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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:47:36 -0700 |
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diff --git a/29468.txt b/29468.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d14495 --- /dev/null +++ b/29468.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10563 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Story of Don Quixote, by Arvid Paulson, +Clayton Edwards, and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Illustrated by Florence +Choate and Elizabeth Curtis + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Story of Don Quixote + + +Author: Arvid Paulson, Clayton Edwards, and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra + + + +Release Date: July 20, 2009 [eBook #29468] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF DON QUIXOTE*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Jen Haines, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file + which includes the original lovely illustrations in color. + See 29468-h.htm or 29468-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29468/29468-h/29468-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29468/29468-h.zip) + + + + + +THE STORY OF DON QUIXOTE + +by + +ARVID PAULSON and CLAYTON EDWARDS + +With Illustrations in Color by Florence Choate and Elizabeth Curtis + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "DON QUIXOTE INSISTED THAT THE BOAT HAD BEEN SENT BY +MAGIC TO FETCH HIM TO SOME GREAT KNIGHT."--_Page 222_] + + + +The Hampton Publishing Company +New York + +Copyright, MCMXXII, by +Frederick A. Stokes Company + +All rights reserved, including that of translation +into foreign languages + +Printed in the United States of America + + + + +CONTENTS + + VOLUME I + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I WHICH TREATS OF THE CHARACTER AND PURSUITS OF + THE FAMOUS GENTLEMAN, DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA 1 + + II-III WHICH TREATS OF THE FIRST SALLY DON QUIXOTE + MADE FROM HOME 6 + + IV WHICH TREATS OF DON QUIXOTE'S FURTHER + ADVENTURES 14 + + V IN WHICH THE NARRATIVE OF OUR KNIGHT'S MISHAP + IS CONTINUED 20 + + VI OF THE DIVERTING AND IMPORTANT SCRUTINY WHICH + THE CURATE AND THE BARBER MADE IN THE LIBRARY + OF OUR INGENIOUS GENTLEMAN 22 + + VII OF THE SECOND SALLY OF OUR WORTHY KNIGHT, DON + QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA 24 + + VIII-IX OF THE GOOD FORTUNE WHICH THE VALIANT DON + QUIXOTE HAD IN THE TERRIBLE AND UNDREAMT-OF + ADVENTURE OF THE WINDMILLS, WITH OTHER + OCCURRENCES WORTHY TO BE FITLY RECORDED, + INCLUDING THE TERRIBLE BATTLE BETWEEN THE + GALLANT BISCAYAN AND THE VALIANT MANCHEGAN 27 + + X OF THE PLEASANT DISCOURSE THAT PASSED BETWEEN + DON QUIXOTE AND HIS SQUIRE SANCHO PANZA 33 + + XI OF WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE WITH CERTAIN + GOATHERDS 37 + + XII OF WHAT A GOATHERD RELATED TO THOSE WITH + DON QUIXOTE 39 + + XIII IN WHICH IS ENDED THE STORY OF THE SHEPHERDESS + MARCELA WITH OTHER INCIDENTS 41 + + XIV WHEREIN ARE DESCRIBED THE DESPAIRING VERSES + OF THE DEAD SHEPHERD 45 + + XV IN WHICH IS RELATED THE UNFORTUNATE ADVENTURE + THAT DON QUIXOTE FELL IN WITH WHEN HE FELL + OUT WITH CERTAIN HEARTLESS YANGUESANS 47 + + XVI OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE INGENIOUS GENTLEMAN IN + THE INN WHICH HE TOOK TO BE A CASTLE 50 + + XVII IN WHICH ARE CONTAINED THE INNUMERABLE TROUBLES + WHICH THE BRAVE DON QUIXOTE AND HIS GOOD + SQUIRE SANCHO PANZA ENDURED AT THE INN, WHICH, + TO HIS MISFORTUNE, HE TOOK TO BE A CASTLE 51 + + XVIII IN WHICH IS RELATED THE DISCOURSE SANCHO PANZA + HELD WITH HIS MASTER, DON QUIXOTE, TOGETHER + WITH OTHER ADVENTURES WORTH RELATING 55 + + XIX OF THE SHREWD DISCOURSE WHICH SANCHO HELD WITH + HIS MASTER, AND OF THE ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL HIM + WITH A DEAD BODY, TOGETHER WITH OTHER NOTABLE + OCCURRENCES 59 + + XX OF THE UNEXAMPLED AND UNHEARD-OF ADVENTURE + WHICH WAS ACHIEVED BY THE VALIANT DON QUIXOTE + OF LA MANCHA WITH LESS PERIL THAN ANY EVER + ACHIEVED BY ANY FAMOUS KNIGHT IN THE WORLD 62 + + XXI WHICH TREATS OF THE EXALTED ADVENTURE AND RICH + PRIZE OF MAMBRINO'S HELMET, TOGETHER WITH OTHER + THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO OUR INVINCIBLE KNIGHT 65 + + XXII OF THE FREEDOM DON QUIXOTE CONFERRED ON SEVERAL + UNFORTUNATES WHO AGAINST THEIR WILL WERE BEING + CARRIED WHERE THEY HAD NO WISH TO GO 68 + + XXIII OF WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE IN THE SIERRA MORENA, + WHICH IS ONE OF THE RAREST ADVENTURES RELATED + IN THIS VERACIOUS HISTORY 71 + + XXIV IN WHICH IS CONTINUED THE ADVENTURE OF THE SIERRA + MORENA 73 + + XXV WHICH TREATS OF THE STRANGE THINGS THAT HAPPENED + TO THE STOUT KNIGHT OF LA MANCHA IN THE SIERRA + MORENA 75 + + XXVI IN WHICH ARE CONTINUED THE REFINEMENTS WHEREWITH + DON QUIXOTE PLAYED THE PART OF A LOVER + IN THE SIERRA MORENA 77 + + XXVII OF HOW THE CURATE AND THE BARBER PROCEEDED WITH + THEIR SCHEME, TOGETHER WITH OTHER MATTERS + WORTHY OF RECORD IN THIS GREAT HISTORY 80 + + XXVIII WHICH TREATS OF THE STRANGE AND DELIGHTFUL + ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL THE CURATE AND THE + BARBER IN THE SAME SIERRA 81 + + XXIX WHICH TREATS OF THE DROLL DEVICE AND METHOD + ADOPTED TO EXTRICATE OUR LOVE-STRICKEN KNIGHT + FROM THE SEVERE PENANCE HE HAD IMPOSED UPON + HIMSELF 83 + + XXX WHICH TREATS OF THE ADDRESS DISPLAYED BY THE + FAIR DOROTHEA, WITH OTHER MATTERS, PLEASANT AND + AMUSING 88 + + XXXI OF THE DELECTABLE DISCUSSION BETWEEN DON QUIXOTE + AND SANCHO PANZA, HIS SQUIRE, TOGETHER WITH + OTHER INCIDENTS 90 + + XXXII-XXXIV WHICH TREATS OF WHAT BEFELL ALL DON + QUIXOTE'S PARTY AT THE INN 91 + + XXXV WHICH TREATS OF THE HEROIC AND PRODIGIOUS BATTLE + DON QUIXOTE HAD WITH CERTAIN SKINS OF RED WINE, + AND BRINGS THE NOVEL OF THE "ILL-ADVISED CURIOSITY" + TO AN END 92 + + XXXVI WHICH TREATS OF MORE CURIOUS INCIDENTS THAT + OCCURRED AT THE INN 95 + + XXXVII IN WHICH IS CONTINUED THE STORY OF THE FAMOUS + PRINCESS MICOMICONA, WITH OTHER DROLL ADVENTURES 98 + + XXXVIII WHICH TREATS OF THE CURIOUS DISCOURSE DON QUIXOTE + DELIVERED ON ARMS AND LETTERS 102 + + XXXIX-XLI WHEREIN THE CAPTIVE RELATES HIS LIFE + AND ADVENTURES 103 + + XLII WHICH TREATS OF WHAT FURTHER TOOK PLACE IN THE + INN, AND OF SEVERAL OTHER THINGS WORTH KNOWING 108 + + XLIII WHEREIN IS RELATED THE PLEASANT STORY OF THE + MULETEER, TOGETHER WITH OTHER STRANGE THINGS THAT + CAME TO PASS IN THE INN 112 + + XLIV IN WHICH ARE CONTINUED THE UNHEARD-OF ADVENTURES + AT THE INN 117 + + XLV IN WHICH THE DOUBTFUL QUESTION OF MAMBRINO'S + HELMET AND THE PACK-SADDLE IS FINALLY SETTLED, + WITH OTHER ADVENTURES THAT OCCURRED IN TRUTH + AND EARNEST 123 + + XLVI OF THE END OF THE NOTABLE ADVENTURE OF THE OFFICERS + OF THE HOLY BROTHERHOOD; AND OF THE GREAT + FEROCITY OF OUR WORTHY KNIGHT, DON QUIXOTE 127 + + XLVII OF THE STRANGE MANNER IN WHICH DON QUIXOTE OF + LA MANCHA WAS CARRIED AWAY ENCHANTED, TOGETHER + WITH OTHER REMARKABLE INCIDENTS 132 + + XLVIII IN WHICH THE CANON PURSUES THE SUBJECT OF THE + BOOKS OF CHIVALRY, WITH OTHER MATTERS WORTHY + OF HIS WIT 137 + + XLIX WHICH TREATS OF HOW OUR KNIGHT IS PERMITTED TO + DESCEND FROM HIS CAGE, AND OF THE CANON'S ATTEMPT + TO CONVERT HIM FROM HIS ILLUSIONS 138 + + L-LI OF THE SHREWD CONTROVERSY WHICH DON QUIXOTE AND + THE CANON HELD, TOGETHER WITH OTHER INCIDENTS 139 + + LII OF THE QUARREL THAT DON QUIXOTE HAD WITH THE + GOATHERD, TOGETHER WITH THE RARE ADVENTURE OF + THE PENITENTS, WHICH WITH AN EXPENDITURE OF + SWEAT HE BROUGHT TO A HAPPY CONCLUSION 142 + + + VOLUME II + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I OF THE INTERVIEW THE CURATE AND THE BARBER HAD + WITH DON QUIXOTE ABOUT HIS MALADY 147 + + II WHICH TREATS OF THE NOTABLE ALTERCATION WHICH SANCHO + PANZA HAD WITH DON QUIXOTE'S NIECE AND HIS + HOUSEKEEPER, TOGETHER WITH OTHER DROLL MATTERS 150 + + III OF THE LAUGHABLE CONVERSATION THAT PASSED BETWEEN + DON QUIXOTE, SANCHO PANZA, AND THE BACHELOR + SAMSON CARRASCO 153 + + IV IN WHICH SANCHO PANZA GIVES A SATISFACTORY REPLY + TO THE DOUBTS AND QUESTIONS OF THE BACHELOR + SAMSON CARRASCO TOGETHER WITH OTHER MATTERS + WORTH KNOWING AND MENTIONING 156 + + V OF THE SHREWD AND DROLL CONVERSATION THAT PASSED + BETWEEN SANCHO PANZA AND HIS WIFE TERESA + PANZA, AND OTHER MATTERS WORTHY OF BEING DULY + RECORDED 159 + + VI OF WHAT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN DON QUIXOTE AND HIS + NIECE AND HIS HOUSEKEEPER; ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT + CHAPTERS IN THE WHOLE HISTORY 161 + + VII OF WHAT PASSED BETWEEN DON QUIXOTE AND HIS SQUIRE, + TOGETHER WITH OTHER VERY NOTABLE INCIDENTS 163 + + VIII WHEREIN IS RELATED WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE ON + HIS WAY TO SEE HIS LADY DULCINEA DEL TOBOSO 167 + + IX WHEREIN IS RELATED WHAT WILL BE SEEN THERE 170 + + X WHEREIN IS RELATED THE CRAFTY DEVICE SANCHO + ADOPTED TO ENCHANT THE LADY DULCINEA, AND OTHER + INCIDENTS AS LUDICROUS AS THEY ARE TRUE 172 + + XI OF THE STRANGE ADVENTURE WHICH THE VALIANT DON + QUIXOTE HAD WITH THE CAR OR CART OF "THE CORTES + OF DEATH" 175 + + XII OF THE STRANGE ADVENTURE WHICH BEFELL THE VALIANT + DON QUIXOTE WITH THE BOLD KNIGHT OF THE + GROVE 178 + + XIII-XIV IN WHICH IS CONTINUED THE ADVENTURE OF THE + KNIGHT OF THE GROVE, TOGETHER WITH THE SENSIBLE + AND TRANQUIL COLLOQUY THAT PASSED BETWEEN THE + TWO SQUIRES 180 + + XV WHEREIN IT IS MADE KNOWN HOW THE KNIGHT OF THE MIRROR + AND HIS SQUIRE EMERGED FROM THEIR ADVENTURE 186 + + XVI OF WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE WITH A DISCREET GENTLEMAN + OF LA MANCHA 187 + + XVII WHEREIN IS SHOWN THE FARTHEST AND HIGHEST POINT + WHICH THE UNEXAMPLED COURAGE OF DON QUIXOTE + REACHED OR COULD REACH; TOGETHER WITH THE HAPPILY + ACHIEVED ADVENTURE OF THE LIONS 190 + + XVIII OF WHAT HAPPENED TO DON QUIXOTE IN THE CASTLE + OR HOUSE OF THE KNIGHT OF THE GREEN COAT, TOGETHER + WITH OTHER MATTERS OUT OF THE COMMON 194 + + XIX IN WHICH IS RELATED THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENAMORED + SHEPHERD, TOGETHER WITH OTHER TRULY DROLL INCIDENTS 196 + + XX WHEREIN AN ACCOUNT IS GIVEN OF THE WEDDING OF + CAMACHO THE RICH, TOGETHER WITH THE INCIDENT + OF BASILIO THE POOR 199 + + XXI IN WHICH CAMACHO'S WEDDING IS CONTINUED, WITH + OTHER DELIGHTFUL INCIDENTS 200 + + XXII WHEREIN IS RELATED THE GRAND ADVENTURE OF THE + CAVE OF MONTESINOS IN THE HEART OF LA MANCHA, + WHICH THE VALIANT DON QUIXOTE BROUGHT TO A + HAPPY TERMINATION 203 + + XXIII OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THE INCOMPARABLE DON + QUIXOTE SAID HE SAW IN THE PROFOUND CAVE OF + MONTESINOS, THE IMPOSSIBILITY AND MAGNITUDE OF + WHICH CAUSE THIS ADVENTURE TO BE APOCRYPHAL 206 + + XXIV WHEREIN ARE RELATED SOME TRIFLING MATTERS, + AS TRIVIAL AS THEY ARE NECESSARY TO THE RIGHT + UNDERSTANDING OF THIS GREAT HISTORY 209 + + XXV WHEREIN IS SET DOWN THE BRAYING ADVENTURE, AND + THE DROLL ONE OF THE PUPPET-SHOWMAN, TOGETHER + WITH THE MEMORABLE DIVINATIONS OF THE DIVINING + APE 210 + + XXVI WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE DROLL ADVENTURE OF THE + PUPPET-SHOWMAN, TOGETHER WITH OTHER THINGS + IN TRUTH RIGHT GOOD 214 + + XXVII WHEREIN IT IS SHOWN WHO MASTER PEDRO AND HIS APE + WERE, TOGETHER WITH THE MISHAP DON QUIXOTE HAD + IN THE BRAYING ADVENTURE, WHICH HE DID NOT + CONCLUDE AS HE WOULD HAVE LIKED OR AS HE HAD + EXPECTED 217 + + XXVIII OF MATTERS THAT BENENGELI SAYS HE WHO READS + THEM WILL KNOW, IF HE READS THEM WITH ATTENTION 220 + + XXIX OF THE FAMOUS ADVENTURE OF THE ENCHANTED BARK 222 + + XXX OF DON QUIXOTE'S ADVENTURE WITH A FAIR HUNTRESS 225 + + XXXI WHICH TREATS OF MANY AND GREAT MATTERS 228 + + XXXII OF THE REPLY DON QUIXOTE GAVE HIS CENSURER, WITH + OTHER INCIDENTS, GRAVE AND DROLL 232 + + XXXIII OF THE DELECTABLE DISCOURSE WHICH THE DUCHESS AND + HER DAMSELS HELD WITH SANCHO PANZA, WELL + WORTH READING AND NOTING 236 + + XXXIV WHICH RELATES HOW THEY LEARNED THE WAY IN + WHICH THEY WERE TO DISENCHANT THE PEERLESS + DULCINEA DEL TOBOSO, WHICH IS ONE OF THE + RAREST ADVENTURES IN THIS BOOK 238 + + XXXV WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO DON + QUIXOTE TOUCHING THE DISENCHANTMENT OF DULCINEA, + TOGETHER WITH OTHER MARVELOUS INCIDENTS 242 + + XXXVI WHEREIN IS RELATED THE STRANGE AND UNDREAMED-OF + ADVENTURE OF THE DISTRESSED DUENNA, ALIAS THE + COUNTESS TRIFALDI, TOGETHER WITH A LETTER WHICH + SANCHO PANZA WROTE TO HIS WIFE, TERESA PANZA 244 + + XXXVII-XXXIX WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE NOTABLE ADVENTURE + OF THE DISTRESSED DUENNA, INCLUDING HER + MARVELOUS AND MEMORABLE TALE OF MISFORTUNE 246 + + XL OF MATTERS RELATING AND BELONGING TO THIS ADVENTURE + AND TO THIS MEMORABLE HISTORY 249 + + XLI THE END OF THIS PROTRACTED ADVENTURE 250 + + XLII OF THE COUNSELS WHICH DON QUIXOTE GAVE SANCHO + PANZA BEFORE HE SET OUT TO GOVERN THE ISLAND, + TOGETHER WITH OTHER WELL-CONSIDERED MATTERS 254 + + XLIII OF THE SECOND SET OF COUNSELS DON QUIXOTE GAVE + SANCHO PANZA 255 + + XLIV HOW SANCHO PANZA WAS CONDUCTED TO HIS GOVERNMENT; + AND OF THE STRANGE ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL + DON QUIXOTE IN THE CASTLE 257 + + XLV OF HOW THE GREAT SANCHO PANZA TOOK POSSESSION + OF HIS ISLAND; AND OF HOW HE MADE A BEGINNING + IN GOVERNING 259 + + XLVI OF THE TERRIBLE BELL AND CAT FRIGHT THAT DON + QUIXOTE GOT IN THE COURSE OF THE ENAMORED + ALTISIDORA'S WOOING 260 + + XLVII WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE ACCOUNT OF HOW SANCHO + PANZA CONDUCTED HIMSELF IN HIS GOVERNMENT 263 + + XLVIII-XVIX OF WHAT HAPPENED TO SANCHO IN MAKING THE + ROUND OF HIS ISLAND 265 + + L WHEREIN IS SET FORTH HOW GOVERNOR SANCHO PANZA'S + WIFE RECEIVED A MESSAGE AND A GIFT FROM THE + DUCHESS; AND ALSO WHAT BEFELL THE PAGE WHO + CARRIED THE LETTER TO TERESA PANZA 267 + + LI OF THE PROGRESS OF SANCHO'S GOVERNMENT; AND OTHER + SUCH ENTERTAINING MATTERS 271 + + LII WHEREIN THREE DELECTABLE EPISTLES ARE READ BY + THE DUCHESS 273 + + LIII OF THE TROUBLOUS END AND TERMINATION OF SANCHO + PANZA'S GOVERNMENT 275 + + LIV-LV OF WHAT BEFELL SANCHO ON THE ROAD; AND OTHER + THINGS THAT CANNOT BE SURPASSED 280 + + LVI-LVII WHICH TREATS OF HOW DON QUIXOTE AGAIN + FELT THE CALLING OF KNIGHT-ERRANTRY AND HOW + HE TOOK LEAVE OF THE DUKE, AND OF WHAT FOLLOWED + WITH THE WITTY AND IMPUDENT ALTISIDORA, ONE OF + THE DUCHESS' DAMSELS 284 + + LVIII WHICH TELLS HOW ADVENTURES CAME CROWDING ON + DON QUIXOTE IN SUCH NUMBERS THAT THEY GAVE + ONE ANOTHER NO BREATHING-TIME 286 + + LIX WHEREIN IS RELATED THE STRANGE THING, WHICH MAY + BE REGARDED AS AN ADVENTURE, THAT HAPPENED TO + DON QUIXOTE 292 + + LX OF WHAT HAPPENED TO DON QUIXOTE ON HIS WAY TO + BARCELONA 297 + + LXI OF WHAT HAPPENED TO DON QUIXOTE ON ENTERING + BARCELONA, TOGETHER WITH OTHER MATTERS THAT + PARTAKE OF THE TRUE RATHER THAN THE INGENIOUS 303 + + LXII WHICH DEALS WITH THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENCHANTED + HEAD, TOGETHER WITH OTHER TRIVIAL MATTERS WHICH + CANNOT BE LEFT UNTOLD 305 + + LXIII THE MISHAP THAT BEFELL SANCHO PANZA THROUGH + THE VISIT TO THE GALLEYS 310 + + LXIV TREATING OF THE ADVENTURE WHICH GAVE DON QUIXOTE + MORE UNHAPPINESS THAN ALL THAT HAD HITHERTO + BEFALLEN HIM 313 + + LXV WHEREIN IS MADE KNOWN WHO THE KNIGHT OF THE + WHITE MOON WAS; LIKEWISE OTHER EVENTS 316 + + LXVI-LXVII OF THE RESOLUTION WHICH DON QUIXOTE + FORMED TO TURN SHEPHERD AND TAKE TO A LIFE IN + THE FIELDS WHILE THE YEAR FOR WHICH HE HAD + GIVEN HIS WORD WAS RUNNING ITS COURSE; WITH + OTHER EVENTS TRULY DELECTABLE AND HAPPY 317 + + LXVIII OF THE BRISTLY ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE 319 + + LXIX OF THE STRANGEST AND MOST EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE + THAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE IN THE WHOLE COURSE OF + THIS GREAT HISTORY 323 + + LXX WHICH FOLLOWS CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE AND DEALS WITH + MATTERS INDISPENSABLE FOR THE CLEAR COMPREHENSION + OF THIS HISTORY 328 + + LXXI OF WHAT PASSED BETWEEN DON QUIXOTE AND HIS + SQUIRE SANCHO ON THE WAY TO THEIR VILLAGE 331 + + LXXII-LXXIII OF THE OMENS DON QUIXOTE HAD AS HE ENTERED + HIS OWN VILLAGE; AND OTHER INCIDENTS THAT + EMBELLISH AND GIVE A COLOR TO THIS GREAT HISTORY 334 + + LXXIV OF HOW DON QUIXOTE FELL SICK, AND OF THE WILL HE + MADE, AND HOW HE DIED 337 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + "Don Quixote insisted that the boat had been sent by + magic to fetch him to some great knight" _Frontispiece_ + + FACING PAGE + + "Slashing right and left, dreaming that he had encountered + the giant enemy" 94 + + "He prayed that he should not be left to perish in the cage" 132 + + "With each lash he gave out the most heartrending cries" 334 + + + + +THE STORY OF DON QUIXOTE + + + + +VOLUME I + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WHICH TREATS OF THE CHARACTER AND PURSUITS OF THE FAMOUS +GENTLEMAN, DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA + + +Nearly four hundred years ago, there lived in the village of La Mancha +in Spain an old gentleman of few worldly possessions but many books, +who was given to a hardy and adventurous way of life, and who beguiled +his spare time by reading the many tales of chivalry and knighthood +that were in his possession. + +This old gentleman was a tall, gaunt man of about fifty, with a +lantern jaw and straggling gray hair, and eyes that had a sparkle of +madness in them. His surname was Quixada or Quesada, and though not +rich, he was well known to the country folk and had some reputation in +the community where he lived. + +In his younger days he was a great sportsman and used to get up before +the sun to follow his favorite pursuits of hunting and hawking, but as +he grew older he spent almost all his time in reading books on +chivalry and knighthood with which his library was stocked; and at +last he grew so fond of these books that he forgot to follow the +hounds or even to look after his property, but spent all his time in +his library, mulling over the famous deeds and love affairs of knights +who conquered dragons and vanquished wicked enchanters. + +At the time when Quesada lived, Spain was saturated with this sort of +literature, and everybody wasted much time in reading books which had no +merit or value of any kind and which were full of the most ridiculous and +impossible adventures. On the whole they were the most utter rubbish that +it was possible to print. They told about impossible deeds in the most +impossible language, and were filled with ambitious sentences that meant +nothing under the sun. Senor Quesada spent hours racking his brains to +puzzle out the meaning of something like this: + + "The reason of the unreason with which my reason is + afflicted so weakens my reason that with reason I murmur + at your beauty." + +Or again: + + "The high heavens that of your divinity divinely fortify + you with the stars, render you deserving of the desert + your greatness deserves." + +Poor Senor Quesada could not understand these sentences. Who could? No +man in his right mind certainly, it would have taken a madman to read +any real meaning into them. And he wasted so much time in puzzling +over them that at last he became quite mad and the words in the books +would appear on the walls of his room, written in letters of fire, +with so bright a light that they prevented him from sleeping. From +trying to read a meaning into things that had no meaning whatever, +Senor Quesada was mad--as mad as the books he had been reading. + +Senor Quesada lived with his niece and his housekeeper, both sensible +women who loved him and who were much grieved over the havoc his +books of chivalry had worked with his senses. They believed that to +talk about these books made the old gentleman worse, so they refused +to answer him when he argued about knights and dragons and whether +this fair lady was an enchantress in disguise or only a mortal woman, +and whether that dragon actually did breathe forth fire from his +nostrils, or only sulphur fumes and smoke. His niece and the +housekeeper would run away when he started upon one of his favorite +subjects; so he turned to the society of the village curate, a learned +man for those times, who knew almost as much about books of chivalry +as Senor Quesada himself, and to that of Master Nicholas, the village +barber. And these three friends would sit up until dawn arguing as to +who was the better knight, Sir Lancelot or Amadis of Gaul, and how +these both compared with the Knight of the Burning Sword, who with one +back stroke cut in half two fierce and monstrous giants. + +After he had become thoroughly mad from reading, and more so from such +arguments and discussions, Senor Quesada hit upon the strangest notion +that ever entered the head of a lunatic. He believed that he and no +other was called upon to restore the entire world to the ancient +conditions of chivalry, and bring back the tournaments and the +courteous knights and fair ladies whose like had existed in the times +of the famous King Arthur of Britain. Believing this, it was an easy +step for him to think that the world was still full of giants and +fierce dragons for him to vanquish, and that as a man of honor and +skill at arms he must leave his comfortable home and do battle with +them. To his disordered senses things took on a different appearance +than was actually the case--inns seemed castles, and towers and hills +appeared as giants that moved about in the distance; and Senor Quesada +could hardly wait before he could meet them on horseback and overthrow +them in battle. + +To become a knight and encounter all these strange and visionary dangers +it was necessary for him, however, to have a war horse, a stout lance and +a suit of armor, and he cast about among his possessions to see what he +could find that would answer the purpose--for he had no money to buy +them, and no shop could have furnished them for him if he had possessed +all the money in Spain. In his attic he found an old suit of armor that +had belonged to his great-grandfather and had been lying there for ages, +rotting with rust and mildew in company with old chests, bedding and +other family treasures. He brought it out and scoured it as best he could +and at last made it shine with considerable brightness. But the helmet +was only partially complete, for it lacked a beaver and a visor to +protect his face, so Senor Quesada constructed these from pasteboard and +painted them to resemble the armor as closely as possible. He tried their +strength with his rusty sword, and on the first stroke cut them entirely +away; so he rebuilt them and forbore to try them again, hoping they would +be strong enough, but fearing to make a test that might undo once more +all the troublesome work that he had spent upon them. + +His armor now complete, he looked in his stables for a horse to carry +him, and found there his old hack, whose every bone was visible and +who was more used to carrying sacks of potatoes and onions to market +than to bearing the weight of a knight or a man at arms. This horse +must have been at least twenty years old into the bargain, but to +Quixada's brain it appeared a mettlesome charger and he was quite sure +that his new steed would prove equal to any fatigue or danger that +might come its way in the course of his adventures. And remembering +that all the horses of famous warriors had possessed high-sounding +names he called his horse Rocinante and adopted for himself the title +of Don Quixote of La Mancha, under which name he will be known through +the rest of the present history. + +Another thing, however, remained wanting--a lady-love for whose sake +he might do battle and whose affections might inspire him to endure +all sorts of dangers and hardships. So Don Quixote straightway +searched through his recollection to find one that might answer, and +hit at last upon a peasant girl named Aldonza Lorenzo, with whom it is +supposed he had been in love when he was a young man. And though +Aldonza Lorenzo was more used to winnowing wheat and caring for the +live-stock than to fine phrases and courtly manners, and though she +was no better than any of the other peasant girls who lived in her +locality, Don Quixote believed that she was a lady of high lineage and +noble birth and christened her in his mind Dulcinea del Toboso. And he +was ready to fight with any man in Spain who would not acknowledge +that she was the loveliest and most gifted lady in the world. + +A lance was easily made, and now, possessed of war horse, armor, +weapons, and a glorious lady to do battle for, the poor old man was +ready, so he believed, to go forth and meet the high adventures that +he felt sure were awaiting him. + + + + +CHAPTERS II-III + +WHICH TREATS OF THE FIRST SALLY DON QUIXOTE MADE FROM HOME + + +All things being ready, Don Quixote wished for no delay, and before +sunrise on one of the hottest days of midsummer, he stole from his +bed--taking care not to awaken his niece or his housekeeper--put on +his ancient armor, saddled Rocinante, and with lance in hand and sword +clattering beside him made his way across the fields in the highest +state of content and satisfaction at the ease with which his purpose +had been accomplished. He could hardly wait for his adventures to +begin, or for the chance to try the strength of his mighty arm upon +some wicked warrior or, better still, some dragon or giant; but +scarcely did he find himself upon the open plain before a terrible +thought came to his mind and one that nearly made him abandon his +adventure before it was well begun. He reflected that, according to +the rules of chivalry, he must be dubbed a knight before he could +undertake any battles or engagements, and afterward he must wear white +armor without any device upon his shield, until he had proved by +bravery and endurance his right to these privileges of knighthood. He +consoled himself, however, by resolving to have himself dubbed a +knight by the first person who came along; and as for white armor, he +determined to make his own rival the brightness of the moon by +industrious scouring. + +Comforting himself with thoughts such as these, he pursued his way, +which he allowed his horse to choose for him, thinking that in so +doing he would be guided more surely and more quickly to the +adventures that were awaiting him. And as he rode along he amused +himself by quoting imaginary passages from the books that he felt sure +would be written about his noble deeds--deeds that he would soon +accomplish and that would astonish the entire world by their bravery +and hardihood. At times he would break into wild speech, calling his +lady Dulcinea by name and saying: "O Princess Dulcinea, lady of this +captive heart, a grievous wrong hast thou done me to drive me forth +with scorn and banish me from the presence of thy beauty!" + +And so he went along, stringing such absurd phrases together, while +the hot sun rose and grew hotter, until it would have melted his +brains in his helmet, if he had any. He traveled nearly all day +without seeing anything remarkable, at which he was in despair, for he +could hardly wait, as we have said, for his adventures to begin. + +Toward evening he came in sight of a common wayside inn, and standing at +the door were two peasant girls who looked with astonishment on the +strange figure that was approaching them. To the disordered imagination +of Don Quixote, this appeared to be a castle with four towers, and the +girls who stood in front of the door seemed ladies of noble birth and +peerless beauty. He seemed to see behind them a drawbridge and a moat, +and waited for some dwarf to appear upon the castle battlements and by +sound of a trumpet announce that a knight was approaching the gates. + +At this point a swineherd who was gathering his pigs did happen to +blow a blast on his horn to scare his charges along the road; and +this, appearing to Don Quixote to be the dwarfs signal that he had +expected, he drew near in high satisfaction, while Rocinante, scenting +stables and hay and water, pricked up his ears and advanced at a brisk +trot until the inn door was reached and Don Quixote addressed the +astonished girls who were waiting there. + +The girls, on seeing an armed man approaching them, had turned to seek +safety indoors, when Don Quixote, lifting his pasteboard beaver, said +to them in the most courteous manner he could command: + +"Ladies, I beseech you, do not fly or fear any manner of rudeness, for +it is against the rules of the knighthood, which I profess, to offer +harm to high-born ladies such as you appear to be." + +The girls, hearing themselves addressed in this strange manner and +called ladies, could not refrain from giggling, at which Don Quixote +rebuked them, saying: + +"Modesty becomes the fair, and laughter without cause is the greatest +silliness." + +The strange language and dilapidated appearance of the speaker only +increased the girls' laughter, and that increased Don Quixote's +irritation; and matters might have gone farther if the landlord had +not appeared at this moment to see what might be the matter. When he +beheld the grotesque figure on horseback whose armor did not match and +whose mount was the sorriest one imaginable, it was all he could do to +refrain from joining the girls in their hilarity; but being a little +in awe of the strange knight, whose lance was pointed and whose sword +appeared to have both strength and weight, he spoke courteously to Don +Quixote. He told him that if he sought food or lodging he should have +the best that the inn could afford for man or beast. And the poor old +gentleman, who had been riding in the heat all day without food or +drink, climbed stiffly out of the saddle and suffered Rocinante to be +led away to the stable, cautioning the landlord to take the utmost +care of him, for he was the finest bit of horseflesh in the world. The +host, however, looking over the bony carcass of the old farm animal, +had more difficulty than before in restraining his laughter. + +The girls now perceived that they had a crazy man before them and they +entered into the spirit of the occasion. + +They helped Don Quixote remove his armor; but the helmet they could do +nothing with, for it was tied tightly with green ribbons about his +neck and on no pretext whatever would he hear of cutting them. + +They laid a table for him at the door of the inn for the sake of the +air, and the host brought him a piece of badly soaked and badly cooked +fish and a piece of bread as black and moldy as his own armor. And a +laughable sight it was to see Don Quixote eat--for, having his helmet +on, he could not reach his own mouth, but had to be fed, bit by bit, +by one of the girls; and for drink he would have gone without +altogether if the innkeeper had not brought a hollow reed and putting +one end into the knight's mouth, poured wine through the other. + +While this was going on Don Quixote heard once more the swineherd's +horn and felt entirely happy and satisfied, for he was convinced that +he was in some famous castle and that they were regaling him with +music; that the fish was trout, the bread of the whitest, the peasant +girls beautiful ladies, and the landlord the castle steward. But he +still felt distressed because he had not been dubbed a knight, and +resolved to remedy this fault as soon as his supper was finished. + +As soon as he had eaten his fill, he called the landlord of the inn, +and taking him into the stable, knelt on the ground before him, +declaring that he would not rise until the landlord should grant his +wish and dub him a knight so that he could continue on his adventures +according to the laws of chivalry. For Don Quixote, as we have said, +looked on the landlord as a person of great authority, with full power +to make him a knight if he chose to do so. + +The landlord was something of a wag, and well aware that his guest was +mad. He therefore decided to fall in with his wishes for the sport of +the thing; so he told Don Quixote that he would make him a knight and +gladly, that he too had been a knight errant in his time and wandered +all over Spain seeking adventures, where he had proved the lightness +of his feet in running away and the quickness of his fingers in +picking pockets, until he had swindled and cheated so many people +that he had been forced to retire to this castle of his. Here he lived +on his property--and that of other persons--and he accepted money from +wandering knights errant in return for the kindness and services he +rendered them. And when Don Quixote told him that he never carried +money with him in his travels, the landlord assured him he was making +the greatest mistake in the world and that he must not suppose that, +just because money and clean shirts were not mentioned in the books of +chivalry of the time, the knights did without them; that was not the +case at all. + +At last it was decided that the landlord should dub Don Quixote a +knight on the following morning, and that the night should be spent by +Don Quixote in watching over his armor in prayer and fasting, as was +the custom with knights before they received the title of full +knighthood and could go abroad on their adventures with a strong arm +and untroubled spirit. + +It had been arranged between the landlord and Don Quixote that the +watch over the armor should take place in the courtyard of the inn. +Don Quixote placed his corselet and helmet by the side of a well from +which the carriers drew water, and, grasping his lance, commenced to +march up and down before it like a sentinel on duty; and as the hours +wore by and the march continued, the landlord called other persons to +watch the performance, explaining that the man was mad, and telling of +the ceremony that was to take place in the morning. The passers-by, +viewing the steadiness with which Don Quixote paced to and fro in the +moonlight and the resolute way in which he handled his lance, were +struck with wonder both at the peculiarity of the sight and the +strange form that Don Quixote's madness had taken. + +At last, however, it became necessary for one of the carriers to draw +water from the well. He did not observe the madman and he paid no +attention to the armor until he stumbled across it, when he picked it +up and flung it from him, whereupon Don Quixote raised his lance and +struck him such a blow that he fell senseless on the ground and lay +there stunned. Soon after this another carrier, who did not know of +what had happened to the first one, approached with the same object; +and Don Quixote, thinking him an enemy, also struck at him and laid +his head open with two cuts from his lance in the form of a cross. + +The people of the inn heard the noise of the second encounter and came +running to the spot. When they beheld what had happened and saw the +battered condition of the carriers they commenced to throw stones at +Don Quixote, not daring to approach him; and he, shielding himself as +best he could with his buckler, defied them to draw near on pain of +their lives, and returned the abuse and hard names they showered upon +him. And he shouted at them with such a terrible voice that they +became afraid and left him alone, moved not only by his threats but by +the entreaties of the landlord, who kept calling out to them that the +man was mad and would not be held accountable should he kill them all. + +The freaks of Don Quixote were not to the landlord's liking, and he +desired to get rid of the strange knight with as little trouble as +possible. He approached the well and told Don Quixote that the time +for the ceremony of knighthood had now arrived, and that all the +requirements had been met with by the watch that Don Quixote had +already performed. He pulled out an account-book in which he kept the +record of the straw and grain that he sold and bade Don Quixote kneel +down before him. Then he read out the accounts in a solemn voice as +though he were repeating some devout prayer, and the stable-boy and +the two girls who worked at the inn stood by with a candle, trying to +control their laughter. When the reading was finished the landlord +took Don Quixote's sword and tapped him sharply on the shoulder, +pretending to mutter more prayers while he was doing it, and one of +the girls girded the sword about Don Quixote's waist, saying, as she +did so: + +"May God make your Worship a very fortunate knight, and grant you +success in battle!" + +Thus the ceremony was ended and Don Quixote was satisfied. And then it +came about as the landlord had hoped and expected. The new knight was +so eager to set out on his journey that he saddled his horse and rode +forth at once, without paying his bill for his supper; and the +landlord was so glad to see the last of him that he made no objection +to this, thinking himself lucky to have got rid of the knight so +cheaply, and he closed the door behind him as quickly as possible, +thanking his lucky stars that Don Quixote was gone. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WHICH TREATS OF DON QUIXOTE'S FURTHER ADVENTURES + + +It was dawn when Don Quixote quitted the inn. He decided to return +home to provide himself with money, shirts, and a squire, as the +innkeeper had suggested, and so he turned his horse's head toward his +village. + +He had not gone far, however, when he heard a feeble cry from the +depths of a thicket on the roadside, as of some one in pain. He paused +to thank Heaven for having favored him with this opportunity of +fulfilling the obligation he had undertaken and gathering the fruit of +his ambition; for he was certain that he had been called on from above +to give aid and protection to some one in dire need. He quickly turned +Rocinante in the direction from which the cries seemed to come; and he +had gone but a few paces into the wood when he saw a youth, stripped +to the waist and tied to a tree, being flogged in a merciless way by a +powerful farmer. All the while the boy was crying out in his agony: "I +won't do it again, master! I won't do it again! I promise I'll take +better care of the sheep hereafter!" + +When Don Quixote saw what was going on he became most indignant. + +"Discourteous knight," he commanded in angry tones, "it ill becomes +you to assail one who cannot defend himself! Mount your steed and take +your lance! I will make you know that you are behaving like a coward!" + +The farmer looked up and saw Don Quixote in full armor, brandishing a +lance over his head. He gave himself up for dead, then, and answered +meekly: + +"Sir knight, the youth I am chastising is my servant. I employ him to +watch a flock of sheep, and he is so careless that he loses one for me +every day. And when I punish him for being careless, he accuses me of +being a miser, saying that I do it that I might escape paying him the +wages I owe him. That, I swear, is a sinful lie!" + +But the farmer's defense only angered Don Quixote all the more. He +threatened to run the man through with his lance if he did not release +the boy at once and pay him every penny he owed him in wages. Don +Quixote then helped the lad to add up how much nine months' wages at +seven reals a month might be, and found that it would make sixty-three +reals; and the farmer was given his choice between paying his debt and +dying upon the spot. The farmer replied, trembling with fear, that the +sum was not so great and asked Don Quixote to take into account and +deduct three pairs of shoes he had given the boy and a real for two +blood-lettings when he was sick. But Don Quixote would not listen to +this at all. He declared that the shoes and the blood-lettings had +already been paid for by the blows the farmer had given the boy +without cause, for, said he, "If he spoiled the leather of the shoes +you paid for, you have damaged that of his body; and if the barber +took blood from him when he was sick, you have drawn it when he was +sound; so on that score he owes you nothing." + +When the farmer had heard his final judgment pronounced, he commenced +to wail that he had no money about him, and pleaded with Don Quixote +to let Andres, the lad, come home with him, when he would pay him real +by real. Upon hearing this Andres turned to our knight errant and +warned him that once he had departed his master would flay him like a +Saint Bartholomew; but Don Quixote reassured him, saying now that his +master had sworn to him by the knighthood that he, Don Quixote, had +conferred upon him, justice would be done, and he himself would +guarantee the payment. + +The youth had his doubts, however, and he dared to correct Don +Quixote. + +"Consider what you say, Senor," he said. "This master of mine is not a +knight; he is simply Juan Haldudo the Rich, of Quintanar." + +To this Don Quixote replied that it mattered little; and the farmer +again swore by all the knighthoods in the world to pay the lad as he +had promised if he only came home. + +"See that you do as you have sworn," said Don Quixote, "for if you do +not, by the same oath I swear to come back and hunt you out and punish +you; and I shall find you though you should lie closer than a lizard! +If you desire to know who it is lays this command upon you, that you +may be more firmly bound to obey it, know that I am the valorous Don +Quixote of La Mancha, the undoer of wrongs and injustices. And so, God +be with you! But keep in mind what you have promised and sworn on +pain of those penalties that have been already declared to you!" + +With these words he gave his steed the spur and rode away in a +triumphant gallop, and was soon out of sight and reach. Now, when the +farmer had convinced himself that the undoer of wrongs and injustices +had entirely disappeared, he decided to give payment to the lad, +Andres, then and there, without waiting till he came home; and so he +tied him again to the tree and beat him until he was nearly dead. + +"Your valiant knight has made me realize an affection for you hitherto +unknown to me. I shall give you added payment for that. Now go and +look for him!" he remarked, as he gave him a last blow and untied him. +And while the poor boy went off weeping, the lusty farmer stood there +and laughed. + +Thus it was that our noble knight righted _that_ wrong. Don Quixote, +however, was thoroughly satisfied with what he had done. He thought +himself a most heroic figure and felt that he had made a most +auspicious beginning in his knighthood. And as he was taking the road +toward his village, utterly content with his own behavior, he said to +himself: "Well mayest thou this day call thyself fortunate above all +on earth, O Dulcinea del Toboso, fairest of the fair! since it has +fallen to thy lot to hold subject and submissive to thy will and +pleasure a knight so renowned as Don Quixote of La Mancha, who, as all +the world knows, yesterday received the order of knighthood, and hath +to-day righted the greatest wrong and grievance that ever injustice +conceived and cruelty perpetrated: who hath to-day plucked the rod +from the hand of yonder ruthless oppressor so wantonly lashing that +tender child." + +As he was meditating and speaking in this fashion, he suddenly found +himself at four crossroads. Of course, he had to emulate other knights +who had gone before him, and follow tradition; so he paused in the +manner that all knights do in books, and pondered, and, after much +deep concern and consideration, finally decided to leave it to the +instinct of his horse. The noble animal, realizing that his master had +relinquished his will in his favor, made straight for his own stable, +of course. + +After he had ridden a few miles, Don Quixote encountered six merchants +from Toledo, who were on their way to Murcia to buy silk. They were +accompanied by four mounted servants, and three who were on foot. +Scarcely had he perceived them when his romantic imagination prompted +him to believe that a fresh adventure was intended for him, and he +began to prepare for it with great gestures. He fixed himself +majestically and safely in the saddle, made ready with his lance, and +planted himself firmly in the middle of the road. Here he awaited the +arrival of the traders, who appeared to him to be real knights like +himself; and as they came close to him, he halted them with a broad +sweep of his lance, exclaiming boldly: + +"All the world stand, unless all the world confess that in all the +world there is no maiden fairer than the Empress of la Mancha, the +peerless Dulcinea del Toboso!" + +The thirteen men could not help but stand still at the sound of such +words; nor did they hesitate about thinking that the speaker of them +might be lacking in some of his wits. One of the travelers, however, +either was curious or had a failing for making fun of people, for he +asked Don Quixote to produce the lady before asking him to pay her his +respects. Perhaps he was skeptical of his country's harboring such a +rare beauty unbeknown to him. + +But Don Quixote was not to be fooled. "If I were to show her to you," +he replied, "what merit would you have in confessing a truth so +manifest? You must believe without seeing her; otherwise you have to +do with me in battle. Come on, you rabble! I rely on the justice of +the cause I maintain!" + +The merchant with a sense of humor tried to plead for consideration. +He suggested that a portrait of the fair lady might suffice to bring +about a conversion to his conception of her beauty. But Don Quixote +was determined that they were intolerant blasphemers who simply had to +be thrashed. So he suddenly charged with such vehemence and fury that, +if luck had not interfered and made his gentle steed stumble, the +trader might have been killed. As Rocinante went down, our gallant +hero went over his head, and after he had struck the ground he rolled +for some distance. But when he tried to rise he could not: he was so +weighted down with armor, helmet, spurs, buckler and lance. To make +matters worse, one of the servants, having broken his lance in two, +proceeded to batter him with one of the pieces until it seemed as if +Don Quixote would be able to stand no more. Finally the man grew tired +and went to catch up with his party, which had continued its way. +But Don Quixote still lay on the ground, unable to get up. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +IN WHICH THE NARRATIVE OF OUR KNIGHT'S MISHAP IS CONTINUED + + +When Don Quixote began to realize that he was, so to speak, anchored +to the ground, he turned his thoughts to his usual remedy, his books +on knighthood and chivalry, which, in fact, had been the cause of his +downfall. He decided that the passage to fit his case was the one +about Baldwin and the Marquis of Mantua when Carloto left him wounded +on the mountainside--for that he had been wounded by brigands he had +no doubt. So he began to feign severe suffering, rolling to and fro on +the ground, and repeating words that he had read in his books and +ascribed to Baldwin as he lay wounded; until he finally was discovered +by a peasant from his own village, a neighbor of his, whom he took for +Baldwin's uncle, the Marquis of Mantua. This good neighbor of Don +Quixote's was much concerned over his ravings. He removed the knight's +breastplate, back piece and visor, expecting to see him badly wounded; +but he found no trace of blood or marks upon him. Then he succeeded in +hoisting poor Don Quixote up on his donkey, which seemed the easiest +mount for him, while he tied the pieces of his arms on Rocinante. And +thus they proceeded toward the village. Because of his blows and +bruises, Don Quixote had a hard task sitting upright on the ass, and +he emphasized the romance of his situation by constantly heaving sighs +to heaven. But every time the peasant was driven by these sighs to ask +him his trouble, he replied in the language of a different hero from a +different book. + +It was nightfall when they arrived at Don Quixote's house in the +village. His housekeeper, the curate, and the village barber were all +in confusion, for it was now six days since the old gentleman had +disappeared from La Mancha with his hack and armor. They had just come +to the conclusion that his books were to blame for his dilapidated +mentality, and agreed that they ought to be condemned to be publicly +burned, when the peasant suddenly arrived with Don Quixote himself. +They all ran out to greet and embrace him while he was still on the +donkey--he had not dismounted because he could not. He insisted that +he was severely wounded--through no fault of his own, however, but +that of his horse--and asked that they put him to bed and send for the +wise Urganda to cure him. + +The good people carried him to bed, but still they could find no +wounds, although he insisted that he had been wounded in combat with +ten giants, the greatest and most bloodthirsty in the world. Then he +asked for something to eat; and then fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +OF THE DIVERTING AND IMPORTANT SCRUTINY WHICH THE CURATE AND +THE BARBER MADE IN THE LIBRARY OF OUR INGENIOUS GENTLEMAN + + +Early the next morning the curate and his friend Master Nicholas, the +barber, went to Don Quixote's house to settle their grievance with the +cause of all the mischief--the books of their demented friend. The +curate asked the niece for the keys to the library, and she was only +too willing to let him have them. They all went in, followed by the +housekeeper, who grew faint-hearted as soon as she caught sight of all +the beautifully bound books in the room. She ran out as if beset, +returning immediately with a bowl of holy water and a sprinkler, with +which she implored the curate to sprinkle the room, so that none of +the magicians who might come out of the books would be left to bewitch +her. + +She was afraid that their ghosts might survive and bother her in +revenge for having instigated their banishment from this world. + +The curate was amused by the housekeeper's fear. He asked the barber +to give him the books one by one, as he was afraid that among the many +there must be some innocent ones which did not deserve the penalty of +death. But both the niece and the housekeeper made emphatic and +vociferous remonstrances against such leniency and insisted that a +bonfire be made in the courtyard for all of them. Now, the barber had +a particular leaning toward poetry, and he thought that _such_ volumes +ought to escape the stake; but he was promptly overruled by the +conclusions of the niece, who reasoned that enough harm had already +been done by books. "Your worship," she pleaded with the curate, "had +best burn them all; for if my uncle, having been cured of his craze +for chivalry, should take to reading these pastoral poems, he might +take a fancy to become a shepherd and stroll the woods and pastures, +singing and piping. What would be still worse, however, would be his +turning poet; for that, they say, is both an incurable and infectious +malady." + +Against such logic, strongly supported by the housekeeper, the +arguments of the two men came to nothing; and the barber saw his +favorite form of literature thrust into the heap that was being +prepared in the yard for illumination. Only a few books were saved +from this fate, and they only through the boldness of the curate and +the barber together against the united efforts of the female members +of the party. There was one volume in particular, called "The Tears of +Angelica," which the curate fought for valiantly. "I should have shed +tears myself," he said, "had I seen that book burn." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +OF THE SECOND SALLY OF OUR WORTHY KNIGHT, DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA + + +While the curate was praising the merits of "The Tears of Angelica," +there was suddenly a tremendous outcry and noise from Don Quixote's +bedroom. They hastened to see what was the matter, and when they +reached his room they found him out of bed, sword in hand, cutting and +slashing all around him, raving and shouting, with perspiration +dripping from his body. He imagined that he was keeping at a distance +several bold and daring warriors, and he kept exclaiming that the +envious Don Roland had battered him with the trunk of an oak-tree +because of his illustrious achievements in chivalry. They finally +succeeded in forcibly putting him to bed, having wiped away the +perspiration--which he insisted was blood. He then asked for something +to eat; and when it was brought he fell asleep again. + +After the housekeeper had burned up all the books that were in the +house, the curate and the barber thought it best to safeguard +themselves against their friend's fury when he should find that his +treasures had disappeared. So they decided to wall up and plaster the +room where the books had been. Two days later, when Don Quixote got up +out of bed, he went to look for his library. And it was nowhere to be +found, of course: where the door had been, there was only a wall. He +asked his housekeeper where his books were, as well as the room they +had been kept in; but she had been well instructed and blamed it all +on the devil. His niece told him that she believed a magician had +taken the room away. She had seen him, she declared, come on a cloud, +riding on a serpent; and when he had disappeared, the whole house was +full of smoke and there was no trace of either room or books. The +niece also declared that she had heard the magician say plainly that +he was the Sage Munaton. + +The niece's explanation of the magic was heartily approved of by Don +Quixote. The only doubt he expressed was about the identity of the +magician. "He must have said Friston," he insisted. The housekeeper +here came to the niece's aid and stated that she did not know whether +he had said "Friston" or "Friton" or what he had said; but one thing +she was sure of was that his name ended with "ton." + +This convinced Don Quixote that it was no other than the Sage Munaton, +a great enemy of his, whose vanity could not tolerate the prophecies +that Don Quixote was about to conquer in battle a certain knight whom +Munaton had befriended. + +After this our worthy knight stuck to his house and home for a +fortnight. His two gossiping friends, the curate and the village +barber, did everything in their power to divert his thoughts from his +fixed idea of a revival of the days of knighthood and chivalry. But +the fire in Don Quixote's breast was smouldering: it was an undying +flame. + +Near Don Quixote there lived a man by the name of Sancho Panza. He was +a farm-hand--a poor but honest fellow who had both wife and children. +Sancho Panza was not overburdened with thoughts derived from reading +books of chivalry--the simple facts being that he could neither read +nor write--nor, for that matter, with thoughts of any other kind on +any other subject, for while Don Quixote had lost his wits, Sancho had +never had any. + +To this poor fellow Don Quixote would talk of his adventures by the +hour, trying to persuade Sancho that he was missing much romance by +remaining a farm-hand all his life and that he ought to become the +squire of some noble knight--for instance, himself. And so, after much +persuasion and many promises, Sancho Panza decided to adopt his noble +neighbor as his master. He was told that he must provide himself with +all the necessaries for such an important and lofty position; and he +assured his master that he would bring along his very best donkey. The +mention of this ignoble animal somewhat took the knight aback. He +ransacked his memory for any instance in which any other mount than a +horse had been used, but he could recall none. However, he could not +very well have an attendant on foot, so he decided to take him along, +mounted on his donkey. Of course, there was no doubt in his mind that +an opportunity would present itself ere long to appropriate the horse +of some rebellious knight. + +One night the two sallied forth from the village, unseen. Sancho Panza +sat on his donkey, a picture of grave joviality, already seeing +himself the governor of some conquered island. Don Quixote was taking +the same road he took on his first campaign, the road that led over +the Campo de Montiel. + + + + +CHAPTERS VIII-IX + +OF THE GOOD FORTUNE WHICH THE VALIANT DON QUIXOTE HAD IN THE +TERRIBLE AND UNDREAMT-OF ADVENTURE OF THE WINDMILLS, WITH OTHER +OCCURRENCES WORTHY TO BE FITLY RECORDED, INCLUDING THE TERRIBLE +BATTLE BETWEEN THE GALLANT BISCAYAN AND THE VALIANT MANCHEGAN + + +When they had traveled a few miles they suddenly saw thirty or forty +windmills scattered over a plain. Don Quixote pulled in his horse, his +eyes staring out of their sockets. + +"Look, friend Sancho Panza!" he exclaimed. "Thirty or more monstrous +giants present themselves! I mean to engage them all in battle and +slay them; for this is righteous warfare. It is serving God to sweep +so evil a breed from off the face of the earth!" + +"What giants?" asked Sancho curiously. + +"Those with the long arms," replied Don Quixote. + +"But, your worship," said Sancho, "those are not giants but windmills, +and what seem to be their arms are the sails that make the millstones +go." + +Hearing his squire make such a foolish remark, Don Quixote could not +quite make up his mind whether it was through ignorance, inexperience +in the pursuit of adventure, or cowardice, that he spoke like that. So +he suggested Sancho would better stay away and pray while he, Don +Quixote, fought the giants single-handed. The honor of conquering in +such an unequal combat would be so much greater for him, he thought, +if he won victory all by himself. + +Don Quixote made ready for the attack by commending himself to his +Lady Dulcinea, and then he gave the spur to Rocinante in spite of the +pleas and outcries of Sancho Panza. Just at this moment a breeze began +to blow and the sails of the windmills commenced to move. The knight +charged at his hack's fullest gallop, drove his spear with such force +into one of the sails that the spear was shattered to pieces while the +poor knight fell over the pommel of his saddle, head over heels in the +air, and Rocinante fell stunned to the ground. There they rolled +together on the plain, in a battered and bruised condition. + +Sancho hurried to his master's side as fast as his donkey could carry +him. He was worried beyond words, for he expected to find Don Quixote +well nigh dead, and he was not bent on giving up all hopes of +governing an island, at so early a stage. The misguided knight was +unable to move. Nevertheless Sancho Panza could not resist the impulse +to reprimand his master. "Did I not tell your worship so!" he +admonished. But Don Quixote would hear nothing, answering in a +sportsmanlike fashion: + +"Hush, friend Sancho! The fortunes of war fluctuate, that's all." And +then he added his suspicion that the same Sage Friston, the magician +who had carried off his room of books, had turned the giants into +windmills so that he would be unable to boast of having conquered +them--all out of sheer envy and thirst for vengeance. What he most +bewailed, however, was the loss of his lance. + +With much difficulty Sancho succeeded in placing Don Quixote on his +horse, and they proceeded on their way, following the road to Puerto +Lapice. All the while Don Quixote was scanning the woods along the +roadside for the branch of an oak-tree that he would deem a worthy +substitute for his departed spear. It seemed to him as if he had read +somewhere in one of his books that some knight had done such a thing +in an emergency. + +Having reminded Don Quixote that he must sit straight in the saddle, +Sancho was in turn reminded by an inner feeling that it was time to +eat. His master, however, scorned this idea, and let Sancho indulge by +himself, while he fasted. + +Finally night fell, and they passed it in the woods. There Don Quixote +chose at last the branch of an oak-tree that was to serve him as a +spear, and to one of its ends he attached the head of his broken +lance. All night long he lay looking up into the sky, visioning his +sweet Dulcinea--all for the purpose of emulating other heroes of the +past age of chivalry who could not sleep for thinking of their lady +loves. + +Sancho Panza, unluckily, was stimulated in no such blessed way. He was +supported by no sweet dreams of any beloved one of his. As for his +wife, he had forgotten all about her. But as a matter of truth he had +no memory of anything, having absorbed too much fluid out of his +leather wine-bag, or _bota_, as it is called in Spanish. On getting up +in the morning Sancho Panza was grieved to find the contents of his +_bota_ decidedly diminished. + +Don Quixote bravely maintained his self-inflicted hunger and +swallowed his appetite by thoughts of his past valiant deeds. They +soon started out, and again took the road leading to Puerto Lapice, +whose outlines they sighted in the afternoon. Don Quixote thought this +an opportune time for addressing his squire on the etiquette and laws +of knighthood, as they were now approaching a very hotbed of +adventure. + +"Under no pretext," he admonished the faithful one, "must thou put a +hand to thy sword in my defense unless it be that I am attacked by +mere rabble or base folk; in such case, thou art in duty bound to be +my bodyguard. But if my assailants be knights, thou must in no way +interfere until thou hast been dubbed a knight thyself." + +Sancho promised to obey his master as nearly as his human nature +permitted him. He declared that he liked peace and hated strife, yet, if +he were assailed, he did not believe in turning the other cheek more than +once. Don Quixote saw a certain amount of reason in this; still, he asked +his squire to do his utmost to restrain himself against any such rash +impulse in the case of members of the knighthood. And Sancho Panza swore +that he would keep this precept as religiously as Sunday. + +While our noble knight was thus instructing his squire, there appeared +on the road two friars of the order of St. Benedict. They were riding +mules; and behind them came a coach with an escort numbering nearly +half a dozen men on horseback and two men on foot. In the coach, +traveling in state, was a lady of Biscay, on her way to Seville. + +What could this be except a plot of scheming magicians to steal away +some princess? The friars, innocently traveling by themselves, became +in Don Quixote's eyes a pair of evil magicians, and in his thirst for +adventure the nearer one assumed stupendous proportions. + +"This will be worse than the windmills!" sighed Sancho, who tried in +vain to convince his master of the facts in the case. + +But Don Quixote cut him short. "Thou knowest nothing of adventures," +he said; and that settled it. + +Boldly the knight went forward and took position in the middle of the +road. + +"Devilish and unnatural beings!" he cried in a loud voice, "release +instantly the high-born princess whom you are carrying off by force in +this coach, else prepare to meet a speedy death as the just punishment +of your evil deeds!" + +The mules came to a standstill, their ears erect with astonishment at +such a figure, and the friars gaped in wonder. At last they recovered +sufficiently to declare that they were traveling quite by themselves, +and had no knowledge of the identity of the travelers following behind +them. + +To their meek reply Don Quixote paid no heed, but bellowed forth +furiously: "No soft words with me! I know you, you lying rabble!" And +with his spurs in Rocinante and his lance lifted he rode against the +two friars like a whirlwind, so that if one of them had not quickly +thrust himself off his mule, he would certainly have been torn to +shreds. The other one saved his skin by setting off across the country +at a speed rivaling our hero's charge. + +At this stage Sancho Panza began to realize the full extent of his +position as squire to a successful knight. Over by the roadside he saw +the first friar lying breathless on the ground as a result of his +jumping off his mule in such amazing hurry. He proceeded to strip off +the friar's gown, using as a moral for doing this his own thoughts on +the subject. He reasoned that if he could not share in the honors of +battle, he at least ought to share in the spoils. + +He was intercepted by some of the men attending the carriage. +Unfortunately, they were serious-minded men, and they failed to see +the joke. Sancho Panza gave them his views on etiquette pertaining to +such matters as these; but it would have been much better for him had +he not, for the men set upon him with great fury, beating and kicking +him until he was insensible. They left him lying on the ground and +then helped the pale and trembling friar to mount his mule. As soon as +he was in the saddle, he hastened to join his companion, and the two +of them continued their journey, making more crosses than they would +if the devil had pursued them. + +In the meantime Don Quixote had been trying to persuade the fair +occupant of the coach to return to El Toboso that she herself might +relate to his beloved Dulcinea the strange adventure from which he had +delivered her. + +A Biscayan gentleman, who was one of her attendants and rode a hired +mule, took offense at his insistence to bother her, and a fight was +soon in progress. The Biscayan had no shield, so he snatched a cushion +from the carriage and used it to defend himself. The engagement was a +most heated one, and Don Quixote lost a piece of his ear early in the +combat. This enraged him beyond words; he charged his adversary with +such tremendous force and fury that he began to bleed from his mouth, +his nose, and his ears. Had the Biscayan not embraced the neck of his +mount, he would have been spilled on the ground immediately. It +remained for his mule to complete the damage, and when the animal +suddenly set off across the plain in great fright, the rider plunged +headlong to the ground. + +Seeing this, Don Quixote hastened to the man's side and bade him +surrender, at the penalty of having his head cut off. Absolutely +bewildered, the gentleman from Biscay could say nothing; and had it +not been for the ladies in the coach who interceded with prayers for +his life, the Biscayan might have been beheaded right then and there. +Don Quixote finally agreed to spare his opponent's life on one +condition: that he present himself before the matchless Lady Dulcinea +in the village of El Toboso, and it would be for her to determine his +punishment. The ladies having promised that their protector should do +anything and everything that might be asked of him, our hero from La +Mancha said that he would harm the gentleman no more. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +OF THE PLEASANT DISCOURSE THAT PASSED BETWEEN DON QUIXOTE +AND HIS SQUIRE SANCHO PANZA + + +When Sancho Panza had regained consciousness, he saw his master again +engaged in battle. He thought that the best thing he could do was to +pray, at a distance, for victory; and so he did. Soon he saw Don +Quixote emerge from the struggle as victor! Overcome by emotion and +gratitude to God, he ran to his master's side and fell on his knees +before him. He kissed his hand, then helped him to mount his steed. +All the while he did not forget the island of which Don Quixote had +promised him he should become governor. He expectantly reminded his +master of it now, and Don Quixote said to him that if things continued +to go as they had gone, there would be even greater honors in store +for him; perhaps he would become a king or an emperor, even. + +Much satisfied with this prospect, Sancho lifted himself up into the +saddle and trotted after his master, who was galloping ahead at a wild +pace. Sancho, seeing him disappear in a wood nearby, steered his ass +in the same direction. He yelled to him in a loud voice, begging him +to stop. + +At last our knight condescended to hear his tired squire, and waited +until Sancho caught up with him. Sancho ventured to suggest that they +hide in some church, for he was afraid that by this time the friars +had reported the happening to the Holy Brotherhood; but his master +only laughed at his simplicity and fear; and finally Sancho had to +admit that he never in his life had served so brave and valiant a +knight. However, he begged his master not to overlook his bleeding +ear, and gave him some ointment to apply to the wound. It was only +after a long discourse on the merits of the strange balsam of +Fierabras, which possessed the enchanted quality of healing bodies cut +in twain--he particularly dwelt upon the necessity of fitting the two +separated halves evenly and exactly--that Don Quixote deigned to apply +Sancho's ointment. In doing so he lamented the absence of the famous +balsam. + +Now, Sancho Panza saw untold possibilities for making money out of +such a remarkable remedy as this balsam. He was even willing to +relinquish his rights to any throne in its favor. So what interested +him more than anything else was the recipe for making it. But his +master told him that he would teach him even greater secrets when the +time came, and suddenly changed the subject by cursing the Biscayan, +of whom he had just been reminded by a twinge in his bleeding ear. The +sight of his shattered helmet brought the climax to his anger, and he +swore by the creator and all the four gospels to avenge himself. When +Sancho heard this, he reminded his knight of his solemn oath to the +ladies. Had he not promised them to refer the Biscayan's punishment to +the court of his Dulcinea? Being thus reminded by his squire, Don +Quixote nobly declared his oath null and void, and commended Sancho +Panza for unknowingly having made him conform with the customs of +chivalry. + +Then he repeated his vows of knighthood and swore to capture from some +other knight a helmet as good as his own. Sancho, by this time, was +beginning to wonder whether so many oaths might not be injurious to +Don Quixote's salvation. He suggested, for instance, the possibility +of meeting with no one wearing a helmet, and asked what his master +intended to do to keep his oath in such a case. Don Quixote assured +him that they would soon encounter more men in armor than came to +Albraca to win the fair Angelica. + +Unwittingly Sancho's thoughts went back to his favorite unconquered +island, and again his master admonished him to feel no uneasiness on +that score. He even bettered his chances, explaining that if the +island should disappear or for some reason be out of the question, +there were countless other realms to be considered. He mentioned the +kingdoms of Denmark and Sobradisa as some of them, and added that +these possessed advantages that no island had. These were on the +mainland and did not have to be reached by boat or by swimming. + +Now Don Quixote was beginning to feel hungry, and he asked Sancho +Panza to give him some food out of his _alforjas_. Sancho made +apologies for having nothing but onions, cheese, and a few crusts of +bread to offer such a valiant knight, but Don Quixote explained that +one of the glories of knighthood was self-denial: many a knight had +been known to go without food for a month at a time. However, he +thought it advisable for Sancho to gather dry fruits from time to time +as a safeguard against overwhelming hunger. Sancho feared that his +appetite might crave food of a more substantial kind, and added that +he would garnish his meals with some poultry. His master made no +direct remonstrance to this assertion of his squire, but presumed that +not _all_ knights at _all_ times lived on dry fruit. + +As soon as they had finished their repast, they mounted and continued +their way, anxious to find some inhabited place before nightfall. +When it had grown dark, they found themselves near the huts of some +goatherds, and Don Quixote decided that they should spend the night +there. Sancho had hoped that they would find some house where he could +have a comfortable bed; but his master was pleased to sleep once more +in the open. Each act of self-denial made him a more honored and more +valuable member of the knighthood. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +OF WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE WITH CERTAIN GOATHERDS + + +The goatherds were cordial in their greeting to our knight and his +squire, and invited them to partake of their meal, which was just +being served on a tablecloth of sheepskin spread on the ground. Don +Quixote was given a seat of honor on a trough turned upside down. +Sancho remained standing to serve him, but his master insisted upon +his coming down to his level. To this Sancho objected. He said that he +could enjoy his food much better in a corner by himself, where he +could chew it as he pleased, without having to take into consideration +the formalities inflicted by the presence of one so much above his own +state as his worthy master. He called his master's attention to the +fact that in company like this, a humble servant like himself would +have to suppress all such inclinations as sneezing, coughing and other +natural outbursts, and, worst of all, drinking to his heart's content. +But Don Quixote would listen to no arguments and seated him by force +at his side. + +All the while the goatherds were marveling at our knight's bombastic +speech and flourishing manners, and their interest was only enhanced +when Don Quixote suddenly commenced a vast and poetic discourse on the +golden age of the past. Some parched acorns he had just eaten had +served him as a reminder and this in turn as an inspiration. + +Sancho took advantage of his master's long speech by paying numerous +visits to the leather wine-bag, which had been suspended from a +cork-tree in order to keep the wine cool. + +Hardly had Don Quixote finished his discourse when the sound of music +was heard in the distance, and soon a good-looking youth of twenty +appeared, playing a lute. At the goatherds' request he sang a ballad +of love, which was much favored by Don Quixote. Sancho Panza, however, +felt the necessity for sleep and slyly suggested consideration on his +master's part for the men, who no doubt had to rise with the sun and +attend to their labors. This appeal did not fail to move Don Quixote, +especially since his ear again began to trouble him with pain. One of +the goatherds offered his help. He plucked some leaves of rosemary, +put them in his mouth and chewed them well, then mixed them with a +pinch of salt and put them as a plaster over the wounded ear, safely +attaching it with a bandage. As he had predicted, this proved to be an +excellent treatment. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +OF WHAT A GOATHERD RELATED TO THOSE WITH DON QUIXOTE + + +Just as Don Quixote was about to retire for the night, a young man from +the village came to the hut and informed the goatherds of the death of a +famous villager named Crysostom. The youth said there was a rumor that +Crysostom--who had been a student and had turned shepherd--had died of a +broken heart, for love of the daughter of Guillermo the Rich. In his will +he had directed that he desired to be buried, like a Moor, at the very +place where he first saw her, at the foot of a rock by a spring in the +fields. The clergy of the village had been aroused by this and other +directions in the will, which they considered smacked of heathenism, and +objected to the carrying out of the will. Ambrosio, the bosom friend of +Crysostom--and a student who had also become a shepherd--started an +opposition to the clergy, and was determined that his dead friend's will +should be done. The young man said that the whole village was in an +uproar, and he was looking forward to interesting events in the morning, +when the burial was to take place. + +Don Quixote was eager to learn something of the maiden for whose sake +Ambrosio's friend had died. One of the goatherds, named Pedro, related +to him all that he knew. + +The parents of Marcela--for that was the maiden's name--and of +Crysostom were very rich people, although they were farmers. Marcela's +father and mother died when she was a baby, and she was brought up +under the care of her uncle, a priest in the village. As she grew up, +her beauty was increased with each day that passed, and her uncle had +many offers for her hand in marriage; but she would hear of none of +them. One day, to the consternation of all in the village, she +appeared dressed in the costume of a shepherdess, and declared her +intention of turning to that kind of life. + +Just about this time the father of Crysostom died, leaving his great +fortune to his son, who had just finished his studies in astrology and +other learned subjects in the University of Salamanca. Crysostom +returned home together with his friend and companion Ambrosio, and +both became very well liked in the village. There Crysostom saw +Marcela and fell deeply in love with her, and he, like so many others +before him, decided to turn shepherd in order to be near her +constantly. But she was indifferent to all talk of love; and the sting +of her scorn made him take his life. + +Having ended his story, Pedro advised our knight not to miss the +ceremonies that Crysostom's shepherd friends were to hold at his grave +in the morning. Sancho, who had been greatly annoyed by the goatherd's +talkativeness, was by this time beginning to think aloud that it might +be time for his master to go to bed; and Pedro begged him to sleep in +his hut, as he was afraid that the cold night air might hurt his +wound. + +So Don Quixote retired for the night to the bed given him by his +hosts, and dreamed all night of his beloved one in his native village, +in imitation of other great lovers. Sancho rested, as comfortable and +unemotional as a barrel of settled wine, between his master's charger +and his own peaceful donkey. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +IN WHICH IS ENDED THE STORY OF THE SHEPHERDESS MARCELA WITH +OTHER INCIDENTS + + +As soon as the sun was rising in the east, Don Quixote was awakened, +and a little later they were on their way to the burial of Crysostom. + +They had gone only a short distance, when they met six shepherds, all +dressed in black sheepskins and with crowns of bitter oleander and +cypress on their heads. In his hand each shepherd carried a staff of +holly. Directly behind them came two dignified gentlemen on horseback, +followed by three servants on foot. While stopping to exchange +greetings, all had learned that they were going in the same direction +for the same purpose. The two gentlemen had met the mourning +shepherds, and from them had heard the sad story of the love of +Crysostom for Marcela. That had aroused their curiosity and sorrow, +and they wanted now to do him honor. + +The battle-clad Don Quixote, of course, attracted their attention, and +one of the gentlemen was eager to learn why any one should be +masquerading in armor so early in the morning. To which he got the +reply that the danger of his calling made it necessary for him to wear +it. The gentlemen could not help then but realize Don Quixote's mental +condition. But one of them possessed a restless sense of humor, and +when Don Quixote began to discourse on chivalry and knights errant, he +asked to know what these things were. Our hero then explained their +mysteries at length. He described the deeds of King Arthur, spoke of +the famous Round Table, and told the love-story of Don Lancelot and +Queen Guinevere. + +In the course of these descriptions the jesting gentleman felt that he +had fully diagnosed the madness of our knight, and thought it only +fair play to beguile the journey to the burial-place by listening to +his absurdities. Now and then he would put in a word or ask a question +in order not to break the thread. For instance, he suggested cunningly +that the calling of a knight errant was as serious as that of a +Carthusian monk; and Don Quixote replied that he thought it a much +more necessary one. And as to its demands, there was no comparison, he +declared, for if ever one rose to become an emperor it was only after +tremendous sacrifice of blood and sweat. + +The traveling gentleman was agreed with him on that score; but there +was one thing he did not approve of: whenever a knight went into +battle, he commended himself to his lady, instead of God. This he +thought wrong and unchristianlike. Don Quixote, however, saw no wrong +in it. It was only human, he contended, to think first of his beloved +one at so austere a moment; and, besides, often the knight errant +would say things under his breath that would not be understood. Then +only Heaven could know whether he had called upon his lady or God. + +The gentleman then soon found another argument. He expressed a doubt that +all knights errant were in love, saying that some of them commended +themselves to ladies fictitiously. Don Quixote denied this emphatically; +but the traveler thought that he had read somewhere that Don Galaor, the +brother of the valiant Amadis of Gaul, never commended himself to any +particular lady, yet he was a brave and most illustrious knight errant. +All that Don Quixote replied to this argument was: "Sir, one solitary +swallow does not make summer!" and offered, as if in confidence, his +conviction that this very knight had been very deeply in love, but +secretly. + +At that very moment he heaved a sigh of weariness. The sigh was +misinterpreted by the traveler, however, for he asked our knight +whether he was reticent about telling the name of _his_ lady. + +"Dulcinea del Toboso, of La Mancha," answered Don Quixote. And this +time he made her a princess, extolling her virtues and her beauty to +the traveler, who found it amusing to hear the knight tell of her +ancestry and lineage. First of all Don Quixote named to the traveler +the families of Spain that she was _not_ connected with, then informed +him that she was of the house of El Toboso of La Mancha. And though +this was a most modern family, one could never foretell what position +it would hold in the future. + +The traveler in his turn told Don Quixote of his own family, saying +that he of course dared not to compare it with that of the fair +Dulcinea, although he never had heard of hers ere this--a confession +that surprised Don Quixote exceedingly. + +During this conversation between the knight and the traveling +gentleman--who was named Senor Vivaldo--they came in sight of a score +of shepherds, all dressed in black sheepskins and crowned with +garlands. Six of them were carrying a bier on which lay the body of +the dead Crysostom. At his side were scattered some papers and books. +When they had found the resting-place that the dead man had chosen for +himself, Ambrosio, his dearest friend, spoke some words in his memory. +He mentioned how Crysostom's heart had been rent asunder by the cruel +treatment of one whom his departed friend would have immortalized to +the world in poetry, had Ambrosio not been commissioned by him to +consign the verses to the flames after having entrusted his body to +the earth. + +Senor Vivaldo thought it would be a great pity to do away with such +beautiful verses, and he pleaded with Ambrosio against their consignment +to oblivion. As he was speaking, he reached out his hand for some of the +papers that were close to him, and Ambrosio considerately permitted him +to keep them. The remaining ones were burned. + +Senor Vivaldo glanced through the papers eagerly and read the +title--"Lay of Despair." When Ambrosio heard this, he asked him to +read the words aloud that all those assembled might hear the last +verses of the dead shepherd. And while Senor Vivaldo spoke the +despairing lines, some of the shepherds were digging the grave for +their friend. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +WHEREIN ARE DESCRIBED THE DESPAIRING VERSES OF THE DEAD SHEPHERD + + +Senor Vivaldo had finished the last verse and was about to glance +through the rest of the papers he had saved from the fire, when +suddenly on the summit of the rock by the grave he saw a most glorious +apparition. It was no other than Marcela, the shepherdess, and +every-one was aghast at her presence. The moment Ambrosio saw her, he +became indignant beyond words and commanded her to leave. But she +remained and asked them all to listen to her. She had come there to +defend herself, she said; she knew what people had accused her of: +cruelty, scornfulness, arrogance, ingratitude, deception, and hatred. +But she hated no one, she declared. She had deceived no one. Crysostom +had loved her because of her beauty; but she had loved neither him nor +any other man. She had chosen solitude, the woods and the fields, +because of her inborn craving for freedom. Should she have forced +herself to give that up because any man chose to say, "I love you," +while she did not love him? Was she to be blamed for Crysostom's +death. For not loving him? Would not that have been to pawn her +modesty and her womanly honor and virtue? And why should he have +wanted to rob her of them? + +So she spoke; and when she had finished she waited for no reply but +turned and ran like a deer into the woods. All stood gazing after her +in silent admiration, not only for her beauty but for her frank speech +and good sense also. Some of the men seemed to be about to run after +her, having been wellnigh enchanted by her gloriously bright eyes; but +they were stopped by Don Quixote, who thundered: "Let no one, whatever +his rank or condition, dare to follow the beautiful Marcela, under +pain of incurring my fierce indignation! She has shown by clear and +satisfactory arguments that no fault is to be found with her for the +death of Crysostom. Instead of being followed and persecuted, she +should in justice be honored and esteemed by all the good people of +the world, for she shows that she is the only woman in it that holds +to such a virtuous resolution." + +These words Don Quixote uttered in a threatening manner, his hand on +the hilt of his sword. Whether because of his threats or because the +grave had been dug and Crysostom's remains were about to be lowered +into it, they all stayed until the burial was over. The grave was +closed with a large stone, and then the shepherds strewed flowers, +leaves and branches upon it, and shed many tears. + +The two travelers extended an invitation to Don Quixote to accompany +them to Seville, where they assured him he would find no end of +adventures awaiting him. But he told them that for the present he had +his hands full ridding these very regions of highwaymen and robbers. +He thanked them, however, and they continued their journey without our +hero. + +Don Quixote now saw his duty clearly. He would search the woods and +wilds for the beautiful Marcela. He was certain that she would need +his services. + +But things did not turn out as he expected. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +IN WHICH IS RELATED THE UNFORTUNATE ADVENTURE THAT DON QUIXOTE +FELL IN WITH WHEN HE FELL OUT WITH CERTAIN HEARTLESS YANGUESANS + + +When Don Quixote had taken leave of his hosts, he set off with his +squire into the woods where he had seen Marcela disappear. They +wandered about for some time and found no trace of the shepherdess. +Then they came to a pasture through which a brook was running, and as +they were both thirsty, warm, and tired, they decided to remain there +for their noontide meal. They feasted on the scraps that remained in +the _alforjas_, while Rocinante and Sancho's ass were left free to +pluck all the grass they desired. + +Now, Fate would have it that at that very hour a band of Yanguesans +were resting nearby, with their ponies let loose in the pasture. As +soon as the ponies were discovered by Rocinante, he wanted to exchange +friendly greetings with them, so he set off at a brisk trot in their +direction. But the ponies seemed to have no desire to strike up an +acquaintance with an unknown hack, for they arrogantly turned their +backs on him and commenced to snort and kick and bite until the saddle +fell off Rocinante and he was left quite naked. By this time the +Yanguesans had heard the commotion and rushed up, armed with sticks, +and with these they thrashed poor Rocinante so soundly that he fell to +the ground in a heap. + +Just at this time Don Quixote and Sancho, having finished their +repast, went to look for their chargers. As soon as Don Quixote had +taken in the situation, he realized that these were no knights errant +and confided this to his squire, charging him to help him in his +battle for Rocinante's honor. Sancho made vehement pleas for +abstaining from vengeance, seeing the great numbers of the enemy; but +his master's conviction that he alone counted for a hundred eased his +mind. + +Don Quixote attacked at once and cut off a portion of his opponent's +shoulder; Sancho fought bravely too. But when the men saw that they +were fighting such a small number they set upon them, all at one time, +and after a few thrusts they had unseated our knight and his squire, +both sorely battered. Then, fearing the hand of the law, the +Yanguesans set off in great haste. + +When Sancho came to, he was certain that all his bones were broken, +and he feebly turned to his master saying that he only wished that he +had at hand the marvelous balsam of Fierabras, of which his master had +spoken. Sancho lamented the lack of it no more than Don Quixote, who +swore that within two days he would have the potion in his possession. +As to his wounds, he took all the blame upon himself: he felt that it +was God's punishment for having engaged in battle with ordinary rabble +like these carriers, and decided that henceforth he would have Sancho +alone chastise those who had not been dubbed knights. + +To this Sancho took exception, for he maintained that he had wife and +children to support, and was by nature a peaceful, meek and timid man. +He called upon God to forgive in advance all the insults man or beast +might offer him in the future and for all times; but at this Don +Quixote took him to task and admonished him not to lose his valor in +attacking and defending himself in all sorts of emergencies. + +Sancho's soft heart now turned to Rocinante, who had been the cause of +all the trouble. The poor horse was in a sorry plight. So it was +considered best that Don Quixote--who could not sit upright--should be +slung across his servant's donkey. This decision was reached when Don +Quixote remembered that Silenus, the teacher of the God of Laughter, +had entered the city of the hundred gates mounted on a handsome ass. + +When his master had been secured and Rocinante raised from the ground, +Sancho took the two beasts by the halter and led them out to the road, +and from there they proceeded on their way. Soon Sancho saw the +outlines of an inn, which Don Quixote insisted must be a castle, and +before they had finished their dispute, they found themselves at the +gate and entered. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE INGENIOUS GENTLEMAN IN THE INN +WHICH HE TOOK TO BE A CASTLE + + +When the keeper of the inn saw the sorry body of the knight on the +ass, he became anxious to learn what had happened to him. His wife was +a kindly and good-natured woman, and when Sancho had explained that +his master had fallen from a rock, she and her pretty daughter offered +to care for him. The daughter, and a one-eyed Asturian servant-girl, +with turned-up nose and high cheek-bones, made a bed for Don Quixote +on four rough boards in a garret, where a carrier was also quartered. +Stretched on this bed Don Quixote was attended by the innkeeper's +wife, who soon covered him with more plasters than he had quilts. In +the meantime she, her daughter, and the Asturian girl, all curious, +questioned Sancho about his master. + +Sancho told, in as thrilling words as he could command, of their +marvelous adventures; to all of which they listened with astonishment. +The Asturian servant nearly stared her one eye out of her head. She +asked Sancho Panza, trembling with excitement, what a knight errant +was. To this Sancho replied that a knight was an adventurer, who one +day might be the poorest and meanest of men, and the next day emperor, +with crowns and kingdoms in abundance to give away to his squire and +underlings. Here the women expressed surprise that he himself, +judging by appearance, did not possess even so much as a small strip +of land. He then confided to them that he and his master had been +going but a short time; that as yet it was much too soon; that the +adventures they had met with so far were but a beginning and not +worthy of mention. + +Don Quixote, who had been listening to everything his squire said, now +sat up in bed and informed them of the great honor he had conferred +upon them by being in their house; he told them of his indescribable +gratitude to them; and of his love for his Dulcinea del Toboso of La +Mancha. + +The women, not being accustomed to such language, which seemed to them +more difficult to understand than Greek, stared at him in bewilderment; +then, thanking him for his courtesy, they left him while the Asturian +plastered Sancho, who seemed to be in need of treatment as sadly as his +master. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +IN WHICH ARE CONTAINED THE INNUMERABLE TROUBLES WHICH THE +BRAVE DON QUIXOTE AND HIS GOOD SQUIRE SANCHO PANZA ENDURED +AT THE INN, WHICH TO HIS MISFORTUNE HE TOOK TO BE A CASTLE + + +The following morning Sancho, feeling his pains even more, reminded +his master of the famous balsam he was to make. Don Quixote himself +was anxious for it too, so he sent Sancho to an imagined fortress for +some oil, wine, rosemary and salt. He mixed these ingredients in a +pot, and boiled them. Then he poured the mixture into a tin flask, +crossed himself and repeated innumerable paternosters and ave-marias. +When he had nearly exhausted himself doing that, he swallowed a good +portion of the liquid; and immediately he began to vomit and perspire, +while his face and body contracted in the most horrible spasms. He +asked to be put to bed at once, and they let him sleep for three +hours. When he woke he felt so relieved that he really thought he had +hit upon the remedy of Fierabras. + +Seeing his master's miraculous recovery, Sancho begged to be permitted +to drink some of the wonderful liquid, and Don Quixote gave him a dose +of it. Unlike his master, Sancho retained what he had drunk for some +time before letting it all come up again, but in the meantime his +agony was insufferable. He was seized with such gripings and faintness +that he was sure his last hour had come. He even cursed his master for +having given him such terrible stuff; but Don Quixote said that he had +only now come to realize that the remedy was made solely for those who +had been dubbed knights: whereupon Sancho, writhing in convulsions +cursed him still more. Sancho's agony lasted for several hours. + +In the meantime Don Quixote himself, being anxious for new adventures, +had saddled Rocinante. He had to help his squire mount the ass, for +Sancho still was in a sorry condition. All the folk at the inn had +gathered to see them depart, and when Don Quixote's eyes fell on the +beautiful young daughter of the innkeeper, he heaved a heavy sigh; +but no one there realized the soul or the reason of it, for they all +thought it must be from the pain in his ribs. + +As he was about to leave, the valiant knight called the innkeeper and +asked him with profound gravity whether he had any enemies that +remained unpunished; if so, he, Don Quixote, would chastise them for +him. The innkeeper answered shortly that he could take care of his own +grudges; all he asked of our knight was payment for lodging and for +what he and the beasts and the squire had consumed. + +"Then this is an inn?" cried Don Quixote, who could hardly believe his +ears. He ransacked his memory for any incident when knight had ever +paid for food and lodging, and, unable to remember one, raised his +lance, turned Rocinante, and set off at a quick gallop, leaving Sancho +behind. + +The innkeeper immediately took steps to attach the squire for the +unpaid debt; but Sancho's stolid indifference to his representations +only tended to prove the truth of the old proverb: like master, like +servant. He argued that it was not for him to tear down traditions of +noble knighthood. + +Unfortunately for Sancho, he was overheard by a good many guests at the +inn, rollicking fellows, who were on the alert for amusement. These men +seized a blanket, dismounted the squire unceremoniously, placed him in +the middle of the blanket, and proceeded to hoist him, not gently, high +in the air. This movement no doubt caused a return of Sancho's +stomach-ache, for he commenced to groan and scream helplessly. His +screams were heard far off by his master, who, believing that some new +and glorious adventure was at hand, spurred his hack into a playful +gallop and returned to the inn. + +The gates were closed, but over the wall the knight could see the +tricks that his faithful follower was made to perform in the air and +on the blanket, and he boiled with rage, unable to come to the rescue, +for he could not dismount because of stiffness. Finally, when the men +had been sufficiently amused, they stopped their sport, then mounted +Sancho with no little kindness on his ass and bade him godspeed on his +journey. The one-eyed Asturian compassionately offered the poor fellow +some water to drink; but seeing this, Don Quixote commenced to +gesticulate wildly, waving a tin flask in the air, and crying: +"Sancho, my son, drink not water, for it will kill thee! See, here I +have the blessed balsam: two drops of it will restore thee!" + +His master's advice did not appeal to the squire, and he replied +rather cuttingly that Don Quixote ought to remember that he was not a +knight. Saying this he put the cup the lass had offered him to his +lips. But he found that it was not wine but water. He begged her to +exchange it, which she did with Christian spirit, paying for it +herself. The squire, having drunk the wine, spurred his ass toward the +gate, and the innkeeper let him depart without further payment, +having, unbeknown to Sancho, appropriated his _alforjas_. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +IN WHICH IS RELATED THE DISCOURSE SANCHO PANZA HELD WITH +HIS MASTER, DON QUIXOTE, TOGETHER WITH OTHER ADVENTURES +WORTH RELATING + + +Don Quixote told his squire he was certain that the inn was an +enchanted castle, and blamed his transgressions of the laws of +chivalry for all their mishaps; for he imagined that, had he abstained +from laying hands on the rabble and base folk, these would not have +occurred. His being unable to get out of the saddle and climb over the +wall, he ascribed to enchantment as well. Sancho thought this might be +the moment for reforming his master. He suggested that it was harvest +time at home; and reminded the knight of the fact that of all his +battles he had come out victorious but once, when he fought with the +Biscayan, and then with half of his ear lost, not to speak of all the +damage done to his armor. + +But Don Quixote was in no mood to contemplate past disasters, for in +the distance he suddenly perceived rising clouds of dust, and what +could it be but two opposing armies making ready for battle; since the +clouds were seen on either side of the road! He made Sancho believe +they were the great armies of the mighty emperor Alifanfaron and his +enemy, the king of the Garamantas, Pentapolin of the Bare Arm, +explaining--on seeing a bare-armed shepherd--that this lord always +went into battle in this manner. + +Sancho Panza asked what they should do. His master replied that their +duty was clear: they should, of course, help the weak and needy. Then +he went on to explain that the reason for the feud was the pagan +Alifanfaron's wish to marry the beautiful and Christian daughter of +Pentapolin, and her father's refusal to sanction the marriage unless +the emperor became a convert. Immediately Sancho's instinct for +righteousness made him declare himself for Pentapolin, and he wanted +to fight for him. This spirit pleased Don Quixote tremendously, for, +he said, it was not required of dubbed knights to engage in feuds of +this sort; thus Sancho would have a chance to distinguish himself all +alone. + +Scratching his head, Sancho now began to worry about his faithful +donkey, for he believed it was not good taste to go into battle +mounted on an ass, and if he dismounted, he was afraid his Dapple +would be lost in the ensuing tumult. Don Quixote, however, calmed his +fears. There would be hundreds of riderless horses after the battle, +from which both of them might choose; and he asked Sancho to follow +him to a hill nearby that he might point out to his valiant squire the +great and illustrious knights of the two armies. He cried out name +after name, the last one always more illustrious than the previous +one. But Sancho could see nothing but the two flocks of sheep and the +shepherds, and he said so. + +"How can you say that!" cried Don Quixote. "Do you not hear the +neighing of the steeds, the braying of the trumpets, the roll of the +drums?" + +Sancho answered in despair that he could hear nothing but the +bleating of ewes and sheep. To this his master explained that often +fear deranged the senses and made things appear different from what +they were. Therefore, being certain that Sancho had suddenly become +possessed of fear, he put the spurs in Rocinante and charged down the +hill like a flash of lightning, determined to down the pagan emperor. + +Lifting his lance, he galloped into the midst of the sheep, and +commenced spearing right and left. The shepherds, panic-stricken, used +their slings. Stones hit his head and body, but it was not until a +large one struck him in the ribs that he imagined himself really +wounded. He stopped in the midst of the furious battle, and suddenly +remembering his flask of balsam, drew it out, put it to his mouth, and +was about to swallow a quantity of it when there came a stone that +took the flask out of his hand, and another one that smashed out three +or four of his teeth. Don Quixote was so astonished and the force of +the blow was so sudden that he lost his reins and fell backwards off +his horse. When the shepherds came up and saw what they had done to +him, they quickly gathered their flocks and hastened away, taking with +them the seven sheep that Don Quixote killed with his spear. + +During this rampage, Sancho Panza was nearly beside himself where he +stood on the hill. He was tearing his hair and beard, wishing he had +never laid eyes on his master, and berating himself for ever having +joined in his mad adventures. When the shepherds had disappeared, he +ran to his master's side. + +"Did I not tell your worship," he reproached the prostrate knight, +"that they were not armies, but droves of sheep!" + +But again our hero blamed his misfortune on his arch-enemy, that +cursed Sage Friston, who had falsified the armies in such a way that +they looked like meek and harmless sheep. Then he begged his squire to +pursue the enemy by stealth that he might ascertain for himself that +what he had said was true; for he was sure that ere they had gone very +far they would resume their original shape. + +However, before Sancho Panza had time to make up his mind whether to +go or not, his master's sip of the balsam during the battle suddenly +began to take effect, and Sancho's presence became for the moment a +necessity. Having gone through this ordeal, Don Quixote rose and asked +his squire for a remedy for hunger. It was then they discovered that +the _alforjas_ had disappeared, with all its precious contents. Both +were dejected. Don Quixote tried to impart, out of the abundance of +his optimism for the future, new hope to the discouraged Sancho. It +was a difficult task, and he might have failed, had not the loss of +his teeth and the sorry plight he was in made Sancho sway from his +intentions of home-going. When, at his master's request, the squire +put his finger in Don Quixote's mouth in order to learn the extent of +the damage done in that region of his body, his heart was touched by +the terrible devastation there. He could not, of course, leave his +master to shift for himself on the highways in such a condition. So he +consented to remain, and they proceeded along the road, hoping that +they would soon come to a place where they could find shelter for the +night, as well as something with which to still their hunger. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +OF THE SHREWD DISCOURSE WHICH SANCHO HELD WITH HIS MASTER, +AND OF THE ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL HIM WITH A DEAD BODY, +TOGETHER WITH OTHER NOTABLE OCCURRENCES + + +Night had fallen, yet they had discovered no place of refuge. +Suddenly, in the darkness, they saw a number of lights that came +closer and closer without their being able to make out what it was. +Sancho commenced to shake like a leaf, and even Don Quixote was +frightened and muttered a paternoster between his teeth while his hair +stood on end. They withdrew to the roadside, from where they soon +distinguished twenty bodies on horseback, all dressed in white shirts, +and carrying lighted torches in their hands. With chattering teeth +Sancho stared at this awe-inspiring procession, which was not yet at +an end, for behind the mounted bodies there came others, these in +black and on mule-back, and surrounding a bier, covered with a large +black cloth. All the while a quiet, solemn mumbling came from the +moving figures, and Sancho Panza was now so stricken with fear that he +was almost paralyzed. + +Don Quixote's courage--which likewise had been rather shaky at this +passing of ghostlike beings, at such a time of the night--suddenly +revived and mounted to such heights that he decided he would ask where +they were carrying the wounded king on the bier. This he did without +delay. But such a question seemed silly and out of place to one of +the guardians of the corpse, and he commanded the knight to move on. +This angered Don Quixote beyond measure. He seized the man's mule by +the bridle; but this, in turn, annoyed the mule, which rose on its +hind legs and flung its rider to the ground. Another man came up to +Don Quixote and tried to talk reason to him, but to no avail, and in +the disturbance that followed the procession was soon scattered over +the fields and plains, with torches glimmering from all points like so +many eyes in the black night. + +While our knight errant was lunging with his spear in all directions, +the meek followers of the dead body became ensnared in their skirts +and gowns and long white shirts, and fell head over heels wherever +they happened to be, in ditch or field. Moans, groans, and prayers +were intermingled, and they all were convinced that the procession had +been interrupted by the devil himself, come to carry away the body of +the dead man. + +When the battle had ceased, Don Quixote approached the man who was flung +by his mule, to make him his prisoner. The poor man declared that Don +Quixote had made a grave mistake; that the dead man was not a king and +had not fallen in battle, but a gentleman who had died from fever; and he +himself was a poor servant of the Holy Church who could harm no one. On +hearing this confession Don Quixote made a slight apology for having +mistaken him in the dark for something evil, if not for the very devil, +explaining that since it was his sworn duty to right all wrongs, he had +only set out to do so. But the worthy ecclesiastic was not easily +appeased, and before making his departure, he unceremoniously +excommunicated his attacker in flowing and flourishing Latin. + +Sancho, moved by a desire to alleviate the sting of the outburst, +called out after him: "If the gentleman should wish to know who was +the hero who served them thus, your worship may tell them he is the +famous Don Quixote of La Mancha, otherwise called the Knight of the +Rueful Countenance." + +Don Quixote asked his squire why he called him thus; and Sancho +replied that the loss of his teeth had given his master a face so +sorry looking that he could find no milder name to describe its +ugliness. Don Quixote laughed at the compliment; nevertheless he +decided to adopt Sancho's meaning name, and also to have his own +rueful face commemorated on his shield at the first opportunity. + +After this conversation Sancho persuaded his master to continue their +journey; although Don Quixote was eager to view the bones of the +deceased man, and Sancho had some difficulty in preventing him from +doing so. + +Sancho had made his coat into a sack and filled it with the provisions +of the clergy; and so, when they arrived in a valley where they found +an abundance of grass, they ate all the meals they had been missing. +Their repast would have been complete had they had some wine; but they +did not have even water. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +OF THE UNEXAMPLED AND UNHEARD-OF ADVENTURE WHICH WAS ACHIEVED +BY THE VALIANT DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA WITH LESS PERIL THAN +ANY EVER ACHIEVED BY ANY FAMOUS KNIGHT IN THE WORLD + + +Sancho's thirst drove him to use his instincts in search for drink. He +judged by the rank grass that there must be water nearby. So, leading +their mounts, Don Quixote and Sancho came in the darkness to a meadow, +and they had gone only a short distance when they heard the welcome +sound of falling water. Then suddenly a most tremendous, ear-splitting +noise came out of the darkness, a din like the beating of gigantic +hammers, and added to this a shifting wind. All these furious sounds, +the mystery of them, and the blackness of the night, might have +intimidated any heart, however stout; but it only made Don Quixote +leap like a flash upon his horse. Turning to Sancho, he cried: "I am +he who is to revive the Knights of the Round Table, the Twelve of +France, and the Nine Worthies; he who is to consign to oblivion the +whole herd of famous knights errant of days gone by; he for whom all +great perils and mighty deeds are reserved. Therefore, tighten +Rocinante's girth a little, and God be with thee! Wait for me three +days and no more. If in that time I come not back, thou canst return +to our village, and thence thou wilt go to El Toboso, where thou +shalt say to my incomparable Lady Dulcinea that her captive knight +hath died in attempting things that might make him worthy of being +called her own." + +These words made Sancho weep copious tears, and he begged his master +not to undertake so dreadful an adventure. He even offered to +sacrifice himself to such an extent as to go without water for three +days, if his master would only return. When Don Quixote was firm in +his resolve, Sancho decided that this was a case where the ends +justified the means; therefore while tightening Rocinante's girth, he +tied the horse's forelegs, so that when Don Quixote was going to ride +off, his charger could move only by fits and starts. The more his +rider spurred him, the more impossible it became for Rocinante to +stir. Sancho had no great difficulty in persuading his master that +this was a sign from above that he ought not to pursue any phantom +adventure at that hour of the night, but wait until daybreak. Don +Quixote resigned himself to do so, although it nearly made him weep, +while Sancho tried to soothe his outraged feelings by telling amusing +stories in a laborious way. + +At daybreak Sancho stole over to Rocinante and untied his legs. The +horse immediately became spirited, and when Don Quixote saw this, he +believed it a sign from heaven. Again he took a touching leave of his +squire--who began to cry, as he had done before--and gave the spur to +his steed. Sancho was resolved to follow his master to the end, so he +took his donkey by the halter, as was his custom, and led him on foot +in pursuit of his knight errant. + +They passed through a meadow that was fringed with trees, then came +upon some huge rocks with cascades of water pouring over them. Below +stood a row of dilapidated houses. It was from these houses that the +din and noise emanated. As Rocinante came close to the racket, he +began to make hysterical movements, pirouetting backward and forward, +and Don Quixote crossed himself, commending himself to God and his +Lady Dulcinea. + +Coming up cautiously from behind the houses, Don Quixote peered around +the corner, and there beheld the cause of the awe-inspiring din--six +hammers of the kind that were used in mills. + +Sancho could not help himself. He burst into uncontrollable laughter, +shaking from head to foot. Don Quixote was mortified with shame and +astonishment. And when he heard Sancho's laughter behind him, he broke +into a rage, during which he repeated almost every word he had spoken +the night before, when he was about to ride away to adventure on a +three-legged horse. But Sancho was helpless. Four distinct times he +broke into a fit of mirth, and finally his master struck him a blow on +the body with his spear. Then he calmed down, and Don Quixote scolded +him for his hilarity, saying that no such familiarity would be +tolerated in the future. He quoted various chapters from books of +chivalry, and cited Gandalin, squire to Amadis of Gaul. There, he +said, was a model squire, for he would always address his lord with +cap in hand, his head bowed down and his body bent double. And there +were many others to look to. He mentioned a few, the most shining +examples. Then he decreed that from that day on respect must be the +barrier between squire and knight in all their intercourse. He spoke +also about his squire's wages and the treasures and islands that were +to be his in time to come. He told Sancho not to worry, for if he +should not pay him his wages, he had at any rate mentioned him in his +will. From the first he had considered everything; he knew the world, +and what a hazardous task he had set before himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +WHICH TREATS OF THE EXALTED ADVENTURE AND RICH PRIZE OF +MAMBRINO'S HELMET, TOGETHER WITH OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED +TO OUR INVINCIBLE KNIGHT + + +It started to rain, and Sancho suggested the fulling-mills as a place +of refuge; but Don Quixote had taken such an aversion to them that he +would not listen to it, and they continued riding, taking the roadway. + +Suddenly they saw a man on horseback, who had on his head something +that shone like gold, and at once Don Quixote exclaimed: "There comes +towards us one who wears on his head the helmet of Mambrino, +concerning which I took the oath thou rememberest." + +Sancho's only reply to this was that he did not want anything more to +do with any fulling-mills; and his master entirely failed to fathom +the connection. Sancho then said he could plainly see that the man's +horse was an ass and that the man had something on his head that +shone. + +The truth of the matter was that in the neighborhood were two villages +so small that the apothecary and barbershop in one of them had to +serve for both. The village barber had just been summoned to shave and +bleed a patient in the adjoining community, so he mounted his ass, +armed with a brass basin for the bleeding, and set off. He had got +about half-way, when it commenced to rain. Having a new hat, he +covered it with the clean basin, that glittered like gold. + +But Don Quixote had more sense than his squire, of course, and pursued +the unknown knight with the helmet at Rocinante's wildest gallop. When +the fear-stricken barber realized that Don Quixote's uplifted spear +was aimed at him, he promptly threw himself from his ass and ran all +the way home without stopping, leaving his brass basin behind as a +trophy for our hero, who could not understand why this helmet had no +visor. + +"That pagan must have had a very large head," remarked Don Quixote, +turning the basin round and round, trying to fit it to his own head, +now this way, now that. + +"It looks exactly like a barber's basin," said Sancho Panza, who had +all he could do to keep from bursting into laughter. + +Don Quixote treated this blasphemous thought with scorn, and said he +would stop at the next smithy to have its shape changed. His next +concern was his stomach; and when they found that the barber's ass +carried ample supplies, they soon satisfied their appetites. Sancho +now turned the conversation to the rest of the spoils of war; but Don +Quixote was unable to make up his mind that it was chivalrous to +exchange a bad ass for a good one, as was his squire's wish; so Sancho +had to satisfy himself with the barber's trappings. + +Then they set out again. Soon Sancho felt the need of unburdening +something he had had on his heart for some time. He suggested that +instead of roaming about seeking adventures which no one ever witnessed +and which therefore remained unsung and unheralded, they go and serve +some great emperor engaged in war, so that their achievements and valor +might go down to posterity. This struck a resonant chord in his master's +heart. In fact, he went into raptures over it, and commenced to rant +about all the great honors the future had in store for the Knight of the +Rueful Countenance. He cunningly surmised that their first task would be +to find a king who had an uncommonly beautiful daughter, for of course he +had to marry a princess first of all. The plan excited him to such an +extent that for a moment he forgot about the existence of his Dulcinea. +The only thing that worried him was his royal lineage; he could not think +of any emperor or king whose second cousin he might be. Yet he decided +not to trouble too much about that; for were there not two kinds of +lineages in the world? And Love always worked wonders: it had since the +beginning of time. What would the princess care, if he _were_ a +water-carrier's son? And if his future father-in-law should object, all +he would have to do would be to carry her off by force. + +As Don Quixote went on picturing himself in the most romantic roles in +the history of this as yet unknown kingdom, Sancho began to think it +was time for him to be considered as well, when it came to bestowals +of honor. Once he had been beadle of a brotherhood, and he had looked +so well in a beadle's gown, he said, that he was afraid his wife would +burst with pride when she saw him in a duke's robe, with gold and lace +and precious stones. Don Quixote thought so, too, but admonished him +that he would have to shave his beard oftener, as it was most unkempt. +Sancho replied that would be an easy matter, for he would have a +barber of his own, as well as an equerry; he knew that all men of fame +kept such a man, for once in Madrid he had seen a gentleman followed +by a man on horseback as if he had been his tail. He inquired why the +gentleman was being followed in that manner and learned it was his +equerry. Don Quixote thought Sancho's idea to have a barber was an +excellent one, and Sancho urged his master to make haste and find him +his island, that he might roll in his glory as a count or a duke. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +OF THE FREEDOM DON QUIXOTE CONFERRED ON SEVERAL UNFORTUNATES +WHO AGAINST THEIR WILL WERE BEING CARRIED WHERE THEY HAD NO +WISH TO GO + + +Hardly had they finished their conversation, when a gang of convicts +came along on the road, guarded by two men on horseback and two on +foot. + +"Galley-slaves," remarked Sancho Panza laconically. + +"If they are going against their own free will, it is a case for the +exercise of my office," answered Don Quixote. + +He approached their custodians and asked to know what crimes these men +had committed against his majesty the King. They answered it was not +his business. + +"Nevertheless, I should like to know," insisted Don Quixote, and he +used such choice and magic language that one of the guards was induced +to give him permission to ask each one of the men about his crime and +sentence. + +Don Quixote had questioned every one but the twelfth, and when he came +to him he found that he was chained in a way different from the rest. +This prisoner was a man of thirty, and crossed-eyed. His body was +weighted down by very large irons and especially heavy chains, his +hands were padlocked and so secured he could not raise them. Don +Quixote asked why he was thus overburdened, and got the reply that he +had committed more crimes than all the rest together. The guard then +told the knight that the man had written a story of his unfinished +life, and that he was no other than the famous Gines de Pasamonte. The +culprit strongly objected to hearing his identity mentioned, and there +ensued a furious battle of words between him and the guard. The latter +lost his temper and was about to strike the slave a blow, when Don +Quixote interfered, and pleaded for more kindly treatment. It seemed +only fair to him that they, with their hands tied, might be permitted +a free tongue. He grew fiery in his defense of them, reminded the +guard that there was a God in heaven who would punish all sinners. He +ended by requesting their immediate release. + +This demand seemed worse than absurd to the guard, who wished him +godspeed on his journey, advised him to put the basin straight on his +head, and told him not to go looking for trouble. This was too much +for our knight. He set upon his jesting adversary with such speed and +suddenness that the musket fell out of the guard's hand. And the other +guards were so taken aback at what was going on, and there was such +confusion, that they did not notice Sancho untying the arch-criminal +Gines. They suddenly saw him free, and with him the rest of the +slaves, who had broken the chain; whereupon the guards fled in all +directions as fast as their legs could carry them. + +When the fray was over, Don Quixote asked the galley-slaves to gather +around him, and to show him reverence for the deed he had done. He +further demanded that they, armed with their chains, proceed in a +body, to El Toboso to pay their respects to the fair Dulcinea. Gines +attempted to explain the necessity of each one hiding himself, +separately, in order to escape the pursuers, and offered to send up +prayers for her instead; but Don Quixote would not listen to any +argument. At last Gines decided he was quite mad, and when Don Quixote +started to abuse him, he lost his temper, and they all attacked the +knight with a rain of stones, until Rocinante and he both fell to the +ground. There they belabored him savagely. Sancho had taken refuge +behind his donkey, but the convicts found him, stripped him of his +jacket, and left him shivering in the cold. + +While Don Quixote lay there, fearing the vengeance of the law and the +Holy Brotherhood for what he had done, he was also reviewing in rage +the ingratitude of mankind and the perversity of the iron age. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +OF WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE IN THE SIERRA MORENA, WHICH IS ONE +OF THE RAREST ADVENTURES RELATED IN THIS VERACIOUS HISTORY + + +Sancho at last convinced his master that they had best hide in the +Sierra Morena mountains for a few days, in case a search should be +made for them; and Don Quixote was pleased to find that the provisions +carried by Sancho's ass had not disappeared. When night fell they took +refuge under some cork-trees between two rocks. Fate would have it +that to this very place should come that night the convict Gines. +While Sancho was slumbering peacefully, Gines stole his ass; and by +daybreak the thief was already far away. Don Quixote, awakened by +sorrowful wailing, in order to console his squire, promised him three +of his ass-colts at home in exchange. Then Sancho's tears stopped. But +he now had to travel on foot behind his master, and he tried to keep +up his humor by munching the provisions it had become his lot to +carry. + +Suddenly he observed that his master had halted, and was poking with +his lance into some object lying on the road. He quickly ran up to him +and found an old saddle-pad with a torn knapsack tied to it. Sancho +opened it covetously and came upon four shirts of excellent material, +articles of linen, nearly a hundred gold crowns in a handkerchief, and +a richly bound little memorandum book. The little volume was all that +Don Quixote kept for himself. Brimful of curiosity, he read it through +and learned that it contained the bemoanings of a rejected lover. + +Meantime Sancho Panza's great discovery of the gold coins had entirely +banished from his memory all the suffering and pain and humiliation he +had had to go through since he had became a squire. But Don Quixote +was anxious to find out something about the owner of the knapsack, for +he was convinced there was some very strange adventure connected with +his disappearance. And as he was planning what to do, he perceived on +the summit of a great height, a man, half-naked, jumping with +remarkable swiftness and agility from rock to rock. + +Don Quixote saw no way of getting there, so he stood for some time +pondering what to do. Then he saw above him on the mountainside a +flock of goats, tended by an elderly goatherd. Calling to him, the +knight asked him to come down, and the old man descended, amazed at +seeing human beings there. Don Quixote immediately began to ask about +the strange half-naked man he had seen, and the goatherd told what he +knew of him and the mystery of the knapsack. + +The stranger, he said, was a youth of good looks and no doubt of high +birth, who had lost his wits because of the faithlessness of a friend. +His behavior was such that they had never seen the like of it. In fits +of madness he would approach people, snatch away food offered him out +of their hands, and then run away with the speed of a deer. Then +again he would come begging for food, the tears flowing down his +cheeks. + +Now, while they were standing there discussing the young man, chance +would have it that he came along, and greeted them courteously. Don +Quixote returned his greeting with grand gestures, descended from +Rocinante's tired back, and advanced to the youth with open arms. He +held him in his embrace for some time, as if he had known him forever. +Finally the youth tore away and, placing his hands on the shoulders of +the Knight of the Rueful Countenance, the youth, who might be called +the Ragged One of the Sorry Countenance, looked into his eyes and +spoke to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +IN WHICH IS CONTINUED THE ADVENTURE OF THE SIERRA MORENA + + +The Ragged One thanked Don Quixote for being so kind and courteous; +and Don Quixote replied that his duty to the world consisted in giving +succor to those in despair and need. He implored the youth to tell him +the name of the one who had caused his misfortune, that he might +revenge him. The Ragged One stared at him strangely and said: "If you +will give me to eat, I will tell you my story." + +Sancho and the goatherd gave the youth something to appease his +hunger; and he ate it ravenously. When he had finished, he motioned +to them to follow him, and they came to a spot where green grass grew +and all stretched themselves on the ground in silence. Before he began +his story, the youth warned them not to interrupt him, for then it +would come to an end. Don Quixote promised solemnly for all of them. + +The youth told of his love for one Luscinda, and how his best friend, +Don Fernando, son of a grandee of Spain, had stolen her love away from +him; but suddenly he was interrupted by Don Quixote, and refused to +continue. Whereupon Don Quixote nearly lost his senses--for his +curiosity was aroused beyond words--and called the Ragged One a +villain. + +The Ragged One broke into a violent fit when he heard himself called +names and picked up a stone which he hurled against the knight +errant's breast with such force that it placed him flat on his back. +Seeing this, Sancho Panza flew at the madman; but the youth seemed to +possess supernatural strength, for he felled Sancho to the ground with +one single blow, and then jumped on his chest and buckled his ribs. +Having also beaten the old goatherd, he went into the woods again. + +When Sancho had seen the last of him, he turned loose his rage on the +poor old goatherd, whom he cursed for not having warned them that the +youth might be taken with fits. Words led to blows; the two grabbed +each other by their beards, and had it not been for Don Quixote, their +fray might have had a sad ending. He calmed his squire by absolving +the old man of all blame. Then he asked him--for he was still aching +with curiosity to learn the end of the story--whether he knew where +he might find Cardenio (that being the youth's name). The goatherd +answered that if he remained in the neighborhood long enough he could +not help meeting him; but as to his mood, he could not answer for +that. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +WHICH TREATS OF THE STRANGE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO THE +STOUT KNIGHT OF LA MANCHA IN THE SIERRA MORENA + + +Don Quixote and Sancho Panza now made their way into unknown regions +of the mountains, Sancho trailing behind his master, on foot, silent, +and in bad humor. Finally he requested his master's permission to say +what was in his heart, and Don Quixote removed the ban under which his +squire was suffering. Sancho asked for the knight's blessing and +begged leave to return to his wife and home; but his master could not +make up his mind until he hit upon a great inspiration, the carrying +out of which made necessary his using Sancho as a messenger to his +incomparable Dulcinea. + +Don Quixote, in short, had decided to go mad, in emulation of other +bold knights, such as Roland and Amadis--a decision that extracted +from Sancho Panza some muttered words to the effect that any one who +could mistake a barber's basin for a gold helmet could not go much +madder. And then Don Quixote explained to what sufferings, sorrow, +penance, and folly he would subject himself; and quite unintentionally +he revealed to Sancho the real identity of his famous Lady Dulcinea, +whom Sancho had always thought a princess. Now the good squire learned +to his dismay that the famous Dulcinea was no other than Lorenzo +Corchuelo's daughter, Aldonza Lorenzo, a lady with manners like a man, +and a man's ability to handle a crowbar easily. + +When Don Quixote had determined upon his penance in the wilderness, all +for the sake of Dulcinea, he thought it would be a good idea to make +known to her the sacrifices and sufferings he was about to undergo for +her sake. Therefore he granted his squire the requested permission to +return to his family, and bade him speed homeward on Rocinante, so that +he himself, horseless, might undergo an even greater penance. He sent a +letter by Sancho to his fair one, relating to her the pain of his wounded +heart; a pain enhanced by self-inflicted absence and to be ended only by +death, to satisfy her cruelty. + +Sancho's covetousness did not permit his master to forget the three +promised ass-colts; so Don Quixote wrote an order to his niece in the +notebook of the ill-starred Cardenio. + +Before they parted, Don Quixote asked Sancho to stay and see some of +the insanities he meant to perform in his absence. He then stripped to +the skin and went through some remarkable capers before his squire. +This exhibition nearly brought tears to Sancho's eyes, and he besought +him to stop. And when he expressed a fear that he would not be able to +find his way back, Don Quixote assured him that he would remain in +that very spot, or thereabouts, until the squire returned from El +Toboso; and he told him also to cut some branches and strew them in +his path. Furthermore he said he would be on the lookout for him from +the peak of the highest cliff. + +When Sancho finally took leave of his master, he felt that he could +swear with unprotesting conscience that his beloved master was quite +mad. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +IN WHICH ARE CONTINUED THE REFINEMENTS WHEREWITH DON QUIXOTE +PLAYED THE PART OF A LOVER IN THE SIERRA MORENA + + +Soon after Sancho had gone, Don Quixote came to the conclusion that +the exercises he was putting himself through were much too hard and +troublesome. So he decided to change them, and instead of imitating +Roland and his fury, he turned to the more melancholy Amadis, whose +madness was of a much milder form and needed a less strenuous outlet. +But to imitate Amadis, he had to have a rosary, and he had none. For a +moment he was in a quandary; but a miracle gave him the inspiration to +use the tail of his shirt--which was too long anyhow--and tearing off +a long piece, on which he made eleven knots, he repeated quantities of +credos and ave-marias on it, there in the wilderness. His love would +at times drive him to write verses to his cruel and beloved one on the +bark of the trees, all the while he would make moaning sounds of +lovesickness. Again he would go about sighing, singing, calling to the +nymphs and fauns and satyrs, and, of course, looking for herbs to +nourish himself with. + +But while Don Quixote exiled himself in the wilds, his servant Sancho +Panza was making for El Toboso. On the second day he found himself at +the inn at which the incident of his blanket journey had taken place. +The smell of food reminded him that it was dinner time; yet he +hesitated about entering. As he was standing there, along came two +men; and one of them was heard to say: "Is not that Sancho Panza?" "So +it is," said the other one; and it turned out to be the curate and the +barber of Don Quixote's own village. + +At once they approached him. They asked him about his master, but it +was not until they had threatened to believe that he had robbed and +murdered Don Quixote--for was he not mounted on Rocinante?--that he +divulged the secret of his master's hiding-place. He told them of +everything; even about his master's strange and unbounded love for the +daughter of Lorenzo Corchuelo and the letter he had written to her. +When the curate asked to see it, Sancho could not find it; and then he +suddenly remembered that Don Quixote had given him neither the letter +nor the order for the ass-colts. He turned pale and green, and beat +his chest frantically, but it produced no miracle. The curate and the +barber told him that the only thing to do was to find Don Quixote and +get him to write them anew; and the thought of losing the ass-colts +made Sancho only too anxious to return. + +When the squire had been comforted somewhat, he tried to recite Don +Quixote's epistle of love; and his recital amused the two friends to +such a degree that he had to repeat it thrice, each time adding new +absurdities. Finally they invited him to come into the inn and eat, +while they talked over the journey to their friend's wilderness +paradise of penitence. Sancho was quick to refuse; but he gave no +reason for so doing. He said he preferred to eat outside and asked +that they bring him the food, and also some barley for Rocinante. + +While the barber was serving Sancho and Rocinante, the curate was +developing a plan of strategy which was unanimously adopted by all +concerned. It was arranged that the curate should invade the region of +knightly penitence, dressed as an innocent-looking maiden with a +masked countenance; while his friend the barber should appear on the +scene behaving like a squire. The bogus maiden should be in great +distress and ask for protection, when Don Quixote, valiant knight that +he was, would be sure to give it. She would then beg him to shield her +on her journey, and, as a favor, to ask her no questions regarding her +identity, until she was safely at home. Once they had him there, they +would try to find a cure for his strange madness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +OF HOW THE CURATE AND THE BARBER PROCEEDED WITH THEIR SCHEME; +TOGETHER WITH MATTERS WORTHY OF RECORD IN THIS GREAT HISTORY + + +The curate proceeded to borrow the needed dress from the landlady, whose +curiosity he satisfied by explaining Don Quixote's madness and their +mission in the mountains. The landlady recognized Don Quixote by the +description the curate gave, and willingly furnished the clothes, and an +ox-tail out of which the barber made himself a beard. As security for +these things the curate left behind a brand-new cassock. + +When the curate's transfiguration was completed, however, his conscience +began to trouble him; so it was agreed that he and the barber were to +change roles. The curate shed his female attire, and the barber decided +not to don it until they approached the mountainside. Meanwhile Sancho +was instructed as to how to act and what to say, when he saw his master. + +The day after they set out, they came to the place where Sancho's +branches were strewn. The curate thought it best that they send Sancho +ahead to take to his master Lady Dulcinea's reply; this was agreed to, +and Sancho left. + +While the two conspirators were resting in the shade of some trees +they were suddenly startled by hearing a man singing in the distance. +It was clearly a voice trained in the art of singing, and the verses +he sang were not of rustic origin. Soon they perceived the singer, and +it was no other than Cardenio, the Ragged One. Now he was untouched by +madness, for he spoke quite sanely, telling them of his woeful +misfortune, the memory of which, he said, would sometimes overpower +and strangle his senses. The curate and the barber were both eager to +know the story of the comely youth's life, and he then told them of +the faithlessness of his friend. This time he was not interrupted, and +he finished his story, which was one of a great love as much as one of +misfortune. He had just reached the end, when from no great distance +came the sound of a lamenting voice. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +WHICH TREATS OF THE STRANGE AND DELIGHTFUL ADVENTURES THAT +BEFELL THE CURATE AND THE BARBER IN THE SAME SIERRA + + +When Cardenio and the curate and the barber looked about they +discovered a youth with exquisite, delicate features bathing his feet +in the brook below them. His garb was that of a peasant lad; on his +head he had a _montera_. Having finished bathing, he took from under +the _montera_ a cloth with which he dried his feet. In removing the +cap there fell from under it a mass of auburn hair, and all were +amazed to find that instead of a youth, it was a most lovely maiden. +In their astonishment either the curate or the barber uttered a cry; +and frightened at the sight of them, the girl took to flight, but soon +stumbled and fell. + +The curate was the first one to reach her. He spoke some kind words +and told her that they were there to help her, to fulfill any wish she +might express. And he begged her to cast away any pretence, for he was +certain that she was there because of some misery that had befallen +her. + +At first the maiden seemed bewildered, but after a while she showed +that the curate had gained her confidence, and she spoke to him in a +beautiful, melancholy voice. She seated herself on a stone, while the +three gathered around her, and confided to them with tears in her eyes +the reasons for her being there. She told them of a certain grandee of +Spain, living in Andalusia, of whom her father, lowly in birth but +rich in fortune, was a vassal. This grandee had two sons. She had been +betrothed to the younger one of these, Don Fernando, and he had jilted +her in favor of a lady of noble birth, whose name was Luscinda. + +When Cardenio heard his own lady's name, he bit his lips and tears +came to his eyes. Dorothea--for that was the maiden's name--wondered +at such interest and such emotion, but she continued her story. She +told of how, upon Don Fernando's marriage to lady Luscinda, she had +fled in despair from house and home. A herdsman in the heart of the +Sierra had given her employment as a servant; but when he had +discovered that she was a woman, she was forced to leave. While she +was bemoaning her evil fate, and praying to God in the woods, she had +cut her feet on the stones; and she was bathing them in the brook when +she encountered the present gathering. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +WHICH TREATS OF THE DROLL DEVICE AND METHOD ADOPTED TO +EXTRICATE OUR LOVE-STRICKEN KNIGHT FROM THE SEVERE PENANCE +HE HAD IMPOSED UPON HIMSELF + + +Dorothea had told her story with great simplicity. When she had ended +it, the curate arose to console her; but Cardenio was already at her +side. + +"Are you not the daughter of the rich Clenardo?" he asked of her +eagerly. + +She gazed at him in wonder, for she had not spoken her father's name. +She asked the youth who he might be, and he told her that he was the +Cardenio who had been wronged by Don Fernando, the faithless friend +and faithless lover; and he swore then and there a holy oath that he +should see her married to Don Fernando or the latter would perish by +his, Cardenio's, sword. Dorothea was moved to tears by the youth's +words and thanked him profusely. The curate then made the suggestion +that both of them return with him and the barber to their village +where they could make further plans as to what to do to set things +aright. And Dorothea and Cardenio accepted this kind offer gratefully. + +Sancho was now seen arriving, and the curate told the youth and the +maiden the reason for his being there. He explained to them the +curious nature of Don Quixote's madness, and Cardenio mentioned to the +curate his meeting with the knight. + +Sancho had found Don Quixote nearly dead with hunger, crying aloud for +his Dulcinea; and when his squire entreated him in her name to return +to El Toboso, he refused, declaring that his penitence was not yet +complete; that he was not yet worthy of her favor. Sancho was quite +worried lest he should lose his island and his titles and all the +other honors he had expected, and the curate did his best to calm his +fears. The good man then explained to Cardenio and Dorothea how they +had planned to take Don Quixote back to his home by persuading him to +go there on an adventure in aid of a distressed damsel. + +Dorothea at once offered to play the part of the damsel. Having read a +good many books of chivalry, herself, she thought she could qualify in +asking favors of our knight. She had brought with her a complete +woman's dress, with lace and rich embroidery, and when Sancho Panza +saw her in her new array, he asked, in astonishment, what great lady +she might be. The curate replied that she was the ruler of the great +kingdom of Micomicon, and after having been dethroned by an evil giant +had come all the way from Guinea to seek the aid of Don Quixote. +Immediately Sancho's hope for his titles and possessions was revived, +for the thought of his master's fame having spread to such distant +parts seemed most encouraging. + +While Sancho Panza was entertaining these visions, Dorothea mounted +the curate's mule, and the barber decorated himself with the ox-tail +for a beard. Sancho was told to lead the way, and the curate explained +to him that the success of their mission depended on him. He was +warned that he must not give away the identity of the curate and the +barber; if he did, the empire would be lost. And then they started +out, leaving the curate and Cardenio behind, as that was thought best. + +They had gone almost a league when they saw Don Quixote on a rock, +clothed, but wearing no armor. Dorothea was helped from her horse. She +walked over to Don Quixote and knelt before him; and she told him the +errand that had brought her there, saying that she would not rise +until he had granted her the boon she was asking. While she was +kneeling before him, Sancho Panza was anxiously whispering to Don +Quixote bits of information about her and her kingdom, afraid that his +master might refuse her; but, demented though he was, rank and riches +mattered little to Don Quixote, for he drew his sword, he said, in +defense of anything that was righteous, and the meek and downtrodden +always found in him a ready and courteous defendant. When he learned +from the Princess that a big giant had invaded her kingdom, he at once +granted her the promise of his services. Dorothea wanted to kiss his +hand as a proof of her gratitude; but Don Quixote would not permit her +to do this, being ever a respectful and courteous knight. He commanded +his squire to saddle his horse immediately, while he put on his armor, +mounted, and was ready for the crusade. + +They set out, Sancho on foot, cheerfully grinning to himself at the +covetous thought of all the possessions that would be his in a short +time. Soon they passed the place where Cardenio and the curate were +hiding. The curate had by this time conceived the idea of shearing +Cardenio of his beard that Don Quixote would be unable to recognize +him; and he had furnished him with his own grey jerkin and a black +cloak, so that he himself appeared in breeches and doublet only. +Having effected the change, they took a short-cut through the woods +and came out on the open road ahead of Don Quixote. + +As he approached them, the curate feigned astonishment beyond words at +seeing his old friend; and Don Quixote was so surprised that he hardly +recognized the curate. He courteously offered Rocinante to him, but +the curate remonstrated and finally accepted the long-bearded squire's +mule, inviting the squire to sit behind him. This arrangement did not +please the mule, however, for he commenced to kick with his hind legs. +Luckily the beast did not damage the barber, but the demonstration +frightened him so that he turned a somersault in a ditch. In so doing, +his beard came off, but he had enough presence of mind to cover his +face at the same moment, crying that his teeth were knocked out. When +Don Quixote saw the beard on the ground without any sign of flesh or +blood, he was struck with amazement, and thought that the barber had +been shaved by a miracle. + +The curate hastened breathlessly to the barber's side, and began to +mumble incomprehensible words, while the barber was groaning on the +ground in an uncomfortable position. When the barber finally rose, Don +Quixote's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets, for he beheld the +barber bearded again. He begged the curate to teach him the charm that +could produce such a miracle, and the curate promised he would. Then +they proceeded on the journey. + +The curate now began to wonder about the road (all this was pre-arranged) +and said that in order to go to the kingdom of Micomicon, they had to +take the road to Cartagena, where they would embark on a ship. That, he +said, would take them through his own village, and from there it was a +journey of nine years to Micomicon. Here the Princess corrected him, +saying that it had taken her only two years to make the journey here, +in quest of the noble and famous knight who had now sworn to restore +her kingdom to her. + +Don Quixote at this moment happened to observe the light attire of the +curate, and was curious to know the reason for it. Whereupon the +curate (having learned of the incident through Sancho) related how he +and Master Nicholas, on their way to Seville, had been held up by a +gang of liberated galley-slaves. These criminals, it was said, had +been set free by a man on horseback, as brave as he was bold, for he +had fought off all the guards, single-handed. The curate criticized +this man heartlessly, called him a knave and a criminal for having set +himself against law and order and his king, and expressed a belief +that he could not have been in his right mind. The Holy Brotherhood, +he said further, was searching for him now, and he himself was afraid +that the man's soul would be lost. He finished his story by calling +upon the Lord to pardon this unregenerate being who had taken away the +galley-slaves from the punishment that had been meted out to them by +justice. + +Don Quixote seemed to take the curate's sermon to heart, and bent his +head humbly, not daring to admit that he was the culprit, and not +knowing that the curate knew it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +WHICH TREATS OF THE ADDRESS DISPLAYED BY THE FAIR DOROTHEA, +WITH OTHER MATTERS, PLEASANT AND AMUSING + + +When Sancho heard the harsh sermon of the curate, he, being a good +Christian, became afraid that his own soul might be lost too; for was +he not an accomplice? So he confessed then and there his own and his +master's guilt, much to the shame and anger of Don Quixote. The +Princess was quick to sense the danger, and she calmed our hero before +his anger had risen to any great height, by reminding him of his +promise, and how he had sworn to engage in no conflict of any kind +until her kingdom had been saved. He answered her with infinite +courtesy and expressed his regrets for having let his anger get the +better of him; he would stand by his word. Then he asked her to tell +him all that she could about herself and her kingdom. She would +willingly do that, she said, and began her story. + +But she came very near ending it then and there, for she could not +remember the name she had assumed. Luckily the curate--who had +invented her long and difficult name--was there to prompt her, and the +situation was saved. Having told Don Quixote that her name was +Princess Micomicona, she continued her story, relating how she was +left an orphan, how a certain giant and lord of an island near her +kingdom had asked for her hand in marriage and she had refused, how +his forces had overrun her country and she had fled to Spain, where it +had been predicted by a magician she would find a certain great knight +errant by the name of Don Quixote, otherwise called the Knight of the +Rueful Countenance, who would be recognized by a gray mole with hairs +like bristles under the left shoulder. + +Immediately upon hearing this, Don Quixote wanted to strip, but Sancho +assured them that he did have just such a mark. Dorothea said she was +quite sure he must, for in other respects the description that the +magician had given fitted him; and she hastened to relate to him how +she had first heard of him on her landing at Osuna. But evidently the +pretended Princess had not been as careful a student of geography as +Don Quixote, who was quick to ask her: "But how did you land at Osuna, +senorita, when it is not a seaport?" Again the curate displayed proof +of rare presence of mind, for he broke in: "The Princess meant to say +that after having landed at Malaga, the first place where she heard of +your worship was Osuna." And Dorothea immediately corroborated the +curate's explanation with great self-assurance. + +However, she thought it best to end her story here, for fear of +complications, and only added how happy she was to have found him so +soon. She also pointed out, demurely enough, that it had been +predicted if after having cut off the giant's head the knight should +ask her to marry him, she would accept. But Don Quixote said he would +be true to his Dulcinea; and this made Sancho exclaim with dismay +that he was out of his head, for Dulcinea could never come up to this +fair princess. + +Sancho's remark angered his master so intensely that he knocked him to +the ground with his spear; and if the Princess had not interfered the +unfortunate squire might never again have been able to say his +ave-marias or credos or, more to the point, have eaten another square +meal. He was quick to cry out that he had meant no ill by what he +said, and acting upon the suggestion of the Princess, he kissed his +master's hand. + +At this moment a man, mounted on an ass, was seen on the road, and +Sancho, no doubt feeling instinctively the proximity of his beloved +animal, recognized in the man Gines de Pasamonte. Wildly shouting, he +set out after the galley-slave, who threw himself off the ass at +Sancho's first shout. Sancho, crying with joy, was so glad to have his +faithful donkey returned to him that he did not pursue the thief. And +Don Quixote himself was so pleased that he entirely forgot about his +quarrel with Sancho. He called him to his side, and asked him to +repeat everything his Dulcinea had told him, over and over again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +OF THE DELECTABLE DISCUSSION BETWEEN DON QUIXOTE AND SANCHO +PANZA, HIS SQUIRE, TOGETHER WITH OTHER INCIDENTS + + +Don Quixote was anxious to know what jewel his fair one had bestowed +on Sancho before the leave-taking. Sancho replied that the only jewel +Dulcinea had given him was some bread and cheese; whereupon Don +Quixote remarked that no doubt she had had no jewels at hand. He +expressed wonder at the speedy trip Sancho had made, to which Sancho +replied that Rocinante had gone like lightning; and Don Quixote then +was sure some friendly enchanter had carried him through the air. + + + + +CHAPTERS XXXII-XXXIV + +WHICH TREATS OF WHAT BEFELL ALL DON QUIXOTE'S PARTY AT THE INN + + +The following day they reached the inn. The landlady at once wanted +her ox-tail back, so it was decided that the barber should hereafter +appear in his own true character, having supposedly arrived at the inn +after the galley-slaves' hold-up. + +Don Quixote was tired, and was given a bed in the garret where he had +slept once before. While the others were having dinner, the landlady +was confidentially telling all who would listen of Don Quixote's +absurdities during his previous visit, and also of Sancho Panza's +being juggled in the blanket. And while the curate was discussing Don +Quixote's madness, the innkeeper confided to him that he himself had a +weakness for reading about deeds of the past, particularly stories of +chivalry. Often, he said, he would read aloud from these books to his +family and servants. He had just read a novel entitled "Ill-Advised +Curiosity," which he had found very interesting. He showed the +manuscript of it to the curate, who seemed to think it might make very +good reading and expressed a desire to copy it. Whereupon the +innkeeper asked him whether he would not read it aloud to them; and as +they were all eager to hear it, the curate commenced the reading of +the manuscript. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +WHICH TREATS OF THE HEROIC AND PRODIGIOUS BATTLE DON QUIXOTE +HAD WITH CERTAIN SKINS OF RED WINE, AND BRINGS THE NOVEL OF +THE "ILL-ADVISED CURIOSITY" TO AN END + + +The curate had almost finished the reading of the novel, (which +consumed all of the two chapters which are omitted here) when Sancho +Panza burst into the room, excitedly shouting that his master was +having the wildest battle he had ever seen, up in the garret. He +pleaded for reinforcements, and wanted them all to join in conquering +the enemy who, he declared, was no other than the fierce giant that +had invaded the kingdom of Micomicon. He said he had left just as his +master had cut the giant's head clean off with his sword, leaving the +beast to bleed like a stuffed pig. + +While Sancho was relating his blood-curdling story, a tremendous noise +and loud exclamations poured forth from the garret, and the innkeeper, +suddenly remembering all the many wine-skins he had hung up there on +the previous night sprang out of his chair and toward the scene of +action, followed by the rest. + +The worst that the innkeeper might have feared was true; for there, on +the garret floor, was a sea of red wine, with hosts of empty skins +floating about upon it. In the middle of the sea stood Don Quixote, +sword in hand, slashing right and left, dressed in nothing but his +shirt. But the strangest thing of all was not his attire, but the fact +that he was fast asleep, his eyes shut tightly, dreaming that he had +already arrived in the distant realm of the Princess Micomicona and +had encountered the giant enemy. + +Seeing all his precious wine floating away, the innkeeper became +enraged and set upon Don Quixote with his bare fists; but the beating +had no effect on the knight except, perhaps, that it made him sleep +more soundly. It was not until the barber had drenched him in cold +water that he came to his senses. + +The Princess Micomicona, who had been listening to the saving of her +kingdom outside the door, became eager, after she had heard the +tempest subside, to enter and see the conquered giant; but she retired +hastily and with a slight exclamation of horrified modesty on seeing +the abbreviated length of her defender's night-shirt, the tail of +which had been sacrificed to his prayers in the wilderness. + +The landlord, cursing his luck, swore that this time the knight errant +and his squire should not escape without paying. But Don Quixote, +whose hand the curate was holding in an endeavor to calm him, merely +fell on his knees before the curate, exclaiming: "Exalted and +beautiful Princess! Your Highness may now live in peace; for I have +slain the giant!" He imagined that he was at the feet of Micomicona. +Soon after having spoken thus, he showed signs of great weariness, and +the curate, the barber and Cardenio carried him to his bed, where he +fell asleep. + +Next they had to console Sancho, who was grief-stricken because he had +been unable to find the giant's head. He swore he had seen it falling +when his master cut it off, and imagined that if it could not be +produced there would be no reward for either him or his master; but +Dorothea, in her role of Princess, calmed and comforted him. + +All this time the innkeeper's wife was crying about the ox-tail, which, +she said, had lost its usefulness after having served as beard, and the +innkeeper was demanding that he be paid for the spilt wine and other +losses. The curate assured them that he himself would see to it that they +were reimbursed for everything; and when the excitement in the inn had +simmered down, and everybody had gathered again in the room where they +had heard the curate read from "Ill-Advised Curiosity," he was asked to +resume the reading. This he did; and they all thought it a very +entertaining story and listened intensely to what the curate was reading. + +[Illustration: "SLASHING RIGHT AND LEFT, DREAMING THAT HE HAD +ENCOUNTERED THE GIANT ENEMY."--_Page 93_] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +WHICH TREATS OF MORE CURIOUS INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AT THE INN + + +At this moment there was a sound of people approaching on horseback, +and the innkeeper rushed to the gate to receive the guests. There were +four men, with lances and bucklers, and black veils for their faces; a +woman, dressed in white and also veiled, and two attendants on foot. +One of the four, a gentleman of distinction, helped the lady to +dismount, and they entered the inn. + +As they came into the room where the curate had just finished reading +the novel of "Ill-Advised Curiosity," Dorothea covered her face, and +Cardenio left and went to the garret. As the gentleman seated the lady +in a chair, she heaved a deep sigh. Her arms fell limply by her side. +The curate was curious to know who these people were, so he asked one +of the servants that accompanied them. But none of them knew, for they +had met the travelers on the road, they said, and had been offered +employment at good pay. They added that they feared the lady was being +taken somewhere against her will, as she had done nothing but sigh all +through the journey, and had exchanged no words whatever with her +escort. + +Dorothea, hearing the lady sigh repeatedly, felt compassion for her, +and asked her whether there was anything that she could do for her. +But although she asked her the question several times, she got no +reply. + +When the gentleman with the distinguished bearing observed that +Dorothea was interested in this lady, he told her it was useless to +bother with her, for her answers were all lies and anything done for +her would be rewarded with ingratitude. This remark was speedily +answered by the lady, who retorted. "I have never told a lie. On the +contrary, it is because I am truthful and cannot lie that I am now in +this miserable condition. And you are the lying one!" + +Cardenio was in the adjoining room, just returning from the garret, +and when he heard these words he exclaimed: "Good God! What is this I +hear! It is her voice!" + +The lady heard the exclamation, and seeing no one, she became agitated +and rose, but was held back by the gentleman. Her veil suddenly fell +off, and every one could see her face, which was one of alabaster-like +whiteness and great beauty. And while the gentleman was struggling to +keep her from leaving the room, his own veil became unfastened and +Dorothea saw that he was no other than her own lover, Don Fernando. +The moment she recognized him she fainted, and the barber caught her, +or she would have fallen to the floor. The curate was quick to throw +some water on her face, and she soon came to. As soon as Cardenio +heard the commotion, he rushed in from the other room, imagining that +the worst had happened to his Luscinda--for it was no other than +she--and it was a curious thing to see the four suddenly finding +themselves face to face. + +Luscinda was the first one to speak, and she implored Don Fernando to +take her life, so that her beloved Cardenio might believe that she +had been true and loyal and faithful to him until the very last. + +When Dorothea heard Luscinda speak thus, she fell on her knees before +Don Fernando and implored him to reconsider everything that he had +done that was base and wrong and sinful. She pleaded with tears in her +eyes, begging him to give up Luscinda to her faithful Cardenio, told +him how much she still loved him in spite of his wrong-doing, and said +she would forgive him everything if he would only let his real and +better nature come into its own. And her tears and sincerity moved Don +Fernando so that he himself wept, and he promised to abide by the +ending which Fate itself seemed to have provided for by bringing them +all together in this strange way. + +He told Luscinda that when he had found the paper in which she +declared she could never be the wife of any other man than Cardenio, +he was tempted to kill her, but was prevented by chance. He had left +the house in a rage, and had not returned home till the following day, +when he found that she had disappeared. Some months later he learned +that she had taken refuge in a convent. He gathered the companions +they had seen at the inn, and with their help he carried her from the +convent. Now he repented of what he had done, prayed he might be +permitted forever to live with his Dorothea, and asked them all for +forgiveness. Then he gave his blessing to the overjoyed Cardenio and +Luscinda, who were both so affected at their reunion that they shed +tears. Even Sancho was weeping, although for quite another reason. He +was grieved to find his Princess Micomicona suddenly lose her royal +identity and turn out to be a mere lady. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +IN WHICH IS CONTINUED THE STORY OF THE FAMOUS PRINCESS +MICOMICONA, WITH OTHER DROLL ADVENTURES + + +Sancho thought it his solemn duty to go to his master at once and +inform him of the catastrophe. Dejected, he approached Don Quixote, +who had just awakened, and said: "Sir Rueful Countenance, your Worship +may as well sleep on, without troubling yourself about killing or +restoring her kingdom to the Princess; for that is all over and +settled now." + +Don Quixote agreed with his squire enthusiastically, and then told him +of the tremendous battle he had just had with the giant, dwelling +particularly upon the great amount of blood that flowed when the +giant's head was cut off. + +"Red wine, your Worship means," said Sancho, "and no less than +twenty-four gallons, all of which has to be paid for! The Princess +your Worship will find turned into a private lady named Dorothea; and +there is much more that will astonish your Worship." + +Whereupon there ensued a rich and varied conversation between master +and servant. When Don Quixote heard his squire confound blood with +wine, he called him a fool. And when he heard that his Princess had +turned into a simple Dorothea, the fears he had entertained during +his past visit to the inn, began to return, and he decided that the +place was enchanted. But of that his squire could not be convinced, +for the episode of the blanketing still remained a most vivid reality +to him. Had it not been for that, he repeated, he could have believed +it readily. + +Meanwhile the curate had been telling Don Fernando and the others of +Don Quixote's strange malady; he described how they had succeeded in +taking him away from the wilderness and his self-inflicted penance, +and told them all the strange adventures he had heard Sancho relate. +They were greatly amused and thought it the most remarkable craze they +had ever heard of. Don Fernando was eager that Dorothea should +continue playing her part, and they all decided to come along on the +journey to the village in La Mancha. + +At this moment Don Quixote entered in his regalia, the barber's basin +on his head, spear in hand, and with the buckler on his arm. Don +Fernando was struck with astonishment and laughter at the sight of the +mixed armament and the peculiar long yellow face of the knight. After +a silence, Don Quixote turned to Dorothea and repeated his vow to +regain her kingdom for her. He said he approved heartily of the magic +interference of the spirit of the king, her father, who had devised +this new state of hers, that of a private maiden, in which guise she +would no doubt be more secure from evil influence on her journey to +her home. + +His ignorant squire broke in when his master related of his battle in +the garret, and inferred irreverently and rather loudly that he had +attacked wine-skins instead of giants, but Don Fernando quickly made +him be quiet. Dorothea rose and thanked our rueful knight at the end +of his speech for the renewed offer of his sword. + +Having listened to her lovely voice, Don Quixote turned angrily to his +squire and reprimanded him for being a disbeliever, saying that he +could now judge for himself what a fool he had made of himself. Sancho +replied that he hoped he had made a mistake about the Princess not +being a princess, but that as to the wine-skins, there could be no +doubt, for the punctured skins he had seen himself at the head of Don +Quixote's bed--and had not the garret floor been turned into a lake of +wine? Whereupon his master swore at his stupidity, until Don Fernando +interrupted and proposed that they spend the evening in pleasant +conversation at the inn instead of continuing their journey that +night. + +While that was being agreed upon, two travelers, a man and a woman, +dressed in Moorish fashion, came to the inn. They asked for rooms +overnight, but were told there were none to be had. Dorothea felt +sorry for the strange lady--whose face was covered with a veil--and +told her that she and Luscinda would gladly share their room with her. +The lady rose from her chair, bowed her head and made a sign with her +hands as if to thank them; and they concluded, because of her silence, +that she could not speak their language. At this moment her companion +returned to her and, seeing her surrounded by the guests at the inn, +he confirmed what they had thought, for he made the remark that it was +useless to address any questions to her as she could speak no other +tongue than her own. They explained that they had asked no questions, +but had only offered her quarters for the night. When the stranger +learned this, it seemed to please him very much, and he thanked them +profusely. + +As they were all curious to know who the lady was, they asked the +stranger whether or not she was a Christian. He replied that while she +was not, she wished to become one; and he informed them that she was a +lady of high rank from Algiers. This excited a desire to see her face +as well as to know whom she might be, and Dorothea could not resist +the temptation of asking her to remove her veil. When her companion +had told her Dorothea's desire, and the Moorish lady had removed her +veil, they all stood in awe, for they beheld a face that seemed to +them lovelier than any they had ever beheld before. Don Fernando asked +her name, and the stranger replied it was Lela Zoraida; but when the +fair lady heard him speak this name, she exclaimed emphatically that +she was called Maria and not Zoraida. Luscinda embraced her in a +loving way and said they would call her by that name. + +The supper was now ready and all placed themselves at a long table, at +the head of which Don Quixote was asked to seat himself. At his +request Dorothea--as the Princess Micomicona in disguise--sat on his +right. All were merry and content and many pleasantries were passed. +But suddenly Don Quixote stopped eating, rose, and with inspiration in +his eyes and voice, began a long discourse on knight-errantry, +reviewing the great good it had done for mankind. The language he used +was so perfect, his manners so free and easy, and his delivery +possessed of such charm, that his listeners could hardly make +themselves believe they were in the presence of one who was demented. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +WHICH TREATS OF THE CURIOUS DISCOURSE DON QUIXOTE DELIVERED +ON ARMS AND LETTERS + + +Don Quixote told them in his discourse of that age in which victory in +battle depended on personal courage and good swordsmanship, before the +use of such devilish contrivances as lead and powder. These things +almost made him despair of success for his revival of chivalry in this +age, he said; for while guns and artillery could instill no fear in +his breast, they did make him feel uneasy, as one never knew when a +bullet, intended for some one else, might cut off one's life. The very +worst of such a death, he maintained, was that the bullet might have +been discharged by a fleeing coward. And so he pledged himself again, +in spite of all the things he had to struggle against, not to give up +what he had undertaken to do: to set the world aright in accordance +with the principles of knight-errantry. + +All the while that Don Quixote was discoursing, Sancho was much +concerned because he neglected his food. He broke in whenever he had +an opportunity, and admonished his master that he would have much time +for talking after he had eaten. + +When they had finished their supper, the landlord informed them that +he had re-arranged their quarters in order to accommodate all, and +that the three women might sleep in the garret, as Don Quixote +gallantly had given up his quarters to them. Their interest then +turned again to the stranger. Don Fernando asked him some questions +about his life, and he replied that while his life-story would be +interesting, it might not afford them much enjoyment. However, he +said, he would tell it if they so wished. The curate begged that he do +so; and, seeing the interest of all, the stranger mentioned by way of +introduction that while his was a true story, many a story of fiction +would seem tame and less strange in comparison. And while all of the +company expectantly turned their eyes toward the strange traveler in +Moorish garb, he began the following tale. + + + + +CHAPTERS XXXIX-XLI + +WHEREIN THE CAPTIVE RELATES HIS LIFE AND ADVENTURES + + +As a young man, the stranger said, he had left Spain, bent on adventure +and on becoming a soldier. He had served with the Duke of Alva in +Flanders, and in the wars of the Christians against the Turks, the Moors, +and the Arabs. In one of these wars he was taken prisoner by King El +Uchali of Algiers; he had previously advanced to the rank of captain. He +was held a captive for a long time, first at Constantinople, then at +Tunis, then at Algiers. At Constantinople he encountered a good many +other Christian prisoners. Particularly he remembered one Don Pedro de +Augilar, a brave soldier and a native of Andalusia, who, he said, had +written some very excellent poetry. He especially spoke of two sonnets +which he had liked so well that he had learned them by heart. One day Don +Pedro succeeded in making his escape, but what had become of him he had +never heard. + +As soon as the captive had spoken Don Pedro's name, the ladies and Don +Fernando exchanged glances and smiled, and Don Fernando could not +refrain from informing the narrator that Don Pedro was his brother. +Furthermore, he said, he was safe in Andalusia, where he was happily +married, in the best of health, and had three robust children. Then he +touched on his brother's gift for composing poetry, and said that the +very two sonnets the captive had mentioned, he himself knew by heart. +Whereupon every one asked him to recite them, and so he did with fine +feeling and intelligence. Then the captive resumed his story. + +At Algiers, he said, there lived, overlooking the prison, a great +alcaide named Hadji Morato, a very rich man, who had but one child, a +daughter of great beauty. She had learned the Christian prayer from a +slave of her father's, when she was a child; the things that this +Christian woman had taught her had made her long to know more about +the religion and to become a Christian herself. This beautiful +Algerian maiden had seen the captive from her window, and she liked +him, and one day she managed to get a message to him, begging him to +escape and to take her with him. From time to time she would throw to +him gold coins wrapped in cloth, and these he would hide until finally +he had enough to buy not only himself but some other prisoners free +from their slavery. + +However, in order to effect the escape of the maiden, the captive was +obliged to take into his confidence an old Algerian renegade who +turned out to be a believer in Christ. With this man the captive sent +messages to Zoraida. Now, this renegade was a sly fellow, and he +bought a small vessel with which he began to ply to and fro between +the city and some islands nearby, bringing back fruit each time, in +order to alleviate all suspicions of his having acquired the vessel +for any other purpose than trading. Finally it was decided the time +had come for the escape, and the captive had himself ransomed. + +That night the renegade had the ship anchored opposite the prison and +Zoraida's garden, and, with the help of a number of Christians whom +they had gathered as rowers, and who were eager to return to Spain, +they secured the ship and put the Moorish crew in irons and chains. + +Zoraida witnessed the proceedings from her window, and when she saw +her captive and the renegade return in the skiff of the vessel, she +hastened below into the garden. She was bedecked with a fortune in +pearls and precious stones. She asked the renegade to follow her into +the house, and when they returned, they brought with them a chest +laden with gold. Just then her father was awakened and he began to +shout in Arabic as loudly as he could that he was being robbed by +Christians. Had it not been for the quick action of the renegade all +might have been lost. He bound and gagged the father and carried him +downstairs, where Zoraida had fainted in the captive's arms. Then they +hastened back to the ship and set sail for Majorca. + +It was some time before the old alcaide realized that his daughter had +gone with the captive of her own free will, and when he learned it, he +flung himself into the sea, but was rescued by one of the rowers. When +he found himself then on board the ship, he began to curse his +daughter, calling her a Christian dog and other vile names. Finally it +was deemed best to set him and the other Moors ashore; and when the +old man saw the ship sail away with his daughter, he began to sob and +cry aloud in the most heartrending way, threatening to kill himself if +she did not return to him. The last words that she heard were, "I +forgive you all!" and they made her weep so bitterly that it seemed as +if her tears would never cease flowing. + +They were then less than a day's voyage from the coast of Spain. As +they were breezing along with all sails set, over a moonlit sea, they +saw a large ship appear in the distance. It turned out to be a French +corsair from Rochelle out for plunder, for when it came closer it +suddenly fired two guns that took terrible effect and wrecked their +vessel. As the ship began to sink, they begged to be taken aboard the +corsair, to which the captain was not averse. Once aboard they were +told that if they had been courteous enough to reply to the question +shouted from the corsair as to what port they were bound for, their +own vessel would still have been intact. The covetous crew stripped +them of all their valuable belongings, the pearls and jewels, money +and adornments of Zoraida. The chest of gold, however, the renegade +stealthily lowered into the sea without any one seeing it. + +The next day when the Spanish coast was sighted the captain put them +all in a skiff, gave them some bread and water for their voyage, and +set out to sea. Before letting them depart, moved by some strange +impulse, he gave Zoraida forty crowns; and he had not robbed her of +her beautiful gown. They steered their skiff towards the shore, where +they landed soon after midnight. Immediately they left the shore, +eager to know where they were. They climbed the mountain--for the +shore was a rocky one--and there they rested until dawn, then went on +into the country. + +Soon they met a young shepherd; but when he saw their strange garbs, +he ran away from them like a frightened lamb, crying that the Moors +had invaded the country. And not so long after that they encountered +fifty mounted men of the coast guard, but as soon as these saw their +Moorish costumes and had heard the captive's explanation, they +realized that the boy's vivid imagination had disturbed them +needlessly. And when one of the Christian captives recognized in one +of the guards an uncle of his, these men could not do enough for the +returned slaves. They gave them their horses, some of them went to +rescue the skiff for them, and when they arrived at the nearby city +they were welcomed by all the inhabitants. + +At once they went to the church to return thanks to the Lord for their +marvelous escape, and Zoraida was impressed beyond expression with the +hosts of praying worshippers. She, the renegade, and the captive +stayed at the house of the returned Christian, and the rest were +quartered throughout the town. After six days the renegade departed +for Granada to restore himself to the Church through the means of the +Holy Inquisition. One by one the other captives left for their own +homes, and finally only Zoraida and he himself remained. He then +decided to go in search of his father, whom he had not seen for so +many years, and he did not know whether he was alive or not. His +journey had brought him to this inn, and it was here that his story +came to an end. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII + +WHICH TREATS OF WHAT FURTHER TOOK PLACE IN THE INN, AND OF +SEVERAL OTHER THINGS WORTH KNOWING + + +The captive having finished his strange and interesting story, Don +Fernando rose and thanked him, and all were eager for an opportunity +to show him their goodwill. Don Fernando begged the stranger to allow +him to provide for his comfort, and offered to take him to his +brother, the Marquis, who, he said, would be most eager to act as +Zoraida's godfather at her baptism. But the stranger declined +graciously all the offers that were made. + +Night was now setting in, and each one was contemplating going to his +room, when suddenly a coach with attendants on horseback arrived at +the inn. The landlady told the one demanding lodging that there was +none to be had at any price. Whereupon the man replied that room +_must_ be found for his lordship, the Judge, his master. As soon as +the landlady learned she was dealing with the law, she nearly fainted +from exertion to please, and offered to give up their own room and bed +to his lordship. By this time the Judge, attired in a long robe with +ruffled sleeves, had stepped out of the coach, accompanied by a +beautiful girl of about sixteen years of age. There were exclamations +from all when they saw the young lady, for she possessed beauty and +grace that were really rare. + +The first one to greet the strangers was no other than Don Quixote, +who, with a grave air and the most exalted and flowery language, bade +them welcome to the castle. He finished his speech by saying: "Enter, +your worship, into this paradise, for here you will find stars and +suns to accompany the heaven your Worship brings with you. Here you +will find arms in their supreme excellence, and beauty in its highest +perfection." + +The Judge looked for a moment as if he hesitated about entering with +his daughter after such an unusual reception; he seemed to wonder +whether he was at an inn or an asylum. He scrutinized Don Quixote's +curious armor, then turned his attention to the rest of the company, +which evidently made him feel more at ease. + +It was arranged that the young lady should sleep with the other +ladies; which pleased her greatly, for it was evident that she was +very much taken with them and their beauty. The Judge was as much +pleased with the presence of so many people of quality as he was +puzzled by Don Quixote and his strange appearance and behavior. + +The moment the former captive and captain had laid eyes on the Judge, +he was stirred by the conviction that here was his own younger +brother. He asked the Judge's name of one of the servants, and was +told he was called the Licentiate Juan Perez de Viedma, lately +appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of Mexico, to which country he +was now on his way. The Captain inquired whether the servant knew from +which part of Spain the Judge came, and got the reply that he had +heard it rumored he was a native of a little village in the mountains +of Leon. The Captain was then certain it was his brother, and he +hastened to tell the curate, Don Fernando, and Cardenio, saying he +felt diffident about making himself known too abruptly for fear his +brother might refuse to acknowledge him because of his poverty and +ill-fortune. + +The curate understood the Captain's way of thinking, and asked that he +trust him to manage it in a discreet way. So when the Judge invited +them all to keep him company while he supped, the curate told the +story of the captive at the table. In telling it he pretended to have +been a captive in the hands of the Turks and the Algerians and a +comrade-in-arms of the Captain. When he had finished the story, tears +rolled down the Judge's cheeks, and he begged the curate to help him +to find his beloved brother, for whom their aged father was ever +praying, ever asking, hoping that he might see him once more before he +closed his eyes in death. It was then that the Captain, himself in +tears, stepped forward and, the Judge having recognized him, embraced +his brother. Then the Judge embraced Zoraida, offering her all the +worldly goods he possessed. His daughter, the lovely young girl, now +joined them, and all the others were moved to tears by the brothers' +happiness in finding each other after so many years of separation. + +Don Quixote stood gazing in silence at what passed before his eyes, +ascribing the two brothers' luck to magic. + +When the first emotion of the unexpected meeting had subsided, the +Judge asked his brother and Zoraida to return with him to Seville, +from where he would send a messenger to the father, telling him of the +good news and begging him to come to the joint marriage and baptismal +ceremony. As the Judge was obliged to leave for New Spain within a +month, it was agreed that a speedy return to Seville was necessary. + +It was now early morning, though still dark, and all were tired, so it +was decided that every one should go to bed. But Don Quixote, +sacrificing himself in spite of his fatigue, appointed himself to keep +guard for the remainder of the night, fearing attack of some evil +giant or beast upon all the beauty that was slumbering within. They, +who were aware of his peculiar weakness, returned thanks in their most +gracious manner; and when they were alone with the Judge they hastened +to explain the knight's mental state. The Judge was much amused by the +accounts of his adventures and his attempts to revive knight errantry +in Spain. + +There was only one unhappy being in the inn that night: that was +Sancho Panza. He was not at all pleased with his master's staying up +at such a late hour. But there seemed nothing he could do about it, so +he retired and spread himself comfortably on the trappings of his +donkey. + +While Don Quixote was guarding the castle, and dawn was approaching, +Dorothea, who had lain awake, was suddenly stirred by the sound of a +man's voice, a voice so beautiful that it seemed to her there could be +none sweeter in the world. Then Cardenio was awakened by it, and he +felt that he ought to share the joy of hearing it with the ladies, so +he went to the garret to call their attention to it. When he knocked +on the door and told them, Dorothea called out that they were already +listening. The only one not awake at that time was Dona Clara, the +Judge's fair daughter. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +WHEREIN IS RELATED THE PLEASANT STORY OF THE MULETEER, TOGETHER +WITH OTHER STRANGE THINGS THAT CAME TO PASS IN THE INN + + +Dorothea and the other ladies were in a quandary as to whether to +awake Dona Clara or not. Finally they decided that she would be sorry +if she had to learn what she had missed and would regret that they had +not awakened her; so they shook her until she opened her eyes and then +asked her to sit up in bed and listen. But scarcely had she heard one +note, before she began to sob hysterically. She threw her arms around +Dorothea and cried: "Why, oh, why did you wake me, dear lady? The +greatest kindness fortune could do me now would be to close my eyes +and ears so that I could neither see nor hear that unhappy musician!" + +Dorothea was at a loss to know what had happened to the child. All the +while she was trying to soothe her, the tears were streaming down the +young girl's face, and she was trembling like a leaf. Finally she +quieted her feelings sufficiently to be able to confide to Dorothea in +a whispering voice the story of her romance with the singer, who, she +said, was not a muleteer as his garb would indicate, but the only son +and heir of a rich noble of Aragon. This gentleman's house in Madrid +was situated directly opposite her father's, and having once seen Dona +Clara the youth proceeded to declare his love for her. She, being +motherless and having no one to whom she could confide her love +secrets, had to leave Madrid with her father, when he was given his +appointment to New Spain, without an opportunity to see her lover. But +as soon as the youth, who was not much older than herself, learned of +their departure, he dressed himself up as a muleteer and set out on +foot to pursue her. At every inn where they had stopped overnight she +had found him awaiting their departure in the morning, and she was +always in dread, she said, lest her father learn of their love for +each other. + +With her arms tight around Dorothea, she confessed to her how great +her love was for the youth, saying that she could never live without +him. Dorothea kissed the girl, and promised her that with God's help +all would end well, telling her to put her trust in Him; and before +another day had passed she hoped to have good news for Dona Clara. +Dorothea's assurances calmed and put new faith in the young girl's +heart; and soon they all were fast asleep again. + +Now, all this time the one-eyed Asturian maid, and the landlady's +daughter, both bent on deviltry, were keeping their eyes open. It was +impossible for them to forget Don Quixote, and they were determined to +play a joke on him before the night was over. They posted themselves +in the hayloft, where there was a hole in the wall; and when Don +Quixote passed on Rocinante, he heard some one calling: "Pst! Come +here, senor!" + +As Don Quixote turned to see who it might be, he discovered the hole +in the wall and it seemed very much like a marvelously decorated +window, in keeping with the beautiful castle he had made out of the +inn. He beheld at this window the two maidens, and immediately they +became to him the daughter of the lord of the castle and her +attendant. Wistfully he gazed at them, certain, however, that they had +designed to destroy his faithful and stubborn allegiance to Dulcinea, +to whom he had just been sending up prayers and salutations under the +influence of the moon. Then he spoke to them, regretting that they +should let themselves be so overcome by love for him that they could +no longer master their feelings. He told them of that great and only +mistress of his soul, the incomparable one of El Toboso of La Mancha, +to whom he had sworn eternal love and undying admiration. And at last +he admonished the innkeeper's daughter to retire to her beauteous +apartment, lest he should be forced to prove himself ungrateful. If, +he said, she would demand any other thing than love, he would +willingly grant her the favor, even unto a lock of Medusa's hair. + +The wench immediately realized that her opportunity had come, so she +quickly said that she cared for no lock of Medusa's or any other, but +would be satisfied to feel the touch of his hand. + +Before sanctioning this demand, Don Quixote asserted his virtuousness +again by stipulating that she must not kiss it, only touch it. He +understood, of course, that any woman would be likely to ask such a +favor of him at any time (for who would not be proud to have touched +the sinewy hand of so remarkable and famous a knight errant as +himself?) but he insisted on being discreet at all times. So he +climbed up and stood on the saddle of his hack, reaching his lean arm +through the hole in the wall. + +By this time the Asturian maid had procured from the stable the halter +of Sancho's donkey, on which her young mistress quickly made a running +knot and passed it over Don Quixote's wrist. As soon as she had +proceeded thus far in her deviltry, she jumped down from the hole and +made fast the other end of the halter to the bolt of the door. Then +she and her maid swiftly made off, bursting with laughter, leaving the +knight to complain of the roughness of her touch. + +But after a while Don Quixote began to realize that no one was there to +listen to his complaints, and also that he was not standing too securely +on his Rocinante's back; for should Rocinante move without being urged--a +most unusual event--he would be left to hang in the air by one arm. It +suddenly came to him that he was a victim of enchantment, and he called +on all the saints, and Dulcinea, and Sancho Panza, on all kind magicians +and sages, and every one else he could think of, to come to his aid. + +But no one came, until the morning brought four travelers on horseback. +They found the gate still shut, so they called to Don Quixote, who by +this time was almost exhausted. But although wearied, his spirit had not +left him. He reprimanded the strangers for their insolence; asked whether +they were so stupid they failed to realize that as yet the castle gates +were not open, that all were asleep. He commanded them to withdraw to a +distance and to approach the fortress after daylight; then he could +better tell whether they should be permitted to enter or not. + +One of the travelers mistook Don Quixote for the innkeeper, and was +immediately reprimanded for this. The offended knight then began to +talk about knight errantry and its revival in the world, until finally +the men tired of his discourse. Again they knocked at the gate, this +time with such force and fury that the innkeeper woke up and came out +and admitted them in a hurry. They entered violently on their horses, +enraged because of their long waiting at the gate, and dismounted, +leaving their horses free. The moment the horses saw Rocinante and the +curious position of his master, they went to investigate him, and the +unsuspecting Rocinante leaped from under Don Quixote with such +suddenness that the poor knight's arm was nearly wrenched from his +body. There he was left to dangle, while the shouts that forced their +way from his throat rent the air fiercely. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +IN WHICH ARE CONTINUED THE UNHEARD-OF ADVENTURES AT THE INN + + +When the landlord heard the terrible outcries of Don Quixote, he ran, +greatly excited, to see who could be giving vent to such agony. The +travelers joined him; and the Asturian maid was stirred to quick +action by a bad conscience, as well as by the excited state of her +master. She untied the halter, and Don Quixote fell so suddenly that +his meager body landed like a dead weight on the ground. + +The landlord and the travelers found him there, and asked him +impatiently why he was making such a tremendous noise. He ignored +their question entirely, pulled the rope off his wrist, and mounted +his charger with as much nonchalance and elegance as his stiff limbs +would permit. Then he haughtily raised his head, after having adjusted +all his knightly paraphernalia, and circled down the field, returning +in a canter. Having halted Rocinante, he bellowed out to those +assembled "Whoever shall say that I have been enchanted with just +cause, provided my lady the Princess Micomicona grants me permission +to do so, I give him the lie, challenge him and defy him to single +combat." + +The landlord saw at once the effect these words of the poor demented +knight had on his newly arrived guests, so he hastened to explain Don +Quixote's condition to them. They then asked whether the innkeeper had +seen a youth dressed like a muleteer. He replied that he had not; but +just then one of the men exclaimed that the youth must be there, since +the Judge's coach--which he had suddenly observed--was there. They +then decided to dissemble, each one going to a different entrance of +the inn, so there would be no chance for the youth to escape. + +The landlord was curious to know what it was all about, but could +arrive at no conclusion. The truth was that these men were servants of +the young muleteer's father. And it was not long ere they had +discovered him, lying asleep, never thinking that he would himself be +pursued. The servant who roused him made a few caustic remarks to the +young Don Luis--for this was his name--about his bed and the luxury of +his surroundings, as particularly befitting a youth of his rank and +breeding. + +Don Luis could not at first believe that he was really awake. He +rubbed his eyes in astonishment, and failed to find a reply to the +servant's remarks. The man then continued, advising his young master +to return to his home at once, saying that his father, as a result of +his disappearance, was dangerously ill. The youth was curious to learn +how his father had found out what road he had taken and that he had +disguised himself as a muleteer. The servant answered that a student +to whom Don Luis had confided his love for Dona Clara, had told his +master everything, when he saw how he suffered. + +Now, it chanced that another muleteer, who had been sleeping with Don +Luis, could not keep what he was hearing to himself; besides, he +deemed it best to disappear from the scene. He informed some of the +guests of what had occurred, and thus it happened that Don Fernando +and Cardenio learned of the plight of the young singer, whose voice +they had so admired a short time before; and when the muleteer told +them that his comrade was a young nobleman in disguise, they decided +to go and help him in his quandary. + +They found the four men entreating Don Luis to return to his father; +and the youth emphatically refusing to do so, saying that they might +take him dead, but never alive. + +At this moment Dorothea saw Cardenio from her window, and she called +him and told him the story of the lad and Dona Clara. He in turn +related to her how the servants of the youth's father had come to take +him back to his home. In telling Dorothea this news Cardenio was +overheard by Dona Clara who would have swooned had not Dorothea +supported her. + +By this time the servants had brought Don Luis into the inn, +threatening to take him back by force should he not go willingly. +Again he protested, and at last the argument attracted all the guests, +including Don Quixote, who had ceased his duties as guard for the +present. The Judge was there too, and when one of the servants +recognized in him their neighbor in Madrid, he pleaded with him to do +all he could to make the young man return to his ill father. + +The Judge turned to the young muleteer, and saw that it was his +neighbor's son; whereupon he embraced him and asked in a fatherly way +what had brought him there dressed in such a manner. With his arm +around the youth's neck, the Judge withdrew with the lad to discuss +the reasons for his disguise and for his leaving his father. + +While the kindly Judge was thus occupied with Don Luis, a tumult suddenly +arose at the gate of the inn. It was the landlord, trying to hold back +two guests who had attempted to get away without paying. The innkeeper +was stubbornly clinging to the garb of one of the adventurers, and in +return was being pummeled mercilessly, until his face was a study in dark +and fast colors, except his nose, which was tinted a running red. As soon +as the landlady perceived her mate's distress, the thought struck her +that this would be a most worthy opportunity for our valiant knight +errant to show his skill as a swordsman and a wielder of the lance. So +she dispatched her daughter, the fair young lady of the castle, to bring +the knight her message of distress. + +Don Quixote received the young lady calmly and courteously, but said +that he was in honor bound to engage in no combat except by the +express permission of her Royal Highness the Princess Micomicona; she +having granted it, there could be no doubt as to the outcome of any +battle in which he chose to draw his sword. Seeing this, in her +opinion, ill-timed hesitancy, the one-eyed Asturian muttered that by +the time the Princess was found, her master would have passed the +heavenly border. The Princess, however, was quickly summoned, and Don +Quixote knelt on his stiff knees before her; but ere he had finished +his long harangue of request, she--having been advised of the urgency +of the situation--had already given him permission and wished him +godspeed. + +Don Quixote arose and drew his sword, paced toward the gate, and then +suddenly stopped short. All wondered what had happened to cause his +hesitating thus, and the Asturian maid expressed her wonder aloud. Don +Quixote was not long about the answer. He replied at once that this +was no business for him; they had best call his squire. It was for +Sancho, he said, that he reserved the task and joy of fighting such +lowly people as the ones he saw before him here and now. + +Now, while all of this was taking place, Don Luis, with tears in his +eyes, was confessing to Dona Clara's father his great and indomitable +love for her. This placed the Judge in a curious predicament, for he +found himself forced to sit in judgment on the welfare of his own +child. He was so taken with the charm and intelligence of the youth +that he was anxious to have him for a son-in-law, particularly as his +family was one of distinction, and extremely rich. Yet his better +judgment told him that it would be wise to wait another day before +giving his consent. He would have preferred to have Don Luis' father +approve of the marriage, although he thought it almost certain that +this gentleman would like to see his son married to a titled lady. + +And while the fate of the young lovers was being weighed by the Judge, +peace had been declared between the innkeeper and the two travelers +who, persuaded by the chivalrous words of Don Quixote, and the +summoning of Sancho, had been made to see the light and pay the bill. +By this time everything was settled amicably, the landlord having +demanded no special indemnity for his battered, many-colored face. + +But who should loom up on the scene, now that everything was peaceful +again, but the owner of Mambrino's golden helmet! This particular +barber was now leading his donkey to the stable, when he suddenly +discovered Sancho Panza hard at work repairing the barber's own +trappings, which our Sancho had taken as booty at the time his master +fell heir to the helmet. The barber left his donkey at no slow speed +and ran towards Sancho, to whom he exclaimed threateningly "There, you +thief, I have caught you! Give me my basin and my pack-saddle, and +everything you robbed me of!" + +But Sancho was not willing to give up so easily things that he had gained +as spoils in righteous warfare. He refuted with his fists, as well as by +argument, the barber's coarse suggestion that he was a common highwayman; +and his master, coming up at this instant, was proud and pleased to hear +his faithful squire talk like that, and also to see the barber's teeth +gone, which the force of Sancho's blow evidently had carried away. As a +matter of fact, Sancho's demonstration of physical strength made such a +profound impression on Don Quixote, that he decided his squire was not +far from being eligible to knighthood. + +As soon as the barber was able to make himself heard again, he began +to arraign both master and squire. He was not to be subdued. He told +all that quickly gathered round them that they could assure themselves +of the truth of what he said by fitting Sancho's saddle to his own +steed; furthermore, he said, they had plundered him of a basin. + +When Don Quixote heard this ridiculous accusation, his lips twisted +into a scornful smile. He dispatched Sancho to fetch the helmet--which +seemed to Sancho a dangerous move--and when Sancho returned with the +basin, Don Quixote held it up with great self-assurance before +everybody. + +"Your worships," said he, "may see with what face this squire can +assert that this is a basin and not the helmet I told you of; and I +swear by the order of chivalry I profess, that this helmet is the +identical one I took from him, without anything added to or removed." + +This statement was corroborated in detail by Sancho, who added: "Since +that battle my master has fought in the helmet only once. That was +when he let loose the unfortunate ones in chains. And if it had not +been for this basin-helmet he might have been killed in that +engagement, for there were plenty of stones raining down on him at +that time." + + + + +CHAPTER XLV + +IN WHICH THE DOUBTFUL QUESTION OF MAMBRINO'S HELMET AND THE +PACK-SADDLE IS FINALLY SETTLED, WITH OTHER ADVENTURES THAT +OCCURRED IN TRUTH AND EARNEST + + +The barber appealed to those present and asked them what they thought +about Don Quixote's nonsense; and it was then that it occurred to Don +Quixote's friend, the barber of his village to play a joke on his +fellow barber. He solemnly asked the other barber whether he was out +of his head, for of course anybody could see that it was a helmet, +although, he admitted, not a complete one. + +The poor barber was so taken aback, so perplexed that a learned +barber, and a seemingly sane one otherwise, could not tell the +difference between a basin and a helmet that he nearly toppled over. +But when the worthy curate, Cardenio, Don Fernando, and all--for they +realized at once the barber's joke--insisted that he was wrong, and +that it was not a basin, the perspiration began to trickle down his +face, and he exclaimed: "God bless me! Is it possible that such an +honorable company can say that this is not a basin but a helmet? Why, +this is a thing that would astonish a whole university, however wise +it might be! And if this basin is a helmet, then the pack-saddle must +be a horse's caparison!" + +Some one present was quick to assert that it most certainly was a +caparison and not a pack-saddle at all; that no one but a fool could +take it for a pack-saddle. And when a gentleman of quality like Don +Fernando offered to take the votes of those present and they turned +out to be in favor of the pack-saddle's remaining a caparison, the +barber thought he had gone completely mad. + +By this time the group of spectators had been increased by the arrival +of the four servants of Don Luis, Don Luis himself, and three new +guests--officers of the Holy Brotherhood, to whom the proceedings and +the amusement of those present seemed utter foolishness. One of these +uninitiated newcomers, one of the officers of the Brotherhood, dared +to say that any one who maintained that it was a helmet instead of a +basin must be drunk. But he should not have said it, for our knight +lifted his lance and let it fly out of his hand with such ferocity and +such sure aim that if the officer had not been lucky enough to be able +to dodge it, it would have pierced his body. + +The tumult that followed was indescribable. The landlord came to the +rescue of his Brotherhood comrades. His wife fell into hysterics for +fear he would be beheaded by Don Quixote's vicious sword. The women +were all screaming, wailing, weeping and fainting. Then this +tremendous din and noise was suddenly rent by the voice of Don +Quixote; and like a flash there was peace, when the knight errant +began to appeal in soft lucid tones for a cessation of hostilities. It +was a curious thing to observe how willingly the demented man's appeal +to reason was listened to by all. The confusion had struck most of +them with terror and they were glad to heed in such a moment even the +will of unreason. + +But as soon as there was quiet again, the grudge against Don Quixote +that had established itself in the heart of one of the Brotherhood, +began to assert itself. It suddenly came to his mind that among his +warrants he had one for a man of Don Quixote's description who was +accused of having set free a chain of galley-slaves. As soon as he had +convinced himself that there could be no mistake about the identity, +he strode forth and seized Don Quixote so abruptly by the collar that +the knight nearly choked. + +"Help for the Holy Brotherhood!" the officer yelled aloud. "And that +you may see that I demand it in earnest, read this warrant which says +this highwayman is to be arrested!" + +Hardly did Don Quixote feel himself handled in so undignified a +manner, when he clutched the villain's throat, foaming at the mouth +like a wild beast. Luckily they were separated in time by Don Fernando +and the rest, or they would have torn each other to pieces. Yet the +officer was not willing to give up his claim on Don Quixote's person: +a claim that our knight errant laughed at, for who had ever heard of +members of the knighthood being dependent on jurisdiction? Did he, +this base knave, this ill-born scoundrel, not know that the law of +knights was in their swords, their charter in their prowess, and their +edicts in their will? And then he calmly rambled on, his speech of +denunciation culminating in this last crushing remark: "What knight +errant has there been, is there, or will there ever be in the world, +not bold enough to give, single-handed, four hundred cudgellings to +four hundred officers of the Holy Brotherhood if they come in his +way?" + +While his master was thus discoursing in his usual vein, Sancho was +reviewing past events at the inn, and he could not help but make this +sad exclamation: "By the Lord, it is quite true what my master says +about the enchantments of this castle, for it is impossible to live an +hour in peace in it!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +OF THE END OF THE NOTABLE ADVENTURE OF THE OFFICERS OF THE +HOLY BROTHERHOOD; AND OF THE GREAT FEROCITY OF OUR WORTHY +KNIGHT, DON QUIXOTE + + +The curate had to argue for some time with the officers of the +Brotherhood before he could finally persuade them that it would serve +no purpose to arrest Don Quixote, for, being out of his senses, he +would in the end be released as a madman. Furthermore, he warned them, +Don Quixote would never submit to force. + +Sancho Panza and the barber were still quarreling over the pack-saddle +and the other booty, and at last the officers agreed to act as +mediators, and the differences were adjusted by arbitration. The +curate settled for the basin by paying eight reals, and received a +receipt for payment in full from the barber. + +Don Fernando, in the meantime, extracted a promise from three of the +servants of Don Luis to return to Madrid, while the other one agreed +to remain and accompany his young master to where Don Fernando wanted +him to go. Dona Clara was sparkling with happiness; and Zoraida seemed +to feel at home with the Christians, in spite of the noise and tumult +she had had to live through during her short stay at the inn. + +The landlord did not forget the reckoning for the wine-skins and all +the other things whose loss he could attribute to Don Quixote, for he +had witnessed the curate's paying off the debt for the barber's +helmet. Don Fernando paid all the innkeeper's demands generously, +after the curate had decided the claims were just. + +But when Don Quixote felt no discord in the air, he betook himself to +the presence of Dorothea, knelt before her, and told her how willing +and anxious he was to serve her and conquer her giant. And he +requested that they make ready to leave. Her reply was simple and +direct, for she told him that his will was hers. So Don Quixote +ordered his squire to saddle Rocinante and his own donkey; but Sancho +only shook his head in sorry fashion. + +"Master," he said, "there is more mischief in the village than one +hears of." And as his master begged him to speak freely, he burst out: +"This lady, who calls herself ruler of the great kingdom of Micomicon, +is no more so than my mother; for, if she was what she says, she would +not go rubbing noses with one that is here every instant and behind +every door." + +Though it was merely with her husband, Don Fernando, that she had, as +Sancho said, rubbed noses, the crimson in her royal blood came to the +surface, and her face turned as red as a beet. Sancho, fearing that +the Princess was a courtesan, wanted to save his master the two years' +journey to Micomicon, if at the end of it it should turn out that +another one than Don Quixote or himself should reap the fruits of +their labor. + +It is impossible to describe the terrible wrath of the knight when he +heard the Princess thus slandered. His indignation and fury knew no +bounds. He began to stammer and stutter, inarticulate with rage, +until Sancho was scared out of his wits, afraid of being cut open by +his raving master's sword. He was just about to turn his back on his +master and disappear till the storm had passed, when Dorothea came to +his rescue. She suggested that Sancho's strange behavior could only be +ascribed to one thing: enchantment. How else could he have seen such +diabolical things as he described, how could he have been made to bear +false witness against her, and how could he have spoken words so +offensive to her modesty? Knowing the heart of Sancho, Don Quixote at +once thought her explanation a most ingenious one, for what else could +have put into Sancho's head such disrespect for a royal personage? Don +Fernando, too, pleaded in Sancho's behalf; and Sancho meekly stumbled +to his knees before his master, and kissed his hand frantically, +begging him for forgiveness. Whereupon our knight errant with many +gestures pardoned and blessed him. + +"Now, Sancho, my son," he said, "thou wilt be convinced of the truth +of what I have many a time told thee, that everything in this castle +is done by means of enchantment." + +To which Sancho Panza replied meekly but firmly: "So it is, I believe, +except the affair of the blanket, which came to pass in reality by +ordinary means." + +But Don Quixote as usual was not in a mood to listen to nonsense, and +he replied that if such were the case he would have avenged him, but +seeing no one to avenge himself upon, how could it have been anything +else but enchantment? + +Those who were there were eager to know what had happened to Sancho, and +the landlord was most obliging in giving a graphic description of all +that had occurred. They all seemed to enjoy the account enormously, for +they laughed hilariously. Had Don Quixote not again assured Sancho that +it most certainly had happened by enchantment, there is no doubt that he +would have interrupted their hilarity. + +It was now two days since they had arrived at the inn, and Don +Fernando and Dorothea were becoming anxious to depart. In order that +they might not have to go out of their way, it was arranged that they +should go by themselves; meanwhile a scheme was devised whereby the +curate and the barber could restore Don Quixote to his native village. + +An ox-cart passed that day, and the curate, hearing it was going in +the direction of El Toboso, made arrangements with the owner to make +the journey with him. Then he ordered some of the servants to make a +cage, large enough to hold Don Quixote, and provided it with bars. He +then asked Don Fernando and his companions, the officers of the Holy +Brotherhood, the servants of Don Luis, and the innkeeper to cover +their faces and change their appearance so that Don Quixote would +think they were quite different people. + +When this had been done they tiptoed to the valiant knight errant's +room, where they found him fast asleep, bound him, without waking him, +hand and foot; then they stood about the room silently. When the +knight awoke, he was startled to find that he could not move, and +seeing all these strangely conjured-up figures before him, it struck +him they must be phantoms of the enchanted castle. He was absolutely +helpless, and the men had no difficulty in stuffing him into the cage. +The bars were nailed on securely, and the cage was then carried out of +the inn and placed in the ox-cart. + +While the procession slowly proceeded from the inn to the ox-cart, the +men supporting the cage on their shoulders, the barber chanted strange +words in a weird and hollow voice. The barber took it upon himself to +become the prophet of the occasion, and he proclaimed to the Knight of +the Rueful Countenance that he ought not to consider his present +imprisonment an affliction. It was in a way a sort of penance, he +said, through which he would be humbled to be in readiness for a still +greater, sweeter imprisonment, the bond of matrimony. This prediction +would come true, he avowed, when the fierce Manchegan lion and the +tender Tobosan dove met again. They would be joined in one, and the +offspring of this union would be of such stuff as to set the world +aflame. + +When Don Quixote heard these words, he was stirred into an exalted +emotion. Had he not been well bound it would have been expressed by +kneeling. He raised his eyes toward Heaven and thanked the Lord for +having sent this prophet to him in this needy moment. He prayed that +he should not be left to perish in the cage, and also implored of the +prophet not to let his faithful Sancho Panza abandon him, saying that +if by chance the promise of the island should not come true, he had +made provision for him in his will. Sancho was much moved by what his +encaged and enchanted master had said, and he bent down and kissed +his hands--he had to kiss both since they were tied together. By that +time the procession had arrived at the ox-cart, and all was ready for +the departure. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII + +OF THE STRANGE MANNER IN WHICH DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA WAS +CARRIED AWAY ENCHANTED, TOGETHER WITH OTHER REMARKABLE +INCIDENTS + + +Don Quixote was greatly perplexed and, indeed, somewhat impatient with +the slow speed of the cart carrying away this enchanted knight. The +cart had rolled only a few paces and then stopped; there was nothing +exciting or heroic in being carried off in such a way! Never had he +read anywhere of so ridiculously slow and tame a proceeding. And on an +ox-cart! However, times had changed, and he realized that until he had +established the new era of knight-errantry, the most plebeian ways of +being captured by enchantment would have to serve. Yet, he did not +consider it beneath his dignity to ask Sancho what he thought on the +subject. + +"I don't know what to think," answered Sancho, "not being as well read +as your Worship in errant writings; but for all that, I venture to say +and swear that these apparitions that are about us are not quite +Catholic." + +Don Quixote could not refrain from laughing aloud at his squire's +simplicity. How could they be Catholics when they were devils, made +of no substance whatever, nothing but air? + +[Illustration: "HE PRAYED THAT HE SHOULD NOT BE LEFT TO PERISH IN THE +CAGE."--_Page 131_] + +"By the Lord, Master," interrupted Sancho excitedly, "I have touched +them already, and one of the devils, I swear, has firm flesh. +Furthermore, I have always heard it said that all devils smelled of +sulphur and brimstone, but this one smells of amber half a league +off." + +Here Sancho was referring to Don Fernando, who, like most nobles, used +a perfume; but Don Quixote explained to his squire that this +particular devil was so besprinkled in order to give people the +impression he was not a devil. + +While Don Quixote and his squire were thus exchanging thoughts on the +subject of devils and their religion and what stuff they were made of, +the curate and the barber were saying farewell to Don Fernando, his +bride, Dorothea, Cardenio, Luscinda, the Judge and Dona Clara, as well +as to the Captain and the Captain's bride, Zoraida. All of them +promised to write to the curate, so that he in return might let them +know how his and Don Quixote's journey had ended. + +After many embraces, the curate and the barber were ready to make +their departure when the landlord came running out with some papers +which he handed to the curate as a gift. The landlord said it was the +manuscript of the novel, "Rinconete and Cortadillo," a part of the +contents of the valise in which he had found the story of "Ill-Advised +Curiosity," which the curate had read aloud at the inn. + +The curate thanked the innkeeper, saying that he hoped it was as good +as the other novel. Then he and the barber covered their faces that +they might not be recognized by Don Quixote, and took their places +behind the cart, mounted on their mules. The three officers of the +Brotherhood had been brought by the curate to escort them to El +Toboso, armed with muskets. And then Sancho Panza, mounted on his +donkey, led Rocinante by the reins. As the procession started, the +landlady came out to weep make-believe tears for Don Quixote, who +begged her to shed none, for in the end, he said, virtue would +triumph. + +At the head of the procession came the ox-cart, the officers of the +Brotherhood marching beside it, then followed Sancho Panza on his ass, +leading Rocinante by the bridle, and in the rear trailed the curate +and the barber on their mules. The slow pace of the oxen had to be +imitated by the rest, so the whole procession took on a solemn and +mysterious aspect, which was enhanced by the encaged Don Quixote's +stiff and stone-like form leaning against the wooden bars. + +They had traveled several leagues, when the curate heard the sound of +riders approaching from behind. Turning in his saddle he perceived six +or seven men, mounted on mules, and riding at a quick pace. They had +soon overtaken the procession, and exchanged greetings with the curate +and the barber. One of the travelers was a canon of Toledo, and on +observing the fettered Don Quixote, with the armed officers of the +Brotherhood as an escort, he took it for granted that the knight was +some dangerous highwayman. Yet, scrutinizing the strange parade, he +could not help asking questions. So when he inquired of one of the +officers why Don Quixote was being transported in that way, the +officer did not know what to say but referred him for an explanation +to Don Quixote himself. + +The knight errant had heard the canon's question, and he offered to +give him the information if he knew anything about errantry. As the +canon said he had read a good deal about knights errant and their +deeds, Don Quixote was quick to tell of his misfortune--how he had +been encaged and made helpless by enchantment. At this moment the +curate, seeing that the canon was talking to Don Quixote, and fearing +a mishap in the carrying out of their plan, came up and joined in the +conversation. He corroborated what the knight errant had just said, +and added that it was not for his sins that he was enchanted, but +because of his enemies' hatred of virtuous deeds, of which this famous +Knight of the Rueful Countenance was the strongest champion in their +age. + +When the good canon heard the two of them talk like that, he was at a +loss for words and felt he had to cross himself, in which action his +attendants joined him. But as luck would have it, Sancho Panza had +been listening, and seeing the curate disguised by a mask, the +suspicion crept into his head that he was trying to play a joke on his +master. So he burst into the conversation with a grudge against them +all. + +"Well, sirs, you may like it or not," he declared, "but my master is +as much enchanted as my mother! He is in his full senses; he can eat, +and sleep, and drink. Then why do they want me to believe that he is +enchanted? I have heard it said that when you are enchanted you cannot +do any of these things, nor talk. And my master will talk more than +thirty lawyers would if you do not stop him." Then turning to the +curate, he exclaimed: "And, senor curate, senor curate! Do you think I +do not know you? Well, I can tell you I do, for all your face is +covered; and I can tell you I am up to you, however you may hide your +tricks. If it had not been for your Worship, my master would be +married to the Princess Micomicona this minute, and I should be a +Count at least--for no less was to be expected." + +And then the faithful Sancho went on to say that he had told all this +that the curate might weigh in his conscience the pranks he had played +on Don Quixote, and for which he would have to pay in heaven (if he +ever should come there) unless he did penance now. Here the barber +thought it best to put an end to Sancho's communications, and offered +him a place in the cage beside his master, but Sancho was quick to +retort: "Mind how you talk, master barber, for shaving is not +everything; and as to the enchantment of my master, God knows the +truth!" + +Soon after Sancho had commenced his tirade, the curate thought it +best, having listened to his own denunciation, to explain everything +concerning the knight errant and his squire to the canon. Therefore he +asked him to ride on ahead with him. When the canon had heard the +whole story, he remarked that he thought that books of chivalry were +really harmful, for not one of them was truthful. He was amused when +the curate related how he and the barber had burned nearly all of Don +Quixote's treasures in literature of this sort. + +"But what mind," asked the canon, "that is not wholly barbarous and +uncultured can find pleasure in reading of how a great tower full of +knights sails away across the sea like a ship with a fair wind, and +will be to-night in Lombardy and to-morrow morning in the land of +Prester John of the Indies?" + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + +IN WHICH THE CANON PURSUES THE SUBJECT OF THE BOOKS OF +CHIVALRY, WITH OTHER MATTERS WORTHY OF HIS WIT + + +The curate and the canon had become very much interested in their +subject, and the canon after a while confided to the curate that he +himself had once started to write a book on chivalry, with the +intention of making each incident in it a plausible one. It was his +view that fiction was all the better the more it resembled the truth. +Furthermore, he believed in adhering to good taste and to the rules of +art; these things, it seemed to him, had been ignored in the writing +of these books. From fiction the conversation drifted to playwriting, +and here again the curate and the canon were of the same mind. The +actors of their age chose plays that appealed to people of nonsense +and with bad taste. Instead of trying to improve the national taste, +they produced tawdry plays. The canon cited three excellent plays, +however, that he had seen at Madrid, which had earned great profits +for their producers; this proved to the canon that the great mass of +the public did appreciate a really good play if it was only produced. + +While the two clergymen were thus whiling away the time, the barber +approached and told the curate they had reached a place which to him +seemed a good pasture for the oxen. It was now noon, and the canon +decided to join them in their rest. He offered them food out of the +provisions that he had brought along on a pack-mule. The rest of the +canon's mules were sent to an inn, which was seen nearby, to be fed +there. + +Seeing his master unguarded, Sancho decided the time had come when he +could speak undisturbedly to him, so he hastened to tell him of the +plot that the curate and the barber had hit upon. He told his master +he was certain it was out of envy and malice, for his having surpassed +them in fame and brave deeds. Don Quixote, however, calmly told his +squire that if he saw two shapes that resembled the barber and the +curate there, they could be nothing but devils having taken on the +appearance of his friends in order to be able to do their black deeds +so much the more safely and cruelly. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX + +WHICH TREATS OF HOW OUR KNIGHT IS PERMITTED TO DESCEND FROM +HIS CAGE, AND OF THE CANON'S ATTEMPT TO CONVERT HIM FROM HIS +ILLUSIONS + + +During his conversation with Sancho, Don Quixote suddenly felt it an +absolute necessity to leave the cage, and to stretch himself in the +open. So Sancho went to the curate to ask his permission, which he +received upon promising to answer for his master's not disappearing. +The curate and the canon went to the cage, and Don Quixote swore as a +knight that he would not run away, whereupon they untied his hands and +feet. + +The first thing Don Quixote did was to go to his Rocinante; and then +the canon thought he would try to talk sense into him, to see whether +he could not persuade him to give up his crazy notions and ideas. Don +Quixote listened courteously and attentively, but when the canon had +finished, he turned to him and said he rather thought it was the canon +and not he who was afflicted and out of his wits, since he had the +audacity to blaspheme the order of knighthood. And then he went on, +describing the deeds of all the famous knights he had read of; and the +canon was really amazed at the great ease and clearness of mind with +which he related these tales of adventure. He thought it a pity that +so much knowledge of a wrong kind should be heaped into one brain. + + + + +CHAPTERS L-LI + +OF THE SHREWD CONTROVERSY WHICH DON QUIXOTE AND THE CANON +HELD, TOGETHER WITH OTHER INCIDENTS + + +What the canon had tried on the knight, Don Quixote now decided to try +on him. Was that not the great mission he had undertaken in the +world--to revive the spirit of chivalry? So he told the canon of the +many fine qualities he had developed since he was dubbed a knight, +such as courtesy, generosity, valor, good breeding, patience, and many +others that he mentioned; how he had learned to bear hardships of all +kinds, and now, of late, enchantment. He ended his long discourse by +expressing a desire that he might soon be an emperor, for, he said, he +wished to do good to some of his faithful friends, especially his +squire Sancho Panza. + +Sancho heard his master's last words, and reminded him again of the +island that he was to govern. On hearing this, the canon broke in with +a few remarks about administration and government, and their +difficulties, and Sancho interrupted the canon to say it would be very +easy to find some one to do all that for him. In reply to this the +canon came forward with a good many arguments phrased in philosophical +language which the squire could make neither head nor tail of. So he +took up the thread of his own mind, and replied: "I have as much soul +as another, and as much body as any one, and I shall be as much king +of my realm as any other of his; so let the country come, and God be +with you, and let us see one another, as one blind man said to the +other." + +All the canon could do when he realized how badly both master and +servant were in the clutch of their beliefs and superstitions, was to +wonder at it. But by the time Sancho had finished his words, the +repast was being served on the grass. + +As they were about to seat themselves, a goat came running from +between the trees, pursued by a man whose clear voice could be heard +distinctly from the distance. Soon he came up, and he caught the goat +by the horns and began to talk to her, calling her daughter, as if she +had been a child. The goat seemed to understand everything, and the +canon was so impressed with the scene that he asked the goatherd not +to be in a hurry, but to sit down and eat with them. + +The goatherd accepted the invitation; and when they had finished the +repast, they had found that he was by no means a fool. When he asked +them if they would like to hear a true story, they were all anxious to +have him tell it to them. Only Sancho Panza withdrew, that he might +get a chance to load himself brimful of food; for he had heard his +master once say that a knight errant's squire should eat until he +could hold no more. The goatherd began his story, after having told +the goat to lie down beside him. She did so, and while the goatherd +was telling the story of his unfortunate love for Leandra, a rich +farmer's daughter, who had jilted both him and his rival Anselmo for +the good looks of a braggard by the name of Vicente de la Roca, the +goat was looking up into his face with an expression as it seemed of +understanding and sympathy. + + + + +CHAPTER LII + +OF THE QUARREL THAT DON QUIXOTE HAD WITH THE GOATHERD, +TOGETHER WITH THE RARE ADVENTURE OF THE PENITENTS, WHICH +WITH AN EXPENDITURE OF SWEAT HE BROUGHT TO A HAPPY CONCLUSION + + +All had enjoyed the goatherd's story, and they thanked him for it. Don +Quixote offered him the aid of his sword for the future, and said that if +he had not been enchanted at this moment he would at once set out to free +his Leandra. When the goatherd perceived Don Quixote's strange behavior +and appearance and heard his remarkable language, he was struck with +amazement, and asked the barber what madness was his, who talked like the +knights he had read about in the books of knight-errantry. Scarcely had +Don Quixote heard that he was being taken for a madman by the goatherd +than he flew at him in a raging fit. The most fierce battle ensued, +during which the faces of both men were scratched until they could hardly +be recognized. They fought in the midst of the setting for the meal, and +plates and glasses were smashed and upset. Both were urged on like dogs +by the rest of the company, and soon blood began to flow. Finally Don +Quixote stumbled, and the goatherd managed to get him on his back, while +Sancho was held off by one of the canon's servants, moaning all the while +because he could not go to his master's rescue. + +Just then a trumpet blew a solemn note, and all listened in surprise. +Don Quixote was all eagerness: there was no doubt in his mind but that +he was being summoned by one in distress, so he asked for and received +an hour's truce from the goatherd. As soon as he was on his feet, he +ran to Rocinante, whom he bridled in great haste, and set off, armed +with lance, buckler, sword and helmet, in the direction of the sound. + +What Don Quixote saw when he had ridden a short distance at his +charger's usual comfortable canter was a procession of penitents, clad +in white, some of whom were carrying an image, draped in black. The +procession had been called for by the priests who desired to bring +relief to the country, which had been suffering that year from a +terrific heat and a lack of rain. They were now marching to a nearby +hermitage, where they wanted to do penance, praying in silence to God +that he might have pity on them. + +But what could such a procession have suggested to an imaginative mind +like Don Quixote's but one of the many incidents that he had read of +in his books of chivalry, where some great and worthy lady was being +carried away by evil forces? To the knight the covered image easily +became the worthy lady. Violently kicking Rocinante in the sides, for +he had not had time to put on his spurs, he tried to increase his +steed's canter to a gallop that he might attack in real knight errant +fashion. + +The faithful squire, the curate, the canon and the barber all did +their best to stop the knight by their yells. Sancho was frantic, and +cried after him: "Where are you going, Senor Don Quixote? What devils +have possessed you to set you against our Catholic faith? Plague take +me! It is a procession of penitents!" And then he asked him, filled +with horror and almost choking with tears, whether he knew what he was +doing. Why, he was charging the blessed image of the immaculate and +holy Virgin Mary! Sancho, seeing his master's lifted lance, could not +know that his master wanted to release her. + +When Don Quixote had reached the penitents, he abruptly halted his +horse and demanded in no uncertain, though flowery, language that the +fair lady--whom, he said, he could plainly see they were carrying away +against her will--be released at once. + +One of four priests, who had just begun to chant the Litany, stopped +on a high note and answered the knight that he must not hold up the +singing or the procession, for the marchers were doing penitence by +whipping themselves and could not stop once they had commenced the +ceremony. Again Don Quixote put forth his demand, this time in +language that seemed much more ludicrous to the penitents so that some +of them could not resist bursting into laughter. This sign of +disrespect was too much for our errant, who started his attack but was +prevented from finishing it by the blow of a stick carried by one of +the penitents. With one thwack of it he was felled to the ground. + +Sancho had now come up, and when he saw his master stretched out, with +no sign of life, his eyes filled with tears, and he thrust himself +over his master's body, crying and wailing like a little child. It was +pitiful to see the sorrow and the devotion of the poor, simple-minded +fellow, bewailing his master's fall from the blow of a mere stick. +And he ended his tribute by thanking him for the great generosity he +had always shown; for Don Quixote, for but eight months of service, +had given him the best island that was afloat in the sea. + +Sancho was suddenly called from his grief by the weak voice of the +knight, who implored his squire to mount him on the ox-cart, as his +shoulder was in a dilapidated condition. Then he commended himself to +his Lady Dulcinea, while Sancho recommended that they return with +their friends to their village, where they could prepare for another +sally at a more favorable time. The knight seemed inclined to take his +squire's advice, for he remarked that it was not a bad idea: that in +the meantime the prevailing evil influence of the stars might +disappear. + +By this time the curate, the canon and the officers of the Brotherhood +had arrived at the spot, and the curate found that he knew one of the +priests in the procession. This simplified matters considerably, for +he found it easy to explain to his friend the malady and peculiarities +of Don Quixote, which had been the cause of so much disturbance in so +short a time. After the curate had taken leave of the canon, the +goatherd and those in the procession, he paid off the officers, who +considered it unwise to accompany the party any further. The canon +begged the curate to keep him informed of any change in Don Quixote's +behavior, as he was most interested in his case. Then Don Quixote was +heaved into the cart where a stack of hay served as a softer +resting-place this time; and after six days of travel, the oxen and +the cart and the whole procession entered the La Mancha village. When +they passed the square, it being Sunday, the people crowded around +them, and all were amazed at what they saw. + +Soon Don Quixote's niece and his housekeeper got word of his +homecoming. When they saw him, and observed his pallor and leanness, +they began to weep and beat their breasts, and curse all books of +chivalry. + +Then Sancho Panza's wife learned the news, and as soon as she saw her +husband the first thing she asked him was whether the donkey was well. To +this greeting he replied that the donkey was better than he himself. And +then she pestered him with questions as to what he had brought back with +him for her and the children; to which he impatiently remarked that she +would have to wait until he got his island or empire, when she would be +called Her Ladyship. Of course, it was not to be expected that Teresa +Panza should understand this; and she did not. Sancho attempted to give +her an insight into the intricacies of knight-errantry by telling her of +some of his remarkable experiences, such as the blanketing, which stood +out in his mind's eye as the culmination of suffering in his career as a +squire. + +While this was going on in the Panza household, Don Quixote had been +undressed and put to bed by his niece and the housekeeper. The curate +had told them what troubles and tribulations he had been forced to +undergo in order to restore him to his community and his loved ones. +So they decided, with fear in their hearts, to be ever watchful, lest +he escape and depart on another rampage. And again and again they +would curse the books that they had burned too late. + + + + +VOLUME II + + + + +CHAPTER I + +OF THE INTERVIEW THE CURATE AND THE BARBER HAD WITH +DON QUIXOTE ABOUT HIS MALADY + + +Don Quixote had been at home almost a month. During that time neither +the curate nor the barber had been to see him for fear that the sight +of them would remind him of his days of knight-errantry and make him +long for another campaign. They did visit the niece and housekeeper, +however, and advised them from time to time what to do; and at last +the women began to think that there was hope for our knight's being +restored to his right mind, for his conversation never touched upon +deeds of chivalry, and when he spoke on other subjects he always +talked most sanely. + +Finally the curate and the barber decided to pay their friend a visit, +firmly resolved not to let the subject of conversation turn to +knight-errantry. They found him in bed, with a red Toledo cap on his +head. His face had changed greatly; it was so withered and yellow that +it resembled parchment rather than human flesh. He greeted them +cordially, however, and soon they engaged in an animated conversation, +which finally turned to such an intricate subject as government. So +unusually sane and clear was Don Quixote's reasoning that his friends +were amazed at the change that had taken place, and they felt quite +certain that he was cured. Then they began to discuss the news from +the capital, and the curate mentioned that the Turk was expected to +attack. Nobody knew when, he said, but in order to safeguard the +island of Malta and the coasts of Naples and Sicily, His Majesty had +already made provisions for the defense of these provinces. + +Here Don Quixote interrupted and said that His Majesty could easily +settle the whole thing if he would only follow his advice. Both the +curate and the barber began to wonder and worry about what his plan +might be, but before divulging it Don Quixote insisted upon absolute +secrecy, which of course they promised. And then he began in the old, +familiar strain, citing the examples of the innumerable heroes of his +condemned books of chivalry, heroes who, single-handed, had conquered +armies of millions. He finished with a tirade about God's providing +such a knight errant to-day to save the nation and Christianity +against the onslaught of the heathen Turk, with an inference in his +last words that he was to be the chosen savior. + +When the two women heard Don Quixote again rave in this manner, they +burst into tears, and the curate and the barber were as sorry and +concerned as the women. The curate turned in bewilderment to his poor +friend and asked him whether he truly believed that the heroes of these +tales of chivalry were men of flesh and blood. He himself, he said, was +convinced that these stories were nothing but fables and falsehoods, and +that none of the personages in them ever lived. Whereupon Don Quixote +began to ridicule the curate, and went on to describe his heroes, +saying that his faith was so strong that he could almost swear he had +seen Amadis of Gaul and some of the others he worshiped. Then he embarked +on a description of these knights, giving the color of their eyes, of +their beards and hair, their height, complexion, all according to his own +crazy imagination. Much of what he said seemed so amusing to his two +friends that they nearly went into hysterics from laughter. His mind's +image of Roland was particularly laughable, for he saw him as a +bow-legged, swarthy-complexioned gentleman with a hairy body, courteous +and well-bred. + +On hearing Roland so pictured, the curate remarked it was no wonder +that he was jilted by the fair lady Angelica. To this Don Quixote +retorted that lady Angelica was a giddy and frivolous damsel with +desires that smacked of wantonness. He only regretted that Roland had +not been a poet that he might have libeled her in poetry for all +eternity. + +Here the knight was interrupted by the sound of loud talking in the +courtyard, intermingled with screams, and when he and the curate came +running they saw the two women struggling to keep a man from entering +the house. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +WHICH TREATS OF THE NOTABLE ALTERCATION WHICH SANCHO PANZA +HAD WITH DON QUIXOTE'S NIECE AND HIS HOUSEKEEPER, TOGETHER +WITH OTHER DROLL MATTERS + + +The man turned out to be no other than Sancho, who wanted to see his +master. But the housekeeper and the niece were bent on not admitting +him, for they considered Sancho the arch enticer and felt that he was +to blame for Don Quixote's expeditions into the country. When Sancho +heard himself thus accused, he defended himself with accusations +against Don Quixote, who, he said, had been the one to hypnotize him; +and then he added that he had come to find out about his island. + +As soon as Don Quixote recognized his squire, he quickly took him +inside, being afraid that he would tell the women all the little +details of the knight's adventures, such as the galley-slave episode +and others not tending to reflect honor on his shield. Whereupon the +barber and the curate left, both of them in despair of their friend's +ever being cured. The curate remarked that it would not surprise him +to learn before many moons that Don Quixote and Sancho had set off +again on another sally. They were curious to know what the master and +the servant might be discussing at that very moment. However, the +curate was of the firm belief that they could rely upon the two women +to keep their ears to the door. They would learn from them what had +been the topic, and what had been said. + +When Don Quixote was alone with his squire, he expressed dismay over +his having told the housekeeper the knight had taken him from house +and home, when he knew perfectly well that he had gone of his own free +will. They had shared everything, he said; everything except blows, +where he had had a distinct advantage over his squire, having taken +ninety-nine out of a hundred beatings. This dividing of fortune, +Sancho thought, was quite as it should be, for of course knights +errant ought to share the greater benefits of the battle. Here Don +Quixote interrupted with a Latin quotation, which had an evil effect +on Sancho, for it made him retaliate with the blanket episode which to +him still seemed the height of all his suffering in the world. But +this attempt to belittle the fairness of his master's division of +honors in battle was speedily parried by Don Quixote, who maintained +that his squire's bodily suffering in the blanket was as nothing +compared with the painful agony of his own heart and soul when he had +seen his squire in such a predicament. And then he proceeded to +question Sancho as to public opinion of his deeds and valor. + +Sancho was inclined to be reticent; but urged by Don Quixote--and +having been forgiven in advance for any vexation he might cause him by +telling the truth--he told of the variety of opinions that existed in +the village. This his master thought only natural; for when had the +world ever given full recognition to a genius or a great hero until +after he was dead? He pointed to all the great names he could +recollect in history that had been persecuted. + +But Sancho had not come to the worst; and at last he found sufficient +courage to tell his master of a book entitled "The Ingenious Gentleman, +Don Quixote of La Mancha," which had already, he said, been spread +abroad. In this book not only Don Quixote, but he himself--under his own +name!--and the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso figured; and he was so stupefied +that he had to cross himself, for he could not imagine how everything +that had been told in the book--the most intimate happenings between Don +Quixote and himself--had come to be known to the author. Don Quixote +thought it was very plain that the adventures must have been reported by +some sage and enchanter; but Sancho told him that the author was one Cid +Hamet Berengena (meaning eggplant). It was no other than the son of +Bartholomew Carrasco, who had been a student at Salamanca, who had told +him all this, he said. He asked his master whether he should like to see +the young bachelor, and Don Quixote begged him to run and fetch him at +once, for, he said, he would be unable to digest a thing until he had had +a talk with him. + +"Cid Hamet Berengena," repeated Don Quixote to himself. "That is a +Moorish name." + +"Yes, I have heard the Moors like eggplant," added Sancho. + +And then his lord and master asked: "Didst thou not mistake the +surname of this 'Cid,' which means in Arabic 'lord,' Sancho?" + +"Perhaps," said Sancho; "but the bachelor can tell you that." + +And he ran to fetch him. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +OF THE LAUGHABLE CONVERSATION THAT PASSED BETWEEN DON +QUIXOTE, SANCHO PANZA, AND THE BACHELOR SAMSON CARRASCO + + +While Sancho was gone, Don Quixote sat and worried about what the book +might be like; for what justice could be expected from the pen of a +Moor writing history? But perhaps it was not true that such a +chronicle had been written. It seemed almost an impossibility, for it +was only a short time since he returned from his achievements. What +worried him most was the thought that this Cid Hamet Berengena might +have made public in some odious way that great love and sacred passion +of his for the beautiful and virtuous Lady Dulcinea del Toboso. + +As he was thus meditating Sancho returned, bringing with him the +younger Carrasco, who went by the strong name of Samson, in defiance +of his unpretentious size. But what he lacked in this respect, he made +up for in wit and humor. He was about twenty-four years of age, had a +round jovial face, a large mouth and a flat nose. What more need one +know to be inclined to think he might be mischievous? He gave proof of +it as soon as he entered, for he fell on his knees and kissed the +hero's hand respectfully, pronouncing him the first and foremost +warrior and knight of the age. Then he called down a blessing on the +name of Cid Hamet Benengeli, his noble biographer, and on the worthy, +learned man who had translated the work from the difficult Arabic into +their pure Castilian for the edification of all the Spanish people who +knew how to read their own language. + +"So then there _is_ a history of me--and written by a Moor and a +sage?" asked Don Quixote, as he bade Samson rise. + +The bachelor assented and went on to tell how the world was clamoring +for this remarkable chronicle of heroism and sacrifices. Don Quixote +remarked here what a great source of joy and inspiration it should +prove to a man with achievements to his credit to see himself in print +before being dead. The bachelor's opinion on the subject coincided +with his own; and Samson took the opportunity to pay homage to the +marvelous courage, intrepidity, gallantry, gentleness and patience of +Don Quixote, as the author had described it in the book. He also spoke +feelingly of the beautiful, platonic courtship of our knight errant; +and the mention of this caused Don Quixote to ask which of his many +acts of chivalry were most appealing to the reader. The bachelor +replied that that depended greatly upon the reader's taste: some liked +the adventure of the windmills that were enchanted giants; others +preferred reading about the two armies that suddenly turned into +droves of sheep; then again there were those who seemed to think the +victorious assault on the Biscayan made a thrilling chapter; while +many would swear they had never read anything that excited them +quite as much as the account of the liberation of the galley slaves. + +Sancho interrupted him here, asking what was said of their experience +with the Yanguesans, when the good Rocinante went looking for +adventure and was bitten by the ponies. Samson replied that the sage +had forgotten nothing; not even the capers that Sancho himself had cut +in the blanket. Whereupon Sancho said: "I cut no capers in the +blanket. In the air I did, and more of them than I liked!" But Don +Quixote interposed here, saying that history must of necessity be more +than one-sided. It must take into its pages adversities as well as +good fortune. + +Some people, the bachelor held forth, had expressed a desire that the +author might have eliminated some of the cruel thrashings he had given +the hero; but Sancho differed with these people and supported the +author unqualifiedly, saying, with a glance at Don Quixote, "That is +where the truth of the history comes in!" + +Of course Don Quixote saw it in a different light, for he thought that +the thrashings tended to bring the hero of the book into contempt. The +author should have passed them over in silence, he said. Sancho +muttered something to himself, and Don Quixote admonished him to be +quiet so that the bachelor might tell him more of what was said of him +in the book. + +"And about me!" broke in Sancho, "for they say that I am one of the +principal presonages in it." + +"Personages," corrected Samson, adding that Sancho was the second +person in the chronicle, although many thought he was even first. He +also remarked that the author had been criticized for having inserted +a story called "Ill-Advised Curiosity," which had nothing to do with +Don Quixote whatever. This Don Quixote thought was an infringement on +the hero's rights, and corroborated the justification of the +criticism. + +Thus Don Quixote learned from the bachelor all about his own deeds and +exploits, as they had been given to the world by the great Moorish +sage Cid Hamet Benengeli. And when he had asked about himself again +and again, and had been satisfied by the replies of Samson, he found +it was nearly dinner time. Sancho took a hurried leave, fearing the +wrath of his wife if he were late for his meal, and Don Quixote asked +the bachelor to stay and keep him company. + +All the while they were eating, Don Quixote entertained his guest with +tales of chivalry. When they finished their repast, they took a nap, +and when they awoke, Sancho was there waiting for them to return to +their conversation concerning the famous chronicle. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IN WHICH SANCHO PANZA GIVES A SATISFACTORY REPLY TO THE +DOUBTS AND QUESTIONS OF THE BACHELOR SAMSON CARRASCO +TOGETHER WITH OTHER MATTERS WORTH KNOWING AND MENTIONING + + +Samson was anxious to learn what Sancho had done with the hundred +crowns he had found in the knapsack. Sancho replied that he had spent +them for the benefit of himself, his wife and children; adding that, +had he come back to his wife without riches of any sort, he would have +had a doubtful reward waiting for him. Now, he said, if anybody wanted +to know anything about him, he was ready to answer the King himself. + +"It is no one's business," said he, "whether I took the money, or did +not; whether I spent it or did not spend it, for if every beating I +have received in my master's service were to be valued at no more than +four maravedis, another hundred crowns would not pay me for half of +them. Let each look to himself and not try to make out white, black; +and black, white; for each of us is as God made us--aye, and often +worse." + +Don Quixote was curious to know whether there was to be a second part +to the book; and Samson replied that the author was diligently looking +for one, but had as yet found none; so it remained only a possibility. +Yet, inspired by the profits he had made out of the first book, he was +anxious to find a second part, he said. + +"The author looks for money and profit, does he?" asked Sancho. "Well, +let Master Moor, or whoever he is, pay attention to what he is doing, +and I and my master will give him adventures and accidents of all +sorts, enough to make up not only a second part but a hundred. The +good man fancies, no doubt, we are asleep in the straw here, but let +him hold up our feet to be shod and he will see which foot it is we go +lame on. All I say is, that if my master would take my advice, we +would now be afield, redressing outrages and righting wrongs, as is +the use and custom of good knights errant." + +Scarcely had Sancho spoken these words, when Rocinante commenced to +neigh; and how could this be interpreted to be anything else than a +good omen? In an instant Don Quixote had resolved to sally forth again +in a few days. The bachelor warned him this time to expose himself to +no such tremendous risks as on his previous sallies, and begged him to +remember always, his life was no longer his own, but was dedicated to +those in need and in despair. + +"There is what I abominate, Senor Samson," Sancho sustained him. "My +master will attack a hundred men as a greedy boy would half a dozen +melons. Body of the world, Senor bachelor, there is a time to attack +and a time to retreat!" + +And here it was that Sancho felt it a solemn duty to himself and his +wife and offspring to come to a definite understanding with his master +regarding his position in battle. He wanted it stipulated that his +master was to do all the fighting. He would willingly look after his +master's and Rocinante's comfort, and keep them clean, but when it +came to drawing sword, he would leave that honor to Don Quixote, he +declared. He would do his duty so well that it would be worth a +kingdom as well as an island, both of which he would gladly accept. + +The bachelor, having recommended Saragossa and the kingdom of Aragon +as hotbeds of adventure, Don Quixote thanked him and asked him whether +he was a poet; to which the bachelor replied that he was not one of +the famous ones. Don Quixote explained that he wanted a most original +idea of his carried out in poetry. Could Samson write a poem of love +in such a manner as to have the first letters of each line, reading +downward, form the name of his beloved one, the peerless Dulcinea del +Toboso? Samson promised he would try, but Don Quixote replied: "It +must be done by some means or other, for unless the name stands there +plain and manifest, no woman would believe the verses were made for +her." And so the bachelor promised to do it, and to have them ready +before the day of the departure, which would be on the third day. + +Don Quixote extracted a promise from Samson to keep his intentions a +secret; and he and Sancho took leave of him, Don Quixote promising he +would not fail to send him word of his conquests. Sancho in the +meantime went home and began preparations for their second quest of +adventure. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +OF THE SHREWD AND DROLL CONVERSATION THAT PASSED BETWEEN +SANCHO PANZA AND HIS WIFE, TERESA PANZA, AND OTHER MATTERS +WORTHY OF BEING DULY RECORDED + + +When Sancho came home that evening, his wife noticed at once by his +mood that something out of the ordinary had happened to him. After +much persuasion, he finally told her that he had made up his mind to +go out in the world again with his master, looking for strange +adventures, during which, he said, he hoped to come across another +hundred crowns that he would bring home to her. Then Sancho proceeded +to tell his wife of his great plans for the future, when he became +ruler of his island. Their daughter, Maria, he was going to marry +off to some great count; his wife would be Dona Teresa Panza, and he +pictured her already, dressed according to richest fashion, sitting in +her pew in church, surrounded by cushions and pillows, and walking on +a red plush carpet. And as to his son, he should, of course, as was +the custom, follow his father's trade; so what was he to do but be a +ruler? + +But everything that her illustrious husband proposed, Teresa Panza +only sneered at; and this angered Sancho, who thought she might be +more appreciative. Certainly not every husband in their village +offered to do as much for his wife and family. And so they began to +quarrel with each other, Sancho using--as he invariably did with his +master--all the proverbs he had ever heard, to defeat the arguments +his wife put forward, enforced in the same manner. But when her good +Sancho finally lost his patience with her entirely, she gave in and +promised to go so far as to send their young son to him--that his +father might train him in the business of government--as soon as +Sancho, as the governor of the island, should send his wife the +necessary money. Sancho charged her particularly with the task of +seeing that the son on his departure should be dressed as a prince of +the blood. + +And all the while poor Teresa Panza was receiving her husband's +instructions as to herself and her two children, she was bemoaning and +struggling against their fate in her heart; and at last she burst +into bitter tears. Seeing her in such agony because he had predestined +that their daughter Maria was to marry a mighty count instead of a +poor peasant boy, Sancho tried to soothe her feelings by telling her +that he would try to put off the day of the wedding as long as +possible; and this promise seemed to cheer Teresa Panza to some +extent, for she dried her tears. + +Having accomplished so much, Sancho then went back to his master's +house to talk over some things of importance with him. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +OF WHAT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN DON QUIXOTE AND HIS NIECE AND HIS +HOUSEKEEPER; ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CHAPTERS IN THE WHOLE +HISTORY + + +While Sancho and his wife were flinging proverbs at each other at home, +there was another scene of unrest at Don Quixote's house. The housekeeper +had had a premonition of her master's impending expedition, and soon +perceived by his actions that she had not been alarmed in vain. She and +the niece employed all possible means to restrain him from faring forth; +but to all their admonitions and advice and prayers he made the same +reply: that there must be knights errant in the world to defend the weak +and virtuous and to punish arrogance and sin, and that he was the one to +set the world aright on that score. And when his niece began to bewail +his stubbornness and called down the wrath of heaven upon all tales of +chivalry, he threatened to chastise her for uttering such blasphemies. +Then he burst into a tirade on things and usages pertaining to chivalry, +a discourse so saturated with knowledge that it called forth a cry of +astonishment, a wail of disappointment, and a sigh of pity from the +niece, to whom it suddenly seemed that her uncle had missed his vocation +in life when he did not become a preacher. + +This drove Don Quixote to discourse on almost everything under the +sun, and he finished up by reciting poetry, at which the niece became +terror-stricken from superstition, and exclaimed that her uncle knew +everything in the world. She even dared to suppose he knew something +about masonry and could build a house. This daring thought of hers he +immediately corroborated by saying that if he were not so occupied +with dealing out justice to the world, there would be nothing he could +not do, from building cages to making toothpicks. + +Just then there was a knock at the door. It was Sancho Panza. As soon +as the housekeeper learned it was he, she fled from the room, for she +had grown to detest him like sin itself. The niece opened the door for +him, and he hastened to his master's room, where he was welcomed by +Don Quixote. And soon they were in the midst of a conversation, which +took place behind locked doors. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +OF WHAT PASSED BETWEEN DON QUIXOTE AND HIS SQUIRE, TOGETHER +WITH OTHER VERY NOTABLE INCIDENTS + + +As soon as the housekeeper heard Don Quixote turn the key in the door, +she realized the urgency of the situation, put on her shawl, and ran +to the house of the bachelor Samson Carrasco. She knew that her master +had taken a fancy to this learned young man and thought he might be +able to persuade him to give up the crazy idea. She fell on her knees +before Samson and told him in excited language that her master had +broken out again. + +"Where is he breaking out?" asked the roguish bachelor. + +"He is breaking out at the door of his madness," replied the +bewildered housekeeper. "I mean he is going to break out again, for +the third time, to hunt all over the world for what he calls +adventures." + +And then she went on to say that his first sally ended in his being +brought back home, slung across the back of a donkey. The second time +he made his entry into the village in an ox-cart, shut up in a cage, +and looking so worn and emaciated that his own mother would not have +known him. The last escapade had been an extremely expensive one, for +it had taken no less than six hundred eggs to cover up his bones +again. + +The bachelor quieted the housekeeper, and promised her to do all he +could for her master. Then he advised her to return home and prepare +something hot for breakfast, and on her way home to repeat the prayer of +Santa Appolonia. He himself would be there in time for breakfast, he +said. The housekeeper remonstrated with the bachelor for prescribing the +prayer of Santa Appolonia, which, she declared, was for toothache and not +for brains; but Samson told her to do as he bade her, reminding her that +he was a learned bachelor of Salamanca and knew what he was talking +about. The housekeeper then left, saying her prayer, and the bachelor +went to look for the curate that they might decide what to do. + +In the meantime Don Quixote and Sancho were discussing what the future +was holding for them, and Sancho gave the glad news to his master that +he had induced his wife to sanction his departure and his becoming +governor. Sancho was very much annoyed by his master's continual +interruptions and corrections. Whenever Sancho would misuse or abuse a +word, as he did in almost every sentence, Don Quixote would stop and +ask him what he meant, until poor Sancho was so confused that he did +not know what he had meant. Finally Don Quixote asked him to tell him +all that his wife had said, and as soon as Sancho had a chance to use +proverbs again, he felt more at home. "Teresa says," he repeated, +"that I should make sure with your Worship, and let papers speak and +beards be still. One _take_ is better than two _I'll give thee's_." + +"And so say I," said Don Quixote. "Continue, Sancho my friend. Go on; +thou talkest pearls to-day." + +"The fact is," continued Sancho, "that, as your Worship knows better +than I do, we are all of us liable to death, and to-day we are, and +to-morrow we are not. The lamb goes as soon as the sheep, and nobody +can promise himself more hours of life in this world than God may be +pleased to give him; for death is deaf, and when it comes to knock at +our life's door, it is always insistent, and neither prayers, nor +struggles, nor scepters, nor miters, can keep it back, as they tell us +from the pulpits every day." + +Here Don Quixote felt he ought to ask a question. "Sancho," said he, +"all that is true; but what art thou driving at?" + +And then came the reason for all these long-winded preliminaries. +Sancho wanted his master to make definite arrangements with him for +compensation. But here was the drawback. Don Quixote could recall no +incident in any of the many books he had read, when a knight errant +had given his squire fixed wages. How could he possibly establish a +precedent now? And so it became his sad and solemn duty to refuse his +squire's miserly request, and inform him that his services were no +longer wanted. Not only that, but our valiant hero was cruel enough to +remark that there would be any number of people who would be only too +eager to serve him; and, what was more, he was convinced that no one +could be less careful and diligent, or more thick-headed and talkative +than Sancho. + +Poor Sancho stood thunderstruck. He had expected his master would +address him in a much more gracious manner; and had taken for granted +that his own person was indispensable to his master. As he stood there +gaping in amazement, the bachelor, Samson, suddenly entered, followed +by the niece and the housekeeper. Samson threw himself on his knees +before the knight, passionately declaiming: + +"O flower of knight-errantry! O shining light of arms! O honor and +mirror of the Spanish nation! May God Almighty grant that any person +or persons who would impede or hinder thy third sally, may find no way +out of the labyrinth of their schemes, nor ever accomplish what they +most desire!" + +Then he rose and turned to the housekeeper, who was distressed and +astonished beyond words, telling her it was no use gainsaying her +master; that he had made up his mind, and no Santa Appolonia or any +other prayer would cause him to change it. Whereupon he addressed Don +Quixote again in the same lofty way, and slyly asked him whether he +would deign to accept him as his squire or as his meanest servant. + +Sancho's eyes nearly bulged out of his head at this, and filled with +tears. Fearing that he might lose both his master and his island, he +embraced Don Quixote's knees and kissed his hand, begging Don Quixote +not to give him up. Then he began to plead with him to leave the +village at once. Don Quixote, having taken the squire into his fold +again, embraced him, and then conferred with the bachelor and decided +that they would set out three days hence. Samson promised to obtain a +helmet for Don Quixote before the departure. + +In the meantime the bachelor had daily conferences with the curate and +the barber. The niece and the housekeeper were cursing the evil and +learned bachelor of Salamanca, and hardly slept at night for fear +that Don Quixote would steal away in the darkness. + +Finally the night of the third day arrived, and Don Quixote and +Sancho, accompanied by Samson, quietly and secretly stole out of the +village, in the direction of El Toboso. When they had ridden half a +league, Samson wished the knight errant godspeed, embraced him +tenderly, begged him to let him hear of his good fortune, and then he +returned to the village. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +WHEREIN IS RELATED WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE ON HIS WAY TO SEE +HIS LADY DULCINEA DEL TOBOSO + + +Scarcely had Samson departed before Rocinante began to neigh, and +Dapple, Sancho's donkey, to bray; and these animal expressions, +considering the time, and the road they were taking, were interpreted +by their respective masters to be omens of good luck. But it so +happened that Dapple kept up his braying. As a matter of fact he +brayed so much louder than the emaciated Rocinante could neigh that +the superstitious Sancho took it for a sign that his own good fortune +would be ever so much greater than that of his master, though he was +considerate enough to say nothing about it to him. + +Night soon began to fall, and the conversation between master and +squire turned to Don Quixote's incomparable love, whom he had never +seen in the flesh, and to whose abode he was now making this +pilgrimage in the dark, that he might be blessed by her before going +into new battles. + +Sancho was beginning to worry that his imagination, with which he was +not overburdened, would give out; for with every new question of his +master's he had to give a fresh answer, and he was in a deadly fear +that Don Quixote might discover that he had never been at El Toboso +with the letter to his Lady Dulcinea. Again Don Quixote asked his +squire to repeat how he had been received when he had brought her the +message of his master's penance in the wilderness, but it infuriated +him that Sancho should insist on her having been sifting wheat instead +of pearls on that occasion. The courtyard wall mentioned by his squire +must, of course, have been a portico, or corridor, or gallery of some +rich and royal palace, only Sancho's language was so limited he could +not express himself or describe things properly. Or perhaps that +infernal enchanter had been busy again, and made things appear in +different shapes before his squire's eyes. + +What his master said made Sancho's thought suddenly turn to the book +which the bachelor Samson had spoken of, and he began to worry that +some enchanter might have misrepresented his true character in its +pages. He felt it his place and duty to defend himself aloud against +any such evil; and having his master as audience, he proceeded to +carry out this thought, which, however, he abandoned towards the end +in favor of a careless independence: "But let them say what they like; +naked was I born, naked I find myself. I neither lose nor gain. When I +see myself put into a book and passed on from hand to hand all over +the world, I don't care a fig. Let them say what they like of me!" + +Perhaps what Sancho had just said made Don Quixote's thoughts drift +out into the world, which was now being stirred by the accounts of his +greatness, for he fell into contemplation on all the tombs and +monuments to the great men of past ages. He touched upon the tombs of +some who had become saints, when suddenly Sancho shot this question to +him out of a clear sky: "Tell me, which is the greater work, to bring +a dead man to life or to kill a giant?" + +Don Quixote was dumfounded by his squire's suddenness, but replied: +"The answer is easy. It is a greater work to bring to life a dead +man." + +"Now I have got you!" Sancho exclaimed. Then he divulged his longing, +which he wanted his master to share, to become a saint; viewing a +saint's life from all sides, he had come to the conclusion that it was +a much more peaceful life than that of a roving knight errant, who had +to be up at all hours and out in all sorts of weather. + +But his master answered laconically: "We cannot all be friars." And +then he went on to say that the number of knights errant in the world, +deserving that name, was a very small one; that, as a matter of truth, +knight-errantry, was a religion. But Sancho, stubborn as usual, +insisted that there were more friars in heaven than knights errant. In +this way they passed that night and the following day, without any +trace of excitement or adventure. + +Finally, at daybreak on the second day, they approached the great +city of El Toboso; and Sancho's worries increased as they came closer +to the place where the heart of the peerless Dulcinea was beating--for +what was he going to say or do when his master wanted to meet his +beloved one? Don Quixote decided to await dusk before entering the +city, and they spent the day resting in the shade of some oak-trees +outside the town. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +WHEREIN IS RELATED WHAT WILL BE SEEN THERE + + +It was midnight when they rode into El Toboso. It was a very dark +night, so Sancho could not be blamed for not finding the house in the +darkness. They were greeted by a multitude of noises: barking dogs, +braying asses, mewing cats, and grunting pigs; noises that seemed like +an ill omen to Don Quixote. He suddenly turned to Sancho and said: +"Sancho, my son, lead on to the place of Dulcinea. It may be that we +shall find her awake." + +"Body of the sun! What palace am I to lead to, when what I saw Her +Highness in was only a very little house?" exclaimed the squire. + +"Most likely she had then withdrawn into some small apartment of her +palace," said Don Quixote, "to amuse herself with her damsels, as +great ladies and princesses are accustomed to do." + +Here Sancho told his master to have it his own way, but asked him +whether he thought it in conformity with the behavior of a gentleman +to go around in the middle of the night knocking at people's doors. +Don Quixote dispensed with the discussion of this particular point; +all he wanted to do, he said, was to find the house. Then they could +discuss how to proceed. So they roamed about the city, Don Quixote +insisting that first one house and then another was the palace of his +love, until they finally hit upon the great tower of the church. At +last he had found it, he declared. Here was where she dwelt, he was +quite sure. + +But Sancho, hearing this and seeing it was a church, began to feel ill +at ease, for his superstitious soul did not like the idea of walking +across a graveyard at such an hour of the night. He quickly told his +master, he was now certain that the Lady Dulcinea lived in an alley, a +kind thought which was rewarded by a fierce outburst from Don Quixote. + +"The curse of God on thee for a blockhead!" he exclaimed. "Where hast +thou ever heard of castles and royal palaces being built in alleys?" + +"I wish I saw the dogs eating it for leading us such a dance," was all +that Sancho said in reply. + +But evidently this was not a pleasing answer to Don Quixote, for he +admonished his squire: "Speak respectfully of what belongs to my lady; +let us keep the feast in peace, and not throw the rope after the +bucket!" + +Sancho muttered something about how he could be expected to find, in +the dark of night, a house he had only seen once in his lifetime, when +his master, who must have seen it hundreds of times, could not +recognize it. To this his master retorted wearily that he had told him +a thousand times that he was enamored only by hearsay, and had never +visited Dulcinea in her palace. + +At this moment a laborer on his way to his work came along on the +road, singing a dreary song. It was only another omen to Don Quixote +that his efforts to approach his lady would not be crowned with +success that night. He asked the man to direct him to the palace of +his princess, but the laborer turned out to be a stranger, having only +just come to the city. + +Don Quixote was grieved that he could not find Dulcinea, and when +Sancho suggested that they withdraw from the city and develop a plan +for seeing her, he was ready to accept it. So they left El Toboso and +hid in a forest nearby. There it was decided that Sancho should return +to the city as the messenger of love for his master. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WHEREIN IS RELATED THE CRAFTY DEVICE SANCHO ADOPTED TO +ENCHANT THE LADY DULCINEA, AND OTHER INCIDENTS AS LUDICROUS +AS THEY ARE TRUE + + +Don Quixote instructed Sancho to ask his lady for an audience for him, +and he begged his squire to observe every little change in her +expression and demeanor, that he might tell him about it afterward. +Sancho then set off on Dapple; but as soon as he was out of sight, he +dismounted, seated himself on the ground, and took measure of the +situation aloud. In a meditative soliloquy he discussed with himself +the problem that was his, and he finally reasoned that there was a +remedy for everything except death. If his master could take windmills +for giants, and a flock of sheep for an army, why could he not take +black for white, and any country lass that came along, for his +princess? Having reached this satisfactory conclusion, he decided to +remain where he was till in the afternoon, in which time he could +reasonably have gone to El Toboso and returned. + +As the afternoon arrived, three country girls came along on their +donkeys, on the road from the city. The moment Sancho saw them, he +mounted his ass and returned to find his master, who nearly went out +of his head with joy, and promised Sancho the three next foals from +his three mares, when his squire told him that the Lady Dulcinea was +coming to see him, accompanied by two of her ladies-in-waiting. And +then the lying Sancho went on to describe them: how they were robed in +richest brocade, and weighted down with jewels--precious stones and +pearls. But when Don Quixote saw the three peasant girls approach, he +said he could see nothing but three jackasses and three girls. Any +princess, or any one like one, he failed to see. Finally Sancho +persuaded him to believe that those he saw were really three ladies, +one of them being the Peerless One, who had come to bestow her +blessing upon him. And so Don Quixote fell on his knees in the dust of +the road before the girls, giving vent to his immeasurable gratitude +to her, his queen, who had come all this distance to give him her +blessing. + +When the ugly peasant girl heard herself called a queen and Dulcinea, +she thought that Don Quixote was trying to play a joke on her, so she +got angry, and yelled to him: "Get out of the way, bad luck to you, +and let us pass, for we are in a hurry!" and left the astonished +knight crawling in the dust. + +Sancho had also fallen to his knees, to help his master in his plea +for blessing, and he called out after the peasant girls: "Oh, princess +and universal lady of El Toboso, is not your heart softened by seeing +the pillar and prop of knight-errantry on his knees before your +sublimated presence?" + +When the wenches were out of sight, Don Quixote turned to his squire +and bemoaned, cast-down, his evil fate, and the length his sage enemy +would go to gain his ends. The very worst thing of all, he said, was +that the evil enchanter had turned his Dulcinea into an ugly peasant, +who smelled of garlic. And while Don Quixote was thus complaining, +Sancho struggled to hide his laughter, happy to have saved himself and +to have played such a joke on his master. + +At last Don Quixote was ready to mount his hack, and they steered +their beasts in the direction of Saragossa. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +OF THE STRANGE ADVENTURE WHICH THE VALIANT DON QUIXOTE HAD +WITH THE CAR OR CART OF "THE CORTES OF DEATH" + + +Sancho did his best to imbue his master with a new inspiration; for +Don Quixote was a sorry sight as he was riding along on his hack. The +enchantment of his Dulcinea had been a great blow to him. He fell into +a sort of meditative slumber, from which he would rouse himself only +now and then. Suddenly, however, he was fully awake, for on the road +he saw before his very eyes a cart with Death on the front seat, and +drawn by mules that were being led by the Devil himself. + +As soon as the knight could gather his senses, he distinguished the +rest of the strange company that occupied the cart. Next to Death sat +an ugly angel with wings, and on the other side Don Quixote observed +an emperor with a crown of gold on his head. Then he discovered +Cupid--who was a god--and a knight with plumes in his hat. There were +a number of other figures, all weird and awe-inspiring, in strange +costumes and with curious faces, and when Sancho saw them he turned as +pale as Death himself, and his teeth began to chatter from fright. +Even Don Quixote was more than startled, but his heroism soon asserted +itself, and he was quickly himself again, glad to sense another +adventure. He gave Rocinante the spur, the lean hack sprang forward to +the cart at a sickly gallop, and Don Quixote exclaimed: "Carter or +coachman, or devil or whatever thou art, tell me at once who thou art, +whither thou art going, and who these folk are thou carriest in thy +wagon, which looks more like Charon's boat than an ordinary cart!" + +To this challenge the devil responded on behalf of himself and his +fellow-travelers, explaining that they were harmless players of Angulo +el Malo's company; that they had been acting the play of "The Cortes +of Death" in the village from which they had just come; and since they +had to act the same play in a village nearby in the afternoon, they +wished to save themselves the trouble of making up twice, by remaining +in their costumes. The devil was extremely polite and offered to give +Don Quixote any information he could, adding that, being the devil, he +was up to everything; besides he played the leading parts, he said. +Don Quixote told them how disappointed he was that this had not turned +out to be another adventure; then he wished them a happy journey, +saying that ever since he was a child he had been an admirer of the +actor and fond of his art. + +As they were about to take leave, one of the mummers, with three blown +ox-bladders at the end of a stick, came up and banged them against the +ground under Rocinante's nose; and the frightened animal set off +across the plain as if he had been shot out of a cannon, taking the +bit in his teeth. Sancho was so certain his master would be thrown +that he left his donkey and ran as fast as he could after Rocinante. +But when he reached Don Quixote, the knight was already on the ground +and with him Rocinante, whose legs always seemed to give away after a +sudden strain. + +Now, as soon as Sancho had run away from Dapple, the crazy devil with +the bladders was on his back tickling his ears with them, and the +donkey flew across the fields toward the village as if beset. + +Seeing his faithful one running away, Sancho was in mortal agony, as +well as in a quandary, for he did not know whether to attend to the +donkey or his master first. Finally he found his love for human beings +was the greater, and rushed to his master's side. When he had helped +him to mount, he told him that the devil had run away with Dapple. +Immediately Don Quixote was ready to pursue the enemy; but just then +the squire saw his Dapple come running back, and cautioned his master +to be meek. + +But Don Quixote was eager to give the mummer a lesson in courtesy, +even, as he said, if he had to visit his sin upon the rest of the +company, not barring the Emperor himself. Sancho did his best to warn +his master that there was great danger in meddling with actors, as +they were a favored class; but had the King himself interfered in +their behalf, it would not have stayed the hand of the errant +revenger. + +So Don Quixote drew forth, and caught up with the cart as it was close +to the village. He commanded the players to halt, saying he wanted to +teach them how to be courteous to donkeys and animals that served +squires and knights errant for steeds. The merrymakers could tell by +his stentorian tone that he was not jesting, so they all quickly +jumped out of the cart and armed themselves with stones. + +By this time Sancho had reached the scene of action, and as soon as +he saw the threatening attitude of the strollers, he begged his master +not to fight against either Death or the angels, particularly since +neither one of them was a knight errant; nor was there any one in the +whole company who was. This point Don Quixote thought was wisely +taken, and he ordered his squire to fight the battle himself. But +Sancho said he preferred to show a Christian spirit and forgive, and +promised his master he would come to an agreement with his donkey to +leave his end of the grievance to the squire's goodwill. + +Don Quixote let Sancho have his way; and when they had seen the +caravan of mountebanks disappear, Sancho was happy in the thought that +he had averted a great calamity for himself and his master. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +OF THE STRANGE ADVENTURE WHICH BEFELL THE VALIANT DON +QUIXOTE WITH THE BOLD KNIGHT OF THE GROVE + + +They passed that night under some cork-trees, and while they were +eating their supper, Sancho as usual became talkative and again gave +proof of his chronic weakness for proverbs. Every phrase abounded with +them. As ever, he would use them to fit the wrong case, or twist them +so as to fit what he wanted them to fit. Don Quixote had to laugh at +his squire's simplicity, and at the way he tried to imitate his +master's manner of speaking. His words and expressions were indeed a +strange mixture. One moment he would use the most abominable grammar +and the next he would borrow the language of Don Quixote, repeating in +stilted fashion the polite phrases he had heard Don Quixote use in his +flowery discourses on knighthood and chivalry. + +Soon after they had fallen asleep, Don Quixote was awakened by the +sound of men's voices. He quickly rose, curious and anxious to learn +who the disturbers were, and was amazed to behold a real knight, clad +in full armor, dismount from his horse, while speaking words that +indicated he was lovesick and in despair. Don Quixote hastened to call +Sancho, who awoke to the tune of a love sonnet sung by the strange +knight, and was as startled as his master had been, though, perhaps, +not greatly thrilled at this promise of a new adventure in the middle +of the night. + +But if Don Quixote was surprised when he was awakened, what was his +amazement when he suddenly heard such words as these: "O fairest and +most ungrateful woman on earth! Can it be possible, most serene +Casildea de Vandalia, that thou wilt suffer this thy captive knight to +waste away and perish in ceaseless wanderings and rude and arduous +toils? Is it not enough that I have compelled all the knights of +Navarre, the Leonese, the Tartesians, and the Castilians, and finally +all the knights of La Mancha to confess thee the most beautiful in the +world?" + +Don Quixote took exception to this last statement in silence, knowing +that his chance to correct it was at no great distance. But Sancho +soon gave himself and his master away to the Knight of the Grove by +becoming too talkative, and they were hailed by the knight, who +greeted them in the most courteous manner, when he learned who they +were. + +The two knights errant soon were engaged in a friendly conversation, +which Sancho could not restrain himself from breaking into; but the +Knight of the Grove was quick to reprimand him, saying he never +permitted his squire to open his mouth. Whereupon Sancho persuaded +himself and the squire of the Grove to remove to a spot where they +could talk between themselves without being overheard by their +superiors, and where they might be undisturbed by any yoke of +knighthood etiquette. + + + + +CHAPTERS XIII-XIV + +IN WHICH IS CONTINUED THE ADVENTURE OF THE KNIGHT OF THE +GROVE, TOGETHER WITH THE SENSIBLE AND TRANQUIL COLLOQUY +THAT PASSED BETWEEN THE TWO SQUIRES + + +The two squires drank and talked most of the night, bemoaning the fate of +squires in general. Before they finally fell asleep, the squire of the +Grove suggested that, since they both were tired of knight-errantry, they +give up the life. To this Sancho replied that he would remain in his +master's service until he arrived at Saragossa, when he might decide to +leave him. + +In the meantime the two knights also were exchanging confidences; and +the Knight of the Grove told Don Quixote of all the great and famous +errants he had conquered in single combat. Don Quixote was all ear, +but nearly gasped for breath when he heard the knight say that he had +vanquished the famous Don Quixote of La Mancha, and had made him +confess that his own Casildea was more beautiful by far than the La +Mancha knight's Dulcinea. Don Quixote suppressed a scornful smile that +threatened to betray him, and controlled the feelings that the +boasting errant's words provoked, while wondering at the braggart's +audacity. He slyly expressed a doubt, however, that the valiant knight +Don Quixote of La Mancha had let himself be vanquished by any living +being. The Knight of the Grove then gave a description of Don Quixote +which in every detail fitted him. + +That drew Don Quixote out of his originally assumed indifference. He +told the knight that he himself was no other than that famed and +illustrious errant, and declared that any other one that had appeared +as Don Quixote, must have been some enchanter who had disguised +himself to resemble him, in order to defraud him of the honor that was +rightly due to him. Then he proceeded to tell the knight how his enemy +had transformed the Lady Dulcinea, and challenged the Knight of the +Grove to single combat if he dared to question what Don Quixote +maintained to be the truth. + +To this challenge the Knight of the Grove retorted that since he had +once vanquished the semblance of Don Quixote, he would now welcome the +opportunity of meeting him in combat in his own proper shape. Being a +cautious and cold-blooded knight, however, he suggested to Don Quixote +that they should rest until the morning, when the mighty struggle +could ensue in the light of day. It was further agreed that the +vanquished knight should place himself at the command of the victor, +to fulfill any desire of his within the bounds of chivalry. + +Each one was eager to inform his own squire of what the morning was to +behold, so they awoke Sancho and the squire of the Grove and told +them. Sancho was scared that his master might not be the gainer, for +the squire of the Grove had been feeding him with stories of his +master's conquests all that night until they had fallen asleep, drunk +with wine. + +The squires went to get the horses ready, and on the way Sancho was +aghast to learn that he would have to fight the friendly squire of the +Grove in cold blood, this squire maintaining that such was a rule +among knights errant. Sancho said he would rather give two pounds of +wax to the church than fight with him; furthermore, he said, he could +not, for he had no sword, and never had had one. Whereupon the +friendly squire told him that did not matter, and proceeded to make +ready two linen bags, both of the same size, saying they could fight +their duel in this fashion. This was most pleasing to Sancho, until he +perceived the other squire filling the bags with pebbles, when he +remonstrated, saying he thought their masters could settle the whole +affair without their interference. But his friend the squire insisted +that they fight, even if it should be only for half an hour, and +offered--if he should have any difficulty in rousing himself to the +occasion--to give Sancho a few cudgels and whacks to act as an +inspiration. + +By this time it was beginning to dawn, and Sancho was watching the +sunrise. As he looked around, the first object that he saw the sunrays +strike was the nose of the squire of the Grove, protruding out of the +opened visor of his helmet. It was an object so fearful to look at +that Sancho Panza was paralyzed with fright. The nose was so large it +seemed uncanny. It was covered with warts and was bent at a tremendous +angle, and it hung down way beneath his chin, while its color was that +of an eggplant. It was a face so horrible and ugly to look at that +Sancho's eyes nearly rolled out of his head. He acted as if he were +about to have convulsions, for he began to tremble from head to foot. +When Don Quixote beheld the squire's countenance, even he began to +show signs of feebleness, but his bravery overcame his fears. He +shrugged his shoulders as if shaking off an evil spirit, and was ready +for the combat with his adversary. + +Before the battle began, Sancho pleaded with his master to help him up +into a tree; so afraid was he of this monstrous squire with the awful +nose. But while Don Quixote was hoisting his faithful one up into a +cork-tree, he suddenly heard the knight approach on his steed behind +him, and not knowing whether it was squire or master, and being +subconsciously afraid of the nose, one blow of which might have felled +him, it seemed, he turned around and made straight for the knight. + +The facts were that this gentleman was trying to limber up the joints +of his charger--a hack of the same caliber as Rocinante--and was just +taking his horse on a tour of exercise, making him skip hither and +thither, wherever his master's agonized spurring would carry him. Each +time he would land heavily on his stiff legs, and it was when Don +Quixote suddenly heard the sound of such a landing behind him that he +turned. But by the time Rocinante had completed the turn, which was a +movement of much contemplation and hesitation on his part, the back of +the Knight of the Grove shone in the distance. Charging by sound and +instinct rather than by sight, not seeing whether the knight was +coming or going, Don Quixote set upon him with such blind fury that +with one thrust of his lance he sent the bespangled gentleman flying +out of his saddle, so that he fell flat on the ground, seemingly dead. + +Now, when Sancho saw what an auspicious beginning and ending the +adventure had had for his master, he heaved a sigh of relief and +contentment and climbed down from his tree, approaching the lifeless +monster with caution and superstitious awe. But he had taken only one +look into his face, when he began to cross himself with so many +motions and contortions that Don Quixote thought his squire had gone +insane. Turning to his master, who had been contemplating his victory +with pride from the back of Rocinante, Sancho begged him to thrust his +sword into the mouth of his vanquished foe. Scarcely had he made this +suggestion before Don Quixote drew his sword and advanced to carry it +out, when the squire of the Grove, now minus the drooping nose, ran +forward, wildly exclaiming: "Mind what you are about to do, Senor Don +Quixote! That is your friend the bachelor, Samson Carrasco, you have +at your feet, and I am his squire!" + +"And the nose?" Sancho broke in, unable to restrain his amazed +senses. + +"I have it here in my pocket," answered the squire of the Grove, as he +pulled out and showed him a false nose of immense proportions. + +Whereupon Sancho eyed the squire more carefully, and suddenly cried +out: "Holy Mary be good to me! Isn't it Tom Cecial, my neighbor and +gossip!" + +And Tom was only too glad to confess that he was. + +At this very moment the bachelor returned from the dead, and when Don +Quixote saw him open his eyes, he pointed his sword at his face and +swore that the Knight of the Mirrors--thus he called the Knight of the +Grove because of his shining regalia--would be a dead man if he did +not pronounce the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso the most beautiful woman in +the world. Furthermore, he demanded that he swear to present himself +before the Peerless One in the city of El Toboso, that she might deal +out judgment upon him. Having been dealt with by her, the Knight of +the Grove was to return to inform him of the punishment, giving a full +account of what had passed between them. + +The fallen Samson gladly confessed to everything, including his belief +in the true identity of his conqueror. He felt an urgent need for +medicine and plaster, and he and his squire departed quickly to seek +such aid in the nearest village, while Don Quixote and Sancho took the +road which lead to Saragossa. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +WHEREIN IT IS MADE KNOWN HOW THE KNIGHT OF THE MIRROR AND +HIS SQUIRE EMERGED FROM THEIR ADVENTURE + + +As Don Quixote was bumping along on his lean Rocinante, he was +dreaming of the return of the Knight of the Mirrors, who would bring +him word about his beloved one. He was anxious to know whether she was +still enchanted. Then he thought of the great victory he had won over +this bold knight, and it was perhaps only pardonable if it aroused +some conceit in his breast. + +But while Don Quixote was contemplating thus, the bachelor-knight kept +bemoaning the fate he had brought upon himself. He had dubbed himself +Knight at his own instigation, for the kindly and unselfish purpose of +unseating and vanquishing Don Quixote in battle, thinking, of course, +that that would be an easy matter to accomplish. It was for good +reasons he had proposed that the vanquished one should place himself +at the disposal of the victor. The bachelor, the curate, and the +barber had conferred after Don Quixote's departure as to what to do, +and when the bachelor Samson offered to go crusading and to bring back +Don Quixote, the two gossips were pleased beyond words. A neighbor of +Sancho's, Tom Cecial by name, was induced to become the squire of the +knight Samson. + +Both knight and squire were now contemplating in a sorry mood the +disastrous outcome of their encounter with the Knight of the Rueful +Countenance. As they were staggering along on their decrepit mounts, +the squire summed up the thoughts of his master Samson in this +question: "I'd like to know now which is the madder, he who is so +because he can not help it, or he who is so of his own choice?" + +While the learned bachelor was thoroughly in accord with the good +reason for asking such a question, he could not at the same time help +acknowledging the fact that the thrashing he had received was paining +him. The desire he had had when he started out looking for Don +Quixote--to bring him back to his home and his wits--was now changed +into a wild inner cry for revenge. + +At last some of the physical agony of the Knight of the Mirrors was +stilled by a quack, whom they found in a town along the road. Tom Cecial, +the squire for a day and a night, had been cured of knight-errantry and +returned to his less venturesome occupation in his La Mancha village; but +the thoughts of evilness would not leave his master, who stayed behind, +bent on having his revenge. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +OF WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE WITH A DISCREET GENTLEMAN OF LA MANCHA + + +While Don Quixote was contemplating his own greatness as a reviver of +knight-errantry, the monstrous nose of the squire kept coming before +Sancho in his fancies. When he told his master, Don Quixote asked him +whether he ever for a moment doubted that the knight of the Mirrors +and his squire were anything but enchanted and made to appear like the +two village friends of theirs. The idea that Samson, who was such a +devoted friend of his, should be envious of his deeds in battle and +have wanted to steal away honors from him as a knight, was too absurd; +and with this he dismissed the subject. + +While they were discussing these matters and the enchantment of the +Lady Dulcinea, they were passed by a gentleman on horseback, and Don +Quixote called to him and asked him politely whether he would not join +company with them. The traveler accepted the knight's invitation, and +both were soon scrutinizing each other. The gentleman, a man about +fifty years of age, with handsome features, wondered at the strange +appearance of Don Quixote; and when our knight saw his wonder, he told +him why he was so attired and what he had set out to accomplish in the +world. This confession drew forth still more astonishment on the +gentleman's countenance, but he finally found words to ask whether he +could really believe his own ears, for he had thought knight-errantry +extinct. It was not long, however, before he realized that he was +talking to a madman; and then Sancho Panza came under his observation, +and he was deemed a simpleton. + +Don Quixote had asked the newcomer's name, and learned it was Don Diego +de Miranda; and then the knight was curious to know what he did with his +life. Whereupon Don Diego proceeded to tell his fellow-travelers of his +tame and godly life in the country with his wife and children; and he +pronounced in the course of his description some very beautiful thoughts +and principles, which so took Sancho's fancy that he jumped off Dapple, +embraced the gentleman's leg, and began to kiss his feet in the most +passionate and ardent way. + +Astonished, the good gentleman inquired what all this display meant; +and Sancho begged of him between his transports: "Let me kiss, for I +think your Worship is the first saint in the saddle I ever saw!" + +Of course, the gentleman confessed his sinfulness to Sancho, who refused +to change his opinion, in spite of his master's honest laughter. Then the +gentleman told Don Quixote about his great pride, his son, who was +eighteen years old, had been a student at Salamanca, and wrote divine +poems. This immediately inspired Don Quixote to a discourse on poetry, in +which he dwelt on the dishonor of commercializing this great gift of the +gods. He finished his speech with the advice to Don Diego that he bring +up his son to write discourses in which all vice was flayed and all sin +chided and rebuked. Above all, he said, a poet must never let envy or +personal grudge and hatred guide his pen. When the traveler heard Don +Quixote speak in so wise and discerning manner, he was aghast; and he was +entirely at a loss to know how to judge him. He was inclined to think +that what he had taken for madness in him was nothing but eccentricity. + +But while Don Quixote was discoursing on poetry, Sancho, on seeing +some shepherds, had fled to beg some ewe milk of them. When his master +had finished his discourse, and the gentleman was silently considering +his madness, Sancho suddenly heard himself called to battle. Having +in his possession his master's helmet, he spurred his donkey to +further increase his efforts toward speed, and when he reached the +valiant knight, he discovered the reason for the call: a cart bedecked +with royal flags approaching on the road. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +WHEREIN IS SHOWN THE FARTHEST AND HIGHEST POINT WHICH THE +UNEXAMPLED COURAGE OF DON QUIXOTE REACHED OR COULD REACH; +TOGETHER WITH THE HAPPILY ACHIEVED ADVENTURE OF THE LIONS + + +When Sancho was summoned by his master, he had just bought some curds +from the goatherd, and not knowing what to do with them at such a +moment, he hastily deposited them in his master's helmet. The first +thing Don Quixote did when Sancho had caught up with him, was to +snatch the helmet from him, exclaiming that he had to make ready for +what promised to be an exciting adventure; while all Sancho could see +was the cart with the royal flags, probably carrying some treasure of +the kings. As Sancho stood watching the cart, Don Quixote resolutely +put on the helmet, which he proceeded to press down on his head in +order to make it sit fast; but as he did so, the curds were squeezed, +and the whey began to run down over his face, so that Don Quixote +imagined that he had been taken with softening of the brain. + +Sancho said nothing but gave his master something to wipe his face +with, and Don Quixote muttered that if this was sweat he was certain +it was going to be a horrible adventure. As he was drying his face, he +took off his helmet, and when he smelled the curds he turned to Sancho +in great perturbation and accused him of having put them there, +calling him a traitor and a scoundrel, and threatening to thrash him. +But Sancho eyed his master innocently, and blamed it all on the devil +or some enchanter, saying that his master might know that if he had +had curds, he would have put them in his stomach and not in his +master's helmet. + +This was a convincing argument to the knight, who now busied himself +with the cart, which had nearly reached them. He called out to the +driver and a man on mule-back, who were the only attendants: "Whither +are you going, brothers? What cart is this? What have you got in it? +What flags are those?" + +The man on the mule answered that the cart was his, that he was +transporting a pair of enormous lions as a present from the Governor +of Oran to His Majesty the King; that the flags were those of the +King, and that therefore the property was royal property. He added +that the lions were hungry, since they had not eaten anything that +day, and that he was in great haste to reach a place where he could +feed them. + +Here Don Quixote smiled a scornful, superior smile, and calmly told +the keeper of the lions to open the cages and let out the beasts that +they might learn who the courageous Don Quixote of La Mancha might be. +When Sancho heard how mad his master was, he turned in sickly fear to +the traveling gentleman and begged him for God's sake to keep his +master from having a combat with the lions. The gentleman asked Sancho +whether he thought his master would really be so foolish as to do such +a thing; and Sancho's firm and emphatic reply made the gentleman +hasten to the knight's side in an attempt to reason with him. He was +promptly reprimanded by Don Quixote, however, who told him sharply to +mind his own business, and then threatened to pin the keeper to the +cart with his lance if he did not open the cages and chase out the +lions at once. + +There was an indescribable consternation and confusion. The driver +pleaded with Don Quixote on his knees, and when they all saw that he +was determined to meet with the lions in combat, they began to pick up +their belongings and run away into safety. Sancho and the gentleman +made still another attempt to bring him to his senses, but all their +pleas were in vain. Sancho left his master with the tears falling down +his cheeks, and Don Quixote ordered the gentleman to speed away on his +flea-bitten mare as fast as he could, if he was afraid to be bitten by +the lions. + +Then Don Quixote decided it might be better to fight on foot, as he +was afraid that his Rocinante might be frightened on seeing the +beasts; so, sword in hand, he bravely advanced towards the cage. The +keeper timidly opened the doors of the first cage, and a male lion of +tremendous size, stretching himself leisurely, put his claws through +the opening; then he yawned sleepily, and after some deliberation +began to lick his eyes and face with his long, fierce tongue. Having +thus washed his dirty face, he put his head out of the cage and stood +gazing into space with a ferocious look in his eyes, which resembled +glowing coals. Not even seeming surprised at the sight of the valiant +knight, he then had the audacity to turn his back on our hero, and +calmly and proudly lay down, with his hindquarters under Don Quixote's +very nose. + +Such unheard-of scorn angered the knight, who commanded the keeper to +take a stick and poke the beast out of the cage; but here he met with +unyielding obstinacy, for this the man refused to do under any +circumstances, saying that the first one to be chewed to pieces, if he +did that, would be himself. Then he began to praise and flatter Don +Quixote's courage which, he said, by this feat had been unequaled in +the world. His adversary the lion, he said, had proven by his very +action that he considered Don Quixote a superior foe; and when the +keeper promised to give Don Quixote a certificate to the effect that +the lion had been challenged in true knight errant fashion and refused +to give battle, Don Quixote was soothed, and bade the keeper shut the +doors to the cage and recall the fugitives that they might hear from +the keeper's lips the true account of his remarkable achievement. + +The first thing Don Quixote did when Sancho had joined him was to +order him to give two gold crowns to the driver and the keeper for +lost time; but before Sancho carried out his master's command he was +anxious to know whether the lions were dead or alive. Whereupon the +keeper related how the valiant knight had single handed dared the +lions to come out of their cage, and how they meekly and cowardly had +refused at the sight of so bold a warrior; and he embellished his +story with numerous little details--in anticipation of the gold +crown--and added that when he returned to Madrid he would not fail to +inform the King of his marvelous exploit. + +When Don Quixote heard this, his heart beat faster, and he told the +keeper that if the King should happen to ask who performed this great +deed, to say it was the Knight of the Lions, since he had decided to +adopt this name hereafter. + +So the cart proceeded toward the capital, and Don Quixote, Sancho, and +the traveling gentleman went their way. Don Diego bade them make haste +that they might reach his village before nightfall, and he asked Don +Quixote to spend the night at his house and rest after his exertions--an +invitation that the knight accepted with profuse thanks. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +OF WHAT HAPPENED TO DON QUIXOTE IN THE CASTLE OR HOUSE OF +THE KNIGHT OF THE GREEN COAT, TOGETHER WITH OTHER MATTERS +OUT OF THE COMMON + + +The Knight of the Green Coat--which was the name Don Quixote had +conferred on his host--reached his house in the afternoon, and he was +welcomed home by his wife and son, who could not help staring in +amazement at the strange figure Don Quixote presented. The latter +advanced to the wife and kissed her virtuously on the hand, after +having first asked her permission; and she received him courteously, +as did the son also. Then he was escorted into the house, and Sancho +helped him to remove his armor and to wash him clean of the curds, +which had run down his face and his neck. This being done, Don Quixote +joined father and son in another room. + +It was not long before Don Lorenzo, the young son, was perplexed by +the knight's behavior and conversation, and at his first opportunity +he confided this perplexity to his father. Don Diego told him that he +himself was at his wit's end, for he had heard him speak as sensibly +as he ever heard any man speak; then again, he said, he had seen him +perform the most unbelievable acts of madness. Don Lorenzo again +engaged in conversation with Don Quixote, who told the young man that +he had already learned from his father of his great talents as a poet. +The youth modestly disclaimed being entitled to be called a great +poet; and the absence of conceit in one of this calling pleased the +knight greatly. And he went on, discoursing on matters pertaining to +education, on universities, and degrees, and his opinions seemed to +Don Lorenzo so authoritative and advanced that he was at a loss to +know what to conclude, until Don Quixote suddenly began to talk about +the science of knight-errantry, which he maintained surpassed all +other sciences. + +Don Lorenzo interrupted, of course, saying that he had never heard of +any such science; he had read books of chivalry but had never believed +that any knights had existed, he said. When Don Quixote heard the +youth speak such blasphemy, he prayed that heaven should deliver him +from his false illusions as to the existence of knight-errantry! Just +then dinner was served. + +While they were eating, Don Quixote asked Don Lorenzo to repeat some +of his verses to him, and the youth read some of his glosses and +sonnets. Don Quixote was extremely impressed with them, and he praised +the youth's rare gift in eloquent language. This praise--although he +knew it to come from a madman--so pleased Don Lorenzo's father that he +begged Don Quixote to remain; and for four days the knight was +entertained by Don Diego. + +Then Don Quixote felt it his duty to break away from luxury and +idleness in order to live up to the laws of knight-errantry, Sancho +left with a sigh, and a tear in his eye, for never in his life had he +lived so well. However, he saw to it that he was well provisioned +before they departed. Don Quixote was anxious to see the poet turn +knight-errant, he said, but since his parents no doubt would not +permit him to give up his chosen work he thought it best not to +attempt to sway them in their convictions. And so he and his squire +took leave with many courtesies, while Don Diego and his family were +pitying the poor demented knight in their hearts and still were +wondering at his nonsense. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +IN WHICH IS RELATED THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENAMORED SHEPHERD, +TOGETHER WITH OTHER TRULY DROLL INCIDENTS + + +They had traveled but a short time when they met some students and +peasants on mule-back, and since they were going in the same direction +Don Quixote offered them his protection if they would only make the +pace of their young mules conform with that of his steed and Dapple. +They agreed to do so, and it was not long ere the Knight of the Lions +had introduced himself to his companions, and told them of his +revival. The students were quick to perceive that he was demented; but +not so the peasants, who could make neither head nor tail of what he +said, and ascribed this to their own ignorance. + +The students invited the knight to come with them to a wedding-feast, and +immediately he asked which prince was to be married without his knowing +it. The students informed him that it was not any prince's wedding, but +that of a rich farmer by the name of Camacho, who was marrying the fair +Quiteria, daughter of a rich man in their neighborhood. Quiteria, they +said, was in love with one Basilio, a poor young shepherd, whom her +father had sent away in anger from his house, forbidding him ever to see +his daughter again. As a result of this banishment and his being +separated from his love, he had now gone mad. + +Don Quixote, having listened attentively to the students' story, began +a discourse on love and marriage. Now and then Sancho interrupted him +with strings of proverbs; this would infuriate his master by making +him deviate from his subject. Finally Don Quixote retaliated by +attacking and criticising Sancho's language, which he said was +atrocious. + +Soon their arguments were taken up by the students. One of them stood +by Sancho; the other one took Don Quixote's point of view. Having once +been involved, they argued first on one subject, then on another, +until at last foils and the art of fencing became the subject. It so +happened that one of them was carrying his foils with him, and he +suggested that they settle their argument then and there. They did so +under Don Quixote's chivalrous supervision, and when the engagement +had come to an end, the one who had challenged was so worn and torn +that Sancho felt sorry for him and went over to console him; at the +same time he felt it his duty to advise him never again to fence, +although he did not advise him against wrestling or throwing the bar, +for he was strong enough for that, he thought. Whereupon the +challenger rose and embraced his adversary, and after that they were +better friends than ever. + +They pursued their journey, and before long it grew dark. Soon +afterwards they heard the musicians at the wedding, and saw the +preparations that were being made for it. Here Don Quixote took leave +of the students and the peasants, saying that being a knight-errant, +he was obliged to give up the comfort of a bed, and would go to sleep +in the woods or some lonely field. They did their best to persuade him +to accept their hospitality--aided and abetted by the comfort-loving +Sancho--but all remonstrances were in vain, much to Sancho's regret. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +WHEREIN AN ACCOUNT IS GIVEN OF THE WEDDING OF CAMACHO THE +RICH, TOGETHER WITH THE INCIDENT OF BASILIO THE POOR + + +Sancho was still snoring when his master was up and awake the next +morning. After having soliloquized at length before the sleeping +squire, he awoke him by ticking him with his lance. Sancho smelled the +preparations for the wedding-feast, and at once was wide awake. His +master asked him to hasten and come along, and they set off on their +mounts and soon arrived at the place where the wedding was to be +celebrated. They found there an arcade erected and through this they +entered. There was being cooked and prepared enough food to feed every +one in town, and when Sancho saw all the good things, his mouth began +to water, and he could hardly control himself. As a matter of fact, he +soon succumbed to his temptations and he did not have to beg twice, +for the cooks told him that this was a day on which no one was to go +hungry, that being the wish of the rich Camacho, and they even told +him to keep the spoon. So Sancho skimmed all the pots to his heart's +content. + +Soon the musicians and dancers arrived, and these performed an +allegorical dance and play, but nothing interested Sancho as much as +the skimmings, to which he returned after having finished an argument +with his master about the relative qualities of Camacho the Rich and +the poor Basilio; Camacho being the better provider, Sancho was +decidedly in favor of him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +IN WHICH CAMACHO'S WEDDING IS CONTINUED, WITH OTHER +DELIGHTFUL INCIDENTS + + +Sancho was still eating when suddenly loud exclamations and shouts +were heard; and when he and Don Quixote looked to see what was the +matter, they found that the bride and the bridegroom, accompanied by +the priest and their relatives, were entering the arcade. They +proceeded to a platform, on which they took places, and all noticed +that the bride looked very pale. Scarcely had the bridal party seated +themselves, when a voice was heard from behind them, calling out: +"Wait a little, ye, as inconsiderate as ye are hasty!" + +All turned and perceived Basilio, poorly clad, with a crown of cypress +on his head, and carrying a staff in his hand. The staff had a sharp +end, and this he buried deep in the ground; then, pale and trembling, +he turned to the fair Quiteria and accused her of marrying Camacho +because of his wealth, though she knew she loved no one but himself, +Basilio, who was poor, and, therefore, helpless. As he nevertheless +wished them happiness, he would now remove the last obstacle to this +end. + +So saying, Basilio pulled from the staff he carried and which served +as a sheath, a rapier, upon which in another instant he had thrown +himself. There he lay on the ground, bleeding profusely, the point of +the blade appearing through his back, when his many friends came +running to give him aid. Don Quixote lifted up his head, and they +found that he was still breathing. Some one suggested that they pull +out the blade, but the priest warned them not to do that before the +poor man had been given the sacrament, as the moment the rapier was +removed, death would follow. + +Just then Basilio was heard to say in a weak voice that if he could +only be joined to his beloved one, he would die happy. The priest +cautioned him to think of his soul rather than of his body in these +last moments of his, but Basilio interrupted him stubbornly and said +he would not confess until this had been done. When Don Quixote heard +the dying man implore the priest to carry out his wish, he, too, +besought him, and added that under the circumstances Senor Camacho +could have nothing against marrying a widow of a man who had died so +gallantly and honorably as Basilio. Camacho heard all this, and when +Basilio's friends at the same time entreated him to think of the poor +man's soul, he consented; and as Quiteria, too, was compassionate, the +priest united them as man and wife, gave them his blessing with tears +in his eyes, and hoped that Heaven would receive the soul of the +wedded man. + +But the instant the ceremony was at an end, the suicide jumped to his +feet as lightly as a deer. Some began to shout that a miracle had been +performed. But Basilio was honest and confessed that he had played a +trick; and, indeed, it seemed as if the whole thing had been planned +by the two lovers, for Quiteria said that if the marriage was not +valid, she would now confirm it anew. Some of Camacho's friends became +violent and threatened the life of Basilio, but the valiant Don +Quixote did not abandon his new-found friend; he kept them all at a +distance with his lance and his sword. + +In the meantime Sancho was guarding a spot that to his mind was the +most important one there, namely where the wine-jars were standing. + +When Don Quixote had made himself respected by the followers of the +rich Camacho, he addressed them on the subject of love and war, and +held forth to them that all means to an end in these two games were +justifiable, as long as no disgrace was brought on the object of one's +love. Then he threatened to thrash any one who attempted to separate +whom God now had joined; and they were all awed by his resolute +language, not knowing who he was. Camacho showed that he was of good +mettle, however, for he invited all to remain and have a merry time, +and let the feast go on as if nothing had happened. + +But Basilio was proud, and so were his friends, and they preferred to +withdraw to Basilio's village. They were accompanied by Don Quixote, +whom they had invited as a special guest of honor because of his stout +defense of Basilio; and Sancho, of course, had to trail along, much to +his disgust, for he had looked forward to stilling his hunger for days +to come on the remnants of the rich man's wedding-feast. As he was +rocking to and fro in his seat on his faithful Dapple, he was +contemplating with a surly and melancholy countenance a glorious, but +now past day. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +WHEREIN IS RELATED THE GRAND ADVENTURE OF THE CAVE OF +MONTESINOS IN THE HEART OF LA MANCHA, WHICH THE VALIANT DON +QUIXOTE BROUGHT TO A HAPPY TERMINATION + + +Don Quixote and Sancho remained at the home of the newly married +couple for three days. Before the knight took leave of Basilio and +Quiteria, he discoursed at length on love and matrimony: a discourse +that Sancho seemed to take more to heart than they did, for when his +master had finished he was heard muttering that he wished he had had +such advice before marrying his wife. + +"Is thy Teresa so bad then, Sancho?" asked Don Quixote. + +"She is not very bad," replied the downtrodden squire, "but she is not +very good; at least she is not as good as I could wish." + +"Thou dost wrong, Sancho, to speak ill of thy wife," admonished his +master; "for after all she is the mother of thy children." + +And to this the squire answered: "We are quits, for she speaks ill of +me whenever she takes it into her head, especially when she is +jealous; and Satan himself could not put up with her then." + +Having exchanged these thoughts with his squire, Don Quixote decided +it was time to take to the open again, and he begged one of the +students who had invited him to the wedding to find him a guide to +take him to the cave of Montesinos. The student provided him with a +cousin of his own, a young scholar who was very much interested in +tales of chivalry; and, followed by the earnest prayers of those they +left behind, the three set out for the famous cave. + +Don Quixote wanted the scholar to tell him all about himself, and when +he learned, he had had books printed which were inscribed to princes, +he wanted to know what kind of books they were. When he mentioned that +he was writing one now that was to deal with the invention of customs +and things, Sancho became interested and thrust this question at him, +which he answered himself: "Tell me, Senor--and God give you luck in +printing your books!--who was the first man that scratched his head? +For to my thinking it must have been our father Adam." + +Glad to have had his supposition corroborated by so great an authority +as an author of books, Sancho was encouraged to ask numerous other +questions of the same caliber; and this helped to make the time seem +short. When night fell they had reached a little village, from where +it was only a very short distance to the cave. + +As Don Quixote was intent on discovering the cave's inmost secrets, he +provided himself with a hundred fathoms of rope, and the following +afternoon he was at the cavern, ready for the hazardous undertaking. +Don Quixote was tied to the end of the rope, and all the while Sancho +was admonishing him not to bury himself alive in the bottomless pit, +telling him that he had no business being an explorer anyway. Before +being lowered into the depths, Don Quixote commended himself to his +Lady Dulcinea and sent up a prayer to Heaven on bended knees. + +In order to enter the cave, he had to cut his way through the brush, and +as he commenced to swing his sword, a whole city of crows and bats flew +against him and knocked him to the ground. Sancho crossed himself and +kept up his vigilance over his master to the last. Finally he saw him +disappear in the coal-black depths, and then he called on all the saints +he knew by name to protect the flower and cream of knight-errantry, the +dare-devil of the earth, the heart of steel and the arm of brass. + +At last Sancho and the scholar had given Don Quixote all the hundred +fathoms of the rope, and then they got no more replies to their calls. +They waited for half an hour, and then they were afraid that the +knight was dead and decided to haul him up, Sancho weeping bitterly +all the while. But when Sancho saw his master coming up, he could not +restrain himself from being hopeful of a miracle, and he called out +gleefully: "Welcome back, Senor, for we had begun to think you were +going to stop there to found a family." + +Don Quixote did not move, however, and they laid him on the ground and +found he was fast asleep. When he came to, he was in an exalted state. +He raised his eyes toward Heaven, and asked God to forgive them for +having taken him away from such a glorious and spectacular pleasure. +But Sancho was curious to know what he had seen down there in Hell, +and he interrupted and asked the question. + +"Hell!" cried Don Quixote. "Call it by no such name, for it does not +deserve it." + +Then he asked for something to eat, and Sancho put before him an +abundance of food, since he said he was very hungry. When he had +eaten, he asked them to sit still and listen to his story. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THE INCOMPARABLE DON QUIXOTE SAID HE +SAW IN THE PROFOUND CAVE OF MONTESINOS, THE IMPOSSIBILITY +AND MAGNITUDE OF WHICH CAUSE THIS ADVENTURE TO BE APOCRYPHAL + + +When he was being hoisted down, Don Quixote said, he had suddenly +landed on a precipice which led to a cave within the cave, large +enough to hold a team of mules and a cart. There, he claimed, he fell +asleep, only to wake and find himself in a beautiful field, from where +he had gone on a regular sightseeing trip, visiting the most wonderful +castles and palaces, and meeting with the most exalted personages. +Among these was no other than the enchanted Montesinos himself. He had +taken Don Quixote into his own palace, built of crystal and alabaster, +and shown him the tomb of his friend Durandarte, who lay there in his +enchantment, with his hairy hand over his heart. Don Quixote had asked +whether it were indeed true that he, Montesinos, had cut out the heart +of his dead friend, as the story had told, and brought it to his +Lady Belerma, and Montesinos had nodded in affirmation. + +Suddenly they had heard the poor dead knight moan in the most +heartrending way, and he had asked Montesinos again and again whether +he had done as he had bade him and carried his heart to his Lady +Belerma in France. Montesinos had fallen on his knees and had assured +his cousin with tearful eyes that as soon as he had died he had cut +out his heart with a poniard, dried it with a lace handkerchief as +well as he could, and then departed to see his Lady. At the first +village he had come to in France, he had stopped to sprinkle some salt +on it to keep it fresh, and had given it to the Lady Belerma, who was +now also enchanted in this cave. + +Don Quixote continued his tale. The enchanter, the sage Merlin, so +Montesinos had said, had prophesied that he, Don Quixote, reviver of +knight-errantry, was to be the one to disenchant them all. He and +Montesinos had almost come to blows, however, when the latter had +inferred that during her enchantment the Lady Belerma had developed +large circles under her eyes, and that if it had not been for these +her beauty would have surpassed even that of the famous Lady Dulcinea +of El Toboso. But Montesinos was courteous enough to apologize and +acknowledge the truth of the proverb which says that comparisons are +odious. + +Sancho and the young author of books had some difficulty in persuading +themselves that all these things had happened in so short a time, for +Don Quixote had only been gone about an hour; but Don Quixote, hearing +this, insisted that he had been absent three days and three nights. +Then he proceeded to tell how he had felt no hunger whatever, that +none down there ever ate, and that the enchanted never slept; he +admitted, however, that their nails, hair, and beards grew. + +When Sancho heard all this he asked to be forgiven by God for saying +he thought his master was lying, but the next moment he had retracted +it, and when his master asked what he really meant, he said he did not +know. + +There was one thing that had happened to our knight in the cave, +which caused him infinite pain; he had met one of the enchanted +ladies-in-waiting to his Lady Dulcinea, and she had told him in +confidence that his beloved one wanted to borrow six reals on a +petticoat which she had bought. He gave her all that he had, +which amounted to only four reals, and she gave him in exchange +her lady's blessing, saying that with it went many kisses. As +she left him, he said, she had cut a caper and had sprung fully +two yards into the air. + +"O blessed God," cried Sancho, "is it possible that enchantments can +have such power as to have changed my master's right senses into a +craze so full of absurdity? O Senor, Senor, consider yourself! Have a +care for your honor, and give no credit to this silly stuff that has +left you scant and short of wits." + +"Thou talkest in this way because thou lovest me, Sancho," said Don +Quixote; and he ascribed his squire's incredulity to a lack of +knowledge of the world and assured him that when the time came he +would tell him even more that took place in the cave, which would +make him believe what he now doubted. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +WHEREIN ARE RELATED SOME TRIFLING MATTERS, AS TRIVIAL +AS THEY ARE NECESSARY TO THE RIGHT UNDERSTANDING OF +THIS GREAT HISTORY + + +The scholar was surprised that Don Quixote permitted his servant to talk +to him in this way, but ascribed his lenience to the good mood he was in. +After having whiled away still another hour talking pleasantly, they +proceeded to find a place where they might spend the night. The scholar +knew of a hermitage not very far off; and on their way there they +encountered a man with a mule that was loaded with halberds and lances. +Don Quixote was curious to know where he was taking the weapons, but the +man answered that he was in great haste to reach the inn beyond the +hermitage. He would spend the night at this inn, he said, and if they +happened to be there too, he would tell them some things that were both +interesting and curious. Don Quixote was so inquisitive that he decided +to pass by the hermitage and go to the inn instead. + +Just before coming to the inn, they met a happy looking lad of +eighteen or nineteen, who carried a sword over his shoulder and a +bundle on his back. Don Quixote stopped him and asked where he was +going; and the lad replied that he was going to war for his king. He +told the knight how he had been in the service of office-seekers and +adventurers in Madrid until he had tired of such a life; and this +pleased Don Quixote so much that he invited him to sit behind him on +Rocinante and ride with him to the inn to sup with him. But the page, +seeing the leanness of the knight's steed, said he preferred to walk, +though he was glad to accept the invitation for supper. + +As soon as they had arrived at the inn, Don Quixote asked the landlord +for the man with the lances and halberds; and Sancho was happy to know +that his master took this inn for an inn and not for an enchanted +castle. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +WHEREIN IS SET DOWN THE BRAYING ADVENTURE, AND THE DROLL +ONE OF THE PUPPET-SHOWMEN, TOGETHER WITH THE MEMORABLE +DIVINATIONS OF THE DIVINING APE + + +Don Quixote found the man with the arms feeding his mule in the +stable, and he asked the knight to accompany him to a quiet nook when +he had finished this duty to his beast. But Don Quixote's curiosity +knew no bounds, and he offered to help him sift the barley so that he +might begin his story at once. Being a good-natured fellow, the man +acquiesced. He related how a magistrate in his village, which was four +leagues and a half away, had lost a donkey through the carelessness of +a servant. Some weeks later another magistrate of the same village +was hunting in the woods, and when he returned he brought word to his +fellow officer that he had come across the lost beast but that he was +now so wild that no one could approach him. He suggested, however, +that they go together in search for him; and they developed a plan +whereby they thought they should surely be able to capture the animal. +Both of them were expert in braying, and they decided to place +themselves at different ends of the forest, each one braying at +intervals. In this way they thought they should be able to round up +the donkey, for they were certain that he would answer their calls. + +But it so happened that both of them brayed at the same time, and when +they ran to look, convinced that the donkey had turned up, they found +not the ass but only each other, so naturally had they brayed. They +tried the same scheme again and again, but every time with the same +result; and at last they came in this way to a place in the woods +where they found the dead donkey devoured by wolves. + +The story of the two magistrates going about in the forest braying to +each other like asses soon spread to the villages in the county; and +in one village in particular the habit of braying whenever they +observed any one from the village of the braying magistrates took such +root that it was decided to teach them a lesson by taking arms against +them. The arms he carried with him now, he said, were to be used +against these scoffers, that they might never again behave like asses. + +He had just finished his story when some one entered and cried out +that the show of _The Release of Melisendra_ and the divining ape +were coming to the inn, and a minute later Master Pedro himself came +into the yard, where he was greeted by the landlord and all the +guests. Master Pedro's one eye was covered by a piece of green silk; +Don Quixote judged by this that something had befallen him by +accident. He asked the landlord to tell him all he knew of Master +Pedro, and he learned that he traveled with his puppet-show from town +to town, and was greatly renowned throughout the provinces as a +showman. And the ape, the innkeeper said, was like a human being, so +clever was he, and wise. + +Soon the show was in readiness inside, and every one gathered around +Master Pedro and his divining ape. Don Quixote and Sancho were eager +to have their fortunes told, and both offered their reals at the same +time; but Master Pedro refused to take any money until the ape had +rendered satisfactory service. + +The ape jumped up on his master's shoulder, and began to chatter his +teeth as if he were saying something, all the while keeping his mouth +close to Master Pedro's ear. When he had been chattering long enough +to please himself, he jumped down just as quickly as he had jumped up. +The next instant Don Quixote and Sancho were both frightened and awed +by the showman's suddenly throwing himself before Don Quixote's feet +and embracing his legs, while he exclaimed: "These legs do I embrace +as I would embrace the two pillars of Hercules, O illustrious reviver +of knight-errantry, O prop of the tottering, so long consigned to +oblivion!" But not only were the knight and the squire aghast; the +landlord and the guests were as startled as they were, for they had +never seen Master Pedro act like that before. + +But the showman had not finished, for in the next moment he lay at the +feet of Sancho, to whom the divining ape brought cheer from his +Teresa, saying that she was just soothing her feelings by indulging in +wine from a pitcher which she was holding in her left hand and that +had a broken spout. + +Don Quixote was not very well pleased with this exhibition, for he +thought it decidedly out of place that an ape should know more than he +or any other human being; and he confided to Sancho that the ape was +possessed by the devil. He brought Sancho to a dark corner in the +stable where he was sure no one could overhear them, and told him +there that he was convinced Master Pedro had made a bargain with the +devil to get rich through the ape, and then sell him his soul, and he +said it surprised him beyond words that the Holy Office had not +already interfered with this dastardly scheme. + +At this point Master Pedro came in search of Don Quixote, as the show +was about to begin. Before entering the inn, however, Sancho entreated +his master to ask the ape whether what he saw in the cave of +Montesinos was true. Don Quixote did so, and the ape answered that +some of it was true, some of it was not; and immediately Sancho +scornfully broke in and said that he had told him so already. The ape +intimated that by next Friday he should be able to tell more about the +adventure; his mind was tired now. + +They entered and found the stage set for the performance; the tapers +of wax were lit, it was a bright and beautiful scene. Master Pedro +disappeared and took his place behind the scenes, for he was the one +who created the life in the puppets. A lad who acted as interpreter, +calling out the scenes and describing the action of the play, placed +himself outside the theater. Don Quixote, Sancho, the page, and the +scholar seated themselves in the front row; and the show began. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE DROLL ADVENTURE OF THE +PUPPET-SHOWMAN, TOGETHER WITH OTHER THINGS IN TRUTH +RIGHT GOOD + + +The play, which depicted how Melisendra was released by her husband, +Senor Don Gaiferos, from the hands of the Moors in the city of +Sansuena, now called Saragossa, had only proceeded a short way when +Don Quixote became impatient with the young man who was making the +explanations to the audience. The knight thought he drifted into +unnecessary and superfluous language, and was quick to reprimand him. +The show was continued, and again Don Quixote broke in, criticising +some of the stage effects: bells were never used by the Moors, only +kettledrums, he said. But here Master Pedro begged him not to be so +particular, pleading that the show was given for the sake of +amusement. + +Don Quixote acceded, and the show began again. + +But it was not long before a number of horsemen were galloping across the +stage in pursuit of the two lovers. Their escape was accompanied by such +blowing of horns and trumpets and beating of drums, that the noise and +din of it all were too much for the poor knight's imagination which was +now stirred to such a pitch that he believed himself in the midst of a +real battle. He drew his sword and plunged against the Moorish horseman +with such vehemence and force, cutting and slashing in all directions, +that every one in the room was aghast at his madness, and ran to hide in +safety. Master Pedro came within an inch of having his ear, not to say +his whole head, cut off, and Don Quixote's fury was not at an end until +he had decapitated all the Moorish pasteboard figures. Lucky it was that +no blood could flow from them, or there would have been a plentiful +stream of it. The ape took refuge on the roof, frightened out of his poor +wits, and even Sancho Panza was more than ordinarily shaken with fear, +for he admitted that he had never seen his master so wrought up. + +When Don Quixote was certain of complete victory--in other words, +destruction--he turned and addressed those who had dared to return +after the storm: "I wish I had here before me now all those who do not +or will not believe how useful knights errant are in the world. Just +think, if I had not been here present, what would have become of the +brave Don Gaiferos and the fair Melisendra!" + +But Master Pedro was lamenting the loss of all his emperors and kings +and knights and horses, and Sancho was so touched by what he said it +would cost him to buy a new show, that he pleaded with his master to +make restitution; and, although Don Quixote could not see that he had +done any wrong, he generously ordered his squire to pay Master Pedro +the sum of forty reals and three quarters, the landlord having duly +functioned as arbiter and agreed that that was a fair price for the +damage done to the figures. Besides this amount, Master Pedro was +allotted two reals for his trouble in catching the ape. + +While they were summing up, Don Quixote, however, had only one thought +in his mind. He was wondering whether Melisendra and her husband had +reached safety by this time: so possessed was he of his infernal +imagination. Master Pedro promised him that as soon as he had caught +his ape, he would put the question to him; and the showman began to +worry about his African companion, hoping that he would soon be +hungry, for then he would know whether he was still alive. + +The rest of the evening was passed in peace, and drinking at Don +Quixote's expense, and soon it was morning, and the man with the +halberds took his departure. The scholar and the page left, too, and +Don Quixote generously gave the page twelve reals. But the first one +to depart was the showman: he was afraid that the knight might have +another outbreak, and he had no desire to experience it twice, and +perhaps lose his ape, which he had now caught. + +The landlord was extremely pleased with Don Quixote's generosity, and +was sorry to see him depart; but his madness he could make neither +head nor tail of, for he had never seen any one thus afflicted. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +WHEREIN IT IS SHOWN WHO MASTER PEDRO AND HIS APE WERE, +TOGETHER WITH THE MISHAP DON QUIXOTE HAD IN THE BRAYING +ADVENTURE, WHICH HE DID NOT CONCLUDE AS HE WOULD HAVE LIKED +OR AS HE HAD EXPECTED + + +It was no doubt a good thing for Master Pedro of the puppet-show that +neither Sancho nor Don Quixote recognized in him the thief who stole +the squire's donkey, when he was asleep; for he it was. None other +than the galley-slave Gines de Pasamonte, or Don Ginesillo de +Paropilla, as Don Quixote would have it. It was in the guise of a +showman, with only one eye and a part of his face visible, that he +found it an easy matter to evade being caught by the servants of the +law, who had been hunting for him ever since he was liberated through +the generosity and bravery of Don Quixote. The ape he had bought from +some captives who had returned from Barbary; and he had soon taught +him the tricks which made people think he was really divining things. +Before entering a village the clever galley-slave would learn all he +could about its inhabitants; and being blessed with a remarkable +memory, he seldom had any difficulty in making the ape's feat seem +impressive to the masses. + +Now, when Don Quixote left the inn, it suddenly occurred to him that +he ought to visit the banks of the Ebro before steering towards +Saragossa. So he kept on the road for two days, and on the third day +as he was mounting a hill he was suddenly aroused by hearing a +tremendous din of drums, mixed with the sound of trumpets and +musket-shots. In as few instants as it took to make his charger ascend +to the top of the hill, he was there; and he saw several hundred men, +armed with weapons of every imaginable sort. There were flags, of +various descriptions, and among them one in particular attracted his +attention: it was a large standard in white, on which was painted a +donkey, and also an inscription, reading thus: + + They did not bray in vain, + Our alcaldes twain. + +This made Don Quixote believe the warriors must be from the braying +town, and he remarked to Sancho that the man to whom they had talked +at the inn must have been misinformed, for evidently the two had not +been magistrates but alcaldes, according to the sign. To this Sancho +replied that having once been a magistrate should not exclude any one +from becoming an alcalde; besides, somebody must have brayed, and +whether it was an alcalde or a magistrate mattered little, he thought. +Don Quixote, however, was in a quandary as to what to do that he might +best live up to the laws of knight-errantry. + +He finally went to the braying ones, and, having begged their leave to +address them, he began a stirring discourse on war and peace that +lasted a considerable time. He flayed those who would go into battle +for trifling matters; but just when he seemed to be about to win the +braying ones over to his way of thinking, he had to pause for breath. + +Sancho thought it his duty to interrupt the silence and take up the +broken thread here, so he continued in his own way, keeping more or +less to the same subject. He started in by praising his master--the +Knight of the Lions!--his bravery, his generosity, his knowledge of +Latin (which Sancho unfortunately did not understand), and all his +other virtues, and suddenly he bellowed out that they were fools to +take offense at hearing some one bray. Then he became reminiscent and +related how he as a boy used to like to go about braying, and told how +envious every one in his village was because of his great gift in that +direction. "Wait a bit and listen!" said he. "I'll show you!" And +before his master had a chance to stop him, he had pinched his nose +and brayed--had brayed such a bray that all the valleys and dales gave +echo. + +When some of the men heard the braying they thought he had come there +to mock them, and they set upon him with such fury and force that Don +Quixote, though he did his best to defend him, had to spur Rocinante +into retreat, in order to save his own life. But Sancho was both +stoned and pummeled into insensibility, and then he was put on his +donkey and tied there; and when he came to, he had to put his trust in +Dapple, who was forced to smell his way back to Rocinante. + +The braying troops remained in the field until evening, but since no +opposing army appeared, they returned to their village after dark. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +OF MATTERS THAT BENENGELI SAYS HE WHO READS THEM WILL KNOW, +IF HE READS THEM WITH ATTENTION + + +When Dapple reached his faithful playmate, Rocinante, Sancho fell from +his back and rolled at his master's feet. There he lay; but Don +Quixote was angry and showed no compassion. + +"In an evil hour didst thou take to braying, Sancho! Where hast thou +learned that it is well done to mention the rope in the house of the +man that has been hanged? To the music of brays what harmonies couldst +thou expect to get but cudgels?" + +Having thus reprimanded his squire, the good knight looked to his +wounds, which Sancho complained of, but found him only discolored. + +"I feel as if I was speaking through my shoulders," wailed Sancho; and +then he begged his master to hasten away from such evil premises. Of +course, he also had to say something scornful about Don Quixote's +having abandoned him in the heat of battle; but the knight begged him +to consider that there was a difference between flying and retiring. + +Don Quixote succeeded in making Sancho mount and remain on the donkey's +back, and then they set off toward a grove which they sighted in the +distance. Sancho's back pained him fearfully, but he was much relieved +when he learned from his master--who had seen the accident--that it was +caused by his having been smitten by a man armed with a staff. The cause +being removed as it were, Sancho was jubilant, although his heart and +courage fell as soon as he, in the course of his usual chattering, +touched upon the subject of knight-errantry. While bewailing his fate, he +forgot his pain; therefore Don Quixote was generous and Christian enough +to beg him to keep on talking to himself. Sancho suddenly was reminded of +his island, and in turn reminded his master of his promise concerning it. + +This impertinence was rewarded by the knight's demanding of him: +"Well, how long is it, Sancho, since I promised thee an island?" + +And Sancho retorted innocently: "If I remember rightly, it must be +over twenty years, three days more or less." + +Don Quixote then had to laugh, for it would have been ridiculous not +to do so. His wrath was aroused, however, when Sancho again showed his +covetousness--his one really great failing, Don Quixote thought--and +he told him to keep all the money he had, and betake himself back to +his Teresa. + +Sancho was moved to tears by his master's wrath, and he confessed in a +broken voice that if he had only had a tail he would have been a +complete ass himself. But, he said, if his master should care to +attach one to him, he would willingly wear one, and serve him all his +life as an ass. Then he asked on bended knees to be forgiven, saying +that if he talked much it was less from malice than from ignorance, +and finished up his harangue with a proverb that had nothing whatever +to do with the rest of his discourse. + +So Don Quixote forgave his squire, and by that time they had reached +the grove, and they spent the night there under the trees: Don Quixote +in soliloquies and meditation, Sancho in pain and restlessness. In the +morning they continued on their way to find the river Ebro. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +OF THE FAMOUS ADVENTURE OF THE ENCHANTED BARK + + +It took them two days to reach the river. The very first thing that +struck the knight's eye when he got there, was a boat without oars, +tied to a tree. Immediately Don Quixote insisted that the boat had +been sent by magic to fetch him to some great knight or other person +in need of his help; and all Sancho's contradictions were fruitless. + +Finally the proverb, "Do as thy master bids thee, and sit down to +table with him," had its effect on Sancho, and, although certain he +was about to give up his life, he tied the beasts to a tree on the +bank, and seated himself in the boat, trembling like a leaf. Then the +knight cut the rope, and they started to drift out into the stream, +while Dapple was braying and Rocinante was trying to break away and +plunge in after them. Seeing this, Sancho began to weep convulsively, +but his master had no patience with him, and told him to control +himself. + +Soon they had reached midstream, and Don Quixote, much to Sancho's +perplexity, began to talk about cosmography, the three hundred and +sixty degrees of the globe, and the equinoctial line, which, the +knight said, they were just then passing. A sure sign by which all +seafaring Spaniards determined the passing of this latitude, Don +Quixote went on, was that all lice died on everybody on board ship. +So, in accordance with this custom, he asked his squire to take the +test. Sancho let his hand creep stealthily into the hollow of his left +knee, and he promptly told his master that either was the test not to +be relied upon, or they had not passed the line that had just been +mentioned by name. + +"Why, how so?" asked Don Quixote; "hast thou come upon aught?" + +"Ay, and aughts," replied Sancho, and in replying he let the stream +wash his fingers. + +Just then they came in view of some large floating mills, moored in +midstream. At once Don Quixote became excited, crying to Sancho that +there must be some fair princess or high-born lady in captivity in +this castle. + +Sancho did his best to make his master believe they were not castles +but only mills that ground corn; but to no avail. Don Quixote insisted +that either his squire or the mills were enchanted. They came closer +and closer to them, and soon shouts were heard from some of the +millers, who realized the danger of the boat's being upset by the +suction of the water, and dragged into the mill wheels. + +The men quickly got hold of some sticks and poles, and tried to stave +off the boat, and when Don Quixote saw their white, flour-covered +faces he turned to Sancho and begged him to take a good look at the +monsters that had been sent to oppose him. The men were all the time +crying out, unable to fathom such dare-deviltry or folly: "Devils of +men, where are you going to? Are you mad? Do you want to drown +yourselves, or dash yourselves to pieces among these wheels?" + +In reply to these well-meant exclamations, Don Quixote stood up in the +boat and began to swing his sword in a ferocious manner, calling them +evil rabble, and demanding that they set free the princess who was +imprisoned in the fortress; while Sancho said all the prayers he could +think of, crawling on the bottom of the swaying boat, which was now +close to the rushing water. + +At last the millers caught the boat with their hooks, but in so doing +Don Quixote and his squire both fell into the river. Don Quixote in +his heavy armor made two trips to the bottom, but both he and Sancho +were rescued, thanks to the devils in white. As soon as they had come +ashore, Sancho sank upon his knees and thanked the Lord for having +been saved from such a death as that from drinking too much water, and +prayed that he should be delivered from all future temptations to risk +his life in any more foolish causes. + +As this moment the fishermen who owned the boat came running up, +claiming damages for the wrecked craft, and after having failed to +strike a bargain with this rabble for the delivery of the enchanted +fair maiden in the castle, Don Quixote, wearied by their stupidity, +paid them fifty reals for the boat, exclaiming: "God help us, this +world is all machinations and schemes at cross purposes one with the +other! I can do no more." Then, turning toward the water mills, he +burst out into lamentations, confessing to the imagined captive +princess his inability to set her free at this time; while the +fishermen stood by, wondering what it was all about. + +Having ceased his lamentations, Don Quixote and Sancho joined their +faithful beasts, and set out to find new adventures. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +OF DON QUIXOTE'S ADVENTURE WITH A FAIR HUNTRESS + + +Sancho left the river Ebro with no regrets, except for the fifty reals +just paid to the fishermen. He was seriously considering in his own +mind the foolishness of remaining a squire to such a mad master as +his. But late the following afternoon they approached a field, and +suddenly Don Quixote discovered in the distance a number of people, +and as they came closer they found it was a hawking party. + +Seeing in the party a lady with a hawk on her left hand, and dressed +so richly that Sancho said he had never seen anything so fine in his +life, Don Quixote decided that she must be some lady of great +distinction. Therefore he dispatched his squire with a message to her, +asking her for permission to kiss her hand in person. He instructed +Sancho to be particularly careful not to dispense any of his proverbs +to the lady; but Sancho said he could do without this warning, for had +he not carried messages before to the exalted Dulcinea, the highest +lady of them all? + +Soon Don Quixote saw his squire kneeling before the lady. Having given +her his life's history and told her his name, Sancho proceeded with +the message of his master, the valiant Knight of the Lions, formerly +the Knight of the Rueful Countenance, explicitly explaining his +master's modest desire. The lady, who was no other than a duchess, at +once was interested, as she had read and laughed over the first volume +of "The Ingenious Gentleman, Don Quixote of La Mancha"; and she +immediately asked Sancho to return to his master and say that she +would be delighted beyond words to have the worthy knight and his +squire come and be her and the Duke's guests at a country place they +had there. + +Sancho was so flattered that the Duchess had recognized him from +having read the book, and so pleased with the reception she had given +him, as well as so taken by her great charm and beauty that he could +not get back to his master quickly enough to tell him the good news. +With his best manner and bearing Don Quixote, attended by his faithful +one, rode into the presence of the august lady, and kissed her hand. + +But while Sancho was on his way to his master with the Duchess' +message, she had sent for the Duke, and they had arranged, both being +gifted with a remarkable sense of humor, to receive and entertain the +hero in true knight-errant fashion. Having read all the tales of +chivalry, they knew exactly what to do. + +Don Quixote was about to dismount, when he had kissed the Duchess' +hand; and Sancho, as was his custom, wanted to get off Dapple in a +hurry and hold his stirrup, as soon as he perceived his master's +intention. But luck would have it that one of his legs caught in the +trappings, and he fell head first towards the ground. There the poor +squire hung, unable to get up or down, caught by the foot. Now, when +Don Quixote, his eyes fixedly and courteously on the Duchess, thought +that his squire was there with the stirrup, he pressed downward with +all his weight, and knight and saddle both flew high in the air off +Rocinante. When Don Quixote had reached earth, he lay there, writhing +in pain and cursing and swearing at his stupid squire, who was still +hanging by his foot. + +The Duke and the Duchess, unable to constrain themselves at the +amusing scene, finally were able through their laughter to order their +huntsmen to their help; and, limping, the knight advanced to do homage +to the Duke and his consort on his damaged knees. The Duke, however, +nobly refused such honor, and instead, embraced the knight. He then +regretted in a few well chosen words the knight's accident; but Don +Quixote replied with an exalted speech, saying that if he had fallen +to the depths of the bottomless pit, the glory of having seen such a +noble and worthy pair would have lifted him up. Then, of course, he +said something uncomplimentary about his squire, who did not know how +to tighten the girths of a saddle, although he could not help giving +him credit for having a loose tongue. + +But when the knight began to praise the beauty of the Duchess, the +Duke asked him courteously whether there were not others to praise, +as, for instance, his own Lady Dulcinea. At this Don Quixote offered +the Duchess his services for a few days, together with those of his +squire, Sancho Panza, whom he now took pity on and praised as being +the drollest squire in the world. Whereupon the Duchess flattered +Sancho, saying that if he were droll, she was sure he was shrewd as +well; but Don Quixote broke in and added that he was talkative. When +the knight, having heard himself addressed as the Knight of the Rueful +Countenance, begged to correct it to the Knight of the Lions, the Duke +asked him to relate the episode that thus changed his title. And then +he invited all to come to the castle to be present at a reception that +he would give to their great and distinguished guest. + +With the Duchess in the middle, flanked by Don Quixote and the Duke, +the whole company headed for the castle; but it was not long before +the Duchess found her desire for conversation with the droll and +amusing Sancho irresistible. As soon as the Duchess' wish was made +known to him, the squire eagerly wedged his way between the horses and +chattered his way into the lady's good graces. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +WHICH TREATS OF MANY AND GREAT MATTERS + + +The reception tendered Don Quixote was arranged in true knight-errant +fashion by the Duke, who had ridden ahead and given full instructions +to the servants. So when Don Quixote arrived, he received a welcome +that surpassed anything he had ever read or dreamt of. + +The staircases and the galleries of the court were lined with +servants, who greeted him with the exclamation: "Welcome, flower and +cream of knight-errantry!" At the same time they cast pellets with +scented water over him. + +Sancho was taken aback at the sight of all this glory. He had followed +the Duchess, but once in the castle, the absence of his Dapple made +him feel worried. So he turned to one of the duennas, a dignified +woman, named Dona Rodriguez de Grijalba, and asked her whether she +would not favor him by going outside and seeing that his poor little +Dapple was well taken care of. Dona Rodriguez was greatly incensed at +his ordering a duenna of the ducal household to do things of that +sort, and called him a garlic-stuffed scoundrel. Don Quixote, +overhearing their conversation, reprimanded his misbehaving servant, +and Sancho blamed it all on his love for his donkey. + +After this, Don Quixote was escorted into a hall the walls of which +were covered with cloth of gold and rich tapestries, and here he was +stripped of his armor by six fair damsels. These maidens could +scarcely control their laughter when they saw him stand there, thin, +emaciated, tall and bony, dressed in his chamois doublet and +tight-fitting breeches. They begged him to permit them to put a clean +shirt on him, but that he refused with many assurances of his modesty, +asking them instead to give it to Sancho. The two were taken to a +room, where Don Quixote, alone with his squire, undressed and put on +the shirt, while he gave Sancho admonitions galore, as to how to +behave, begging him never again to have any quarrels with any +duennas, for that only tended to lessen the respect for the master, +who was always judged by his squire's behavior and actions. + +Then Don Quixote returned to the hall, where he was attired in a rich +baldric and a scarlet mantle, with a sword and a gorgeous montera of +green satin. As he passed through the halls and chambers on his way to +the state dining room, he was escorted by the seneschal and twelve +pages; and the sides of each room, as well as the aisles, were lined +with servants in pompous liveries. + +Only four covers were laid. Besides Don Quixote and his noble hosts +the confessor of the ducal household, a cold and austere churchman, +occupied a seat at the heavily laden table, to which our knight was +ushered ceremoniously by the Duke himself. But the dinner had not even +begun when Sancho unloosened his tongue and began with his proverbs, +much to the distress and mortification of his master, although to the +great enjoyment of the Duchess. Sancho had been standing by Don +Quixote, staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed at everything that was +taking place, for he had never in his life seen anything so sumptuous +and ceremonious. The exchange of courtesies between the Duke and our +Knight, when the latter finally was induced to accept the seat of +honor at the head of the table, impressed the squire considerably; and +it was then he thought the time ripe for the introduction of a story +about this matter of seats. The Duchess told him by all means to let +them hear it, and he began, telling it in the most roundabout way, +with twists and curves, and expeditions here and there to places and +matters that had as much to do with the story as had the proverbs +that he stuffed it with. + +Don Quixote was beside himself, and the confessor interrupted the poor +squire impatiently again and again; but on he went. All the while the +Duchess was laughing so heartily that she could scarcely sit up +straight in the chair. And while the Duke engaged himself with Don +Quixote, she carried on a confidential conversation with Sancho, who +told her how he had tricked his master into believing that his Lady +Dulcinea was enchanted, saying she was as much enchanted as his +father. + +When the confessor heard the sacrilegious conversation the Duchess was +having with Sancho, discussing giants and enchantments, he severely +reprimanded her and warned her that she would have to answer to God +for whatever this man did and said. Then, addressing the Duke, whom he +had forbidden to read the book about Don Quixote's adventures, he +said: "This Don Simpleton, or whatever his name is, cannot be such a +blockhead as your Excellency would have him, holding out encouragement +to him to go on with his vagaries and follies." And then he turned to +Don Quixote and told him to be on his way, and go home and bring up +his children, if he had any; and he called him a numbskull, and other +names, and a fool for believing that there were knights-errant in the +world and Dulcineas and other such silly things. + +Don Quixote sat still and never moved a muscle while the churchman was +speaking, but as soon as he had said all he had to say, he sprang up +from his seat, trembling in his whole body, his face contorted with +rage. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +OF THE REPLY DON QUIXOTE GAVE HIS CENSURER, WITH OTHER +INCIDENTS, GRAVE AND DROLL + + +Had Don Quixote not been where he was and had the man who thus +assailed him not been of the church, it is safe to say that Don +Quixote would have made his defamer retract his words at the point of +his sword. But instead he calmed himself, and began a long discourse +on the virtues of knight-errantry, finishing it with an avowal of his +intentions which, he swore, were to do good to all and evil to none. +As for his deserving to be called a fool, he would leave that to the +judgment of the Duke and the Duchess. But their worships never got a +chance to utter a word before Sancho broke in with the most stupendous +praise of his master's speech. + +The churchman wanted to know whether he was the Sancho Panza of the +book he had seen in print, to which Sancho replied that he most +certainly was, and corroborated it with a string of proverbs, ending +his long-winded reply to the confessor's question with a wish for long +life for his master and himself, saying that neither one of them would +be in any want of empires or islands to rule. Whereupon the Duke at +once said he conferred upon Sancho this very moment the government of +one of his islands; and hearing this Don Quixote whispered to +Sancho--who could not believe his own ears--to go down on his knees +and thank the Duke for his kindness. + +The ecclesiastic could stand this impudence no longer, and he rose +from his seat and left the room in disgust and ill-temper. The Duke +wanted to call him back, but he was in such hysterics from hearing +Sancho's proverbial nonsense that he could not speak. After the +churchman's departure Don Quixote again took to discoursing, and +delivered a tirade on the subject of giving and taking offense, +comparing the confessor's rebuke to the offense of a woman, whose only +weapon was her tongue and who therefore could not be punished by the +sword. They marveled at his knowledge and at the quality of his +language, however amusing he himself appeared; but it was Sancho who +particularly took their fancy, for the ducal pair thought they had +never met any one quite so amusing and droll in all their life. And +when Don Quixote had ended his discourse, Sancho himself burst out +regarding the priest: "By my faith, I am certain if Reinaldos of +Montalvan had heard the little man's words, he would have given him +such a spank on the mouth that he would not have spoken for the next +three years." + +The dinner was now over, and four maidens entered: one carrying a +silver basin, another one a jug, also of silver, a third one towels, +while the fourth had her sleeves rolled up, and, approaching Don +Quixote, began to soap his face and beard. Don Quixote thought this +must be a custom after all ducal meals, so he submitted in amazement +and stretched out his legs comfortably, that he should not appear out +of place in such surroundings. When his face was all lathered, the +barber maiden pretended there was no more water in the jug; and by +this time the lather had worked its way into the knight's eyes, and he +sat there making the most fierce and ludicrous faces until the water +finally arrived. Then the Duke, in order that Don Quixote should have +no suspicions, ordered the maiden to wash his face and beard as well. +But the one who really was crying for and needing such a washing was +Sancho. He at last got up sufficient courage to ask the Duchess that +he might share in the ceremony, and she promised him that if necessary +the maidens would even put him in the bathtub. This kind offer Sancho +declined--with many thanks, however--saying he would be just as +grateful for having only his beard washed. + +While Sancho went with the seneschal to have this attended to, Don +Quixote lingered at the table with the Duke and the Duchess. The +latter was anxious to have the hero tell her something about his Lady +Dulcinea; and Don Quixote became reminiscent and began to sigh, +telling her in exalted and flowery language of his great platonic love +for this lady, who was now enchanted by some evil sage. When the +Duchess asked Don Quixote if it were true that she was only an +imaginary figure, he replied meekly that there was a good deal to be +said on that point; still, he thought, one must not go to extreme +lengths in asking for proof. They discussed many other things, not +forgetting Sancho, whom his master praised for his drollery and +criticised for being a booby. + +Suddenly a great noise was heard and the next moment Sancho burst +into the room trembling with rage. He was followed by some of the +servants in the kitchen. Round his neck was a straining cloth, and +dirty lather was splashed in various places over his person. He +presented an appearance that at once made the Duchess scream with +laughter. He proceeded to tell how he had been set upon by the +kitchen-boy, who had been appointed barber by the rest, and how the +lad had attempted to lather his face with kitchen soap and dishwater, +applied with a scrubbing-brush. Don Quixote thought it best here to +make the servants understand that he would tolerate no such jokes on +his squire, so he addressed them in severe fashion and then ordered +them back to the kitchen, with the Duchess' kind consent. + +When the servants had left Sancho thought it a duty to himself and his +master--in order to uphold their mutual dignity and for the sake of +freeing himself from any untoward suspicion--to speak on his own +behalf: "Let them bring a comb here and curry this beard of mine, and +if they get anything out of it that offends against cleanliness, let +them clip me to the skin." And when the Duchess had acknowledged her +faith in Sancho and his virtues, the poor squire's happiness knew no +bounds. He offered to serve her for the rest of his life. He wished +that he might soon be dubbed a knight that he might carry out his +desire on that point. She thanked him for expressing such a friendly +feeling for her, and told him that she could plainly judge by his +courteous offer to her that he had been reared in no other school than +that of the great knight Don Quixote of La Mancha. And she assured +him that the Duke would not forget the island he had promised him: she +would see to that. + +Don Quixote was now feeling the necessity for his mid-day nap, and +begged to be permitted to retire. Sancho wanted to do the same, and +remarked to the Duchess that he usually slept about four or five hours +in the middle of a warm summer day; but upon her earnest request he +promised her to try to wake up after an hour and come and visit with +her and her duennas. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +OF THE DELECTABLE DISCOURSE WHICH THE DUCHESS AND HER +DAMSELS HELD WITH SANCHO PANZA, WELL WORTH READING AND +NOTING + + +As soon as Sancho had eaten his dinner, he decided to have no sleep +that afternoon, but to hasten to the Duchess' chambers that he might +talk to her the whole afternoon. The Duchess asked him innumerable +questions about his master and the Lady Dulcinea, and about Teresa +Panza and every one concerned in the book about Don Quixote; and +Sancho managed to keep the Duchess and her duennas in an uncommonly +good humor for the rest of the day. They soon drifted to Sancho's +government, and the squire expressed the belief that perhaps after a +fortnight he would be as well versed in the affairs of government as +he was in the farm labor he had been doing all his life. + +"Let them only put me into this government and they will see wonders," +he said; "for one who has been a good squire will be a good governor." + +And then he took leave of the high lady, who suggested that he go home +and sleep for the rest of the afternoon. He promised that he would, +and entreated her to see to it that good care was taken of his Dapple. +When he had explained to the Duchess that Dapple was his faithful +donkey, and told her of the incident with Dona Rodriguez, she assured +him that Dapple would want for nothing in her stable. She suggested +that when he had his government in hand, he ought to pension Dapple +off and let him quit working; and Sancho thought that was by no means +a bad idea, for, he said, he would not be the first ass to be so +pensioned. + +The Duchess, when he had left, hastened to tell the Duke of her +amusing conversation with Sancho; and again they put their heads +together, trying to invent new ways and plots whereby they might +derive amusement from the presence of Don Quixote and his squire. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +WHICH RELATES HOW THEY LEARNED THE WAY IN WHICH THEY WERE TO +DISENCHANT THE PEERLESS DULCINEA DEL TOBOSO, WHICH IS ONE OF +THE RAREST ADVENTURES IN THIS BOOK + + +When the Duke and the Duchess had hit upon a plan they proceeded to +make preparations for its being carried out, and on the sixth day they +invited Don Quixote to go hunting with them. There was an array of +huntsmen and beaters, as great a retinue as the Duke could possibly +get together. Both Don Quixote and his squire had been presented with +splendid hunting suits; but Don Quixote did not accept his, saying +that he would soon have to return to the hard pursuits of his calling, +and that it would only be a burden to carry it along. + +Sancho did not know that his beautiful suit was destined to be torn +that very day. A wild boar came along, and Sancho deserted his Dapple +and climbed quickly up into the tallest tree he could find; but fate +would have it that the branch gave way, and Sancho fell onto a branch +below, where he hung suspended by a great rent in his breeches, +screaming with all his might that he would be devoured by the boar; +but the boar fell in the next moment, pierced by many spears, and +Sancho was helped to the ground by his master. + +The boar was taken to some tents nearby, where dinner soon was ready +and being served for the hunters. Sancho could not refrain then from +showing the Duchess what had befallen him in the tree-top, expressing +to her his opinion of hunts of that kind, involving so much risk. Much +better, he thought, it would be to hunt hares and other little +animals. And then he went on at a tremendous speed, repeating proverb +after proverb, one minute telling the Duchess how he would govern his +island, and the next minute talking about something in his home +village. + +Night fell as they were talking. It was a very dark night, which +helped to make the Duke's plan seem more likely of success. They had +all left the tents and gone into the wood, when suddenly it seemed as +if the whole space was afire in one blazing red mass of flames; then +there came the sound of trumpets, numberless ones it seemed, and of +hoofs, as if hordes of horses had passed through the wood, and of +drums, and of battle-cries in Moorish. It was one long, tremendous, +indescribable confusion. The Duke and the Duchess were seemingly taken +aback; Don Quixote did not know what to think or do; and Sancho was +absolutely panic-stricken. It was a din so overwhelming that even +those who had arranged it were aghast and afraid. + +Then there came a sudden lull, and a messenger--dressed like a demon +and blowing a horn that sounded a weird and sickly note--appeared +before their eyes, apparently in great haste. The Duke called to him +and asked him where he was going; and he replied in a coarse voice +that he was the Devil and was looking for Don Quixote of La Mancha. He +pointed to the on-riding troops, and said that they were enchanters +who were bringing the famous Lady Dulcinea del Toboso and the great +Frenchman Montesinos on a triumphal car to seek their disenchantment +through the only one who could accomplish it, the Knight of the Lions. + +On hearing this, Don Quixote said: "If you are the Devil, you ought to +know that I am Don Quixote!" + +Whereupon the Devil exclaimed in surprise that he had not noticed the +knight at all because he was so preoccupied with so many other things +that he had almost forgotten what he was there for. Judging the Devil +by his remark Sancho decided he was a very honest fellow and a good +Christian; otherwise he would not have sworn--as Sancho did--by God +and his conscience. After that the squire concluded that even hell had +its quota of souls. + +The Devil asked Don Quixote to communicate with Montesinos that he +might receive instructions as to how to carry out the disenchantment +of Lady Dulcinea; and then he turned around his horse and was gone. +The whole thing had happened so suddenly that even Don Quixote was +perplexed and seemed as if he did not know whether to believe what he +had seen and heard. Sancho was dumbfounded and frightened out of his +wits. + +As Don Quixote made no move to follow the Devil's advice, the Duke +turned to him and asked whether he intended to remain where he was. He +answered that he would even if all the devils from hell should attack +him. Scarcely had he vowed this when he had to gather all his courage +in order not to give way to fear, for again there broke out a noise +and din that surpassed anything that he had ever heard: shots of +cannon and muskets, shouts and screams from all sides, and the +terrific sound of all the trumpets, horns, drums, bugles and clarions; +and then came the heavy creaking noise of carts, coming through the +wood and all brightly lighted with rows of tapers. + +It was too much for poor Sancho. He fell fainting on the Duchess' +skirt. She ordered her servants to fan him and to throw water in his +face, and he regained consciousness just as one of the carts was +passing. It was drawn by four oxen, completely covered with black +cloth, and attached to each horn was a lighted wax taper. Leading the +oxen were two demons with such horrible, frightful faces that Sancho +shut his eyes tightly after having got one glance of them. An old, +worthy-looking man with a long, snow-white beard sat on a raised seat +on the cart; and when he passed Don Quixote he said in a deep voice: +"I am the sage Lirgandeo." And the cart continued. Then followed other +carts, with other sages, and Sancho's face suddenly lighted up, for he +heard sweet music in the distance, and he said to the Duchess: +"Senora, where there is music, there can be no mischief." + +But Don Quixote would not commit himself, for all he remarked was: +"That remains to be seen." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO DON QUIXOTE +TOUCHING THE DISENCHANTMENT OF DULCINEA, TOGETHER WITH +OTHER MARVELOUS INCIDENTS + + +As the sound of the music came closer, they distinguished a triumphal +car, several times larger than the other ones, and on it were seated +two figures, surrounded by a great many penitents, robed in white, and +with lighted wax tapers in their hands. One of the figures was a young +maiden in the costume of a nymph. She was very beautiful. The other +one was dressed in a robe of state and had her head covered with a +black veil. + +As the car reached the spot where the Duke and Duchess and Don Quixote +were standing, the music suddenly ceased, and the figure in the long +robe rose and removed both the robe and the veil. All were astonished +to find themselves face to face with Death. Sancho was frightened; Don +Quixote felt ill at ease; and even the Duke and the Duchess seemed +uncomfortable. + +Then Death began to declaim a long poem which ended with the +announcement that the Lady Dulcinea was enchanted by himself, the sage +Merlin, here in the guise of Death, and that she could be redeemed in +but one way: by three thousand three hundred lashes administered on +Don Quixote's squire Sancho. + +When Sancho heard this he exclaimed that he would rather stab himself +than take the lashes, for he failed to see what he had to do with the +enchantment of the Lady Dulcinea. This talk infuriated Don Quixote, +who threatened to tie him to a tree and lay on the lashes himself, if +his faithful squire had so little respect for his beloved one that he +would not sacrifice himself to such an extent. But Merlin said that +would have no effect, for the worthy Sancho must do the sacrifice of +his own free will, or the disenchantment could not be accomplished. + +Sancho, however, was as stubborn as a mule, and it was not until the +Duke himself took a hand in the matter and threatened him with the +loss of his governorship that he gave in; and then a compromise was +made whereby Sancho promised to inflict the three thousand three +hundred lashes upon himself. Merlin assured him, however, that if he +should make any mistake in counting them, it would soon be known; for +the moment all the lashes had been dealt, the Lady Dulcinea would be +released--neither one lash before, nor one lash after--and she would +at once come to thank and reward him for his sacrifice. + +As soon as Sancho had testified his willingness to serve his master and +his master's lady, Don Quixote fell on his squire's neck and kissed him. +The Duke and the Duchess praised him for his unselfishness. And the music +played again. Then the car moved on, Lady Dulcinea bowed to Sancho and +the ducal pair, and dawn appeared with its glowing smile. The muskets +were again heard; and all was calm. + +The Duke was pleased beyond measure with his idea, which had been so +effectively carried out. The hunt was at an end, and all returned +happy and content--all except Sancho, who could not help thinking of +the pain he was to give himself. But the Duke was bent on hitting upon +new schemes whereby he should be able to continue the gaiety that +Sancho and his master caused. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +WHEREIN IS RELATED THE STRANGE AND UNDREAMED-OF ADVENTURE +OF THE DISTRESSED DUENNA, ALIAS THE COUNTESS TRIFALDI, +TOGETHER WITH A LETTER WHICH SANCHO PANZA WROTE TO HIS +WIFE, TERESA PANZA + + +The Duke's majordomo had played the part of Merlin, and he it was who +induced a page to appear as Dulcinea. This majordomo was a fellow full +of pranks and good humor, and it was he who had written the verses he +recited, too. To him the Duke now turned, and they contrived together +another amusing scheme. + +The next day Sancho was asked by the Duchess how many lashes he had +given himself; and he replied meekly that he had commenced with five. +After a moment's inquisition, however, the squire admitted that it had +not been with lashes but slaps that he had done penance. The Duchess +said she was certain that the sage Merlin would not tolerate any such +false pretense. She suggested that he make a scourge with claws or +knotted cords so that he would be sure to feel what he was doing to +himself, and when the Duchess offered to bring him such a scourge in +the morning, he had to promise to accept it. Then he told her that he +had written a letter to his wife, Teresa Panza, in the governor style; +and begged her to read it, which she did. The Duchess derived so much +amusement from it that she hastened to show it to the Duke. And when +Sancho was asked whether he had written the letter himself, he said +that he only dictated it, since he could neither read nor write. + +After dinner the Duke and the Duchess were sitting in the garden +talking with Don Quixote and Sancho, when suddenly there was heard the +sound of a deep doleful voice. They all turned quickly to see who was +speaking, and there they saw approaching them a man with a snow-white +beard that reached almost to the ground. He said he was Trifaldin, of +the White Beard, squire to the Countess Trifaldi, otherwise called the +Distressed Duenna, and that he had come in search of the valiant +knight Don Quixote who he had heard was visiting at the castle. His +mistress, he said, in order to find this knight had traveled all the +way from the kingdom of Kandy without breaking her fast, and now he +begged that Don Quixote would receive the lady, that she herself might +tell him her misfortunes. + +Don Quixote at once bade the squire go and fetch the Countess; at the +same time he uttered a desire to the Duke that the confessor who did +not believe in knights errant might have been present to see how +appreciated and famed his achievements had become throughout the +world. + + + + +CHAPTERS XXXVII-XXXIX + +WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE NOTABLE ADVENTURE OF THE DISTRESSED +DUENNA, INCLUDING HER MARVELOUS AND MEMORABLE TALE OF +MISFORTUNE + + +The Countess soon arrived, escorted by twelve duennas, who formed a +lane through which she passed into the Duke's presence. On seeing so +distinguished a guest, he went to receive her with all the honors due +to her rank. When she had curtsied, she asked the Duke if it were true +that the famous Don Quixote of La Mancha was present in the company. +The import of her question was heightened by the way she expressed it, +for these were her words spoken in a deep and coarse voice: "Are there +present here that knight immaculatissimus, Don Quixote de la +Manchissima, and his squirissimus Panza?" + +Before Don Quixote or any one else had had an opportunity to reply, +Sancho opened his mouth and burst out: "The Panza is here, and Don +Quixottissimus too; and so, most distressedest Duennissima, you may +say what you willissimus, for we are all readissimus to do you any +servissimus." + +Then Don Quixote stepped forward and begged the duenna to give him an +account of her distress that he might know how to relieve it. The +duenna became emotional almost beyond bounds. She thrust herself +before Don Quixote and embraced his legs, imploring his and his +squire's help, and then began to tell her story of misery. + +All the while the Duke and the Duchess were in paroxysms of laughter, +so well did the duenna act her part. And their enjoyment was further +heightened by the remarks and questions that Sancho interspersed here +and there, always at the wrong moment and much to his master's +chagrin. + +The weeping duenna went on to tell how she had been the ranking duenna +at the court of the dowager-queen of Kandy; how she had been entrusted +with the care and the bringing up of the Princess Antonomasia, the +young heiress of the kingdom, and how she had permitted a young +gentleman at the court, who was enamored of the Princess, to gain her +favor in such a degree that marriage followed. The young Don had +captivated both the Princess and the duenna with his accomplishments, +for not only did he play the guitar and write poetry, and dance, but +he could as well make bird-cages. But when the Queen learned of her +daughter's marriage to one so much beneath her in rank, her heart +broke in twain and she collapsed and was buried in three days, the +duenna declared, tears streaming down her face all the while. + +Sancho was curious at once, and wanted to have a doubt settled. "She +died, no doubt?" he asked; and the duenna assured him that they did +not bury the living in Kandy, only the dead. But Sancho thought it was +a very stupid thing for the Old Queen to go and die thus; he said he +could see no reason why she should have taken the whole thing so to +heart, for the Princess might have married a page. That, in Sancho's +opinion, might have been an excuse for dying; but the Don was such an +accomplished man, and a gentleman at that, who could even make +bird-cages. Dying was too absurd! + +Then the duenna resumed, and now came the worst of her story. She told +how the two lovers, upon the Queen's death, had become enchanted by +the giant Malambruno, the Queen's first cousin, who had sworn that +they would not regain their right shapes until the famous and valiant +knight of La Mancha had met him in single combat. Having sentenced +them thus, he summoned all the duennas in the castle, charging them +with the responsibility of the evil match, and saying that since he +did not wish them to suffer death, he would punish them in some other +way. Scarcely had the giant uttered these words before their faces +began to sting, their pores opened, and when the duennas put their +hands to their faces, they felt themselves punished in a most +horrifying manner. + +Here the thirteen duennas raised their veils, and the Duke and his +company were amazed to see that all the women were bearded. The +Distressed Duenna raised a wail, and assured those present that had it +not been that she had cried so much that she had no tears left, she +would now shed them copiously, and she exclaimed: "Where, I ask, can a +duenna with a beard go? What father or mother will pity her? Who will +help her? For, if even when she has a smooth skin and a face tortured +by a thousand kinds of cosmetics, she can hardly get anybody to love +her, what will she do when she shows a countenance turned into a +thicket? O duennas! It was an unlucky moment when we were born and +when our fathers begot us!" + +As the unhappy duenna spoke these words, it seemed as if she were +about to faint. With a deep and distressing moan, she covered her face +with her hands. + + + + +CHAPTER XL + +OF MATTERS RELATING AND BELONGING TO THIS ADVENTURE AND TO +THIS MEMORABLE HISTORY + + +The one who was most impressed by this sad story and enchantment was +Sancho, who thought it a dastardly trick for any giant to do. Did not +the enchanter know that it cost money to shave? In Sancho's opinion, +it would have been infinitely better to have taken off a part of their +noses, even if it would have given them an impediment of speech. The +duennas replied that some of them had tried sticking-plaster in order +to spare themselves the expense of shaving, but to jerk it off their +faces, was a painful procedure, they said. + +Don Quixote interrupted and declared that they would have to follow no +such course, for he would rid them of their beards or he would pluck +out his own in the land of the Moors. Such a noble declaration seemed +to revive the Distressed Duenna. She came up to Don Quixote and told +him that the giant Malambruno had been courteous enough to offer to +send the famous wooden steed that the valiant Pierres used. Merlin had +made it. This horse could go through the air with a speed that +carried its rider to the ends of the world overnight. It was steered +by a peg in his forehead, she said, and this peg also served as a +bridle. Furthermore, there was room for two--one in the saddle, and +one on the croup. + +"I should like to see him," said Sancho; "but to fancy that I am going +to mount him, either in the saddle or on the croup, is to ask pears of +an elm-tree. Let each one shave himself as best he can; I am not going +to be bruised to get rid of any one's beard." + +But Countess Trifaldi insisted that Panza was indispensable to the +shaving of the duennas; and when the Duchess had pleaded with him and +he saw the Distressed Duenna's eyes fill with tears, he could hardly +keep his own back. He bent to their will and resigned himself to his +fate and the adventure of riding through the air on the croup of the +mighty wooden steed. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI + +THE END OF THIS PROTRACTED ADVENTURE + + +Don Quixote was in a state of anxiety during the whole day for fear +that Malambruno should not send the steed, but soon after nightfall +there arrived in the garden four wild-men, clad in ivy, and carrying +on their shoulders a large wooden horse. Don Quixote was summoned by +the Distressed Duenna and he mounted the horse at once, not even +putting on his spurs. By this time, however, Sancho had changed his +mind and decided that he was not going to fly through the air like a +witch. But upon the earnest and courteous solicitations of the Duke, +Sancho at last consented to ride with his master. + +Don Quixote begged Sancho to give himself five hundred lashes on +behalf of his enchanted Dulcinea before they set off; but this request +struck the squire as the absurdest one he had ever heard. How could +his master expect him to sit on a hard wooden horse while he was all +bruised and sore from the lashes? He did promise solemnly, however, +that as soon as the duennas had been shaved he would turn to the +fulfilling of the other debt. + +The Distressed Duenna blindfolded them, saying that doing so would +prevent them from getting dizzy when they rose to great heights; and +Sancho, trembling and tearful, complained that the croup was too hard +and begged for a cushion. But the duenna answered him that the magic +steed permitted no trappings of any kind, and she suggested that he +place himself sideways like a woman, for no doubt he would feel the +hardness less in that position. + +Sancho did so; and then he uncovered his eyes and looked in a tender +fashion on those he was leaving behind, and began to cry piteously. +Don Quixote told him sharply to cover his eyes again and not to act +like a fool and a coward; and his squire did as he was bidden, after +having commended himself to God and begged the duennas to pray all the +paternosters and ave-marias they could for him. They in turn +admonished him to stick tight to the croup and not to lose hold of it, +warning him that if he fell, he would fall like a planet and be +blinded by all the stars he would meet on his way down to Earth. + +Sobbing, Sancho clung to his master, embracing him with his fat arms +so tightly that Don Quixote came near being upset. The knight took a +firm grip on the steering peg, and reprimanded his squire for +squeezing him. He told him there was nothing to worry about, for it +seemed to him he had never in his life ridden a steed that was so +easy-going: one would hardly think they had budged from their original +place, he said. When Sancho had calmed himself, he concurred in this +opinion. He had never heard that there were people living in the air, +and did he not hear voices quite close to his ears? Don Quixote then +had to explain that affairs of this sort were not of the every-day +kind, and that whenever one went on a trip like this, the voices from +the Earth would reach thousands of leagues away. + +Scarcely had Don Quixote said this, before a gust of wind came that +threatened to unseat both the knight and his squire. (The fact was +that it was the draught from a tremendous pair of bellows which the +Duke had had unearthed for the occasion.) Sancho was shaking in his +seat, and Don Quixote warned him again to sit still, for they were in +danger of having a runaway straight into the regions of air and +thunder, and then into the region of fire. He feared he might not get +the steed to turn before it was too late, he said; for it seemed as if +the machinery of the peg were rather intricate, and did not work +quickly. + +Suddenly Sancho began to yell that they were already lost in the +flames, and would be burned to death. (He felt his beard being singed +by a torch. It was one of a great number that the majordomo had +provided.) Don Quixote, too, felt his face warm up. But he would not +permit Sancho to uncover his eyes; if he did, the knight said he would +only be seized with giddiness and both of them would fall off their +horse. Besides, he comforted Sancho with the thought that the journey +would last only a few moments longer, and that they were now passing a +final test before landing in the kingdom of Kandy. Don Quixote added +that the distance they had traveled must have been tremendous, and +Sancho replied: "All I know is that if the Senora Magallanes or +Magalona was satisfied with this croup, she could not have been very +tender of flesh." + +At this moment came the culmination of their journey through the air. +A torch was tied to the tail of the steed, which was stuffed with +fire-crackers, and suddenly there was a tremendous noise and a flash, +and in the next moment Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, both scorched, +lay as if thunderstruck on the ground. + +When the knight and his squire finally came to, and looked about, they +were aghast at what they saw. The ground was strewn with bodies, but +the bearded duennas were gone. Planted in the ground they saw a lance, +attached to which they found a parchment which proclaimed that the +enchantment of the duennas and of the Don and his royal bride was at +an end, and that as soon as the squire Sancho Panza deigned to carry +out the flogging he was to give himself, the peerless Dulcinea would +appear in all her original beauty again. + +Now the Duke and the Duchess, who were among the bodies lying on the +ground, seemingly dead, lifted up their heads, as if just coming out +of a long sleep; and Don Quixote hastened to tell them of the great +miracle that had befallen him. They were both convulsed with +laughter--which Don Quixote mistook for emotion--and when he had +finished telling them about his marvelous adventure, they had all they +could do to reply. The Duke finally gathered enough strength to +embrace him and tell him that he was no doubt the greatest knight the +world had ever known. + +The Duchess was curious to know how Sancho had enjoyed the trip; and +he confessed that in spite of his master's command he had peered from +underneath the kerchief before his eyes, and had seen the earth below, +and that the people seemed as little as hazelnuts and the earth itself +looked like a grain of mustard-seed; and when he passed through the +region of fire he had seen the goats of heaven, he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII + +OF THE COUNSELS WHICH DON QUIXOTE GAVE SANCHO PANZA +BEFORE HE SET OUT TO GOVERN THE ISLAND, TOGETHER WITH +OTHER WELL-CONSIDERED MATTERS + + +The heaven-riding adventure had been such a success that the Duke and +the Duchess could not rest until they had seen Sancho installed as +governor of his island; for they felt certain they should derive a +great fund of amusement from such an experiment. So Sancho was told to +prepare himself. + +But Sancho, having seen heaven, seemed less keen to be governor now, +since he felt how small humanity really was, particularly in +comparison with the goats of the sky which he claimed he had seen, and +he replied that he would much rather have a bit of heaven than any +island on earth. The Duke, however, told Sancho that, not being the +ruler there, it was for God to dispose of such domains. So Sancho +promised to come down to earth and be governor, and to attire himself +in the regalia befitting the office. + +This being done, Don Quixote and Sancho withdrew to the knight's room, +and there Don Quixote gave his squire advice about governing. He +admonished him to be a champion of virtue always, to strive to know +himself and not to puff himself up like a peacock, whose feathers, he +bade him remember, were fine, but who had ugly feet. And the advice +and instructions that master gave servant were such that no one would +have thought it was a madman speaking. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +OF THE SECOND SET OF COUNSELS DON QUIXOTE GAVE SANCHO PANZA + + +Don Quixote then told his squire to forget neither to cut his nails nor +to supply his servants with livery. The latter, he said, must be neat and +never showy. If he could do with three servants instead of six, he +advised him to clothe three poor men: thus he would have pages for heaven +as well as for earth. He must never eat garlic or onions, the knight +said, and he begged him to leave out all affectations. When it came to +drinking, he asked him always to bear in mind that too much wine kept +neither secrets nor promises. Another thing he must not do was to flatter +people; Don Quixote considered this a very odious practice. Last, but not +least, said Don Quixote, he must remember not to use such quantities of +proverbs as he had been wont to. + +Here Sancho felt he had to break in and say a word, and he retorted: +"God alone can cure that, for I have more proverbs in me than a book, +and when I speak they fall to fighting among themselves to get out; +that's why my tongue lets fly the first that comes, though it may not +be pat to the purpose." And here Sancho in the very face of his +master's admonitions, let go a string of proverbs so long that Don +Quixote was almost in despair. + +"My mother beats me, and I go on with my tricks," said Don Quixote. "I +am bidding thee avoid proverbs, and here in a second thou hast shot +out a whole litany of them. Those proverbs will bring thee to the +gallows some day, I promise thee." + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +HOW SANCHO PANZA WAS CONDUCTED TO HIS GOVERNMENT; AND OF +THE STRANGE ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE IN THE CASTLE + + +Before Sancho departed for his island--which was in reality a village +belonging to his new master's duchy, and surrounded by land on all +sides--Don Quixote wrote out carefully the advice he had given him in +the morning of the same day. To escort the new governor to the village +the Duke had chosen the majordomo, who had played the part of the +Countess Trifaldi; and the moment Sancho saw his face and heard him +speak, he confided to his master the resemblance in voice and +appearance. + +Always suspicious of enchanters, Don Quixote bade his late squire to +keep a sharp eye on the man, and to be sure to inform him whether +anything happened that confirmed his suspicion. + +Then Sancho was dressed in the garb of a lawyer and mounted on a mule. +Dapple followed behind with new trappings, and Sancho was so pleased +with the appearance of Dapple that he could not help turning around +from time to time to look at him. Don Quixote wept when it came to the +leave-taking, and Sancho kissed devotedly the hands of the Duchess and +the Duke. + +But as soon as Sancho had left, Don Quixote felt a great loneliness in +his heart; and that night, after having supped with the ducal pair, he +begged to be excused early and retired to his room, saying he wanted +no servant to wait on him. + +He undressed at once, and went to bed, leaving the window overlooking +the garden open. Soon he heard the voices of two young maidens, and he +was surprised to hear that they were speaking of him. One of them he +recognized as the fair Altisidora, and, persuaded by the other voice, +she commenced to serenade the knight, to whom in her song she bared +her aching heart, and the passion that burned there for him. + +But the knight could not be moved. His was a love for no one but his +Dulcinea. To indicate to the young maiden that he was aware of her +intentions and could not be swayed, he rose from his bed, and went to +the window and feigned a sneeze. When that was of no avail and neither +produced reticence in the maidens nor drove them away from his window, +he sighed: "O what an unlucky knight I am that no damsel can set eyes +on me but falls in love with me!" And he went on to bewail his fate, +crying out in the night that all the empresses in the world were +jealous of the love he bore in his heart for the sweet Dulcinea, and +saying that he must and would remain hers, pure, courteous, and +chaste, in spite of all the magic-working powers on earth. + +Then the worthy knight shut his window with a bang, and thrust himself +on his bed, entirely out of patience with the enticing and sinful +young maidens. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV + +OF HOW THE GREAT SANCHO PANZA TOOK POSSESSION OF HIS ISLAND; +AND OF HOW HE MADE A BEGINNING IN GOVERNING + + +When Sancho arrived in his village he learned that his island was +called Barataria. He was greeted with great demonstrations: the whole +community had turned out to meet him, and all the churchbells were +ringing. He was first taken to the church, where he gave thanks to +God; then he was presented with the keys of the town. From the church +he was taken to the judgment seat outside, and there he was told to +answer numerous questions which the majordomo put to him, saying that +that was an ancient custom on taking office. + +The questions were cases of quarrels between the villagers, and Sancho +answered each one of them so sagely that every one gaped in wonder, +for, judging by his appearance and the way he talked, they had thought +their governor a fool. Instead of thinking thus, they now began to +admire him and to consider themselves lucky and blessed by having him +in their midst. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +OF THE TERRIBLE BELL AND CAT FRIGHT THAT DON QUIXOTE GOT IN +THE COURSE OF THE ENAMORED ALTISIDORA'S WOOING + + +The thought of Altisidora's love bothered Don Quixote so that he could +not go to sleep. He had torn his green stockings, while undressing, and +having neither needle nor thread he could not mend them, and this +increased his annoyance. Soon it was morning, and to put an end to his +agony, he rose and dressed himself. But on his way to the ante-chamber, +where the Duke and Duchess would receive him, he passed through a +gallery, where he was surprised to find the fair Altisidora and her +friend who had been with her outside his window the night before. + +When Altisidora laid eyes on the knight errant, she fell in a dead +faint, but was caught in the arms of her friend, who began to unlace +her dress. Don Quixote remained cold and untouched, mumbling all the +while to himself that he knew perfectly well why she had fainted. Her +friend retorted with venom in her voice that she wished he would +disappear from the castle, for if he remained there much longer +Altisidora would be wasting away into nothingness--even if she were +the healthiest and most buxom maiden there at the moment--and die from +a broken heart. This seemed to touch Don Quixote, for he replied that +if she would see to it that a lute was put in his room that night, he +would sing to her and try to comfort her in the night while she stood +outside his window. + +The damsels went at once to tell the Duchess what had happened, and +she was pleased beyond words; and together they hit upon a new joke +which would bring them fresh merriment. + +Just before midnight Don Quixote came to his chamber and found there a +guitar; and, having tuned it as best he could, he began to let out his +rusty voice into the notes of a ballad that he himself had composed +that day. While he stood there on his balcony singing, there suddenly +broke out a tremendous din; and from above was let down a cord to +which hundreds of bells were attached, making the most deafening +sound. At the same time a bag of cats, each with a bell tied to its +tail, came shooting down upon the unfortunate knight, who was +frightened beyond words by the meowing and squalling and screaming of +the cats and by the jingling of the bells. + +Don Quixote stood paralyzed, with the guitar clutched in his hand, +when suddenly it struck him that his room must have been invaded by +jumping devils--for the cats had knocked the candles down on the +floor, extinguishing them as they did so, and the room was now in +pitch darkness. He suddenly flung his guitar away and drew his sword, +charging the enchanters with all the fervor and energy that he +possessed. + +All the cats flew toward the balcony, from where they escaped into the +garden--all except one, which Don Quixote had cornered, and was making +violent stabs at, without hitting anything but the air, the wall and +the floor. This little beast, fighting for its life, like one beset, +jumped at the knight, put its teeth and claws into his nose, and +remained there, holding on infuriated, while Don Quixote gave out the +most terrible screams and howls. + +When the Duke and the Duchess heard what was going on, they became +afraid that some harm might be done the knight errant; so they ran to +his chamber with all haste. The Duke rushed to the rescue of Don +Quixote's nose; but in spite of the horrible pain he must have been +in, the knight was brave enough to decline all aid, shouting aloud +that he wished to fight the malignant enchanter alone. At last, +however, the Duke could see the poor fellow suffer no longer, and he +managed to separate the cat from Don Quixote's nose. + +The fair Altisidora was given the task to cover the damaged parts of +the knight's face with ointment, and she did this with a loving and +caressing hand, although she could not resist telling him that he +would not have been in this predicament if he had listened to her the +night before. She jealously hoped, too, that his squire Sancho would +forget all about the whippings so that Dulcinea would remain enchanted +forever. But Don Quixote was insensible to anything she said; he only +sighed and sighed. And then he thanked the Duke and the Duchess for +all their kindness; and they really felt sorry in their hearts for the +end the joke had taken. They bade him good-night; he stretched himself +on his bed; and there he remained for five days. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII + +WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE ACCOUNT OF HOW SANCHO PANZA +CONDUCTED HIMSELF IN HIS GOVERNMENT + + +Having held court, Sancho was escorted to a magnificent palace, where +dinner had been laid in a large and gorgeous chamber. There were +numerous ceremonies that he had to pass through as he entered; but he +went through them all undisturbed and with phlegmatic dignity. He was +seated at the head of the table, his own guest of honor as it were, +for he found he was the only one present there, excepting a number of +pages who surrounded him. But then he discovered behind himself a +gentleman who turned out to be a physician, and who soon aroused +Sancho's ire. For every time a dish was passed to Sancho, it had first +to be passed upon by the physician; and this dignitary seemed to have +made up his mind that governors were not meant to live, for every dish +was sent back to the kitchen, and Sancho found that a governor's meal +consisted in starvation. + +This finally enraged the new governor so that he ordered the doctor +out of his sight, threatening to break a chair over his head if he did +not disappear quickly enough; but just at that moment there arrived a +messenger with a letter for the Governor from the Duke, and Sancho +became so excited that he forgot about his physician's expulsion for +the moment. The majordomo read the letter, which was addressed to the +Governor of the Island of Barataria. In it the Duke warned Sancho that +attacks would be made upon the island some night in the near future by +enemies of the Duke, and also, the Duke said, he had learned that four +men had entered the town in disguise, and that they would make an +attempt upon the Governor's life. He therefore cautioned Sancho to eat +nothing that was offered to him. + +At once Sancho decided that the worst conspirator against his life was +the physician, who wanted to kill him by the slow death of hunger. He +said he thought it best to have him thrust into a dungeon. And then he +asked for a piece of bread and four pounds of grapes, feeling sure +that no poison would be in them, announcing at the same time as his +maxim that if he were going to be able to combat enemies he would have +to be well fed. + +He then turned to the messenger and bade him say to the Duke that his +wishes would be obeyed; at the same time he sent a request to the +Duchess that she should not forget to have the letter he had written +to his Teresa Panza delivered, together with the bundle, by a +messenger. Last but not least, he asked to be remembered to his +beloved master Don Quixote by a kiss of the hand. + + + + +CHAPTERS XLVIII-XLIX + +OF WHAT HAPPENED TO SANCHO IN MAKING THE ROUND OF HIS ISLAND + + +At last the physician felt it to his advantage to consent to prescribe +a good supper for the Governor that evening. The day had been taken up +with all sorts of applicants, who, it seemed to Sancho, would always +arrive at the wrong time, either when he was about to eat or wanted to +sleep. + +The supper hour, which Sancho had been longing for all that day +arrived at last, and he was delighted with the beef, salad, onions, +and calves' feet that were put before him. He told the doctor that for +the future he ought never to trouble himself about giving him dainty +dishes and choice food to eat, for it would only unhinge his stomach. +Then to the head-carver he said: "What you had best do is to serve me +with what they call _ollas podridas_--and the rottener they are the +better they smell!" The others he addressed proverbially thus: "But +let nobody play pranks on me, for either we are or we are not. Let us +live and eat in peace and good fellowship, for when God sends the +dawn, he sends it for all. I mean to govern this island without giving +up a right or taking a bribe. Let every one keep his eye open, and +look out for the arrow; for I can tell them 'the devil is in +Cantillana,' and if they drive me to it they shall see something that +will astonish them. Nay, make yourself honey and the flies will eat +you." + +In reply to this the head-carver took it upon himself to speak for the +rest of the inhabitants on the island, assuring Sancho that every one +was greatly pleased with his mild government, and that he already +stood high in their affections. + +This brought forth a declaration from Sancho that if the people were +not pleased with his government, they would be fools; and then he went +on to state that he intended to see to it himself that the island was +purged of everything unclean and of all idlers and vagabonds. The +latter he compared to the drones in a hive, that eat up the honey the +industrious bees make. Furthermore, he emphasized that he would +encourage and reward the virtuous, and protect the church and its +ministers. + +The majordomo was genuinely filled with admiration for all the +excellent ideas and remarks of the new governor, particularly when he +considered that he was a man without either education or culture; and +he could not help admitting to himself that even a joke could +sometimes become a reality, and that those who had played a joke on +some one might live to find themselves the victims of the very same +joke. + +That night the Governor as usual made his rounds, accompanied by the +majordomo and his whole staff, including the chronicler, who was to +record the deeds of Governor Don Sancho Panza; and before the night +was over he had given fresh proof of his wisdom, for he settled a +quarrel between two gamblers and decided to break up gambling on his +island. He kept a youth out of jail. And he restored a young girl, who +wanted to see the world as a boy, to her father. + + + + +CHAPTER L + +WHEREIN IS SET FORTH HOW GOVERNOR SANCHO PANZA'S WIFE +RECEIVED A MESSAGE AND A GIFT FROM THE DUCHESS; AND ALSO +WHAT BEFELL THE PAGE WHO CARRIED THE LETTER TO TERESA PANZA + + +The Duchess did not forget her promise, and she sent the page who had +played the part of Dulcinea when the Devil entered a plea for her +disenchantment, with Governor Sancho's letter and bundle to his wife. +At the same time the Duchess entrusted him with a string of coral +beads as a gift from herself to Teresa Panza, with which gift went a +letter as well. + +When the page reached the village of La Mancha he saw, on entering it, +some women washing clothes in a brook; and he found that one of them +was no other than the Governor's young daughter. She eagerly ran to +the good-looking young man, and, breathless with excitement at the +thought of his having news from her father, she skipped along in front +of him until they had reached their little house. + +Teresa Panza was spinning, and she came out in a gray petticoat, +vigorous, sunburnt and healthy, and wanted to know what all the +excitement was about. The page quickly jumped from his horse, thrust +himself on his knees before her, and exclaimed to the bewildered +woman: "Let me kiss your hand, Senora Dona Panza, as the lawful and +only wife of Senor Don Sancho Panza, rightful governor of the island +of Barataria." + +But by this time the poor woman had got over her first surprise, and +she bade him rise, saying that he should not do things like that, and +that she was only a poor country woman, and the wife of a squire +errant, not a governor. However, when the page had given her the +letters and the gifts, her doubts were crushed, and she decided that +Sancho's master must have given her husband the government he had +promised him, the one that Sancho had been talking about all the time. +And then she asked the page to read the letters to her, since she +herself had not learned that art, although she could spin, she said. + +When the page had finished reading the Duchess' letter, poor Teresa +Panza was overcome with gratitude to the gracious lady who had made +her husband, a poor illiterate booby, governor--and a good one +besides--and who had deigned to ask her, humble woman that she was, +for a couple of dozen or so of acorns. + +"Ah, what a good, plain, lowly lady!" she exclaimed. "May I be buried +with ladies of that sort, and not with the gentlewomen we have in this +town, that fancy, because they are gentlewomen, the wind must not +touch them, and go to church with as much airs as if they were queens, +no less, and who seem to think they are disgraced if they look as a +farmer's wife! And see here how this good lady, for all she is a +Duchess, calls me her friend, and treats me as if I were her equal!" + +Then she told her Sanchica to make ready a meal, with plenty of eggs +and bacon, for the lad who had brought them such good news, while she +herself ran out and told the neighbors of their great luck. Soon +Samson Carrasco and the curate came to the house, having heard the +news, and wanted to know what madness had taken possession of Sancho's +wife. But when they had read the letters and had seen the presents, +they themselves were perplexed, and did not know what to make of it; +and when they had met the page and he had confirmed everything that +was said in the letters, they were convinced, although they were at a +loss to understand how it all had come to happen. + +The Duchess' asking for a few acorns, they could not quite comprehend, +but even this was soon explained, for the page assured them that his +lady, the Duchess, was so plain and unassuming that she had even been +known to have borrowed a comb from a peasant-woman neighbor on one +occasion; and he added that the ladies of Aragon were not nearly as +stiff and arrogant as those of Castile. + +Sanchica's greatest concern centered around her father's legs. She was +anxious to learn how he covered them, now that he had become governor. +She was hoping that he would wear trunk-hose, for she had always had a +secret longing, she said, to see her father in tights; "What a sight +he must be in them!" she added. + +The page replied that he had not observed her father's legs or how +they were dressed; but the joking way in which he gave his answer +furnished the curate and the bachelor with a fresh doubt as to the +reality of the governorship and Sancho's position. Yet they could not +forget the coral beads and the fine hunting-suit that the page had +brought, and which pointed to some truth in the matter. + +Sanchica was anxious to make the trip to her father's island at once +with the messenger, who told them he had to leave that evening; and +Teresa Panza wanted to know whether the curate had heard of any one in +the village going to Madrid or Toledo, for she thought that she at +least ought to provide herself with a hooped petticoat, now that she +was the wife of a distinguished governor and no doubt destined to be +made a countess. + +And while mother and daughter were contemplating and worrying about +their new position in life, they interspersed their sentences with so +many proverbs that the curate felt obliged to remark that he thought +that all the Panzas were born with a sackful of proverbs in their +insides. The page told them here that the Governor uttered them most +frequently and spontaneously, much to the amusement of the Duke and +the Duchess; and then he reminded the Governor's lady of his hunger. +But the curate softly took him by the arm and whispered to him that +poor Teresa Panza had more will to serve than she had means, and +invited him to sup at his own house. + +In order not to lose weight or starve, the page consented; and the +curate was glad to have an opportunity to talk with him alone. + +Sanchica again expressed her desire to travel with the page; and the +page tried to persuade her not to come along, for, he said, the +daughters of governors must travel in a coach and in style, with many +attendants. The girl thought that was nonsense, however, and it was +not until her mother hushed her up with her proverbial logic that she +ceased arguing. Said mother Teresa Panza to her daughter: "As the time +so the behavior: when it was Sancho it was Sanchica, when it is +governor it is senorita." And that settled it. + +The bachelor offered to write letters for Teresa Panza to her husband +and the Duchess; but, somehow, she did not seem to trust him, for she +refused his offer. Instead she induced a young acolyte to write the +epistles for her, paying him with the eggs which she was to have used +for the page's supper. + + + + +CHAPTER LI + +OF THE PROGRESS OF SANCHO'S GOVERNMENT; AND OTHER SUCH +ENTERTAINING MATTERS + + +The thing that troubled Sancho most was not his manifold duties nor +his judgments, but his appetite. It was as keen as ever, yet he got +next to nothing to eat. The morning after he had made his round, they +gave him only some water and a little conserve for breakfast, the +doctor advising him that light food was the most nourishing for the +wits, and especially to be recommended to people who were placed in +responsible positions--such as governors, for instance. Thus poor +Sancho was persuaded to submit to a process of starvation which was +gradually making him regret, and finally curse, his ever having +become governor. + +He sat in judgment that day but a short time, and made a decision in +an intricate case with so much good sense and wit that the majordomo +was overwhelmed with admiration, and could not refrain from taking +pity on the governor's stomach. So he stood up and announced, knowing +it would have the Governor's immediate and unqualified sanction, that +the session had come to an end for the morning; then turning to +Sancho, he promised to give him a dinner that day that would please +him. + +Sancho was grateful in advance, and felt moved to thank him. "That is +all I ask for," he declared: "fair play! Give me my dinner, and then +let it rain cases and questions on me, and I shall despatch them in a +twinkling." And since it had been arranged by the conspirators in the +joke that this was to be the last day of Sancho Panza's reign as +governor, the majordomo gave him the best dinner that he could. + +Just as the Governor was finishing his repast a courier arrived with a +letter from Don Quixote. The secretary read it aloud to him, and he +listened attentively and respectfully to the wisdom and good and sound +advice that his beloved Don Quixote gave him in the letter. All who +heard it read were agreed that they had seldom had the fortune to hear +such a well-worded and thoroughly sensible epistle; and Sancho was +proud of the praise that was being bestowed on his former master, to +whom he still was as devoted as ever. + +The Governor withdrew with his secretary into his own room, and there +he dictated at once his reply to Don Quixote's letter. In this he +confided to him all that had happened on his island, the reforms he +had undertaken, and the judgments he had handed down. He finished by +asking the knight to kiss the hand of the sweet Duchess for him and +tell her that she had not thrown it into a sack with a hole in it, as +she would see in the end: meaning by this that he would show her how +grateful he was as soon as he had an opportunity. + +The courier returned to the ducal palace with the Governor's message; +and Sancho spent the afternoon in making provisions for all sorts of +beneficial improvements in his government, reducing prices on a number +of necessaries, and confirming laws that tended to help the poor and +needy, while they would incriminate those who were impostors, +good-for-nothings, and vagabonds. Even to this day some of these laws +are in existence there, and are called _The constitutions of the great +governor, Sancho Panza_. + + + + +CHAPTER LII + +WHEREIN THREE DELECTABLE EPISTLES ARE READ BY THE DUCHESS + + +Don Quixote had now been healed of his scratches, and he began to long +for the road; for the life was too easy, he thought, for one who had +dedicated himself to knight-errantry and valorous deeds. But the day +he had decided to break the news to the Duke and the Duchess, the +messenger that the Duchess had sent to Sancho's wife returned, +bringing with him two letters, one addressed to "The Duchess +So-and-so, of I don't know where," and the other one to "The Governor, +Sancho Panza of the Island of Barataria, whom God prosper longer than +me!" + +The Duchess was so eager to read her letter that she opened it at +once; and having read it to herself, she felt she ought to give +amusement to the others too, so she read it aloud to all who were +there. She was dying to see what the letter to the Governor contained, +so she asked Don Quixote whether he thought it would be a breach of +etiquette to read it; and Don Quixote took it upon himself, as +Sancho's late master and guardian, to open it. Then he read it to the +Duke and the Duchess, who laughed to their heart's content at the many +drolleries with which Teresa Panza had stuffed her epistle. + +Just as the merriment was at its peak, the courier with Sancho Panza's +reply to Don Quixote arrived, and that communication too was read +aloud; and the Duke could not omit remarking that it was a most +excellent and sane letter. The Duchess, however, was anxious to +question the page about his visit with Teresa Panza, so she excused +herself, and withdrew with the page and her presents; for, besides the +acorns, the Governor's wife had sent her a cheese, much to the +gratification of the Duchess. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII + +OF THE TROUBLOUS END AND TERMINATION OF SANCHO PANZA'S GOVERNMENT + + +The seventh day of Sancho's government was approaching its end. The +Governor lay in his bed, resting after all the judgments and +proclamations he had made that day upon a fasting stomach. Suddenly he +rose in his bed, for he heard the most deafening noise, intermingled +with the ringing of churchbells. To this sound was added that of +trumpets and drums, and the combination made a din that frightened +Sancho almost out of his wits. He flew out of bed, put on a pair of +slippers, and rushed into the street, dressed in nothing but his night +shirt. He was startled to see the streets crowded with men, carrying +torches, and crying: "To arms, Senor Governor, to arms! The enemy is +here, and we are lost, unless you come to the rescue with your sword!" + +Sancho was lost; he did not know what to do, for swordsmanship was not +among his accomplishments. And so he simply asked them whether the +enemy could not wait until he had a chance to summon his master Don +Quixote of La Mancha, who, he said, knew all about arms. + +Just then one of the inhabitants came along, carrying two shields, and +without any ceremony he told Sancho in plain language that it was his +duty as their governor to lead them into battle. Then he covered +him--without giving him a chance to put on anything besides his +night-shirt--with the two shields, one in front and the other one +behind; pressing them together as tightly as he and another man could +manage, they laced them with rope, so that Sancho could neither move a +muscle, nor bend a leg. Then they put a lance in his hand and told him +to lead them into battle against the enemy, for now they were no +longer afraid of the outcome, they said. + +"How am I to march, unlucky being that I am," asked Sancho, "when I +cannot stir my knee-caps for these boards that are bound so tightly to +my body! What you must do is to carry me in your arms, and lay me +across or set me upright in some postern, and I shall hold it either +with this lance or with my body." + +When the men heard the Governor speak thus, one of them was bold enough +to suggest that he could not move because he was too frightened; and this +angered poor Sancho into a frantic attempt to take a step in the +direction of the invading army. But this step was a fatal one, for the +Governor fell in his undignified stiffness flat on his back with such a +crash that he thought he had broken every bone in his body. + +The men now quickly extinguished their torches, and began to step on +his shield, slashing their swords over his head, shouting and yelling, +and making all the noise they could. Had Sancho not pulled in his head +like a tortoise in his shell, he might have fared ill. One man boldly +placed himself on Sancho's roof, calling in a mighty voice, now and +then filled with an agonized grunt, such directions as these: "Hold +the breach there! Shut the gate! Barricade those ladders! Block the +streets with feather-beds! Here with your stink-pots of pitch and +resin, and kettles of boiling oil!" + +All these exclamations put fear in the already hard-pressed and +squeezed heart of Sancho Panza, who was wishing where he lay that he +had never seen the sight of an island. He was in such an agony that he +began to pray to the Lord in Heaven to have mercy on him and let him +die, or else let this terrible strife and warfare come to an end. + +Heaven must have heard Sancho's prayer, for suddenly he heard cries +of: "Victory! Victory! The enemy retreats!" Then some one jerked him +by the arm, and told him to stand up and enjoy the victory; and +finally some of the bystanders took pity on him, and lifted him up +from his vertical position. But Sancho refused to enjoy any victory. +All he asked for, he said, was that some one wipe the perspiration +from his body, and give him some wine for his parched throat. When +they had fulfilled this desire of his, they carried him to his +chamber, were they put him to bed. Hardly had they got him to bed +before he fainted away, overcome with excitement and governments. + +The attendants sprinkled some water in the Governor's face, and he +soon came back to life. The first thing he asked was what time it was. +They replied it was early morning. He rose without saying a word, +dressed himself in haste, and then went out to the stable, where they +found him hanging round his Dapple's neck, kissing and embracing him, +while tears were streaming down his face. Having swallowed the first +flood of tears, the late squire addressed his faithful donkey in the +tenderest and most heartrending terms, telling him that he should +have stuck by him all the time, and not let himself be carried away by +ambitions to become governor of islands. + +Sancho then put the pack-saddle on Dapple's back, and mounted--a +process of much pain--and from his dear confederate's back he +addressed the majordomo and those of his staff who had followed him to +the stable. "Make way," he said, "and let me go back to my old +freedom; let me go look for my past life, and raise myself up from +this present death. I was not born to be a governor or to protect +islands or cities from the enemies that choose to attack them. +Ploughing and digging, vine-dressing and pruning, are more in my way +than defending provinces or kingdoms. Saint Peter is very well in +Rome: I mean, each of us is best following the trade he was born to. I +would rather have my fill of the simplest pot-luck than be subject to +the misery of a meddling doctor who kills me with hunger; and I would +rather lie in summer under the shade of an oak, and in winter wrap +myself in a double sheepskin jacket in freedom, than to go to bed +between Holland sheets and dress in sables under the restraint of a +government. God be with your Worships! Tell my lord, the Duke, that +naked was I born, naked I find myself, I neither lose nor gain: I mean +that without a farthing I came into this government, and without a +farthing I go out of it--very different from the way governors +commonly leave other islands. Stand aside and let me go. I have to +plaster myself, for I believe every one of my ribs is crushed, thanks +to the enemies that have been trampling over me to-night." + +Here the doctor offered to give the retiring governor a draught that +would cure him of all pain. He also promised Sancho if he would stay +he would behave better in the future, and give him as much to eat as +he desired. But Sancho was not at a loss for an answer this time. + +"You spoke late," said he. "I should as soon turn Turk as stay any +longer. Those jokes will not pass a second time. By the Lord, I should +as soon remain in this government, or take another one, even if it was +offered me between two plates, as fly to heaven without wings. I am of +the breed of Panzas, and they are every one of them obstinate, and if +they once say odds, odds it must be, no matter if it is evens, in +spite of all the world. Here in this stable I leave the ant's wings +that lifted me up into the air for the swifts and other birds to eat +them, and let us take to the level ground and our feet once more; and +if they are not shod in pinked shoes of cordovan, they shall not want +for rough sandals of hemp. Every ewe to her like and let no one +stretch his leg beyond the length of the sheet. And now let me pass, +for it is growing late with me." + +After this meditation, strung with proverbs, the majordomo turned to +Sancho and said that before he departed it was necessary that he +render an account for the ten days that he had governed the island. +But this was not Sancho's idea, and he quickly replied that he would +seek out the Duke and give an accounting to him, for he was the only +one to whom he was responsible. He added that as he would come to him +naked, that would be the best proof that he had governed like an +angel. + +So they all agreed to let him proceed, for they were certain that the +Duke would be delighted to see him. They offered him anything that he +might need for the journey; but all Sancho asked for was some barley +for his Dapple, and some bread and cheese for himself. Then they all +bade him godspeed and embraced him; and Sancho, with tears in his +eyes, took leave of them. The majordomo and the rest of Sancho's staff +could not help thinking that he had displayed more sense than most men +might have under the same circumstances; for when Sancho left his +government he had earned their admiration for many and good reasons. + + + + +CHAPTERS LIV-LV + +OF WHAT BEFELL SANCHO ON THE ROAD; AND OTHER THINGS THAT +CANNOT BE SURPASSED + + +Sancho had almost reached the Duke's castle, when night suddenly fell +and it grew so dark that he considered it best to stop where he was +and remain there overnight. Accordingly he took Dapple off the road, +and they went in search for some comfortable place where they could +rest. Presently Sancho found himself among some old ruins, and as he +was stumbling along he suddenly felt himself and Dapple falling deep +into the earth. He thought it was going to be an endless journey, but +when he struck bottom he discovered that nothing had happened to him +or to his faithful donkey, for there he was, still mounted even. + +Of course he was somewhat shaken by this sudden plunge into the lower +regions, and taken aback; but as soon as he realized that he was +unhurt he began to praise the Lord and to give thanks to him on behalf +of himself and Dapple, who had burst into lamentations upon finding +himself separated from meadow and green grass. Then Sancho began to +look about for a way out, but he searched in vain, and it became plain +to him that here he was buried alive. He thought of his master's +descent into the cave of Montesinos, and was envious of Don Quixote's +imagination which could conjure up so easily soft beds to sleep in and +good food to eat. He could already see himself as a skeleton, and he +shed a tear when he thought of having no one to close his or Dapple's +eyes, when they had breathed their last breath. + +All that night they sat there in somber reflection on the strange +fates of man and beast; and when dawn came Sancho found that he was in +a cave that had no outlet but which seemed to extend for miles +underneath the ground. He crawled with Dapple from one cavern or +compartment to another one; one dungeon was dark, the next one had a +bit of flickering light; and as he proceeded he kept calling aloud, +"God Almighty, help me!" at every step he took, fearing that he would +be plunged still deeper into the insides of the earth, into still +darker abysses. And then he wished that it had been his master instead +of himself who had landed in this spot, for he was sure that Don +Quixote would have welcomed such an adventure. + +It so happened that Don Quixote was riding along the countryside that +day on Rocinante, and suddenly his steed's hoof grazed against a hole +in the earth. Rocinante might have fallen into the hole had not Don +Quixote swiftly pulled in the reins and held him back. As the knight +was passing, and about to continue on his journey, he turned in his +seat to observe the spot well, and then he was startled by a cry that +seemed to come from the depths of the earth and found an outlet +through this pit. Still more startled he was, when he recognized the +voice of his own squire Sancho! These were the words he heard: "Ho, +above there! Is there any Christian that hears me, or any charitable +gentleman that will take pity on a sinner buried alive, or an +unfortunate, disgoverned governor?" + +Of course it never entered our valiant knight's mind, devout Catholic +that he was, that it was the voice of any Sancho Panza in the flesh. +He thought that his devoted squire had suddenly met with death, and +that his soul was now in Purgatory, and that it was from there that +these sounds emanated. So he answered that he would do all in his +power to have Sancho released from his pains. + +This brought forth an emphatic and tearful denial from below. Sancho +swore that he had never died in his life. As if to corroborate that +his master was not a liar, Dapple at this moment brayed most +tellingly, and Don Quixote believed everything that Dapple told him in +that short space of time, for Don Quixote knew Dapple's braying as +well as if he had been his father. The knight errant assured Sancho +that he would get him out of his prison in a very short time, though +he thought it best to return to the castle first and get some men to +help him in the task. Sancho begged his master to hurry, for he was +afraid unto death, and could not stand the thought of being buried +there much longer. + +As soon as the Duke heard what had happened to his governor, he was +extremely surprised, for he had had no news from the island of +Barataria about Sancho's departure. He sent men with ropes and tackle, +and after much trouble they finally succeeded in hoisting Sancho and +his beloved donkey out of the cave. + +Surrounded by a crowd of children and others, they arrived at the +castle, where the Duke was awaiting them; but Sancho would not present +himself before him until he had seen that Dapple was being taken good +care of in the stable. Then he went before the Duke, and as soon as +the Duke had greeted him, Sancho commenced a speech that seemed to +last forever, stuffed with proverbs galore. In it he related to the +Duke everything that happened during the time he was governor, ending +it thus: "I have come by the knowledge that I should not give anything +to be a governor, not to say of an island, but of the whole world; and +that point being settled, kissing your Worship's feet, and imitating +the game of the boys when they say, 'Leap thou, and give me one,' I +take a leap out of the government and pass into the service of my +master Don Quixote. For after all, though in it I eat my bread in fear +and trembling, at any rate I take my fill; and, for my part, so long +as I am full, it is alike to me whether it is with carrots or with +partridges." + +When Sancho had finished his discourse Don Quixote was grateful, for +he was constantly worried that his squire might say something that +would cover both of them with discredit, and Sancho made no great +blunders in his speech this time. + +The Duke and the Duchess both embraced Sancho with warmth, and he was +greatly touched when they told him that they would try to find him +another position, less responsible but more profitable, on their +estate; and they gave orders that he was to be well taken care of and +his wounds and bruises properly and carefully bandaged. + + + + +CHAPTERS LVI-LVII + +WHICH TREATS OF HOW DON QUIXOTE AGAIN FELT THE CALLING OF +KNIGHT-ERRANTRY AND HOW HE TOOK LEAVE OF THE DUKE, AND OF +WHAT FOLLOWED WITH THE WITTY AND IMPUDENT ALTISIDORA, ONE +OF THE DUCHESS' DAMSELS + + +Again the feeling came over Don Quixote that he was wasting his life +while he was staying at the castle in luxury and ease as the Duke's +guest. Out yonder was the great, wide world in which adventures were +calling to him all the time. So it finally came about that after much +hesitation he requested of the Duke and his consort that they grant +him his release. They gave it to him, although they were sorry to see +him go, they said. + +Early the following morning Sancho was soliloquizing in the courtyard +of the castle, when suddenly Don Quixote appeared, in full regalia, +ready to take to the road again for new adventures. The Duke and all +in the castle were observing the departure from the corridors. +Unobserved by Don Quixote, the majordomo gave Sancho a purse, in which +he counted no less than two hundred gold crowns. + +When knight and squire had mounted, the fair Altisidora declaimed with +touching voice some verses of poetry which she had written in the +night, and in which she bewailed her cruel fate that had thrust her in +the path of the valorous Don Quixote. Each verse ended with a +denunciation of his coldness toward her, and a curse upon him and his +Dulcinea. Then the daring maiden had inserted lines in which she +accused the innocent knight of having taken possession of three +kerchiefs and a pair of garters belonging to her. Don Quixote blushed +with perplexity, but his squire came to the rescue and said that he +had the kerchiefs, but knew nothing about the garters. The Duke, who +was well initiated in the joke, now rose and announced that it was +beginning to seem like a serious matter; and if the knight had the +garters and did not wish to part with them, he, the Duke, would have +to defend the fair maiden's honor and challenge him to single combat. + +Now Don Quixote was beside himself. Surely, he said, it would never +occur to him, who had enjoyed such unbounded, superlative hospitality +at the hands of one so illustrious as the Duke, to let such things +come to pass as to bear arms against him; and he swore again by +everything he could think of that he was innocent of what the maiden +had inferred. Here the damsel gave a little shriek, and announced in a +giggling voice that she had found the garters. Don Quixote was much +relieved, and so seemed the Duke (though in reality both he and the +Duchess were just about to burst from the pain that their own joke had +inflicted upon them). + +Now the knight errant could depart without any smudge or stain on his +honor, and quickly and resolutely he gave Rocinante the spur, and his +steed gathered all the strength he had and turned around. Gallantly +saluting the Duke and the whole assembly with a sweep of his lance, +Don Quixote set off on the road to Saragossa, followed by the retired +governor, who sat on his Dapple's back as phlegmatically as if the two +were grown together. + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII + +WHICH TELLS HOW ADVENTURES CAME CROWDING ON DON QUIXOTE +IN SUCH NUMBERS THAT THEY GAVE ONE ANOTHER NO BREATHING-TIME + + +Out on the open road Don Quixote was himself again, and he turned to +Sancho and began to discourse on freedom, telling his squire that it +was more precious than anything else in the world. And he ended by +saying: "Happy he to whom Heaven has given a piece of bread for which +he is not bound to give thanks to any but Heaven itself!" + +Here Sancho broke his silence, for he felt that, in spite of what his +master had just said, a good deal of thanks was due to the majordomo +for the purse with the two hundred crowns, which he was carrying like +a plaster next to his heart. + +While they were conversing thus, they suddenly came to a spot from +where they could see a great many men, dressed like laborers, lying on +the grass of a meadow, and partaking of their noonday meal. Here and +there on the grass were scattered some objects or figures covered with +white cloth, and as soon as Don Quixote observed them he could +constrain himself no longer but had to learn what they were. So he +politely approached the men and asked them what was hidden underneath +the white coverings, and was told that they were images of saints that +they were transporting to their village church; and in order not to +soil them, they had covered them thus. + +The man took great pride in showing our knight the figures--there were +Saint George, Saint Martin, Saint James the Moorslayer, and Saint +Paul. Don Quixote spoke learnedly on each one of them. When he had +seen them all, he bade the men cover the images with the cloths again. +Then he declared that he considered it a happy omen to have come upon +the images; for, said he, they were knights like himself. There was +this difference, however, that while he fought with human weapons, +poor sinner that he was, they used divine ones. And he added that if +only his Dulcinea could be saved from her sufferings, perhaps his own +mind might be restored to its proper function, and a desire for a +milder and better life than he was leading now be the result. At this +Sancho reverently chirped: "May God hear and sin be deaf!" + +The men, having finished their repast, took leave of Don Quixote and +Sancho and continued the journey to their village. They were not out +of sight before Sancho broke loose with praise for his master, who +knew everything under the sun, it seemed. Then he added: "In truth, +master, if what has happened to us to-day is to be called an +adventure, it has been one of the sweetest and pleasantest that has +befallen us in the whole course of our travels; we have come out of it +without having drawn sword, nor have we been left famishing. Blessed +be God that he has let me see such a thing with my own eyes!" + +The conversation now turned to other things, and soon love became the +topic. Sancho could not understand why his master, as ugly as he was, +should have turned the head of the fair Altisidora; and why his master +had not fallen head over heels in love with her was entirely beyond +Sancho's comprehension. Had he himself had the same opportunity he +should not have foregone it, he could have promised his master. Here +Don Quixote tried to explain to Sancho that there were different kinds +of love: love of the mind, and of the body; but this explanation +seemed to remain a puzzle to the squire. + +While they had been talking in this manner, they had come into a wood, +and suddenly Don Quixote rode into a green net which entangled him so +completely that he began to shout that he had been enchanted again. He +made ready to cut and slash with his sword, when two beautiful girls +dressed as shepherdesses came from amidst the trees and began to plead +with him not to tear the nets, which they had spread in the woods that +they might snare the little birds. There was a holiday in the +neighborhood, and they were to give a pageant and a play, they said, +and they wanted the birds to be actors in the play with them. Then +they courteously begged Don Quixote to be their guest and remain with +them; but Don Quixote in return told them that the urgency of his +calling made it necessary for him to refuse, whereupon he made them +aware of who he was. As soon as the girls heard that they had Don +Quixote of La Mancha in their midst, they became still more eager that +he should remain, for they had all read and heard of their illustrious +guest, they said, through the book that the whole of Spain and all the +world was devouring just then. + +A gay youth, who was the brother of the young maidens, came up at this +moment and joined his sisters in their persuasions, and at last Don +Quixote gave in and consented to stay. The youth, who was attired as a +shepherd, brought Don Quixote to their tents, and after a morning of +gaiety a repast was served, at which the knight was given the place of +honor. + +When the meal was over, Don Quixote rose and addressed the gathering +in his usual dignified manner. He chose for his topic gratitude, and +said that there was but one way in which he could show his full +appreciation of the hospitality he had enjoyed that day at their +hands: namely, to maintain in the middle of the highway leading to +Saragossa, for a period of two days, that these two damsels were--with +the exception of his lady Dulcinea--the most adorable and beautiful +maidens in the world. + +Don Quixote had got so far in the course of his speech, when the +faithful Sancho could restrain his admiration for his master no +longer. Brimming over with enthusiasm, he burst out: "Is it possible +there is any one in the world who will dare to say and swear that this +master of mine is a madman? Tell me, gentlemen shepherds, is there a +village priest, be he ever so wise or learned, who could say what my +master has said; or is there a knight errant, whatever renown he may +have as a man of valor, who could offer what my master has offered +now?" This outburst of his squire's infuriated Don Quixote. He began +to foam at the mouth, and after having scolded the meek and meddlesome +Sancho, he told him abruptly to go at once and saddle Rocinante. His +hosts were astounded at his remarkable behavior and proposal, and did +all they could to stay him from carrying it out, but he was not to be +swayed. So they all followed at a distance to see what would happen to +the knight, who in his anger had not been slow to mount and disappear +with Sancho trailing behind on Dapple at his usual gait. + +As soon as Don Quixote had posted himself in the middle of the road, +he shouted out his challenge. But no one who passed seemed to pay any +attention to what he said, much less were they inclined to take up the +challenge, if they heard it. Suddenly, however, the knight sighted a +troop of men on horseback, all armed with lances. They were coming +closer at a fast pace, and as soon as the shepherds and shepherdesses +saw them they withdrew in great haste. Sancho, overcome with some +innate foreboding of disaster, took refuge in the shade of Rocinante's +hindquarters; but Don Quixote stood resolute and held his ground. + +Ahead of the oncoming troop rode a man, who, observing Don Quixote's +position, began to make violent signs to him to get away from the +road; and when he saw that he was not being understood or obeyed, he +yelled out with fierceness: "Get out of the way, you son of the devil, +or these bulls will knock you to pieces!" + +But all Don Quixote was concerned about was his challenge, and +permitting no evasions, he retorted heroically: "Rabble! I care +nothing for bulls! Confess at once, scoundrels, that what I have +declared is true; else ye have to deal with me in combat." + +Hardly had he spoken these words before the drove of bulls was on him +and Sancho, trampling them both to the ground as if they had been +figures of pasteboard; for they were no common bulls, they were fierce +animals that were being taken to a nearby village for a bull-fight on +the following day. Yet when they had passed, and the valiant knight +came to, he had lost none of his intrepidity, for as soon as he could +stand up he kept shouting at them to return and he would fight them +all alone. + +The knight was so enraged and so humiliated to have been stepped on in +such an unromantic fashion, that he sat down and buried his head in +his hands; and Sancho could not persuade him to return to their hosts +to bid them farewell. And so he decided instead to be on his way to +Saragossa, and master and squire mounted again and continued their +journey dejectedly. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX + +WHEREIN IS RELATED THE STRANGE THING, WHICH MAY BE REGARDED +AS AN ADVENTURE, THAT HAPPENED TO DON QUIXOTE + + +Don Quixote was extremely weighed down and oppressed by the disaster +of the morning. When they had ridden but a short way they came to a +place where there was a spring, and they dismounted to refresh their +dusty throats and to wash themselves. The knight was wearied, and +Sancho suggested that he lie down and rest for a while. The suggestion +pleased his master, who said he would do so if his squire would give +himself three or four hundred lashes with Rocinante's reins in the +meantime, as a help toward his Dulcinea's disenchantment. But after +some arguing, Sancho wiggled himself out of the business for the +moment, having pleaded an ill-nourished body--in spite of his constant +eating. He said it was, besides, no easy matter to flog oneself in +cold blood, but promised to make good some time, unexpectedly. Then +they both ate a little, and soon afterward they fell asleep beside +their faithful beasts. They awoke, refreshed, and made off to reach an +inn--and Sancho gave thanks to Heaven that Don Quixote took it for an +inn--that they had sighted in the distance before they went to sleep. + +When they arrived at the inn Sancho at once took the beasts to the +stable and fed them, while Don Quixote retired to his room. When +supper time came the landlord brought in a stewpan which contained +cow-heels that tasted, he swore, like calves' feet; and the knight and +his squire gathered gluttonously around the meal. They had scarcely +began eating, however, when Don Quixote heard his name mentioned next +door, and, surprised, he listened and heard some one say: "What +displeases me most in this Second Part of 'Don Quixote of La Mancha' +is that it represents Don Quixote as now cured of his love for +Dulcinea del Toboso." + +Like a flash the knight was on his feet, shouting to the adjoining +room: "Whoever he may be who says that Don Quixote of La Mancha has +forgotten Dulcinea del Toboso, I will teach him with equal arms that +what he says is very far from true; for his motto is constancy, and +his profession is to maintain the same with his life and never wrong +it." + +Immediately voices from the other room wished to know who was speaking; +and Sancho shouted back that it was his master, and that his master was +none other than Don Quixote of La Mancha himself. In the next instant two +gentlemen entered the room, and as soon as they perceived Don Quixote, +they fell on his neck and embraced him, saying that they were pleased and +proud beyond measure to meet so distinguished and illustrious a +personage, their own morning star of knight-errantry. One of the +gentlemen, Don Jeronimo, assured him that there was no doubt in his mind +that he was the real Don Quixote of the First Part, and not the +counterfeit one of the Aragonese Second Part. With these words he put his +copy of the Second Part, which he had just been reading, into Don +Quixote's hands and begged him to read it. Don Quixote took it and +glanced it through, and after having read a few pages, he returned it to +the gentleman, with the remark that he had already discovered three +things in the book that ought to be censured; and he said that when an +author could make such a colossal mistake as to speak of Sancho's wife as +Mari Guiterrez, one would be likely to doubt the veracity of every other +statement of his in the book. + +When Sancho heard of this audacious libel, he became red in the face +with indignation. "A nice sort of historian, indeed!" he burst out. +"He must know a deal about our affairs when he calls my wife, Teresa +Panza, Mari Guiterrez! Take the book again, senor, and see whether I +am in it and whether he has changed my name!" + +The gentleman looked at Sancho in an expectant manner, and said: "From +your talk, friend, no doubt you are Sancho Panza, Senor Don Quixote's +squire." + +When Sancho affirmed this, saying he was proud of it, it was Don +Jeronimo's turn to become indignant; for it seemed to him nothing +short of blasphemy to take all the drollery out of the Sancho, whom he +saw before him here, he said, and who had furnished him with so many +enjoyable moments through his amusing talk, while he was reading the +First Part. The Sancho of the Second Part was a stupid character, a +fool with no sense of humor whatever, he declared; and his declaration +promptly brought forth a proverb from Sancho's lips, which summed up +his contempt for the new author. "Let him who knows how ring the +bells," he exclaimed. + +The two gentlemen now invited the knight errant to join them at +supper, as they knew, they said, that the inn could afford nothing +that was befitting a warrior as illustrious as he. Always courteous, +Don Quixote acquiesced, and they withdrew to the adjoining room, +leaving Sancho and the landlord to sup by themselves. At supper Don +Quixote related to the two gentlemen his many strange adventures, and +they listened with the utmost interest; they could not help admiring +his elegant and finished speech, and at the same time were astounded +at the strange mixture of good sense and wit and absurd nonsense that +flowed from his lips. + +When Sancho had finished his cow-heels, he betook himself to the room +where his master and the gentleman were supping; and as he entered he +asked Don Jeronimo: "If this author calls me glutton, as your Worships +say, I trust he does not call me drunkard too." + +Don Jeronimo said that the author had been impertinent enough to do so, +although he assured Sancho that he could see by his face that the author +had lied. "Believe me," declared the squire, "the Sancho and the Don +Quixote of this history must be different persons from those that appear +in the one Cid Hamet Benengeli wrote, who are ourselves--my master, +valiant, wise, and true in love, and I, simple, droll, and neither +glutton nor drunkard." + +The other gentleman, Don Juan, was of Sancho's opinion, and he added +that he thought no one but Cid Hamet, the original author, should be +permitted to write the history of Don Quixote's achievements--just as +Alexander issued an order that no one but Apelles should presume to +paint his portrait. + +They carried on a conversation in this manner until quite late in the +night. Don Juan offered the Second Part to our hero to read, but Don +Quixote declined it, saying that it would only be flattering and +encouraging to the author if he should, by chance, learn that he had +read his book. Then they asked him where he would be bound for when he +left the inn; and when he told them Saragossa, they mentioned that the +author had given a description in the book of a tilting at the ring in +that city, in which he who was called Don Quixote had participated. + +That made the knight change his intentions at once. Now he was +determined not to set foot in Saragossa: thus he would make the author +commit perjury, trap him as a complete liar, and hold him up to +ridicule before the whole world. The gentlemen thought this a most +ingenious way to treat the blaspheming author, and made a suggestion +that there were to be other jousts at Barcelona, to which he would be +welcomed; and Don Quixote announced that he would go there instead. +Then he begged leave in his usual courteous manner to retire, and +withdrew to his room. + +Early on the following morning the knight rose, and bade good-by to +his two new friends by knocking at the partition that separated their +rooms, while Sancho paid the landlord for the lodging and the +cow-heels. + + + + +CHAPTER LX + +OF WHAT HAPPENED TO DON QUIXOTE ON HIS WAY TO BARCELONA + + +For six days Don Quixote and Sancho traveled without anything +happening to them worth recording. At the end of the sixth day they +came to a grove of oak and cork trees, where they dismounted and +settled themselves for the night. Sancho, who had been nourished +plentifully that day, at once fell asleep, but Don Quixote's mind +wandered hither and thither into strange regions and imaginary places; +and he thought of the sad plight of his beloved one. The more he +considered the cruelty of his squire, the more enraged he became; and +at last he decided that the only thing for him to do was to strip +Sancho and administer the beating himself. With this intention he +began to undo the squire's garments. + +Sancho, being awakened and realizing his master's foul play, now had +lost all desire for sleep. He reminded his master that the whipping +would have no effect toward Dulcinea's disenchantment, unless it was +applied voluntarily and by his own hand. But Don Quixote insisted that +there must be an end to this nonsense, for he had no desire to let his +peerless Dulcinea suffer because of his squire's uncharitable +disposition. And then he proceeded, with Rocinante's reins in his +hand, to give his squire, as he said, two thousand lashes on account +of the three thousand three hundred. But Sancho was on his feet in an +instant, and began to grapple with his master, and he crushed his +emaciated body almost to flatness in his firm grip. Then he suddenly +let him loose and despatched him with a kick to no mean distance, and, +still pursuing his victim, he there sat upon him. Don Quixote managed +at last to gather all the breath that had not been squeezed out of him +by the combat, and supported by that he ejaculated in a hoarse +whisper: + +"How now, traitor! Dost thou revolt against thy master and natural +lord? Dost thou rise against him who gives thee his bread?" + +"I neither put down king, nor set up king," replied Sancho, himself +somewhat out of breath. And then he proceeded to dictate the peace +terms, and he extracted a promise from his natural lord never to try +to whip him again, neither awake nor asleep. + +Then the victor disappeared in the grove and went to lie down against +a tree: but just as he had placed himself comfortably, he was +frightened almost to death by seeing two feet, with shoes and +stockings, dangling in the air above his head. He ran to another tree, +thinking he had been dreaming, and there he found a like apparition +haunting him. He began to scream aloud, calling upon his master for +help, and ran to search for him. Don Quixote asked him what had +frightened him, and the squire replied that all the trees were full of +feet and legs. Don Quixote calmly looked at the dead bodies in the +trees and told his squire that no doubt they were outlaws that had +been hanged by the authorities; and he took them to be a sign that +they were now close to Barcelona. They then lay down to rest for the +night. + +When they awoke at dawn, they found themselves surrounded by a band of +men who turned out to be highwaymen. The band stripped them of all +they possessed, and were just about to search Sancho further for +money, when a swarthy-looking man in his thirties appeared, mounted on +a splendid horse and armed with many pistols. It was their captain, +and none other than the notorious Roque Guinart, a man who had taken +to the life of banditry and hold-ups because of having been wronged by +the authorities. + +When the bandit captain observed what his men were about to do to Sancho, +he commanded them to stop, and to return everything they had taken away +from the knight and his squire. He asked Don Quixote why he looked so +dejected, and the knight responded that he was grieved that he had been +taken unaware, saying that had he been armed with his lance and shield +and mounted on his Rocinante when he found himself surrounded by these +men, he would have defended himself to the last drop of his blood, in +accordance with all the rules of knight-errantry. And then he told Roque +that he was the Don Quixote of La Mancha who had filled the whole world +with the wonder of his achievements; and he thanked him for his great +courtesy and mercifulness. + +Just then they heard the violent sound of hoofs clattering against the +hard road, and as they turned they beheld a youth, extremely pleasing +in appearance, who was coming their way in a wild gallop. As he +reached them, he flung himself from his horse and addressed Roque, who +then perceived that it was not a lad but a maiden. She said she was +the daughter of his friend Simon Forte, and named Claudia Jeronima, +and that she, unbeknown to her father, had fallen in love with and +become engaged to the son of her father's arch enemy, Clauquel +Torrellas, whose son was named Vicente. Yesterday, she went on, she +had learned that he had promised to marry another one, and full of +jealousy she had stolen upon him this morning in the guise that he now +saw her in and shot him in the presence of his servants near his +house. She had left him at once, and she now wanted Roque to procure +for her a safe-conduct that she might take refuge in France where she +had relatives. She also wanted to extract a promise from him to +protect her father from the wrath and revenge of the Torrellas. + +Roque was evidently much taken with the girl, for he gave her a glance +full of admiration; nor had she failed to make an impression on Don +Quixote and Sancho. Don Quixote wanted at once to go in quest of the +knight and make him keep his troth, and Sancho added that his master +was an admirable match-maker. But Roque hastily took leave of them, +and accompanied only by the fair Claudia, he had soon come to the spot +where she had left Don Vicente. This young gentleman was surrounded by +some servants who had been attempting to carry him to his home, but he +had begged them to take him no further, for the pain was too great, he +said and he felt that he was dying. All were astounded at the sight +of the feared Roque, who dismounted with Claudia. + +The fair maiden approached her lover, and clasping his hand, she said: +"Hadst thou given me this according to our compact thou hadst never +come to this pass." And then the young lady told Don Vicente what she +had heard; but he disavowed to her any intention to marry any one else +but herself. Hearing this she broke down completely, flung herself +upon his breast, and sobbed convulsively; and then she fainted. + +When she came to, she found that her beloved one had passed away, and +her grief then knew no bounds. Again and again she would be overcome +by her feelings, and swoon so that they had to sprinkle water on her +face. Roque was moved to tears, and so were the servants, and Claudia +said that she would go into cloister for the rest of her life to atone +for her sin. Roque approved of her decision, and offered to conduct +her wherever she wished to go, but she declined his company, with many +thanks, and bade him farewell in tears. Roque then directed the +servants to take the body of Don Vicente to the dead man's father, and +returned to his band. + +He found Don Quixote addressing his men on lawlessness, but they +seemed to be little impressed with his sermon. Soon afterward a +sentinel came up to his captain, and reported that people were coming +along on the road to Barcelona, and Roque, having made certain that +they were not armed troops out to enforce the law and in search of +bandits, gave order to capture the travelers and have them brought +before him. + +Here the outlaw revealed himself again to Don Quixote as a naturally +kindly and tender-hearted man, for though the travelers possessed a +good deal of money, he assessed them but one hundred and forty crowns. +Of this money he gave the men of his band two crowns each; that left +twenty crowns over, and this he divided between some pilgrims who were +on their way to Rome and our worthy Sancho. The travelers were two +captains of Spanish infantry, and some titled ladies; and the women +felt so grateful to Roque for his generosity, and his unusual behavior +and courtesy touched them so, that they wanted to kiss his hand, +considering him in the light of a hero rather than a robber. Roque did +not forget to give them a safe-conduct to the leaders of his bands, +for there were many of them, operating all through that region. + +One of Roque's men seemed dissatisfied with such leniency as he had +seen displayed, and voiced his opinion rather too loudly, for the +leader of the band heard it, and the offender's head was nearly cleft +open in the next second. The captain turned to Don Quixote and +remarked that that was the way he punished impudence; then he calmly +sat down and wrote a letter to a friend of his in Barcelona, telling +him of the early arrival there of the famous Don Quixote of La Mancha, +of whose exploits in knight-errantry the whole world knew; and, to be +exact, he fixed Saint John the Baptist's day as the very day on which +our knight would make his first appearance in the very midst of the +city of Barcelona under the auspices of him to whom he addressed this +letter, and who would be grateful for the infinite joy Don Quixote and +his droll squire Sancho Panza would afford him and the city. He sent +the letter by one of his trusted followers, who, disguised as a +peasant, made his way into Barcelona and delivered the letter to the +right person. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI + +OF WHAT HAPPENED TO DON QUIXOTE ON ENTERING BARCELONA, +TOGETHER WITH OTHER MATTERS THAT PARTAKE OF THE TRUE RATHER +THAN THE INGENIOUS + + +Don Quixote remained with Roque for three days, and they were hectic +days for our knight. Roque always slept apart from his men, for the +viceroy of Barcelona had placed a great price on his head, and Roque +was in constant fear that some one in his band would be tempted to +deliver him up. On the fourth day he and Don Quixote, accompanied by +Sancho and six of the band, made their way toward Barcelona; and on +the night of St. John's Eve they reached the city. There Roque took +farewell of the knight and his squire, and returned to his haunts in +the woods. + +Throughout the night Don Quixote-kept guard over the city; and there +he was still sitting on Rocinante when dawn appeared on the horizon, +and Don Quixote and Sancho Panza for the first time in their lives +beheld the sea. It seemed to them it was ever so much greater than any +of the lakes they had seen in La Mancha. As the sun rose it was +suddenly greeted with the ringing of bells, the din of drums, the +sound of clarions, and the trampling and clatter of feet on the +streets; and from the galleys along the beach a mass of streamers in +varied colors waved its welcome, to the music and the noise of bugles, +clarions and trumpets from shipboard. Then cannons on ship and shore +began to thunder, and a constant fire was kept up from the walls and +fortress of the city. It was a noise and a spectacle that might have +over-awed any one, even a less simple-minded person than Sancho, who +stared open-mouthed at the wonders he beheld. He gasped when he saw +the galleys rowed about by their oarsmen on the water, and he told his +master he had never seen so many feet in his life. A troop of horsemen +in extravagant liveries rode past them, where they were standing, and +suddenly Don Quixote was startled by hearing some one call out in a +loud voice: "Welcome to our city, mirror, beacon, star and cynosure of +all knight-errantry in its widest extent! Welcome, I say, valiant Don +Quixote of La Mancha! Not the false, the fictitious, the apocryphal +one, but the true, the legitimate, the real one that Cid Hamet +Benengeli, flower of historians, has described to us!" + +Don Quixote felt flattered by the attention he suddenly attracted, for +all eyes had turned to gaze upon his lean and queer person; although +it may be said here, in confidence, that the man who had recognized +the hero was no other than the one to whom the rogue Roque had +written. The cavalier divulged his identity to Don Quixote, and begged +him politely to accept his services while in Barcelona; and Don +Quixote replied with as much courtesy that he would follow him +wherever he pleased and be entirely at his disposal. Then the +horsemen closed in around him and they set out for the center of the +city, to the music of a gay tune played by the clarions and drums. + +The Devil, however, was not asleep. He put temptation into the hearts +of some street urchins, who stole their way into the close proximity +of Rocinante's and Dapple's hindquarters, and there deposited a bunch +of furze under their tails, with the fatal result that their riders +were flung headlong into the crowd. Our proud hero, covered with dust +and shame, pulled himself together and went to pick the flowers from +the tail of his hack, while Sancho extracted the cause of Dapple's +capers from his own mount. Then they mounted again, the music +continued to play, and soon they found themselves at a large and +impressive house, which they learned was occupied by the cavalier, who +was a friend of Roque's. + + + + +CHAPTER LXII + +WHICH DEALS WITH THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENCHANTED HEAD, +TOGETHER WITH OTHER TRIVIAL MATTERS WHICH CANNOT BE LEFT UNTOLD + + +The cavalier turned out to be one Don Antonio Moreno, a gentleman with +a great sense of humor, well read and rich. As soon as Don Quixote had +entered the house, Don Antonio persuaded him to discard the suit of +armor; then he took him out on the balcony, where he at once attracted +all the boys in the street and crowds of people, who gazed at him as +if he had been a monkey. The cavaliers passed in review before the +balcony, and the knight was given the impression that it was in his +special honor they were bedecked as they were, for he did not realize +that it was a holiday. Sancho was delighted beyond description. He was +treated royally by the servants, who thought that they had never met +any one quite as amusing as he. Don Antonio's friends were all +instructed to pay homage to Don Quixote and at all times to address +him as if he were a knight errant. + +The flattery and honors were too much for the poor knight: they turned +his head completely, and he became puffed up with his own importance. +Sancho, too, amused Don Antonio and his guests exceedingly, and they +enjoyed particularly hearing about his escapades as governor. + +After dinner that day, the host took Don Quixote into a distant room, +which contained no furniture except a table, on which was a pedestal +supporting a head made of what seemed to be bronze. After having acted +in the most mysterious manner, and having carefully ascertained that +all the doors to the room were shut and no one listening, Antonio +swore the knight to secrecy. Then he proceeded to tell Don Quixote +that the head he saw there before him had been made by a Polish +magician, and possessed the magic faculty of being able to answer any +question whispered into its ear. Only on certain days, however, did +its magic assert itself, and the following day, which was the day +after Friday--it had been astrologically worked out--would again +witness the miracle. Don Antonio asked the knight whether there was +anything he should especially like to ask the head; if so, he could +put the question to it on the morrow. Don Quixote seemed sceptical, +but made no comment, and they returned to the other guests. + +In the afternoon the knight errant was placed on a tall mule, bedecked +with beautiful trimmings, and himself encased in a heavy and +uncomfortably warm garb of yellow cloth; then, unbeknown to him, they +pinned on his back a parchment with this inscription in large letters: +THIS IS DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA. + +As they were parading through the streets the knight's vanity swelled +more and more, for from every nook and corner there came great shouts +of recognition. Soon he was unable to restrain his vainglorious +nature, and he turned to his host and remarked to him with much +satisfaction: "Great are the privileges knight-errantry involves, for +it makes him who professes it known and famous in every region of the +earth. See, Don Antonio, even the very boys of this city know me +without ever having seen me." Finally the crowds increased so that Don +Antonio was obliged to remove the parchment, and soon they had to take +refuge in his house. + +In the evening Don Antonio's wife gave a dance, and it was amusing to +see the tall and lank hero move about on the ballroom floor; the men +gave him the opportunity to dance every dance, for they themselves +enjoyed watching him better than dancing. At last Don Quixote was so +exhausted both by the dancing and by the lovemaking that the ladies +had imposed on him--and how they delighted in hearing him avow his +great love for Dulcinea--that Sancho had to take him to his room and +put him to bed. + +The next day Don Antonio took his wife, Don Quixote, and a few +intimate friends into the secret chamber, and after many mysterious +preliminaries, the questioning of the head began. All seemed +particularly interested in what Don Quixote would have to ask, and +felt rewarded when his turn came, for this is what he demanded: "Tell +me, thou that answerest, was that which happened to me in the cave of +Montesinos the truth or a dream? Will my squire Sancho's whipping be +accomplished without fail? Will the disenchantment of Dulcinea be +brought about?" + +In a mysterious voice that seemed to come from a great distance, the +head returned these answers: "As to the question of the cave, there is +much to be said; there is something of both in it. Sancho's whipping +will proceed leisurely. The disenchantment of Dulcinea will attain its +due consummation." + +Don Quixote heaved a sigh and declared that if only his peerless one +were disenchanted, it would be all the good fortune he could wish for. +Then Sancho tried his luck; but at the conclusion of Sancho's audience +with the head, he did not seem properly awed, and his master became +displeased with his pretentious expectations and reprimanded him +severely in the presence of the whole company. + +All the while Sancho's incessant talking and his master's exalted +behavior kept every one in an uproarious humor. The joke that Don +Antonio had arranged consisted in having a student, a young nephew of +Don Antonio's, placed in a chamber underneath the one in which the +head was, to receive the questions and speak the replies through a +tube that led from the inside of the head to the room below. Soon +after this form of amusement had taken place, it was agreed upon by +the gentlemen of the city to arrange for a tilting at the ring, for +they were convinced that such an exhibition would afford greater +opportunities for mirth and laughter than anything else they might +think of. + +One day Don Quixote and Sancho, accompanied by two of Don Antonio's +servants, were walking on foot through the city, when they suddenly +passed a printing shop; and, never having seen one, the knight entered +with Sancho and the servants. He was as curious as usual, and asked +the printer innumerable questions about the books that he was +printing. He saw some of the printers reading the proofs of a book, +and he turned to them and inquired what the title of the book was. +They told him it was the Second Part of "The Ingenious Gentleman Don +Quixote of La Mancha," adding that it was written by a certain person +of Tordesillas. Upon hearing this, Don Quixote grew quite cold in his +demeanor, and having moralized that fiction resembling truth is always +greater than absurdly untruthful stories, he uttered a hope that the +book would be burned to ashes. And then he turned his back on the +astonished men and left the shop in great haste. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII + +THE MISHAP THAT BEFELL SANCHO PANZA THROUGH THE VISIT TO THE GALLEYS + + +The afternoon of that same day Don Antonio took Don Quixote and Sancho +on board one of the galleys, amid all the honors that accompany the +visits of great and famous personages. There were fanfares, and +cheers, and the firing of guns, and all the high-ranking officers of +the army and navy who were in the city had been appealed to by Don +Antonio Moreno and turned out to pay him their respects. + +Don Quixote was delighted. He could scarcely find words to express his +appreciation of such a magnificent and royal reception; and Sancho was +almost carried away by the honors that were being paid his master. But +when he saw all the men at the oars--stripped to the skin by the +captain's command--he became afraid, for they seemed to him like so +many devils. + +When Don Quixote and Sancho Panza had been presented to all the +dignitaries, the captain escorted them to a platform on which he +begged them to take their seats beside him. Sancho sat at the edge of +the platform, next to one of the rowing devils (who had been +instructed in advance by the captain what to do) and suddenly he felt +himself lifted in the air by a pair of strong, muscular arms. The next +instant he was in the clutches of another devil; and passing from +hand to hand, he went the rounds of the crew with such swiftness that +the poor superstitious Sancho did not know whether he was dead, +dreaming, or alive. Sancho's aerial expedition did not come to an end +until he had been most unceremoniously deposited on the poop, where he +landed in a strangely unbalanced condition--to the tremendous +amusement of the crew and the onlookers. He was so dazed that it is +doubtful whether he would have known his name, if he had been asked. + +Seeing what had happened to his squire, Don Quixote thought it best to +forestall himself from being put through any such ceremony; so he +stood up, his hand on the hilt of his sword, and announced with fire +in his eyes that any one who dared to attempt such a thing to him +would suffer by having his head cut off. He had hardly finished his +sentence before a noise was heard that frightened Sancho almost into +insensibility. He thought that Heaven was coming off its hinges and +about to fall on his sinful head. And even Don Quixote trembled with +something closely akin to fear, and grew (if that were possible) pale +under his yellow hue. + +What the crew had done was to strike the awning and lower the yard and +then hoist it up again with as much clatter and speed as they could +produce, yet without uttering any human sound. This being done, the +boatswain gave orders to weigh anchor, and as he went about on deck +signaling with a whistle, he continually lashed and beat the backs of +the naked oarsmen with a whip he had in his hand. + +When Sancho saw all the red oars moving, he took them to be the feet +of enchanted beings, and he thought to himself: "It is these that are +the real enchanted things, and not the ones my master talks of. What +can those wretches have done to be whipped in that way; and how does +that one man who goes along there whistling dare to whip so many? I +declare this is Hell, or at least Purgatory!" + +But when Don Quixote noticed his squire's interest in the naked creatures +at the oars, he turned and said to him softly: "Ah, Sancho my friend, how +quickly and cheaply you might finish off the disenchantment of Dulcinea, +if you would strip to the waist and take your place among those gentlemen! +Amid the pain and sufferings of so many you would not feel your own much; +and, moreover, perhaps the sage Merlin would allow each of these lashes, +being laid on with a good hand, to count for ten of those which you must +give yourself at last." + +But Sancho was not to be persuaded, and the general of the fortress, +who was eager to know why Sancho was urged to lash himself, could not +wait for a reply to his question, for there loomed up on the horizon a +ship which attracted his attention, and he immediately gave orders to +the captain to steer down upon it. + +After an adventure on the seas, the first they had ever experienced, +Don Quixote and Sancho came back to Barcelona that afternoon, and +returned to the house of their host, escorted by the Viceroy, the +General and the other high dignitaries. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV + +TREATING OF THE ADVENTURE WHICH GAVE DON QUIXOTE MORE +UNHAPPINESS THAN ALL THAT HAD HITHERTO BEFALLEN HIM + + +A few days after Don Quixote had visited the galley, he was riding along +the beach one morning on Rocinante dressed in his armor, when suddenly he +observed coming toward him a knight, also in full regalia, with a shining +moon painted on his shield. As he came close to Don Quixote, he held in +his horse, and spoke to our knight thus: "Illustrious knight, and never +sufficiently extolled Don Quixote of La Mancha, I am the Knight of the +White Moon, whose unheard-of achievements will perhaps recall him to thy +memory. I come to do battle with thee and prove the might of thy arm, to +the end that I make thee acknowledge and confess that my lady, let her be +who she may, is incomparably fairer than thy Dulcinea del Toboso." + +And then the Knight of the White Moon went on to say that should he +conquer Don Quixote, the Knight of the Lions must retire to his native +village for a period of one year, and live there in peace and quiet, +away from all knightly endeavors and deeds. Should, however, Don +Quixote turn out to be the victor, he, the challenger, would gladly +forfeit his head, as well as the renown of his many deeds and +conquests, his arms and horse to him. He bade Don Quixote consider +the challenge and give a speedy answer, for he had but that day at his +disposal for the combat. + +Don Quixote was taken aback at the audacity and arrogance with which +the knight had stated his demands, particularly when he took into +consideration that he had never in his whole life heard him even +spoken of, much less had he heard of the deeds and victorious combats +he had named. But he accepted the challenge with calm pride on the +conditions the Knight of the White Moon had given, barring the one +which involved transferring his renown to Don Quixote's shoulders in +case of his being vanquished. To our knight that seemed like taking +too great chances, since he had no idea what the nature of the +challenger's deeds might be, and since he was thoroughly satisfied +with his own achievements. + +It so happened that the Viceroy had observed the Knight of the White +Moon in conversation with Don Quixote, and thinking that some one had +planned another joke on him, he hastened to Don Antonio's house, and +got him to accompany him to the beach, where they found the two +knights just taking their distance, and about to commence the combat. +Don Antonio was as startled when he saw the other knight as the +Viceroy had been, and neither one could make up his mind whether the +whole thing was a joke, or not, for no one there seemed to know who +the Knight of the White Moon was. However, the two gentlemen at last +decided it could be nothing but a prank, planned by some gentleman for +his own amusement. The Viceroy then turned to the knight and, learning +that the combat was being fought to decide a question of precedence +of beauty, bade them set to if both of them still remained unshaken +and inflexible in their convictions. The two combatants, having +thanked the Viceroy for his permission, separated and again took up +the necessary distance. Their horses wheeled around and the knights +came against each other with all the speed their mounts were capable +of. But the Knight of the White Moon was mounted on a steed that +completely outshone the poor Rocinante, for when they clashed, the +poor hack fell from the mere force of the contact, and Don Quixote +leaped over his head onto earth. At once the unknown knight held his +lance over his visor and threatened him with death unless he confessed +to being vanquished and acknowledged that he would abide by the +conditions of the combat. + +In a feeble voice Don Quixote answered him that in spite of his defeat +Dulcinea still was the most beautiful woman in the world, but that now +that his honor had been taken away from him, he might as well die; and +he begged the knight to drive home the blow of his lance. But the +Knight of the White Moon was a generous gentleman. He said he would +not have our hero deny the beauty of his Dulcinea in deference to his +own lady; all that he asked was that Don Quixote return to his village +of La Mancha and give up knight-errantry as he had promised. Don +Quixote rose in a sorry and battered condition and swore that he would +keep his word like a true knight errant; and in the next instant the +mysterious Knight of the White Moon set off toward the city at a quick +canter. + +As soon as the unknown knight had left, the Viceroy, Don Antonio and +Sancho hastened to Don Quixote's side. They found him covered with +perspiration and stiff in all his limbs. Rocinante had not yet +stirred, for he, too, was in a deplorable condition. Sancho for once +had lost his speech, and all that had happened to his master in so +short a time seemed to him proof that the enchanters were still +pursuing him. Now that his master for some time to come was to be +confined to their own village, there would be no chance for him to +redeem the promise he had made to his squire. Altogether it seemed to +Sancho a sad state of affairs. + +Don Quixote was in such a dilapidated condition that he had to be +carried into the city in a hand-chair which the Viceroy had sent for, +and they all escorted him to the house of Don Antonio. + + + + +CHAPTER LXV + +WHEREIN IS MADE KNOWN WHO THE KNIGHT OF THE WHITE MOON +WAS; LIKEWISE OTHER EVENTS + + +In the city the Viceroy and Don Antonio tried to locate the Knight of +the White Moon, and when they had found the hostel at which he was +staying Don Antonio went to call on him and learned that he was the +bachelor Samson Carrasco, from the very same village as Don Quixote. +The bachelor, having explained his aims regarding the knight, packed +his arms in a knapsack, took leave as soon as he had told his story, +and set off at once for La Mancha, mounted on a mule. + +A few days later, much to the sorrow of Sancho--who had never been so +well fed in his life--Don Quixote and he took a fond farewell of their +estimable and generous host who had heaped so many honors on them and +who had enjoyed himself so tremendously at their expense. This time it +was a sad and lonely journey on which they started. Don Quixote was +mounted on Rocinante, who had somewhat recovered from his shock, but +Sancho had to tread the trail on foot, for his Dapple had to serve as +a carrier for the discarded armor of our late and lamented valiant +Knight of the Lions. + + + + +CHAPTERS LXVI-LXVII + +OF THE RESOLUTION WHICH DON QUIXOTE FORMED TO TURN SHEPHERD +AND TAKE TO A LIFE IN THE FIELDS WHILE THE YEAR FOR WHICH HE +HAD GIVEN HIS WORD WAS RUNNING ITS COURSE; WITH OTHER EVENTS +TRULY DELECTABLE AND HAPPY + + +Toward the end of the fifth day Don Quixote was resting in the shade +of some trees, and as always happened when he lay down to rest, his +thoughts turned to the disenchantment of his Dulcinea and a feeling of +impatience with his selfish and uncharitable squire rose up within +him. He pleaded with Sancho and implored him to go through with the +ordeal bravely; but Sancho was unflinching in his stubbornness and +insisted he could see no reason why he should be coupled with the +disenchantment of the peerless fair one. Thus Don Quixote could only +pray that his squire might be moved by compassion to perform some day +the deed that would liberate his lady. + +While discussing this subject so close to his heart Don Quixote had +decided to pursue his journey, and while they were traveling along on +the road to their village they again engaged in conversation. Suddenly +they found themselves passing the spot where they had been trampled on +by the bulls, but Don Quixote, not wishing to have his thoughts return +to anything so bitter, turned to Sancho and remarked that this was +where they had encountered the gay shepherds and shepherdesses. And +the next instant he had decided to emulate their example and turn +shepherd himself, now that his calling of knight errant had come to an +end; he would buy some ewes, he said, and together they would retire +to some quiet pastoral nook where the woods and the fields met, and +where pure crystal water sprang from the ledge of a rock and the +fragrance of flowers was in the air. And there he would sing to +Dulcinea, his platonic and only love. The thought of a life so calm +and so far away from danger and knightly adventures pleased Sancho so +greatly and made his enthusiasm run so high that he could not restrain +a row of proverbs from falling from his lips. It was a flow so +incessant that Don Quixote at last felt obliged to ask for a truce. + +Night had now fallen, and Don Quixote thought it best to withdraw from +the roadway and take refuge for the night some distance away from it. +Having supped, Sancho at once fell asleep, but his master sat up all +that night, thinking of Dulcinea and making up rhymes to the +sweetness of her memory. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII + +OF THE BRISTLY ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE + + +Don Quixote could not bear to see his squire sleep so restfully while +he was being weighted down by all the cares of the world. So he woke +Sancho, whose stolid unconcern about Dulcinea again was brought home +to him, and almost went on his knees in order to induce him to scourge +himself. He nearly wept in his efforts to have Sancho inflict the +meager amount of three or four hundred lashes upon himself; but as +ever the cruel squire remained unmoved. Don Quixote did everything in +his power to entice him to do this beautiful deed of sacrifice. He +held forth to him what a blessed night it would be for them, if he +would only comply with his master's request, for then, Don Quixote +suggested, they could spend the remainder of it singing, thus making +this the beginning of the pastoral life to which they were about to +devote themselves. But Sancho said he was no monk; and the idea of +getting up in the middle of the night to perform such rituals did not +appeal to him, he frankly avowed. The bewailings of his master, both +in Castilian and in Latin, made no impression upon the hard-hearted +Sancho, who remained as firm as the rock of Gibraltar, as far as the +disenchantment was concerned. + +Don Quixote had just made up his mind that it was a useless task to +try to prevail upon Sancho at that hour to do his duty, when suddenly +there was heard a tremendous and terrifying noise, which increased as +it seemed to come closer. Sancho was so frightened that he at once +took refuge behind Dapple, entrenching himself between the pack-saddle +and his master's discarded armor; and Don Quixote got palpitation of +the heart, and began to shiver. As Sancho peeped from behind his +entrenchments and Don Quixote took courage to look, the grunting drove +of six hundred pigs--for that is what it was--was so close upon them +that in the next moment they found themselves knocked to the ground; +but it was some time before all of the snorting, disrespectful animals +had passed their dirty feet over the prostrate bodies of the knight, +his squire and their beasts and provisions. + +Sancho rose first, smeared with dirt, and having been stirred to +unusual depths by the condition in which he found himself, he begged +his master to let him take his sword, saying he felt he had to kill +some of the pigs in order to be soothed. The exceedingly bad manners +they had displayed and especially the fact that they had crushed all +the provisions into nothingness, had produced an ire in Sancho that +seemed wellnigh irrepressible. + +But Don Quixote calmed his squire with these words, spoken with a +melancholy air: "Let them be, my friend. This insult is the penalty of +my sin, and it is the righteous chastisement of Heaven that jackals +should devour a vanquished knight, and wasps sting him and pigs +trample him under foot." + +To this Sancho Panza retorted pensively: "I suppose it is the +chastisement of Heaven, too, that flies should prick the squires of +vanquished knights, and lice eat them, and hunger assail them. If we +squires were the sons of the knights we serve, or their very near +relations, it would be no wonder if the penalty of their misdeeds +descended upon us, even to the fourth generation. But what have the +Panzas to do with the Quixotes? Well, let us lie down again and sleep +out what little of the night there is left, and God will send us dawn +and we shall be all right." + +Sancho lay down and slept, but his master sat up and commenced his +emulation of the life of a shepherd by singing the song he had +composed to his great love, accompanying it with his own sighs, and +many wet tears. At last daylight came, and the sun awakened them both. +Sancho began to rub his eyes, and they both got up and made ready to +journey further. But before leaving Sancho again cursed the pigs for +having ruined his stores. + +He and his master had traveled the whole day, when they encountered a +number of men on horseback, and four or five men on foot, all heavily +armed. Don Quixote's heart ached, for he could not forget his promise +to the Knight of the White Moon. The men who were mounted approached +our hero and Sancho, and surrounded them without speaking a word. Don +Quixote attempted to ask a question, but one of them warned him to be +silent by putting a finger to his lips, while another one pointed his +lance against the knight's breast. Still another one took Rocinante by +the bridle; while Sancho was being treated in the same manner by some +of the others. Both Don Quixote and Sancho began to be worried as to +the outcome of this adventure, for the whole proceeding seemed to them +utterly mysterious. + +They rode all that day, unable to make out where they were being +taken, or who their mysterious captors were, and at last night came. +All the while the men were calling them all kinds of names, such as +"bloodthirsty lions," "cannibals," "murderous Polyphemes" etc.; and +Sancho was scared out of his wits, while Don Quixote was at his wits +ends. Both were convinced that some terrible misfortune was in store +for them, and they could only pray that they would get out of it as +easily as possible. + +Before they knew it, it was midnight, and soon after that Don Quixote +recognized a castle, which he saw in the distance, as that of the +Duke. He was amazed when he found that the men were taking him there, +and he said to himself: "God bless me! What does this mean? It is all +courtesy and politeness in this house; but with the vanquished, good +turns into evil, and evil into worse." They entered the court, and +found it arrayed in such a manner that they could not help being +amazed and speechless, and they felt fear creeping into their hearts. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIX + +OF THE STRANGEST AND MOST EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE THAT +BEFELL DON QUIXOTE IN THE WHOLE COURSE OF THIS GREAT HISTORY + + +As soon as the horsemen had dismounted, they and the men on foot +carried Don Quixote and Sancho bodily into the center of the court, +which was illuminated with hundreds of torches and lamps placed all +around it. In the very center there was a catafalque, elevated to a +height of several yards above the ground and covered by a huge canopy +of black velvet. To the catafalque steps led from all around, and on +the steps were hundreds of wax tapers burning in silver candlesticks. +On the catafalque lay the dead body of a beautiful maiden. On one side +of the stage there was a large platform on which sat two figures, with +scepters in their hands and crowns on their heads: judging by this, +Don Quixote thought they must be royal personages. On the side of this +platform were two empty chairs, to which Don Quixote and Sancho were +led. And when they had seated themselves and turned around to observe +what was going to happen, they were suddenly startled by seeing their +friends, the Duke and the Duchess, mount the platform and seat +themselves next to the royalty. + +Don Quixote and Sancho both paid them homage by rising and bowing +profoundly, and the ducal pair returned their compliment with a +slight bow of the head. Following them came a long row of attendants. +Then suddenly Don Quixote came to realize that the corpse was none +other than that of the fair Altisidora, whose love he had scorned, and +that shocked him greatly. + +Some one connected with the ceremonies passed at that moment and threw +a robe of black buckram covered with painted red flames of fire over +Sancho and, removing his cap, put on his head a miter of the kind that +those who were undergoing the sentence of the Holy Office wore. At the +same time he whispered in Sancho's ear that if he opened his lips, his +life would not be safe. + +At first Sancho, seeing all the flames that seemed to be licking his +body, got frightened, but when he found that no heat ensued and +nothing else happened, his worries ceased. In the next moment his and +his master's attention was attracted by low, sweet sounds of music and +singing that seemed to vibrate from underneath the catafalque; and +then there appeared a youth with a harp, and he sang a song that dealt +with the cruelty of Don Quixote toward the fair Altisidora, who now +was dead from a broken heart. + +When he had sung of her charms, one of the two who seemed like kings +rose from his seat and spoke. He, Minos, who sat in judgment with +Rhadamanthus, now begged the latter to stand up and announce what must +be done in order to affect the resuscitation and restoration of the +damsel Altisidora. As soon as he had declaimed all he had to say, he +sat down, and in the next moment Rhadamanthus rose and decreed that +all the officials gather quickly and attach the person of Sancho +Panza, as through him alone Altisidora's restoration could be +effected, he said, by his receiving twenty-four smacks in the face, +twelve pinches and six pin-thrusts in the back and arms. + +Nobody but Sancho objected to the King's proclamation; but Sancho was +emphatic enough for a multitude. "Body of me!" he replied unhesitatingly. +"What has mauling my face got to with the resurrection of this damsel? +The old woman takes kindly to my persecution; they enchant Dulcinea, and +whip me in order to disenchant her. Altisidora dies of ailments God was +pleased to send her, and to bring her to life they must give me +four-and-twenty smacks, and prick holes in my body with pins, and raise +weals on my arms with pinches! Try those jokes on a brother-in-law; I am +an old dog, and its no use with me." + +But Rhadamanthus was bent in carrying out his threat. He gave a sign +to one of the attendants, and in the next moment a procession of +duennas started toward Sancho with raised hands. Sancho saw them +coming against him, he grew frantic, and began to bellow like a bull, +crying out: "I might let myself be handled by all the world; but allow +duennas to touch me? Not a bit of it! Scratch my face, as my master +was served in this very castle; run me through the body with burnished +daggers; pinch my arms with red-hot pincers; I shall bear all in +patience to serve these gentlefolk; but I will not let duennas touch +me, though the devil himself should carry me off!" + +Here Don Quixote thought it was time for him to add his plea to that +of the King, and he began to reason with Sancho. At last he subdued +him somewhat, and by that time the duennas had reached the spot where +Don Quixote and Sancho were seated, and one of them came up, +curtsied, and gave the poor squire a smack on the face that nearly +unseated him, and that made him exclaim: "Less politeness and less +paint, Senora Duenna. By God, your hands smell of vinegar-wash!" + +No sooner had Sancho uttered these words than he was smacked and +pinched by nearly all the rest of them, until at last he lost his +temper and seized a lighted torch, with which he pursued the flying +duennas in an uncontrollable rage, crying: "Begone, ye ministers of +Hell! I am not made of brass not to feel such out-of-the-way +tortures." + +But just then Altisidora--who probably was tired of lying on her back +such a long time--moved, and in the next moment exclamations were +heard from all in the court: "Altisidora is alive! Altisidora lives!" + +Now that the great miracle had been attained, Rhadamanthus turned to +Sancho and bade him still his anger; and Don Quixote again entreated +Sancho, since he so nobly had proven that virtue now was ripe in him, +to go to work and disenchant his Dulcinea in the same breath. To this +Sancho replied: + +"That is trick upon trick, I think, and not honey upon pancakes. A +nice thing it would be for a whipping to come now, on the top of +pinches, smacks, and pin-proddings! You had better take a big stone +and tie it round my neck, and pitch me into a well; I should not mind +it much, if I am to be always made the cow of the wedding for the cure +of other people's ailments. Leave me alone; or else by the Lord I +shall fling the whole thing to the dogs, come what may!" + +By this time Altisidora had entirely recovered from her death and was +now sitting up on the catafalque. The music was again heard, the +voices sang, and all came forward to help the young maiden down from +her elevated position. + +Altisidora acted as if she were just coming out of a long, long sleep; +and when she saw the Kings and the Duke and the Duchess she bowed her +head to them in respect. Then she asked the Lord to forgive Don +Quixote for his cruelty, while she praised and thanked Sancho Panza +for his sacrifice, and offered to give him six smocks of hers to make +into shirts for himself, adding that if they were not quite whole, +they were at least all clean. On hearing this, Sancho fell on his +knees and kissed her hands; and then one of the attendants approached +him, at the order of the Duke, and asked him to return the red robe +and the miter. Sancho, however, wanted to keep them to show to his +villagers as a remembrance of his marvelous experience; and when the +Duchess heard of his desire she commanded that they be given to her +friend as a token of her everlasting esteem. + +Soon everybody had left the court and retired to their quarters, and +the Duke had Don Quixote and Sancho shown to their old chambers. + + + + +CHAPTER LXX + +WHICH FOLLOWS CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE AND DEALS WITH MATTERS +INDISPENSABLE FOR THE CLEAR COMPREHENSION OF THIS HISTORY + + +Sancho slept that night in the same chamber with Don Quixote. It was +some time before he went asleep, however, for the pain of the pinching +and smacking was quite evident. Don Quixote was inclined to talk, but +Sancho begged him to let him sleep in peace for the remainder of the +night, and at last both master and servant fell into slumber. + +In the meantime it might be told how it came about that Don Quixote +came to visit the ducal castle again. The bachelor Samson Carrasco, +having learned as much as he could from the page that carried the +letter to Teresa Panza of the whereabouts of the hero, decided that +the time had come for another combat with him. Thus he procured a new +suit of armor and a fresh horse and set out to find the Duke's castle. +Having reached it, he had a long conversation with the Duke, wherein +he told him it was his great desire to bring Don Quixote back to his +village and his friends, hoping that if he could defeat him in battle +Don Quixote could be made to return of his own free will and in time +be cured of his strange affliction. He then followed him to Saragossa, +for which city he had set out when he left the Duke's castle, but +finally traced him to Barcelona, where the bachelor encountered him +with the result that he promised to return to his village and give up +knight-errantry for a year. + +On his way home, the bachelor, at the Duke's request, had stopped at +the castle to inform him of the outcome of the combat, and it was then +that the Duke decided to play the knight and his squire another joke. +The Duke had his men stationed everywhere on the road that led from +Barcelona, and it was thus that they were able to bring in Don Quixote +in the manner and at the hour that they did. + +When daylight arrived the morning after Altisidora's coming to life, +Don Quixote awoke and found her in his presence; and the instant he +saw her he showed his modesty and his confusion by pulling the sheet +over his head. But while Don Quixote was not inclined to converse with +a maiden so early in the morning, Sancho showed no aversion to it +whatever, for he bombarded Altisidora with all kinds of impertinent +questions as to what was going on in Hell when she was there. Of +course Altisidora denied having any intimate knowledge of this place, +for in spite of her immodesty she had only got as far as the gates, +she said. + +Don Quixote now entered into the conversation and asked why the fair +Altisidora had been so persistent in her love, when she knew that he +would never change or give up his beloved Dulcinea, to whom he +maintained he was born to belong. When she heard Don Quixote talk in +this manner, Altisidora grew very angry with him, and exclaimed: +"God's life! Don Stockfish, soul of a mortar, stone of a date, more +obstinate and obdurate than a clown asked a favor when he has his +mind made up! If I fall upon you I shall tear your eyes out! Do you +fancy, then, Don Vanquished, Don Cudgeled, that I died for _your_ +sake? All that you have seen to-night has been make believe; I am not +the woman to let the black of my nail suffer for such a camel, much +less die!" + +Sancho interrupted her here and said he could well believe that; then +he added: "All that about lovers pining to death is absurd. They may +talk of it, but as far as doing it--Judas may believe that!" + +Now the Duke and the Duchess entered, and after an animated conversation +during which Sancho's amusing sayings as usual captivated his +distinguished friends, Don Quixote begged leave to be on his way to his +village. They granted him his request, and then they asked him whether he +had forgiven Altisidora for having tried to capture his love. He replied +saying that this lady's lack of virtue had its root in her idleness, and +he recommended that the Duchess see to it that Altisidora was put to +making lace or given some other employment. Sancho approved of his +master's advice, and remarked sagely that he never had seen any lacemaker +die for love; and he further illustrated the truth of Don Quixote's +remark by his own experience on that score: when he was digging, he +vowed, he never bothered with the thought of his old woman. The testimony +of two such staunch friends of hers as Don Quixote and Sancho made the +Duchess promise that hereafter she would keep the fair Altisidora +employed so that no foolish thoughts might take her away from the path of +virtue. As soon as the fair maiden heard her mistress speak thus, +however, she assured her that there was no longer any need of her being +worked to death in order to divert her thought from the person of our +knight errant, for his cruelty to her had been such that the very thought +of that had now blotted him out of her memory forever. And, pretending to +wipe a tear from her eye, she made a curtsy to the Duchess and left the +chamber. + +It was now time for dinner, and soon afterward Don Quixote, having +dined with the Duke and the Duchess, made his departure from the +castle with Sancho, and started again for his home. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXI + +OF WHAT PASSED BETWEEN DON QUIXOTE AND HIS SQUIRE SANCHO ON +THE WAY TO THEIR VILLAGE + + +Don Quixote and Sancho traveled along, both in a state of depression. +Don Quixote was sad because he had been forced to give up the glories +of knight-errantry and chivalry; Sancho because Altisidora had not +kept her word when she promised to give him the smocks. To Sancho it +seemed a terrible injustice that physicians should be paid even if +their patients died, and here he had brought back a human being from +the dead, and was being rewarded in this ungrateful manner! + +But Don Quixote's sadness was suddenly brightened by a hope that he +might at last be able to prevail upon Sancho to bring about the +disenchantment of Dulcinea. Knowing Sancho's covetousness, he offered +him money as a bribe. Now Sancho became interested, and consented, +for the love of his wife and children, to whip himself at a price of a +quarter-real a lash, generously throwing the five lashes he had +already given himself into the bargain. + +"O blessed Sancho! O dear Sancho!" exclaimed Don Quixote. "How we +shall be bound to serve thee, Dulcinea and I, all the days of our +lives that Heaven may grant us! But look here, Sancho: when wilt thou +begin the scourging? For if thou wilt make short work of it, I will +give thee a hundred reals over and above." + +Sancho swore that he would begin the scourging that very night, and +begged his master that he arrange it so that they spend the night in +the open. + +Night came at last, and when they had supped, Sancho proceeded to make +a sturdy whip out of Dapple's halter. When he had finished this task +he made off for a distant part of the woods. He left his master with +such a determined look in his eyes that Don Quixote thought it best to +warn him not to go too fast but to take a breathing-space between +lashes so that he would not cut his body to pieces. He was afraid +also, he said, that Sancho might become so enthusiastic over what he +was doing, or so anxious to come to the end of the lashes that he +might overtax his strength, collapse and die; and he begged Sancho +particularly not to do that, for then he would have gone through all +his suffering in vain. When Sancho had stripped himself to the waist, +Don Quixote placed himself where he could hear the sound of the +lashes, and counted them on his rosary that Sancho would make neither +too much nor too little effort to disenchant Dulcinea. + +After half a dozen lashes, Sancho felt that he had inflicted a +sufficient measure of pain upon himself already, and demanded a higher +price for his service. Don Quixote told Sancho that he would pay him +twice the amount promised; and the squire began again. But this time +he did not whip himself but let the lashes fall on a tree; and with +each lash he gave out the most heartrending cries, and uttered such +groans that his master began to feel the pain of his squire's torture +in his own heart. When he had counted a thousand lashes or thereabout, +he was quite worried about Sancho and begged him to stop for the +present, but Sancho told his master he might as well brave the +remainder of the ordeal now. + +Seeing his squire in such a sacrificing mood, Don Quixote retired at +his request, and Sancho continued with the lashing, which he +administered to a perfectly innocent tree with such brutality and +ferocity that the bark flew in all directions. All the while he gave +vent to his pain by fierce shrieks, and then there came one long +agonizing cry, which nearly rent Don Quixote's heart, and Sancho +exclaimed piteously: "Here dies Sancho, and all with him!" Don Quixote +hastened to his squire's side, and insisted for the sake of his +unsupported wife and children that he go no further, but to wait until +some other time with the rest. Sancho retorted with a request that his +master cover his shoulders with his cloak, as the exertion had been +too great and had made him perspire freely, and he did not wish to run +the risk of catching cold. Don Quixote did as he was asked and begged +Sancho to lie down; then he covered him with the cloak. + +At dawn they resumed their journey, and when they had traveled three +leagues, they came to an inn. Don Quixote did not take it for a castle +this time; as a matter of fact, ever since he had found himself +vanquished, he had begun to talk of and see things in a more rational +way. They entered, and when Sancho saw the painted pictures on the +wall he remarked to his master that not long from now there would be +paintings picturing their deeds in every tavern and inn in the +country. Don Quixote then turned to his squire and asked him whether +he would like to finish the whipping business that day, and Sancho +said it made no difference to him when he did it; he only made a +suggestion that he thought he would prefer to do it among the trees as +they seemed to help him bear the pain miraculously. But on second +consideration Don Quixote deemed it advisable to put it off till a +later time, when they were closer to their village, in case Sancho +should have a breakdown as a result of his flogging himself. Their +conversation came to an end when Sancho began to shoot proverbs at his +master out of the corner of his mouth at such a speed that Don Quixote +was overwhelmed and tore his hair in desperation. + + + + +CHAPTERS LXXII-LXXIII + +OF THE OMENS DON QUIXOTE HAD AS HE ENTERED HIS OWN VILLAGE; +AND OTHER INCIDENTS THAT EMBELLISH AND GIVE A COLOR TO THIS +GREAT HISTORY + + +When they had left the inn that day Don Quixote and his squire +traveled all through the night, and the following morning they arrived +at their own village, from which they had been absent so long. +Among the first to meet them were the curate and Samson Carrasco, who +had discovered at a distance the red robe the Duchess had given to +Sancho as a memento of their friendship. Sancho had thrown it over his +donkey and the discarded armor, and it shone in the morning sun as +brightly as a fiery sunset. Dapple was also adorned with the miter, +which proudly crowned the beast's head. + +[Illustration: "WITH EACH LASH HE GAVE OUT THE MOST HEARTRENDING +CRIES."--_Page 333_] + +When Don Quixote saw his old friends, he dismounted and embraced them; +and all the little boys in town came running to see the sight of +Dapple and the returning revivers of knight-errantry. They called out +to their playmates: "Come here, fellows, and see how Sancho Panza's +donkey is rigged out; and take a look at Don Quixote's horse: he is +leaner than ever!" + +As they walked through the village, it was a whole parade that +followed them; and at Don Quixote's house they were received by the +niece and the housekeeper, who had already heard of the return. + +Teresa Panza, too, had been given the news, but she was sorely +disappointed when she ran out with her two dirty children to welcome +the returning Governor. She scolded him soundly for coming home +dressed like a vagabond. But Sancho told her to put a clamp on her +tongue, for he did bring her money, at any rate, he said. Then his +daughter fell on his neck and kissed him, and in the next instant the +whole family had dragged him inside their little cottage. + +Don Quixote shut himself in with the curate and the bachelor, as soon +as he had entered his house, and related to them the sad story of his +defeat, and the promise he had made to the Knight of the White Moon; +and then he broached his new idea, that of turning shepherd. He told +his friends he had chosen new names for them, for he hoped that they +would share his new life with him; and they at once praised his scheme +and promised that as shepherds they would accompany him in his pursuit +of happiness. Samson added that he would be an especially valuable +member of the pastoral colony, for he knew how to write poetry, and +would devote his time to singing the praises of their simple life. Of +course, there must be shepherdesses, too, Don Quixote ruled, and they +could be represented by such modest and virtuous women as Dulcinea and +Teresa Panza. + +When they had conversed in this pleasant manner for some time, the curate +and the bachelor left, begging Don Quixote to take good care of himself +and to eat plentifully. As soon as they had departed, the niece and the +housekeeper, who had overheard the three men, entered the late knight's +room and begged him not to turn shepherd saying that his health was not +such as to allow him to dwell in the open in the damp night air; sooner +or later he would succumb, they said, and take ill and die. They were +both agreed that the foolishness of knight-errantry was much better than +this craze. They entreated him to remain at home, to go to confession +often, and to indulge in doing good deeds and being kind to the poor, +instead. But Don Quixote would have none of their advice. He told them he +knew where his duty lay. Then he implored them to put him to bed, saying +that they ought to know he had always their interest at heart, no matter +what happened. + +The two women began to weep, and then they helped Don Quixote to bed, +and there they did all they could to make him comfortable, and gave +him something to eat. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIV + +OF HOW DON QUIXOTE FELL SICK, AND OF THE WILL HE MADE; AND +HOW HE DIED + + +The following day Don Quixote did not rise from his bed, and he was +taken with a fever which kept him in bed for six days. All this time +his faithful Sancho remained at his bedside; and his friends, the +curate, the barber and the bachelor, visited him frequently. They all +did what they could, for they seemed to sense that the sickness was +brought on by the sad thought of his having been forced to give up his +great hope of reviving knight-errantry. + +When the doctor was sent for, he said frankly that it was time for Don +Quixote to turn his thoughts to his soul; and when the niece and the +devoted housekeeper heard this, they began to weep bitterly. The +physician was of the same opinion as the curate and Don Quixote's +other friends: that melancholy and unhappiness were the cause of the +present state of his health. + +Soon Don Quixote asked to be left alone, and then he fell into a long +sleep, which lasted over six hours. It provoked the anxiety of the two +women, who were afraid he would never wake up again. At last he +awoke, and as he opened his eyes he exclaimed in a voice of exaltation +and joy: "Blessed be the Lord Almighty, who has shown me such +goodness! In truth his mercies are boundless, and the sins of men can +neither limit them nor keep them back!" + +The niece was struck by the unusual saneness of these words. She asked +Don Quixote gently what he meant, and what sins of men he was speaking +of. He replied in a voice full of calmness and serenity that God had +just freed his reason, for he realized now how ignorance in believing +in the absurdities of the books of chivalry had distorted his mind and +vision so sadly. He regretted, he said, that he saw the light so late +in life that there was no time for him to show his repentance by +reading other books, which might have helped his soul. Then he begged +his niece to send for the curate, the bachelor Carrasco, and the +barber, as he wished to confess his sins and make his will before he +departed from this earth. + +The moment the three friends stepped over the threshold to his +chamber, he called out happily: "Good news for you, good sirs, that I +am no longer Don Quixote of La Mancha, but Alonso Quixano, whose way +of life won for him the name of the Good." And he went on to say how +he now loathed all books of chivalry which had brought him to the +state he was in, and how happy he was in the thought that God had made +him see his folly. The three men could only think that this was some +new craze of their friend's and tried to persuade him not to talk +thus, now that they had just got news of his peerless Dulcinea and +were all of them about to become shepherds in order to keep him +company; and they begged him to be rational and talk no more nonsense. +But soon they realized that Don Quixote was not jesting, for he begged +them to send for a notary, and while the bachelor went to fetch him, +the barber went to soothe the women; and the curate alone remained +with Don Quixote to confess him. + +When the good curate came out after the confession, the women gathered +about him and when he told them that Don Quixote was indeed dying, +they broke into sobs, for they loved him genuinely and dearly. The +notary then came, and Don Quixote made his will. The first person he +thought of was his faithful and beloved companion, Sancho Panza, whose +simplicity and affection he rewarded by leaving him all the money of +his own that was now in Sancho's possession. Had he had a kingdom to +give him, he said, it would scarcely have been sufficient reward for +all that Sancho had done for him. Then turning to Sancho, who stood at +his bedside with tears in his eyes, he said to him: "Forgive me, my +friend, that I led thee to seem as mad as myself, making thee fall +into the same error I myself fell into, that there were and still are +knights errant in the world." + +"Ah," said Sancho, in a voice that was choked with tears, "do not die, +master, but take my advice and live many years; for the foolishest +thing a man can do in this life is to let himself die without rhyme or +reason, without anybody killing him, or any hands but melancholy's +making an end of him. Come, do not be lazy, but get up from your bed +and let us take to the fields in a shepherd's trim as we agreed! +Perhaps behind some bush we shall find the Lady Dulcinea disenchanted, +as fine as fine can be. If it be that you are dying of vexation at +having been vanquished, lay the blame on me, and say you were thrown +because I girthed Rocinante badly." + +But although Samson Carrasco tried to persuade the dying knight that +Sancho had reasoned rightly, they at last came to the conclusion that +Don Quixote really was in his right senses, and that God had worked a +miracle. + +They now let the notary proceed and one of the stipulations in the +will was that if his niece, Antonia Quixana, ever married a man who +had read books of chivalry, she should by so doing forfeit all that he +had left to her, and instead it would go to charity. Another clause +contained a request to the executors to offer his humble apologies to +the author of the Second Part of "The Achievements of Don Quixote of +La Mancha" for his having committed so many absurdities that had been +a provocation to the author to write this book. + +When he had dictated the last words of his will, a sudden faintness +came over Don Quixote, and for three days after that he was in a state +between life and death. At last the end came, and he passed away so +calmly that the notary felt compelled to confess that he never had +read of any knight errant in the whole wide world who had breathed his +last breath so peacefully. + +The bachelor, Samson Carrasco, wrote an epitaph for his tomb; and +there is written on a tombstone in a little village of La Mancha the +praise that those who knew and loved the valiant and doughty, yet +gentle Don Quixote of La Mancha felt in their hearts for him, whose +last wish was that he might die as Alonso Quixano the Good. + + +THE END + + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcribers' note: + +The Title Page of this book credits Arvid Paulson and Clayton Edwards +as being the authors of this work. The original Don Quixote of The +Mancha was written, in Spanish, by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra around +1605. It has been translated into many languages and editions. This +book is based on Cervantes' story. The catalogue of the Library of +Congress lists Cervantes as the author of this book, and Paulson and +Edwards are included as "related names." + +Variations in spelling, such as grey/gray or pretence/pretense have +been left as they appear in the original book. + +Some items that appear to be typographic errors have been changed +as follows. + +Page 28 Corrected Neverthelesss to remove extra "s". + +Page 63 Corrected imcomparable to incomparable. + +Page 130 Corrected hilarously to hilariously. + +Page 231 Corrected sacrilegeous to sacrilegious in the passage that +read "When the confessor heard the sacrilegeous conversation". + +Page 237 Corrected Dono to Dona in the passage that read "and told +her of the incident with Dono Rodriguez". + +Page 246 Corrected expresseed to expressed. + +Page 257 Deleted superfluous "to" in the passage that read "he +confided to to his master the resemblance in voice and appearance". + +Chapter LIII Page 277 "and lifted him up from his vertical position." +has been left as it appears in the book, although the intent would +appear to be "horizontal" rather than "vertical". + +Chapter LXII Page 306 In the passage that reads "After having acted in +the most mysterious manner, and having carefully ascertained that all +the doors to the room were shut and no one listening, Don Quixote +swore the knight to secrecy." Don Quixote has been changed to Antonio +as this appears to be a typographic error as Don Quixote is the knight +in question. + +Page 309 Changed lead to led in the passage that reads "through a tube +that lead from the inside of the head". + +Page 317 Corrected Stubborness to Stubbornness in the passage that +read "but Sancho was unflinching in his stubborness and insisted". + +Page 328 Corrected to affliction in the passage that reads "in time be +cured of his strange affiction". + + + + +Changes Have Been Made to Table of Contents As Follows. + + +Volume I + + +CHAPTER XXXII-XXXIV + +Which Treats of What Befell All Don Quixote's Party at the Inn + +The table of contents read "at the End". It has been amended to "... at +the Inn" to match the chapter heading + + +Volume II + + +CHAPTER XII + +Of the Strange Adventure Which Befell the +Valiant Don Quixote with the Bold Knight of the Grove + +The table of contents read "of the Mirrors" It has been amended to +"of the Grove" to match this and the next chapter heading and sense +of the story line. + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +How Sancho Panza Was Conducted to His Government; and of +the Strange Adventure That Befell Don Quixote in the Castle + +"Ad" in adventure was missing from the table of contents which read +"Strange Venture". It has been amended to match the chapter heading. + + +CHAPTER L + +Wherein Is Set Forth How Governor Sancho Panza's Wife Received a +Message and a Gift from the Duchess; and also What Befell the Page Who +Carried the Letter to Teresa Panza + +The table of contents went on to add "Sancho Panza's Wife" to the end +of the above listing. This has been removed to agree with the chapter +heading. + + +CHAPTERS LVI-LVII + +Which Treats of How Don Quixote Again Felt the Calling of +Knight-errantry and How He Took Leave of the Duke, and of What +Followed with the Witty and Impudent Altisidora, One of the Duchess' +Damsels + +Deleted "s" from "callings" in contents listing + +In the html version, capitalisation of the Table of Contents has been +modified to agree with each applicable chapter heading. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF DON QUIXOTE*** + + +******* This file should be named 29468.txt or 29468.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/9/4/6/29468 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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