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！
barking and howling； would run three streets without stopping。 It so
happened； however； that one of the dogs he discharged his load upon
was a cap…maker's dog； of which his master was very fond。 The stone
came down hitting it on the head； the dog raised a yell at the blow；
the master saw the affair and was wroth； and snatching up a
measuring…yard rushed out at the madman and did not leave a sound bone
in his body； and at every stroke he gave him he said； 〃You dog； you
thief！ my lurcher！ Don't you see； you brute； that my dog is a
lurcher？〃 and so； repeating the word 〃lurcher〃 again and again； he
sent the madman away beaten to a jelly。 The madman took the lesson
to heart； and vanished； and for more than a month never once showed
himself in public； but after that he came out again with his old trick
and a heavier load than ever。 He came up to where there was a dog； and
examining it very carefully without venturing to let the stone fall；
he said： 〃This is a lurcher； ware！〃 In short； all the dogs he came
across； be they mastiffs or terriers； he said were lurchers； and he
discharged no more stones。 Maybe it will be the same with this
historian； that he will not venture another time to discharge the
weight of his wit in books； which； being bad； are harder than
stones。 Tell him； too； that I do not care a farthing for the threat he
holds out to me of depriving me of my profit by means of his book；
for； to borrow from the famous interlude of 〃The Perendenga；〃 I say in
answer to him； 〃Long life to my lord the Veintiquatro； and Christ be
with us all。〃 Long life to the great Conde de Lemos； whose Christian
charity and well…known generosity support me against all the strokes
of my curst fortune； and long life to the supreme benevolence of His
Eminence of Toledo； Don Bernardo de Sandoval y Rojas； and what
matter if there be no printing…presses in the world； or if they
print more books against me than there are letters in the verses of
Mingo Revulgo！ These two princes； unsought by any adulation or
flattery of mine； of their own goodness alone； have taken it upon them
to show me kindness and protect me； and in this I consider myself
happier and richer than if Fortune had raised me to her greatest
height in the ordinary way。 The poor man may retain honour； but not
the vicious； poverty may cast a cloud over nobility； but cannot hide
it altogether； and as virtue of itself sheds a certain light； even
though it be through the straits and chinks of penury； it wins the
esteem of lofty and noble spirits； and in consequence their
protection。 Thou needst say no more to him； nor will I say anything
more to thee； save to tell thee to bear in mind that this Second
Part of 〃Don Quixote〃 which I offer thee is cut by the same
craftsman and from the same cloth as the First； and that in it I
present thee Don Quixote continued； and at length dead and buried；
so that no one may dare to bring forward any further evidence
against him； for that already produced is sufficient； and suffice
it； too； that some reputable person should have given an account of
all these shrewd lunacies of his without going into the matter
again； for abundance； even of good things； prevents them from being
valued； and scarcity； even in the case of what is bad； confers a
certain value。 I was forgetting to tell thee that thou mayest expect
the 〃Persiles；〃 which I am now finishing； and also the Second Part
of 〃Galatea。〃