don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第24章
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all who were there lost in admiration as much of her good sense as
of her beauty。 Some… those wounded by the irresistible shafts launched
by her bright eyes… made as though they would follow her； heedless
of the frank declaration they had heard； seeing which； and deeming
this a fitting occasion for the exercise of his chivalry in aid of
distressed damsels； Don Quixote； laying his hand on the hilt of his
sword； exclaimed in a loud and distinct voice：
〃Let no one； whatever his rank or condition； dare to follow the
beautiful Marcela； under pain of incurring my fierce indignation。
She has shown by clear and satisfactory arguments that little or no
fault is to be found with her for the death of Chrysostom； and also
how far she is from yielding to the wishes of any of her lovers； for
which reason； instead of being followed and persecuted； she should
in justice be honoured and esteemed by all the good people of the
world； for she shows that she is the only woman in it that holds to
such a virtuous resolution。〃
Whether it was because of the threats of Don Quixote； or because
Ambrosio told them to fulfil their duty to their good friend； none
of the shepherds moved or stirred from the spot until； having finished
the grave and burned Chrysostom's papers； they laid his body in it；
not without many tears from those who stood by。 They closed the
grave with a heavy stone until a slab was ready which Ambrosio said he
meant to have prepared； with an epitaph which was to be to this
effect：
Beneath the stone before your eyes
The body of a lover lies；
In life he was a shepherd swain；
In death a victim to disdain。
Ungrateful； cruel； coy； and fair；
Was she that drove him to despair；
And Love hath made her his ally
For spreading wide his tyranny。
They then strewed upon the grave a profusion of flowers and
branches； and all expressing their condolence with his friend
ambrosio； took their Vivaldo and his companion did the same； and Don
Quixote bade farewell to his hosts and to the travellers； who
pressed him to come with them to Seville； as being such a convenient
place for finding adventures； for they presented themselves in every
street and round every corner oftener than anywhere else。 Don
Quixote thanked them for their advice and for the disposition they
showed to do him a favour； and said that for the present he would not；
and must not go to Seville until he had cleared all these mountains of
highwaymen and robbers； of whom report said they were full。 Seeing his
good intention； the travellers were unwilling to press him further；
and once more bidding him farewell； they left him and pursued their
journey； in the course of which they did not fail to discuss the story
of Marcela and Chrysostom as well as the madness of Don Quixote。 He；
on his part； resolved to go in quest of the shepherdess Marcela； and
make offer to her of all the service he could render her； but things
did not fall out with him as he expected； according to what is related
in the course of this veracious history； of which the Second Part ends
here。
CHAPTER XV
IN WHICH IS RELATED THE UNFORTUNATE ADVENTURE THAT DON QUIXOTE
FELL IN WITH WHEN HE FELL OUT WITH CERTAIN HEARTLESS YANGUESANS
THE sage Cide Hamete Benengeli relates that as soon as Don Quixote
took leave of his hosts and all who had been present at the burial
of Chrysostom； he and his squire passed into the same wood which
they had seen the shepherdess Marcela enter； and after having wandered
for more than two hours in all directions in search of her without
finding her； they came to a halt in a glade covered with tender grass；
beside which ran a pleasant cool stream that invited and compelled
them to pass there the hours of the noontide heat； which by this
time was beginning to come on oppressively。 Don Quixote and Sancho
dismounted； and turning Rocinante and the ass loose to feed on the
grass that was there in abundance； they ransacked the alforjas； and
without any ceremony very peacefully and sociably master and man
made their repast on what they found in them。 Sancho had not thought
it worth while to hobble Rocinante； feeling sure； from what he knew of
his staidness and freedom from incontinence； that all the mares in the
Cordova pastures would not lead him into an impropriety。 Chance；
however； and the devil； who is not always asleep； so ordained it
that feeding in this valley there was a drove of Galician ponies
belonging to certain Yanguesan carriers； whose way it is to take their
midday rest with their teams in places and spots where grass and water
abound； and that where Don Quixote chanced to be suited the
Yanguesans' purpose very well。 It so happened； then； that Rocinante
took a fancy to disport himself with their ladyships the ponies； and
abandoning his usual gait and demeanour as he scented them； he；
without asking leave of his master； got up a briskish little trot
and hastened to make known his wishes to them； they； however； it
seemed； preferred their pasture to him； and received him with their
heels and teeth to such effect that they soon broke his girths and
left him naked without a saddle to cover him； but what must have
been worse to him was that the carriers； seeing the violence he was
offering to their mares； came running up armed with stakes； and so
belaboured him that they brought him sorely battered to the ground。
By this time Don Quixote and Sancho； who had witnessed the
drubbing of Rocinante； came up panting； and said Don Quixote to
Sancho：
〃So far as I can see； friend Sancho； these are not knights but
base folk of low birth： I mention it because thou canst lawfully aid
me in taking due vengeance for the insult offered to Rocinante
before our eyes。〃
〃What the devil vengeance can we take；〃 answered Sancho； 〃if they
are more than twenty； and we no more than two； or； indeed； perhaps not
more than one and a half？〃
〃I count for a hundred；〃 replied Don Quixote； and without more words
he drew his sword and attacked the Yanguesans and excited and impelled
by the example of his master； Sancho did the same； and to begin
with； Don Quixote delivered a slash at one of them that laid open
the leather jerkin he wore； together with a great portion of his
shoulder。 The Yanguesans； seeing themselves assaulted by only two
men while they were so many； betook themselves to their stakes； and
driving the two into the middle they began to lay on with great zeal
and energy； in fact； at the second blow they brought Sancho to the
ground； and Don Quixote fared the same way； all his skill and high
mettle availing him nothing； and fate willed it that he should fall at
the feet of Rocinante； who had not yet risen； whereby it may be seen
how furiously stakes can pound in angry boorish hands。 Then； seeing
the mischief they had done； the Yanguesans with all the haste they
could loaded their team and pursued their journey； leaving the two
adventurers a sorry sight and in sorrier mood。
Sancho was the first to come to； and finding himself close to his
master he called to him in a weak and doleful voice； 〃Senor Don
Quixote； ah； Senor Don Quixote！〃
〃What wouldst thou； brother Sancho？〃 answered Don Quixote in the
same feeble suffering tone as Sancho。
〃I would like； if it were possible；〃 answered Sancho Panza； 〃your
worship to give me a couple of sups of that potion of the fiery
Blas； if it be that you have any to hand there； perhaps it will
serve for broken bones as well as for wounds。〃
〃If I only had it here； wretch that I am； what more should we want？〃
said Don Quixote； 〃but I swear to thee； Sancho Panza； on the faith
of a knight…errant； ere two days are over； unless fortune orders
otherwise； I mean to have it in my possession； or my hand will have
lost its cunning。〃
〃But in how many does your worship think we shall have the use of
our feet？〃 answered Sancho Panza。
〃For myself I must say I cannot guess how many；〃 said the battered
knight Don Quixote； 〃but I take all the blame upon myself； for I had
no business to put hand to sword against men who where not dubbed
knights like myself； and so I believe that in p
