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！
proof that Cardenio did not know what he was saying； remember when
he said it he was out of his wits。〃
〃That is what I say；〃 said Sancho； 〃there was no occasion for
minding the words of a madman； for if good luck had not helped your
worship； and he had sent that stone at your head instead of at your
breast； a fine way we should have been in for standing up for my
lady yonder； God confound her！ And then； would not Cardenio have
gone free as a madman？〃
〃Against men in their senses or against madmen；〃 said Don Quixote；
〃every knight…errant is bound to stand up for the honour of women；
whoever they may be； much more for queens of such high degree and
dignity as Queen Madasima； for whom I have a particular regard on
account of her amiable qualities； for； besides being extremely
beautiful； she was very wise； and very patient under her
misfortunes； of which she had many； and the counsel and society of the
Master Elisabad were a great help and support to her in enduring her
afflictions with wisdom and resignation； hence the ignorant and
ill…disposed vulgar took occasion to say and think that she was his
mistress； and they lie； I say it once more； and will lie two hundred
times more； all who think and say so。〃
〃I neither say nor think so；〃 said Sancho； 〃let them look to it；
with their bread let them eat it； they have rendered account to God
whether they misbehaved or not； I come from my vineyard； I know
nothing； I am not fond of prying into other men's lives； he who buys
and lies feels it in his purse； moreover； naked was I born； naked I
find myself； I neither lose nor gain； but if they did； what is that to
me？ many think there are flitches where there are no hooks； but who
can put gates to the open plain？ moreover they said of God…〃
〃God bless me；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃what a set of absurdities thou
art stringing together！ What has what we are talking about got to do
with the proverbs thou art threading one after the other？ for God's
sake hold thy tongue； Sancho； and henceforward keep to prodding thy
ass and don't meddle in what does not concern thee； and understand
with all thy five senses that everything I have done； am doing； or
shall do； is well founded on reason and in conformity with the rules
of chivalry； for I understand them better than all the world that
profess them。〃
〃Senor；〃 replied Sancho； 〃is it a good rule of chivalry that we
should go astray through these mountains without path or road； looking
for a madman who when he is found will perhaps take a fancy to
finish what he began； not his story； but your worship's head and my
ribs； and end by breaking them altogether for us？〃
〃Peace； I say again； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for let me tell
thee it is not so much the desire of finding that madman that leads me
into these regions as that which I have of performing among them an
achievement wherewith I shall win eternal name and fame throughout the
known world； and it shall be such that I shall thereby set the seal on
all that can make a knight…errant perfect and famous。〃
〃And is it very perilous； this achievement？〃
〃No；〃 replied he of the Rueful Countenance； 〃though it may be in the
dice that we may throw deuce…ace instead of sixes； but all will depend
on thy diligence。〃
〃On my diligence！〃 said Sancho。
〃Yes；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for if thou dost return soon from the
place where I mean to send thee； my penance will be soon over； and
my glory will soon begin。 But as it is not right to keep thee any
longer in suspense； waiting to see what comes of my words； I would
have thee know； Sancho； that the famous Amadis of Gaul was one of
the most perfect knights…errant… I am wrong to say he was one； he
stood alone； the first； the only one； the lord of all that were in the
world in his time。 A fig for Don Belianis； and for all who say he
equalled him in any respect； for； my oath upon it； they are
deceiving themselves！ I say； too； that when a painter desires to
become famous in his art he endeavours to copy the originals of the
rarest painters that he knows； and the same rule holds good for all
the most important crafts and callings that serve to adorn a state；
thus must he who would be esteemed prudent and patient imitate
Ulysses； in whose person and labours Homer presents to us a lively
picture of prudence and patience； as Virgil； too； shows us in the
person of AEneas the virtue of a pious son and the sagacity of a brave
and skilful captain； not representing or describing them as they were；
but as they ought to be； so as to leave the example of their virtues
to posterity。 In the same way Amadis was the polestar； day…star； sun
of valiant and devoted knights； whom all we who fight under the banner
of love and chivalry are bound to imitate。 This； then； being so； I
consider； friend Sancho； that the knight…errant who shall imitate
him most closely will come nearest to reaching the perfection of
chivalry。 Now one of the instances in which this knight most
conspicuously showed his prudence； worth； valour； endurance；
fortitude； and love； was when he withdrew； rejected by the Lady
Oriana； to do penance upon the Pena Pobre； changing his name into that
of Beltenebros； a name assuredly significant and appropriate to the
life which he had voluntarily adopted。 So； as it is easier for me to
imitate him in this than in cleaving giants asunder； cutting off
serpents' heads； slaying dragons； routing armies； destroying fleets；
and breaking enchantments； and as this place is so well suited for a
similar purpose； I must not allow the opportunity to escape which
now so conveniently offers me its forelock。〃
〃What is it in reality；〃 said Sancho； 〃that your worship means to do
in such an out…of…the…way place as this？〃
〃Have I not told thee；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃that I mean to
imitate Amadis here； playing the victim of despair； the madman； the
maniac； so as at the same time to imitate the valiant Don Roland； when
at the fountain he had evidence of the fair Angelica having
disgraced herself with Medoro and through grief thereat went mad；
and plucked up trees； troubled the waters of the clear springs； slew
destroyed flocks； burned down huts； levelled houses； dragged mares
after him； and perpetrated a hundred thousand other outrages worthy of
everlasting renown and record？ And though I have no intention of
imitating Roland； or Orlando； or Rotolando （for he went by all these
names）； step by step in all the mad things he did； said； and
thought； I will make a rough copy to the best of my power of all
that seems to me most essential； but perhaps I shall content myself
with the simple imitation of Amadis； who without giving way to any
mischievous madness but merely to tears and sorrow； gained as much
fame as the most famous。〃
〃It seems to me；〃 said Sancho； 〃that the knights who behaved in this
way had provocation and cause for those follies and penances； but what
cause has your worship for going mad？ What lady has rejected you； or
what evidence have you found to prove that the lady Dulcinea del
Toboso has been trifling with Moor or Christian？〃
〃There is the point；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃and that is the beauty
of this business of mine；