Don Quixote — Chapter 46 in French
By Miguel de Cervantes
andis que Don Quichotte débitait cette harangue, le curé s’occupait à faire entendre aux archers que Don Quichotte avait l’esprit à l’envers, comme ils le voyaient bien à ses paroles et à ses œuvres, et qu’ainsi rien ne les obligeait à pousser plus loin l’affaire, puisque, parvinssent-ils à le prendre et à l’emmener, il faudrait bien incontinent le relâcher en qualité de fou. Mais l’homme au mandat répondit que ce n’était point à lui à juger de la folie de Don Quichotte ; qu’il devait seulement exécuter ce que lui commandaient ses supérieurs, et que, le fou une fois arrêté, on pourrait le relâcher trois cents autres fois. While Don Quixote was talking in this strain, the curate was endeavouring to persuade the officers that he was out of his senses, as they might perceive by his deeds and his words, and that they need not press the matter any further, for even if they arrested him and carried him off, they would have to release him by-and-by as a madman; to which the holder of the warrant replied that he had nothing to do with inquiring into Don Quixote's madness, but only to execute his superior's orders, and that once taken they might let him go three hundred times if they liked.
« Néanmoins, reprit le curé, ce n’est pas cette fois-ci que vous devez l’emmener, et, si je ne me "For all that," said the curate, "you must not take him away this time, nor will he, it is my opinion, let himself be taken away."
En somme, le curé employa de tels arguments, et Don Quichotte fit de telles folies, que les officiers eussent été plus fous que lui s'ils n'eussent point aperçu son manque d'esprit, et ainsi ils jugèrent qu'il valait mieux se laisser apaiser, et même servir de médiateurs entre le barbier et Sancho Panza, qui continuaient toujours leur querelle avec beaucoup d'amertume. In short, the curate used such arguments, and Don Quixote did such mad things, that the officers would have been more mad than he was if they had not perceived his want of wits, and so they thought it best to allow themselves to be pacified, and even to act as peacemakers between the barber and Sancho Panza, who still continued their altercation with much bitterness. Enfin, en qualité d'officiers de justice, ils réglèrent l'affaire par voie d'arbitrage de telle sorte que les deux parties fussent, sinon parfaitement contentes, du moins dans une certaine mesure satisfaites ; car on changea les bâts, mais non les sangles ni les licols ; et quant au heaume de Mambrin, le curé, sous le manteau et sans que Don Quichotte le sût, paya huit réaux pour le bassin, et le barbier fit un reçu et un engagement formel de ne plus rien réclamer désormais et à jamais, amen. In the end they, as officers of justice, settled the question by arbitration in such a manner that both sides were, if not perfectly contented, at least to some extent satisfied; for they changed the pack-saddles, but not the girths or head-stalls; and as to Mambrino's helmet, the curate, under the rose and without Don Quixote's knowing it, paid eight reals for the basin, and the barber executed a full receipt and engagement to make no further demand then or thenceforth for evermore, amen. Une fois ces deux querelles apaisées (c’étaient les plus envenimées et les plus importantes), il ne restait plus qu’à obtenir des valets de Don Luis que trois d’entre eux s’en retournassent, et que l’autre demeurât pour accompagner leur maître où Don Fernand voudrait l’emmener. These two disputes, which were the most important and gravest, being settled, it only remained for the servants of Don Luis to consent that three of them should return while one was left to accompany him whither Don Fernando desired to take him; and good luck and better fortune, having already begun to solve difficulties and remove obstructions in favour of the lovers and warriors of the inn, were pleased to persevere and bring everything to a happy issue; for the servants agreed to do as Don Luis wished; which gave Dona Clara such happiness that no one could have looked into her face just then without seeing the joy of her heart. Zoraïde, sans comprendre parfaitement tous les événements qui se passaient sous ses yeux, s’attristait ou se réjouissait suivant ce qu’elle observait sur les traits de chacun, et notamment de son capitaine espagnol, sur qui elle avait les yeux fixés et l’âme attachée. Zoraida, though she did not fully comprehend all she saw, was grave or gay without knowing why, as she watched and studied the various countenances, but particularly her Spaniard's, whom she followed with her eyes and clung to with her soul. Pour l’hôtelier, auquel n’avaient point échappé le cadeau et la récompense qu’avait reçus le barbier, il réclama l’écot de Don Quichotte, ainsi que le dommage de ses outres et la perte de son vin, jurant que ni Rossinante ni l’âne de Sancho ne sortiraient de l’hôtellerie qu’on ne lui eût tout payé, jusqu’à la dernière obole. The gift and compensation which the curate gave the barber had not escaped the landlord's notice, and he demanded Don Quixote's reckoning, together with the amount of the damage to his wine-skins, and the loss of his wine, swearing that neither Rocinante nor Sancho's ass should leave the inn until he had been paid to the very last farthing. Tout cela fut encore arrangé par le curé, et payé par Don Fernand, bien que l’auditeur en eût aussi offert le paiement de fort bonne grâce. Enfin, la paix et la tranquillité furent si complètement rétablies, que l’hôtellerie ne ressemblait plus, comme l’avait dit Don Quichotte, à la discorde du camp d’Agramant, mais à la paix universelle du règne d’Octavien ; et la commune opinion fut qu’il fallait en rendre grâces aux bonnes intentions du curé, secondées par sa haute éloquence, ainsi qu’à l’incomparable libéralité de Don Fernand. The curate settled all amicably, and Don Fernando paid; though the Judge had also very readily offered to pay the score; and all became so peaceful and quiet that the inn no longer reminded one of the discord of Agramante's camp, as Don Quixote said, but of the peace and tranquillity of the days of Octavianus: for all which it was the universal opinion that their thanks were due to the great zeal and eloquence of the curate, and to the unexampled generosity of Don Fernando.
Pour lui obéir, il se tint debout, et lui dit : « C’est un commun adage, ô belle princesse, que la diligence est mère de la bonne fortune ; et l’expérience a montré, en des cas nombreux et graves, que l’empressement du plaideur mène à bonne fin le procès douteux. Mais, en aucune chose cette vérité n’éclate mieux que dans celles de la guerre, où la célérité et la promptitude, prévenant les desseins de l’ennemi, remportent la victoire, avant même qu’il se soit mis en défense. Finding himself now clear and quit of all quarrels, his squire's as well as his own, Don Quixote considered that it would be advisable to continue the journey he had begun, and bring to a close that great adventure for which he had been called and chosen; and with this high resolve he went and knelt before Dorothea, who, however, would not allow him to utter a word until he had risen; so to obey her he rose, and said, "It is a common proverb, fair lady, that 'diligence is the mother of good fortune,' and experience has often shown in important affairs that the earnestness of the negotiator brings the doubtful case to a successful termination; but in nothing does this truth show itself more plainly than in war, where quickness and activity forestall the devices of the enemy, and win the victory before the foe has time to defend himself. Tout ce que je dis là, haute et précieuse dame, c’est parce qu’il me semble que notre séjour dans ce château n’est plus d’aucune utilité, tandis qu’il pourrait nous devenir si nuisible, que nous eussions quelque jour à nous en repentir ; car, enfin, qui sait si, par le moyen d’habiles espions, votre ennemi le géant n’aura point appris que je vais l’exterminer, et s’il n’aura pu, favorisé par le temps que nous lui laissons, se fortifier dans quelque citadelle inexpugnable, contre laquelle ne prévaudront, ni mes poursuites, ni la force de mon infatigable bras ? All this I say, exalted and esteemed lady, because it seems to me that for us to remain any longer in this castle now is useless, and may be injurious to us in a way that we shall find out some day; for who knows but that your enemy the giant may have learned by means of secret and diligent spies that I am going to destroy him, and if the opportunity be given him he may seize it to fortify himself in some impregnable castle or stronghold, against which all my efforts and the might of my indefatigable arm may avail but little? Ainsi donc, princesse, prévenons, comme je l’ai dit, ses desseins par notre diligence, et partons incontinent à la bonne aventure, car votre grandeur ne tardera pas plus à l’avoir telle qu’elle la désire, que je ne tarderai à me trouver en face de votre ennemi. Therefore, lady, let us, as I say, forestall his schemes by our activity, and let us depart at once in quest of fair fortune; for your highness is only kept from enjoying it as fully as you could desire by my delay in encountering your adversary."