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！
from those paths of good breeding that your worship has made in my
parched understanding。〃
Don Quixote laughed at Sancho's affected phraseology； and
perceived that what he said about his improvement was true； for now
and then he spoke in a way that surprised him； though always； or
mostly； when Sancho tried to talk fine and attempted polite
language； he wound up by toppling over from the summit of his
simplicity into the abyss of his ignorance； and where he showed his
culture and his memory to the greatest advantage was in dragging in
proverbs； no matter whether they had any bearing or not upon the
subject in hand； as may have been seen already and will be noticed
in the course of this history。
In conversation of this kind they passed a good part of the night；
but Sancho felt a desire to let down the curtains of his eyes； as he
used to say when he wanted to go to sleep； and stripping Dapple he
left him at liberty to graze his fill。 He did not remove Rocinante's
saddle； as his master's express orders were； that so long as they were
in the field or not sleeping under a roof Rocinante was not to be
stripped… the ancient usage established and observed by knights…errant
being to take off the bridle and hang it on the saddle…bow； but to
remove the saddle from the horse… never！ Sancho acted accordingly； and
gave him the same liberty he had given Dapple； between whom and
Rocinante there was a friendship so unequalled and so strong； that
it is handed down by tradition from father to son； that the author
of this veracious history devoted some special chapters to it；
which； in order to preserve the propriety and decorum due to a history
so heroic； he did not insert therein； although at times he forgets
this resolution of his and describes how eagerly the two beasts
would scratch one another when they were together and how； when they
were tired or full； Rocinante would lay his neck across Dapple's；
stretching half a yard or more on the other side； and the pair would
stand thus； gazing thoughtfully on the ground； for three days； or at
least so long as they were left alone； or hunger did not drive them to
go and look for food。 I may add that they say the author left it on
record that he likened their friendship to that of Nisus and Euryalus；
and Pylades and Orestes； and if that be so； it may be perceived； to
the admiration of mankind； how firm the friendship must have been
between these two peaceful animals； shaming men； who preserve
friendships with one another so badly。 This was why it was said…
For friend no longer is there friend；
The reeds turn lances now。
And some one else has sung…
Friend to friend the bug； &c。
And let no one fancy that the author was at all astray when he
compared the friendship of these animals to that of men； for men
have received many lessons from beasts； and learned many important
things； as； for example； the clyster from the stork； vomit and
gratitude from the dog； watchfulness from the crane； foresight from
the ant； modesty from the elephant； and loyalty from the horse。
Sancho at last fell asleep at the foot of a cork tree； while Don
Quixote dozed at that of a sturdy oak； but a short time only had
elapsed when a noise he heard behind him awoke him； and rising up
startled； he listened and looked in the direction the noise came from；
and perceived two men on horseback； one of whom； letting himself
drop from the saddle； said to the other； 〃Dismount； my friend； and
take the bridles off the horses； for； so far as I can see； this
place will furnish grass for them； and the solitude and silence my
love…sick thoughts need of。〃 As he said this he stretched himself upon
the ground； and as he flung himself down； the armour in which he was
clad rattled； whereby Don Quixote perceived that he must be a
knight…errant； and going over to Sancho； who was asleep； he shook
him by the arm and with no small difficulty brought him back to his
senses； and said in a low voice to him； 〃Brother Sancho； we have got
an adventure。〃
〃God send us a good one；〃 said Sancho； 〃and where may her ladyship
the adventure be？〃
〃Where； Sancho？〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃turn thine eyes and look； and
thou wilt see stretched there a knight…errant； who； it strikes me；
is not over and above happy； for I saw him fling himself off his horse
and throw himself on the ground with a certain air of dejection； and
his armour rattled as he fell。〃
〃Well；〃 said Sancho； 〃how does your worship make out that to be an
adventure？〃
〃I do not mean to say；〃 returned Don Quixote； 〃that it is a complete
adventure； but that it is the beginning of one； for it is in this
way adventures begin。 But listen； for it seems he is tuning a lute
or guitar； and from the way he is spitting and clearing his chest he
must be getting ready to sing something。〃
〃Faith； you are right；〃 said Sancho； 〃and no doubt he is some
enamoured knight。〃
〃There is no knight…errant that is not；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but
let us listen to him； for； if he sings； by that thread we shall
extract the ball of his thoughts； because out of the abundance of
the heart the mouth speaketh。〃
Sancho was about to reply to his master； but the Knight of the
Grove's voice； which was neither very bad nor very good； stopped
him； and listening attentively the pair heard him sing this
SONNET
Your pleasure； prithee； lady mine； unfold；
Declare the terms that I am to obey；
My will to yours submissively I mould；
And from your law my feet shall never stray。
Would you I die； to silent grief a prey？
Then count me even now as dead and cold；
Would you I tell my woes in some new way？
Then shall my tale by Love itself be told。
The unison of opposites to prove；
Of the soft wax and diamond hard am I；
But still； obedient to the laws of love；
Here； hard or soft； I offer you my breast；
Whate'er you grave or stamp thereon shall rest
Indelible for all eternity。
With an 〃Ah me！〃 that seemed to be drawn from the inmost recesses of
his heart； the Knight of the Grove brought his lay to an end； and
shortly afterwards exclaimed in a melancholy and piteous voice； 〃O
fairest and most ungrateful woman on earth！ What！ can it be； most
serene Casildea de Vandalia； that thou wilt suffer this thy captive
knight to waste away and perish in ceaseless wanderings and rude and
arduous toils？ It is not enough that I have compelled all the
knights of Navarre； all the Leonese； all the Tartesians； all the
Castilians； and finally all the knights of La Mancha； to confess
thee the most beautiful in the world？〃
〃Not so；〃 said Don Quixote at this； 〃for I am of La Mancha； and I
have never confessed anything of the sort； nor could I nor should I
confess a thing so much to the prejudice of my lady's beauty； thou
seest how this knight is raving； Sancho。 But let us listen； perhaps he
will tell us more about himself。〃
〃That he will；〃 returned Sancho； 〃for he seems in a mood to bewail
himself for a month at a stretch。〃
But this was not the case； for the Knight of the Grove； hearing
voices near him； instead of continuing his lamentation； stood up and
exclaimed in a distinct but courteous tone； 〃Who goes there？ What
are you？ Do you belong to the number of the happy or of the
miserable？〃
〃Of the miserable；〃 answered Don Quixote。
〃Then come to me；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃and rest assured that it
is to woe itself and affliction itself you come。〃
Don Quixote； finding himself answered in such a soft and courteous
manner； went over to him； and so did Sancho。
The doleful knight took Don Quixote by the arm； saying； 〃Sit down
here； sir knight； for； that you are one； and of those that profess
knight…errantry； it is to me a sufficient proof to have found you in
this place； where solitude and night； the natural couch and proper
retreat of knights…errant； keep you company。〃 To which Don made
answer； 〃A knight I am of the profession you mention； and though
sorrows； misfortunes； and calamities have made my heart their abode；
the compassion I feel for the misfortunes of others has not been
thereby banished from it。 From what you have just now sung I gather
that yours spring from love； I mean from the love you bear that fair
ingrate you named in your lament。〃
In the meantime； they had seated themselves together on the hard
ground peaceably and sociably； just as if； as soon as day broke；
they were not going to break one another's heads。
〃Are you； sir knight； in love perchance？〃 asked he of the Grove of
Don Quixote。
〃By mischance I am；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃though the ills arising
from well…bestowed affections should be esteemed favours rather than
misfortunes。〃
〃That is true；〃 returned he of the Grove； 〃if scorn did not unsettle
our reason and understanding； for if it be excessive it looks like
revenge。〃
〃I was never scorned by my lady；〃 said Don Quixote。
〃Certainly not；〃 said Sancho； who stood close by； 〃for my lady is as
a lamb； and softer than a roll of butter。〃
〃Is this your squire？〃 asked he of the Grove。
〃He is；〃 said Don Quixote。
〃I never yet saw a squire；〃 said h