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！
them standing； and Don Quixote； Sancho； the page； and cousin；
accommodated with the best places； the interpreter began to say what
he will hear or see who reads or hears the next chapter。
CHAPTER XXVI
WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE DROLL ADVENTURE OF THE PUPPET…SHOWMAN；
TOGETHER WITH OTHER THINGS IN TRUTH RIGHT GOOD
ALL were silent； Tyrians and Trojans； I mean all who were watching
the show were hanging on the lips of the interpreter of its wonders；
when drums and trumpets were heard to sound inside it and cannon to go
off。 The noise was soon over； and then the boy lifted up his voice and
said； 〃This true story which is here represented to your worships is
taken word for word from the French chronicles and from the Spanish
ballads that are in everybody's mouth； and in the mouth of the boys
about the streets。 Its subject is the release by Senor Don Gaiferos of
his wife Melisendra； when a captive in Spain at the hands of the Moors
in the city of Sansuena； for so they called then what is now called
Saragossa； and there you may see how Don Gaiferos is playing at the
tables； just as they sing it…
At tables playing Don Gaiferos sits；
For Melisendra is forgotten now。
And that personage who appears there with a crown on his head and a
sceptre in his hand is the Emperor Charlemagne； the supposed father of
Melisendra； who； angered to see his son…in…law's inaction and
unconcern； comes in to chide him； and observe with what vehemence
and energy he chides him； so that you would fancy he was going to give
him half a dozen raps with his sceptre； and indeed there are authors
who say he did give them； and sound ones too； and after having said
a great deal to him about imperilling his honour by not effecting
the release of his wife； he said； so the tale runs；
Enough I've said； see to it now。
Observe； too； how the emperor turns away； and leaves Don Gaiferos
fuming； and you see now how in a burst of anger； he flings the table
and the board far from him and calls in haste for his armour； and asks
his cousin Don Roland for the loan of his sword； Durindana； and how
Don Roland refuses to lend it； offering him his company in the
difficult enterprise he is undertaking； but he； in his valour and
anger； will not accept it； and says that he alone will suffice to
rescue his wife； even though she were imprisoned deep in the centre of
the earth； and with this he retires to arm himself and set out on
his journey at once。 Now let your worships turn your eyes to that
tower that appears there； which is supposed to be one of the towers of
the alcazar of Saragossa； now called the Aljaferia； that lady who
appears on that balcony dressed in Moorish fashion is the peerless
Melisendra； for many a time she used to gaze from thence upon the road
to France； and seek consolation in her captivity by thinking of
Paris and her husband。 Observe； too； a new incident which now
occurs； such as； perhaps； never was seen。 Do you not see that Moor；
who silently and stealthily； with his finger on his lip； approaches
Melisendra from behind？ Observe now how he prints a kiss upon her
lips； and what a hurry she is in to spit； and wipe them with the white
sleeve of her smock； and how she bewails herself； and tears her fair
hair as though it were to blame for the wrong。 Observe； too； that
the stately Moor who is in that corridor is King Marsilio of Sansuena；
who； having seen the Moor's insolence； at once orders him （though
his kinsman and a great favourite of his） to be seized and given two
hundred lashes； while carried through the streets of the city
according to custom； with criers going before him and officers of
justice behind； and here you see them come out to execute the
sentence； although the offence has been scarcely committed； for
among the Moors there are no indictments nor remands as with us。〃
Here Don Quixote called out； 〃Child； child； go straight on with your
story； and don't run into curves and slants； for to establish a fact
clearly there is need of a great deal of proof and confirmation；〃
and said Master Pedro from within； 〃Boy； stick to your text and do
as the gentleman bids you； it's the best plan； keep to your plain
song； and don't attempt harmonies； for they are apt to break down from
being over fine。〃
〃I will；〃 said the boy； and he went on to say； 〃This figure that you
see here on horseback； covered with a Gascon cloak； is Don Gaiferos
himself； whom his wife； now avenged of the insult of the amorous Moor；
and taking her stand on the balcony of the tower with a calmer and
more tranquil countenance； has perceived without recognising him；
and she addresses her husband； supposing him to be some traveller； and
holds with him all that conversation and colloquy in the ballad that
runs…
If you； sir knight； to France are bound；
Oh！ for Gaiferos ask…
which I do not repeat here because prolixity begets disgust； suffice
it to observe how Don Gaiferos discovers himself； and that by her
joyful gestures Melisendra shows us she has recognised him； and what
is more； we now see she lowers herself from the balcony to place
herself on the haunches of her good husband's horse。 But ah！ unhappy
lady； the edge of her petticoat has caught on one of the bars of the
balcony and she is left hanging in the air； unable to reach the
ground。 But you see how compassionate heaven sends aid in our sorest
need； Don Gaiferos advances； and without minding whether the rich
petticoat is torn or not； he seizes her and by force brings her to the
ground； and then with one jerk places her on the haunches of his
horse； astraddle like a man； and bids her hold on tight and clasp
her arms round his neck； crossing them on his breast so as not to
fall； for the lady Melisendra was not used to that style of riding。
You see； too； how the neighing of the horse shows his satisfaction
with the gallant and beautiful burden he bears in his lord and lady。
You see how they wheel round and quit the city； and in joy and
gladness take the road to Paris。 Go in peace； O peerless pair of
true lovers！ May you reach your longed…for fatherland in safety； and
may fortune interpose no impediment to your prosperous journey； may
the eyes of your friends and kinsmen behold you enjoying in peace
and tranquillity the remaining days of your life… and that they may be
as many as those of Nestor！〃
Here Master Pedro called out again and said； 〃Simplicity； boy！
None of your high flights； all affectation is bad。〃
The interpreter made no answer； but went on to say； 〃There was no
want of idle eyes； that see everything； to see Melisendra come down
and mount； and word was brought to King Marsilio； who at once gave
orders to sound the alarm； and see what a stir there is； and how the
city is drowned with the sound of the bells pealing in the towers of
all the mosques。〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 said Don Quixote at this； 〃on that point of the bells
Master Pedro is very inaccurate； for bells are not in use among the
Moors； only kettledrums； and a kind of small trumpet somewhat like our
clarion； to ring bells this way in Sansuena is unquestionably a
great absurdity。〃
On hearing this； Master Pedro sto