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！
manuscript the words； 〃Novel of Rinconete and Cortadillo；〃 by which he
perceived that it was a novel； and as that of 〃The Ill…advised
Curiosity〃 had been good he concluded this would be so too； as they
were both probably by the same author； so he kept it； intending to
read it when he had an opportunity。 He then mounted and his friend the
barber did the same； both masked； so as not to be recognised by Don
Quixote； and set out following in the rear of the cart。 The order of
march was this： first went the cart with the owner leading it； at each
side of it marched the officers of the Brotherhood； as has been
said； with their muskets； then followed Sancho Panza on his ass；
leading Rocinante by the bridle； and behind all came the curate and
the barber on their mighty mules； with faces covered； as aforesaid；
and a grave and serious air； measuring their pace to suit the slow
steps of the oxen。 Don Quixote was seated in the cage； with his
hands tied and his feet stretched out； leaning against the bars as
silent and as patient as if he were a stone statue and not a man of
flesh。 Thus slowly and silently they made； it might be； two leagues；
until they reached a valley which the carter thought a convenient
place for resting and feeding his oxen； and he said so to the
curate； but the barber was of opinion that they ought to push on a
little farther； as at the other side of a hill which appeared close by
he knew there was a valley that had more grass and much better than
the one where they proposed to halt； and his advice was taken and they
continued their journey。
Just at that moment the curate； looking back； saw coming on behind
them six or seven mounted men； well found and equipped； who soon
overtook them； for they were travelling； not at the sluggish；
deliberate pace of oxen； but like men who rode canons' mules； and in
haste to take their noontide rest as soon as possible at the inn which
was in sight not a league off。 The quick travellers came up with the
slow； and courteous salutations were exchanged； and one of the new
comers； who was； in fact； a canon of Toledo and master of the others
who accompanied him； observing the regular order of the procession；
the cart； the officers； Sancho； Rocinante； the curate and the
barber； and above all Don Quixote caged and confined； could not help
asking what was the meaning of carrying the man in that fashion；
though； from the badges of the officers； he already concluded that
he must be some desperate highwayman or other malefactor whose
punishment fell within the jurisdiction of the Holy Brotherhood。 One
of the officers to whom he had put the question； replied； 〃Let the
gentleman himself tell you the meaning of his going this way； senor；
for we do not know。〃
Don Quixote overheard the conversation and said； 〃Haply；
gentlemen； you are versed and learned in matters of errant chivalry？
Because if you are I will tell you my misfortunes； if not； there is no
good in my giving myself the trouble of relating them；〃 but here the
curate and the barber； seeing that the travellers were engaged in
conversation with Don Quixote； came forward； in order to answer in
such a way as to save their stratagem from being discovered。
The canon； replying to Don Quixote； said； 〃In truth； brother； I know
more about books of chivalry than I do about Villalpando's elements of
logic； so if that be all； you may safely tell me what you please。〃
〃In God's name； then； senor；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃if that be so； I
would have you know that I am held enchanted in this cage by the
envy and fraud of wicked enchanters； for virtue is more persecuted
by the wicked than loved by the good。 I am a knight…errant； and not
one of those whose names Fame has never thought of immortalising in
her record； but of those who； in defiance and in spite of envy itself；
and all the magicians that Persia； or Brahmans that India； or
Gymnosophists that Ethiopia ever produced； will place their names in
the temple of immortality； to serve as examples and patterns for
ages to come； whereby knights…errant may see the footsteps in which
they must tread if they would attain the summit and crowning point
of honour in arms。〃
〃What Senor Don Quixote of La Mancha says；〃 observed the curate； 〃is
the truth； for he goes enchanted in this cart； not from any fault or
sins of his； but because of the malevolence of those to whom virtue is
odious and valour hateful。 This； senor； is the Knight of the Rueful
Countenance； if you have ever heard him named； whose valiant
achievements and mighty deeds shall be written on lasting brass and
imperishable marble； notwithstanding all the efforts of envy to
obscure them and malice to hide them。〃
When the canon heard both the prisoner and the man who was at
liberty talk in such a strain he was ready to cross himself in his
astonishment； and could not make out what had befallen him； and all
his attendants were in the same state of amazement。
At this point Sancho Panza； who had drawn near to hear the
conversation； said； in order to make everything plain； 〃Well； sirs；
you may like or dislike what I am going to say； but the fact of the
matter is； my master； Don Quixote； is just as much enchanted as my
mother。 He is in his full senses； he eats and he drinks； and he has
his calls like other men and as he had yesterday； before they caged
him。 And if that's the case； what do they mean by wanting me to
believe that he is enchanted？ For I have heard many a one say that
enchanted people neither eat； nor sleep； nor talk； and my master； if
you don't stop him； will talk more than thirty lawyers。〃 Then
turning to the curate he exclaimed； 〃Ah； senor curate； senor curate！
do you think I don't know you？ Do you think I don't guess and see
the drift of these new enchantments？ Well then； I can tell you I
know you； for all your face is covered； and I can tell you I am up
to you； however you may hide your tricks。 After all； where envy reigns
virtue cannot live； and where there is niggardliness there can be no
liberality。 Ill betide the devil！ if it had not been for your
worship my master would be married to the Princess Micomicona this
minute； and I should be a count at least； for no less was to be
expected； as well from the goodness of my master； him of the Rueful
Countenance； as from the greatness of my services。 But I see now how
true it is what they say in these parts； that the wheel of fortune
turns faster than a mill…wheel； and that those who were up yesterday
are down to…day。 I am sorry for my wife and children； for when they
might fairly and reasonably expect to see their father return to
them a governor or viceroy of some island or kingdom； they will see
him come back a horse…boy。 I have said all this； senor curate； only to
urge your paternity to lay to your conscience your ill…treatment of my
master； and have a care that God does not call you to account in
another life for making a prisoner of him in this way； and charge
against you all the succours and good deeds that my lord Don Quixote
leaves undone while he is shut up。
〃Trim those lamps there！〃 exclaimed the barber at this； 〃so you
are of the same fraternity as your master； too；