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don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第168章

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with the seneschal; to lead him to dinner; as his hosts were already
waiting for him。 They placed him in the midst of them; and with much
pomp and stateliness they conducted him into another room; where there
was a sumptuous table laid with but four covers。 The duchess and the
duke came out to the door of the room to receive him; and with them
a grave ecclesiastic; one of those who rule noblemen's houses; one
of those who; not being born magnates themselves; never know how to
teach those who are how to behave as such; one of those who would have
the greatness of great folk measured by their own narrowness of
mind; one of those who; when they try to introduce economy into the
household they rule; lead it into meanness。 One of this sort; I say;
must have been the grave churchman who came out with the duke and
duchess to receive Don Quixote。
  A vast number of polite speeches were exchanged; and at length;
taking Don Quixote between them; they proceeded to sit down to
table。 The duke pressed Don Quixote to take the head of the table;
and; though he refused; the entreaties of the duke were so urgent that
he had to accept it。
  The ecclesiastic took his seat opposite to him; and the duke and
duchess those at the sides。 All this time Sancho stood by; gaping with
amazement at the honour he saw shown to his master by these
illustrious persons; and observing all the ceremonious pressing that
had passed between the duke and Don Quixote to induce him to take
his seat at the head of the table; he said; 〃If your worship will give
me leave I will tell you a story of what happened in my village
about this matter of seats。〃
  The moment Sancho said this Don Quixote trembled; making sure that
he was about to say something foolish。 Sancho glanced at him; and
guessing his thoughts; said; 〃Don't be afraid of my going astray;
senor; or saying anything that won't be pat to the purpose; I
haven't forgotten the advice your worship gave me just now about
talking much or little; well or ill。〃
  〃I have no recollection of anything; Sancho;〃 said Don Quixote; 〃say
what thou wilt; only say it quickly。〃
  〃Well then;〃 said Sancho; 〃what I am going to say is so true that my
master Don Quixote; who is here present; will keep me from lying。〃
  〃Lie as much as thou wilt for all I care; Sancho;〃 said Don Quixote;
〃for I am not going to stop thee; but consider what thou art going
to say。〃
  〃I have so considered and reconsidered;〃 said Sancho; 〃that the
bell…ringer's in a safe berth; as will be seen by what follows。〃
  〃It would be well;〃 said Don Quixote; 〃if your highnesses would
order them to turn out this idiot; for he will talk a heap of
nonsense。〃
  〃By the life of the duke; Sancho shall not be taken away from me for
a moment;〃 said the duchess; 〃I am very fond of him; for I know he
is very discreet。〃
  〃Discreet be the days of your holiness;〃 said Sancho; 〃for the
good opinion you have of my wit; though there's none in me; but the
story I want to tell is this。 There was an invitation given by a
gentleman of my town; a very rich one; and one of quality; for he
was one of the Alamos of Medina del Campo; and married to Dona
Mencia de Quinones; the daughter of Don Alonso de Maranon; Knight of
the Order of Santiago; that was drowned at the Herradura… him there
was that quarrel about years ago in our village; that my master Don
Quixote was mixed up in; to the best of my belief; that Tomasillo
the scapegrace; the son of Balbastro the smith; was wounded in。… Isn't
all this true; master mine? As you live; say so; that these gentlefolk
may not take me for some lying chatterer。〃
  〃So far;〃 said the ecclesiastic; 〃I take you to be more a
chatterer than a liar; but I don't know what I shall take you for
by…and…by。〃
  〃Thou citest so many witnesses and proofs; Sancho;〃 said Don
Quixote; 〃that I have no choice but to say thou must be telling the
truth; go on; and cut the story short; for thou art taking the way not
to make an end for two days to come。〃
  〃He is not to cut it short;〃 said the duchess; 〃on the contrary; for
my gratification; he is to tell it as he knows it; though he should
not finish it these six days; and if he took so many they would be
to me the pleasantest I ever spent。〃
  〃Well then; sirs; I say;〃 continued Sancho; 〃that this same
gentleman; whom I know as well as I do my own hands; for it's not a
bowshot from my house to his; invited a poor but respectable
labourer…〃
  〃Get on; brother;〃 said the churchman; 〃at the rate you are going
you will not stop with your story short of the next world。〃
  〃I'll stop less than half…way; please God;〃 said Sancho; 〃and so I
say this labourer; coming to the house of the gentleman I spoke of
that invited him… rest his soul; he is now dead; and more by token
he died the death of an angel; so they say; for I was not there; for
just at that time I had gone to reap at Tembleque…〃
  〃As you live; my son;〃 said the churchman; 〃make haste back from
Tembleque; and finish your story without burying the gentleman; unless
you want to make more funerals。〃
  〃Well then; it so happened;〃 said Sancho; 〃that as the pair of
them were going to sit down to table …and I think I can see them now
plainer than ever…〃
  Great was the enjoyment the duke and duchess derived from the
irritation the worthy churchman showed at the long…winded; halting way
Sancho had of telling his story; while Don Quixote was chafing with
rage and vexation。
  〃So; as I was saying;〃 continued Sancho; 〃as the pair of them were
going to sit down to table; as I said; the labourer insisted upon
the gentleman's taking the head of the table; and the gentleman
insisted upon the labourer's taking it; as his orders should be obeyed
in his house; but the labourer; who plumed himself on his politeness
and good breeding; would not on any account; until the gentleman;
out of patience; putting his hands on his shoulders; compelled him
by force to sit down; saying; 'Sit down; you stupid lout; for wherever
I sit will he the head to you; and that's the story; and; troth; I
think it hasn't been brought in amiss here。〃
  Don Quixote turned all colours; which; on his sunburnt face; mottled
it till it looked like jasper。 The duke and duchess suppressed their
laughter so as not altogether to mortify Don Quixote; for they saw
through Sancho's impertinence; and to change the conversation; and
keep Sancho from uttering more absurdities; the duchess asked Don
Quixote what news he had of the lady Dulcinea; and if he had sent
her any presents of giants or miscreants lately; for he could not
but have vanquished a good many。
  To which Don Quixote replied; 〃Senora; my misfortunes; though they
had a beginning; will never have an end。 I have vanquished giants
and I have sent her caitiffs and miscreants; but where are they to
find her if she is enchanted and turned into the most ill…favoured
peasant wench that can be imagined?〃
  〃I don't know;〃 said Sancho Panza; 〃to me she seems the fairest
creature in the world; at any rate; in nimbleness and jumping she
won't give in to a tumbler; by my faith; senora duchess; she leaps
from the ground on to the back of an ass like a cat。〃
  〃Have you seen her enchanted; Sancho?〃 asked the duke。
  〃What; seen her!〃 said Sancho; 〃why; who the devil was it but myself
that first thought of the enchantment business? She is as much
enchanted as my father。〃
  The ecclesiastic; when he heard them talking of giants and
caitiffs and enchantments; began to suspect that this must be Don
Quixote of La Mancha; whose story the duke was always reading; and
he had himself often reproved him for it; telling him it was foolish
to read such fooleries; and becoming convinced that his suspicion
was correct; addressing the duke; he said very angrily to him; 〃Senor;
your excellence will have to give account to God for what this good
man does。 This Don Quixote; or Don Simpleton; or whatever his name is;
cannot; I imagine; be such a blockhead as your excellence would have
him; holding out encouragement to him to go on with his vagaries and
follies。〃 Then turning to address Don Quixote he said; 〃And you;
num…skull; who put it into your head that you are a knight…errant; and
vanquish giants and capture miscreants? Go your ways in a good hour;
and in a good hour be it said to you。 Go home and bring up your
children if you have any; and attend to your business; and give over
going wandering about the world; gaping and making a laughing…stock of
yourself to all who know you and all who don't。 Where; in heaven's
name; have you discovered that there are or ever were
knights…errant? Where are there giants in Spain or miscreants in La
Mancha; or enchanted Dulcineas; or all the rest of the silly things
they tell about you?〃
  Don Quixote listened attentively to the reverend gentleman's
words; and as soon as he perceived he had done speaking; regardless of
the presence of the duke and duchess; he sprang to his feet with angry
looks and an agitated countenance; and said …But the reply deserves
a chapter to itself。

  CHAPTER XXXII
  OF THE REPLY DON QUIXOTE GAVE HIS CENSURER; WITH OTHER INCIDENTS;
GRAVE AND DROLL

  DON QUIXOTE; then; having risen to hi
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