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！
she would lay upon him the obligation of taking vengeance on Lothario；
which he could not do but at great risk to himself； and it was the
duty of a true wife not to give her husband provocation to quarrel；
but； on the contrary； to remove it as far as possible from him。
Camilla replied that she believed she was right and that she would
follow her advice； but at any rate it would be well to consider how
she was to explain the wound to Anselmo； for he could not help
seeing it； to which Leonela answered that she did not know how to tell
a lie even in jest。
〃How then can I know； my dear？〃 said Camilla； 〃for I should not dare
to forge or keep up a falsehood if my life depended on it。 If we can
think of no escape from this difficulty； it will be better to tell him
the plain truth than that he should find us out in an untrue story。〃
〃Be not uneasy； senora；〃 said Leonela； 〃between this and to…morrow I
will think of what we must say to him； and perhaps the wound being
where it is it can be hidden from his sight； and Heaven will be
pleased to aid us in a purpose so good and honourable。 Compose
yourself； senora； and endeavour to calm your excitement lest my lord
find you agitated； and leave the rest to my care and God's； who always
supports good intentions。〃
Anselmo had with the deepest attention listened to and seen played
out the tragedy of the death of his honour； which the performers acted
with such wonderfully effective truth that it seemed as if they had
become the realities of the parts they played。 He longed for night and
an opportunity of escaping from the house to go and see his good
friend Lothario； and with him give vent to his joy over the precious
pearl he had gained in having established his wife's purity。 Both
mistress and maid took care to give him time and opportunity to get
away； and taking advantage of it he made his escape； and at once
went in quest of Lothario； and it would be impossible to describe
how he embraced him when he found him； and the things he said to him
in the joy of his heart； and the praises he bestowed upon Camilla； all
which Lothario listened to without being able to show any pleasure；
for he could not forget how deceived his friend was； and how
dishonourably he had wronged him； and though Anselmo could see that
Lothario was not glad； still he imagined it was only because he had
left Camilla wounded and had been himself the cause of it； and so
among other things he told him not to be distressed about Camilla's
accident； for； as they had agreed to hide it from him； the wound was
evidently trifling； and that being so； he had no cause for fear； but
should henceforward be of good cheer and rejoice with him； seeing that
by his means and adroitness he found himself raised to the greatest
height of happiness that he could have ventured to hope for； and
desired no better pastime than making verses in praise of Camilla that
would preserve her name for all time to come。 Lothario commended his
purpose； and promised on his own part to aid him in raising a monument
so glorious。
And so Anselmo was left the most charmingly hoodwinked man there
could be in the world。 He himself； persuaded he was conducting the
instrument of his glory； led home by the hand him who had been the
utter destruction of his good name； whom Camilla received with averted
countenance； though with smiles in her heart。 The deception was
carried on for some time； until at the end of a few months Fortune
turned her wheel and the guilt which had been until then so
skilfully concealed was published abroad； and Anselmo paid with his
life the penalty of his ill…advised curiosity。
CHAPTER XXXV
WHICH TREATS OF THE HEROIC AND PRODIGIOUS BATTLE DON QUIXOTE HAD
WITH CERTAIN SKINS OF RED WINE； AND BRINGS THE NOVEL OF 〃THE
ILL…ADVISED CURIOSITY〃 TO A CLOSE
THERE remained but little more of the novel to be read； when
Sancho Panza burst forth in wild excitement from the garret where
Don Quixote was lying； shouting； 〃Run； sirs！ quick； and help my
master； who is in the thick of the toughest and stiffest battle I ever
laid eyes on。 By the living God he has given the giant； the enemy of
my lady the Princess Micomicona； such a slash that he has sliced his
head clean off as if it were a turnip。〃
〃What are you talking about； brother？〃 said the curate； pausing as
he was about to read the remainder of the novel。 〃Are you in your
senses； Sancho？ How the devil can it be as you say； when the giant
is two thousand leagues away？〃
Here they heard a loud noise in the chamber； and Don Quixote
shouting out； 〃Stand； thief； brigand； villain； now I have got thee；
and thy scimitar shall not avail thee！〃 And then it seemed as though
he were slashing vigorously at the wall。
〃Don't stop to listen；〃 said Sancho； 〃but go in and part them or
help my master： though there is no need of that now； for no doubt
the giant is dead by this time and giving account to God of his past
wicked life； for I saw the blood flowing on the ground； and the head
cut off and fallen on one side； and it is as big as a large
wine…skin。〃
〃May I die；〃 said the landlord at this； 〃if Don Quixote or Don Devil
has not been slashing some of the skins of red wine that stand full at
his bed's head； and the spilt wine must be what this good fellow takes
for blood；〃 and so saying he went into the room and the rest after
him； and there they found Don Quixote in the strangest costume in
the world。 He was in his shirt； which was not long enough in front
to cover his thighs completely and was six fingers shorter behind； his
legs were very long and lean； covered with hair； and anything but
clean； on his head he had a little greasy red cap that belonged to the
host； round his left arm he had rolled the blanket of the bed； to
which Sancho； for reasons best known to himself； owed a grudge； and in
his right hand he held his unsheathed sword； with which he was
slashing about on all sides； uttering exclamations as if he were
actually fighting some giant： and the best of it was his eyes were not
open； for he was fast asleep； and dreaming that he was doing battle
with the giant。 For his imagination was so wrought upon by the
adventure he was going to accomplish； that it made him dream he had
already reached the kingdom of Micomicon； and was engaged in combat
with his enemy； and believing he was laying on the giant； he had given
so many sword cuts to the skins that the whole room was full of
wine。 On seeing this the landlord was so enraged that he fell on Don
Quixote； and with his clenched fist began to pummel him in such a way；
that if Cardenio and the curate had not dragged him off； he would have
brought the war of the giant to an end。 But in spite of all the poor
gentleman never woke until the barber brought a great pot of cold
water from the well and flung it with one dash all over his body； on
which Don Quixote woke up； but not so completely as to understand what
was the matter。 Dorothea； seeing how short and slight his attire
was； would not go in to witness the battle between her champion and
her opponent。 As for Sancho； he went searching all over the floor
for the head of the giant； and not find