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！
and everything that appertains to a wine？ But it is no wonder； for I
have had in my family； on my father's side； the two best
wine…tasters that have been known in La Mancha for many a long year；
and to prove it I'll tell you now a thing that happened them。 They
gave the two of them some wine out of a cask； to try； asking their
opinion as to the condition； quality； goodness or badness of the wine。
One of them tried it with the tip of his tongue； the other did no more
than bring it to his nose。 The first said the wine had a flavour of
iron； the second said it had a stronger flavour of cordovan。 The owner
said the cask was clean； and that nothing had been added to the wine
from which it could have got a flavour of either iron or leather。
Nevertheless； these two great wine…tasters held to what they had said。
Time went by； the wine was sold； and when they came to clean out the
cask； they found in it a small key hanging to a thong of cordovan； see
now if one who comes of the same stock has not a right to give his
opinion in such like cases。〃
〃Therefore； I say；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃let us give up going in
quest of adventures； and as we have loaves let us not go looking for
cakes； but return to our cribs； for God will find us there if it be
his will。〃
〃Until my master reaches Saragossa；〃 said Sancho； 〃I'll remain in
his service； after that we'll see。〃
The end of it was that the two squires talked so much and drank so
much that sleep had to tie their tongues and moderate their thirst；
for to quench it was impossible； and so the pair of them fell asleep
clinging to the now nearly empty bota and with half…chewed morsels
in their mouths； and there we will leave them for the present； to
relate what passed between the Knight of the Grove and him of the
Rueful Countenance。
CHAPTER XIV
WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE ADVENTURE OF THE KNIGHT OF THE GROVE
AMONG the things that passed between Don Quixote and the Knight of
the Wood； the history tells us he of the Grove said to Don Quixote；
〃In fine； sir knight； I would have you know that my destiny； or；
more properly speaking； my choice led me to fall in love with the
peerless Casildea de Vandalia。 I call her peerless because she has
no peer； whether it be in bodily stature or in the supremacy of rank
and beauty。 This same Casildea； then； that I speak of； requited my
honourable passion and gentle aspirations by compelling me； as his
stepmother did Hercules； to engage in many perils of various sorts； at
the end of each promising me that； with the end of the next； the
object of my hopes should be attained； but my labours have gone on
increasing link by link until they are past counting； nor do I know
what will be the last one that is to be the beginning of the
accomplishment of my chaste desires。 On one occasion she bade me go
and challenge the famous giantess of Seville； La Giralda by name；
who is as mighty and strong as if made of brass； and though never
stirring from one spot； is the most restless and changeable woman in
the world。 I came； I saw； I conquered； and I made her stay quiet and
behave herself； for nothing but north winds blew for more than a week。
Another time I was ordered to lift those ancient stones； the mighty
bulls of Guisando； an enterprise that might more fitly be entrusted to
porters than to knights。 Again； she bade me fling myself into the
cavern of Cabra… an unparalleled and awful peril… and bring her a
minute account of all that is concealed in those gloomy depths。 I
stopped the motion of the Giralda； I lifted the bulls of Guisando； I
flung myself into the cavern and brought to light the secrets of its
abyss； and my hopes are as dead as dead can be； and her scorn and
her commands as lively as ever。 To be brief； last of all she has
commanded me to go through all the provinces of Spain and compel all
the knights…errant wandering therein to confess that she surpasses all
women alive to…day in beauty； and that I am the most valiant and the
most deeply enamoured knight on earth； in support of which claim I
have already travelled over the greater part of Spain； and have
there vanquished several knights who have dared to contradict me；
but what I most plume and pride myself upon is having vanquished in
single combat that so famous knight Don Quixote of La Mancha； and made
him confess that my Casildea is more beautiful than his Dulcinea；
and in this one victory I hold myself to have conquered all the
knights in the world； for this Don Quixote that I speak of has
vanquished them all； and I having vanquished him； his glory； his fame；
and his honour have passed and are transferred to my person； for
The more the vanquished hath of fair renown；
The greater glory gilds the victor's crown。
Thus the innumerable achievements of the said Don Quixote are now
set down to my account and have become mine。〃
Don Quixote was amazed when he heard the Knight of the Grove； and
was a thousand times on the point of telling him he lied； and had
the lie direct already on the tip of his tongue； but he restrained
himself as well as he could； in order to force him to confess the
lie with his own lips； so he said to him quietly； 〃As to what you say；
sir knight； about having vanquished most of the knights of Spain； or
even of the whole world； I say nothing； but that you have vanquished
Don Quixote of La Mancha I consider doubtful； it may have been some
other that resembled him； although there are few like him。〃
〃How！ not vanquished？〃 said he of the Grove； 〃by the heaven that
is above us I fought Don Quixote and overcame him and made him
yield； and he is a man of tall stature； gaunt features； long； lank
limbs； with hair turning grey； an aquiline nose rather hooked； and
large black drooping moustaches； he does battle under the name of 'The
Countenance；' and he has for squire a peasant called Sancho Panza；
he presses the loins and rules the reins of a famous steed called
Rocinante； and lastly； he has for the mistress of his will a certain
Dulcinea del Toboso； once upon a time called Aldonza Lorenzo； just
as I call mine Casildea de Vandalia because her name is Casilda and
she is of Andalusia。 If all these tokens are not enough to vindicate
the truth of what I say； here is my sword； that will compel
incredulity itself to give credence to it。〃
〃Calm yourself； sir knight；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and give ear to what
I am about to say to you。 you。I would have you know that this Don
Quixote you speak of is the greatest friend I have in the world； so
much so that I may say I regard him in the same light as my own
person； and from the precise and clear indications you have given I
cannot but think that he must be the very one you have vanquished。
On the other hand； I see with my eyes and feel with my hands that it
is impossible it can have been the same； unless indeed it be that；
as he has many enemies who are enchanters； and one in particular who
is always persecuting him； some one of these may have taken his
shape in order to allow himself to be vanquished； so as to defraud him
of the fame that his exalted achievements as a knight have earned
and acquired for him throughout the known