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！
view； how is it possible for any average understanding to be satisfied
when the action is supposed to pass in the time of King Pepin or
Charlemagne； and the principal personage in it they represent to be
the Emperor Heraclius who entered Jerusalem with the cross and won the
Holy Sepulchre； like Godfrey of Bouillon； there being years
innumerable between the one and the other？ or； if the play is based on
fiction and historical facts are introduced； or bits of what
occurred to different people and at different times mixed up with
it； all； not only without any semblance of probability； but with
obvious errors that from every point of view are inexcusable？ And
the worst of it is； there are ignorant people who say that this is
perfection； and that anything beyond this is affected refinement。
And then if we turn to sacred dramas… what miracles they invent in
them！ What apocryphal； ill…devised incidents； attributing to one saint
the miracles of another！ And even in secular plays they venture to
introduce miracles without any reason or object except that they think
some such miracle； or transformation as they call it； will come in
well to astonish stupid people and draw them to the play。 All this
tends to the prejudice of the truth and the corruption of history； nay
more； to the reproach of the wits of Spain； for foreigners who
scrupulously observe the laws of the drama look upon us as barbarous
and ignorant； when they see the absurdity and nonsense of the plays we
produce。 Nor will it be a sufficient excuse to say that the chief
object well…ordered governments have in view when they permit plays to
be performed in public is to entertain the people with some harmless
amusement occasionally； and keep it from those evil humours which
idleness is apt to engender； and that； as this may be attained by
any sort of play； good or bad； there is no need to lay down laws； or
bind those who write or act them to make them as they ought to be
made； since； as I say； the object sought for may be secured by any
sort。 To this I would reply that the same end would be； beyond all
comparison； better attained by means of good plays than by those
that are not so； for after listening to an artistic and properly
constructed play； the hearer will come away enlivened by the jests；
instructed by the serious parts； full of admiration at the
incidents； his wits sharpened by the arguments； warned by the
tricks； all the wiser for the examples； inflamed against vice； and
in love with virtue； for in all these ways a good play will
stimulate the mind of the hearer be he ever so boorish or dull； and of
all impossibilities the greatest is that a play endowed with all these
qualities will not entertain； satisfy； and please much more than one
wanting in them； like the greater number of those which are commonly
acted now…a…days。 Nor are the poets who write them to be blamed for
this； for some there are among them who are perfectly well aware of
their faults； and know what they ought to do； but as plays have become
a salable commodity； they say； and with truth； that the actors will
not buy them unless they are after this fashion； and so the poet tries
to adapt himself to the requirements of the actor who is to pay him
for his work。 And that this is the truth may be seen by the
countless plays that a most fertile wit of these kingdoms has written；
with so much brilliancy； so much grace and gaiety； such polished
versification； such choice language； such profound reflections； and in
a word； so rich in eloquence and elevation of style； that he has
filled the world with his fame； and yet； in consequence of his
desire to suit the taste of the actors； they have not all； as some
of them have； come as near perfection as they ought。 Others write
plays with such heedlessness that； after they have been acted； the
actors have to fly and abscond； afraid of being punished； as they
often have been； for having acted something offensive to some king
or other； or insulting to some noble family。 All which evils； and many
more that I say nothing of； would be removed if there were some
intelligent and sensible person at the capital to examine all plays
before they were acted； not only those produced in the capital itself；
but all that were intended to be acted in Spain； without whose
approval； seal； and signature； no local magistracy should allow any
play to be acted。 In that case actors would take care to send their
plays to the capital； and could act them in safety； and those who
write them would be more careful and take more pains with their
work； standing in awe of having to submit it to the strict examination
of one who understood the matter； and so good plays would be
produced and the objects they aim at happily attained； as well the
amusement of the people； as the credit of the wits of Spain； the
interest and safety of the actors； and the saving of trouble in
inflicting punishment on them。 And if the same or some other person
were authorised to examine the newly written books of chivalry； no
doubt some would appear with all the perfections you have described；
enriching our language with the gracious and precious treasure of
eloquence； and driving the old books into obscurity before the light
of the new ones that would come out for the harmless entertainment；
not merely of the idle but of the very busiest； for the bow cannot
be always bent； nor can weak human nature exist without some lawful
amusement。〃
The canon and the curate had proceeded thus far with their
conversation； when the barber； coming forward； joined them； and said
to the curate； 〃This is the spot； senor licentiate； that I said was
a good one for fresh and plentiful pasture for the oxen； while we take
our noontide rest。〃
〃And so it seems；〃 returned the curate； and he told the canon what
he proposed to do； on which he too made up his mind to halt with them；
attracted by the aspect of the fair valley that lay before their eyes；
and to enjoy it as well as the conversation of the curate； to whom
he had begun to take a fancy； and also to learn more particulars about
the doings of Don Quixote； he desired some of his servants to go on to
the inn； which was not far distant； and fetch from it what eatables
there might be for the whole party； as he meant to rest for the
afternoon where he was； to which one of his servants replied that
the sumpter mule； which by this time ought to have reached the inn；
carried provisions enough to make it unnecessary to get anything
from the inn except barley。
〃In that case；〃 said the canon； 〃take all the beasts there； and
bring the sumpter mule back。〃
While this was going on； Sancho； perceiving that he could speak to
his master without having the curate and the barber； of whom he had
his suspicions； present all the time； approached the cage in which Don
Quixote was placed； and said； 〃Senor； to ease my conscience I want
to tell you the state of the case as to your enchantment； and that
is that these two here； with their faces covered； are the curate of
our village and the barber； and I suspect they have hit upon this plan
of carrying you off in this fashion； out of pure envy because your
worshi