don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第78章
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The anguish and the shame but greater grew
In Peter's heart as morning slowly came；
No eye was there to see him； well he knew；
Yet he himself was to himself a shame；
Exposed to all men's gaze； or screened from view；
A noble heart will feel the pang the same；
A prey to shame the sinning soul will be；
Though none but heaven and earth its shame can see。
Thus by keeping it secret thou wilt not escape thy sorrow； but
rather thou wilt shed tears unceasingly； if not tears of the eyes；
tears of blood from the heart； like those shed by that simple doctor
our poet tells us of； that tried the test of the cup； which the wise
Rinaldo； better advised； refused to do； for though this may be a
poetic fiction it contains a moral lesson worthy of attention and
study and imitation。 Moreover by what I am about to say to thee thou
wilt be led to see the great error thou wouldst commit。
〃Tell me； Anselmo； if Heaven or good fortune had made thee master
and lawful owner of a diamond of the finest quality； with the
excellence and purity of which all the lapidaries that had seen it had
been satisfied； saying with one voice and common consent that in
purity； quality； and fineness； it was all that a stone of the kind
could possibly be； thou thyself too being of the same belief； as
knowing nothing to the contrary； would it be reasonable in thee to
desire to take that diamond and place it between an anvil and a
hammer； and by mere force of blows and strength of arm try if it
were as hard and as fine as they said？ And if thou didst； and if the
stone should resist so silly a test； that would add nothing to its
value or reputation； and if it were broken； as it might be； would
not all be lost？ Undoubtedly it would； leaving its owner to be rated
as a fool in the opinion of all。 Consider； then； Anselmo my friend；
that Camilla is a diamond of the finest quality as well in thy
estimation as in that of others； and that it is contrary to reason
to expose her to the risk of being broken； for if she remains intact
she cannot rise to a higher value than she now possesses； and if she
give way and be unable to resist； bethink thee now how thou wilt be
deprived of her； and with what good reason thou wilt complain of
thyself for having been the cause of her ruin and thine own。
Remember there is no jewel in the world so precious as a chaste and
virtuous woman； and that the whole honour of women consists in
reputation； and since thy wife's is of that high excellence that
thou knowest； wherefore shouldst thou seek to call that truth in
question？ Remember； my friend； that woman is an imperfect animal；
and that impediments are not to be placed in her way to make her
trip and fall； but that they should be removed； and her path left
clear of all obstacles； so that without hindrance she may run her
course freely to attain the desired perfection； which consists in
being virtuous。 Naturalists tell us that the ermine is a little animal
which has a fur of purest white； and that when the hunters wish to
take it； they make use of this artifice。 Having ascertained the places
which it frequents and passes； they stop the way to them with mud； and
then rousing it； drive it towards the spot； and as soon as the
ermine comes to the mud it halts； and allows itself to be taken
captive rather than pass through the mire； and spoil and sully its
whiteness； which it values more than life and liberty。 The virtuous
and chaste woman is an ermine； and whiter and purer than snow is the
virtue of modesty； and he who wishes her not to lose it； but to keep
and preserve it； must adopt a course different from that employed with
the ermine； he must not put before her the mire of the gifts and
attentions of persevering lovers； because perhaps… and even without
a perhaps… she may not have sufficient virtue and natural strength
in herself to pass through and tread under foot these impediments；
they must be removed； and the brightness of virtue and the beauty of a
fair fame must be put before her。 A virtuous woman； too； is like a
mirror； of clear shining crystal； liable to be tarnished and dimmed by
every breath that touches it。 She must be treated as relics are；
adored； not touched。 She must be protected and prized as one
protects and prizes a fair garden full of roses and flowers； the owner
of which allows no one to trespass or pluck a blossom； enough for
others that from afar and through the iron grating they may enjoy
its fragrance and its beauty。 Finally let me repeat to thee some
verses that come to my mind； I heard them in a modern comedy； and it
seems to me they bear upon the point we are discussing。 A prudent
old man was giving advice to another； the father of a young girl； to
lock her up； watch over her and keep her in seclusion； and among other
arguments he used these：
Woman is a thing of glass；
But her brittleness 'tis best
Not too curiously to test：
Who knows what may come to pass？
Breaking is an easy matter；
And it's folly to expose
What you cannot mend to blows；
What you can't make whole to shatter。
This； then； all may hold as true；
And the reason's plain to see；
For if Danaes there be；
There are golden showers too。
〃All that I have said to thee so far； Anselmo； has had reference
to what concerns thee； now it is right that I should say something
of what regards myself； and if I be prolix； pardon me； for the
labyrinth into which thou hast entered and from which thou wouldst
have me extricate thee makes it necessary。
〃Thou dost reckon me thy friend； and thou wouldst rob me of
honour； a thing wholly inconsistent with friendship； and not only dost
thou aim at this； but thou wouldst have me rob thee of it also。 That
thou wouldst rob me of it is clear； for when Camilla sees that I pay
court to her as thou requirest； she will certainly regard me as a
man without honour or right feeling； since I attempt and do a thing so
much opposed to what I owe to my own position and thy friendship。 That
thou wouldst have me rob thee of it is beyond a doubt； for Camilla；
seeing that I press my suit upon her； will suppose that I have
perceived in her something light that has encouraged me to make
known to her my base desire； and if she holds herself dishonoured； her
dishonour touches thee as belonging to her； and hence arises what so
commonly takes place； that the husband of the adulterous woman； though
he may not be aware of or have given any cause for his wife's
failure in her duty； or （being careless or negligent） have had it in
his power to prevent his dishonour； nevertheless is stigmatised by a
vile and reproachful name； and in a manner regarded with eyes of
contempt instead of pity by all who know of his wife's guilt； though
they see that he is unfortunate not by his own fault； but by the
lust of a vicious consort。 But I will tell thee why with good reason
dishonour attaches to the husband of the unchaste wife； though he know
not that she is so； nor be to blame； nor have done anything； or
given any provocation to make her so； and be not weary with
listening to me； for it will be for thy good。
〃When God created our first parent in the earthly paradise； the Holy
Scripture says that he infused sleep into Adam and while he slept took
a rib from his left side of which he formed our mother Eve； and when
Adam awoke and beheld her he said； 'This is flesh of my flesh； and
bone of my bone。' And God said 'For this shall a man leave his
father and his mother； and they shall be two in one flesh； and then
was instituted the divine sacrament of marriage； with such ties that
death alone can loose them。 And such is the force and virtue of this
miraculous sacrament that it makes two different persons one and the
same flesh； and even more than this when the virtuous are married； for
though they have two souls they have but one will。 And hence it
follows that as the flesh of the wife is one and the same with that of
her husband the stains that may come upon it； or the injuries it
incurs fall upon the husband's flesh； though he； as has been said； may
have given no cause for
