don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第58章
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The hour； the summer season； the solitary place； the voice and skill
of the singer； all contributed to the wonder and delight of the two
listeners； who remained still waiting to hear something more； finding；
however； that the silence continued some little time； they resolved to
go in search of the musician who sang with so fine a voice； but just
as they were about to do so they were checked by the same voice； which
once more fell upon their ears； singing this
SONNET
When heavenward； holy Friendship； thou didst go
Soaring to seek thy home beyond the sky；
And take thy seat among the saints on high；
It was thy will to leave on earth below
Thy semblance； and upon it to bestow
Thy veil； wherewith at times hypocrisy；
Parading in thy shape； deceives the eye；
And makes its vileness bright as virtue show。
Friendship； return to us； or force the cheat
That wears it now； thy livery to restore；
By aid whereof sincerity is slain。
If thou wilt not unmask thy counterfeit；
This earth will be the prey of strife once more；
As when primaeval discord held its reign。
The song ended with a deep sigh； and again the listeners remained
waiting attentively for the singer to resume； but perceiving that
the music had now turned to sobs and heart…rending moans they
determined to find out who the unhappy being could be whose voice
was as rare as his sighs were piteous； and they had not proceeded
far when on turning the corner of a rock they discovered a man of
the same aspect and appearance as Sancho had described to them when he
told them the story of Cardenio。 He； showing no astonishment when he
saw them； stood still with his head bent down upon his breast like one
in deep thought； without raising his eyes to look at them after the
first glance when they suddenly came upon him。 The curate； who was
aware of his misfortune and recognised him by the description； being a
man of good address； approached him and in a few sensible words
entreated and urged him to quit a life of such misery； lest he
should end it there； which would be the greatest of all misfortunes。
Cardenio was then in his right mind； free from any attack of that
madness which so frequently carried him away； and seeing them
dressed in a fashion so unusual among the frequenters of those
wilds； could not help showing some surprise； especially when he
heard them speak of his case as if it were a well…known matter （for
the curate's words gave him to understand as much） so he replied to
them thus：
〃I see plainly； sirs； whoever you may be； that Heaven； whose care it
is to succour the good； and even the wicked very often； here； in
this remote spot； cut off from human intercourse； sends me； though I
deserve it not； those who seek to draw me away from this to some
better retreat； showing me by many and forcible arguments how
unreasonably I act in leading the life I do； but as they know； that if
I escape from this evil I shall fall into another still greater；
perhaps they will set me down as a weak…minded man； or； what is worse；
one devoid of reason； nor would it be any wonder； for I myself can
perceive that the effect of the recollection of my misfortunes is so
great and works so powerfully to my ruin； that in spite of myself I
become at times like a stone； without feeling or consciousness； and
I come to feel the truth of it when they tell me and show me proofs of
the things I have done when the terrible fit overmasters me； and all I
can do is bewail my lot in vain； and idly curse my destiny； and
plead for my madness by telling how it was caused； to any that care to
hear it； for no reasonable beings on learning the cause will wonder at
the effects； and if they cannot help me at least they will not blame
me； and the repugnance they feel at my wild ways will turn into pity
for my woes。 If it be； sirs； that you are here with the same design as
others have come wah； before you proceed with your wise arguments； I
entreat you to hear the story of my countless misfortunes； for perhaps
when you have heard it you will spare yourselves the trouble you would
take in offering consolation to grief that is beyond the reach of it。〃
As they； both of them； desired nothing more than to hear from his
own lips the cause of his suffering； they entreated him to tell it；
promising not to do anything for his relief or comfort that he did not
wish； and thereupon the unhappy gentleman began his sad story in
nearly the same words and manner in which he had related it to Don
Quixote and the goatherd a few days before； when； through Master
Elisabad； and Don Quixote's scrupulous observance of what was due to
chivalry； the tale was left unfinished； as this history has already
recorded； but now fortunately the mad fit kept off； allowed him to
tell it to the end； and so； coming to the incident of the note which
Don Fernando had found in the volume of 〃Amadis of Gaul；〃 Cardenio
said that he remembered it perfectly and that it was in these words：
〃Luscinda to Cardenio。
〃Every day I discover merits in you that oblige and compel me to
hold you in higher estimation； so if you desire to relieve me of
this obligation without cost to my honour； you may easily do so。 I
have a father who knows you and loves me dearly； who without putting
any constraint on my inclination will grant what will be reasonable
for you to have； if it be that you value me as you say and as I
believe you do。〃
〃By this letter I was induced； as I told you； to demand Luscinda for
my wife； and it was through it that Luscinda came to be regarded by
Don Fernando as one of the most discreet and prudent women of the day；
and this letter it was that suggested his design of ruining me
before mine could be carried into effect。 I told Don Fernando that all
Luscinda's father was waiting for was that mine should ask her of him；
which I did not dare to suggest to him； fearing that he would not
consent to do so； not because he did not know perfectly well the rank；
goodness； virtue； and beauty of Luscinda； and that she had qualities
that would do honour to any family in Spain； but because I was aware
that he did not wish me to marry so soon； before seeing what the
Duke Ricardo would do for me。 In short； I told him I did not venture
to mention it to my father； as well on account of that difficulty；
as of many others that discouraged me though I knew not well what they
were； only that it seemed to me that what I desired was never to
come to pass。 To all this Don Fernando answered that he would take
it upon himself to speak to my father； and persuade him to speak to
Luscinda's father。 O； ambitious Marius！ O； cruel Catiline！ O； wicked
Sylla！ O； perfidious Ganelon！ O； treacherous Vellido！ O； vindictive
Julian！ O； covetous Judas！ Traitor； cruel； vindictive； and perfidious；
wherein had this poor wretch failed in his fidelity； who with such
frankness showed thee the secrets and the joys of his heart？ What
offence did I commit？ What words did I utter； or what counsels did I
give that had not the furtherance of thy honour and welfare for
their aim？ But； woe is me； wherefore do I complain？ for sure it is
that when misfortunes spring from the stars； descending from on high
they fall upon us with such fury and violence that no power on earth
can check their course nor human device stay their coming。 Who could
have thought that Don Fernando； a highborn gentleman； intelligent；
bound to me by gratitude for my services； one that could win the
object of his love wherever he might set his affections； could have
become so obdurate； as they say； as to rob me of my one ewe lamb
that was not even yet in my possession？ But laying aside these useless
and unavailing reflections； let us take up the broken thread of my
unhappy story。
〃To proceed； then： Don Fernando finding my presence an obstacle to
the execution of his treacherous and wicked design； resolved to send
me to his elder brother under the pretext of asking money from him
to pay for six horses which； purposely； and with the sole object of
sending me away that he might the better carry
