don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第32章

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the　olive…bearing　Betis；　those　that　make　smooth　their　countenances
with　the　water　of　the　ever　rich　and　golden　Tagus；　those　that　rejoice
in　the　fertilising　flow　of　the　divine　Genil；　those　that　roam　the
Tartesian　plains　abounding　in　pasture；　those　that　take　their
pleasure　in　the　Elysian　meadows　of　Jerez；　the　rich　Manchegans
crowned　with　ruddy　ears　of　corn；　the　wearers　of　iron；　old　relics　of
the　Gothic　race；　those　that　bathe　in　the　Pisuerga　renowned　for　its
gentle　current；　those　that　feed　their　herds　along　the　spreading
pastures　of　the　winding　Guadiana　famed　for　its　hidden　course；　those
that　tremble　with　the　cold　of　the　pineclad　Pyrenees　or　the　dazzling
snows　of　the　lofty　Apennine；　in　a　word；　as　many　as　all　Europe　includes
and　contains。〃
　　Good　God！　what　a　number　of　countries　and　nations　he　named！　giving　to
each　its　proper　attributes　with　marvellous　readiness；　brimful　and
saturated　with　what　he　had　read　in　his　lying　books！　Sancho　Panza
hung　upon　his　words　without　speaking；　and　from　time　to　time　turned
to　try　if　he　could　see　the　knights　and　giants　his　master　was
describing；　and　as　he　could　not　make　out　one　of　them　he　said　to　him：
　　〃Senor；　devil　take　it　if　there's　a　sign　of　any　man　you　talk　of；
knight　or　giant；　in　the　whole　thing；　maybe　it's　all　enchantment；
like　the　phantoms　last　night。〃
　　〃How　canst　thou　say　that！〃　answered　Don　Quixote；　〃dost　thou　not　hear
the　neighing　of　the　steeds；　the　braying　of　the　trumpets；　the　roll　of
the　drums？〃
　　〃I　hear　nothing　but　a　great　bleating　of　ewes　and　sheep；〃　said
Sancho；　which　was　true；　for　by　this　time　the　two　flocks　had　come
close。
　　〃The　fear　thou　art　in；　Sancho；〃　said　Don　Quixote；　〃prevents　thee
from　seeing　or　hearing　correctly；　for　one　of　the　effects　of　fear　is　to
derange　the　senses　and　make　things　appear　different　from　what　they
are；　if　thou　art　in　such　fear；　withdraw　to　one　side　and　leave　me　to
myself；　for　alone　I　suffice　to　bring　victory　to　that　side　to　which　I
shall　give　my　aid；〃　and　so　saying　he　gave　Rocinante　the　spur；　and
putting　the　lance　in　rest；　shot　down　the　slope　like　a　thunderbolt。
Sancho　shouted　after　him；　crying；　〃Come　back；　Senor　Don　Quixote；　I　vow
to　God　they　are　sheep　and　ewes　you　are　charging！　Come　back！　Unlucky
the　father　that　begot　me！　what　madness　is　this！　Look；　there　is　no
giant；　nor　knight；　nor　cats；　nor　arms；　nor　shields　quartered　or　whole；
nor　vair　azure　or　bedevilled。　What　are　you　about？　Sinner　that　I　am
before　God！〃　But　not　for　all　these　entreaties　did　Don　Quixote　turn
back；　on　the　contrary　he　went　on　shouting　out；　〃Ho；　knights；　ye　who
follow　and　fight　under　the　banners　of　the　valiant　emperor　Pentapolin
of　the　Bare　Arm；　follow　me　all；　ye　shall　see　how　easily　I　shall　give
him　his　revenge　over　his　enemy　Alifanfaron　of　the　Trapobana。〃
　　So　saying；　he　dashed　into　the　midst　of　the　squadron　of　ewes；　and
began　spearing　them　with　as　much　spirit　and　intrepidity　as　if　he
were　transfixing　mortal　enemies　in　earnest。　The　shepherds　and
drovers　accompanying　the　flock　shouted　to　him　to　desist；　seeing　it　was
no　use；　they　ungirt　their　slings　and　began　to　salute　his　ears　with
stones　as　big　as　one's　fist。　Don　Quixote　gave　no　heed　to　the　stones；
but；　letting　drive　right　and　left　kept　saying：
　　〃Where　art　thou；　proud　Alifanfaron？　Come　before　me；　I　am　a　single
knight　who　would　fain　prove　thy　prowess　hand　to　hand；　and　make　thee
yield　thy　life　a　penalty　for　the　wrong　thou　dost　to　the　valiant
Pentapolin　Garamanta。〃　Here　came　a　sugar…plum　from　the　brook　that
struck　him　on　the　side　and　buried　a　couple　of　ribs　in　his　body。
Feeling　himself　so　smitten；　he　imagined　himself　slain　or　badly　wounded
for　certain；　and　recollecting　his　liquor　he　drew　out　his　flask；　and
putting　it　to　his　mouth　began　to　pour　the　contents　into　his　stomach；
but　ere　he　had　succeeded　in　swallowing　what　seemed　to　him　enough；
there　came　another　almond　which　struck　him　on　the　hand　and　on　the
flask　so　fairly　that　it　smashed　it　to　pieces；　knocking　three　or　four
teeth　and　grinders　out　of　his　mouth　in　its　course；　and　sorely　crushing
two　fingers　of　his　hand。　Such　was　the　force　of　the　first　blow　and　of
the　second；　that　the　poor　knight　in　spite　of　himself　came　down
backwards　off　his　horse。　The　shepherds　came　up；　and　felt　sure　they　had
killed　him；　so　in　all　haste　they　collected　their　flock　together；
took　up　the　dead　beasts；　of　which　there　were　more　than　seven；　and　made
off　without　waiting　to　ascertain　anything　further。
　　All　this　time　Sancho　stood　on　the　hill　watching　the　crazy　feats
his　master　was　performing；　and　tearing　his　beard　and　cursing　the
hour　and　the　occasion　when　fortune　had　made　him　acquainted　with　him。
Seeing　him；　then；　brought　to　the　ground；　and　that　the　shepherds　had
taken　themselves　off；　he　ran　to　him　and　found　him　in　very　bad　case；
though　not　unconscious；　and　said　he：
　　〃Did　I　not　tell　you　to　come　back；　Senor　Don　Quixote；　and　that　what
you　were　going　to　attack　were　not　armies　but　droves　of　sheep？〃
　　〃That's　how　that　thief　of　a　sage；　my　enemy；　can　alter　and　falsify
things；〃　answered　Don　Quixote；　〃thou　must　know；　Sancho；　that　it　is　a
very　easy　matter　for　those　of　his　sort　to　make　us　believe　what　they
choose；　and　this　malignant　being　who　persecutes　me；　envious　of　the
glory　he　knew　I　was　to　win　in　this　battle；　has　turned　the　squadrons　of
the　enemy　into　droves　of　sheep。　At　any　rate；　do　this　much；　I　beg　of
thee；　Sancho；　to　undeceive　thyself；　and　see　that　what　I　say　is　true；
mount　thy　ass　and　follow　them　quietly；　and　thou　shalt　see　that　when
they　have　gone　some　little　distance　from　this　they　will　return　to
their　original　shape　and；　ceasing　to　be　sheep；　become　men　in　all
respects　as　I　described　them　to　thee　at　first。　But　go　not　just　yet；
for　I　want　thy　help　and　assistance；　come　hither；　and　see　how　many　of
my　teeth　and　grinders　are　missing；　for　I　feel　as　if　there　was　not
one　left　in　my　mouth。〃
　　Sancho　came　so　close　that　he　almost　put　his　eyes　into　his　mouth；　now
just　at　that　moment　the　balsam　had　acted　on　the　stomach　of　Don
Quixote；　so；　at　the　very　instant　when　Sancho　came　to　examine　his
mouth；　he　discharged　all　its　contents　with　more　force　than　a　musket；
and　full　into　the　beard　of　the　compassionate　squire。
　　〃Holy　Mary！〃　cried　Sancho；　〃what　is　this　that　has　happened　me？
Clearly　this　sinner　is　mortally　wounded；　as　he　vomits　blood　from　the
mouth；〃　but　considering　the　matter　a　little　more　closely　he
perceived　by　the　colour；　taste；　and　smell；　that　it　was　not　blood　but
the　balsam　from　the　flask　which　he　had　seen　him　drink；　and　he　was
taken　with　such　a　loathing　that　his　stomach　turned；　and　he　vomited
up　his　inside　over　his　very　master；　and　both　were　left　in　a　precious
state。　Sancho　ran　to　his　ass　to　get　something　wherewith　to　clean
himself；　and　relieve　his　master；　out　of　his　alforjas；　but　not
finding　them；　he　well…nigh　took　leave　of　his　senses；　and　cursed
himself　anew；　and　in　his　heart　resolved　to　quit　his　master　and
return　home；　even　though　he　forfeited　the　wages　of　his　service　and　all
hopes　of　the　promised　island。
　　Don　Quixote　now　rose；　and　putting　his　left　hand　to　his　mouth　to　keep
his　teeth　from　falling　out　altogether；　with　the　other　he　laid　hold
of　the　bridle　of　Rocinante；　who　had　never　stirred　from　his　master's
side…　so　loyal　and　well…behaved　was　he…　and　betook　himself　to　where
the　squire　stood　leaning　over　his　ass　with　his　hand　to　his　cheek；　like
one　in　deep　dejection。　Seeing　him　in　this　mood；　looking　so　sad；　Don
Quixote　said　to　him：
　　〃Bear　in　mind；　Sancho；　that　one　man　is　no　more　than　another；
unless　he　does　more　than　another；　all　these　tempests　that　fall　upon　us
are　signs　that　fair　weather　is　coming　shortly；　and　that　things　will　go
well　with　us；　for　it　is　impossible　for　good　or　evil　to　last　for
ever；　and　hence　it　follows　that　the　evil　having　lasted　long；　the
good　must　be　now　nigh　at　hand；　so　thou　must　not　distress　thyself　at
the　misfortunes　which　happen　to　me；　since　thou　hast　no　share　in　them。〃
　　〃How　have　I　not？〃　replied　Sancho；　〃was　he　whom　they　blanketed
yesterday　perchance　any　other　than　my　father's　son？　and　the　alforjas
that　are　missing　to…day　with　all　my　treasures；　did　they　belong　to
any　other　but　myself？〃
　　〃What！　are　the　alforjas　missing；　Sancho？〃　said　Don　Quixote。
　　〃Yes；　they　are　missing；〃