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！
inn； which was still shut； on seeing which； Don Quixote； even there
where he was； did not forget to act as sentinel； and said in a loud
and imperious tone； 〃Knights； or squires； or whatever ye be； ye have
no right to knock at the gates of this castle； for it is plain
enough that they who are within are either asleep； or else are not
in the habit of throwing open the fortress until the sun's rays are
spread over the whole surface of the earth。 Withdraw to a distance；
and wait till it is broad daylight； and then we shall see whether it
will be proper or not to open to you。〃
〃What the devil fortress or castle is this；〃 said one； 〃to make us
stand on such ceremony？ If you are the innkeeper bid them open to
us； we are travellers who only want to feed our horses and go on；
for we are in haste。〃
〃Do you think； gentlemen； that I look like an innkeeper？〃 said Don
Quixote。
〃I don't know what you look like；〃 replied the other； 〃but I know
that you are talking nonsense when you call this inn a castle。〃
〃A castle it is；〃 returned Don Quixote； 〃nay； more； one of the
best in this whole province； and it has within it people who have
had the sceptre in the hand and the crown on the head。〃
〃It would be better if it were the other way；〃 said the traveller；
〃the sceptre on the head and the crown in the hand； but if so； may
be there is within some company of players； with whom it is a common
thing to have those crowns and sceptres you speak of； for in such a
small inn as this； and where such silence is kept； I do not believe
any people entitled to crowns and sceptres can have taken up their
quarters。〃
〃You know but little of the world；〃 returned Don Quixote； 〃since you
are ignorant of what commonly occurs in knight…errantry。〃
But the comrades of the spokesman； growing weary of the dialogue
with Don Quixote； renewed their knocks with great vehemence； so much
so that the host； and not only he but everybody in the inn； awoke； and
he got up to ask who knocked。 It happened at this moment that one of
the horses of the four who were seeking admittance went to smell
Rocinante； who melancholy； dejected； and with drooping ears stood
motionless； supporting his sorely stretched master； and as he was；
after all； flesh； though he looked as if he were made of wood； he
could not help giving way and in return smelling the one who had come
to offer him attentions。 But he had hardly moved at all when Don
Quixote lost his footing； and slipping off the saddle； he would have
come to the ground； but for being suspended by the arm； which caused
him such agony that he believed either his wrist would be cut through
or his arm torn off； and he hung so near the ground that he could just
touch it with his feet； which was all the worse for him； for； finding
how little was wanted to enable him to plant his feet firmly； he
struggled and stretched himself as much as he could to gain a footing；
just like those undergoing the torture of the strappado； when they are
fixed at 〃touch and no touch；〃 who aggravate their own sufferings by
their violent efforts to stretch themselves； deceived by the hope
which makes them fancy that with a very little more they will reach
the ground。
CHAPTER XLIV
IN WHICH ARE CONTINUED THE UNHEARD…OF ADVENTURES OF THE INN
SO LOUD； in fact； were the shouts of Don Quixote； that the
landlord opening the gate of the inn in all haste； came out in dismay；
and ran to see who was uttering such cries； and those who were outside
joined him。 Maritornes； who had been by this time roused up by the
same outcry； suspecting what it was； ran to the loft and； without
anyone seeing her； untied the halter by which Don Quixote was
suspended； and down he came to the ground in the sight of the landlord
and the travellers； who approaching asked him what was the matter with
him that he shouted so。 He without replying a word took the rope off
his wrist； and rising to his feet leaped upon Rocinante； braced his
buckler on his arm； put his lance in rest； and making a considerable
circuit of the plain came back at a half…gallop exclaiming：
〃Whoever shall say that I have been enchanted with just cause；
provided my lady the Princess Micomicona grants me permission to do
so； I give him the lie； challenge him and defy him to single combat。〃
The newly arrived travellers were amazed at the words of Don
Quixote； but the landlord removed their surprise by telling them who
he was； and not to mind him as he was out of his senses。 They then
asked the landlord if by any chance a youth of about fifteen years
of age had come to that inn； one dressed like a muleteer； and of
such and such an appearance； describing that of Dona Clara's lover。
The landlord replied that there were so many people in the inn he
had not noticed the person they were inquiring for； but one of them
observing the coach in which the Judge had come； said； 〃He is here
no doubt； for this is the coach he is following： let one of us stay at
the gate； and the rest go in to look for him； or indeed it would be as
well if one of us went round the inn； lest he should escape over the
wall of the yard。〃 〃So be it；〃 said another； and while two of them
went in； one remained at the gate and the other made the circuit of
the inn； observing all which； the landlord was unable to conjecture
for what reason they were taking all these precautions； though he
understood they were looking for the youth whose description they
had given him。
It was by this time broad daylight； and for that reason； as well
as in consequence of the noise Don Quixote had made； everybody was
awake and up； but particularly Dona Clara and Dorothea； for they had
been able to sleep but badly that night； the one from agitation at
having her lover so near her； the other from curiosity to see him。 Don
Quixote； when he saw that not one of the four travellers took any
notice of him or replied to his challenge； was furious and ready to
die with indignation and wrath； and if he could have found in the
ordinances of chivalry that it was lawful for a knight…errant to
undertake or engage in another enterprise； when he had plighted his
word and faith not to involve himself in any until he had made an
end of the one to which he was pledged； he would have attacked the
whole of them； and would have made them return an answer in spite of
themselves。 But considering that it would not become him； nor be
right； to begin any new emprise until he had established Micomicona in
her kingdom； he was constrained to hold his peace and wait quietly
to see what would be the upshot of the proceedings of those same
travellers； one of whom found the youth they were seeking lying asleep
by the side of a muleteer； without a thought of anyone coming in
search of him； much less finding him。
The man laid hold of him by the arm； saying； 〃It becomes you well
indeed； Senor Don Luis； to be in the dress you wear； and well the
bed in which I find you agrees with the luxury in which your mother
reared you。〃
The youth rubbed his sleepy eyes and stared for a while at him who
held him； but presently recognised him as one of his father's
servants； at which he was so taken aback that fo