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！
government has come by the knowledge that he would not give anything
to be governor； not to say of an island； but of the whole world； and
that point being settled； kissing your worships' feet； and imitating
the game of the boys when they say； 'leap thou； and give me one；' I
take a leap out of the government and pass into the service of my
master Don Quixote； for after all； though in it I eat my bread in fear
and trembling； at any rate I take my fill； and for my part； so long as
I'm full； it's all alike to me whether it's with carrots or with
partridges。〃
Here Sancho brought his long speech to an end； Don Quixote having
been the whole time in dread of his uttering a host of absurdities；
and when he found him leave off with so few； he thanked heaven in
his heart。 The duke embraced Sancho and told him he was heartily sorry
he had given up the government so soon； but that he would see that
he was provided with some other post on his estate less onerous and
more profitable。 The duchess also embraced him； and gave orders that
he should be taken good care of； as it was plain to see he had been
badly treated and worse bruised。
CHAPTER LVI
OF THE PRODIGIOUS AND UNPARALLELED BATTLE THAT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN
DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA AND THE LACQUEY TOSILOS IN DEFENCE OF THE
DAUGHTER OF DONA RODRIGUEZ
THE duke and duchess had no reason to regret the joke that had
been played upon Sancho Panza in giving him the government； especially
as their majordomo returned the same day； and gave them a minute
account of almost every word and deed that Sancho uttered or did
during the time； and to wind up with； eloquently described to them the
attack upon the island and Sancho's fright and departure； with which
they were not a little amused。 After this the history goes on to say
that the day fixed for the battle arrived； and that the duke； after
having repeatedly instructed his lacquey Tosilos how to deal with
Don Quixote so as to vanquish him without killing or wounding him；
gave orders to have the heads removed from the lances； telling Don
Quixote that Christian charity； on which he plumed himself； could
not suffer the battle to be fought with so much risk and danger to
life； and that he must be content with the offer of a battlefield on
his territory （though that was against the decree of the holy Council；
which prohibits all challenges of the sort） and not push such an
arduous venture to its extreme limits。 Don Quixote bade his excellence
arrange all matters connected with the affair as he pleased； as on his
part he would obey him in everything。 The dread day； then； having
arrived； and the duke having ordered a spacious stand to be erected
facing the court of the castle for the judges of the field and the
appellant duennas； mother and daughter； vast crowds flocked from all
the villages and hamlets of the neighbourhood to see the novel
spectacle of the battle； nobody； dead or alive； in those parts
having ever seen or heard of such a one。
The first person to enter the…field and the lists was the master
of the ceremonies； who surveyed and paced the whole ground to see that
there was nothing unfair and nothing concealed to make the
combatants stumble or fall； then the duennas entered and seated
themselves； enveloped in mantles covering their eyes； nay even their
bosoms； and displaying no slight emotion as Don Quixote appeared in
the lists。 Shortly afterwards； accompanied by several trumpets and
mounted on a powerful steed that threatened to crush the whole
place； the great lacquey Tosilos made his appearance on one side of
the courtyard with his visor down and stiffly cased in a suit of stout
shining armour。 The horse was a manifest Frieslander； broad…backed and
flea…bitten； and with half a hundred of wool hanging to each of his
fetlocks。 The gallant combatant came well primed by his master the
duke as to how he was to bear himself against the valiant Don
Quixote of La Mancha； being warned that he must on no account slay
him； but strive to shirk the first encounter so as to avoid the risk
of killing him； as he was sure to do if he met him full tilt。 He
crossed the courtyard at a walk； and coming to where the duennas
were placed stopped to look at her who demanded him for a husband； the
marshal of the field summoned Don Quixote； who had already presented
himself in the courtyard； and standing by the side of Tosilos he
addressed the duennas； and asked them if they consented that Don
Quixote of La Mancha should do battle for their right。 They said
they did； and that whatever he should do in that behalf they
declared rightly done； final and valid。 By this time the duke and
duchess had taken their places in a gallery commanding the
enclosure； which was filled to overflowing with a multitude of
people eager to see this perilous and unparalleled encounter。 The
conditions of the combat were that if Don Quixote proved the victor
his antagonist was to marry the daughter of Dona Rodriguez； but if
he should be vanquished his opponent was released from the promise
that was claimed against him and from all obligations to give
satisfaction。 The master of the ceremonies apportioned the sun to
them； and stationed them； each on the spot where he was to stand。
The drums beat； the sound of the trumpets filled the air； the earth
trembled under foot； the hearts of the gazing crowd were full of
anxiety； some hoping for a happy issue； some apprehensive of an
untoward ending to the affair； and lastly； Don Quixote； commending
himself with all his heart to God our Lord and to the lady Dulcinea
del Toboso； stood waiting for them to give the necessary signal for
the onset。 Our lacquey； however； was thinking of something very
different； he only thought of what I am now going to mention。
It seems that as he stood contemplating his enemy she struck him
as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen all his life； and the
little blind boy whom in our streets they commonly call Love had no
mind to let slip the chance of triumphing over a lacquey heart； and
adding it to the list of his trophies； and so； stealing gently upon
him unseen； he drove a dart two yards long into the poor lacquey's
left side and pierced his heart through and through； which he was able
to do quite at his ease； for Love is invisible； and comes in and
goes out as he likes； without anyone calling him to account for what
he does。 Well then； when they gave the signal for the onset our
lacquey was in an ecstasy； musing upon the beauty of her whom he had
already made mistress of his liberty； and so he paid no attention to
the sound of the trumpet； unlike Don Quixote； who was off the
instant he heard it； and； at the highest speed Rocinante was capable
of； set out to meet his enemy； his good squire Sancho shouting lustily
as he saw him start； 〃God guide thee； cream and flower of
knights…errant！ God give thee the victory； for thou hast the right
on thy side！〃 But though Tosilos saw Don Quixote coming at him he
never stirred a step from the spot where he was posted； and instead of
doing so called loudly to the marshal of the field； to whom when he
came up to see what he wanted he said； 〃Senor； is not this b