O perpetual discoverer of the antipodes, torch of the world, eye of heaven, sweet stimulator of the water-coolers! —
哦！永不停息地探寻着地球的另一端，世界的明灯，天上的眼睛，清凉冷水的甜美刺激！ —

Thimbraeus here, Phoebus there, now archer, now physician, father of poetry, inventor of music; —
这里是青弓神，那里是阿波罗，既是射手，又是医生，是诗歌之父，是音乐之始祖； —

thou that always risest and, notwithstanding appearances, never settest! —
你总是升起，尽管看起来不落！ —

To thee, O Sun, by whose aid man begetteth man, to thee I appeal to help me and lighten the darkness of my wit that I may be able to proceed with scrupulous exactitude in giving an account of the great Sancho Panza’s government; —
我向你求助，太阳啊！借助你的力量，人类得以繁衍，帮助我，照亮我心中的黑暗，让我能够准确地叙述伟大的桑乔·潘萨的治理； —

for without thee I feel myself weak, feeble, and uncertain.
没有你，我感到软弱、软弱和不确定。

To come to the point, then — Sancho with all his attendants arrived at a village of some thousand inhabitants, and one of the largest the duke possessed. —
为了进入正题，桑乔和他的随从们到达了一个拥有约千名居民的村庄，是公爵所拥有的最大的村庄之一。 —

They informed him that it was called the island of Barataria, either because the name of the village was Baratario, or because of the joke by way of which the government had been conferred upon him. —
他们告诉他，那个村庄叫作巴拉塔里奥岛，或者因为村庄的名字叫作巴拉塔里奥，或者因为用一个笑话的方式赋予他统治权。 —

On reaching the gates of the town, which was a walled one, the municipality came forth to meet him, the bells rang out a peal, and the inhabitants showed every sign of general satisfaction; —
到达了有城墙围绕的镇子的城门口，市政当局前来迎接他，教堂的钟声鸣响，居民们表现出普遍的满意； —

and with great pomp they conducted him to the principal church to give thanks to God, and then with burlesque ceremonies they presented him with the keys of the town, and acknowledged him as perpetual governor of the island of Barataria. —
随着盛大的仪式，他们把他带到主教堂感谢上帝，然后用滑稽的仪式赠送他镇子的钥匙，并承认他为巴拉塔里奥岛的永久总督。 —

The costume, the beard, and the fat squat figure of the new governor astonished all those who were not in the secret, and even all who were, and they were not a few. —
新总督的服饰、胡须和肥胖矮小的身形使所有不知情的人，甚至知情的人，都感到惊奇，而知情的人也不在少数。 —

Finally, leading him out of the church they carried him to the judgment seat and seated him on it, and the duke’s majordomo said to him, “It is an ancient custom in this island, senor governor, that he who comes to take possession of this famous island is bound to answer a question which shall be put to him, and which must he a somewhat knotty and difficult one; —
最后，他们带他走出教堂，把他带到审判席上并让他坐下，公爵的总管对他说：“在这个岛上，总督到来时，有一个惯例是他必须回答一个将提出的相当棘手和困难的问题； —

and by his answer the people take the measure of their new governor’s wit, and hail with joy or deplore his arrival accordingly.”
他的回答会被人们拿来衡量新总督的智慧，并欢呼或哀伤他的到来。”

While the majordomo was making this speech Sancho was gazing at several large letters inscribed on the wall opposite his seat, and as he could not read he asked what that was that was painted on the wall. —
当总管做这番讲话时，桑乔正在注视着对面墙上的几个大字，由于他不识字，便问那上面画的是什么。 —

The answer was, “Senor, there is written and recorded the day on which your lordship took possession of this island, and the inscription says, ‘This day, the so-and-so of such-and-such a month and year, Senor Don Sancho Panza took possession of this island; —
回答说：“先生，那里写着记录你府上夺得这个岛的日期，题记说：‘这一天，某月某日，某年，桑乔·潘萨先生夺得了这个岛； —

many years may he enjoy it.’”
愿他好多年享受这份岛屿。’”

“And whom do they call Don Sancho Panza?” asked Sancho.
“他们叫谁是桑丘·潘萨？”桑丘问道。

“Your lordship,” replied the majordomo; —
“贵族”，总管回答道； —

“for no other Panza but the one who is now seated in that chair has ever entered this island.”
“因为除了现在坐在那把椅子上的那个潘萨之外，没有别的潘萨进入过这个岛。”

“Well then, let me tell you, brother,” said Sancho, “I haven’t got the ‘Don,’ nor has any one of my family ever had it; —
“好吧，让我告诉你，兄弟”，桑丘说，“我没有‘贵’这个称号，我的家族中也从来没有人有过； —

my name is plain Sancho Panza, and Sancho was my father’s name, and Sancho was my grandfather’s and they were all Panzas, without any Dons or Donas tacked on; —
我的名字就是普通的桑丘·潘萨，桑丘是我父亲的名字，桑丘也是我的祖父的名字，他们都是潘萨，没有加上任何‘贵’或‘夫人’； —

I suspect that in this island there are more Dons than stones; but never mind; —
我怀疑在这个岛上的‘贵’比石头还多；但没关系； —

God knows what I mean, and maybe if my government lasts four days I’ll weed out these Dons that no doubt are as great a nuisance as the midges, they’re so plenty. —
上帝知道我的心意，也许如果我执政四天，我会把这些‘贵’像蚊子那样多的讨厌家伙清除干净。 —

Let the majordomo go on with his question, and I’ll give the best answer I can, whether the people deplore or not.”
让总管继续问问题，我会尽力给出最好的答案，不管人们是否反对。

At this instant there came into court two old men, one carrying a cane by way of a walking-stick, and the one who had no stick said, “Senor, some time ago I lent this good man ten gold-crowns in gold to gratify him and do him a service, on the condition that he was to return them to me whenever I should ask for them. —
此刻，有两位老人进入法庭，其中一位拿着一根手杖当拐杖，而另一位没有手杖的老人说：“先生，有一段时间前我借给这位好人十个金币，为了帮助他，也是一种服务，条件是他在我要求时应该归还给我。 —

A long time passed before I asked for them, for I would not put him to any greater straits to return them than he was in when I lent them to him; —
很长时间过去了，我才开始要求他还钱，因为我不想让他为了还钱而处境更加困难； —

but thinking he was growing careless about payment I asked for them once and several times; —
但是我想他可能对还钱变得懈怠，所以我向他要过一次又一次； —

and not only will he not give them back, but he denies that he owes them, and says I never lent him any such crowns; —
他不仅不肯还钱，而且否认欠钱，说我从未借给他那些金币； —

or if I did, that he repaid them; and I have no witnesses either of the loan, or the payment, for he never paid me; —
或者如果我真的借给他了，他就说他已经还过；而我没有证人证明借贷和还款，因为他从未还给我； —

I want your worship to put him to his oath, and if he swears he returned them to me I forgive him the debt here and before God.”
我希望阁下能让他宣誓，如果他发誓已经还给我，我会在这里和上帝面前原谅他的债务。”

“What say you to this, good old man, you with the stick?” said Sancho.
“好老人，你拿着手杖，对此你有何看法？”桑乔说。

To which the old man replied, “I admit, senor, that he lent them to me; —
老人回答说：“先生，我承认他把这些钱借给了我； —

but let your worship lower your staff, and as he leaves it to my oath, I’ll swear that I gave them back, and paid him really and truly.”
但是请您放下手杖，只要他让我发誓，我愿发誓我已经把钱还给他，真实无欺。”

The governor lowered the staff, and as he did so the old man who had the stick handed it to the other old man to hold for him while he swore, as if he found it in his way; —
总督放下手杖，老人看到后把手杖交给另一个老人保管，好像手杖挡到他了； —

and then laid his hand on the cross of the staff, saying that it was true the ten crowns that were demanded of him had been lent him; —
然后他把手放在手杖的十字架上发誓，说要求他支付的十个皇冠曾经借给他； —

but that he had with his own hand given them back into the hand of the other, and that he, not recollecting it, was always asking for them.
但事实是他亲手把这些皇冠还给了另一个人，而对方却忘记了，总是一直要求他还钱。

Seeing this the great governor asked the creditor what answer he had to make to what his opponent said. —
见此情形，伟大的总督问债权人对于对手的话有何回应。 —

He said that no doubt his debtor had told the truth, for he believed him to be an honest man and a good Christian, and he himself must have forgotten when and how he had given him back the crowns; —
债权人说，毫无疑问他的债务人说的是实话，因为他相信他是一个诚实的人和一个好基督徒，他自己可能忘记了何时如何把皇冠还给他； —

and that from that time forth he would make no further demand upon him.
从现在开始他不会再向他提出进一步要求。

The debtor took his stick again, and bowing his head left the court. —
债务人拿回了他的手杖，低头离开了法庭。 —

Observing this, and how, without another word, he made off, and observing too the resignation of the plaintiff, Sancho buried his head in his bosom and remained for a short space in deep thought, with the forefinger of his right hand on his brow and nose; —
看到这一幕，以及他默不作声地离去，还有原告的颓然，桑乔用右手的食指捂住了额头和鼻子，陷入了深深的思考； —

then he raised his head and bade them call back the old man with the stick, for he had already taken his departure. —
随后他抬起头，命令他们把拿着手杖的老人召回，因为他已经离开了。 —

They brought him back, and as soon as Sancho saw him he said, “Honest man, give me that stick, for I want it.”
他们把他带了回来，桑乔一看到他就说：“老实人，请把手杖给我，我需要它。”

“Willingly,” said the old man; “here it is senor,” and he put it into his hand.
“愿意，”老人说，“请，先生，这是给您的。”他把手杖递到桑乔手上。

Sancho took it and, handing it to the other old man, said to him, “Go, and God be with you; —
桑乔接过手杖，把它递给另一个老人，对他说：“走吧，愿上帝与你同在；”. —

for now you are paid.”
“暂时，你已经得到报酬。”

“I, senor!” returned the old man; “why, is this cane worth ten gold-crowns?”
“我，先生！”老人回答道，“这根拐杖值十个金币吗？”

“Yes,” said the governor, “or if not I am the greatest dolt in the world; —
“是的，”总督说，“否则我就是世界上最蠢的人； —

now you will see whether I have got the headpiece to govern a whole kingdom; —
现在你将看到我是否有当国王的头脑； —

” and he ordered the cane to be broken in two, there, in the presence of all. —
”他命令将拐杖在众人面前打成两截。 —

It was done, and in the middle of it they found ten gold-crowns. —
立刻破碎，众人发现其中有十个金币。 —

All were filled with amazement, and looked upon their governor as another Solomon. —
所有人都感到惊讶，并将他们的总督视为另一个所罗门。 —

They asked him how he had come to the conclusion that the ten crowns were in the cane; —
他们问他是如何得出这根拐杖里有十个金币的结论； —

he replied, that observing how the old man who swore gave the stick to his opponent while he was taking the oath, and swore that he had really and truly given him the crowns, and how as soon as he had done swearing he asked for the stick again, it came into his head that the sum demanded must be inside it; —
他回答说，注意到那个发誓的老人在他向对手发誓时递过拐杖，并发誓说他确实把金币给了对方，然后他一发誓完就要求拐杖，这让他想到了要求数额一定在拐杖里； —

and from this he said it might be seen that God sometimes guides those who govern in their judgments, even though they may be fools; —
因此他说，可以看到上帝有时候也会指导那些统治者的判断，即使他们可能是傻瓜； —

besides he had himself heard the curate of his village mention just such another case, and he had so good a memory, that if it was not that he forgot everything he wished to remember, there would not be such a memory in all the island. —
此外，他自己听到他村子的牧师提到过另一个类似的案例，他有很好的记忆力，如果不是他记忆所有想记住的事情，那么整个岛上就找不到像他这样的记忆了。 —

To conclude, the old men went off, one crestfallen, and the other in high contentment, all who were present were astonished, and he who was recording the words, deeds, and movements of Sancho could not make up his mind whether he was to look upon him and set him down as a fool or as a man of sense.
最后，老人们离开了，一个垂头丧气，另一个心满意足，所有在场的人都感到惊讶，记录桑丘言行动态的人无法决定将他视为傻瓜还是明智之人。

As soon as this case was disposed of, there came into court a woman holding on with a tight grip to a man dressed like a well-to-do cattle dealer, and she came forward making a great outcry and exclaiming, “Justice, senor governor, justice! —
这个案子处理完毕后，一个女人牵着一个穿着服装像一个富有的牲畜贩子的男人，走进法庭，大声哭喊着，“公正，总督大人，公正！ —

and if I don’t get it on earth I’ll go look for it in heaven. —
如果我在世上得不到公正，我会去天堂寻找。 —

Senor governor of my soul, this wicked man caught me in the middle of the fields here and used my body as if it was an ill-washed rag, and, woe is me! —
我灵魂的总督，这个恶棍抓住了我在这片田野中，并像处理脏抹布一样对待我的身体，哎呀！” —

got from me what I had kept these three-and-twenty years and more, defending it against Moors and Christians, natives and strangers; —
我所保留了二十三年以上的东西，不论是抵挡摩尔人还是基督徒、本地人还是外来者； —

and I always as hard as an oak, and keeping myself as pure as a salamander in the fire, or wool among the brambles, for this good fellow to come now with clean hands to handle me!”
而我总是像橡树一样坚硬，像火中的火蜥蜴或荆棘中的羊毛一样纯洁，现在这个好家伙却带着洁净的手来摸我！”

“It remains to be proved whether this gallant has clean hands or not,” said Sancho; —
“还得证明这个英俊的人是否手洁。”圣丘说； —

and turning to the man he asked him what he had to say in answer to the woman’s charge.
他转向那男人，问他对这个女人的指控有何回应。

He all in confusion made answer, “Sirs, I am a poor pig dealer, and this morning I left the village to sell (saving your presence) four pigs, and between dues and cribbings they got out of me little less than the worth of them. —
男人很困惑地回答说，“先生们，我是个贫穷的猪贩，今早我离开村庄去卖猪（请见谅），但课税和扣减让我几乎损失了它们的价值。 —

As I was returning to my village I fell in on the road with this good dame, and the devil who makes a coil and a mess out of everything, yoked us together. —
当我回村的时候，我在路上遇到了这位善良的女士，可恶的魔鬼把我们连在一起。 —

I paid her fairly, but she not contented laid hold of me and never let go until she brought me here; she says I forced her, but she lies by the oath I swear or am ready to swear; —
我付了她公正的钱，但她不满意，抓住我就不松手，直到把我带到这里来；她说我强迫她，但我发誓或者愿意发誓，她在撒谎； —

and this is the whole truth and every particle of it.”
这就是全部事实，一字不差。”

The governor on this asked him if he had any money in silver about him; —
圣丘随即问他身上是否有银币； —

he said he had about twenty ducats in a leather purse in his bosom. —
他说他怀中有一个皮囊里装着约二十杜卡特的银子。 —

The governor bade him take it out and hand it to the complainant; he obeyed trembling; —
圣丘命令他取出并交给起诉人；他颤抖着服从； —

the woman took it, and making a thousand salaams to all and praying to God for the long life and health of the senor governor who had such regard for distressed orphans and virgins, she hurried out of court with the purse grasped in both her hands, first looking, however, to see if the money it contained was silver.
女人拿走了银子，向所有人鞠躬，祈祷上帝保佑这位对孤儿和处女如此关心的州长身体健康长寿，她提着皮囊，双手抓着，边看边拉开，确保里面是银子。

As soon as she was gone Sancho said to the cattle dealer, whose tears were already starting and whose eyes and heart were following his purse, “Good fellow, go after that woman and take the purse from her, by force even, and come back with it here; —
她一走，圣丘对牲畜商人说，“好家伙，跟那女人去，抢回皮囊，哪怕动手，然后带回来； —

” and he did not say it to one who was a fool or deaf, for the man was off like a flash of lightning, and ran to do as he was bid.
”他这话说得既不是对一个愚蠢的人也不是对一个聋子，因为那人像闪电一样立刻就走了，按命令行事。

All the bystanders waited anxiously to see the end of the case, and presently both man and woman came back at even closer grips than before, she with her petticoat up and the purse in the lap of it, and he struggling hard to take it from her, but all to no purpose, so stout was the woman’s defence, she all the while crying out, “Justice from God and the world! —
所有旁观者都急切地等待案件的结果，很快那男人和那女人带着皮囊回来了，她撩起裙子，皮囊放在上面，他拼命想夺过来，但是毫无用处，因为那个女人防守得很坚固，一边大喊着，“从上帝和世界来的正义！ —

see here, senor governor, the shamelessness and boldness of this villain, who in the middle of the town, in the middle of the street, wanted to take from me the purse your worship bade him give me.”
看这里，先生州长，这个恶棍的无耻和胆大，竟然在镇上、街上要夺走我从您那里受命得到的钱包。

“And did he take it?” asked the governor.
“他夺走了吗？”州长问道。

“Take it!” said the woman; “I’d let my life be taken from me sooner than the purse. —
“夺走！”那女人说，“我宁可损失生命，也不会放弃钱包。 —

A pretty child I’d be! It’s another sort of cat they must throw in my face, and not that poor scurvy knave. —
他该扔别的东西来羞辱我，而不是这个可怜的无赖。 —

Pincers and hammers, mallets and chisels would not get it out of my grip; —
夹子、锤子、榔头和凿子都无法从我的手中夺走； —

no, nor lions’ claws; the soul from out of my body first!”
不，就算是狮子的爪子也不行；要从我的手中得到，得先从我的身体取走我的灵魂！”

“She is right,” said the man; “I own myself beaten and powerless; —
“她说得对，”那男人说，“我承认自己被打败了，无能为力； —

I confess I haven’t the strength to take it from her; —
我承认我没办法从她手中夺走； —

” and he let go his hold of her.
”他放开了她。

Upon this the governor said to the woman, “Let me see that purse, my worthy and sturdy friend. —
于是州长对那女人说：“让我看看那个钱包，我值得尊敬的坚强朋友。 —

” She handed it to him at once, and the governor returned it to the man, and said to the unforced mistress of force, “Sister, if you had shown as much, or only half as much, spirit and vigour in defending your body as you have shown in defending that purse, the strength of Hercules could not have forced you. —
” 她立即把钱包交给他，州长把钱包还给了那个男人，然后对这个毫不摧毁的主人说：“妹妹，如果你在保护你的身体上表现出跟你保护那个钱包一样多、甚至一半的精神和力量，就是海克力士的力量也无法迫使你。 —

Be off, and God speed you, and bad luck to you, and don’t show your face in all this island, or within six leagues of it on any side, under pain of two hundred lashes; —
走开，上帝保佑你，诅咒你，不要再出现在这个岛上的任何地方，或距离它六里之内的任何一边，否则要受到两百鞭责； —

be off at once, I say, you shameless, cheating shrew.”
我告诉你，你这个无耻、欺诈的刁妇立刻滚蛋。”

The woman was cowed and went off disconsolately, hanging her head; —
那女人感到胆怯，灰溜溜地走开，低着头； —

and the governor said to the man, “Honest man, go home with your money, and God speed you; —
州长对那男人说：“诚实的人，拿着你的钱回家吧，愿上帝保佑你； —

and for the future, if you don’t want to lose it, see that you don’t take it into your head to yoke with anybody. —
对你说的，为了将来，如果你不想失去它，要看着自己不要决定与任何人共事。 —

” The man thanked him as clumsily as he could and went his way, and the bystanders were again filled with admiration at their new governor’s judgments and sentences.
那人尽可能笨拙地向他道谢，然后走开了，旁观者们再次对他们新的总督的判断和判决感到钦佩。

Next, two men, one apparently a farm labourer, and the other a tailor, for he had a pair of shears in his hand, presented themselves before him, and the tailor said, “Senor governor, this labourer and I come before your worship by reason of this honest man coming to my shop yesterday (for saving everybody’s presence I’m a passed tailor, God be thanked), and putting a piece of cloth into my hands and asking me, ‘Senor, will there be enough in this cloth to make me a cap? —
接着，两个人，一个显然是农民，另一个是裁缝，因为他手里拿着一把剪刀，出现在他面前，裁缝说：“总督大人，这位劳动者和我是因为这位诚实人昨天来到我的店里（为了避免冒犯大家，我是一个过去的裁缝，感谢上帝），把一块布交到我手里，问我‘大人，这块布够做一顶帽子吗？’ —

’ Measuring the cloth I said there would. —
我量了布料，我说够了。 —

He probably suspected — as I supposed, and I supposed right — that I wanted to steal some of the cloth, led to think so by his own roguery and the bad opinion people have of tailors; —
他可能怀疑 — 就像我所想的那样，我猜对了 — 他认为我想偷一些布料，被他自己的恶意和人们对裁缝的不良印象所误导； —

and he told me to see if there would he enough for two. —
他告诉我看看够做两顶吗。 —

I guessed what he would be at, and I said ‘yes. —
我猜到他的用意，我说‘可以’. —

’ He, still following up his original unworthy notion, went on adding cap after cap, and I ‘yes’ after ‘yes,’ until we got as far as five. —
他仍然坚持他最初不值得信任的想法，一顶一顶地加，我一次又一次地‘可以’，直到我们做到了五顶。 —

He has just this moment come for them; I gave them to him, but he won’t pay me for the making; —
他刚才来要了这些帽子；我给了他，但他不为制作付款； —

on the contrary, he calls upon me to pay him, or else return his cloth.”
相反，他要求我付款，否则归还他的布料。”

“Is all this true, brother?” said Sancho.
“这一切都是真的吗，兄弟？”桑丘说。

“Yes,” replied the man; “but will your worship make him show the five caps he has made me?”
“是的，”那人回答说；“但是阁下是否会让他展示他做给我的五顶帽子？”

“With all my heart,” said the tailor; —
“我当然愿意，”裁缝说； —

and drawing his hand from under his cloak he showed five caps stuck upon the five fingers of it, and said, “there are the caps this good man asks for; —
他从斗篷下伸出手，并展示了五顶帽子插在手指上，并说：“这位好心人要求的帽子在这里； —

and by God and upon my conscience I haven’t a scrap of cloth left, and I’ll let the work be examined by the inspectors of the trade.”
而且我发誓，我的良心清白，我一丝布料都没有剩下，我会让行业检查员来检查这项工作。”

All present laughed at the number of caps and the novelty of the suit; —
在帽子的数量和奇特的服装上，所有在场的人都笑了； —

Sancho set himself to think for a moment, and then said, “It seems to me that in this case it is not necessary to deliver long-winded arguments, but only to give off-hand the judgment of an honest man; —
桑丘沉思了一会儿，然后说：“我觉得在这种情况下，不需要做冗长的辩论，只需要一个诚实人的即兴判断； —

and so my decision is that the tailor lose the making and the labourer the cloth, and that the caps go to the prisoners in the gaol, and let there be no more about it.”
所以我的决定是裁缝损失制作费用，劳工损失布料，帽子送给监狱里的囚犯，就此打住，不要再多说了。”

If the previous decision about the cattle dealer’s purse excited the admiration of the bystanders, this provoked their laughter; —
如果之前关于牛贩的钱包的决定引起了旁观者的赞叹，那么这个决定引发了他们的笑声； —

however, the governor’s orders were after all executed. —
然而，总督的命令最终还是执行了。 —

All this, having been taken down by his chronicler, was at once despatched to the duke, who was looking out for it with great eagerness; —
这一切被他的编年史学家记录下来，立即被送到了急切期待着的公爵那里； —

and here let us leave the good Sancho; for his master, sorely troubled in mind by Altisidora’s music, has pressing claims upon us now.
在这里让我们离开善良的桑丘吧；因为他的主人，被阿尔蒂西多拉的音乐所困扰，现在急需我们的帮助。