don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第229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！
would stop。
And now； to complete the enjoyment of the feast and bring the dinner
to a satisfactory end； lo and behold the page who had carried the
letters and presents to Teresa Panza； the wife of the governor Sancho；
entered the hall； and the duke and duchess were very well pleased to
see him； being anxious to know the result of his journey； but when
they asked him the page said in reply that he could not give it before
so many people or in a few words； and begged their excellences to be
pleased to let it wait for a private opportunity； and in the
meantime amuse themselves with these letters； and taking out the
letters he placed them in the duchess's hand。 One bore by way of
address； Letter for my lady the Duchess So…and…so； of I don't know
where； and the other To my husband Sancho Panza； governor of the
island of Barataria； whom God prosper longer than me。 The duchess's
bread would not bake； as the saying is； until she had read her letter；
and having looked over it herself and seen that it might be read aloud
for the duke and all present to hear； she read out as follows。
TERESA PANZA'S LETTER TO THE DUCHESS。
The letter your highness wrote me； my lady； gave me great
pleasure； for indeed I found it very welcome。 The string of coral
beads is very fine； and my husband's hunting suit does not fall
short of it。 All this village is very much pleased that your
ladyship has made a governor of my good man Sancho； though nobody will
believe it； particularly the curate； and Master Nicholas the barber；
and the bachelor Samson Carrasco； but I don't care for that； for so
long as it is true； as it is； they may all say what they like； though；
to tell the truth； if the coral beads and the suit had not come I
would not have believed it either； for in this village everybody
thinks my husband a numskull； and except for governing a flock of
goats； they cannot fancy what sort of government he can be fit for。
God grant it； and direct him according as he sees his children stand
in need of it。 I am resolved with your worship's leave； lady of my
soul； to make the most of this fair day； and go to Court to stretch
myself at ease in a coach； and make all those I have envying me
already burst their eyes out； so I beg your excellence to order my
husband to send me a small trifle of money； and to let it be something
to speak of； because one's expenses are heavy at the Court； for a loaf
costs a real； and meat thirty maravedis a pound； which is beyond
everything； and if he does not want me to go let him tell me in
time； for my feet are on the fidgets to he off； and my friends and
neighbours tell me that if my daughter and I make a figure and a brave
show at Court； my husband will come to be known far more by me than
I by him； for of course plenty of people will ask； 〃Who are those
ladies in that coach？〃 and some servant of mine will answer； 〃The wife
and daughter of Sancho Panza； governor of the island of Barataria；〃
and in this way Sancho will become known； and I'll be thought well of；
and 〃to Rome for everything。〃 I am as vexed as vexed can be that
they have gathered no acorns this year in our village； for all that
I send your highness about half a peck that I went to the wood to
gather and pick out one by one myself； and I could find no bigger
ones； I wish they were as big as ostrich eggs。
Let not your high mightiness forget to write to me； and I will
take care to answer； and let you know how I am； and whatever news
there may be in this place； where I remain； praying our Lord to have
your highness in his keeping and not to forget me。
Sancha my daughter； and my son； kiss your worship's hands。
She who would rather see your ladyship than write to you；
Your servant；
TERESA PANZA。
All were greatly amused by Teresa Panza's letter； but particularly
the duke and duchess； and the duchess asked Don Quixote's opinion
whether they might open the letter that had come for the governor；
which she suspected must be very good。 Don Quixote said that to
gratify them he would open it； and did so； and found that it ran as
follows。
TERESA PANZA'S LETTER TO HER HUSBAND SANCHO PANZA。
I got thy letter； Sancho of my soul； and I promise thee and swear as
a Catholic Christian that I was within two fingers' breadth of going
mad I was so happy。 I can tell thee； brother； when I came to hear that
thou wert a governor I thought I should have dropped dead with pure
joy； and thou knowest they say sudden joy kills as well as great
sorrow； and as for Sanchica thy daughter； she leaked from sheer
happiness。 I had before me the suit thou didst send me； and the
coral beads my lady the duchess sent me round my neck； and the letters
in my hands； and there was the bearer of them standing by； and in
spite of all this I verily believed and thought that what I saw and
handled was all a dream； for who could have thought that a goatherd
would come to be a governor of islands？ Thou knowest； my friend；
what my mother used to say； that one must live long to see much； I say
it because I expect to see more if I live longer； for I don't expect
to stop until I see thee a farmer of taxes or a collector of
revenue； which are offices where； though the devil carries off those
who make a bad use of them； still they make and handle money。 My
lady the duchess will tell thee the desire I have to go to the
Court； consider the matter and let me know thy pleasure； I will try to
do honour to thee by going in a coach。
Neither the curate； nor the barber； nor the bachelor； nor even the
sacristan； can believe that thou art a governor； and they say the
whole thing is a delusion or an enchantment affair； like everything
belonging to thy master Don Quixote； and Samson says he must go in
search of thee and drive the government out of thy head and the
madness out of Don Quixote's skull； I only laugh； and look at my
string of beads； and plan out the dress I am going to make for our
daughter out of thy suit。 I sent some acorns to my lady the duchess； I
wish they had been gold。 Send me some strings of pearls if they are in
fashion in that island。 Here is the news of the village； La Berrueca
has married her daughter to a good…for…nothing painter； who came
here to paint anything that might turn up。 The council gave him an
order to paint his Majesty's arms over the door of the town…hall； he
asked two ducats； which they paid him in advance； he worked for
eight days； and at the end of them had nothing painted； and then
said he had no turn for painting such trifling things； he returned the
money； and for all that has married on the pretence of being a good
workman； to be sure he has now laid aside his paint…brush and taken
a spade in hand； and goes to the field like a gentleman。 Pedro
Lobo's son has received the first orders and tonsure； with the
intention of becoming a priest。 Minguilla； Mingo Silvato's
granddaughter； found it out； and has gone to law with him on the score
of having given her promise of marriage。 Evil tongues say she is
with child by him； but he denies it stoutly。 There are no olives
this year； and there is not a drop of vinegar to be had in the whole
village。 A company of soldiers passed through here； when they left
they took away with them three of the girls of the village； I will not
tell thee who they are； perhaps they will come back； and they will
be sure to find those who will take them for wives with all their
blemishes； good or bad。 Sanchica is making bonelace； she earns eight
maravedis a day clear； which she puts into a moneybox as a help
towards house furnishing； but now that she is a governor's daughter
thou wilt give her a portion without her working for it。 The
fountain in the plaza has run dry。 A flash of lightning struck the
gibbet； and I wish they all lit there。 I look for an answer to this；
and to know thy mind about my going to the Court； and so； God keep
thee longer than me； or as long； for I would not leave thee in this
world without me。
Thy wife；
TERESA PANZA。
The letters were applauded； laughed over； rel
