don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第259章
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I will give a loose rein to my thoughts； and seek a vent for them in a
little madrigal which； unknown to thee； I composed in my head last
night。〃
〃I should think；〃 said Sancho； 〃that the thoughts that allow one
to make verses cannot be of great consequence； let your worship string
verses as much as you like and I'll sleep as much as I can；〃 and
forthwith； taking the space of ground he required； he muffled
himself up and fell into a sound sleep； undisturbed by bond； debt；
or trouble of any sort。 Don Quixote； propped up against the trunk of a
beech or a cork tree… for Cide Hamete does not specify what kind of
tree it was… sang in this strain to the accompaniment of his own
sighs：
When in my mind
I muse； O Love； upon thy cruelty；
To death I flee；
In hope therein the end of all to find。
But drawing near
That welcome haven in my sea of woe；
Such joy I know；
That life revives； and still I linger here。
Thus life doth slay；
And death again to life restoreth me；
Strange destiny；
That deals with life and death as with a play！
He accompanied each verse with many sighs and not a few tears；
just like one whose heart was pierced with grief at his defeat and his
separation from Dulcinea。
And now daylight came； and the sun smote Sancho on the eyes with his
beams。 He awoke； roused himself up； shook himself and stretched his
lazy limbs； and seeing the havoc the pigs had made with his stores
he cursed the drove； and more besides。 Then the pair resumed their
journey； and as evening closed in they saw coming towards them some
ten men on horseback and four or five on foot。 Don Quixote's heart
beat quick and Sancho's quailed with fear； for the persons approaching
them carried lances and bucklers； and were in very warlike guise。
Don Quixote turned to Sancho and said； 〃If I could make use of my
weapons； and my promise had not tied my hands； I would count this host
that comes against us but cakes and fancy bread； but perhaps it may
prove something different from what we apprehend。〃 The men on
horseback now came up； and raising their lances surrounded Don Quixote
in silence； and pointed them at his back and breast； menacing him with
death。 One of those on foot； putting his finger to his lips as a
sign to him to be silent； seized Rocinante's bridle and drew him out
of the road； and the others driving Sancho and Dapple before them； and
all maintaining a strange silence； followed in the steps of the one
who led Don Quixote。 The latter two or three times attempted to ask
where they were taking him to and what they wanted； but the instant he
began to open his lips they threatened to close them with the points
of their lances； and Sancho fared the same way； for the moment he
seemed about to speak one of those on foot punched him with a goad；
and Dapple likewise； as if he too wanted to talk。 Night set in； they
quickened their pace； and the fears of the two prisoners grew greater；
especially as they heard themselves assailed with… 〃Get on； ye
Troglodytes；〃 〃Silence； ye barbarians；〃 〃March； ye cannibals；〃 〃No
murmuring； ye Scythians；〃 〃Don't open your eyes； ye murderous
Polyphemes； ye blood…thirsty lions；〃 and suchlike names with which
their captors harassed the ears of the wretched master and man。 Sancho
went along saying to himself； 〃We； tortolites； barbers； animals！ I
don't like those names at all； 'it's in a bad wind our corn is being
winnowed；' 'misfortune comes upon us all at once like sticks on a
dog；' and God grant it may be no worse than them that this unlucky
adventure has in store for us。〃
Don Quixote rode completely dazed； unable with the aid of all his
wits to make out what could be the meaning of these abusive names they
called them； and the only conclusion he could arrive at was that there
was no good to be hoped for and much evil to be feared。 And now； about
an hour after midnight； they reached a castle which Don Quixote saw at
once was the duke's； where they had been but a short time before。 〃God
bless me！〃 said he； as he recognised the mansion； 〃what does this
mean？ It is all courtesy and politeness in this house； but with the
vanquished good turns into evil； and evil into worse。〃
They entered the chief court of the castle and found it prepared and
fitted up in a style that added to their amazement and doubled their
fears； as will be seen in the following chapter。
CHAPTER LXIX
OF THE STRANGEST AND MOST EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL DON
QUIXOTE IN THE WHOLE COURSE OF THIS GREAT HISTORY
THE horsemen dismounted； and； together with the men on foot； without
a moment's delay taking up Sancho and Don Quixote bodily； they carried
them into the court； all round which near a hundred torches fixed in
sockets were burning； besides above five hundred lamps in the
corridors； so that in spite of the night； which was somewhat dark； the
want of daylight could not be perceived。 In the middle of the court
was a catafalque； raised about two yards above the ground and
covered completely by an immense canopy of black velvet； and on the
steps all round it white wax tapers burned in more than a hundred
silver candlesticks。 Upon the catafalque was seen the dead body of a
damsel so lovely that by her beauty she made death itself look
beautiful。 She lay with her head resting upon a cushion of brocade and
crowned with a garland of sweet…smelling flowers of divers sorts；
her hands crossed upon her bosom； and between them a branch of
yellow palm of victory。 On one side of the court was erected a
stage； where upon two chairs were seated two persons who from having
crowns on their heads and sceptres in their hands appeared to be kings
of some sort； whether real or mock ones。 By the side of this stage；
which was reached by steps； were two other chairs on which the men
carrying the prisoners seated Don Quixote and Sancho； all in
silence； and by signs giving them to understand that they too were
to he silent； which； however； they would have been without any
signs； for their amazement at all they saw held them tongue…tied。
And now two persons of distinction； who were at once recognised by Don
Quixote as his hosts the duke and duchess； ascended the stage attended
by a numerous suite； and seated themselves on two gorgeous chairs
close to the two kings； as they seemed to be。 Who would not have
been amazed at this？ Nor was this all； for Don Quixote had perceived
that the dead body on the catafalque was that of the fair
Altisidora。 As the duke and duchess mounted the stage Don Quixote
and Sancho rose and made them a profound obeisance； which they
returned by bowing their heads slightly。 At this moment an official
crossed over； and approaching Sancho threw over him a robe of black
buckram painted all over with flames of fire； and taking off his cap
put upon his head a mitre such as those undergoing the sentence of the
Holy Office wear； and whispered in his ear that he must not open his
lips； or they would put a gag upon him； or take his life。 Sancho
surveyed himself from head to foot and saw himself all ablaze with
flames； but as they did not burn him； he did not care two farthings
for them。 He took off the mitre and seeing painted with devils he
put it on again； saying to himself； 〃Well； so far those don't burn
me nor do these carry me off。〃 Don Quixote surveyed him too； and
though fear had got the better of his faculties； he could not help
smiling to see the figure Sancho presented。 And now from underneath
the catafalque； so it seemed； there rose a low sweet sound of
flutes； which； coming unbroken by human voice （for there silence
itself kept silence）； had a soft and languishing effect。 Then；
beside the pillow of what seemed to be the dead body； suddenly
appeared a fair youth in a Roman habit； who； to the accompaniment of a
harp which he himself played； sang in a sweet and clear voice these
two stanzas：
While fair Altisidora； who the sport
Of cold Don Quixote's cruelty hath been；
Returns to life； and in this magic court
The dames in sables come to grace the scene；
And while her matrons all in seemly s
