按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
another mole resembling that on the thick of the thigh on that side on
which she has the one on her ace； but hairs of the length thou hast
mentioned are very long for moles。〃
〃Well； all I can say is there they were as plain as could be；〃
replied Sancho。
〃I believe it； my friend；〃 returned Don Quixote； 〃for nature
bestowed nothing on Dulcinea that was not perfect and well…finished；
and so； if she had a hundred moles like the one thou hast described；
in her they would not be moles； but moons and shining stars。 But
tell me； Sancho； that which seemed to me to be a pack…saddle as thou
wert fixing it； was it a flat…saddle or a side…saddle？〃
〃It was neither；〃 replied Sancho； 〃but a jineta saddle； with a field
covering worth half a kingdom； so rich is it。〃
〃And that I could not see all this； Sancho！〃 said Don Quixote； 〃once
more I say； and will say a thousand times； I am the most unfortunate
of men。〃
Sancho； the rogue； had enough to do to hide his laughter； at hearing
the simplicity of the master he had so nicely befooled。 At length；
after a good deal more conversation had passed between them； they
remounted their beasts； and followed the road to Saragossa； which they
expected to reach in time to take part in a certain grand festival
which is held every year in that illustrious city； but before they got
there things happened to them； so many； so important； and so
strange； that they deserve to be recorded and read； as will be seen
farther on。
CHAPTER XI
OF THE STRANGE ADVENTURE WHICH THE VALIANT DON QUIXOTE HAD WITH
THE CAR OR CART OF 〃THE CORTES OF DEATH〃
DEJECTED beyond measure did Don Quixote pursue his journey；
turning over in his mind the cruel trick the enchanters had played him
in changing his lady Dulcinea into the vile shape of the village lass；
nor could he think of any way of restoring her to her original form；
and these reflections so absorbed him； that without being aware of
it he let go Rocinante's bridle； and he； perceiving the liberty that
was granted him； stopped at every step to crop the fresh grass with
which the plain abounded。
Sancho recalled him from his reverie。 〃Melancholy； senor；〃 said
he； 〃was made； not for beasts； but for men； but if men give way to
it overmuch they turn to beasts； control yourself； your worship； be
yourself again； gather up Rocinante's reins； cheer up； rouse
yourself and show that gallant spirit that knights…errant ought to
have。 What the devil is this？ What weakness is this？ Are we here or in
France？ The devil fly away with all the Dulcineas in the world； for
the well…being of a single knight…errant is of more consequence than
all the enchantments and transformations on earth。〃
〃Hush； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote in a weak and faint voice； 〃hush
and utter no blasphemies against that enchanted lady； for I alone am
to blame for her misfortune and hard fate； her calamity has come of
the hatred the wicked bear me。〃
〃So say I；〃 returned Sancho； 〃his heart rend in twain； I trow； who
saw her once； to see her now。〃
〃Thou mayest well say that； Sancho；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃as thou
sawest her in the full perfection of her beauty； for the enchantment
does not go so far as to pervert thy vision or hide her loveliness
from thee； against me alone and against my eyes is the strength of its
venom directed。 Nevertheless； there is one thing which has occurred to
me； and that is that thou didst ill describe her beauty to me； for； as
well as I recollect； thou saidst that her eyes were pearls； but eyes
that are like pearls are rather the eyes of a sea…bream than of a
lady； and I am persuaded that Dulcinea's must be green emeralds；
full and soft； with two rainbows for eyebrows； take away those
pearls from her eyes and transfer them to her teeth； for beyond a
doubt； Sancho； thou hast taken the one for the other； the eyes for the
teeth。〃
〃Very likely；〃 said Sancho； 〃for her beauty bewildered me as much as
her ugliness did your worship； but let us leave it all to God； who
alone knows what is to happen in this vale of tears； in this evil
world of ours； where there is hardly a thing to be found without
some mixture of wickedness； roguery； and rascality。 But one thing；
senor； troubles me more than all the rest； and that is thinking what
is to be done when your worship conquers some giant； or some other
knight； and orders him to go and present himself before the beauty
of the lady Dulcinea。 Where is this poor giant； or this poor wretch of
a vanquished knight； to find her？ I think I can see them wandering all
over El Toboso； looking like noddies； and asking for my lady Dulcinea；
and even if they meet her in the middle of the street they won't
know her any more than they would my father。〃
〃Perhaps； Sancho；〃 returned Don Quixote； 〃the enchantment does not
go so far as to deprive conquered and presented giants and knights
of the power of recognising Dulcinea； we will try by experiment with
one or two of the first I vanquish and send to her； whether they see
her or not； by commanding them to return and give me an account of
what happened to them in this respect。〃
〃I declare； I think what your worship has proposed is excellent；〃
said Sancho； 〃and that by this plan we shall find out what we want
to know； and if it be that it is only from your worship she is hidden；
the misfortune will be more yours than hers； but so long as the lady
Dulcinea is well and happy； we on our part will make the best of it；
and get on as well as we can； seeking our adventures； and leaving Time
to take his own course； for he is the best physician for these and
greater ailments。〃
Don Quixote was about to reply to Sancho Panza； but he was prevented
by a cart crossing the road full of the most diverse and strange
personages and figures that could be imagined。 He who led the mules
and acted as carter was a hideous demon； the cart was open to the sky；
without a tilt or cane roof； and the first figure that presented
itself to Don Quixote's eyes was that of Death itself with a human
face； next to it was an angel with large painted wings； and at one
side an emperor； with a crown； to all appearance of gold； on his head。
At the feet of Death was the god called Cupid； without his bandage；
but with his bow； quiver； and arrows； there was also a knight in
full armour； except that he had no morion or helmet； but only a hat
decked with plumes of divers colours； and along with these there
were others with a variety of costumes and faces。 All this；
unexpectedly encountered； took Don Quixote somewhat aback； and
struck terror into the heart of Sancho； but the next instant Don
Quixote was glad of it； believing that some new perilous adventure was
presenting itself to him； and under this impression； and with a spirit
prepared to face any danger； he planted himself in front of the
cart； and in a loud and menacing tone； exclaimed； 〃Carter； or
coachman； or devil； or whatever thou art； tell me at once who thou
art； whither thou art going； and who these folk are thou carriest in
thy wagon； which looks more like Charon's boat than an ordinary cart。〃
To which the devil； stopping the cart； answered quietly； 〃Senor；
we are players of Angulo el Malo's company； we have been acting the
play of 'The Cortes of Death' this morning； which is the octave of
Corpus Christi； in a village behind that hill； and we have to act it
this afternoon in that village which you can see from this； and as
it is so near； and to save the trouble of undressing and dressing
again； we go in the costumes in which we perform。 That lad there
appears as Death； that other as an angel； that woman； the manager's
wife； plays the queen； this one the soldier； that the emperor； and I
the devil； and I am one of the principal characters of the play； for
in this company I take the leading parts。 If you want to know anything
more about us； ask me and I will answer with the utmost exactitude；
for as I am a devil I am up to everything。〃
〃By the faith of a knight…errant；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃when I
saw this cart I fancied some great adventure was presenting itself
to me； but I declare one must touch with the hand what appears to
the eye； if illusions are to be avoided。 God speed you； good people；
keep your festival； and remember； if you demand of me ought wherein
I can render you a service； I will do it gladly and willingly； for
from a child I was fond of the play； and in my youth a keen lover of
the actor's art。〃
While they were talking； fate so willed it that one of the company
in a mummers' dress with a great number of bells； and armed with three
blown ox…bladders at the end of a stick； joined them； and this
merry…andrew approaching Don Quixote； began flourishing his stick
and banging the ground with the bladders and cutting capers with great
jingling of the bells； which untoward apparition so startled Rocinante
that； in spite of Don Quixote's efforts to hold him in； taking the bit
between his teeth he set off across the plain with greater speed
than the bones of his anatomy ever gave any promise of。 Sancho； who
thought his master was in danger of being thrown； jumped off Dapple；
and ran in all haste to help him； but by the time he reached him he
wa