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！
that pained me there might be something in going divining why they
did； but it is not much to divine that I'm sore where they thrashed
me。 By my faith； master mine； the ills of others hang by a hair； every
day I am discovering more and more how little I have to hope for
from keeping company with your worship； for if this time you have
allowed me to be drubbed； the next time； or a hundred times more；
we'll have the blanketings of the other day over again； and all the
other pranks which； if they have fallen on my shoulders now； will be
thrown in my teeth by…and…by。 I would do a great deal better （if I was
not an ignorant brute that will never do any good all my life）； I
would do a great deal better； I say； to go home to my wife and
children and support them and bring them up on what God may please
to give me； instead of following your worship along roads that lead
nowhere and paths that are none at all； with little to drink and
less to eat。 And then when it comes to sleeping！ Measure out seven
feet on the earth； brother squire； and if that's not enough for you；
take as many more； for you may have it all your own way and stretch
yourself to your heart's content。 Oh that I could see burnt and turned
to ashes the first man that meddled with knight…errantry or at any
rate the first who chose to be squire to such fools as all the
knights…errant of past times must have been！ Of those of the present
day I say nothing； because； as your worship is one of them； I
respect them； and because I know your worship knows a point more
than the devil in all you say and think。〃
〃I would lay a good wager with you； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that
now that you are talking on without anyone to stop you； you don't feel
a pain in your whole body。 Talk away； my son； say whatever comes
into your head or mouth； for so long as you feel no pain； the
irritation your impertinences give me will he a pleasure to me； and if
you are so anxious to go home to your wife and children； God forbid
that I should prevent you； you have money of mine； see how long it
is since we left our village this third time； and how much you can and
ought to earn every month； and pay yourself out of your own hand。〃
〃When I worked for Tom Carrasco； the father of the bachelor Samson
Carrasco that your worship knows；〃 replied Sancho； 〃I used to earn two
ducats a month besides my food； I can't tell what I can earn with your
worship； though I know a knight…errant's squire has harder times of it
than he who works for a farmer； for after all； we who work for
farmers； however much we toil all day； at the worst； at night； we have
our olla supper and sleep in a bed； which I have not slept in since
I have been in your worship's service； if it wasn't the short time
we were in Don Diego de Miranda's house； and the feast I had with
the skimmings I took off Camacho's pots； and what I ate； drank； and
slept in Basilio's house； all the rest of the time I have been
sleeping on the hard ground under the open sky； exposed to what they
call the inclemencies of heaven； keeping life in me with scraps of
cheese and crusts of bread； and drinking water either from the
brooks or from the springs we come to on these by…paths we travel。〃
〃I own； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that all thou sayest is true；
how much； thinkest thou； ought I to give thee over and above what
Tom Carrasco gave thee？〃
〃I think；〃 said Sancho； 〃that if your worship was to add on two
reals a month I'd consider myself well paid； that is； as far as the
wages of my labour go； but to make up to me for your worship's
pledge and promise to me to give me the government of an island； it
would be fair to add six reals more； making thirty in all。〃
〃Very good；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃it is twenty…five days since we left
our village； so reckon up； Sancho； according to the wages you have
made out for yourself； and see how much I owe you in proportion； and
pay yourself； as I said before； out of your own hand。〃
〃O body o' me！〃 said Sancho； 〃but your worship is very much out in
that reckoning； for when it comes to the promise of the island we must
count from the day your worship promised it to me to this present hour
we are at now。〃
〃Well； how long is it； Sancho； since I promised it to you？〃 said Don
Quixote。
〃If I remember rightly；〃 said Sancho； 〃it must be over twenty years；
three days more or less。〃
Don Quixote gave himself a great slap on the forehead and began to
laugh heartily； and said he； 〃Why； I have not been wandering； either
in the Sierra Morena or in the whole course of our sallies； but barely
two months； and thou sayest； Sancho； that it is twenty years since I
promised thee the island。 I believe now thou wouldst have all the
money thou hast of mine go in thy wages。 If so； and if that be thy
pleasure； I give it to thee now； once and for all； and much good may
it do thee； for so long as I see myself rid of such a good…for…nothing
squire I'll be glad to be left a pauper without a rap。 But tell me；
thou perverter of the squirely rules of knight…errantry； where hast
thou ever seen or read that any knight…errant's squire made terms with
his lord； 'you must give me so much a month for serving you'？
Plunge； scoundrel； rogue； monster… for such I take thee to be… plunge；
I say； into the mare magnum of their histories； and if thou shalt find
that any squire ever said or thought what thou hast said now； I will
let thee nail it on my forehead； and give me； over and above； four
sound slaps in the face。 Turn the rein； or the halter； of thy
Dapple； and begone home； for one single step further thou shalt not
make in my company。 O bread thanklessly received！ O promises
ill…bestowed！ O man more beast than human being！ Now； when I was about
to raise thee to such a position； that； in spite of thy wife； they
would call thee 'my lord；' thou art leaving me？ Thou art going now
when I had a firm and fixed intention of making thee lord of the
best island in the world？ Well； as thou thyself hast said before
now； honey is not for the mouth of the ass。 Ass thou art； ass thou
wilt be； and ass thou wilt end when the course of thy life is run； for
I know it will come to its close before thou dost perceive or
discern that thou art a beast。〃
Sancho regarded Don Quixote earnestly while he was giving him this
rating； and was so touched by remorse that the tears came to his eyes；
and in a piteous and broken voice he said to him； 〃Master mine； I
confess that； to be a complete ass； all I want is a tail； if your
worship will only fix one on to me； I'll look on it as rightly placed；
and I'll serve you as an ass all the remaining days of my life。
Forgive me and have pity on my folly； and remember I know but
little； and； if I talk much； it's more from infirmity than malice； but
he who sins and mends commends himself to God。〃
〃I should have been surprised； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃if thou
hadst not introduced some bit of a proverb into thy speech。 Well；
well； I forgive thee； provided thou dost mend and not show thyself
in future so fond of thine own interest； but try to be of good cheer
and take heart； and encourage thyself to look forward to the
fulfillment of my pro