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！
seen beating down； trampling under foot； destroying and slaughtering
the Hagarene squadrons in the sight of all； of which fact I could give
thee many examples recorded in truthful Spanish histories。〃
Sancho changed the subject； and said to his master； 〃I marvel；
senor； at the boldness of Altisidora； the duchess's handmaid； he
whom they call Love must have cruelly pierced and wounded her； they
say he is a little blind urchin who； though blear…eyed； or more
properly speaking sightless； if he aims at a heart； be it ever so
small； hits it and pierces it through and through with his arrows。 I
have heard it said too that the arrows of Love are blunted and
robbed of their points by maidenly modesty and reserve； but with
this Altisidora it seems they are sharpened rather than blunted。〃
〃Bear in mind； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that love is influenced
by no consideration； recognises no restraints of reason； and is of the
same nature as death； that assails alike the lofty palaces of kings
and the humble cabins of shepherds； and when it takes entire
possession of a heart； the first thing it does is to banish fear and
shame from it； and so without shame Altisidora declared her passion；
which excited in my mind embarrassment rather than commiseration。〃
〃Notable cruelty！〃 exclaimed Sancho； 〃unheard…of ingratitude！ I
can only say for myself that the very smallest loving word of hers
would have subdued me and made a slave of me。 The devil！ What a
heart of marble； what bowels of brass； what a soul of mortar！ But I
can't imagine what it is that this damsel saw in your worship that
could have conquered and captivated her so。 What gallant figure was
it； what bold bearing； what sprightly grace； what comeliness of
feature； which of these things by itself； or what all together；
could have made her fall in love with you？ For indeed and in truth
many a time I stop to look at your worship from the sole of your
foot to the topmost hair of your head； and I see more to frighten
one than to make one fall in love； moreover I have heard say that
beauty is the first and main thing that excites love； and as your
worship has none at all； I don't know what the poor creature fell in
love with。〃
〃Recollect； Sancho；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃there are two sorts of
beauty； one of the mind； the other of the body； that of the mind
displays and exhibits itself in intelligence； in modesty； in
honourable conduct； in generosity； in good breeding； and all these
qualities are possible and may exist in an ugly man； and when it is
this sort of beauty and not that of the body that is the attraction；
love is apt to spring up suddenly and violently。 I； Sancho； perceive
clearly enough that I am not beautiful； but at the same time I know
I am not hideous； and it is enough for an honest man not to be a
monster to he an object of love； if only he possesses the endowments
of mind I have mentioned。〃
While engaged in this discourse they were making their way through a
wood that lay beyond the road； when suddenly； without expecting
anything of the kind； Don Quixote found himself caught in some nets of
green cord stretched from one tree to another； and unable to
conceive what it could be； he said to Sancho； 〃Sancho； it strikes me
this affair of these nets will prove one of the strangest adventures
imaginable。 May I die if the enchanters that persecute me are not
trying to entangle me in them and delay my journey； by way of
revenge for my obduracy towards Altisidora。 Well then let me tell them
that if these nets； instead of being green cord； were made of the
hardest diamonds； or stronger than that wherewith the jealous god of
blacksmiths enmeshed Venus and Mars； I would break them as easily as
if they were made of rushes or cotton threads。〃 But just as he was
about to press forward and break through all； suddenly from among some
trees two shepherdesses of surpassing beauty presented themselves to
his sight… or at least damsels dressed like shepherdesses； save that
their jerkins and sayas were of fine brocade； that is to say； the
sayas were rich farthingales of gold embroidered tabby。 Their hair；
that in its golden brightness vied with the beams of the sun itself；
fell loose upon their shoulders and was crowned with garlands twined
with green laurel and red everlasting； and their years to all
appearance were not under fifteen nor above eighteen。 Such was the
spectacle that filled Sancho with amazement； fascinated Don Quixote；
made the sun halt in his course to behold them； and held all four in a
strange silence。 One of the shepherdesses； at length； was the first to
speak and said to Don Quixote； 〃Hold； sir knight； and do not break
these nets； for they are not spread here to do you any harm； but
only for our amusement； and as I know you will ask why they have
been put up； and who we are； I will tell you in a few words。 In a
village some two leagues from this； where there are many people of
quality and rich gentlefolk； it was agreed upon by a number of friends
and relations to come with their wives； sons and daughters；
neighbours； friends and kinsmen； and make holiday in this spot；
which is one of the pleasantest in the whole neighbourhood； setting up
a new pastoral Arcadia among ourselves； we maidens dressing
ourselves as shepherdesses and the youths as shepherds。 We have
prepared two eclogues； one by the famous poet Garcilasso； the other by
the most excellent Camoens； in its own Portuguese tongue； but we
have not as yet acted them。 Yesterday was the first day of our
coming here； we have a few of what they say are called field…tents
pitched among the trees on the bank of an ample brook that
fertilises all these meadows； last night we spread these nets in the
trees here to snare the silly little birds that startled by the
noise we make may fly into them。 If you please to he our guest； senor；
you will be welcomed heartily and courteously； for here just now
neither care nor sorrow shall enter。〃
She held her peace and said no more； and Don Quixote made answer；
〃Of a truth； fairest lady； Actaeon when he unexpectedly beheld Diana
bathing in the stream could not have been more fascinated and
wonderstruck than I at the sight of your beauty。 I commend your mode
of entertainment； and thank you for the kindness of your invitation；
and if I can serve you； you may command me with full confidence of
being obeyed； for my profession is none other than to show myself
grateful； and ready to serve persons of all conditions； but especially
persons of quality such as your appearance indicates； and if；
instead of taking up； as they probably do； but a small space； these
nets took up the whole surface of the globe； I would seek out new
worlds through which to pass； so as not to break them； and that ye may
give some degree of credence to this exaggerated language of mine；
know that it is no less than Don Quixote of La Mancha that makes
this declaration to you； if indeed it be that such a name has
reached your ears。〃
〃Ah！ friend of my soul；〃 instantly exclaimed the other
shepherdess； 〃what great good fortune has befallen us！ Seest thou this
gentleman we have before us？ Well then let me tell thee he is