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！
time； and were dying to know who this man； so different from
ordinary men； could be。 Don Quixote saluted them； and after
ascertaining that their road was the same as his； made them an offer
of his company； and begged them to slacken their pace； as their
young asses travelled faster than his horse； and then； to gratify
them； he told them in a few words who he was and the calling and
profession he followed； which was that of a knight…errant seeking
adventures in all parts of the world。 He informed them that his own
name was Don Quixote of La Mancha； and that he was called； by way of
surname； the Knight of the Lions。
All this was Greek or gibberish to the peasants； but not so to the
students； who very soon perceived the crack in Don Quixote's pate； for
all that； however； they regarded him with admiration and respect；
and one of them said to him； 〃If you； sir knight； have no fixed
road； as it is the way with those who seek adventures not to have any；
let your worship come with us； you will see one of the finest and
richest weddings that up to this day have ever been celebrated in La
Mancha； or for many a league round。〃
Don Quixote asked him if it was some prince's； that he spoke of it
in this way。 〃Not at all；〃 said the student； 〃it is the wedding of a
farmer and a farmer's daughter； he the richest in all this country；
and she the fairest mortal ever set eyes on。 The display with which it
is to be attended will be something rare and out of the common； for it
will be celebrated in a meadow adjoining the town of the bride； who is
called； par excellence； Quiteria the fair； as the bridegroom is called
Camacho the rich。 She is eighteen； and he twenty…two； and they are
fairly matched； though some knowing ones； who have all the pedigrees
in the world by heart； will have it that the family of the fair
Quiteria is better than Camacho's； but no one minds that now…a…days；
for wealth can solder a great many flaws。 At any rate； Camacho is
free…handed； and it is his fancy to screen the whole meadow with
boughs and cover it in overhead； so that the sun will have hard work
if he tries to get in to reach the grass that covers the soil。 He
has provided dancers too； not only sword but also bell…dancers； for in
his own town there are those who ring the changes and jingle the bells
to perfection； of shoe…dancers I say nothing； for of them he has
engaged a host。 But none of these things； nor of the many others I
have omitted to mention； will do more to make this a memorable wedding
than the part which I suspect the despairing Basilio will play in
it。 This Basilio is a youth of the same village as Quiteria； and he
lived in the house next door to that of her parents； of which
circumstance Love took advantage to reproduce to the word the
long…forgotten loves of Pyramus and Thisbe； for Basilio loved Quiteria
from his earliest years； and she responded to his passion with
countless modest proofs of affection； so that the loves of the two
children； Basilio and Quiteria； were the talk and the amusement of the
town。 As they grew up； the father of Quiteria made up his mind to
refuse Basilio his wonted freedom of access to the house； and to
relieve himself of constant doubts and suspicions； he arranged a match
for his daughter with the rich Camacho； as he did not approve of
marrying her to Basilio； who had not so large a share of the gifts
of fortune as of nature； for if the truth be told ungrudgingly； he
is the most agile youth we know； a mighty thrower of the bar； a
first…rate wrestler； and a great ball…player； he runs like a deer； and
leaps better than a goat； bowls over the nine…pins as if by magic；
sings like a lark； plays the guitar so as to make it speak； and； above
all； handles a sword as well as the best。〃
〃For that excellence alone；〃 said Don Quixote at this； 〃the youth
deserves to marry； not merely the fair Quiteria； but Queen Guinevere
herself； were she alive now； in spite of Launcelot and all who would
try to prevent it。〃
〃Say that to my wife；〃 said Sancho； who had until now listened in
silence； 〃for she won't hear of anything but each one marrying his
equal； holding with the proverb 'each ewe to her like。' What I would
like is that this good Basilio （for I am beginning to take a fancy
to him already） should marry this lady Quiteria； and a blessing and
good luck… I meant to say the opposite… on people who would prevent
those who love one another from marrying。〃
〃If all those who love one another were to marry；〃 said Don Quixote；
〃it would deprive parents of the right to choose； and marry their
children to the proper person and at the proper time； and if it was
left to daughters to choose husbands as they pleased； one would be for
choosing her father's servant； and another； some one she has seen
passing in the street and fancies gallant and dashing； though he may
be a drunken bully； for love and fancy easily blind the eyes of the
judgment； so much wanted in choosing one's way of life； and the
matrimonial choice is very liable to error； and it needs great caution
and the special favour of heaven to make it a good one。 He who has
to make a long journey； will； if he is wise； look out for some
trusty and pleasant companion to accompany him before he sets out。
Why； then； should not he do the same who has to make the whole journey
of life down to the final halting…place of death； more especially when
the companion has to be his companion in bed； at board； and
everywhere； as the wife is to her husband？ The companionship of
one's wife is no article of merchandise； that； after it has been
bought； may be returned； or bartered； or changed； for it is an
inseparable accident that lasts as long as life lasts； it is a noose
that； once you put it round your neck； turns into a Gordian knot；
which； if the scythe of Death does not cut it； there is no untying。
I could say a great deal more on this subject； were I not prevented by
the anxiety I feel to know if the senor licentiate has anything more
to tell about the story of Basilio。〃
To this the student； bachelor； or； as Don Quixote called him；
licentiate； replied； 〃I have nothing whatever to say further； but that
from the moment Basilio learned that the fair Quiteria was to be
married to Camacho the rich； he has never been seen to smile； or heard
to utter rational word； and he always goes about moody and dejected；
talking to himself in a way that shows plainly he is out of his
senses。 He eats little and sleeps little； and all he eats is fruit；
and when he sleeps； if he sleeps at all； it is in the field on the
hard earth like a brute beast。 Sometimes he gazes at the sky； at other
times he fixes his eyes on the earth in such an abstracted way that he
might be taken for a clothed statue； with its drapery stirred by the
wind。 In short； he shows such signs of a heart crushed by suffering；
that all we who know him believe that when to…morrow the fair Quiteria
says 'yes；' it will be his sentence of death。〃
〃God will guide it better；〃 said Sancho； 〃for God who gives the
wound gives the salve； nobody knows what will happen； there are a good
many hours between this and to…morrow； and any one of them； or any
momen