(原版)澳大利亞語文第五冊(cè) LESSON 43

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LESSON 43 SANCHO PANZA AS JUDGE

SANCHO PANZA AS JUDGE

ONE of the most famous books that have ever been written is about a poor though gallant Spanish knight called Don ［1］ Quixote, who set out in search of adventure, and took with him as squire a simple peasant named Sancho Panza.

Sancho served his master faithfully, and was assured by him that he would be rewarded by being made governor of an island. Don Quixote had no means of fulfilling his promise, but he thought that some way of doing so would arise.

The doings and sayings of Don Quixote and his squire gave great amusement to many people. Among these was a duke, who sent Sancho as governor to a small town, telling him that it was an island. At the same time the duke ordered his servants to treat the "governor of the island" with due respect.

The new governor had a huge beard; he was short and thick, and his manners were so unlike those of a Spanish don that the people were very much surprised. But, in spite of his strange appearance and manners, Sancho had common sense which came to his aid under all circumstances ［2］ . He had to try cases at court, and his judgments ［3］ were sometimes wonderfully wise.

The first case brought before him arose out of a quarrel between a farmer and a tailor, each of whom complained of the other. The tailor made his complaint first.

My lord, he said, "this good man came to me yesterday with a piece of cloth. ‘Is there enough here to make a cap?’ asked he. I measured the cloth, and I said, ‘Certainly, sir.’

Now I thought that he thought that I wished to keep back some of the cloth, so when he said, ‘Is there enough for two caps? I again replied, ‘Certainly, sir!’ The gentleman was so pleased that he brought up the number to three and then to five, Not to be beaten, I promised to make five caps from his cloth. To-day the man has come for his caps, but he says they are too small, and that I must either give him back his cloth or pay him for it."

Is this true, good man? said Sancho.

It is, replied the farmer, "but ask Mr. Tailor to show you the caps."

Here they are, called out the tailor, holding up his hand with a cap dangling from each of his four fingers and one from his thumb also. "Every thread of his cloth has been used to make these; that I can vouch ［4］ for."

The people in court all laughed, but Sancho was very grave. After some thought he said, "Let justice be done. The farmer shall lose his cloth, and the tailor shall lose his labour. The caps shall be given to the poor prisoners, and herewith the matter is ended."

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［1 ］ don: Spanish gentleman.

［2 ］ circumstance: Happening, state of affairs.

［3 ］ judgments: Decisions of a judge.

［4 ］ vouch: Swear on oath.