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！
that she was the daughter of a cobbler of Toledo who lived in the
stalls of Sanchobienaya； and that wherever she might be she would
serve and esteem him as her lord。 Don Quixote said in reply that she
would do him a favour if thenceforward she assumed the 〃Don〃 and
called herself Dona Tolosa。 She promised she would； and then the other
buckled on his spur； and with her followed almost the same
conversation as with the lady of the sword。 He asked her name； and she
said it was La Molinera； and that she was the daughter of a
respectable miller of Antequera； and of her likewise Don Quixote
requested that she would adopt the 〃Don〃 and call herself Dona
Molinera； making offers to her further services and favours。
Having thus； with hot haste and speed； brought to a conclusion these
never…till…now…seen ceremonies； Don Quixote was on thorns until he saw
himself on horseback sallying forth in quest of adventures； and
saddling Rocinante at once he mounted； and embracing his host； as he
returned thanks for his kindness in knighting him； he addressed him in
language so extraordinary that it is impossible to convey an idea of
it or report it。 The landlord； to get him out of the inn； replied with
no less rhetoric though with shorter words； and without calling upon
him to pay the reckoning let him go with a Godspeed。
CHAPTER IV
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR KNIGHT WHEN HE LEFT THE INN
DAY was dawning when Don Quixote quitted the inn； so happy； so
gay； so exhilarated at finding himself now dubbed a knight； that his
joy was like to burst his horse…girths。 However； recalling the
advice of his host as to the requisites he ought to carry with him；
especially that referring to money and shirts； he determined to go
home and provide himself with all； and also with a squire； for he
reckoned upon securing a farm…labourer； a neighbour of his； a poor man
with a family； but very well qualified for the office of squire to a
knight。 With this object he turned his horse's head towards his
village； and Rocinante； thus reminded of his old quarters； stepped out
so briskly that he hardly seemed to tread the earth。
He had not gone far； when out of a thicket on his right there seemed
to come feeble cries as of some one in distress； and the instant he
heard them he exclaimed； 〃Thanks be to heaven for the favour it
accords me； that it so soon offers me an opportunity of fulfilling the
obligation I have undertaken； and gathering the fruit of my
ambition。 These cries； no doubt； come from some man or woman in want
of help； and needing my aid and protection；〃 and wheeling； he turned
Rocinante in the direction whence the cries seemed to proceed。 He
had gone but a few paces into the wood； when he saw a mare tied to
an oak； and tied to another； and stripped from the waist upwards； a
youth of about fifteen years of age； from whom the cries came。 Nor
were they without cause； for a lusty farmer was flogging him with a
belt and following up every blow with scoldings and commands；
repeating； 〃Your mouth shut and your eyes open！〃 while the youth
made answer； 〃I won't do it again； master mine； by God's passion I
won't do it again； and I'll take more care of the flock another time。〃
Seeing what was going on； Don Quixote said in an angry voice；
〃Discourteous knight； it ill becomes you to assail one who cannot
defend himself； mount your steed and take your lance〃 （for there was a
lance leaning against the oak to which the mare was tied）； 〃and I will
make you know that you are behaving as a coward。〃 The farmer； seeing
before him this figure in full armour brandishing a lance over his
head； gave himself up for dead； and made answer meekly； 〃Sir Knight；
this youth that I am chastising is my servant； employed by me to watch
a flock of sheep that I have hard by； and he is so careless that I
lose one every day； and when I punish him for his carelessness and
knavery he says I do it out of niggardliness； to escape paying him the
wages I owe him； and before God； and on my soul； he lies。〃
〃Lies before me； base clown！〃 said Don Quixote。 〃By the sun that
shines on us I have a mind to run you through with this lance。 Pay him
at once without another word； if not； by the God that rules us I
will make an end of you； and annihilate you on the spot； release him
instantly。〃
The farmer hung his head； and without a word untied his servant；
of whom Don Quixote asked how much his master owed him。
He replied； nine months at seven reals a month。 Don Quixote added it
up； found that it came to sixty…three reals； and told the farmer to
pay it down immediately； if he did not want to die for it。
The trembling clown replied that as he lived and by the oath he
had sworn （though he had not sworn any） it was not so much； for
there were to be taken into account and deducted three pairs of
shoes he had given him； and a real for two blood…lettings when he
was sick。
〃All that is very well；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but let the shoes and
the blood…lettings stand as a setoff against the blows you have
given him without any cause； for if he spoiled the leather of the
shoes you paid for； you have damaged that of his body； and if the
barber took blood from him when he was sick； you have drawn it when he
was sound； so on that score he owes you nothing。〃
〃The difficulty is； Sir Knight； that I have no money here； let
Andres come home with me； and I will pay him all； real by real。〃
〃I go with him！〃 said the youth。 〃Nay； God forbid！ No； senor； not
for the world； for once alone with me； he would ray me like a Saint
Bartholomew。〃
〃He will do nothing of the kind；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃I have only
to command； and he will obey me； and as he has sworn to me by the
order of knighthood which he has received； I leave him free； and I
guarantee the payment。〃
〃Consider what you are saying； senor；〃 said the youth； 〃this
master of mine is not a knight； nor has he received any order of
knighthood； for he is Juan Haldudo the Rich； of Quintanar。〃
〃That matters little；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃there may be Haldudos
knights； moreover； everyone is the son of his works。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Andres； 〃but this master of mine… of what works
is he the son； when he refuses me the wages of my sweat and labour？〃
〃I do not refuse； brother Andres；〃 said the farmer； 〃be good
enough to come along with me； and I swear by all the orders of
knighthood there are in the world to pay you as I have agreed； real by
real； and perfumed。〃
〃For the perfumery I excuse you；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃give it to
him in reals； and I shall be satisfied； and see that you do as you
have sworn； if not； by the same oath I swear to come back and hunt you
out and punish you； and I shall find you though you should lie
closer than a lizard。 And if you desire to know who it is lays this
command upon you； that you be more firmly bound to obey it； know
that I am the valorous Don Quixote of La Mancha； the undoer of
wrongs and injustices； and so； God be with you； and keep in mind
what you have promised and sworn under those penalties that have
been already declared to you。〃
So saying； he gave Rocinante the spur and was soon out of reach。 The
farmer followed him with his eyes； and when he saw that he had cleared
the wood and was no longer in sight； he turned to his boy Andres；
and said； 〃Come here； my son； I want to pay you what I owe you； as
that undoer of wrongs has commanded me。〃
〃My oath on it；〃 said Andres； 〃your worship will be well advised
to obey the command of that good knight… may he live a thousand years…
for； as he is a valiant and just judge； by Roque； if you do not pay
me； he will come back and do as he said。〃
〃My oath on it； too；〃 said the farmer； 〃but as I have a strong
affection for you； I want to add to the debt in order to add to the
payment；〃 and seizing him by the arm； he tied him up again； and gave
him such a flogging that he left him for dead。
〃Now； Master Andres；〃 said the farmer； 〃call on the undoer of
wrongs； you will find he won't undo that； though I am not sure that
I have quite done with you； for I have a good mind to flay you alive。〃
But at last he untied him； and gave him leave to go look for his judge
in order to put the sentence pronounced into execution。
Andres went off rather down in the mouth； swearing he would go to
look for the valiant Don Quixote of La Mancha and tell him exactly
what had happened； and that all would have to be repaid him sevenfold；
but for all that； he went off weeping； while his master stood
laughing。
Thus did the valiant Don Quixote right that wrong； and； thoroughly
satisfied with what had taken place； as he considered he had made a
very happy and noble beginning with his knighthood； he took the road
towards his village in perfect self…content； saying in a low voice；
〃Well mayest thou this day call thyself fortunate above all on
earth； O Dulcinea del Toboso； fairest of the fair！ since it has fallen
to thy lot to hold subject and submissive to thy full will and
pleasure a knight so renowned as is and will be Don Quixote of La
Mancha； who； as all the world knows； yesterday received the order of
knighthood； and hath to…day righted the greatest wrong and grievance
that ever in