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！
whereon they stretch me； not as a hard battle…field； but as a soft and
happy nuptial couch； and touching the consolation of Sancho Panza；
my squire； I rely upon his goodness and rectitude that he will not
desert me in good or evil fortune； for if； by his ill luck or mine； it
may not happen to be in my power to give him the island I have
promised； or any equivalent for it； at least his wages shall not be
lost； for in my will； which is already made； I have declared the sum
that shall be paid to him； measured； not by his many faithful
services； but by the means at my disposal。〃
Sancho bowed his head very respectfully and kissed both his hands；
for； being tied together； he could not kiss one； and then the
apparitions lifted the cage upon their shoulders and fixed it upon the
ox…cart。
CHAPTER XLVII
OF THE STRANGE MANNER IN WHICH DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA WAS
CARRIED AWAY ENCHANTED； TOGETHER WITH OTHER REMARKABLE INCIDENTS
WHEN Don Quixote saw himself caged and hoisted on the cart in this
way； he said； 〃Many grave histories of knights…errant have I read； but
never yet have I read； seen； or heard of their carrying off
enchanted knights…errant in this fashion； or at the slow pace that
these lazy； sluggish animals promise； for they always take them away
through the air with marvellous swiftness； enveloped in a dark thick
cloud； or on a chariot of fire； or it may be on some hippogriff or
other beast of the kind； but to carry me off like this on an
ox…cart！ By God； it puzzles me！ But perhaps the chivalry and
enchantments of our day take a different course from that of those
in days gone by； and it may be； too； that as I am a new knight in
the world； and the first to revive the already forgotten calling of
knight…adventurers； they may have newly invented other kinds of
enchantments and other modes of carrying off the enchanted。 What
thinkest thou of the matter； Sancho my son？〃
〃I don't know what to think；〃 answered Sancho； 〃not being as well
read as your worship in errant writings； but for all that I venture to
say and swear that these apparitions that are about us are not quite
catholic。〃
〃Catholic！〃 said Don Quixote。 〃Father of me！ how can they be
Catholic when they are all devils that have taken fantastic shapes
to come and do this； and bring me to this condition？ And if thou
wouldst prove it； touch them； and feel them； and thou wilt find they
have only bodies of air； and no consistency except in appearance。〃
〃By God； master；〃 returned Sancho； 〃I have touched them already； and
that devil； that goes about there so busily； has firm flesh； and
another property very different from what I have heard say devils
have； for by all accounts they all smell of brimstone and other bad
smells； but this one smells of amber half a league off。〃 Sancho was
here speaking of Don Fernando； who； like a gentleman of his rank；
was very likely perfumed as Sancho said。
〃Marvel not at that； Sancho my friend；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for let
me tell thee devils are crafty； and even if they do carry odours about
with them； they themselves have no smell； because they are spirits；
or； if they have any smell； they cannot smell of anything sweet； but
of something foul and fetid； and the reason is that as they carry hell
with them wherever they go； and can get no ease whatever from their
torments； and as a sweet smell is a thing that gives pleasure and
enjoyment； it is impossible that they can smell sweet； if； then；
this devil thou speakest of seems to thee to smell of amber； either
thou art deceiving thyself； or he wants to deceive thee by making thee
fancy he is not a devil。〃
Such was the conversation that passed between master and man； and
Don Fernando and Cardenio； apprehensive of Sancho's making a
complete discovery of their scheme； towards which he had already
gone some way； resolved to hasten their departure； and calling the
landlord aside； they directed him to saddle Rocinante and put the
pack…saddle on Sancho's ass； which he did with great alacrity。 In
the meantime the curate had made an arrangement with the officers that
they should bear them company as far as his village； he paying them so
much a day。 Cardenio hung the buckler on one side of the bow of
Rocinante's saddle and the basin on the other； and by signs
commanded Sancho to mount his ass and take Rocinante's bridle； and
at each side of the cart he placed two officers with their muskets；
but before the cart was put in motion； out came the landlady and her
daughter and Maritornes to bid Don Quixote farewell； pretending to
weep with grief at his misfortune； and to them Don Quixote said：
〃Weep not； good ladies； for all these mishaps are the lot of those
who follow the profession I profess； and if these reverses did not
befall me I should not esteem myself a famous knight…errant； for
such things never happen to knights of little renown and fame； because
nobody in the world thinks about them； to valiant knights they do； for
these are envied for their virtue and valour by many princes and other
knights who compass the destruction of the worthy by base means。
Nevertheless； virtue is of herself so mighty； that； in spite of all
the magic that Zoroaster its first inventor knew； she will come
victorious out of every trial； and shed her light upon the earth as
the sun does upon the heavens。 Forgive me； fair ladies； if； through
inadvertence； I have in aught offended you； for intentionally and
wittingly I have never done so to any； and pray to God that he deliver
me from this captivity to which some malevolent enchanter has
consigned me； and should I find myself released therefrom； the favours
that ye have bestowed upon me in this castle shall be held in memory
by me； that I may acknowledge； recognise； and requite them as they
deserve。〃
While this was passing between the ladies of the castle and Don
Quixote； the curate and the barber bade farewell to Don Fernando and
his companions； to the captain； his brother； and the ladies； now all
made happy； and in particular to Dorothea and Luscinda。 They all
embraced one another； and promised to let each other know how things
went with them； and Don Fernando directed the curate where to write to
him； to tell him what became of Don Quixote； assuring him that there
was nothing that could give him more pleasure than to hear of it；
and that he too； on his part； would send him word of everything he
thought he would like to know； about his marriage； Zoraida's
baptism； Don Luis's affair； and Luscinda's return to her home。 The
curate promised to comply with his request carefully； and they
embraced once more； and renewed their promises。
The landlord approached the curate and handed him some papers；
saying he had discovered them in the lining of the valise in which the
novel of 〃The Ill…advised Curiosity〃 had been found； and that he might
take them all away with him as their owner had not since returned；
for； as he could not read； he did not want them himself。 The curate
thanked him； and opening them he saw at the beginning of the
manuscript the words； 〃Novel of Rinconete and Cortadillo；〃 by which he
perceived that it was a novel； and as that of 〃The Ill…advi