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 which must he a somewhat knotty and difficult one； and by his
answer the people take the measure of their new governor's wit； and
hail with joy or deplore his arrival accordingly。〃
While the majordomo was making this speech Sancho was gazing at
several large letters inscribed on the wall opposite his seat； and
as he could not read he asked what that was that was painted on the
wall。 The answer was； 〃Senor； there is written and recorded the day on
which your lordship took possession of this island； and the
inscription says； 'This day； the so…and…so of such…and…such a month
and year； Senor Don Sancho Panza took possession of this island；
many years may he enjoy it。'〃
〃And whom do they call Don Sancho Panza？〃 asked Sancho。
〃Your lordship；〃 replied the majordomo； 〃for no other Panza but
the one who is now seated in that chair has ever entered this island。〃
〃Well then； let me tell you； brother；〃 said Sancho； 〃I haven't got
the 'Don；' nor has any one of my family ever had it； my name is
plain Sancho Panza； and Sancho was my father's name； and Sancho was my
grandfather's and they were all Panzas； without any Dons or Donas
tacked on； I suspect that in this island there are more Dons than
stones； but never mind； God knows what I mean； and maybe if my
government lasts four days I'll weed out these Dons that no doubt
are as great a nuisance as the midges； they're so plenty。 Let the
majordomo go on with his question； and I'll give the best answer I
can； whether the people deplore or not。〃
At this instant there came into court two old men； one carrying a
cane by way of a walking…stick； and the one who had no stick said；
〃Senor； some time ago I lent this good man ten gold…crowns in gold
to gratify him and do him a service； on the condition that he was to
return them to me whenever I should ask for them。 A long time passed
before I asked for them； for I would not put him to any greater
straits to return them than he was in when I lent them to him； but
thinking he was growing careless about payment I asked for them once
and several times； and not only will he not give them back； but he
denies that he owes them； and says I never lent him any such crowns；
or if I did； that he repaid them； and I have no witnesses either of
the loan； or the payment； for he never paid me； I want your worship to
put him to his oath； and if he swears he returned them to me I forgive
him the debt here and before God。〃
〃What say you to this； good old man； you with the stick？〃 said
Sancho。
To which the old man replied； 〃I admit； senor； that he lent them
to me； but let your worship lower your staff； and as he leaves it to
my oath； I'll swear that I gave them back； and paid him really and
truly。〃
The governor lowered the staff； and as he did so the old man who had
the stick handed it to the other old man to hold for him while he
swore； as if he found it in his way； and then laid his hand on the
cross of the staff； saying that it was true the ten crowns that were
demanded of him had been lent him； but that he had with his own hand
given them back into the hand of the other； and that he； not
recollecting it； was always asking for them。
Seeing this the great governor asked the creditor what answer he had
to make to what his opponent said。 He said that no doubt his debtor
had told the truth； for he believed him to be an honest man and a good
Christian； and he himself must have forgotten when and how he had
given him back the crowns； and that from that time forth he would make
no further demand upon him。
The debtor took his stick again； and bowing his head left the court。
Observing this； and how； without another word； he made off； and
observing too the resignation of the plaintiff； Sancho buried his head
in his bosom and remained for a short space in deep thought； with
the forefinger of his right hand on his brow and nose； then he
raised his head and bade them call back the old man with the stick；
for he had already taken his departure。 They brought him back； and
as soon as Sancho saw him he said； 〃Honest man； give me that stick；
for I want it。〃
〃Willingly；〃 said the old man； 〃here it is senor；〃 and he put it
into his hand。
Sancho took it and； handing it to the other old man； said to him；
〃Go； and God be with you； for now you are paid。〃
〃I； senor！〃 returned the old man； 〃why； is this cane worth ten
gold…crowns？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the governor； 〃or if not I am the greatest dolt in the
world； now you will see whether I have got the headpiece to govern a
whole kingdom；〃 and he ordered the cane to be broken in two； there； in
the presence of all。 It was done； and in the middle of it they found
ten gold…crowns。 All were filled with amazement； and looked upon their
governor as another Solomon。 They asked him how he had come to the
conclusion that the ten crowns were in the cane； he replied； that
observing how the old man who swore gave the stick to his opponent
while he was taking the oath； and swore that he had really and truly
given him the crowns； and how as soon as he had done swearing he asked
for the stick again； it came into his head that the sum demanded
must be inside it； and from this he said it might be seen that God
sometimes guides those who govern in their judgments； even though they
may be fools； besides he had himself heard the curate of his village
mention just such another case； and he had so good a memory； that if
it was not that he forgot everything he wished to remember； there
would not be such a memory in all the island。 To conclude； the old men
went off； one crestfallen； and the other in high contentment； all
who were present were astonished； and he who was recording the
words； deeds； and movements of Sancho could not make up his mind
whether he was to look upon him and set him down as a fool or as a man
of sense。
As soon as this case was disposed of； there came into court a
woman holding on with a tight grip to a man dressed like a
well…to…do cattle dealer； and she came forward making a great outcry
and exclaiming； 〃Justice； senor governor； justice！ and if I don't
get it on earth I'll go look for it in heaven。 Senor governor of my
soul； this wicked man caught me in the middle of the fields here and
used my body as if it was an ill…washed rag； and； woe is me！ got
from me what I had kept these three…and…twenty years and more；
defending it against Moors and Christians； natives and strangers；
and I always as hard as an oak； and keeping myself as pure as a
salamander in the fire； or wool among the brambles； for this good
fellow to come now with clean hands to handle me！〃
〃It remains to be proved whether this gallant has clean hands or
not；〃 said Sancho； and turning to the man he asked him what he had
to say in answer to the woman's charge。
He all in confusion made answer； 〃Sirs； I am a poor pig dealer；
and this morning I left the village to sell （saving your presence）
four pigs； and between dues and cribbings they got out of me little
less than the worth of them。 As I was returning to my village I fell
in on the road with this good dame； and the devil who makes a coil and
a mess out of everything； yoked us together。 I paid h