two thousand； if needful。〃
With this Teresa hurried out of the house with the letters； and with
the string of beads round her neck； and went along thrumming the
letters as if they were a tambourine； and by chance coming across
the curate and Samson Carrasco she began capering and saying； 〃None of
us poor now； faith！ We've got a little government！ Ay； let the
finest fine lady tackle me； and I'll give her a setting down！〃
〃What's all this； Teresa Panza；〃 said they； 〃what madness is this；
and what papers are those？〃
〃The madness is only this；〃 said she； 〃that these are the letters of
duchesses and governors； and these I have on my neck are fine coral
beads； with ave…marias and paternosters of beaten gold； and I am a
governess。〃
〃God help us；〃 said the curate； 〃we don't understand you； Teresa； or
know what you are talking about。〃
〃There； you may see it yourselves；〃 said Teresa； and she handed them
the letters。
The curate read them out for Samson Carrasco to hear； and Samson and
he regarded one another with looks of astonishment at what they had
read； and the bachelor asked who had brought the letters。 Teresa in
reply bade them come with her to her house and they would see the
messenger； a most elegant youth； who had brought another present which
was worth as much more。 The curate took the coral beads from her
neck and examined them again and again； and having satisfied himself
as to their fineness he fell to wondering afresh； and said； 〃By the
gown I wear I don't know what to say or think of these letters and
presents； on the one hand I can see and feel the fineness of these
coral beads； and on the other I read how a duchess sends to beg for
a couple of dozen of acorns。〃
〃Square that if you can；〃 said Carrasco； 〃well； let's go and see the
messenger； and from him we'll learn something about this mystery
that has turned up。〃
They did so； and Teresa returned with them。 They found the page
sifting a little barley for his horse； and Sanchica cutting a rasher
of bacon to be paved
