He who translated this great history from the original written by its first author, Cide Hamete Benengeli, says that on coming to the chapter giving the adventures of the cave of Montesinos he found written on the margin of it, in Hamete’s own hand, these exact words:
将这部伟大历史著作从第一作者Cide Hamete Benengeli的原著中翻译出来的人说，在来到描述蒙特西诺斯洞穴的章节时，他发现在边距上有这样的文字，是出自哈梅特自己的手笔：

“I cannot convince or persuade myself that everything that is written in the preceding chapter could have precisely happened to the valiant Don Quixote; —
“我无法说服或劝服自己，认为前一章中所写的一切确实发生在勇敢的堂吉诃德身上； —

and for this reason, that all the adventures that have occurred up to the present have been possible and probable; —
也因为迄今发生的所有冒险都是可能和合理的； —

but as for this one of the cave, I see no way of accepting it as true, as it passes all reasonable bounds. —
但对于这个洞穴的经历，我却无法接受其为真，因为它超出了一切合理的范围。 —

For me to believe that Don Quixote could lie, he being the most truthful gentleman and the noblest knight of his time, is impossible; —
我无法相信堂吉诃德会说谎，他是最诚实的绅士和他那个时代最高贵的骑士，这对我来说是不可能的； —

he would not have told a lie though he were shot to death with arrows. —
他宁愿被射死也不会说谎。 —

On the other hand, I reflect that he related and told the story with all the circumstances detailed, and that he could not in so short a space have fabricated such a vast complication of absurdities; —
另一方面，我想到他详细描述并讲述了整个故事，而在如此短的时间内他不可能编造如此多离奇的事情； —

if, then, this adventure seems apocryphal, it is no fault of mine; —
因此，如果这个冒险看起来虚构，那不是我的错； —

and so, without affirming its falsehood or its truth, I write it down. —
所以，我不断下无法断定它的虚假或真实，我只是记录下来。 —

Decide for thyself in thy wisdom, reader; for I am not bound, nor is it in my power, to do more; —
读者，凭你的智慧自己判断吧；因为我无需，也无法做更多； —

though certain it is they say that at the time of his death he retracted, and said he had invented it, thinking it matched and tallied with the adventures he had read of in his histories. —
虽然有人说，在他去世时他承认，并说这些都是编造的，只是为了与他在历史中读到的冒险相匹配和吻合。 —

” And then he goes on to say:
继而他又说：

The cousin was amazed as well at Sancho’s boldness as at the patience of his master, and concluded that the good temper the latter displayed arose from the happiness he felt at having seen his lady Dulcinea, even enchanted as she was; —
这位表亲对桑丘的胆量和他的主人的耐心感到惊讶，并得出结论，后者表现出的好脾气来自他见到他的女士杜尔西内亚时的幸福，即使她被施了魔法； —

because otherwise the words and language Sancho had addressed to him deserved a thrashing; —
因为否则，桑丘对他所说的话和语言是该挨揍的； —

for indeed he seemed to him to have been rather impudent to his master, to whom he now observed, “I, Senor Don Quixote of La Mancha, look upon the time I have spent in travelling with your worship as very well employed, for I have gained four things in the course of it; —
因为他似乎对他的主人有些傲慢，现在他观察到，“我，曼恰的堂吉诃德先生，认为与你一起旅行的时间是非常值得的，因为我从中获得了四样东西； —

the first is that I have made your acquaintance, which I consider great good fortune; —
第一是我认识了你，我认为这是非常幸运的事；” —

the second, that I have learned what the cave of Montesinos contains, together with the transformations of Guadiana and of the lakes of Ruidera; —
我第一事，是知道了蒙提西诺斯洞穴的秘密，以及瓜迪亚纳河和瑞德拉湖的变化； —

which will be of use to me for the Spanish Ovid that I have in hand; —
这对我手头正在写的西班牙奥维德来说是有用的； —

the third, to have discovered the antiquity of cards, that they were in use at least in the time of Charlemagne, as may be inferred from the words you say Durandarte uttered when, at the end of that long spell while Montesinos was talking to him, he woke up and said, ‘Patience and shuffle. —
第三，我发现了卡片的古老历史，它们至少在查理大帝时代就已经在使用，可以从你说杜兰达迪在蒙提西诺斯向他说话时所说的话中推断出来，当他在那漫长的咒语结束后醒来时说“耐心和洗牌”。 —

’ This phrase and expression he could not have learned while he was enchanted, but only before he had become so, in France, and in the time of the aforesaid emperor Charlemagne. —
这句话和表达他在被施咒时是学不到的，只有在他还未被施咒时在法国和上述查理大帝时代才能学到。 —

And this demonstration is just the thing for me for that other book I am writing, the ‘Supplement to Polydore Vergil on the Invention of Antiquities; —
这个证据对我正在写的另一本书《关于古代发明的增补》来说恰到好处； —

’ for I believe he never thought of inserting that of cards in his book, as I mean to do in mine, and it will be a matter of great importance, particularly when I can cite so grave and veracious an authority as Senor Durandarte. —
因为我相信他从未想过在他的书中插入卡片的部分，像我打算在我的书中所做的那样，特别是当我能引用像杜兰达尔特这样严肃而可信的权威时。 —

And the fourth thing is, that I have ascertained the source of the river Guadiana, heretofore unknown to mankind.”
第四件事是，我已经查明了直到现在仍然未为人所知的瓜迪亚纳河的源头。

“You are right,” said Don Quixote; “but I should like to know, if by God’s favour they grant you a licence to print those books of yours — which I doubt — to whom do you mean dedicate them?”
“你说得对，”堂吉诃德说，”但我想知道，如果上帝允许你印刷那些书——我对此表示怀疑——你打算把它们献给谁？”

“There are lords and grandees in Spain to whom they can be dedicated,” said the cousin.
“西班牙有一些贵族和大人物可以献书给他们，”堂吉诃德的表亲说。

“Not many,” said Don Quixote; “not that they are unworthy of it, but because they do not care to accept books and incur the obligation of making the return that seems due to the author’s labour and courtesy. —
“不多，”堂吉诃德说，”不是因为他们不配，而是因为他们不愿接受书籍，并承担起对作者的辛勤劳动和礼貌所应有的回报责任。 —

One prince I know who makes up for all the rest, and more — how much more, if I ventured to say, perhaps I should stir up envy in many a noble breast; —
我知道一个王子弥补了所有其他人的不足，而且更多——如果我敢说，也许我会在许多贵族心中激起嫉妒。 —

but let this stand over for some more convenient time, and let us go and look for some place to shelter ourselves in to-night.”
但让这个问题留到更方便的时候再说，现在我们去找个地方住宿今晚吧。

“Not far from this,” said the cousin, “there is a hermitage, where there lives a hermit, who they say was a soldier, and who has the reputation of being a good Christian and a very intelligent and charitable man. —
“表亲说：”离这里不远，有一个修道院，住着一个据说曾是士兵的修道士，有着善良基督教信仰和非常聪明慈善的名声。 —

Close to the hermitage he has a small house which he built at his own cost, but though small it is large enough for the reception of guests.”
在修道院附近，他有一座小房子，是他自费建造的，虽小但足够接待客人。

“Has this hermit any hens, do you think?” asked Sancho.
山姆，你认为这个修道士养鸡吗？” 最後更新 2021年6月9日。

“Few hermits are without them,” said Don Quixote; —
“很少有隐士是没有的，”唐吉柯德说； —

“for those we see now-a-days are not like the hermits of the Egyptian deserts who were clad in palm-leaves, and lived on the roots of the earth. —
“因为我们今天看到的这些并不像埃及沙漠中那些穿着棕榈叶、以地下的根为食的隐士那样。 —

But do not think that by praising these I am disparaging the others; —
但请不要认为我对这些进行赞美就是贬低其他人； —

all I mean to say is that the penances of those of the present day do not come up to the asceticism and austerity of former times; —
我所要说的是，现今的苦行者的苦行和苦行比起以往的苦行主义和苦行主义还是逊色一些； —

but it does not follow from this that they are not all worthy; at least I think them so; —
但这并不意味着他们不值得尊敬；至少我是这么认为的； —

and at the worst the hypocrite who pretends to be good does less harm than the open sinner.”
在最糟糕的情况下，假装善良的伪君子比公开的罪人造成的伤害要小。”

At this point they saw approaching the spot where they stood a man on foot, proceeding at a rapid pace, and beating a mule loaded with lances and halberds. —
就在这时，他们看到一个步行的男子正快速地走近他们所站立的地方，身后驮着一头装满长矛和戟的驴。 —

When he came up to them, he saluted them and passed on without stopping. —
当他走近他们时，向他们致意，然后继续前行而没有停下来。 —

Don Quixote called to him, “Stay, good fellow; —
唐吉柯德叫住他，“等一等，善良的人； —

you seem to be making more haste than suits that mule.”
你看起来匆匆忙忙，这头驴背的装备不太适合你这样赶路。”

“I cannot stop, senor,” answered the man; —
“先生，我不能停下来，”那人回答道； —

“for the arms you see I carry here are to be used tomorrow, so I must not delay; God be with you. —
“因为我带着这里你看到的武器明天要用，所以我不能耽搁；愿上帝与你同在。 —

But if you want to know what I am carrying them for, I mean to lodge to-night at the inn that is beyond the hermitage, and if you be going the same road you will find me there, and I will tell you some curious things; —
但如果你想知道我为什么背这些武器，我打算今晚住在那座在隐士修道院之外的客栈，如果你也是沿着同一条路走，你会在那里找到我，我会告诉你一些奇怪的事； —

once more God be with you;” and he urged on his mule at such a pace that Don Quixote had no time to ask him what these curious things were that he meant to tell them; —
再次祝愿上帝与你同在；”他催促着他的驴，以至于唐吉柯德没有时间问他意思，这些奇怪的事是什么； —

and as he was somewhat inquisitive, and always tortured by his anxiety to learn something new, he decided to set out at once, and go and pass the night at the inn instead of stopping at the hermitage, where the cousin would have had them halt. —
由于他有点好奇，总是受着渴望了解新事物的煎熬，他决定立刻动身，去客栈过夜，而不是停在隐士修道院，在那里表兄弟会要求他们停下来。 —

Accordingly they mounted and all three took the direct road for the inn, which they reached a little before nightfall. —
因此，他们骑马前行，三人直接走向了旅馆，天色在黄昏前到了那里。 —

On the road the cousin proposed they should go up to the hermitage to drink a sup. —
在路上，表弟建议他们去山间的隐士居所喝一口。 —

The instant Sancho heard this he steered his Dapple towards it, and Don Quixote and the cousin did the same; —
圣托高一听到这个建议，便驾驭着他的驴朝那个方向走去，唐吉诃德和表弟也跟着他走； —

but it seems Sancho’s bad luck so ordered it that the hermit was not at home, for so a sub-hermit they found in the hermitage told them. —
但不巧的是，隐士不在家，因为他们在居所里碰到的是一位代替隐士的修士，他告诉他们。 —

They called for some of the best. She replied that her master had none, but that if they liked cheap water she would give it with great pleasure.
他们要求些最好的美酒。修士回答说他家主人没有，但如果他们愿意喝便宜的水，她很乐意供应。

“If I found any in water,” said Sancho, “there are wells along the road where I could have had enough of it. —
“如果我在水里找到任何美酒，”圣托高说，“路上还有很多井，我可以喝到足够的。” —

Ah, Camacho’s wedding, and plentiful house of Don Diego, how often do I miss you!”
哦，卡马乔的婚礼，迪亚哥先生的丰盛宴会，我是多么想念你们啊！

Leaving the hermitage, they pushed on towards the inn, and a little farther they came upon a youth who was pacing along in front of them at no great speed, so that they overtook him. —
离开隐士居所，他们朝旅馆前进，一会儿他们追上了一个青年，他走得不快，所以他们很快就超过了他。 —

He carried a sword over his shoulder, and slung on it a budget or bundle of his clothes apparently, probably his breeches or pantaloons, and his cloak and a shirt or two; —
他背着一把剑，并挎着一个包或包裹，里面显然装着他的裤子或裤筒，披着斗篷和一两件衬衫； —

for he had on a short jacket of velvet with a gloss like satin on it in places, and had his shirt out; —
他身着一件有光泽的天鹅绒外套，有的部位看起来像缎子，衬衫从外面裤子里露出来； —

his stockings were of silk, and his shoes square-toed as they wear them at court. —
他穿着丝袜，鞋头是方的，就像宫廷里穿的那种。 —

His age might have been eighteen or nineteen; —
他应该是十八岁或十九岁； —

he was of a merry countenance, and to all appearance of an active habit, and he went along singing seguidillas to beguile the wearisomeness of the road. —
他笑容可掬，看上去很活泼，一副健壮的样子，他一边走路一边唱着西班牙舞曲来打发路程的无聊。 —

As they came up with him he was just finishing one, which the cousin got by heart and they say ran thus —
当他们赶上他时，他正唱着一首歌。表弟背下来了，据说歌词是这样的 —

I’m off to the wars
我出征征战去

For the want of pence,
缺少几文，

Oh, had I but money
哦，要是我有钱，

I’d show more sense.
我会更明智。

The first to address him was Don Quixote, who said, “You travel very airily, sir gallant; whither bound, may we ask, if it is your pleasure to tell us?”
第一个和他说话的是唐吉诃德，他说，“先生，你走得很轻松，不知您要去哪里，如果您愿意告诉我们的话？”

To which the youth replied, “The heat and my poverty are the reason of my travelling so airily, and it is to the wars that I am bound.”
年轻人回答说，“炎热和贫穷是我走得这么轻松的原因，我是去参加战争的。”

“How poverty?” asked Don Quixote; “the heat one can understand.”
“贫穷？”唐吉诃德问道，“炎热倒是可以理解。”

“Senor,” replied the youth, “in this bundle I carry velvet pantaloons to match this jacket; —
年轻人回答道，“先生，我背着这个包裹里装着一条绒面裤，以配这件夹克； —

if I wear them out on the road, I shall not be able to make a decent appearance in them in the city, and I have not the wherewithal to buy others; —
如果我在路上把它们穿破了，到城里时便无法体面的穿上它们，而我又没有足够的钱买新的； —

and so for this reason, as well as to keep myself cool, I am making my way in this fashion to overtake some companies of infantry that are not twelve leagues off, in which I shall enlist, and there will be no want of baggage trains to travel with after that to the place of embarkation, which they say will be Carthagena; —
因此，为了保持凉爽，也是因为这个原因，我这样赶路，以便赶上不到十二英里外的一些步兵连队，我将在那里报名，然后会有无数的行李队随行，一路前往登船的地方，据说会是卡塔赫纳； —

I would rather have the King for a master, and serve him in the wars, than serve a court pauper.”
我宁愿成为国王的仆人，为他在战争中效力，也不愿意侍奉一位宫廷的赤贫之人。”

“And did you get any bounty, now?” asked the cousin.
“那你有得到任何赏赐吗？”表弟问道。

“If I had been in the service of some grandee of Spain or personage of distinction,” replied the youth, “I should have been safe to get it; —
年轻人回答说，“如果我曾侍奉过西班牙的某位大人或显贵的人，那就会有稳妥的奖金； —

for that is the advantage of serving good masters, that out of the servants’ hall men come to be ancients or captains, or get a good pension. —
因为侍奉良好主人的好处就在于，从仆役大厅出来的人最终会成为上尉或获得不错的养老金。 —

But I, to my misfortune, always served place-hunters and adventurers, whose keep and wages were so miserable and scanty that half went in paying for the starching of one’s collars; —
但不幸的是，我总是侍奉那些挑选好处和冒险的人，他们的衣食和工钱如此悽苦短缺，以至于一大半都花在洗领子上； —

it would be a miracle indeed if a page volunteer ever got anything like a reasonable bounty.”
要是一个侍从志愿兵能得到类似合理的奖金，那将会是奇迹。”

“And tell me, for heaven’s sake,” asked Don Quixote, “is it possible, my friend, that all the time you served you never got any livery?”
“请告诉我，天哪，”堂吉诃德问道，“我的朋友，你在侍奉的时候，难道从未穿过侍从服吗？”

“They gave me two,” replied the page; —
小侍从回答道：“他们给了我两套。” —

“but just as when one quits a religious community before making profession, they strip him of the dress of the order and give him back his own clothes, so did my masters return me mine; —
“但就像一个人在发初愿之前退出宗教社区时，会被剥夺掉教会服装，换回自己的衣服一样，我的主人们也还给了我自己的衣服； —

for as soon as the business on which they came to court was finished, they went home and took back the liveries they had given merely for show.”
因为一旦他们来法庭时的事情办完了，他们就回家拿回他们仅仅为了炫耀而给我的侍从服。”

“What spilorceria! — as an Italian would say,” said Don Quixote; —
“这太奸诈了！”堂吉诃德说道，就像一个意大利人会说的。 —

“but for all that, consider yourself happy in having left court with as worthy an object as you have, for there is nothing on earth more honourable or profitable than serving, first of all God, and then one’s king and natural lord, particularly in the profession of arms, by which, if not more wealth, at least more honour is to be won than by letters, as I have said many a time; —
“但尽管如此，你应该庆幸离开法庭时有如此可敬的目标，因为世上没有比侍奉更荣耀、更有益的事情了，首先侍奉上帝，然后侍奉国王和自然主人，特别是在军事职业中，通过这种方式，即使不能得到更多的财富，至少可以赢得更多的荣誉，正如我说过许多次的。 —

for though letters may have founded more great houses than arms, still those founded by arms have I know not what superiority over those founded by letters, and a certain splendour belonging to them that distinguishes them above all. —
因为尽管文学可能比武力创立了更多的大家族，但那些由武力创立的家族比由文学创立的家族，有一种我无法言说的优越性，一种使它们在各方面脱颖而出的辉煌。 —

And bear in mind what I am now about to say to you, for it will be of great use and comfort to you in time of trouble; —
请记住我现在要告诉你的话，它将在你遇到困难时非常有用且给予你安慰； —

it is, not to let your mind dwell on the adverse chances that may befall you; —
那就是，不要让你的思绪停留在可能发生的不利状况上； —

for the worst of all is death, and if it be a good death, the best of all is to die. —
因为最糟糕的事情就是死亡，而如果是一个美好的死亡，那么最好的就是去死。 —

They asked Julius Caesar, the valiant Roman emperor, what was the best death. —
他们问了勇敢的罗马皇帝尤利乌斯·恺撒，什么是最好的死法。 —

He answered, that which is unexpected, which comes suddenly and unforeseen; —
他回答说，那种出乎意料的死亡，突然而不可预见的死亡； —

and though he answered like a pagan, and one without the knowledge of the true God, yet, as far as sparing our feelings is concerned, he was right; —
尽管他的回答像一个不信奉真神并且是异教徒一样，但就保护我们的感情而言，他是对的； —

for suppose you are killed in the first engagement or skirmish, whether by a cannon ball or blown up by mine, what matters it? —
因为假设你在第一次交战或小规模战斗中被杀，无论是被炮弹击中还是被地雷炸死，这又有何要紧？ —

It is only dying, and all is over; and according to Terence, a soldier shows better dead in battle, than alive and safe in flight; —
那只是死了，一切都结束了；而根据泰伦修所说，一个士兵在战斗中死去要比逃命活着更加光荣。 —

and the good soldier wins fame in proportion as he is obedient to his captains and those in command over him. —
好战士将会因顺从他的上司和指挥官而赢得声誉。 —

And remember, my son, that it is better for the soldier to smell of gunpowder than of civet, and that if old age should come upon you in this honourable calling, though you may be covered with wounds and crippled and lame, it will not come upon you without honour, and that such as poverty cannot lessen; —
记住，我的儿子，战士身上弥漫着火药味总比香水味要好，如果你老来仍从事这份光荣的职业，即使你被伤痕覆盖、残疾瘸腿，也会光荣地迎接老年。 —

especially now that provisions are being made for supporting and relieving old and disabled soldiers; —
尤其是现在有关支持和救助老弱士兵的措施正在制定。 —

for it is not right to deal with them after the fashion of those who set free and get rid of their black slaves when they are old and useless, and, turning them out of their houses under the pretence of making them free, make them slaves to hunger, from which they cannot expect to be released except by death. —
对待他们不应如同那些将老旧无用的黑奴释放出门，借口给予自由，却使他们饥饿，只有死亡才能解脱这种压抑。 —

But for the present I won’t say more than get ye up behind me on my horse as far as the inn, and sup with me there, and to-morrow you shall pursue your journey, and God give you as good speed as your intentions deserve.”
不过目前我就不多说了，跟我上马到客栈一起吃饭，明天你可以继续你的旅程，愿上帝给予你一切你理想所求的好运。

The page did not accept the invitation to mount, though he did that to supper at the inn; —
那个仆人并没接受骑马的邀请，但他接受了在客栈吃晚饭的邀请。 —

and here they say Sancho said to himself, “God be with you for a master; —
在这里，桑丘自语：“愿上帝保佑你作为主人； —

is it possible that a man who can say things so many and so good as he has said just now, can say that he saw the impossible absurdities he reports about the cave of Montesinos? —
一个能说出这么多好话的人，竟然也相信他所说的蒙特西诺斯洞穴里的荒谬情节？ —

Well, well, we shall see.”
哦，好吧，我们拭目以待。”

And now, just as night was falling, they reached the inn, and it was not without satisfaction that Sancho perceived his master took it for a real inn, and not for a castle as usual. —
夜幕降临时，他们到达了客栈，在桑丘看来，他的主人把这里当作真正的客栈，而不是像往常一样当做城堡。 —

The instant they entered Don Quixote asked the landlord after the man with the lances and halberds, and was told that he was in the stable seeing to his mule; —
他们一进去，唐吉柯士便问店主长矛和戟的那个人在哪，得知他正在马厩里照看自己的骡子； —

which was what Sancho and the cousin proceeded to do for their beasts, giving the best manger and the best place in the stable to Rocinante.
桑丘和表兄随后也去照看他们的牲口，把最好的槽和最好的地方留给了罗森坦。