El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote Capítulo XXXVIII the|ingenious|gentleman|Mr|Quixote|chapter|thirty-eight Der geniale Hidalgo Don Quijote Kapitel XXXVIII 独創的なイダルゴ ドン・キホーテ 第XXXVIII章 O Engenhoso Hidalgo Dom Quixote Capítulo XXXVIII The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote Chapter XXXVIII

Capítulo [*] XXXVIII - Que trata del curioso discurso que hizo don Quijote de las armas y las letras chapter|thirty-eight|that|it deals|of the|curious|discourse|that|he made|Mr|Quixote|of|the|arms|and|the|letters Chapter [*] XXXVIII - Which deals with the curious speech that Don Quixote made about arms and letters

Prosiguiendo don Quijote, dijo: continuing|Mr|Quixote|he said Continuing, Don Quixote said:

—Pues comenzamos en el estudiante por la pobreza y sus partes, veamos si es más rico el soldado, y veremos que no hay ninguno más pobre en la misma pobreza, porque está atenido a la miseria de su paga, que viene o tarde o nunca [1], o a lo que garbeare por sus manos [2], con notable peligro de su vida y de su conciencia. well|we begin|in|the|student|by|the|poverty|and|its|parts|let us see|if|it is|more|rich|the|soldier|and|we will see|that|not|there is|none|more|poor|in|the|same|poverty|because|he is|bound|to|the|misery|of|his|pay|that|it comes|or|late|or|never|or|to|what||he may earn|through|his|hands|with|notable|danger|of|his|life|and|of|his|conscience ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||gebunden|||||||||||||||||garbeare||||||||||||| —Since we started with the student regarding poverty and its aspects, let us see if the soldier is richer, and we will see that there is none poorer in the same poverty, because he is subject to the misery of his pay, which comes either late or never [1], or to what he can earn with his own hands [2], with notable danger to his life and his conscience. Y a veces suele ser su desnudez tanta, que un coleto acuchillado le sirve de gala y de camisa [3], y en la mitad del invierno se suele [*] reparar de las inclemencias del cielo, estando en la campaña rasa [4], con solo el aliento de su boca, que, como sale de lugar vacío, tengo por averiguado que debe de salir frío, contra toda naturaleza. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||elements|||||||skin|||||||||||||||||||||||| And sometimes his nakedness is so great that a cut coat serves him as a gala and a shirt [3], and in the middle of winter he usually [*] protects himself from the harshness of the sky, being in the bare countryside [4], with only the breath from his mouth, which, as it comes from an empty place, I have found must come out cold, against all nature. Pues esperad que espere [*] que llegue la noche para restaurarse de todas estas incomodidades en la cama que le aguarda, la cual, si no es por su culpa, jamás pecará de estrecha: que bien puede medir en la tierra los pies que quisiere y revolverse en ella a su sabor, sin temor que se le encojan las sábanas. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||will sin||narrow|||||||||||||to roll over|||||||||||shrink||sheets So wait for him to wait [*] for the night to restore himself from all these discomforts in the bed that awaits him, which, if it is not his fault, will never be too narrow: for he can well measure on the ground the feet he wishes and turn in it at his leisure, without fear that the sheets will shrink. Lléguese, pues, a todo esto, el día y la hora de recebir el grado de su ejercicio [5]: lléguese un día de batalla, que allí le pondrán la borla en la cabeza, hecha de hilas [6], para curarle algún balazo que quizá le habrá pasado las sienes o le dejará estropeado de brazo o pierna. Come|||||||||||||||||||||||||||tassel||||||||||shot|||||||temples|||||||| Let the day and hour of receiving the degree of his exercise [5] come to all this: let it be a day of battle, for there they will place the tassel on his head, made of threads [6], to heal some bullet wound that may have passed through his temples or leave him injured in arm or leg. Y cuando esto no suceda, sino que el cielo piadoso le guarde y conserve sano y vivo, podrá ser que se quede en la mesma pobreza que antes estaba y que sea menester que suceda uno y otro rencuentro [7], una y otra batalla, y que de todas salga vencedor, para medrar en algo; pero estos milagros vense raras veces. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||prosper|||||||| And when this does not happen, but rather the merciful sky keeps and preserves him healthy and alive, it may be that he remains in the same poverty he was in before and that it is necessary for one and another encounter [7], one battle after another, and that he emerges victorious from all, to improve in something; but these miracles are rarely seen. Pero, decidme, señores, si habéis mirado en ello [8]: ¿cuán menos son los premiados por la guerra que los que han perecido en ella? but|tell me|gentlemen|if|you have|looked|into|it|how|less|they are|the|awarded|for|the|war|than|the|those|they have|perished|in|it ||||||||||||Beförderten||||||||verstorben|| But tell me, gentlemen, if you have looked into it [8]: how much fewer are those rewarded for the war than those who have perished in it? Sin duda habéis de responder que no tienen comparación ni se pueden reducir a cuenta los muertos, y que se podrán contar los premiados vivos con tres letras de guarismo [9]. without|doubt|you have|to|respond|that|not|they have|comparison|nor|themselves|they can|reduce|to|account|the|dead|and|that|themselves|they will be able|to count|the|awarded|alive|with|three|letters|of|numeral |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||Ziffer Undoubtedly you will respond that there is no comparison and that the dead cannot be counted, and that the living rewarded can be counted with three letters of numerals [9]. Todo esto es al revés en los letrados, porque de faldas (que no quiero decir de mangas [10]) todos tienen en qué entretenerse [11]. all|this|it is|to the|reverse|in|the|literate|because|of|skirts|that|not|I want|to say|of|sleeves|all|they have|in|what|to entertain themselves |||||||Rechtsanwälte|||||||||||||| All this is the opposite for the learned, because of skirts (which I do not want to say of sleeves [10]) everyone has something to entertain themselves with [11]. Así que, aunque es mayor el trabajo del soldado, es mucho menor el premio. thus|that|although|it is|greater|the|work|of the|soldier|it is|much|lesser|the|prize So, although the soldier's work is greater, the reward is much smaller. Pero a esto se puede responder que es más fácil premiar a dos mil letrados que a treinta mil soldados, porque a aquellos se premian con darles oficios que por fuerza se han [*] de dar a los de su profesión, y a estos no se pueden [*] premiar sino con la mesma hacienda del señor a quien sirven, y esta imposibilidad fortifica más la razón que tengo. But to this, one can respond that it is easier to reward two thousand scholars than thirty thousand soldiers, because the former are rewarded by being given positions that must necessarily be assigned to those of their profession, while the latter can only be rewarded with the very wealth of the lord they serve, and this impossibility further strengthens the argument I have. Pero dejemos esto aparte, que es laberinto de muy dificultosa salida, sino volvamos a la preeminencia de las armas contra las letras [12], materia que hasta ahora está por averiguar, según son las razones que cada una de su parte alega. |||||||||||||||preeminence|||||||||||||||||||||||| But let us set this aside, as it is a labyrinth with a very difficult exit, and let us return to the preeminence of arms over letters, a matter that is still to be determined, according to the reasons that each side presents. Y, entre las que he dicho, dicen las letras que sin ellas no se podrían sustentar las armas, porque la guerra también tiene sus leyes y está sujeta a ellas, y que las leyes caen debajo de lo que son letras y letrados. And among those I have mentioned, the letters argue that without them, the arms could not be sustained, because war also has its laws and is subject to them, and that the laws fall under what is letters and scholars. A esto responden las armas que las leyes no se podrán [*] sustentar sin ellas, porque con las armas se defienden las repúblicas, se conservan los reinos, se guardan las ciudades, se aseguran los caminos, se despejan [*] los mares de cosarios [13], y, finalmente, si por ellas no fuese, las repúblicas, los reinos, las monarquías, las ciudades, los caminos de mar y tierra estarían sujetos al rigor y a la confusión que trae consigo la guerra el tiempo que dura y tiene licencia de usar de sus previlegios y de sus fuerzas. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||clear|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| To this, the arms respond that the laws cannot be sustained without them, because with arms, republics are defended, kingdoms are preserved, cities are protected, roads are secured, the seas are cleared of pirates, and, ultimately, if it were not for them, the republics, kingdoms, monarchies, cities, and the roads of land and sea would be subject to the rigor and confusion that war brings during the time it lasts and has the license to use its privileges and forces. Y es razón averiguada que aquello que más cuesta se estima y debe de estimar [*] en más. and|it is|reason|verified|that|that|that|more|it costs|itself|it estimates|and|it must|to|to estimate|in|more And it is a well-known reason that what costs the most is valued and should be valued more. Alcanzar alguno a ser eminente en letras le cuesta tiempo, vigilias, hambre, desnudez, váguidos [*] de cabeza [14], indigestiones de estómago y otras cosas a éstas adherentes [15], que en parte ya las tengo referidas; mas llegar uno por sus términos a ser buen soldado le cuesta todo lo que a el [*] estudiante, en tanto mayor grado, que no tiene comparación, porque a cada paso está a pique de perder la vida. to reach|someone|to|to be|eminent|in|letters|to him|it costs|time|vigils|hunger|nakedness|fainting|of|head|indigestions|of|stomach|and|other|things|to|these|adhering|that|in|part|already|them|I have|referred|but|to reach|one|by|his|terms|to|to be|good|soldier|to him|it costs|everything|that|that|to|the|student|in|so much|greater|degree|than|not|it has|comparison|because|at|every|step|he is|at|risk|of|to lose|the|life ||||einem anderen|||||||||Schwäche|||Verdauungsstörungen|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| For someone to become eminent in letters, it costs them time, sleepless nights, hunger, nakedness, fainting spells, stomach indigestions, and other related issues, which I have partially already mentioned; but for someone to reach the status of being a good soldier, it costs them everything that it costs the student, to an even greater degree, which is incomparable, because at every step they are on the brink of losing their life. Y ¿qué temor de necesidad y pobreza puede llegar ni fatigar al estudiante, que llegue al que tiene un soldado que, hallándose cercado en alguna fuerza [16] y estando de posta o guarda en algún revellín o caballero [17], siente que los enemigos están minando hacia la parte donde él está, y no puede apartarse de allí por ningún caso, ni huir el peligro que de tan cerca le amenaza? and|what|fear|of|necessity|and|poverty|it can|to reach|nor|to fatigue|to the|student|that|he reaches|to the|that|he has|a|soldier|that|finding himself|surrounded|in|some|force|and|being|of|post|or|guard|in|some|outwork|or|knight|he feels|that|the|enemies|they are|mining|towards|the|part|where|he|he is|and|not|he can|to move away|from|there|for|no|case|nor|to flee|the|danger|that|from|so|close|to him|it threatens ||||||||||||||||||||||umzingelt||||||||||||revellín||||||||minando||||||||||||||||||||||||| And what fear of need and poverty can reach or fatigue the student, compared to that of a soldier who, being surrounded in some stronghold and on guard in some bastion or outpost, feels that the enemies are tunneling towards the place where he is, and cannot move away from there for any reason, nor escape the danger that threatens him so closely? Solo lo que puede hacer es dar noticia a su capitán de lo que pasa, para que lo remedie con alguna contramina [18], y él estarse quedo, temiendo y esperando cuándo improvisamente ha de subir a las nubes sin alas y bajar al profundo sin su voluntad. only|that|that|he can|to do|it is|to give|news|to|his|captain|of|what|that|it happens|in order to|that|it|he remedies|with|some|countermining|and|he|to remain|still|fearing|and|waiting|when|unexpectedly|he has|to|to rise|to|the|clouds|without|wings|and|to descend|to the|deep|without|his|will ||||||||||||||||||beheben|||Gegengift|||||||||plötzlich||||||||||||||| All he can do is inform his captain of what is happening, so that he can remedy it with some counter-mine, while he remains still, fearing and waiting for when he will suddenly rise to the clouds without wings and fall into the depths against his will. Y si este parece pequeño peligro, veamos si le iguala o hace ventaja [*] el de embestirse dos galeras por las proas en mitad del mar espacioso [*], las cuales enclavijadas y trabadas no le queda al soldado más espacio del que concede [*] dos pies de tabla del espolón [19]; y con todo esto, viendo que tiene delante de sí tantos ministros de la muerte que le amenazan cuantos cañones de artillería se asestan de la parte contraria, que no distan de su cuerpo una lanza, y viendo que al primer descuido de los pies iría a visitar los profundos senos de Neptuno, y con [*] todo esto, con intrépido corazón, llevado de la honra que le incita [20], se pone a ser blanco de tanta arcabucería [21] y procura pasar por tan estrecho paso al bajel contrario. |||||||||||||||to ram|||||bows||||||||locked||||||||||||||||||spike||||||||||||||||||||||||deal|||||||distance||||||||||||||||||||breasts||||||||||||||||incites||||||||gunpowder factory|||||||||ship| And if this seems a small danger, let us see if it equals or gives an advantage [*] to the act of ramming two galleys head-on in the midst of the spacious sea [*], which, locked and fastened, leaves the soldier no more space than what is granted [*] by two feet of the prow's board [19]; and with all this, seeing that he has so many ministers of death threatening him as there are artillery cannons aimed from the opposite side, which are not a lance's distance from his body, and seeing that at the first misstep of his feet he would go to visit the deep bosoms of Neptune, and with [*] all this, with an intrepid heart, driven by the honor that incites him [20], he makes himself a target for so much gunfire [21] and tries to pass through such a narrow passage to the opposing vessel. Y lo que más es de admirar: que apenas uno ha caído donde no se podrá levantar hasta la fin del mundo, cuando otro ocupa su mesmo lugar; y si este también cae en el mar, que como a enemigo le aguarda, otro y otro le sucede, sin dar tiempo al tiempo de sus muertes [*]: valentía y atrevimiento el mayor que se puede hallar en todos los trances de la guerra. And what is most admirable: that hardly one has fallen where he cannot rise until the end of the world, when another takes his very place; and if this one also falls into the sea, which awaits him as an enemy, another and another follows, without giving time for the time of their deaths [*]: bravery and daring the greatest that can be found in all the trials of war. Bien hayan aquellos benditos siglos que carecieron de la espantable furia de aquestos endemoniados instrumentos de la artillería [22], a cuyo inventor tengo para mí que en el infierno se le está dando el premio de su diabólica invención, con la cual dio causa que un infame y cobarde brazo quite la vida a un valeroso caballero, y que sin saber cómo o por dónde, en la mitad del coraje y brío que enciende y anima a los valientes pechos, llega una desmandada bala (disparada de quien quizá huyó y se espantó del resplandor que hizo el fuego al disparar de la maldita máquina) y corta y acaba [*] en un instante los pensamientos y vida de quien la merecía gozar luengos siglos [23]. |||blessed|||lacked||||||these|demonic||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||unruly||||||fled||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Blessed be those blessed centuries that lacked the frightful fury of these demonic instruments of artillery [22], to whose inventor I believe that in hell he is being rewarded for his diabolical invention, with which he caused an infamous and cowardly arm to take the life of a valiant knight, and that without knowing how or from where, in the midst of the courage and spirit that ignites and animates the brave hearts, an unruly bullet (fired by someone who perhaps fled and was frightened by the brightness that the fire made when firing from the cursed machine) cuts short and ends [*] in an instant the thoughts and life of one who deserved to enjoy long centuries [23]. Y así, considerando esto, estoy por decir que en el alma me pesa de haber tomado este ejercicio de caballero andante en edad tan detestable como es esta en que ahora vivimos; porque aunque a mí ningún peligro me pone miedo, todavía me pone recelo pensar si la pólvora y el estaño [24] me han de quitar la ocasión de hacerme famoso y conocido por el valor de mi brazo y filos de mi espada, por todo lo descubierto de la tierra. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||tin||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| And so, considering this, I am inclined to say that in my soul I regret having taken this exercise of knight-errant at such a detestable age as this in which we now live; because although no danger frightens me, I still feel apprehensive thinking if gunpowder and tin [24] will take away the opportunity to make myself famous and known for the valor of my arm and the edges of my sword, throughout all the uncovered land. Pero haga el cielo lo que fuere servido, que tanto seré más estimado, si salgo con lo que pretendo, cuanto a mayores peligros me he puesto que se pusieron los caballeros andantes de los pasados siglos. but|let it be|the|sky|what|that|it may be|served|that|so much|I will be|more|esteemed|if|I go out|with|what|that|I intend|as much as|to|greater|dangers|myself|I have|placed|than|themselves|they put|the|knights|errant|of|the|past|centuries But let heaven do what it will, for I will be all the more esteemed if I achieve what I intend, as much as I have put myself in greater dangers than those faced by the knights-errant of past centuries.

Todo este largo preámbulo [25] dijo don Quijote en tanto que los demás cenaban [*], olvidándose de llevar bocado a la boca, puesto que algunas veces le había dicho Sancho Panza que cenase [*], que después habría lugar para decir todo lo que quisiese. all|this|long|preamble|he said|sir|Quixote|while|as much|that|the|others|they were having dinner|forgetting|to|to bring|bite|to|the|mouth|since|that|some|times|to him|he had|said|Sancho|Panza|that|he should have dinner|that|after|there would be|place|to|to say|everything|what|that|he wanted ||||||||||||aßen||||||||||||||||||zu Abend essen|||||||||| All this long preamble [25] said Don Quixote while the others were having dinner [*], forgetting to take a bite, since Sancho Panza had sometimes told him to eat [*], as there would be time later to say everything he wanted. En los que escuchado le habían sobrevino nueva lástima de ver que hombre que al parecer tenía buen entendimiento y buen discurso en todas las cosas que trataba [*], le hubiese perdido tan rematadamente en tratándole de su negra y pizmienta [*] caballería [26]. in|those|whom|having listened|to him|they had|there came|new|pity|to|to see|that|man|who|to the|appearance|he had|good|understanding|and|good|discourse|in|all|the|things|that|he dealt with|to him|he had|lost|so|utterly|in|treating him|of|his|black|and|speckled|knighthood ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||rematadamente||trataba|||||pizmienta| Those who had listened to him felt a new pity upon seeing that a man who apparently had good understanding and good discourse in all matters he discussed [*], had been so utterly lost in talking about his dark and peppery [*] knighthood [26]. El cura le dijo que tenía mucha razón en todo cuanto había dicho en favor de las armas, y que él, aunque letrado y graduado [27], estaba de su mesmo parecer. the|priest|to him|he said|that|he had|a lot of|reason|in|everything|as much as|he had|said|in|favor|of|the|arms|and|that|he|although|educated|and|graduated|he was|of|his|same|opinion The priest told him that he was very right in everything he had said in favor of arms, and that he, although learned and graduated [27], was of the same opinion.

Acabaron de cenar [*], levantaron los manteles, y en tanto que la ventera, su hija y Maritornes aderezaban el camaranchón de don Quijote de la Mancha, donde habían determinado que aquella noche las mujeres solas en él se recogiesen, don Fernando rogó al cautivo les contase el discurso de su vida, porque no podría ser sino que fuese peregrino y gustoso, según las muestras que había comenzado a dar, viniendo en compañía de Zoraida. they finished|to|to dine|they lifted|the|tablecloths|and|in|while|that|the|innkeeper|her|daughter|and|Maritornes|they prepared|the|large room|of|Mr|Quixote|of|the|Mancha|where|they had|determined|that|that|night|the|women|alone|in|it|themselves|they would gather|Mr|Fernando|he begged|the|captive|to them|to tell|the|discourse|of|his|life|because|not|it could|to be|but|that|he was|pilgrim|and|pleasant|according to|the|signs|that|he had|begun|to|to give|coming|in|company|of|Zoraida ||||||||||||||||vorbereiteten|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| They had just finished dinner [*], lifted the tablecloths, and while the innkeeper, his daughter, and Maritornes prepared the room of Don Quixote de la Mancha, where they had decided that that night the women would gather alone, Don Fernando asked the captive to tell them the story of his life, for it could only be that it was a wandering and pleasant one, according to the signs he had begun to show, coming in the company of Zoraida. A lo cual respondió el cautivo que de muy buena gana haría lo que se le mandaba, y que solo temía que el cuento no había de ser tal que les diese el gusto que él deseaba, pero que, con todo eso, por no faltar en obedecelle, le contaría. to|it|which|he responded|the|captive|that|of|very|good|willingness|he would do|what|that|to|him|commanded|and|that|only|he feared|that|the|tale|not|it had|to|to be|such|that|to them|it would give|the|pleasure|that|he|desired|but|that|with|all|that|for|not|to fail|to|to obey him|he|he would tell ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||zählte To which the captive replied that he would gladly do what was asked of him, and that he only feared that the tale would not be such as to give them the pleasure he desired, but that, despite that, in order not to fail in obeying, he would tell it. El cura y todos los demás se lo agradecieron, y de nuevo se lo rogaron; y él, viéndose rogar de tantos, dijo que no eran menester ruegos adonde el mandar tenía tanta fuerza. the|priest|and|all|the|others|themselves|it|they thanked|and|of|again|themselves|it|||he|seeing himself|to beg|of|so many|he said|that|not|they were|necessary|pleas|where|the|to command|it had|so much|strength The priest and all the others thanked him, and they urged him again; and he, seeing himself urged by so many, said that no pleas were necessary where the command had so much power.

—Y, así, estén vuestras mercedes atentos [28] y oirán un discurso verdadero a quien podría ser que no llegasen los mentirosos que con curioso y pensado artificio suelen componerse [29]. and|thus|let them be|your|graces|attentive|and|they will hear|a|discourse|true|to|whom|it could|to be|that|not|they would reach|the|liars|who|with|curious|and|thoughtful|artifice|they usually|to compose themselves |||||||||||||||||||||||||||sich zusammensetzen —And so, may your graces be attentive [28] and you will hear a true story that might not reach the liars who usually compose themselves with curious and thoughtful artifice [29].

Con esto que dijo hizo que todos se acomodasen y le prestasen un grande silencio; y él, viendo que ya callaban y esperaban lo que decir quisiese, con voz agradable y reposada comenzó a decir desta manera: with|this|that|he said|he made|that|everyone|themselves|they settled|and|to him|they lent|a|great|silence|and|he|seeing|that|already|they were silent|and|they were waiting|what|that|to say|he wanted|with|voice|pleasant|and|calm|he began|to|to say|in this|way ||||||||sich bequem machten|||leihen||||||||||||||||||||||||| With what he said, he made everyone settle down and give him great silence; and he, seeing that they were already quiet and waiting for what he wanted to say, began to speak in a pleasant and calm voice in this manner: