M igu e l de Cerv a n tes

Do n Qu ixo te Vo l . I
,

A l di ne Ed i t ion
D o n Q u ix o t e de l a
M a n c ha

Miguel de C erva n t es Sa a ve dra

T ra nsl ated by H e n ry E dward W at ts

Wi t h a C ri t ic a l a nd B i o g ra p h ic a l I n t ro d u c t i o n
by J o s e p h O co nnor
'

N ew Yo rk
D . A pp l e t o n an d Co mp a ny
 M I G UE L D E C E RV A N T E S S A A V E D RA

H E R E can be n o doubt a s to the right of Don Quix

ote t o a place amo n g the great books of the w orld.
It w on pop ularity at on ce ; a n d it h as grown in favor
f or n early three hu n dred years I t i s n ot for on e age or for
. ,

one clas s or eve n for o n e n at io n alit y b ut h as the character

, ,
“
i s ti c of the w ork of s upreme ge n i us t hat it i s good for all the
,
”
people all the time Boys laugh over the rough fun of its
.

practical joke s ; old me n delight in it s ge n tle wis dom its ,

s w eet n e ss of s pirit a n d i ts u n derton e of s ad n e ss .

, He w h o
loves w i t of aromatic flavor a nd ri ant humor may fin d a
feast of both in thi s book ; he w ho i s fo n d of rapid in ciden t
a n d varied adven ture never feel s h i s i n tere s t flag ; he to w hom

s t orie s of you n g love are dear may s tep at a n y momen t i n t h e ,

w a n derin g co urs e of Don Q uixo t e in to the by path of s ome

,
-

epis ode of romantic pas s ion ; a n d he who like s to s tudy li f e

a s a rt reve a l s s ugge st s a n d mod ifi e s i t will fin d n owhere el s e
,
-

i n literature except perhap s i n the play s of Shake s peare s o

, ,

man y characters that are type s of the real world an d yet crea
tio ns of the ideal on e .

Here i s the enth us ia s m of chiva lry touched w ith mad n ess ;

here the commo n se n s e that laugh s at it s follies ; and here
the charity that sympathize s with its aim s s mile s at it s delu ,

s io n s a n d s igh s over it s d i s comfit ure .

, It i s the j oyful e s t of
books according to one critic an d the mos t mela n choly
, ,

according to an other ; an d n either i s altogether w ron g i n his

e st imate .
It w a s the purpo se of C ervan te s a s he stated it at the begin
,
”
n in g a n d at the clos e of Don Quixote to bri n g in to co ntempt
,

the roman ce s of chivalry which co n stituted the imagin ative liter

ature of Spain in h is day a nd that p urpos e he happily ae com
,

p li s h e d for
, he l a u ghed away A madi s a n d Palmeri n and all
A
iv MI GUE L DE CE RVANT E S S AAVE D RA

t heir train B ut a s he w rought at t h e b urle s q ue on fal se

.

chivalry he began t o w ea ve in to it from the less on of h is

,

ow n e xperien ce a nd t h e s ub s tan ce of h i s ow n character

s ome t hin g of t h e t ragic st ory of tru e chivalry — t h e s corn ,

t h e ro ugh us age the dis a s t er t h a t s ometime s be fall high

, ,

idea ls in t h e st re ss a n d s tra in of a c t ual life ; a n d t hat s econ d

ary mea n in g keep s t h e book a livin g in fl uen ce even i n a n age
t h a t h a s give n litt le heed t o t h e tale s of w an derin g k n igh ts
a n d e n chan t ed cas t le s Whe n the heroic fool in his to ry
.

moun t s t h e sca ff old or is s truck dow n in batt le or w hen the ,

“
en thu s iast of our ow n day fa ll s a n un pitied s acrifice in a c on
”
t e mp tib l e s truggle it i s n o la ughin g matt er ; b ut w hen t h e
,

a mi a ble vi rtuo us vali a n t b ut m oo n s tru ck k n igh t of Cervan t e s

, ,

comes to grief w e l a ugh over h is misf ortun e a n d yet t a ke to

,

hea rt i n a l l gaiet y a n d gen t len es s t h e t rut h t h a t h um a n con

d uct i s out of harmo n y w i th idea l s t hat t h e a ct ion of men
,

often dis rega rd s t heir a s piration s a n d their belief a n d t h a t w e ,

a re a p t to do wh a t in cli n a tio n or in t ere s t prompts while eager ,

t o t each ot hers t o do what o u gh t t o be don e .

”
I n h is Hi story of Span is h Litera t ure Tick n or s ay s t ha t,

t h e purpo s e of Ce rvan t e s h a s bee n en larged by the i n ge n uity

of re fi n ed crit icis m un til i t h a s bee n made t o embrace t h e
,

e n dle s s con tr a s t betw een t h e poet ic a l a n d t h e pro sa ic in our

n a t ure s ; be t w ee n herois m a n d ge n ero s ity on on e s ide a s if ,

t hey w ere mere ill us i o n s a n d a cold s elfi s h n e s s on t h e ot her

, ,

a s if it w ere t h e t ru t h a n d realit y of lif e a n d he add s t h a t

t his i s a mere met a phys ic a l co n clus ion drawn from view s of

”
t h e w ork a t o n ce im perfect a n d exaggera t ed With all d ue
.

re s pec t for s o high a n authority it m a y be s aid t hat he w h o

,
”
read s D on Q uixote i n m a t urit y s eldom fail s to feel t his
deep un derlyin g drift of s e n t imen t a s ort of ideal un dert ow
,

aft er t h e w ave s of roman ce a re s h a ttered on t h e limita tion s

of realit y It i s n ot s at ire b ut a fa ct ; n ot t h e in ge n uit y
. ,

of meta phy s ic s b ut a pec u liarity of h uma n n a t u re ; n ot a

,

refin emen t o f crit icis m b ut t h e co m mo n opin io n of man kin d

,

w hich h a s been cry s ta llized in to t h e commo n s peech A nd .

s o it come s to pas s t h a t the word Q uixotic i s applied to

e n th us ias m t hat dis rega rd s me a n s a n d co n seq uen ce s t h e ,

s en s e of h on or s o de l icate a s to be fan ta s t ical t h e e xalta t ion ,

of s en ti men t that watche s the s ta rs s tumble s into t h e slough

,
 MI GUE L DE CE RVAN T ES SAAVEDRA

on th e path scramble s out of it a n d goe s on a s careles sly a s

,

ever. It is the phras e w i t h which w e con demn a s un p ra ct i

cal the policy th a t w e con fe ss to be n oble .

I t is good to fi n d i n the author of a great book a fin e char

acter a n d in w h a t w e kn ow of M iguel de Cervan t e s t here i s
, ,

much to love a n d lit tle to regret sa ve mis fort u n e s H is life .

w a s full of adve n ture a n d labor H e fo ught bra vely a s a .

s oldier ; he e n d ured c a ptivity a n d s lavery w ith f o rtitu de ; he

accep t ed w it h patie n ce tas ks of common place drudgery i n

order t o ea rn a s c a n t y livin g ; and in h i s old age a n d poverty
he died believin g hopin g a n d lovin g a s in youth w it h a
, , ,

playful phrase upon h i s lip s .

—
He w a s born a t A lcala de Hen ares or a s the E n glis h ,

idiom would p ut i t A lc a la on t h e Hen ares a town abo ut

,

twen t y miles eas t of Madrid ; a n d as t h e record of t h e par ,

is h ch urch of St M a ry t h e Greater s ho w s th a t he w a s b a p
.

tize d O ctober 9 1 5 7
4 ,it i s s u ppo s ed from
, t h e n a me give n

him tha t he w a s born September 2 9 the fe a st of S t M ich a el , .

the Archan gel H is fa t her w as Rodrigo de Cervan te s a n d

.

h is mother Leon or de Cortin a s a n d bot h though poor , , ,

w ere of good Cas t ilia n st rai n so th at their s on w a s born a ,

gen tleman by court es y of conven tio n a s well a s by grace of

n ature . The fam ily of Cervan te s w as of di stin guis hed o rigi n ;
a n d many of i ts members h a d bee n m e n of w ealth a n d high

pos ition ; so t h a t i n th e e n de a vor t o fin d a reput able an ce s try

,

f or a n o ffs hoot of on e of t h e variou s ob s c ure bran che s

that s pread throughout Sp a in t here w a s n o diffi c ult y in d is ,

coveri n g a cardin a l a govern or a n d a commis sary ge n eral

,
-
.

The aut hor of Don Q uixote added t o Ce rvan t e s t h e n a me

Saavedra aft er h i s return from Algiers in 15 8 0 t akin g t h e
, ,

maiden n a me of a gre a t gra n dmother -

Miguel w a s the youn ge st of a family of fo ur childre n .

H i s brother R odrigo w a s a fello w s oldier who s e rv ed w i t h
, ,

dis t in c t io n in t h e Leva n t in t h e A zores where he w on pro

, ,

moti o n a n d i n th e Low Co untries w here he died a t a n un t e

, ,

corded da te H is elder s is ter A n dre a w a s t w ice married a n d

. , , ,

in her widowhood lived with Miguel u ntil her dea th . The

youn ger s is ter Luis a became a Ca rrne l it e n un i n 15 6 5 The
, , .

comrades hip of t h e bro t her s i n w a r t h e un ity of intere s t s how n ,

’
in the elder sister s e n try in to her brother s hou s ehold a s a home ’

,
Vi MIGUEL DE C ERVAN TES S AAV ED RA

a nd the s acrifice s of t h e father a n d mot her t o ra n s om their

s o n s f rom s l a very in dic a t e th a t there w a s a w a rm a n d abidi n g
,

a ff ectio n i n the family I n goin g over the record of a life a n d

.

s ummin g up i t s ga i n s a n d lo s s e s we a re apt to forge t i n the , ,

pres ence of obvious mi s fort un e s t h e compe nsa tio n s th a t come ,

from t h e bes t t hough least obtr us ive of a l l delight s th e

love of kin dred a n d t h e compan ion s hip of a cheerfu l ho use
hold ; a n d it i s t o be hoped t ha t i n t h e cas e of Cerva n t es there
w a s an ab un dan ce of h a ppi n e s s from this s o urce d u rin g t h e
lo n g li ngerin g years of yo uth .
Like h i s co n tempora ry Shake s peare Cervan tes w a s with , ,

out t h e advant a ge of a un ivers it y ed ucation b ut like Shake ,

s peare he ga i n ed i n s ome f a s hio n a n ed uca ti o n t h a t eq uipped

,

h i s n at ura l ge ni us f or li t erary creat io n He w a s a n eager .

reader from boyhood a n d h i s w riti n gs s how wide if n ot

, ,

acc urate s cholars hip I n hi s day A lcala de H en ares w a s t h e

, .

s eat of a great u n ivers ity fo u n ded by C a rdi n al X ime n e s , ,

which w a s seco n d on ly t o t h a t of Sa l a man ca i n w ealt h a n d

pop ularity The n eighborhood of such a n in stit ut ion i s apt
.

to aff ect a w hole comm un it y a n d t h e compan io n s hip of the ,

s t ude n t s m a y have h a d s ome in fl ue n ce i n t h e developme n t of

t h e min d o f Ce rvan t e s a n d t h e determin a tio n of h i s tho ught

t o lit era tu re It i s s aid that t h e He na re s i s by n o mean s
.

a bea utiful s trea m a n d ye t i ts as s ocia tion s mu st have had

,

s ome t hin g of rom a n ce f or Ce rv an te s s in ce he made it s ,

wan deri n gs t h e s cen e of h is famou s pas toral To h i s boy .

hood too ma y be traced h is love for the drama for i n a ft er

, , ,

years he s poke of h i s boyis h a d m iration of Lope de Rued a a ,

gold beat er of Seville w h o became a dramat ic a uthor a n d

-

s t rolli n g pl a yer con trib ut ed m uch to form t h e Span is h s tage

, ,

a n d w a s w o n t t o creat e by mea n s of a f e w s hee p s ki n dre ss e s

,
-

trimmed w it h gilt le a t her a n d w igs beard s a n d crooks a rea lm

, , ,

o f e n ch a n t m e n t a b o ut h i s s ta ge of plan k s s e t up on be n che s

i n a public s q uare .

I t i s k n o w n t h a t Ce rvan te s h a d s ome good s choolin g a n d ,

that h i s early b en t f or poe try w a s e n co uraged He w a s a .

p upil of Lopez de Hoyo s a t Madrid ; a n d t h e tea cher w h o ,

w a s al s o a poet ga ve h i s w ork cordial pr a i s e a nd p ublic

,

recogn itio n I s a bel of Valois the third w ife of Philip I I w a s

. , ,

b uried with great pomp O ctober 24 15 68 ; a n d the follow in g

, ,
 MIGUEL DE CERVAN TES S AAVE DRA Vi i

yea r Lopez de Hoyos publis hed appare n tly by authority a n , ,

accou n t of her la s t illn e s s death a n d magn ificen t fun eral i n

, ,

which he in cl uded s everal s hort poem s by Cervan tes on e of ,

“ ”
them an elegy in t h e n ame of t h e w hole s chool Thes e .

verse s are of little value but t h e p a rtial master prai sed t hem
,
”
a s the w ork o f a dear a n d beloved dis ciple elega n t i n ,

s tyle rhetoric a l i n color a n d wo rthy of remembra n ce for the

, ,
”
matter I n h i s V oya ge of Parn ass us p ublis hed n ear t h e
. ,

clos e of h i s life Cervan t es s ays that he loved poetry from h i s

,

ten der yea rs a n d s o ught con s olation in it ; a n d he s peak s of a

pas t oral a n d s on n ets a n d plays ballad s a nd elegie s w ritten
, , ,

i n h i s you t h a n d lo n g forgotte n ; s o t hat the proba bilitie s are

t hat at the a g e of t w en ty t w o he had given him s e l f over t o
-

literat ure h a d w on some reputatio n a s a poet w a s beginn in g

, ,

t o realize t hat he had taken the w ro n g path t o pro s perity a n d ,

s till thought th a t he might choo s e a ne w w a y of preferme n t a s

readily a s a n ew p a ir of gloves . Succes s ful law yers are fo n d

o f s ayi n g t h a t t h e l a w i s a jealou s mi s tre s s ; but poet ry with ,

n o s uch rich re w a rd s to o ffer fe a rs n o dis loya lt y i n her vot a

,

rie s . He w h o h a s felt a pas s io n for her ma y rove far st ay ,

lon g aw ay a n d meet wit h man y tempta tion s but he i s sure to

, ,

ret urn ; n othin g el s e quite s a tis fies him . A n d s o Cervante s

fors ook litera ture for years but n ot forever ,
.

I n the a ut um n of 15 68 Pi us V s en t Julio A cquavi va to

Spain bearin g a mess age of co n dolen ce to Philip I I on t h e
, ,

deat h of h is s on Don Carlo s J uly 3 15 68 a n d al s o a protest

, , ,

again s t t hat mon a rch s in terferen ce w ith eccles ias t ica l a u

’

t h ori t y i n Milan D urin g h is stay at Madrid t h e prelate a

. ,

m a n of twe n ty fo ur s o ught t h e s ociety of literary men a n d

-

en joyed t h e free dis cus s ion of variou s q ue s tion s i n politic s ,

s cie n ce a n d litera ture A mon g t hos e int rod uced to h i m w a s

.

Cerva nt e s w h o en tered h i s hou s ehold a s C h a mberlain and

, ,

accompan ied him on h i s departure a t t h e clo se of the ye a r , ,

n ot w it ho ut a s o m ew h a t peremptory i n t imat ion from t h e kin g

t o s peed the p a rtin g gue s t. The jo urn ey to R ome w a s thro ugh

the s out h of F ra n ce a n d Cervan tes reached that city early i n
,

15 69.
I n t a kin g s er vi ce wit h A cquavi va, Cervan te s w a s n ot s ur
rendering h i s n at io n a li ty, for a good part of I t aly w a s then
un der con trol of Spain , which in the lon g con te s t of fore ign
vi ii MIGU E L DE CE RVAN TES S AAVED RA

powers a n d n ative faction s had w on N a ple s Sicily Sardin ia , ,

a n d Lomb a rdy a n d w a s in a po s it ion t o dicta t e t o st ate s s h e

,

did n ot rule The place he had taken however he did n ot

. , ,

lo n g reta in ; a n d in the s prin g of 15 70 he e n li sted a s a

s ol d ier in the compan y of Diego de Urbin a i n t h e Sp a n is h ,

reg iment of Mo n ca da w hich w a s t he n tempora rily in the se r

,

vice of t h e pope b ut w a s removed to N a ples in t h e s ummer

,

a s part of t h e gre a t f orce to be u s ed again st t h e T urks .

The Span is h in fan try a t that t ime t rain ed i n many wa rs , ,

u s ed to vict ory a n d f ull of co ura ge w a s doubtle s s a s s tout a

,

body of s oldiers a s ever trod a ba ttle fie ld The n orm a l -

.

s tre n gth o f a regi m e n t w a s three t ho usa n d me n ; b ut a s there

were man y volun teers w a it in g for a va can cy a regim en t ,

might be m uch s tron ger. That of Lope de Figueroa w hich ,

Cervan te s j oin ed two years later a n d w hich w a s con s idered

,

t h e mo st di s ti n gu i s hed i n t h e a rmy w a s compo s ed of f orty

,

compa n ie s cont a in in g s ix t ho us and fo ur hun dred a n d forty

,

s ix m e n .The common s oldiers in t hes e regime n t s w ere

chos en carefully a n d a n y on e who di st in guis hed him s elf
,

received increas ed pay a n d became eligible to t h e ran k of a n

,

o fficer. To be a c a pt a in in the re gi men t of Fig ueroa required

a s ervice of s ix years a s a s oldier a n d t hree years a s a n
e n sign or te n years a s a dis tin guis hed s oldier Cerva n t es
,
. ,

t heref ore i n e n teri n g t h e mil ita ry s ervice o f h i s co unt ry w as

, ,

n ot o n ly gra t i fyi n g a love of adve n t ure b ut choo s in g w hat ,

w a s i n h i s day t h e mo s t ho n orable career ; a n d to pers o n al

in clin a tion a n d ambit io n t h e higher mot ive of p a t rio ti s m w a s
,

n o do ubt a dded for at t h a t e ra there w a s every te m p t at io n t o

,

a yo un g Sp a n ia rd of s pirit a nd in t ellige n ce to s eek a n a ctive

p a rt i n s h a pin g t h e brillia n t fort un e s of h i s co un try N a y . ,

more a loft ier s en t imen t even t h a n love of co un try migh t

,

h a ve had i t s in fl uen ce s in ce s omethin g like a de fe n s ive cru

,

sa de had begun a ga i n s t t h e T urki s h po w er the n t hre a te n in g ,

Christ e n dom o n l a n d a n d se a .

I t w a s the e ra of t h e gre a te s t exp a n sion of t h e T urkis h

empire I t s tre tched from the C a ucas us t o t h e C a rp a t hia n s
. ,

a n d f rom t h e R ed S e a alo n g t h e s o ut hern co a s t of the Medi

terran ean t o Gibra lta r It took i n t h e great rivers of

.

a n t iqui ty ; i t s s h a do w d a rke n ed man y a cla s s ic v a lley ; a n d

i ts violen ce had dis figured the bea uty a n d crus hed the glory
 MIGU E L DE C E RVANT ES S AAVED RA ix

of many a n oble city It w a s s till rich in the u n squan dere d

.

plun der of the civilization that it had destroyed a n d s til l ,

fierce with t h e fanati cis m of a fa t a list ic creed. I t s w ars

were s lave hun t s ; and wh a tever men women or children
-

rem a in ed after t h e s laughter of a vi ctory were s a ved f or lus t

or bart er. Soliman the Gre a t had been beaten back from
Vien n a but R hode s a nd Cypru s had f al le n a n d h i s s ucces s or
, ,

gras ped a t the mas tery of the s e a . If it were worth w hile to

won der a t a n y f o lly in history w e might wo n der at the a pathy
,

of Chris t ian n at io n s in the pre s e n ce of so great a d a n ger .

More t ha n on ce t h e n ew civilization of E urope w a s on the

verge of dest ruct ion while the people s of the west p urs uin g
, ,

their ow n rivalries a n d pu s hin g t he ir ow n fortu n e s paid little ,

heed to the advan c ing A siatic calamity t hat threate n ed t h e

commo n ru in of all . It i s hardly a n exc us e or an explan a ti o n
of the fatuity of the nation s i n th a t d a y t o sa y that w e s e e

them i n our ow n time s s u s tai n in g the Turkis h empire i n i ts

decrepit ude wit h its dis positio n to evil as prompt a s ever
, ,

d on ly it s capacity for s laughter weakened .

Piu s V s a w clearly the me n a ce to Chri stendom a n d he ,

e n deavored t o rekindle the old crusadin g s pirit ; but he could

do n o more t han brin g about t h e a llian ce of Spain a n d V en ice
in h is s u pport kn own a s the Holy League formed Ma y 2 0
, , ,

15 7 1 A s t h e immediate objec t w a s t h e recovery of Cypru s

. ,

a n d a s t h e allie s were nowhere in co n tact with their enemy on

l a n d t h e conflict w a s to be for s u premacy at sea ; a nd the

,

allied fl eets as s embled at O tran to Aug ust 2 1 a n d reached the ,

fi n a l re n dezvous at Me ss in a Augu s t 2 3 where Don Joh n of

, ,

Au st ria a bout two years older t han Ce rvan te s ass umed the
, ,

chief comman d There had been m uch bickering a mon g the

.

adm ira ls a n d the s trife con tin ued b ut t he you ng co mm an der

, ,

w a s for aggre s s ive action a n d t h e fl eet s e t s ail September 1

, 6 .

Cerva n te s had been sta tion ed a t N a ple s for ne a rly a year ,

but on t h e departure of Don Joh n f or Me s s in a he w a s de ,

tailed a s on e of a detachment of M on cada s regi men t on ’

bo ard t h e M a rques a one of An drea Doria s galleys . The

,
’

allies s ighted the Turkis h fl eet O c tober 7 dra wn up f or ,

action n ea r the en tran ce of the G ulf of Lepan to f ormerly ,

the Gulf of Corin th . It w a s comm a n ded by Ali Pa s h a ,

w hos e as s ociate w a s A luch A li a C a labria n ren ega de the

, ,
x MIGUE L DE CE RVAN TES S AAV ED RA

mo st famou s C ors a 1r of h i s time . It w a s S un day . Don

John h a d begun t h e day by d a n c in g a galliard on the poop of
the fl a g s hip w ith h is comrade s ; mas s w a s celebra ted on
-

every ga lley a n d a bo ut n oon the advers e fl eet s bore dow n

,

for clo s e action the Turks w ith a favorin g w in d w hich s ud

, ,

d e nl y s hift ed a n d gave t h e Chris ti a n s the weather ga ge -

.

The ce n ter of t h e a llied fl eet s ixty four Sp a n is h a n d Roman

,
-

galley s w a s u n der Don Joh n hi m s elf w h o dis pl a yed i n stre n u

, ,

ous activity the courage cool n e ss a n d s oldierly gen i us that

, , ,

made his bri ef career s o co n s pic uou s Do ria comman ded t h e .

ri gh t wi ng fi ft fo u r Spa n i s h galley s B a rb a ri g o comma n ded

y .
-

the left wi ng fi fty three Ve n etia n galleys Seven galleass es

,
-
.

( merely galley s o f u n u s ua l s i ze ) w ere s ta tio n ed at di ff ere n t

poin t s to s tre n gt hen t h e lin e a n d a re se rve of thirty ga lley s
,

u n der S a n ta Cruz formed the re a r. There w ere tw e nt y s ix -

thous an d s oldiers in t h e fl ee t. The T urk s h a d more ve sse l s

i n li n e b ut t hey were n ot qu ite so la rge or so w ell equipped
,

w ith gu n s .
The Mediterra n ea n w a r galleys of that period were less
than two h un dred feet in len gt h a n d n arrow in proportion , ,

carryin g two or t hree mas ts with l a teen s ai ls a n d drive n by

o n e tier of lo n g a n d pow erf u l oars a bout thirty on each s ide
, ,

man n ed i n the Chris tia n fl eet by co n dem n ed crimin a ls a n d in

the Turkis h fl eet by Chris tia n s lave s . They were low amid
s hip s but built high a t poop a n d foreca s t le w here gu n s w ere
, ,

s e t on travers in g plat f orm s a n d where great force s o f fi g h t

,

i n g men w ere s tation ed The ten den cy w a s to come t o clo s e

.

quarters a n d the fightin g w a s apt t o be fierce a n d bloody.

,

I t w a s n ever more des perate t han at Lepan to where the bat ,

tle raged for fo ur ho urs . The Chris tian victory w a s com

p l e t
, e except t ha t A l u ch A li outm a n euverin g Doria broke
, ,

through the right w ing and e s c a ped to the open se a w it h

thirty vess els . It i s s aid t hat twe nty t hous and Turks per
i s h e d ; th a t five thous an d more were t ake n pri s o n er s ; t hat
o ne hu n dred a n d s eve n ty of their g a lley s were capt ured a n d

a h un dred s un k ; a n d t hat fi ftee n thou s an d Ch ri st ia n s lave s

w ere re s t ored to freedom . The a l l ie s lo s t from fiv e t ho usa n d

to s even t ho us an d men and eight or te n galleys A mo n g the .

trophies o f vict ory w ere t h e Holy S ta n da rd of Mecca the ,

fl a g of the Sultan a n d the s word of the T urkis h admiral ;

,
xii MI GUE L DE CERVAN TES S AAV ED RA

hon or he expo se s him self to all thei r fire a n d e n deavors by

,

th a t narrow pas s to force h is way in to the en emy s ves sel . ’

A n d w h a t is mos t w orthy of a dmira tio n n o s oon er i s on e

, ,

fallen n ever to ris e again i n t his w orld th a n an other ta ke s

, ,

h i s place a n d if he a l s o fall s in t o t h e se a w hich lie s in wait

, ,

to devour him an ot her a n d an other s ucceed s wit ho ut in t er

,

mis s io n . I n all t h e extremiti es of w ar t here i s n o exa mple of

in trepidit y a n d courage t o exceed this Here i s a rin gin g
.

remin is cen ce of t he cris is w hen Cervan tes w en t over t h e

b ulw arks of the Turkis h galley w hich w a s captured w it h th e
,

royal s tan da rd of E gypt after a struggle in w hich the Pas ha

,

a n d five h un dred of hi s men were s l a in . Cervan tes received

three g uns hot wo un ds — tw o in the bre a s t that wrought no
,

perman e nt in jury a n d on e i n the left han d t hat s hattered the

,

bon es w a s lon g in healing a n d left t h e han d maimed a n d

, ,

man gled ever aft er.

T h e fl eet return ed to M e ss ina w it h t h e w ou n ded a n d there ,

Cervan tes rem a in ed for a lon g time in the ho s pita l A mon g .

t h e mili tary record s pre s erved i n Spai n t here i s a n e n try by t h e

treasurer of the fl eet a s to t h e mo n ey di s tribu ted J a n 2 3 15 72 . , ,

amon g the w oun ded a t Me ss in a a n d Miguel de Cerva n te s

,

i s s et dow n a s receivi n g tw e n ty ducats ; M a rch 1 7 payme n t s ,

w ere made to thos e w h o had dis tin gu is hed them s elve s at

Lepanto a n d he is n amed a s receivin g tw en ty tw o duc a ts
,
-
.

A pril 29 h i s mon t hly pay w a s advan ced three crow n s ; and

,

w he n he left the ho s pital t hat day to j oin t h e regime n t of

Figueroa i n w hic h h i s brother R odrigo served he w a s
, ,

advan ced to the gra de of a dis tinguis hed s oldier a n d cous e ,

q ue ntly w a s on the li s t f or promotion .

There i s no doubt t hat Cervant e s w a s fon d of alludin g to

h i s w oun ds a n d s u fferin g s b ut he had earn ed the right t o
,

modes t s elf as s ertion in the f a ce of advers e f ortun e ; the s e n s e

-

of d ut y w ell do n e at a great cri sis w a s always with him a n d ,

it w a s s ometimes n eces s ary to s u st a in him i n evil days The .

glory of Lep a n to w a s n ever more a dmirably sugges ted t han

i n t h e re b uke which he gave i n h i s old a g e t o the a ut hor of
the s purious secon d p a rt of Don Quixote w h o sn eered ,

at him for havi ng more to n gue t han han ds : I am guilty ,

it s eem s of be ing old ; a n d it i s a ls o proved upo n me that

,

I have los t my han d ! A s i f I had the power to a rre st th e

 MIGU E L DE CE RVANTES S AAVED RA xii i

progress of ti me ; a n d that t his maim w a s the e ffect of s ome

ta vern b ra w l a n d n ot received on the nobles t occas io n t hat
,

past or pres en t ti me s have wi tn ess ed or t h e fut ure ca n ever

hope to see ! If my w ou n ds be dis rega rded by thos e w h o
s imply look o n them they will be ho n ored by tho s e w h o kn o w
,

h ow t hey w ere ga in ed ; for a s old ier make s a n obler fig ure

dea d on t h e field of battl e tha n alive a n d flyi ng from h i s
,

ene m y ; a n d so firm ly fixed am I i n this opin ion that could ,

the im pos s ibil ity be overcome a n d I had the po w er to choo s e

, ,

I w o uld rat her be again pres en t in t hat s tupe n do us act ion

”
th an w hole a n d s o un d w itho ut s h a rin g i ts glory .

Cervantes s erved in the s econ d expediti o n of the fl eet t o

t h e Le van t w he n it w a s ba ffl ed in a n att empt t o brin g the
,

Turki s h A dmi ra l A l uch Ali to a n e n gageme n t a n d returned ,

O ctober 2 5 The fol lowin g wi n ter h i s regimen t w a s quar

.

te red i n Sici ly b ut he w a s probably s t atio n ed at N aple s ; a n d

,

it is k n ow n that he w as w ith th e expedit ion un der Don Joh n

whi ch arrived a t Tu n is O ctober 8 15 73 w ith t h e des ign of, ,

st re n gthen i n g t h e Sp a n is h pos iti o n at Golett a comman di n g

the h a rbor After t h e return of the expedit ion he w a s in

.

ga rris on w ith h is regi men t in Sardin ia un til May 15 74. H e ,

w a s at Sp ezzia A ugu s t 7 to ta ke p a rt i n the s eco n d expedi

,

t ion for the co n q ues t of T uni s ; but the e n terpris e h a d bee n

t oo lon g del ayed a n d before the fl eet co uld s ail n ew s came
,

that t h e Moors had full con trol of the cit y a n d had captured
the fo rt a t Goletta. A year of u n eve ntf ul s ervice follo w ed ,

a n d the n Cervan te s obta i n ed leave to vi s it Spai n i n comp a n y

wit h hi s brot her a n d s et out in Aug us t 15 7 5 carryin g letters

, , ,

from D on Joh n a n d fro m t h e Viceroy of Sicily recommen d ,

i n g him a s a m a n of valor of merit a n d of m a n y s ign a l

, ,
” “
s ervi ces ,and a s oldier as des ervin g a s he w a s un fortun at e ,

who by h i s n oble virtu e a n d gen t le dis po s ition had w on the

”
e s tee m o f h is comrade s a n d chie f s A lmo st in s igh t of t h e
.

coas t of Spain the galley E l 5 01i n w hich t hey s ai led , ,

fell i n w i th a s q uadron of Algerin e cors a irs un der the com

man d of a n Alba n ian ren egade A rn aut M a rn i a n d a fter a
, ,

des perate res is t ance w as captu red by three of the p irat e

ves s els.

Algiers w a s t hen a s lo n g a fter a s mall s ta te u n der the

, ,

s uze rai n ty of th e Sulta n e n gaged in plu n deri n g t h e com

,
 V MIGU E L DE CERVAN TES SAAVE D RA

m erce of the Medit erra n ean capturin g Christian s on mer ,

ch a n t ves sels or i n rai d s on Span is h a n d Ita lian t own s a nd ,

s ellin g them a s s lave s or holding them for r a n s om by their

,

f rie n d s . It wa s a place of refuge for re n egade a dve n t urer s

f ro m every n atio n in E u rope ; f or the propen s it y to prey
u pon o ur fello w s s eldom f a il s to s ho w its elf w hen t h e ch a n ce s

o f s ucce s s a re fair a n d the promi s e of pl un der golde n . In

t he s e day s of quieter m ethod s w hen piracy on the high s eas ,

i s s o un popular w e thin k i t st ran ge that t h e Cors air s t at e s

,

fl ouri s hed n ot o n ly when the T urk w a s at the height of h is

pro s perity b ut for two cen tu ries afterward levyin g black
, ,

mail on t h e s tro n ge s t n atio ns when their pow er w a s gone

a n d noth i n g w a s left but their in s ole n ce a n d ra p a cit y . Yet
it i s on ly a h un dred yea rs ago t hat t h e U n ited S tates ra n
so me d i t s peace ful citize n s from A lgiers a n d p a id out about

a mil lion dollars for a trea ty on e of th e co n dition s of which

,

w a s the paymen t of a n an n ual tribu t e Bet w ee n the ri s e of .

thes e se a robbers a n d t he ir fall it w ould st ra in t h e imagin a ,

t io n to co n ceive t h e outrages on peace a n d in n ocen ce that

marked their career .

I n t h e divi sion of the s poil Cervan te s fell t o t h e lot of a ,

re n ega de Greek n amed Deli Marni a Co rs a ir c a ptain of un ,

u s ual ferocity a n d t h e letters of commen da tio n that he carried

,

with him led h i s ow ner to s uppo se him a pers on of great

importan ce a n d therefore to de man d a la rge ran s om p ut
, ,

him i n chain s a n d treat him wit h s everity i n order t o ha st en

h is releas e I n t h e s econ d year of the c a p t ivit y of t h e brothers
'

t heir father s e n t to A l gi ers a ll the mo n ey he could rai se by

pledgin g h is e stat e a n d the dow ries of h i s da ugh ters ; but it
w a s n ot s u ffi cie n t t o meet the deman d s of Miguel s mas ter ;
’

a n d R odrigo po s s ibly f or that re a s o n a n d po s s ibly becau s e

, ,

he w a s t h e elder w a s s et at liberty. Miguel remain ed i n

,

s la very b ut w a s s old for five h un dred cro w n s to H a s s an

,

Pas h a ruler of the cit y H is fa ther a s men tion ed heret o

, . ,

f ore pe tit ion ed the royal co un cil for help but i n vain ; a n d
, ,

w he n he died i n 1 5 79 the mother a n d the

, w idowed s i s t er
took up t h e t a sk ra i s ed t hree h un dred ducats borrow ed a s
, ,

m uch more a n d p ut it i n the han d s of Father J ua n Gil of the

,

Rede m ptori s ts the offi cial ran s om er for C a s tile He we n t

, .

to Algiers May 2 9 15 80 ; but Hass an Pas ha who h a d been

, , ,
 MIGUE L DE CERVAN TE S SAAVED RA xv

recalled to Con s tantinople a n d had all h is slaves ch ained and

fettered on s hipboard ready for t h e voyage refu sed to accept,

the s um te n dered and Father Gil rais ed an additi on al five

,

hun dred crowns and p urchas ed the releas e of Cervan tes at

the las t mome n t. He came as hore a fre e ma n September ,

1 1
9, 5 80 .

The fiv e yea r s of ca ptivity were crowded with sn fl eri n g

a n d adven ture a n d c uriou s ly e n ough n o period of h is li fe
, , ,

i s bett er known . O ne s ource of i nformation is a book by

Father Diego H md o giving a des cription and genera l history
o f A lgiers publis hed at Valladolid i n 1
, 61 2 th ough licen s ed
,

to be printed in 1604 and therefore written be fore the first

,
”
part of Don Quixote w as is sued It w as written apparently
.

without a ny kn owledge of C ervantes beyon d hi s lif e i n s lavery ,

a nd it w a s bas ed on the authority of fellow capti ve s w h o a d

mired him a s a hero of roman ce There were abo ut 2.

Chris tian s laves i n Algiers a n d tho s e w h o had h ope of ra n

,

s om w er e a llow ed s ome degree of lice n s e . They had op p or

t un i ty for communication and trade a mo n g the ms elve s were ,

u n di s turbed in t h e practis e of their reli gion and were allo w ed

,

t o pl a n t heir o w n amu s ements . Cerva n te s i s de s cribed a s a

leader amon g t he m al ways helpful a n d cheerful w riti n g s on gs
, ,

a n d ball a d s a n d even gettin g up theatrical repre s e n tatio n s ;

,

but what w a s s till more cha rac t eris tic ever s cheming for
, ,

e s cape a n d s tepping forward in the event of fail ure to as

,

s ume the re s po n s ib i lity and ta ke the pu n is hme n t though t h e ,

dis as ter might be due to weakn es s or trea chery amon g hi s

companion s.
He set out with some of h i s friend s for O ra n a dis tan t ,

point wes t ward on the coast t hen i n the hand s of the Span
,

i a rd s ; but the Moori s h guide de s erted and the fugitives had

,

t o retu rn . When h i s brother w a s ran s omed Cervan t e s co n ,

t riv e d a more elaborate s cheme . R odrigo carried letters from

two capti ves con n ected with powerful Spanis h familie s a s k ,

i ng the v iceroys of V alencia a n d the B a learic I s land s to s e n d

a war ves sel to a poin t on the coas t n ear Algiers . Mea n whil e
a n umber of s laves mo stly Spa n is h gentlemen stole away
, ,

to a s ecret cave in the ga rden of a G reek renegade w h o w a s

on e of t h e a lcalde s of the cit y a s hort dis ta nce ea s twa rd on
,

the se as hore . There they we re hidden with the conn iv an ce

,

B
xvi MI G UE L DE CE RVANTE S S AAVED RA

of the gardener a n ative of N avarre a n d they w ere fe d by the

, ,

e fi ort s of Cervan te s who took re fuge w it h them September

,

20 1 i
’

, 5 77 ,
about a mo n th after h s bro t her s relea s e A f ri g a t e .

from Majorca arrived September 2 8 a n d drew clo s e to t he ,

s hore abo ut mid n igh t ; but s ome pas s in g Moo ris h fi s herme n

ob served her a n d rais ed a n alarm so t hat s h e had t o dra w

,

o ff . Thos e i n the cave w ere still hopeful w he n a re n egade ,

n amed the Gilder w h o had bee n employed to brin g f ood

, ,

betrayed them to t h e V iceroy H a s sa n who s en t a force t o ,

t heir hidi ng place at o n ce

-
Ce rvan te s perceivin g the a p
. ,

h i n oldier s t epped forward a n d ackn ow ledged him

p r o a c g s s ,

s elf t h e author of t h e whole plot to e s c a pe s a y in g th a t he ,

had led the others in to the attempt A s a con s equen ce they

. ,

w ere s e n t to pris o n a n d h e w a s brought bef ore t h e viceroy ,

w h o w a s a n xio us t o i n c ulpate F a ther Jorge O livar ofii ci a l ,

ran s omer of Arago n a n d tho ught Cerva n te s might be i n

,

d uce d to acc us e him ; b ut n o t empta tion or t hre a t ava iled ;

a n d Hass a n take n w it h t h e re s olut e beari n g of Cervan t e s i n
,

the fa ce of death a n d t ortu re determin ed t o buy him .

,

There w a s s omethin g s tra n ge in the rel a tio n of thes e men ,

the n a n d aft erwa rd ; for th e master n oted for ty rann y a n d

,

cruelt y pardo ned t w ice a n d a t hird t ime the s lave w ho s e s pirit

,

he could n ot break I n t h e Sto ry of t h e Captive Cerva n tes

.

“
de s cribes Ha ssa n a n d a llude s to him s elf : Th us I pa ss ed
years of captivity w ith ot her gen tlemen of con diti on from ,

w hom ran s om w a s expect ed We s uff ered much bot h from

.

h un ger a n d n aked n e s s b ut the s e w ere le s s pain ful t o en dure

,

than the s ight of tho se un para lleled a n d exce ss ive cr uelties

which our t yra n t i nfl ict ed on h is Ch ri stia n s laves . N ot a
day pas s ed on w hich on e of t he s e u n fortun ate m en w a s n ot
eit her h a n ged impaled or mutilated ; a n d ofte n w ithout t h e
,

le a s t provocat ion E ve n the T urks ackn ow ledged that he

.

acted th us merely for t he gra tific a t ion of h i s m urderous a n d

in h um an dis po sitio n O n e Span is h s oldier on ly w hos e n a me
. ,

w a s s omet hin g de Saavedra h a ppen ed t o be i n h i s good

,

gra ce s ; a n d although h i s en terpris e s to e ff ec t escape were

s u ch a s w i ll lo n g be re membered t here he n ever gave h i m a ,

blo w n or ordered one t o be given him n or eve n reb uked him ,

yet for t h e lea st of man y t hin gs he did w e all feared he ,

w o uld be imp a led alive ; s o i n deed he feared him s elf more

 MIGU E L DE CERVAN TES S AAVED RA xv ii

than once. Did t h e ti me allow I could tell you of s ome ,

th in gs don e by t his s oldier which w ould s urpris e you more

than my own n a rra tive Fat her H ae do S peaks of Cervan te s
.

a s h a vin g cared for tho s e i n th e cavern at t h e ri s k of h i s lif e ,

and a s havin g been four times at t h e poin t of impalemen t or

burn i n g a live for h is e ff orts to free h i s comp a n ions addin g ,

th a t h i s captivity a n d hi s achievemen ts w o uld m a ke a story

i n t hem s elve s ; t h a t H a ss an kin g of A lgiers us ed t o s a y
, ,

that s o fa r a s he held t h a t maimed Spaniard i n s afe keep in g

, ,

he w o uld reckon a s se cure hi s Christ ian s h i s s hip s a n d h i s ,

” ’
city a n d t hat if the s la ve s good fort un e had corre s pon ded
,

with h i s co ura ge en terpris e a n d fertilit y of device A lgi ers

, ,

w ould have belo n ged t o the Ch ri stia n s t hi s d a y for h i s de s ig n s ,

”
a imed a t n o le s s The la st st a temen t i s n o doubt a n all u
.

s io n t o t h e rhy med epi s tle t o Mat eo V a s q uez Secreta ry of ,

Philip I I in w hich Cerva n te s set f orth the st ory of h i s life

,

a n d s e r vi ce s s ugge s ted t h e po ss ibilit y of a ri s in g of the

,

Christian s lave s i n A lgiers des c rib ed the w eak n e s s of the

,

place a n d urged the k in g on every co n sideration of charity

,

a n d policy to s e n d an armame n t from Spai n f or t h e eas y a n d

heroic co n q uest . Poets are apt t o fix their eye s on great

d uties a nd forget the troubles of t h e day over w hich politi
e iau s perplex them s elve s ; a n d Secret a ry V a s q ue z filed aw ay
the let ter of Ce rvan tes so carefully that it w a s n ot f ou n d
un ti l 186 3 .

A t the clo s e of 15 77 Cervan te s attempted to commu n icate

with the Sp a n i s h govern or at O ran but h i s mes sen ger w a s ,

captured a n d con demn ed to impalemen t a n d h e him s elf w a s ,

s en te n ced to u n dergo two t ho us an d blows of a s t ick ; b ut h i s

ma ster on ce more rele nted I n September 15 79 he w a s . , ,

again tempted to plan a n e scape j oin in g with a Sp a n is h ,

re n egade who w a s pin in g for h i s n ative coun try Tw o Val .

e n cia mercha nts livi n g i n Algiers w ere t o furn is h a n a rmed

ves s el i n w hich abo ut s ixty of the prin cipa l capt ive s w ere to
take flight un der t h e comman d of Cervan tes Bl a n co de Pa z .
,

a Domin ican mo n k of A ra gon i n formed t h e Viceroy of the

, ,

s cheme i t i s s aid a n d a s Cervan t e s had e s caped from h i s

, , ,

h ou s e he procl a imed t hat a n y o ne harbori n g t h e f ugit ive

,

s ho uld be p ut t o deat h ; w hereupo n i n order t o sa ve the ,

frie n d w ith w hom he had ta ken refuge Cervante s deli vered ,

xviii M IGUE L DE CERVAN TES S AAVE D RA

h im self but though at one time the rope w a s around h i s

up , ,

neck he e scaped han gin g a n d w a s condem n ed by way of

, ,

reprieve to a rigorou s impris on men t for fiv e mo nt h s

, .

A par t from Father H ze d o s n arrat ive t here i s an ot her rich

’

s ource of i nformation a s to the lif e o f Cervan t e s i n A lgiers .

Blan co de Paz profe ss ed to be an age n t of the Holy O ffi ce ,

wi t h authority to act in Algiers ; a n d for s ome reas o n or

o ther he hated Cervan te s i n te n s ely a n d lo s t n o opportu n it y

of s preadin g accus ation s a gain st him . I n s ome m en t h e

cau se of hatred bea rs n o rela t io n to t h e s tre ng th of the p a s
s io n , a n d it i s idle t o con jecture w he t her t his e n emy had

merely s u ffered in s ome e n coun ter of wits w ith Cervantes or ,

w hether he h a d caugh t him in s ome impatie nt ce n sure s of

the patien ce w ith which Phil ip I I e n dured the hards hip s of
h i s captive s oldiers or whether he t hought him di s loyal to
,

h i s faith . It i s e n o ugh th a t Cervan te s a fter hi s ran s om to ,

cou nteract t h e s lan ders of Blan co de Paz a n d t o prepare a ,

record on w hich to ta ke up h i s broken career a n d a ppeal for

s ervi ce on h i s return to Sp ai n as ked Father Gil to hold a n
,

i n ve stiga tion of h i s con d uct a s there w as n o civil authority

,

to act. The record of t h e in ve s ti gation w a s pres erved a n d ,

w a s fou n d in 1 8 08 . T h ere are fe w fin er tri bute s to a ny

chara c ter .
The w itn e s ses fellow captive s agreed a s to t h e leaders hip
, ,

o f Cervan te s i n s cheme s for libe rty a n d a s to the heroi s m w it h

w hich he s hielded others a n d took t h e blame on him s elf e s pe ,

ci a l l y aft er t h e failure of t h e la s t project w h e n he co n ceded ,

h i s own guilt a nd that of four others w h o had e s caped but ,

ba ffl ed all e ff orts to implicate tho s e s t ill in the pow er of th e

Moors . They w ere a gr eed too a s to the jealous y a n d trea ch
‘
, ,

ery of Blan co de Paz Takin g the summa ry in t h e Life of

.
”
Ce rvan tes by He n ry E d w ard Watts ( a n authority th a t t his
,

s ket ch for the mo s t part follow s ) we are tempted to s elect ,

a fe w pa ssage s from the eviden ce mere s ide light fla s hes ,

-

that s ugge st t h e beauty of h i s ch a ract er Diego Cast ellan o . ,

o f Toledo a captive e n sign

, affi rmed that wi th t h e little
, ,

Cervan te s po s s es sed he wo uld re lieve poor Chris tia n s h elp

, ,
”
in g t hem t o perform thei r daily t as ks a n d to live their lives .

Bern ardo de Vega o f Cadiz a v e rt e d tha t Ce rvan te s w a s a

, ,

man very discreet a nd of habits a nd t aste s so good t hat all

 MIGUE L DE CERVAN TE S S AAVE D RA xi x

r ej oiced to con vers e a n d de a l with h i m a n d th at th ough h is ,

society w a s s ought by the leading captive s s oldier s a nd , ,

priests h e w a s amiable a n d courteou s a n d free wi th a ll

,

t h e world J ua n de Va lca za r of M a laga tes ti fied to th e

”
. , ,

w orthy a n d Chri s tia n co n duct of Cervan te s in relievin g t h e

poor cap t ives a n d keepin g up their s pirits com fortin g th em ,
”
i n their affl icti on s a n d keepin g them s teadfast i n their fait h .
,

Domin go Lopin o of Sardin ia a captain s aid t hat all the

, , ,

captives court ed h is s ociety a n d frien ds hip a n d envied h is ,

”
v irtue a n d faithfuln e ss . Don Diego de Be n avide s of B a n , ,

s ai d that on h i s rece n t arrival from Cons tan tin ople Cervan te s

h a d bee n comme n ded t o him a s a ge n tleman very ae com

l i s h e d n oble a n d virt uo us w h o w a s of good dis po s itio n a n d
p , ,

frien dly with ot her gentlemen a n d he a dded that he had

fou n d in t his n ew a n d gen erous com pan io n a father a nd a

moth er
”
. E n s ig n Luis de Pedro s a of O s u n a declared that , ,

when Cervan tes h a d elu ded the fierce v iceroy s wrath so ’

c leverly he had won fa me prais e a n d ho n or a nd s howed

, , ,

h im s elf worthy of t h e highe st rew ard ; th a t although there

w ere other n o le ss worthy gen tleme n there Cervan te s too k ,

t h e lead o f them all i n doin g good to t h e captive s a nd in

h on orable acti o n s for he h a d a Special grace i n everythin g
,

h e did a n d w as so clever a nd clear s ighted that n o n e came

,
-

”
near hi m .Broth er Felicia n o E nrique s of Yepe s a Ca r , ,
“
me li te fri ar s aid h e had bee n u n frie n dly to Cervan te s on
,

a ccount of the cal um n ie s of a certai n pers o n but became i n ,

time h is frien d a s were all the other captives who en vied h i s

, ,
”
g e n tlema n ly Chri s tia
,n h o n e s t a n d virt
, u ou s co
, n duct . A n d
Father Gil clo s ed with a stateme nt vouchin g for the witn e ss e s
a n d addi n g that duri n g h is brief s tay in A lgier s he h a d de a lt
, ,

clo s ely a n d familia rly with Cervan te s a n d fou n d him a n h on

c rable m a n de s erving of favor from the ki n g .
,

This w as t h e impre ss ion which the character of Cervan tes

produced in Algiers where the c a ptive s w ere s tripped of all
,

co n ve ntion al advan tage s a n d throw n upo n t heir n atural

resources and where n othin g but simple man hood w a s of
,

a n y avail .

Cervan te s reac h ed Spain at the clo se of 15 8 0 rich in exp e ,

ricuce a nd ripe i n character but s omewh a t maimed a n d ,

m arred a n d p oorer than ever before becau s e h is future w a s

, ,
 MIGUE L DE CE RVAN TES S AAVE D RA

mortgaged s o to s pe a k for t h e mon ey borrowed to ra n s om

, ,

him which w a s n ot all paid u n til four years later He took

, .

hi s place in t h e ran ks of h i s re g iment t hen part of the force ,

gathered u n der the D uke of Alva to make good t h e claim of

Philip I I t o the crown of Portugal . Don An t o n io w h o with ,

s tood the claim had n eit her legal title nor pop ul a r s upport
,

and co uld make little res istan ce ; s o that he w a s driven out

of the kin gdom in the s prin g of 15 8 1 a nd betook him self
to the Azore s where aided largely by French a dven turers
, ,

and slight ly by E n glis h privateers he kept up t h e fight by ,

s ea . Three e xpedition s were se n t out again st him The .

fi rs t w a s futile ; the s econ d in the s ummer of 15 8 2 u n der

, ,

Santa Cruz routed the fl eet of Don An ton io ; a n d t h e third

, ,

i n 15 8 3 cru s hed his power i n the Azore s . Miguel and R od

,

rigo de Cervan tes s erved on board the S a n Ma teo on e of ,

the fl a g s hip s in the s econ d exped ition a n d so w ere i n the

-

t hick of an other deci s ive s e a fig h t ; a n d R odri go greatly d is

-

t i ngu is h ed him s elf i n t h e third e xpedition by j umpi n g in to

t h e s urf t o lead a s torm ing party aga i n s t a fo rt n ear A ngra
on the I s l a n d of Terceira t hu s wi n n i n g promotio n
, .

The hea dquarters of t h e regime n t of Figueroa were for

about three years a t Lisbon a n d t here C ervan t es left it. ,

There t oo he had a love a ffair with a Port ugues e w om a n

, ,

h
a lady of high rank s o t e s tory ru s ,
n — a n d s h e bec a me the

mother of h i s o n ly child Becau se of the de a th of the mother

. ,

or for s ome other rea s on there w a s a revers al of t h e us ual

,

order in s uch affairs a n d the father t ook charge of t h e girl

,

from ba byhood She w a s n ot more t han three years old at

.

the time of hi s marria ge a n d s h e remain ed a member of h is

,

hou sehold a s Do na I s a bel de Saavedra u n til h is deat h when ,

s h e e n tered a con vent at M a drid .

C ervan te s married at E s q uivias December 1

, 2 1 8
5 4 Do h a , , ,

Catalin a de Pa lacio s S a laza r a you n g woman of good family

, ,

s omewhat better o ff than h e r h us ban d a n d yet i n very mod

e ra te circum s tance s A fe w days after hi s marriage h is

.

first book Galatea w a s publis hed It i s s aid that thi s

, ,
.

pas tora l roman ce w a s w ritten duri n g t h e court s hip of C er

va n te s a n d i n complimen t t o h is w ife ; a n d that s h e figure s
a s the heroin e a n d he a s t h e hero a n d variou s literary f ri e n d s
,

in other characters . Be that a s it may the s tory w hich he , ,

 MIGU E L DE CERVANTE S S AAVE D RA xxi

wa s alway s promis in g to complete but n ever fin is hed is beau ,

tiful of its ki n d a n d w ill keep a place i n t h e w orld s literat ure . ’

The p as to ra l ro man ce on ce s o great ly in vogue h a s gon e out

, ,

of fas hion b ut it n ever w ill fall in to u tter obli vio n ; a n d the

,

con temptuous criticis m w ith w hich s ome of t h e mo st zealou s

ad mir ers of Cervante s s peak of Galat ea i s merely a repeti
t io n of t hat s t yle of ce n s ure i n w hich Dr Joh n s o n held up t h e .

ab surdities of Milt o n s Lycida s to ridicule. Yet there is

’

“
poetry i n Galat ea a n d Lycidas a n d t hough common

s e n s e co n dem n s their a ff ec t ati o n s a n d t heir in co n gruitie s it ,

m us t be remembered that their world i s on e i n which other

th i n gs than common sen s e bear sway Gal a tea met w it h .
’
in st an t s ucce ss a n d ra n through s everal edition s in the author s
lifet ime ; so that he w a s j us tifi ed in makin g it in after ye a r s
one of t h e books in Do n Q uixote s library w hich the critical
’

,
“
barber s aves from de s truction a s n ot w ithout happin ess of
”
in ve n ti o n s ayin g of the author that he i s on e more s killed
,

in s orrow s t han i n vers e .

The Galatea brough t Cervan te s fame perhap s but n ot , ,

fort un e; a n d in 15 8 5 he removed to M a drid i n t h e hope of

earn in g a livin g by literary w ork h i s hou seh old con s is t in g of
,

h is w i fe h is daughter h i s s i s ter a n d her daughter

, , , H is .

mot her had a home of her ow n It w a s t h e era of the aw ak

.

ing of Sp a n is h litera ry ge n iu s a n d i n s ome re s pects w a s aki n

,

t o t hat jus t da w n in g i n E n gl a n d ; a n d Cervan t e s w a s in ti

mat ely as s ociated w it h man y dist in guis hed co n temporari es .
H e wr ot e much in vers e that h a s been lo st a nd po ss ibly n ot ,

a litt le of it w a s un worthy of pres erva tion . H e beca me a

writ er for the s tage a nd though i n a ft er years he clai m ed
,

credit for a s hare i n t h e advan ceme nt of the dram a by red u

cin g t h e number of act s to three a nd in trod ucin g figure s rep
res ent in g abst ract q ualities n atio n s rivers a n d s oo n y et he
, , , ,

could not remember the n ame s of a ll h i s plays t h a t w ere a cted ,

a n d o n ly t w o have bee n pre s erved Thes e E l Trat o de . ,

” ”
Argel a n d N uman cia w ere dis covered i n 178 2
“
, The .

f ormer is a s erie s of picture s f ro m h i s pers on al e xperie n ce of

life among the Chri st ia n c a ptive s i n A lgiers ; the l a t ter t ell s
t h e st ory of the s iege a n d de s truc t io n of a Spa n is h city by
”
Scipio African u s To the N um a n cia for its origin a l a n d
. ,

p ic t ure s que m e thod s i,t s pa ss io n ate patrio ti s m i t s pa t ho s a n d ,

m i MI GUEL D E CE RVAN T E S SAAVED RA

i magin ati ve boldn es s a , h igh place in l itera t ure h a s bee n c on

ceded .

Cervante s w a s appoint ed on e of the Commis s ion ers for

t h e purcha s e of s tores for the royal fl eets a n d a rmame nts
i n t h e I n die s J un e 1 2
, 15 8 8 ; a n d he removed t o Sev ille a s
, ,

a cent ral point in h i s dis trict a n d took up the routin e work ,

of h is o ffice t ho ugh n ot al t ogether s u rre n deri n g literary

,

s cheme s I n May 15 90 he s e n t a me m orial to t h e ki n g

. , ,

t hrough the pre s ide n t of the co un cil of the I n die s reco unt in g ,

brie fly hi s ow n s ervices a n d t ho s e of h is brot her then in ,

“
Flan ders tellin g how i n ran s omin g thems elve s they s pe nt
,

t heir patrimo ny a s well a s all the e s tate of their t wo u n ma r

ried s is ters who w ere reduced to poverty thro ugh ran s omin g
,
”
their brothers s ayin g that n o favor had ever been don e
,

h i m a n d as kin g
, the fa vor of a place i n t h e I n dies of the ,

t hree or fo u r w hich are n ow vaca nt on e of them t h e accou nt , ,

ant s hip of the new kin gdom of Gran a da or t h e govern or ,

s hip of t h e provin ce of Soco n us co i n G uat em a la or tre a s urer ,

of the galley s of Carthage n a or magi st rat e of the city of ,

”
La Pa z This memorial w a s fo un d i n 1808 w ith the
. ,

s ecretary s e n dor s eme n t of t h e date of receptio n Ju n e 1 1

’

590 , , ,

a n d t h e remark L e t him s eek abo ut here f or the favor he

”
wan ts .

Cervan te s theref ore con ti n ued in t h e bus in e s s of purchas

i n g agent a n d tax collector at a s al a ry e s timated a s eq ual
-

t o about $ 1 000 i n our t ime I n 15 92 he levied on w he a t t hat

.

belo n ged to a priest a n d w a s t herefore exemp t from taxation ,

a n d w a s im pri s o n ed three mo n th s at C a s t ro del R io Some .

time later he entrust ed t h e s um of 7400 re a l s more t han ,

twice h i s ye a rly s al a ry to Simon Freire a n age nt for tran s

, , ,

fer from Seville to M a drid Freire ab s con ded a n d Ce rv a n

. ,

t e s bein g held re s po n s ible w a s ca s t i n t o pris o n

, , Three .

mo nt h s lat er havi n g turn ed over t h e proceed s of the de

,

f a ul t er s e s ta t e about on e t hird of the s um d ue he w a s

’

, ,

releas ed ; but the claim of the Govern me n t again st h i m

w a s n ot s ettled u ntil 1 608 Though h is ho n es ty w as not
.

q ue s tion ed t h e mis fortun e w a s g rave ; a n d he w a s i mp ris

,

on e d a s eco n d time i n Seville o n t hi s accou n t a n d libera t ed

by a royal order d a ted December 1 15 97 It i s s uppo s ed , .

t hat he left that city in 1 59 8 ; a n d the fo u r followin g years

xxiv M IGU E L DE CE RVANTES SAAVE D RA

pas s ing alo n g the s treet on which Cervantes lived on e n ight ,

i n June w a s s e t upo n a n d mortally w ou n ded . H i s as s a ilan t

,

fl ed ; a nd Cervant e s a n d the w ome n of h i s f amily ra n dow n

t o as s is t t h e s tran ger a n d c a rried him to t heir ap a rtme n ts ,

w here he died in a s hort time . There w a s a n in q uiry a s t o

h is deat h a n d Cervan te s h is w ife Do na Catalin a h i s d a ug h
, , ,

ter I s abel a nd h i s s is ter A n drea a n d her daughter Co stan za

, ,

a n d Do fi a M a gdale n a Sot o m a yor ( probably a cou s in ) were ,

take n t o pri s on a n d held a s w itn e ss e s The depo s iti on s .

s ho w that the ho us ehold w as poor ; t hat i t w a s lodged in

w hat might be called a t e n eme n t i n a n u n fa s hio n able q ua r

ter ; that Cervante s wrote a n d trans a c t ed bus in e s s there a nd
had many vis itors that t h e family w ere depen den t upon him
for s upport ; b ut that the wome n ass isted w ith earn in gs from
t heir n eedle w ork . -

In 1 606 t h e court moved o n ce more t o Madri d a n d Cer

, ,

van te s followed ; a n d it i s men tion ed a s a s ign of u n improved

circum s t an ces that he ch a n ged h is pl a ce of re s ide n ce s eve n
t ime s withi n the t e n s ucceedin g year s In 1 609 he j oi n ed a . ,

religiou s fratern ity a s h is w ife a n d h i s si s ter had already

,

do ne ; a n d i n O ctober of t h e same year the l a tter died I n .

“ ”
1 61 3 ,he publi s hed hi s N ovel a s E xempl a re s twelve s hort ,

s torie s w it h a dedicat io n to the Co n de de Lemo s

,
They are .

admira ble in s tyle s ho w keen kn owledge of va rious phas es

,

of li fe a n d are clearly origin al

, draw n from n o literary ,

s ource s b ut s ugge s ted by a ctual in cide n t a n d ob s ervat ion

, ,

a n d a re mas t erly i n to n e w hether the the m e be humorou s or

pat het ic They have bee n f ull of s ugge st ion for other
.

writers a n d La Gi ta n e l l a h a s bee n t h e t heme of dramas

, ,

s tories a n d poe ms i n man y la n guage s In 1 61 4 he publi s hed . ,

“ ”
the V iage del Parn as o a n acco un t of t h e co n tes t be twee n
,

t h e good a n d t h e bad poets for t h e po s s e s s io n of Parn as s u s ,

i nteres ti n g mai nly for i ts co n t empora ry all us io ns i ts det ails ,

of the aut hor s life a n d its over ge n erou s apprecia tion of th e

’

,
-

writ ers of h i s day At the clo s e a s a t the beginn ing of h is

. , ,

career he s eemed almo s t t oo ready to prais e a n d t oo sw eet

,

i n temper tow ard riva l s w h o rep a id him n either in e ulogy

n o r i n a ffec t io n . In 1 6 15 he brought out a collectio n of
,

s ixtee n comedie s a n d i n t erl ude s

'

for which little ca n be ,

sa id a s they were probably ol d a n d h a lf forg otten fai lure s

,
-

,
 MIGU E L DE CERVAN TE S SAAVE D RA xxv

gathered to make a volume at a ti me when the author w a s

famou s .

In 16 14 there w a s publi shed at Tarragon a a book e n

t i tled The s econd part of the I ngeniou s Gen tleman Don
Q uixot e de La Man cha co ntain in g h is third Sally by
, ,

the Licen tiate Alo ns o Fern a n dez d e Avellan eda a n ative ,

of Torde s illas , which ranks a s t h e m ean es t a s well a s the

mo st n otoriou s fraud i n literary h is tory . There are va rio us
opi nion s of the quality of the w ork but there ca n be n o
,

quest ion as to the ra s cality of its author e specially a s i n

, ,

attemp ti n g to steal t h e characters of Cervan te s a n d to rea p

t h e be n efit of h is popularity t h e impo stor a ss ailed with vile s t
,

a bu s e the ma n whom he w a s tryi n g t o pl under. C e rvan te s

”
had promis ed t h e s econ d part of Don Q uixote a n d it ,

i s s upposed that he w a s writin g the fifty n in t h chapter w hen

-

the s puriou s contin uation of Avellan eda came into h is han ds ;

a nd he took ample though q uai nt reve n ge . The imposture
i s brought in frequen tly d uring the progre s s of the ge n uin e
c ontin u a tio n a n d di s cu ss ed by the characters
, Don Q u ixote
.

treat s it w ith dis dai nful indignation ; San cho Pan za re p udi
at e s i ts errors ; the mi n or charac t ers bes patter it with repro
b a ti on ; a n d eve rybody pray s n ot to be co nfo un ded with t h e
ch a ra cters that fi gure in s o dis rep utable a s tory . N othin g
m ore un ique ever occurred in literary w arfare In h is pre f
.

a ce to the s e con d p a rt. , C ervan te s defended him s elf w it h

d ignity and held up h is oppo n en t to ridic ule with s ere n e
s uperiority . The attack w a s das tardly but the counter s troke
,

w a s deadly ; and though ma n y mu s t have kn o w n w h o m a s

q u e ra d e d a s A vella n ed,
a and tho u gh it i s eve n s u s pec t ed

that Cervan tes reco gn ized hi s s ecret en emy yet the m an s ,

’

personal ity remain s a mys tery . H e w a s as hamed to avow

what he had done a n d h is fri en d s were as hamed t o avo w
,

h i m. The book remain s but the author h a s been laughed

,

in to nothingness .
“
The Second Part of Don Quixote w a s publis hed at
Madrid in 16 15 it proved worthy of the first part a n d bo t h , ,

n otwi th s ta n di n g man y petty blemi s he s ble n d i n to a b armo

,

nions masterpiece. It h as become a world w orn book. The -

fi rs t part w a s tran s l a ted into E n glis h by Thoma s Shel t o n ,

b e fore the s econd part ap p e a red ; a n d that w a s tran s lated in

x vi
x MIGUEL DE CE RVAN I E S S AAV ED RA
' ‘

1
6 20. A tran s lation by John Phillip s Milton s n ephew w a s ,
’

publis hed in 168 7 ; on e by Peter Motteux i n 170 1; an other

by Ch a rle s Jarvis in 174 2 ; a fifth by Tobia s Smollett in 17 5 5 ;
a s i xt h by R. S mirke i n 18 18 ; a n eight h by A J . D uffie ld in .

18 5 1; a n in t h by Joh n O rm s by i n 188 5 a n d a te n th by Hen ry ,

Edw ard Wa t ts in 18 95 . The Fren ch t ran s lations began i n

1 61 6 ; the German i n 1 6 2 1; the I t alian i n 162 5 It h a s al s o .

been tran s lat ed in to Latin Dutch Rus s ian Polis h Dan is h

, , , , ,

S w edish Hun garian Romaic a n d Servia n a nd it i s po pula r

, , ,

i n every garb I t i s e s ti mated t h a t n ot fewer than 3 5 6 dif

.

ercut editio n s of it have been is sued .

I n the dedicatio n of the Secon d Part to t h e Con de de

Lem os Cervan t es in s peaki n g of h i s lit erary pro s pects
, , ,

alluded to h i s fa ilin g health I n the s p ri n g of 16 16 he grew

.

rapidly wors e a n d in the preface to h is las t w ork Pe rs i le s

, ,

a n d Si g i s m u n d a he tells about meeti n g a n admirin g studen t

,

on a jo ur n ey f rom E s quiv ias where he had bee n t o vi s it a ,

s mall es tat e of hi s wife I n a w him s ical w a y t h e s ubject of

.

h i s he a lth w a s di s c uss ed a n d he repre s e n ts him s elf a s s ayi n g

,

to the s tude n t My lif e i s s lippin g away a n d by t h e diary

, , ,

my pul s e is keepin g which at the lat es t w ill e n d it s reckon

,

i n g this comin g S un d a y I have to clo s e m y lif e s a ccou n t

’

, .

Your w ors hip h a s come to know me i n a rude mome nt s in ce ,

there i s no time for me t o s how my gratitude for the good

”
will y ou have s ho w n me After biddin g h is compa n io n
.

good by at the bridge of Toledo he clo s e s wit h a good by

-

,
-

t o all el s e : A n d so fare w ell to j e s tin g farew ell my merry ,

h umors farew ell my gay f rien ds

,
for I feel th a t I am dyi n g
, ,

a n d have n o de s ire but s oo n to s ee you h a ppy i n the other

l i fe
.

A pril 2 he w a s received into t h e t hird order of St .

Fran ci s ; April 18 he w a s an oin ted for death ; April 19

he w rote the dedication of Pe rs i l e s a n d Sig is m un da to t h e
Co n de de Lemo s full of gratitude a n d cheerf ul n es s with
, ,

o n e foot i n the s a ddle w aiti n g for the call of Death and

A pril 2 3 he died H e w a s b uried i n the graveyard of t h e

.

Trin it arian Con ve nt where h is w idow h i s d a ughter a n d other

, , ,

m ember s of h i s family w ere a fterward laid be side him . I n

163 5 t h e con ven t w a s removed t o an other part of the cit y ,

a n d the remain s of the members of the order were tra n s

 MIGUEL D E CE RVAN I E S
' ‘

S AAVED RA xxvii

ferred to a burial pl a ce ; but a s n o dist in ct ion of in di

new

v id ua l s w a s pres erved t h e d us t of Cerva n te s h as min gled

,

with that of h is compan ion s .

In 1 6 17 the wido w p ublis hed Pe rs i l e s a n d Sigis m u nda ,

the romant ic st ory which Cerva nte s fin is hed j us t before h i s

dea t h . It h a s ever e njoyed a high degree of favor a n d is ,
”
con s idered more elega n t in s tyle t han Don Q u ixot e In .

deed it may be said t hat in t his re s pect t h e min or work s of

, , ,

Cervan t e s bea r t h e s ame relation to h is mast erpiece that t he

ela borate poem s of Shakes peare be a r to h is carele s s but
in comparable plays .

The be s t epithet ever applied to Shake s peare who died ,

t en day s af t er Cervan t e s w a s t hat of B e n Jo n s o n

, ,ge ntle
Shake s peare a n d it is a s tra n ge co i n cide n ce that n o more

fitt in g epit het ca n be given t o t h e commandin g li terary gen iu s

of Spain . He is gen tl e Cerva n tes .
J OSEP H O CONNOR.
’
 T H E A UT H O R S P RE FA CE
’

D LE R E A D E R : t hou can s t believe me wit hout a ny oath ,

t hat I w o u ld this book a s the child of my wit were t h e

, ,

mos t be autiful t h e mos t S prigh tly a n d the mos t s e n s ible

, ,

that could be con ceived But I co uld n ot co n traven e the

.

ordin an ce of N at ure w hereby each thin g e n gen ders its like .

,

A nd s o wh a t could my st erile a n d ill cultivated ge n i us beget

,
-

but t h e s tory of a meager s hriveled whim s ical child full of

, , ,

odd fan cies n ever im a gin ed by a ny ot her eve n like one—

w h o i s enge n dered i n a pri s o n where every di s com fort h old s
,

i t s s eat a n d all di s mal nois e s have t heir habit a tio n P R epos e

, ,

a ch e erf u l abode t h e glad n e ss of the field s t h e s ere n i ty o f

, ,

the s kies t h e murmur of riv ulets the t ran q uillity of the

, ,

s pirit
, t he s e h a ve a g reat s hare i n making the mo s t barre n
of mu s es to teem a n d brin g fort h to the world a progeny to
fill it w it h w on der a n d delight A fat her may h a ppe n to.

have a child ugly a n d ill favored a n d the love he h e a rs it

-

clap s a ba n d a ge on h i s eyes so that he s ee s n ot i ts blemis hes ,

b ut rat her judges them to be tale nt s a nd g race s a n d reco unt s ,

t hem t o h i s frie n d s a s parts of wit a n d elega n ce B ut I w h o . ,

am a s tep fat her though I s eem a father of Don Quixote

, , ,

would n ot g o w it h t h e c u rren t of cus tom n or a s k th ee ,

almo st wit h tears in my eye s a s ot hers do Deare st Rea der

, , ,

to pardon or dis semble t h e fa ults w hich t hou m a y st s ee i n

t h is child of min e N ay thou art n eit her h i s kin s man n or
. ,

hi s fri en d ; t hou po s s e s s e st t h y s o ul i n t h y body a n d thy ,

freedom of w ill like t h e best of t hem a n d a rt at home in t h y ,

hous e w here thou s ho uld st be lord thereo f a s t h e kin g i s of

,

h is taxe s a n d th ou kn owe st what i s commo n ly s aid

, U nder ,

m y cloak the kin g I kill

”
— all w h ich exempts a n d free s
t hee from all re s pect a n d obliga tio n a n d s o t ho u m a y s t ,

s peak of the s tory wholly a s it may s eem fit to thee w it ho ut ,

xxx DON QUI X OTE

fear of their sla n derin g thee for t h e evil or rewarding th ee ,

for the good thou s h a lt s a y thereof.

I would have w is hed to pres en t it to thee neat and n aked , ,

without the adorn men t of prologue or the en dless train of ,

cus tomary s on n ets epigram s a n d eulogies which it i s t he

, ,

fas hio n to place a t the begin n in g of boo ks . F or I ca n tell

t hee that t hough t h e s tory co s t me s ome t o i l i n the co m po s
,

i n g n o ne grea ter had I t han i n m a kin g thi s preface which

,

thou art rea din g Man y tim es did I ta ke up my p e n to w ri te

.

it a n d many time s did I lay i t do w n n ot kn o w in g what t o

, ,

sa y . O n ce bein g i n t h is s u s pe n s e w i t h t h e paper before

, ,

me the p e n i n my ear my elbo w on the des k a n d my han d

, , ,

on my cheek medita tin g on w hat I s ho uld sa y t here entered

, ,

u nexpectedly a lively a n d clever frie n d of min e w h o s eeing , ,

me th us pen sive a s ked me t h e rea s o n I n ot co ncealin g it

, . , ,

s aid that I w a s thi n ki n g of the prologue w hich had t o be

w ritte n to th e history of Don Q uixot e a n d t hat it harass ed ,

me t o s uch a de g ree that I w a s in clined n ot t o writ e on e nor ,

”
eve n t o publis h t he e xploits of s o n oble a knigh t. F or ,

cont in ued I w ould you have me not t roubled at what t h e

,

an cien t lawgiver they call the p ublic will s a y when it see s

m e after t h e lap se of so man y years that I have s lept i n t he
,

s ile n ce of oblivio n come o ut n ow with all my years o n my

, ,

back with a lege n d a s dry a s a ru s h barre n of inve nti on

, , ,

meager i n sty le poor i n co nceits a nd void of all learnin g

, ,

a n d doctrin e without quotatio n s i n the margin a n d an n ota

,

t io n s a t t h e e n d of the vol ume ; whe n I se e that t here a re

ot her book s be t hey n ever s o fabulo us a n d pro fan e s o full
, ,

of se n te n ce s f rom A ri sto t le from Pl a to a n d from t h e w hol e

, ,

herd of philo s ophers a s to as t on is h t heir readers a nd make

,

t heir authors pas s for well read me n er udi te a nd eloquent ?

-

B ut whe n they cite the Holy Script ure ! You will sa y that
t hey are s o ma n y Sai nt Thomas es a nd other doctors Of t h e
Church pres ervin g i n t his a gravity so in ge n io us t hat in on e
,

li ne t hey p a in t a di stracted lover a n d in t h e n ext deliver a

,

little Ch rist ia n homily w hich it i s a j oy a nd a t reat to hea r

a n d read .I n all this my book will be lacking for I have ,

n othin g to q uote i n the margin or t o n ote a t the e n d ; nor

eve n do I k no w w hat authors I follow therein so a s to set ,

t hem at t h e begin nin g a s t hey a ll do by t h e letters of t h e

, ,
xxxii DO N QUI XOTE

To which he re s ponded : The firs t thin g you stick at th e ,

s o n n ets, epigram s a n d eulogi e s w hich you lack for yo ur

,

preface a n d w hich s hould be s u pplied by persona ges of

,

weight a n d title ca n be g ot over by your takin g a little

,

t rouble yours elf to make t hem ; a n d aft erward s you may

baptize th em putting any n ame s you please fath erin g them
, ,

o n Pre s ter Joh n of the I n die s or the E mperor O f Trebizo n d

, ,

of whom to my kn owledge there i s a rumor that they were

f amo us poets ; and s uppo s e th ey were n ot a n d there were ,

pedan t s a n d bachelors to s n ap a n d growl at you behin d your

back for the truth of it care n ot t wo maraved is for t hem ;
,

for though they s hould con vict you of a lie they can n ot c ut ,

o ff the ha n d with w h ich y o u wrote it A s to quo t in g in t h e

.

margin t h e books a nd authors w he n ce you gathered the s en

t e n ce s a nd s ayin gs yo u have put in to your his to ry there i s no ,

more to do than to man age to brin g i n pat s ome ph ra s es a n d

s crap s of Lat i n that you k n ow by heart or at leas t which ,

cos t y ou little pain s to fin d ; as for example treat in g of lib

, ,

e rt a n d capti vity t o in troduce

y ,

N on be ne p ro toto l i bertas v e nd itur a uro

a nd then i n t h e margin cite Ho race or w hoever s aid it. If

,

o u s hould treat of the pow er of deat h r un in pre s e n tly

y ,

with
Pa llida mors a quo puls a t pede pa uperum ta be rna s
Regumque turres

if of frie n ds hip a n d the love w hich God comman ds you to

bear to yo ur e nemy co m e at o n ce t o the poin t by t h e Holy
,

Scripture w hich you c a n d o w ith so little re s earch a nd re

, ,

peat no less than the Word of God Him s el f : E g o autem

dico vobis : d il igi te i n i m icos v est ros If you treat of evil
.
’

t ho ughts have reco urs e to the Go s pel :

, De corde exe un t
cog it a t i on e s mal m
’
If of the in s ta bility Of frien d s there is
.
,

C ato w h o s hall give you h i s di stich

Donec eris fel ix mul tos numera bis a micos ;
,

Te mpora si fueri nt nubi la s ol us eris

,
’
.

A nd with thes e little sc ra p s of Latin a n d s uch like they , ,

will take you perhaps for a gramm a rian to be which i s of n o ,

li tt le honor a n d profit in thes e day s A s to ann otation s at .

 AUTH O R S P REFACE
’

the end of the book you may s afely proceed in this man n er ,

if you name a n y gia nt in your s to ry cont rive that he s hall

be t h e giant Goliath wit h whom alon e which will co s t you , ,

al mo s t n othin g you may have a gran d an n otatio n s in ce you

, ,

ca n wr ite : The gian t Golias or Goliat h w a s a Philis tine ,

whom David the s hepherd s lew wi th a s ton e from a s lin g in

, ,

t h e V ale of Terebinth accordin g to w h at i s writ te n in t h e ,

’
Boo k of Kin gs in the chapter where y ou s hall fin d it writ
,

t en . After this to s how yours elf a man learn ed i n the polite

,

lett ers a n d in cos mography man age s o that in your story the ,

river Tagus s hall be men ti on ed a n d you s hall s e e yourself at ,

on ce with another famou s ann otatio n writi n g : The river ,

Tag u s w a s so called by a Kin g of Spain It take s its birth .

in s uch a s pot a n d die s in the ocean kis si ng the wall s of the

, ,

famous city of Lisbo n a n d it i s reported to have s and s of ,

gold etc. If you s hould treat of thieve s I will give y ou t h e

,
’
,

s to ry of Cacu s which I kn ow by heart ; if of cruel women

, ,

O v id will in troduce you to Medea ; if of en ch a ntres s e s a n d

witches Homer h a s C alyp s o a nd V irgil Circe ; if of valian t
, , ,

captain s Julius Caes ar will len d you him s elf in h is C omme n

,

ta ries a n d Plut arch w ill give you a thous an d A lexa n ders . If

,
’

you treat of love s w it h tw o ou n ce s of the Tus can you have , ,

'
you will light upon Leo t h e Jew w h o fills you to your heart s ,

conte n t ; a n d if you care not to wander in foreign lan d s you

, ,

have at home Fon se ca O n the Love of God wherein i s ,

’

conta i ned all that you a n d the gr eatest w it s ca n des ire on that
matter. I n s um you have n othing more to do than to n ame
,

the s e name s a n d to touch thes e storie s I have told you of in

your ow n a n d leave me the bus in ess of puttin g i n the not es
,

a n d q uot at io n s a n d I warran t I will fill the margi ns f or y ou

,

a n d dis po se of fo ur s heets at the e n d of the book .

Let us come now to the citatio n Of the authors which the ,

other books have a n d in yo urs are lackin g. The remedy for ,

this is very simple for you have n othin g more to do than to ,

look for a book which quote s them all from A to Z a s you , ,

say. Then t h is s ame alphabet you s hall put in yo ur book ;

,

for granted that t h e lie i s clearly s een thro ugh i t i s of n o

, ,

co n s equen ce from the s mall n eed you have to use them a n d

, ,

perhaps there wil l be some on e s imple en ough to beli eve that

y o u have made u se of them a l l i n your plain a n d artle ss
x xxiv DO N QUI XO TE

s tory . A n d s hould it s erve n o oth er purp os e at l east that

, ,

long catalo g ue of aut hors will be of use to give a t the firs t , ,

blus h authority to your book ; a n d be s ides n o one wil l t ake

, ,

the trouble to as certa in w h ether y ou follow or do n ot follo w

t hem hav in g n othin g to gai n by that
, Moreover if I take . ,

you rightly thi s book of yours is in no n eed of any of thos e

,

thin gs whic h you s a y it lack s for it i s all one invective ,

a gain s t the books of chival rie s whic h n ever had Aris tot le ,

any idea of nor did Bas il me n ti on n or Cicero reach . N or

, ,

do t h e n icetie s of truth n or the calculation s of astrology fall

within the scope of t hei r fabled extravagan ces ; n or a re th e
dimens ion s of geo metry con cerned with them ; nor does .

rhetoric s erve for the refutat io n of t hei r argumen ts ; n or d oe s

the book preten d to preach to a n y on e min glin g the human ,

with the divin e which i s a kin d of motley wit h which no

,

C hris ti a n un ders ta n din g s ho uld be dre ss ed A ll it p reten ds .

to do i s to make the be s t of the imitatio n i n w h at you w o uld

be writing a n d the more perfec t thi s i s the better will be
, ,

what i s writt en . A n d s in ce thi s yo ur w ri t in g aim s at n othing

more than to de s troy the aut hority a n d i n fl uen ce which t h e
books of chivalrie s have in the w orld a n d over the vulgar i t ,

i s n o b us i n e ss of yo urs to g o beggi n g for s e n ten ces fro m

phil os ophers maxi ms from Holy Writ fables from poet s
, , ,

s peeche s from rhetorician s miracles from s ain ts ; b ut o n ly

,

t o e n deavor tha t s im ply i n w ord s e xpres s ive dece n t a n d

, , , ,

well ordered your periods s hall come out harmo n iou s a n d

-

s p rightly s ettin g forth a s far a s y o u ca n attai n or i s po s s i

, , ,

ble yo ur in tent io n and e xplain in g your idea s without bein g

, ,

in tricate or ob s cure E n deavor al s o t hat in readin g your

. ,

s tory the mel a n choly m a n s hall be s tirred to laughter t h e

, ,

merry be e n couraged i n h i s mood the s impleton be n ot wor ,

ried the witty admire the in ve n tio n t h e s ober n ot de s pis e it

, , ,

nor the j udiciou s forbear from comme n datio n I n s hort let . ,

your aim be steadily fixed upo n the overthrow of the evil

base d fabric of the s e chivalri c book s abhorred of so man y ,

yet prais ed by man y m ore ; a nd if this you achieve you will ,

”
have achieved no litt le .

I listened in profou n d s ile n ce to w hat my frie n d s aid a n d ,

h i s reas oni n gs so impre s s ed me that witho ut q ue s tion I a p , ,

proved them for good and even out Of t hem chos e to make
,
 AUTH O R ’
S P RE FAC E n ow

up this prologue ; wherein gentle reader thou s halt se e t h e

, ,

w i s dom of my friend my good fortune in lighting on s uch a

,

cou n selor at s uc h a time of n eed a n d thine ow n relief i n

,

fi nding so s im p le a nd so gui lele ss the story of the famous

D on Quixot e de La Mancha abo ut whom it i s the opin io n Of
,

a l l t h e in habita n ts of the dis trict of the Plain of Mo n tiel t h a t

he w a s the mos t chas te lover a n d the most valian t kn ight
t h at for man y yea rs h a s bee n s ee n in t h os e parts . I wo uld
n ot make t oo much Of the s ervice I am doin g thee i n intro

d uci n g thee t o s o notable a n d ho n ored a k n ight but I would

,

a s k thy thank s for maki n g thee acq uainted with San cho
Pan za h i s s quire ce ntere d in w hom methink s I give thee all
, ,

s quir ely humors which are s cattere d through the s warm of

t h e vain books of chival rie s .

And so God give thee hea lth a nd forget me not.
, ,

FAREWE LL .
 P RE FA TO RY V E RS E S

URGANDA m a Drsomsa n TO 11
11
: B OO K or DON Q Utxor E DE LA
M ANCHA
—
0 Bo ok i f t were thy pur pos e
’ 1
T o reach the good a nd k now—i ng,
’

T o th ee won t s a y t he boo—by
‘

Don t put to it th y fin—gers .

’

B ut if th ou a rt not ba —ki ng
T he brea d to fee d th e n oo dl es , —
T o see th e mo keys ib bli ng,
h u
’
l t n n —
A nd s ucki ng of t h ei r fi n—g ers
T o s h ow th a t th ey a re kn ow—i ng,
A nd w ell t he fa re do rel—is h .
A nd s i nce e xp erie nce tea ch es —
Th a t h e wh o s s it ti ng uh —d er
’

A g ood y t ee s well s ha ded,

l r
’ —
T h y l ucky s tar i n Bé—j ar
A roya l tree doth off e r —
W h ose fruit is noble pri n—ces,
O n w h ich a d uk e d oth fl our— is h .
A modern A lexa n—d er
Comes to its s h ad e ; for For—tune
T h e b old d oth ev er fa —v or.
Th ou sha l t recount th e s to—ry
O f th e nobl e k nig h t M a n ch e—ga n,
—
W h os e h ea d, by i dl e rea d i ng,
W a s turn ed t ops y tur—vy .
-

Lov es , arms, a nd k nigh ts a nd la —dies

P ovoked h im i suc mea sure,
r n h —
Tha t ma dde r t ha n O rla n—d o
By force of a rms h e d ca p—ture
’

T obos o s Dul ci ne—a .

’

Don t s ta mp your hieroglyph— i cs

’

S o id ly on your s cutch e on,—

For w h ere are n one but h on o rs —
Y ou l l , ma ybe, l ose the rub—h er.
’

3 These verses are trunca ted a nd u

p p
r os el y va gue and bombasti c i n th e ori gi nal .
 P REFA TORY VER SE S xxxv u

Be h u mb l e i n t h y ca ll — i n g .

A nd no ne will mock th ee ba wl i ng —
H ere s Don Al va ro de Ln na l
’ —
H ere s H a nni ba l of C ar—thage
’

H ere s Fra ncis K g o ar is,

’
i n fr m P —
Compla i ning of his for—tune !
Since H ea ven is ot wi i ng n ll —
Tha t t hou shouldst come out lea rn cd, —
As J o h n L a ti n e t h e n e — g ro,

H a ve na ug h t to do th Lat i h , w i —
Le t otn t h y w i t b e s p r o u t— i n g,
N0 ph il osoph y be tal k—ing,
Le s t s ome bu oo t e t is t ing
'

fl n h e r w —
m
H is ou , t o g t h h u h n e
’
e r a l e t — ter
H e un de rs ta nds , be ra il i ng, —
W h y to s uch a s me these flow ers ? —
I ma tt ers
n h a r d d o n
’
t m e d — d l e
—
, ,

N or in oth er s l o es be p ry i ng,
’
v

T o pas s by wi thout st op—ping

W h a t
’
s n o t y o u r o w n i s w i s — d om ;
F or h e wh o j es ts t ra n d om a —
Ma y h a v e t h e j est on s nod —dl e ; ’

S O st ill th y t h ough ts be gi v—i ng

T o l ea rn h o w fa m e is g ot — te n ;
For h e who pri n ts a fol —l y
l ncurs a oess etern al . —
Ta ke eed
h t h a t i t is m a —
d ness
I n a h ouse of gla ss wh en li v —ing
I n ha n d to ga t he r peb—bles
T o fli ng t h e m a t your n eig h—bor.
T h e w ise ma n s houl d be mre—ful
I n books which h e compos es —
T he wit s h oul d run w i th lea d e n —
Feet , for if h e s writ—i ng
’

S tu o i y ma d e ns
ff f r s l l i —
H e w r i te s f o r f oo ls a n d n i n — ni es .

A MADIS Or G AUL '

ro DON QurxorE or LA M ANCHA
Th ou , th a t my tea rful l ife d ids t i mi ta te
W h en I took me disda i ned a n d all -
forlorn
To P eha Pobre s rugged side s to mourn
’
,
From j oy to peni tence reduced by fa te ;
O thou, w h o d id st thy ra g i ng t hi rs t a ba te
Fro m th i ne eyes founta i n, th ough to one not born
’

Sa l tis h t he dri nk ; wh o ti n a nd pla te dids t scorn

And on th e ground wh a t th e ground ga ve d ids t ea t
Live th ou secure tha t to e terni ty,
 DO N QUI XOTE
At l ea st so lo ng as on th is terre ne s ph ere
H is s te eds the rud dy god of d a y doth pri ck,
Th y na me for va l or s ha ll re nown ed be,
T h y la n d the fi rs t among a ll la nds a ppea r,
Th y l ea rned auth or s ta n d a l on e unique .

B ELIAN I S or G REEC E ro
'
DON (2 0e 1
1: on LA MANCHA

I tore, I I
brui s ed, I d id a n d sa id
s las h e d,

M ore th a n i n a ll th e world d id e rra nt knig ht ;

De xt erous a n d bra ve a n d proud was I in figh t,
A t housa nd wro ngs a venged a nd myri ads s ped .
My fea ts by fa me etern e are h a l l owed ;
A lov er delica te a nd eke pol ite ;
A d wa rf was every gia nt i n my s ig h t ;
Each la w of th e duel lo I obeyed .
Da me Fortune pros tra te a t my feet I kept,
And by t h e forel ock bol d O pportuni ty
I will y nill y dragg ed to do my wil l .
-

B ut t h ough a lwa ys my soa ri ng l uck o erl ea pt

’

T h e cresce nt moo n, th y prowess es a nd th ee ,

O Qui xote I migh ty kn ig h t, I e n v y s till .

GAN DALIN, 8 01
11
11: or Arumrs or
1 G AUL , no S ANCHO PANZA Sca ms. ,

or DON Qurxor E

I l lus tri ous wigh t al l h ail l W hen fa te did place

,

Th ee i n t hy tra d e of s quire thou bore thee t he re

,

S O s wee tl y cunni ng a nd so de bona i r

Tha t na ugh t thou dids t thy ca ll ing to dis gra ce ;
N or s pa d e nor rea pi ng h oo k di d fly i n fa ce
-

O f erra nt e nterpri s e a n d now th ere a re

,

I n us e th y s qui re s i mpl ici ties wh i ch bee r

-

T h e ha ugh ty d own w h o woul d th e moon defa ce.

T hi ne ass I e nvy a nd no less th y na me
, ,

Th y wa ll ets equa ll y I envy th ee ,

T hy provender which proves th y provi den ce.

O nce more 0 Sa n ch o ha il ! th ou ma n of fa me ;
, ,

Our Spa ni s h Ov i d of h is courtes y

, ,

Doth kiss th y crown to d o th ee reverence.

FRON DoNoso, A ne D Fa r AND LE AN PO E r, ro S ANCHO s

- '
x

T h e s quire a m I , h ig h Sa nch o Pa n —2a,

Of Qui xote, K nig h t Ma nch e ga n ; — '

I took French lea ve, a nd cut my luck y, —

To l iv e i n qui et ness dis creet—l y ;
 DO N QUIXO TE
Qua ked a t my a rm th a t did i ts fury ta me .

But you ill us tri ous Go th ! th y na m e a fa r

,

Your Dulcinea throug h th e worl d d ot h tell ,

As s h e by you h a t h won wit h ones ty a n d fa me ., ,

DON S O LrsD AN ro
'
DON QUIX O I E‘ ‘
or LA MANC NA

W ha t t h oug h you h a v e by fool s be foole d bee n,

y p
A n d no ns e ns e wi th our a te h a s h a v oc la ed , p y
Yet n on e s h a l l e e r, ’
S ir Qui xote
, d a re upb ra id

You for a ma n of d eeds or foul or mea n

Your w orks s ha l l be your w it nes s es , I wee n,
Fo r s etti ng righ t t h e w ronged w w your tra de,
W herein a t hous a nd ti mes well cudgeled
Ye w e re , by m i t ifls v ile a n d rogues Obs ce ne ;
'

A nd if your mis tre ss , bea uteous D ul ci nea ,

O f promis ed l ove d id y our fond h ope d e fra ud
N or ki ndl y to y our w oeful s uit d i d prov e h er ;
Le t t his your comfort be, your g ri ef to ch eer,
Th a t Sa nch o Pa n za ww a so rry ba wd ;
H e fool is h , crue l s h e , a nd you no l over.

DrAL OGUE BE TW EEN B Ae C A AN D Row ANr E

W hat a il s Rozi na n te, a rt s o l ea n

th ee,
Beca us e I tra vel a ye, a nd ne ver ea t .
I s t he re for t h e e n o s tra w n or ba rl ey t h e n ?
N e er a bi t of eithe r from my lord I get .
’

Aroi nt t h ee, w ith th y a s s s to ng ue obs ce ne,

’

Th a t dot h th y mas ter ki nd vi tupe ra te !

R .
’
T is h e, from cra d l e to his w i nd i ng s h ee t -

W as as s , I trow, as i n h is l ove w a s s e e n.
I s l ove a fol ly R . S ure, tis no w it .
’

—
Th ou a rt a cynic . R . T is beca us e I m h ungry .
’ ’

Compl a i nant of s qui re ? R . Fa ith, th a t compla i nt s

’

s ca nt y;
F or wh y t h e a uth or of my pa i ns a cq uit ?
B oth sq uire a nd l ord i n th is your E rra nt mongery -

A re h a cks as sure as e e r w as Ro zi na nte .

’
 TO TH E DUK E O F BEJ AR

N th e fa i th g o
of the
o d rec epti on a nd h o no r w h i ch y our Exc el
l eney a ccords to ev ery ki nd of books l ike a Princ e so w ell ,

di sp os ed to fa vor th e l ibe ra l arts more esp ec ia l ly those which a re not

,

a ba s ed to t he se rvi c e a nd profi t o f th e vulgar I ha v e resolved t o ,

p ubl i sh t h e I NGENI OUS GENTLEMAN DON Q

urxo rE or LA MANCHA
und er th e sh el t er of o Exc ellency most illustrious na me, wh om
’
y ur s ,

wi th th e rev e rence due to so much grea tn ess, I bese ec h that you

ma y graci ously rec ei ve i nt o your p otec ti on
r , in order tha t, under
your sha d ow a lthough denuded of tha t precious ornament of el e
,

g a n c e a n d e rud i t i o n w i t h wh i ch t h e works c omp os e d i n t h e houses

of th e l earne d are w ont t o go c lo th ed h e ma y venture i n sa fe ty to

,

fa c e the op inion o f some who n ot c on ta ined i n th e bounds of th eir

,

i gno ra nc e are accusto med to c ondemn t h e la bors of o th ers wi t h

,

more of rigor a nd l ess of j usti c e.

Your Excel l ency s wi sd om ha vi ng regard to my good i ntent wi ll
’
, ,

not I trust d is da in t h e po orne ss of thi s humbl e offe ri ng

, ,
.

MI GUEL DE CE RVANTES S AAVEDRA.

 C O N T E N TS

PAR T F I RS T

CH A PTER I
n o .
W h ich trea ts of th e cond iti on a nd wa y of l ife of the fa mous g e ntl e
ma n, Don Quixote of La Ma nch a

CH APT ER II
W h ich trea ts of th e firs t sa ll y whi ch t he i ng eni ous D on Qui xote
ma de from h is vil la ge

CH A PTER III
W h erei n is rel a ted th e pleasant method by w hi ch Don Quixote g ot
h i mself dubbed k nigh t

CH A PT ER I V
O f wha t ha ppened to our knigh t wh en h e sa ll ied from the inn

CH APTER V
W h erei n is conti nued th e na rra t iv e of our kni gh t s disas ter
’

CH A PT ER V I
O f t hepl ea sa nt and fa mous i nquis i t ion wh i ch th e pri es t a nd th e ba r
be r h el d on th e li bra ry o f our i ngenious ge ntl ema n

CH APTER V II
O f th e second sall y of our good k nig h t Don Qui xote of La M ancha

CH A PT ER V III
O f the good success which Don Qui xote h a d i n th e terribl e a nd

ne ver before i magi ned

- -
a d ve n ture of t h e wi nd mil ls , w ith ot h er
events worth y of ha ppy remembra nce
xliv DO N QUI XO TE

CH A PTE R I X
DAG .
W h e re i n i s deci ded a nd e nd ed t he s tu e nd ousp ba ttl e foug h t betw ee n
th e ga l la nt B is caya n a nd th e v a l ia n t Ma nchega n

CH A PT ER X
Of th e pleasa nt confa bula ti on w h ich pa ssed be tween Do n Quixote
a nd Sa nch o Pa nza h is sq uire,

CH A PTE R X I
Of wha t ha ppened to Don Quixote w ith certa i n g oa th erds

CH A PTE R X II
Of wh at a g oa t h erd told th ose w h o we re wi t h D on Quixote

CH A PTER X III
W herei n is concl uded th e s tor y Of p
t h e s h e h erd ess Ma rcela , wi th
ot her ma tt ers

CH A PTE R X I V
W herei n are contai ned p
th e des a i ri ng vers es of p
t he dea d s h e h erd ,
k
w i th oth er unl oc ed for ma tt ers -

CH A PTER XV
W h ere i n is rel a ted t h e unfort una t e a d venture wh ich h a ppe ned to
Do n Quixote w h e n h e fell i n w i th ce rta i n evil -
mi nded Ya n
g uesa n s

CH APT ER XV I
Of wh a t ha ppe ned to Don Qui xote th e I ngen i ous Gentl ema n i n th e
i nn which be ima gi ned t o be a ca s tle

CH APTER XV II
W h erein are conti nued t h e i n numera ble troubles wh i ch th e b ra ve
Don Qui xote a nd h is good s qui re Sa nch o Pa nza end ured i n th e
i nn, w hi ch , to h is da ma ge, he took for a ca s tl e
 CON T ENTS

CH APTE R XV III
PAC-l

Wherei n are recounted q

th e coll o uies w h i ch Sa nch o Panza h eld wi th
his mas ter, Don Quixote , wi th o th er a d ven tures wort h y of bei ng

CH APTE R X I X
Of th e sens i bl e discourse wh ich Sa nch o h el d wi th h is mas ter, a nd of
th e a d ve nture w hi ch h a ppened to hi m wi th a d ea d bod y ; with
oth er nota bl e i nci d e nts

CH APTE R XX
Of th e a dventure, never before s ee n or h eard of, a chieved by the
va l orous D o n Quixote of La M a nch a , wi th le ss peril t ha n a n
y
ever achi ev ed by th e mos t fa mous knig ht in th e worl d

C H APTE R XX I
Whi ch tre a ts of th e l oft y a dventure a nd t h e ri ch wi nning of Ma m
brino s hel met, wi th
’
other th i ngs which ha ppened to our i nv inci

CH APTE R XX II
Of th e liberty whi ch Don Quixote ga v e to seve ra l unfortuna tes , who,
much aga i ns t th eir will , were be ing ca rried to wh ere th ey had no
wis h to go

CH APTE R XX III
Of tha t whi ch h a ppened to the fa mous Don Qui xot e in th e Sierra
M orena , wh ich wa s one of the rares t adventures which are re
counted in t his truthful h is tory

CH APTE R XX I V
W herei n is conta i ned t he adventure of th e S ierra M orena

CH A PTE R XXV
W h ich trea ts of th e s tra nge th ings wh i ch h a ppened to th e v a lia nt

knigh t of La Ma ncha i n th e Sierra Morena , a nd of th e pena nce

b e th ere performed in i mi ta ti on of Bel tenebros

CHA PTE R XXV I

W herein are pursued th e del ica te pra nks which in , his quali ty of

l over Don Quixote pla yed in th e Sierra M orena

,
xlvi DO N QUI XOTE

CH A PTE R XXV II
Of h ow the pries t a nd th e ba rber ca rried out t h eir des ign, w i th ot h e r

t h i ngs worth y of menti on i n t h is grea t h is tory

CH A PTE R XXV III

W h ich t rea ts of th e nov el a nd a greea bl e a d venture wh ich ha ppened
to th e pri es t a nd th e ba rber in th e S ierra Morena

CH A PTE R XX I X
W hich pleas a nt de vi ce a nd process w hich were a dopted
trea ts o f t h e
t o res cue our l ove s i ck kn igh t from t h e se vere pe na nce w h i ch h e
-

ha d impos ed upon h i mse lf

0

CH APTE R XXX
W hich trea ts of t he fai r Doroth ea s ’
cl ev erness , w i th oth er th i ngs of
much pl eas ure a nd pasti me

CH APTE R XXX I
Of th e del ecta ble conversa ti on which pas sed between Don Quixote
a nd Sa ncho Pa n za , his s qui re, wi th oth er i nci dents

CH APTE R XXX I !
W h ich trea ts of wh a t h a ppene d to Don Quixote s wh ol e troop a t
’
th e
inn

CH A PTE R XXX III

W h ich trea ts of th e fierce a nd extra ord ina r y
ba ttle wh ich Don
Quixote wa ged wi t h cert a i n s ki ns of red wi ne ; a nd of oth er ra re

a d ve ntures w h i ch h a ppe ned a t th e inn

CH APTE R XXX I V
W h erei n is conti nued th e hi story of th e fa mous Princes s Micomicona ,

wi th oth er pleas a nt adventures

CH APTE R XXXV
W hi ch trea ts Of th e curi ous d is course d el i vered by Don Quixote con
cern i ng a rms a nd l etters
xlviii D ON QUI X O I E
' ‘

CH A PT E R X LV I
PAGE

W h i ch trea ts of t h e sh rewd collo u q y w hich Sa ncho Pa nza hel d wi th

his mas ter, Don Quixote

CH A PTE R X LV II
Of t h e wi tty d is puta tions w h i ch Do n Quixote a nd t he ca non h el d ;
wi th oth er ma tt ers

CH A PTE R X LV II !
W hich trea ts of wha t t h e goa t h erd rel a te d to t h ose w h o were can y
Q
i ng Don ui xote

CH A PTE R X LI X
O f th e quarrel wh ich Don Quixote h a d wi th t h e goa t h e rd, with th e
ra re a d v e nture of th e d i scipli na n ts
, w h ich h e h a pp y
il a ch ieved
with th e s wea t of h is brow
 I LLUS TR A T I O N S

FACI N G PAG I

Mc EL D E C ERVA N T ES S AA vE D RA
P h o t og r a v u re fro m a p a i n t i n g by Ve l a s que z
A N G E LS P RE EN T I N G T H E
S SO U LS or TH E R E D E E M ED xvi ii

I l l um i na te d m i n i a t u re fro m a m a n usc ri p t of th e fiftee n t h ce n t u ry

DO N Qu e T E AN D T H E W rN D m LLs
P h o t o e t ch i n g
-
fro m a d ra w i ng b y La l a u ze

D EFEA T o r T H E B rsC A vAN

Ph ot o e tch i ng fro m a d ra w i ng
-
b y La l a uze

M A M BRI N O
'
S H ELMET
Ph oto e tch i ng
-
fro m a d ra w i n g b y La l a uze

DON Q e
u T E A TT A c e G TH E W rN E e Ns

Ph o to e tch i ng
-
fro m a d ra w i n g b y La l a uze

ZO RA v D A s
'
F ATH E R ON T H E SEA -
SH O RE
Ph o to e tch i n g from a
-
d ra w i ng b y La l a u ze

M v L O R D J U DG E A N D DO N Q U I X OT E
P h oto e tch i ng from a
-
d ra w i n g b y La l a uze

xl i x
 DO N Q U I X O T E D E L A M A N C H A

PA RT F I RS T

C H A PT E R I
M i c! : trea t: of tire condi ti on a nd w ay f
o l ife of tire f a mous gen tle
ma n, D on Quix ote of La M a ncha

N a certai n village of La Man cha who s e n ame I will n ot ,

r ec a l l t here lived n ot lo n g ago a ge n tle m an

, o n e of ,

t hose w h o keep a lan ce i n the ra c k a n a n cie n t target a , ,

lean h ackn ey a n d a greyhou n d for cou rs ing A mess of s ome

, .

w h a t more beef th a n mutt o n a s a l a d on mo s t n ights a hotch

, ,

potc h on Sat urda ys le n tils o n Frida ys w ith the additio n of a

, ,

pigeo n on Sun days co n s umed t hree parts of h is subs t an ce The

, .

res t o f it w a s Spe n t o n a doublet of fi n e broadcloth a pair of ,

velve t breeche s for holiday s with s lippers of the s ame a nd

, ,

h is h ome s p un of the fi n e s t with w hich he decked him s el f on

,

week d a y s. He kept at home a hou s ekeeper who w a s p a s t

-

fort y a n d a n iece w h o had n ot reached tw e n ty be side s a lad

, ,

for t h e field a n d market who s addled the n a g a n d h a n dled

,

t h e pru n in g hook.
-

T h e a g e of our gen tlema n bordered upon fi fty years . H e

w as of a vigorou s co n stitutio n s pare of fl e s h dry of vi s age
, , ,

a great early ris er a n d a lover of the chas e They a ffi rm

, .

that h i s s urn a me w a s Quejada or Q ues ada ( a n d i n t his t here

is s ome va rian ce amo n g the authors w h o treat of the matter) ,

although by very proba ble con jec tures we are led to co n clude
that he w a s called Quijan a B ut this i s of s mall import t o
.

our s to ry ; e n ough th a t i n t h e t elli n g of it we s werve n ot a j ot

from t h e truth .

Be it k n o w n the n that this ge ntleman above me ntion ed ,

duri ng the inte rval that he w a s idle which w a s the greater ,

a 1
 CERVAN TES

part of the year gave him s elf up to the readin g of books of

,

chivalrie s w ith s o much fervor a n d relis h that he al m o st

,

e nt irely n eglected the exercise of the chase a n d eve n t h e

m a n ageme n t of h i s e s ta te A n d to s uch a pi t c h did h i s
.

curi os ity a nd in fatuatio n reach t h a t he s old m a n y acres o f

arable lan d i n order to b uy roma n ce s of chivalry to read ; a nd
s o he bro u ght home as m a n y of t he m a s he could proc ure .

A n d of a ll n o n e s ee med t o him s o good a s tho s e compo s ed

by the famou s F elic ian o de Silva for their brillia ncy of s tyle
, ,

a n d tho s e e n t a n gled s e n t e n ce s s eemed t o him t o be very

pe a rl s ; a n d e s pecia lly when he ca me t o read of the p a s s ages

of lov e a n d c a rt el s of defi a n ce wherei n he o ft e n fo u n d w rit
,
“
t e n thi n gs like the s e : The reas on o f the u n re a s o n w hic h i s
do n e to my reas o n in s uch w is e my rea s o n debilitate s t h at ,
”
w ith reas o n I co m plai n of yo ur bea uteou s ne s s A nd al s o
.

whe n he re ad : Th e lofty heave n s w hich of your divi nity d o

divin ely f ort ify you with the co n stella tion s a n d make y ou ,

des e rver of t h e des erts w hich your mightine s s de s e rves .

O ver thes e re a s o n s our poor ge ntleman lost h i s s en s e s a n d ,

he us ed to keep aw ake at n ight i n tryi n g to co mprehe nd

them a nd i n pl uckin g out t heir meanin g which not A ris totle,

hims el f could extract or u n ders ta n d w ere he to come t o life

,

for that s pecial p urpo s e He did n ot m uch fan cy the wou n ds

.

w hich Don B e lia n i s ga ve a n d received ; for he t hought t hat ,

ho w ever pote nt w ere t h e s urgeo n s w h o h a d he a l ed him the ,

k n ight could n ot but have h is fa ce a n d all h is bod y f ull of

s c a rs a n d mark s . N e v erth ele s s h e prais ed i n the a ut hor the
,

e n din g of h is book wit h the promis e of that i ntermi nable

adve n ture a n d ofttime s he w a s s eized w it h a des ire t o take
,

up the p e n a n d p ut a fi n i s h to it i n good e a rn e st a s i s there

, ,

propo s ed. A nd doubtle s s h e w ould have do n e s o ; aye a nd ,

go n e t hro ugh w it h it had not o ther greater a n d more la s ting

,

thoughts diverted hi s min d .

Many time s he held di s pute wit h the prie st of h is village

( w h o w a s a le a rn ed m a n a graduate
, o f Sigue n za ) a s t o w h o

s hou ld have bee n t h e bett er kn ight P a lmeri n of E n glan d or

,

A ma dis of G a ul ; though Mas ter N ichol a s the barber of t h e ,

s ame vill a ge w a s u s ed to s a t hat n o n e came up t o the Knight

, y
of the S un a n d that i f a n o n e could compare with him it
, y
was Don G a laor brother of A madis of Ga ul for he h a d a
, ,
 DO N QuI xO TE 3

very accommodating temper for every th ing ; he w a s n o pru

dis h cavalier nor s uch a s niveler a s h is brot h er nor in t h e
, ,

a rticle of valor a n y behin d him.

In fin e our gen tleman w as so absorbe d in these s tudies

,

th a t he pass ed h is n ights readin g from eve to daw n a n d hi s

days from d a rk t o d us k ; and s o wit h li ttle s leep a n d m uch
s tudy h i s brain dried up t o the e nd that he lo s t h is w it s .
,

H e filled h im s elf with the imagin a tion of all that he read i n

the books ; w ith e n chantmen ts with quarrel s batt les chal , , ,

l e n g e s wo un d s amorou s plain ts love s torme nts a nd follies

, , , , ,

impo s sible . A nd so ass ured w a s he of the truth of all that

mas s of fan tastic in ve n tions of which he re ad that for h i m
there w a s n o other history i n the world s o certain . H e would
sa y that the C id R uy Diez mu s t have bee n a good knight but ,

n ot to be n amed with the K n ight of the F lami n g Sword w h o ,

o nly w it h one back s troke had s evered two fierce and mon
-

st ro us gi a n t s throug h t h e midd le . He better liked Be rn ardo

del C arpio becau s e at Ro nces valle s he had s lain O rla n do the
,
’
E n cha n ted availin g him s elf of Herc ule s s t rick when he t h rot
,

t l e d A n t e us s o n of Terra i n h i s arm s
, He s poke ve ry w e l l
, .

of t h e gia n t Morga n te becau s e of that giga n te sque brood

,

w h o are al l arroga n t a n d u n civil thi s alo n e w a s a ff a ble a n d

,

well mann ered . B ut above all he e steemed R in aldo of Mon

-

, ,

talva n es pecially when he s a w him s ally f ro m h i s ca s tle a n d

,

rob all he m e t a n d whe n i n H e a t h e nrie he s tole that idol o f

,

Ma h ou nd which w a s all of gold as h i s h isto ry tells . A s for,

the traitor Ga l a l on for a volley of kicks at him he wo uld

,

have give n h is hou sekeeper — aye a n d h is n iece t o bo ot

, , .

I n S hort h is w i t s utterly wrecked he fell into the s tran ges t

, ,

delu s io n ever madman co n ceived in the world a nd t his w a s , ,

that it w as fi tting a n d n eces s ary fo r h i m a s he thought both , ,

for the augme n ti n g of h is hon or a n d t h e s e rvice of the s tate ,

t o m a ke hi m s el f a k night erra nt a n d t ra v el thro ugh the world

,

with h i s armor a n d h is hors e s eeki n g for adve nt ures a n d to ,

exercis e him sel f i n a l l that he had read th a t the k n ight erran t

pra c tis ed redre ss in g a l l kin ds of wron g a n d placin g him s elf
, ,

i n perils a n d pas s e s by the s urmoun tin g of which he mig h t

achieve a n everlastin g n ame a nd fame. A lready the poor
ma n imagin ed him s elf by the v a lor of h is arm cro w n ed with
, , ,

a t the leas t the E mpire of Treb izo n d . A n d so with t he s e

, ,
4 CE RVAN TES

imagin a tion s so delightful rapt i n t h e s trange zes t with whic h

,

they in s pired him he made ha ste to give e ffect to what h e

,

des ired . The first t hin g he did w a s t o fu rbis h up s ome armor

which h a d belo nged t o hi s grea t gra n dfat h ers which eaten -

, ,

with rust a n d covered with mold had lain for ages w h ere it ,

had bee n put aw a y a n d forgotte n i n a corn er. He s coured ,

a n d dre s s ed it a s well a s he w a s able but he s a w th a t it h a d ,

o n e gre a t de f ect which w a s that there w a s n o covered hel

,

met b ut o n ly a Simple morion or head piece Thi s h is in ge

,
-
.

un ity s upplied for with piece s of pa st ebo a rd he f as h io n ed a

, , ,

s ort o f h a l f be a ver which fitt ed t o the morio n

-

, , gave it t h e ,

a ppearan ce o f a complete helmet The fa ct i s that to prove

. ,

i t t o be s tro n g a n d a ble to s ta n d the chan ce of a s w ord cut -

he drew h i s sw ord a n d ga ve it a couple of stroke s demoli s h ,

i n g wit h t h e very first in a mome n t w hat had co s t him a

, ,

week to make . Th e e a s e w ith which he h a d kn ocked it to

piece s n ot seemin g to him good in order to s ec ure h im self ,

a gai n s t thi s dan ger he s e t to m aki n g it an e w fittin g s ome ,

b a rs of iron wit hin in s uch a m a n n er a s t o leave him s atis fied

wit h h i s de fen s e ; a n d without c a ri n g to m a ke a fre s h tria l
o f it he co n s ti t uted a n d a ccepted it for a ve ry perfect good

h elmet. He w en t the n to in s pect h is n a g a bea st which , ,

t ho ugh it h a d more quarters than there a re i n a real a n d ,

more blemis he s t han t h e hors e of Gou ela which ta nt um p el h s

’

a t os s a f u zt appea red t o him t o s u rpas s A lexa n der s B uce p h a

'
’
,

Ins a n d the Cid s B a v i eca . F our day s were S pe n t by our

’

gen tleman i n meditatin g on w h a t n ame t o give him ; f or a s ,

he s aid t o him s el f it w a s n ot right that the steed of k n ight

,

s o famou s a n d in him s el f so good S h ould be wi t hou t a rec

, ,

og n ize d appellatio n ; a n d there fore he e n deavored to fit him

wi th on e which s hould s ign ify what he had been prior to h is

belon gi n g to a k n ight errant a n d what he w a s t hen ; s in ce he
,

thought it but right that the master h a ving cha nged h is

,

co n dition t h e hors e s ho uld a l s o chan ge his n ame a n d get

, ,

him on e s ublime a n d high s oun din g a s be fitt e d the n e w order

-

and the n ew ofli ce w hich he profe s s ed A n d s o after m a n y . ,

name s which he devi sed e ffaced a nd rej ec ted amen ded, , , ,

remade a n d u nmade i n h i s m in d a n d fan cy fi n ally he de

, ,

—
cided t o c ll him Rozi n a nte a n am e i n h i s opin ion lo fty
a , , ,

on orous a n d s ig n i fi ca ti v e of w h a t h i s a nimal had bee n w he n

,
6 CERVANT E S

lookin g pea sant girl wi th whom he onc e had fallen in l ove

, ,

though it i s un derstood that s h e n ever knew it or h ad proof

th ereof. Her n am e w a s Aldonza Lo re nzo a n d upon h e r h e
,

j udged it fit to bestow the title of m is tre s s of h is fan cy ; and

,

s eekin g f or her a name w hich s hould n ot m uch belie her ow n ,

a n d yet in clin e a nd approach t o that of a pri n ces s or gre at

lady he decided to call her Dulcinea del Tobos o for S he

, ,

w a s a n ative of E l Tobo s o a n ame i n h is opin io n mus ical

, , ,

roman ti c a n d Signi fica n t a s were all which he had given t o

, ,

hi mse lf and h i s belongi ngs.

 C H A PT E R II
M ir/1trea t s o f the Fi rst 8 4 1
0 ra bid : the I ngeni ous D on Quixote
ma de f rom Air vil lage

H E S E preparati ons havin g been made our gen tleman ,

determ i n ed to wait no lon ger to put h i s scheme into exe

cut i on bein g s purred th ereto by the thought that h i s
,

tardin e s s w a s causin g a los s to t h e world seeing the grievan ces ,

there were to redres s the w ron gs to right t h e errors to amen d

, , ,

the abu s es to correct and the debts to pay O ff. There fore
, ,

without impartin g h is design to an y pers on and w ithout ,

bein g s een by a nybody one morn in g be fore daw n ( it w a s on e

,

of the h ot day s in t h e mont h of July ) b e arm ed him s el f i n all

h is armor moun ted upon Rozin a n t e don n ed h i s ill framed

, ,
-

head gear braced on h is s hield s eized h i s lance and by the

-

, , ,

back gate of the yard sallied out in to the plain overj oyed to ,

perceive wi th h ow much ease he had made a begin nin g of

h i s fair de s ig n . But scarce did he find him s el f in the ope n
plai n w hen a terrible thought as s ailed him and s uch a s well ,

n ig h m ade h im give up the e n terpris e a s s oon a s it w a s

begun. This w a s the recollection that he w as not a d ubbe d

kni ght a nd thu s in conform ity wit h the la ws of chivalry b e
, , ,

neither co uld n or s hould take arm s ag ain st any knight ; a nd

even if he had been on e he w a s bou n d a s a novice t o w ear
,

plain armor w ithout device on the s h ield until he had gain ed

,

one by h i s prow es s . Thes e refl ections made him falter in

h i s purpo s e but h i s frenzy prevaili n g over every other argu
, ,

ment he propo s ed to have hims elf dubbed knight by t h e firs t

,

man he met in imitation of man y w h o had done the like a s

,

h e had read in the bo oks by which he w a s s o much i nfl u

e nce d A s touching the plai n armor he purpos ed when he
. , ,

had leis ure to s cour hi s so th at it S hould be whiter than

,

ermin e A nd w ith this he quieted him s elf and pursued h i s

.

way ta ki ng no other roa d than such a s h is horse pleas ed

, ,

7
8 CE RVAN TES

in the belief that there in co ns is ted the force of a dv en

tures .

J o u m e i
y gn a lo n g our bra n d, n e w adve n t urer t a lked t o

him self a s he w e nt s a yin g : Who doub ts b ut that in the

. , ,

age s to come whe n t h e true hi s t ory of my famous feats s h a ll

,

i ss u e to the light the sage who w rites of them will w he n he

, ,

come s to recoun t this my firs t sal ly so ea rly in the morn ing , ,

p u t it i n t h i s m a n n er

Sc a rce had the rubicun d Apollo s hed over the face o f the
broad a n d s p a ciou s eart h the golden threa ds of h i s beaut eo us
l ock s a n d s carce h a d the tin y pai n ted b i rdl i n g s with t heir
, , ,

forked ton gues sal uted w ith sw eet a n d hon eyed melody the
,

com in g of the ro s eat e Aurora w h o de sertin g t h e s moot h , ,

couch of her jealous hu sba n d dis played herse lf to m ort al s ,

th rough the port als a n d balcon ies of the M a n chegan horizon ,

whe n t h e famous kn ight Don Quixote of La M a n cha q uit

, ,

t in g the s loth ful dow n mou n ted h i s famo u s s teed Rozi n a n t e

,

and commen ced to j ourn ey by the an cie n t a n d ren o w n ed

Plain of Mon t iel ( a n d true it w a s that by tha t way he w a s
travelin g) . A n d he co n tin ued s ayi n g H a ppy t h e age , ,

a n d h a ppy th e time in which S hall be made p ublic t hese

fam ou s fea ts of min e worthy of bein g e n graven i n bra ss

, ,

s culptured i n m a rble a n d pai n ted i n pic t ure s f or a memori a l

,

i n f uture . 0 thou s age en ch a n t er w h oever thou mayes t be

, , ,

who a rt dest in ed to be the chro n icler of this u n paralleled h is

tory I be s eech thee forget n ot my good Rozi na n te forever
, ,
”
com pan ion of min e i n all my journ ey s a n d courses !
Pre s e n tly he cried a ga in a s though he w ere really e n am
,

ored : 0 Prin ce s s Dulcin ea mi s tre s s of this capt ive heart ! ,

Sore wron g h a ve you w rought me i n cas tin g me off an d

a ffl ictin g me w it h the cruel ri gor of your man date n ot t o a p
pear bef ore your beauteous n es s Vouch safe lady to be a r in . , ,

m in d thi s your vas sa l heart which s u ff ers pa n gs s o grievous

,
”
for t h e love of you .

With t he se he wen t strin ging other rhap s odie s all in the ,

fas hion of t h o s e which h i s books h a d ta ught h i m im ita tin g ,

as w ell a s he w a s able their lan g ua ge . A n d he rode on s o

leis urely a n d the s un became so h ot that it w a s en ough to
, ,

melt h is brain s had he pos sess ed a n y N e a rly the w hole

, .

of that day he journeyed wi thout meetin g a n yt h i n g wort hy

 DO N QUI X OTE 9

Of men tion at which he w a s in de s p a ir for he lo n ged on the

, ,

in s ta n t to en coun ter s ome on e w it h w hom he might m a ke

t rial of t h e might of h i s s tro n g arm There a re a u thors w h o
.

sa y that the firs t adve nt u re w hich befe l l him w a s th a t of the

Puerto La pice ; o t h ers hold it w a s that of the w in dmill s ; b ut

that w hich I have been able t o as certain on this poin t a n d ,

which I have fou n d i n sc ribed in t h e an n al s Of La M a n cha is ,

that he rode a ll that d a y a nd at n ightf a ll h i s n a g a n d him s elf

,

fo un d t h em s elve s tired a n d dyin g of hu n ger. Lookin g rou n d

o n eve ry S ide to s e e if he might dis cover s ome ca s tl e or S hep

h erd s cot w here he might take s helter a n d s upply h i s pre ss

’

i n g wan ts he de s cried n ot far off f rom the road on w hich he

,

w a s travelin g a n i nn which to him s eemed a s a s t a r t o guide

,

hi m to t h e port al s if n ot to the pala ce s of h i s redemp t io n .

Q u icken in g h is pace he reached it j u s t a s n ight s e t i n
, .

There chan ced to be s tan di ng at the door t w o young w ome n

adve nt urers w h o were on their way t o Seville w ith s om e
,

m u leteers w h o had happe n ed to ta ke up their q uart ers i n t h e

,

i n n that even i n g. A n d s i n ce to our adve n turer a l l t hat he

, ,

tho ugh t sa w or imagin ed s eemed t o be do n e a n d pas s aft er

, ,

t h e ma n n er of what he had read a s s oon a s h e sa w the i n n

,

h e m a de him s elf believe that it w a s a ca st le wi t h i t s four

t o w e rs a n d s pire s of S hin in g S il ver n or w an ti n g dra w bridge
,

a n d mo a t a n d a ll the a ppurte n a n ce s with w hich s uch c a s tle s

a re pain t ed . A rrivin g at the i n n w hich to h i s m in d w a s a

,

c as t le w hen s till a li t tle w a y o ff he drew bridle on Rozi n a n t e

, ,

a w a iti n g s ome dwarf to pl a n t him s el f on the b a t tleme n t s a n d

with a t rumpe t to ann oun ce th a t a kn ight to the c a s tle w a s

co m in g. B ut when he perceived th a t they delayed a n d th a t ,

R oz in a n te w a s i n a hurry to reach the st able he we nt up to ,

t h e i nn door w here he s a w the t w o w an to n l a s se s s t an di n g

, ,

w hom h e believed t o be two lovely d a m s el s or tw o gra ce f ul

dam e s ta kin g t heir recreatio n a t the ca st le gate . J ust then
,

i t h a ppe n ed th a t a sw i n eherd who w a s collect i n g from t h e

,

s t ub ble s a drove of hog s ( s a vin g your pre s e n ce for calli n g

the m s o) s ou n ded a b orn at w hich s ign a l t hey mu s tered ;

, ,

and on t h e i n s ta n t there w as repre s en t ed w hat Don Q u ixot e

looked for which w a s th a t s ome d w arf w a s giving n o tice of
,

h i s appro a ch . A n d s o w ith prodigiou s co m pla ce n cy he w e n t

, ,

up to the wi ndow a n d to t hos e ladie s who when they s a w , ,

IO CERVAN TE S

comin g toward s thein a ma n thu s accoutered in armor wi t h ,

lan ce a n d S hield were for flying a l l i n fear w it hi n t h e in n .

,

But Don Quixote gatherin g by thei r retreat that they were

,

frighten ed rais ing h is viz or of pasteboard a n d dis clos in g h is

,

lea n a n d du s ty coun t en an ce with a courteo us mie n a n d a

,

pla cid voice exclaimed : Let your grace s fl y n ot n or drea d

, ,

an s cathe f or with t h e order of chivalry which I profe s s it

y ,

dot h n ot co n s ist or comport to do aught t o a ny more e s pecia lly ,

to m a ide n s so exalted a s your appearan ce proclaim s y ou to be .

The wen che s s ta red at him a n d w hen they s ought w it h a l l

,

t heir eyes t o make out the face which t hat s orry vizor e n
S hrouded t hey could n ot con tain t heir laughter so t h a t Don
, ,

Q uixote came to be net tl ed a n d s aid to t hem : Civi lity w ell

becomes t h e beautiful ; a n d the laugh w hich proceeds from a
light caus e i s furthermore great foolis h n e s s ; but this I sa y
, ,

t o y ou n ot to o ffe n d y ou n or t o in c ur your dis ple as ure for my ,

”
int e nt is n o other than t o d o you s ervice .

This lan g uage which w a s u n intelligible t o the ladies a nd

, ,

t h e u n couth as pect of our kn ight i n crea s ed their laughter

, ,

w hich an gered him t h e more ; a n d i t w o uld have gon e m u ch

farth er if at this momen t the in n keeper had n ot come out a
ma n w h o thro ugh being very fa t w a s ve ry p a cific H e s eei n g
, , . ,

that gr otes q ue figure accoutered w it h a rm s s o dis cordan t a s

,

were t h e lan ce s hield a n d coat of armor w ith the man n er of

, , ,

ridin g w as on the poin t of keepin g the w e n che s compan y in

,

their demons tratio n s of mirth But in s oot h bein g afraid of

. , ,

that mass of warlike material he decided to s pea k him fairly

, ,
“
S O acco s ted him th us : If your w ors hip Sir Kn ight is in , ,

ques t of a lodgin g s avin g a bed ( for i n this i n n t here i s n on e)

, ,
”
eve ryt hin g el s e wi ll be foun d in great plenty .
Don Quixote n otin g the h umility of the governor of the
,

fortres s ( for such he took the in n keeper a nd the in n to be) ,

res pon ded : For me Sir Cas tellan w hatever y ou w ill s hall
, ,

s uffi ce for
,
My orna me nts are a rms ,

My res t th e ba ttl e fra y) -

The ho st thought that the kn ight had c a ll ed him a Cas ti lian

becaus e he looked like one of the thieves of Cast ile although ,

h e w a s a n A ndal us ia n a n d from t h e S a n Lucar haun ts n o ,

l e ss a thief than Cacus or le s s tricky than s tuden t or page .

 DO N QUI XOT E 11

A nd so he
re plied According to that
Your couch s hal l be th e fli nty rock ,

Your s lee p to wa tch a l wa y

a n d i t bei n g s o yo u r w ors hip can s afely alight with the cer
, ,

ta i n ty of fin din g in thi s cottage matter a n d occas ion for not

”
Sleep i ng a w hole tw elvemon th n ot to s a y one n ight. ,

Say i ng this he we n t to hold Don Q uixo te s s tirrup w h o ’

dis m o un ted w ith grea t diffic ult y a n d e ffort for he had n ot ,

bro k e n fas t all day He then told the ho st to ta ke great

.

c a re o f h i s s teed for it w a s the be s t bit of h orse fl e s h that

,

e ver ate bread in the w orld . The in n keeper looked at the

b eas t which did n o t appear t o him t o be a s good as Don
,

Q ui xo te said n or even one half ; but he p ut h i m u p in the

,

s ta bl e a n d retu rned to s e e w hat were h i s gue st s comm a n ds

’

, ,

w h o m the dam s el s ( for they were n ow recon ciled ) w ere

dis ar m in g They took O E h is b re a s tplate a n d b a ck piece
. -

b ut t hey could n ot extricate him from h i s gorget n or rid

hi m o f the coun terfeit helmet w hich w a s fa st e n ed w it h gr een
,

ribb o n s who se kn ots they could not loo s e w ithout c ut tin g

, ,

t o w h ich he wou ld by no mean s co n s e n t . So he rem a in ed

a ll t h at n ight w ith h i s helmet on a n d w a s t h e drolle s t a n d
,

s tra n ge s t figure con ceivable O n gettin g out of h i s armor

. ,

i mag i n i ng t ho s e draggled w ome n w h o dis armed him to be

ill us tr iou s l adie s a n d da me s of that cas tle he addre s sed them ,

wi t h m uch gra cefuln ess

N ever sure was gal la nt kn igh t
By la dies fa i r s o well a ttende d ,

As wa s h e Do n Qui xote h ig h t
, ,

W h enfrom h ome his wa y h e we nded .

Da ms els to hi m mi nis tered
A nd Pri nces s es to h i s Rozi na nte

which d ear ladies is my horse s n ame a n d D on Q uixo te of

, ,
’

La M an cha min e altho ugh it had n ot been my in te n tion to

,

dec l a re mys elf un til the feats performed in your s ervice a n d

weal s hould di s cover me . The n ece ss ity of a ccommodat in g
to t h e pre s e n t occas ion that ol d roman ce of Lan celot h a s bee n
the caus e of your learn in g my n ame out of all seaso n ; but
the time will come when your ladys hip s may comm a n d me
a n d I obe y a n d the valor of m i ne arm dis clos e the de s ire I
,
”
have to serve you .
I2 C ERVAN TE S

The wen ches w h o w ere n ot u s ed to hear harangues like

,

the s e an sw ered n ot a w ord o n ly as ki ng him if he w ould

, ,

ple a s e to e a t a n yt h in g .

“
I w o uld s ome provan d w hatever it be D on Quixote
, ,
“ ”
replied for I apprehe n d it w o uld come very opportu n e
, .

That day ch a n ced t o be F rida y a n d t here w a s n ot hin g in

,

the w hole i nn b ut s ome port ion s of s toc k fi sh w hich i n that -

pl a ce w a s c a lled fa cetious ly little tro ut. They as ked if h i s ,

wors hip w o uld haply e a t little tro ut for t here w a s n o other ,

fis h they co uld give him to eat .

So there be m a n y tro utlets an sw ered D on Q u ixote , ,

they m ight s erve for on e tro ut for it i s the sa me t o me ,

w hether t hey give me eight re a l s s e v erally or on e piece of

eight Moreover it may be w ith thes e t ro ut le ts a s w it h vea l
. , ,

w hich i s bett er th a n bee f a n d w ith kid w hich i s bett er than

, ,

goat ; but let it be w h a t it w ill s o that i t come s a t o n ce for

, ,

the toi l a n d b urden of arm s cann ot be h om e without the

”
govern men t of the stomach .

They s et the ta ble a t the inn door for cooln e ss a n d the ,

ho s t brought the kn ight a port io n of ill s oaked a n d w ors e -

cooked s tock fis h a n d a loaf black a n d grimy a s h i s armor.

-

It w a s mat ter of m uch l a ughter t o s e e him e a t for a s he ,

kept h is helmet on w ith the vizor up he could p ut n oth in g

, ,

in to h is mout h w ith hi s ow n han d s w it ho ut as s ista nce SO on e ,

o f the d a m s el s perf ormed for him that s ervice But to give .

h i m drin k w a s i m po s s ible i f the ho s t h a d n ot bored a reed

,

a n d p ut t i n g o n e e n d in to t h e k n igh t s mo u th po ured w i n e
’

, ,

do w n the ot her ; a n d a ll t his Don Q uixote pat ien tl y en dured

rather t han they Sho uld brea k the strings of h i s helmet.
While t hey w ere th us e n gaged there ch a n ced to come t o
the i nn a s ow gelder a n d a s he arrived he blew on h is pipe
-

O f reed s f o ur o r five t ime s which fi n a lly co n firm ed D o n i

, Q u x
ot e i n t h e belief that he w a s at s ome f a mo us cas tl e a n d that ,

they w ere s ervin g him w ith mu s ic ; t hat the s tock fi s h w as -

tro ut t h e bre a d of the fi n es t fl o ur the girl s fi n e la die s a n d

, , ,

th e in n keeper t h e co n st a ble of that ca s tle ; a n d there fo re h e , ,

w a s w ell co n te n t w it h h i s e n terpri s e a n d s a lly B ut t hat w hich .

chie fly dis t re ss ed him w a s the n ot fi n din g him s el f a full m a de -

k n ight a s he believed that he co uld n ot law fully e n ter in to

,

a n y a dv e nt ure witho ut receivin g the order of knighthood.

14 CERVAN T E S

that s uch a propos a l w a s n atural a n d becomin g to kn ight s so

illu strious a s he s eemed to be a n d a s h is gallan t pre s e n ce
in dicated ; t hat he hims elf in the days of h i s youth had bee n
, ,

given to that hon orable pro fe s sio n j ou rn eyin g thro ugh divers
,

part s of the world lookin g for h i s adven ture s n ot omitt in g t h e ,

Fis h M a rket of Mala ga the I s lets Of Ri a rén the Compass

, ,

of Seville the A q ued uct Sq ua re of Segovia the O live Grove

, ,

of V alen cia the Precin ct of Gra n ada the Stran d of S a n

, ,

Lucar t h e Colt fo untain of Cordova the Pot hous e s of

,
-

,
-

Toledo a n d various ot her s lums w here he had exercis ed the

, ,

lightn e ss of h is feet a n d the dexterity of h i s han ds doin g ,

man y w ro n gs a n d en din g by caus in g him s elf to be k nown i n

,

almo st eve ry police o ffi ce a n d court in Spain ; a n d a t the las t

he had come to retire to that ca st le of h is w here he li ved ,

upo n h i s e s tate a n d th a t of other pers on s e n t ertain ing th ere i n

,

a l l kn ight s erra n t o f whatever q ua lit y or co n di t io n they were ,

s olely out of the great a ffection he bore them a n d that t hey ,

m igh t s h a re w ith him their s ub s t a n ce i n payment of h i s goo d

w ill . H e told D on Q uixote al s o that t here w a s n o chapel
within that cas tle w here he co uld watch h is arm s for it h a d ,

been p ulled dow n to be rebuilt ; but that in a ca se of n ece ss ity

he kn ew th a t a vigil might be kept w herever he pleas ed a n d ,

tha t n igh t he migh t keep h is wat ch in the courtyard of the

castle a n d i n t h e m orn i ng God w illin g the ot her ceremon ies
, , ,

might be performed i n s uch wis e a s to lea ve him a full made -

kn ight a s m uch a kn ight a s a n y could be i n the world . H e

,
‘

a sked him if he h a d a ny mon ey a n d Don Q uixote replied

,

that he had n ot a doit for he had n ever re a d i n the hi s torie s

,

of k n ight s erra n t that t hey carried a n y The i nn keeper

.

ass ured him t hat he w a s m istaken ; be g ran ted that it w as

n ot w ritt e n i n t h e hi s to rie s the a uthors thereof n ot deemin g
,

it n ece s s a ry t o m en t ion a thin g so obvious a n d so n ee dful t o

take w ith on e a s mo n ey a n d clean s hirts ; n ev erthele ss it w a s ,

n ot to be s uppo s ed t hat s u ch w ere n ot t ake n a n d t herefore ,

he m ight accept it for ce rt ain a nd proved that all kn ight s

erran t ( of w hich s o man y of the books were full a n d w itn e s s )
carried p urs e s w ell lin ed again s t what might happen a n d ,

that th ey al s o carried s hirts a n d a little box f ull of un guent s

,

to heal t h e w o un ds they received . For i n t h e fields a n d ,

deserts where they fought and came out wou n ded t hey h a d ,
 DON QUI xOTE 15

not al w ays people t o cure them un less they retai n ed s ome

,

learn ed e n ch a n ter a s frie n d to relieve them at on ce bearin g ,

through the air on s ome cloud some dam s el or dwarf with a

via l of w a ter of s uch v irtue that on tas tin g even a drop
,

thereof i n a trice t hey remain ed whole of their scars a n d

,

w o un d s a s if they had n ever received any dam a ge . I n de

,

f a ult of this the knights of old took as surance that their

,

s q uires w ere provided wit h mon ey a n d other n ece s s arie s ,

s uch a s lin t a n d s alve s for heali n g ; and w hen it happe n ed

that s uch kn ights had no s quires Of which the cas es were few
,

a n d rare t hey them s elve s carried eve ryt hing i n w a llets s o

, ,

very fin e a s s c a rcely to be vis ible on the charger s haun ches ’

as tho ugh it were s omethin g oth er of more impo rta nce ; for

e xcept on s uch occ as io n s thi s carryi n g of wallets w a s n ot

m uch admitted a mong kn ights erran t. Wherefore he coun

s eled Don Q uixote though a s h i s godso n a s he w as s o s oo n
,

t o be he ( t h e in n keeper ) m i ght e ve n comman d him

, not to
travel the n cefort h w ithou t mon ey a n d without t h e above men -

ti on e d requis ite s and he w ould se e h ow u s eful they w ere to

,

him when he leas t expected .

D on Q uixote promised to perform all that w a s re com
mended to him with all exactn es s ; whereupon he w a s
e nj oi n ed forthwith to keep w atch over h is armor in a large
yard by t h e i nn s ide . Collecti n g the pieces all together he ,

placed them on t op of a st o n e t rough which stood n ear a

well a n d bucklin g on his S hield he gra s ped h is l a n ce a n d
, , , ,

began w ith a jaun ty air to pace in fron t of the tr ough it ,

bein g now dark when he commen ced h is exercis e .

The lan dlord told all w h o were s t aying i n t h e in n of h i s
gue st s craze the w atchin g of the armor a n d the dubbin g of
’

, ,

knighthood which he aw ai ted. Won derin g at this s t ra nge

kin d of mad ness they wen t to look at him from a fa r a n d
, ,

sa w him sometime s paci n g with a t ran quil mie n s ometime s ,

res ti ng on h i s la nce w ith h i s eyes fixed on hi s a rmor from

, ,

which he would n ot take them o ff for s ome time The n ight .

had n ow clos ed in w ith a moon of s uch brightn ess that s h e

might have vied w rth him w h o lent it to her s o that whatever ,

o ur novice did could be plain ly s ee n by all . Ju st the n one of

the muleteers w ho were s tayin g i n t h e i n n w an tin g to give
,

water to h is tea m found it n e ces s ary to re move Don Quixote s

,
’
1
6 CERVANTES

a rmor from where it lay on t h e t rough The k n ight s eeing . ,

the m a n approach exclaimed w ith a loud voice

, O t hou , ,

who s oever t ho u a rt ra s h cavalier ! w h o come s t to to uch t h e

,

armor of the mos t valian t erran t that ever girt s word on h im

s elf
,
— ta ke heed w hat tho u does t a nd touch it n ot if thou
, ,

w o ulds t n ot los e thy li fe i n f orfeit of t h y t emerity

The muleteer paid n o regard to the se words ( a n d bett er for
him i t had been had he rega rded t hem for he w ould have ,

assured h i s s afety ) b ut ta kin g hold of the armor by t h e

, ,

s trap s fl un g it s ome way from him .

, When Don Q uixote
s a w thi s he lifted h i s eye s to heave n a n d addre ss i n g h i m s elf
, , ,

a s it s eemed to h is Lady D ulcin ea cried

, Succor me m is , ,

tr es s min e ln this the firs t affro nt w hich i s offered t o this

,

en t hralled bo s om : let n ot yo ur favor a n d help fail me in thi s

”
fi rs t trial !
A n d utterin g the s e and o t her s uch w ord s a n d loo sin g h i s
s hield he rais ed h is lan ce in both han d s a n d w ith it dealt
, ,

s u ch a migh ty blow o n the m u let eer s he a d that it felled h i m

’

t o the earth i n s uch ill plight t h a t if it had bee n follo w ed

,

u p w ith a s eco n d t here wo uld have bee n n o n eed of a leech

,

t o cure him This don e Don Q uixo te collec ted h i s armor

. ,

again a n d re s umed h i s w alk w ith t h e s ame compo s ure a s

,

be fore Soo n a fter an ot her m uleteer w it ho ut kn owing w hat

. , ,

had pas s ed ( for the firs t st ill lay st un n ed ) c a me up w it h the ,

s ame p urpo s e of givi n g w a t er to h i s m u le s a n d w a s goin g t o ,

remove the armor s o a s to clear t h e t rough w hen Don ,

Q uixote witho ut s peaki n g a word or a s kin g a n y on e s favor

,
’
,

again loo s ed h i s s hield a n d again rai sed h i s la n ce a n d with ,

out breaki n g i t made more tha n t hree piece s o f the s econd

m uleteer s he a d At the n ois e all the people of the in n ra n

’
.

out and the lan dlord a m on g them .

, Seein g t hi s Don Quix ,

ot e buckled on h is s hield a nd s ett ing h i s han d t o h i s s word

, , ,

cried : O lady of be a uty ! s tren g t h a n d vigor of this debile

heart ! n ow i s t h e hour when you s hould turn the eyes of
yo ur gr an de ur on this your captive kn ight w h o i s awaitin g ,

this mighty adven t ure

Thereu pon he s eemed to him se lf to acquire so m u ch cour
age that if all t h e mulet eers in the world h a d ass ailed him he
w o uld n ot have budged a foo t . The compa n io n s o f t h e
wo un ded s eein g them i n that plight began to S ho w er s t on e s
, ,
 DON QUI XOT E r7

from a dis ta n ce upon Don Qui xote w h o s heltered himself a s ,

w ell a s he could with hi s s hield n ot ven turi ng t o leave t h e

,

hors e trough les t he s hould s eem t o aban don h i s armor .

The in n keeper called out to t hem to leave him alone for he ,

had to ld them al ready that it w a s a m a dman a n d bei n g mad ,

he would be s cot free even if he ki lled them a l l. Don Qui x

-

ote al s o cried o ut yet lo uder c a lli n g them co w ard s a n d trai

,

tors a n d dec l arin g t h e lord of the c ast le to be a crave n a n d

,

a bas e bom knigh t for co n s en t in g t o knights erran t bei n g

-

SO t rea ted a n d th a t if he him s elf had received t h e order of

,

knighthood he would have made him s en s ible of h is p erfidy

B ut of y ou bas e a n d v i le rabble I make no accou n t.
, ,

Shoot ! come on ! advance ! as s ail me a s much as ye are

able ; y ou s hall se e the pen al ty you have t o pay for your
folly a n d in s olen ce !
This he s aid with s o much s pirit a n d i ntrepidity th at he
struck all w h o heard him with a terrible fear ; part ly there

fore a n d partly on accoun t of t h e hos t s pers uas io n s they

,
’
,

left 0 5 peltin g him a nd he on his part permitted them to

,

c arry 0 3 t heir w o un ded ret urn in g to the vigil Of hi s a rm s

,

w ith the s ame calm n e s s a n d compo s ure a s before .

The s e pran ks Of h i s g uest were n ot to the in n keeper s lik ’

i ng s o he determin ed to des p a tch a nd give him that pl a g uy

,

order of knighthood fo rth w ith before other mis chief s hould ,

happe n . Goin g up to him therefore he apologized for the

, ,

in s ole n ce wi th which t ho s e bas e fello w s h ad behaved w ith

out h is know ledge a d din g t hat they had bee n well chas tis ed
,

for their hardihood . A n d S eei n g there w as n o chapel i n that

ca stle a s he had s aid before there w a s n o n eed be declared
, , , ,

for the res t of the performan ce ; that the w hole po i n t of

knight making con s is ted i n the s lap of the han d a n d the
-

s tr oke o n the s ho u lder accordin g t o h i s kn o w ledge o f t h e

,

ceremo n i al O f the order a n d this could be don e in the middle

,

of a field ; a n d that Don Q uixo t e h a d already accompli s hed

all that perta ined to the w atchin g of a rm s m ore by token ,

that he had been more th a n fou r hours a t w hat might have

bee n fi ni s hed 03 wi th a t w o ho urs watch . ’

To a ll this D on Q uixote ga ve creden ce a n d he s aid to the ,

host that he w a s there ready to O bey him prayin g him to ,

conclude the bus in e ss a s s oon as possible for were he a s , ,

3
1
8 C ERVANTE S

s a ul t e daga in whe n full knight he purpos ed n ot t o leave a ny ,

on e alive i n the cas tle except tho s e he might s pare at the

,

castellan s bidd in g a n d out of regard for him .

’

The ca stellan t hus forew a rn ed a n d apprehen s ive of what

, ,

might happen brought out a book i n w hich he u sed to e n ter

,

the st ra w a n d barley which he s upplied to the muletee rs a n d , ,

with a candle e nd h om e by a lad t h e two da m s els afores a id

-
,

with him we nt up to where Don Q uixote w a s sta ndin g a n d

, ,

ordered him to g o do w n on h i s kn ees . Readin g i n h i s ma n

ua l as th ough he were recitin g s ome devout prayer he broke ,

Off in the middle a n d l ifti n g up h i s han d dealt D on Q ui xote

, , ,

a s oun d blow on th e head a nd a fter this a bris k thwack on

,

the s ho ulder w ith h is ow n s w ord s till mutterin g betwee n h i s ,

teeth a s though he were prayin g . This don e he comman de d ,

o n e of the ladies t o gird on Don Q uix ote s s w ord which s h e

’

did with much s prigh tl in es s a n d dis creti on a n d it n eeded n o ,

li tt l e Of that last article t o avoid burstin g with laughter at

each poin t of the ceremon ies though the prowe ss they had ,

witne s sed of the new k n ight kept their m irth wi t hin bou n ds .

At the girdin g on of the s w ord the good lady s aid : God

m ake your w ors hip a fortu n ate knight and give you good ,

luck in battles !
D on Q uixote be s ought her to tell him her n ame that ,

the n ceforw ard he might know to w hom he w a s in debted

for the favor received for he des ign ed to be stow on h e r
,

s ome portio n of the ho n or which he w a s t o reap by th e

valor Of h i s arm. She replied wi t h much h umi lity that h e r , ,

name w a s La Tolo sa a n d that S he w a s the da ughter Of a

,

cobbler n ative of Toledo w h o lived among the s tal ls of

, ,

San cho Bie n a ya a n d that w here soever s h e might be S h e

, , ,

w a s at h i s s ervice and took him for her mas ter Don .

Q uixote begged her in reply f or love of him he n ceforth to , ,

call herself Dona Tolos a w hich sh e promis ed to do Th e ,

.

ot her dam s el buckled on him h is s p urs w ith whom there ,

pas s ed almo s t th e s ame colloq uy a s with her of the s w ord .

He as ked her her n ame and s h e answered that S he wa s

,

called La M oli n era a n d w a s the daughter of a miller of A n

,

t e que ra . Her al s o D on Quixo t e be s o ught to ca ll he rs elf

Do na Moli nera re n ewing h is o ffers of s ervice a n d favor.
,

Thes e never before seen ceremon ies havin g been des patched
- -
 DON QUIX O T E 1
9

at a g allop p os t has te Don Quixote could not rest till he

and -

saw hi m s e l f
on hors eback s allyi n g forth in que s t of a d v en
,

tu res . S O s ad dling Rozin a n te at on ce he mounted and em , ,

bra ci ng th e inn keeper tha nked him for the favor do n e in the
,

k n i ghti n g in term s so ext ra v agan t a s t hat it is impo s s ible to

,

g i v e a n e xa ct relatio n of them . T h e i n n keeper

, s ee i ng hi m
we ll outs ide h is inn res p onded to h is sp ee ches with others n o
,

l ess fl owery al though more bri ef a nd wi thout as k ing him for

, ,

th e c o st of h is l od gi n g let hi m g o with a h e arty good w il l .

,
-
 CH A PT E R I V

Of w ha t happened to our K nig h t w hen he sa ll i ed f ro m the i nn

T w as dawn when Don Q uixote went out from the in n so ,

happy so blithe so en rapt ured at fin din g him s elf n ow

, ,

a full dubbed kn ight that h i s j oy w a s like t o burs t h is

,

horse s girt h s B ut t h e co un s els of the ho s t com in g in to h is

’
.

m in d re s pec ti n g the s upplie s w hich he n eeded to take w it h

him es pecia lly Of mon ey a n d Of s hirt s b e re s olved to return
, ,

home a n d provide him s elf w it h everythin g al s o with a s q uire ; ,

calc ula t in g on ta kin g in to h i s s ervice a laborin g ma n a to w n s ,

ma n of h i s w h o w a s poor a n d had a family but w a s very fit

, ,

f or the s quirely o ffi ce in kn ighthood With th is int en tio n he

.

t urn ed Rozina n t e s head t o w ard s h i s vill a ge w h o a s if he

’
, ,

kn ew that he w a s on h is road home began to travel w it h , ,

s uch good will th a t he s eemed n o t to p ut h i s feet t o the eart h

-
.

He had n ot gon e far w he n the d on bec a me aw are that from

a thicket hard by on h i s ri ght h a n d there came fai n t s o un ds
, ,

a s of s ome on e complai n in g N O s oo n er did he hear them

.

tha n he exclai med

“
I than k Heaven for the favor accorded me s eei ng that it ,

places before me S O promp tly occa s io n s for me to perf orm

th a t which is due to my profe ss ion a n d w he n ce I may be ,

able to gather the f ruit O f my good de s ire s The s e crie s . ,

do ubt le ss proceed from s ome m a n or woman i n distre s s w h o

, ,

h a s n eed Of my protection a n d a ss i st an ce .
”

Then turn in g rein he rode Rozina n te toward s the s pot

, ,

w he n ce the voice s eemed to proceed ; a n d a t a fe w pace s ,

from the e n tra n ce in to the w ood he sa w a n a g t ied t o a n oa k

,

tree a n d to an other a youth n aked to h is middle abo ut fi ftee n

, , ,

years of age . This w a s he w h o w a s utt erin g tho se crie s n or ,

wit hout ca us e for a st urdy fellow of a peas an t w a s fl oggin g

,

him s oun dly w ith a w ai st belt a n d accomp a n yin g ea ch st roke

-

w ith a reproof a n d a piece of advice for he would c r : A

y ,

s til l to n gue a n d a ready eye !

22 CERVANT E S

be r d rew h is blood wh en s ick you have drawn it in he a l th ;

,
”
on that S core therefore he owe s you nothing.
, ,

The worst Of it is Sir Kn ight t hat I have no mon ey

, ,

here . Let A n d res come with me home a n d I wi ll pay h im ,

real by real .
I go with him ! cried the lad ; no in d eed ! Devil a ,

bit ! N o sir I don t i n ten d to ; for if I go with him al on e

, ,
’

, ,

he will s kin me like a S ai nt Bartholomew.

He will n ot do S O replied Don Quixote. , It i s e n ough
that I lay my comman d on him for him to re s pect it ; a n d on
con diti on that he s wears to me on the l a w of chival ry he h a s
received I w i ll let him g o free and wi ll guara n tee th e pay
,
”
men t .

Good your wors hip look ye what you sa y quoth the

, ,

youth for th is my mas ter is n o knight n or h as he received

, ,

an order of chivalry. He i s Juan H a l d udo the rich and

y ,

l ive s at Quin tan ar.

That i s n o matter Don Q uixote replied ; for there
,

may be H a ld udos knights ; the more a s every on e is th e

”
child of hi s works .
”
That is true cried A ndres ; but this mas ter of mine
, ,

w hat works i s he the child Of s ince he de n ie s me my wage, ,

my s weat a n d my toil ?
,

I deny it n ot brother A ndres an s wered the pe asa nt ;

, ,
“
do me the favor t o come with me and I s wear by a l l the ,

orders of chivalry i n the world to pay you a s I have s ai d ,

”
real by real a n d perf umed into the bargai n .
,
”
The perfuming I exc us e you s aid Don Q uixote ; g ive ,

it to h im in real s with that I am co n te n t and ta ke c a re that

, ,

y ou accompli s h w hat you h ave s w orn t o or el s e by t h e l ike , ,

oath I sw ear to s eek you out o n ce more and to cha stise you ;
,

a n d I s hall fi n d y ou even tho ugh y ou hide yours elf a s clos e

a s a liz ard . A nd if you wou ld know w h o it i s that lays this

comman d on you a n d i n order that you may res t un der the
,

greater obligation t o comply with it learn that I a m the val ,

orous D on Quixote O f La Man cha the undoer of wron gs a n d ,

in j urie s ; a n d God be with you a n d be n ot fal se to what you

,
”
have promis ed a nd sworn on pai n of the fo rfeit pronoun ced
, .

Sayin g this th e kn ight clapped S p urs to his Rozi n a n te a n d

,

w as quickly gon e from them . Th e farmer followed him wit h

 DO N QUIX OTE 23

h is eyes ; a n d when he sa w h im d is appea r clea r of the wood , ,

h e c ame back t o h i s s erva n t A n d res a n d sai d t o him Com e , ,

hither my s on for I wis h to pay you what I ow e a s that

, , ,
”
u n doer Of wr on gs ordered me t o d o.
”
O n my oath s aid A n d res
, y o u wo uld d o well t o
,

c omply with the order of th t g ood k ight

a n — may b e live a
t h ou s and years w h o i s S O brave and s o j us t a j udge that ,
’
o n my life if you do n t pay me he w ill come back a n d d o
, ,

w hat he s ai d .

That I too s wear quoth the farmer ; but for the m uch
, , , ,

l o ve I h e a r y ou I w is h t o i ncreas e the debt that I may add

,

t o the di s charge . A n d s eizi ng him by the arm he t ied him

o n ce more t o the tr ee w here he gave h i m s o many s tri pe s a s
,

t o l eave him for dead . N ow mas ter A n d res call upo n that
, ,

u n do er of wro n gs ; y ou S hal l see that he doe s not un do this

o n e t ho ugh I thin k I have not fi n is hed the doing of it for

, ,
”
I have a min d to fl a y you alive a s you were fearin g , .

But he un tied him at las t giv ing him leave to go a n d look for
,

h is j udge t o execute the pre sc ribed s en te n ce . A n dres w e n t o ff

i n dudgeon vowing he would go i n se a rch of D on Q uixote
,

O f La Man cha a n d tell him e xactly w hat had pa s s ed and

, ,

t hat he would have to be paid s even fold N everthele ss .

,

h e wept a s he w e n t alon g and h i s mas ter remai n ed behi n d

,

la ughing ; and thu s did the valia n t Don Quixote redres s the
w ron g .

A s to the knigh t gr eatly ela ted a t what had pass ed it

, ,

appe ari n g to hi m that he had made a very happy a n d n oble

be gi n ning of his chivalr ies he rode on to w ards h is villa ge
, ,

much ple as ed w ith hims e l f repeatin g in a low voice : R ight

,

w e l l may s t thou be called fortun ate above all wome n w h o

thi s day are alive on earth 0 beyon d all the bea ut ies bea ute
,

ous D u lcin ea del Tobo s o ! s in ce it h a s falle n to thy l ot to hold

s ubj e ct a n d submi s s ive to thy entire will a n d pleas ure a kn ight

so valorou s and re n own ed as is a n d s hall be Don Q uixo t e of

, ,

L a Man cha w h o as a l l the world k n ows but ye s t erday

, , ,

receive d the order of kn ighthood a n d to day h as redre s s ed the ,

-

g r ea tes t wro n g and out ra ge that in j u s tice ever co n ceived or

c ru e l ty perpetrated ; t o day hath he wre sted the s courge fro m
-

the han d of that mercile s s foe w h o so c a u seles s ly w a s heat

”
i ng t hat d e li ca te infan t.
 CE RVAN TE S
'

24

Thereupon he arrived at a s pot where the road branche d

i n to four a nd an on there came in to h i s fancy t h e cro ss w ay s
,
-

w here the k n ight s erra n t w ere u sed t o place them s elves t o

pon der which of the road s they s hould ta ke After thei r .

example he stood still awhile a n d after he h a d w ell re fl ected

, , ,

h e let loos e the rein s on Rozin a nte s ubmittin g h is will to ,

t h at of h i s s teed who followed h i s firs t inten ti on whi ch w as

, ,

to g o straight the way of h is stable . Havin g pro ceed ed

about two m iles D on Q uixote de scried a great t hron g of
people w ho a s he aft e rw ards learned w ere merchan ts of
, , ,

Toledo goin g to buy s ilk i n Murcia . There w ere S ix c ar ry ing ,

their umbrellas wit h ot her four s ervants on hors eback a n d

, , , ,

t hree muleteer s on foot S O S oon a s Don Quixote m ade the m

.

o ut he co n ceived i t t o be a n e w adve n ture a n d t o imita te as

, , ,

m uch a s w a s po ss ible of the p a ss es he had read of i n h i s book s ,

it seemed to him that this w a s pres en tly on e s uch a s he desi g ned

t o pe rf orm ; and so with a galla n t air and re s ol ute mien he
, ,

s ettled h im self firmly in h i s stirrup s gra s ped h is lance , ,

b rought h is S hield over h i s b re as t a nd s tood w a iti n g po sted

, ,

in the middle Of the road the advent of thos e kn igh ts errant

,

( for s o he took a n d judged t hem t o be ) A n d w he n they had

.

arrived s o near that they co uld se e a nd hear Don Q uixote ,

lifted h i s voice a n d i n a haught y tone excla imed

, , ,

Let all the world halt if a ll the world doe s n ot con fe ss

,

t hat there is n ot in the w hole w orld a dam s el more beautiful

t han the E mpre ss O f La M an cha the peerles s D u lc ine a ,
”
del Tobos o .
The merchan ts stopped at the s ou n d of the s e word s and ,

at si ght of the s tran ge figure of him who spoke them ; a n d

b y them a n d the fi g u re they at o n ce divi n ed the mad n e s s of
their ow n er Being de siro us of knowin g more fully w hither
.

that con fe s sion ten ded which he required of t hem on e Of the ,

part y who w a s a bit of a w a g a n d very sharp witted s aid to

,
-

D on Quixote : Sir Kn ight we kn ow not w h o that good

,

lady may be you Spe a k Of ; s how her to us a n d if s he is so ,

b eaut iful a s you report with right good will a n d without any
,
-

comp ul s ion will we con f es s th e truth Of what Of your part i s , ,

”
deman ded of us .

If I s how her to you replied D on Quixote what m e ri t

, ,

would there be in your con fe ssin g a trut h so m a n i fes t ? The

 DON QUI XO TE 2 5
e tial thing is th at with out s eein g h er you mus t beli eve
e ss n ,

c o n fe s s a ffi rm s w ea r a n d main tai n it ; o t herwis e you en gage

, , ,

wit h m e in bat tle ye proud prepo sterou s cre w ; a n d n ow

, ,

c o m e o n ! one by on e a s the rule of chival ry require s or al l

, ,

toget her a s is the cu st om a n d base u sage of t hose of your

bree d ; here I s ta y a n d awa i t you confiding i n the right I ,

have o n my s ide .
S ir Kn ight replied the mercha n t
,
“
I bes eech you i n the ,

n am e o f a ll the s e pri n c es here pres e n t that i n order t h at w e ,

ma y n ot burden our co ns cien ce s by t es tifying to a t hing n ever

se e n o r h e ard of by u s a n d the more s in ce it i s s o much t o
,

t h e pre j u dice of t h e emp re sse s and quee ns of A lcarria and

Es t re m a dura t hat yo ur w ors hip be good e n ough t o S how us
,

a port ra it Of that l a dy altho ugh it be n o bigger than a ,

barleyc orn for by the t hre ad the clue is d is covered and w e

, ,

s h a ll r es t s atis fied a n d a ss u red with this and you remain ,

con ten t and sa t is fied. N a y I be lieve t hat w e are a lready so,

much on her s ide that t hough her portrait S ho w her to us ,

a s q ui n t of one eye a nd dis tilling verm ilio n a n d brim s to n e

-

from t h e other n evert heless i n order to pleas e you we will

, , ,
”
sa y al l t hat you w i s h i n her favor .
”
S h e d is tils n ot ye in famous ra bble ! , res ponded Don
Quix ot e in cens ed w ith a nger ; s he dis til s n ot I sa y what
, , ,

t hou s peake s t of but on ly amber a n d civet ; n o r i s S h e crook

,

eyed o r humpba cked but s traighter than a s pin dle of Gua

,

d a rra m a . But ye s hall pay for the foul blas phemy ye have
utte red again s t s uch tran s cen dent beaut y a s that of my
lady !
So s ayin g he charged w ith lowered lan ce again st hi m who
,

had s poke n w ith s uch wrath a n d fury that if h is good for

, , ,

tun e h a d n ot s o ordered t hat Rozi na n te s h ould trip a n d fall

in m i d c a reer it would have fared ill w ith the ra s h merc h a n t
, .

Rozin a nte fell a n d h i s mas ter w en t rolli n g s ome di s ta nce

,

a lon g the plain ; n or whe n he w a n ted to ri s e w a s he a ble to

do so en cumbered a s h e w a s w ith h is lan ce t a rget s p urs

, , , ,

a nd h e l me t together with t h e w eight of the a n tique armor .

,

A n d w hile he s truggled to get up a n d could not he kept

, ,

Shout i n g : Fl ee n ot cow ard brood ! Stay ye caiti ff cre w !

, ,

for n ot by any fault of min e b ut of my hors e am I s tretched , ,

”
here.
26 C ERVAN T ES

A mul etee r of th e c ompa ny w h o w a s n ot over good

,

n ature d hearing the poor fallen gentle m an utt e r the s e sa ucy

,

s peeches could not re frain fro m giving hi m the res po n s e on

,

h is rib s ; a n d coming up to him h e s eized the kn ight s l a nce

’
,

a n d having broke n it into piece s wi t h on e of t hem be g a n t o

,

be labor him s o that in s pite and de fia nce of h is armor h e

, , ,

poun ded him li ke wheat in a mil l. H is mas ters ca lled out t o

him to des ist a nd let t h e gent lem a n be ; but the muleteer w as
piqued a n d would not give up the ga me till he had gone th e
,

w h ole s take of h is anger. C atching up the ot her pieces of

t h e la nce he s hivered t hem a l l over the poor fallen one who
, , ,

am i d all th at tempes t of blow s which rain ed u pon h im never ,

clo sed h is mouth hurlin g threats t o heaven and earth aga i n st

,

the brigan d s a s he took them to be .

,

At la s t the muleteer tired hims elf out a n d th e merchant s

,

p ur s ued their j ou rney carryi n g with

, them mat t er eno u gh t o

t alk about for the re s t of t h e way co n cern i n g th e poo r be

labored on e . He when he found him sel f alo n e again tri ed
, ,

if he were able to ri se ; but if he could n ot d o s o when

,

s ou n d a n d well how co uld he af ter bei ng pou n ded and al mos t

,

beaten to pieces ? Yet s till he e steemed him s elf a s fortunate ,

i t s eemin g to him that this w a s a di s as ter proper to kn ight s

e rran t a n d he at tributed i t a ll to the fall of h is hors e ; n or
,

w a s it po s s ible for h im to ris e so bruis ed a n d mauled w as a l l

,
 C H A PT E R V

Wh erei n is conti nued th e na rra ti ve f

o our K night s di sa s ter
'

I N DI N G that in very fact h e w a s u n able to stir t he ,

k n ight w a s mi nded to have recourse to h is u s ual rem

edy which w a s to t hin k of some pas s age in hi s books
, ,

a n d h i s fre n zy brought to h i s m e mory t hat Of Coun t Baldw in

a n d the Marque s s of Man tua w h e n the fi rst w as left woun ded

,

by Ca rlot o on the m oun tain a story familia r to chi ldren ,

not un kn own to youth e njoyed a n d eve n beli eved by old m en

, ,

a n d for a l l that n o truer than the mira cles of Mohammed .

Now t his see med to h im to come p a t t o t h e pas s in which h e

found him se lf ; and SO wi th s ign s of great s u ff eri n g he be ga n
, ,

to roll hi mself about on the gr oun d a n d to repeat wi th feeble

, ,

breath w hat the wounded K night of t h e Wood is rep orted to

,

“Wh ere hides t th ou, O mis tres s mi ne,

Tha t th ou grieves t not for me ?
O r th ou k nowes t not of my pl igh t,
Or fa ls e a nd fa ithl es s th ou mus t be .

And i n th is w is e h e went on repeatin g the ballad u ntil he

c am e to th e li ne s which ra n

O nobl e Marquess of M a ntua,

My uncle a nd my na tura l l ord

wh en a s fortune ordered it there chanced t o pass by a labor

,

i n g man Of h i s ow n village a n d a neighbor of h i s w h o w a s ,

goin g to ta ke a load of w heat to t h e mil l. He s eeing a ma n ,

lyin g there wen t up to him a n d as ked who he w a s and w hat

, ,

mis hap he w a s bewailin g so dolefully Don Qu ixote believed .

this to be without do ubt the Marquess of Man tua h is uncle

, , , ,

a n d S O he gave n o an s wer but we nt on with h i s ballad i n

, ,

which he told of h is dis aster a n d of t h e amours of the em

i i l l i s ung i n t h e roma n ce .
’

p e ror s s on w th h s s pou s e a a s,it s

T h e la borer w a s as ton is hed at h earing thes e rhap s odies and , ,

27
28 CE RVAN TES
’
tak ing off the knight s vizor which w a s n ow broken to piec es,

with t h e beating he w iped h is face which w a s covered wit h

, ,

dus t When he had w iped it he recognized him and cri ed :

. , ,

Senor Quixada ( for so w a s he named w hen he had h i s wi ts

a n d h a d n ot p as s ed from a peacef ul ge n tlem a n i n to a kn ight

erran t ) who h a s brought your wors hip to this plight

,
?

B ut still the kn ight w e nt on w ith h is ball a d a n d made no other ,

an swer t o all que s tio n s . Perceivin g thi s the good man took ,

O fi a s w ell a s he co uld Don Q uixote s breas tplate a n d cors let

’

, ,

t o se e i f he had a n y wou n d but he found n o blood n or s ign

, ,

Of a n y He tried to rai s e h i m from the groun d a n d se t h im

. , ,

with n o little trouble upon hi s own a ss w hich s eemed to

, ,

h i m t h e e as ier moun t. Gatheri ng up h i s arm s even to the ,

fragme n ts of the lan ce he fastened them upon Rozin a nte

, ,

w h o s e bridle he took hold of a s well a s o f the ass s halter ,

’

a n d s o j o urneyed tow ard s their village i n m uch dis tr e s s a t ,

hearin g t h e n on sen se w hich Don Quixote uttered. N or les s

dolefully did Don Quixote g o who of the s heer beati n g a n d , ,

bruis in g could n ot keep h i s seat on the a s s givin g vent from

, ,

time to time to groan s that s eemed to re n d the Skie s SO that ,

the laborer w a s compelled to a sk him on ce more what hurt

h e felt. A n d it s eemed that the devil him s elf put into h i s
min d the s torie s s uita ble to h is mis hap s for forgettin g Ba ld , ,

w in a t th a t mome n t he bethought him of t h e Moor A bi n d a r

,

racz w hen the govern or of An tequera R odrigo d e N arv aez , ,

s eized a n d held him pris o n er i n h is ca s tle . S O that w hen t h e

l a borer a sked him a ga in h ow he w a s a n d h ow h e felt Don , ,

Q uixote replied in the s a me word s a n d phras e s wh ich the

c a ptive A b en cerra g e u s ed to R odrigo de N a rva e z a s he had ,

read the s tory in the Dia n a Of Jorge de Monte m ayor apply ,

i n g it so aptly to h i s cas e th a t the laborer w is hed him se lf at

t h e devil for hearing s uch a h ea p of foolerie s . Dis coverin g
thereby th a t his neighbor w a s mad he made has te to rea c h ,

the village s o as to be rid o f the worry of lis ten ing t o Don

Quixote s lon g haran gue At the clo se Of it the knight ex
’
.

claimed : Let your wors hip Sir Don R od rigo de N arvaez

k n ow that t his lady Karifa of whom I have s poke n i s n ow
, ,

t h e f a ir Dulcinea del Tobo s o for who s e s ake I have done , ,

am doin g a n d S hall do deeds of chivalry the mo s t famo us

, ,
”
that have been are or w ill be s e en in the world.
, , ,
3c CERVANTES

the water w as a very precious liquor which t h e s age Esqu if e

had brought him a great en chanter and a frien d of h is . B u t
,

I t a ke t h e blame of it all on me for n ot havin g told you o f

my un cle s folli e s s o that you might have relieved him be fo r e
’

he came to h is pres en t pas s a n d might ha ve bu rn t a ll the s e,

execra ble books of w hich he h a s a great man y w h ich w e ll

, ,
”
de s erve t o be burn t a s if they w ere heret ic s .
”
S O s a y I t oo quoth the pries t ;
, ,a n d 1 faith t o morro w ,
-

s hall n ot pa s s wi t hout an aut o da fé being held of them s o

'

that they may give n o occas ion to s uch as read the m to d o

”
w hat my good f rie n d mus t have don e .
A ll th is w a s overhe a rd by the laborer a n d by Don Q uixot e ,

a n d thereby the laborer got to comprehe n d h is town s man s

’

i n fi rmity ; S O he began in a loud voice to exclaim : O pen ,

your w ors hip s to Sir Baldwin and to my Lord Marquess o f

,

Man tua w h o comes s orely woun ded a n d to M as ter Moo r

, ,

A b ind a rra ez whom the valorou s R odrigo de N arvaez g ov

, ,

c ruor of Anteq uera lea d s captive ! ,

At this cry they all came out and recognizin g s ome their ,

friend others their master a n d un cle

, w h o had n ot y et dis ,

mou n ted from h is a ss for he w a s not a ble , they ran t o ,

embrace him . But he s aid : F orbea r all of you ; I come ,

s ore wou n ded through the fault of my s teed ; carry me t o

bed a n d s ummon if it be pos s ible Urg a n da th e Wis e that

, , , ,

s h e may examin e and heal my h urts .

” “
See n ow i n an ill hour cried the hou s ekeeper if my , ,

h ea rt did n ot tell m e right on w hich foot my mas ter limped .

Come up your wors hip and welcome and w ithout s en din g for
, , ,

that U rga nd a we s hall kn ow how to cure you here . Accurse d ,

sa y I may they be agai n a n d a h u n dred times more t h ose

, , ,
”
book s of chival rie s w hich brought your wors hip to thi s pas s !
They carried him s traight to bed a n d s earched for h is
wou n d s but fou n d n one he s ayin g that he w as all on e bruise
,

through havin g a grievou s fall w ith h is horse Rozin a n t e in

a fight with t e n gian t s the mos t e n ormou s a n d audaciou s to
,

be foun d almos t anyw here upo n earth .

”
So ho quoth the prie st are there gian ts in the dan ce ?
, ,

By my halidom but I w i ll burn them to morrow before nigh t

,
-

”
come s .

They put many ques tion s to Don Q uixote but t o none ,

 DON QUI XO TE 3 1

w o ul d h e make ot her an swer than that they s ho uld give h i m

s ometh ing t o eat a n d let him s leep for t h at w a s of mos t
,

h p ort a n ce to h i m. They did so a n d the prie s t inquired

,

mo re part ic ularly of t h e laborer Of h ow Don Quixote had

bee n foun d . The laborer told him everythin g w ith th e,

fo oleri es the kn ight h a d uttered w hen fou n d a n d a s h e w a s

brought a lo n g which increas ed the de sire of the licenti ate
,

t o do that w hich n ext day he did ; w hich w a s to call on h i s

friend the barber M a s ter N icholas a n d g o w it h him to t h e
, ,

h o u s e of Don Quixote .
 CH A PT E R V I

Of the p lea sa n t a n d f a mous I nqui si ti on w hi ch the p ri es t a nd the

ba rber held on the l i bra ry of our i ngeni ous gen tl ema n

HE knight w a s still sleep ing. The priest a sked th e

n iece for t h e key s of the room where the books w ere

kept the authors of the mis chief a n d S he ga ve t he m

, ,

t o h i m w it h a very good w ill Then they all w e n t in t h e

. ,

hous ekeeper w it h them a n d fo un d more th a n a hun dred large

,

v ol u me s very w ell boun d a n d other s m aller on e s ; a n d a s

, , ,

s oon a s the hou s ekeeper sa w the m s h e ra n out O f the roo m

,

again i n a great hurry return in g pre s en tly w it h a ve ss el of

,

holy w ater a n d a bun ch of hy s s op A n d q uoth s h e . Look

y o u
,
m a s ter lice n tiat e ; take a n d S prin kle thi s room le s t t here ,

be here s ome en ch a nter of the m a ny t he se book s co n tain to

, ,

bew itch us i n p un is h m ent of that w hich w e want to do t o

”
the m cas ti n g the m out of the w orld
, .

The lice n tia t e laughed a t the hous ekeeper s S implicity a nd ’

bade t he barber h a n d him tho s e book s on e by on e to s ee , ,

what t hey trea ted of Sin ce he might be able to fi n d s ome

,

w h ich did n o t de s e rve t h e di s cipli n e of the fire .

” ’
N o cried t h e n iece ; there s no n eed to pardon a ny of
,

the m for t hey have been a l l evil doers . Better fl in g t he m

,
-

o ut o f the w in do w s in to the co urt a n d make a heap of them

, ,

a n d s e t t he m on fire or if n ot take them out i n to the yard

, , , ,

a n d let the bon fire be m a de t here a n d the s moke w ill n ot be

a n uis an ce .

The hous ekeeper s aid the s a me s o eager w ere the tw o for,

the s laugh ter Of t ho s e in n oce n ts ; b ut t h e priest w ould n ot

have it so w ithout first re a din g the titles at leas t
, .

A n d the firs t w hich Mas t er N ichola s put i n to h is han ds

”
was The F our Books of Am adis of Gaul This s a id th e ,
“
priest i s c urio us for a s I h a ve heard sa y t his book w a s t h e
, , , ,

fi rs t of chi va lri es printed in Spain from w hich all the ot he rs

,

32
 DO N QUI XO TE 33

have ta ken their ori g in a nd groundw ork and therefore I a m ,

of opin ion that as the here s ia rch of a s ect s o pern icious w e

, ,

ought to con demn h i m to t h e fire without a n y m ercy .

"

”
N ot so s ir s aid the barber for I hav e heard al so t hat
, , ,

tis the bes t of all t h e books w hich have bee n compo s ed i n

’

that kind ; therefore a s bein g un ique in h is a rt he ought to, ,

”
be par doned .
That is true c ried the pries t a n d for that rea s o n let
, ,

hi s life be gran ted h im for the pre s en t. Le t us se e that other

who lie s n ext him .
It is The E xploits of E Sp l a n dia n the law ful son of ,
’

”
Amadis of Gaul quoth the ba rbe r ,
.

I n s oo t h the n s aid the p rie s t

, ,
the merit of the father ,

sh a ll n ot avail t h e son . Take him hous ekeeper ; Ope n t h at ,

windo w and throw him out in to the yard for t h e fou n d a tio n
of the bo n fire w hich h as to b e made
'

The hou s ekeeper obeyed him w it h great al acrity and the ,

g ood E s p l a n d i a n we n t fl yin g i n t o the back yard there to ,

await in a l l patie n ce t h e threate ned flam es .

”
Let us get on quoth the p ries t. ,

This who come s here s aid the barber is Amadis of , ,

Greece ,
—
’
yea a n d all on this s ide a s I think are of the
, , ,
”
same l ineage a s A madi s .

Th e n l e t them a ll g o to t h e ya rd cried the prie s t ; for ,

ra ther th a n not burn t h e Q uee n Pi nt i quin ie st ra a n d the s hep

herd D a rin el and their eclog ues a n d the bedeviled a n d per

,

p l e xe d di s c our s e s of their author I wo u ld bur n w ith them ,

the father w ho begat me if he wen t in the s hape of a kn ight

erran t.
O f t hat min d am I s aid the b a rb er. ,
”
An d s o a m I added the n iece.,
”
Sin ce it is thu s qu oth the hou s eke e pe r , come to the , ,

yard w ith them !

They han ded them to her a n d bein g man y s h e t o s ave , , ,

the st a ir s threw them belo w o ut of t h e w in do w .

,

Wh at huge thin g i s that there as ked the prie s t.

“
This replied t h e barber is Don O liv a n te de Laura.
, ,
“ ”
The author of th a t s aid the pries t i s the s ame with , ,

him w h o wrote the G a rde n of Fl ow ers and in truth I ca n

’
, , ,

not determin e which of t he two books i s the more tr uthful or ,

4
34 CERVANT ES

rather the less mendac iou s : all I can sa y is that h e s hal l t o

”
t h e y a rd for a blockhead a n d a blu s terer.
H e w h o follows is F l ori s ma rt e of Hyrcania sa id t h e ,

ba rber .

I s S ir F l oris ma rt e there ? as ked the priest ; 1 fa i t h ,

then he m us t to a quick endin g in t h e yard i n s pite of h i s

, ,

s trange birth a n d f an ta s tic adve n ture s for the hard n es s a n d ,

drynes s of h i s s tyle de s erve n aught els e : to the yard wi t h

h i m a n d that other on e mi stre ss hou s ekeeper
, , .

With al l my hea rt dear si r re s pon ded s h e a n d w i t h

, , , ,

much cheerf ul n es s did what s h e w as h i dd en

, .
” “
This one s aid the barber i s the Kn ight Pl a t ir.
, ,
“
A n ol d book is that c ried t h e p ries t ;
, n or do I fin d in i t

aught which de s erves mercy ; let him keep compa n y wit h t h e

”
others without an other word Which w a s don e according ly
. .

An other book w a s open ed a n d they foun d the t itle to b e

,
”
The Kn ight of the Cros s .

For a t itle so holy a s this book h a s i ts ignoran ce mig h t ,

be pardon ed b ut they are wont to s a y t oo Behi n d t h e

, , ,
”
C ro s s the Devi l s tan d s let h i m go to the fire .
Taki n g up an other book the barber exclaimed : This is
The M i rror of Chival ries .
’

”
H i s w or s hip I kn ow quot h t h e p ries t : here you hav e
,

the lord Rin aldo of Mon ta lv a n w ith h is f rie n d s a n d com ,

’

pan ion s t hieve s g reater th a n C a cu s ; a n d the Twelve Pee rs

,
‘
,
’

with the veraciou s histori a n Turpin ; a n d i n s ooth I a m for , ,

con demnin g the m to n othin g more than perpetual ban is h

men t if on ly because they have a s hare in t h e in ven tion o f
,

the famous Mateo Boiardo w he n ce al s o the C hris tian poe t

,

Ludovico Ario s to s pun h is w eb Him if I find here a n d he . , ,

s peaks a n y ot her language t han h i s ow n I s h a ll p a y n o re ,

s pect to ; but if he s peak s h is ow n to n gue I will place h i m

, ,
”
on my head .

I h ave him in Italian ob served the barbe r but I d o

, ,
"
n ot un ders tand him .

N ay it w ere n ot well that you un derstood h im re s ponded

, ,

the pries t ; a n d w e s hould have forgi ven t h e good capta in

had he n ot brought him to Spain a n d made h im a Cas til ia n ,

for he h a s robbed h i m of m uch of h i s n a tive worth and this ,

i s what all s hall do who tur n book s of vers e into an other

 DON QUI XO TE 35

tongue, for, i n s are th ey ca n take and th e

pit e of al l t h e c
s kill th ey may use t h e y will n ever rea ch t h e level of th e
,

first be gett ing I n fin e I s a y let t his book and all that

.
, , ,

sha ll be fou n d which treat o f the s e a ff airs of Fran ce be ,

thrown and d epo s ited in som e d ry wel l un t il it be s ee n after ,

furth er d elibera tion what s hall be don e w ith them except

,

ing one Be rnardo del Carpio w h o is hereabout and a not her

’

, ,

called Ron ces valle s for the se s hall pas s from my hands
,
’

into those o f the hou se keeper a nd from her to thos e of t h e

”
fire with out a n y re mis sion .
,

I n a ll t h is the b a rbe r concurred holdi n g it to be good an d ,

very prop e r for he knew the p rie s t to be a s ound Chri stian

,

and so gr eat a lover of the t ruth that he would never tell

aught el s e for the world O pen in g an other book they fo un d
.

it w as
"
Palmerin de O liva a n d n ear it w a s another called ,
”
Palme rin of En gland on s eein g which the prie s t ex ,

claimed : Let that O live be made in to chip s forthwit h a n d

burn t so that eve n it s as hes may n ot be exta nt. B ut a s for
,

that Palm of E n glan d let it be kept a n d pre s erved as a thi n g

,

uniqu e a n d a cas ket be made f or it s uch a s Alexander fo un d

,

among the s poils of Dariu s w hich he ded icated to the keep ,

ing of t h e works of the poet Homer. This book gos s ip , ,

des erve s res pect for two things : on e becau s e i n itself it is ,

very good ; a n d the other becau se it i s reputed to have been ,

compo se d by a c l ever ki n g of Port u gal . A ll the adve n t u re s

in th e c as tle of Mi ra g uard a a re capit a l a n d very artf ully ,

contrive d ; th e s pe e che s po li s hed a n d pers picuo u s fo r they ,

observe a nd keep up th e character of the s peaker with m uch

prop ri ety a n d dis cern ment. I s a y then savin g your good , ,
’
judg ment Mas ter N icholas let t h i s a n d A madis of G a ul
, ,
‘

be exempt from the fi re a n d let al l the res t peris h without

,
”
further trial or in quiry .
” “
N o go s s ip replied the barber
, , for this I h ave here is ,

the reno w n ed Don B e l ia ni s .

’

”
N ay even he s aid the priest with h is s econ d third
, , , , ,

and fourth part hath need t o be purged of h is red un dant

,

choler a n d it is n eces s ary to strip the m of all that about the

,

Cast le of Fame a n d other impe rt in e n ce s of g reater gravity ;

,

on which acc ou n t there i s adj udged them time to put i n a

p le a of defe n s e and a s they s how amendme n t s o s hall mercy

,
36 CE RVANTE S

or ju stice be a ccorded them . Meanwh ile gossi p keep them , ,

”
i n your hou s e but let n ot a n y one read them .
,
”
That I will do w ith ple a s ure res pon ded the barber ; ,

a n d the prie s t n ot bein g in clin ed to tire him s e l f any more by

,

readin g books of chivalries bade the hou s ekeeper take a l l

,

the big on e s a nd throw them out in to the yard . H e s poke

to one w h o w a s neither deaf n or dull but w h o had a great e r ,

min d for t h e burnin g of them than for the sp i nn in g of t h e

largest a n d fine st web that could be ; so s eizin g about eigh t ,

a t o n ce ,s h e to ss ed them from the wi n dow She took so .

m an y of them together th at one fell out of the h eap at t h e

barber s f eet. He w is hin g to se e what it w a s found it t o be
’
, ,

called His tory of the F amous Knight Tirante th e White.

Ble s s me cried the prie st in a lo ud voice and is
, ,

Tiran te the White here Give it to me go ss ip for I , ,

reckon t hat I h ave fo un d herein a treasu re of delight and a

mine of en tertainme n t. Here you have Don Kyrie E leison
o f Mo n tal van the valian t cavalier a n d hi s brother Thomas
, ,

o f Mo n talvan and t h e kn ight Fon seca w ith the fight w hic h

, ,

the valiant Tiran te had w it h the big mas tiff a n d the witt y ,

con ceits of the dams el Pleas ure oi my life a n d the amours

- - -

a n d trick s of the widow R epo s ada a n d my lady the E mp re ss

,

in love with H ip p ol it o her s quire . I tell you truth go od

, ,

mas ter go ss ip that th is for i ts s tyle i s the b es t book i n t h e

,

world. H ere the kn ight s eat and sleep a n d die in their beds ,

a n d m a ke their will s before dyin g with other t hin g s that a re

,

wan tin g in all other books of this s ort. F or a ll this I sa y ,

that he who wrote it is well de s erving ; for he did n ot comm it

the s e follie s purpo s ely ; although if intentio n al they s hou ld
s e n d him t o the galley s for life . Take it home and read it ,
”
a n d you will s e e th at w hat I have s aid of it i s t rue .
” “
S o be it an s wered the barber ;
, but what s hall we d o
”
w ith the s e little books that remain ?
Thes e s a id the prie st s hould be n ot of chival ry but of
, , ,
”
p oetry . O pen i n g on e h e fou n d it w a s the Dian a of Jorge
de Mo n temayor and t hin kin g all the re st t o be of t h e s am e
,
”
kin d Thes e s aid he do n ot de serve to be burnt like t h e
, , ,

others for they do not n or w ill they do the mis chief which
, , ,

t ho s e of chivalrie s have do n e They are books of entertain

.

ment without danger to an ybody.

,
3 8 CERVAN TES

This w h o come s here i s The Shepherd of F il ida .

“
N o shep h erd i s he quoth the prie st but a very k n o w
,
"
,
”
i n g courtier : let him be kept for a precio us je w el .

This big on e h ere is en titl e d Treas ury Of Divers Poe m s ,

s aid th e barber .

Had they bee n n ot so man y remarked the p ri es t t hey , ,

w ould have bee n more e s teemed This book n eed s to be .

w eeded a n d cleared Of certai n irregularitie s w hich i t co n ta i n s

i n the mid s t of i ts great thi n gs : t a ke c a re of i t for t h e ,

a uthor i s a frie nd of min e a n d out of res pect fo r other m ore

,
”
heroical a nd elevated w orks w h ich he h a s w ritte n .
“
This co ntinued the barbe r is a book of so ngs by
,
"

Lopez M a ldo n ado .

The author of that book al so i s my great frie n d replied ,

the priest a nd h is p oem s by t h o s e w h o hear t hem from h is

, ,

o w n mouth are m uch ad mired a n d so s w eet is h is voice th a t

, ,

he e n cha nts whe n he c h a nt s t hem . He i s overlo ng i n hi s

e ulogies ; though w hat i s good w a s n ever t oo muc h Keep .

h i m w i t h the chos e n on e s B ut what i s that boo k which lie s

.

n ext him ?
“
The Galatea of Miguel de Cervante s s aid the barber .
’
,

That Cervan te s h a s for ma ny years bee n a great frie n d

o f mi n e a nd I k n o w him to be more vers ed i n s orrow s t h a n
,

i n s ong . H i s book co n ta i n s a little of good in ve ntio n : i t

propos e s somethi ng b ut co n cl ude s n othi ng We mu s t w ai t .

f or t h e s ec on d part he promi s e s ; perhap s w ith ame n dme nt h e

w ill ach i eve t hat f ull grace n ow de n ied him Mean w hile . ,

un t il thi s be decide d keep h i m a recl us e in your lod gin g

, ,
”
good n eighbor .
“
With plea sure an s w ered the barber , A nd here come .

three together : The A ra uca n a of Don Alo n zo de E rcilla ;

‘ ’

‘
The A ustria d a of Ju a n R ufo ma gi s t ra te of Cordova ; a nd
’
,

The Mo n s errat of Chris tobal de V ir ues poet of V ale ncia ,

.

All the se three book s s a id t h e pries t are the be s t , ,

w hich have bee n w ritte n i n the heroic vers e i n t h e Ca s tilian

to n gue a n d may comp a re w it h the mo st fa m ou s of Italy
,
.

Let them be pre s erved as t h e riche s t treas ures of poetry that

”
Sp a i n po s s e ss e s .

The prie s t w a s too tired to look at a n y more book s a nd ,

wi s hed all t h e re st to be burn t con te nts unkn own ; but t h e ,

 DON QUIXO TE 39

b a rbe r h a d already O pened one ,

w hich wa s call ed The Tears
”
o f A n geli ca.
“
I have s hed t hem s aid the prie st on hearin g the
w ould ,
“
t i t le
, if I had ordered s uch a book to be burn t ; for i ts
a uthor w a s o ne of the mo s t famou s poets not only i n Spain
,

b ut in t h e w hole w orld a nd w a s mos t happy in the t ra n s la

,
”
t io n O f s ome of the fable s of O vid.
 CH A PT E R VI I

Of the Second Sa lb of '

our good knigh t D on Quix ote of La M a nch a

H EY were thus employed w hen Don Quixote bega n to

“
call out at the top of h i s voice exclaimin g : This ,

w a y this w a y valoro us kn igh t s !

, , Here are ye n eed ed
t o s how the might of yo ur valoro us arm s ! for the co urt ier s
are get ti n g the be s t of the to urn ey
Called away by this n oise a n d cla mor they did not proceed ,

a n y f urther wit h the in quis it io n on t h e re ma in der O f t h e

book s a n d so it is believed t here w e nt t o t h e fire un s ee n a n d

, ,
”
un j udged the Ca rol ea a n d t h e Lion of Sp a in w it h t h e
, ,

feat s of t h e emperor compo sed by Don Luis de A vil a w h ich

, , ,

do ubt les s w o uld ha ve bee n amon g t hos e which remain ed a n d

, ,

perhap s if t h e prie st had s ee n them they w o uld not have s uf

fe re d s o rigorous a s e n te nce Whe n t hey had come to D on
.

Q uixot e he w a s ris e n from h i s bed a n d w a s repeatin g h i s out

cries a nd rav in gs layin g about w it h h is sw ord all over t h e
,

room wit h s la s hes a nd back stroke s a n d a s w ide aw ake a s if

,
-

he had n ever been as leep They grappled w it h him a n d by . ,

force took him back to h is bed ; a n d aft er he had re sted ,

quie tly a litt le w hile he bega n to addres s the pries t s ayin g

, ,

S ure my Lord Archbi s hop T urpi n it i s a great de fau lt

, ,

i n us w h o call ours elv e s Twelv e Peers t o l et t h e cro w n o f

, ,

thi s tourn ey be ca rried off w ithou t more ado by t h e court ier

k n igh ts —
,
w e the ad v e n turer s h a v in g w on the prize i n t h e
, ,
”
t hree precedi ng days .

I pray you be s till dear comrade cried the pries t fo r

, , ,

God may yet be pleas ed to chan ge the l uck a n d that whic h ,

i s lo s t to day may be redeemed to mo rro w

-
For the pres en t -
.

atte n d to your health for me thin ks y ou s ho uld be over

,

w earied i f n ot s orely wo un ded

,
.
”
“
Wo un ded ! n o replied D on Q uixote b ut bruis ed a n d
, ,

pou n ded t here i s n o doubt of that for th at vill a i n O f a

,
-

40
42 CERVAN T ES

of looking t o se e what he had don e we found n either books ,

n or room But we remember very w ell my s elf a n d th e house

. ,

keeper t hat a t the time of going away that bad old ma n sai d
,

in a lo ud voice t hat for t h e s ecret e n mity he had for t h e

,

own er of thos e books a n d t hat room he had do n e hi m the il l ,

turn w hich s hould by a nd by be s een . He s aid too that h e

‘

, ,

w a s called the s age Mun a ton .

”

”
Fres to n he would sa y quoth Don Quixote .
, ,
”
I can t s a y s truck in the housekee p er w hether h e
’
, ,

called hims elf Fre s ton or Frito n . I o n ly kn ow that h is

n ame e n ded i n
‘ ’
t on .

It is so s ai d Don Quixote.
, He i s a learned enchanter ,

a g reat e n emy of min e w h o h a s a grudge agai n s t me for h e

, ,

kn ows t hro ugh h is arts a n d h i s lea rn in g t hat I am t o com e ,

i n proces s of t ime t o fight i n s ingle combat a k n igh t who m

,

he favors a nd to van q uis h t hat k n ight without h i s bein g able

,

to prevent it ; a nd t herefore he tries to do me every il l tu rn

he ca n B ut I tell him that he can not oppose or avert what
.
”
Heave n h a s decreed.
W h o doubts of that ? cried th e n iece. But who h a s
mixed you up dear u n cle in tho s e quarrels ? Would it n ot
, ,

be better t o stop pe a cefully at home and not g o thro ugh ,

the world s eeking for better brea d than i s made of whea t ,

n ever co n s idering t hat man y g o for w ool and come back

s horn

O n iece Of min e re s po n ded Don Quixote

, h ow gre atl y ,

art thou out in thy reckon in g ! Ere t hey s hear me I w i ll

pluck a n d s trip t h e beard s of all w h o thi n k to touch me in
”
t h e poin t Of a s in gle hair !
The tw o w ould n ot make f urther reply for they perce ived ,

that h is a n ger w a s bein g i n fl amed .

It so befell t hat he s tayed fi ftee n days at home very quietly
without s how in g a ny s ign s Of a n in clin at ion to repeat h i s
former vagarie s during w hich period he held many pleas an t
,

dis p utes w ith h i s t w o good gos sip s the pries t a n d t h e barber

, ,

upon h i s decla ration t hat the t hin g of w hich the world s tood
i n greates t n eed w a s k n igh ts e rra n t a n d that i n him s elf ,

s ho uld be revived kn ight erra n t ry . The pri est w o uld s ome

-

times co n tra dict him a n d s ometi m es yield to him for if h e

, ,

had n ot us ed t his artifice there w ould have bee n n o brin gi ng

 DO N Qui xo r s 43

him to e on Duri n g this period Don Q ui xote w a s bes et

r as .

ting with h is so lici t atio ns a peas an t a n eig h bor of his a n

, ,

honest fellow ( i f s uch a n ame ca n be applied to one who i s

p o or,) b ut o f very lit t le s alt in h i s brai n pa n I n the e n d he . ,

s a id so much t o him a nd plied him wi t h s o ma n y fair w ord s

,

a nd promise s that the poor clo w n de t ermi n ed to go out w it h

,

him a nd s erve him a s s q uire . Don Q uixo te told him a m on g ,

other t hi n gs t hat he ought to be very w ell di s po s ed to a c co m

,
.

pa ny him for a t s o me t ime or other a n adv e nt ure might

,

befall which s ho uld in the t w i n klin g o f a n eye win h i m a n

, ,

isle a n d leave him governor thereof. O n t h e faith of the s e

,

a nd ot h e r s uch promi s e s Sa n cho Pa n za ( for so t h e pe a s a n t

,

wa s n am e d ) forsook h i s w i fe a n d childre n a nd took s ervice a s

s quire t o h i s neighbor. Don Q uixote then se t abo ut to p ro
vide him s elf w it h money a nd by s elli n g on e t hi n g a n d pa w n
, ,

ing an other a nd makin g bad bargai n s i n all he rai s ed a

, ,

modera t e s um. He furn is hed him s elf a l s o wi th a buckler ,

w hich he borro w ed from a frie n d a n d patchin g up h is

, ,

broke n hel met a s be s t he could he gav e h is sq uire Sa ncho

,

notice of t h e day a n d ho ur on w hich he de sig ned to

se t out s o t h a t Sa n cho might s upply him s elf w i t h all that
,

was n eedful ; above all he charged hi s s q uire to procure

,

wa llets w hich t h e ot her promi s ed to do s a yi n g moreover that

, ,

as h e w a s not very apt at traveli n g afoot h e preferred t o ,

take h i s a ss alo n g w ith him a n d th at it w a s a very good one .

,

I n the matter of the a ss Don Q uixote he s itated a li ttle rack ,

i ng h i s bra i n s to remember whether a ny kn ight erra n t ever

carried a s q uire mou n ted on a s s back ; b ut n o cas e occurred
-

to h is memory. N evert hele ss h e d ecided t hat the a s s s hould

,

be ta ke n w ith the in te nt io n of prov idi ng h is sq uire with a

,

more dign i fied mou n t w he n he h a d a cha nce by un horsi n g ,

the firs t dis court eou s k night be e n co untered He provid ed .

himse lf a lso w ith s hirts a n d a s ma ny ot her thi ngs a s he co uld ,

accordi n g to t h e advice give n him by the i nn keeper.

All this bei ng do n e a n d arra n ged Sa ncho Pa nza w ith out
, ,

takin g leave of h is childre n a n d w ife a n d D on Q uixote , ,

w itho ut good b y to h is hou s ekeeper a n d n iece s allied forth

-

fro m the village one night wi thout a ny pers o n s eei ng them ,

maki n g such good w a y that at daybreak they fel t them

selves s afe agai ns t di s covery ev e n if they w ere s earched for.
,
44 CE RVANTE S

Sa n cho Panza rode on h i s a s s like a patriarch with h is ,

walle t s a n d h is leather bottle a nd a h uge des ire to s e e him

,

s elf govern or O f the i s le w hich h is mas t er had promis ed

him I t chan ced t hat Don Qu ixote took the same co urse
.

a n d road w hich he had ta ke n o n h i s fir s t j ou rn ey which w a s ,

by t he plai n O f Mon tiel al o n g which he traveled w ith le s s

,

dis com fort t han on the former occas ion becaus e i t w a s t h e ,

ho ur of dawn a n d the s un s rays st rikin g t hem obliq uely

,
’

, ,

did not distre ss them . Pre s e n tly San cho Pa nza s aid to h is
ma ster
Look your wors hip s ir k night erran t t hat you do not
, , ,

forget that abo ut the is le you promis ed me for I w arran t m e ,

able to govern it be it ever s o large, .

To w hich D on Q uixote replied : Thou m ust kn o w frien d

“
,

San cho Pan za that it w a s a c ust om great ly i n vogue w it h

,

the k n ight s erra nt Of old to make t heir s q uire s govern ors of

the is le s or ki n gdom s t hey w on ; a nd I am re s olved that on ,

—
my part so grateful a u s age s hall n ot fail rather I de s ign
,

t o s urpa s s me t herei n for they s ome time s a nd perhap s for

, ,

the mos t part w a ited till their s q uires w ere grow n old ; a nd
,

whe n w orn out w it h s ervice a n d s pe nding evil days a nd

,

wors e n igh t s t hey g ot s o me title O f co u n t or at the le a s t

, ,

marq ue s s of s o me valley or prov i n ce of more or le s s val ue

, .

B ut if t ho u live st a n d I live i t may w ell be t hat ere s i x days

,

I s h a l l w i n me s ome kin gd o m w hich h a s o t hers adherin g t o

,

i t ju s t fit for t hee t o be cro w n ed ki n g of on e of them . A n d

,

hold n ot t his for a ny great matter for t hin gs a n d eve nt s ,

happe n to s uch kn ights erra nt by mea ns s o u nheard a n d

u nt hough t o f that w ith ea s e I might be a bl e t o be sto w on
,

thee eve n more than I have promi s ed .

“ ” “
By the s a me toke n s aid San cho Pa nza i f I become
, ,

king by s ome one of tho s e miracles of which your wors hip

s peak s n o le s s w il l J ua n a G utierrez my deary come to be
, , ,
”
q uee n a n d my childre n prin ce s
, .

“
Who do ubt s it ? a ns w ered Don Q uixote .
” “
I do ubt it repl ied S a n cho Pa nza becau s e I am th i nk
, ,

i n g th a t eve n tho ugh God rai n ed ki ngdom s upo n the eart h

, ,

n o n e O f t hem wo uld s i t w ell o n the head O f Mary G utierrez .

K n ow s i r t hat s h e is n ot worth tw o maravedis for quee n

, , .
”
C ou n te s s would s uit her better nay and God help her. ,
 CH A PT E R V II I

Of the g ood s uccess w h i ch D on Quix ote ha d i n the ter ri ble a nd n eve r

bef or e i magi ned A d ven ture of the M nd mill s, w i th oth er

'

even ts

w or thy of h appy remembr a n ce

H I L E th us co nvers i ng t hey ca ught sight of s ome

t hir ty or fort y w in dmill s w hich are i n that plai n ,

a n d a s s oo n a s D on Q uixote perceived t hem h e

exclaimed
Fort un e is guidi n g our a ffairs be tt er t han w e co uld h a ve
des ired ; for look yonder f rien d San cho w here thirty o r
, ,

more h uge giant s are revealed w it h w hom I in ten d to d o ,

battle a n d t a ke all their live s Wit h t heir s poil s w e w i l l

.

begin to e n rich o urs elv e s for t his i s fair w a r a n d it i s doing

, ,

God great s ervice to cle a r this evil s paw n from O ff the face
”
of the eart h .

Wh a t gi a nts ? as ked San cho Pa nza.

”
Tho s e t ho u s ee st t here replied his ma st er with th e
, ,

lo n g arm s w hich s ome of t hem a re w on t t o have of tw o

,
”
lea gue s le n gt h
’
.
“ ”
Ta ke care s ir cried San cho
, , Thos e w e see yon der
.

are n ot gia n t s b ut w i ndmil l s a n d w hat i n t hem look like arm s

,

are t h e s ail s w hich being w hirled about by the w in d make

, ,
”
the mill s ton e go .
It is man ifest that thou art n ot e xperien ced in this matter
” “
of adve n t ure s an s w ered D on Q uixote
, They are gian ts . ,

a n d if t hou art afraid get thee away home a n d di s po s e t h y

,

s elf to prayer w hile I go to e n gage w i t h them i n fierce a n d

”
u n equal combat .

So s ayin g h e cl a pped s p urs to Rozi n a n te h is steed w ith

, , ,

out heedi n g the w ar n in g crie s w hich Sa n cho P a n za h is s qui re

utt ered that t ho s e he w a s goin g to e n counter w ere beyo n d

,

all doubt w in dmills a n d n ot gian t s . He w e n t on so f ully ,

pers uaded that they were gian t s t hat b e n either lis te n ed to

46
 QUI XO TE
’

DO N 47

the c ri es of h is squire San cho n or s top p e d to mark what they

w e re b ut s hout ed t o them i n a loud voice :
,

Fly n ot cow a rd s vile creature s for it is a s in gle cavalier

, , ,

w h o a s s a il s you l
A s li ght breeze havi n g sprun g up at this mome n t the grea t ,

s a il a rm s beg a n to m ove on perceivin g w hich D on Q uixote

,

cr ied
A ltho ugh ye s ho uld wield more arm s tha n had t h e giant
B ria re u s ye s hall p a y for it !
,

Sayin g this a n d commen din g him s elf wit h h is w hole s o ul

,

t o h i s lady Dulcin ea be s eechi n g her to s uccor him i n t hi s

,

peril w ell covered w it h h is buckler w it h h is l a n ce in re s t he

, , ,

charge d at Rozi na nte s be s t gallop a n d att acked the firs t mill

’

before him a n d thrus tin g his lan ce in to the s ail t he w i n d

,

turn e d it wit h s o m uch viole n ce that the lan ce w a s s hivered

t o pie c e s
. It carried w i th it the hors e a n d h i s rider w h o w a s ,

s e n t ro lli n g over t h e pl a in s orely d a m a ged .

Sa n c ho Pan za has ten ed to h i s m a s ter s help a s f ast a s hi s '

a s s could g o a n d w he n he came u p he fo un d the k night

,

un able to stir s uch a s hock had Rozi n a n te give n him in t h e

,

fall.

G o d bles s me cried San cho

, did I not tell your w or
,

s hip t o look to w hat y ou were doi n g for they w ere n a ugh t ,

but windmill s ? A n d n obo d y co uld mis take t hem but one

”
w h o h a d other such in h i s head .
”
Pe ace frien d San cho s aid Don Q uixote ; the thin gs of
, ,

war are more t han an ythin g el s e s ubject t o con tin ual muta
tio n . A n d moreover I believe a n d that is the tru th t hat
, , , ,

the s am e s age Fris to n w h o robbed me of my room a n d my

book s hath turn ed the se gian ts in to w in dmill s i n order t o ,

depriv e m e of the glory of t heir overthrow s o gre a t is t h e ,

en mity he bears to me ; but i n the up s hot h is evil a rts s hall

”
litt le ava il agai ns t the goodn e s s of my s w ord .
“ ”
God s en d it a s He w ill an s w e red San cho ; a n d helpi n g
,

him to ri s e the k night remou n ted Rozin a nte whos e s houlders

, ,

w ere h alf dis l ocated .

Dis cours ing of t h e late adventure they follow ed the road ,

to the Pas s of Lei p ice for there s aid Don Q uixote it w a s n ot

, , ,

poss ible to miss fi n din g man y a n d vario us adven ture s it ,

being a s pot so much frequen ted . He w a s much co ncerned ,

48 CERVANTE S

how ever at th e loss of h is lan ce and acco s ting h i s s quire

, , , ,

s aid I remember to have read that a certain Span is h

k n ight n amed Diego Pere z de V a rgas havin g broken h is
, ,

s w ord i n a battle tore O ff a bough or s tem of a n o a k a n d

, ,

w it h i t performed s uch deed s that day a nd pou n ded s o man y ,

Moors t hat he g ot t h e s urn ame of Pou n der a n d th us he a n d

, ,

h i s de s ce n d a n ts w ere called from that day f orth V argas t h e

Po under I have told thee t hi s becaus e I propose from t h e
. , ,

fi rs t oak or s t o ut t ree t o re n d a bran ch s uch a n d so good a s

that w ith w hich I de sign a n d in ten d to d o s uch deed s that
,

t hou may s t regard thy s elf a s right fort un at e to have merited

to come to s ee t hem a nd be a witn es s of t hin gs which s hall
,
”
s carce be credited .
’
By God s help an sw ered San cho , I believe it a l l a s ,

yo ur w ors hip s a ys ; but straighte n yours elf a bit for me ,

thin k s you g o lop s ided a nd it mu s t be from the bruisin g Of

,
”
yo ur f all .
“
That is the truth s aid Don Q uixote a nd if I complain
, ,

n ot of t h e pain i t i s beca us e it i s n ot allo w ed to k n igh t s erra n t

,

to complain of a ny wou n ds though their bowel s s hould p ro ,

”
trude theref rom .

If that is so I have n o more to sa y replied San ch o ;

, ,

though God kn ow s I s houl d be glad for your w ors hip to

complain w he n a nythin g hurts you. A s to mys elf I ca n sa y ,

that complain I mus t Of the s malle st pain I have if s o be a s ,

that t hi s law of n ot compl a ining reache s not to kn ights erran ts ’

”
s q uire s .

Don Quixote could n ot help s milin g at h is s quire s s i m p l i c

’

ity a n d e xplain ed to him that he might ve ry w ell compla in

,

h ow a n d w he n b e plea sed w it h or w it ho ut cau s e for up t o

, ,

that time he had read n othin g to the co n t ra ry i n t h e ordin an c e

of chiv alry Sancho bade him con s ider that it w a s the hou r
.

of din n er b ut Do n Q ui xote replied that he had n eed of n on e

, ,

b ut that Sa n cho migh t e a t w he n ever he cho s e . Wit h this

lice ns e San cho m a de hims elf a s comfortable a s he coul d
upo n h is a s s a nd t akin g out of t h e w allets w hat he had de
,

po s ited t here w e nt ridi ng a nd feedi n g very leis urely behin d

,

h i s mas ter ; a n d from time t o time he wo uld li ft the bottl e

w it h s o m uch reli s h that the dai n tie st tap s ter of Mal a ga
might have e n vied him A n d whi lst he rode in that fa s hio n
.
,
so CE RVAN TES

pers o n I s hal l take much accou n t of t hos e rules for th o se

n ot ,

o f God a n d ma n permit eve ry o n e to defe n d him s elf agai n s t

”
a ny on e w h o w ould h a rm him .
”
N or do I s a y les s Do n Q uixot e replied ;
, but in th is
mat ter of helpin g me a gain st kn ights tho u has t to p ut a cu rb
,
”
on thy n at ural impul s e s .
”
I promis e to do so s ai d San cho ; a n d I will keep th a t
,
”
precep t a s s trictly a s the Lord s day ’
.

While they were thu s co n vers in g t here appeared on t h e ,

road tw o fria rs of the order O f St Ben edict mo un ted o n . ,

what might be tw o dromedaries for t hey w ere n o s m a ller t h e

, ,

t w o mule s on w hich they rode They w ore travelin g mas k s

. .
-

a n d c a rried umbrellas . A fter them came a coach w it h f o u r ,

or five on hors eback a ccomp a n yi n g it a n d tw o muleteers o n ,

foot. There rode i n the coach a s w a s afterward s kn own a

, ,

lady Of Biscay who w a s goin g to Seville where w a s her h us

, ,

ban d w h o w a s boun d to the I n dies on a ve ry hon orabl e

,

charge . The friars were n ot of her compa n y although they ,

w ere travelin g t h e s ame w a y .

Scarcely had Don Q uixot e e s pied them w hen he e xclai med

to h i s s quire
E it her I m uch mis t ake or this s hould be t h e mo s t famous
adve n ture ever see n for tho s e dark forms that loom yon de r
, ,

doubtle s s are cert ain en cha n ters w h o are carryin g O E i n th a t

,

coach s ome prin ce ss they have s tole n ; a nd it behooves me t o

”
redre s s t his w ron g with all m y might .

This w ill be a w ors e j ob th a n the w in dmills s aid San c ho . ,

Look yo ur w ors hip tho s e are Be n edicti ne friars a n d t h e

, , ,

coach w ill belo ng t o s ome people t ravelin g Min d what I .

sa a n d t a ke care w hat you do a nd let n ot the devil deceiv e

y , ,
”
o u.
“
I have told thee Sancho Don Quixote an swered th at
, , ,

t hou kn owe s t litt le of t h e mys te ry of adve n tures . What I s a y

”
i s the t rut h a n d now t hou s ha lt s ee it .
,

Sayi n g t his he we n t forw ard a nd po st ed him se lf in the mid

dle of th e road alon g w hich the friar s w ere comin g and w he n , ,

they had come n ea r e n ough to hear what he s aid he exclai med ,

i n a loud voice
Mon st rou s a n d devilish crew ! This moment releas e the
e xalted p ri n ce s se s whom i n that coach ye are carryi ng a w a y
 DO N QUI XO TE 5 1

erforc e or pre pare to receive in s tant death a s a j us t chas tise

p ,
”
me n t for your mis deeds .
The fri ars drew rein and stood amaze d both at Don
, ,

Quixote s figure and a t his s pe ech to which they replied

’
,

Sir kn ight w e are ne ith e r mons trous n or devilis h but

, ,

tw o mo n ks of St. Be n e dict w h o a re t rave ling about our bu s i

n ess n or d o w e know wh e th e r i n thi s coa ch there come a n y
,
”
pri nce s ses or not.
N O s oft word s for me for I know you p erfid ious ch url s !
, ,

cried Do n Q uixote ; a n d without wa iti n g further parley h e

, ,

s p urre d Rozi na nt e and with lowered lanc e made at t he

, , ,

foremos t friar with s uch fury a nd vigor that if the mon k had
n ot s lipp e d 0 3 hi s mul e he would have be en brought to t h e

g r ou nd and badly hurt if n ot killed outright.

, The s e cond
m onk s eein g the way they trea ted h i s compan ion clap pe d
, ,

h i s heel s t o the sides of h i s big m ule a nd fl ed acro ss the

coun try swifter than the very win d. Sanch o Pan za when
, ,

h e sa w t h e mon k on t h e groun d alighting nimbly from his ,

a ss ran u p t o hi m and b ega n t o s trip hi m of h is ga rm e nts .

'
U p o n this t w o of the friars s ervants cam e up and as ked him
,

w h y he w as d is robin g their mas ter. Sancho a n s wered that

it w a s h is lawful perquis ite a s s poils of the battle which h i s
l o r d Don Quixote h a d w on. The mule teers w h o did n ot
, , ,

tak e the joke nor u n de rs tood th a t about s poils a nd battles

, ,

s e e ing that Don Q u ixote w as now a t a di s ta nce s p ea king with

t h e ladie s in the coach fell upon Sancho a n d thre w him

,

do wn a nd not l e avin g him a ha ir in h is h ea rd they kicked

, , ,

a n d mauled him without mercy a n d left him s tretched on ,

t h e grou n d s e n s ele s s a n d bre athle ss . A s for t h e f ria r wi th

, ,

out s taying a mome n t h e remoun ted all tremblin g and

, ,

terror s tricken a n d all the color gon e from h i s face ; a n d

-

wh en he fo un d hims elf on h is m ule h e S purred afte r h is ,

co mra de w h o sto od a good way off awaiting him and h idin g

, ,

t h e is s ue of that s udde n a s s ault. Without cari ng t o stop for

the end of the adventure they purs ued their journ ey cro ss ing
, ,

them se lves a s if they had th e devil at th eir backs .

Don Q uixote a s we have sa id w a s disco urs in g with the
, ,

l a dy in th e coach .
Your beauteou s ne s s my lady h e s aid may n ow dis
, , ,

p o s e O f your per s on a s it may be s t pleas e

y ou f or n o w t h e ,
5 2 CERVANT E S

p ri d e o f your rav i s her s i s l aid in t h e du s t o verthrow n by th,i s

my puis s a n t arm . A n d that you may n ot pin e to learn the

n ame of your deliverer kn ow that I am called Don Q u i xote
,

o f La Man cha kn ight e rra n t adventurer a n d c a ptive of the

, , ,

peerles s a n d beauteou s Dofl a Dulcin ea del Tobo s o ; a n d i n

requital of the boo n you have received of me I would as k n o ,

m ore than that you s hould betake yours elf to E l Tobos o a n d

p re s e n t yo ur s elf o n my behalf before th a t lady a n d tell h er ,

what I h a ve don e for your deliveran ce .

All tha t Don Quixote s aid w a s overheard by a Bis cayan
s quire on e o f th o s e who accompan ied the co a ch
, He s eein g . ,

that the coa ch w a s n ot let pas s on but that they s poke of ,

t urn in g it b a ck at on ce to E l Tobo s o w e n t up to Don ,

Quixote a nd layin g hold of h i s lan ce thus addre s sed him i n

, , ,

bad Castilian a n d wors e Biscayan

Get aw ay with y ou kn igh t a n d go to the devil ; for by
, ,

God w h o m a de m e if you do n ot let the coach go I w ill k il l

, ,
”
y o u a s I am a Bi s caya n .

Don Q ui xote who un derstood h im very well replie d wi th

, ,

much compo sure

“
If thou w ert a gentleman a s thou art n ot I would ere th is
, ,

h ave chas ti s ed thy f olly a n d thy in s olen ce ca iti fl creatu re

’
,
.

To which the Bi scayan re s po n ded

I n o gen tleman ? I v ow to God you li e a s you are a ,

Ch ristian . Throw down yo ur lan ce a n d dra w your s word ,

y o u s h a ll s oo n s e e
y o u are carryin g the water t o the cat ;

Bis cayn er by lan d gentleman by se a gen tleman by the devil

, , ,

ou lie a n d mi n d i f ou s a a n ythi n g el e !
y , y y s

N ow s ha ll yo u s ee quoth A gra g e s , re s pon ded Don ,

Qu ixote ; a n d fl ingin g h i s lan ce to the grou n d he d re w h is

s word gr a s ped h i s buckler tight a n d ru s hed at the Bis cayan
, , ,

be n t on takin g h i s life . The Bis cayan s eein g h i m come on ,

thu s th o ugh he could have wis hed to di smoun t from h i s

,

mule which bei n g a hired on e he could n ot tru st could do

, ,

n othi n g el s e tha n draw h i s s word It happe n ed luckily for

. ,

h i m that he w a s n ear the coach w hen ce he s n atched a cu s h

, ,

i on t o s erv e him f or a s hield ; and the n they fel l on on e a n

other a s if they had been two mortal e n emies The re st of .

t h e people wis hed t o make peace betwee n them but co uld

n ot for the Bis cayan sa id in h i s di sjoi n ted s peech that i f
, , ,
54 C E RVANTE S

ha ve b een s o litt le curiou s a s not to possess in the ir a rchive s

or in their registrie s s ome d ocume n t s which treat of thi s

famou s kn ight ; and in this persuasion he de s pai red n ot of

fin din g the e nd Of this delectable hi story w hich Hea ven
, ,

f avorin g him h e did find in the se cond p art.

,
 C H A PT E R IX

I Vhe rei n is deci ded a nd ended the s tupe ndous ba ttle f oug ht bet ween the
'

g a ll a n t B is cay a n a n d th e va li a n t M a ncheg a n

N the first part of this history we left the valoro us Bis

ca yan a n d the ren ow ned Don Quix ote with their s words
u n s heathed and uplifted in the act of dealin g tw o furious
,

dow n ward cuts s uch a s if they had rea ched home would at
, ,

leas t h a ve cle ft and divided them from top to bottom s plit ,

t i n g each of them like a pomegranate ; at that poi nt s o cri t i

cal this agreeable his tory stopped a n d w a s left m ut ilated ,

with out our a uthor givi ng us a h int where the remainder

could be fou n d. This caus ed me much an noyan ce for th e ,

ple as ure of havin g read this little w a s turn ed i nto dis gu s t

w he n I re fl ec t ed on t h e s mall chan ce there w a s of fin din g
that great port ion which i n my opin ion w a s miss in g of s o
, ,

relis h i n g a tale . It w as a thin g impo s s ible methought and , ,

con trary t o all righ t us age that s o go od a kn ight s hould have

,

lacke d some s age to take upo n him the charge of w ritin g of

h i s u n heard of achieveme n t s
- — a thi n g w hich did not f ail any

of the knights erran t of tho s e w h o as people s a y g o upon

, ,

their adven tures ; for each of the s e kept on e or tw o s ages

ready to b a nd who n ot on ly wrote of h i s exploits but de
, ,

scribed the min ute s t thought s a n d mos t t rivial actio n s w ere ,

they n ever s o much hidde n ; a n d a kn ight so dis tin g uis hed

could n ot have been s o unfortun ate a s to lack what Pl a t ir
a nd the lik e b a d in s uch plen ty I co uld n ot therefore
. , ,

brin g mys elf t o believe that so gallant a his tory had been
left m aimed a n d m utilated a n d imp uted the fault to the mal
,

ice of time the devourer a n d des troyer of all thin gs w hich

, ,

h a d e ither co n cealed or con s umed it. O n the other hand it ,

’
s truck me that s in ce among our hero s books there had bee n

foun d s ome s o modern a s the Unveilin g of Jealous y a n d

”
the N ym phs a n d Shep h erds of Henare s his his tory als o ,

55
5 6 CE RVAN TES

mu st be modern a n d that though it might not be written i t

, , ,

w o uld be in the memory of the people of h is vil lage a n d t h e

n eighborhood This t hought made me an xio us a n d eager t o
.

lea rn really a n d tr uly of all the life a nd ma rvel s of our i a

, ,

mou s Span iard Don Q uixote of La Man ch a light and mirro r

, ,

of M a n chega n kn ighthood and t h e firs t w h o i n our age a n d

, , ,

i n the s e our calamit ou s time s se t him s elf to the toil a n d e xe r

,

cis e of arm s errant to redre ss wron gs to s uccor widows t o

, , ,

protect m a ide n s so that they could go about w it h their whip s

, ,

a n d palfrey s from fore s t to fore s t from valley to valley nu

, , ,

harmed I s a y then for t hes e a n d many other rea s on s our

. , , ,

gallan t Q uixote i s worth y of u n ceas in g and im me mo ria l

pra is es ; a n d even to me t hey s hould n ot be denied for t h e
trouble a n d pain s I took in s earc h ing for the e nd of this
agreeable h istory ; although I con fess that if heaven chan ce , ,

a n d my good s ta rs had n ot befrie n ded me t h e world w o ul d ,

h ave remai n ed lackin g a n d without the ple a s ure a n d p a s t im e

which for s ome tw o hours he ca n have w h o s h all rea d with
, ,

atte n t ion .
The discove ry thereof h a ppen ed in th is wis e : O ne da y ,

when I w a s in the Alcan a of Toledo there came up a l a d t o ,

sell s ome parchme n t s a n d ol d papers to a s i lk me rc e r ; a n d ,

bein g very fo n d of readin g even t h e torn pa p ers in t h e s tree ts ,

carried away by this my na tura l be nt I took up a parchmen t ,

from a mon g tho s e the boy w a s s ellin g a nd s a w in it ch a ra c ,

ters which I recogn ized t o be A ra bic . N ot bein g able t o

read them t ho ugh I recogn ized them I wen t to see if I could
, ,

fi n d thereabout so me Mo ri s co w h o s poke Span is h t o read th e m

to me ; nor w a s it m ore diffi cult to meet with a n in terpreter
the re though I had s o ught him for another better a n d more
, , ,

diffi cult lan gu age I n fi ne chan ce pres en ted me with on e to

. ,

w hom I explai n ed my w is he s placin g the pamphlet in to h is ,

han d He ope n ed it i n the middle a n d re a din g a lit tle there

. , , ,

began to laugh. I as ked him what he laughed at a nd h e ,

replied at a thin g there w a s writt e n in the margin by wa y o f

,

a n n ota t ion . I bade him tell me what it w a s w hen without , ,

ceas in g to laugh he s aid It is written here i n the m a rgi n

,

th us : This D ulcin ea of El Tobo so so oft en referred to i n ,

this story they sa y had the bes t ba nd at sa lt ing pigs of a n y

,

wom an in a ll La Mancha. ’
5 8 CERVAN T ES

a nd lon g s h an ks ; and therefore th ey mu st have given hi m

t h e n ame of Panza a n d of Zan cas f or by both thes e n ame s
,

he i s called at differen t times in the history . There w ere

s ome other le s s part iculars to n ot e b ut they a re all o f s m a l l
,

importan ce and are not pert in e n t to the truthf ul tellin g of

thi s s tory ; a n d n o story is b a d if it i s truthful .
If aga in st this on e a n y objec t ion can be rais ed on the s core
of i ts truth f ul n e s s it ca n o n ly be thro ugh it s author bein g a n
,

A rab , tho s e of that nation bein g very apt at lyin g a lthough ,

bein g such great en emies of ours we s ho uld s uppos e that

they had rather fallen s hort therein th an exceeded A nd .

s uch is my opin ion f or w he n he could a n d s hould i n dulge

,

h i s p e n in the prais e s of s o w orthy a knight methi n ks h e ,

—
delibera tely pas se s them over in ile n ce a thin g il l done
s

a n d wor s e de s ig n ed historian s bein g bo u n d to be precis e

, ,

truth ful a n d w holly dis pass ion ate s o that n eit her in teres t
, ,

n or fe a r n either ran cor n or a ff ectio n s h ould turn t hem from

, ,

the path of truth w hos e mother i s history t h e rival of time

, , ,

the repo sitory of great action s the witn es s of the past t he

, ,

example a n d pattern to the pres en t the w arn ing to the futu re

, .

I n this hi s tory will be fou n d all that can be des ired in t h e

plea s an test ; a n d if it fail i n a ny good q uality I hold it w a s ,

thro ugh t h e fault of the houn d i ts au t hor rather than through

the defect of the s ubj ect. I n brie f the s econ d part accord , ,

ing to the tran s lation begin s thus ,

Their tre n chan t blade s drawn a nd rai sed aloft the tw o ,

valoro us a n d in ce ns ed advers arie s s eemed to me n ace heave n ,

earth a nd hell such w a s their co urage a n d a s pect Th e firs t

, ,
.

to deliver h is s troke w a s the choleric Bis cayan a n d b e dealt ,

it with s o much force a nd fury that had n ot h is sw ord tu rned

,

as ide on it s road that one blow would have s uffi ced to brin g
,

to a n e nd th a t dire con fl ict a nd th e adve n ture s of our kn ight.

B ut h i s good s tars which had re s erved h i m f or gre a t er thi n gs
, ,

tw is ted the blade of h is advers ary s o that tho ugh it fe l l on ,

hi s left s houlder it did him n o other in ju ry than to dis a rm a ll

,

that side of him ca rryin g O fl on th e way a great piece of t h e

,
"

helmet w ith half a n ear all which with hideou s ruin cam e
, ,

t o the gro und leaving o ur gen tleman i n a v ery s ore plight.

,

Good he a ven w h o s hall he be worthily to de s cribe the rag e

which n ow en tered the heart of our Mancheg a n a t fin din g
 DON QUI XO T E 59

him self thus treated To sa y n o more it w as s uch that he ,

ra is e d hi ms elf afre s h in h i s s tirru p s a n d grippin g h i s s word

, ,

m ore fi rmly in h i s tw o ha n d s struck at the Bis cayan wi th ,

s u ch viole n ce fetching him full upon the c us hio n and upon

,

h i s head , that in s pite of that defe n s e a s tho ugh a moun

, ,

ta i n had fallen upon him the s quire began to s pout blood

,

from his n os e and mouth a nd e ars a n d made a s though he ,

s hould have falle n from hi s mule a s doubtle s s he would have ,

don e had h e n ot clas ped her roun d the n eck ; a n d w itha l he

lo s t h i s s tirrup s and then let go hi s arm s and t he m ule
, , ,

frighte n ed at the dreadful blow be g a n to gallop about the ,

pl a in and with a few pl un ge s th rew h e r rider to the grou n d .

,

D on Quixote s tood lookin g on very compo s edly and w he n ,

h e s a w hi s e n emy fall he leaped from h i s hors e a n d run nin g , ,

up with great agility clapped t h e point of h i s sw ord betw een

,

t h e Bi s caya n s eye s biddin g him yield or he w ould cut O ff

’

h i s head . The Bi s cayan w a s so s tu n n ed that he w a s u n able

to a n s w er a word a nd it wo uld have fared ill w it h him
, so ,

blin ded with rage w a s Don Quixote if the ladies of the ,

coach who till t he n had looked on at the fight in great ter

,

ror had n ot run to the s pot a nd w ith m uch earn e s tn es s be

, ,

s ought t h e k n ight t o gra n t them the gre a t kin d n e ss a n d favor

to s p a re t heir s quire s life To w hich req ue st Don Quixote

’
.

res po n ded with m uch statelin e ss a n d gravity : A s s uredly

, ,

beauteous la die s I am very well co ntent to do w hat you a s k

,

me ; but it must be upo n on e co nditio n a n d s tip ul a tion ,

which i s th at this k n ight s hall promis e me to g o to t h e tow n

of E l Tobo s o a n d pre s e n t him s elf from m e before the peer
,

le ss D ofl a D ulcin ea that s he may deal w ith him accordin g to

,
”
h er pleas ure .
The tremblin g a n d dis tress ful ladie s without co n s iderin g ,

w hat it w a s th a t Do n Quixote required a n d w ith out a s kin g ,

w h o D ulci n ea might h e promis ed him that the s qu i re s hould

,

do all that h e had comman ded.

Then on the faith of that pledge sa id Don Quixote
, , ,

I will do him n o other hurt though he h a s w ell merited it

,

of me .
 CH A PT E R X

Of the p lea sa nt f
con a bula h on w h i ch a ss ed between D on Qui xote
‘

p
a nd S a ncho P a nza , his s qui re

E F O RE th is Sancho w a s up again after bein g s ome ,

’
what roughly ha n dled by t h e friars atten dan ts a n d ,

h a d s t ood watch i n g the combat i n w hich Don Q ui xot e

w as e n gaged ofl e ri n g up pra yer s t o God in hi s heart that H e
,
’

migh t be pleas ed to give h is mas t er t h e victory a n d t hat out ,

Of it he him s elf might w i n s ome i s le of which he could be

gove rn or a s h a d bee n promis ed him . Seein g the con te s t n ow

,

a t a n e n d a n d h i s mas ter about t o remou n t Rozi n a n te S a n cho

, ,

r a n t o hold h i s s tirrup a n d before he mo un ted k n elt do wn

, , ,

before him a n d s eiz in g him by t h e han d kis s ed it a n d s aid :

, , , ,
“
L et your w ors hip be pleas ed my dear lord Don Q uixote , ,

t o give me the govern me n t of the i s le w hich h a s bee n w on

i n thi s to ugh battle ; for however big i t i s I feel mys elf
, ,

s tro n g e n o ugh t o gove rn it a s well a s the be st th at hav e g ov

”
ern ed i sles in the world.
“
Brother Sa n cho replied Don Quixote this adve n ture ,

and tho se s imilar to i t are n ot adven tures of is les but of cross

road s in w hich n othin g el s e is w on than a broken head or
,

t h e lo s s o f a n ear. H a ve patien ce for adven t ure s will pre ,

s en t them s elve s w hereby I ca n make th ee n ot o n ly gove rnor ,

but s omethin g ye t higher .

San cho th a n ked him heart ily a n d kiss in g h is h an d o nce, ,

aga in a s w ell a s the hem of h i s coat helped him to moun t ,

Rozin a n te ; a n d he him s elf gettin g o n h i s a ss fol low ed his

, ,

mas ter ; w h o riding at a bris k pace without takin g leave of

, ,

the ladie s i n the coach or s ayin g a word more t o them turn ed ,

i n to a w ood h a rd by San cho followed him at h is a s s s be st

.
’

trot but Rozi na n te traveled s o fa st that s eein g him s elf left

, ,

behin d S a n cho w a s oblig ed to call o ut to h is master to w a it

,

f or him This Don Q uixote did rein ing in Rozin a nt e until

. ,

h is tired s q uire overtook him .

60
62 CERVAN TES

n oth in g more to do whe n thou see s t that in some battl e they

,

have divided me thro ugh the m iddle — a s o ft times it i s w o nt

,

to happen —, th a n deft ly to take up the portion of th e body

w hich is fallen to the gro un d and wit h great s ubtlet y before
, ,

the blood i s con gealed cla p it upon the other half w hich re
,

main s on the s addle ; takin g care to fix it exactly in t he right

pla ce . Then thou s h a lt give me to d rin k but two drop s of
the ba l s am I have me n tioned a n d s halt se e me rema i n a s ,
”
s o un d a s a n apple .

“ ”
I f that s s o s a id Pan za I re n oun ce from n ow t h e g ov
’

, ,

e rn men t o f the promi s ed i s le a n d a s k n othi n g el s e in pay

,

ment of man y a n d good se rvices but th a t yo ur w ors hip give

me t h e receipt of t h a t matchless liquor ; for I da re sa y it w ill
be worth anywhere more than tw o real s the oun ce n or n e e d ,

I for more to pa s s t his l ife res pectably a n d comforta bly. B ut

”
let us kn ow n ow if it co st s m uch t o make
, , .

For les s th a n three real s you ca n m ake more tha n t w o

”
q uart s of it an swered D on Q uixote
, .

Sin ner th a t I am ! replied Sa n cho ; then why does your

wors hip dela y ma ki n g it a n d tea chin g me
H ush frien d re s po n ded D on Q uixote ; even gr eate r
, ,

s ecrets I de s ign to t each t hee a n d do thee grea ter favo rs .

B ut f or t h e pre s e n t l et us dre s s our wou n d s for the ea r p ai n s ,

”
me more t h a n I co uld w i s h .

San c h o took from h is wa llets some lin t a n d oint me nt ; b ut

whe n D on Q uixote became aware that h i s helmet w a s broke n ,

he h a d like to h a ve lo st h is s e n s e s Clappin g h i s han ds t o .

h i s sw ord a n d lift i n g h i s eye s to heaven he cried

, ,
“
I s w ear a n oa t h by t h e Cre a t or of all thin g s and by t h e
, ,

four Holy Go s pel s w herein t h ey a re more fully s et forth to

, ,

lead t h e life w hich w a s led by the grea t Marq ue s s of M a n tu a ,

w he n he s w ore to reve n ge t h e deat h of h i s n ephe w Ba ld w in ,

—w hich w a s n ot to e a t bre a d at table n or lie i n a bed a n d

, , ,

ot her thin gs w hich tho ugh I c a n n ot remember t hem I hol d

, ,

a s here e xpre s s ed un til I have exacted f ull venge anc e on him

,

w h o hath do n e me t hi s outrage l
San c h o on he a rin g the s e word s exclaimed
, ,

Look yo ur wors hip Sir Don Q uixot e

, , i f the kn i ght ,
-

h a s complied with t h e order yo u ga ve him to go a n d pres e n t ,

him s elf before my lady D ulci n ea del Tobo so he will al re a dy ,

 D ON QUI XO TE

h ave done h is duty and dese rves no other penal ty unle ss he

,

commits a n e w ofi e nse .
Thou has t S poken a nd hit the mark very well a n swered ,

Don Q uixote a n d therefore I a n n ul the oath in re s pect to

, , ,

w hat rel at es t o exacting from him fre s h ve n gean ce ; but I

make a n d con firm it anew to lead the life of which I have
,

s poke n un ti l s u ch t ime a s I h ave taken by f orce a n other s uch

,

a n d a s good helmet a s thi s from s ome k n ight ; a n d tho u m us t

n ot thin k Sa n cho t h at I take thi s oa th a s mere s moke of
, ,

s traw ; for I kn ow well whom I imita te herein si n ce the very ,

sam e th in g t o the letter pas sed about t h e c a s que of Mambrin o ,

”
w hich co st Sacripante s o dear.
Let you r wors h ip give s uch oath s to the devil dear sir , ,

re plied S a n cho ; for they do much m is chief to one s healt h ’

a n d m uch damage t o one s con scien ce .

’
But tell me now if ,

by c h ance we do not come across a m a n armed with a helmet

the se man y days what s hall we do ? H a s t h e oath to be kept
,

des p ite of the many in convenien ce s and dis comforts there will
be in s leep i n g a ll clothed a n d n ot lyi n g in a n i n habited place
, ,

and a thousa nd ot her penances w hich w ere con ta ined i n the

oath of that Ol d madman the Marquess of Man tua w hich , ,

your wors hip would now revive ? DO but you con s ider that
alo n g all these woods no ar med me n t ravel only ca rriers a n d ,

ca rt ers who n ot only wear n o helmets but perhap s never

, ,

heard them n amed in all the days of their life .

”
Thou art mis ta ken i n this s ai d Don Quixote for we , ,

s hall not have been t w o hours on the s e cross road s before we -

s h a l l se e more armed men than w e n t up agai n s t A l bra ca for

”
th e win n in g of A ngelica t h e Fair .
”
Well t he n s o be it quoth San cho and God s e n d t hat
, , ,

we come well out of it a nd that the t ime may come for w i n

,

ning th a t is le which is co sting me so dea r ; and t he n let me

I ha ve alr eady told thee Sa ncho n ot to give thy s elf a n y

, ,

con cern about t h a t for if a n i sle s hould fail there i s the

,
.
,

kin gdom of De n mark or tha t of S obra di s a which s hall fit

, ,

thee a s a ri n g t h e fi nger a n d more by token they are te

,

fi rma thou s hould st be the happier. B ut let us leave thi s t o

time a nd look if thou hast a ught in thy wallets which we
,

ma y ea t for s oon we g o in sea rc h of s om e cas tle where we

,
64 CERVANT ES

ma y lodge to night, make for ourselves the bal s am of

a nd

which I h a ve s poke n ; for by heaven I vow to thee this e ar

”
of min e p a in s me great ly.

I have got here a n on ion and a bit of chee s e a n d a fe w ,

”
s cra p s of bread s ai d Sa n cho
, but they are not victua ls fit
,

for a valian t kn ight like yo ur wors hip ”

.
”
H ow ill thou comp re h e n dest the matt er ! a n s wered D on

Quixote. I would have thee know San cho that it is a n , ,

hon or in knights erran t n ot t o eat once in a month ; a n d w hen ,

they do e a t of that which they fi n d n eare st to han d and this

, ,

thou mighte st have as certain ed hads t thou rea d a s ma n y

his torie s as I have ; for although they h a ve been very man y in ,

n o n e of t hem have I f oun d menti o n made of what the kn ights

errant a t e un le s s it were cas ually a n d at s ome of the s um p

,

t uo n s ban q uets give n them ; a n d the remai n der of their da y s

they lived u pon flowers . A n d though it i s t o be un ders tood
that t hey could n ot sub s ist without eatin g for in eff ect t h e y ,

were me n like ourse lves it mus t be pres umed al s o t h a t

, ,

wanderi n g about a s t hey did th e mo st of their time in f orests

and dese rts a n d without a cook their mo st us ual di n n er would
, ,

be of rus tical vian ds s uch a s n ow thou o fi e re st me . There

,

fore frien d Sancho fret n ot thys elf a s to w hat plea se s me

, , ,

n or s eek t o make a new world n or take k n i ght err an tr y 05

,
-

”
i ts h inges .
”
Pardon me s ir s aid Sancho for s inc e I can n e ither
, , ,

read n or writ e as I ha ve already told you I am n ot acquai nt ed

, ,

with t h e rules of the kn ightly calling a n d so here after I will ,

s tore my wallets with all s ort s of dried fruits for yo ur w or

s hip w h o are a k n ight ; a n d f or me w h o am n othi n g of t h e

, ,

s ort I will provide for myse lf th i ng s that fl y a n d a re of more

,

s ubs t a n ce .

I do n ot sa y S a n cho replied Don Q uixote that it is

, , ,

obligat ory on kn ights erran t to eat n othin g el se than those

fruit s of which thou s peakes t but tha t of them w a s their ,

ord in a ry diet and of certa in herbs which they foun d i n t h e

,

fiel ds which they knew of a nd I a l so kn ow.

,
” “
It i s good to kn ow thes e herb s San cho replied for I , ,

am thin kin g s ome day w e s h a ll n eed to use that kn owledge .

Thereupo n p ullin g out what h e s aid he had the two f ell to ,

dinner in good p eace a n d comp a ny. B ut des irou s t o look ,

 C H A PT E R XI

Of w ha t happened to D on Quixote w i th certa i n goa therd s

E was welc omed by t h e goatherds very cordia ll y a n d ,

Sancho havin g put up Rozin ant e a n d h i s a s s a s b es t

,

he could made h is w a y towards the s mell give n o ut

,

by certain pieces of goat s fl es h which were boi lin g in a p ot

’

on the fire ; a n d though he l on ged at that in s tant t o se e i f

they were ready to be tran s ferred from the p ot to h is s toma ch ,

he re fra in ed for t h e goatherds took th em 03 the fire a n d

, , ,

s preadin g s om e s heep s ki n s o n the gro un d laid i n a tri c e ,

t heir ru s tic ta ble a n d with many expres s ion s of good wi ll

‘

-
, , ,

in vited t h e tw o t o s hare in what they h a d . Six of them w h o

were of the fold sa t roun d on the s kin s havin g first wi th ,

ro ugh compliments be s ought Don Quixot e to s eat hims elf

upon a trough which t hey pl a ced for him turn ed ups ide ,

d ow n Don Quixote s a t dow n but San cho rem ai n ed on foot

. ,

to serve him th e cup w hich w a s made of horn Seein g him

, .

s tan d in g h is m as ter s aid :

, That thou m a ys t see San cho the , ,

good w hich is con ta in ed i n kn ight erran try a n d h ow fa ir a

-
,

chan ce t hey have who exercis e them selves in min isteri ng

a fter a n y fa s hion thereto to come s hortly t o be ho n ored a n d

e steemed of the world I de s ire that here by my s ide and i n

, ,

company of these good people thou seat t hys elf and be one
, ,

a n d the s ame with me that am thy mas ter a n d n atura l lord ,

a n d eat of my dis h a n d d rin k of the cup from which I dri n k ;

for of kn ight erran try ma y be s ai d the s ame a s of love th a t

-
,
”
it levels all thin gs.
Gramercy for your favor ! cried San cho ; but I ma y
tell your wors hip that provided I had ple nt y to ea t I c ould
, ,

ea t it a s well a n d bet ter s ta n din g and by my s elf than if I

, , , ,

were seated on a level w ith a n emperor ; a n d in deed if I m us t , ,

s peak the truth I relis h much more what I eat in my corne r

,

without niceti e s or ceremon ie s th oug h it be but brea d a nd

,

66
 DO N QUI XO TE 67

o n ion th a n t urkey cocks at ot her tables where I am forced

,
-

t o chew s low ly drin k little wipe my s elf oft en neit her s ne eze
, , ,

n or cough whe n I have a mind to n or d o other th in gs w hich ,

s olit ude and libe rty a llow . Therefore good mas ter thos e , ,

ho n ors which your wors hip would p ut upon me for be i n g a

s erva n t a n d follower of k n ight e rrant ry a s I am bei n g s quir e
-

, ,

t o yo u r wors hip change them for other thin gs which may

,

be of more advan t age and profit to me ; for thes e though I ,

hold t hem a s received i n full I re n ounce fro m here to the ,

”
e n d of the w orld .

F or all that s aid Do n Quixote

, thou mu st sit down , ,
”
for him w h o humbleth him s elf God exalt eth A n d s eizin g . ,

h i m by the arm he forced him to be s eated n e a r him s elf.

,

The goatherds did n ot un ders ta n d that j a rgon of sq uires

a n d kn ight s erran t ; a n d did n ot hin g but eat hold their peace , ,

a n d s t a re at their gue s t s who with a good grace a n d reli s h

, , ,

w ere gorgi n g them s elv e s w ith piece s a s big a s their fi s ts . T h e

c ours e of meat bei n g over t h ey s pread upo n the s kin s a great
,

n umber of parched acorn s a n d placed by them half a chee se

, ,

h arder than if it had bee n mad e o f mortar. T h e horn in ,

the mean t ime w a s not idle for it we n t roun d s o often n ow

, , ,

f ull n ow empt y like b ucket s i n a w a ter wheel that it eas ily

, ,
-

empti ed on e of the tw o win e skins which hun g in view. -

Af ter Don Q uixote had w ell s atis fied h is s tomach he took ,

u p a han df ul of acorn s a n d g a zin g on them in te n tly gave

, , ,

loo se to h is voice in the followin g st rain

Happy age and happy ti mes tho s e whereon the an cien ts ,

b es tow ed the n ame of go l de n not becau s e i n them gold so , ,

h ighly e s teemed in t his our age of iro n w a s i n that f ortunate ,

time acq uired w ithout toi l but rather beca u se thos e w h o

,

lived therein were in n ocen t of tho s e t w o w ord s thin e a nd

min e I n that holy age all t hi n gs were i n commo n ; n o
ma n t o get h i s ordi n ary s u stenan ce n eeded to take a ny other
, ,

tr ouble than to lift h is han d a n d pluck it from the s turdy

o ak s which s tood freely i nv iti n g him wit h thei r s w eet and
,

s avo ry fruit The clear s tream s a n d ru nn in g rivers o ffered

.

h im in magn ifice n t abu n dance their deliciou s a n d lim pid

, ,

w aters. I n the clefts of rock s a n d i n th e hollo w s of the

trees the ca re ful a n d discreet bee s built up their common
w ea lth pres enti ng to every ha nd without u sa nce the fruitful
,
68 CERVAN TES

crop of their fragran t toil . The robu st cork trees s hed O f -

them selve s wit ho ut ot her art than that of their court es y

, ,

their light a n d ample ri n d s wherewith me n di d fi rs t cover

their ho us e s s upported upon rude poles for n o ot her e n d
, ,

t ha n a s a defe n se again s t th e i n cleme n cy of the s ky . A ll

w a s pea ce t he n a l l amity a l l co n cord . A s yet the p a in ful
, ,

s hare of t h e crooked plo w had n ot dared to ope n a n d s e a rc h

the compa s sio n at e bo w el s of our first mother w h o wit hout , ,

comp uls ion yielded from every p a rt of her fert i le a n d s p a

,

ci ous bo s om wh a tever co uld sa ti s f y s u stai n a n d delight t h e , ,

chil dre n w h o the n po s s e s sed her The n verily did t h e in no

.

ce n t a n d lovely s hepherde ss e s roam from da le to dale a n d

from hill to bil l decked with their tre ss e s a lon e a n d w ith no
, ,

more apparel than w a s n eces s ary to cover them mode s tly .

N or w ere their at tire s s uch a s tho s e w hich a re i n f a s hion

to d a y heighte n ed by p urple of Tyre a nd s il k tortured i n
-

n umberle s s w ay s b ut leave s of gree n burd ock a n d ivy i n ter

,

twin ed in w hich perh a p s they we nt a s proudly a n d a s de

, , ,

c e n t l y arra yed a s our co urt dame s n ow w ith t heir r a re a n d ,

out l a n dis h inve n tion s which w an ton curiosity h a s di sc overed .

Then the love thoughts of the s o ul were decked s imply a nd

artle ssly in the same fas hion a nd ma n n er as the s oul c on
ce i v e d them n or s o ught a n a rtifici a l t urn of word s to en han c e
,

their value . N or had fraud deceit or malice mi ngled w it h , ,

truth a n d s i n cerity. J ust ice p urs ued her ow n prop er en ds

withou t bein g dis t urbed by favor or in tere st w hich n ow so ,

greatl y impa ir dis t urb a n d persecut e h e r. A s ye t arbi t ra ry

, ,

law w a s n ot se a t ed i n t h e mi nd o f t h e j ud ge for the n there ,

w ere n o n e to j udge or be j udge d . M a iden s a n d i n no ce n cy

wen t a bo ut a s I h a ve s aid w hit her they would s in gle a n d
, , ,

s olit a ry w it ho ut f ear th a t s t ra n ger lice n s e w ou ld h a rm them

, .

B ut n ow i n t hi s our hat eful a g e n o m aide n i s s a fe eve n

, ,

though a n oth er l a byrin t h like th a t of Crete s ho uld cl os e a n d

co n cea l her For t heir protec tion a s time rolled on a n d
. ,

wicked n e s s in creas ed w a s i n st it uted t h e order of k n ight

,

errant f or the d efen di ng of maid e n s the relievin g of w idow s

, , ,

a n d t h e s ucconi n g of t h e f a t herle ss a n d t h e d i s tre s s ed Of .

this order am I brother go a t herd s w hom I t han k for t h e

, ,

good cheer a n d receptio n w hich ye have g ive n to me a n d to

my s q uire ; for a lthough by th e l a w of n ature all livin g are
 C E RVANTE S

ANTONI O
Yes, l ov el y n ymph , t h ou art my pri ze ;
1boas t the conques t of th y hea rt,
Though nor th e tongue, nor s pea king eyes,
H a ve yet revea led th e la tent s mart .

Th y wi t a nd se nse as s ure my fa te ,
I n th em my l ov e s s uccess I se e ;
'

Nor ca n be be un fortu na te
W h o da res a vow h is flame for thee .

Yet s ometi mes

ha s t th ou frow ned, a l as !
And g i v en my h opes a cruel s h ock ;
Then did thy s oul s ee m formed Of brass,
Th y s nowy bos om of th e rock .

B ut in th e mi ds t of thy disdai n,
Th y s ha rp re proa ch es, col d d ela ys ,
H ope from beh ind, to ea se my pai n ,
The border of her robe displ a ys .

Ah ! l ove ly ma i d i n equal sca l e

W eigh well th y s h eph erd s truth a nd love,
’

W hich n e er, but with h is brea th , ca n fa il,

’

W h ich nei th er frowns nor s mil es ca n move .

I f l ove, as s h eph erds won t to sa y,

B e ge ntle ness a nd co urtes y,

My pass ion will rewa rded be .

And if Obsequi ous duty pa i d,

Th e gra te ful h ea rt ca n never move,
M i ne sure, my fai r, ma y well pers ua d e
A due return, a nd cla i m thy l ov e .
For, to see m pl eas i ng i n th y s igh t,
I dres s mys el f wi th s tud ious m e,
And , in my be s t a ppa re l d igh t,
My Sunda y clothes on Monda y wear .
A nd sh eph erds sa y I m not to bla me ;
’

For cl eanl y d ress a nd s pruce a tti re

Prese rve a l i ve love s wa n ton flam e,
‘

And gentl y fa n th e dyi ng fire .

 DON ourxor r: 7 :

To please my fai r i n ma zy ri ng
,

I joi n th e da nce a n d s portive pla y

, ,

And be nea t h t h y wi ndow s ing,

oft
Wh en firs t t he cock proclai ms the day .

W i th pture on ea ch cha rm I dwel l

ra ,

And da il y s prea d t h y bea uty s fa me ; ’

And s till my tong ue t h y pra ise s ha ll te ll ,

Th ough envy swell or mal ice bla me .
,

Teresa of Berrocal
th e ,

W h en once I pra ised you , sa i d i n sp ite,

Your mistress you a n a ngel a ll ,

B ut a mere a pe is your d eligh t ,

Tha nks to the bugl e s

la
g e,
‘
r a rtful
And a ll the g ra ces co un te rfe it ;
Tha nks to the fa ls e a n d curled ha ir,
W hi ch m y l ov e h imsel f mig h t c hes t .

I s wore twas fa ls e ;
’
a nd sa id s h e li ed ;
fiercel y rose
At t h a t her a nger
1boxed th e clown tha t took her s ide ,

And h ow I boxed my fai rest knows .

I Ola l ia,
court th ee not,
To gra ti fy a l oos e des i re
My love is chas te, wi th out a ll oy
Of wa nton wis h , or l us tful fire .

T he ch urch ha th s il ke n cords , t ha t tie

Consenti ng hea rts in mutua l ha nds :
I f thou, my fai r, its yoke wi ll try,
T hy s wa i n its read y ca p ti ve s ta nds .

If by all th e sa ints I s wea r.

not,

O n th es e bl ea k mounta i ns s ti ll to dwell ,
Nor ever quit my toil some ca re,
B ut for th e cl ois te r a nd the cell .

With this the goatherd en ded h is s o n g and alth ough Don , ,

Quixote be sough t him to s in g s omethin g more Sa n cho w a s ,

n ot of that min d for he w a s more for s leepi ng than hearin g

,

d ittie s a nd so s aid to h i s mas t er :

, Your wors hip had bes t
a rran ge a t o n ce where ou are to pas s thi s n ight for t h e
y ,

w ork w hich the se good men do all th e day long doe s n ot

”
s uffer them to pa ss t h e nights i n s ingin g .
7 2 CE RVAN TES

I unders ta n d thee S a n cho an swered Don Quixote ;

, ,

“
for I perceive clearly that thy vis its to the w in e s kin dem a n d
-

”
req uit a l i n s leep rat her than in m us ic .
To a ll of us it ta s ted well bles s ed be God
, , replied
San cho .
” “
I do n ot de n y it an s wered Don Q uixote ; dis po s e Of thy
,

s elf a s tho u pleas e s t ; to tho s e of my profes s ion it i s m ore

becomin g to wa tch th a n t o s leep ; b ut w ith a l it were wel l ,

S a n cho for thee on ce more to dre s s this ear of m in e for it i s

, ,
”
p ai n in g me more t han i s n ece ss ary .

S a n cho did as he w as ordered when on e of the goat herds

, ,

s eein g t h e w o un d told him n ot to tro uble him s elf

, for he ,

would apply a remedy which w ould re a dily heal it ; a n d

takin g some leaves of ro sem a ry w hich about there w a s i n
,

plent y he chew ed them a n d mixin g th em wit h a little s a l t

, ,

a n d app l y in g t hem to the c a r he bo un d i t up firmly as s u rin g

, ,

the k n ight that he w ould n eed n o other medicine ; a n d th i s

proved to be true .
74 CERVAN TE S

We w ill a ll do the s ame a n s wered t h e go a therd s a n d

, ,
”
cas t lots w h o s h a ll sta y to take care Of a ll our goats .
”
You are right Peter sa id on e tho ugh there wi ll be n o
, , ,

n eed to ta ke t h a t trouble f or I wil l s ta y behi n d for a ll .

, Do
n ot se t it do w n t o a n y merit or lack of curio s ity in me but to ,

the s plin ter w hich the ot her day ra n i nto my foot a nd k ee p s

”
me fro m w a lkin g .

F or al l t h a t w e than k you an s w ered Peter.

, ,

Don Q uixot e as ked Peter t o tell him who that de ad m a n

w a s a n d w h o the s hepherde s s
, Peter replied t h at all h e
. ,

k n ew w a s th a t t h e dead ma n w a s a rich ge n tleman w h o d w el t

in a village i n thos e moun tai n s a n d w h o had be en s tudyin g ,

a t Salaman ca man y years returni n g at the e n d of which t o

,

h i s vil l a ge with the repute of bein g very clever a n d wel l rea d.

They sa id e s pec ially that h e knew t h e scien ce of the s ta rs
, , ,

a n d w hat the s un a n d moo n are doi n g up there in the s k

y ,
”
for he told us exactly of the creas e of the s un a n d m oo n .
E clip s e it i s c a lled f rie n d a n d n ot crea s e
, th e oh
,
-

s c ura ti o n of t h os e t w o gre a t er l u m i n aries s ai d Don Qui xot e , .

B ut Peter s toppi n g n ot at t he s e trivi a litie s con tinued h is

, ,

s to ry : He likew is e predict ed if the year would be fruitful

or s t ale.

St erile t ho u w ouldst sa y frien d obs erved Don Quixote .

, ,
”
Sterile or s tale it is al l t h e s ame in t h e e n d a n s wered
, ,

Peter ; a n d I sa y that w ith w hat he told them h is fa t h e r

, ,

a n d frie n ds , who believed him becam e very rich for t h e y , ,

did what he advis ed biddin g them this year sow barley not
, ,

wheat ; this year you c a n s ow puls e a n d not ba rley ; t h e ,

n e xt w ill be a f u l l crop of oil the three followi n g th ey will

”
n ot get a drop .

This s cie n ce i s called as trology sa id Don Quixote . ,

”
I do n t kn ow h ow it is called replied Peter but I know
’
, ,

that he kn e w all this a n d more too To make a n e nd : n ot .

m a n y months had pas s ed after he came from Sa lam a nca ,

w hen on e day he appeared dre s s ed like a s hepherd w it h h is

crook a nd h is s heep s ki n ha vin g p ut off the lon g coats whic h
,

he u sed t o wear a s a s tud en t a n d w ith him al s o dres se d lik e

,

a s hepherd w a s h is grea t frie n d Ambro s io w h o h a d been h i s ,

comp a n ion i n h is studie s I forgot to tell you that Ch ry s os

.

tom the dead ma n w as a great m a n for comp os ing v e rs es

, , ,
 DON QUI XOTE 75

in s omuc h th a t he u s ed to make the carols for th e ev e of our

Lord s birt h a n d th e play s for Corpu s Ch ris ti w hich the lad s
’

, ,

o f our vil l a ge played in a n d eve rybody s a i d they were tip ,

t op .Whe n t h e vi llagers sa w the two studen ts thus of a

s udde n dres se d out as s hepherd s they w ere as toni s hed and ,

could not guess w h a t had led them to make so stran ge a

tra n sformation A bout this ti me the father of our Ch ry sos
.

tom di e d a n d he w as le ft with a good deal of propert y in

, ,

goo d s as w ell a s in lan d s a n d no s mall quan tity of ca ttle a n d

,

s he e p a n d a great s um o f mon ey of all which the youth t e

, ,

ma in ed the di s solute owner ; a n d in truth h e deserved it all , , ,

for he w a s a very good fell ow a n d a charita ble a n d a frie n d ,

to t h e good and h e had a fa ce like a ble ss i ng. By a n d by

,

it ca me to be u n ders tood that h is chan gi n g hi s dre s s w a s for

n o ot her reas o n th a n that he might roam about the s e wild s

a fter that s hepherde s s Marcela wh om our comrade me n tioned

, ,

a wh i le ago with whom the poor dead Ch rysos tom w a s in lov e .

,

And I will now t ell you for it is right you s hould know ,

i t who tha t wen ch is for mayhap

, aye a n d w ithout a n y
, , ,

hap y ou w ill n ever have heard of the like in a l l the da ys

”
of your l ife though ye s h ould live more day s t h an Sarn a .
,

Say Sara remarked Don Quixote un able t o bear t h e

,
’
,

f
’

g o a therd s ma n gling o w o rd s .
“
The Sarna li ves lo n g enough res pon ded Peter ; a n d , ,

si r if y ou w oul d have me g o correctin g my w ords a t every

,

s tep we s ha ll n ot fi n i s h in a twelvemon th .
,
” “
Pardon me frien d sa id Don Q uixote but I s poke to
, , ,

y ou bec a u s e there w a s so much d i fi e re n ce bet w ee n Sar n a

a n d Sara ; but you have an s wered very rightly f or Sarn a ,

live s lon ger tha n Sara. Proceed with your his tory for I ,
”
w ill not in terrupt you agai n .
I sa y then my beloved si r con tin ued the goa th erd
, , , ,

t hat in our village there w a s a farmer eve n richer t han

th e father of Chry s o s tom wh os e n ame w a s William t o , ,

who m God gave over a n d above h i s merit a n d great

,

riche s a daug h ter

, A t her birt h her mot her t h e mos t
. ,

ho n ored woman in all that qu a rter died. Methin ks I s ee ,

her n ow w ith t hat face of hers which had the sun on one
,

s id e a n d the moon on the other ; a n d above a l l a rare , ,

m a nag er and a frie nd of t h e poor ; for which I beli eve th a t

 6 CERVAN TES

her s o ul s hould be at this very momen t enj oyi n g of God i n

t h e other world For grief a t the death of s o good a w ife
. ,

her h us band William died le a vin g hi s daughter M arcela , ,

youn g a n d rich i n t h e keepin g of a n un cle of hers t h e

, ,

pries t of our village The child grew up w it h s uch beauty

.

th a t it remin ded us of her mother s w hich w as very grea t ; ’

,

a n d s till it w a s thought that the daughter s w o uld s urp a s s

’

it. S O it w a s t hat w hen s h e re a ched the a g e of f ourte en

,

or fiftee n year s no m a n beheld her b ut ble s s ed God w h o

,

had ma de her s o fa ir a nd mos t men fel l e n amored a n d

,

mad for her. Her un cle guarded her wit h grea t ca re a n d

clos en es s b ut n evertheles s t h e fame of her great bea uty
, , ,

S prea d so w idely th a t a s m uch f or it a s for her great riche s

, , ,

n ot o n ly by tho s e o f our place but by thos e from man y ,

league s abo ut her u n cle w a s be s o ught solicit ed and impor

, , ,

t u n ed to give her i n m a rriage B ut he bein g a good C hris. ,

tian al tho ugh he w is hed to marry he r s oon a s he sa w s h e

, ,

w a s of age w ould n ot do s o w itho ut her con s e n t

, n ot th a t h e ,

had a n y eye t o t h e advan ta ge a n d profit which t h e m anage

men t of t h e gir l s property bro ugh t him by delay in g her
’

m a rriage . A n d i n f aith this i s s a id in pra is e of th e good

, ,

pries t in more t han on e vil lage circle For I w ould have you .

k n ow s ir errant th a t i n the s e s mall villa ge s they med dle

, ,

w it h everyt h i n g a n d chatter of everyt hin g ; a n d be w e l l

a ss ured a s I a m that a pars o n m us t be over a n d above good
, ,

w h o make s h i s pari s hio n ers s pe a k well of him e s pecially in ,

the villages .

“
Th a t i s the truth s aid D on Q uixote ; but go on for
, ,

the story is a very good on e a n d you good Peter do tel l it , , ,

with a very good grace .

May that of God never f a il me for that i s most t o th e ,

purpos e A n d f or the res t you m us t k n o w th a t although

. , ,

t h e u n cle s et be f ore h i s n iece a n d de s cribed to her th e q ual i

ties of e ach partic ular on e of the m a n y w h o s ought her for
wife urgin g her to marry a n d choose to her ta s te s he neve r
, ,

gave a n y a n s w er but th a t sh e did n ot w is h t o marry yet a n d ,

that bein g so youn g s h e did n ot feel hers elf able t o bea r th e

burden of w edlock. O n accoun t of t hes e which s eemed t o ,

h i m to be j us t excu s es her un cle lef t 05 urgin g her a nd

, ,

waited until s h e grew more i n yea rs a n d could know h ow to

. ,
 8 C E RVAN TE S

o ut havi ng clos ed h is tearful eye s rapt and bemused in h is ,

o w n f an cie s the s un fi n d s him i n the morn i n g ; a n d there will

,

be another who without givi n g ti me or re s pite t o h is s i gh s

, ,

s tretched on the b urn in g s a n d i n the full heat o f the ra gin g

s u m mer n oon ti de s e n d s up h i s plain ts to t h e piti ful he a v en s ;

,

a n d over on e a n d over the other over t ho s e a n d over the s e , ,

the lovely Marcela t riumph s free a nd u n con cern ed All of , .

us who kn ow her are w aiting t o s ee w hat h er haughtin ess

will en d in a n d w h o w ill be the lucky ma n who s hall s ucceed
,

i n tamin g a n at ure s o terrible a n d i n en j oyin g a beauty so

exceedin g All th a t I have related t o you bein g w ell kn ow n
. -

truth I am pers uaded th a t w hat our fellow herd s man h a s

,

told us Of t h e caus e of Ch rys ostom s death i s likew is e true ’

.

A n d therefore s ir I advi s e you n ot t o fail to beta ke you rse lf

, ,

to h i s fun eral to morrow w hich will be w ell worth s eein g f or

-
, ,

Chry s o stom had man y f rien ds ; a n d it i s n ot hal f a le a g ue

”
from here t o t h e s pot w here he directed them to bury him .
”
I w ill make it my care s aid Don Quixote ; a n d I a m
,

beholden to y ou for the pleas ure you have given me by t h e

”
tellin g of so ag reeable a story .
“ ” “
Oh s aid the goatherd
, I do n ot kn ow even the hal f
,

of what h a s be f alle n the lover s of Marcela ; but it may b e

that to morrow w e s hall come acro ss s ome s hepherd on t h e

-

road w h o w ill t ell us . F or t h e pre se n t you s hould go a n d

s leep u n der cover for the n ight a ir m a y hurt yo ur wou n d
, ,

tho ugh the medicin e they have put to it i s s uch that you need
not fear a n y mis hap .
San cho Pan za w h o had already co n sign ed the lon g talk of
,

t h e goa therd to the devil begged h i s m as ter on h i s part t o

,

go in to Peter s b ut to s leep This Don Quixote di d a n d

’
. ,

pa s sed all the rest of the n ight in thin kin g Of h is lady Dul
ci nc a i n imita tion of Marcela s lovers . San cho Pa n za laid
,
’

him s elf do w n betw een Rozin a n te a n d h is a ss a nd s lept , ,

not li ke a lover reject ed but like a man soun dly kicked .

 C H A PT E R XI I I

Wherein is concl uded the s tory of the S hep her dess Ma rcela , wi th
othe r ma tt ers

C AR C E had t h e day begun to s how its elf by the bal

con ies of the E as t when five of the s ix goatherds got
up a n d wen t to arous e Don Quixot e a n d tell him that ,

if h e s t ill held to h i s purpos e of goin g to se e the famous

buryi n g of Chrys os tom they would h e a r him company. D on
,

Quixote w h o des i red nothin g better aro se a nd ordered

, ,

Sa n c ho to s addle a n d panel at on ce. H e did s o with a ll

des p atch a n d they all took to th e road . They had not gon e
,

a qu arter of a league when out of a cross path they sa w

adv a n cin g toward them some six s hepherd s clad in black
s ki n s
, their heads crowned wit h garla n d s of cypres s a n d
bitte r rose bay . Each bore a thick sta fi of holly in h is han d
-

a n d there came along with them tw o gent le men on hors e

back han dsomely ac coutered for the road with three other
, ,

s erv a nts on foo t i n th e ir c om pan y O n meeting they s aluted. ,

on e another courteou s ly a n d as ki ng Of each other whither

, ,

they were goin g the y lea rned tha t all were on the roa d to
,

the place of burial and so they a l l j ourn eyed together. O n e

,

of thos e on horseback address ing h i s compan ion s aid :

, ,

M e th in ks Senor V ivaldo that we may regard a s well s pen t

, ,

the t ime we s hall delay in s eeing this n otable fu n eral for ,

nota ble it can n ot but be accordin g to th e account thes e herds

,

me n have given us of the s tra n ge th in gs both about the dead

”
s hepherd and the murderou s s hepherde s s .
”
S O I thin k too an s wered V ivaldo ;
, and sa y I that I , ,

would delay n ot one day but four rather than miss the s ight. ,

D on Quixote in quired of them w hat they had heard about

Marcela a n d C hry s ostom . The traveler an s we red that early
that sa me morn ing they h a d met th o se s hepherd s and s eein g , ,

t hem in that mournful a tt ire h a d as ked t hem why they w e nt

,

79
80 C ERVAN TES

in that guis e ; when on e of them had told th e story — re ,

cou nt in g t h e s tran ge behavior a n d the beau ty of a s hepherdes s

called Marcela a n d th e loves of the man y w h o wooed b er
, ,

toget her with the death of t h a t Chry sostom to whos e f un era l

they were goin g I n s hort b e repea ted all that Peter h a d
. ,

related to D on Q uixote . This co n vers atio n en ded an other ,

w a s comme n ced he w h o w a s called V ivaldo as ki n g Don

,

Q uixote what w a s the re a s on that made h im g o a rmed i n t h a t

fas hio n in a co un try s o peaceful .
The exercis e of my profe ss ion doe s n ot allow or pe rmit
”
me to g o otherwis e Don Q uixote replied
, E as e l uxu ry
. , ,

a n d repo s e w ere in ve n ted f or s oft courti e rs ; but toil u n re st , ,

a n d a rm s alo n e w ere de s i g n ed a n d m ade for tho s e w hom t h e

w orld call s kn igh t s erra n t Of whom I though u n worth y a m

, , ,

O f all the lea s t .

When they heard this they s et him down for a mad ma n ;

a n d to be s ure of i t a n d t o dis cover what ki n d o f mad n e s s
,

h i s w a s V ivaldo a gain as ked him what he mean t by kn ig h ts

,

erran t .

Have not your wors hip s read an s w ered D on Quixote

, ,

the an nal s a n d his tories of E n glan d wherein are recorde d

,

the f a mous exploits of Kin g A rthur w hom common ly i n our

,

C a s tilia n ton g ue w e call the Kin g A rtu s ? It i s a n an cie n t

t radit io n co m mo n all over that ki ngdom of Great Britain t h at
, ,

thi s kin g did n ot die but by a rt of en chantmen t w as chan ged

,

i n to a crow a n d that in proce s s of time he is to come back t o

,

reign a n d recover h is kingdom and s cept er. F or w hich rea s on

it can n ot be proved t hat ever a n y E n glis hman from t hat t ime ,

I n this good kin g s time there

’
t o thi s ever killed a crow
, .

w a s in s tit ut ed that f a mo u s order of chival ry the Kn ights of ,

the Ro un d Table a nd t he n al s o occurred the am ou rs betwee n

,

Lan celot of the La ke a n d the Q ueen Guin evere whic h a re ,

there rel a ted w ithout the omis s ion of a j ot the g o between ,

-

a n d co n fid a n t e bet wee n them bein g that ho n ored lady Quin ,

ta fl on a w hen ce aro s e that ballad so widely k n own and so

,

much s un g in our Spain of

N ev er sure was gal la nt k nigh t ,

Served by d a ms el or by da me
As th e bol d S ir La n cel ot,

W h en from Bri tta ny h e ca me,

82 CERVAN T E S

pray for defending it with the might of our arm s a nd t h e

,

edge of our s w ords ; n ot u nder s hel ter but u n der the ope n ,

s ky expo se d for a mar k to the in tolerable beam s O f th e s un

,

i n s um m er a n d the n ippin g fro s ts of w in ter. Thus are w e

God s min isters upon eart h a nd arm s by which H i s j u s ti ce
’
,

i s executed therein A n d w herea s the aff airs of w a r a n d the

.

thin gs touchin g a n d appertai ni n g thereto cann ot be put in

execution wit hout excess ive s w eatin g laborin g a n d exerti o n , , ,

it follows that t hey w h o profes s it have witho ut dou bt a , ,

more arduous O ffi ce th a n thos e w h o in tranquil peace a n d

repos e are prayin g to God to fa vor them w h o are a ble f or
little I do n ot mean to s a y n or does it p as s my thoughts
. , ,

that the con diti on O f the kn ight erran t is a s good a s that of

the clois tered mo n k ; I would on ly a rgue from w hat I s n fi e r ,

that w ithout doubt it i s a more p a in ful a n d more belabo red

, ,

o ne more h un gr
, y a n d thir s t y more mi s erable ra
, gged a n d , ,

lous y ; for there i s n o doubt but that the kn ights erra n t of

o l d s u ffered much ill u s age in the co urs e of their lives . A nd
if s ome ro s e to be em p erors by the valor Of their a rm s i n ,

fa ith but it co s t t he m a good deal of their blood a n d s w eat ;

and if they w h o ro s e to that gra de had lacked e n cha n ters
a n d s ages to aid them they w o uld have bee n s ou n dly chea te d
,
”
Of their de s ire s a n d much deceived in their hope s .
”
O f that opin ion a m I replied th e traveler ; but one
,

thin g amo n g man y others s ee m s t o me very ill i n your kn ights

erran t. It i s t h a t whe n they fi n d them selve s on the poin t of
,

e merge n cy i n a great a n d pe rilou s adve n t ure i n w hich th ere

i s a man if e s t dan ger of los in g their live s n ever at t h e ,

momen t of e n gagi n g i n it do they remember to comme n d

them s elves t o God a s every Chris t ian is bou n d to d o in l i ke
,

peril s b ut rather to their mis tre s s es w ith a s much fer v or a n d

, ,

devotion a s if the s e were their God a thin g w hich s eem s to

”
me to s avor s omew hat of h eat hen is m .
” “
S ir an s w ered Don Q uixote it can not be ot her th an
, ,

this in a n y wise a n d it w ould ill fare w ith the k n ight erran t w h o

,

s hould do au ght el s e f or i n k n ight erran t ry i t i s the prac ti se

,
-

a n d c us t om that the k n igh t erran t who upo n e n gagin g i n

s ome great feat Of a rm s h a s h is mi s tre s s before him s hould ,

t urn h i s eye s o n her s oftly a n d am orou sly as it were by th e m ,

to a s k her to favor a n d protect him in the doubtful en te rp rise

 DON ourxor r: 83

he i s un dertaking ; and even though none s houl d h ear him h e

, ,

is boun d t o u tter cert ai n words betw ee n h is teeth in whi ch

he com men ds him se l f to h er with all h is hea rt ; a nd of t his
we h a ve i n n um e rable example s in the histories . N or mus t it
be inferred from t his that they s hould omit to commen d them
selve s t o God for they have t ime a n d leis ur e t o do th is in t h e
,

course Of t heir ta s
”
F or a ll that replied th e traveler there yet lingers in
, ,

me a doubt a n d it is that ofttime s I have rea d that words

,

are ba n died be t ween the erra n t kn ight s a n d from on e t o ,

a nother i t come s about that their a n ger kindle s and the

y ,

w heel their hors es r ound a n d ta ke up a good piece of t h e

field and a no n without more ado t hey return t o the e u
, , ,

counter a t top s peed and in mid career commend them s elves

,

to their ladies ; a n d what commo n ly ens ues fro m their meet

ing is that on e of them tumble s over h i s hors e s crupper
’

pierced through and th rough by h i s advers ary s lan ce ; a n d ’

,

as t o t h e other o ne it happen s al s o that if he did not hold on

,

to h i s hors e s m an e he could n ot help comin g t o t h e g rou n d

’
.

An d I k n o w n ot how the dead on e co uld have time t o c om

mend h i m s elf to God i n the cours e of this quick piece of
work ; it w ere bett er that the word s which he s pent in the
charg e commen din g him self to h is mis tre s s were s pe n t i n
w hat w a s h i s duty a n d Obli gation as a Chri s ti an . Moreover ,

I believ e that not all the kn ights erra nt have la dies to who m
to com m e n d them selve s for th ey are not all in love
, .
”
T h at is imposs ible an swered Don Quixote ; I sa y that
,

it is im po s s ible that there s hould be a n y k n ight erran t with

out a l a dy becau s e t o s uch it i s a s proper a n d n at ural to be
,

in lov e a s for the s ky to have s ta rs ; a n d I dare warra n t that

there h a s n ot been seen any his tory wherein i s foun d a kn ight
e rra n t wit hout amours : f or the very fact of h i s bein g wi th
out th e m w ould S how him to be n o le g it imate kn ight b ut on e

w ho h a d en t ered the s tronghold of the sa id knighthood not

by t h e door but over the fence li ke a t hief and a robber. ,
”
N evertheless s aid the tra veler methin k s I have read
, , ,

if my m emory fa i ls me not that Don G a l a or brother to t h e

, ,

val orou s A madis Of Gaul n ever had a defin ite mistress to

,

w hom he could comme n d him s elf a n d yet w a s n ot the le s s ,

es tee med a n d w as a v e ry val ian t a n d famou s knight.

,
84 CE RVAN TES

Sir on e sw allow doe s not m a ke a s ummer Don Quixote

, ,

re s po nded ; moreover I kn ow that t his k n ight w as in s ecret

,

very m uch in love apart from w hich h is habit of well l oving

,

all t h os e who to him were well seemin g w a s a n atura l dis p o

s it i on w hich he w a s u n able to h old i n han d. B ut in e fi ect , ,

it i s very w ell at te sted that he had on e on ly w hom h e had

made s overeign of h is will to w hom he u s ed to com men d ,

him s elf very o ft e n a nd s ecretly for he prized him se lf on ,

”
bein g a clo se cavalier.
Then if it is e ss en tial that every knight e rrant s h ou ld be
” “
in lo ve s a id the traveler
, it m a y be fai rly pre s umed that
,

yo ur w ors hip i s s o s in ce you are of the profe s sion ; a n d if

,

your w ors hip doe s n ot prize yoursel f to be a s close a s Don

G a laor I en trea t you w ith all earn e s tn e s s on behalf of al l
, ,

this compan y a n d my own to tell us the n ame coun try , , ,

quality a n d ch a rm s of your lady for s h e w ould accoun t h e r

, ,

s elf happy to h a v e all the w orld kn ow that s h e i s belov e d a n d

”
s e rved by s uch a kn ight a s your w or s hip s eem s to be .

Here Don Quixote breathed a deep s igh a n d s aid : ,

I am u n able to affirm w het her my s w eet enemy deli ghts

or not i n the world k n owi ng that I s erve her. O n ly this I
ca n sa y i n re s po n s e to w hat h a s be e n deman ded of me wi t h
,

s o m uch courte s y that her n ame i s Dulci nea ; her co un tr

, y
E l Tobo s o a vil lage of La Man cha ; her quality s hould be a t
,

leas t t hat of pri n ce s s s in ce s h e i s my quee n a n d mi s tr e s s ;

,

h e r beauty s upe rhum a n for i n her are realized all t ho s e im

,

po ss ible a n d chimerical att ribu te s of beauty w hich th e p o ets

a ss ign to the ir ladie s ; t hat her h a ir i s gold ; her forehead th e
E ly s i a n field s ; her eyebrow s H e a v e h s bow s ; h e r eye s s u n s ;
’

her cheek s ro s e s ; her lip s corals ; pearl s her teeth ; ala bas ter
her n eck ; ma rble her bos om ; ivory her han ds ; a n d h e r co m
”
plexio n sn ow .

Her lin eage race a nd family w e w ould kn ow

, , ,

V ivaldo .
To w hich Don Quixote an s wered N ot of the an ti que
R oman C urtii Ca 11 or S cipio s i s sh e n or of the m odern
, , ,

Colon n a s a n d O rs in i s n or of t h e Mo n cadas a n d the Re q ue se

,

n e s of Ca t a l uri a ; n o r yet of t h e Rebella s a n d V illan ovas of

V alen cia ; the Pa l a foxes N uza s Roca be rti s C orell as Lunas

, , , , ,

Alagon e s Urrea s F ozes and Gurrea s Of Ara gon ; the Cerdas

, , , ,
86 CE RVANTES

they s a w a dead body clothed like a s hepherd se emin gly

, ,

t h i rty year s of a g e a n d s ho w in g de a d a s he w as t h at i n life

, , ,

he had been of a han ds ome co unte n an ce a n d g a ll a n t bearin g .

Aroun d him w ere placed on t h e bier s ome boo ks a n d m any

papers open a n d sealed ; a nd tho s e w h o looked on a n d those
, ,

w h o w ere ope n i n g the g rave a n d all the re s t w h o s tood by , ,

pres erved a won derf ul s i le n ce un til on e of tho s e w h o had ,

h om e the de ad m a n s aid to a n other : N ote w ell A mbro s io , ,

i f thi s be the S pot of w hich C hry s o stom S poke s in ce y o u w is h ,

that every thin g w hich he directed in hi s will S hould be so

e xac tl y performed .
”
This it i s an sw ered Ambros io for here oft times did
, ,

my un happy frie n d reco unt to me the s tory Of h is w oe .

There it w a s he told me that he sa w for the firs t t i me that

, ,

mortal enemy of the race of me n and there it w a s a l s o t hat ,

he first declared to her h i s pass ion a s hone s t a s it w a s ,

ardent. Here al s o it w a s that Marcela for the las t tim e

s corn ed a n d rejec t ed him s o that he p ut a n e n d to t h e t rag
,

edy of h is w oful life a n d here i n remembrance o f mi s for

, ,

tun e s s o great h e de sired them to lay him in the bow els o f

,

etern a l Oblivio n .

A n d t urn i ng to Don Q uixote and the travel ers he p ro

“
cee d e d : That body s irs which w ith pitiful eyes y ou a re
, ,

regardin g w a s the depo s itory of a s o ul in w hich Heaven h a d

,

lodged a n infi n ite s h a re of it s riche s. Th a t is the bod y o f

C hry s o s tom who w a s u n iq ue in w i t s in g ular in co urtes y
, , ,

s upreme in ge n tle n e s s a phe n ix in frie n d s hip ma g n ifice n t

, ,

w ithout measure loft y without pre s um ptio n ple a s a n t w it hou t

, ,

v ulgarity ; a n d i n fi n e the firs t i n all t h e a rt of good n e s s

, , ,

and secon d to n on e in the ways of misfortu n e. He loved

well he w as h a te d ; he adored a n d h e w a s dis dai n ed ; h e
, ,

wooed a w ild beas t ; he import un ed a st atue ; he purs ued th e

win d ; he cried to the w ildern e s s ; he s erved in gra t it ude of ,

whom he received for re w a rd to be t h e s poil of deat h i n t h e

m id s t of h i s career of life bro ught to en d by a s hepherdes s
,

w hom he e s s ayed to m a ke etern al to live i n th e memory of ,

me n a s t hos e paper s y ou behold co uld w ell prove had he n ot

, ,

e njoin ed me to commit them to the fl ame s a s we are com m it

”
ti n g h is body to the e a rth .

You wo uld d e al w ith them more hars hly a nd more crue lly
 DO N QUI XO TE 87

th an t h ei r own er him self s a id V ivaldo. , It i s n eit her j us t

n o r right to f ulfil t h e w ill of on e w h o i n what he e nj oin s , ,

g o e s o u t of all rea s o n ; n o r w o u ld i t h a ve be en right i n

A u gus tus C a s ar if he h a d con s ent ed to p ut in exec ution w hat

t h e div in e Man tu an ordered i n h i s w ill . Therefore A mbro s io , ,

w hile you give your friend s body to the earth you s hould
’
,

n o t give h i s w riti n gs t o Oblivion ; for i f he comman ded it a s

o n e a g grieved i t i s n ot w ell t hat o u s ho u ld comply a s on e

, y
v o id of dis cre tio n b ut rather by givi n g life t o the s e papers
, , ,

k e ep ever ali ve t h e cruel ty of Mar cela to s erve a s a n exa m ,

p l e t o t h e livin g i n t h e ti me s t o come so t h a t t hey, may s hu n

a nd fl a l l s u ch pitf all s ; for I a lready kn o w a n d t hey w h o

y ,

a r e here come t h e hi s t ory o f thi s yo ur love s tricke n a n d ill

,
-

f a t ed frie n d ; a nd w e kn o w Of yo ur f rie n d s hip a n d t h e occ a ,

s i o n o f h i s deat h a n d what he e n j oined at the clo s e of h i s

,

l if e ; out of w hich lame n ta ble s t ory may be gathered h o w

g reat w a s the cruelty o f Marcela the lo v e o f
, Chry s o s t om ,

t h e loyalty o f your frien d s hip toge t her w ith the e n d w hich ,

t h o s e make who gallop with a loo se rein do w n t h e p a th w hich

h eadlon g love s ets before their eye s La st n igh t w e lea rn t
.

o f C h ry s os t om s death a nd t hat he w a s to be buried i n t his

’

p lace ; a n d s o , from c u rio s ity a n d compa ss io n w e t ur n ed o

, u t
o f o ur direct road a n d agreed t o come a n d s e e w i t h o ur eye s
,

w ha t had moved us to s o much pity i n the he a rin g A n d in .

r eq uita l of thi s our co m pa ss io n a n d O f t h e de s ire bo rn i n

,

u s to relieve i t if it were po s s ible w e be s eech thee dis creet , ,

A mbros io , at leas t I on my part do pray thee

, , , t ha t ,

y o u s ho u l d re f r a i n from b u rn i n g tho s e papers a n d let me ,

t a ke aw ay s ome of the m .

Witho ut w aitin g for the s hepherd s an sw er be s tretched ’

f o rth his han d a n d took s ome of t ho s e t hat w ere n eare s t him ;

s eein g w hich A mbro s io s aid
,

O ut of court es y s ir I will co n s e n t t o your keepin g w hat

, ,

o u h a ve take n b ut to thin k that I s h a ll de s is t from b urn i n g

y ,

t h e re s t is a vai n expec t ation .

V ivaldo w h o lon ged t o s e e w hat t h e papers contain ed

, ,

o pen ed o n e o f them a t o n ce a n d s a w t hat it bore a s a ti t le

, ,
”
La y of Des pair upo n hearin g w hich A mbro s io s aid
, ,

That is th e l a s t piece the un h a ppy ma n w rote a n d th a t ,

y o u m a
y se e sir to what a pas s h is mi s fort un e s bro ught him
, , ,
88 CERVAN TES

rea d it s o as to be heard for you will h a ve time en ough for

,

t hat w hile th ey a re diggi n g the gra ve .

”
Th at I will very w illin gly s aid Vivaldo ; a n d a s al l the
, ,

bys ta n de rs had t he sa me de s ire they gathere d roun d him in

,

a c irc le a nd b e rea d in g i n a c l e ar voice f oun d t h a t

, , ,

thus
 CERVAN TE S

Th e oli ve groves of fa mous Betis , h ere

Th e burde n of my s orrows I l l dispe rs e.
’

W ith tong ue of dea t h a n d words of l ife I ll preach

'

W h ere l ofty rocks a n d profound h ol l o ws a re,

O n s hores remote, a mong da rk va l leys, wh ere
Th e ea rth no trea d of h uma n crea ture knows ,
Or wh ere t h e s un h is gl ory never s h owed,
O r wh ere is nurture d th e env enome d brood
Of mons ters di re w h om tee mi ng Nil us g rows .
Wh a t th ough th ese dese rt s ol itudes a mo ng
U ncerta i n sound t h e ech oes of my w ro ng,
N or ma tch th y cruel ty, un pa ragone d ;
By fa vor of my nigga rd des ti ny
T hey s ha ll tra ns ported be to a ll the wide worl d round .

Dis da i n d oth kill ; s us pici ons fa l se or sound

, ,

DO s mother pa tience ; with se verer blow

K il ls j ea lous y ; l ong a bse nce doth discompose
Life nor gua rd a ga i ns t oblivi on is found
,

I n h ope of h a ppi er future h ere be low :

Of a ll is dea t h i nev ita bl e t h e cl ose .
Yet I li ve o n w h o suffe red a ll th ese woes.
O mi ra cl e un h ea rd of — I s ti ll li ve,
J ea l ous , di s da i n e d , a b s e n t, a n d w e ll ass ure d
O f d oubts , a l l w h ich my pa tie nce h a th e nd ured,
And eve n i n obl iv io n s urviv e.
Amid th ese t ort ures , ne ver do mi ne eyes
Reach t o th e s had ow of the h ope I prize,
N or h ope l ess d o I ch eris h t h e e nd ea vor.
Ra ther my wro ng to cons umma te, I s wear,
To be wi th out h er fore v er a nd forever .

I s t p oss ibl e, by cha nce, i n on e i ns ta nt,

’

T o h ope a nd fea r, or i s i t we ll t o d o i t ,
W he n surer a re th e rea s o ns for my fea ri ng ?
H a ve I , whe n h itter j ea l ous y doth s ta nd i n front,
To cl ose mi n e ey es , i f I pe rforce mus t vi e w it,
Th rough thous a n d wounds w i thi n my breas t a ppea ri ng
W h o would no t ope t h e ga te a nd l e t des pa i r in,
I f s eei ng th ere, w i t h out a l l counterfei t
D is da i n uncovered , a nd wha t was sus pici on
Turned i nto ope n fa ct, 0 cursed tra ns ition !
A nd l i mpid truth tra ns formed i nto a ch ea t .
O tyra nt of l ov e s real m, fell j ea l ous y
’

Of mercy bi nd th y ma na cl es o n me ;
Dis da i n, a gra ce a t wis ted cord gi ve me
B ut wo is me your memory ever s ta ys ,
A nd, cruel vi ctor, s la ys my ma tch less agony .
 DO N QUI XO TE 91

And now I die, a nd si nce a ll h ope I ve l os t ’

Of luck i n dea th m ore tha n i n l ife I h a ve,

I ll res t a ll s tubborn i n my fa nta s y
’

I ll sa y h e s mos t dis cree t w h o l o v es t h e mos t,

’ ’

And th a t t h e frees t hea rt is s til l L ove s s la ve,

’

A nd boun de n t o h er a n ti que ty ra n ny .
I ll sa y th a t s h e, my cons ta nt e nemy,
’

As fa i r a mi nd as bod y d oth poss es s,

Tha t h er unkind nss s is my own des ert,
Tha t Love, by wha t he pours o n us of h urt,
His s oft d omi ni on keeps i n e ven pea ce,
A nd i n this fa ncy a nd wi th t h is h a rd rope
Shorte ni ng th e term, v oid of all gra ce a nd h ope,
T o whi ch h e r bit ter sl ig h ts ha ve me cons i gne d,
I ll to t h e wi n ds my bod y a nd s oul bequea t h,
’

Sa ns pa lm or wrea th i n future bliss to fi nd .

Th ou
, wh ose cruel scorn was s til l t h e ca us e
To urge me to t h is trea so n ga i ns t my youth ,
’

To q ui t th is mis era bl e l ife I ha te,

Wha t t his d ee p woun d wi thi n my boso m s h ows
Ca ns t not but se e , ca ns t not but know th e truth,
H ow ch eerful l y t h y rig or I h a ve me t .
If ha pl y th ou s houlds t k now, h owe ver l a te,
Me worth y tha t t he h ea ve n of t hy fa i r eyes
Sh ould by my d ea th he cl ouded, l et no tea r
Be s h ed for me , O ma id , for na ugh t I ca re
To l e t t h ee ga t her of my h ea rt th e pri ze .
Rat h er let ga y la ught er a t my funera l
Procla im my dea th to be th y fes ti va l .
Yet w h y, fool tha t I a m, se ek I to tea ch
Th ee, k nowi ng tha t more embla zoned is th y gl ory
I n t ha t my l ife s s tory s o qui ck i ts sa d e nd doth rea ch .
’

Come for it is ti me.from h el l s a byss

“
,
’

Come ra gi ng Ta nta lus come Sis yph us

,

Hea vi ng h is cruel s to ne l et T ityus b ri ng

,

His vul ture a nd re no wne d I xio n h is

,

Aye roll i ng w h e el ; t h e brood of Da na us ,

T h e d oomed s is ters ever la b ori ng ;-

Let a ll the morta l pa i ns th ei r bos o ms wri ng,

T o me tra ns fe r ; a n d i n d ej ec te d to ne
f h f f l ri te t o cla i m I da re )
( I a ug t o une ra

Ch a nt obs eq uies , a nd o er my ca rcas e ba re,

’

De nied a s h roud, joi ntl y ma de d ol orous

Let th e th ree h ea d ed ja ni tor of h el l ,
-

W ith a ll its brood of mo ns te rs, s w el l

Th e d ol eful dia pa s on of des pa i r .
N o ce re mony e ls e, meth inks , is d ue
92 CERVAN TE S
T h e dea d l over true, t o crow n h is l onel y bi er.
Song of d es pa ir ! you should not grieve,
N o w th a t my to rtured brea s t you l ea ve ;
B ut ra th er, S in ce y ou are born of h er,
Li ke her he cheered by my mis ha p,
And ba nis h sa d ness i n th e se pul ch er.”

The lay of Chrys ostom w a s well liked by those w h o lis tened

to it but the re a der declared that it s eemed to him n ot to
,

agree w ith w hat he had heard of Marcela s modes ty a nd good ’

n e ss for Chry s os tom complain ed i n it of jealous y s u s picio ns

, , ,

a n d n eglect a l l to the prejudice of Marcela s cre dit a nd good

’
,

n a me To w hich A mbros io a s one w h o well knew h is frien d s

. ,
’

m o s t s ecret t houghts replied : ,Sir in order th a t y ou may be,

s at is fied in t hat doubt you s hould k n ow that whe n this luck

,

les s on e wrot e this S on g he w a s absen t from Marc ela from

, ,

whom he had w it hdrawn him s elf vol un ta rily to s ee if ab se n ce ,

w o uld exert upo n him its w o n ted po w er. A n d a s the re is

n othin g w hich vexe s not t h e abs e nt lover a n d n o f e a r that ,

d oes n ot haun t him so w a s Chry s ostom tormented by imag in a ry

,

j ealou s ie s a n d s us picio ns dreaded a s m uch a s if t hey we re

,

true ; a n d th us the truth which report declares of Ma rc ela s ’

goodn es s sta n d s where it w a s — to whom s ave that S h e is

, ,

cruel a nd a lit tle haughty a nd much dis dainful E nvy herse l f

, , ,
”
s hould n ot a n d can n ot impute any fa ult.

Such is the truth s aid Viva ldo . A nd h e w a s about t o

,

read an other paper of t ho s e he had re scued from the fir e ,

w hen he w a s i n terrupted by a mirac ulo us vis io n for s uch it ,

s eemed w hich s udde n ly pre s e nted it s elf before the ir ey es .

,

O n the top of the rock w here they w ere diggin g the g ra ve

there appeared the s hepherde ss Marcela s o beautif ul that her ,

bea uty s urpa s s ed its rep ut ation. Thos e who till the n had
n ever s ee n her gazed upo n her in wo n der a n d i n s ile n ce a n d ,

tho s e accust omed to se e her were n o les s amaze d than thos e

w h o had n ever beheld her But hardly had Ambrosio s pie d
.

her when wit h an ger i n h is heart he s poke thu s

, , ,

Come you haply fair bas ilis k of the s e mo unt a i n s to see

, , ,

if at your pre s ence the woun d s of this wretch whom you r

cruelty h a s s lain will bleed afres h ? O r come you to glory
i n your te mper s fell w ork ? O r to look down from that height
’
,

l ike a n other pitile ss N ero upon t h e bl a ze of your bu rnin g

,
94 CE RVAN TE S

viper des erve s n o blame for t h e poison it bears t hough s h e ,

kill s with it s eein g it w a s give n her by n at ure n eithe r do I

, ,

de s erve reproach for bei ng be autif ul F or beaut y in the .

t on
u s w a w —
om n i s like di stan t fire or a s harp s ord t h e one
doe s n o t burn t h e other doe s not cut him w ho d oes n ot g o
, ,

n ear it .Hon or a n d virt ues are orn amen ts of the sou l wit h ,

out which the body t hough i t be beautif ul s hould n ot b e s o

, ,

e st eemed Free w a s I born a n d that I might live fre e I

. ,

chos e t h e s olit ude of the field s. The tree s of thes e mo u n tai n s

are my compan ion s ; the clear w aters of these brooks a re my
mirrors ; to t h e tree s a n d the brooks I di sclos e my th oug hts
a n d my charm s I am t h e fire apart a n d th e sword fa r off
.
, .

Those w hom I have cap tivated by my eye s I h ave un deceived ,

by my words If de s ires are fed by hope s I n ot h avin g g i ven

. ,

an t o Chry s o stom or a n y other it may n ot ju s t ly be s a id that

y ,

t h e e n d of a n y w a s my doing for h is ow n st ubborn ness rath e r

,

t ha n my cruel t y s lew him A n d if they bri n g again s t m e t h e

.

ho n es t y of hi s inten tion s a n d that t herefore I w as bou n d t o

,

re s pon d t o them I sa y that when on that s ame s pot whe re

,

n ow you dig h i s gr ave he avo uched t o me the goodn e s s O f h is

p urpo s e I t old him that min e w a s to live in perpet ual s in gl e

,

n e s s a n d t hat the earth a lo n e S ho uld ta ste of t h e fruit of m

, y
chastit y a n d of the s poils of my beauty . If he a fter a ll th i s ,

plain s peakin g cho s e to defy hope a n d to s ai l again s t t h e

-

w in d w hat w o n der tha t he i s drown ed i n the gulf of h is

,

infatuat ion ? H a d I en co uraged him I had been f al se ; h a d ,

I gratified him I had a cted con trary to my be tt e r purp o s e

,

a n d re s olutio n He persis ted tho ugh u n deceived ; wit h ou t

. ,

bein g hated he d e s paired ; judge the n w hether it is ri g ht

, , ,

t hat of h i s a fli ic t ion I s ho u ld be a r the penalty Le t him w h o .

h a s bee n deceived complain ; l et him de s pair whom t h e

promis ed hope s have failed ; let him s peak out whom I sh a ll
i nvite ; let him vaunt w hom I s hall e n co urage ; but let h i m
not c a ll me cruel or m urdere ss w hom I have not promis e d ,

deceived i nvited or e ncouraged Heave n unt il n ow h a s n ot

, ,
.

willed that I s hould love by de s tin y ; a n d t o thin k that I

s ho uld love by elec t io n i s idle . Let this gen era l w arn in g
s erve for the part ic u lar be n efit of each o f tho s e who cou rt

me ; a n d be it un derst ood from this ti me forth that if a n y

, ,

on e die s for me he die s n ot of jeal o usy or o f rejecti o n for s h e ,

 DO N QUI XO TE 95

w ho loves nobody cann ot make a n y on e jealous a nd unde ,

ce iv i n g s ho uld n ot be se t dow n a s dis dai n . Let h i m w h o

calls me w ild bea st a n d ba silis k lea ve me alon e a s a thin g ,

h u rt ful a nd evil ; let him who calls me i n grate give up s erv ,

ing me ; who stran ge let him n ot k n ow me ; w h o cruel let

, ,

him not follow me ; for thi s wild bea st this basilis k this , ,

in gra te this s tra nge and cruel being w ill n ot s eek serve
, , , ,

kn ow or follow t hem in a ny w a y If h is i mpatience a n d

, .

h ead s tron g pas s io n have s la i n C hry s o s tom w h y s hould my ,

m od e s ty a n d res erve be blamed ? I a s you kn ow h ave , ,

w eal th of my ow n and d o n ot covet t hat of other s . I have

,

a free temper a nd no t as te for s ubjectio n I n either love nor

,
.

hate a n y on e I d o n ot deceive this n or co urt that ; I t rifl e

.

n ot w ith on e n or d ally w ith an ot her.

, The mode s t talk of the
s hep herd l a s s es of the s e village s a n d the care of my s h e goats

are m y recrea tion . My des ires are bo un ded by thes e moun

tain s and if they s oar beyon d it i s t o con template t h e be a uty
, , ,

o f t h e heave n s s tep s by w hich the s o ul j our n ey s t o i t s

,
”
pri m al abode.
S O s ayin g w ithout carin g to hear a n y reply s h e turn ed
, ,

aw ay a nd pl un ged in to the thicke st of the w ood w hic h w a s ,

hard by leavin g all there a s m uch s truck w ith her good s en s e

,

a s h e r beaut y A n d s ome of t hem amon g t ho s e w h o had

.

bee n w ou n ded by the pote nt s haf ts s ped from her lovely eye s
made a s t hough they w o uld follow her w it hout profitin g by ,

the plai n w arn in g w hich they had heard : s eein g w hich Don
Q uixote it s eemin g to him that the occa s io n had arrived
,

f or e xerci s i n g h is chiv alry by the s uccori n g of dam s el s i n

dis tr e s s ,layin g h is ha n d on t h e hilt of h i s s w ord exclaimed , ,

i n a clear a n d di s ti n c t t o n e
Let n o pers o n of w hatever ran k or co ndition he be d are
, ,

t o follow t h e bea uteo us Marcel a on pain of f allin g u n der t h e ,

f ury of my in dign a tio n She h a s s how n by clear a n d am ple

“

a rgu me n t s that s h e h as had little or n o blame i n the death of

Ch rys ost o m a n d h ow alien i s her l ife from yieldin g t o a ny of

,

h e r lovers ; f or w hich reas on i n ste a d of bei n g follow ed a n d

,

pers ec uted it i s jus t s h e s h o uld be ho n ored a n d e st eemed of

,

all good me n in the w orld for s h e proves that s h e is the o nly

,
”
o n e therei n livin g wit h so p ure a n i n t e n t.

W h ether it w a s for the me n ace s of Don Quixote or because ,

96 CERVANTE S

Ambro sio bade them to fin is h with w hat w a s due to t heir de ar

frien d not one of t h e s hepherd s st irred or depart ed th en c e
, ,

un til t h e grave bei n g d ug a n d C h ry s ost om s papers bu rn ed

’
, ,

th ey laid h is corp s e in it n ot w it ho ut man y tea rs from t h e

,

bys tanders They clos ed t h e s ep ulcher w ith a heavy sto n e

.

u ntil s uch time a s a s lab could be prep a red w hich A mbro s io

s aid he intended t o have made with a n epita ph which w a s , ,

to run th us
H ere a ha pless cors e doth li e ,

Of a s i mpl e s h eph e rd swai n ,

S tark a nd col d unti mely s lai n ,

By a da msel s cruelty. ’

Done
to d e a th by rig orous ha nd s
O f a bea ute ous s cornful ma id ;
Tyra nt Love on him ha th la id
Pi til ess h is fel l comma nds .”

Then they strewed fl o w ers a n d bran che s of tree s upon th

grave a n d all a ft er con dolin g wi th h is frien d Ambro s io took
, , ,

their lea ve of him The s a me did Vivaldo a n d h i s co m pan ion ;

.

a n d D o n Q uixo t e bade f a rewell t o h i s h o sts a n d t o t h e tra v

c lers tho ugh t hey pre s s ed him to accomp a ny them t o Sev i l le

, ,

a s bein g a pl a ce very fit for the fi nd in g of adve n t ure s s i n ce ,

i n every s treet a n d behind every corn er t hey were t o be m et

w it h more th a n el s e w here . Do n Q uixote th a n ked t he m for
t h e advice a n d for the di s po s it io n they s howed t o do h i m a
,

court es y a n d s aid th a t for t h e pres e nt he co uld n ot g o a nd

, , , ,

o ught n ot to go to Seville un til he had cleared a l l t h ose

,

mounta i ns of t hieve s a nd robbers of which report s aid t h ey ,

w ere f ull The travelers perceivi n g h i s g oo in t ent io n w o uld

. , ,

n ot import un e him a ny more b ut o n ce m ore biddi n g h i m, ,

farew ell left him a nd p urs ued their jou rn ey i n the course of
, ,

which they failed n ot to dis c uss the story of Marcela a n d

Chrys ostom a s w ell a s the follie s O f D on Q uixote . H e on
, ,

h is p a rt re s olved to g o in s ea rch of the s h epherdess Marce la

, ,

a n d O ff er t o do her a ll t h e s ervice i n h i s po w er. But it fell

o ut ot herwi s e t h a n he expected a s is recou n t ed in the cou r se
,

o f th is vera cio us hi s tory of which here e n d s t h e s eco n d p art.

,
98 CE RVAN TES

plight. Upon this Don Quixote a nd Sanc h o w h o h a d wit ,

n e ss e d the b a s ti ng of R oz in a n t e c a me up all out of bre ath

, ,

a nd Do n Q uixo t e s aid t o S a n cho

From wh a t I se e frien d San cho thes e he no kn ig hts but

, , ,

bas e fellows a n d of low breeding. I s a y it t hat thou m a yest

freely aid me in takin g d ue vengea n ce for the w ron g w h ich
they have do n e to Rozin a n te before our eyes .

Wh a t the devil ven gean ce c a n w e take a n sw ered ,

San cho whe n there are more th a n twent y a n d w e n ot m ore

, ,

t ha n two , n a y perhap s but on e a n d a h a lf

,
“ ”
I cou nt for a hu n dred replied Don Quixote ; a n d wit h
,

o ut further parley he drew hi s s w ord and se t upon t h e

Ya n g ue sa n s a n d the s a m e did S a n c h o Pan z a moved a n d

, ,

e n couraged by h i s mas ter s example ; a n d to be gin with

’
,

D on Q uixote dealt a blow t o on e w hich s lit ope n t he lea t h er

,

j a cket he w ore with a great part of h is s ho ulder . The

,

Ya n g ues a n s fi n d in g them s elve s so rudely han dled by these

,

t w o men on ly they bein g s o m a ny be t ook them s elve s t o t heir

, ,

s take s a n d s urrou n din g the tw o began to l a y on th e m wi th

, ,

great fury a nd veheme n ce ; in fa ct a t the s econd th w ack ,

t hey brough t Sancho to the grou n d a n d the s ame fate b e f ell ,

D on Quixote without h i s s kill a n d high mettle avai lin g him

, .

A s fate ordain ed it he fell at the fee t of Rozi n a n t e w h o had

, ,

n ot yet bee n able to ris e whence c a n be le a rn t h ow s ta kes

,

c a n batter w he n wielded by an gry r us tic han d s . The n se e , ,

i n g t h e mi s chief they had done t h e Ya n g ues a ns loa ded t heir

,

t eam w ith a s much has te a s po s s ible a n d w e n t their w a y ,

le a ving the t w o adve n turers i n bad c a s e a n d w ors e hum or .

The firs t w h o came to hims elf w a s Sancho Panza w h o , ,

fi n ding him s elf ne a r h i s m a ster cried in a feeble and dolef u l

,

voice : Sir D on Q uixote ! O h Sir Don Q uixote ! ,

“
What w ouldst tho u brother Sa n cho ? an s w ered D on
,

Quixote i n the s ame fain t a n d grievous tone a s San cho.

“ ”
I would if it were po s s ible s aid San cho Panza tha t
, , ,

you r w ors hip s hould give me a couple Of mouth ful s of th a t

po tion of Fairy Blas if so be a s yo ur wors hip h as it here a t
,

h a n d ; perha p s it w ill be a s good for broken bon es as fo r

”
w o und s .
“
If I had it here un happy me what s hou ld we lack ?
, ,

returned Don Quixote ; but I s wea r to thee San cho P a n za , ,

 DON QUI XOTE 99

on th e fa ith of a kn igh t erra nt be fore tw o da ys do p ass unless

, ,

fortun e s hould otherwise orda in I will have it in my p osses

,
”
s ion or my hand s s h al l fail me .
,

B ut i n h ow ma ny day s doe s yo ur wors hip suppos e th at

w e s h a ll be abl e t o move our fe et ? repli ed Sa n cho Pan za .
”
F or m ys elf I ca n sa y s aid the ba ttered kn ight
, that I ,

a m un able to fix a te rm to tho s e day s but I take on mys el f ,

t h e blame of all for I Sh o uld n ot have put han d to s w ord

,

aga in s t me n who a re n ot d ubbed k nights lik e my s elf ; a n d

so I believe that a s a p e n al ty for h av in g in fri n ged the l aw s
,

of chival ry t h e God of ba tt le s h a s permitt ed this cha sti s e

,

men t t o be in fl icted on me . Theref ore broth er San cho it , ,

behoov e s th ee to ta ke hee d of this tha t I tell thee for it might ,

ily conce rn s the wel fare of us b oth ; a n d it i s that when thou ,

sees t s u c h lik e rabbl e o ff er u s a n y wro n g w a it n ot for me t o ,

draw sw ord upon th em for I w ill n ot d o it in a n y w ise but

, ,

p ut th o u t h y h a nd t o thy s word a n d ch as ti s e t
,h e m a t t h y
plea s ure ; a n d s hould a n y k n ights come to their a i d a n d
defen s e I s hall be able t o defen d th ee a n d ofl e n d them wi th
'

a ll m y m ight ; and th ou has t already s ee n by a thou s an d

tokens a nd proofs to wh a t extent the valor of this my puis

sant a rm can reach . S o a rrogan t h a d th e poor gentleman
grown by h i s vict ory over t h e s tout Bis cayan .
But this ad vic e of hi s m as ter did not s eem so good t o
Sa nch o Pa n za a s to re strain him from a n sweri n g : Sir I a m ,

a peaceful ma n me ek a nd q uiet a nd ca n let pas s a n y inj ury

, ,

wh ate ve r for I have a wife a n d ch ildren to keep a n d to rear.

,

8 0 let m e als o give a hint to your wors hip for comman d it ,

may n ot be tha t by no mann er of means s hall I p ut han d to

,

sword eith er again st clown or agai ns t k n ight a n d that from ,

this ti me forward I forg ive before God whatever i n s ult th ey

, ,

have p aid me or have to do whether they are or s ha ll be, , ,

paid by person s high or l ow rich or poor ge ntle or simple

, , ,
”
wi th out e xcepti n g a n y rank or co n diti o n .
O n he a ri n g th is h is mas ter replied
, Wo uld that I b a d
breath enough to be able t o s peak a litt le e a sily a n d that the ,

pain I feel in this rib were as s uaged were it ever so little ,

that I might make the e u n der s tan d Pan za the error w h erein , ,

thou a rt. Hark ye mis erable s in n er : s ho uld the wi n d of for

,

tune now s o contra ry cha nge in our favor s wellin g t h e

, , ,
1
00 CE RVANTE S

sa il s of our de sire so th at sa fely and wi t h out any ch eck we

, ,

ma y make the port i n on e of tho s e is le s which I have prom

is ed th ee —
, what would become of th ee if w hen after wi n ,

n in g it I had made t hee gove rn or thereof t hou s hould s t co me

,

to frus trate all by n ot bein g kn ight n or des irin g t o be one

, ,

t hro ugh h avin g neither courage n or re s olution to ave n ge t hy

i n s ults a n d defend thy domin ion ? F or thou m ust kn ow th at
in kingdom s and provin ce s newly con qu ered t h e m in ds Of ,

their in habitants a re at n o t ime SO res tful a n d s o well dis p osed

t o their n e w lord a s that there i s n o fea r of their i ntending
s ome revolution in order t o a lter thi n gs once mo re an d as , ,

they s a y try their l uck aga in . A nd thu s it is neces sa ry th at

,

the n e w pos s es s or s ho uld h ave understandin g t o k n ow h ow

t o govern a n d courage to atta ck a n d to defe n d him se l f in
,
”
every emerge n cy .
I n this which h a s n o w happened to us an s wered S a ncho
, ,

I wo uld like to have had that unders tan d in g a nd th a t cour

age you r wors hip S peaks of ; but I sw ear to you on t h e w ord
of a poor ma n that I a m m ore fit for pla s ters than f or p re a ch

men ts See if your wors hip can ri se a nd w e will help R ozi

. ,

n a nt e though he doe s n ot de s erve i t for h e w a s the c h i ef

, ,

c a u s e of a ll this ma uli n g N ever did I believe it of R ozi

.

n a n te w hom I took for a fellow a s pe a cefu l a s my s elf . A ft er

,

all it i s a good sayi n g t h a t it takes a lo n g time t o c ome t o

,

kn ow people a n d t hat there i s n othing s ure in th is life.

,

W h o w ould have s aid t hat after tho s e mighty blows you r

wors hip gave that u n lucky k n ight erran t there would ha ve
come up s o quick a t the tail of them this grea t s torm of
th w a ck s w hich h a s been l e t loo s e upon our s houlders
“
“
Thin e indeed San cho replied Don Quixote
, , S h o ul d
,

have bee n made for s uch s quall s but min e n urs ed in fin e

, ,

lin e n a n d cambric it i s pl a in that they w ill feel more ke en ly

,

the pain of this mis adven ture A n d w ere i t not t hat I i m

.

agin e ,
— w h y do I s a y imagi n e ? — that I kn ow for ce rta in
that all t he se i ncon ve n ie n ce s are very much the a ccompa n i
men t s of the exercis e of arm s I would l et mys elf die here out
,
”
of p u re vexati o n .

To thi s the squire replied : Sir if the s e m i s h a p s a re w ha t

,

o n e reap s from k n i g h try t ell me come they very often o r

, , ,

h ave they set time s when t hey be fa l l ? for me thi nks th at t w o

[ 02 CERVANTES

when th ey cros s ed my s houlders with th eir s ti ck s i n such

s tyle that they kn ocked t h e s ight from my eyes a n d the

s tre n g th from my feet putti n g me dow n where I n ow lie

, ,

and where I am n ot so much concerned to thin k if those

cudgeling s were a dis grace or not as p a in ed at th e b lows ,

which s till remai n a s deeply prin ted on my memory as on my

”
s h o ulder s.

N everthele ss I would have th ee know broth er Pan za

, , ,

replied Don Quixote that there is n o rememb ra nce which

,
”
ti me may not end n or pain which de a th may n ot quell .
,
”
But what grea ter mis hap ca n there be re turn ed Pa nza , ,

tha n that which waits for time to e nd it and death to quell

it ? If this mischan ce of ou rs were one of t hos e w hich are
h ealed with a couple of plas ters it would n ot b e so ba d ; but ,

I am thinking that n ot all the plasters of a hos pita l wi ll be

enough to give it a good turn .
N o more of this San cho an swere d D on Q ui xot e but
, , ,

out O f weakne s s do t hou gather s trength for s o I mea n t o do ; ,

a n d let us see h o w Rozin a n te i s for not the leas t part of ,

”
this misfortune it seem s to me ha s fallen on the poor bea s t.
, ,
”
There is noth i ng to w on der at in th at said San ch o he , ,

bein g a kn ight erran t too ; what I wonder at i s t hat my a s s ,

s hou ld get 03 free a nd witho u t s cot where we came out with

”
out ri b s .

Fortune doth ever l e ave on e door Open in di s aste rs i n

”
order to give them relief s aid Don Q uixot e . , I s a y so ,

becau se this litt le beas t wil l n ow be able to s upply the w an t

of Rozin a nte carryin g m e he n ce t o s ome c as t le w h e re I ma y
,

be h ea l ed of my wou n d s . N or s hall I e steem su ch ho rse

man s hip dis honorable for I remember to have read how that
,

the good Ol d Silenus tutor a n d guide of the m erry g od of

,

lau ghter when he e n tered the city of the hun dred g ate s rod e
, ,
”
very pleasantly mounted on a han d s ome a ss .

It is like he wen t moun ted as your wors h ip s ays re ,

turn ed Sancho ; but th ere is a gr eat di fferen ce be t ween goi ng

a hors eback and being laid athwart like a s ack O f meal .
-

To which Don Q u ixot e replied : The wo u nd s w h ich

are received in battl e do rather confer hon or t h a n ta ke it
aw ay Therefore f riend San cho give me n o more an s w e rs
. , , ,

but as I have told thee already ris e a s well a s th ou a rt a ble

, ,
 DON QUI X O TE 1
03

a n d set me on of thy a s s how ever it be st pleas e s th ee

t op , ,

a n d let us depart hen ce before the n ight come s a n d overtake s

”
u s in th i s wilde rne ss .

Yet h a ve I heard your wors hip sa y quoth Pa nza th a t , ,

i t i s quite the t hin g f or kn ight s erra nt to s leep in wild s a n d

d e s erts the mos t part of the yea r a n d t hat they t ake it for
,
”
g o o d luck .

That is whe n th ey cannot do be tter replied Don Quix ,

o te, or when th ey are i n love ; a n d s o true i s this that there ,

h a ve been kn ights who have been upon a rock un d er s un ,

a n d s hade a n d all the in cleme n cie s Of he a ven for t w o yea rs ,

w i t hout their ladie s knowing of it ; a n d on e of the s e w a s

A m a dis who callin g him s el f Be l te n e bros abode in the Pena
, , ,

P obre . I k n ow n ot whether it w a s for eight years or eight

m on ths for I am n ot very s ure of the reckonin g ; enough
,

t h a t he w a s there doing pen a n ce for I know n ot w hat d i s

lea s ure which t h e l a dy O riana had cau s ed him . B ut let u s
p
l ea ve thi s n ow a n d de s patc h before an other dis as ter like
,

Rozina nt e s happen s to the a ss .

’

“
There wo uld be the devil in deed s aid Sancho. A nd , ,

d is charg in g him s elf of thirty oh s a n d t hree s core s igh s a n d

, ,

a hu n dred a nd t w e n ty c urs e s a n d malediction s on him w h o

h a d brought him there he ra is ed him s elf up b ut st oppin g

, , ,

h al f way st ood bent like a Turkis h bow without po w er to

-

, ,

s traighte n him s elf ; and in all thi s pain he h arn e ss ed h i s a s s ,

w h o had gon e s omewhat a s tray . He then lifted up R ozi

n ante w h o had he p o s s e s s ed a t o n gue to co m plai n w it h
, , ,

would verily not have bee n behin d either San cho or h is m a s

ter. I n the e n d San cho s et D on Q uixote on the a s s a n d
, , ,

t yin g Rozi n a n t e to h i s tail led th e a ss by the h a lter pro

, ,

ce e d in g a s be s t h e could toward s where the highroad s ee m ed

, ,

t o l ie .
He had s carce gone a s hort league when Fortune w h o ,

w a s guidi n g their aff airs from good to better dis covered to ,

him the roa d in which he s pied a n i nn which to h is a n n oy

, ,

anc e and to Don Quixote s joy m us t n eeds be a ca stle .

’

Sa ncho protested that it w a s a n i nn a n d h is mas ter th a t it,

w a s n ot on e b ut a ca stle ; a n d the co n trovers y l a s ted s o long

that they had ti me to arrive there wit hout fini s hin g it San cho ,

e nterin g in with out more parley with all h is team .

 CH A PT E R XV I

Of w h a t h appened to D on Quix ob: the I ngeni ous Gen tlema n i n the

i n n w hi ch he i ma gi n ed to be a ca s tle

HE in n keeper s eeing Don Q uixot e laid a thw art on th e

,

a s s a s ked Sa n cho w h a t a iled him

, Sa n cho an sw ered .

t h a t it w a s no t hing o n ly t hat he had fallen do w n from

,

a rock a n d h a d bruis ed h i s rib s s omew hat The inn keeper

,
.

had for w ife one n ot of a dis pos ition s uch a s t h ose of her
callin g a re w ont to have for s h e w a s by n ature ch a ritable
, ,

a n d f elt for the s ufferi n g s of her n eighbor s . So s h e h a s

te n ed at o n ce to att en d on Don Q uixote a n d made her yo un g ,

da ughter a very good lookin g lass help her in ta kin g care of

,
-

her gue st There w as al s o s erving in t h e i n n a n A st ur ian

.

w e n ch broad chec ked fl a t pated w ith a sn ub no s e bl i nd o f

,
-

,
-

, ,

o n e eye a n d the other n ot very s o un d

, The elegan ce of her .

s h a p e i n deed made u p f or all o t her defects ; there w ere n ot

, ,

s eve n h a n dbre a dth s fro m her fee t t o her hea d a n d her s ho u l ,

ders which s omew hat overloaded her m a de her look on t h e

, ,

gro u n d more th a n s h e liked This grace ful las s t he n ass i s t ed

.

the m a ide n a n d the two made up a very s orry bed for D on

,

Q uixot e i n a ga rret w hich show ed evide nt s ign s of hav ing

,

s erved i n other day s m a n y year s a s a stra w lo ft I n this .

room t here al s o lodged a carrier w h o had h is bed a litt le way ,

O ff from t hat O f o ur Don Q uixote w hich tho ugh i t w a s mad e , ,

o f t h e p a ck s a ddle s and coverin gs Of h i s m ule s had m u ch t he

-

advan ta ge over t ha t of D on Q uixote w hich co n s isted b ut of ,

four ro ughly p l a n ed board s on two u n eq ua l tr e stles a ma t

tres s w hich in t hinn e ss migh t be a q uilt full of kn ots w h ich
, , , ,

had they not through s un dry re nt s s ho w n them s elve s to be

, ,

o f w ool w o uld to the touch s eem like pebble s in hard n e ss ;

,

a p a ir of s heets made of t arget leather a nd a coverlet the , ,

thread s of w hich if any on e cho s e to co un t he co uld n ot miss ,

on e i n t h e reckon in g .
1
06 CERVAN TE S

It is e a rly yet res po n ded San c h o for it is but a mo n t h

, ,

we are going looki n g for ven ture s a n d till n ow w e h a v e n ot

’
,

come acro s s one that i s s uch ; a n d s ometimes it happen s t h a t

on e thing i s looked for a n d an other is fo un d ; tho u gh s ure if ,

my mas ter Don Q uixote get s well of this w ound or fall a n d I

, , ,

am n ot s poil t thro ugh it I would n ot barter my hopes for t h e

,
”
be st t itle in Spain .

To all t hi s colloquy Don Quixote lis ten ed very atte nti ve l y ,

a n d s itti n g up in h i s bed a s well a s he could he took t h e ,

hos tes s s hand a n d s aid z

’

Believe me beauteo us dame you may e s teem yo urs e lf

, ,

fort u n a te i n h avin g en tertain ed i n this your cast le my perso n ,

wh ich is s uch t hat if I prais e it not it is becau s e a s it is com ,

m on l y s aid s el f pra i s e v i lifie s ; but my s quire w ill i nform you

,
-

w h o I am .O n ly this I s a y to you that the s ervice you hav e ,

ren dered me I s hall retain etern ally in scribed in my mem ory ,

i n order that I may be grateful t o you a s lo n g a s my l ife s ha ll

e n d ure . Would t h a t it h a d pleas ed high Heaven th at love
held me not so e nthra lled a nd subject t o i ts law s a nd to t h e ,

eye s of that fair ingrate (w hos e n ame I s ile n tly utt er ) t hat ,

thos e of t his beauteou s dam sel might be lord s of my

libe rty.
The ho stess h er daughter a n d the good Ma ri tom e s were
, ,

confoun ded on hearin g th es e word s of the kn ight erra n t of ,

which they u n derstood a s m uch a s if he had s poken in Greek ,

though they ga thered that they all ra n in the way of compli

men ts a nd blandis hme n ts a nd not bein g u s ed to this k in d of
lan guage they gazed on h i m a nd won dered for h e s eemed t o ,

t hem a m a n ot her than t ho s e to w hom they were acc u s t omed ;

a n d th a n king him f or h is complime n t s i n tavern like ph ra s e s -

th ey left him — t h e As tu ria n Ma ri tom e s gi vin g her care t o

,

San cho w h o n ee ded it n o les s than h is mas ter

, .

Th e h a rd n arrow s habby a n d tr ea c h erou s bed of D on

, , ,

Q uixot e stood first in the middle Of that sta rry loft a n d ,

n ear it Sa n cho had made h i s ow n w hich w a s mere ly com ,

pose d oi a ru s h mat a n d a blan ket whic h looked a s i f it w ere,

made o f threadbare canvas rather than of wool. A fter these

beds came that of th e carrier made u p a s we have s aid of , , ,

the pack s a ddle s a n d all t h e trappings of t h e two bes t mule s

-

he drove tho ugh they were a doze n sleek fa t a n d go odly f or

, , , , ,
 DON QU1xor r: 1
07

he wa s on e ofthe rich m uleteers of A revalo a s the author of ,

t his hi story s ay s who make s p a rt icular men t io n o f him for

, ,

h e kn ew him very well a n d t hey even s u gges t he w a s s ome

,

kin s m a n of h is be side s which C id Hamet Be n e ng e li w a s a

,

v ery careful h i s tori a n a n d very exa ct i n a l l thi n g s

, an d this

c a n well be s ee n s in ce t ho s e we have already me ntion ed he

,

would n ot pass over in s ilen ce min ute a n d trivial a s they ,

w ere ; a n d by thi s tho s e grave his t o ri an s may t a ke e xa m ple

w h o tell u s of actio n s so brie fly and s uccin c tly that we hardly
get a ta st e of them leavin g in t h e in khorn from n eglige n ce
, , ,

o r pervers e n e ss or ign oran ce the mo st s ub s tan tial part of the

, ,

w ork . A t hous an d time s bless ed be the auth or of Ta blan te

”
d e Rica mon te a n d he of the other book w herein are related
,

the deed s of t e Coun t o ill s

h T m a — w ith what mi n ute n e s s do ,

they de s cribe everythin g !

I sa y then t h a t the carrier aft er he had visited h i s team
, , ,

a n d g ive n them their s eco n d feed stretched him s el f on h i s ,

p ack -
s addle s Sa n.cho w a s alre a dy pla s tered a n d bedded and ,

t ho ugh he tr ied to s leep the pai n of h i s rib s w ould n ot l e t him

, ,

w hile Don Quixo t e wit h the pai n of h i s ow n h a d h i s eye s ope n

like a ba re . The w hole in n w a s in s ilen ce a n d there w a s n o ,

o ther l ight i n i t b ut that give n by a lam p which h un g bu rn in g

in the middle of the porch . Thi s won derful s till n es s a n d the

thoughts w hich con tin ually po ss es s ed our kn ight of the in ci
d e nt s whic h a t every s tep are related in the bo oks of the
a u thors o f h i s a ffl ictio n brought in t o h i s imagin ation on e o f
,

the s tran ge st delus ion s w hich ca n w ell be con ceived which ,

w a s t hat he fan cied him s elf to have arrived a t a famou s cas tle

( for, a s we have s aid all the i n n s b e

, lodged i n w ere cas tle s to
h i s min d ) a n d t h a t t h e daughter O f the i n nkeeper w a s the
,

d a ugh ter of th e lord of the cas tle w h o overcome by h i s g race s , , ,

h a d falle n e n amored Of him Takin g all this chimera he had

.

fra med for real a n d s olid he bega n to be distre ss ed a n d he

, ,

r e s olved i n h i s hea rt t o commi t n o tr ea s on t o h i s lady D ul ,

c i n e a del Tobo s o eve n thou gh the Q uee n G ui n evere hers el f

, ,

with her duen na Quint a fi ona s hould pre s en t t hem s elve s before
,

him While he w a s ab s orbed in thes e fa n cie s h i s n urs e the

. , ,

A s turia n en tered the chamber w here the three w ere lodged

, ,

to look a fter the sick kn ight. She h a d hardly re a ched th e door

when Don Quixote perceived her a n d Sit tin g up i n the bed ,
108 CERVAN TES

in spit e of h i s pl a sters a n d the p a in of h is rib s b e stretched

fort h h i s a rm s s eized her tightly by the wris t a n d draw in g
, ,

her tow ards him made her sit do w n on the bed She w ore
, .

on her w ri s t s s ome h e a d s of gla ss b ut to h i m t hey gave fort h

,

the S heen of precio us O rien ta l pearl s . Her h a ir which in ,

s ome w is e re s embled a hors e s m a n e he too k f or t h read s Of t h e

’

most res plen den t gold of A ra by w hos e e ff ul gen ce ob s cured ,

that of the s un him s el f ; her breat h w hich doubtle ss reeked ,

of the s tale s a lad o f t h e n ight before s eemed to s hed fro m ,

her l ip s a sweet aromatic perfume ; a n d i n fi n e he p a in ted , ,

her i n h is imagin at ion after t h e very form an d model he had

rea d of in h i s book s of t h e other prince ss w h o came to vis it ,

her s orely w ou n ded kn ight with all the ch a rm s here n oted

, .

A n d s o great w a s the poor ge n tleman s blin dn e s s th a t n either

’

the t o uch n or t h e brea t h n or the other thin gs the go od dam

, ,

s e l h a d a bout her co uld u n deceive him Rather he beli eved .

t hat he beheld t h e Godde s s of Beauty ; a n d holdin g her very

tight in a l ow a n d amorou s voice he began t o sa y
,

Wo uld that I fou n d my s el f bea uteou s a n d exalted l a dy

, ,

i n a po sit io n t o be able t o ret u rn s o great a favor a s this

w hich t h e vi s io n of yo ur exceedin g lovelin e s s h a s co n fe rre d
on m e ; b ut F o rtu n e w h o i s n ever weary of pers ecu t in g the
,

good h a t h ple a s ed t o lay me on thi s bed w hereon I lie bruis ed

, ,

a n d broke n . A n d moreover t o thi s i s a dd ed an other yet

, ,

grea ter obs ta cle w hich i s the plighted fa it h I have gi ven to

,

t he peerle s s D ulcin ea del Tobo s o s ole l a dy of my mo s t s ecre t

,
”
tho ughts .

Ma ri tom e s w a s i n a mort a l a gon y a n d s wea t at fi n din g h e r

s elf th us caugh t by D on Q ui xot e a n d w ithou t comprehend ,

i n g or heedin g h i s addre s s t ried to f ree hers elf

, The wo rt hy .

c a rrier w a s a w ake a n d w he n he s a w t hat t h e n urs e s tr uggled

,

to f ree hers elf a n d th a t Don Q uixote s trove t o deta in h er h e

, ,

w e nt t o her a s s i s ta n ce a n d de a lt s o t errible a blow at t h e

meager j a w s of t h e k n igh t th a t he b a thed all h i s mouth wi th
blood ; a n d n ot co n t en t w it h thi s b e m o un ted on t op Of h is
,

rib s a nd t ra mpled t hem u n der h i s feet a t a t rot from end to

en d . The bed w hich w a s s ome w h a t cra zy a n d n ot ov e rfirm
,

i n i t s s upports un a ble t o be ar the addit ion of the c a rrier

, ,

c a me t o t h e groun d w it h him ; a t the migh ty cras h of which

the inn keeper a w oke a n d ligh t in g a lam p proceeded to wh ere
,
I IO C E RVAN TE S

higher cryin g : Shut the in n gate ! See that none go o u t

, ,
”
for they have ki lled a ma n here !
This cry startled them all a n d ea ch q uitt ed the battle a t
,

the momen t the voice reached him . The inn keeper re tir e d
to h is roo m the carrier to h is packs th e wen ch to her c ri b ;
, ,

the ill sta rred Don Quixote and S a n cho alon e were un able t o
-

b udge from where they la y . The o ffi cer n ow let g o Of D o n

Quixote s beard a n d w e nt out to look for a light in order t o
’

s earch for a n d s ec ure t h e delin q ue n ts ; b ut he cou ld fi n d

n one for the in n keeper had de s ig n edly p ut out t h e lamp a s

,

he retre a ted to h i s room He w a s t herefore compelled t o

.

h ave recours e t o the fireplace when ce a fter muc h ti m e a n d

, ,

t rouble he lit an other lamp .

,
 C H A PT E R XV II

Wh erei n a re con ti nued the i n numera ble troubles w hich the bra ve
D on Qui xote a nd hi s good squi re S a ncho P a nza endured i n the
i n n w h i ch to h is d a mage he tooh f or a ca s tle
, , ,

OW by this time Don Quixote had come to him self

out O f h is s w oon ; and in t h e li ke t o n e of voice i n

which he had called t o h is s quire the day before ,

w he n he lay stretched i n the Valley of the Stake s he began ,

callin g him cryin g : Sancho frien d a rt as leep ? art as leep

, , , ,

f riend San cho ?

H ow s ho uld I s leep ? replied San cho full of rage a nd ,
’
bitternes s ; bes h rew me if I don t thi n k t hat all the devils
h ave been about me t o n ight .-

Well mayes t thou s o believe a n swered Don Quixote ; ,

fo r either I am a fool or this cas tle is en c h an ted. Thou

m us t kn ow ,
— but this that I t ell thee thou mu st s wear to
k e ep s ecret un ti l after my death .
Ye s I s w ear quoth Sancho .
, ,
”
I s a y so replied Don Qu ixote becau se I am oppos ed
, ,
’ ”
t o the takin g away of a nybody s reputatio n .
”
I s a y ye s I do swear again s aid Sancho that I w ill
, , ,

be s ile n t abo ut it till t h e days o f yo ur w ors hip be e n ded ; a n d

”
Go d s en d I may be able to let it o ut to morrow -
.

Have I wrought thee s o much harm Sancho an swered , ,

Do n Quixot e a s that thou s hould s t wis h to see me dead s o

,

s oo n ?
“ “
It is n ot for that replied San cho but becau s e I am
, ,

o ppo s ed to keepin g t hing s lo n g and would not have the m ,

”
rot t hrough bein g over kept. -

“
Let it be for w hat it may s aid D on Quixote for I , ,

h ave gre ater tru s t in thy love a n d thy cou rte s y ; a n d there
fore I would have thee k n ow that there h a s befallen me t h is
n ight on e of t h e s tra nges t adve n ture s upon whic h I could

" I
I I2 CE RVAN TES

pl ume mysel f ; a n d to relate it to thee in brief k n ow th at a ,

l ittle wh i le ago there came t o me the daughter o f the lord o f

this cas tle t h e mo s t elega n t a nd lovely dam s el t h a t ca n b e
,

f ou n d over t h e gre a t er part of t h e earth . Wh a t m i gh t I t e l l

t hee of the graceful n e s s of her pers o n ! W h a t of her
s prigh t ly wit ! Th a t I may pre s erve the fealty I ow e t o my
l a dy D ulcin ea del Tobos o I w ill pas s over t hem in s i len ce !
,

O n ly thi s I will tell thee that Heave n en vio us o f t h e gr eat ,

bliss w hich F ort u n e h a d put i n to my han ds ; or perha p s , ,

a n d this i s more probable this cas tle a s I have s aid be in g

, , ,

en chan ted there came wit hout my bein g a ble to se e or kn ow

, ,

whe n ce it came a han d a ttached to s ome a rm of s ome p ro

,

d ig i ous gian t a n d fetched me a b uff et on the j aw s i n s uch

,

a s ort that I h a ve them all bathed in blood ; a n d af terwards

pummeled me so that I am now in wors e cas e than ye s ter
day when t h e carriers on a ccoun t O f Rozi n a nte s in te m p e r
,
’

ance did u s t h e inj ury thou kn o w es t of. Whence I con j ecture

,

t hat s ome w iza rd Moor m us t be gu a rdi n g the tre a s ure Of this

”
dam sel s love a n d th a t it s ho uld n ot be for me .
’

,
“ ” “
N or for me either an sw ered San cho ; for more th an
,

four hun dred Moors have been so bastin g me that t h e po un d

i n g o f t h e pack st a ve s w a s t a rt s a n d gi n gerbread t o it B ut .

t ell me s i r h ow c a ll you thi s fi n e a n d rare adve n t ure w hich

, , ,

h a s le ft us out of it i n s uch plight a s w e are ? A s for m e ,

w hat h a d I b ut the bigge s t ba s tin g I expect t o get i n a l l m y

life ! Wretched me a n d the mo t her t h a t bore me for I a m
, ,

n eit h er k n igh t erra n t n or ever look to be o n e yet O f all tho s e ,

c urs ed erra n trie s th e large st part fall s to my s h a re

, .
”
T h en t ho u has t been beaten too ? i n quir ed Don
Quixot e .

H a ve I n ot told you I w a s — a curs e on my race cried ,

Sa ncho .

“
N ever min d it frien d s aid Don Q uixote
, , for I wil l ,

n o w com po un d the precio us bal s a m with which we s hall be ,

”
cured i n the tw i n klin g of a n eye.
The o fficer havi ng by this time lighted h i s lamp came to ,

s e e h i m w ho m b e s uppo s ed t o be dead a n d a s s oo n a s San c h o,

s a w him e n ter arrayed i n a s h irt a n d n ightc a p

, w it h t h e ,

l a mp in h is lan d a n d a very evil coun te n an ce he a s ked h i s

, ,
“
mas ter : Sir will this by chan ce h e the wizard Moor w h o
,
11
4 CERVAN TE S

h e , do us the favor and kin d n e ss to give us a litt le ros emary ,

O i l , s alt, a n d
wi n e for they are w an ted to cure on e of th e
,

best kn ights errant there is i n the world w h o lie s in yonder ,

bed sorely woun ded at the hand s of t h e M ooris h e nchanter

,
”
who i s i n this i n n .

When the o ffi cer heard th is he took him for a ma n out of

h is wits a n d a s t h e day had n ow be g un t o dawn he O pene d
, ,

the i nn door a nd callin g to the host t old him what t h a t poor

,

fellow a sked for. The i n n keeper s upplied him wit h w h at h e

wante d a nd San cho carried it to Don Quixote w h o lay with
, ,

h i s han d s to h i s head groa n in g wit h the pain from the lam p

,

i n g which however had don e him no wors e harm t han to

, , ,

rais e a co uple of great lumps ; what he took for blood being

no ot h er than the sweat w hich he had s weated durin g t h e
angui s h of the late tempe s t. I n fine he took h i s s imples , ,

of which he m ade a compou n d mixin g them together a nd , ,

boili n g them a good while u n til t hey s eemed to him t o be

,

do n e t o a t urn . He then a sked for a v ia l in to w hich to

pour it but a s there w a s n ot one in the i n n he decided to
, ,

pour it in t o a crus e or t in vessel o f oil of w hich the hos t h a d

,

made him a free gift ; he then repeated over the crus e m ore
than fo urs core p a te m osters a n d a s many Ave M arias s alves
, , ,

a nd credo s accompanyin g each word w ith the s ign o f a cro s s

, ,

i n the man ner of a be n edic tion ; at all w hich there were pre s
e n t Sa n cho the innkeeper a n d the Officer for the carri e r
, , ,

w a s n ow q uietly gone o ff to atte n d to the com fort of h is

mules .
Thi s being don e Don Quixote w ould at once make e xp e ri
,

ment on hims elf of the virt ue of that preciou s bals a m a s b e ,

im a gin ed it to be ; a nd s o he dran k 03 about a quart Of w hat

the cru s e could not con tain which had rem ain ed i n the p ot
,

in which it had bee n boiled ; a n d hardly h a d he got it dow n ,

when he began to vomit in such a way a s that n othing w a s

left in h i s s tomach a nd through the strain in g a nd the s hakin g
,

he bro ught on him s elf a very copio us s wea t for which he ,

bade them cover him up a n d leave him alone . This they

did a n d he s lept for more th an three hours ; at the end of
,

which he awoke a n d foun d him s elf so greatly relieved i n

,

body a nd so m uch better of h i s bruis es t h at h e took hims e lf ,

to be cured a n d verily believed that he had hit upo n the

,
 DON QUIX OT E 115

bals a m of Fierabras ; a n d with s uch a remedy he might

hen ceforth en coun ter without any fear any havoc batt les, , , ,

and fray s how ever perilo us t hey might be .

,

San cho Pan za w h o als o took h is mas ter s recovery for a

,
’

miracle begged that he might have what w as left i n the p ot

, ,

which w a s no s mall quan tity. Don Q ui xote con s e n tin g he ,

t ook the pot i n both han d s a n d with good faith a n d eve n a

better w ill tos s ed it down s wallo w in g very l ittle less than ,

h is mas ter had done . It h appe n ed however that poor , ,

Sancho s stomach w a s not s o delicate a s h i s mas ter s and SO

’ ’

, ,

before h i s vomitin g he s u ff e red s uch qualm s a n d pangs s uch

, ,

cold s weats a nd fainti ngs tha t he believed verily and truly ,

that h is l as t hour had come ; and fi n din g him s elf s o affli cted
and torm en ted he curse d th e bal sam and the t h ief w h o had
,

Do n Quixote se ein g him in this plight s aid : I believe

, , ,

San ch o that all this harm comes to thee thro ugh not bein g
,

dubbed a knight for I am pers uaded that this liquor may n ot

,
”
ben efit him w h o is not on e .

If y our w ors hip kn ew that replied San cho bad luck , ,

to me a n d all my ki n why did you let me tas t e it ,

Here the drugs took eff ect a n d he s weated a n d strain ed

wit h s u ch paroxys ms a n d s hiverin g s that not o nly him s elf
but th e y all thought that h is life w a s bein g en ded. This
storm a n d trouble la sted n early t wo hour s at the end of ,

which he w a s left not better like h is mas ter but so s haken

, ,

a n d s h a ttered that he w as unable t o s tan d .

But Don Q uixote w h o as h a s been s aid felt himself re

, , ,

lieve d a nd well w ould s et off at once i n que s t Of adventure s

, ,

thin kin g that all the while he tarried there he w a s deprivin g

t he w orld and all w h o were di s tre s s f ul there of h i s favor a n d
protect ion a nd the more becau s e of the tru st a n d confiden ce
,

he had in h is bal sam ; a n d so urged by this impul s e he , ,

s addle d Rozi na n te him s elf a n d put the pack s addle on h is ,

-

squir e s bea s t whom he al s o helped to dre s s a n d t o mou n t

’
,

the as s . He then g ot on hors eback and ridin g up to a cor ,

ner of th e in n s eized hold Of a pike w hich stood there t o

, ,

se rve him f or a la n ce . A ll that were in the i n n who w ere ,

more than twe nt y pers o n s s tood ob s erving him ; the i nn ,

keeper s daughter al s o w a s looking on

’
neither did he take ,
I 1
6 CE RVAN TES

h is yes off her a n d ever a n d an on he would h eéve a sigh

e ,

w hich he s ee med to pluck f rom out of the dept h s of h is

bowel s they all t hi n kin g that i t ca me from t h e pain he felt in
,

h is ri bs at leas t t hos e w h o had s ee n him plas t ered the n igh t

,

before When they were bot h mo unt ed Don Quixote sta n d

. , ,

i n g by the inn gat e c a lled to the ho s t a n d i n a very gra ve

, ,

and meas ured voice s aid to him

M an y a n d very great are the favors s i r co ns ta ble whic h , ,

in this yo ur c a s tle I have received a n d I rem a i n u nder t h e

,

deepe st obligati o n t o be grat eful to you for them a ll t h e d ays

of my l ife . If I am able t o repa y y ou by aven gi ng you on
s ome proud mis crean t w h o may h a ve do n e y ou a n y w ro n g ,

kn ow t h a t my o fli ce i s n o other t ha n to protect the helples s

'

t o aven ge tho s e w h o are oppre s s ed a n d to pu n is h trea so ns .

,

Ran s ack your me m ory a n d i f you fi n d anyt hin g Of this s ort

,

to com men d to me yo u h a ve but to u tte r it a n d I p rom is e

, ,

y o u by t h e order of k n igh t hood w hich I have receive d ,

t o procure you satis factio n a n d reparatio n to yo ur f ull con

”
te nt .
The i n n keeper an sw ered him with a like g ra vi ty Sir
knigh t I have n o n eed that your w ors hip s hould avenge me
,

a ny w ro n g for I k n ow h o w t o ta ke t h e reve n ge I de s ir e whe n

,

they do me w ro n g All I w an t i s that your w ors hip s hould

.

pay me the score you have run up this n ight in m y i n n bot h ,

for the stra w a n d the barley of your two beas ts and yo ur

”
s upper a n d bed s .

Then this i s a n i nn s aid Don Q uixote .

Aye a n d a very res pecta ble on e replied the host.

, ,

A ll this time t hen I have been deceived sa id Don

, , ,
“
Quixote ; for in truth I thought it w a s a cas tle a n d n o mean ,

on e ; b ut s i n ce it i s thu s t h a t it i s n o cast le but a n i n n a ll

, ,

that can n ow be don e i s th at y ou s hould a b s olve me of t h e

payme n t for I cann ot con trave n e the rule of kn igh ts erra n t
, ,

of whom I know for certain ( without havin g read a n ythin g

hitherto t o t h e co ntrary) that they n ever paid for lodgi n g or

aught el s e i n the in n s where they stayed ; for a ll good recepti o n
O ff ered t hem i s their d ue by right a n d law i n requita l of the

i n tolerable toi l t hey e n dured while s eekin g adven t ure s by

n igh t a n d by day in win t er a n d i n s ummer on f oot a n d i n
, ,

th e saddle in hun ger an d thirs t i n heat and cold expo se d t o

, , ,
I I8 CERVAN TE S

ti ve ly, believed that some new adventure w a s at hand un til ,

he made out clearly that he who c ried w a s h is s qui re. Whe el

i n g about he reached the i n n gate at a painful gal lop a n d
, ,

findi n g it clo s ed rode rou n d to se e if he co uld fi nd where to

enter ; but he had hardly g ot to the palings Of the i nn y a rd ,

which were n ot very high when he beheld the w icked s port

,

they w ere makin g with h i s squi re. He sa w him go u p a n d

dow n in the air with s uch grace a n d agi lity th a t had his ,

an ger allowed him I am convin ced he would h a ve la ughed.

,

He att empted to c l imb from h is horse on t o th e fen ce but ,

s o bruis ed a n d broke n w a s he that he w a s u n able eve n to d is

mou n t a n d therefore fro m on top of h i s hors e b e comme nced

,

t o lau n ch s o m a ny reproache s a n d i nvective s aga in s t thos e

w h o were to s s i n g San cho a s it would be impos s ible t o wri te
dow n . B ut they ceased n ot on that accou n t from their laugh
ter a n d their labor n or the flyin g San cho from h is lamen ta
,

tion s min gled n ow with t hreats n ow w ith prayers ; b ut al l

, ,

availed h i m little till from s heer weari n e s s they let it be .

They the n bro u g h t him h i s a s s a nd s etting him upon it , ,

w rapped him i n h i s coat a n d the compass io n ate M arit orn e s

, ,

s eei n g him s o exhau sted t hough t it right to relieve him wit h

,

a pitcher of w ater which t hat it might be the cooler s h e

, , ,

f etched from the well . San cho took it and w as rais i ng it t o ,

h i s lip s whe n he w a s arre s ted by th e voic e of h i s mas ter

, ,

who called t o him

S on San cho drin k not water ! Drink it n ot my son for
, , ,
.

”
it w ill kill t hee ! Behold here I have that most holy bals a m
( s ho w i n g him the cru s e o f liq uor ) two drop
”
s of which if
,

thou d ri n ke st thou w ilt be cured i n dubit ably

, .

A t the s e w ords San cho t urn in g h i s eye s a skan t cried in

, ,

a voice s till louder H a s yo ur w ors h ip perchan ce forgotten , ,

that I am no kn ight ? I n t h e n ame of all the devil s keep

”
yo ur liquor t o yours elf a n d let me be .,

To e n d s pe a kin g a n d begin drin ki n g were with him but

on e act ; but at the firs t draft fi n di n g t hat it w a s w at er h e
, ,

cared n ot t o go farther be s eechin g Ma rit om e s t o brin g him

,

s ome w i n e w hich s h e did w ith right good will a n d p a id for it

,
-

out of her ow n mo n ey for i n deed it i s s a id of her th a t s h e

,

had s ome s hadow s a n d outlin e s of a C hri sti a n . A s s oon a s

Sancho had fini s hed drin kin g he stuck h is hee ls in to h is a ss
, ,
 DON ourxor r: 11
9

a nd the i n n gate bein g throw n wide Ope n he pas s ed out thence ,

highly plea sed at h a vin g pai d for n o thin g a n d gain ed h i s poi n t

,

al tho ugh it h a d bee n at the co s t o f h i s us ua l s uret ie s n amely

, ,

h i s s ho ulders
. The i nn keeper it is true reta ined t h e w allets
, ,

in payme n t of w hat w a s o w in g to him but t he s e Sancho did

,

n o t mis s i n the co nf us io n of h i s dep a rt ure .

The inn keeper a s s oo n a s he sa w him outs ide would have

, ,

ba rred the ga te f as t but the blan keters would by n o mean s

,

agree to it for they were folk of t hat sort that even if Don
, ,

Q uixot e h a d bee n verily Of the k nights erran t Of t h e Ro un d

Table they w ould n ot have min ded him two fart hin gs .
,
 CH A PT E R XV I I I

Wherei n a re r ecounted the coll oqui es w h i ch S a ncho P a nza h eld w i th

hi s ma s ter D on Qui x ote , wi th oth er a dven tures w or thy qf bei ng

AN CH O c a me up w ith h is master so jaded a n d faint a s ,

t o be un able t o urge on h i s a ss Don Quixote s eei n g . ,

him i n this pligh t s aid t o him : N ow am I con vi n ce d

, ,

good San cho t h a t yon ca stle or i n n i s without d oubt

, , ,

e n chan ted for t ho s e w h o so n efa rio usly took their p a stime

,

with thee w h a t co ul d t h ey be but phan tom s a nd people of

,

the o t her w orld ? A n d I hold t hi s for c ertain thro ugh havi ng

perceived that w he n I w a s by the fe n ce of the i n n yard w i t ,

n e s si n g the acts Of thy s a d t ragedy it w a s n ot p o s s ibl e f o r ,

me t o s urmo un t it n or eve n aligh t f rom Rozin a nte a n d th e y

, ,

m ust have held me e n chan ted ; for I sw ea r to t hee by t h e ,

faith of w hat I am t hat if I had been able eit her to climb or

,

t o di s mo un t I w o uld have av e nged t h ee i n a w a y t o make

tho s e rogue s a n d s co un drel s re m ember t h e j e st forever albe it ,

i n doi n g s o I s hould have con t rav e n ed t h e l a w s of chival ry ,

w hich a s I have t old t hee man y time s d o n ot permi t a kn ight

, ,

to l a y a han d on h im w h o is n ot one un l es s it be in cas e of ,

urgen t a n d great n ece ss ity i n de fe ns e of h is ow n life a n d

,
”
pers on .

Fa ith I w ould even have aven ged my s elf i f I had been

,
“ ”
able dubbed k n ight or n ot s a id S a n cho b ut I co uld n ot ;
, , ,

tho ugh for my p a rt I hold t hat t ho s e w ho am us ed them selves

,

w it h me w ere n o ph a n tom s n or e n cha n t ed o n e s a s yo ur wor ,

s hip s ay s b ut m e n of fle s h a n d bo n e like o u rs elve s ; a n d they

,

all had t heir n a me s for I hea rd t hem n a me t hem a s they

,

w ere t o s s i n g me u p a n d on e w a s c a lled Pedro Martin e z a n d

, ,

a n ot her Te n orio Hern a n de z a n d the in n keeper I he a rd t he m

,

c a ll h i m J ua n Pa lomeq ue the left han ded S O s ir your n ot -

. , ,

bein g a ble to j ump the pali n gs of the i nn yard n or t o get o ff

your horse w a s of s omethin g el s e than e n chan tments a n d
I ”
I 22 CERVAN TE S

a nd profit you d ubbed kn ights like that ba lsa m a nd as for , ,

”
the s quires they m a y s up s orrow.
,

Be not in fear of that S a n cho replied Don Quixot e ;

, ,
“ ”
for Heave n will deal better with thee .
Thu s co nvers ing Don Qui xote and h is squire were riding
,

alo n g whe n on the road they were ta king Don Quixote p er

,

c e iv e d approachin g them a great a n d de n se cloud of d us t on ,

“
s ee in g w hich he t urn ed t o Sa n cho a n d s ai d : This is t h e ,

day 0 San cho ! wherein s hal l be made man ifes t the b oon
,

w hich my fortun e h a s re s erved for me . Thi s is the da y I ,

s a y on which a s m uch a s on a n y other s hall be dis played th e

,

might of my arm a n d on w hich I have to d o deeds w hich

,

s hall remai n ins cribed i n the book of fame for all fut ure ag e s .

See s t t ho u that cloud of du st which yon der rise s Sa n cho ? ,

Well it is all the churn in g of a n immen se army of d ivers a n d

,
”
in n umerable n a tio n s that comes marching there.
”
By that token there s h ould be tw o Of them said S a ncho , ,

for on this oppos ite s ide als o there is ju st s uch an other clo ud
of d us t.

Don Quixote turn ed ro un d to look and sa w that this w a s ,

t r ue ; a n d vas tly delighted b e imagi n ed that they were verily

, ,

two armies w hich w ere comin g to e n co un ter a n d to as sa il

each other i n the middle of that wide plain ; for every hour
a n d mome n t w a s h i s fan cy full o f the battle s enchantments , ,

adve nture s extravagan ce s amours and challe n ges which a re

, , ,

related in the books of chiva lrie s ; a n d all th a t he s poke ,

t ho ugh t or did took the direction of s uch thin gs. A s for t h e

,

cloud he had s ee n it w a s rais ed by two large fl ock s of s h e ep

,

which were bei n g drive n alo ng the s ame road from t w o O ppo
s ite s ide s w hich by rea s o n O i the d us t w ere n ot made o ut
, , ,

till t hey came n ear Wit h s o much vehemen ce did Don

.

Q uixot e affi rm t hem t o be armie s tha t San cho came to belie ve ,

“ ”
it s ayin g : What the n s hall w e do s i r ?
, , , ,
” “
“
What ! cried Don Q uixote ; fa vor a n d help tho s e w h o
are in distres s a n d n eed Thou mu s t k n ow San cho t hat
. , ,

this w hich come s on our fro nt i s co n d ucted a n d led by t h e

mighty E mperor Alifan faro n lord of the great is lan d of Ta ,

p ro b a na ; thi s other which i s marchi

, n g at o ur back i s t h e ,

army of h is foe the kin g of the Ga ra ma ntas

, Pe n t a p ol in
o f the Sleevele s s A rm for he al w ays goe s in to battl e s with '

”
h is right arm bare.
 DON QUI X OTE 12 3

But why do thes e two lords like each other s o ill ? a sked
Sancho .

“ “
They like each other ill replied Don Quixote becau se
, ,

this Alif a n f aron is a furio us pagan and i s e n amored of Pe n ,

ta poli n s daughter w h o i s a very beautiful a n d moreover

’

, , , ,

well graced lady a n d a Ch ris tian ; a n d her fa ther i s u nwilli n g

-

to bes t ow her on the Payn im kin g u nless he firs t re n o un ces

the faith of h i s false prophet Mohammed a n d becomes a con
, ,
”
vert to h is ow n .
By my beard s aid Sancho b ut Pe nta p ol in doe s rig ht
, ,

well a n d I will help him all I ca n .

,
“
I n tha t thou wilt be doing thy duty Sa n cho s aid Don , ,

Q uixo t e ; f o r it i s n ot n ece s s ary

”
t o be dubbed a k n ight to
engage in battle s s uch a s thes e .

That I ca n well u n dersta n d an swered San cho ; b ut ,

where s hal l we s tow thi s a ss that we may be s ure of fi n din g

hi m after the fray i s over ? F or I fan cy it i s n ot t h e f as h
ion up t o n ow to go into battle on a bea st like thi s .
“ “
That is true s aid Don Q uixot e ; what thou mu st do
,

with him i s t o lea ve him to h is chan ces w hether he be lo s t ,

or not ; for the hors es we s hall have aft er we come out victors
will be s o ma n y that eve n Rozi n a n t e r uns a ri s k of bei n g
excha nged for a n other. But le n d me thy atte ntio n a n d look ,

for I would gi ve thee a n account of the leadin g kn ights w h o

come in t hese two arm ies ; a n d that thou mays t see a n d n ote
the m t h e bett er let us withdraw to t hat hillock yo n der whe n ce
, ,

both the armies ma y be view ed.

They did so a nd po sted them selve s on a s lope fro m which
,

the t w o fl ocks which Don Q uixote had turn ed into armies

might very well be s ee n if the clouds of d us t which ro s e h a d
not obsc ured a n d blin ded their vi s io n ; but n evert hele ss see , ,

i ng in h i s imagin ati o n that which w a s n either vi s ible n or

exis t in g h e bega n with uplifted voice to s a
, , y
“
Th a t k n ight whom tho u s ee st there i n bright yellow
a rmor w h o be ar s upo n his s hield a cro w n ed lio n crouchi n g
,

at the feet of a maiden is the valorou s L a urca l co Lord of

, ,

the S il v er Bridge ; t h e other in the armor with fl owers of

,

gold w h o bears on h i s s hield three crown s argen t on an

,

azure field is the dreaded Micocol e mbo Gran d D uke of

, ,

Q ui roc i a ; be wi t h the gian t limb s who i s on h,i s ri g ht ha n d ,

124 CERVAN TE S

i s t h e ever d auntle s s Bra nd a b a rb a ra n of B olic h e Lord

-

, of th e
three A rabias w h o for armor wears that s erpe n t s s kin a n d
,
’
,

h a s for h i s s c utcheon a gate which accordin g t o report i s , ,

one of t ho se of the temple which Sams on demolis hed w he n

w it h h i s death he ave n ged him s elf on h is en emie s. But t urn
thin e eye s t o that other s ide a n d t hou w ilt behold before a n d
,

i n the v a n of that army the ever virt uou s a n d n e ver van q uis h ed
- -

Timonel of C a rca j ona Prin ce of N ew Biscay w h o comes i n

, ,

a n armor q uart ered az u re gr ee n w hit e a nd yellow a n d bears

, , ,

on hi s s hield a golden cat on a ta w n y field w ith a mott o whi c h ,

s ay s Miau w h ich i s the begi nn ing of h i s lady s n ame w h o

’

, ,

they s a y i s the peerle s s Mi a ul ina daughter of the Duke Al

, ,

fefi i q ue n of Algarv e . The other who burde n s a n d oppres se s

t h e loin s of that powerful co u rs er who wear s the armor white ,

a s s n ow and a w hite s hield w it hout a n y device i s a n ovice ,

k n ight of t h e Fre nch n ation called Pierre Pa pin Lord of t h e

, ,

Baro n ie s of Utrique. The on e w h o w it h h i s iron heel s bea ts , ,

the fl an ks of that nimble painted zebra a n d carries for arms

, ,

the azure c up s i s t h e pote n t Duke of N e rbi a E s p a rta fil a rdo

, ,

of the Wood w h o bears f or a device o n h i s s hield a plan t of

,

a s paragu s with a motto i n C a stilian which runs thus : My

, ,
‘

’
fort un e drags .

A n d i n this man n er he w en t on n amin g many knights of

one or the other s q uadro n eve n a s b e imagi n ed the m ; a n d t o
,

all he gave their armor colors device s a nd m ott oe s o ffh a n d

, , , ,

s o carried away w a s he by the illu s io n o f h i s u n heard of cra ze. -

“
A n d wit hout a stop he proceeded s ayin g : This s quadron ,

i n the van is co m po s ed of people of divers nati on s ; here a re

they who drin k of t h e sw eet waters of the fa mous X an thu s ;
the mo un t ain eers w h o tread the Mas s ilian field s tho s e w h o
s i ft the fi n e gold d ust i n A rabia Felix ; tho s e w h o e nj o y the
-

fa med cool ban ks of limpid Th e rmod on ; tho s e who d rain by ,

m an y divers w a y s the golden Pactolu s ; the N umidian s n u

, ,

s teadfa s t i n their promi s e s ; the Pers ian s ren ow n ed for b o w s ,

a n d arrow s ; the Parthia n s ; the M ede s w h o fight fl yin g ; t h e ,

Arab s with their ever chan gin g hous e s ; t h e Scyt hian s a s

,
-

cruel a s they are fair ; the E t hiop s w ith pierced lip s ; a n d ,

other n ation s without e n d w ho s e vis ages I kn ow a n d behold

, ,

alt ho ugh their names I do not recollect I n t h a t other s quad .

ron march tho s e w h o drin k of the cry s tal s tre a m s o f olive

r2 6 CERVAN TE S
-

s hip S ir D on Quixote ! for I s wear to God that they a re

,

w ethers a n d ew e s which you are goin g to at ta ck ! Com e

back ! U n l ucky the father that begot me w hat madne ss i s ,

this ! Look there i s no gia n t n or a ny kn ight nor cats n o r

, , , ,

arm s n or e sc utcheon s q uart ered or whole n or c up s az ure d

, , , ,

or bedeviled What i s it you d o ? God s s in n er that I am !

.
’

B ut n ot for that did Don Q uixote t urn back ; rather h e

we n t on s ho ut in g i n a loud voice
,

Soho kn ights ! ye th a t serve a n d fight un der the ban n e rs

,

o f t h e valoro us E mperor Pe nt a p oli n of t h e Sleevele s s A rm ,

f ollow me all ; ye s hall s ee h ow eas ily I will gi ve h i m h is

reve n ge on h i s enemy A lifan faron of Ta p roba n a l
,

So cryin g he das hed i n t o the middle of the s quadron of

,

ewe s a nd bega n to s pear them w ith a s m uch courage a n d

,

d a rin g a s if i n very earn est he w a s s peari n g h i s mort al

e n e mie s The s hepherd s and drovers w h o c a me w ith the
.

fl ock called out to him n ot to d o s o b ut s eein g that the i r ,

crie s did n ot a va il they u nloo sed their s lin g s a nd beg a n to ,

s a l ute hi s e a rs w it h s t o n e s a s big a s o n e s fi s t . Don Q uixote

’

cared n othin g for the sto n es but ga llopin g t o a n d fro every

,
“
w here kept cryi n g o ut :
,
Where art thou pro ud Alifanfaro n ? ,

Come to me w h o am a s i ngle k n ight a n d w o uld ma n to m a n

,

prove thy prow e s s a n d make thee yield thy l ife i n pen alty
, ,

of what thou ha st do n e to the valorous Pe nt a p ol in the Ga ra

ma ntan .

Here there came a pebble of the brook w hich hitti n g h i m , ,

i n the s ide b uried tw o of h i s rib s in h i s body . Fin di n g him

,

s elf s o ill tre a t ed he tho ught for certa i n that he w a s ki lled

-

or s orely w ou n ded a n d recollecti n g h i s bal s am he drew o ut

,

h is crus e a n d puttin g it t o hi s mo uth began t o pou r t h e

,

liquor into his s to m ach ; b ut before he had s wallow ed w hat

s eemed t o him to be e n o ugh there c a me a n other s ugar pl u m
,
-

a n d s truck him f ull i n the ha n d a n d the cr us e s o fairly th at

it s mas hed that to piece s carryin g away on the road three or

,

four teeth a n d grin ders out of h is mouth a n d badly cru s hin g

two fingers of h is han d S uch w a s the first blow a n d s uc h
.

the s econ d that the poor kn ight w a s forced t o tumble o ff h i s

,

horse to t h e gro un d . The s hepherd s ra n up and bel ievin g ,

that they had killed him i n great has te collected their fl ock s
, ,

ta king up the dead s heep of which there w ere more th a n ,

 DON QUI XOT E 12 7
'

s even a n d made 03 w ithout caring to in quire in to an ythin g

,

f urther .

San cho all this time w a s s tan din g on the hill lookin g on at
the mad pra n k s which h is ma ster w a s performin g a n d tear ,

i n g h i s bea rd a n d c urs i n g the hour and the mome n t whe n

Fortu n e had made them acquainted . Seein g him there fallen
t o t h e grou n d a n d that the s hepherds had go n e away he
, ,

c ame dow n the hill a n d w e n t up t o h i s ma ster a n d fi n din g ,

h i m i n very evil ca s e although n ot i n s e n s ible s aid to him :

, ,

Did I n ot tell you Sir Don Quixote to come back for

, , ,

t ho se y ou w ere goi n g to atta ck were n ot armie s b ut fl ock s of ,

s heep

H ow that thief of an e n cha nter mine en emy ca n alter , ,

a n d co u n t erfeit thi n g s ! Kn ow San cho that it i s very easy

, ,

for s uch t o make us appear w hat t hey pleas e a nd this malign ,

b ein g w h o pers ec utes me e n viou s of the glory that I w a s to

,

r eap from t hi s bat tle h a t h chan ged the s q u a dro n s of the foe
,

i n t o fl ock s of s heep . If tho u do st n ot believe me San cho , ,

d o on e thi n g I e n t reat thee in order that thou maye st un de

, ,

ce iv e thy s elf a n d se e that wh a t I tell thee i s tr ue .

, Mount
thin e a s s a n d follow them s oftly a n d thou s halt see that
, ,

w he n they have go n e a lit tle way O ff they will ret urn to their ,

o rigin al s h a pe s a n d cea s i n g to be s heep become m e n right

,

a n d s traight a s I de s cribed them to thee at the fir st . B ut g o

n ot j us t yet for I have n eed of thy help and s ervice .
,

San cho thereupo n ra n t o h i s a ss to get somet hin g from h is

w allets to relieve h is ma s ter a nd fi n di n g them n ot w a s on
, , ,

t h e poi nt of lo s in g h is w i t s . He curs ed him s elf a n ew a n d ,

r es olved i n h i s heart to leave h i s mas ter a n d return to h i s

h ome though he s hould lo s e the w age s for which he had

,

s erved a n d h is h O p es of the govern ors hip of the promi s ed

,

i s le .
Don Q uixote now ros e and with h is left han d to h i s mouth
,

that the re s t of h is teeth might n ot all f a ll out w it h t h e other ,

t ook Rozi na nte by the bridle w h o had n ever moved from h is

,

m a s ter s s ide ( of so loy a l a n d good a n ature w a s he ) a nd

’

w e n t up to w here h is s quire stood lean in g again s t h i s a s s , ,

w ith h is han d to h i s c h eck i n the po s ture of o ne in deep

d ej ection . Don Quixote s eei n g him in t his mood lookin g s o
, ,

melan choly s aid to him

, Lea rn San cho that a ma n is , ,
 CE RVAN TES

worth no more than an other w h o does n o more th an an other ;

all thes e s torm s that be fall us are s ign s t hat t h e weather w i ll
s oo n be fair a n d thing s will g o w e ll w ith us for it i s not po s
, ,

s ible that either the evil or the good i s durable ; a n d hence i t

follow s that the evil havin g las ted lon g the good i s n ow close
,

at hand . Therefore thou s hould st n ot vex thys elf on acc oun t

of the mis fort un e s which happe n to me ; s ure thou d id s t not
”
s hare in them .

H o w not ? replied San cho ; m ayhap be they tos se d i n

a blanket yes terday w a s s ome other than my father s s on ? ’

A n d the w allets which are mi ss i n g to day with all my -

,

chattel s do they belo n g to ano t her but mys elf

,

What are the wallets mis s in g Sa ncho ?

, s ai d Don
,

Q uixote.
Ye s they are mis s in g an s wered Sancho .
, ,

In that case we have nothi ng to eat t o d a y sa i d Don -

,

Quixote .
“
It wo uld be s o return ed San cho should the herbs of
, ,

the fields fail us which your wors hip s ays you k n ow of with
, ,

which unlucky knights errant like your wo rs hip are u sed to

s upply s uch w a n ts .
”
N evert hele s s an s wered Don Quixote I would liefer
, ,

have ju st n ow a hunch of bread or a cottage loaf and a ,

’
co uple of pilchard s heads than all the herb s that Dios corid es
,

de s cribes though he were illu strated by Doctor Lagu na .

,

Mount thin e a ss however Sancho the Good a nd c ome aft er

, , ,

me for God w h o is the provider of a l l things will n ot fail us;

, , ,

more e s pecially going a s we do i n H is s ervice S inc e H e

, , ,
-

fail s not the gn ats of the air n or the w orm s of the earth n or
, ,

t h e tadpole s of the water ; a nd He i s s o mercif ul th a t H e

make s H i s s un to rise upon the good a n d the evil and ra i n s ,

upo n the unj ust a n d the ju st.

“
Your wors hip were better for a preacher than a knight
-

”
erran t s a id Sancho .
,

Knights errant k n ew a nd h ave to know about ev er y

, ,
”
thin g s a id Don Quixote ; for t here w a s k n ight erra n t in
, .

past age s who w a s a s prompt to d elive r a sermon or discourse

i n t h e middle of the ki n g s camp a s if he were a graduat e of
’

t h e Pari s U n iver sity ; w he n ce it may be inferred th a t n eve r

did the lan ce blunt the p e n nor the p en the la nc e .
 CH A PT E R X I X

Of the sensible di scourse w h i ch S a nch o h eld w i th hi s M a s ter , a nd of

th e Ad ven t ure w h i ch happ ened to hi m w i th a D ea d B ody w i th
other not able I nciden t s

ET H I N K S , my m a st er that all the s e mis hap s wh ich

,

h ave befalle n u s i n the s e day s h a ve been wit hout ,

a n y doub t a p un is hme n t for the s in committ ed by

,

your wors hip again s t the r ule of yo ur kn ighthood in not

keep ing the vow w hich you made n ot to e a t bread on a set
t able n or s port w it h the q uee n with all the re s t that belo n gs
,

t o it a n d w hich yo ur w ors hip s wore to keep un til you got

, ,

that helmet of Mal a n drin o or whatever they call th e Moor

, ,
”
f or I do n ot w ell remember.
“
“
Thou art very righ t San cho s aid Don. Q uixote ; but
, ,

t o tell t hee t h e truth it h a d pa s s ed from my memory ; a n d

hold t hou al s o for certain that for the fault of n ot p utti n g me
i n min d of it i n t ime th a t matter of the bla n ket happened to
t hee ; but I m a ke ame n d s for i n the order of chivalry t here
, , ,
”
a r e w a y s of compou n di n g for everythi n g.

Did I then by chan ce vow an ythin g ? replied Sancho .

It matt er s n ot t hat tho u did s t not sw ear s aid Don ,

Q uixote ; en o ugh that I hold t hee n ot very clear of com

“

p l i c i ty a n d a t an
y ra te it w ill n ot be amis s t o provide us

w ith a re m edy .
If that be s o then s aid San cho
, min d yo ur wors hip
,

doe s n ot on ce more forget t his a s y ou did that about the

oath ; perhap s the phan tom s w ill have a mi nd to take an other
t urn a t divertin g them s elve s w ith me a n d eve n wit h your ,

wors hip if they se e y ou s o wilful

,
.

While talkin g thus the darkn es s overtook them in the

middle of the road before they could reach or fi nd a ny place
i n which to s helter them s elve s a t n ight a n d the w ors t of i t ,

w a s that t hey w ere peri s hin g of h un ger for with the lo s s o f ,

their wallet they had lost their whole pan try and proven der.
 DO N QUI X O TE 13 1

And to complete th is mis fortun e there befell them a n a dve n

ture which wi t h out a ny art ifice really looked like one . The
, ,

night s et in s omewhat d a rk but for a l l that they j o ur neyed

,

on San cho thin kin g that within on e or two league s they

,

would s urely fi nd s ome i nn s eein g t h a t w a s the king s high

’

wa y. Goi n g alo n g t hu s the night d a r k the s quire hun gry

, , ,

and t h e m as ter w ith a good s tomach for s upper they sa w ,

comin g t o w ard s them on t h e s ame ro a d they w ere ta king a

g re at m u l t i t ude o f light s which looked li

, ke n othi n g el s e th a n
sta rs in mo tion . San ch o w a s s ta rtled by the s ight of them ,

nor did D o n Q uixote altogether like them ; the on e pulled up

his as s by the halt er the other h is n a g by the bridle a n d

, ,

stood s till watchi n g in tently to s e e w hat that might be ; a n d

,

they sa w the lights approaching n ear them a n d the clo ser ,

they came the l a rger they s eemed at w hich s pectacle S a n cho ,

began to tremble like on e pois o n ed w i t h quicks ilver a n d the ,

ha ir on D on Quixote s hea d s tood on e n d ; b ut rou s in g h i m

’

self a lit tl e he cried

This wit ho ut do ubt San cho should be a very gran d a n d

, , ,

peril ous adventure w herei n I s hall n eed to s how all my va lor

,
”
a nd might .

Woe i s me ! res ponded S a n cho ; s hould this adventure

by chan ce be on e of ph a ntom s a s meth in ks it i s like to be , ,

where wi ll there be ribs to bear it

“
Be they ever s o much phan tom s s aid Don Quixote I , ,

will n ot allow them to t o uc h a hai r of t h y raime n t ; if the

other time they befooled thee i t w a s becaus e I could not leap
the wall s of the in n yard ; but n ow we are on t h e open pl a in
”
where I s h a ll be able to w ield my sw ord a s I ple a s e .

“
A n d if they bewitch a n d cramp y ou a s they did the ot her
”
time ,
cried San cho w hat w ill it avail to be in the ope n plain
,

or n ot ?
“ “
For all that replied Don Q uixote I entreat thee San cho
, , , ,

to hav e a good he a rt ; for e xperie n ce s ho uld t each thee w h a t

min e i s .”

I will plea s e God an s wered San cho . A nd the two

, , ,

with drawi n g t o on e s ide of the road agai n gazed at te n tively ,

at the t raveli n g light s t o try to m a ke out w hat they might

,

be ; a nd a fter a while they des cried a nu mber of men cl a d i n

white s urplice s . Their fearful appearance completely e xti n
13 2 CE RVAN TE S

g u i s h e d t h courage of San cho Panza who se te eth bega n to

e ,

cha tt er like one w ith a cold fit of ague ; a nd the qua kin g

,

a n d the teeth c hatteri n g i n creas ed wh e n they s a w d i s tinct ly

-

what it w a s ; f or they made out s ome tw e n ty s urplice d me n ,

all on hors eback w ith bla zing torche s in their han ds behi n d
, ,

w hom there came a litter covered wit h black f o llow i n g ,

w hich there rode other s ix draped in mourn i n g down to t h eir

m ule s feet for that they w ere not hors es w a s plai n ly s een
’
,

b y the leis urely pace at which they traveled . The wh ite

s hirted o n e s came alo n g m utterin g to them s elve s i n a low a n d

plai n tive voice .

This extraordin ary vi sio n at such a n hour a n d in so so lita ry
a place w a s quite s uffi cie n t t o s trike terror in to the hea rt of
San cho a nd almo st into h is ma ster s . A s for San cho a l l his
,
’

re solution w a s u p s et though the contra ry happen ed wit h his

,

master for i n that mome nt h i s imagin at io n repres ent e d t o

,

him vis ibly that this w as one of the adve n tures out o f h is
books . He fan cied the litter to be a bier on w hich w as b e in g ,

carried s ome dead or sorely woun ded knight the a vengin g Of ,

w hom w a s re s erved for h i m alo n e ; a nd wit hout more con s ider

atio n he couched h is lan ce s ett led him s elf w ell in his sa d dle
, ,

a n d w it h a n i n t repid air a n d mie n po s t ed him s elf i n the m i ddle

of the road by w hich the w hite s urpliced trai n had of n e c es -

s it y to pa ss . A n d w he n he s a w that they were n ear he li fte d ,

up h i s voice a nd cried
St an d ye k nigh ts w ho s oever ye be ; a n d rende r m e
, ,

accoun t of w h o ye a re w he n ce ye come w hither ye go a n d

, , ,

w hat it i s ye carry i n t hat bier f or to all appeara n ce e i t h er, ,

ye have do n e or s ome one h a s don e you s ome m is deed ; a nd

,

it is fittin g a n d n ece ss a ry that I s hould kn o w either to ch a s t is e ,

u f r the ill ye have do n e or to ave n ge the wrong t h ey

y o o ,

have do n e you .

We travel 1n haste an s w ered on e of the w hite surp li ced

,
-

“
o n e s for t h e run is fa r Off a n d w e can n ot stop to give y ou
, ,
”
s uch a n accou n t a s y ou deman d . A nd s purrin g h is m ule
he pas sed forward .
Grea tly in cen s ed at thi s an swer D on Quixote laid hol d of ,

Stay a n d be more court eo u s a nd

'

h is bridle a n d s aid : , ,

re n der me the acco un t I have deman ded of you ; or el se do

”
battle w ith me all of you ,
.
I 34 CE RVAN TES

I w a s a licen tiate I am on ly a bach elor a n d c a ll myself

, ,

A lo nzo Lopez . I am a n ative of A lcoben das ; I co m e from

the city of Baeza w it h eleven other prie s ts w h o a re they
, ,

t hat have fl e d with the torche s ; we are goin g t o t h e c ity of

Segovia accompan yin g a dead body w hich l ies in th a t li tter
, ,

which i s that of a gen tleman w h o died i n Baeza w here he ,

w a s depo s ited a n d n ow a s I s aid we a re c a rry i n g h is bo nes

, , ,
”
t o t heir buria l place w hich i s in Segovia where he w a s born
-

, , .

A n d who killed him ? a s ked Don Q uixote.

God t hrough the agen cy of a pe stilen t fever which took
,

him an sw ered the bachelor

, .

I n t hat ca s e s aid Don Q uixote

, the Lord hat h reli e ved ,

me of the tas k I s hould have taken on my self of aven g in g hi s

death had a ny other s lain him B ut he bein g dead through .

Him who killed him there i s n othin g for it but to be s ilent

,

a n d s ubmit. I s hould do the s ame were H e t o s lay me . A n d

I would have your reveren c e kn ow th at I am a kn ight Of La

Man cha hight Don Q uixote a n d that my offi ce a n d d uty a re
, ,

t o roam the world s ettin g w ro n g s s traight a n d red res s ing

, ,

inj urie s .

I d o n ot kn ow h ow that about settin g wron gs straight ca n

be s a i d t h e bachelor ; s in ce from straight you have turned
,

me crooked le a vin g me with a broke n leg w hich will n ever

,

s e e it s elf s traight agai n all the da y s of i t s life a n d the inj ury ,

ou have redre s s ed i n me i s t o leave me i nj ured in s uc h a

y
way that I s hall remain injured forever ; a n d a s u ffi ci ent
misa dve n ture h a s it been to fall i n w ith you w h o g o s ee kin g
”
advent ure s .

A ll things s aid Don Q uixote do n ot happen a fter t h e

, ,

s ame order. The mis chief w a s si r bachelor A lon zo Lopez , ,

i n yo ur comin g a s y ou did by n ight clad i n thos e s urplice s , ,

w ith torche s lighted c h an ti n g a n d covered with mourn in g

, ,

so t hat n a tu rally you looked like s ome evil thi n g a n d of the

, ,

other w orld ; a n d so I co uld n ot avoid fulfillin g my O bli ga

t io n i n atta ckin g y ou a n d I s ho uld have attacked y ou eve n
, ,

t hough verily I h a d kn own t hat y ou were the devil s f rom hel l

t hem s elve s f or s uch I ever believed a n d took you t o be .
"

,
”
Then s in ce my de stin y h a s s o willed it sa id th e bach e l or , ,

I be seech your wors hip s ir kn ight errant who h as don e , ,

me so ill a n erran d help me to ri se from under this mule w h o

,
 DON QUIX O TE 13 5

hold s on e l eg of m ine fa st betwe en the s tirrup a n d the

”
sa d d le .

I might have ta lked to you till morn ing without know ,

”
ing it replied Don Quixote . When were you go ing to wait
,
”
t o tell me O f your trouble ?
H e then at on ce s ummoned San cho Pa n za ; but the s q ui re
had n o m i nd to come for he w a s occ upied i n dis load in g a
,

s umpter m ule which tho s e worthy gentlemen had brought

-

with t hem well s tore d with prove n der. Sancho made a bag
,

o f h i s coat a n d thru s ting in to it all he could and a s much

, ,

a s the s ack would hold loaded h is a ss a n d then ran to h is

, ,

master s call a n d helped t o relieve t h e bachelor from the

’

weight of h i s mule ; a n d placin g him upon her back he , ,

gave h i m h i s torch a n d Don Q uixote bade him follow h i s

,

c ompan io n s track and beg the i r pardo n on h i s accou n t f or

’
,

t h e injury w hich he could not help doin g them . A n d s aid

Sancho : If by chance thes e gen tlemen s hould wis h t o kn ow
w h o is the v alorou s on e that s erved them s o let your wors hip ,

tell them that it i s the famou s Don Quixote of La Man cha ,

w h o is otherw i s e called the Kn ight of the R ueful Figure .

With this t h e bachelor departed ; a nd Don Quixote as ked

S ancho w hat had moved him to call him the K n ight of the
R ueful Figure then more than a t a n y ot her time .
,
”
I w ill tell y ou why an swered San cho ; becau s e I w a s
,

lookin g at you s ome time by the l ight of the torch which t hat
u n lucky wight w a s carrying a n d truly your wors hip h a s g ot ,

of late the s orrie s t figure I have ever s een ; and it mu s t be

owi n g eit he r to your bein g tired out after this battle or to ,

”
the lo s s of yo ur gri n ders and teet h .
“ ”
It is n ot that replied D on Quixote ; but to the sage on
,

whom the charge h a s devolved of writin g the history of my

exploits it mus t have s eemed fitt in g that I s hould take some
,

appellative a s took all the knights of yore . O n e c a lled h i m

,

s elf He of the Flamin g Sword on e He of the U n icorn

this wa s O f the Dam s els ; that O f the Phen ix
‘ ’
an other
w a s The Kn ight of the Griffi n an other H e of Death ;
‘ ’

a n d by thes e name s a n d dis ti n ctive device s were they kn ow n

through a ll the compass of the earth And so I tell t hee .

t hat the afore said s age hath p ut it in to thy mouth a n d i n to

t hy min d n ow to call me The K nigh t of the R ueful Fig ure
’

,
136 CE RVANTE S

as I i ntend to call mys elf from this da y forward ; a n d that

s uch name may s q uare w ith me the better I am re s olve d ,

when there i s a n O pportunity to have a very rueful figure

,

pain ted on my s hield .

There is n o n eed to w as te tim e a nd mon ey in h av in g tha t

” “
figure made s aid San cho ; al l that h as t o be done is th at
,

your w ors hip s hould dis cover your ow n and s how your fa ce ,

to thos e who look at you whe n without more a do a nd w ithout

, ,

other im a ge or s hield they wil l n ame you H e of th e Rueful

,

Figure a nd believe me that I am s peakin g the truth a nd ,

I promis e you ( a n d i n jes t be it s aid ) that h u n ger and t h e loss

of your gr inders h a s gi ve n your wors hip s o evil a face t ha t
”
o u may w ell s pare your s el f the rueful p a in tin g
y .

Don Quixote laughed at Sancho s pleas antry ; n ev e rt heless

’
,

be re s olved to call him s elf by that n ame when he could have

i t pai n t ed on h is s hield or b uckler a ccordin g to hi s f an cy ;
,
“
a n d s aid he :
, I apprehend San cho that I li e u n der t h e ban
, ,

of excomm un ication for hav in g laid hand s violently on s ac red

’
thin gs accordin g to that can on : Si quis s uaden te Dia bolo ,

e t c . t hough I am w ell aw a re that I laid n ot my h a nds b ut

,

t his l a n ce ; moreover I did n ot su s pect that I w a s en ga g ing

,

with priest s or thin gs of the Church which like t h e Catholic

, ,

a n d faithful Ch ri s ti a n that I am I re s pect and adore but

, ,

w ith phan tom s a n d s pecters of the other w orld . A n d if ,

it come to t h e wor s t I have i n remembran ce what happ e n ed

,

to t h e Cid Ruy Diez w he n b e demolis hed the ch air of the

ambas s ador of t hat ki n g before h is Holin ess the Pope who ,

excommun ic a ted him for it ; a n d yet t h e good Rod rigo de

Bivar bore him self on that day like a very n oble a nd va li ant
”
k n ight.
Don Quixote wi s hed to s e e if t h e body which the l i tter
con ta ined w a s bon es or n ot but San cho would not ag r ee
, ,

s a yin g : Sir your wors hip h as e n ded this perilous adven t ure
,

more s afely for yours elf than all the others I have s e en .

The s e people tho ugh con quered and routed might com e to
, ,

reckon that he who co n quered them w a s but on e s in gle per

s on a n d abas hed a n d a s hamed of this they might take h ea rt
, , ,

again a n d s eek us a n d give us en ough to do. The as s i s in

, ,

good tri m ; the mo untain i s near ; hu n ger pre ss es ; w e h ave

nothin g to do but s tep a retreat gracefully a nd a s the , ,
 C H A PT E R XX

Of the a dventure, never bef ore seen or hea rd of ; a chi eved by the va l orous
D on Qui xot e of La M a n ch a , w i th less peri l tha n a ny ever a chieved
by the mos t f a mous K nig h t i n the w orld

T impo ss ible good m aster but that this gra s s be a rs

is , ,

w itn e ss that about here there mu st be so me s prin g or

brook which keep s the herbage mois t a n d t herefore it ,

were well that we s hould go a l ittle fart her s o that we may ,

alight on s ome place w here we may q uen ch this terrible thirst

which plague s us which beyo n d a doubt is more pain ful than
, , ,
”
hunger .

The coun sel seemed good t o Don Quixote ; s o t ak ing ,

Rozi n a n te by the b ridle a nd Sa n cho h i s a ss by the hal ter

, ,

after b e depo s ited upon him the fra gme nt s which were left
of the s upper they began to m a rch up the meadow feelin g
, ,

t heir way for the d a rk n e s s of the n ight permitted them to

,

s ee nothi n g But they h a d not go n e t w o hu ndred paces when

.

a great n ois e of water reached their ears a s if tumblin g down ,

from s ome high a n d steep rocks. The s ou n d cheered th e m

e xceed ingly ; a n d hal tin g to lis te n w hen ce it came on a s udden
, ,

they he a rd an other loud n ois e which drowned their j oy of the

w at er e s pecially in Sa ncho w h o w a s by nature t imid a n d of
, ,

little courage. They he a rd I sa y s ome blows s truck in a , ,

regula r meas ure with a certain rattlin g of irons a n d chai ns

,

w hich accompanyin g the fu riou s roar of the wat er w o uld

, ,

have s truck terror into a ny other heart than that of Don

Quixote . The n igh t a s h a s been sa id w a s dark a nd t hey
, , ,

had happened to come amon g s ome tall tree s w hose l e aves , ,

s tirred by a ge n tle breeze made a low fearfu l s ou n d so that

, , ,

the s olitude the place the darknes s the n ois e of th e water

, , , ,

wi th the rus tlin g of the lea ve s all c a us ed horror a n d fright ;

,

a n d the more w hen they fou n d that the blo w s cea s ed n ot n or ,

the w in d lulled n or the morn in g came added to all which

, ,

1
3 8
 DON ourxor r: 139

was thei r ig noran ce of the place where they w ere . But Don
Quixote sus ta in ed by h is in trepid h eart leaped on Rozina n te
, , ,

a n d braci n g on h is buc kler pois ed h i s lan ce a n d s aid

, , ,

Frien d San cho thou must k n ow that I w a s born by th e

,

w ill of H eaven in this our age of iro n to revive therein that

, ,

o f gold or the golde n on e as it is called

, I am b e for whom
, .

a r e res erved peril s m ighty feat s valiant exploits ; I am he

, , ,

I s a y a ga in w h o h as to re vive them of the Table R ou n d the

, ,

Twelve of France a nd the N ine of Fame ; w h o h a s to con

,

s ign to oblivion the Pl a t i rs the Ta bl a n tes O l iv a nt es a n d , , ,

T i ra n tes the Ph oebus e s a n d the B e l i a n i s e s with the whole

, , ,

h e rd of t h e fa mou s knights erra n t of the time past perform ,

i n g in this in which I live s uch prodigie s wo nders and feats , ,

o f a rm s a s s hall eclip s e t h e brighte s t they achieved . M a rk

w e ll tr u s t y a n d loyal s q uire the gloom of t hi s n igh t i ts
, , ,

s t ra nge s til ln e s s the du ll con fu sed n oise of thes e tree s

, , ,

t h e f ea rful s ound of that water in que s t of which we came , ,

w h i ch s eem s as t hough it were bein g hurled a n d fl u n g down

f r om the lofty m ounta in s of the moo n a nd th a t ince s s an t ,

t h umpin g which wounds a n d pain s our c a rs ; which thi n gs

al l together a n d each by it s elf are s u fficie nt to i n s til fear ,

d rea d a n d dis may i nto the bo som of M a rs him s elf how

,

m u ch m ore i nt o t hat of on e who i s not u sed t o this k 1 ud of

i n ciden ts a n d adven ture s . Yet all that I have de scribed to

t h ee a re but in ce nt ive s and s timulants to my s oul which ,

c a u se my heart n ow to bou n d withi n my bo s om with the

l o n gi ng i t feels to encoun ter this a dve n ture h owever arduou s ,

i t may prove . Therefore tighten Rozi n a n te s girt hs a li ttle

’
, ,

a n d God be w it h thee ! Wa it for me here three da ys a n d ,

n o m ore in which if I s hould return not tho u ca n s t go back

, , ,

t o our village a n d the n ce to do me a favor a n d good s ervice

, , ,

t h ou wilt go t o E l Tobo s o where tho u s halt s a y to my i n com ,

a ra ble lady Dulci n ea that her captive k n ight died in per

p , ,

f o r ming deed s which might m a ke him wort hy to be called

h er own .

When Sancho heard the words of h is mas ter he bega n t o ,

w e e p very piteou s ly s ayin g to him Sir I kn ow not w h y yo ur

, ,

w ors hip s hould engage i n s o fe a rful a n adven ture ; it is nigh t

n ow ; there i s no one here s ee s us ; we can e a s ily t u rn o ff
t h e road a n d get out of the way of the da nger eve n though ,
1
4 0 CERVAN TE S

we don t drink for three day s ; and s ince there is no on e to

’
,

s e e us a l l the le s s will there be a nybod y to s et us do w n for

,

cowa rds Be s ide s I have often heard the prie s t of our vil
. ,

lage whom your wors hip k n ow s very well preach that he

, ,

who seek s dan ger peris hes therein so it i s n ot right t o tempt

,

God by ru s hing int o so mon s trou s a feat out of wh ich we ,

cann ot es cape but by a miracle ; a n d let tho se s u ffi ce w hich

Heaven h a s do n e for your w ors hip i n s avin g you from b eing
tos s ed in a blan ket a s I w a s a n d brin gi n g you o ut con queror
, ,

free a n d s afe from amon g all those m a n y e n emies that were

,

with t hat dead ma n A n d s hould all this n ot move or softe n

.

that heart of yo urs l e t this refl ection a nd belief move it that

, ,

your wors hip will hardly have go ne from here when I f rom ,

fright will give up my s oul to any on e that s h a ll pleas e to

,

carry it aw ay . I wen t out of my co un try a nd left children

and w ife to come a nd s erve your wors hip hopin g to do better ,

a n d not wor s e ; but a s covetou s n e s s doth burs t the bag so

, ,

with me it h a s ren t my hope s a s un der for j us t a s I had them ,

mos t lively for winnin g th a t plaguy ill starred is le which ,

-

your wors hip h a s s o often prom is ed me I see that in payment ,

a n d change for it y ou wis h t o leave me n ow i n a s pot aw ay

f rom all hum a n w a lk. By the on e only God good mas ter , ,

d o me n ot this s cath ; a n d if yo u r wor s hip will n ot g ive up

altogether att emptin g this deed put it o ff at leas t till the
,

m orn in g for by w h a t the a rt tell s me I learn t w he n a s hep

,

herd it S hould n ot be three hours from n ow to daw n for the

, ,

mouth of t h e Horn is over the head and s how s midnight i n ,

”
the line of t h e left paw.
H ow can st thou s ee San cho s aid Don Q uixote
, ,
w here ,

that mont h is or that head tho u s peakes t of th e n ight being ,

s o dark that n ot a s t a r i s vi s ibl e i n the whole s ky ?

“ ’ “
That s true s aid Sancho ; but fear h a s m a ny eyes
, ,

a n d s ee s thi n g s be n e a th t h e earth h ow much more above

,

in the s ky ; be s ides we may i n good reas on s uppo s e that

,
”
it w ant s but little from this to daybreak.
” “
Let it want wh a t it may an s wered Don Qu ixote it
, ,

s hall n ot be s aid of me now or at a n y time that t e a rs a nd

prayers have turned me as ide fro m doin g that which is

d ue to the q uality of k n ight. Therefore San cho prithee , ,

be s ilent for God who hath put it i nto my heart n ow to

, ,
1
4 2 CERVAN TE S

Sancho ; I did not mean a l l that And comin g to him . , ,

h e laid on e h a nd on th e pommel of the s addle a n d th e

other on the cantle so that he stood hugging his mas ter s
,
’

left thigh w ithout d a rin g to stir from him a finge r s brea dt h

,
’

s o greatly w a s he te rri fied at the s troke s w hich s ti ll re s oun ded ,

i n a regul a r meas ure D on Qu ixote bade him tell s ome s tory

.

for h i s e n tert ainmen t a s he had promis ed to which San cho

, ,

replied that he would if h i s fear at w hat he w a s hearin g

“ ” “
would let him . But for all th a t s aid he I wil l do my , ,

best to tell you a s tory w hich if I man age t o tell it and be , ,

not in terrupted i s the very be s t of stories . A n d let y our

,

wors hip atte n d for n ow I begin

,

There w a s what there w a s ; may the good w hich i s to

c ome be for all a n d the h a rm for h i m w h o goe s to s eek i t ;
,

a n d take n ote your wors hip

, mas ter mine that t h e begin , ,

nin g which the ol d folk put to their tales w as n ot just a s

each plea s ed for it w a s a se n ten ce of Cato the Roman
, ,

i nce n s er who s ay s E vil to him who goe s to look for it

’

, ,

which fits i n here like a rin g to the fi n ger to the e fi e ct that ,

your wors hip s hould remain quiet a n d n ot g o seek i ng after

harm anyw here but for us to go back by an other road s in ce
, ,

n obody force s us to follow thi s where s o man y te rrible th in gs ,

”
a fi ri g h t us .
“
P urs ue thy story Sa ncho cried Don Q uixote , , ,

leave the road we h a ve to p urs ue t o my charge.

” “
I sa y the n cont in ued San cho that in a villag e of
, , ,

E s tremadura there w a s a s hepherd goatherd I s hould sa y , ,

for h e kept goat s which s hepherd or goath erd a s my story

, ,

goes w a s called Lope R uiz a n d this Lope Ruiz fell in love

, ,

with a s hepherde ss who w a s c a lled Torralva which s hep ,

herde ss c a lled Torralva w a s d a ughter to a rich flock master -

,

a n d thi s rich fl oc k mas ter -

I f thou telles t thy s tory San cho i n th a t fa shio n s aid

, , ,
“
Don Q uixote repeating t w ice over w hat t ho u has t to s a y
, ,

thou wilt n ot fi nis h in two day s . Spe a k con n ect edly an d ,

”
tell it li ke a m a n of i ntelligence or el se sa y n othin g. ,
”
In the s ame fas hio n th a t I am telling it replied San cho , ,

they tell all the sto rie s i n my co un t ry a n d I have no oth er ,

way of tellin g it n or i s it fair that your wors hip s hould a s k

,

me to make ne w custom s .
 DON our or rz
x -
1
43

“
Tel l it a s thou pleases t an sw ere d Don Quixote , for ,

s inc e fate w ill s that I can do naught el s e tha n li s te n t o

”
t hee proceed
, .
“
A n d s o dear ma s ter of my heart
, co n ti n ued San cho , ,
“
a s I have s aid thi s s hepherd fell i n love with Torralva
, ,

the s hepherde s s w h o w a s a buxom rakis h wench with

, , ,

s omewhat of a m a n t turn for s h e had little mu s taches

, ,

I thin k I s ee her n ow .
”
Dids t kn ow her then ? as ked Don Quixote .
” “
N o I did n ot kn ow her
, a ns wered San cho ; but he
,

w h o told me thi s tale s aid that it w a s s o certain a n d true ,

th a t when I told it to a ny one el s e I might avouch a n d

s w ear that I had s ee n it all . A n d so a s the day s wen t a n d
the days ca me the devil w h o sleep s n ot and embroils every
, ,

th in g s o con trived it that the love which the s hepherd had

,

for t h e s hepherdes s w a s t urned to hate a n d ill will and the ,

re as o n a ccordin g to evil tongues w a s a certain meas ure Of

, ,

j ealou sy s h e caus ed him s uch a s pas s ed the bound a n d tre s

,

pas s ed on the forbidde n ; and so much w a s it that the s h op

h e rd hated her thenceforward a n d s o a s n ot to se e her a n y
,

m ore b e re solved t o fly from th a t cou n try a n d go where h i s ,

eyes s hould n ever behold her more . The n Torralva whe n ,

s h e fou n d hers elf s corn ed by L Op e s traight f ell t o lovin g ,

”
him more than ever s h e had loved him before .

“ ” “
That quoth Don Quixote i s the n a tu ra l dis pos itio n of
, ,

women — ,
to dis dain tho s e t hat love them a n d to love t hos e ,

that hate them ; go on S a n cho ,

.
”
It came to pas s s aid San cho that the s hepherd carried
, ,

o ut h i s re s olve a n d drivin g h i s goat s before him took the

,

road along the plains of E stremadura to pa s s over in to the

kin gdom of Port ugal . Torralva who learn t of it wen t away , ,

af t er him and followed him on foot a n d barelegged afar off

, , ,

with a pilgrim s s taff in her hand a n d a s crip roun d her n eck

’
,

in w hich s h e carried a s they sa y a bit of a lookin g gl a ss a n d

, ,
-

an other of a comb and I k n o w n ot w hat little bottle of was he s

,

for her face ; but let her carry what s h e did for I care not to ,

se t about ve ri f yin g it for the pre s e n t all I s a y i s that the ,

s hepherd a s they sa y c a me with hi s fl ock to p a s s over the

, ,

river Guadia n a w hich at that s eas on w a s s wolle n and almo s t

, ,

a way from i t s bed ; a n d at the S pot he came t o there w a s

1
44 CERVAN T E S

neither boat n or bark n or a n y on e t o pass h im or h is flock to

the other s ide a t which h e w a s much put out for he s a w that
, ,

Torra lva w a s approac h in g and would g ive h i m muc h t rouble

,

with her prayers a n d t ears H owever h e w ent loo kin g about

. ,

till at las t h e s a w a fi s herman w h o had by h im a boa t so

,

s mall that it could hold on ly on e pers on a n d on e goat ; a nd

upon this he s poke a n d agreed w ith h i m to carry h imse lf a nd

three hundred goats w hic h he w a s d rivin g a cro ss . Th e fi s h er
man got i nto the boat a n d carried over a goat return ed a nd
, ,

ca rried over another a n d came back again a n d carri ed over

,

an other . Let your wors hip keep cou n t of t h e goa t s which

t h e fi s herman i s carr y i n g over f or if one s hould s l ip from
,

your memory the ta le will be en ded a n d it will be impo ss ible ,

t o tell a word of it more . — I g o on then and s a y t h a t the , ,

la n din g place on the other s ide w a s covered w it h m ud a nd

-

s lippery a n d delayed the fi s herman a good de a l i n going

,

a nd comin g ; yet for all that h e return ed fo r a not h er goa t ,

a n d a nother a n d an other
,

R eckon th a t he h a s carried th em all over s aid Don ,

Quixote a nd do n ot keep going and comin g i n that f a s hion

, ,

or thou wilt n ot make a n en d of pas s in g them ove r in a

”
twelvemonth .
”
H ow man y have gon e over up to this time ? a s k ed
Sa n cho .
H ow the devil d o I kn ow ? replied D on Quixote .
There n ow ; w hat did I tell you to keep a good coun t ?
, ,

By the Lord then the t ale is en ded for there is no goin g a ny

, , ,

farther.
H ow ca n that h e replied Don Quixote ; is it s o es s en
,

tial to the narra tive t o kn ow the goats who have p a s sed over
so exactly that if on e of their number h e mi s s ed thou can st
,

n ot g o on with the s to ry ?

N o s ir by n o mann er of mean s an swered San cho ; for

, , ,

a s s oo n a s I a s ked yo ur wors hip to tell me how m any g oats

had pas s ed a n d you replied t hat you did n ot k n ow i n that

, ,

s a me i n s t a n t there we n t aw a y out of my me m ory wh a t re

main ed to tell a n d fait h but there w a s much good n ess in it

,
”
a n d diver s io n .
”
So then s aid Don Q uixote the s tory is fin is h ed ?
, ,

Ti s as fi n is hed a s my mother s aid Sancho .

’
,
 46 CERVANTES

San cho began to weep afres h to hear o n ce more the pitiful

words of h is good mas ter a n d re s olved n ot t o leave him til l
,

the fi na l i s sue a n d e n d of th a t bus ines s . ( From thes e tea rs

a n d thi s re s olve s o ho n orable to San cho Pa n z a the a uthor
, ,

o f this hi sto ry gathers that he mu s t have been well born a n d ,

a t leas t an old Chris tia n .

) Thi s te n derne s s of heart s ome

w hat s ofte n ed hi s mas ter but not so much a s to betray h i m

,

to a ny weakn e ss ; on the co n trary dissemblin g a s be s t he ,

might he be ga n to travel tow ard s the poin t where t h e nois e

,

of the water a nd the hammerin g seemed to come .

S a n cho followed on foot leadin g by the h a lter a s h e was

, ,

w o n t to do h is a ss t h e con s ta nt comp a n io n of h i s pros p e rous

, ,

a n d advers e fortu n e s . Havi n g gon e a good distan ce a mong

tho s e che stn uts a n d s hady trees t hey came to a littl e meadow
,

w hich lay at the foot of s ome high rock s down which a ,

mighty rus h of water de s cen ded . At the base of t h e rocks

were s ome rudely built hou se s looking rather like rui n s of ,

b uildings than d w ellin gs out of which they became aw are

, , ,

i ss ued the din a nd c l atter of the strokes which s till n ever ,

cea s ed. Rozina nte s ta rted a t the n oi se of the w ater a n d of

t h e h a mmerin g a n d quietin g him Don Quixote adva n ced
, , ,

gra dually n earer to the hou se s commen din g him self w ith all
,

h i s s oul to h i s lady a n d s upplicatin g her favor in that fo rmi

,

d a b l e ta sk a n d enterpri s e a n d by the way c omme n ding

, , ,

him s elf al s o to God t hat He might not forget him. S a ncho

did n ot quit h i s master s s ide but stretched fort h h i s neck
’

a n d h i s eye s a s far a s he could from be t w een Rozi n a n t e s legs

’

to s ee if he co uld make out what it w a s that h a d caus ed him

so m uch terror a n d di s may They had gone abo ut a hun dred
.

paces fa rther w he n on tu rnin g a corn er the very caus e

, , ,

for th ere could be no other — o f that horrid and t o t hem

,

te rrible s oun d which had held them all th a t n ight in s u s pense

a n d fe a r bec a me clear a n d pate n t This w a s ( if 0 reader . , ,

t h o u w il t take it n ot i n disg ust a nd anger) s ix f ulli n g h a m -

mers which with their s uccess ive stroke s made all tha t di n .
, ,

Whe n Don Quixote perceived what it w a s h e w a s s truck ,

dumb a n d covered with co n fu s ion from head to foot S a n ch o

, .

looked at him a n d s a w that he hun g h is head down on hi s

,

breas t with s ign s of being a s hamed Don Q uixote too looked . , ,

at Sancho a nd sa w that he had h is cheeks diste n ded a nd his

,
 DON Qurxor rz -
1
47

mouth full of laughter, wi th eviden t token s waitin g to of

e xplod e w ith it ; and h i s gloom did n ot prevail s o much with

h im th at at the s ight of San cho he co uld refrain from la ugh

i n g him s e l f. When Sa ncho s a w h i s m as ter had begun he ,

b urs t out in s uch a manner a s tha t he had need t o catch h is

S ides with h is han d s t o preve n t them s plitting. Four ti mes
h e s topped a n d a s o ft en re n ewed h i s laughter with t h e s am e
,

v iole n ce a s a t firs t upon w hi ch Don Quixote gave him to the

,

d ev il es pecial ly when he heard him repeat i n a gibin g way :

,

Thou has t to kn ow 0 fri en d San cho that I a m born i n this

, ,

a n a g e of iron to revive therei n by the will of Heave n the , ,

g olden or that of gold ; I a m b e for whom are re s erved pe r il s ,

m igh ty deed s valorous exploit s ., A n d thu s he we n t on re

p e a t i n g all o r mo s t of the word s which Don Quixot e had
u tt e red whe n fi rs t they he a rd that terribl e hamme ri n g.
Don Quixote s eeing that San cho w a s mocki n g him w a s s o
, ,

v exed a n d e n raged that he rai s ed h i s lan ce and dealt him t w o

b lows s uch a s if in s tea d of receivin g the m on h is s houlders

,

h e had caught them on h is head would h a ve freed h i s mas ter

,

f ro m payin g him h i s wages un le s s it were to h is heir s .

,

S ancho fi n din g that he got such ill earn e s t f or h i s j e st i n fear

, ,

t h at h is m a st er would ca rry it fart her s a id to him wit h much ,

h umblen es s : Good your wors hip calm your self ; I did but
, ,
n

j e set
But because you je st I do n ot replied Don Quixote .
, ,

Come hither si r merryman t hin k ye that if in stead of thes e

,

b e i ng fulli ng hammers they h a d been s ome perilou s adven t ure

-

e lse I s hould n ot h ave s hown t h e courage nece ssa ry to i t s

,

u ndertaki n g a n d a chieveme n t ? A m I perchance boun d , , ,

b e i n g as I am a knight to k n ow and to distingui s h s o un d s

, ,

a n d to tell whether they are of f u lli n g mill s or n ot e s pe -

c ia l ly Si n ce it might be a s i n truth it i s that never i n my life

, ,

h av e I s een them a s you have s ee n them bas e churl a s y ou ,

a re born a nd bred among them .

, N ay procure ye that thes e ,

s i x ha mmers be tu rned in to s i x gian ts a n d throw them at my ,

b ea rd one by on e or all together a n d if I do not have them

, , ,
”
a l l heel s up moc k me a s much a s you pleas e .
,
” “
N o m ore good mas ter replied San cho for I con fe s s I
, , ,

w en t too far with my laughi n g ; b ut tell me your wors hip , ,

n ow we a re at peace a s God s hall bring you out of all the

,
1
4 8 CE RVAN TES

adve nture s which may befa ll you a s whole a nd s ou n d as you

h a ve bee n brought out of this h a s it n ot be en a thin g to ,

laugh at a n d to tell the gr eat fright we have had ? a t least

,

whic h I had for a s to your wors hip I trow that you kn ow

, , ,
”
not n or comprehen d what fear or fright i s.
” “
I do n ot de n y ans wered Don Quixote that w h at h as
, ,

happen ed to us i s a th in g wort h laughin g a t but it i s n ot ,

w o rth tellin g for not all pers o n s are k nowi ng e n ough to give
,
”
things the right poi nt.
Your wors hip at a n y rate replied San cho kn ew h ow
, , ,

t o give poin t to your la n ce po in ti n g it at me at my head and

,

hit tin g me on the s houlders than k s be to God a nd to the ,

agility I us ed in s teppin g as ide ; but g o to it w ill all c ome , ,

out i n the wa s h ; a s I have heard sa y he like s thee well who ,

makes thee cry a n d be side s great lord s are wo n t after a n

, , , ,

ill word to a s ervan t to give him a p a ir of breeche s though

,
—
I k n ow n ot w h a t they are won t to be s tow a fter g ivi ng him
blow s i f s o be that knights errant after blow s give not isles
,
”
or kingdom s on the m ain .
”
The die may so fall s aid Don Quixote a s that all th ou
, ,

s ugge s t may come to be true : overlook w hat h a s pas se d ,

s i n ce thou a rt s e n s ible enough to k n o w that a man s fi rs t

’

motio n s are n ot u n der h i s co ntrol. A n d take heed from

he n cefort h of one thin g in order that tho u mays t res tra in
,

t hy s el f a nd repre s s thy too m u ch lice n s e of s peech with me ,

for never i n the man y book s of chivalries which I have read ,

w hich are in fi n ite have I fou n d a ny s quire s peak so much

,

with h i s lord a s thou wit h t hin e ; a n d i n trut h I hold it for a , ,

great f ault in thee a n d in me i n thee th a t thou res p e cte st

,

—
,

me s o little i n me in n ot maki n g my s elf to be more t e

,

s p e ct e d
. There w a s Ga n d a l i n s quire of Amadis of Gaul w as , ,

C ou nt of the Firm I s le a n d we read of him t hat he a lways

,

s poke to h i s lord cap in ha n d with hi s head bowed a n d h is ,

body bent i n T urkis h fa s hion . Then what sh all we s a y of

,

Ga s a ba l s quire of Don G a laor who w a s s o re s erved t ha t to

, ,

in dicate h i s s urpas s in g and m a rvelou s taciturn ity only o nce ,

i s h i s n am e n amed i n all t hat hi s tory s o gran d a n d truth ful . ,

From all that I h ave said San cho t hou hast to in fer that it, ,

i s n eces s a ry to make a di s ti n ctio n betwee n mas ter a n d man ,

betwee n lord a n d s erva n t a n d betwee n kn ight and squire , .

 C H A PT E R XX I

PVhi ch trea ts of the l o a dve nture a nd di e ri ch w i nni ng of Ma m

bri na s helmet, wi m oth er th i ngs w hi ch happe ned t o our i nvi nci ble
’

E A N W H I LE it began to rain a little and S a ncho ,

wa nted them to g o in to the ful lin g mills but Don -

,

Quixote ha d co n ceived s uch a n a bhorren ce of them

on accou n t of the late j oke that h e would on n o account e nter
them and so turn ing to the road on his ri ght hand they
, , ,

c a me upon another like that which they had ta ken the da y

before. A little s pace onward Don Quixote desc ried a ma n
m ou n ted who wore on h is h ead s om et hin g that glittered as
,

if it w ere of gol d a n d s carce had b e s een him when he

, ,

tu rn ed to Sancho a n d exclaimed
,

Methin ks Sancho that there is no proverb which is not

, ,

true for a l l are maxim s gathered from experien ce its e lf the

, ,

mother of all th e s cien ce s e s pecia lly that which s a ys where

, ,

o n e door s h uts another open s T h is I sa y becaus e if fortune

.
’
,

las t n ight s hut again s t us the door of that which we s ought ,

befooli n g us with the fullin g mill s now does it open wide to

-
,

us an other far better a n d more certain adve n tu re by whic h , ,

if I make n ot good my en try the fault will be min e without

, ,

my bei n g able to impute it to my s cant k n o w ledge of full ing

mill s or to the darknes s of the night. I sa y this be cau se if ,

I am n ot deceived there i s coming towar d s us one who bea rs

,

on h i s he a d the helmet of Mambrin o over which I m a de t h e ,

”
vow thou kn owes t of.
“
M in d w ell w h at y ou s a y a nd better w hat you d o sa id ,

Sancho for I would not t here were othe rfullin g mills to full
,
-

”
us off a n d hammer us o ut o f our s en s es .

“ ” “
The devil take thee fellow cried D on Q uixote ; what
, ,

h a s a helmet to d o with f ul l i ng mill s ? -

” “
I don t kno w an swered Sancho ; but faith if I might
’

, , ,

1
5 0
 DO N ourxor s 15 1

S peak I us ed to perhap s I could give s uch re a sOn s that

as ,

your wors hip would se e that y ou are mis take n i n w hat you
sa
y
How can I be mis ta ken s cru pulous traitor in what I , ,
”
sa y ,
cried D on Quixot e ; tell me s ees t n ot y ou kn ight w h o ,

comes towards us mounted upo n a dapple gray s teed w h o -

,

bea rs upon h is head a helm of gold ?

Wh a t I se e a nd make out replied San cho i s n a ught ,
”
,

b ut a ma n upo n a gra y a ss like mi n e w h o carrie s on h is he a d ,

”
a t hin g which s hi n e s .

Well that is the hel met of M a mbrin o s aid Don Quix

, ,
“
ote ; withdraw as ide a n d leave me alon e with him ; t hou
s halt s e e how w ithout S peaki n g a w ord a n d i n order t o s ave
, ,

the time I con cl ude t h i s adve n t ure a nd the helmet which I

, ,
”
have s o coveted becomes mine .
The w ithdra w in g I will take c a re to do replied San cho ; ,

b ut God gra n t I sa y again it prove s weet marj oram a n d n o

, ,
”
m illin g.
I have told you alrea dy brother n ot to remin d me a n y , ,

more even by a t ho ught of the m a tter of the fullin g mill s

,
-

—
, ,

s aid Do n
“ —
Quixote ; for I sw ea r I sa y no more I will full
that s oul of y ou !
San cho held h is peace for fear that h i s mas ter woul d carry
o ut t h e v ow he fl u n g at him so ro un dly .

N ow the truth of the matter a s t o t h e helmet the hors e

, , ,

a n d the k n ight that D on Q uixote s a w w a s thi s There w ere .

in th a t n eighborhood tw o vill a ge s one s o s mall that it p os ,

s e s s ed n either a pothecary s s h Op n or barber which the ot h er

’

, ,

clo s e to it had ; a n d s o the barber of the la rger village did

,

d uty for the s maller i n which w a s a s ick ma n w h o required to

,

be blooded a n d an other w h o w an ted s h a vin g. O n this accou n t

,

t h e barber w a s comin g bri ngi ng w ith him a b ra s s ba s in ; a n d

,

i t chan ced that at t h e time he w a s traveli n g it comme n ced

, ,

t o ra in a n d so a s not to s poil h i s hat w hich w a s a n e w on e

, , , ,

he clapped upo n h is head the ba s in which being sh in y s ho n e , , ,

h alf a leag ue o ff . He rode upo n a gra y a s s a s San cho s aid , ,

and this w a s h ow to Don Q uixot e there appeared t h e dapp l e

gray s teed a nd the kn ight a n d t h e helmet of gold for all
, , ,

thin gs that he s a w he m a de fall i n very eas ily w it h h i s wild

c h iv a hi e s and h is vagabo n d fa n cie s . A n d whe n b e perceived ,
15 2 CERVANTE S

that l uckl e ss h orseman draw n ear without stopping t o pa rley ,

wit h him he ra n at him wit h h i s lan ce couched at Rozina nte s ’

f ull gallop wi t h in te n t t o pierce him thro ugh a n d thro ugh ; a n d

,

a s he came up to him wi t ho ut abati n g the f ury of h i s car eer

, ,

he c ried out :
Defend thys elf vile caitiff creature or re n der m e u p of
, ,

t hi n e ow n will t hat which by all right i s my d ue !

The barber w h o sa w that apparitio n bearin g dow n upon
,

him w itho ut thought or apprehe n s io n of a ny s uch thing h a d

, ,

n o o t her way t o s ave hi m s el f from the th ru s t of the lan ce

t ha n t o let him s elf fall o ff h i s a s s ; a n d n o s oon er had h e

to uched the groun d than he ro s e more n imbly than a d eer ,

a n d began to race acro s s the plain f a ster than the w in d . Th e

ba s in he left upon the gro un d w ith w hich Don Q uixote w a s ,

w ell con te n t remarkin g that the Pay n im had do n e wis ely a nd

, ,

that he had imitated the beaver w h o when he fi nd s hims elf ,

hard pres s ed by the h un ters tears a nd cuts off w ith hi s teeth

,

that for which he kn ow s by n atural in stin ct he i s chas ed . He

bade San cho pick up the helmet w h o takin g it in h is hands , , ,

s aid

I n s ooth the basin i s a good on e and w orth eight real s ,

”
if it i s w ort h a maravedi .

He gave it to his master w h o placed it upo n h is hea d

, ,

turn i n g it about from side to s ide i n s earch of t h e vizor. N ot

fi n din g it he s aid : Do ub tle ss the Payn im t o who s e m e as ure
, ,

this famo us head piece w a s firs t forged must have had a very
-

”
large head a n d the worst of it i s that h alf of it i s w an ti ng
, .

Whe n San cho hea rd him call the bas in a head piece he -

could n ot con tain h is laughter but bethin kin g him of h is , ,

m a ster s wrath b e checked him s elf in the mid st of it.

’

What do st thou laugh at as ked D on Q uixote .

”
I am laughin g replied he for thin kin g of the big hea d
, ,

the Payn im own er of this helmet mu s t have had for it looks ,

”
f or all the w orld like n o t hin g but a perfect barber s bas in
’
.

Kn owe st thou what I s u s pect S a n cho ? That this ,

famo us piece of the en chan ted hel m et m us t by s ome s tra nge

acciden t have come in to t h e han ds of on e w h o did n ot k now
o r e s teem i t s worth a n d w h o ig n oran t of what h e did s eeing
, , ,

it to be of p ure gold must have melted dow n t h e other h alf

,

of it to profit by i ts w orth a n d of this half he h a s m a de what

,
15 4 CERVA NTE S

cannot go for earne st ; but it i s I w h o kn ow th e quality of

the earnes t a n d the jes t a n d I kn ow t oo that they will n ot
, , ,

s l ip from my memory a s they will never out of my s hou l de rs .

But leavin g this as ide tell me your wors hip what we a re to

, , ,

d o w ith this dapple gray s teed which looks so like a gray as s

-

which that Mart ino w hom your wors hip overthrew ha s l eft
, ,

here to s hift for itself for by the way he took to hi s he els

, ,

and gave leg bail he i s n ot likely ever to come back for it

-

, ,
”
a n d by my he a rd but the dapple i s a good one .

I am n ever accu stomed s aid Don Q uixote to des p oil , ,

tho se w hom I vanquis h n or i s it the cus tom in chival ry to

,

t ake the ir hors e s a n d leave the m t o g o afoot u n le ss it s ho uld ,

happen that the victor los e h is ow n in the fight in w hi ch ,

case it i s law ful to take that of the van quis hed a s w on in fair
w a r. S o San cho leave that hor s e or a s s or whatever t h o u
, , , ,

w ilt have it to be for whe n it s owner see s us gone a way fro m

,
”
here he w ill return for it .
”
God kn o w s I s hould like to take it replied Sancho or , ,

at leas t to s wap it for this of min e which s eem s to me n ot so ,

good . Truly but the laws of chiva lry are s trict sin ce the y ,

are n ot to be s tretch ed into letti ng on e a s s be swapped for

an other a n d I would I kne w i f I might s wap the trapping s
, ,
”
however .

A s to that I am not very certain an s wered Don Quixote ; ,

and i n a cas e of doubt un ti l I am better informed I s hould

, ,

sa that thou mighte s t chan ge them if thy need of them be

y ,

extreme .
“ ”
So extreme i s it replied Sancho that were they for
, ,
”
my ow n pers on I could n ot need them more . A n d t hen ,

bein g inve sted with this licen s e he made muta t io ca p p a rum ,

a n d decked out h i s a s s w ith a thou s a n d finerie s leavin

g h i m ,

vastly bettered . Thi s do ne they broke their fast upo n what ,

w a s left of the commi s s ariat which they had de s po iled fro m

the s umpter mule . They dran k of the water of the s tream
-

w hich ra n by the fullin g mill s w it ho ut turning their faces to

-

look a t them s uch w as the loathi ng i n which they held them

,

for the fright they had cau s ed . The n their w rath a n d even
their gloom removed they mounted a n d w ithout ta k ing a ny
, ,

fixed road ( n ot to fix upo n one bei ng peculiar to k n ights

e rrant) they set 03 to j ourney w hither Rozina n te s wil l
,
’
 DO N ourxor r: 15 5

i
’
l d which guided h ma ter nay the a f r t he a s s
’
ea s e s s s s s s o
p , , , ,

a lway s follo w ed h i m wh e rev er he led in good love a nd fe l ,

l ow s h i p ,
— returning witha l into the highroad a n d p urs uing it
a t ra n dom without a n y de fin ite purpo s e .

A S they wen t alo n g th us Sancho s ai d t o h i s mas ter

Sir would your wors hip give me l eave to ta l k w ith you a
,

l ittl e ? For s in ce y ou laid that hard comm a n d of silen ce

o n me s everal th ings have rott ed i n my s tomach and there s
’
,

o ne I have n ow on the tip of my ton g ue I don t wi s h t o have

’

s po ilt.
”
Speak it s aid Don Quixote a n d be brief in thy di s
, ,
”
c o u rs e for n one i s pleasa n t if it be lo n g
,
.

“ ”
I s a y the n s ir replied San cho that for s ome day s
, , ,

p as t t i ll n ow I h a ve bee n co n s ide ri n g h ow little i s g ot and

i ned by goi n g about s eeki n g for adven ture s uch a s your

g a

w ors hip s eek s by the se wild s a n d cro s sw ay s where let the ,

m o s t peril ou s on e s he w on a nd a chieved there i s n o one to ,

se e us or t o k n ow of them a n d so they have t o remain i n

,

e t ern al s ilen ce a n d to the h a rm of yo ur wors hip s object a nd

’

o f what they de s erve A n d therefore methin k s it w o uld be

.

b e tter s avin g yo ur w ors hip s better judgmen t that w e s ho uld

’

, ,

g o t o s erve s ome emperor o r other great pri n ce who h as a

w a r upo n h is ha n d s in who s e s ervice you might di s play the
,

w o rth of yo ur pers on your mighty s tre n gt h a n d greater un

,

d e rsta n di ng ; which bein g perceived by the lord who m we

s hal l s erve , he must perforce reward us each accordin g to ,

h i s de serts ; and there will n ot be lacki n g s ome on e t o p ut

d ow n in w riting your wors hip s deed s for everlas ti n g remem
’

bran ce. O f my ow n I s a y n othin g for t hey m ust not g o ,

be yo n d sq uirely limits altho ugh I c a n sa y that i f it i s the

,

u s age of chivalry to w rite o f the deed s o f s q uire s I t hin k min e ,

”
w ill n ot be l e ft out .

Thou s peake s t n ot amiss Sancho re s pon ded Don Quix

, ,

ot e ; but before th a t term i s reached it i s n ece s s a ry to roam

the w orld a s t h o ugh on proba tio n in q ue st of adve n ture s i n
, , ,

o rd er that by achievin g s o me w e may a cq uire n ame a n d f ame

s u ch that whe n w e s hal l go to the court o f s ome gre a t mon

a rc h the kn ight may be already k n o w n by h i s deed s ; a n d

,

t hat the boy s the mome n t t hey s ee him e n ter by t h e city

,

g a te
, m a y a l l follow a n d s u rrou n d him cryi n g o ut s ayi n g : , ,
15 6 CE RVANTE S

This is the Knight of the S un or of the s erpe nt or of some ,

’
,

other devi ce u n der which he may have performed gre at deeds.

T h is is he they will s a y w h o van quis hed i n Sin gle c ombat
,
’
,

the great gian t B roca brun o of mighty s tre ngt h he th at dis ,

encha n ted t h e great M a meluke of Pers ia out of the l on g en

chantmen t in which he had bee n held for n early n ine hundred
years . Thus they will go proc laiming h is exploits f rom ha nd
’

to han d and anon at the c l amor of the boys and the oth er
,

p eople there wil l pre s e n t him self at the win dow s o f the royal

p a lace the kin g of that kin gdom ; and a s so o n a s he s hall see

the kn ight recogn iz i ng him by hi s armor or by t h e d ev i ce on
,

h i s s hield h e will fain exclaim : What h o ! let my knights

‘
,

g o fort h a s many a s are of my cou rt to receive the fl ower of

’
chivalry w ho cometh yonder. A t who s e comma n d t hey will
all s ally out a n d the kin g him self will advance half w a y down
,
-

t h e s tair s a n d will embrace him v ery clo s ely a n d gi ve him

,

welcome ki s s ing him o n the face and the n he wil l lead h im

, ,

by the hand to the ch a mber of h i s lady queen wh e re the ,

k n ight will fin d her with the p rincess her d a ughter w ho ,

s hould be on e o f the lovelie st a n d mo s t accompli s hed d a m sels

to be found anyw here wit h t he utmo st pa in s through the

greate s t part of what i s dis covered of the earth . After this ,

it wil l happen i ncon ti n en tly that s h e will ben d h e r eyes on

the kn ight a n d he on hers a nd each will appea r to the other
,

s ome t hi n g more divin e than human ; a n d without k n owing ,

h ow or why they will be impris oned and en tangled i n the

,

in extricable net of love a n d w ith great an guis h in their hearts

,

thro ugh n ot kn owin g h ow they s hould s pea k i n order to dis

cover their pain s a n d feelin gs . Thence they will con duct
him n o doubt to s ome chamber i n the palace richly be di ght
, , ,

where havin g removed h i s armor they will bri n g him a ric h

, ,

man tle of s carlet w herewith to cover him ; a n d if in h i s a rmor

he had a goodly as pect a s well and goodlier wi ll he appear
,

i n doublet. The n ight being come he w ill s up with the king , ,

q ueen a n d prince ss w hen he will never take h is eye s off her

, , ,

ga zin g at her u n detected of t h e bys tanders a nd s h e w ill do ,

the like with the s ame circ um s pecti on for a s I hav e said
, , , ,

s h e i s a dam s el mo s t dis creet. The tables bein g removed ,

there will e n ter of a s udden by the hall door a n il l favored -

’
l ittle dwarf with a beaut eo us lady who come s a t t h e d warf s ,
 CERVANTES

h er greate s t a ffl iction s i s n ot to know w ho h erkn ight ma y b e ,

a n d whether he be of kin g s lin eage or n ot ; the da mse l a s ’

s ure s her that so much court e s y gentlenes s a n d v alor a s h e r , ,

kn ight s could find no place but in a be in g royal a n d il lus

’

t ri ous ; the an xiou s on e i s co n soled th ereby a n d s tri ves t o ,

be of good cheer s o a s n ot to give her p a ren ts a ny unti m e l y

,

s u s picion o f her ; and at the e n d of t wo day s come s ou t i n

publi c . The kn ight i s already gone ; he fights in the w a r ;

vanquishe s t h e kin g s enemy ; win s man y c it ies ; tri ump h s i n
’

m an y battles ; ret urn s to the court ; s ees h is mis t ress w h e re

he w a s won t to d o ; it is ag reed that he s hall as k her of h e r
father for wife in recompen s e of his se rvices ; the ki ng is n ot
willing to give her to h im becau s e h e does not k n ow w h o h e
i s b ut for all that either thro ugh being carried 0 3 or i n s o m e
, ,

mann er w hatever the princes s come s to be h i s w i fe a n d h e r

,

father to regard it a s great good fortune for it i s d iscov e re d ,

that t h e s aid knight i s son to a vali ant king of I kn ow n ot

what ki ngdom for I think it s hould not be in t h e map . T h e
,

father dies ; the pri nce ss in herits ; in tw o w ord s the kn ig ht ,

become s king. Here comes in at once the bes towal of fa v o rs

upon the s quire a n d upon all who he lped the kn ight i n mo un t
,

i ng t o s o high a n e s tate . He marrie s h is s q uire t o the p rin

ce ss s dam
’
s el who n o, doubt s hould be s h e who w a s g o—b etw e e n

i n their amours a n d i s daughter to a v e ry exa lted duke.

,

That s what I a s k a n d fair play and no favor s a i d

’
, ,

San cho ; I hold to that for all to the lett er will bef all y o ur
,

wors hip callin g yours elf The Kn i ght of the R uef ul Fig ure .
,
’

” “
Doubt it not S a n cho replied Don Q uixot e ; for by
, ,

the very s ame mode a n d by the very s ame s tep s I h a v e

,

de scribed to t hee kn ights erran t ris e and have ri s e n to b e

, , ,

kin g s and emperors A ll we want now i s to l ook what ki n g

.

of t h e Chri stian s o r the pagan s i s at w ar a n d h a s a beau t i f ul ,

daughter ; but there will be time enough to thin k of that s ee ,

i n g a s I have told thee w e have firs t to acqui re fame i n o t h e r

, ,

parts before repairin g to the court. There is a lso a not h er

thin g I lack for s uppo s in g a king to be fo un d with a
, ,

war a n d a beautiful daughter and that I have acq ui re d ,

i n credible fame thro ugh all the universe I kn ow n ot h ow it ,

can be made out that I am of royal li neage or s econ d cousi n ,

at least to an emperor for the king will not like to g ive me

,
 DO N QUIX OTE 15 9

h is da ugh ter un til he is quite ass ured of this h owever much ,

my famous deeds may de s erve it so t hat by this defect I ,

apprehend I s hall los e w hat my arm h a s well ea rn ed . True

i t is that I am a gen tl em a n of a k n ow n hou s e of po ss e ss ion s ,

and property a nd en titled to five hu n dr ed sueldo s repara tio n ;

,

and it may be that the sage who s hall write my history wi ll

so elu ci date my par e n ta ge and de s ce n t as t o prove me fifth or

sixt h i n line fro m a kin g . For I wo uld have thee kn ow ,

Sancho that there are tw o kin ds of lin eage s in the w or ld ;

,

thos e w h ich trace and derive their des cent from prin ce s a n d
monarch s w h ich time hath little by little dimin i s h ed which
, ,

have e n ded i n a point li ke a pyramid ; the others which ta ke

t heir s ource from low people and go as cending from step to,

step till they a rri ve at bei n g great lord s ; s o th at t h e di ff ere n ce

is t ha t t h e on e were w hat n ow they are not a n d the others ,

a re what they never were ; a n d I might prov e after inve s tiga ,

tion to be of th o s e who had a great a n d famous origin w it h

, ,

which the ki n g my father ln law w h o i s to h e o ught to h e s a t

,
- -

isfie d . A n d even if he is n ot the p ri n ce s s will love me t o ,

s uch a degree a s that i n s pite of her father tho ugh s h e may

, ,

kn ow m e plain ly to be the s on of a w at er carrier sh e wil l -

receive me for her lord a n d hu sban d ; a n d if n ot here comes , ,

in th e carrying of her o ff a nd t akin g her w here I pleas e for ,

ti me or dea th mu s t e nd the dis pleas ure of her paren ts . ”

There comes in here too s aid San cho w hat certain

, , ,

scapeg ra ces s a : N ever a s k as a favor w hat u take

y y o c a n
’
—
by forc e ; though it were more pat to s a y : A leap o er ‘ ’

the hedge is better than good men s prayers I sa y s o ’

because if my lord t h e king yo ur wors hip s f ather in law wil l

,
’
- -

not co m e down to h a n d my lady pri n ce s s over to u there

y o ,

is n othin g for it but as your w ors hip s ay s to c a rry her o ff

, ,

an d hi de h er . But the mis chief i s that u n t il you have made ,

pea ce a n d a re enjoyi ng yo ur kin gdom comfortably t h e poor ,

sq uire may g o whis tl e fo r the matt er of re w ard s un le s s t h e ,

da m s el g o b etween w h o h a s to be h is wife ru n s away alon g

-

, ,

with her mis tr e s s a n d with her ti de s over h i s bad luck un t il

Hea ven ordain s otherw is e for h i s mas ter I s uppo se would
, , ,
”
be abl e t o give her to him a t once a s h i s law ful wife .
“
T h ere is n o one ca n preve nt that s aid D on Q uixote . ,
” “
Then S in ce it may be so an sw ered San cho there i s
, , ,
I GO C ERVAN TES

n othin g for it b ut to commen d ourselves to God and let for ,

”
tu n e run what road it will .
God s e n d it accord i n g t o my de s ire a nd thy wa nts ,
”
San cho s aid D on Q uixote ; and mean h e h e w h o be a rs
,
”
him meanly.
Let him i n God s n ame an s wered Sancho ; for I a m
,
’

,
”
a n ol d Ch ri stian a n d that s goo d e n o ugh for a co unt .
’

,
“ ”
A n d more than e n ough for thee s aid Don Q uix o te ; ,

and w ert thou not one it would be n o matter for I be i n g

, , , ,

king ca n eas ily give t hee nobilit y wit ho ut thy bri ngi n g or
,

rendering me a ny s ervice ; a n d in m a kin g th ee a co un t ,

presto ! thou art a ge ntleman a n d let them s a y w hat t h e y ,

will for by my faith t hey w ill have to call th e e your lords h i p

, ,

in their ow n de s pite .

Trus t me for that quoth Sancho ; I wil l know h ow t o

,
”
s upport my pattern .

Paten t thou m ust sa y n ot pattern s aid h i s ma ste r .

‘
, ,
”
So be it replied Sancho I sa y I s hould kn ow h ow t o
, ,

demean my s elf for on my l ife I w as once on a ti me bea dl e

,

of a brotherhood a n d the beadle s gow n becam e me s o w e l l

’

that every on e s aid I had a pres ence which mi ght d o for a

warden of the s ame brotherh ood . What will it be th e n w h e n , ,

I p ut a duke s robe on my back or be clothed i n gold a n d

’

pearls like the fas hion of a foreign count ? I ll be boun d ’

”
they ll come a hu n dred league s to se e me .
’

“ ” “
Thou wilt look well s aid Don Quixote ; but thou w i lt ,

need to s have thy beard ofte n for thou has t it s o thi ck , ,

matted a n d u n kempt that u n less tho u u s e s t a razor every

, ,
”
t w o day s at leas t they will s e e what thou art a g un s hot ofi .
”
What more is t o d o s aid San ch o but to take a barber , , ,

and keep him on wage s in the hous e ? A n d if more i s ,

’
n eeded I wil l make him follow behin d me like a gra ndee s
,
”
groom .

But h ow dost thou know that grandee s carry their groom s

behin d them ? a s ked Don Quixote.
”
I will tell y ou an sw ered San cho ; s ome ye ars ago I
,

w as a mo n th i n the co u rt a n d I s a w there takin g a wal k a ,

v ery litt le lord w h o they s aid w a s a g reat gr an de e

,
a nd a , ,

man followed him on hors eback turn in g everyw here a s he ,

turned ju s t a s if he were hi s tai l. I as ked why th a t ma n did

,
 C H A PT E R XX II

Of th e li berry w hich D on Quix ote g a ve to severa l unf ortuna tes w h o,

much ag a i ns t thei r w i ll , w ere bei ng ca rri ed to w here they ha d no
w is h to go

I D H A M ET B E N E N GE L I t he A rabian a n d M a n ,

chegan author relate s in this mo st g rave h i g h

, ,

s o un di n g minute s weet a n d conceited his tory t h a t

, , , ,

after that c olloq uy had pas s ed betw e e n the famo us D on

Quixote of La Man ch a a n d Sancho Pan za h i s s quire w h i c h , ,

i s reported at the e n d of the twen ty fi rs t chapter Don Qui xot e -

lifted up h is eyes a n d s a w comi ng a lo n g the road he w as t a k

i n g s om e dozen men on foot s tru n g together on a great i r o n
,

chain lik e be ad s by the n eck a n d a l l with man acles on t h e i r

, ,

ha n d s. There came al s o w ith them two men on horseb a c k

.

a n d tw o on foot thos e on hors eback with fi re l ock s a n d th o se

, ,

on foot with s w ord s a n d javeli n s ; a n d a s s oon as S a ncho s a w

them he cried
, This is a chain of ga lley sla ves peo p le -
,
”
forced by the kin g to g o t o the galleys .
“
H ow ! people forced as ked Don Quixote ; i s it pos s i
ble that the kin g S hould e n force a ny on e
”
I s a y n ot that an s wered Sa ncho ; but they a re peop l e
,

who are co nde mn ed for th eir ofi e n se s to s erve the kin g in

the galleys perforce .

“
I n fact replied Don Quixote
, be i t h ow it may the se, ,

people s in ce they are bein g taken g o by force a n d not of

, ,

their ow n w ill .

“
Th a t i s so s aid Sancho .
,
”
I n that case the n s aid hi s master
, ,
here comes i n the ,

exercis e of my offi ce to redre s s outrages a n d to s uccor a nd

,
”
aid the affl icted .
Let your wors hip re flect s aid Sancho that justi ce , , ,

which i s the kin g s s elf doe s no violence or wron g to s uch

’

p eople , o n ly it cha s ti s e s them i n pu n i s hme n t of th e ir cri mes .

1
6a
 DON QUI X O I E
‘ '
1
63

H ere the galley sl ave chain cam e up ,

-
a nd Don Quixote, in
v ery court eou s terms be sought thos e w h o
, were in charge of
them to be good en ough to inf orm a n d tell him the cau s e or
c a us es wherefore they were c on veyi ng tho se people in th at

m an ner. O ne o f the guards on horseback a n s wered that

they were galley s laves -
people belo n gin g to h is Maj es ty
, ,

w h o were goin g t o t h e galleys a n d t hat there w a s n o ,

m ore to sa y n or for him a ny more to kn ow .

”
N evertheless replied D on Quixote
, I would k n ow ,

from each of t hem s in gly the cau se of h i s misfort un e . To

thes e he added other words a n d s o court eous to in duce them
, ,

t o tell him what he wa nted to kn ow t hat the ot her mou nted ,

guard s aid to him A lthough w e bear w ith us the register

a n d t h e warran t o f the S en ten ce of each of the s e u n fortu n ate s ,

this is n o t ime to take the m out a n d read th em . Your w or

s hip m a y come a n d a s k it of them s elve s for they may tell it ,

if th ey plea se a n d they wil l fo r they are gen try w h o take a

, ,
”
pleas ure in acti n g and in tellin g t heir rascalitie s .
With this l icens e which Don Qui xot e would have taken
,

for him s elf had they n ot g ive n it he wen t up to the chain ,

a n d i n q uired of the firs t o n e for what S in s h e we n t in s uch

i ll guis e . He an s w ered that it w a s for bein g i n love .

,

F or that a n d n aught else ? cried Don Quixote. If for

bei ng in love people are s en t to the galleys I s hould hav e ,
”
bee n pulling a n oa r there lon g a g o.
The love i s not of the s ort that your wors hip imag ines ,

s ai d the galley s lave ; -

min e w a s that I loved overmuch a
b uck basket st uff ed with w hite lin e n w hich I embraced so
-
,

ti ghtly that if the law had n ot ta ke n it from m e by viole n ce ,

I would n ot of my ow n free will have fors aken it till n ow .

,
.
,

I w a s ta ken in the act ; there w a s no n eed for t h e q ue stion ;

t h e cau s e w a s con cl uded ; they fi t ted my back with a b un
d red a n d three year s of g ura p a s to boot a nd the j ob w a s
, ,
’
d on e f
Wh at are g ura p aa sked Don Quixote .
s ?
”
Gura p a s are galley s an sw ered th e galley slave w h o
,
-

w a s a you n g fellow of abo ut tw e n ty four years of age and a -

na ti ve he s aid of Piedra hit a.

, ,

Don Quixote put t h e l ike ques tion to the s econ d w h o a n ,

sw ered n ot a word he w a s s o dow n ca st a n d mela n choly . But

,
1
64 CERVAN TE S

t h e fi rs t an swered for h im a n d s aid : He sir goes fo r a , , ,

”
can ary bird
-
I mean for a mu si cian a nd s inger
,
.
“
H ow the n replied Don Quixote ;
, d o men al so g o t o
”
the ga lleys for bein g m us icia n s a n d s ingers ?
”
Yes S ir replied t h e ga lle y s lav e ;
, , for the re is not h i n g -

”
wors e than s ingin g in the a n g uis h .
”
I have heard s a y rath er s aid Don Q u ixot e th a t h e
, , ,
”
w h o s ings frighte n s a w ay s orrow .
”
He re it i s ju st the con trary sa id the galley s lave ; ,
-

he w h o s in gs on ce weep s all hi s life .

I do n ot un ders tan d it sa i d Don Quixote But on e of , .

the guard s s aid t o hi m : S ir kn ight amon g the s e ung od l y ,

people to s in g in the ang uis h mean s to co n fe s s un der tort ur e .

They p ut this s in n er to th e torture and he confess ed h is ,

o ff en se which w a s that he w a s a cuatrero that is a ca t tl e

, , ,

lifter ; a n d on h i s c on fes sion they con demned h im to t he g a l

leys for six years bes ides tw o h un dred las hes w hich he ta k es
,

on h i s back a n d he goe s ever do wn cas t and sa d be cause t h e

,

rest of the thieve s w h o remai n behind a n d t hey w h o ma rc h

with us maltreat abus e fl out a n d des pise him for the rea s on
, , , ,

that he con fess ed and had n ot s pirit enough to sa y na y ; f or ,

a s they s a a na h a a s ma n y lett er s a s a n aye a n d t h a t it

y y
, s ,

i s luck e n ough for a c riminal whe n h is life or death s ta n ds ,

o n h i s ow n to n gue a n d n ot in that of w it n e s s e s or proo fs ;

”
a n d for my part I thin k they are n ot far out
, ,
.
”
A n d so thin k I s aid Don Quixote ; the n pass i n g o n to
, ,

the third he p ut to him the s a me q uest io n a s to the oth ers

, ,

a n d the ma n replied very readily a n d coolly s ayi n g ,

I go for five years to their ladys hip s the g ura p a s for bei ng
”
s ho rt of te n d ucats .

I wil l g ive tw e nt y with all my heart s aid Don Q u ixot e , ,

”
to free you from this trouble .
”
That look s to me re s pon ded the galley s lave like one
,
-

w h o h a s mo n ey i n the mid s t of the se a a n d i s dyin g of h un

ger without an y where to buy w hat he needs I sa y so
, . ,

be caus e if I had po ssess ed those twen ty duca ts which your

wors hip now o ff er s me at the right tim e I would have , ,

greas ed the n ot ary s p e n with them a n d quicken ed t h e a dv o

’

cate s w it s o that to day you would see me in t h e middle of

’
,
-

th e Z ocod ov e r Sq uare at Toledo and n ot on th is road leas hed ,

 66 CERVAN TE S

n on e of m in e. It w a s all proved a gain st me ; I h a d n o inter

e s t ; I had n o money ; I c ame n ea r t o havi n g my w in dpipe

c hoked ; they s e n te nced me t o the ga l leys for s ix yea rs ; I

agreed ; it w a s a pu n is hment for my fault ; I a m a young

ma n ; let life only hold out a nd with th at a ll wil l com e right
, .

If your wors hip s ir kn ight h ave a nyt hin g abo ut y ou w ith

, ,

whic h to help us poor folk God will repay you for it in ,

hea ven a n d we on earth wi ll make a point of bese ec hing

,

God i n our prayers for your wors hip s l ife a nd health that ’
,

they may be a s lon g a nd a s good a s your fin e p rese n ce

dese rve s .
He that s poke w as in the garb of a student a n d on e of the ,

warders said he w a s a g reat talker a n d a n ele gant s ch ola r.

Beh in d all thes e there came a ma n of t h e age of thir ty of ,

very good appearan ce except that when he loo ked he tur ned
,

on e eye into the other . H e w a s bo und a litt le di fl e re ntly

from the res t for he wore a chai n to h is le g s o lo n g th a t it
,

wou n d roun d h is w hole body a nd t w o rin gs on h is n ec k one

, ,
“ ”
atta ched to t h e chain the other of the s ort cal led kee p frie nd
,
-

’ ”
or frien d s foot From t his hun g two iron s which rea c h e d to
.

h i s wais t whereo n w ere fas te n ed t w o m a nacles w hic h h eld

,

h i s han d s fas t locked with a weighty padlock in s uc h a ma n ,

n e r a s that he could n either carry h is hand s to h is mo uth nor

lower h is head to h is han ds . Don Q uixote as ke d why t hat

ma n we n t w ith s o m an y chai n s more than the ot h ers . The
wa rder replied t hat it w a s becaus e he had more crimes to hi s
charge than all the other s together a nd that he w a s so da rin g ,

a n d great a s co un drel that though they took him in that fas h

i on t hey were n ot s ure of him but feared that he mi g h t gi v e

,

them the s lip .

“
What crime s then ca n he have committed s aid D on
, , ,
“
Q u ixote ,
if they have n ot me rit ed a heavier pe n alty th a n
t o be s e n t to the galleys
He goes for te n years replied the warder which is like
, ,

civil death ; you n eed learn n o more than that this good
fellow i s the famous C iné s de Pas amon te otherwis e c al led ,

G in e s il l o de Pa ra p il l a .

Fair a n d s oftly master c ommiss ary s aid the galley

, ,

s lave at thi s a n d let us n ot go s plitt in g of n ames a n d s ur

,

n ame s n ow . I am Gin és a n d n ot Gin esillo and Pasa mon te ,

 DON QUI X O I E
‘ '
1
67

is my family n a me n ot Para p illa as you sa y a nd let every

, , ,

one turn abo ut a n d loo k a t h o me a n d he will be doin g n ot a

,
”
l it tle.
Spea k le ss imp ude n tl y Sir thief be yon d meas ure replied
, ,

t h e c o m m iss a ry , u n less you would have me s ilence you to

”
y our g r ief .

It may be s een retorted the galley s lave that ma n

,
-
,

goe s a s God pleas es but s ome day s omebody s hall k n ow

,
”
w he ther my n ame i s Gi ne s ill o de Pa ra p il la or n ot.
Do they n ot call thee s o t h en ras ca l ? , s a id the ward er.
,
”
Ye s they do
, an sw ered Gin es ; but I wil l take ca re
,

that they don t call me o or I will pl ck the

’
s u, m — but no
matter. Sir knight if you h ave a nyt h in g to give us give it
, ,

t o us now and be go n e i n G od s name for you w e a ry me by

'

, , ,

w a n ti n g to know so much of other m en s live s ; and if you wa n t

’

t o know abo ut m ine kn ow that I am Gin és de Pas amonte

, ,
”
w hos e life the s e fingers h a ve writt en .
H e sa ys true c ried t h e commis sary ; for h e h imse lf
,

h a s writt e n h is s to ry which lea ves nothin g to be de sired a nd

, ,
”
h a s left t h e bo ok i n p rison pledged for tw o hun dred re al s.
”
Aye a n d I i ntend to redee m it sa id Ginés ha d I left
, , ,
”
i t for tw o hundred ducats .
”
I s it so good t h e n ?
, as ked Do n Quixote .
”
Tis so goo d replied Gin es
’
, that the de uce take Laza rillo
,

de Tormes and all the others of that kid n ey which have be en ,

or may be wr itte n . What I may tell you is that it d eals with

t ruth s and truth s s o pretty a n d pleasa nt that n o lie s can come
,

u p t o them .

A n d h ow i s the book e ntitled ? a sked Don Q uixote.

The Life of C in és de Pas amon t e replied the s ame. ,
’

A n d is it fi n is hed ? Don Q u ixote in quired .

”
H ow ca n it be finis hed an swered he if my life i s n ot
, ,

y e t fi n i s hed ? W h at i s w ritten i s f rom my b i rt h u p t o the

poin t when they s e n t me to the galley s this las t ti me .

The n you h ave be en there before ? s aid Don Qui xote .

F or the s ervice of God a n d the kin g I have bee n there
on ce before for fou r ye a rs an d I kn o w the ta s te already of
,

bisc uit a nd the whip answered Gi n és ; n or doe s it grieve

,

m e much t o go there for there I s hall have ti me to fi n is h my

,

book ; a n d I have s till man y things left to s a y ; a nd in th e

1
68 CERVAN TE S

galleys of Spain there i s more leis u re than is n eeded though ,

I n eed n ot much for what I have to write for I kn ow it by ,

”
heart.
You eem to be a clever fellow s aid D on Quixote .
s ,
”
A n d a n unlucky on e res ponded Gi nés , f or bad luck ,
”
alw ay s purs ues gen ius .

It pursues kn aves remarked the commis sary.

, .

I ha ve s aid to you alrea dy master commiss ary go s oftly ;

, ,

their lord s hip s never g ave you that sta fl to maltreat us poor
’

dev ils w h o go here but to g uide us a n d carry us wh e re his

,

Majes ty command s ; if n ot by the life of E n ough l there

,

will come out some day in the w as h the s tain s got i n the wine
s hop ; and let ev ery one bridle h i s tongu e a n d live we ll a nd , ,

s pe a k be tter a n d let us jog on f or it s getting too much of a

’
, ,
”
treat is this .
,

Th e commiss ary rais ed h i s st a fi t o s tri ke Pas amon te in

return for h i s threats but D o n Quixote i nterposed a n d p ra yed
,

him not to ill treat the ma n a s it w a s n ot mu ch that h e w ho

-
,

had hi s hand s tied S hould have h i s tongue a little loo s e . A nd ,

turn in g to a ll who were on the chain he s aid ,

From a ll that y ou have told me de a re st brethren I have , ,

gathered clearly that although it is for your crime s they ha ve

pu n is hed you yet the pen altie s you en dure give y ou n o gr ea t
,

pleas ure and that you g o to them wi th a very bad g race a n d

,

ve ry muc h aga in s t your w ill a n d that possibly this one s little

,
’

’
coura ge on t h e rack that o n e s l a ck of mon ey the other s
’

, ,

wan t of in terest and i n s hort the pe rverted j udgmen t of the

, , ,

j u dge h as been the cau s e of your ruin and of your failu re to g et

that jus tice which you h a d on your side . All this doth now
pres ent its elf to my mind so a s to prompt pers uade a n d even , ,

compel me to demo n s trate in y ou the purpos e for which

Heaven s ent me into t h e world a nd made me profes s therein ,

the order of chival ry which I follow and the v ow which I ,

took un der it to s upport the n eedy a nd thos e oppresse d of

the s tronger. But foras mu ch a s I know that it is one of
the propert ie s of pruden ce n ot to do by foul means what ca n
be don e by fair I would entreat thes e gentleme n your guar
, ,

dian s a n d th e commiss ary to be good en ough to releas e you

,

a n d t o let y ou go i n peace a s there will be n o lack of others

,

to s e rve the king for better caus e ; and to me it s eem s a hard

1
7 0 CERVANTES

field of the warders w h o fled n o less from Pasa mon te s

a ll ,
’

fire l oc k tha n from t h e s h owe r of s ton es which t he now l iber

ated g a l ley S la ves po ure d on them .
-

Sa ncho w a s very sa d over this a fi a i r for he fig ured to h i m ,

s elf that t h os e w h o ha d fl e d wo uld give notice of t h e oc cu r

ren ce to th e Holy Brotherhood w h o on the soun d ing of t h e , ,

alarm bell wo uld s ally out in p urs uit of the deli nque nts ;
-
,

a n d h e s aid s o t o h is ma ster a n d p rayed h i m to de p a r t

,

at once from that place a n d hide th emse lves in th e m o un

,

tain ra n ge s clos e by.

“
That i s well s aid Don Q uixote ; but I k now wh at is
,

n o w meet t o be do n e . A nd callin g to the galley sla v e s ,

-

who were n ow runn in g abo ut uproarious ly hav in g s tri p p e d ,

t h e commiss ary to the s kin they ra n ged them s elves a b o u t

,

him in a circle to hear what might be h is com ma nds ; a n d

he addres s ed th em th us
To be grateful for the be n e fits w h ich they re ceive is t h e
m a rk of pers on s well born ; a nd one of the s in s which m o st
o fi en d s God is in g rati tude . This I sa y ge n tlemen a s ye h a v e , ,

seen of plain experience t h e be nefit y e have rec eived of m e ;

, ,

i n req uital whereof I would de s ir e a n d it is my plea s u re ,

that lade n with t h e cha i n s which I to ok from off your ne c k s

, ,

you will immediately put yours elves on the road a nd wen d t o

th e city of E l Tobo s o a n d there pre se n t your s elves be fo re
,

the lady D ulcin e a del Tobo s o a nd tell h e r that h er kn ig h t

, ,

he of the Rue ful Figure s e nd s h i s s ervice to h er ; a nd y e

,

s hall re co un t point by poin t all the de ta il s of t his fam o u s

, ,

adve n ture up to the co nferri n g upon y ou of yo ur cov e t e d

freedom ; a n d this do n e ye may go w here ye wil l a nd g o od ,

fo rtun e at te n d you .

Gi n és de Pas amon te an s we red for a l l a n d s aid Th at ,

w hich yo u r w o rs hip o ur liberator s ir comman d s is of a l l i m

, , ,

po s sibilities impos s ible for us to comply with for we ca n n o t ,

go i n a body alo ng t h e road s but s ingly a n d se parate end e a v

, ,

orin g to hide o urs elve s in the bowel s of the earth le st w e b e

.

discovered by the Holy Brotherhood whic h no doubt w i l l , , ,

come o ut i n s earch of us. What your wors hip ca n d o ,

a n d it i s righ t yo u s ho uld do is to exchan ge this s uit a n d

,

s ervice to t h e lady D u lci n ea o f E l Tobo s o for a ce rta i n

quan tity of ave marias a n d credo s; whic h we wil l re p ea t

 DON ourxor r: 17 1

on your w ors hip s ac count ; a nd th is is a th in g which ca n be

’

done by n igh t a nd by day fl ying or res tin g in peace or in

, ,

war ; but to thin k t hat we mu st now go bac k to the fle s h pots -

of Egypt I sa y take up our cha in a nd set out on the road

,

to El Tob oso is to imag in e that it is n ight when it i s n ot ten

,

0 th e m ornin g a n d to a s k it of us i s like as kin g for pear s of

’

,
”
an el m tree.-

Th en I sw ea r by hea ven cried Don Quixote now fairly

, ,

enraged Don Gin e sil lo de Pa ra p ill o or w hatever they call

, ,

you , that you s hall g o yours elf alon e your tail betw een ,

your le gs with the whole c h ai n on your s houlders

,

Pasa m onte w h o wa s nothing too patien t be in g now aware

, ,

that D on Quixote w as not very s oun d in h i s wits s ince he ,

had co mmitt ed s uch a folly as to gi ve them their liberty ,

finding him s elf outra ged in that man n er m a de a S ign to h is ,

comra d es a n d drawing as ide they began to disc h arge such

, , ,

a volle y of s ton es upon Don Quixot e a s that he could n ot

ma nag e t o s helte r him s elf w ith hi s buckler and poor Rozi ,

nante mad e n o more account of t h e S pur than if he had been

made o f b ra s s . Sancho got behind h i s a s s and with that ,

aid pro tected himself against the cloud a n d tempe st of s ton e s

whic h rained upon them both . Don Q uixote w a s unable to
s hield h ims elf s o well but that s ome of the pebble s s t ruck

h im o n the body w i th s uch fo rce that they brought h im to

the g round . The mo ment he fell the s tuden t ra n to him ,

took t h e ba s i n 03 h i s head a nd ga ve him with it three or

,

four blows on the s houlders a n d as many more on the ,

grou n d brea kin g it almo s t to pieces . They s tripped him

,

of a t un ic which he wore over h i s arm or a n d w o uld have ,

strip p e d h i m of h i s stocking s if h i s gr eave s had not preve n ted

the m. Fro m S a n cho they took h is coat leaving him in his ,

shirt s leeve s ; the n dividin g amo n g them s elve s the re s t of t h e

-

s poil s o f the battle they fl ed each hi s ow n way

,
— more con ,

cern ed to e s cape from the Brotherhood whom they dreaded , ,

than t o load themse lve s wi th the chain a n d go to pres en t

them se lves to t h e lady Dulcin ea of El Tobos o .
Al l w h o remained behin d were the a ss and Rozin a n t e ,

Sanc h o a n d Don Quixote — the a s s wit h droopin g h ead a n d

, ,

pe ns iv e s hakin g h is ears now and then as i f he thought the

,

s tor m of s to n es w hich had mole sted them w a s n ot yet over ;

172 CERVANT ES

Rozin a nte , who al s o had been brough t to gr oun d by a stone,

s tr e tc h e d by the s ide of h is master ; S a n cho

, n aked to his

s hirt and trembling f or fear of th e Holy Brotherhood ; Don

,

Q uixote much out of h umor at fi nding him s elf so ill used by

,
-

th e v e ry men for whom h e had done so muc h .

174 CERVAN T ES

s peakes t and a rt afraid but the brethren of the Tw elv e ,

Tribe s of I s rael a n d the s even Maccabees a n d C astor a n d

, ,

Pollux aye and all th e brothers and brotherhood there a re i n

, ,
”
the w orld .
”
Sir an swered San cho to retreat is not to run a wa y
, , ,

n or i s it prudence to s ta y w here the da n ger outweigh s th e

hope and it is the part of wis e me n to keep thems e l v e s

,

t o day for to morrow a n d not t o vent ure everyt hin g i n o n e

- -
,

day ; a nd let me tell you t hat thoug h I be but a rustic a n d a

clow n s ti ll there h a s come to me s omethin g of what t h ey
,

call good conduct. So do not repent of hav ing ta ken m y

advice but mount Roz ina nt e if you ca n or if n ot I wil l h e l p
, ,

y o u and
, follow me for my wit tell s me , that we hav e j u s t
”
n ow more need of ou r feet than of our han d s.
Don Quixote moun ted wit hout replyin g another word a n d ,

San cho on h is a ss leading they entered a part of the Sie rra ,

Moren a which w as clo s e at hand Sancho inten ding to tr a v ,

ers e it through a n d come out by V iso or at Al modOva r d e l

Campo a n d hide thems elves for s ome day s amon g th ese f a st
,

ne sse s s o a s n ot to be foun d s hould the Brotherhood look f or

,

them . He w a s e n couraged in this throug h havin g se en t h a t

the proven der which he carried on h i s a s s had e s caped sa f e ly
o ut o f that s c ufll e w it h the galley s lave s — a thin g whic h b e -

deemed a miracle co n s iderin g what they h a d ca rried 05 a n d

,

h ow clos ely they had s earched.

That n ight they reached the very bowels of th e Sie r ra
Moren a w here to San cho it s eemed pruden t to pass t h e
,

night a n d eve n a few days

, at leas t a s man y a s t h e sto re s
,

they had w ith them w o uld last ; and so t hey res ted for t h e
night be t ween the rocks a n d among a number of cork tre e s . -

B ut fatal de s tin y w hich accordin g to t h e opin io n of th o se

, ,

w h o h a ve n ot the light of the true faith guide s dire cts a n d , , ,

dis pos es everyth ing i ts ow n way ordain ed that Gin és d e ,

Pa s amon te the famous c h eat and robber w hom Don Quixo t e

, ,

by h is v a lor a n d his folly h a d released from the chain mov e d ,

by fear of the Holy Brotherhood w hich with jus t cause h e ,

drea ded h a d res olved to hide him self in the se mountain s ;

,

a n d h is l uck a n d h i s fear bore hi m t o the s ame s pot whit h e r

the s a me motives had carried Don Q uixote a n d Sanc h o

Pan za j ust in time t o recogn ize t hem and at the i nsta nt
, ,
 DO N ourxor s 175

w hen they fell as lee p . N ow a s the wicked are ever u ngra te

f ul a n d n ece s s ity urge s them to d o what they s ho uld n ot
, ,

a n d pre s e n t co n ve n ie n ce overcome s the thought of t h e future ,

Gin es who w a s neither grat eful nor w ell dis pos ed re s olved
,
-
,

t o rob San cho Panza of h is a ss n ot carin g for Rozi na nte a s

, ,

be in g a prize il l either t o p a w n or t o s ell . San cho Pan za

s lept ; Gin es s tole h is a s s ; a n d be f ore the morn in g he w a s

s o fa r off a s t o be pas t fi n din g .

A urora came forth gladden ing the eart h but brin gi n g

, ,

g rief t o Sancho Pa n za for he

, m i s s ed hi s dapple a n d fi n din g ,

h im se lf be reft of him he bega n t o make the s adde s t a n d

m o s t doleful lamen tatio n ever heard a n d it w a s such that ,

D on Quixote awoke at h i s crie s a n d heard what he w a s s a y

,

i n g : 0 child of my bowel s ! born in my ve ry hom e the

“
,

s port of my children the delight of my wife the e n vy of my

, ,

n eighbo rs the S harer of my burde n s a n d beyon d all

, , the ,

s u pport o f half my pers o n for with s i x a n d twe nty mara

v edi s which thou e a rn ed s t for me daily did I m ake half my
”
l ivin g l
Don Quixote w h o s a w him weepin g a n d k n ew the ca u s e
, ,

c on s oled Sancho with the bes t argume n t s he could find ,

pra yed him to have pati en ce a nd promis ed t o give him a

,

b ill of exchan ge that they might deliver to him thre e o ut of

t h e fiv e a s s f oal s h e had at home . San cho w a s com forted by
t his dried h i s tears moderated his s ob s a n d th an ked Don
, , ,

Q uixote for the favor he had don e him . A s for the kn ight ,

when he entered amon g the mou n tain s he f elt glad of heart , ,

these places s eemin g to him very s uit able for the advent ures
he s ought. They recalled to h is memory th e marvelou s
eve n ts which i n s imilar s olitudes and fas tn esse s had h a p
pe n ed to knights erran t ; a nd he wen t broodin g over the se
thin gs so absorbed a n d tran spo rted by them that he min ded
,

nothin g else ; n or had San cho a n y other concern ( s in ce it

s eemed t o him they w ere travelin g on a s afe road ) t h a n to

s ati s fy h i s s tomach with the relic s of t h e clerical s poil ; a n d

s o he jogged on behin d h i s m a s ter loaded w ith all that h i s

,

a s s s hould have carried emptyin g the bag a n d cra mmin g h is

,

paun ch a n d w hile employed i n this mann er he w ould not

,

h av e g ive n a doit t o fi n d an other adve n tu re .

While thu s occ upied he rais ed hi s eyes a n d sa w that h i s
176 CERVANT E S

maste r h a d come to a stop , t ryin g wi th t h e poi n t of h is lan ce

t o lif t what s e e med a b un dle lyin g on the g ro und ; u po n
’

which h e has ten ed to com e to h i s as s is tan c e if it mig ht b e

needed ; a n d came up j us t at t h e mom e nt when h is ma st e r
had rais ed with the point of h is lan ce a s ad dle cus hion a n d a -

valis e fas tened to it half rott en or rat her rotten ent irel y a n d
, ,

falling to pieces ; but they were s o heavy th at San cho h a d to

dis mou nt to take them up . H is mas ter ordered him t o see
what w as in the valise . Sancho did s o w ith much ala c rity ;
a n d alth ough the valis e w a s fas tened with a chai n a n d a

padlock through the ren ts a nd the rotte nn e ss he sa w w h a t

,

w a s i n it — to wit four s hi rts of fine cambric and othe r a rt i

, ,

cles Of lin e n no les s curious than delicate and i n a h a n d ke r

,

c hief h e fou n d a go odly littl e pile of gold cro wn s. Whe n h e

“
s a w them h e cried : Bles s ed be the whole Hea ven w h ic h
h ath pre se n te d us with on e adventure good for s omethin g !
Searchin g furt her b e fou n d a l ittle memoran dum book ric h l y
,
-

d e corated. Don Quixote as ked him for th is b ut bade h i m ,

keep the mon ey and ta ke it for hims el f. S a n cho ki ssed h i s

,

ma ster s hand s for t h e favor a n d rifl i ng t he val ise of t h e

’

l in en he th ru st it i nto their provis io n bag .

N otin g all this Don Quixote s aid
, It s ee ms to me ,

San cho nor can it po ss ibly be otherwis e that s ome l o st

, ,

traveler mu st h ave pas s ed by this mou n tai n a nd bein g w a y ,

laid by ban dits they have s lain h im and brought him her e t o
”
bury him i n t his remote s pot.
“ ” “
That can not be a n s w ered San cho for if they ha d b e e n
, ,
”
thieves they would not have left this mo n ey here .
Thou s aye st true said D on Q uixote a nd the re for e I
, ,

can n ot divi n e nor guess w hat this ca n be But s tay ; we w ill

.

s e e w hether i n this pocketbook there i s a n ythin g writ te n

by w hich we may trace out a n d discover what we des ire t o

”
know.
He then opened it a nd the firs t thin g h e fo und there i n
, ,

writt en roughly yet i n a very fair c hara cter w a s a sonn e t , ,

a n d readi n g i t aloud so that S an cho al s o mi ht h ea r h e sa w

g ,

that it ra n i n this ma nner

178 CE RVAN T ES

A letter for the post sir ? a sked San cho , .

From i ts comme n ceme n t it appear s rat her to be a love

”
letter an sw ered D on Q uixote.
,
“ “
The n read it alo ud your w ors hip s aid San cho for I, , ,

delight greatly i n thos e love matt ers .

“ ”
I s hall be pleas ed to d o s o s aid Don Quixote a nd read , ,

i n g it alo ud a s San cho had reques ted he fou n d t hat it ran

, ,

thus
“
Thy fal se pledge a nd my certai n rea l mis fortu n e drive
me to a place w hen ce the n ew s of my death w ill s oo n er reach
t o thin e ears than t h e w ord s of my complain i n g. Tho u ha st
re nou n ced me O in grate for one w h o po sses ses more but
, , ,

n ot on e w h o i s w ort hier tha n I . But if virtue w ere to be ,

val ued like w ealth I should n either e n vy the happin ess of

,

others n or lame n t my ow n mis fortun e . That w hich thy

,

beauty rais ed up thy deed s have overthrow n ; by th e one I

,

thought thee a n a ngel by the ot hers I kn ow t hee a w o man.

,

Re s t i n peace 0 begetter of my w a r ; a nd may Heave n gra nt

,

that the deceit of t h y h us ban d he ever u n dis covered that ,

t h ou maye st n ot repen t Of what thou dids t n or I ta ke the ,

”
ve n gea n ce w h ich I covet n ot .

Havin g fi ni s hed readin g the letter Don Q uixote s aid : We “

,

ca n gather le s s by thi s tha n by the vers e s as t o w h o i s he

t h a t w rote them except that he i s s ome rejected lov er

'
, .

A n d t urn i n g over n early all t h e leave s O f the little boo k he ,

fou n d other vers es a n d letters of w hich s ome h e could rea d ,

“

a n d other s n ot ; b ut they all co n tai n ed repi n i n g s laments , ,

mi sgivi n gs d e s ire s a
,
n d hates favors a n d di sdai n s — s o me , ,

e xtolled a n d some d eplored

,
.

Whil st Don Q uixote w a s examin i n g the book Sa n c h o ex ,

a mi ne d the vali s e w it ho ut leavi n g a cor n er o f i t o r o f the ,

s addle c us hio n w hich he did n ot s earch s p y i n to a n d explore

-
, , ,

n ot a s eam w h ich he did n ot ri p ope n n or a t uft o f w ool ,

w h ich he did not pick that n o t hin g might be le ft throug h

,

lack of pai n s or care : s uch w a s t h e g reed aw aken ed i n h i m

by t h e cro w ns he had fo un d w hich w ere m ore than a bun ,

dred A nd t ho ugh he fo un d n o more tha n h e did at first

. ,

yet he recko n ed w ell i nve s ted the t o ss in gs i n the blan ket the
-

bal s am the be nedictio n s o f the packs ta ve s the fisti cufi s of

, ,

the carrier the lo ss of the w allets the robbery of h is coat

, , ,
 DO N QUIX O I E
‘ ‘

179

and all the hu n ger thi rs t a n d fatigue w hich he had s u ffered

, ,

i n the s ervice of h i s w orthy mas ter co n s ideri n g him s elf more ,

than repaid for all by th e ble ss in g received from th e t reas ure

trove .
The Kn ight of the Rueful Figure w a s pos s ess ed w it h a
great des ir e to learn w h o the o w n er of t h e valis e might be ,

con jecturin g by the s o nn et a n d the letter by th e mo n ey ,

i n gold a n d by the fi n en e s s of the s hirts that it mu s t be

,

s o m e lover o f co n dition w hom the dis dain a n d cruelty of

,

h i s lady had bro ught to s ome de s perate co urs e . B ut a s i n

t hat rude a n d de s olate place there w a s likely t o be n o one
w h o co uld i n form him b e tro ubled him s el f about n othi n g
,

b ut t o pa s s on takin g n o other road t han s uch a s Rozi n a n te

,

might choo s e w hich w as the one eas iest for him ima gin i ng
, ,

a l l th e w hile there w ould n ot fail him i n that w ildern e s s

so me s tra n ge adve n ture . R idin g on w ith thi s idea he sa w ,

o n the top o f a little kn oll w hich ro s e before hi s eye s a

m a n w h o w e n t leapin g from crag to crag a n d from bus h to

bu s h w ith marvelou s agility . He made him out to be hal f
n aked w ith a black a n d matted h e a rd
, hi s hair lo n g a n d ,

tan gled h i s feet u n s hod a nd h i s legs bare ; h is thigh s w ere

, ,

c overed w ith breeche s t o all appeara n ce Of t a w n y velvet

, ,

but s o t orn to rags that h i s s kin s h ow ed in ma n y place s .

H is hea d too w a s bare ; a n d although he ra n by a s s w iftl y
, , ,

a s h as bee n de s cribed all the se d etail s d id the K n ight of the

,

R ueful Figure obs erve a n d m ark. B ut w ith all h i s e n deavor

h e w a s u n able to follow him for it w a s n ot gra n ted to Ro zi,

D a n te s s tre n gt h t o travel over the s e rough place s he bei n g

'
, ,

m oreover by n ature slo w paced a n d s l uggis h . D on Q uixote

, ,
-

c ame pre se n tly to the co n cl us io n that thi s w a s the ow n er o f

t h e c us hio n a n d the vali s e a n d b e re s olve d to go i n q ue s t o f

,

h i m eve n though he s ho uld have to s pe nd a w hole year i n

,

t he s e mou n tain s till he fou n d him . So he ordered Sa n cho to

d i s mou nt from hi s a s s a n d t o t ake a s hort cut acro ss on e side
O f the mo un tai n w h ile he w o uld go by the ot her ; a n d per
, ,

h ap s by th i s device they might come up wi t h t hat m a n w h o

,

h a d fl e d a w ay from them so has tily .

“ ” “
That I could n ot do replied Sa n cho for w hen I part
, , ,

f rom your w ors hip fear seize s me at o n ce a nd a ss ail s me

,

w i th a thou s an d kin d s of terrors a n d vis ions ; a n d let this ,

I 8O CERVAN T ES

I sa y, s erve you for a wa rning th at from h enc e forth I do

n ot s tir a h uger s breadth from your pre s e n ce .
’

“
It s hall be so s ai d he of the R uef ul Fig ure a nd right
, ,

glad am I that t hou s ho ulds t wis h to avai l thee of my co ur

age which s hall n ot fail thee even though the very so ul in
,

thy body fail thee. Come t hee n ow behin d me leis ure ly as

w ell a s thou can s t a n d make lante rn s of thine e yes ; w e
,

w ill go rou n d this little hill ; perhap s we may come upo n t h e

ma n w hom w e s a w w h o i s w ithout doubt no o t her t ha n t he
, , ,

O w ner of what we have fou n d .

To w hich Sa n cho replied : It w ere be tter n ot to se ek

him, for if w e fin d him a nd he might perchan ce turn o ut to
,

be the own er of the mo n ey i t i s plain I have to return it ; ,

and so it w ould be better without t akin g this u s eles s tro uble

, ,

t o keep it faith fully u nt il by s ome other w a y le ss m e d d le ,

Some a n d offi ci ous i ts real ow n er s hould turn up a n d p e r

, ,

hap s that will be w hen I have s pent it a nd then the kin g ,

”
will hold me harmle ss.
I n t hat thou art m is ta ke n San cho re s po nded Don , ,

“
Q uixote for n ow t h at w e have a s u s picion of w h o the
,

o w n er i s a nd have him almost be fore our eye s w e a re

, ,

boun d to s eek him a n d rest ore the s e t o him ; a nd s hould

w e n ot go i n s earch of him the s trong pre s umptio n we have
,

a s to hi s bei n g the ow n er make s u s a s g uilty a s if he w ere

really the ma n . S O that Sa ncho frien d l et not this q ues t

, , ,

give thee pain seein g of what it will relieve me if I find

,

him .

Sayin g this he s purred Rozin a nte a nd Sa n cho follo we d on ,

foo t a nd loaded than k s to Gin es ill o de Pas amo n te. H avi n g

,

made th e as cen t of part of the mou n t ai n they found i n a l ittle ,

s tream lyin g dead half eate n by dogs a n d picked by cro w s

, , ,

a m ule s addled a n d bridled ; all which co n firmed in t hem t h e

s u s picion that he w h o fl e d w a s t h e ow n er of the mule a n d t h e

cus hio n .
A s t hey s tood ga zin g at it they heard a whi s tle like t ha t
,

of a s hepherd w at chin g his fl ock a nd s udden ly t here appea re d ,

on their le ft a great n umber of goats a n d behi n d them on ,

the top of the mo unta in the goatherd in charge a n old man. ,

D on Q uixote called to him a nd begged him to come dow n to

where they stoo d. He replied by s houti ng out and as ki ng
I 82 CERVAN TES

him u n til a fe w day s ago he appeared on t he p a th to one

,

of our s hepherds a n d witho ut s ayin g a word h e cam e u p t o

, , ,

him a n d ga ve him s everal blow s and kick s a nd then went ,

after the a ss w hich ca rried our victu a ls a n d took a ll the ,

bread a nd chee s e there w a s ; a n d this don e with w o n d e rful ,

n imble n ess he fl e d back agai n into the mou n tai n s When .

we learnt this s ome of our herd s men w en t i n s earch of h im

,

for n early two day s in the thickes t part of the ran ges a t th e ,

e n d of w hich w e fo un d him lurking i n the hole o f a big s to ut ,

cork tree . He came out to us very meekly h i s clot hes torn

-

a n d h is face dis fig ured a n d baked by the s un in s uch m a n ,

n e r that w e hardly kn e w him except that the clothes th o ugh

, ,

torn conv in ced us by the recollection w e had of th em t hat

,

he w a s the ma n w e s ought. He s al ut ed us courteous l y a nd ,

in a fe w a n d very civil w ord s told us n ot to be s u rp rise d a t

s eein g him w a n deri n g abo ut i n that s tate ; for so it behoov ed

h i m to d o to w ork out a certai n pe n an ce w hich for h is m an y ,

s i n s had bee n laid upo n him .

, We begged him to tell us w h o
he w a s but w e could n ever get at that. We begged h im t oo
, , ,

w he n he had n eed Of food witho ut w hich he could n ot li ve

, ,

to tell us w here we s hould find him for we w ould brin g i t t o

,

him with all good w ill a nd heed ; or that if this s hould n ot

-
,

be to h is likin g leas twis e he s hould come a nd as k for it a nd

,

n ot take it by force from the s hepherds . He th a nked us for

our Off er begged pardon for the pa s t as s ault s a n d e n g ag ed
, ,

for the future to a s k it for God s love witho ut doin g v iolence

’
,

to anybody . To uchin g t h e place of h is abo de he s ai d that ,

he had n on e ot her t han t hat which chance offered w hen n ig ht

overtook him ; and h e en ded h is s peech with s uch a t en der
weepi n g that w e w h o lis te ned to him might well have be en
,

of s to n e if th erein w e had n ot kept him com pany co n s iderin g ,

w hat we had s ee n him to be the firs t time a n d w hat w e sa w ,

him then ; for a s I have s aid he w a s a very gen tee l a n d

, ,

graceful youth a nd i n h is courte sie s a n d orderly s p eech

,

s howed him s elf to be well born and a very court like pe rs o n.

F or tho ugh we w h o lis ten ed to h i m were co untry folk hi s ,

good mann ers w ere such a s to make him kn own eve n t o our
S implen es s A n d i n the mids t of h i s talk be s toppe d an d
.

became m ute n ailin g h i s eyes to the earth for a good w hil e

, ,

d urin g which w e all s tood silent a n d still w aiti n g to s ee where

,
 DO N ourxor a 1
83

t hat fit s hould end w ith no little pity for the s igh t ; for by
,

h is acti o n O pen ing h i s eye s re mai nin g fixed s ta ri ng at the

, ,

g r o un d ,
w ithout for a lo n g t ime mov i n g a n eyelid a n d the n ,

s hutti n g the m ti ghte n i n g h i s lip s a n d arching h i s eyebrow s

, , ,

w e eas ily g uess ed that s o me fit of madn e ss had come upo n

h i m . But he s oon let us k n ow that t h e truth w a s as we
t hought for he ro s e in great f u ry fro m the ground where h e
,

h a d thrown him s elf a n d set upo n the first he fou n d n e a r h i m

w ith s uch pas s io n a n d rage that if we had not ta k e n him off , ,

h e would have killed him with blows a n d bite s ; a nd all thi s

h e did crying out : A h treacherou s F em a n d o l here here
, ,

s h al t t h Ou pay for the w ro n g thou has t do n e me ! thes e b a n d s

s h a ll pl uck out the heart in which are harbored a n d lodged

t og et her all the wickedn e s se s e s pe cially fraud a n d deceit ! ,

T o the s e h e added ot her w ord s all goin g to t h e a buse of

t h a t Fernando a n d marking him for traitor a n d pe rj urer.
,

W e ll we took off our fellow from him w ith n o litt le trouble

, ,

a n d he w ithout s aying an o t her word

, departed fro m us a n d ,

h id h imse lf run n ing off amon g the briers a n d bramble s s o

, ,

t h a t he made it i mpo ss ible for us to follo w him . By thi s w e

g a ther that h i s m ad n e s s come s upo n him at t imes a n d that ,

s o me on e w hom he called Fern a n d o m us t have do n e him

s o m e il l w ork as g rievou s as the co n ditio n to w h ich h e i s

b ro ug ht s eem s to s how all O f w hich h a s bee n verified s i n ce

,

t he n by the n umbe r of time s w hich have bee n man y that he, ,

h a s come out i nto the path s ome t ime s t o beg of the s hepherd s
,

t o give h i m s omething to e a t a n d other time s to take it f rom

,

t h e m by force ; for w hen he i s in t hi s fit o f mad n e ss although ,

t h e s hepherds ofl e r it to him freely he doe s n ot accept it but , ,

ra t her s n atche s it w ith blow s ; an d w he n he is i n h i s s e n s e s , ,

h e as ks it for God s love cou rteo us ly a nd civi lly a n d give s

’

m a ny than k s and n ot wit ho ut tears . A n d to tell y ou the

,
”
t rut h s irs
, proceeded the goat herd ye s terday w e agreed I
, , ,

a n d fo ur herd s me n two Of our lad s a n d two frie n ds of min e

,
-

— to s earch for him u ntil we fou n d him a n d w he n w e had ,

f o und him to carry him w illy n ill y to the tow n of A l modOva r

,
-

w h ich is eight league s f rom here and there w e will have him ,

c u red if h is malady be c urable or w e will learn w ho he i s

w h en i n h is sen s e s a n d w hether he h a s relat ive s to w hom w e
,

m a y gi ve notice of h is mis fortu n e . This is s irs a ll I ca n te ll , ,

1
84 CERVAN TE S

you of wh a t ye have a s ked me ; and be s ure that th e ow ner

of the a rticles which ye fo und is the s ame whom ye sa w pass
so n ake d a n d nimble .

Don Q uixote had already told him that he had s een t h a t

m a n leapi n g among t he rocks .

T he kn ight s tood amazed at what he had heard fro m th e

goatherd a n d with a greater des ire than ever to learn w h o
, ,

t h e un happy madman w a s b e re s olved wit hin him s elf t o

,

carry out what he had already des ign ed — t o s earch for h i m ,

t hrough a l l t h e mou n tai ns without leaving cavern or co rn er

,

therein un expl ored ti ll he had found him

,
B ut ch a n c e .

o rdered it better tha n he expected o r h oped for in t ha t ,

s a me i n s tant there a ppeared throug h a gorge of the mo u n

t ain w hich Opened t o w ard w here they s t ood the yo ut h h e
, ,

s o ught w h o came m utte ri n g to him s elf word s which c o uld

,

n ot be u n der stood near much le ss a t a d is ta n ce

, H i s a pp a re l .

w a s s uch a s h a s bee n de sc ribed only that a s he drew clos er , , ,

Don Quixote s a w that the tat tered j erki n which he wore w a s

s ce n ted wi th amber whe n ce he concluded t hat on e w h o wore
,

s u ch g arment s could n ot be o f very low quality O n comi n g .

up to them the yo uth s al uted them i n a voice hard and un

mu s ical b ut with much co urt e s y. Don Q uixote returned his

,

greetin gs w ith no les s polite n e s s and alighti n g from Ro zi , ,

nant e with a gracious mie n a nd a plea s in g a i r adva n ced t o ,

embrace him and held him for s ome time clas ped tightly i n
,

h is arm s a s though he had k n own him a lon g time. T h e

,

other w hom we might call the Tattered O n e of the Son y

,

Fig ure a s Don Quixote him of the Rueful a fter having s uf

, ,

fe red him s elf to be embraced drew back a litt le a n d placi ng

, , ,

h is h an d s on Don Quixote s s houl ders s too d gazi n g at him

’
, ,

a s if de sirou s to call t o mi n d w hether he kn e w him being n o ,

le ss a ston is hed perhap s to s ee the counten a n ce figure a n d , ,

armor of Don Quixote than Don Quixote w a s to see him . I n

the e n d the firs t to s peak after the embra cin g w a s the Ta t
,

t e re d O n e and he s a id — what s hall be told farther on .

,
I S6 CERVAN T E S

earn e st such a s my calling deman ds of me either in relie v in g

yo ur mis fortu n e if relief i t admits or in as s is tin g you in your
, ,
”
d ole a s I have promis ed y ou.
,

The Kn ight of the Wood w hen he heard him of the R ue

,

f ul Figure s peak in t his s tyle did n othin g but st are at h im

—
, ,

gazin g at him again a d again from head to foot an d a fter

n ,

he had examined him closely he s ai d ,

“
If you have anythin g to give me to e a t for the l ove of ,

God gi ve it to me a nd after I have eaten I will do a ll t h at

,

i s as ked of me in acknow ledgmen t of t h e ki n d o ff ers you

”
have now made me .
San cho then took out from his bag a n d the goath erd from ,

h i s pouch what s atis fied t h e Tattered O n e s h un ger — h e

’

, ,

devo urin g w hat they gave him like one half w it ted so h ur -

rie d ly , that he allowed no i n terval between on e mouth f ul

a nd a n other rather gorgin g than feedi n g ; a n d w hile he a te
,

n either be n or they who looked o n s poke a w ord. When he

had do n e ea ting he m ade s igns t o them t o follow him whi c h ,

they did a nd he brought them rou n d a rock to a l itt le g ree n

,

plot w h ich lay a s hort way o ff . A rriving there he lai d him

s elf do w n u pon the g ras s t h e others doin g the s ame all with
, ,

out s peaki n g a w ord u ntil the Tattered O ne af ter he had

, ,

s e t tled him s elf in a s eat began a s follow s

,

If it is your pleas ure s i rs that I s hould recoun t to you

, ,

in b rief w ord s the lo n g s tory of my mis hap s you m us t pro m ,

i s e me that you w ill n ot in terrupt the thread Of my s a d ta le

w ith a ny que s tion or othe r word for at the i n s ta nt you do so
,
”
I will s top tellin g it.
Thes e word s of the Tattered O n e brought to Don Q uix ote s ’

mind the story which h i s s quire had told him wh en he m isse d ,

keepi ng cou nt of the goats which had cross ed th e river a nd

the s tory remain ed unfi n i s hed. But to return to the Tatt ered
“
O n e. He we n t on to sa y : This warn in g I give you f or I ,

wo uld pas s over briefly the t ale of my mis fort u nes for t h e ,

brin gi ng them up to memory seems but t o add others a fres h ,

a nd the le s s I am que s tio n ed the s oo n e r I will have done te ll

i ng them yet s hal l I not leave u n told a n ything of impo rta nce
,
”
to s atis fy fully y o ur curio s ity .
Don Quixote promi s ed i n the n ame of the m all a nd upon ,

t h is a ss ura n ce the Tatt ered O ne began a s follows

 DON ourxor s 18 7

My name i s Carden i o ; t he p l ace of my birth a city on e ,

of the be s t in A ndalu s ia ; my fam i ly noble ; m y pare n t s rich ;

my mis fortu ne so great a s to be deplored by my pare nts and

g rieved over by my fam i ly without their w ealth bein g able to

a ll e vi a t e it for the g ifts of fo rtu n e can do but little t o remedy

,

the ev il s s en t by heave n . In this s ame lan d there dwelt a

heave n where love had se t all the glory I could covet ; s uch
i s t h e bea uty of Luci n da a maid a s n oble a nd a s rich a s I
, ,

but of greater good fortun e a n d les s of con sta ncy than w a s

,

due t o s o hones t a love a s mine . This Lucin da I loved ,

c heris hed a n d adored from my e a rlie s t and te n dere s t years

, ,

a n d s h e loved me w ith all the i n n oce n ce a n d earn e s tne ss of

her youth . O ur paren ts kn ew of our in clin atio n s a n d were ,

not s orry to learn them for they sa w clearly that a s t h ey

,

advan ced they co uld have n o other e n d than i n our marriage ,

a th in g w hich the qua lity of our blood a n d f ortun e did s eem

alm o st to a rra n ge . We grew in years a nd with them grew ,
’
our mutu al love so that Lu cinda s father felt bou n d out of
, ,

rega r d for prude n ce to de n y m e admi s s io n t o h i s hou s e in

, ,

this closely imitatin g the paren ts of This be so be sun g by th e ,

-

poets ; a n d this de n ial a dded flame to fl ame and love to love ,

for though they e n forced sile n ce o n our to n gues they could

not im pos e it on our pen s w hich are won t to reveal m ore
,
’
fre ely than to n gue s the heart s s ecret ; for oftt ime s the pre s
e nce of the beloved object di s turb s a nd re n ders mute the mo s t
dete rmin ed will a n d the boldes t to n gue. A h he ave n s ! h ow ,

m any were the lett ers I wrote to her a n d how ma ny choice , ,

m odes t replie s did I rece ive ! How man y dittie s did I com
pos e a n d h ow m a ny s o ngs of love in w hich my soul declared
, ,

a n d rev ea led it s feelin gs pain ted i t s glow i n g de s ir e s dallied

, ,

w ith its memorie s a nd refre s hed it s pa s s io n !

, At len gt h ,

fi nding mys elf overs pe nt a n d my he a rt co n s umed w ith the

lo n gi n g to behold her I re s olved to put in to e ffect a n d carry
,

o ut w hat s eemed to me the mo s t likely w a y of achievi n g my

c oveted a nd de s erved reward which w a s to a s k her of her

,

father for my lawf ul wife. This I did ; a n d he an swered that

,

b e thanked me for the de s ire I s ho w ed t o ho nor him a n d t o

se ek to honor my s elf with h i s loved treas ure ; but that my

father being alive it w a s by stri ct right h is bus ine ss to make

t hat demand for u n le ss it were w ith hi s full will a n d pleas ure
,
18 8 CERVAN TE S

Luc inda w a s n o woman to be ta ken or gi ven by stea l th I .

tha n ked him for h i s good d is po s itio n feelin g t hat there w as

,

reas on i n w hat he s aid and believ in g that my father would

,

co n s en t a s s oon a s I s poke to him of it ; a n d wi th this in tou

tio n I wen t on that same in s tant to tell my father of what I
d e si red
. Whe n I en tered the room w here he w a s I fou n d ,

him w it h a n ope n letter i n h i s han d w hich before I s poke a

,

word he gave me s ayin g : By t hi s letter thou w ilt s ee

, ,

Cardenio t h e de si re w hich the Duke Ricardo h a s to do t hee

,

a favor .
’
This R icardo y ou mu st k n ow ge n tleme n is a
, , ,

gran dee Of Spai n w h o h a s h is e state i n the be s t p a rt of this

,

A n dalu sia . I took t h e letter a nd read it a n d it w as s o ve ry ,

kin d t hat eve n to me it s eemed w ron g t hat my fat her s ho uld

fail to comply w ith w hat it required of him w hich w a s to ,

s e n d me immediately to the d uke a s he w a n ted me a s a

,

co m pan io n ( n ot a s a s ervan t) for h i s eldest son a n d he woul d ,

charge him s elf w ith the placi n g me in a pos iti on corres pon d
i n g wi t h t h e e s teem i n w hich he held me . I read the letter ,

and in readin g w a s struck d umb the more w he n I hea rd my

,

father sa y : Tw o d ay s hen ce Carden io thou wilt dep a rt t o

, , ,

do w hat the duke wi s hes a n d give tha n ks t o God for open

,

i n g t o t hee a road by which thou maye s t reach what I know

tho u do s t d e s ire a n d to the s e he added words of f at herly
cou n s el The time for my depart ure arrived ; I s poke one
.

n ight w ith L uci n da ; I told her all that h a d pas s ed a n d the

s ame I did to her f a ther e n trea ti n g him t o w ait s ome w hil e

,

a n d defer givi n g her away u n t il I s a w w hat Rica rdo w a n ted

of me . He gave me h i s promi s e a nd s h e confirmed it w ith

,

a tho us a n d vows a n d a s m an y fain tin g h ts . Fin ally I arrived

-

at the D uke Ricardo s By him I w a s so well received a n d

’
.

treated that s oo n e n vy began to do i ts offi ce the old se rv ants ,

bein g s eized w ith it and regardi n g the toke ns w hich the

duke gave me o f h is favor a s s omethin g to their inj ury . But
’
the on e w h o w a s mo st pleased wi th my comin g w a s the duke s
s eco n d s on n amed Fern an do a ga llan t youth of n oble f re e
, , , , ,

a n d amorou s di s po s it io n who i n a very s hort ti m e had me

,

for so great a frie n d a s to make the re s t talk of it ; a nd

although the elder liked me w ell a n d w as kin d to me h e ca me ,

n ot n ear that ext reme d egree t o w hich D on Fern a ndo loved

a nd u s ed me . I t happened the n that a s between frien ds

1
9 0 CE RVANTE S

The d uke gave him lea ve and ordered me to accom p a n y

him ; we arrived at my n ati ve city a nd my father gav e D o n
,

Fern a n do t h e reception due to h is ran k. I pres en tly s a w

Luc inda ; my pas sion began to be quicken ed alt hough in , ,

truth it had n either been dead nor dulled . To my s orro w

,

I s poke of it to Don Fern an do for I thought t hat by ri g ht

,

of t he great frien d s hip he bore me I w as bound to conc e a l

not hing from him. I extolled to him the beauty gra ce a n d , ,

wit of Lucin da to such a n extent that my pra i se s s tirred i n

,

him the de sir e to s e e a dam sel adorn ed with s uch good

parts . I to my mi sfortune yielded to it s howing her t o h i m
, , ,

one night by the light of a can dle from a wi n dow throu g h

w h ich w e were won t t o co n verse. He s a w h er in a l oo s e
dres s i n s uch g uis e so beautiful a s t o blot from h is memory
,

all the beautie s he had ever s een . He s tood mute ; h e l ost

h is sen s es ; he w a s s pellbound ; a n d i n brief s o deeply
, ,

enamored a s you s hall se e in the cours e of the story of my

mis fort un e ; and the more to in fl ame h is passio n ( which be
concealed from me a n d revealed o n ly to the s ta rs) it s o hap ,

pened t hat on e day he fou n d a letter of hers prayi ng me to ,

a s k her of her father in marriage s o s e n sible so m odes t , ,

and s o te n der that on readin g it he s a id t o me that in Lucinda

,

s i n gly were co n tai n ed all t h e charm s of beauty and of un der

s tan din g w hich were the portio n s of all t h e o ther w o m e n of

-

t h e world . I n good s ooth a s I would n ow confe ss though

, ,

I sa w with w hat ju st cau s e Don Fern an do praised Lucin da ,

yet it vexed me to hear thos e prais e s from his mouth a n d I ,

began to fear a n d with reas on to s u s pect him for n ot a

, ,

momen t pas sed in which he did n ot w is h us to talk of

Luc inda a n d him self wo uld s tart t h e conversation ev en
, ,

although he had to drag the s ubj e ct in by the hair a circum ,

s tance which cau s ed i n me a certain amount of jealou s y n ot ,

that I feared any chan ge i n the good n e s s and fidelity of

Lucinda ; but s till my fate made me tremble at th e very t hing
again st which s h e ass ured me. Don Fernan do always contin
ued to read the letters I s en t to Lucin d a a nd those in which
,

s h e replied t o me under the pretext that b e much e n j oyed

,

the wit of us both. N ow it happened that Lucin da having ,

a s ked me for a book of chi valries to rea d of one of which ,

’
s he w a s very fon d which w a s A madi s O f Gaul
‘
,
 DON QUI X O I E
‘ ‘
1
9 1

Sc arce did Don Quixote hear him me ntio n a book of chi v

a lrie s when he excl a imed : Had you t old me good sir at , ,

th e be g i n n in g o f your s tory t h at yo u r lady Lucin da w a s fo n d

of book s o f chiva lries there would have been n o n eed of fur
,

ther amp l ificati on to con vin ce me of the s uperi ority of her

un ders ta n din g for it could n ot have been s o good s ir a s you
, , ,

have de sc ribed it had s h e lacked a ta ste for s uch delecta ble read
,

in g. S o a s far a s I am co n cerned you n eed n ot w as te w ords

, ,

i n declarin g to me her beauty w orth a n d in tellige n ce s in ce , , ,

from merely hearin g of this her i nclin atio n I do ran k her t o

be the mos t bea uti f ul a n d s en s ible woman in the world ; a n d
I could have wi s hed sir that al on g w it h A madis you had
, ,

sent her the w orthy Don R ugel of Greece for I k n ow that

’

t he lady Lucin da would be greatly plea s ed with D a ra i d a a n d

Gara y a a n d the s hrewd co n ceit of the s hepherd Da ri n e l a n d
, ,

those adm ira ble lines i n h i s b ucolic s s un g a nd rehearsed by ,

h i m w i t h all grace wi t a n d freedom . B ut a time may come

, , ,

when th i s default can be ame n ded a n d for the ame n din g noth ,

ing m ore i s n eeded than that yo ur wors hip s ho uld be good

enough to come with me to my village for there I w il l be ,

able to gi ve you more than three hun dred books which are ,

th e j oy of my s oul and the e ntertain me n t of my life

,
— though
n ow I re c ollect that I have no n e than ks to the malice of wicked ,

and en vi o us en cha n ters . Pardo n me s ir for having broken , ,

our pro m ise not to interrupt your n arrative ; but i n hearin g

of matt ers of chivalry a n d kn ights errant i t i s n o m ore p os ,

s ible f or me to refra i n from S peakin g of them than it i s for

the sun s ray s to help gi vin g warmth and t h e moo n s gi vin g

’ ’

mois ture . Therefore forgi ve me and proceed for that i s

, , ,
”
n ow more to t h e p u rpo se .

D uri n g the time t hat Don Q uixote w as delive rin g him s elf of
the afore s aid Carden io held h i s head down upon h i s breas t
, ,

seemi n gly plu n ged i n profo un d med itatio n ; a n d altho ugh D on

Quixote tw ice called upo n him to go on w ith h i s story he ,

n eithe r ra i s ed h i s head n or a n s wered a w ord . B ut at the e n d

of a lon g paus e he looked up a n d s aid : I can n ot get rid o f

,

the th ou ght n or s hall there be a ny on e i n the w orld to rid me

,

—
of it or pers uade me of aught el se a nd he wo uld be a block
,

h ead t o hol d or believe t h e co nt ra ry t hat M as ter E li s a b a d , ,

that a rc h rogue w as the lover of the Q uee n Ma dés i ma .

,
”
1
9 2 CERVAN TES

N ot I swear by a ll that s good replied Don Q uixot e

so,
’
, ,

i n grea t wrath burs tin g o ut a s h is c ustom w as ;

, a nd i t i s a

very great calum ny or rather v illainy. The Queen Ma dasim a

,

w as a very n oble lady a n d it is not to be pre s u med th at so

,

e xalt ed a p rin ces s s ho uld be t h e lover of a moun te ba nk a n d ,

whoever m a intain s the co ntrary lies like a very grea t scoun

drel a n d I will make him k n ow it on f oot or on h ors eba c k
, , ,
”
armed or unarmed by n ight or by day or a s he l ikes be s t .
, ,

Carden io s tood lookin g at him very intently for no w t h e ,

mad fit w a s come upon him and h e w a s in n o m ood to p ur ,

s ue hi s s tory nor D on Q ui xote either t o li s t e n t o it so m uc h

, ,

dis gu s ted w a s he at what he had hea rd about Ma das ima .

S tran ge cas e ! that he s ho uld stand up for her a s though S h e
w ere i n t rut h h i s real and n at ural mi s tre ss s o p o s s e sse d w a s ,

b e by h i s accurs ed books. C a rdenio bei n g n ow a s I ha v e ,

s aid mad
, a n d heari n g him s elf called li a r a n d villain w i t h
, ,

other l ike in sults took the j es t in ill part a nd li fti ng up a

, ,

s tone he fo und near h i m gave Don Quixote s uch a blo w ,

w ith it on t he bre as t that b e knocked him down on h is ba c k .

San cho Pan za seei n g h i s mas ter thus trea t ed went a t t h e

, ,

madman with h i s clen ched fi sts ; but the Tatt ered O ne ga v e

hi m s uch a receptio n that with one blow he l a id him a t h i s
,

feet a nd then gettin g upo n him poun ded h i s ribs very m uc h

, , ,

to h is ow n content. The goatherd who t h ought to de fen d ,

him s hared the sa me fate and after he had beaten a n d

, ,

belabored them all he left the m and compos edly wi thd rew
,

t o h i s mountain ambu s h . Sancho ro s e a n d i n a rage a t ,

fi ndin g him s elf thu s pun is hed u n de s ervedly ra n to take ve n ,

g e a n ce on the goatherd declaring that i t w as ,he w h o w a s i n

fault for n ot havin g w arn ed them that the ma n w as give n t o

,

thes e fits o f mad ne s s ; for b a d they kn ow n it t hey would have ,

bee n careful to be on their gu a rd The goat herd replied that .

he had told them so a n d t h at if he had n ot h e ard it t h e fault

, ,

w a s n ot h i s . San c h o retorted ; the goatherd rejo i n ed ; and the

e n d o f the rec rimi n atio n s w as that they s eized each other

by th e beard a n d gave each other s uch blow s that if D on ,

Q uixote had n ot pacified them they w ould have k n ocked ,

one a n ot her to piece s. Holding fas t o f the goatherd Sancho ,

c ried : Let me be your wors hip Sir Kn ight of the R u ef ul

, ,

Figure for of this fellow who is a churl like my self a n d no

, ,
 CH A PT E R XXV

PVhi ch tr ea t s of the s tra nge thi ngs w hi ch h appened to the va l i a n t

K nig h t of La M a ncha i n the S ierr a M orena , a nd of th e p ena n ce
he th ere p erf ormed i n i mi ta ti on of B el tenebros

ON QUI X O T E took leave of the goatherd a nd on ce ,

more mou ntin g Rozi na nte comm a n ded San ch o t o

,

follow him w h o did so upo n h i s a s s with n o v e ry

, ,

good will. They j ourn eyed alo n g s lowly e n terin g th e r u g

-
,

g e d e st pa rt of the mou n tai n s Sa n cho dying to talk to h i s

,

mas ter a n d lo n gin g for him to begin the colloquy s o as n ot

, ,

to brea k the rule which h a d been imposed upon him B ut . ,

un able to en dure so lon g a s ile nce he s aid to him ,

Sir Don Quixote let me have your wors hip s bless in g

,
'

a n d give me my libert y f or I would like t o retu rn ho m e a t

,

o nce to my w ife a n d my children w it h whom a t a n y ra te I

,

s h a ll talk a n d co n vers e a s much a s I plea s e ; for t o w is h me

t o go w ith your w ors hip through the s e lon ely place s by n ight
a n d by day a n d n ever t o s peak t o y ou w he n I a m in clin ed
,

t o is to bu ry me alive
,
.If fat e had willed that an imals s hould
ta lk a s they u s ed to i n the days of j Es op it w ere n ot s o ba d
, , ,

f or I could t he n have di s cour sed w it h my a s s a bout whatever

I had a mi n d to a n d so have whiled away my ill hap ; f or i t
,

i s a hard thin g and n ot t o be bor n e with p a tie nce t o go look

i n g for adven ture s all o n e s life a nd fi n din g n aught b ut kicks
’

a n d bla n keti n g s bri ck battin gs a n d fi s ti cufl s a n d w ith all

-
'
, ,

this h a s on e to s ew up h is mo uth without darin g to s a y what

,
”
a m a n h a s i n h is heart a s if he were dumb
,
.
”
I u n dersta n d thee San cho an s w ered Don Quixote ;
, ,

thou a rt dying for me t o remove the in t erdict I have laid

on thy to n gue . A ccoun t it removed and s a y w hat thou w ilt
, ,

on co n dit io n that t h e remov a l i s to las t n o lo n ger t han whilst

”
we are wan deri n g amon g the se mou n tai n s .
”
S o be i t s aid San cho ;
,
le t me talk n ow for by a n d by ,

1
94
 DO N QUI XOTE 1
95

God on ly kn ow s what will happe n a n d by way of a begin

n i n g , t o ta ke advan tage of thi s licen se , let me s a y then, what

m ade your wors hip to sta n d up so ho tly for t hat Q ueen Magi
masa, or w hat do you call her ? O r w hat w a s it t o the pur
pos e whether that abbot w a s her frien d or n ot ? F or had
your wors hip let it pas s, a nd you were n ot her judge , I verily
believe t hat t h e mad fellow would have go ne on with his
s tory a n d y ou would have been s pared t h e blow of the s to n e
,
”
a n d the kick s and th e half doze n a n d more of back han der s
-
-
.
” “
In fai th San cho Don Quixote replied if thou knowes t
, , ,

a s I kn ow h ow ho n orable a n d n oble a l a dy w a s Queen

Ma dASi ma I am co n fide n t thou w oulds t s a y that I h a d much

patien ce in that I did not s mas h the mouth out of which p ro
cee d ed blas phemie s s o great ; for a very great blas phemy it

i s t o sa y or to thin k that a quee n may be lover of a medicas ter .

The burde n of the story is that this Mas ter El is a ba d of whom ,

t h e m a dma n s poke w a s a very s en s ible man a n d of s oun d

,

coun sel w h o s erved a s tutor and phys ician to the queen ; but
,

to t hin k th a t s h e w as h i s lover is a n abs urdi ty w ort hy of the

s evere s t chas t iseme n t ; a n d that thou m ay st s e e that Carde n io

k n ew not wh a t he w a s s aying remember that when h e s ai d

,
”
it he w a s n ot in h is s en se s.
” “
S o sa y I q uoth Sa n cho that you ought n ot to take
, ,

n otice of the word s of a madman for had n ot good luck be ,

frie n ded you a nd the ston e ta ken the road to yo ur he a d a s

,

it did t o your breast we had bee n i n a fine way for s tan din g
,

u p for th a t lady of min e God co n found her l

,
— a n d in deed

then would n ot Carden io have been s et free bein g a mad ,

”
ma n ?
“
A gain st sane a n d again st mad is every k n ight e rra n t
” “
boun d to sta n d up s aid Don Quixote for the ho n or of
, ,

women whoever they m a y be much more for queen s of s uc h

, ,

e xalted co n diti on a n d w ort h as w a s the Quee n Ma dds i ma for ,

w ho m I h ave a p a rticular regard on acco unt of her good

qualitie s ; for bes ide s th a t s h e w a s very beautif ul s h e w as
, ,

very pruden t a n d very lo n g s ufi e ri n g u n der her affl ictio n s O f

-
,

w hich s h e had m an y ; a n d the co un s el s a n d the compan y of

Mas ter El i sa ba d were of m uch advantage and comfort to her ,

in e n ablin g her to h e a r her t ro uble s wi t h wi s dom a n d patien ce ;

a n d hence the ig n ora n t a n d evil m i n ded vulg a r took occa s io n
-
1
9 6 CERVAN TE S

t o s u s pect and to s a ythat sh e w a s h i s lover ; a nd t hey lie I ,

sa
y agai n a,n d will lie twice a hun dred ti mes more a ll w h o ,

s hall thi n k a n d s a y s o .

I n either s a y nor thin k it an swered San cho ; t he r e ,

"
,

let them be ; wit h their bread l et t hem eat it ; a n d if th e y

were p a ramours or n ot t hey will have reckoned with God f o r
,

it ; I come from my vin e s ; I kn ow n othi n g ; I am n ot fo n d

’
of s pyin g in to other people s lives ; he who buy s and l i e s
feels it i n h i s p urs e ; m ore by token n aked w a s I born na k e d , ,

I find myself ; I n either lo s e n or w in ; what they w ere wh a t ,

i s it t o me — a n d man y thin k there are fl i tc h e s w he n t here s

’

n ot eve n a h ook ; who c a n cl a p ga te s t o the o p en ? How

”
much wors e whe n they s aid it of God Him s elf ?
God bless me cried Don Q uixote ; w hat n on se ns e y o u
,

are s tringin g t ogether S a n cho ! What h a s that of which w e

,

are treatin g to do with t h e proverbs thou th re a de st ? O n m y

life Sa ncho be s ilen t a n d he n cefort h em p loy thysel f
, , ,

S p urt in g on thi n e a ss a n d g ive u p meddl i ng wi t h what d oes

,

n ot co n ce rn t hee ; a n d u n ders ta nd w ith all thy five se n s es

that a ll I ha ve don e do a n d s hall do i s well grou n ded o n

, ,

reas on a n d quite con formable to the rule s of chiva lry for I ,

kn ow them better th a n all the kn ights who have ever p ro

”
fe ss ed them i n the w orld .
”
Sir re s po nded San cho a n d is it a good rule of chivalry
, ,

that we s hould wa n der a s tray amo n g the s e mo unt ain s with ,

out road or track looki n g for a m a dman to w ho m whe n

, , ,

he i s foun d w ill perhap s return the de sire of fin is hin g wha t

,

—
he began not h i s st ory but your wors hip s hea d a nd my ,
’

ribs e n din g by breakin g them altogether for us

,

Hold thy to n gue I s a y to thee a gain Sa n cho exclai me d

, , ,

Don Quixote ; tho u m us t k n ow th a t it i s n ot alone th e

de sire of fi nding the m adm a n which bri n gs me into the se
parts but that which I have of performin g amo n g them a
,

deed thro ugh which I s h a ll acqu i re everlastin g n a me a n d

fame thro ughout the kn own earth ; a n d it s hall be s uch that
thereby I will se t the s eal to all that ca n make a kn ight erra nt
”
perfect a n d f a m o us .

A n d i s it very dan gerou s this deed ? as ked Sa n cho ,

Pan za .
“
N o replied he of the Rueful Figure ; but th e dice may
,
1
9 8 CERVAN TE S

a dapted for s uch purpos es there i s n o rea s on why I should ,

allow this oppo rtun ity to pas s which n ow s o co n veni en tly

o fl e rs me the forelock .
'

”
I n s hort s aid Sa n cho , w hat i s it that your wors hi p ,

wis hes to do in this out o f the way s pot ? - - -

”
Have I not already told thee a n s wered Do n Quixote , ,

that I de s ire to copy A m a dis ac tin g here the de s pera te t h e , ,

ravin g the fu rio us lover

, i n imita tio n like w is e of O rl a n do
, , ,

whe n he fo un d hard by a s prin g evide nce s that An ge li ca

, ,

the F air w a s i n love with Medoro for grief wherea t he tu rn e d ,

mad a n d rooted up tree s t roubled the wa ters of the cl e ar

, ,

S pri ngs s lew s hepherd s des troyed their fl ocks fired t h eir
, , ,

h ut s demolis hed house s dragged mare s alo n g a n d com

, , ,

mitt e d a h undred tho us an d extravagan ce s w o rt hy of ete rn a l

men tion a nd record . A n d altho ugh I mea n n ot to i mitat e
O rla n do or R oldan or R otol a n do ( for a l l the s e three n a mes he
, ,

bore ) s tep by step in all the follie s he ac t ed s aid a n d i m

, , ,

a g i n e d I w ill o utline them a s be s t I c a n i n what appears to

, ,

me mo st e ss en tial ; a n d it may be that I S hall come to con

ten t my s elf w it h o n ly the imitation of A madis w h o w it hout , ,

committin g a ny mis chievous follie s by h is tears a n d sorrow s ,

”
alon e w on a s much fame a s the be s t .

“ ”
It s ee m s to m e s aid S a n cho that the kn ights w h o
, ,

ac ted i n tho se wa ys h a d cau s e a nd provocat ion for do i n g

t he s e foolerie s a n d pen an ce s ; but wh a t c a u s e h as your wor
s hip f or goin g mad ? What lady h a s dis dain ed you or ,

what s ign s h a ve y ou fo un d to make you thin k t hat th e

lady D ul ci nea del Tobo s o h a s played the fool with Moor or
C hris t ian
There lie s the poin t an s w ered Don Quixote a n d that, ,

i s the n icet y of my a ffair f or to a kn ight erran t who goes ,

mad w i t h a caus e there i s n eit her merit n or th a nks ; th e

,

wit i s i n goin g crazy w it ho ut occas ion a n d to let my lady ,

un ders ta n d i f i n the dry I do thi s w hat I wo u ld do i n the

, ,

green . Moreover I h a ve s uffi cie n t caus e in t h e lon g absence

,

I have born e fro m her w h o i s ever my lady Dulcin ea del ,

Tobos o for a s t hou hearde st that s hepherd A mbro s io sa y of

,

yore he w h o is ab s e n t feel s a n d fea rs every ill Therefore.

, .

San cho frie n d w ast e n ot t i me i n coun s eli n g me to refra i n

,

from s o rare so h a ppy a n d s o un heard oi a n imitation

, ,
-
.
 DON QUI XOTE 1
99

Mad I am and mad I have to be un til the time when th ou

, ,

ret urnes t with the an s w er t o a letter w hich I i n te n d t o s e n d

by thee to my la dy D ulcin ea ; a n d if it be s uch a s my fidelity

d e s erve s my fre n zy a n d my pen a n ce will be e n ded ; and if
,

it be the con trary I s hall be mad i n earn e s t a n d bein g so I

, ,

s hall feel n othin g . Th us in whatever way s h e may reply I ,

s hall come out o f the co n fl ict a n d t oil wherei n thou l e a ve s t

me ; e njoyin g if san e the good thou s halt brin g me n ot

, ,

feel in g if mad the bad which thou mayes t ca rry. B ut tel l

, ,

me San cho h a s t thou kept s afe the helmet of Mambrin o

, ,

for I s a w thee lift it from the groun d when that ung rateful
o ne tried t o break it to piece s but could n ot from which may ,

be in fe rred the finen ess of it s temper .

To which San cho made an s w er A s God liveth Sir ,

K n ight of the Rueful Fig ure I can n ot e n dure or bear w ith ,

patie n ce s ome thi ngs w hich your wors hip s ay s a n d from them ,

I come to thin k that all that you tell me about chivalrie s a n d

w in n ing ki n gdom s a n d em pire s or givin g a way is le s a n d , ,

d oin g other famou s a n d mighty thin gs a s i s the c us t om of

kn ights erra n t that all must be a m a tter of win d a nd lie s
, ,

a n d all fricti o n or fictio n or w hatever u call i t for to hear

y o ; ,

your wors hip sa y that a barber s bas in i s the helmet of Mam ’

brin o a n d n ot to get out of this mis take in more than fo ur

,

d ays ,
— what h a s on e to thin k but that he who s o says a n d
affi rm s mu st ha ve hi s brai n addled ? The bas in I have got
here in the ba g all din ted a n d I a m takin g it home to p ut it
, ,

to righ ts a n d to s oap my he a rd in it s hould God gran t me ,

H is g ra ce th a t s ome d a y I may s e e mys elf wit h my w ife and

”
c hil dre n .

Look ye San cho for by the s ame oath thou s w e a re st do

, ,

I s wear exclaimed Don Quixote t hat thou hast t h e s hal

, ,

lowest wit a ny sq uire h a s or h a s had in the world I s it , , .

po s s ible lon g a s thou hast traveled with me thou hast n ot

, ,

dis covered that all t h e kn ight erra n t thin gs look like illu s ion s -
,

follies a n d n o n s en s e a n d are made a ll co n trari w ise ? A nd

, ,

n ot becau s e it is s o b ut bec a u s e there go amo n gs t us al w ay s

,

a troop of wiza rds who a l ter a n d tran s form a l l our doings

, ,

t urn in g them a s they like t hem to be a n d accordin g a s th ey ,

are dis po sed to favor or to in j ure us ; so that w h a t to thee

look s like a barber s ba sin t o me i s the helmet of Mam brino
’

, ,
2 00 CERVAN TE S

a n d to a nother will appea r s omething el se. A n d it w as a rar e

precaution of t h e s age who i s on my s ide to make t hat ap p ea r
t o e verybo dy a bas i n w h ich really a n d t ruly is t h e helme t of
,

M a mbrin o for by rea s on that it is held i n s uch es teem a ll th e

,

world would persecute me to take it from me ; but a s th ey see

that it i s n o more than a barber s bas in they do n ot ca re t o ’

po sse ss it as w a s well s een in h i m w h o thought t o brea k i t

,

and let it lie on th e groun d a n d would n ot carry it OE for in

, ,

faith had be known wh a t it w a s he woul d n ever have le ft i t ,

beh ind. Tak e c a re of it friend for j us t n ow I have n o n ee d

, ,

o f it the rather that I mu s t s trip me of thi s armor a n d re

,

main n aked a s I wa s born s hould I tak e a fancy t o follow

,

O rlan do i n my pena nce rather th a n Amadis .

Thu s di s coursin g they arrived at the foot of a lofty mo un

ta in w hich stood alo n e almo s t a s thoug h it had been cut O E
,

from the others by which it w a s s urrounded . Along i ts s k i rt

there ran a ge n tle s trea mlet e n circlin g a mea dow s o gre e n
,

a n d l uxuri ant a s to delight the eyes of all w h o lo ok ed on i t .

Many fores t tree s were about a n d s ome s hrub s a n d fl ow ers

,

tha t made the s pot pleas an t. This place di d the Knig ht

of the R ueful Figure s elect wherein to do hi s pen a n ce a n d ,

beholdin g it he exclaimed in a loud voice like one distraug h t :

This 0 ye heaven s ! i s the s pot which I des tin e a nd s elect fo r
,

the bewaili ng of the m is hap i n which yours elve s have plun g e d

me . This is the s pot where the mois ture from mi ne e y es
s h a ll swell the wat ers of thi s lit tle s trea m a n d my con ti nuou s ,

a n d profo un d s ighin g s t ir u n cea s ingly the leaves of th e se

moun tain trees i n testimo ny and token of the p a in w hi c h

,

my tortured heart i s s u fferin g. O ye r ural deities ! whoever

ye may be that hold your habita tion i n this in hos pita ble
,

place li st t o the plaints of this u n happy lover who m a lon g

, ,

a b s e n ce a n d s ome f a n cied j ealou s y h a ve brought to mou rn

amon g thes e rugged rock s a nd to complain of the c ruel tem

,

per of that lovely in grate the term a n d fin is h of a l l hu ma n

,

beauty ! O ye w ood n ym p h s a n d dryads ! who se cu s tom it is

-

to haun t the thick mou n tai n grove s so may the nimble a n d ,

las civi ous s atyrs by whom ye are loved althou gh in vai n , ,

n ever di sturb your s w eet repo s e t hat ye may aid in lame n tin g
,

my evil fate or at least be n ot w eary of lis ten in g t o it ! 0

,

D ulcin ea del Tobo so ! day of my n ight glo ry of my pai n , ,

2 02 C ERVAN TE S

Thou a rt mi ghty w el l up i n th e story forsooth ! cri ed ,

Don Quixote ; there yet is lacki ng the tearin g of my ves

ture the s catterin g of my arm s about a nd the das h in g Of my
, ,

head again s t the rock s with other thin gs of this ki n d which

”
wil l as to n is h thee .
F or the love of God
, ,
cried Sancho take care h ow your
, ,

wors hip gives yours elf thes e d a s h i n g s of the head for you ,

may chance to hit upon s uch a rock a n d at s uch a poin t t hat

with the firs t of t hem you will p ut a fi n is h to the whole con
t riv a n ce of thi s pen a n ce . A n d it i s my n otion that s ince
yo ur wors hi p thin k s the se kn ocks of t h e head are n ecessary ,

a n d thi s j ob ca n n ot be do n e witho ut them y ou s hould content ,

yo urs elf , s eein g that all thi s i s feign ed a n d counterf eit a nd ,

in j oke ,
— y ou s ho uld co n t e n t yours elf I sa y with
, giving ,

them to yo urs elf agains t t h e wa ter or some s oft th in g like

,

cotton a n d leave it all t o me for I will tell my l a dy t hat your

, ,

w ors hip gave t hem to yo urs e l f again s t a poin t of a rock harder

t ha n diamo n d .

I than k thee for thy good in te n tion s frie nd San cho , ,

“
an s wered Don Q uixote ; but I wo uld have thee kn ow that
a l l t he s e thi n gs which I d o are n ot in j e s t b ut mea n t in ear

n e st f or otherw i s e it would be to co n t raven e the law s of chiv

,

a l t y which co m ma n d u s to tell no lie on pain of bei n g dea lt

, ,

w ith for a po stas y a n d the doi n g on e thin g f or an other i s the

,

s a me a s lyi n g . Therefore the d a s h i ng s of the head m us t be

re a l s olid a n d valid witho ut aught of the s op h ist ic a l or fa n
, , ,

t a s t ic a l a nd u w ill n eed t o leave me s ome li n t t o hea l me

y o ,

s i n ce fort un e hat h w illed t hat w e s hould be wit hou t the ba l

”
sa m w hich w e lo s t .

It w a s w ors e to lo s e t h e a s s an s w ered San cho for w ith

, ,

him li nt a n d every thin g were lo st ; but I pray yo ur worship

n ot t o call to min d that a cc urs ed bal s am for on o n ly h ea ring ,

u m e n t io n i t my he a rt tu rn s i n s ide of me n o t to sa y my
y o , ,

s t o m ach ; a n d I be s eech y ou f urt her t o recko n a s pas t the

three d a y s you have give n me for s eein g the mad tri ck s you
perform for I t a ke them for s een a n d pas sed i n j udgment
,

a lready a n d I s h a l l t ell wo n ders to my lady. So w rit e out the

,

le tter a n d de s patch me a t o n ce for I h a ve a great lon ging to

,

come back a n d release yo ur wo rs hip out of this purgatory

"
w here I leave y ou .
 DON ourxor r: 2 03

Purga tory dost thou call it San cho ? cried Don Q uixote ;
,

th ou wouldst do bett er to call it hell or even wors e if a ny , ,

”
t h i ng c a n be so .

H e who h a s hell replied San cho

, n ulla e st ret e n t i o a s, ,
”
I h a ve he a rd s a y .

I d o n ot un derstand what rete nt io mean s s aid Don ,

Q u i xote .

Re te n ti o ,an s wered San cho i s that h e who is in hell ,

n e v e r come s out of it n or ca n come w hich w i ll be d i Eere nt

, ,

w i t h your wors hip or my heel s s hall g o il l that i s if I take

, , ,

s p ur s t o quicke n up Rozi n a n te . Let me but once get t o E l

T o bo s o a nd before my lady Dulcin ea a n d I s hall tell her s uch ,

t h i n gs of the fooleri e s a n d mad n e ss e s ( for i t i s all on e ) w hich

ou r wors hip h a s done a n d i s s till doin g that I w ill get to
y ,

m ake her s oft er t h a n a glove though I s ho uld fi nd her harder

,

t han a cork tree -

A n d with her an swer s weet a n d ho n eyed
. , ,

I w ill ret urn through the air like a w itch a n d deliver yo ur

w or s hip out of this purgatory w hich lo ok s like hell and i s ,

n o t se ein g there is hope of getti n g o ut of i t w hich a s I have

, , ,

s ai d they w h o are i n hell have n ot n or do I s uppo s e yo ur

, ,

w or s hip will s a y an ythi n g to the co n trary .

“ ” “
That i s true said he of the Ruef ul Figure ; but h ow
,

s hall we ma n age t o wri t e the letter ?

A n d t h e order for the delivery of the a s s colt s too added , ,

S a n cho .
“
A ll s hall be in cl uded s aid Don Q uixote ; a nd s eein g
, ,

t here is n o p a per it w ere well th a t we wro t e a s the a n cie n t s

, ,

d id on lea ve s of tree s or on tablet s of w a x ; al t ho ugh th a t

,

w o u ld be a s hard to fi n d n ow a s paper B ut it h a s j us t come .

t o m y mi n d w here it will be well a n d eve n better t o write it , , ,

a nd th a t i s in the little pocketbook w hich belon ged to

C a rdenio . Thou s halt take care to have it tra n s ferred to
p pa er ,
in a good b a n d a t t h e fir
, s t vill a ge tho u come s t
t o w here t here i s a mas t er of a boy s s chool or if n ot s ome
’
, , ,

s a cr is ta n will tra n s cribe it for t hee A n d give i t n ot t o a n y

.

not a ry for they us e a n en gros s in g h a n d th a t Satan hims elf

, ,
”
w ill n ot make out .

B ut what is to be don e about the s ign at ure a s ked San cho .

”
The letters of Amadis were n ever s ign ed replied Don ,

Q uixote .
204 CERVAN TE S

That i s all very well s aid Sancho but the ord er for
, ,

the as s es mu st need s be s ign ed a nd if it is copied the y w ill ,

s a y the s ignatu re i s fal s e a n d I s h a ll be left wit ho u t t he

,
”
as s col t s .

The order s hall go si gn ed i n the lit tle book its el f so t hat ,

m y niece at s ight of it will make n o diffi cul ty a bo ut co m ply

, ,

i n g with it ; a n d a s to uchin g the love letter thou s ha l t put

,
-
,

by way of s ub s criptio n Yours till deat h The Kn ight O f t h e ,

Rueful Figure. A nd it w ill be no g reat m a t ter that i t g oes

’

i n a st ran ge h a n d for a s well a s I ca n remember Du l c i nea

, , ,

ca n n either write n or read n or in all her l i fe h a s s he se en

,

handw ri tin g or letter of mine for my love s and her ow n h av e

,

ever been platon ic n ot goin g fa rt her th a n a chas te look a n d

, ,

e ven thi s s o ra rely that I dare s wear with truth th a t d u r i n g ,

the twelve years I have been lovin g her more dearly tha n t h e
light of the s e eye s which the eart h w ill on e d a y dev o u r I ,

have n ot s een her four t ime s and it may even be th a t of ,

thes e four ti mes s h e did n ot o n ce n otice that I looked a t h e r ;

s uch is the re s erve a n d s eclu s io n i n which her fa ther Lo r e n zo ,

Corch uelo a n d her mother Aldo n za N ogales have bro ught

, , ,
”
her up .

“ ”
Soho ! cried San cho ; then the daughter of Lo re n zo
Corch uelo i s t h e lady D ulcin ea del Tobo s o otherw is e ca l le d ,

A ldo n za Loren zo ?
” “
That i s s h e s aid Don Q uixote ; a n d s h e it is w h o is
,
”
wort hy to be lady t o the whole un ivers e .

“ “
I k n ow her well s aid San cho ; a n d ca n tell y ou th a t
,

s h e pitche s a bar a s well a s the s toute s t lad i n all t h e pari s h .

Bles s the Giver but s he i s a girl of mett le right a n d st ra ig h t

, , ,

a sturdy las s w h o ca n hold her ow n i n a t us s le w ith a n y

,

kn ight e rran t th a t i s or i s to be w h o s hall have h er f o r ,

mi stres s . O the baggage what a m us cle s h e h a s a n d w h a t

, ,

a voice ! Let me tell you s h e g ot one day on top of t h e

vill age bel fry t o call s o m e of t heir me n w h o we re w orking i n
,

on e of her father s fa llo w s a n d tho ugh they were more t h a n

’

half a league OE they heard her a s plain as if they were a t

the foot of the tower ; a n d the be st of her is that s h e is not a
bit prudis h for s h e h a s m uch of the court lady ; s he j okes
,

with all a nd m a ke s ga me a n d jes t of everybody . I sa y no w

, ,

Sir Kn ight of the R ueful Figu re tha t n ot o n ly may a n d ,

2 06 C ERVANT ES

are much m istaken my dear sir a nd your a rgumen t is ve ry

, ,

old fas hio n ed if y ou imagine that I have made a bad cho i ce

-

i n s uch a one i diot a s he may s eem seei n g that for all I w a nt

, ,

of him he kn o w s a s much philo s o p hy a s A ri s t o t le a n d mo r e .

’
,

A n d so San cho for what I wan t of Dulcin ea del Tobo s o s h e

, ,

i s a s good a s the highe s t p rin ces s of the earth . A y e a n d i t ,

i s n ot true that all the poets rea l l y have the mis tres ses t h ey
pra is e u n der the n ames they freely give t hem . Dost t h ou
imagin e that the Am a ryllis es the P hy l l is es t h e Sylvia s t he
, , ,

Dian as the Gala tea s a n d other s uch of which t h e book s the

, , , ,

ballad s the barbers s hop s the comic theaters are full w ere
,
’
, , ,

veri tably ladie s of fle s h a n d bon e a nd belo nged to those w ho ,

celebrate a nd have celebrated them ? N o of a surety but , ,

for the mo st part they inven ted them to s upply s ubject s for
the ir vers es a n d t hat they might be t aken for lovers a n d for
,

me n capable of bein g s uch . A nd therefore it is e n o ugh , ,

for me to imagine a n d bel ieve that t h e good Aldon za Lor e nzo

i s be a ut iful a n d vi rtuo us ; a n d the mat ter of her lin eage i m
p o rt e t h but li t tle f or no
, o n e w ill i n quir e i n to it for t h e p ur

pos e of in ves tin g her with a n y order and for my pa rt I , , ,

accoun t her the mos t exa lted prin cess in the w orld. For
thou m us t k n ow Sancho if thou kn o w e st it n ot already that
, , ,

t w o thin g s above a l l o t hers are i n cen tives t o love w h ic h are ,

great beauty a n d a good n ame and the se t wo t hing s a re found ,

i n a s urpa ss in g degree i n Dulcin ea for i n beauty n o o ne eq uals ,

her a n d i n good n ame few can approach her. A nd to con

,

c l ud e o n ce for all I make mys elf believe th a t it is a ll a s I s a y

, , ,

w it hout exce s s or lack of a ught a n d I pai n t her in my i m ,

a g i n a t i on a s I des ire her t o be both i n beauty a n d i n q uality

,
.

H elen ap p roache s her n ot n or doe s Lucretia co m e n ear her

, ,

n or d o a n
y of the famo us wome n of time s pas t Greek b ar ,

barian or Lati n ; a n d let every one sa y w h a t he pleas es for if

, ,

I am reprehen ded for t his by the ign oran t I s hall not be ce n

”
s ured by the c ritical .

I s a y that your wors hip is right i n everyt hin g ans wered ,

San cho a nd t h a t I a m a n a ss . B ut I k now n ot w hy I call

“
,

a ss i n my mout h for we m u s t n ot me n tion rope in the hou se

,

o f the han ged but give me the letter a nd good by for I a m -

o ff.

Don Q uixote t ook out t h e p ocketb ook, and withdrawi ng

,
 DO N Qurxor x 2 07

a pa rt began with much delibera ti on to w rite the lett er ; a n d

,

w h e n he h a d finis hed it he called to Sancho a n d s aid that he ,

w is h ed to read it to h im i n order th a t he might co mmit it to

m e m ory in cas e of h is lo s in g it i n the wood for with so evil
, ,

a d e s ti n y a s h is everythin g might be feared . To w hich

S an cho replied : Write it do w n your wors hip t w o or thre e , ,

t i m es t here i n the boo k and give it to me a n d I will carry it

, ,

v e ry c a ref ully ; f or to thin k that I ca n keep it in m memory

y
i s n on se n s e for I have s uch a bad one that I often forget my
,

o w n n a m e. But for a ll that do you rea d it to me a s I s hall ,

b e ve ry glad to hear it for it is bou n d to be a s good a s pri n t

, .
” “
Lis te n s ai d Don Quixote for it run s thus
, ,

L etter qf Don Q u ix ote to D ul ci nea d el Tobos o

S O VEREI GN AN D EX A L TED L ADY — The wou nded by the

b arb of ab s ence t h e pierced to the heart s core 0 s weete s t
’

, ,

D ulc i nea del Tobos o s en d s thee the health he poss es s es n ot.

,

I f t h y bea uty des pis e me ; if thy w orth be n ot to my gain ;

i f thy dis dain be for my a n g uis h albeit that I a m lo n g s uffer,
-

i n g e n ough I s hall be a ble to s u stai n my s elf i n this affl ic t ion ,

w h ich be s ide s that it i s viole n t i s of very lo n g d uratio n

, My .

g oo d s qu i re Sa n cho wi l l give thee a mple a ccou n t 0 fair ,

i n g rate beloved e n emy m i ne of t h e con dit ion to w h ich I am

, ,

r e d uced for s ake of thee Should it be thy pleas ure t o s uccor

.

m e I am t h i n e ; if n ot d o what i s to thy likin g ; for by the

, ,

e n d in g of my life I s h a ll h a ve s atis fied thy cruelty a n d my

p as s ion .

Thin e till dea th ,

TH E K N ro Hr or r un RUE F UL Fro m m .

By the soul of my fath er cri ed S a n cho on hea ri n g ,

it i s the loftie s t thin g I ever heard ! O d s body

’
“
t h e lett er , ,

ho w yo u r wor s hip s ay s everythi n g y o u plea s e i n it ! A n d

ho w w ell the K n ight of the R ueful Fig u re fi t s i n t o the s i g
na tu r e ! V erily s a y I,
your wor ,
s hip i s the devi l him s elf ,
” ’
a n d th e re is nothin g you do n t know .

T i s nece ss a ry to kn ow everyth i n g for the o ffi ce I hold

’
,

a n s w e re d Don Quixote .
2 08 CERVANTE S
“
now s aid Sancho let your wors hip put on th at
C ome , ,

other leaf the order for t h e three ass colts a n d S ign it very ,
”
plain that they may know your h a nd at s ight.
,
”
With pleas ure a ns wered Don Quixote . A nd w he n he
,

had written it h e read it out and it ra n to this e Ee ct

,

Mv N rn cr. By this firs t of a s s colts you will dire ct three ,

out of the five I left at home a n d in your charge to be gi ve n

, ,

to San cho Pan za my s quire ; which s aid three as s c o l ts I

,

order you to deliver a n d pay for the like amou n t here rece ived
i n tale ; a n d this with h is receipt s hall be your acq uitt a n ce.
Dated in the heart of t h e Sierra More n a t he a 7th of Au g us t ,
”
of th is pre s e n t year.

“
Rightit is s aid Sancho ; let yo ur wors hip s ign it
, .
”
I n eed n ot sign i t s aid D on Q uixote
, but o n ly to ,

put my fl ouris h to it which is t h e s ame a s my s ign at ure

, ,

a n d it w i ll be enough for three a ss e s na

y ev e n f o r t h r ee , ,

hundred.
I trust to your wors hip a n swered San cho ; let me go ;
,
“

I will s addle Rozina nte a n d be ready to give me your bless

,

i ng for I i ntend to s tart at once without witne s s in g the mad

,

pranks which your wors hip is goin g to play for I will sa y I ,

”
s a w you perform so m a ny t h at s h e will want no more .

A t the leas t I s hould li ke thee S a ncho and becau s e it , ,

is e s s entia l , I s hould like thee I sa y t o see me st ripped , , ,

and go th rough a dozen or two of mad th in gs which I w il l ,

de s patch in less than half an hour ; for having s een them wi t h

thine own eye s thou can st s afely sw ear to the res t that you
may like to add ; and be as s ured that thou wilt n ot tell of a s
”
man y as I me an to perfor m.
For the love of God dear mas ter let me not s ee your
, ,

wors hip n aked for it will rai se in me much pity a n d I s hall

, ,

not be able to keep from cryin g a n d I have s uch a sore h ead ,

from the weepin g I did las t n ight for Dapple that I am not ,

yet ready for fre s h tears ; and if it i s your wors hip s pleas ure
,
’

that I s hould se e s ome mad trick s do them with your clothes ,

on ,
— s hort one s a n d s uch a s are of mo s t account.
, More by
token that for me nothin g of the sort is needed ; a nd a s I ,

have sa id before it will s ave time on my journey back whic h

, ,
2IO CERVANTE S

that he s houl d look after h i m as a fter h is ow n pro per sel f h e

,

t ook the road to the plain s scattering t h e s tal ks of t h e broo m

,

at in tervals as h is mas ter h a d advised him ; and so h e w en t

o n h i s w a y though D on Q uixote still pre s s ed h i m to see h i m
,

perform were it o n ly a co uple of his mad tricks. H e h a d

n ot gone a hundred pace s however when he cam e ba c k a n d
, ,

s a id

I th ink your worship sir said quite right that in ord e r

, , ,

t o be able to swea r without a load on my con s cience t ha t I

h a d s een you d o yo ur mad tricks it might be w e ll for m e t o
,

see sa y o n e ; tho ugh on e good big on e I have s ee n i n y our

, ,
”
wors h ip s taying h ere .
Did I not tell thee s o ? s aid Don Quixote
Sancho and in th e s pace of a credo I will do th em .
,

A n d stripping him s elf i n all ha s te o f h is breec he s b e re

, ,

main ed but in h is s kin a n d h i s s hirt tail s and t he n w it h o ut

-

more ado he cut a co uple of capers i n the a ir a n d a s ma n y

,

s omers aults . Sa ncho thereupon turn ed Rozin a n te s re i n’

,

recko nin g him self c onten t and s ati s fied that he w a s a ble t o
s wear that h is mas ter w a s mad.

A nd so we will leave him to g o h is wa y till h is re turn ,

which w a s s peedy.
 C H A PT E R XXV I

Whe rei n a re purs ued the delica te p ra nhs w h i ch i n hi s qua li ty of

,

l over D on Quixote p lay ed i n the S i err a M orena

,

E T U RN I N G to the n arra tive of what he of the R ueful

Fig ure di d whe n he fo un d him s elf alon e, the hi story
s ay s that a s s oon as D on Q uixote had ended h is

tumbli n gs or so mers aults, naked from below the middle a n d

cloth e d above, and w he n b e perceived t hat San cho w a s gone
with ou t ca rin g to s top a n d s e e a ny more of h i s foolerie s , h e
cli mb e d to the poi n t of a high rock a n d there agai n set hi m

se lf t o con s ider what he had ofte n time s co ns idered witho ut

h a v in g e ver come to a deci s io n upon it, a nd it w a s w hether it

w ere be tt er a n d more to the p u rpo s e t o imitate O rlan do in
h is ou tr ageous fren zie s or A madi s in h i s melan choly fits ; and ,
c om mu n in g with him self he s aid ,

If O rl an do were s o good a k n ight a n d so valiant a s all

sa y what ma rvel s eei n g after all that he w a s e n chanted a n d
, , ,

n o n e could kill him e xcept by thru s ti n g a farthin g p i n in to

t h e s ole of the foot a n d s o he alway s w ore S hoe s w ith s even

,

iro n soles . But the s e tricks a vailed h im naught w ith Ber

n a r d o del Carpio who kno w i n g Of them s tran gled h im i n h is
, , ,

arm s at Ro n ce svalles . Le avin g the matter of h is valor a s ide ,

le t us come to that of h is lo s s of w it s w hich it i s ce rtai n

,

that he lo s t through the s ig ns he dis covered at the fou ntain ,

a n d the tidin gs which the s hepherd bro ught him h ow that ,

A n g elica had kept try s t more tha n tw o aftern oon s w it h

M e d oro a little curly headed M oor a n d page to A gra ma nte
,
-
.

I f h e believed thi s to be true a n d that h i s lady h a d do n e h im

,

this wron g it w a s n ot much in h i m to t urn mad ; b ut I h ow

, ,

c a n I imitate him in h i s mad n e s s if I re s emble him n ot i n

,

t h e Occa s io n thereof ? For my D ulcin ea del Tobo so I will ,

d ar e swear h a s n ever s ee n a ny Moor i n all the day s of her

,

l i fe ; a n d I S ho uld be doin g her a man ifest in j ury were I ,

21!
2I2 CERVAN TE S

imagi ning aught el s e of her to tu rn mad after th e manner , ,

Of O rlando the F uriou s . O n the other hand I see that ,

A madis of Gaul without los in g h is wits and without p e rpe

, ,

t ra t ing any mad freak s w on as great a reputa tio n fo r a lover

,

a s the be s t of them ; for what he did accordi n g t o h i s h is ,

to ry w a s n oth in g more than findin g him s elf s lighted by his

, ,

lady O riana w ho had comman ded him n ot to app ea r in h er

,

pres ence until s uch w a s her pleas ure to retire t o t h e Pena ,

Pobre in compan y with a hermit and t h ere to sate him self ,

with weepin g until Heave n s ent him relief i n the mid s t O f his
great an gui s h a n d stre s s . A n d if this be tr ue a s it is why , ,

do I n ow ta ke pain s to s trip myself wholly or to give p a in to ,

the se trees which have n ever done me any harm or to trouble

, ,

the clear waters of the se s tream s which h a ve to g iv e me ,

drink w hen I am thirsty ? Long live the memory of Am a dis ,

and be he the model a s far a s may be of Don Q uixote o f La

, ,

Man cha of whom it s hall be s aid what w a s s aid O f that other

,

one that if he achieved n ot great th i n gs he died i n atte mpt

,

in g them . A n d if I be n ot rejected n or s lighted of my l a dy

,

Dulcin ea let it s ufli ce a s I have s ai d t hat I am abs en t from

, , ,

her. H O then ! Hand s to your ta s k ! Deed s of Am adi s

, ,

come to my memory a n d teach me how I ma y begin to c opy

,

y ou ! N ow I k n ow that the,mo s t of what h e d i d w a s t o p ray ,

”
and s o will I do .
F or a ro s ary there s erve d him s ome l a rg e gal lnuts of a
cork tree which he stru n g together in tens ; a n d what
-

annoyed him much w a s not to fin d thereabouts a nother

hermit to confe ss him and to adm in is ter con sola ti on ; a nd
,

th u s be entertained hims elf pacing up and down t h e l ittl e ,

meadow writin g and g raving on the barks of the trees a n d

,

on the fin e s a n d ma n y vers e s all adapted to hi s sa d sta te , ,

a n d s ome i n prai s e o f Dulcin ea. Tho s e that were dis covered

entire a n d could be deciphered after he w a s found w ere

, ,

none other than thes e w h ich follow

Tre es pl a nts a nd bus h es all

, ,

About t h is spot a growi ng -

,

S O big, s o green, s o ta l l,
S O pl e nti ful l y bl o w i ng,
G ive ea r unto my fa l l .
My gri ef dis turb you not,
21
4 C ERVAN T E S

B ut n ow it w ill be well t o leave him , wrapt in hi s s igh s

and h i s vers e s , to relate what happe n ed to Sancho Pan za in
h i s e n terpri s e . O n comin g out in to the highroad he m ade
for that w hich led to El Tobo s o a rrivin g the n ext day at ,

the in n where had happen e d to him the mis adve n ture of the
blanket. Scarcely had he e spied it when he felt h im s elf
fl yin g once more t h roug h t h e air a n d had n o w is h to e n ter
°

therein although it w a s the hour w hen he might and s h o uld

,

have do n e s o bein g that of din n er and he w a s lo n gin g to

, ,

ta ste somet hin g h ot it bein g n ow a good ma ny days of all

,

cold fare with him . Thi s yearn in g made h i m draw n ear to

the i nn still doubtful w he ther he S hould e n ter or n ot. At
,

thi s m omen t there came out of t h e in n t w o pers on s w h o ,

“
pre s e n tly perceived him a n d s aid on e to the o t her : Tell
,

me sir lice nti a te i s n ot he on the hors e San cho Panza w h o

, , , ,
’
our adve n t urer s ho us ekeeper told us had s allied o ut with her ,
”
mast er a s s quire ?
Yes it is he replied the licentiate a n d th at i s our D on
, , ,
’ ”
Q uixote s horse .
They could not but kn ow him well seeing th ey were t h e ,

prie st a n d t h e barber of his ow n vi llage who h a d made th e ,

in quisition a n d ge n eral auto da fé of the books . Havi n g rec og

n iz e d Sa n cho Panza a n d Ro zi n a n t e t h e tw o wen t up t o h i m , ,

bein g de s irou s of learn in g about Don Quixote ; and t h e pries t ,

cal lin g him by h i s name said : Frien d Sancho Panza wh e re

, ,

h ave yo u left your mas ter ?

San cho Pan za kn ew them at on ce a n d made up h i s m in d ,

to co n ceal from the m the place a n d the con dition where in

h i s master then w a s ; a n d s o he replied that h is mas ter w as
occ upied i n a ce rtain place a n d in a certain a Ea i r whi ch w a s
to him of much importance which he w a s n ot able to revea l ,

for all the eye s in h i s head .

N O n o Sa n c h o Pa nza s a id the barber ;
, , if you d o not
,

tell us w here he i s we s hall believe a s we already do believe

, , ,

that you have murdered a n d robbed him s in ce y ou come atop ,

of h i s hors e . Verily y ou must bring us to the o wn er of the

,
”
nag or it s hall be the w orse for you.
,
’
There s n o cau s e to us e threats w ith me for I am n ot a ,
”
ma n to rob or to m urder a nybody s aid San cho . Let every ,

one s ow n fate murder hi m or the God w h o made hi m. My

’

,
 DO N ourxor r: 2 15

ma s ter s ta y s doing of penan ce in th e heart of the s e mounta in s,

”
mu ch t o h i s s atis faction .
A n d th en he told them righ t O E, w ithout stopping, of th e
s t a t e i n which h e had left h is ma s ter, the advent ure s which

had be fallen him and how he w a s carryin g the letter to the

,

l ady D ulcin ea del Tobo s o who w a s the daughter of Lorenzo

,

C o rc huelo with w hom the k n ight w a s i n love do w n t o the

,

li ver .
They w ere both s truck with aston is hmen t at Sancho Panza s ’

s to ry a n d though they k n e w a lready of Don Qu ixote s mad

’

, ,

n e ss a n d the n ature thereof t h ey marveled an ew a s O ften a s

,

t hey heard of it. They a s ked San cho Pan za to s how them
t h e letter which he w a s h e a ri ng to the lady D ulcinea del
Tobo s o . He told them that it w a s written in a not e book -

a n d that it w a s h i s ma s ter s order that he w a s to have it

’

c o p i ed out in paper at the firs t village he came t o ; upo n

w h ich the prie s t as ked that he migh t s ee it for he would ,

c o py it out him s elf in a fair ha n d . Sanc h o Pan za p ut h i s

h a n d i nto h is bo s o m but found it n ot ; n or co uld he have
,

f o und it if he had s e a rched till th i s day for it had remai n ed ,

w i th D on Q uixote a n d had n ot bee n give n t o him n or had

, ,

h e remembered to a s k for it Whe n San cho perceived that

.

t h e boo k w a s n ot to be fou n d h i s face grew a s pale a s death

, ,

a n d again feeli n g all over h i s body very eagerly he beca m e

, ,

c o n v i n ced that he had it n ot ; a n d without more ado he laid , ,

h ol d of h i s beard wit h both han d s a n d plucked h alf of it o ut ,

a n d in a t rice ga ve him s elf half a doze n blow s witho ut s top

- -

p gi n ,in t h e face a n d o n the n o s e so that h e bathed them

, all
i n blood . Seein g thi s t h e prie st a n d the ba rber in q uired o f
,

h i m what w a s the matter that h e treated h im s elf s o roughly .

“ “”
What s hould be the m atter an swered San c h o but t hat
, ,

I h a ve let s lip through m y fi n gers in a moment three a s s colt s , , ,

e ac h like a ca s tle
How is that ? as ked th e barber.
”
I have los t the n ote book replied Sa n cho w hich had
-

, ,

i n i t the lett er for D ulcin e a a n d a bill s ig n ed by my mas ter

,

i n which he ordered h i s n iece to give me t hree a s s f oal s o ut

o f t h e four or five he h a s at home A nd with that be related
.

t o them the lo ss of Dapple .

T h e p rie s t co n s oled him s ayi n g that w hen he foun d h i s

,
21
6 CERVAN TES

mas ter he would make him re ne w the order a nd draw t h e

bill O f exchan ge accordin g to us e and cu sto m ; for such a s
,

w ere drawn in n ote books were n ever accepted or h on ore d

-
.

With this San cho w a s comforted saying that s in ce i t w a s so , , ,

’
the lo s s of Dulcin ea s lett er gave him little co n cern for h e ,

k n e w it almo s t by heart so t hat they might ta ke i t d ow n

,

whe n a n d where they pleas ed.

”
Repeat it the n Sancho s aid the barber and th e n w e
, , ,
”
w ill write it dow n .
S a n cho Panza s topped to s cra tch his head to fetch th e l ette r
to h is me mory s ta nding n ow upon one leg a n d now upo n the
,

other. Sometimes he s ta red at the grou n d a n d again at t h e ,

Sky A fter having gnawed O E half t h e top of a fin ger kee p

. ,

i n g in s us pen s e those w h o were waiti n g for h im to s p ea k h e ,

exclaimed after a very lon g pau se

, By my so ul mas te r ,

licentiate may the dev il ta ke all I remember of the lett er

, ,

although a t t h e beginnin g it s a id Sublime a n d Scrubby ,

’
Lady.
’ ’
It would not s a y s crubby but s uperhuman or sovet
‘
,

e ig n lady quoth the barber

, .
“ ”
That s it cried Sancho ; then if I don t mis ta ke me it
’

, ,
’
,

wen t on the wounded a n d s leeples s and the pierce d ki sses

’
yo ur han ds u n g ratef ul a n d than kles s fair and I don t kn ow
,

w hat he s aid about health a n d s ickn e ss that he s en t a n d thus ,

he went scramblin g on ti ll he ended in Yo urs til l death ,

’
the Kn ight of the R ueful Figure .
’
The pair were n ot a little divert ed at Sancho Pan za s excel
len t memory a n d prais ed it greatly de s irin g him to repea t
, ,

the letter tw ice over that they a ls o might h ave it by h ea rt to ,

w rite it down i n due time . Three time s did Sanc h o repea t

it a n d a s many time s did he repeat three t hou s a n d other
,

e xtravagance s . A fter this he told them of other th in gs about

h i s mas ter ; but n ever a w ord did he s a y of the blan ket to ssing -

which had happe ned to hi m at the inn in to which h e re fused ,

t o e nter . He told them al s o how that h is ma s t er upon his ,

b rin gin g back a favorable des patch from the lady D ulcinea ,

w a s to s et abo ut the p urpo se of being m ade a n e mpe ror or ,

a t leas t a mo n arch for s o it had bee n arra n ged be tw e en them

,

tw o ; a n d it w a s a very eas y thi n g for him to beco m e one.con

s id e rin g the valor of h is pers on and t h e s tre n gth of h is arm.
2I8 CERVAN T ES

where he can best s erve hims elf and bestow on me the most
favors .

You s peak like a wis e ma n s aid the prie st and will

, ,

behave like a good Chris tian ; but w hat we have to do at

pre se nt is to con trive how to releas e yo ur mas ter from that
vain pen ance wh ich you tell us he i s performi n g ; a n d in order
to con s ider the man n er of doin g it a n d to eat f or i t i s now the ,
”
hour it w ill be well for us to g o in to this inn
, .

S a n cho an sw ered that they might go i n but for himself he ,

would w ait t here o uts ide a n d tell them after w ard s t h e reason
,

why he did n ot enter a nd w h y it w a s n ot agreeable to him to

,

do s o ; but he be s ought them to brin g him out s omething to

c a t w hich s ho u ld be s omethin g hot a n d a l s o s ome barley for
, ,

Rozin a n te They left h im a n d w e n t w ithin a n d i n a little

.
,

while the barber brought him out s ome victual s Aft erwards
'
. ,

the t w o havin g well deliberated between them the course

w hich they s ho uld take to accomplis h what they desired ,

there occurred to t h e pries t a n idea well fitted t o Don Quix

o te s humor a n d al so to c Eec t w hat they inten ded . And he
’

told t h e barber that what he had t hought of w a s to dress him

s elf i n the habit O f a dam s el the other as su mi n g a s best he
,

could the part of the s quir e a n d in this guis e they could go

,

to where Don Quixote w a s he feign in g t o be a n a fll icted and

,
‘

dis t re s sed maiden to be s eech of him a boon which he as a

, ,

valia nt kn ight erran t could n ot refu se to gra nt ; and that the

boo n w hich he thought of a s kin g w a s t o accompany her to
w herever s h e might w a n t to take him to redre s s a n inj ury ,

which a w icked kn ight had don e her en treatin g h im a t the,

s ame ti m e that he s hould n ot req uire her to remove her mask ,

n o r dema n d a n ythi n g of her co n dition u n til he had ri ghted

,

her upon that w icked kn ight. The priest made no doubt

whatever that Don Q uixote w ould ag ree t o all t hey asked of
h i m o n the s e term s a n d i n thi s man n er they might get him
,

aw ay from th a t pla ce a n d remove him t o hi s vi llage w here ,

they wo uld try to fin d s ome cure for h i s stran ge madness.

 C H A PT E R XXV I I

W how the p ri es t a nd the ba rber ca rr ied out th ei r desig n, w i th other

t hi ng: w or thy qf men ti on i n thi s grea t hi s tory

H E pries t s des ig n s eemed to th e barbe r not ill

’

ra ther so well that they set about its execution at

,

once They borrowed of the i nn keeper s w ife a gown

.
’

a n d a h e ad dres s -
leavi ng in p a wn a new cas s ock of the
,

i e t T h barber f a h i oned a great b ard of a red

’

p r s s . e s e o ut o r

i
’

g ra yi s h o x s tail n which , the in n keeper w a s u s ed to han g

h i s comb The lan dlady asked them what they wan ted thes e
.

t h in gs for. The prie s t told her in a few word s o f Don , ,

ixo e mad e n d h ow that this dis gui s e w a s n ece ss ary

’

Q u t s n s s a ,

t o bring hi m away o ut of the moun ta in s w here he then w a s .

T h e in n keepe r a n d h is wife at on ce divin ed that thi s madman
w a s t h eir gues t he of the bal s am the mas ter of the bla n ket
, ,

t o s s e d s q u ire ; a n d they told t h e prie s t of all that h a d pas s ed

b e twee n them n ot con cealin g that about w hich San cho had
,

b ee n so si len t. Fin ally t h e lan dlady dre s s ed up the p ries t

,

i n a s tyle w hich could n ot be bettered She put on him a .

s t ufl gown covered w ith ban d s of black velvet each of a ,

h a n d s breadth all s las hed ; a n d a bodice o f g ree n velvet

’
, ,

tr i m med with edge s of white s atin w hich w ith the gow n , , ,

m u s t have been made in the day s of Kin g Wamba. The

p ri e s t wo u ld n o t con s e n t to have h i s head dre s s ed like a
w o m a n s but p ut on a s mall ca p of q uilted lin en which he
’
,

ca rr i e d for s leepin g in at n ight ; and boun d round h i s fore

h ea d a g arter of bl a ck ta ff eta a n d with a n other garter made ,

h i m s elf a ma sk which well covered h i s beard a n d face. He

t he n do nn ed h i s broad hat which w a s so
, large that it w ou ld
se rve h i m for a n umbrella and wrappin g him s elf i n h is
, ,

cloak b e se ated him se lf like a woman on h i s mule w hile the

, ,

b a r be r mo unt ed h i s with a beard reachin g dow n to h i s girdle

, ,

party c olored red a n d white bein g made as we have s aid out

-
, , ,

of t h e ta il of a pied ox .
2 20 CERVANTES

They took leave of a ll in cl udin g t h e good Marito rne s w h o

, , ,

s in ner a s s h e w a s promis ed to tell a ro s ary th a t God m i gh t

,

give them a good is sue out of the arduous and Chris tian bus i
n e s s they h a d unde rtake n . B ut hardly had they left the i n n ,

w hen the thought s truck the pri es t that h e w a s doing wro n g

i n dre ss in g him s elf up like that for it w a s a th in g i n dece n t
,

in a churchman to appea r in s uch a garb however g rea t h is ,

conce rn in the bu s ine ss . T e lling the barbe r of h is s c ruple s ,

he begged him t o chan ge d res s es s ince it w a s more fitt ing ,

that h e s hould be the dis tresse d dam se l a n d for h ims el f to ,

play the s quire a nd thu s h is dignity woul d be less pro fa ne d ;

,

otherwis e he w as res olved to g o n o farther w ith t h e m atte r ,

though the devil s hould take Don Q uixote. Ju s t the n Sa n c h o

came up who behol di n g the t wo i n that guis e c oul d n ot
, , ,

c ontain h i s laughter . Eventually the barbe r a gre ed to a ll

that the pries t wis hed a n d chan gin g their plan the p ri es t
, , ,

began to in s tr uct the other how to play h is part and w h at to ,

s a y t o Don Quixote to i nduce and co m p e l h i m t o com e wi th

them and quit his haunt in that s pot which he had s el ec ted
,

f or h is idle penance. The barber declared that he w ould

carry out h is part w ith propriety withou t a n y le sso n. He ,

w ould n ot dre s s him s elf un til they cam e near to whe re Don
Q uixote w a s a n d therefore he folded up the garments a nd
, ,

t h e prie st put away h i s beard and t hey purs ued t heir j ou rn ey

,

with Sancho for the ir guide who a s they we nt al on g re lat ed

, , ,

to the m what had happe ned with the madman who wa s found
in t h e moun ta in s conceali ng however the dis cove ry of the
, , ,

valis e and what w a s in it ; for s imple as he w as the l ad was , ,

a lit tle ava riciou s .

T h e next d a y they arrived at the s pot where S an c h o h a d

s trewn the twig s a s mark s by which to fin d the place where

he had left h is master and recognizin g it he s aid t o th em

, , ,

that this w a s the entrance a nd that they had bette r dress

,

th em s el ves if that w a s n ecessary to h i s mas ter s deliv e ra nce ;

,
’

for they had a lready told him that their going i n that guise ,

a n d att i ri n g them s elve s i n that fas hio n were a l l im port a nt ,

-

for the re scue of h is mas ter from tha t mis e rable l ife whi ch he
h a d cho se n and they had charge d him s trictly not t o tell
,

Don Quixot e w h o they were or that he knew t hem ; a nd if

the knight s hould inquire a s he w a s s ure to do if th e letter
, ,
22 2 CERVANT E S

Wha t my ha ppi ness to pa i n ?

turns
Dis
'

n.

W ha t grea t er ma k es my woe to be ?
J ea l ous y.
W ha t puts proof my pa tie nce
to
A bsence .

I n s uch a cas e no ease I s ee ,

N o r for my g ri ef a remedy ,

S i nce hope i tse lf doth murder me ,

Absence di sdai n a nd j ea lous y .
, ,

Wha t me to th is com pla i nt d oth move ?

Lov e .

W h o doth my h a ppines s a ba te ?
Fa te.
W ho to my wre tch ed ness cons e nts ?
Provi de nce .

I n such a ca se my s oul mus t w a i t

For d ea th i n h er unl ucky pl ig h t,
S ince for h er ov ert h row un ite
Lov e, Provide nce, a nd Fa te .
W h o better h ope ca n me be q uea th
Dea th .

W h at g i ves to l ove a freer ra nge ?

Ch a nge .

W h a t ma y re l iev e it of i ts sa d ness ?
Ma dnw s.
I n such a cas e twere wa s te of brea th ,
’

To see k my troubl e t o remove ;

W h e n no ne are re medies of Love,
B ut M a d n ess , Ch a nge, a nd D ea th .

Th e hour the s eas on the s olitude the voice a nd the skill

, , , ,

of the s i n ger cau s ed wo n der and delight in the t w o lis teners ,

w h o remai n ed s till i n the hope of hearing more . B ut the

, ,

s ile n ce co n tin ui n g for s om e time they res olved t o go in ,

s earch of the m usician w h o s an g with s o fin e a voice. As

they were about to do s o they were arres ted by the sa me

voice which touched their ears a new s in gin g this s onnet :
, ,

O s acred Frie nds h ip , t h a t wi t h nimbl e wi ng ,

Th yph a ntom l ea vi ng on th is ea rt h bel ow ,

Up to th e E mpyrea n di ds t mount a nd go ,

T o h ol d with bl es se d s ouls gl a d communing ;

T h ere th y fa ir fa ce for morta l s cozeni ng,
’

W ra pt i n a v eil to us th ou oft d ost s h ow,

 DON QUI XOTE 223

Th rough wh ich the fervor of g ood fa ith doth glow ;

Ala ck ! to end in s ca th e a nd sorrowi ng .
Come down, 0 Friends hi p, from the s kies, nor let
T hy liv ery be worn by foul d ecei t,
Sincere bel ief a nd hones ty to ch ea t,
For, if th ou qui ttes t not thy hea v en l y se a t,
O nce more s h al l chaos da rk e nfol d th e worl d,
And all to pri ma l anarch y be h url ed . ”

Th e on g w as en ded wi th a deep s igh and th e tw o on ce

s ,

m ore wait ed atten tively to hear if he s hould s ing again ; but ,

fi n d ing the mu s ic changed into s ob s a n d heartrendin g moan s ,

t h ey agr eed t o g o and fin d out w h o that u n happy on e w a s ,

so e xquis ite of voice a n d s o dolorou s of heart. They had n ot

g one f a r whe n in turning

, the corn er of a rock they sa w a ,

ma n of the sa me fi g ure and a s pect that San cho Pan za had

d es cr ibed when he told them the s tory of C a rden io . He when
, ,

b e perceived them s howed no s urpri s e but s tood s till wit h

, ,

h is h ead bo wed down on h is bos om like on e in deep tho ugh t

, ,

n ot lifti ng h i s eye s t o look at them more than o n ce on their

s u dden appearance . The prie s t w h o w a s a well s poken ma n

,
-

knowin g already of h is misfortu n es s ince he had recog ,

n ize d him by the toke n s gi ve n by S a n cho — went up to him , ,

a n d i n brief b ut well cho s en phras e s

,
-
be sought and pre s s ed
,

hi m t o q uit that wretched life les t he s hould lo s e it there

, ,

w h i ch of all h i s mis erie s would be the grea tes t. C a rde n io at ,

t hi s ti me w as in h i s right m ind f ree f rom the mad fit which

, ,

o fte n drove him out of him s e l f a n d s eeing the two i n a n

, ,

a ttir e s o u n u s ual among tho s e w h o freque n ted tho s e s oli

t u des he could n ot help be i n g s urpri s ed and the more whe n

, ,

h e h e ard them s peak of h i s a ffai r a s of a thi n g well kn ow n ,

f or the word s the prie s t s poke gave him to un ders ta n d a s

m uch ; a nd s o he replied to them in this m a nner
Whoe ver you be gentleme n I see clea rly that Heaven
, , ,

w h ich care s to s uccor the good a n d ofttime s eve n t h e

w i c ked s e n d s to me unwort hy th a t I am in the s e s pot s so
, , ,

d es olate a n d remote from the commo n haun t of human kin d ,

s o m e pers o n s who s etti n g before my eye s with vario us and

,

l ive ly argume n t s how irratio n al i s the life I lead have de ,

s ign e d t o draw me away from this to a better place . But a s

th ey know n ot what I know that in fl yin g from this evil I
,

must fa l l into one g reater they m us t se t me down a s a m a n

,
2 24 CERVAN TE S

of weak in telligen ce a n d even for what i s worse f or one ,

devoid of reas o n . A n d it would be n o m a rvel were it s o for ,

I am well aware that the force of the thought of my mise ry

i s so inten s e a n d i s so poten t for my des truction t h at wit h , ,

out my being able t o re s i s t it I am being t u rn ed in t o a s t on e

, ,

void of all kn o w ledge a n d s e n se ; a n d I come to kn ow this t o

be tru e when they tel l me a n d s how me token s of thi n gs
which I have don e when th a t terrible fit overmas ters me ;
a n d I ca n do n o more tha n idly bewail a n d u s ele ss ly c urse

my de stiny givin g in excu s e of my mad n ess the sto ry of it s

,

cau s e to a s man y a s are willin g to hear it ; for m e n of s en se ,

w hen they learn the caus e w ill n ot m a rvel at the e fl ects

’
, ,

a n d if they s hould gi ve me n o relief at lea s t they w ill im pute

, ,

to me no blame their anger at my o utrageo us cond uct be ing

,

chan ged to pity for my mis fortun e s If it be gen t lemen . , ,

that you are come with the same intention w ith which others
h a ve come before y ou proceed farther wit h your wise a d mo
,

n i ti on s I e n t reat you t o li s te n to the s tory w hich y ou know

, ,

n ot of my mi s fort un e s for perhap s whe n y ou have h ea rd it

, ,

y o u w i ll s p ar e you rs el ve s the trouble which

y ou a re ta king
”
i n ofi eri n g con s olatio n for a grief w h ich admits of n o s ol a ce .

The t w o who des ir ed n othin g els e than t o lea rn fro m hi s

,

ow n lip s the cau s e of h i s woe prayed him t o reco un t it

, ,

un dertakin g to do n othin g b ut what he de si red for hi s relief

or con s olation . Upon this the un happy gen tleman bega n his
piteou s story almo s t in the s ame w ord s a n d in the s am e man
,

ner in w hich h e had told it to Don Q uixote and to the goat

herds a few days before w he n by reas on of Mas ter El is a ba d
, ,

a n d Don Quixote s pu n ct i lio us n es s in defen di n g t h e d ign ity

’

of knight erra nt ry the tale w as left un fin is hed as thi s his

-
, ,

tory h a s recorded ; but n ow fort un e pleas ed that his ma d fit

s hou ld pas s and gave him the opportu n ity of rela t i n g it to
,

the e n d. A nd s o comin g to the pas sage of the lett er w hich

,
“ ”
Don Fern an do foun d in the book of A madis of Gaul Car ,

den io s aid that he remembered it well and that it w as in ,

thes e w ord s
L uei na a t o Ca rden i a
'

day I dis cover in you qu alitie s which oblige and

E very
compel me more a n d more to e steem you ; an d therefore if
2 26 CERVAN TE S

Don Fernando a n oble gentleman of dis ce rnment un der an

, ,

obligation t o me for fa vors well able to attai n wh atever

h i s a morou s f an cy might covet in a n y di rection
, s hould ,

burn to ta ke from me a s I may sa y my s in gle e we l amb

, ,

which w a s n ot yet m in e ?
B ut leavin g the s e re fl ectio n s a s idle and p rofi tl e ss let
, ,

us re s ume o n ce more the broke n thread of my haples s s tory.

I repeat then that Don Fernan do thin ki n g my pres e n ce to

, , ,

be a hin dran ce to the execution of h i s fals e a n d w icked d e s ign ,

res olved to sen d me to h is elder brother on the prete n s e of

borrowing from him s ome mo n ey to pay for s ix hors e s w hich ,

purpos ely and solely to the e n d that I might be got out of

the way in order that he might the better carry out h is acc ursed
in tent he bought on the very day he professed to s p e a k to
,

my father. Could I fores ee this t reachery ? Co uld it e n ter

into my thoughts to imagi n e it ? Surely n ot ; ra t h er wi t h the
grea test good w ill did I ofi er t o set out fort hwith gl a d of the
-
,

fi ne purchas e he had made. That n ight I s poke with Luc i nda ,

and told her what had bee n arran ged between me a n d Don
Fern an do biddin g her have firm hope that our good and
,

righteou s de s ire s would be fulfilled . She a s unsus picious as ,

mys elf of Don Fern an do s t reas on bade me return w ith a ll

’
,

s peed for s h e believed that the crow n ing of our a ff ec tions

,

would be deferred n o lon ger than my father s ho ul d dela y

s peaki n g to hers . I kn ow n ot h ow it happened but a s soOn , ,

a s s h e s aid this her eye s filled wit h tears and a kn ot ro se in

, ,

her throat which hin dered her from utterin g a w ord of the
,

man y which methought s he s trove to s p eak. I w as s truck

w ith s urpri s e at this n ew emotion till the n n ever s ee n in her
, ,

for a s Often a s my good fortun e and my addres s had permitt ed

,

me to convers e w ith her w e s poke ever with all j oy a n d gla d

,

n e ss ,
without the min gling of tears sigh s j ealous ie s sus pi
, , ,

cion s or fears in our m utual talk. O n my part I w a s all for

, ,

extol lin g my ha ppines s for H eaven havin g given me h er for

my mis tress . I w ould magn ify her beauty a n d ad mire her
worth and understan din g She would repay me i n double
.

meas ure commen ding i n me w hat to her a s a lover w as

,

worthy of commen dation. A n d then we would amuse ea ch

other with a h un dred thou s a d tri fle s
n — with thi n gs that
,

had h appened to our n eighbors a n d acquainta nces ; and the

 DO N QUI XOT E 227

utmos t t o which my presu m ption exte n ded w a s to ta ke almos t ,

by f orce one of her lovely white han ds a n d carry it to my

,

li ps a s well a s I might for th e narrown es s of the l ow gratin g

wh ic h s eparated us . But on the n ight which preceded the,

sa d d a y of my leavin g s h e wep t s h e moan ed s h e s ighed a n d

, , , ,

fl e d lea vi n g me filled wi th con fu s io n a n d a l a rm frighten ed at

, ,

h av i ng witn es sed the s e u n won ted and mel a n choly s ign s of

g r ief and te n der n e ss in L u cinda . N ot t o s po i l my hope s I ,

a ttr ibuted all to t h e force of the love s h e bo re me a n d to t h e

sorr ow which ab se n ce cau s e s to true lovers . I n fin e I d e ,

p a r ted sa
, d and pen s ive my s o ul fi lled
, with fancie s a n d s us

p i ci o n s witho
, u t k n o w in g what I s u s p e cted or im a g ined ,

c l ea r token s which presa ged the dark even t a n d fate w hich

w e re awaitin g me .
I reached t h e town whither I w a s s ent delivered the let ,

t e rs to Don Fe m a n do s brother w a s w ell received but not

’

,
'

w e l l des patched for he bade me wai t eight day s much to my

, ,

di s g us t i n a place where t h e d uke h i s father s ho uld n ot se e

, , ,

m e for hi s brother had written to him for certa in mo n ey s to

,

b e s e n t without their fathe r s knowledge All this w a s a

’
.

s t ra tagem of the fal s e Don Fern an do for h is brother had n o ,

l a c k of money with which t o des patch me at once The .

co m mand w as s uch as moved me to dis obedie n ce for it s eemed ,

t o m e impo ss ible t o s upport l ife s o man y days ab s e nt f rom

L uc in da ; the more s in ce I had left her in the dis tr es s whic h
I h a ve de s cribe d. N everthele ss I obeyed like a good s er , ,

v a nt although I s a w that it m us t be at the co s t of my s alva

,

t i o n . But on the fourth day after my arrival there came a

, ,

m a n in s earch of me with a letter which he gave me a n d , ,

w hich by the addre s s I knew to be f rom Lucin da for t h e

, , ,

h a ndwri t in g w a s hers . I ope n ed it i n fear a n d tremblin g ,

k n o win g that it m us t be s ome g reat matter w hich h a d mo ved

h e r t o write to me i n my abs e n ce s eei n g that s h e s o rarely d i d
,

s o w he n I w a s pre s e n t. I as ked the ma n before readin g i t who

h a d g iven it to him a n d h ow long he had bee n on the road

, .

H e to ld me that pas s in g by chance through one of the street s

,

of the city about the middle of the day a very be autif ul lady ,

ca ll ed t o h i m from a win dow her eye s full of tears a n d with

, ,

m uch ea rn e stn es s s aid t o him : Brother if y ou are a Chris tian ‘

, ,

a s y ou s eem to be I implore you for the love of God to carry

, , ,
2 28 CE RVAN T ES

t his l etterquickly to the place and to the pers on whose address

it bears for they are w ell k n ow n a n d in this you w ill be doing
, ,

O ur Lord a great s e rvice ; and that you may not lack the ,

mean s of be ing abl e to do this take what is in this ha ndker ,

chief A n d s o s ayin g s h e t hrew me from the w in dow a hand

’ ‘
. , ,

kerchief in which were tied up a h un dred rea ls and t his gold

,

ri n g w hich I h a ve here with the le tter I have give n you And .

the n without w a itin g for my an swer s h e w ithdrew from the

, ,

window though first s h e s a w me ta ke up t h e letter a nd the

,

h a n dkerchief I telli n g her by s ig ns tha t I would do what

s h e bade me . A n d s o s eein g mys elf so well paid for my
,

trouble i n bri ngin g it and learn ing by the direction that it

,

w a s to y ou s h e s e n t it — for I sir kn ow y ou very well

, , , ,

moved likewi s e by the tears of that beauti ful la dy I resolved ,

n ot t o tru s t a n y on e el s e b ut come my s elf a n d deliver it to

,

you ; a n d i n the si xt ee n hours s in ce it w a s giv e n me I have

made the j ourn ey w hich a s you kn ow i s Of eigh t ee n lea gues
, , ,
’
.

D urin g a ll the ti me the ki n d exte m p orized couri er was

s ayin g th is to me I hu n g u pon h i s w ord s my leg s trembling
, ,

so that I co ul d hardly s u pport my s elf . A t le n gt h I opened

the letter a n d s a w that it con tai n ed thes e w ords :
,

The promise which Don Fernan do g ave you to pers uade

yo ur father to s peak to mine he h as kept more to h i s own ,

likin g than to your be n efit Kn ow sir th a t he h a s as ke d me

. , ,

for wife a nd my father carried away by th e advanta ge he

, ,

thin k s Don Fern an do pos se s se s ove r you h a s agr eed t o his ,

wis he s i n s uch good earn es t that in two d ays hen ce the

e s pou s als are to be celebra ted so s ecretly a n d priv ily that ,

the on ly witne s se s are to be Heaven a nd s ome of th e house

hol d Imagi n e wh a t my s tate is . Judge if it behoove s you to
.

come. The is s ue of this a ff air will let you kn ow whether I

love you or n ot God gra nt that this may reach your hand
.

ere min e h a ppe n to be j oin ed to hi s who keep s s o ill his

’
plighted faith .

Such in subst an ce were the word s th e l etter conta ined.

, ,

a n d they ca us ed me a t o n ce to s e t out on my j ourney with ,

out waiti n g fo r reply or mo n ey ; for n ow I pl ai n ly sa w th at

it w a s n ot the buyin g of horse s but that of h i s own pleasure

which had made Don Fern ando s end me to hi s brother.
 30 CERVANTE S

no ti ced me. A n d th us with out bei ng seen I foun d an op p o r

, ,

t unity of po stin g my se lf i n a reces s formed by a win d o w

within the hall itself which w a s covered with the end s a n d
,

folds of tw o pieces Of tapes try through which I w a s able t o

,

se e without bein g s ee n all that w a s do n e in t h e hall.

, , Who
could des cribe t h e t h robbing s of my heart durin g the ti m e
I s tood there , the thoughts w hich a ss ailed me the re flecti o n s
which pass ed through me — so man y and of s uch a kin d t h a t
,

they ca n neither be told nor would it be right to te ll t he m ?

Let it sufli ce you to k n ow that the bridegroom e n tered t h e
h a ll without other adornmen t than the ordin ary dres s h e
wore . H e had for h is g room s man a first cous in of Lucin da s '
,

and n o one e l s e w a s in t he room but t he s ervants of t h e

hou se I n a littl e while came Lucin da out of her dre ss in g
.

room accompanied by h e r moth er and t w o of her m aids as

, ,

richly attired a nd decked a s became her rank and be au ty ,

a nd like one w h o w as the pe rfectio n Of fa s hio n a nd co urt ly

s ple n dor. My an xiety and distraction gave me n o time to

regard a nd note parti cularly what s h e wore . I w a s only able
to mark the colors which were crim s o n and white a n d the
, ,

gl immer which the jewel s a n d precious s ton es gave out on

h e r head dre s s and over all her attire ; all which w a s yet
-

excelled by the s in gul ar beauty of her fai r golden hai r , ,

which i n un itin g with the precious ston es a nd the fa ir torc h

,

lights which blazed in th e hall s hon e more brillia ntly be fore

,

the eyes . 0 mem ory mort al foe of my repos e ! to wha t end

,

doe s it se rve now to recall the incomparable beauty of her ,

mine adored e nemy ? Were it n ot better cruel memory to , ,

recall a nd pres e n t to me what sh e the n did so that m oved , ,

by a wro ng s o fl agrant I may strive if n ot for ven geance at

, , ,

leas t to rid me Of my l ife ? Be n ot w eary s irs of lis tening , ,

to thes e digres sion s for my pain i s not on e Of those which

,

can or s hould be told brie fly or lightly for every circum s tance ,

”
of it s eem s to me worthy of a lo n g rehears al .

To this the prie s t replied that not on ly w ere they not

,

weary of him but the detail s he related they were glad to

,

hear bein g such a s meri ted as much attentio n as the body of

,

the s tory a nd s uch a s s hould n ot be pa ss ed over in s ilence

, .
“ ”
I sa y the n co ntinued C arde n io that they being all
, , ,

as sembled in the hall there entere d th e pries t o f the pari s h

, ,
 DON QUI XO TE 231

a nd took them e ach by th e han d in order to perform what

w a s n e ces s ary in s uch a fun ction . O n h i s s aying : Wil t ‘

t h o u La dy Lucin da ta ke Don Fer na n do here pre s e n t to be

, , , ,

t h y la wful hu s ba nd a s our h oly Mother Church d i rects ?

’
,

I t h rust out my h ead and neck from betwee n the tapes trie s ,

a n d with ea ger ears a n d t roubled so ul l i s te n ed for Lucin da s

’

re s p on se awai ting i n her an s wer t h e se nten ce of deat h or

,

t h e gra nt of li fe . O h that one had dared at that mome n t t o

i s s ue forth cryin g aloud : A h Luc inda ! Luci n da ! be w are ,

w h a t th ou d oe s t ! C on s ider what thou owe s t me ! R emem

ber thou art mine a n d can not be a n oth e r s l R e flect that
,
’

t h y sa yin g y e s a n d the fi n i s hing of my life s hall be all i n

o n e m ome n t ! Ah traitorous Don Fern ando ! robber of my

,

g l o ry , d e ath o f my lif e ! What wo u ld s t thou have ? What

c l a i m es t thou ? Cons ider that thou can s t n ot a s a C hris ti a n , ,

a c h ieve thy i n ten tio n for Lucinda i s my w ife a n d I am her

, ,

h us ba n d ! O h fool that I am ! N ow that I am ab s ent and

,

f a r fro m dan ger I sa y what I s hould have do n e but d i d n ot.

,

N ow t hat I have let my p recious jewel be s tole n I am c urs

i n g t h e th i ef on wh om I might have taken ven gean ce had I
,

a s m uch heart for it as n ow for repi n i n g ! I n fin e s in ce ,

I w as th en a coward a nd a n idiot it is no matter. I now d ie ,

a s h am ed remorse fu l repe n ta nt and mad !

, , ,

The p ries t s tood waitin g for the re s po n s e of Lucinda ,

w h o d ela yed long i n g ivi ng it and w hen I thought s h e woul d

,

d ra w out t h e dagger i n defe ns e of her ho n or or l oo s e her ,

t o n gue to s pea k s ome truth or make s ome con fe s s io n w hic h

,

m ig ht be on my behalf I heard her s a y i n a voice low a n d

, ,

fa int , I will . The s ame s aid Don Fern an do a n d givin g

’
, ,

h e r t h e ring th ey were ti ed i n a n indi s s ol uble kn ot

,
The .

b r i degroo m approache d t o embrace h i s bride a n d s h e put , ,

’
t i n g her han d to her hea rt fell f a in tin g i n her mot her s arm s
,
.

I t remain s but for me to tell i n w hat s ta te I w a s whe n i n

th a t y es I had heard I sa w the mocki n g of my hopes the
‘
,

w o rd s a nd pledge s of Lucin da fa l s ified a n d mys elf di s a bled ,

fo r ever t o reco ver the happin e ss w hich i n on e mome n t I had

l os t . I remained bereft of my s e n s e s aban do n ed a s it , ,

see me d by all heave n proclaimed e n emy o f the earth which

, ,

n o uri s h ed me the air refu s i n g me bre a t h for my s igh s and

,

t h e wa t e r mois ture for my tears ; fire o n ly gai ned s tre n gth ,

2 32 CERVANT ES

so t hat I bu rn ed all w ith rage a nd j ealous y. Wh en Lucinda

fai nt ed a ll were thrown in to commotion a n d on her mother
, , ,

unlacing her bos om to g ive her air a fo l ded paper w as di s ,

covere d within ir which Don Fern ando at o n ce s eized a nd

,

took hims elf as ide to rea d by the ligh t of on e Of the t orc hes .

After he ha d don e reading it he sa t down on a c h a i r a nd

,

l eant h is c h eek upo n h is hand like one i n a very tho u ghtful

,

mood with out ta kin g a n y notice of the remedies the y were

,

a p pl y i n g t o h is b ride to recover h e r from her s w oon .

Seein g a l l the people of the hous e in con fus ion I ve n tured

forth n ot carin g whether I were s ee n or not wit h the deter
, ,

minati on if they sa w me to do some deed so des pera te that

, ,

the whole world s ho uld come to kn ow of the j u st in dign ati on

of my s oul in the cha s tis eme n t of the fal s e Don Fern a n do
, ,

aye a nd of t h e p e rfid y of the fa intin g traitre ss B ut my

, .

des tiny which m ust have res erve d me for evils s till grea ter
, ,

if i t is po ss ible for s uch to be so ordered i t that a t tha t

,

momen t my reas on prevailed which h a s s in ce fai led me.

,

A nd so witho ut caring to ta ke ven geance on my gr ea tes t

,

e n emies which it w as ea sy to do s eeing h ow l ittle th ey

,

guess ed of my pre s en ce there I re s olved to ta ke it on mys elf

, ,

a n d to vis it on my ow n head t h e penalty w hich they de s erved ,

a n d even with greater s e ve rity perhap s than I s hould h a ve

us ed t o them had I p ut them to de a th at that moment for ,

the p ena lty w hich fa lls s udde n ly i s s oon e n ded but tha t ,

which is long drawn out with torture s s ti ll s lay s wit h o ut e nd

in g life .

I fl ed from that hou s e at las t a n d reached the house of ,

him with whom I h a d left my mule . I made h im s addle it

for me a nd without takin g leave I moun ted a n d rode away
, , ,

from th e city like an other Lot n ot dari ng to turn my head

, ,

t o look behi nd me . When I fo un d my s elf a lon e in th e Op e n

country t h e darkn e s s s cree n i n g me a n d in vitin g me by its
,

s ile n ce t o give ven t t o my s orrow s w ithout c a re or fear of ,

bein g overheard or recognized I loos ed my voice a n d untied

,

my to n gue in so ma ny maledic tio n s of Lucin d a and Don

,

Fernan do a s if I co ul d thu s ave nge the wron g th e y had done

me . I gave her the na me s of crue l of ungratef ul of fal se , , ,

a n d th a nkle ss ; above all of mercenary sin ce the we a lth of

, ,

m ine e nemy had blin ded the eyes of her affectio n a nd ta ken
2 34 C ERVANTES

long stretched on the g rou n d . At l ength I rose wi thou t a n y

, ,

feelin g of hu n ger a nd dis covered close to me s ome goath e rd s

, ,

w h o doubtles s were tho s e who had reliev e d my needs f or

, , ,

t h ey told me of t h e s tate in which they had foun d me a n d ,

how I uttered so many follies and ext ra vaga nces as cle a rly
s howed that I had lo s t my wi ts ; a n d s in ce then I h a v e f e lt

within myself that I am n ot a lways right b ut s o e n fee b l e d ,

a n d deran ged that I d o a tho us an d mad thi n gs — tearin g my ,

garmen ts crying aloud in the s e s o litudes curs in g my f a te

, , ,

a nd vai n ly repeati n g the beloved n ame of mine e n emy wit h o ut ,

any other purpo s e or i ntent i n s uch time s than to wear out

my l ife in lame ntatio n s. When I come t o mys e l f I find t h a t
I am so weary a nd bruis ed a s to be s carcely able to mov e.
My u sual dwellin g i s in t h e hollow of a cork tree whi c h is -

large e n ough to s helter this wretched body The cowh e rd s .

a n d goatherd s who frequent the s e m ountain s mov ed by ,

charity provide me with sustenanc e placing food for me

, ,

by the tracks and on the rocks where they thin k I ma y by

chan ce pas s a n d fin d it ; a n d so e v en when my rea s on fa il s
, ,

the wa n ts Of n ature make me kn ow my food a n d awaken in ,

me the desire to ta ste a n d the will to take it. At other tim es ,

they tell me w hen they meet me in my s en s es that I rush

, ,

out upon the roads a n d take from them by force al though ,

they w ould gi ve it to me willin gly what t h e s hepherds bring

,

from the village t o the fold s In this mann er d o I pas s w hat

.

remain s of my wretched life unti l Heave n s hall be plea sed

,

t o bri ng it to it s fi n al term or cau s e my mi n d t o forget t he

,

bea uty a nd the treachery of Lucin da a n d the p e rfid y of Don

Fern an do ; and s hould it d o this without deprivi n g me of
,

life I will turn my thoughts into s ome better cours e ; if not

, ,

there i s n othin g el s e than to i mplore its in fin ite mercy for my

s oul for of my s elf I feel n either courage n or s tre n gt h to get
,

my body Out of this s trait in which of my ow n accord I have

cho s en t o place it.
Thi s sirs i s the bitter story of my mis fortun e s. Tell me
, ,

if it be s uc h a s could be told with less emotion than you have

s ee n i n me ; a n d trouble not yours elve s t o p ers uade or coun

s el me a s to that which rea s on may s ugge s t to you as g ood

for my relief for it will profit me as little as me dicine p re

,

s cr ibed by s ome famou s phy s ician profits the s ick ma n who

 DON QUI XOTE 2 35

wil l n ot ta ke it. I care not for h ealth without Lucin da ; a n d ,

si n c e it is her pl e a s ure to be another s when s h e is or ought

’

, .

t o be mine be it my plea s ure to giv e my self up to mis e ry

, ,

w h o m ight have belo n ged to happin e s s . She by her fickl e,

ness so ught to make s table my perdition ; I by choo s ing to

, ,

des tro y my s elf s h a ll grat ify her w i s h ; a n d it s hall be a

,

lesso n to all in the future that to me alon e there lacked w hat

to a l l o thers of the w retched there is i n a bun d ance to whom ,

the ve ry imposs ibility O f relief is a con sola tion w h ich in me

-

i s t h e caus e of greater a ngui s h a n d evil f or n ot even with

,
”
dea t h i ts elf do I beli eve they wi ll en d .

H ere C ard e nio concluded hi s long discours e a n d h i s w oef ul

a n d p a ss ion at e st ory
. Jus t a t t h e momen t when the p ri es t
w as p r epari n g to utter so m e w ords of con s olatio n he w a s ,

ch e c k e d by a voice that re ached h is ea rs which in pitiful

, ,

acce n ts they h e ard sa y th at w hi ch s hall be told in the fourth

,

part of this n arra ti ve ; for a t this poin t the wise a n d con s id

cra te h i s toria n C id H a me t Be nen g e li broug ht th e third
to a n e nd.
 C H A PT E R XXV I I I

PVhi eh trea t : of the novel a nd ag reea bl e a dven ture w hi eh h app ened t o

the p ri es t a nd the ba rber i f: the S ierr a M orena

happy a n d fortun ate w a s the age in whi ch t h e

O ST
most d a rin g kn ight Don Quixote of La Man cha w as
, ,

laun ched into the worl d si n ce thro ugh h is hav in g ,

taken upon him self so honorable a re so lve a s the s eeki n g to

revive a n d re s tore to the world the lo s t a n d well n ig h def u n ct -

order Of kn ight e rran try we ma y n ow enjoy i n thes e our

-

t ime s s o n igga rd a n d scan t of cheerf ul e ntertain me n t n ot o nly

, ,

the delight of h i s own tru t hful hi story b ut that of the ta les ,

a n d epi s ode s therei n w hich are s carcely le s s delect a ble in ge n

, ,

iou s a n d truthful than the history its elf ; which purs uin g its
,

c arded twisted a n d reeled thread relate s tha t ju s t a s t h e

, , , ,

prie s t had be g u n to admin i s ter con s olation t o Carden io there ,

i n terrupted him a voice which reached hi s ear s sa yin g in ,

mourn ful accents

A h God ! i s it po ss ible t hat I have at las t foun d a pla ce
which ca n s erve a s a s ecret grave for the weary load of th is
body w hich I h e a r so un willin gly ? Ye s s o it will be if the
, , ,

s olitude the s e hill s promi s e do n ot lie A h un happy me ! . ,

h ow m uch more g rateful compan ion s hip will thes e rocks a nd

thickets h e a r me in my in tent s in ce they wi ll a fi ord me ,

O pportu n ity by my p l ain ts to tell my mi s ery to H eave n than ,

that of a n y h uman bein g sin ce there i s n o on e upon earth

,

from whom I m a y hope for coun sel i n my doubts comfort in ,

my grief s or relief i n my trouble s !

,

Thes e word s w ere overheard dist in ctly by the pries t a nd

thos e with him a n d con ject urin g that he who thu s bew ailed
,

w as n ear them a s w a s the ca s e they ro se to s eek him ; a nd

, ,

they had n ot go n e t wen ty paces when from behin d a rock

they e s pied seated at the foot of a n a s h a youth dress ed as a
, ,

pea s an t who s e face they could not then s ee it bein g held

, ,

2 36
2 38 CERVAN TE S

At the movemen t they made in ris ing to their feet t h e

lovely dam s el rais ed her head a n d wit h her t wo h a n d s , ,

p utting away her hai r from be fore her eyes loo ke d t o se e ,

who made th e n ois e ; a n d s ca rcely had s h e perceive d th em

when s h e s tarted to her feet and wi t hout wai ting to p ut on
, ,

her s hoe s or to gather up her hai r s h e hurriedly s natche d up ,

a bundle s eem ingly of clothe s wh ich s h e had nea r h er a n d

, , ,

f ull of confus ion and alarm betook hers elf to fl ight. B ut

s h e had not gon e s ix pace s when her ten der feet b e i n g
,

unable to be ar the s harpness of the s ton e s sh e fell t o t h e ,

g r ou n d . Se e i n g this the three

, cam e o ut a n d the pri e s t w a s ,

the firs t w h o s poke to her

Sta y lady whoever you may be for thos e whom you see
, , ,

here have no other des ire than to s erve you ; you h ave n o
caus e to take to this vain flight which neither ca n yo ur feet ,
”
e n d ure n or we permit .

To all this s tun n ed a n d con founded s h e an s we red not

, ,

a word . Then they wen t up to her a n d t h e prie st t aking , ,

her by the hand wen t on to sa y :

,

That which your a ttire lady den ie s your h a i r be tra ys

, , ,

to us ; clear s ign that the cause s were of n o s mall m oment

which have dis guis ed your bea uty un der a garb s o un wort h y ,

a n d bro ught y ou to a w i lde rne s s lik e thi s in w hi c h it h as ,

bee n our good fo rtun e to find you if n ot t o provi de a

remedy for your woes at lea st to give you coun se l s in ce so
, , ,

lon g a s life i s n ot ended no evil can affli ct so much or reach

,

to s uch a height a s that one s hould refus e wholly to l is ten

to comfort which in good will i s given to t hose w h o snfl er.
-

So t hat dear lady or dear sir or whatever you may please to

, , ,

be dis mis s the fear wh ich the sight of us h as cause d you

, ,

a n d tell us of your good or evil fortun e s o that i n us togeth er , ,

”
or s ingly you may find on e to feel for you in your dis tress .
,

Whi ls t the pries t w a s utterin g thes e words the dis guised ,

dam s el s tood like one s tup efi ed gazin g at them a ll wi th out ,

moving her lip s or s peaking a word j ust l ike so me rustic ,

clown to whom we s udden ly s how t hin gs rare a n d n ever

before s een . B ut the prie s t having repeated ot her words to
the s ame e ffect s h e fetched a deep s igh and broke sil ence
, .
,

s ayi n g Sin ce the s ol itude of the s e moun tai n s h a s not

a vailed to hide me a n d the un loo s ening of my dis ordered
,
 DO N QUI XOTE 2 39

h a ir does n ot all ow my tongue to be a lia r it were idle for ,

m e n ow to feign a new that which if you be li eve it would , ,

b e r a th e r through courtes y than for a n y ot her reas on . Thi s

b e in g so let me sa y gen t lemen that I t han k you for the
, , ,

o fl e r yo u h a ve made me which oblige s me t o sa ti s fy you in

,

a l l t h at u a s k ; though I fear that the s tory which I s hall

y o

re la te to you of my mis fo rtu ne s w i ll cau s e i n you as much

p a i n as compa s s io n for y ou will n ot

, find medicine to cure
t h e m nor coun sel to divert them . Yet wit hal that I may , ,

n ot b e lowered in yo ur e s teem you hav i n g dis covered me to ,

b e a woman and s eein g me you n g alo n e a n d i n the s e cloth e s

, , , ,

c irc u m s ta nces which together or s i n gly could de s troy a n y

h o ne st reput ati o n I will tell you tha t which I would rather

,
”
k ee p s il e n t if I could.
A ll t hi s s h e n ow s ee n to be a beautiful woman s poke
, ,

w i t h ou t h e s ita tion wi th so ready a delivery a n d a voice so

,

s o ft th a t h er grace of m a nn e r charmed t hem n o le s s than

h e r be auty ; and on the i r pre s sin g her an ew with O ff ers of

,

s e rv ice a n d solicita ti on s t o d o what s h e had promi s ed s h e , ,

w i th out wa iti ng for fu rther e n trea ty fi rs t puttin g on her ,

s h oes a n d gathering up her hair a l l mode s tly took her se at ,

u p o n a s to n e a n d the three being se ated aro un d her after an

, ,

e fi ort to re st ra in the te ar s which s tarted t o her eye s in a

'

c l e a r a n d ge ntle voice be gan the s tory of her life in this

In this An dalus ia there is a c ity whence a duke ta ke s h is

t i tl e w hi c h make s him on e of tho s e called grandee s of Spain
, .

H e h as two so ns the elder heir to h i s dig nity a n d to all

, ,

s ee m in g of h is goo d qualiti e s a n d the yo unger heir t o I k n o w

,

n ot what u n le ss it be t o the treachery of Bellido and t h e

,

v il la iny of Ga l a l on . T o t hi s n obleman my pare n t s are vas s al s ,

h um ble of birth but s o rich that if t he i r gift s of n at ure had

, ,

eq ua led thos e of fort un e they would have n othin g more to ,

d e s ire nor s hould I fear t o see my self i n t h e trouble wherein

,

I a m now for it may be my ill fortun e s pri ng s from thei rs

,

i n n ot be i n g n obly born . I t is true that t hey a re n ot s o bas e

a s t hat they s hould be as hamed o f t heir co n dit io n ; n either

a re they s o high as to remove from me the belief t hat from

t he i r lowl i ne ss come s my dis as t er. I n s oot h t hey are farme rs , ,

s irn p l e pe o ple with out a ny mixture of ill blood and as they

, , ,
2 4o CERVAN TE S

are won t to sa y ol d ran k Ch ris ti an s ; but so rich t h at t h e i r

,

wealth and han ds ome way of livin g are gain i ng for th em b y

degrees t h e n ame of ge n tlefolk a n d even of n obility ; th oug h
,

what they prized a s their greates t t reas ure a n d ti tle t o ra n k

w a s their havin g me a s a daughter. A n d s in ce the y h a d n o
other child to be their heir and were th e mos t a fi ecti on a te
,

of parents I w as of all daught ers the mos t in dulge d of a n y

,

that paren ts ever s poilt. I w a s t h e mirror w herein t he y s a w

t hem s elve s the s ta ff of the i r old age the Object to w a r d s
, ,

w hich a l l t he i r hope s te n ded divided with heave n ; t o w h i c h

,

min e en tir ely res pon ded kn owin g t hem t o be good . A n d

, ,

ju s t as I w a s mis tress of their aff ecti on s so w a s I of t heir ,

e s tate . By me were the s ervants e ngaged a nd d is m is s e d.

The acco unt and record of all that w as s own or re a p ed
pas sed through my hand s . O f the oil mills the wi ne pr e s se s -

,
-
,

the ta le of the cattle a n d t h e s heep of the beehives i n fi n e , , ,

of all that a rich farmer like my fat her could a n d did p o ss es s ,

I kept the reckon in g I w a s s tewardess a nd mis t ress w it h

. ,

s uch care on my s ide and s uch pleas ure o n theirs as t h a t I ,

may not eas ily e xaggerate t hem The s pare hours o f th e .

day left to me aft er havi n g give n out what w as n eces s a r y t o

,

the overseers a nd head men a nd ot hers the da y la bore rs I

, ,

pas s ed i n employments which are a s allowable as n e ed fu l t o

maiden s ; such a s are aff orded by the n eed le a nd the la ce
c us hion a nd oftt imes th e dis ta fl . If e ver I left 0 3 t h ese
,

employme n ts t o recreate my mi nd I had recours e to the rea d ,

i n g of s ome goodly book or the p la y in g on the h a rp for

, ,

experien ce taught me that mus ic compos es the we ary s p iri t

a n d s oothe s the t ro uble s n at ural to the s oul . S uch w as t h e
life which I led i n my parent s hous e th e recounti n g of w hic h
’
,

so min utely h a s n ot bee n t hrough o sten tati o n n or t o gi ve y ou ,

to u n ders t an d that I am rich but that you ma y j udge h ow

, ,

wit hout a ny fault of mine I have falle n from that ha ppy

,

s ta te which I have de s cribed to t h e wretched on e in whi ch

I n ow fin d myself. The trut h i s that pass ing my lif e ami ds t

,

the s e man y dut ies a n d i n s uch se clu sio n that it might be

,

compared wit h t hat of a con ven t un s een a s I deemed by

, , ,

a n y o n e el s e t h a n t h e s ervan ts of the hou s e f or t h e d a ys ,

when I went t o ma ss it w a s s o early in the m orning a nd ,

al w ays accompani ed by my mother a nd our mai d serva nts -

,
2 42 CERVAN T E S

a dvanta ge a nd that if I would in a ny way con sen t to p l a c e

,
’

a n imped i me n t i n the way of h is they would pres en tly m a rry ,

me to any on e I mo st liked either a mon g the be s t in our t ow n ,

or of the neighborhood s ince they co uld well h ope so t o d o ,

with t he i r great wealth a n d my good repute. W ith t h e s e

'

promis e s a n d bein g convi n ced of the trut h of w hat t h e y to ld

,

me I fortified my re s oluti on a nd would n ever co n se n t to

, ,

an swer Don Fe rnando a word which h ow ever dis ta n t ly , ,

might give him hope . At la s t Don Fern ando got to k n o w

that my parents sought t o ma rry me and this in tellige nce or ,

s us picion w a s the cau s e of h is doin g that of which y o u n o w

s hall hear . F or on e nigh t a s I sa t in my chambe r at ten d ed , ,

o nly by a youn g dam s el i n my s ervice havin g the doors w ell ,

f ast en ed in the mids t of th es e precautio ns in the s olit ud e

, ,

a n d s ile n ce of my retreat without k n owin g or imagin in g h o w , ,

he stood before me . At t h e s ight I w a s so troubled th a t I

lost the use of my eyes and my ton gue became mute ; a n d so ,

I w as un able t o cry out n or do I think h e would have let m e

,

do so for he ran t o me quickly and catchin g me in hi s a r ms

, ,

( for as
, I h a ve s aid I w as s o co n fu s ed,that I had n o s t re n gt h
to defend myself) he began t o use such arg umen t s w ith me
,

a s that I kn ow n ot h ow fal s ehood c ould frame them t o l oo k

l ike trut h . The traitor s o co nt in ued a s that hi s tears g a ve

credit to h i s word s a n d h is s igh s to h i s inten t. I poor s o u l , ,

alo n e amon g my people ill practis ed i n s uch matt ers be ga n ,

-

, ,

I kn ow n ot i n what way t o regard all h is perj uries as trut h s ;

,

n ot in s uch sort that h i s te a rs a n d s igh s m oved me to a n b ut

y
a n ho n e s t compas sion . And s o my firs t s urpris e a n d alarm ,

pass in g a way I recovered somewhat of my lo st s piri ts a n d

, , ,

with more courage than I thought I co uld comm a n d s aid t o ,

him Sir if a s I am in yo ur arms I were in thos e of a

‘
, , ,

fierce lio n a n d my libert y were as s ured by my doing or sa y

,

ing somethin g to the prejudice of min e hon or it w o uld be n o ,

more po s sible to do or to sa y it than for that which hat h be e n

t o ceas e to have been Therefore e ve n a s y ou hold my bod y
. ,

clasped in your arm s I hold my s oul bou n d by my good t e,

s olve s which are very d i Ee re n t from your s a s you s hall fin d

, , ,

if by u sing force upon me y ou carry them a ny farther. I a m

your vass a l but n ot your slave The n obility of yo ur bloo d
, .

h a s not n or ought to have the privilege of i n s ulting t h e

, ,
 DO N QU IX O TE 2 43

humi lity of min e ; and though a coun try girl a nd a farmer s

,
’

daughter I e s teem my s elf a s m uch a s you a lord a n d a gen

, ,

tl e ma n . W it h m e yo ur viole n ce s hal l n ot be of a n y avail n or ,

h a s w e alth a n y weight n or your words power to deceive n or

, ,

y our sigh s a n d tears to s often . Were I to se e a n y of the s e

thin gs of which I have s poken in him w hom my paren ts
s hould give me for a hu s ban d I would conform my will to ,

h is nor ever s werve from it.

’
,

Lovelie st Dorothea ( for such is the n ame of u n happy

me) exclaimed t hat dis loyal gentleman behold here I give
, ,
‘

thee my han d to be thin e a nd may t he heavens from which , ,

nothin g is hid a n d t his image of O ur Lady which thou ha st

,

here witn ess that this i s

,

When Carden io heard her s a y that her n ame wa s Doro

t hea h is a gitatio n began afre s h and he w a s con firmed i n t h e
, ,

t ru t h of h i s firs t opin io n ; but not wis hing to in terrup t the ,

s tory in order t o hear h ow that which he alre a dy almo s t

,

g ue s s ed might co n clude he o n ly s ai d : What l a dy !,i s yo ur ,

n ame Dorothea ? I have heard s peak of an other of the

-

s a me name who s e mis fo rtu n e s perhap s m a y run parallel t o

, , ,

yours . Proceed for t h e time w ill come when I may t ell you
,

things w h ich will s tartle you a s much as they will move your
”
i
p yt .

Dorothea took n ote of Carde ni o s word s a n d of his stran ge ,

ta tt ered apparel a n d as ked him if he kn ew augh t of her

, ,

a fi a irs t o tell her a t o n ce ; fo r if fortu n e had left her a n y

'

b l e ss ing it w a s coura ge to hear whatever dis as ter m ight

,

b e fall her bei n g s ure t h a t n othin g could happen which could

,

in a n y degr ee increas e what s h e sufl ere d.

”
I wo uld n ot omit to tell you lady an s wered Carden io , , ,

o f wh a t I am thin kin g if what I im a gin e be t h e truth ; b ut

,

thus far there h a s been n o occas ion n or doe s it con cern you ,
”
t o k n ow it .
“
Be i t what it may replied Dorothea ; to go on with ,

m y s t ory
Don Fern a n do s eizin g a n image which s tood in the
,

c h amber pl a ced it for a witn e s s of our e s pou s al s and with

, ,

t h e s tron ge s t word s a n d by the mo st s olemn vows he pledged

h i m s elf t o beco m e my h us ba n d al t hough before he had ,

u t t ere d them I urged h i m t o look well to what he w a s doin g ,

2 44 CERVAN TE S

a nd to reflect on the anger which his father w o uld fee l on

fin di ng hi m m a rried to a peasa nt gir l a vas s al of h i s o w n ; ,

that my beaut y s uch as it w a s s hould not blin d h im for

, , ,

there w as not t herein s uffi cient excus e for h is error a nd i f he ,

mean t to do me a ny good for the love he bore me he s h o uld ,

let my fortune run eve n with my birth for s uch un eq ual m a r ,

ria g es are never happy n or e n d u re lo n g i n th a t s ame e n j oy

,

ment w herein they be gin . All t hes e arg uments I press e d on

him which I have repeated a n d man y others which I do n ot
,

recollect but they w ere of n o ava i l in keepi ng him from his

,

purpos e .
Then I arg ued the matter with mys elf brie fly s ayi n g to ,

my self : I s hall n ot be the first who by the path of mar ria g e

‘

hat h as cended from a lowly to a gr ea t s ta tion n or will D on ,

Fern an do be the firs t whom be auty or blind a ffection w h ich ,

is the more likely h as impelled t o take a mate uneq u al t o his

,
’

g r e at n e s s . The n s,in ce by thi s I neither make a n e w w o rld

n or a n e w c us t om it were w ell to e mbra ce thi s h onor w h ich
,

fortune O ff e rs me A ll the s e questi on in gs a n d a ns wers d i d I

.

in a n in st a nt revolve in my min d and above all I beg a n t o be

,

impelled a n d moved by the vows of Don Fe rna n do t h e w it ,

ne sses which he in voked the tea rs which h e s hed a n d fi n a lly

, ,

by h i s s pirit a n d good looks wh ich accompanied by s o m a n y

, ,

s ign s of true love might conq uer a n y h e art even a s f ree a n d

,

as coy a s min e . I called to me my s ervant t hat s h e m ig h t ,

be a join t witnes s on e arth wit h thos e of hea ven . D on

Fern an do repeated a n d con firmed h is vows invoked n e w ,

s ai n ts for w itn e s s e s c a lled dow n o n him s elf a t hou sa nd

,

curse s in the fut ure if he did n ot fulfil what he promis e d .

I n s hort urged by h is s olicitation s I con s e n ted t o a se c ret
, ,

marriage.
Don Fe rnan do m a de ha s te to p a rt from me a n d on taki n g ,

leave of me told me that I might be s ure of hi s good fa it h ,

a n d that h i s vow s were fir m a n d true a n d for gr ea t er c o n ,

fi rma tion of h i s word he took off a rich rin g from h i s fin g e r

a n d put it on mi n e . I n fin e he w e n t aw ay a n d I re mai n e d
,

I k n ow n ot whe t her s a d or joyful. This I can truly s a y ,

that I w a s tro ubled a n d an xi ous a n d almo s t bes ide myse lf a t

,

this s tran ge even t ; y et either I had n ot t h e h e art or I forg ot

,

t o chide my m ai d for the t rea chery s h e had been guil ty of i n

2 46 CERVANTE S

to a tt en d me as far a s the city where I unde rst ood my en e my

w as to be fo un d. He after re mon stra ti ng wi th me on my
,

ras h n e s s a n d co n demnin g my res olve s eei ng by my looks th a t ,

I w as det ermined o ffered to keep me compan y a s he t old me

, , ,

to t h e e n d of t h e world . I immediately packed up in a li n en

pillow cas e a w oman s dre s s a n d s ome jew el s a nd mon e y t o
-
’

s erve me on occa s ion ; and i n the s ilence of the ni ght w i t h

, ,

o ut s ayi n g anythin g to my t reache ro us maid I left my h o me , ,

att ended by my s ervan t a n d man y troubled fancies a n d t oo k ,

the road to the city on foot born e on the wi ngs of my ea g er ,

n e s s if n ot to fru s t ra te what had be en don e at leas t to d e m a n d

, ,

of Don Fern ando to tell me with wh at con s cie n ce h e h a d d on e

it. I n two day s a n d a hal f I arrived at my de s tinati on a n d , ,

on e n terin g the city in quired for the ho use of Luci n d a s

’
,

paren ts ; a n d the firs t to whom I a d d res se d the que s ti o n g a ve

me for an swer more than I de s ired to hea r . He s howed m e
the hou se a n d told me of a ll that had happened at the w ed d i n g
of its daughter a thin g s o public i n t h e ci ty that ev e ryw h e re
,

people ass embled i n kn ots to s pea k of it. He told me t h a t

on the night when Don Fe rnan do w a s e s pouse d t o Lu ci n da ,

after sh e had utt ered her con s ent to be h is wif e s h e w as ta k en ,

with a violen t fainti ng fit a n d t h e bride gr oom comin g to un

-

, ,

clas p her bo s om t o give her air foun d on he r a le tter wri tt en , ,

in Lucinda s own han d in which s h e declared a n d a ffi rm e d

’
,

that s h e could not be the wife of Don Fern an do beca use s h e ,

w as already C a rde n io s w h o a s that pers on told w as a n o ble

’
, , ,

gentleman of that s ame city and that if s h e had g iv en h er ,

con sent to Don Fern an do it w as o n ly that sh e migh t n ot d is

obey her pare nts . I n con clusion he told me that th e le tt er ,

cont ained such words a s gave it to be u n d e rstood th a t s h e

in ten ded to ki ll hers elf at the en d of t h e ceremon y a n d se t ,

forth her reas ons for ta kin g her life ; a ll of which they sa y , ,

w a s co n firmed by a dagger which they found i n s ome part of

her dres s . Don Fern an do se ein g all this be lievi n g th at Ln, ,

cin da h a d del uded mocked a n d s lighted him ru s hed a t h er

, , ,

before s h e recovered from her s woon a n d with t h e sa me , ,

dagger which they f oun d w i shed to s tab her and would h a ve

, ,

don e it if her paren ts a n d they who were pre se n t h a d not

hindered him They s aid moreover that Don Fern a n do fle d
. , ,

i mmedia tely and th at Lucinda did n ot recover from h er tranc e

,
 DO N QUI XOTE 247

ti ll next day whe n s h e told h er pare nts that s h e w a s t h e

,

true wife of t hat Carden io of whom I have s poke n. I lea rnt

be sides that this Ca rden io a ccordi ng to them w a s prese n t at
, ,

t h e weddin g a n d that s eein g her bet rothed which he n e ver

, ,

could have thought he had fle d the city in de s pair first leav

, ,

in g be h i nd him a letter declari n g the wro n g which Lucinda

had don e him a nd how he would go where me n s hould never
,

s ee him more . All this w as public a n d n otoriou s through the

whole city a n d all were talkin g of it ; a nd they ta lked the
,

more w hen they learn t that L ucin da w a s mis sin g from her
fa ther s hous e a n d from the city for s h e could n ot be foun d
’
,

in it ; on accou n t of w h ich her parents almo s t los t their reason ,

a n d kn ew n ot what mea n s to ta ke t o recover h er. This n ews

ral lied my hopes a n d I w a s bett er pleas ed n ot to have fou n d
,

Don Fern an do tha n to fin d him married it s eemin g that a s ,

e t the gate w as n ot w holly s hut again st my re lief fla tteri ng

y ,

mys elf that it migh t be that Heaven had laid that impedimen t
on t h e marriage to bri n g hi m to a s en s e of what he owed to

me a n d to make him re fl ec t that he w as a C hris ti an a n d t hat

, ,

he w a s un der a greater obligati o n to h i s s oul than to hu man

con siderat ion s All the s e thin gs did I revolve i n my fan cy
. ,

a n d con s oled my s elf wit ho ut fi n din g co m fort dream i ng s ome ,

dis tan t a nd illu s ive hopes to s ustain the lif e which n ow I abhor.
While I w a s in the city n ot kn owin g what to d o s in ce I could
, ,

n ot fi n d Do n Fe rn an do t here reached my ear s a proclamati o n

,

by the public crier wherein w a s promise d a large reward for

w hoever s hould fin d me de s cribi ng my age a n d the very dre s s
,

I wore a n d I heard it bruited about that the lad who came

,

with me had carried me off fro m my paren ts hou s e — a t hin g ’

which touched me t o my heart to se e h ow low my credit had

falle n s in ce it w a s n ot en o ugh that I lost it by my fl ight but
, ,

it mus t be added with whom I had fle d with on e s o bas e a n d ,

s o unworthy of my ho n e s t thoughts . O n the i n s ta n t I h eard

the crier I departed out of the city w ith my servan t who
, ,

already began t o give sign s of falterin g i n the fidelit y he had

promis ed me a n d on that n ight through fear of be in g di s
, ,

covered w e en tered the most s helt ered part of the se mou n

,

tains . Pres en t ly more swiftly than my fright a n d my weakn e s s

,

s eemed to permit I made my way a mo n g the s e mou n tai n s with

, ,

out a ny other thoug ht or de s ign tha n to hide my s e l f in t hem

2 48 CERVAN TES

a nd t o fly from my fat he r an d from those who were s e eking

me on h is beha lf .
I kn ow n ot h ow many mon ths I h a d be en here wit h thi s
in ten t ion when I found a herd s man w ho took me for h i s se r
, ,

vant to a villa ge which is in t h e hea rt of thes e ran ges a n d

,

I have s erved a s a s hepherd a ll thi s ti me tryi ng alw a ys to be

,

out i n the field s t o concea l this h a ir of min e which n ow s o

,

u n expect e dly h a s bet rayed me . But all my diligen ce a nd all

my care were and have been of n o ava il s i n ce my m a s t er
,

came to k n ow that I w a s not a ma n a n d therefore I fo un d it

,

more co nven ie n t to leave him a n d to hide mys elf on ce m o re

a mid s t the s e de s e rts
. So I return ed t o bury me in th es e
forests a n d to s eek a s pot where without a ny h indra nc e I
, , ,

might by s igh s a n d te a rs implore H e aven to have comp as s io n

on my mi s ery a n d give me gr ace a n d s tre ngth to e s cape there
,

from or el se to lay down my life in this w ildern e ss w ithout

,

lea vin g a n y memory o f this wretch w ho s o innoce n tly h as

,

given occas io n t hat me n s hould s peak evil of her in her ow n

a n d other lands .
2 50 CERVAN TES

well in the wh ole course of the s tory of my mis fort un e I

,
”
have not n amed him .
“ ” “
I an s wered Cardenio am that haples s one lad y w ho
, , , , ,

a s you have related L u cinda declared to be her hu s b a n d

, I .

am the wretched Carde nio whom the bas e cond uct o f h im

who h a s brought you to the pas s wherein you are h a s t e
d uce d to w hat thou s ee st me to be — ragged n ake d b e re f t of , ,

all human comfort and what i s wors e than a l l be re ft of

, , ,

reason for I have it n ot but when H ea ven i s pleas ed t o gra nt

,

it me for a brief s pace I am he Dorothea who w a s p re se nt

. , ,

at the wron gs which Don Fern ando did me a n d wa ited to ,

hear the y e s by which Lucin da declared he rs elf h is w if e . I

‘ ’

am he w h o had n ot cou rage to see the e n d Of her fai n ti n g fit -

,

or what became of the letter which w a s found in h er b osom ,

for my heart h a d n ot fortitude to h e a r s o many misfo rt unes

at on ce a nd s o I q uitted the hou se and my patie n ce to g e th er
, ,

leaving only a letter with my ho st which I pra yed h i m to ,

’
deliver in to Lucinda s h a n ds ; and I came t o th ese d e s erts
with the in t e n tion of here en din g my life which fro m t h at ,

moment I abhorred a s if it were my mort al e nemy . But

dest iny h a s n ot been plea s ed to take it conten ti ng i tse l f wit h ,

dep ri vin g me of my reas on perhap s to pre s erve me f o r th e,

good fort un e I have had of meetin g wi th you ; for wh a t you ,

have recounted being t rue a s I believe it i s it may s ti ll be

, ,

that Heave n h a s reserved for us both a be tter is sue o ut of

our dis as ters t han we expec t . F or s eein g t hat Lucin d a ca n
,

n ot marry Don Fern a n do s h e bei n g min e as s h e h a s so

, ,

openly declared nor Don Fe rnando her he be in g you rs w e

, , ,

may hope th a t Heaven will re s tore to us what i s our o w n ,

for it yet e xis ts a n d i s n ot alie n ated or de st royed

, A n d s i n ce .

we have t hi s con s ol a tion aris i ng from n o very dista nt h o pes

,

n or fou n ded i n ext ravagan t f a n cies I implore y ou l a d y t o , , ,

form a n ot her res olve i n you r hon e s t thoughts a s I in te n d to ,

form i n mine s uitin g the m to the expectati on of be tt e r for

,

tun e ; for I v ow on the fa it h of a gen tleman and a C h ri s t ia n

n ot t o fors ake you t ill I s ee you i n the po s s e s s ion of D o n

Fern an do a n d s ho uld I n ot be able with fair reason s t o in

,

duce him to ackn owledge what he owe s to you I will t hen ,

us e the privilege allowed to me as a gent leman a nd ca n w i th ,

j us t title challen ge him to t h e field in re s pect of the w r on g ,

 DON oui xor a 25 r

h e h as do n e you , without rememberin g my ow n inj urie s ,

w h ose aven gin g I will le a ve to Heaven while I beta ke me t o

yo urs on ea rth .
Dorothea w as struck with surpri s e at Carden i o s s peech ,

a n d n ot knowing what thanks to re t urn him for s uch ge n er

,

o u s o ff ers would have taken him by the feet to kis s them

, ,

b u t Carde nio would n ot s u ff er her. The l ice n t ia te re s pon ded

f or them both approvin g of Ca rden io s good res olve ; a n d
’

, ,

a b o ve a ll prayed co un s eled a n d pers uaded them to ae com

, , ,

p a ny him t o h i s vi llage wher e they might provide

, them s elve s
w i th s uc h things a s they needed and there t hey would take ,

m ea s ures t o s earch for Don Fern ando or to res tore Doro

-

t h e a to her pare n ts or to do whatever they s ho uld dee m mo s t

,

e xp e die n t. Carde n io a n d Dorot hea than ked him a n d accepted

h i s off ers of s e r vice . The barbe r w h o durin g all thi s had ,

rem a i n ed silen t a n d in s u s pen se made al s o a courteo us speech , ,

a n d with n o le ss good will than the prie st o ff ered t o s erve

,
-

t h e m in all that h e co uld . He al s o brie fl y recou n ted the

oc c as ion of their comi n g thither with the s t ran ge n e s s of Don ,

Q i x te folly d how hat they were wai i g for h i quire

’
u o s a n t , t n s s ,

w h o had gon e in s earch of him . There came into C ard e n io s

’

m e m ory as i n a dream the quarrel w hich had occurred be

, ,

t w e e n him a n d D on Quixote which he rela t ed to them with , ,

o ut be in g able to sa y what w a s t h e cau s e of the di s put e .

A t thi s momen t they heard crie s a n d knew them to be ,

u tt ered by San cho Pa n za who not fin din g them i n the place , ,

w h ere h e had left them w a s callin g aloud at the t op of hi s

,

v o i ce . They we nt out to meet him a n d askin g him after , ,

D o n Quixote he told them h ow he had fou n d him n aked t o

, ,

h i s s hirt lea n yellow a n d half dead with h un ger s ighin g for

, , , ,

h i s l ady D ulci n ea ; and though he had t old him that s h e had

c o mma nded him to leave that s pot a n d beta ke him to E l
T o bos o where s h e w a s waitin g for him he h a d answ ered
, ,

t h a t he w a s re so lved n ot to appe a r before her beauteou s n e s s

un ti l he had achieved feats which migh t make him w orthy of
h e r favor ; a nd that if this we n t on t here w a s a dan ger of h i s
m a s te r s n ot coming to be emperor a s he w a s in d uty bou n d
’
,

t o be n or even archbis hop w hich w a s the lea s t he could h e ;

, ,

t h e refore they s hould con s ider what o ught to be do n e to get

h i m a w a y the n ce . The licen ti ate told h i m to be of good cheer ,
2 52 CERVAN TES

f or they would get him out of that despite of hims el f . He

,

the n told Carden io a n d Dorothea what t hey had de vis e d for

Don Quixot e s c u re or at leas t for res torin g h i m to h is h o me
’

, .

Upon which Dorothea s aid that s h e would act th e distr e s s ed

da m s el be tter than the barber a n d e s pe cially as s h e h a d w it h
,

her a dre ss in which to do it to the li fe a nd t hat t hey m ight

,

leave to her charge t h e act ing a n d all that mig ht be n ec e s s a ry

for carryin g out t heir de s ig n for s h e had rea d m a n y b o o ks
,

of chivalrie s and kn ew w ell the sty le which the a mi c t e d

,

maiden s us ed when they begged their boons of the k n i g hts

erran t.
“
Then there i s n o more t o do sa id the p rie s t th a n to
, ,

se t about ou r work a t o n ce ; for fo rt un e w itho ut do ub t d e , ,

clare s in our favor ; s i nce for you my frien ds it h a s so n n e x

, ,

p ec t e dl y begu n t o O pe n a door for yo ur relie f a n d f or u s i t ,

”
h a s made e a s y what we needed .
Dorot hea fort hw it h drew out of her bun dle a robe of s o me
fi n e a n d rich w oole n cloth a n d a s ho rt man t le of an o t h er
,

han ds ome green s t uff a nd out of a little box a nec klac e a n d

,

ot her jewel s wit h w hich in a trice s h e adorn ed hers elf in s uch

,

a mann er a s to look like a rich a n d gran d lady All th i s a n d .

more s h e s a id sh e had brought from home i n c a s e of n e ed

, , ,

b ut n ever had a n y use for them ti ll then . They we r e a ll

highly pleas ed w ith her exceed in g g race elegan ce a n d , ,

beaut y a n d t hey reckon ed D on Fern an do as on e of lit tl e di s

,

crimin atio n who could rej ect s uch lovelin e s s B ut h e w h o .

w a s mo st am a zed w as San cho Pa n za for to hi s see m in g ,

( which w a s t h e tr uth ) n ever in all the day s of h i s lif e h a d b e

s ee n s o fair a creature . With gr eat eage rnes s t h erefor e h e , ,

be s o ught t h e prie st to tell him who that beautif ul lady w a s ,

a n d wha t s h e w as looki n g for in thos e o ut O f the way p a rts . - - -

”
This bea ut iful lady brother San cho replied the p rie st
, , ,

to s a y n ot hin g more of her i s the heire s s in t h e direct ma l e

,

li n e of the mighty ki ngdom of Mi comicon who h a s com e i n ,

s earch of thy mas ter t o a s k of him a boon which i s to , ,

ave n ge her of a wron g or inj ury don e her by a ma lig n a n t

gia n t ; a n d bec a us e of the reputation w hich yo ur m a s te r
,

e njoys thro ughout all the k n ow n eart h a s a good kn ight from ,

”
Guin ea h a s t his prin cess come i n ques t of him .
A blessed quest and a bless ed fin ding ! excl a i med
2 54 CERVANT E S

co min g to be emperor lay in their n ot being re c og n ized .

B ut n either t h e prie s t n or Carde n io would g o w it h the m lest
h i s q u arrel w ith C a rde n io s hould be re call e d t o Don Q uixot e s
’

min d — t h e prie s t becau s e h is pre s ence w a s n ot then n ece s

,

s a ry ; a n d s o t hey l e t t h e others g o in adva n ce w hile t h ey ,

followed s low ly o n foot. The prie st did not n eglect t o in

s truct Dorothea i n the part which s h e h a d t o play b ut s h e ,

bade him fear nothi n g for s h e would do everythin g w it h out

, ,

failin g a j ot a s the books of chivalries required a n d l a id

,

down . Th e y might have gone three fourths of a l ea g ue ,

whe n they dis covered Don Q uixote amid s t a labyrin t h of

rock s n ow clothed but n ot in h is a rm or ; a n d as so on as
, ,

Dorothea sa w him a nd w a s in formed by San cho that th is w a s

D on Q uixote s h e gave t h e whip t o her palfrey t h e w ell
, ,

bearded barber following her ; and on comin g up to h i m the , ,

s quire fl un g him s elf from t h e mule a n d we n t t o ta k e D o rothea

i n h is arm s who alightin g with great S prightli n es s ra n to

, , ,

throw hers elf on her kn ees at Don Q uixote s feet and ’

, ,

although he st rove t o raise her s h e without ris ing ad d ress ed

, , ,

him i n this man n er

I w ill not aris e from here 0 valorous a n d red oubta ble
,

k night u n til your goodn e s s a n d cou rte s y s hall vouc h s afe to

,

me a bo o n which s hall redound to the ho n or a n d gl o ry of

,

your pers on a n d to the vantage of the mo st dis c on sola te

a n d the mo s t w ro n ged d a m s el t hat the s un hat h eve r see n ;

a n d if it be that the valor of your mighty arm corre s p on d s t o

t h e bruit of yo ur de a thle ss fame it i s your bounde n duty t o

,

s uccor t h e h a ple s s wight w h o co me s fro m land s s o re m ote ,

drawn by the odor of your re n own ed n ame to s eek i n you a ,

”
reli ef for her misf ort un e s .
I s hall re s pon d to y ou n ot a w ord bea ute ou s la dy , ,

replied Don Quixote nor hear augh t of your matter un til

,
”
y o u ri s e from the grou n d .

Sir kn ight I will not aris e an s w ered the a ffl icted da m

, ,

s el
, u n less firs t of your court esy i s vouch sa fed t o me the
”
boon I a s k .

I do vouch safe a n d grant it to you replied Don Quix ote , ,

s o that my co m plia n ce be not to the detri m e n t or rej u di e

p c

of my kin g my country or of her who ke ep s the key of my

, ,
”
hea rt and l ibert y.
 DON ourxo r s 25 5

It wi l l not be to the detri men t or the prejud ice of a ny

”
y o u s peak of hon ored k n ight
, an s wered t h e doleful
, d am s el .

At this poi nt San cho Pan za came up to h is mas ter s ea r ’

,

and s ai d t o him ve ry s oftly

Your wors hip may eas i ly gran t her the boon s h e as ks ;

for it is a thin g of n aught it s o n ly to kill a big giant ; a nd ’

she w h o a s k s it is the high and mighty Prince s s Mi co mi cona ,

q uee n of the gre a t ki n gdo m o f M i co m i c o n in E t h i Op h .

”
,
” “
Let her be who s h e may res ponded Don Quixote for , ,

I shall do what I am bounden a nd what my con s cie nce dic

”
tates i n c onformity w ith the order I have profes s ed . A n d
,

turning to the dam sel he said

Let your high beauteo us n e s s aris e for I grant the boon ,
”
which ye would a s k of me .

Then w hat I a s k s aid the da ms el i s that your mag

, ,

nani mous pers on s hould s traightway come a way with me

whither I s hall co nduct you a n d that you pro mis e me n ot to ,

undert ake any other adve n ture o r e n terpri s e u n ti l you give

me ven ge a nce on a traitor w h o again s t all right hu ma n or , ,
”
divine h a th us urped my kin gdom .
,
“
Thi s I promis e you I repeat an s w ered Don Q uixote ;
, ,

and th e refore lady from this day forw ard you ca n cas t
, ,

a way th e melancholy w hich troubles you a n d let your languid ,

hopes gat her fres h S pirit a nd s tre n gth ; for with the help Of ,

God and of my arm you s hall se e yours elf s hort ly re s tored to

,

your ki ng do m a nd seated on the thron e of your an cient a n d

,

mighty e s tat e de spite and m a ugre the vi llain s who w ould gai n
,

sa y it ; a n d n ow ha n d s t o the work ! for i n delay it is s aid

, , ,
”
is won t t o be d a n ger .

The dis tress ful dam se l s trove with much ob s tin acy t o ki ss
his ha n d s but Do n Q uixote who i n all w a s a n accompli s hed
, ,

a nd courteou s kn ight did by n o mea n s co n s e n t thereto b ut

, , ,

makin g h e r ris e he embra ced her w ith much court e s y a n d

,

kind n e s s a nd commanded San cho t o look to Rozina n te s

,
’

g irth s a n d to arm h i m i n s tan tly with all s peed Sa n cho took .

down the armor which w a s h ung on a tree like a trophy a nd

, , ,

g irth i n g R ozi n a n t e a ccoutered

,
h is ma s ter i n a mome n t . A s

soon a s h e s a w hi ms el f i n armor he c ried : I n t h e n ame of

,

God let u s away to s uccor t hi s great lady !

,

The b arber w a s s till on h i s knee s takin g great p ain s to ,

2 56 CERVAN T E S

disse mble his laugh ter a nd to ke ep h is h e a rd from fall ing off ,

wit h whos e fall perhap s they had all mis carried o f their fine
, ,

project. Seein g the boon granted a n d the alacri ty with ,

which Don Q uixote got ready t o accomplis h it he a rose and , , ,

takin g his la dy by the other hand between the t w o they set ,

her upon t h e mule. Then D on Quixote mounted on Rozi

n an te a n d the barber s ettled hi ms elf on h i s a nim a l Sancho
, ,

re ma i ning on foot w hich recalled to him anew t h e loss of

,

Dapple the want of whom he n ow felt. But he bo re it all

,

cheerf ully being co nvi n ced that n ow h i s mas ter w as fairly on

,

the road a n d just upon the point of becom ing em peror ; for
he s uppo s ed without any doubt that he would ma rry that
, ,

prin ce s s a n d come to be at l east kin g of Micom icon. The

,

on ly thin g that grieved him w a s to thin k that t his kingdom

w a s in a l a n d of negroe s a n d that the people w hom they
,

would give him for s ubj ects wo uld be a ll black ; b ut for this
h i s imagin a tion s upplied at o n ce a fi n e remedy : for sa id he ,

to him self What matt ers it to me that my subjects be black?

,

What more s hould be done than t o s hip them off a nd take

the m to Spain where I s hall be abl e t o s ell them a n d where
, ,

they will pay me in ready money with w hich mo n ey I can ,

buy s ome title or s o me o ffi ce on w hich t o l iv e at min e ease all

the days of my life ? N ay if ye d o n ot g o to s lee p and have
, ,

n o wit or t a le n t to ma n age thin gs a n d t o s ell t e n o r thirty

,

thou s and s ubjects in the twinklin g of a bedpo st fore God. -

’

I will make t he m fly lit tle a nd big or a s I may ; a n d be they

, ,

ever s o bla ck I will turn them in to whites and ye ll ows : go

,

t o for I a m a fool .
,
With that he trudged alo n g so eager ,

a n d joyful th a t he forgot the p a in of having t o travel on

,

foot .

All this C a rdenio a n d the prie s t beheld from am on g some

bramble s a n d k n e w n ot wh a t t o do to join compan y But
,
.

t h e prie st who w a s a g reat s chemer p rese n tly be thought him

, ,

o f how to accompli s h their p urpo s e With a pair of s cissors. ,

which he c a rried i n a c a s e he has t ily cut OE Ca rd e nio s bea rd.

,
’

a n d clothed h i m i n a gra y capote of hi s ow n and ga ve him ,

a black clo a k him s elf remain in g in doublet a nd hose and

, ,

C a rdenio appe a red so u n like what he h a d been before that ,

he w ould n ot have recognized hims elf had he looke d in a

m irror. This done though t h e others h a d gone a good way
,
2 58 CERVAN TE S

mand s on my squire for h e i s so polite a n d courteo us that

,

he wi ll n ot su ffer a n e ccle s ias tic to g o on foot when he can

”
ride .
“
I n deed he i s an sw ered the barber A n d dismounting
,
. ,

o n the in s ta n t he i nvited the prie s t t o take the s a ddl e w hich

, ,

the ot her did without much en treaty A s il l luck would have .

i t on the barber getting up behin d the mule w hich i n truth

, , ,

w a s a hired on e that i s to s a y a w icked beas t lifted her

, ,

hin d quart ers a n d ga ve t w o kicks i n the a ir which had they , ,

a ligh t ed on the breas t o r the he a d of Ma s ter N ichola s w ould ,

h ave made h im s e n d the que st of Don Q ui xot e t o t h e devil .

A s it w a s they frighten ed him s o th a t he t umbled to the

,

groun d w ith s o litt le care for h is h e a rd that it fell off Find .

i n g him s elf w ithout it he could do n othi n g better tha n cover

,

h is face hurrie d ly with both h a n ds a n d to cry out t h a t his

grin ders were s mas hed Don Q uixote s eein g all that ma ss
. ,

of beard w it hout j aw s and witho ut blood lyin g a pa rt from

, ,

the f a ce of the falle n s quire e xclaimed ,

“
A s God livet h but this is a great mira cle ! The beard
h a s bee n plucked a n d ta ke n O E the fac e a s if it h a d been
s h a ve n

The p rie s t w h o sa w the dan ger w hich their project w a s in

,

of bein g dis covered r a n at o n ce t o the be ar d a n d took it to

,

w here Mas ter N ichol as lay w h o w a s s till cry in g o ut a nd

, , ,

dra w in g h is head to h i s bre a st in a twin klin g clapped it on

, ,

m utt eri n g over h i m s ome w ords which he s aid w ere a n ini al

l ibl e charm proper for the s ticki n g on of be a rd s a s they ,

s hould se e . A n d whe n he had fixed it on h e re tir ed a n d t he ,

barber remain ed a s w ell bearded a n d a s s oun d a s before ; at

which Don Q uixote w as amaze d beyo n d meas ure and en ,

tre a t ed the prie s t w hen he h a d leis ure t o t each h im that

, ,

ch a rm ; for he co nj ectured th a t it s virt ue s hould exte n d far

ther th a n the s tickin g on of beard s s in ce it w a s clea r that ,

w here t h e he a rd w a s torn off the fl e s h mu s t rem ai n la cera ted

a nd in j ured a n d s i nce i t h e a led all that it w a s good for more
, , ,

th a n bea rd s .
I t i s t r ue s aid t h e prie s t ; and he pro mis ed t o tea ch it
,

him on t h e first Opport un ity .

They t hen agreed t h a t t h e p rie s t s ho uld rid e first a nd after ,

hi m the t hree by turn s until they reached the i n n which might

, ,
 DO N QUI XOTE 2 59

be s ome t w o l eag ues from th ere . The three of them bein g

m ou n te d, that is to sa y, Don Q uixote , the p rinces s , a nd the
—
pri e s t, a n d tho s e on foot, to wit, Cardenio , the barber, and
San cho Pa nza, Don Q uixote s aid to the da ms el : Let
y o ur high ne ss madam be pleas ed to lead on w hithers oe ver
, ,
”
y o u w ill .

But before s h e could reply the lice n ti ate said

, TO ,

w a rd s w hat ki ngdom wil l yo ur ladys hip guide us ? Will

it be by cha n ce towards that of Micomicon ? S O it s hould
be or I kn ow litt le of kingdom s. She w h o w a s very apt
, ,
”
i n eve rythin g un ders too d that s h e had to an sw er y e s
, a nd ,

s o s h e s ai d : Ye s s ir toward s that kin gdom l ie s my way.

, ,
”

”
If that be s o s ai d the prie st we mu st n eed s p a s s through
, ,

m y vil lage a n d then ce your ladys hip w ill take the route to
,

Carth a gen a where you may with good fortune embark ; a nd

, , ,

if there be a favo rable win d a s mooth s e a a nd no s torm in , , ,

s o m ething les s th a n n in e years y o u w ill come i n s ight o f the

g reat lake Meo n a — I mea n M ae o,ti s which i s little more ,

’ ’
t h a n a h undred da y s j ourney on this s ide of your h igh n ess s
”
kingdom .
”
You are mis take n good s ir sa id s h e , it i s n ot two years , ,

s in c e I depart ed the n ce a n d truly I n ever had fair weather , ,

a n d f or all that I have a rrived t o s e e what I s o grea tly lo n ged

f or w hich i s the lord Don Quixote of La Mancha who s e re
, ,

n ow n reached my ca rs a s s oo n a s I se t foot in Sp a in a n d i m ,

p a lled me t o s eek him to com m e n d m y s elf to hi s co u rt e s y a n d

”
c o nfide my j us t caus e t o t h e va lor of h is in v in cible arm .

N O more — a truce to your prais e s of me

”
excl a imed Don ,

Q u ixo t e a t th i s poi nt ; for I hate every ki n d o f adulatio n ,

a n d although th is be n ot s uch s till the s e complimen t s O ff e n d ,

m y c has te ca rs . What I ca n s a y mad a m is that whether I , , ,

h a ve valor or n ot w hat I have or have n ot s hall be employed

,

i n your s e rvice even t o the lo s in g of my lif e . A n d n ow leav

, ,

i n g this to it s ow n time I pray you m a s ter lice n ti a te t o tell

, , ,

m e w hat cau s e h a s draw n you hither in to the s e p a rt s thu s ,

a l o ne without a tt e n da n ts a n d s o lightly equipped a s to fill

, ,
”
m e w ith am a zeme nt .

T o that I will give a brief an s wer replied the p rie st ; ,

you r wors hip Sir D on Q uixote m us t k now th a t I a n d Ma s

, ,

t e r N ic holas our frie n d a nd our barber were going to Sevil l e

, ,
 60 CERVAN TE S

to coll ect certai n mon ey s which a rel ative of mine w h o many ,

years a g o went to the I n die s had s ent me which w ere n ot so

, ,

l ittle but they exceeded s ixt y tho us a n d dollars of t ried we i ght ,

w hich i s n o tri fl e ; a nd pas s ing ye s terday by thes e p a rt s w e

, ,

were en coun tered by fo ur highwayme n w h o stripp e d us to ,

our beard s a n d in s uch s ort that the barber tho ught fit t o

,

put on a fal s e one a n d a s for this youth w h o goes here wi t h

,

u s ( poi n tin g t o Carde n io ) he w a s q uite trans form ed A nd .

t h e be s t of it i s that it i s the public report here a bout s t h at

tho s e who robbed us are certain galley slaves who t hey sa y
.
-

, ,

were s et at libert y al mo s t on this very s pot by a ma n s o va l

i a n t that in s pite of the commis s ary a n d the w a rders he
, ,

releas ed them a l l ; a n d do ubtle ss he m us t be o ut o f w it s or

, ,

he mu st be a s great a kn ave a s they or els e s ome fe l l ow

,

devoid of s oul a nd con s cien ce seeing that he would loo s e the

,

wolf a mon g t h e s heep the fox amon g th e hens the fl y am idst

, ,

the honey He would defraud j usti ce and rebel a ga ins t h is

.

kin g a n d natural lord s in ce he wen t aga in s t h i s r ig h teous

,

command s ; he would I sa y rob the ga lley s of their fe e t a nd

, ,

dis turb the Holy Brotherhood which h a s bee n repos in g these

,

man y years ; a nd in fin e do a d eed by which hi s s oul m a y be

, ,
”
lo st a n d his body not gain .
San cho h a d rel a ted t o the prie st a n d the b a rber th e a d ven
ture of the galley s lave s w hich h i s mas ter had a chieved with
-

so m u ch glory a n d therefore the prie s t laid s tre s s u p o n it in

,

referrin g to it to s ee wh a t Don Q uixote might sa y o r do

,
.

H is color chan ged at eve ry word n or did he da re to sa y th at

,

he had bee n the l iberator of tho s e worthy people .

”
Well t he se con tinued the pries t were they w h o robbe d
, , ,

us a n d may God of H i s mercy pardo n him w h o hin d ered

,
”
the m from goin g to receive the punis hment they de s er ved.
2 62 CERVAN TE S

Sir kn ight be pleas ed to bear in remembran ce th e boon

,

u h a ve promi s ed me a n d that in con formity with it ou

y o , y
can n ot in termed dle i n a n y other adven ture h ow urgen t so eve r ,

it be ; calm your an gered bos om for had sir l icen t i a t e kn ow n

,

that it w a s by that un con quer ed arm the galley s lave s w e re -

freed he w ould have p ut three s titche s through h i s lip s a n d

, ,

even t hree time s bitten h i s ton gue ra ther than have utt ere d
,
”
a w ord which might redound to your dis parageme nt.
”
Th a t I dare s we a r q u oth the prie s t a nd I would e ve n
, ,

have plucked Off a mus tache.

I w ill hold my peace dear madam s a id Don Q ui xot e ;
, ,

a n d will repre ss the ju s t a n ger which h a s bee n rai s ed i n m

y
bre a s t a n d will g o q uietl y a n d peaceably until I have a c hie ve d
,

for you the prom is ed boon . But in requital of this good

res olve I pray you to tell me if it be no trouble to y ou w h a t
, ,

i s your grievan ce a n d w h o h ow many a n d of wh a t co n di t ion

, , ,

are the pers on s on who m I have to ta ke d ue suffi cie nt a n d , ,

”
entire reven ge .
That w ill I do w ith all my heart an sw ered Do ro t hea if, ,
”
to hear of s orrows a n d mis fort un e s d oth n ot vex you r e a rs.
It will not vex them dear lady sa id Don Qui xote.
, ,

To thi s Dorothea replied Sin ce it is so let your w ors h ip s ,

”
give me your atten tion .
N o s oo n er had s h e sa id this whe n C a rden io a n d t h e barbe r
placed them s elve s at her side de s irou s to hear h ow the w itty
,

Dorot hea wo uld feign her tale ; a n d the sa me did S an ch o ,

w h o w a s a s m uch del uded by her a s h i s ma s ter She af te r . ,

s ettlin g hers elf w ell i n her s addle with p reface of a cough a n d

,

s un d ry other ge s ture s comme n ced with a li ve ly a ir to s p ea k

,

a s follow s

I n the firs t place I would h ave you know ge n tl emen

, , ,

th a t my n ame i s A n d here s h e s topped a m om en t ,

for s h e had forgotte n what n ame t h e pries t h a d give n her .

He h a sten ed to her relief for he un derstood w h y s h e hesi

,

ta t e d a nd exclaimed
,
“
It i s no won d er my la dy th a t your high n e s s s hould be
, ,

tro ubled a n d embarras s ed i n recou nt in g your mi s fort un es for ,

s uch are ofte n wo n t to be of a n at ure to deprive the s uffer ers

Of their memory eve n s o that they do n ot remember thei r

,

own n ame s a s it h a s happen ed with your exalted ladys hip

, ,
 DO N QUI XO TE 2 63

w h o h as forgotten that s h e i s called t h e P rin ces s Micomicona ,

law ful heires s of the g rea t kin gdo m Micomicon ; a n d with

this h in t your high n e ss ca n e a s ily recall to yo ur dis t racted
memo ry all that you w ould w is h to relate .
”
Such is the trut h res pon ded t h e dams el a n d hence
, ,

forward I thi n k it w ill not be n ece s s a ry to give me a n y more

hints for I s hall bri n g my trut hf ul hi sto ry t o a right con
,

cl us i on .To proceed t he n : The kin g my f a ther w h o w a s

, , ,

called Ti na cri o the S a ge w a s very learn ed in what they call

,

the m agic a rt a n d d is covered by h i s scie n ce that my mother

, ,

w h o w a s called t h e Quee n j a ra mil l a would die be fore him , ,

a n d that w ithi n a little w hile af ter he also s hould dep a rt this

lif e and I be left a n orphan without father or mother But

, , .

he w a s w ont to s a y that t his did n ot a nn oy him so m uch a s

the certain kn owle d ge t roubled him that a mo ns trous gia nt ,

lord of a great isla n d which i s almo st on the borders of our

,

kingdom whose n ame i s Pa n da fi la n d o of t h e Sour Look

, ,

for it i s a verita ble fact that altho ugh h e h a s h i s eyes in th eir

,

place and s traight he a lw a y s looks a s kew a s if he s q uin ted

, ,

and this h e does out of pure malice and to caus e fear a nd ,

terror in thos e on whom he looks I sa y then that he, , ,

k new that this gian t whe n he s hould hear of my bein g left

,

a n orp h an would pas s over wit h a might y force in to my

,

kin gdom a nd take it from me without lea vin g me a litt le

,

vill a ge where in to fi nd re fuge but that I co uld avert a l l this

rui n a n d dis as ter if I ma rried him tho ugh a s far as he co uld , ,

s e e he n ever expected t hat I wo uld co n s e n t t o a marria ge so

,

un equal . And in this he s poke the pure t ruth for it n ever ,

came into my he a d to marry that gi ant nor any other h ow , ,

ever large a n d mon strous he might be. My father told me

a l s o t h a t after he w a s de a d a n d I fou n d th a t Pa n d a fil a n d o be
,

g a n t o i n v a de m y ki n gdom I s hould n o t
, s ta y to defe n d my s elf ,

for that w ould be my dest ructio n but freely abando n t o h i m ,

the kin gd om w itho ut res is tan ce if I wo uld avert the s la ugh

,

ter a n d total perdit io n of my good a nd fait hful s ubjects for ,

it w ould n ot be po ss ible t o defe n d mys elf again st the devilis h

might of the g ia n t ; b ut t hat I s ho uld s et out i mmediately for
Sp a in wit h s ome of my people a nd that there I s ho uld fin d
, ,

relief for my tro ubles by meeti n g w ith a kn ight erran t w ho se

fa me about t hat time would ext end thro ughout a l l this kin g
2 64 CERVAN TES

d a m, a nd hould be c al led if I remember a ri ght Don

who s , ,
”
Azote or Don Gigote.
Don Q uixote you wo uld s a y lady exclai med S ancho
’

, , ,

Panz a ; otherw is e ca lle d The Kn ig ht of the Rue f ul F ig ure. ’

”
That i s true repli ed Dorothea ; he s a id m oreov e r that
, , ,

h e w as t o be ta ll of sta tu re meager o f v i sa ge a n d that on the

, ,

rig ht s id e u n der the lef t s houlder or ne a r t h ere to h e w as to

, , ,
”
h ave a gr a y mole with s ome h a irs l ike bri s t les .

O n hearin g thi s D on Quixote s aid to h is s quire

,

H old here son S a ncho ; help me to s tri p for I would

, ,

see w hether I am the knigh t of who m tha t s ag e ki ng did

”
prophe s y .
”
But w h y would your wors hip s tri p ? sa id Doroth ea .

T o s ee if I have that mole of which you r fa ther s poke.

an sw ered Don Q uixote .

There i s n o occas ion t o strip cried Sa ncho for I know , ,

that yo ur wors hip h a s a mole with thos e m arks in t h e middle

of yo ur backbo n e which i s a sign of your bein g a strong
,
”
ma n .
“
That i s en ough sa id Dorot hea ; for amon g frie nds we
,

s hould n ot look n early i n to lit tle thing s a n d be i t on the ,

s ho ulder or be it o n the b a ckbon e i t m a t ters litt l e ; it is ,

e n ough that there i s a mole a n d let it be w here it may , ,

s in ce it i s all the s ame fl e s h Doubtless my good fa ther . ,

w a s right i n everyt hin g a s I h ave bee n i n co mm e nding

,

my s elf to Sir Do n Q ui xot e for he it i s of whom my fa ther ,

s poke s in ce t h e f eature s of h i s fac e agree with t ho se o f the

,

gre a t f a me which this k n ight en joy s n ot on ly in Sp a in but ,

i n all La M a n cha I n deed I had hard ly lan ded a t O suna

. , ,

when I he a rd related so m a n y e xploits of h is th a t my heart

a t o n ce t old me th a t he w a s the s ame I had come t o s eek
"
.
”
B ut w h y d e a r mad am
, in quired D on Quixote did you
, ,
”
l and a t O s u n a s in ce i t i s n ot a s eaport ?
,

Before Dorot hea could reply the pries t interpo se d sa ying , ,

The la dy prin cess m ust have mean t to s a y that after ,

s h e h a d lan ded at Malaga the firs t place whe re sh e heard ,

”
t idi n gs of your w ors hip w a s O s u n a .

So I mean t t o sa y obs erved Dorothea . ,

”
That m a ke s it all stra ight s aid the p ri es t ; plea se your , ,
”
Maje sty con tinue.
,
2 66 CE RVAN T E S

which I brought out Of my kin gdom there i s none le ft to me

but t his w ell bearded s q uire for they w ere all drown ed i n a
-

gr eat s torm w hich we e ncoun tered in sight of port ; a n d he

a n d I e s c a ped a n d came to land on t w o p la n ks by a m ira c le ;

a n d i n deed t h e cour s e of my life i s all mi racle a n d m y s tery

, , ,

a s ye ma have n oted A n d if i n an ythin g I have e xce e d ed

y . ,

o r have n ot bee n s o correct a s I o ught imp ute the bl a m e t o ,

w hat s ir l ice n t iate s aid at the begin n in g of my s tory t h a t ,

con t in ual a n d extraordin ary trouble s deprive the s ufi e rers of

”
the ir memory .
They s h a ll n ot deprive me of m in e 0 exalted a n d w ort hy ,
” “
lady c ried Don Q uixote a s man y a s I s h a ll en d ure in
, ,

yo ur s ervice ho w ever great a nd un heard of t hey m a y b e ;

,

a n d th us I do co n fi rm a n ew the boo n I have promi s e d y ou ,

a n d vow to g o with y ou to the e nd of the world un til I con

fron t that fierce e n emy of yours w hose proud h e ad I i nte n d

, ,

by t h e help of God a nd my right a rm to hew off w ith t h e ,

edge of this I w ill not sa y good sword than ks to Gi n és de

, ,

Pa sa mon te w h o carried O ff min e

, ( Thi s he mu tt ered b e
“
t w een h i s teeth a n d proceeded s ayin g :)
, A n d after I ha ve
,

hewed it O ff a n d placed y ou in pe a cea ble po s se s sion o f your

realm it s hall re st with your ow n will to d o with you r person
,

w hat s hall s eem be s t to your plea s ure ; for so lo n g a s I h old

my memory occupied a nd my will c a ptive my min d e nth ralled ,

by her I sa y n o more ; it is n ot poss ible that I s hould i n clin e ,

”
eve n i n tho ught to marry a ltho ugh it w ere wit h a Phe n ix.
, ,

S o dis gu sted w a s Sancho with what hi s mas t er las t s aid

about n ot w is hin g to marry that rais in g h i s voice he cried
, , ,

i n a gre a t rage :
By my body I vow a n d s wear Sir Don Q uixote that , ,

your w ors hip i s n ot i n your right s en s e s ! For h ow ? I s it

po s s ible that your wors hip s hould have any doubt a bout
marryin g s o high a prin ces s a s this on e i s ? Think you that
fortun e i s t o O ff er behin d every l ittle corn er such a pie ce of
good luck a s s h e holds out to you n ow ? I t i s pe rchance , ,

th a t my lady Dulcin ea i s more beautiful ? N O for ce rtain , ,

nor eve n the h a l f ; n a y a nd I would g o to s a y that s h e does

,

n ot come up t o t h e s hoe of her who i s here pre s en t. A poor

chance have I of getting hold of the cou n ts hip w hich I look
for if your wors hip goe s hunting for dai nties in the bot tom of
,
 DO N QUI XO TE 2 67

the se a ! Marry m arry at o n ce in the devil s name a n d ,

’

l a y hold Of t his kin gd om w hich comes to your h a n d free

g rati s f o r n o t hi n g a n d w he
, n y o
, u are ki n g make me mar ,

q ue s s or gover n or a n d the n, let the dev i l t ake all if he

”
w i ll .
Don Q u ixote w h o hea rd the s e blas phe mies uttered again st
,

h is l a d y D ulci n ea w a s u n able t o be a r i t a n d r a is i n g h i s lan ce

, , , ,

w it hout spe a kin g a w ord to Sa n cho or O peni ng h i s lip s gave ,

h i m tw o s uch blo w s a s bro ught him t o the earth ; a n d i f Doro

thea had n ot c a lled out to him to hold h i s h a n d without doubt ,

h e would have ta ken h is s q uire s life there on the s pot.

’

“ ”
Thin k you mis erable vil l a in he s a id to h i m after a
, ,

p a u s e, t h a t you are t o be al w ay s allo w ed to t a ke me by t h e

e ars a n d th a t it i s to be all s in n i n g on your s ide a n d pardon
,

i n g on mi n e ? The n t hink not so exco mm u n icate s cou n drel , ,

f or s o doubtle ss you are s in ce you have w agged your to n gue

,

a ga in s t the peerle s s D ulci n ea ; a n d k n o w you n ot ras c a l , ,

v aurie n th a t i f it w ere n ot for the valor w hich s h e in f use s

,

i n to my a rm I would n ot have w herew it h to kill a flea ? S a y

, ,

s co ffer O f the viperi s h to n gue w h o thin k y ou hath ga in ed , , ,

this kingdom a n d cut Off the head of this gian t a n d m ade ,

y o u m a rq u e s s ( fo r all thi s I hold a s accompli s hed a n d pas s ed

i n to a thin g determin ed ) except it be t h e might of Dulc i n ea ,

u s in g my arm a s the in s trume n t o f her exploit s ? She fights

i n me a n d co n quers i n me a n d I live a n d bre a t he a n d have
, , ,

l ife and bei n g in her. 0 rogue h o w u n grateful a re you w h o

, ,

se e yours elf ra is ed from the du s t of the eart h t o be a titled

l ord a n d re s po n d to s o great a be n efit by s peaki n g il l of her

,

w h o bes towed it on you !

Sancho w a s n ot so much h urt a s not to hear all that hi s
m aster s aid to him a n d ri s ing pretty n imbly he ran to p ut
, , ,

h ims elf behi n d Dorothea s palfrey a n d from there he s aid

’
,

t o h is mas ter
Tell me si r if your wors hip h a s res olved n ot to marry
, ,

t his great prin ce ss it i s clear that the kin gdom will not be
,

yours a nd n ot bein g s o what favors ca n y ou do for me ?

, , ,

It is this that I complain Of Let your wor s hip m a rry on ce .

for al l w ith this queen n ow we have her here ,

— rain ed ,

d own a s it w ere from the s ky an d ou may afterw a rd s

, , y ,

r etu rn to my lady Dulcinea . A s to the matter of beauty I ,

2 68 CERVANT E S

have nothing to do with it for in truth if I must s pea k it

, , ,

they both a ppear to me pa ssin g well alth ough I h ave n e v er ,

”
s een the lady Dulcin e a.
—
How ? thou hast n ot seen her blas phemou s tra itor ! ,

e xclaimed D on Q uixote . H as t thou not jus t now br oug h t

me a me ss a ge on her part ?
I mean t hat I did not se e her a n swered Sa n ch o so , ,

that I w a s able so much at my leis ure to n ote par ti c ula rly

her beauty a n d her good parts piece by piece ; b ut in the ,
”
l ump s h e looked to me we ll enough .
” “
N ow d o I forg ive thee s aid Don Quixote ; a n d do
,

th ou forgive me t he in j u ry I have ca u se d th ee for m e n s

’

fi rst impul s e s a re n ot in their own han d s .

”
“
I see t hat well re s pon ded San cho an d with m e t h e
, ,

l onging to talk i s the firs t i mpul s e an d I ca n n ot help s p ea k

,

i ng at o n ce what come s to my tong ue.

F or all th a t s aid Don Qu i xote
, take hee d Sa nc h o of
, , ,

what thou s peakes t fo r t h e pitcher that goe s often to th e w e l l

,
”
I s a y no more t o thee .
”
Well w ell a n s wered Sancho God is in heaven w h o
—
, , , ,

s ee s all t ricks a n d He s hall judge w h o doe s mo s t h a rm

, I ,
”
i n not s peakin g w ell or your wors hip in doin g it.
,
”
N o more of this sai d Dorothea ; run Sa ncho a n d ki s s
, , ,

your master s han d a n d be seech his pa rdon a nd from h e nc e

’

, ,

forth go more circum s pectly in your commendati ons a n d i n

your dis paragemen ts a n d s peak no evil Of that La dy Tob os o
, ,

whom I kn ow not save that I a m her humble serva nt a n d ,

have tru s t in God that t here s h a ll n ot fa i l you a n e s ta t e

,

where y ou may li ve like a prince .

San cho w e n t up han gin g h is hea d a nd be gged h is ma s t er s
, ,
'

h an d who ga ve it with a dign ified air and after he h a d k i s se d

, , ,

i t the k n ight gave him h is ble ss in g and told h i m to g o for

, ,

ward a little for he had s omethin g to inquire about a nd th in g s ,

o f much importan ce t o dis cu s s with h i m. Sancho di d s o an d ,

the tw o goin g a part some li ttl e dis ta n ce Don Quixote sa i d ,

t o him
Since thy return I have had n either Opportun ity nor
,

time to a sk of thee many particulars touching the mes s a g e

whic h thou did st bear a n d the an swer which t h ou brough tes t
back ; and n ow t hat cha n ce al lows us ti me a nd p la ce do not ,
2 7o C ERVAN TES

A n d w ith t his he kissed a n d cares s ed h i m a s if he h a d b een

a hum an b ein g . The as s h eld h i s peace a n d s uff ered hi mse lf
t o be ki s s ed a n d care s s ed by S a n cho w i tho ut an s w e rin g a ,

w ord . They all cam e up a nd co n gra tulated hi m on the fin d in g

of D a pple e s peci a lly Don Q uixote w h o told him t h a t n ot w i t h
, ,

s t an din g this he wo uld n ot revoke the order for the t hree a ss

colts for w hich San cho return ed hi m th a n k s.

Whil st they tw o t raveled toget her th us di scours in g the , ,

p ries t sa id t o Dorothea that s h e had acted very cleverly as ,

well i n her story itself a s i n the brevity thereo f a n d it s im ita ,

t io n of the book s of chival rie s She ow n ed t ha t s h e h a d O f ten

.

a m u s ed hers elf w ith rea din g t hem but th a t s h e kn e w n ot

,

where l a y the provin ces a n d s ea ports a nd therefore on ly s a id

,

at a gue s s t hat s h e had lan ded at O s un a .

” “
S o I sa w , s a id the prie s t a n d there fore I h as te n ed to
,

s a y w hat I did with which all w a s s e t right .

, B ut i s i t not
marvelo us to se e how readily this un fort un ate gen t leman
believes all the s e inve n tio n s a n d lie s s imply becaus e t hey ,

wear the s tyle a n d fas hion of the abs urdit ie s in h is bo ok s

“ “
It i s s aid Carden io ; a n d s o rare a n d u n hea rd o f t ha t
,

I know n ot w hether if one w is hed to in ven t a n d creat e s uch a

c haracter i n fictio n he w o uld have a w i t ac ute en oug h t o be
”
a ble to s ucceed therei n .
“ ”
T h ere i s yet a n other th i n g i n it said the pries t , th at
apart from the s illy thin g s which thi s good gen tl em a n ut ters
in matters touchin g h is mad n ess if other topic s are dis cus sed
, ,

he discourses of them with excellen t mean in g a n d s how s that ,

h e h a s a clear a n d s ober u n ders tan din g i n everyt hi n g ; in as

m uch a s if o ne broache s n ot the s ubject of h is chival ri e s no ,

on e wo uld pro n ou n ce him to be other t han a ma n of very

”
s ou n d j u dgme n t .

Whil s t they were e n gaged in this co nvers ati on Don ,

Quixot e proceeded w ith h i s s aying to Sa ncho

,

Frie n d Pa n za let us b ury old in juries a nd n ow tell me

, , ,

with o ut retainin g a ny a n ger or s pite w here h ow a n d when , , ,

did s t tho u fin d D ulcin ea ? What w a s s h e doin g What

s aid s t t hou to her ? What a n sw er made s h e H ow did she
l ook when s h e re a d my letter ? Who copied it for th ee ? All
that thou d e e me st in thi s matter to be w orth y of bein g known ,

of being as ked a n d an s wered without adding or in venting

,
 DON QUI X OTE 27r

aught to give me pleasure or still le ss curtailin g to deprive

,
”
me thereof tell me , .

Mas t er re s ponded San cho if I mu st s peak the truth

, , ,

n obo dy copied the lett er for me becau s e I carried no lett er a t

,

all .

“
It is as t hou sa yes t sa id D on Q uixote for the pocket
, ,

book w herein I wrote it I fo un d in my po ss e ss io n t w o d a ys

,

after thy departure w hich ca used m e very grea t t rouble

, ,

t hro ugh n ot k n o w in g w hat t ho u would s t do when tho u fo un d

es t thy s elf w itho ut the letter ; a n d I ever believed that thou

woulds t return from the pla ce where tho u s hould s t first mis s
”
i t.
I s hou ld have don e so repli ed San cho had I not got it
, ,

by heart w hen yo ur w ors hip read it t o me s o th a t I repeated ,

i t t o a paris h clerk who copied it out of my head word for

,

word s o exa ctly that he s aid that i n all the days of h i s life ,

al thou g h he had read man y letters of excomm un ication n ever ,

”
had h e seen or read so prett y a letter a s t hat .

A n d has t thou it s till by heart San cho ? asked Don ,

Quixot e .
N o s ir for after I gave it s eeing that it w a s t o be of n o
, , ,

more us e I let my s elf forget it. If I do min d me O f an ythin g

,

it i s th a t Scrubby ’
I mean Sovereign
, Lady a n d the , ,
’

en din g Yours till death The K n ight of the Rueful Figure

,

betwee n thes e two poin t s I put more than t hre e h un dred

,

hea rts a nd lives a n d dear eye s

,
’ ‘
,
’ ’
.
 C H A PT E R XXX I

Of the delecta ble conversa ti on w hi ch p a ssed between D on Quixok a nd

S a ncho P a nsa , his squi re, w i th other i nci dent s

LL this displ e a se th me n ot ; pa s s o n ward sai d Don ,

Quixote . Thou did s t arrive ; a n d w hat w as that

Queen of Beauty doin g ? As suredly t h ou didst find
her s trin gin g of pearl s or broide ring s ome de vice w it h thread
,
”
of gold for thi s her captive k n ight .
” “
N o t hat I did not an s wered Sancho ; but win nowing
, ,
”
two bus hels of wheat in a back yard of her hous e.
”
Why the n reckon s aid Quixote t hat t h e gra ins of
, , ,

that w heat w ere seeds of pearl touched by h e r ha n ds ; a nd

,

,
—
did st t hou n ote frien d t h e wheat w a s it of the w hite or
,

brown s ort
I t w a s n either but red , an s wered Sancho. ,

Then I w arran t thee s aid D on Quixote t ha t win, , ,

n owed by her ha n d s it made the fi n es t white bread wit hout

, ,

do ubt But g o on ; when tho u gave st her my l e tte r did she

. ,

kis s it ? Did s h e p ut it upo n her head ? U se d s he a n y cere

”
mon y wort hy of s uch a n epistle ? O r what did s h e ?
Whe n I w ent up t o give it to her a n s wered Sa n cho she , ,

w a s i n all the bu s tle of a j ob with a good l ot of w heat in her

s ieve a n d s aid s h e to me :
, Put the letter frien d u po n that , ,

s ack for I ca n n ot read i t t ill I have done s ifti ng what I have

,

here . ’

Dis creet lady cried Don Quixot e that sh e m us t have ,

don e in order t o read it a n d recreate hers elf with it at leis ure.

Proceed S a n cho ; a n d w hils t s h e w a s at her tas k wh a t dis
, ,

co urs e held s h e with thee ? What did s h e as k of thee c on cern

i n g me ? A n d tho u w hat did s t thou reply ?
, Des p a tch ;
”
rela te it all to me ; leave n ot a s yllable un told.
” “
She as ked me n othin g sa id San cho ; but I told h er Of
,

the man n er in which yo ur wors hip abided there doing pe nance

2 7a
2 74 C ERVAN TES

tore it up into little pieces sayin g that s he did n ot wi s h to

,

give it to a n y one to read le s t t hey s hould know her sec re ts

,

i n the village ; a n d that it w a s e n ough what I tol d h er by

w ord O f m o uth co n cern in g the love w hich yo ur wors h i p b o re
her a n d the s tran ge pen ance you were doin g for her s a ke ;
,

a n d las tly s h e told me that I w as t o s a y to your w o rs hip t h a t

, ,

s h e ki s s ed yo ur han d s a n d that s h e had a gre a ter des i r e to

,

see y ou than t o wri t e t o

y ou ; a n d s o s h e prayed a n d c o m
m a n d ed that on s ight of this pre s en t you s hould quit t hos e
, ,

b us he s a n d brambles a nd leave O E doin g yo ur mad pra n ks ,

a n d se t out at o n ce on the road t o E l Tobo s o un le s s s o me ,

thin g Of grea ter im porta n ce happen ed to y ou for s h e h a d a ,

grea t lon gin g to se e your wors hip . She laughed a go od d eal

whe n I told her that they called your wors hip The Kn igh t of
the Rueful Figure I as ked her if t h e Biscayn er of t ot her
’
.
’

day h a d been there. She s ai d ye s a n d that he w a s a v e ry ,

good fellow. I als o a s ked about the ga lley s lave s but s he -

,
”
told me that up t o then s he hadn t seen an ything of the m ’
.

”
Th u s far a ll goes well quoth Don Quixote ; but tell me
, ,

w hat jewel w as it s h e g ave thee on t h y leave taki n g f or t h e -

tidin gs w hich th ou bro ughte st to her Of me F or it i s a

familiar a n d an cien t us a ge amo n g kn ights and dames err a nt
to give to their sq uires da ms el s or d w arf s w h o carry ne ws.
, , ,

t o t h e on e Of their ladies to t h e o t her of their k n ight s some

, ,
”
rich je w el a s largess in ackno w ledgmen t of their erra n d
,
.

That may w ell be so a n d for a good cu st om I t a ke it ;

,

but it m ust have bee n in the time s go n e by for n ow ada ys ,

it w ould seem to be the c ustom o nly t o give a m o rs el Of

bread a n d cheese for that w a s what my lady D ulcin ea ga ve
,

me over the yard pali n gs w hen I took leave of h er ; a nd ,

”
more by t oke n it w a s chees e of ewe s milk .
,
’

”
She i s liberal i n the ext reme s aid Don Quixote ; and ,

i f s h e gave t hee n ot a jewel of gold w ithout doubt i t must ,

have bee n becaus e sh e had n ot on e there at han d to give to

thee B ut s leeves are good after Ea ster. I will se e her and
. ,

all shall be rectified K n ow es t tho u San cho a t w ha t l am

. , ,

asto n i shed ? It is that met hin ks t hou hast gon e a n d come

th rough the air for tho u h a st tarried a litt le more than three
,

d a y s i n going a nd comin g betwee n here a n d E l Toboso ,

t hough it i s more tha n thirt y leag ue s the n ce to t his. On

 DO N QUI XO TE 2 75

w hich account I am pers uaded mys elf that the s age n ecro
ma n ce r who ta ke s charge of my a ffair s a n d is m y frie n d ( for
O f n ec e s s ity t h ere is and m us t be on e or I s ho uld be n o good,

knight erran t) I s a y that s uch a one mus t have h elped thee

t o t ravel wi t hout thy bei n g aw are of it for there are s age s O f ,

t h e m t hat take up a kn ight erra n t s leepi n g i n h i s bed a n d , ,

witho ut kn o w i ng h ow or i n what man n er he a w ake s t h e n ext ,

d a y more than a thou sa n d leagues from where he pas s ed the

n igh t . A n d were it n ot for thi s kn ights erran t w o uld not be
, ,

a ble t o s uc cor on e an other i n t h eir peril s a s no w they do at ,

e v e ry t urn . F or it may be that there i s on e fightin g i n the

m o un tain s Of Ar me n ia with s ome drago n or fierce s erpent , ,

o r s ome other kn ight where he h a s the w ors t o f the battle

, ,

a nd is already at the point of death ; a n d w he n he lea s t ex ,

p e c t s it or look s f or it,there loom s from s ome w here o n top ,

o f a cloud or upo n a cha riot of fire a n other k n ig h t h i s frie n d

, , ,

w h o a litt le before w a s in E ngl a nd who help s him a n d de ,

l ivers him from death ; a nd i n the n ight h e fi n d s him s elf i n

h is ow n lodgin g eatin g h i s s upper w ith a very good ap petite ,

a n d it i s u s ually t w o or t h ree tho u s a n d le a g u e s fro m t h e on e

place t o the other ; a n d all t his is e ffected by the cra ft a n d

w is d om of th o se s a ge e n cha nters w h o t a ke care o f the s aid
v al orous k n igh ts . S O that frie n d Sa n cho it i s n ot h a rd for
, ,

m e t o believe that i n s o s hort a S pace t ho u h a s t come a n d

g o n e b etwee n thi s place a n d E l Tobo s o s i n ce a s I h a ve s,aid , ,

s o me frie n dly s age mu s t have carried thee fly i n g through the

”
a i r w itho u t t h y bei n g aware of it .
”
I t may be s o , quot h San cho f or 1 faith Rozi na n te
,

w e n t a s if he had bee n a gip sy s a ss with quick s ilver i n h i s

’

”
e ars .
“ “
A ndwhat if he had quicks ilver said Don Q uixote ; a ye , ,

a n d a legio n of devil s be s ide s f or they are ge n t ry w h o tra vel

, ,

a n d make ot hers tr a vel wi t ho ut bein g tired a s m uch a s t hey

, ,

p lea s e .B ut leavi n g this apart wh a t thi n ke s t t ho u t h a t I

,

s hould do a bo u t my l a dy s comma n d s to go a n d s e e her ? For

’

a lthough I perceive t ha t I am boun d to O bey her behe s t I ,

fi n d my s elf al s o di s a bled f rom doi n g s o by t h e boo n w hich I

h ave accorded to the pri n ce ss w h o accompa n ie s u s a n d the ,

law of chivalry compel s me to s atis fy m y pledge ra t her tha n

my pl e as ure. O n t h e one han d the de s ire of s eei ng m y la dy
,
2 76 CER VANT E S

h aras se s perplexe s me ; on the other I am in cited a n d

a nd ,

s ummo n ed by my plighted faith a nd the glory I h a ve t o

reap i n this en terpris e . What I purpo s e doi ng is to tra v e l

wit h s peed a nd get qui ckly t o w here t hat gi ant i s a n d on m y ,

a rrival I w ill cut off h is head and in stall the prince s s p ea c e

ably in her k in gdom and fort hw ith I s hall return to be h o ld
,

t h e light w hich illumine s my s e ns e s ; t o w hom I w ill m a k e

s uch excu s e s that s h e s hall come to approve my delay f or s h e ,

w ill se e that all redo un d s to t h e i n creas e Of her glo ry a n d

fame s i nce what I have achieved do achieve a n d s hall a chi e v e
, , ,

by arm s i n this life proceed s w holly Of t h e favor s h e be s t o w s

”
on me a n d fro m my belo n gi n g t o her.
“ ” “
Ala s ! q uoth San cho and i n what a sa d sta te is y o ur
,

wor ship s fate Tell me then s ir d oes your w ors hip in t e nd

’
. , ,

t o g o thi s journey for n ot hi n g and t o let s lip a n d lo s e s o ri c h

,

a n d n oble a match a s t hi s where t hey give ,y o u a kin g d o m

i n do w ry w hich i s i n good s oot h a s I have he a rd s a y m o re
, , , ,

than tw e nty thou s an d le a g ue s round about a n d mo st p l e nti ,

f ully stored with a l l thi ngs n eedful for t h e s upport O f huma n

li fe a nd bigger than Portugal a nd Casti le p ut t og eth er ?
,

Peace for the love of God ! a n d be a s hamed O f what you

,

have s aid a n d take my advi ce a nd pardon me a n d m arry

, , ,

o ffh a nd i n the firs t village w here t here is a pries t a n d if not , ,

here i s a licen tia te w h o w ill d o i t fi n ely ; a n d min d t h a t I a m

of age t o give cou n sel a n d thi s w hi ch I give y ou is p a t to the
,

purpos e for a s parrow in the ha nd i s w orth more than a vul

,

t ure on the wi n g a n d he who had good and cho s e ba d must

, ,
”
not be vexed for the ill b e h a d .
”
Look you San cho replied Don Quixote if the counsel
, , ,

t hou give s t me t o ma rry i s to the e n d t hat I may s o on be

ki n g upon s layin g th e gian t a n d have the mean s of doing
,

thee fa vors a n d givin g thee what I promis ed I woul d h ave ,

t hee to k n ow that without marryi n g I s hall be a bl e t o sa ti sfy

yo ur de s ire very easily for I will make it a con dit io n before
, ,

I e n gage i n the combat that upon my comin g off th ence a

,

con q ueror albeit I marry n ot the prin ce ss they s hall give me

, ,

a portio n of the kin gdom that I may be able to bestow it

upon whom s oever I plea s e ; a n d on their givin g it to me on ,
”
whom woulds t tho u h a ve me be s tow it if n ot on th e e ?
” “
That i s pla i n e nough re s ponded Sa ncho ; but look
,
2 78 CE RVANT E S

faith then a n s w ered San cho I ca nnot rea d.

In , , ,

A t this moment Mas ter N icholas cal led out to t he m to s ta y

awhile for they wis hed to halt an d drink at a s mal l Sp r in g
,

which w a s thereby D on Q uixote s top p ed t o t h e no li t tl e

. ,

s ati s fa ctio n of San cho who by t his t ime w as tired of t e l li n g

,

so man y li e s a n d feared that h is mas ter would en tr ap hi m in

,

h i s o w n w ord s for altho ugh he knew that Dul cin ea w a s a

,

pea s a n t las s O f El Tobos o he had n ever s een her in a ll h is

,

life . By this t ime Carden io had dres s ed himse lf in th e cl ot h es

which Dorothea w ore when they foun d her which a lt houg h , ,

n ot very good were much better t han thos e he had c as t O E.

,

They all dis mou n ted at the s prin g a nd w ith w hat the pr iest ,

had provided him self wit h at the inn th ey appeas ed alt hou gh ,

s ca n tily the great h un ger which they all felt.

, Whil s t t h us
occ upied t here chan ced to pas s by t here a lad goin g alon g
, ,

the road w h o stoppin g to look very in ten tly a t tho se w h o

, ,

were at the s p ri n g after a momen t ra n up to Don Q uixote

, ,

a n d embracin g h i s leg s began to w eep very freely c ryi n g :

, , ,

A h my lord does n ot your w ors hip kn ow me ? Look w ell

, ,

upon me ; I am that boy An drés w hom you relea se d fro m the

”
oa k t ree to w hich I w a s bou n d .
-

D on Q uixo t e recog niz ed him a n d ta king h i m by the h a nd , , ,

tu rn ed t o tho s e w h o w ere there and s aid ,

That your w ors hip s may perceive of h ow much importa n ce

it is to h a ve kn ights erran t in the w orld to redres s t h e wr on gs
a n d i nj u rie s w hich are committed t herein by i n s o le n t a nd

wicked m e n w h o d w ell here kn ow that a few d a y s a g o pas s , ,

i ng by a w ood I heard s ome cri e s a n d v ery piteo us lam en ta

,

tio n s a s of a pe rs on a ffl icted a n d i n distre ss . I ha s tened

in st ant ly impelled by my obligation tow ards th e pla ce w h ence
, ,

it s ee m ed t h e voice of s orrow proceeded a n d there I f ound ,

tied to a n oak this youth w h o i s n ow be fore you a t w hich my ,

s o ul rejoice s f or he s hall be a w i t n e s s tha t w ill n ot l e t m e lie

,

in anythi n g. I s a y t hat he w a s tied to the oak n aked from

, ,

t h e middle upward s a n d a clown is h fellow whom I afte r wards

, ,

learn t t o be h is mas ter w as s courgin g him w it h las hes f rom a

,

hors e s bridle . A s s oo n a s I s a w him I deman ded Of the

’
,

m as ter the ca us e of s o cruel a fl a g e l l a ti on The bo or re plied .

that he w a s fl oggin g him be caus e he w a s h is s erv an t a n d for ,

certain n egligen ce s Of his which s pran g rat her fro m knavery

 DON ov rxor n 2 79

than s implicity ; at which this ch ild s aid : Sir he flog s me ,

only becau s e I as k him for my w ages The mas t er an swered

’
.

w ith I k n o w n ot w hat s peeche s and e xcus e s which although , ,

they were heard by me were n ot re garded I n fin e I m a de

, . ,

h i m un tie the boy a n d s wore the clown to a n oat h to ta ke

,

h i m home w ith h i m a n d pay him every real upon t h e n a il aye

, , ,

a n d perf umed t oo I s n ot a ll thi s true son An drés ? Did s t

. ,

n o t note w ith what aut ho ri ty I comm a nded it a n d w ith h ow ,

m u ch h u mility he promis ed to d o all that I i mpos ed upon him

n oti fied a n d required ? An swer ; tro uble n ot thy self n or ,

hes itate in a n yth ing ; tell w hat p a s s ed t o t he s e gen tlemen ,

that t hey ma y behold and con s ider how us eful i t i s as I sa y , ,

to have kn ights erran t upon t h e roa

All that your w ors hip h as s a id i s very true an sw ered ,
“
the lad ; but t h e en d O f the bus in e s s happen ed very much
”
t h e co n trary of what y ou imagi n e .
”
H ow con trary ? dem a n ded D on Q ui xote ; did n ot the
clown pay t hee then ? ,
“
N ot o n ly did he n ot pay me replied the boy but a s
, ,

s o o n a s yo u r w ors hip h a d got outs ide the w ood a n d we were ,

a lo n e he ti ed me u p aga in to the s ame tr ee a n d ga ve me

,

a fres h so man y las he s that he le ft me fl ayed like Sain t

Bartlemy ; a nd at each l as h he gave m e he utt ered s ome je s t

, ,

o r s co ff to make a m ock O f your wors hip a n d if I had n ot ,

felt so much pai n I w ould have laughed at w hat he s aid. I n

fa ct he treated me s o as th a t I have been ever s in ce gett in g
,

cured in a hos pital of the i n j urie s w hich that evil villai n did

m e . For a ll this your w ors hip is t o blame for if y ou had ,

go n e away straight on your ow n road a n d h a d n ot come ,

w h ere they did n ot call y ou n or meddle w it h o t her people s

’

bus in ess my mas ter would have bee n con ten t to give m e on e
,

or t w o doze n l as he s a n d the n he w o uld h a ve rele a s ed me a n d

,

pai d me w hat he o w ed B ut as yo ur w ors hip a b us ed h im so

.

ca u s ele s s ly a n d called him s o m a n y b a d n ame s his an ger

, ,

w a s kin dled a n d as he could n ot ave n ge him s elf on you w he n

,

he foun d hims elf alon e he let fly t h e tempe s t on m e i n s uch

,

s o rt th a t methi n k s that I s hall n ever be a ma n ag a i n i n all

”
my l if e .

The mis chief w a s quoth Don Q uixot e i n my depar

, ,

ture for I s hould n ot have gon e u ntil af te r I had s een t he e

,
2 80 CE RVAN TE S

paid for I ought to hav e kn ow n by lo ng experi en ce that there

,

i s no churl who keep s the word he gave if he fi n ds that it ,

doe s not s uit him to keep it. But tho u wilt remembe r A n dres , ,

that I vowed if he did n ot pay thee I would go in s ea rch of

, ,

him a n d that I would fin d him e ven tho ugh he s hould hide

, ,
” ’
hims elf in t h e wh a le s belly.
That is true s aid A n drés b ut it w a s of n o use .
, ,
”
N ow s halt tho u s ee whether it is of use or n ot e xclai med ,

Don Quixote ; a nd s ayin g this he ro s e up has til y a n d com

, , ,

ma n de d San cho to bridle Rozi na n te w h o w as brows i n g whi lst

,

they were eat in g .

Dorothea as ked him w hat it w as he meant to do He .

a n s wered her th a t he mean t t o g o i n q ue s t o f t h e chu r l a nd

ch as tis e hi m for s uch bas e con d uct a nd make him pay An drés
,

t o the las t farthi n g in de s pite a n d i n the teeth of a ll the ch urls

,

i n the world . T o w h ich s h e replied by remin din g h i m t ha t

he co uld n ot i n con form it y w ith h i s promis ed boon e n gage
, ,

i n a n y e n terpri s e u n ti l hers w a s achieved ; a nd as he kn ew

thi s better th a n a ny one el se he s houl d re strai n h is a nger
u nt il hi s return from her kingdom .
”
“
That i s tru e an swered Don Quixote ; a n d it i s n eces
,

s a ry that A n d res s ho uld have pat ie n ce unti l my r et urn as ,

o u a lady for I o n ce more v ow a n d p romis e a n e w n ot to

y s ,y ,
”
de s is t un til I have him aven ged a n d p a id .
“ ”
I do n ot beli eve in thes e vows q uoth An drés ; I would
,

r a ther have j us t n ow s omethin g t o c a rry me on to Sev i lle than

all t h e reven ge in the world Give me if you have it here
. , ,

s o m ethi n g t o eat a n d to t ake w i th me ; a n d may God be wi t h

yo ur w ors hip a nd with all kn ights errant a nd may th ey be as ,

”
erra n t t o them selves as they have been t o me.
S a n cho t ook out of h is s tore a piece of brea d a n d an oth er
o f chee s e .a n d givi n g it to the l a d s aid :
, , Take it brother
, ,

An drés for each Of us h as a share in your mis fortun e

,
”
.

Pra y what s hare have you i n it ? as ked A n drés .

,

Thi s s h a re Of bread a n d chees e which I give y ou a n ,

s w e re d S a n cho for God k n ow s whether I s hal l have to want

,

i t or n ot. I would hav e y ou k n ow f rie n d that w e s quir es Of

, ,

k n ight s e rran t are s ubject t o great hu n ger a n d ill luck a ye , ,

a n d t o other thi n g s w hich are be t t er felt t han t old .

An drés laid hold Of h is bread a n d chees e and s eein g tha t , ,

 C H A PT E R XXX I I

PVhi ch trea ts o f w ha t h appened to D on Q a i x ot r s

’
w hole troop at

the i n n

H E I R choice repas t bein g en ded they s ad dle d at o nce , ,

a n d w itho ut an yth i n g worthy Of n ote befal lin g t hem

arriv ed the n ext day at t h e in n the drea d a n d horro r of

,

San cho Pan za a n d though he w ould fai n not have en t ered

,

t herei n yet he co uld n ot avoid doin g s o

, The hos tess t he . ,

hos t t heir d a ughter a n d M a ritorne s seein g Don Quixot e a nd

, , ,

San cho approach wen t out to receive them w ith t oke ns of

,

much gla dn es s. The kn ight acknowledged them w ith a

dem ure a n d grave deportmen t a n d bade them prepare h i m a
,

better bed t han they gave him the las t t im e to which th e ,

lan dlady replied that if he paid better than the las t ti me s he

would g ive him one fit for a prin ce . Don Q uixote s ai d t hat
he w ould a n d s o t hey prepared him a reas on ably good one
, ,

i n the same loft where he had lain f ormerly ; a n d he w en t to

bed at once for he arri ved m uch s hatt e red a n d broke n in
,

body a nd mi nd. He had s carcely locked himself i n w hen th e

mis tress ran at the barber a n d s eiz in g him by the bea rd
,

cried
By my troth b ut my tai l s hall n o lon ger be u s ed for a
bea rd ; give me my ta il again ; for my hus ban d s t hin g is ’

bein g tos sed about the fl oor which i s a s hame I me a n t he

,
”
comb which he u sed t o stick in my fine tail
,
.

The barber would n ot g ive it to her for a ll her t ugging , ,

till the licen t i a te told him to let her have it for there w as ,

n ow n o lon ger n eed of that device f or he might dis cover ,

him s elf a n d appear in h i s own s hape a n d tell Don Q uixote ,

t hat after t h e galley s lave thieve s had robbe d him he ha d

,
-

fled for re fuge to th a t in n ; a n d that if t h e kn ight s hould

a s k aft er the pri n ce s s s s q uire they co uld s a y that s h e h ad
’
,

s ent him on in advance to give notice to tho se of h er king

3 83
 DO N QUI XO TE 283

d om h ow th at sh e w a s on h er w a y a n d w a s brin gi ng with
her th e deliverer of them all . O n t hi s the barber cheer
fully gave up the ta il to the lan dlady, a n d likew is e all the
ot her arti cles which had bee n borro w ed for Don Q ui xote s ’

deli v eran ce.

All the people of the i nn were s tru ck w ith Dorothea s
’

bea uty , a n d al s o wit h t h e comelin e ss of t h e s hepherd s w ain,

C a rden io . The prie s t made them get rea dy a din n er of
w hat ever the i nn co uld yield a n d the lan dlord in t h e hope
, ,

of bett er payme n t prep a red for t hem w it h des p a tch a very

,

t olera ble meal . All this while Don Q uixote s lept a n d they ,

ag reed n ot to wake him for it wo uld do him more good n ow

,

t o s leep t han t o eat. They talked a t din n er — the landlord

, ,

h is w ife h is d a ugh t er a nd Ma ri t om e s bein g pre s e n t a s well

, , ,

a s all the tra velers ,

— Of Don Q uixote s s tran ge craz e a n d of
’

t h e s ta t e i n w hich t hey had fou n d him . The ho st e ss related

t o t hem w hat had happe n ed betw ee n him a n d t h e muleteer ,

glan cing roun d to s e e if perchan ce San cho w ere pre s e n t N ot .

s ee in g him s h e t old t hem all a bout h i s t o s s in g i n the bl a n ke t

, ,

from w hich t hey received n o lit tle am us em e n t Upon the .

pries t s ayin g how t hat t h e books of chiva l rie s w hich Don

Q uixot e read had tu rn ed h i s brain the lan dlord cried
,

I kn o w n ot h ow that c a n be for i n truth t o my s eemin g

,

there is n o fi n er rea din g i n the w orld a n d I have here t wo

,

or t hree of t hem with other w rit i n g s w hich verily h a ve p ut

,

lif e in to me a n d n ot o n ly in to me b ut i n to m an y others ; for

,

when it is harve st t ime man y of t h e re a pers as s emble here

-

i n the midda y heat s a n d there i s alw ay s s ome on e w h o ca n

,

read w h o t akes on e of the s e book s i n h a nd a nd t hen s ome,

thi rty of us or more g et ro un d him a n d w e s it listen i ng t o

,

h im w ith s o m uch delight t hat it keep s O E a t ho us an d gra y

h a irs ; at le as t I ca n s a y for my self w hen I hear t hem tell
,

O f thos e f uriou s a n d t e rribl e blo w s w hich t h e kn igh t s de a l

out that the de s ir e s eize s me to be doi n g a s m uch my se l f

, ,

a nd I could fi n d i n my heart to be he a rin g of them day

”
a n d nigh t.

A n d I t oo am O f t hat mi n d quot h the la n d l a dy

, for ,

I never have a good t ime but w hen you are l is te n in g to t h e

rea din g for you are s o be fooled that for that on ce you for
,
”
g e t t o s cold rue .
2 84 C ERVAN TES

That i s true cried Ma ritom e s ; a n d i n goo d s oot h I

,

al s o take much delight i n hearin g of thos e t hin gs w hi c h are ,

very pretty a n d the more so w hen they tell h ow s uc h a la dy

,

s it s u n der the oran ge t ree s clipt i n the a rm s of her k ni g ht ,

a n d h ow they h a ve a d ue n na k eepin g w atch for t hem dyi ng ,

of en vy a n d s t ruck d umb w ith won der I sa y a ll this is as ,

”
s w eet as ho n ey .

A n d y ou my youn g mi ss w h a t t h i nk y ou o f it ?
, , sai d

the prie st s peakin g to the la n dla dy s daught er.

,
’

“ ”
O n my life s ir I kn o w n ot
, re s pon ded s h e.
, I a lso
,

li s ten to it a n d i n truth though I do n ot u n dersta n d i t I ta ke

, , ,

pleas ure in he a ring i t ; but I like n ot the blow s w hich plea se

my father o n ly the pl a i nts w hich the kn ights make w hen
,

they are abs en t from t heir ladies w hich i n truth so meti mes ,
”
make me w eep for the pity I feel for t hem .

Then wo uld y ou con s ole them fair mai den s a id Doro , ,

th ea if t hey w ep t for y ou
,
“
I k n o w n ot w hat I wo uld do replied th e g irl ; only I ,

kn ow tha t there a re s ome of tho s e ladies so cruel that t heir

k n ight s c a ll them tigers a nd lion s a n d a thous an d other ,

a bomin able thi n g s A nd Je s u ! what kin d O f people can

. ,

t hey be s o heartle s s a n d without con s cie n ce that ra th er than

,

be s tow a look on a n ho norable man t h ey will let h i m die or

tu rn mad ; n or do I kn o w w hat good is i n a l l th is sq ueamish
ne ss ,
— i f they do it o ut of hon e sty let th e m m ar ry them , ,
”
s eein g they de s ire n othi n g el s e .
” “
H old your t on gue ch ild quoth the landlady for it, , ,

s eem s you k n ow a great de a l of t he s e t hin g s a n d it is not ,

”
well for maide n s to k n ow or talk so m uch .
”
A s t hi s ge n t lem a n as ked me replied sh e I could not , ,
”
help a n s w erin g him .
Well n ow sa id the pries t brin g me hither th ose books.
, ,
”
mas ter lan dlord for I wis h to s ee t h em
, .
”
With pleas ure he replied ; a n d going in to hi s cha mber
, , ,

he brough t out t he nce a little ol d v a lis e fasten ed with a small

ch a in a n d ope n in g it dis covered therein three large books
, , ,

a n d s ome man us cripts w ritt e n i n a very good h a n d The first .

”
book he open ed he s a w w a s Don Ci rong lli o Of Th ra ce the ,

s eco n d F e li xma rt e O f H yrca n ia a n d the thir d wa s the ,

H istory Of t h e Great Cap tain Gdnza l o He m dn dez of Cat

 86 C ERVANT ES

gian ts at the w ai s t a s if they had bee n made out of b e a n s

,

like t h e little fria rs which the children m ake ; and an o th e r

time he fell upo n a mighty a n d po w erf ul army w here the y ,

w e re more tha n on e m il lion s ix h un dred thous an d s oldie rs a l l ,

armored from head to foot a n d routed the w hole of the m a s

,

if they had been fl ocks Of s heep . The n w hat s hall w e sa y O f

the good Don Cirong rl io of Thra ce w h o w a s s o valiant a n d
’

courageous a s w ill be s een in the book w herein it is t old t h at

, , ,

a s he w a s s ailin g up a river there c a me up from the m id s t O f

,

the water a fiery s erpe n t a n d h e t h e momen t he sa w it lea p t

, , ,

u po n it a n d g ot a s t ride on top of i t s s caly s houlders

, a nd ,

s queezed the throat of it with both han d s w i t h s uch force t h a t

t h e s erpen t perceivin g that it w a s goi n g to be s tra n gled h a d

, ,

no other re s ource than to let its elf drop to the bott o m of t he

river carryin g the kn ight be hin d it w h o wo uld n ever l e t g o
, ,

h is hold ; a n d w hen t hey arrived there below he foun d h i m ,

s elf am o n g palace s a n d garde n s s o beautif ul that it w a s a

marvel ; a nd t hen t h e s erpent changed it s elf into a n old g ra y

beard w h o told him s o ma ny thin gs a s were n ever hear d Go
, .

t o s ir for with o n ly lis tenin g to thi s you wo uld turn mad w ith
, ,

deligh t A brace of fig s for your Great Captai n a n d for t h a t

.

Diego Garcia you tell of

Hea rin g t his Dorothea s aid in a w his per to Carden io
,

O ur ho s t lack s but l ittle to play the s econd part t o Don

Q uixote .
S O it s eem s to me replied Carden io
, for if w e ma y ,

j udge by h is word s he hold s it for certa in t hat al l which

,

thes e books relate h a s pass ed j u st a s it w as writt en a n d the ,

bare footed friars thems elves could n ot make h i m believe the

-

”
c on tra ry .

Co n s ider frie nd returned the pries t that there n ever

, , ,

w a s in the w orld a F e l i xma rte of Hyrcan ia nor a Don Ciron ,

gilio of Thrace n or ot her s uch kn ights a s the book s o f chival

,
‘

rie s tell of for all is i nvent ion a n d fiction of t h e idle wits

,

who compo s ed t hem to the en d thou s peakest of to be guil e

, ,

the time a s your rea pers do i n readin g them ; for I po si tively

s wear t o y ou that n ever w ere s uch kn ights i n t h e world nor ,
”
did such feats a n d follie s ever happen in it.
To an other dog wi th that bo n e ! an sw ered the h ost ;
as though I know not h ow many be an s make fiv e o r where ,
 DO N QUI XOTE 287

my s hoe pin ches me. Let n ot your wors hip thin k to feed m e
w it h p a p f o r fore God I a m no b aby. A good t hi n g i n deed
’
,

t hat your w ors hip s ho uld wi s h t o pers ua de me that all w hich

thes e fi ne books s a y are but follie s a n d lies — they prin ted ,

w it h lice n s e of t h e lord s of t h e kin g s co un cil a s if t hey

’

w ere people w h o w o uld allow s uch a p a ck of l ie s to be p rin ted ,

a n d so m a n y ba ttle s a n d e n cha n tme n ts a s take aw ay on e s

’

wits !
I have told you frien d already replied th e prie s t that
, , , ,

this i s don e for the divers io n of our idle though t s a n d a s in ,

all well o rdered commo nw ealth s there are allo w ed to be games

-

O f che s s te n n i s a n d billiard s f or the e n tertai n me n t of s ome

, ,

w h o w il l n ot or may not or ca n n ot w ork eve n so are s uch

, , ,

books al lo w ed to be prin ted in the be lief a s in deed i s t h e

, ,

tru th that there ca n be n on e so ign oran t a s to take a ny of

,

thes e book s for true history. A n d if I were permitted now ,

a n d my hearers de s ired it I w o uld s a y s omethin g a s to wh a t

,

b oo ks of chivalrie s s hould con ta in in order t o be good on es ,

w hich perhap s might m a ke them of s ervice a n d eve n of delight

to s ome people ; but I hope the time w ill com e w he n I may be
able to commu n icate my idea s t o thos e who ca n give them
e E e ct . I n the mean tim e good min e ho s t believe w hat I have
, ,

s aid to y ou a n d take yo ur book s a n d s ettle it with yours elf

, ,

a bout their tru th s a n d lie s a n d m uch good m a they do u ;

, y y o

a n d God gra nt you limp n ot on the s ame foot on which your

g ue s t D o n Q uixote i s l a me .

“ “
N ot s o q uot h the inn keeper ; I s hall not be s uch a
,

fool a s to turn knight errant for I se e well en ough that it i s

,

n ot the fas h io n n ow to do a s t hey us ed i n tho s e tim e s w he n ,

t h o s e famou s k n ights are s aid to have roamed about t h e

w orld .
San cho had come i n at the middle O f this dialogue a n d w a s ,

much con foun ded a n d cast do w n at w hat he had heard them

s a y abo ut k n ight s erra n t bei n g n ow n o more i n fas hion a n d ,

th at all the book s of chivalrie s were foolerie s a n d lie s ; a n d he

re s olved i n his heart to await the iss ue O f t his expedition of
h i s ma s ter s a n d if it did n ot t urn out s o h a ppily a s he ex
’
,

p e c t e d
, he m ade u p h i s mi n d to le a ve him a n d t o retur n to h i s

w i fe a n d chil dre n a n d to h i s w o n ted occupatio n .

The i n n keeper w a s takin g awa y h is vali se a n d h is books ,
2 88 CERVAN TE S

when the prie st s aid to him : Stay I would see wha t a re ,

”
thos e papers w ritte n in so fair a cha racter
,
Th e h o s t .

took them out a n d gave t hem t o t h e pries t t o rea d. H e

,

f o un d a bou t eight s heets of man us c ript a n d a t the begi n n i n g ,

w a s a ti tle a s follow s The N ovel o f the Impert i n e n t

C urio s ity . The prie s t read s ome three or four lin es to h i m
”

s elf a n d sai d
,

Truly t h e title of th is novel di spleas es me not a n d I h a ve ,

”
a min d to read it t hro ugh .
”
Yo ur revere n ce s ho uld do w ell to read it the h ost ,

replied. L et me tell you that t o s ome Of my gue s ts h e re ,

who have read it it h a s given great pleas ure a n d t hey h a ve

, ,

begged it of me very earn e s tly ; but I w ould n ot give i t t o

them mean in g to return it t o him who left t his valis e h e r e
,

wit h thes e books a n d thes e papers which he fo rgot f or it ,

may be that their own er will come back this w a y s ome t i m e

or ot her a n d altho ugh I k n o w t hat I s hall mi ss the bo o ks
, ,

o n my faith I will return them for though an i nn keepe r y e t , , ,

a m I a Ch ri stian
”
.

You are very right fri en d quoth the prie st ; , but for , ,
”
all that if the novel pleas es me you m us t let me copy it .
, ,
”
Wit h all my heart an s wered the host. Whil e t h e t wo
,

w ere thu s talkin g Carde n io had take n up the n ovel a n d

,

commen ced to re a d it a n d formin g t h e s ame opin ion O f it

, ,

a s th e prie s t h a d don e prayed him t o read it a loud that a ll

,

might hear.
”
I would read it s aid t h e prie st were it not bette r to
, ,
”
s pe n d our time in s leepin g than i n readin g.
”
It will be s u ffi cie n t re s t for me cried Dorothea t o pass , ,

away the time i n li st en in g t o s ome s tory f or my s pirits a re ,

n ot y e t s o compo s ed a s to permit me to s leep w hen i t would

”
be s eas onable.
“ “
Wel l i n that ca s e s aid the prie st I w il l rea d i t were
, , , ,

it on ly for c urios ity ; perhap s it will con tain s ometh ing

”
pleas ant.
Master N icholas en treated him to do th e s ame a n d ,

San cho too ; s eein g which a n d co n s iderin g that he would ,

give pleas ure to a l l a n d receive it him self the p ri es t rea d ,

the n ovel t o the a ss embled compan y to their g reat ed i fica ,

tion a n d delight.
2 9O CE RVANT E S

Whereupon he ra n i nto the room and they a ll after h i m , ,

a n d fo und Don Qu ixote i n t h e s tran ge s t g ui s e in t h e w orld .

He w a s in h i s s hirt which w a s not so ample i n fron t a s f ully

,

to cover h is thigh s a nd behin d w a s six i n che s s hort er. H i s

,

legs w ere v ery lo n g a n d thin covered with h a ir a n d n ot o ver

, ,

clean . O n h i s head he w ore a little greasy red ca p w hi ch

belon ged to the inn keeper. Roun d h is left a rm h e h a d
folded the bed blan ket to w hich Sancho bore a grudge a n d
-

, ,

he very well kn ew w h y a n d i n h is righ t han d he had a d rawn

,

s w ord with which he w a s de a li n g cuts a n d s las h e s ab o u t on

,

all s ide s utterin g word s a s if he w ere verily fighti n g w ith

,

s ome gian t . The be s t of it w a s t h a t h i s eye s w ere n ot o p e n ,

for he w a s asleep a n d drea mi n g that he w a s i n b a ttle w ith a

,

giant ; for h i s im a gin at io n w a s s o in ten t upon the adve n t ure

w hich he w a s goin g to a chieve that it m a de him d rea m that ,

h e w a s arrived a t t h e kin gdom of Micomi con a n d w as al r ea dy ,

i n co n fl ict with h i s foe ; a n d he had given s o man y cu ts on

the s kin s believin g th a t he w a s deali n g t hem on t h e g ian t
, ,

tha t the room w a s a ll full Of w i ne . O n seein g t h is t h e i n n

keeper flew into s uch a rage that he fell upon Don Q u ixot e ,

a n d with h is clenched fi s t s bega n to pummel him s o t h a t if

, ,

Carde n io a n d the prie st had n ot t a ken him OE he w o uld have

fin is hed the war wit h t h e gian t N eve rt hele ss t h e poor kn igh t
. ,

w oke n ot u n til the b a rber bro ught a large p ot of cold w ater

from the well a n d d a s hed it over h is w hole body w h ich ,

aw oke D on Quixote b ut n ot s o complet ely a s to m a ke him

,

s en s ible O f the plight he w a s in Doro thea s eein g h ow . ,

lightly a n d s cantily he w a s cl a d cared n ot to go i n to w i t ness ,

the b a ttle between her champion a nd her advers a ry A s for .

San cho he wen t s e a rchin g a l l about the floor for t he gia nt s

,
'

head a n d n ot findin g it c ried

,
“
N ow do I kn ow th a t everythin g about t hi s hous e i s en
chan ted for the t ime before in this very pl a ce w here I a m
,

n ow they gave me man y blow s and b uEe t s w i t ho ut my k n o w

,

i n g w h o gave them me a n d I could n ever see a s o ul a nd

, ,

n ow this head is n ot to be s ee n here w here I s a w it c ut O E ,

w ith my ve ry eye s a n d t h e blood run nin g from t h e body a s

”
f rom a fountain .
“
What blood or w h a t fo un tain art tho u ta lk i n g O f t hou ,

e n emy of God a n d Of H i s sain ts excla imed t h e i nn kee p er.

 DON QUI XO TE 2 9r

See s t thou n ot thief that the blood a n d the foun tai n a re

, ,

n othin g el s e than the s e s ki n s w hich are ripped ope n here

a n d the red wine w hich fl oats abou t thi s room ? A nd may I

se e h is s oul fl oatin g in hell who ri pped t hem O pe n
” “
I kn ow n othin g replied S a n cho
, but o n ly this that I, ,

s hall come to be s o u n l ucky t hrough w a n t of fi n din g this

,

head tha t my coun ts hip will melt away from me like s a lt i n

,

the w at er A n d San cho aw ake w a s wors e than h i s mas ter

"
.

s leepin g s o m uch w a s he po s s e ss ed by the promis es w h ich

,

h i s mas ter had made him .

The in n keeper w a s at h i s w its end at seein g the stolidity

’

Of the s q uire a n d the mi s chief don e by the mas ter a n d s wore ,

that it s ho uld n ot be as on the former occas io n when they

w e n t O E w it hou t p a yin g a n d that n ow t h e pri vi lege O f chiv
,

a l ry s ho uld n ot ava il to exc us e him from payi n g h i s reckon in g

bo th for this t im e a n d the other eve n to the co s t of th e plugs

,

w hi ch had been torn O E from the demoli s hed w in e s ki n s -

.

The pries t w a s holdin g Don Q uixote by t h e hands w h o , ,

be l ievin g t hat he had n ow en ded the adven t ure a nd w a s i n

t h e pres e n ce of the Pri n ce ss Mi comi con a fell on h is kn ee s ,

be fore the p ries t a nd s aid

,

Your highn e ss exal ted a n d beauteous la dy may live

, ,

m ore secure f rom thi s day forth w it hout this mis begotte n
cr e ature bei ng able to d o y ou harm a n d I t oo am from this , , ,

d a y relea s ed from t h e pledge I gave y ou s in ce by the help ,

O f t h e mo s t high God a n d through her favor by w hom I live

”
a n d breat he I have s o w ell redee m ed it
,
.
” “
Did I n ot sa y so ? cried S a n cho on hea rin g this ; yea for
, ,

I w a s n ot drun k ; s e e if my mas ter h a s n ot s alted dow n the gian t

”
n ow ; the b ull s a re all right ; my co un t s hip i s s a f e e n o ugh .

Who co uld keep from laughin g at t h e follie s O f the t w o ,

ma s ter a nd s ervan t ? A ll laughed i n deed except the i n n , ,

keeper who wi s hed him s elf a t the devil ; but a t len gth the
,

barber C a rde n io a n d the prie s t so ma n a ged a s w ith no little

, ,

t ro uble t o get D on Q u ixot e to bed w h o w a s left s l eepin g ,

w ith every s i g n o f great w ea ri n e s s . They let him s leep a n d ,

we n t ou t to the i nn door to co n s ole San cho Pan za for n ot

having fou n d t h e gian t s head a ltho ugh they had more t o d o
’

i n appeas in g the in n keeper who w a s i n de s p a ir a t the s udde n

,

—
dea th of h is wi ne s ki n s th e hos te ss scoldin g a n d cryin g
-
2 92 CE RVAN TE S

In an evil momen t a n d in a n u nlucky hour ca me this

kn ight erra n t in to my ho us e ! Wo uld tha t min e eyes h a d
n ever s ee n him for it i s dear he h a s cost me. T h e time
,

before he we n t away with a n ight s mea l for s u pper bed ’

, ,

s traw a n d barley for him s elf a nd for h is s q ui re hi s horse a nd , ,

h i s a s s s ayin g that he w a s a kn ight adve n t urer ( G od sen d

,

him bad adven tu re a nd to a s man y a dve n turers a s th e re are

,

in the w orld l) a n d that therefore he w a s not boun d t o p ay

, , ,

for anythin g for s o it w a s writ ten in the kn ight e rra n try

,
-

regul a tion s ; a n d n ow on his acco un t there come s this ot her

, ,

g e n tlema n a n
, d carrie s O E my tail a n d ret u rn s i,t t o m e w i t h
m ore than a pe n n yw orth O f da m a ge all the hair O E w hich , ,

ca n n o more s erve fo r my h us b a n d s p urpo s e ; a n d to fi n i sh

’

a n d cap it a ll to b ur s t m y s ki n s a n d s pill my w in e ; w h ich

,

s pilt may I s e e h i s blood ! B ut let him n ot t hin k i t f o r by ,

t h e bon e s of my f at her a n d t h e s o ul of my mother if t hey ,

have n ot to pay me every farthin g down upo n the n a il my ,

”
n ame s hould n ot be w hat it i s n or I w ho s e daughter I a m
, .

These a n d other s uch word s s pake the i nn keeper s wife ’

with great a n ger a n d her good maid Ma ri tom e s backed h er

,

up ; w h ile the daughter held her peace s milin g fro m ti me ,

to time . The prie st q uelled t h e storm promising to sa tis fy ,

them for their lo ss to the bes t Of h is power both of th e s kins ,

a n d O f the w m e a n d e s pecia lly for the dam a ge to t h e ta i l.

,

of w hich they made so m uch a ccoun t Dorot hea con soled .

San cho Pan za tellin g him t hat a s s oo n a s ever it s h o ul d

,

appear to be certa in that h i s mas ter h a d cut OE the g ia n t s '

head s h e promi s ed that upo n fi n ding hers elf pe ac e fu lly

,

s ettled in her ki n gdo m s h e wo uld give him the be s t co un t s hip

t here might be t here . Sancho w as comforted w ith this a nd ,

averred to the p rin ces s that s h e might rely upon it h e h a d

s ee n the gi ant s head a n d more by token that it had a b eard
’
,

which reached to his gi rdle a n d th a t if it did n ot turn up it

,

w a s becaus e eve ryt hi n g that pas s ed i n t hat ho us e w en t by

e n chan tmen t a s he h a d foun d the las t time he had lod ged
,

t here . Dorothea s aid s h e bel ieved so a n d ba de him be of good

'
cheer for all wo uld go w ell a n d happen to h i s heart s c on tent.
,

Ju st then the ho s t w h o w a s st an din g at the in n door ex

, ,

claimed : Here i s a fine troop of guests comi ng ! I f th ey

s top here we ma y s in g O h be joyfu l
 94 CE RVAN TES

An d have you h eard th e nam e of a ny of th em ? m quired

the prie st.
N O in deed
, , an swered the lackey They all tra vel in
.

s uch s ile n ce that it i s a marvel for not h i n g i s heard am ong

,

them but the sigh s a n d sob s of the poor lady w hich m ove us ,

to pity a n d it i s our firm belief that w herever s h e is goin g

, , ,

s h e goe s agai n s t her wil l a n d by what c a n be gathere d f rom

,

her dress s h e i s a n un or i s abo ut to become one w hich i s

, ,

more li kely ; a n d perh a p s it i s because her t aking t h e veil is

not of her ow n free choice that s h e i s s o s a d a s s h e s e em s .
"

”
S O it may be s a id the priest. A n d leavin g them he
, ,

came back to Dorothea w h o on heari ng the veil ed lad y s igh

, , ,

moved by n atural compas sio n went up to her a n d s aid

,

What ai ls you dear l a dy ? If it i s anyt hing that women

,

are pra ctis ed and experie n ced in relieving I oEer my good ,

will to s erve you.

To all this the afflicted lady w as d umb a nd t hough , ,

Dorothea re n ewed h er oEe rs more pres s in gly s till sh e kept ,

s ile n ce u n til the mas ked cavalier

,
— h e w hom t h e lackeys
,

had s aid the res t obeyed — ,came up a n d sa id to Dorot h ea

Trouble n ot yo urs elf madam to oEe r a nyth in g t o t h at
, ,

w oman for it i s her h a bit not to be grateful for augh t th at

,

i s do n e for her ; a n d do n ot try to make her a n s w er y ou if ,

”
you would n ot hea r s ome fal s ehood out of her mout h .
”
I have n ever told one here exclaimed s h e w h o t ill then
,
“
had bee n s ile nt rather it is becau s e I am s o trut hful a nd
so i nn oce nt of fal s ehood that I fin d my s elf n ow in t h i s un

happy s tate ; a n d of this I w ould c a ll yours elf a s a w it n ess ,

s ince my pure truth it i s which make s you to be fal se a n d

”
lyin g.
C a rden io heard the s e words very clearly and d i sti nctl y
'

bei n g s o clo s e to her w h o uttered them for there w a s only ,

the door of Don Q uixo te s room between them a n d d i rectl y

’

, ,

he heard them he cried alo ud

,

Good God ! What i s t his I hear ? Wh at voice i s thi s

which h a s come to my ea rs
S tart led by h i s exclamat ion the lady turned her head a nd
, , ,

not s eein g w h o it w a s that s poke ro s e to her feet a n d ma de

,

—
for the e ntran ce of the roo m obse rvi n g w hich the ge ntl e
ma n detain ed her a n d would not let her move a s tep
, With .
 D ON QUIXOTE 2 95

h er agitation and sudden movemen t the veil fell O E whic h

covered her face and dis clo s ed a co un te n a n ce of marvelous
,

a n d in comparable bea uty tho ugh bla n ched a n d t e rror s tr icke n

,
-

for w ith her eyes roll in g e verywhere s h e s earched wherever

, ,

her sight could reach s o eagerly a s to s eem like on e d is

,

tr act ed w it h s uch look s of w oe a s filled Dorot hea a n d all w h o

,

beheld her t ho ugh they co uld n ot t ell w h y sh e behaved s o

, ,

w it h a vas t pit y The cava lier held her fi rmly gras ped by
.

the s houlders a n d bein g t hu s employed he could n ot hold

, , ,

up h i s veil which w a s fa llin g OE a s a t la st it did en tirely ;

, ,

a n d Dorot hea who had cla s ped t h e lady i n her a rm s rai s i n g

, ,

her eyes s a w tha t he who held her i n h is embra ce w a s her

,

ow n h us b a n d D on F e rn a n do .
, Scarce did s h e recogn ize him
whe n fet chin g from the bo ttom of her heart a lon g a n d dis
,
“ ”
mal Oh s h e fell b a ck w ard s s w oo n in g
,
a nd h a d n o t the , ,

b a rb er bee n clo s e by a n d c a ught her i n h is arm s s h e w o uld

, ,

h a ve fallen to the gro un d. The prie st a t on ce has ten ed to

t a ke O E her veil a n d throw w ater i n her face a n d a s s oo n a s , ,

he un covered it Do n Fern a n do ,
— for he it w a s w h o w a s ,

holdin g t h e other i n h is arm s kn ew her a n d st ood like on e , ,

dea d a t the s ight Of her. N everthele s s he did n ot rel a x h is ,

hold Of L ucind a for s h e it w a s w h o w a s s trugglin g t o free

,

hers elf from h i s e mbrace h a vin g recogn ized Carden io by h i s

,

cry a s he had recogn ized her Carden io who heard th e . ,

m oan w hich Dorot hea uttered a s s h e fell fa in tin g a n d be l i ev ,

in g it w a s h i s L ucin da ra n out of t h e room in a frigh t a n d

, ,

t h e fir st t hin g h e s a w w a s Don F ern a n do holdi n g L uci n da

clas ped in h i s arm s Don F ern a n do a ls o a t o n ce recogn ized
.

Car den io a n d a l l t hree

, Lucin d a C a rde n io a n d Dorothea
, , , ,

— st oo d i n m ute am a zeme n t s c a rcely kn owing wh a t h a d ,

h appe n ed t o t he m . They all g a zed on one an o t her w itho ut

s peakin g Dorot he a on Don F e rn a n do Carde n io on L uci n d a
, , ,

a n d L uci n da o n Carde n io The firs t w h o broke the s ile n ce

.

w a s L ucin da who th us s poke t o D on F ern a n do :

,

Leave me Don F ern a n do for t h e s ake Of what i s d ue to

, ,

yours el f if on n o other acco un t

,
— leave m e to clin g t o the ,

wall of w hich I a m the ivy t o t h e prop w he nce n either yo ur ,

i mportun itie s your t hrea t s yo ur promi s e s n or yo ur bribe s

, , ,

have bee n able t o p a rt me M a rk h ow Hea ve n by un w on t ed . ,

a n d to us my st erio us w a y s h a t h pl a ced me be fore my ow n ,

2 96 CE RVAN TES

tru e hu sband and wel l you kn ow by a tho us and d ear bought

,
-

proofs that death a lon e ca n e Ea ce him from my m emory .

The n let t hi s plain declarat ion avail s in ce n ot h in g else ca n to , ,

turn your love in to fury your a Eecti on in t o des pite a n d so

, ,

e n d my lif e ; for I s hall cou n t it well be s to w ed if I yie ld i t

before the eyes Of my good h usba n d . I t may be by my d ea th

he w il l be con vin ced th at I kept my fai th t o h i m to the las t
”
a ct Of my life .

Mea n while Dorothea h a d come t o hers elf a nd had been

l i ste n i n g t o a ll Luci n da s w ords by which s h e cam e t o the
’
,

k n ow ledge Of who s h e w a s ; a n d fi n di ng t hat Don Fe rn a n do

did n ot yet rele a s e her from h is arm s n or res po n d t o h er
pra yers s ummonin g up al l th e stre n gth s h e could s h e a rose
, ,

a n d ca s t her s elf o n her k n ee s a t h i s fee t a n d s heddi n g a ,

fl ood Of beaut iful a n d pit eous tea rs thu s began t o s pe a k

“
If dea r lord t h e beam s of that sun w hich t ho u h oldest
, ,

i n eclip s e wit hin thin e arm s have not dimmed a n d darke n ed

t ho s e of t hin e eyes tho u would st have see n by thi s ti m e th a t
,

s h e w h o i s kn eelin g a t thy feet i s s o lon g a s thou s h al t plea s e

,

to have it so t h e hapless a nd mis era ble Dorothea I a m tha t

, .

lowly a n d coun try girl whom thou out of thy bou n ty or for
thy plea sure woulds t ra i s e to t h e height of bein g able to call
h ers elf t hi n e I am s h e w h o s ometi me immured wit hin th e
. ,

bo un d s Of in n ocen ce lived a h a ppy life u n t il a t t h e voice of

, , ,

t h y import u nit y a nd s eemin gly t ru e a n d lovin g a Ee ct i on s he ,

O pe n ed t h e gate s Of her a Ee ct i On and s urre n dered to thee the

key s of her freedom a gi ft by t hee received s o t ha n kles sly

, ,

a s i s clearly s hown by my bein g compelled t o betake m ys elf

here where thou findes t me a n d by thine own appearan ce in ,

the state in which I se e thee . Ye t not for all t his w ould I ,

have t hee imagi ne that I have been bro ugh t hither t hrough
w ay s of di s hon or havi n g bee n led o n ly through t ho s e of
,

grief a n d affl iction at fin ding my s elf f orgotten by thee .

Thy will it w a s to make me t hin e a n d willed it i n s uch a s ort ,

that tho ugh now thou mighte s t w is h it w ere not so it i s not

, ,

po ss ible t hat thou can st cea s e to be min e Think dear lord . , ,

that t h e matchles s love I h a ve for t hee m a y be a com p e n sa

tion for the beauty a n d n obility of her for whom thou a rt
leavi n g me Thou can st n ot be t h e fair Lucin da s for th ou
.
’
,

art min e nor ca n s h e be thine for sh e is Ca rdeni o s ; a n d it ,

’
2 98 CERVAN TES

her good s en s e a n d her beauty ; a n d s h e wo uld have gone

u p to her to s peak s ome w ord s of comfort had s h e n ot bee n

preve n ted by D on Fern an do s till holdin g her fas t i n h is

arm s Aft er rega rd i n g Doro t hea fixedly a good w h il e he
. , ,

overw helm ed w it h rem ors e a n d ad m irati o n Open ed h i s a r ms

, ,

a n d s et ti n g Lucin da free cried

,

—
Thou h a st co n quered lovely Dorothea thou has t con
,

quered ; for it i s im p o ss ible to have th e heart to de n y s o

”
man y truths together .

Lucin d a w it h the fa in tn e s s which po s s e ss ed her w as like

, ,

to h a ve falle n to the gro un d w hen Don Fern a n do relea se d

her. B ut C a rde n io w h o w a s near her a n d had placed h im
, ,

s elf behin d D on F er na n do s o a s n ot t o be k n ow n ca s tin g ,

fea r a s ide a n d d a rin g all ris ks ra n up to s upport L uci nd a ;

,

a n d cl a s pin g her i n h i s arm s he s aid to her

If it i s th e w ill a n d pleas ure of Heaven in i ts mercy , ,

th a t n ow at l a s t tho u s ho uld have s ome rest my f ai t hful , ,

con stan t a n d lovely m is tress n ow here I believe can st tho u

, ,

fi n d i t m ore s ec ure t han i n t he s e arm s that n o w receive t h e e ,

a s w hilo m t hey rece i ved thee w he n fo rt un e w a s pleas ed to

”
let me call thee min e .

A t the s e w ord s L ucin da rai s ed her eye s to Carden io havi ng ,

begun to kn ow h i m firs t by h is voic e a n d t hen a ss urin g her

, ,

s elf by s ight that i t w a s he almos t be s ide hers elf a n d reck l ess

, ,

of all form s of decoru m s h e cast her arm s about h i s n eck

, ,

a n d join in g her face to Ca rd e n i o s s aid to h i m

’

Ye s ; y ou my dear lord are the true ma st er Of this your

, ,

s lave how ever m uch u n kin d fort u n e may oppos e a n d w hat

, ,

ever t hre a t s ma y as sail this life w hich on ly de p en ds on yo urs

,
"
.

A s trange s pec tacle w a s this for Don F ern an do a n d for ,

all t h e by s t a n ders w h o w ere s t ruck w ith w on der a t this un

,

fores een incide n t. TO Dorothea it s eemed a s if D on Fer

n a n do cha n ged color a n d made a ge s t ure a s t hough he h a d
,

a min d to ta ke ve n gean ce on Carde n io for s h e sa w h im move

,

h i s ha n d a s tho ugh t o place i t on hi s s w ord . N O s oo n er

did the thought s trike her t han wit h extraordin ary q u ick n es s
s h e cl a s ped him ro un d t h e k nee s a n d ki s s i ng the m a n d hol d
,

in g the m fas t s o that s h e did n ot let him stir s h e s aid t o him , ,

wit ho ut ceas in g from her tears

What i s it thou mean e st to do my only ref uge in this ,
 DON e xor rz -
99

un looked for cris is ? Thou has t thy w ife at thy feet a n d s h e

-

w hom thou w ould s t have for th i n e i s i n t h e arm s O f her h us

ban d. Reflect w hether it will be right or po ss ible for the e
t o u n do what Heave n hath do n e or whether i t w ill be b e co m ,

i n g i n thee to w is h to rais e her t o thy level w h o i n s pite of , ,

e very Ob s tacle co n firmed i n her fai t h a n d co n sta n cy i s before

, ,

thin e eyes bat h ing her true hu sban d s bo s om a n d face w ith ’

the t ears Of love . F or God s s ake a nd t hin e ow n I implore

’

thee that th is p ublic m an ife statio n ma y so far f rom in cre a s ,

i ng your an ger allay it i n s uch s ort a s tha t t hou m a ys t calmly

,

a n d peacefully s u Ee r the s e t w o lovers to live i n calm a n d

peace all t h e years that H eave n ma y pleas e to gra nt t hem ;

a n d i n thi s tho u s halt man ife s t the ge n ero s ity O f thy n obl e

a n d magn a n i m ou s s o ul a n d the world w ill s e e t hat reas on

,
”
h as more po w er over thee t han pass ion .

While Dorothea w a s s ayin g this Carde n io though h e held , ,

Luc inda i n h is arm s did not take h i s eye s O E D on Fern an do

, ,

d etermi n ed if he s a w him make a ny ho stile movemen t t o

, ,

defen d him s elf a n d res is t t o the utmost Of h is force a ny w h o

,

s hould take pa rt agai n s t hi m eve n if it s hould co s t him hi s

,

life . B ut at thi s j un cture D on F ern an do s frie n ds with the ’

pries t a n d the barber who had been all the tim e pre se n t n ot
, ,

o mi tt i n g ho n e s t Sa n cho Pa n za ra n forw ard a n d all gat hered

, ,

roun d Don Fe rn a n d o. They en t reated him to have regard to

Dorothea s tea rs a n d w hat s h e s aid bein g the t ruth a s with
’

, , ,

o ut do ubt they believed it to be n o t t o s uEe r her t o be ,

defrau ded Of her hope s so ju s t ; that he s hould re flect t hat it

w a s n ot by cha n ce a s it s eemed but by the particular provi
, ,

d e n ce of Heave n that they had a l l met together in a place th e

,

leas t a ny one w o uld have expected He s ho uld bear i n mi n d . ,

t h e prie s t s aid that death alo n e could part Lucin da f rom

,

Carden io ; a n d tho ugh the edge Of the sword s hould divide

them they wo uld accoun t t heir deat h mo st happy a n d that i n
, ,

c a s e s without remedy t h e bes t w i sdom w a s by re strain in g a n d

con querin g him s elf to s how a gen ero us s o ul by permitti ng of ,

h i s ow n free w ill tho s e t w o to e njoy t h e good w hich Heave n

,

had n ow be st owed on the m ; t hat moreover he s hould turn , ,

h i s eye s t o the bea uty of Dorothea a n d he w ould s e e that few

o r n o n e could eq ual m uch le ss excel her w hile to her love
, ,

l in ess s hould be added her mode s ty a n d the s urpa s s in g love

300 CE RVAN TES

sh e bore him Above a l l th ey declared that he s hould re

. ,

member t hat i f he p rized him s elf for a ge n tleman a n d a

,

Chri stian he co uld n ot d o otherwis e than ful fil h i s plighted

,

word a n d t hat in fulfillin g it he wo uld be doin g h is d uty to

,

God a n d be approved Of all se n s ible me n who k n ow a nd ,

recogn ize it to be t h e prerogat ive Of beauty tho ugh i t b e i n a ,

mean s ubject s o lon g a s it i s accompan ied by virt u e to b e able

, ,

to ra is e its elf to the level Of a n y d ign ity w it hout a n y m ark ,

O f dis p a rageme n t i n him w h o rai s e s i t on a level wi t h hi m

s elf ; a n d w here the pot en t law s Of pas s io n s bear s w ay w h ere ,

there is no s in he o ught n ot to be blamed w h o obeys t h em

, .

I n s hort t hey added to t he s e reas on i n g s others s u c h a n d

, ,

s o forcible that D on F e m a n d o s man ly heart which a f t er all

’

, ,

w a s on e n o uris hed by ge n ero us blood w a s s o fte n ed and a l, ,

low ed itself to be v a n q ui s hed by t h e t r uth w hich he co uld ,

n ot ga in s a y i f he w o uld The s ign he gave O f h i s s u rre n der

. ,

a n d O f h is accep ta n ce of t h e good advice which had bee n

o Ee re d him w a s t o s toop do w n a n d embra ce Dorot h ea sa

y ,

i n g t o her
Ris e dear lady ; for it i s n ot right that s h e w hom I h old
,

i n my he a rt s hould be kn eeli n g at my feet A n d if u n til n ow.

I have given n o proof of w hat I s a y perhap s it h as b e e n by,

the comman d of Heave n in order that by s eein g in y ou the

, ,

fi delity w i th w hich y ou love me I may learn to e stee m y ou

,

u d e s erve What I e n t reat of ou i th at u ho uld

as
y o .
y s y o s ,

not upbraid me with my mis co n duct a n d my n eglect of you ,

for the sam e cau s e a nd force w hich impelled me t o w i n you

for min e forced me to str uggle again st bein g yours A nd .

th a t you may be con vin ced that t his is true t urn a nd l oo k a t ,

the eye s of the n ow happy Lucin da a n d in t hem y ou wi ll ,

fin d a n excu s e for all my errors A n d s in ce s h e h a s f o un d

.

a n d achieved what s h e d e s ired a n d I h a ve found i n you

,

what f ulfil s all my w is he s l et her live peaceful a n d co n t en t e d

,

man y lo n g a n d happy years with her Carden io a s on my ,

”
k n ees I be s eech Heaven to let me live with my Do rot h ea .
So s ayin g b e embraced her again pre ss in g h is face to h ers
, ,

with s o much te n d er e m otion that he had n eed to take c a re

le st h i s tears s ho uld give un mis takable signs of hi s lov e a nd
repe n tan ce . Tho s e of Lucin da a n d Carden io co uld n ot be s o
re strain ed nor eve n Of the re st w h o were pre se n t for almost
, ,
30 2 CERVAN TES

e i tan ce they came with her to a place where they provi d e d

r s s

thems elves w it h w hat they n eeded for carryin g her OE A ll .

this he had been able to do in perfect s a fety as t h e c onv ent

,

w a s i n the cou n try a good way f rom the town

, .He s a i d t h a t
when Lucin da s a w hers elf i n h i s pow er sh e lo s t a ll con s cious
,

n e ss a nd that w he n s h e came to her s elf s h e did n o t hin g but

, , ,

weep a n d s igh w ithout s peakin g a word ; a n d in this m an n er ,

accompan ied by s ilen ce a n d tears they had reached the in n

, ,

w hich to h im w a s reachin g heave n w here all the mi s hap s of

,

e art h are clo sed a n d have a n e n d .

 C H A PT E R XXX I V

m erci n is conti nued the his tory o f the f a mous P ri ncess Al i cofni cona ,
w i th oth er p leas a n t a doen acres

0 all this S a ncho listen ed w ith n o s mall gri ef of min d ,

perceivin g that h i s hopes of a title w ere dis appeari n g

a n d pas s in g into s moke a n d t h a t the lovely Prin ce ss
,

Micom icon a w a s changed into Dorot hea a n d the gian t int o ,

Don Ferna n do while h i s ma ster w a s s o undly s leep in g all

, ,

ca rele s s O f w hat happened . Dorothea could n ot ass ure her

self that th e h a ppi n e ss s h e e n j oyed w a s n ot a dream . Car
denio w as i n a s im ilar min d a n d L ucin da s ra n in the s ame
,
’

cours e D on Fern ando gave tha nks to Heave n for the fa vor
.

received a n d for having draw n him out of that in tri cate

,

labyri n t h w here he found him s elf on t h e poin t of lo sin g h i s

hon or a n d h i s s oul . In fine all who were in the in n were
,

co n te n t ed a n d rejoiced at the h a ppy turn which a Ea i rs s o

,

d iffi cult and des perate had ta ken The prie st like a ma n . ,

O f s en s e placed everythin g i n i t s true light a n d con g ra t u

, ,

l ated everybody on the good he had achieved ; b ut s h e w h o

w a s mo s t jubilant and mo s t delighted w a s the lan dlady ,

becau s e O f the promis e which Carden io and the pries t h a d

made to her of payme n t of all t h e co s t a n d damage s s h e h a d
’
s u s tain ed on Don Quixote s acco u n t Sa n cho a s h a s been . ,

s aid w a s the o n ly on e a ffl icted

,
un happy and mis era ble ;
, ,

and so w it h a melan choly coun ten an ce he w e n t to h is

, ,

mas ter who w a s then just aw akin g a nd cried

, ,
“
You r w ors hip Sir Rueful F ig ure may well s leep on a s
, ,

much a s you please without troublin g yours elf to kill a n y

,

gian t or to res tore to the prin ce s s her kingdom for all that ,
”
i s do n e a nd fi n is hed with already .

That I well be lieve re s po n ded Don Quixote.

, I have
had w it h the gia nt the most mon s trou s a n d outrageou s battle
t h at I look ever t o have in al l the day s of my life ; a n d with
3 3
0
 0
3 4 CERVANT E S

on e back s troke s wis h I tumbled hi s head t o th e g roun d

-

, , ,

a n d so prof us e w as the blood th a t g us hed from it th a t t h e

”
rivulets ra n a lon g the e a rth as if t hey had been of wa ter .

“
A s if t hey h a d bee n o f red w in e your w or s hip m ight,

better sa y replied San cho ; I would have y ou kn ow if so

, ,

be you do n ot k n o w it that the dead gian t is a c ut w i n e

,

s kin a n d t h e blood a do ze n gallo n s O f red win e w hic h we re

,
”
con ta in ed i n i t s belly a n d l e t the devil ta ke i t a ll .
,
”
What s ayes t thou madma n ? , reto rt ed Don Q u ixot e ;
”
a rt in t h y s e n s e s ?
“
L e t your w ors hip ri s e s aid San cho , a n d you s h a l l se e
,

w hat a fin e piece o f w ork y ou ha ve do n e a n d what w e ha v e ,

t o p a y ; a n d you s h a ll s e e the q uee n t urn ed in t o a priva te

lady n amed Dorothea w it h other even ts w hi ch if y ou d ip
, ,
”
i nto t hem will a s to n is h you.
,
“
I w ou ld m a rvel at n othin g of t hat kin d replie d Don ,
“
Q uixot e for i f tho u remembere s t rightly th e las t time w h en
, ,

we w ere here I told thee th a t a l l that happe n ed i n t his p lac e

were t h i ng s Of e n chan t men t a nd it would be n o w ond er if it
,

were t h e s ame n ow . ”

“
I s ho uld believe it all ans wered San cho if my bla n ket
, ,

i n g likew is e h a d been a thin g of t h at s ort ; o n ly it w a s n ot so ,

b ut re a l a n d t rue a n d I sa w the in n keeper w h o is h ere t his

, ,

day holdin g on e en d Of the bl a n ket a nd toss in g me up t o th e

, ,

sk very n eatly a n d bri s kly with a s much mirt h a s m us c le ;

y ,

and w here it comes to the kn owing Of the perso ns I hold for , ,

my part though a s impleton a n d s in n er I am t hat there is no

, ,
”
e n chan tmen t but much brui se me n t a n d much h a d luck .
”
Good cried Don Q uixote ; God wi ll remedy i t ; gi ve
,

me my a pp a rel that I may go there without delay for I

, ,

w o uld se e the s e pass age s a n d t ra n s formatio n s thou s pea kest

”
of.
San cho h an ded him h is clothe s ; a n d i n the in terv al of h is
dres s in g the pries t gave a n accoun t to Don Fern a n do a n d th e
re s t w h o w ere there Of D on Quixot e s madn es s a n d the artifice
’

they had us ed to get him out of t h e Pe na Pobre where h e ,

imagin ed hims elf to have bee n bro ught thro ugh h i s lady s ’

d is d a in . He told them a l s o of all the advent ures w hi ch

San cho had n arrated at w hich they marveled a n d l a ug h ed
,

n ot a little they all th in king t hat it w as the s tran ges t s o rt o f

,
306 CE RVANTE S

You en gage d w ith tw o w in e skin s n ot with a giant -

, ,

h ere cried the in nkeeper . But Don F ern ando o rdered him
to hold h is t o n gue a n d on n o accou nt to int errupt Don
’
Q uixote s disco urse a n d the kn ight proceeded s ayin g :
, ,
“
I n fin e I sa y exal ted a n d dis in herited lady that if for
, , ,

the caus e afores a id your father hath performed t hi s meta

morphos is i n your pers on give him n o credit a t a l l for , ,

there i s n o peril upon eart h through whi ch my sw ord shall

n ot O pen a w a y w ith which i n a f e w day s by s ett in g the
, ,

head of your en emy on th e gro un d I w il l se t u pon your ,

head your coun try s crow n ’

.

D on Quixote s aid n o more but w aited for the p ri n ces s to ,

reply . She bein g n ow aw are Of Don Ferna n do s p urpose

,
’

to carry on the deceptio n u n til Don Q uixote had be e n ta ken

home to h is vil lage a n s wered with much ea s e a nd gra vi ty :
,

Whosoever hath told you v a lorou s Kn ight o f the Rueful ,

Figure that I have altered a n d tran s form ed my be in g h ath

,

n ot told you the tru t h for the sa me I am t o day t h a t I was

,
-

yes terday True i t i s that certai n st rokes Of fort u ne have

.

made a chan ge i n me for they have give n me t h e bes t of

,

all I could des ire ; yet for all th a t I have n ot cea s e d t o be

what I w a s before or to hold the s ame purp os e I have
,

always held Of availing my self of the might of yo ur va liant

a n d in vincible a rm A n d therefore dear s ir let y o ur gra ce
. , ,

restore to the father who begot me h is ho n or a n d a ccount

him for a ma n s agaciou s a nd w is e s ince by h i s craf t he ,

fou n d a way s o eas y a n d so sure for the remedy of m y mis

fo rt un e . For I believe that had it n ot bee n for y ou s ir I , ,

s hould n ot have succeeded i n O btaini n g the happin e s s w hi ch

I en joy ; a nd i n this I s peak the trut h of which m o st of ,

the se gentleme n w h o are here pres en t a re good w it n e sses .

All that remain s is that to morrow morning we s e t o ut on

,
-

our j o urn ey for tod ay we s hal l n ot be able t o t rave l far

, ,

a n d for t h e re s t Of the happy is s ue I look for I wi ll t r ust to

”
God a n d the val or of your heart.
Thus s poke the w itty Dorothea a n d Don Quixot e h aving ,

heard her turn ed to San cho a n d w ith a n air Of gre at i ndig

, , ,

n ati o n s aid
,

N ow I tell thee S a n ch oki n thou art the g rea tes t li ttle

, ,

ras cal i n Spai n . Say vagabo n d thief didst tho u not tel l
, ,
 DON 90 1
x011: 3 7
0

me but ju s t tha t this p ri ncess w a s turned into a da msel

n ow

w h o called herse lf Dorothea a n d that t h e he a d which a s I

, ,

un ders t an d I c ut O E a giant w a s a wi n e s ki n wi t h ot her

,
-

a b s ur ditie s which t hrew me in to the greate s t perplexity I

e ver w a s i n all the day s of my li fe ? I vow ( an d he looked

u p t o heaven a n d c lenched h is teeth ) I have a mi n d to do
s uch havoc on thee as s h a ll s alt the brainpans of all t h e

l ying s qu ires of kni ghts erran t there s hal l be from he n ce

”
f orth i a the world .
Pray yo ur wors hip be cal m good master a n swered , ,
“
Sancho for it ma y well be that I w a s deceived a s touchi ng
,

t h e chan ge of t h e lady Prince ss Mi comi con a ; but i n what

tou che s th e gia n t s head or at leas t the pierc ing of the s kin s
’
, ,

a n d Of the blood be ing red wine I s wear to God I am n ot ,

d ec eived for there the s kin s lie s las hed at t h e head Of your
, ,

w o rs hip s bed a n d the red w in e h a s made a pond Of the

’
,

ro om ; a n d if not you will see it i n the frying of the

, ,

e g g s ; I me an you wil l s ee it w he n h i s honor t h e lan dlord

,

h ere as k s y ou for the damage o f it all . For the re s t that ,

t h e l ady quee n i s a s s h e w a s I rejoice i n my s oul for my ,.

”
s h a re goe s t o me a s to every n eighbor s ch i ld .
’

” “
I t ell thee n ow Sa ncho s aid Don Quixote tho u a rt a
, , ,
”
b l ockhead ; pardon me ; enough .
”
It is en ough cried Don Fernando . Let no more be s aid
,

O f th is ; a n d s in ce the lady prince s s s ay s that we mu s t t ravel

t o morrow it bein g late t o day let us do s o and this n ight we

-
,
-
, ,

s h al l be able t o s pend i n plea s an t con vers ation u n til the com

i n g day w he n we w i ll a l l bear S ir Don Quixote company for

, ,

w e des ire t o be witne ss es of the valian t a n d unheard O f e xploits -

w hi ch he h a s t o perf orm in the ca use Of this great e n terpri s e

”
w h ich he hat h ta ken upon him s elf.
It is I w ho s hall s erve you a n d he a r you co mp a ny replied ,

D on Q uixote ; I thank you much for the favor you have

d o ne me a n d for the good Op i nio n y ou have Of me the which
, ,

I s hal l endeavor to verif y or it s hall cos t me my life a n d even

,
”
m ore if more it can cos t me .
,

M a ny word s of courtesy a n d p rOEers Of s ervice pa ss ed

b e t ween Don Quixote and Don F ern an do but a ll w as p ut ,

a st op to by a traveler who at that mome n t e n tered t h e in n.

By h is garb he a pp e ared to be a C hris tia n newly arrived fro m

308 CERVAN TES

the lan d Of the Moors for he w a s clad in a cas s ock of blue ,

s tuE s hort i n the s kirt s w ith half s leeve s a n d n o collar ; his

-

, ,

breeches of lin e n were al s o blue w it h a bo nn et of the ,

s ame color He wore bu s kin s Of date color a n d a Moorish

.
-

han ger s l un g i n a baldric acro ss h i s chest Behin d him .

there came mou n ted on a n a s s a w oman i n a M ooris h dress

, , ,

her face hidden w ith a veil upon her hea d She wore a little
,
.

cap Of gold brocade a n d w a s w rapped i n a mantle w hich cov ,

ered her from the s houlders to the feet The m a n w a s of a .

robu s t a n d comely figure of age a little above forty years , ,

s omew hat brow n of complexio n w it h lon g m u s ta ch es and , ,

a ve ry w ell fur n is hed h ea rd ; i n s hort he s eemed by hi s pres

-

en ce to be one w h o if he h a d been w ell dre s s ed w ould have

, ,

bee n judged to be a pers on Of quality a n d good birt h.

O n en teri n g he dem a n ded a room a n d s eemed t o be v exed
, ,

whe n they told him there w as n on e in t h e i n n ; th e n going ,

up t o her w h o by her attire looked li ke a Moores s h e l ifted ,

her O E in h i s arm s Lucin da Dorothea t h e hos tes s her . , , ,

da ughter a n d M arito rn es attract ed by the n ovelty O f the

, ,

dre ss which they h a d n ever s een before gathered rou n d the

, ,

M oo ri s h lady ; a n d Dorot hea who w a s al w ays g racious cour , ,

t e ous a n d ready w itted perceivin g th a t both s h e a n d her con

,
-

d uctor w ere a n n oyed f or wan t Of a room s aid to her ,

Be n ot troubled m a dam for the w an t of accom m od ation

, ,

here f or it i s the w a y of i nn s n ot to furnis h it ; but n otwith

, ,
”
s t an di n g if it s hould pleas e you to lodge w ith us
, ( po i n ting ,

t o Lucin da ) perhap s it may prove that in the cours e O f your

,

j ourn ey you have met with e ntertain me n t n ot so good . ”

The lady in the veil ma de n o a n swer n or did el s e th a n ri se ,

fro m her s eat a n d l a yin g both her han d s cross ed on her bosom
, ,

a n d bo w i n g her he a d be n t her body i n toke n O f her gra ti tude

,
.

By her s ilen ce they conj ectured t hat s h e mus t cert ain l y be a

M oor a n d did n ot k n ow the Chris tian t on g ue
, Pre s e n tly the .

c a ptiv e came up w h o up to then had been lookin g after other

,

thin g s a n d s eein g that all the wome n had s u rrou n ded h is com
,

pan ion w h o rem a in ed d umb to all their S peeche s he s aid

, ,

La dies this dam s el s carcely u n ders tan ds a n y la n gua g e.

,

n or c a n s peak a n other tha n af t er the f a s hio n of her

y
coun try a n d therefore s h e h a s n ot made n or can m a ke
, , , ,
”
a n y an s wer to what u hav e a sked h er .
'

o
y
3 1
0 CERVANT E S

s ome even placed her above them in some p a rticular. A nd

a s beauty h a s ever the preroga tive and grac e to w in over

hearts a nd to attract the a Eecti ons they all g ave them selves ,

up at on ce to th e de s ire of s ervin g a nd ca ress ing t h e cha rm

ing Moores s . Don Fern ando as ked Of the captive h ow she
”
w as cal led H e a n swered Lela Zora yda . When s h e heard
. ,

this sh e un derstood what had been as ked of the Chri s ti a n a nd

, ,

cried eagerly with s weet petulance

, N O no Z ora yda ,
”
Maria Mari a giving them to unders ta n d that her n ame w a s
, ,

Maria a n d n ot Z ora yda Thes e words a n d the great earn est

,
. ,

nes s with which th e M oores s s poke them caused more th an ,

o ne tear t o be s hed by tho s e who heard her e s pecially by t h e ,

women who by nature are ten der hearted a n d compas s io n ate.

,
-

Lucin da embraced her lovin gly s ayin g Ye s ye s M ar i a , , , , ,

” “
Maria ; to whom the Moores s replied Ye s yes M a ria , , , ,
”
Z ora y da ma ca n g e that i s to s a y n ot Z ora yda .
, , ,

Mean w h i le the n ight had set in and u n der the d i rect i on ,

of Don Fe m a n do s atte n dant s the in n keeper had us ed all

’
,

care a nd p a i ns in providin g a supper as bes t he could ; a nd ,

the time havin g arrived they all s eated them selve s a t a long
,

table a s i n a refect ory for t here w a s n either a rou n d n or a

,

s quare on e in t h e i n n They gave the head a n d principal

.

s eat though he would have declined it to Don Qu i xot e w h o

, , ,

de s ired the lad y Micomicon a to S it by h i s side s ince he w as ,

her protect or. Then Lucin da and Z ora yd a s eated them selves .

oppo s ite to them Don Ferna ndo and Cardenio a n d then

, , ,

the c a ptive and the other gentlemen a n d on the s ide O f the ,

l ad ie s the prie st and the barber ; and thu s they s uppe d w ith
much s atis faction which w a s in creas ed when they pe rceived
,

Don Quixote leave OE eating a nd moved by s uch an ot her , ,

s pirit a s that which moved him to s peak at s uch length w he n

s uppin g w ith the goatherd s b e comme n ced to addre ss t h e m,

a s follow s

Verily gentlemen if it be well con s idered great and nu

, , ,

aralleled thing s do t hey s e e w h o po s s e s s the order of kn ight

p
errantry. N ay who of men livin g upo n ea rth is th ere w h o
, , ,

s hall e n ter by the gate Of thi s castle and behold us s ea te d in ,

this man n er s hall jud ge a n d believe us to be what we a re ?

,

Who would sa y that this lady w h o i s by my side i s t h e grea t , ,

queen we all know her to be, and that I am that Kn ight of

 DON Qt nxor r: 3 r r

the Rueful Figure w h o i s blazon ed abroad by th e mouth Of

fame ? A n d it i s n ot t o be doubted but that th is a rt a n d ex
c rc i se exceed all tho s e that m en have dis covered ; a n d i s the

more to be held i n e st eem by the more dan gers to which it

i s s ubj ect. Away w it h tho s e w h o s a y that letter s have t h e
advan t age over arm s ! I will tell them let them be who they ,

may that they kn ow n ot w hat they s a y. For the reas o n

,

which they are acc ustomed to give a n d on which they mo s t ,

rely i s that the labors of the min d exceed tho se O f the body
, ,

a n d t hat it i s by the body alo n e that arm s are exercis ed a s ,

if their ex ercis e were porter s w ork for w hich n othing i s

’
,

n ee d ed but s heer st re n gt h ; or a s if i n wh a t we who pos s es s

,

them call arms were n ot i n cl uded acts Of fortitude whic h

deman d for th e rr execution a high in telligen ce or as if the ,

min d of the w a rrior who h a s a n ar my i n h i s charge or the

, ,

defe n se Of a beleaguered city does n ot l a bor through the s pirit

,

a s w ell a s the body . N ay let us se e if by bodily s tren gt h

,

he ca n reach a t the gues sin g a n d learn in g Of the en emy s ’

i n ten t h i s projec t s a n d st ratagem s a n d how to circumve n t

, ,

a n d w ard O E the diffi c ultie s a n d dangers which are impe n d

in g ; all the s e bein g Operatio n s of t h e un dersta n din g in w hich

the body h a s n o part It bein g s o t he n that arm s a s well
. , ,

a s letters require min d let us s e e w h ich O f the t w o min d s

,

labors more that of the ma n of letters or that of the ma n of

,

war ; a n d this will co m e to be determin ed by the aim a n d

e n d to w hich each addre ss e s him s elf for that i n te n tio n is to ,

be mo s t est eemed which hath for object the n obles t e n d .

The a im a nd en d of letters I s peak n ot n ow Of letters
,

divi n e w hich have for their Object t h e rais ing a n d con duct
,

i n g O f s oul s to heaven for to a n e n d s o in fi n it e as this n o

,

other ca n be compared I s peak Of letters human w ho s e

, ,

e n d i s t o regulate dis tributive j u s tice a n d give to every on e

h i s ow n to apply good law s and t o caus e them to be Ob s erved

—a n en d for certain gen erous a n d lofty a n d wo rt hy Of high
,

, , ,

commen dat ion but n ot of so m uch a s that which belon gs to

,

a rm s which have for their Obj ect a n d end peace t h e greate s t

, ,

good which me n ca n de s ire in t his life A n d t herefore the .

fir st good new s which the world received a n d m en received ,

w a s w h at the a ngel s bro ught on the n ig h t th a t wa s our day ,

when they s an g in the s kie s : Glory to God in the hig he s t ,

3 12 CERVANT E S

and peace on earth to me n o f good will ; a n d the s aluta tion ’

which the be s t Mas ter of earth a nd heaven ta ught to H is dis

ci p l es a n d favorite s w a s : that when t hey e n tered in to a ny

ho us e they s hould sa y : Peace be to this ho us e ; a n d many ’

ot her time s H e s aid to them : My peace I g ive un to you ;

’
my peace I leave with you peace be with you a jew e l a nd ,

a legacy indeed given and bequea th ed by s uch a h a n d

, ,

a j ew el without w h ich n eit her on earth n or i n hea ve n ca n

, ,

there be a ny happin es s This p eace i s the true e n d O f war

. ,

a n d w ar and arm s are the s ame thi ng . This t ruth bein g a d

mi tt ed that t h e e n d o f war i s peace a n d t h a t herein it does

, ,

excel the end of letters let us come now to th e bodily toils ,

of th e s cholar a n d to tho s e of the profe ss or Of a rms a n d see

, ,

which are the greater .

Don Qu ixote delivered h i s di s cours e in s uch a mann er a nd

i n s uch proper term s a s at that momen t to m ake n on e who
heard him take him for a madman ; rather a s mo s t of them ,

were gentlemen w h o were con nected wit h th e profess ion of

,

arm s they li stened t o him with great pleas ure a s he cont inued
, ,

s a mg
l" I s a y then that th e hardship s of t h e s tude nt are these
, ,

fi rs t Of a ll poverty , not that all are poor bu t t o p ut t h e

, ,

ca s e a s s trongly a s pos s ible a n d whe n I have s ai d he s uf

,

fers poverty methin ks there i s nothing more to s a y of his

,

mis e ry for he who is poor h as n o good thin g This poverty

,
.

he suEers in s undry ways ; n ow i n hun ger n ow in cold now , ,

in n akedness n ow i n all thes e togeth e r ; but withal it i s n ot

,

s o gr ea t that he doe s n ot eat even if it be a little later t han ,

h is c us tom even i f it be Of the leavin gs Of the rich or which

, , ,

i s the worst mis ery of the s tuden t that which they call a mong ,

thems elves goin g on the soup and he doe s not lack some
neighbor s fire pan or chi m n ey co m er w hich if it does not
’
- -

, ,

warm him at leas t takes O E the edge of the cold ; a n d la s tly

, , ,

he s leep s very well at n ight u n der cover I will n ot d es cen d .

to other d eta i ls such a s want Of s hirts and n o plent y O f s h oes

, , ,

the s cantiness and threadbare ness of clothin g n or that ov er ,

eager gorging when fortun e s en ds h i m a feas t. By this path

w hich I have des cribed ru g ged and diffi cult here stum
, ,

blin g there fall ing n ow ris in g now fallin g again

, , t hey , ,

a ttain to th e d egree which they covet . T h is rea ched we ,

 C H A PT E R XXXV

M i ch trea tr f
o the cu ri ous di scours e deli vered by D on Qui xote con
cer ni ng a r ms a nd lette rs

ON QUI XO T E purs uin g hi s dis course sai d

, ,

Sin ce we began with the stude n t h is po verty and ,

i ts circum s tan ce s let us se e whether t h e s oldier be

,

richer. We s hall fi nd that in poverty its elf there is no one

poorer for he is restricted to h i s wretched pay which co mes
, ,

lat e or n ever or to w hat he can pl un der with h is ow n hands

, ,

at the n ot able peril of h is life a nd h is con science ; a n d some

times h i s n a kednes s is won t to be such t h a t h is sl a s hed doub
let s erves him a t o n ce for full dres s a n d s hirt. I n the depth
-

Of win ter he h a s nothi n g to warm him a gain s t the i n cl e men

cies Of heave n bei ng in the Ope n fi eld b ut the breat h O f his
, ,

mouth w hich a s it comes out of a n empty pla ce m us t cer

, , ,

t a i nl y come out cold agai n s t the la w s O f n ature . B ut stay

,

till the n ight comes which is to make amen ds for all t hese
,

dis comforts i n the bed w hich awaits him which except by , ,

h i s ow n fault will n ever O Ee nd in po in t Of n arrow n e ss for

, ,

he may meas ure out on the e a rth a s man y feet a s h e w il l a nd ,

roll abo ut i n it a t pleas ure without fe a r of rumpling the s h eets .

Then after all come the day and hour for receiving the degree
, ,

in h i s a rt : there arrives the day Of battle w hen they wil l p ut ,

upon h i s hea d the doctor s cap made Of lin t t o he al s ome

’

, ,

woun d Of a bullet which perhaps h a s pas s ed thro ugh h is

temple s or left h i m m aimed Of an arm or a leg A n d s houl d
, .

this n ot h a ppe n but merciful Heave n g uard a n d pres erv e

,

him whole a n d alive he s h a ll abide perh aps in the sa me

, , , ,

poverty w herein he w a s a n d there mus t n eeds occur a n other

,

a n d a n other e n gagemen t a n d an other a n d a n other ba t tle a n d

, ,

he m us t come O E vict or i n them all before he be tters hims elf

a t all ; b ut s uch miracle s are rarely s ee n Tell me ge n tle . ,

m e n if y ou have ever con s idered it how much fewer a re

, ,

1
3 4
 DON ourxo r rz -
315

those who h ave benefited by w ar than those who h ave p er

i s h ed by i t ? Without doubt you mu s t a n swer th at t here i s
,

no comparis on between them — that t h e dead can n ot be re

,

d uce d to a n y recko n i ng whereas the rewarded who are alive

,

may be co un ted in three A rabic numbers .

A ll this i s t h e revers e with scholars for by their s tipen d s , ,

I will n ot sa y their perquis ites they all have wherewith ,

to mainta in t hem s elves ; therefore although the toil Of the ,

s oldier i s gr eater h i s recompe n s e i s m uch le ss .

, To this it ,

may h e replied that it i s ea s ier to rew ard two tho us an d s chol

a rs than thirty thou s an d s oldiers for the f ormer a re rew arded,

by giving them places w hich mu st perforce be be stow ed on

m e n of t heir profe ss ion a n d the latter can n ot be recompen sed
,

e xcept out Of the ve ry s ub sta nce of the mas ter w hom they

s e rve ; but thi s i mpo ssibilit y s tre n gthe n s the more the argu

ment I m a in tain .
Leavin g this h owever as ide for it is a maze out of which
, , ,

the iss ue is very diffi cult let us return to the preemin e n ce Of

,

arm s over letters ,a que s ti on w h ich remain s till n ow un de

cided s o man y are th e argume n ts which each party alleges
,

in its be half ; a n d bes ides tho s e w hich I have men tio ned
, ,

letters s a y that without them arm s could n ot s ub si st for war

‘
,

al s o hath its laws a n d i s s ubject t o them a n d that law s fall ,

w ithin the provin ce of letters a n d their profe s s ors TO this .

a rm s make an s wer that w ithout them the law s could n ot sub

s is t for by a rm s commonweal t h s are defe n ded kin gdom s ar e

, ,

p reserved cities are protected highw ay s made s a fe s eas

, , ,

c le a red of pir ate s ; a n d that i n s hort w ere it n ot f or them

, , ,

ki n gdom s mon archie s citie s the highway s Of the lan d a n d

, , ,

se a
, would be subject to the tyra nn y a n d con fu s io n w hich
war brings in it s t rain durin g th e time it las ts a n d h a s licen s e
t o exercis e it s priv ilege s a n d i ts power s . M o reover it i s a ,

recognized m a xim that what costs most i s a n d ought to be , ,

t h e mos t e s teemed N ow to arri ve at emin en ce in letters

. ,

cos ts a man time vigils hu n ger n a ked n e s s sw imm i n g s i n the

, , , ,

head in diges ti on Of the stomac h a n d other things pertain in g

, ,

to thes e which in part I have already men tion ed . But for a

m a n to arrive by all the grade s to be a good s oldier costs
, , ,

him a l l it co s ts the s tuden t on ly i n so m uch gr eater a degree

,

that th ere i s n o com p aris on be tween them for at every ste p ,

3 r6 CERVAN TES

he i s in peril Of los ing life. A n d wh at dread of wa nt or

poverty ca n reach or a Ee ct the studen t s uch a s t hat whi ch
pos s e s se s a s oldier who fi n din g him s el f leagu ered i n s ome
,

fortres s a n d s tan din g on po st or o n guar d i n s ome ravelin or

,

ca va lier feel s that the e n emy i s min in g t ow ar ds the s pot

,

w here he s t an ds a n d i s n ot able i n a n y c a s e to s tir from

,

then ce n or fly the dan ger w hich so n e a rly men a ces h im ?

A ll he ca n do is to give n otice t o h is c a ptai n of w hat is
pas s in g that he may remedy it by s ome co un termin e a nd
, ,

he must s ta n d quietly i n fear a nd expect a tion Of s uddenly

moun ting to the clouds w itho ut w in gs a n d des ce n din g a ga in
to the abys s es agains t h is will . If th is appear but a s mall
dan ger let us s e e w hether it i s eq ualed or exceeded in th e
,

e ncounter Of tw o galley s by the prow s in the middle O f the ,

wide ocea n w hich locked a nd las hed toge ther l ea ve to

, , ,

the s oldier n o m ore of s pace than t w o feet Of plan k o n the

beak hea d ; a n d withal though he s ees that he h a s in f ront
-

O f him a s m a n y m i n i s ters o f death threa te n ing him a s there

a re can n o n of artillery pl a n ted on the O ppo s ite s ide not

farther th a n a s pear s le n gth from h i s body a n d t houg h

’
,

he s ee s t h at a t t h e firs t s lip Of h is foot he w ill go dow n to

vis it the deep bo s om Of N ept un e n evertheles s with in t repid
, ,

heart born e up by the hon or w hich s p urs him on he exposes

, ,

him s elf for a m a rk to all this m us ketry a n d en dea vo rs to ,

pass by that n a rro w ro a d in to the e n emy s ve ssel . A nd w hat ’

i s mo s t t o be ad m ired i s that s carce h a s on e f alle n whence

,

he cann ot a ris e un til the e n d of the w orld w he n another ,

occ upies the s a m e pl a ce ; a n d if he al s o drop in to t h e sea ,

which like a n e n emy lie s i n wait for him a n other a n d an

, , ,

other him s ucceed w ithout a ny paus e between their dea ths

, ,

— va lor a n d da rin g the great es t w hich can be met wit h in

all the peril s of w a r. Right bles sed w ere tho s e age s w hi ch
lacked the dre a d ful fury of thos e diabolical en gi n es O f arti l
lery to w ho s e in ve n tor I hold th a t in hell they a re renderin g
,

the guerdon O f h is devilis h inve ntion through w hich a re given ,

the mea n s by w hich a bas e a n d cow ardly han d may take th e

li fe O f a valoro us kn ight a n d tha t w ithout hi s k n owin g h ow
,

or w hen ce i n t h e m id st of the co urage a n d a rdor w hich fire

,

a n d a n i m ate g a ll a n t bo s om s there come s a ra n dom ba ll s hot

, ,

O E by o n e who perhap s fle d a n d w a s frighte n ed at t h e flas h

3 r8 C ERVAN TE S

no n eed Of en t reaties when their comman d s were so potent .

” “
Therefore s aid he let yo ur w ors hip s give me your atten
, ,

tion a nd you will hea r a t rue story n ot t o be equaled by any

, ,

fables w hich are won t to be compos ed by curious and studied

”
art.

What he s aid caus ed them all to be se ated a nd to lend

,

him perfect s ile n ce ; and b e s ee in g them mute waiti ng for

, ,

him to S peak i n a pleas ant a n d compo s ed ton e Of voice began

,

a s follows
 C HA PTE R XXXV I

Wherei n the p
ca ti ve na rra tes his l ife a nd a dvenacres

N a vil lage amon g the moun tains Of Le on my fami ly took

i ts ris e to w h ich n ature had bee n kin der a n d more bou n
,

t iful t han fort un e ; altho u gh amid s t the povert y Of tho s e

com m un ities my father e njoyed the rep ut e Of bein g a rich
m a n a nd in deed w o uld have bee n s uch had be exercis ed a s
, , ,

much a rt in pre se rvin g h i s e sta te a s he did i n s pen din g it .

T h is dis pos itio n of hi s to be lavis h a n d wasteful proceeded
fro m h i s havi n g been a s oldier in the years Of h i s youth for ,

the so ldier s trade i s a s chool in which the n iggard i s made

’

gen erou s a n d the gen erous ma n prodigal ; a n d if there are ,

so me so ldiers to be fou n d w h o ar e mis ers they a re mon sters ,

which are ra rely s een . My father pass ed the boun ds of l iber

a lit y a n d touched tho se Of prod igality a thin g w hich i s n o ,

a d vantage t o a married m a n w h o h as childre n t o s ucceed him

i n h i s n ame a n d ran k. O f the se my fat her had t hree all ,

s o n s a n d all O f a n age t o choo s e their w a y O f life .

, Seein g ,

th en that a s he him s elf would s a y he w a s un able to res tra in

, , ,

h i s prope n s ity b e re s olved to deprive him s elf Of the c a us e

,

a n d mean s w hich made him a prodigal a n d a s pe n dthrif t ;

that is t o s a y to rid him s elf Of h i s e s tate bereft Of which
, ,

A lexan der him s elf mu s t have been accou nted pars im on iou s .

O n e day th erefore calli n g us all three in t o a room by

, ,

ours elve s he addre s s ed us in word s like the s e

,

My son s to tell you that I love y ou it is e n ough to s a y

, ,

that you are my s on s and to con vin ce y ou that I love y ou n ot

, ,

i t i s enough that I am u n able to re s tra in my s elf i n w hat con

c ern s the hu s ban d i n g Of your fortu n e ; but that you may here

after be pers uaded that I love you a s a father a n d wi s h not

t o ruin you a s a s tepfat her I purpo s e to do a th i n g by you
,

w h ich I have pon dered the s e man y days a n d a fter mature ‘

de libera t ion decided upon . You are now of an a g e to ta ke

1
3 9
3 2 0 CE RVANT E S

up a callin g or at leas t to choos e s ome profess io n w h ic h

, , , ,

when y ou a re Older ma y ten d to your hon or a n d profit W h a t

, .

I have res olved is to divide my fort un e into four p a rts ; t h ree

I w ill bes tow upon you to each on e t h e portion w hich p e r
,

tain s to him without m aking a ny d i Eere nce a nd t h e fo u rt h

, ,

I w ill re serv e to my s elf to live upon a n d to main ta i n me

,

durin g th e days of life which Heave n ma y be plea s ed to

allot me . B ut I w o uld have each aft er he is po s se s s e d Of ,

the s hare which belon gs to him of h i s es tat e f ol low on e of ,

the path s wh ich I s h a ll in dicate. There is a proverb i n t his

Spain Of ours in my j udgme n t a very true on e ( a s th ey all are ,

bein g brief maxim s ga thered from lo n g a nd s age exp e rie n ce )

— a n d it is tha t which s ay s : The church the sea or th e
“
, ,
”
kin g s hous e a s w h o s ho uld s a y more plain ly he w h o w o uld
’

, ,

thrive a nd be rich let him follow the ch urch or go to s ea a nd ,

e xercis e the cra ft of merchantry or e nt er in to the s ervi ce of

,

ki ngs in their p a laces for it i s s aid : Bett er i s t h e kin g s

,
'

crumb than the lord s favor. This I sa y because I d es ire

’

a n d it i s my w ill that on e O f y ou s ho uld p u rs ue le a r n i n g a nd

,

an other commerce and an other se rve the kin g i n h i s w a rs

,

s eei ng that it i s diffi cult to Obtain a footi n g in t h e se rvi ce of

h i s hous ehold a n d war though it yields n ot much w ea l t h is

, , ,

wo nt to confer m uch repute a nd fame . Within ei ght d ay s I

will give you a ll your portion s in mon ey without defra u d ing ,

y o u O f a doit a s y
, ou w i ll see by the proof Tel l m e n ow .

whether you a re w illin g to follow my Opinion a n d a dvi ce in

what I have propo s ed to y ou. ’

Calli n g upon me a s the eldes t to answ er I a fte r entrea t , ,

ing him n ot t o part with h is fortu n e but to s pend as much of

it a s he pleas ed for we w ere youn g en o ugh to learn t o acqu ire
,

on e con cl uded by s aying I w ould O bey h i s w is hes a n d t hat

, ,

min e w a s to follow the profes s ion Of a rm s s ervin g t h er ein ,

God a n d my kin g My seco n d brother after ma kin g the

. ,

s ame oEe rs elected t o go t o the I n di e s in ve s tin g h i s p o rti on

, ,

in m e rchan dis e. The younges t a n d as I thi n k the w is e s t

, ,

s aid that he w ould follow t h e church or at leas t learn i n g a n d , ,

wo uld go to fi n i s h h is studies at S a la man ca.

Having con cluded this a greemen t a n d chosen our s eve ra l
profess ion s my father embraced us a ll a n d carried in to e Eect
, , ,

i n a s s hort ti m e a s he had me n tione d a ll he h a d prom ised , ,

3 2 2 CERVAN TE S

that ti me had taken with h is fl eet t h e famous islan d of Cy

prus which had bee n s ubj ect to the V en etian s nu unf or
,
—
t un a te a n d lame n table los s . It w a s known f or certa i n t h a t
the commander of this league w a s to be the Most Serene
D on J ua n Of Au s tria the n at ural brother of our good ki n g
, ,

D on Philip ; a n d reports w ere abroad of the ve ry great p rep

a ra ti on s for the w a r which w ere bein g made .

A ll this s tirred a nd moved i n me the min d a n d des ire to

be pres en t i n the campaign w hich w a s expected ; a n d a l ,

tho ugh I had hopes a n d in deed almo s t a certain p ro s p e ct

, , , ,

O f bein g promoted to be cap t ai n o n the firs t occas io n which

o Ee re d I cho s e to f ors ake everythi n g a n d go a s I di d t o

, , ,

I t aly. A n d my good s tar w illed that j ust then Don J ua n of

Au s tri a a rrived at Gen oa for he w as on h is w a y to N aples
,

to j oin the Venetian fl eet a s afterward s he did at M e s s in a.

,

Le t me s a y in s hort that I w a s pre s e n t i n that glo rious

, ,

battle bein g al ready made a captain Of in fa ntry t o whic h

, ,

honorable pos t my good fortun e rather th a n my m eri ts had

advan ced me . And on that day which f or all Ch ri s ten dom
w a s s o fortun ate for the n w ere t h e w orld and a ll th e n a ti o ns
,

dis abu sed Of the error in which they d w elt believin g that the ,

Turks w ere in vin cible by s e a o n that d a y I s a y w he n th e , ,

O ttoman pride a n d i n s olen ce w ere broke n amon g a ll th e l u cky ,

o n e s w h o w ere there ( a n d better l uck had the Chr is ti ans who

t here died than thos e w h o remain ed al ive a n d victorious ) I ,

alon e w a s u n l ucky For i n pl a ce of s ome n av al crown which

: ,

had it been i n the day s Of Rome I might have expec te d I , ,

f oun d mys elf the n ight followi n g that fa mo us day wit h c h ains
on my feet a n d gyve s on my han d s .

It happen ed i n thi s wis e : A luch A li kin g of A lgi ers , ,

a darin g a n d fortun ate cors air h avi n g attacked and m as t ered

,

t h e captain galley O f Malta there bein g o n ly three kn ights

-

left alive i n her a n d thes e badly wounded the captain gal ley
, ,
-

O f J uan A n drea on board of which w a s I with my com p a ny

, ,

c a me up to her relief. Doin g w hat w a s my duty i n s uch a

cas e I lea pt on board the e n e my s galley whic h dis engaged
,
’

hers elf from the on e w hich had gra ppled wi th her so t hat ,

my s oldiers w ere prevented from follo w in g me ; a n d th u s I

foun d my self alon e amon g my e n emies w hom bein g so , ,

man y I w a s un able to res ist. I n fin e they took me pris on er

, , ,
 DON ourxo r r: 3 3
2

covered with woun ds . A n d as you have heard gentlemen , , ,

A luch A li e s ca ped s a fely wit h all h is s qua dron a n d I t e ,

main ed a captive in h is power bei ng the on ly s a d on e amon g

,

so m a ny j oyful a n d a pris o n er amon g s o ma ny free for there

, ,

w ere fifteen thous an d Chris tian s a l l at t h e o a r i n the Turki s h

fl ee t w h o on that day g a in ed th eir lo n g c ove ted liberty . -

They carried me to Con sta n tin ople w here the Gra n d T urk , ,

Sel im made my mas ter gen eral Of the sea for havin g done
,

h i s duty i n the battle a n d a s a tr ophy Of hi s valor brought

, , ,

O E the s tan dard Of the O rder Of Malta. The n e xt year which ,

w as 72 I f ou n d mys elf at N avarin o rowi n g in the captain

’

, ,

galley of t h e three lantern s a n d I s a w a n d n oted the op p or

,

t un i ty which w a s there lo st i n not ta ki n g the whole T urkis h

fl eet in the port. For all the s ailor s a n d jan izaries on board
made certain that they would be atta cked in the very harbor ,

a n d had ready their clothe s a n d their p a s s a ma q ue s which are ’

,

their s hoe s to fl e e a t o n ce by lan d witho ut w aiting for the

,

fight so great w a s the terror with w hich they were po ss e s s ed

,

by our flee t . B ut Heaven orda in ed it otherwis e n ot through ,

the fault or n eglect of the ge n eral w ho comman ded our people ,

but for the sin s of Chris ten dom a n d becau se God w ills a n d ,

permits us ever t o h a ve w hip s to chasti s e us I n the end . ,

A luch A li took re fuge at Modon w hich i s a n is lan d clos e by ,

N avarin o where throw in g h is me n on s hore he fortified the

, , ,

mouth Of the harbor a n d lay q uiet until D on Jua n had t e

,

t ired . I n this expedit io n w a s ta ke n the galley c a lled the

P ri ze who s e captain w a s a s on O f t hat fa mo us cors air Bar
,

baro s s a. The capta in galley Of N aple s called the S he

-

Wolf took her comm a n ded by that thu n derbolt of war by

'

, , ,

that father Of s oldiers that fortu n ate a n d ever victorious cap

,
-

tain Don A lvaro de Bazan Marques s of San t a Cruz ; n or

, ,

ca n I forbe a r telli n g w hat happe n ed a t the c a pt ure O f the

P ri ze. This s o n of B a rbaro s s a w a s s o cr uel a n d tre a t ed h is

s lave s s o ill t hat a s s oo n a s t ho s e at the o a rs s a w th e S he
,

Wolf galley n eari n g them a n d about to boa rd they all a t ,

on ce dropped their oars a n d s eized hold of their cap t ain w h o ,

w a s by the s ta n tre l cryin g o ut to them to row hard a nd tos s ,

i n g him from be n ch t o ben ch fro m poop to pro w they g a ve him

, ,

s o m a n y bite s that he h a d go n e but litt le pa s t the mas t be fore

,

h i s s oul had pas s ed in to hell : s uch w a s the cruelty w ith which ,

3 4
2 CERVAN TE S

as I have said he treated them a n d so great t h e h atre d t h ey

,

bore h i m.
We retu rned to Co ns tan tin ople and the f ollow in g y ea r , ,

which w a s 73 we lea rn t t here how that D on J ua n h a d w on

’
,

Tu n is a n d wres ted that kingdom fro m the Turks a n d p ut ,

M uley Hamet in pos s e ss ion there of thus c utti ng O E al l the ,

hope s of recoverin g the thron e from Muley Hamida a M oor ,

the mo s t cruel a n d valian t there w a s i n a ll th e w orld. T his

lo ss the Grand Turk felt very severely a nd exercis ing the , ,

cu n n in g with which all tho s e of h is hou s e are gi fted he m a de ,

peace with t h e V en etian s who de sired it m uch more t h a n he ;

,
’
a n d the followi n g year which w as 74 he att acked t h e Gole t ta
, ,

a n d the fort whic h D on J u a n had left h a l f b ui lt n ear T un is.

D uring all the se occ urrence s I w as at my stati on at t h e car ,

w ithout any hope Of f reedom at le ast I did n ot h op e to ,

obta in it by ran s om for I w a s determined n ot to write of t he

,

new s Of my mis hap to my father. In the e nd the Gole tta was

lo st the fort w a s los t before which place s there w ere of
, ,

regular Turkis h s oldiers and of Moors a n d A rabs

f rom all A f rica more than This vas t hos t Of people
w a s atten ded with s uch a quantity Of ammu n it io n a n d m ate
ria l of war a nd s o m a n y s appers a n d pioneers t hat with their
, ,

h a nds they could have covered the Goletta a n d t h e fo rt w ith

h a nd ful s O f earth . The Goletta til l then believed to be ,

impregn able w a s the fir s t t o fall a nd it w a s n ot los t th rough

, ,

an f ault O f i ts garri s o n w h o did all i n its defen s e w h i c h was

y ,

i n t heir power a n d d uty b ut becau s e of the ea s e wi th whi ch

, ,

a s experie n ce proved tre n che s could be thro w n up i n that

,

s a n dy de s ert ; for though w ater us ed t o be fo un d at the

,

dep t h of tw o s pan s the Turk s did not fin d it n ow w ithin te n

,

yards A nd s o with m a n y sack s of s and they rai s ed thei r

. , ,

w ork s high e n ough to comm a n d the wall s O f the fortress ,

firin g from a height s o tha t n o on e could abide n or w ork at

t h e defe n s e . It w a s a common O pinion that our men ought
n ot to have s h ut t hem s elve s up i n the Golett a b ut s ho u ld have ,

O ppo s ed the di s emb a rkatio n i n the open field They w h o sa y .

t his s peak at rando m a n d w ith little experien ce Of these

m a tters ; for if i n t h e Golett a a n d in the fort together there
,

w ere barely 7000 s oldier s how s ho uld s o s mall a n u mber

, ,

how ever res olute they w ere be able to take the field a n d hold
,
3 2 6 CERVAN T E S

proverb that Though the treas on ple as es we a bh or t he

, ,

t raitor a n d s o they s a y t h e general ordered the m to be

, ,

han ged w h o brought the pre s en t be ca us e they had n ot

brought him alive .
Among the Chris tians w h o were taken in t h e fort w as
one named Pedro de A g uilar a n ative Of s om e place in
,

A ndal us ia who had been a n en s ign i n th e garrison a so l d ier

, ,

O f gr eat rep ute a n d of a rare capacity ; a bove a l l h e h a d a ,

p a rt icular gift in what they call poetry. I sa y s o beca us e it

w a s h is lot to come to my galley a n d to my be n ch a n d to be ,

s lave to my ow n mas ter ; a n d before we left t hat port this ,

gen tleman compos ed t w o s on nets by way Of epita ph s one , ,

upo n the Goletta a n d the other upon the fort ; and in d eed , ,

I w ould repeat t hem for I know them by heart ; and b eli eve
,
”
they w ill give you rather pleas ure th a n pain .
The momen t the captive n amed Don Pedro de A guilar ,

Don Fern an do looked at h is co mrade s a n d all thre e s miled , ,

and whe n the s onn ets came t o be men ti on ed on e of th em

s aid

Before you proceed a n y further I be s eech you s ir to tell , ,

me wh a t became Of that Don P edro de Aguila r whom you

have n amed ?
” “
A ll I kn ow i s an sw ered the c a pti ve that after he had
, ,

been tw o years in Con s tan tin ople he es caped in the guis e of an

A rn a ut w ith a Greek sp y a n d I kn ow not w het her he ga ined
,

h i s liberty though I suppo s e he did f or I w a s no t able to

, ,

ques tion the Greek w hom I met a year after in Con stanti
,
”
n op l e a s to the i ss ue Of that adve n ture .
,
” “
Tha t w a s so replied the gen tleman for thi s Don Pedro
, ,

i s my brother a n d he i s n ow in our place at hom e we ll and

, ,
”
rich m arried a n d w ith three children .
, ,
”
God be than ked s aid the captive for all th e bles sings
, ,

he enjoys . There i s n ot on earth according t o my belief a , ,

”
happin e ss eq ual to that Of recoverin g on e s lost l ibe rty ’
.

A n d m oreover rej oin ed the gen tleman

, I know the ,
”
s o nn ets which my brother made .
“
“
I pray you the n s ir repeat them s aid the capti ve for
, , , ,

you w ill be able to do it bett er than I .

With pleas ure an s wered the gen tleman
, That upon .

the Goletta ra n t hus

 C HAPT E R XXXV I I

Wh erei n is conti nned th e s tory f

o the cap ti ve

H A PPY wh o from th is morta l gea r,

souls ,
Freed a nd exe m t th rough deeds of worth ye wrought,
p
By your des erts to h i g h es t h ea v e n were broug h t,
Upra is ed from th is dull orb to h igh er s phere ,

I nfla med by wra th a nd h ones t zea l , you h ere

I n l ife wi th a ll corporea l va lo r fough t,
And freel y your a nd foema n s blood poured out,
’

Ensa ngui ni ng these sa nd y s hores a n d mere ;

Th e va l or fa iled not, tw a s th e life ga ve out,
’

Th os e wea ry a rms unva nquis hed but by d ea th ,

TO whom, though conquered, s till th e victory s given,
’

And this your p iti a bl e mo rta l rout,

’
Twixt wa ll a n d s word, hard l ot, on earth benea th ,
Th e w orld will cro wn w i th fa me, a nd g lory , H ea ven.

I h a ve it eve n the s ame s aid the capti ve.

,
”
We ll t hen that on the fort s aid t h e other
, , , if I
n ot, ra n thu s

From out th is was ted la nd by ba ttl e torn,

From mids t th ese hea ps of rui n th ousa nds
’
, th ree
Of val ia nt wa rriors found li be rty,
Their bl essed s ouls to bl is s i n h ea v en upborne ;
Th e va l or of their arms dis pla yed i n scorn ,

O f th o erwh el mi ng foe a ll us el ess l y ;

’ ’

Th oug h few and fa i nt, to th e la s t ext remi ty

They fough t, a nd to th e s word by fig h ti ng worn,
Th e y ga ve th ei r l i ves : here, wh ere th e soul ha s been
Fill ed wit h a thousa nd tra g ic memori es,
As i n thi s ag e so in t h e da ys Of yore ;
B ut purer s ouls s ure ne er ha s jus t H ea ve n see n,
’

Tha n th ose which now ha ve mount ed to the s kies,

”
N o r nobl er bod i es e e r th is ha rd ea rt h bore .
’

3 7
3
 CERVANTE S

The s o nn ets were not mis liked a n d the ca pti ve rej oicin g , ,

at the n ew s they gave him of his comra de proceeded wi t h ,

h is story s ayin g ,

A fter the s urren der of the Goletta a nd the fort t h e Tu rks ,

gave orders for the dis ma n t lin g of the firs t for a s for t h e f o rt ,

i t w a s left i n s uch a s ta te that there w a s n othing t o demol is h .

A n d i n order that the work might be don e wit h g rea t er

,

des patch a n d less tr ouble t hey un dermine d it i n three pla c es

, ,

b ut they could n ever blow up what a ppea re d the leas t s tr o n g

porti o n w hich w a s the Old walls tho ugh al l that w as st a n din g
, ,

o f the n e w forti ficatio n s the work o f E l Frat in , ca me very ,

e a s ily down . Fin ally the fl eet return ed to Con sta nti n ople
, ,

victoriou s a nd triumph a n t a nd wit h in a few mo n th s died my

,

m a s ter Al uch Ali w h o w e n t by the n ame of Uch a li F a r ta x

, , ,
’

’
t h a t i s to s a y the s c a bby re n egade for s uch he w a s ; a n d it
,
‘
,

i s a c us tom o f the T urks t o give people n ames fro m so me

pers o n al defect or s ome good q uality which they m a y have ,

a n d it is beca us e there are but few s ur n a me s O f f a mil ies

w hich come o f t h e O ttoma n s tock — the res t a s I have s aid , ,

t a ki n g t heir n ame s a nd s urn a me s s ometime s from t h e blem

is he s of t h e body s ometimes from t he v irt ues of the min d.
,

This scald he a d w a s at t h e oa r a s a s l ave of the Grand Sign or

-

f o urtee n ye a rs a n d w he n he w a s turn ed four a n d thirty years

,
- -

o f age he tu rn ed re n egade from de s pite at a Turk w h o gave

, ,

h i m a blow w hile ro w in g re n ou n cin g h is faith that he might

,

be able t o h a ve h i s reven ge . A nd so great w a s h is w orth

t h a t w itho ut tho s e bas e mea n s a n d w ay s by w hich t h e f a vor
i te s of the Gran d Turk are w o nt to as ce n d he ros e to be ,

K i n g of A lgiers a n d a fterwards to be Ge n eral of the S ea ,

w hich i s t h e t hird po s t in t h e empire He w as a Cal a bri an .

by birth a n d a good mora l m a n a n d treated h is s laves wi th

, ,

m uch h uman it y havi n g of t hem three thou s an d whom after

, ,

h i s death he left by w ill t o be divided betw een h is re n egade s

a n d t h e Gra n d Sign ior w h o i s al s o the heir o f a l l w h o d ie
, ,

a n d h a s a s hare w ith the childre n of t h e deceas ed . I fell

to t h e l ot of a Ve n etia n re n egade made pris on er when a ,

cabin boy by Al uch A li for w hom h is mas t er had s uch a

,

likin g th a t he made him one Of h i s most petted min ion s He .

t urn ed out t h e cruele s t re n egade that ever w a s s e e n He was .

called Hassan A ga a nd bec a me very rich and ros e to be King

,
330 CERVAN TE S

fl i cted upon the C hri stian s. Every d a y he hanged s ome one ,

impaled a n ot her and c ut OE the ears of a third ; a n d this

,

upon s o s mall pretext or none at all that e ven t h e Turks ,

acknowledged that he di d so for n othing el se than because

it w a s h is pleasure to d o it a nd because by n at u re he w as
,

the as sas s in of the human ra ce. The only on e w h o h eld his

o w n with him w as a Spanis h s oldier a certai n S a aved ra t o , ,

whom though he did thin gs which will dwell in t h e me mory

,

O f tho s e people for man y yea rs a nd al l for t h e rec o very of,

h i s libert y h i s mas ter n ever gave a blow n or bade a n y one

,

do so n or even S poke to him a n il l word ; a nd for t h e lea st

,

thing of man y which he did we all feared he wo uld be im

paled a s he feared him s elf more than once ; a n d but th at t he
,

time will not allow me I could tell you s omethi n g n ow of

,

what this s oldier did which would serve for your entert ain
me nt a n d wo n der mu ch more than the telli ng of t his my own
,

s tory .

But to res ume. There l ooked out on the t op Of t he

courtyard Of our pris on t h e wi ndows O f th e hous e of a ri ch
Moor of distinction which a s w a s common in M oorish
, ,

h ou s e s were rath er loophole s than windows a n d even these

, ,

were covered with latti ces very thic k and clo se It fell out .

o n e d a y that be i n g on the terrace O f our pris on wit h t h ree

,

others my companions trying for pas time which of us could

, ,

leap farthe st in h is chains bein g by ourselve s ( for the rest

,

o f the Chri s tian s had gon e o ut to work ) I rai s ed m eye by

y s ,

chance a n d s a w appear through on e of thos e little w i n dow s

,

afores aid a cane a nd tied to the e n d of it a h an dk erc hi ef

, , ,

and the can e w a s bein g waved and move d up a nd d own as

though it w a s makin g s ign s to us to g o up a n d take i t. We
fixed our eyes upon it a n d one of thos e that were w ith me
,

w ent a n d placed him s elf j u s t under the cane t o se e if th ey

w ould drop i t or what they would d o ; but a s h e approached
, , ,

the can e w a s rais ed a n d moved from side to s ide a s if they s aid

N o by a sh ake of the head . The Chris tia n ret urned to us ,

and again the cane w a s let down making the s ame move ,

ments as at first An other Of my companion s went a nd he

. ,

fared like the firs t. A fter him the th ird wen t a nd the re ,

happened to him th e s ame as to the other t wo. See ing thi s ,

I would try my fortun e als o and a s s oon a s I placed myse lf

,
 DON ov rxor s 33 1

u nder the ca n e it w a s l et drop and fell with in the bagn io at

, ,

m y feet. I ra n up to u n tie the han dkerchief in which I per ,

c e iv e d a k n ot wi thin which were te n zi a n i e s

, which a re
c o in s Of bas e gold u s ed by the Moors each worth t e n of o ur ,

re als . That I rej oiced at t hi s win d fall I need not s a y ; but ,

m y joy w a s a s great a s my won der to thin k whe n ce thi s boon

m ight come s pecially to me for the can e n ot droppin g but
,

t o me w a s a cle a r proof that it w a s for me the favor w a s

don e. I took my preciou s money ; I broke the cane ; I
r e turned t o the t errace ; I looked at the w indow a n d s a w ,

c o me out of it a very white ha n d which O pe n ed a n d s hut it

,

h as ti ly
. Thereby we learned or gue ss ed th a t it w a s s ome
w oman who lived in that hou s e had do n e this kin d deed ;
a n d in token that we tha n ked her w e m a de s alaa m s in the ,

M ooris h fas hion in clin in g our head s ben din g our bodie s
, , ,

a n d layin g our h a n d s on our bo s om s . Shortly afterward s

w a s put o ut of the s ame win dow a s mall cro s s made of can e
a n d immediately drawn i n again . Thi s s ign al co n vin ced us

t hat s ome Chris ti an woman w a s a s lave i n that hou s e a n d ,

w a s s h e who had done us the kin d n e ss ; but the white n e s s of

her hand a n d the bracelets we sa w on it dis pelled this idea.
Then we imagin ed that it mus t be s ome Chris t i an re n egade ,

o n e o f tho s e whom their mas ters s o freq uently take for their

l a wful wive s reckon in g them selve s fortun ate to get them

, ,

f o r they e s teem them more tha n tho s e Of their o w n natio n .

I n all the s e our co njecture s we were very wide Of the
t r uth . From that day forward however all our occ upation , ,

w a s in watchin g taki n g for our pole s tar that w in do w w here

,
-

h a d come forth the can e the s tar of our hope s . B ut full fi f

,

t ee n day s pa s s ed and w e s a w n either the hand n or a n y other

,

s i gn al . A n d though d urin g that time we tried w ith all our

pain s to le a rn who dw elt in that hou s e a nd w hether a n y re n e ,

g ade women were i n it n o on e could tell us a n ythin g b ut t hat

,

a rich a n d in fl uen t ial Moor lived t here who s e n a me w a s ,

H adj i M urad w h o had bee n govern or of B a ta w hich w a s a

, ,

p os t o f g reat importance . B ut w hen we were lea s t thi n ki n g

o f i t s ra i ni n g a n y more zia n ie s the n ce we s a w the can e on a,

s udde n appear a n d a n oth er han dkerchie f tied to it

, with ,

a n other k n ot larger than before a n d thi s at the t ime when

, ,

the bagn io a s on the former occasion w a s deserted . We

, ,
33 2 CERVAN TES

made the cus tom ar y trial ea ch Of the th ree goin g befo re me

, ,

but to n on e but me w as the can e del ivered a n d on m y a p ,

proach i t w as let fall I un ti ed th e kn ot a n d f oun d forty

.

Span is h crown s in gold with a paper w ritt e n i n Ara b i c and

, ,

a t t h e e n d of t h e w r iti ng a l ar ge cro s s draw n I kis s e d t h e

.

cros s took t h e crown s retu rn ed to the t erra c e a n d w e all

, , ,

made our sal aa m s The ha nd appearin g aga in I made s ign s

. ,

that I would read the paper a nd t h e win dow w a s s hu t . We

,

all remained amazed a n d overj oyed at what had oc cu rred ;

a n d s in ce n o n e of us u n d ers tood A rabic great w a s o u r c uri
,

os it y to k n ow w hat the paper con ta in ed a n d gr e a t e r t he

,

d i fli cul ty of fi n din g on e to read it. A t las t I det erm in ed to

con fide in a ren ega de a native Of M urcia w h o profe s s e d to
, ,

be a good frien d to me a n d pledges had pas se d be tw e e n us

,

s uch a s bo un d him t o keep s ecret whatever w a s e n tr us ted

to him ; for it i s the cus tom of s ome ren egades wh e n t hey ,

have a min d to return to the lan d of Chris tian s to ca rry ce rt if ,

i ca te s from the prin cipal capti ve s attes tin g in s uch f o r m as

, ,

they ca n t hat s uch a n d s uch a ren egade i s an hon es t ma n

,

a n d h a s al w ay s behaved well t o Chri s tian s who i n t e n ds to

,

e s cape on the firs t chan ce w hich may oEer. Some t h ere are
who procure the se tes timon ial s w ith a good in te n tion ; oth ers
u s e them upo n the chan ce a n d w it h t h e des ign that w h e n they

go to plun der the lan d of the Chri stian s s hould t hey h a p pe n

,

to be s hipwrecked or taken captive th ey may produce th eir

,

p a pers a n d s a y t hat by t heir certi ficate s i s s how n the purp ose

for w hich they c a me which w a s to rem ai n i n a Chris ti a n l a n d
, ,

a n d that it w a s on t hat accoun t they came rai di n g i n Turki s h

co m pan y I n t his w a y t hey es cape t h e firs t o utburst O f an ger

.

a n d are re un ited to the Church w ithout getti n g a n y harm ;

a n d w he n they s e e their opport un ity they go back t o Barba ry

to becom e w hat t hey w ere before. O t her s a s I have sai d , ,

w h o us e the s e p a per s are s in cere i n their inte n ti on t o ret u rn

t o a Chris tia n co un try a n d o n e Of thes e w a s this fri end of
,

min e w h o held t e s timo nials from all our comra de s wherein

, ,

w e vo uched for him as s tro n gly a s po s s ible a n d if t h e M oo rs

,

had fo un d t he s e papers on him they would h ave b urnt hi m

alive . I w a s aw a re t hat he k n e w A rabic very w ell n ot on l y ,

to s pea k but t o w rite it ; but before I would w holly break my

,

min d to him I as ked him to read me t hat paper which by ,

334 CERVAN T ES

that if what he s u s pected w a s tr ue we s hould co n fide in hi m

, ,

and tell hi m s o for he would adve nture h is l i fe for our free

,

dom ; a n d s ayin g this he took out of h i s bo s om a c ruci fix of

,

metal a n d w ith many tears sw ore by the God whi ch th at

,

image repres en ted in whom he though a sin n er a n d a w icked

, ,

man truly a n d fait hfully believed to keep loyally and s ecretly

, ,

w hatever w e wo uld reveal t o him ; for he thought and almost

f ore s aw that by mean s of her w h o had writt e n that pap e r he
a n d all of us s hould Obtain our liberty a n d he him s elf s h ould ,

fin d that w hich he so much de s ired which w a s t o be rea d ,

mitt e d t o the Holy Mother C h urch from w hom a s a rotten ,

member he had been s evered and cut OE by h is ign ora n ce

,

a n d s in The re n egade s aid this with s o ma n y te ars a n d s uch

.

man ife st token s of pen iten ce that we all wit h one m in d agreed
a n d determi n ed to disclo s e t o him the truth O f t h e m a tter a n d ,

s o we gave him a n accoun t O f all without co n ceali n g a n yt hi ng

,
.

We s how ed him the little w indow out of which the c a n e had

appea red a n d hereaft er he took n ot e Of the hou s e a nd
, ,

charged him s elf t o take great a n d s pec ial c a re to in form h im

s el f w h o lived there . At the s ame time we agreed th a t it ,

would be well t o an s w er the Mooris h lady s letter havin g n ow ’

s o m e on e w h o co uld d o i t a n d t h e renegade at o n ce o n t h e
, ,

in s ta nt w rote dow n the w ords I dictated w hich were pre

, ,

c i s e l y s uch a s I s h a ll repe a t to y ou for O f a ll the m a t erial

,

circ ums ta n ce s Of t hat a dve nt ure n ot one h a s pass ed fro m my

me m ory n or s h a ll ever p a s s a s lon g a s I live I n s hort th e
, . ,

an s wer I made t o the Moori s h lady w a s this

The t rue A llah keep t hee dear lady and tru s t ble s sed
, ,

Marie n w h o i s the t rue Mother Of God ; a n d it is s h e w h o h as

,

p u t i n to thy he a rt to go i n to the la n d of the Chri s ti a n s f or ,

s h e love s thee w ell . Pray to her that s h e may be plea s ed to

teach t hee h ow t hou mays t be able to e xecute t h a t w hi ch sh e
comman d s thee for s h e i s s o good that s h e will s urely d o so
, .

O n m y part a n d on that Of all the s e Chri s tian s w h o a re wi th

,

me I promis e to do for thee all we a re able even u n to d ea th

, , .

F a il n ot to w rite t o me a nd advis e me of what t hou i n ten dest

,

to do a n d I w ill an s wer thee every time ; fo r the g rea t A llah

,

h a th given us a Chris tian cap tive w h o ca n s p ea k a n d write

thy lan guage w ell a s thou s ee s t by this lett er. Therefore
,
 DO N QUI XOTE 335

th ou can s t acquaint us w ithout fea r of all thy de sire s. A s

, ,

t o what tho u s aye s t that thou wilt become my w ife if thou

,

w ert in a Chris tian cou n try I promis e thee the s ame a s I am

, ,

a good Chris tian ; and kn ow that th e Chris tian s fulfil w hat

they promis e better than the Moors . May A llah a n d Marien
H is mother be thy guard dear lady .
’

This letter bein g written a n d s ealed I waited two days ,

till the ba gn io w a s empty as u s ual a n d the n we n t to the

, ,

a c cu st omed place i n the litt le te rrace to s e e if the can e w o uld

appear a n d it w a s n ot lo n g before it w a s vis ible . A s s oo n

,

a s I s pied it tho ugh I could n ot s e e w h o held it I s ho w ed

, ,

the paper a s givin g them to un ders ta n d t hat they s hould

att ach the thread but I foun d it w a s already on the can e to
, ,

w hich I faste n ed the letter a n d a f ter a little while our s ta r

,

appeared again with the w hit e en s ign of peace the kn otted ,

kerchief They let it drop a n d I t ook it up a n d foun d therein

. ,

i n all kin ds Of coin s ilver a n d gold more than fifty cro w n s

, , ,

w hi ch multiplied our going fifty time s a n d stre n gt hened t h e ,

h ope s w e had co n ceived of regai n in g our libert y . That s ame

n ight our re n egade ret urn ed a n d told us that he had le a r n t
,

t h a t the Moor we were before in formed of dw elt in that ho us e

t hat he w a s called Hadji M u ra d w a s exceedin gly rich and had
, ,

a n o n ly da ughter hei re s s t o all h i s fortu n e who i n the com

, ,

m on opin io n of the city w a s t h e mo st beautiful woman i n all

B arbary ; a n d that ma n y o f t h e viceroy s w h o came there had
s ough t her to w ife but t hat s h e w ould n ever co n s e n t t o marry ;
,

a n d th a t he al s o learn t t h a t s h e had a Chri s tian woma n

f o r s lave w h o n ow w a s deceas ed
,
— all w hich a greed w it h
w h a t w a s i n t h e letter We then t ook coun s el with the re n e
.

g a de a s to w hat plan w e s ho uld adopt for carryin g O E t h e

M oore s s a n d ret urn ing all Of us int o a Chri stian co un t ry ; a n d
fi n ally it w a s decided that w e s ho uld w ait f or a s eco n d n o tice
from Z ora yd a ( for so w a s s h e called w h o w ould n ow ta ke
t h e n ame of M a ria) s i n ce w e pl a in ly could s e e that s h e a n d
,

n o n e ot her w a s t h e o n e to fi n d a way out O f tho s e d iffi c ultie s .

A fter w e w ere come to this re s olution t h e renega de bade ,

u s n ot be u n ea s y for he w o uld lo s e h i s life or s et us at

,

liberty. Fo ur day s w a s the b a gn io full of people w hich w a s ,

the cau s e of the can e s fa ilin g to appear for four days ; but
’
at the end of these when the bagn io w a s once more a s us ua l
,

de serted it made it s appearan ce w it h the han dkerchief s o big

,

a s t o promis e a happy delivery . The can e a nd the kerchief

bein g in clin ed to me I foun d there an other paper a n d a b un
,

dred crown s in gold wit hout other coin The ren egade being
,
.

by we gave him the p a per to rea d when we had ret urn ed int o
,

our cell a n d he s aid it ra n th us :

,

I k n ow n ot dear s ir w hat mea n s to take for our goin g to

, ,

Spain nor h a s Lela M a rie n told me alt ho ugh I ha ve as ked

, ,

her. A ll that can be do n e i s for me to give you through t his

w indow a large qua n tity Of mo n ey i n gold ; ra n s om yo u rs elf
w ith it a nd yo ur frie n d s a nd let on e O f you go t o t h e l a n d Of
,

the Christ ian s a n d buy there a bark a n d ret urn for t h e o t hers ;
,

a n d he w ill fi n d me i n my father s garde n which is a t t he

’

B a ba zoun g a te n ear the s eas hore w here I am t o be a ll t his

, ,

s ummer w ith my f a ther a n d s erva n t s .

, Thence you w il l be
able to carry me O E by n ight w itho ut fear a n d t a ke m e to ,

the bark A n d min d thou has t to be my hus ban d ; for i f

. , , ,

n ot I wil l pra y to M a rie n to p un i s h thee

, If thou c a n s t not .

trust one to g o for the bark ra n s om thys elf a n d go for I k n ow

, ,

thou w ilt return rather than an other because t hou a rt a g en ,

t l e ma n a n d a Chri s tian . Try to fi nd out the g a rd e n a nd ,

w hen thou art w alkin g by here I s hall k n ow that t h e bagnio

i s empty and give thee plen ty of mo n ey . Allah prote c t thee ,

dear s ir. ’

Such were th e words a n d cont en ts Of the s eco n d letter ,

w hich bein g s een by all each on e oEere d him s elf a s being

, ,

w illi n g to be the ma n ra n s ome d promis in g to go a n d retu rn ,

w ith all p un ctuality ; a n d I al s o oEe re d to do t h e s am e But .

t h e re n egade w a s oppo s ed to it w holly s ayin g that h e w o uld ,

by n o mean s con s e n t that a ny on e s ho uld achieve h i s libe rty

u nle s s we did s o all together for e xperien ce had ta ug ht hi m ,

h ow il l thos e that were f ree pe rformed the prom is es they made

i n cap t ivity. O fte n t irne s captive s of n ote had tried t h i s e xp e
dien t ran somin g s ome on e that he might go to V ale n c i a or
,

Majorca with money to eq uip a bark a n d return for t hose

w h o h a d ran s omed him w h o had n ever come back f o r t he
, ,

recovered liberty a n d the dread of lo s in g it agai n blot out of

memory all Obliga tio ns i n t h e world . A nd to con fi rm the
338 CERVANT E S

that before sh e went sh e woul d give us more m oney and if ,

that w as not enough we s hould let her kn ow a nd sh e would ,

give us a s muc h a s we wante d for her fathe r had so much

,

he would not miss it es pec ially a s s h e had the ke ys of every

,

thin g.
We gave the ren egade at on c e five hun dred crown s to buy
the ves sel . Wit h eight hundred I redee med mys elf giving the ,

mon ey to a Val encian merchant then at Algi ers w h o ransomed ,

me from the king on givin g h is word pro mis i ng t o pay the

,

ransom upon the arrival Of the first s hip from V alen ci a ; for
i f he had paid the mon ey dow n it would have ra i s ed s us picions
,

i n t h e king that my ran s om had been for s ome t ime in Algiers ,

a n d that the mercha n t for h i s ow n profit had kept it s ecret. In

s hort my ma s ter w a s so s u s piciou s that I durs t in no wise

,

disb urs e the money at on c e . The Thurs day be fore t he Fri

day ou which the fair Z ora yda had to go to the g arden she
gave us a tho us an d crow n s more a n d appris ed us of her
,

departure en trea ting me if I w ere rans omed at on ce to fi nd

, , ,

out her father s garde n a n d i n a ny e ven t fin d s ome O pportunity

’

o f goin g there to se e her. I a n s wered her b rie fl y t hat I w ould

do so a n d bade her take care to commen d us to Lela M arien

,

by all tho s e prayers the Chris tia n slave had ta ught h er. This
do n e w e took mea sure s that our three compan io n s s hould be
,

ran s omed in order to make it eas ier for us to leave t h e bagnio

, ,

a n d al s o that s eei n g me redeemed a n d them s elves n ot altho ugh

, ,

there w a s mo n ey to do it they might n ot be di s q uieted and

,

pers uaded by the devil to do an ything in prejudice of Zo

rayda for altho ugh thei r bein g s uch a s t hey were m ight have
,

a ssured me again st this apprehens ion yet for a ll tha t I did not
,

w is h to expo s e the a Ea i r to a n y s uch ris k and s o I g ot them

,

ra n s omed by the s ame proces s I had ran s omed mys el f deliver ,

i n g the w hole s um in t o the h a n ds of the merchant th at he ,

might t h e m ore con fidently a n d s afely become bail for us ;

tho ugh w e n ever dis covered to h i m our plot and se cret by
reas on of the dan ger there w a s in s o doin g.
 C H A PT E R XXXV I I I

Wh erei n the p
ca ti ve s ti l l con ti n ues the s tory o f hi s a dventures

E F O RE a fortnight had pass ed the renegade had pur

chased a very good ves sel capable of holdin g more ,

th an thirty pers on s a n d to give a bett er color a n d

, ,

s e curity to h i s de s ign he propo s ed to make a n d i n e Ee ct did

, ,

m ake a voyage to a place called Cherchel about thirty

, ,

l e ague s from A lgier s towa rd O ra n w here there i s a great ,

t ra ffi c i n dried fig s . Two or three time s he made this

v oyage in compan y wi th the Ta g a rin e afore s a id .
, They call
T a g a rin e s in Barbary tho s e who are Moors of A rago n a n d ,

M udejares t hos e of Gran ada Mudejare s i n the kin gdom of

F e z bein g called E lche s who are a people Of whom t hat ki n g
,

m akes mo s t us e in h i s wars . To proceed : every ti me the

r e n egade pas s ed i n h i s bark he ca s t a n chor i n a lit t le bay

w hich w a s n ot two bow s hots from the garden where Z ora y d a

-

w a s waiti ng a n d there h e purpos ely u s ed t o s tatio n him s elf

,

w i th the young Moors who plied the oar s n ow i n s ayin g h i s ,

p r ayer s no
,
w i n rehears in g i n je s t what he i n te n ded to per

f o rm in earn est ; a nd th us he w ould go to Z ora yd a s garden ’

a n d beg for fruit which her father would give him n ot k n ow

, ,

i n g him . A n d though he s ought to s peak to Z ora y d a a s he ,

to ld me afterwards a n d tell her to be at eas e a n d of good

,

c h eer for that it w a s he who by my direc t io n h a d to carry

,

h e r away to the lan d of the Chri stian s it w a s n ever po ss ible ,

f o r h im t o do s o for the Mooris h w omen do n ot let them

,

s e lve s be see n by any Moor or T urk u n le s s by their ,

’
h u sban ds or paren ts comman d Chris tian s laves bein g
’

p e r mitted to keep compa n y a n d co n vers e w ith them eve n ,

m ore than i s becomin g I n deed it would have g rieved me had

. ,

h e ta lked with her for mayhap it may have di sturbed h er

,

t o hea r of her b us in e s s through the mouth of a re n egade . B ut

G od ordain ing it otherwi se gave our ren egade no Opportu n ity
, ,

339
340 CERVANTE S

Of carrying out h is hones t purpos e . Perceiv ing how securely

he went a n d came to a n d from Cherchel a n d that he coul d ,

anchor w he n a nd how a n d w here he pleas ed a nd that t h e ,

Ta g a ri ne h is part n er had no ot her will t han s uch a s h is ow n

, ,

could direct that I w a s already rans omed and th at there

, ,

w an ted n o t hing but s ome C hris tia n men to p ull a n oa r h e ,

bade me look out for tho s e I could brin g w ith me b es id es ,

tho s e w h o had been ran s omed a nd bes pea k t hem for t h e ,

firs t F riday which he had appoin ted for our s tart Upo n
, .

this I s poke to a doze n Span ia rds a ll able me n at th e oa r ,

a n d s uch a s might eas il y l e ave the city. It w as n o s mall

matter to fi nd so man y at that period for there w ere t we nty ,

ve ss els abroad on the cruis e w hich had taken aw ay a ll t h e

,

rowers ; a n d the s e w ould n ot have been fou n d were it not ,

that their m a s ter kept at home that s ummer to fin is h a g a lliot

w hich w a s upon the st ock s . I sa id n oth in g more to t hem
t han that on the n ext F riday i n t h e eve n in g t hey s hould
, ,

depart on e by one privily out of the city a n d take thei r w a y ,

t ow ards Hadji Mura d s garden a n d there wait till I ca me.

’

To each on e separately I gave this direction ca ut ion in g h im ,

that t hough he sa w other Chris tian s there he s hould sa y ,

n o t hin g but that I had ordered him to wait i n that s pot .

This part of the bu sin ess havin g been se ttled one th ing ,

more yet remain ed to be don e to me of the mos t i mpo rta nce

, ,

w hich w a s t o let Z ora y da k n ow of the s tage at whic h t he

matter stood so that s h e might be prep a red a n d on the
,

wat ch so a s n ot to be alarmed if we came upon her s uddenly

,

before the t ime s h e might have fixed in her min d that the
C hris tian s ve s s el could return . A n d s o I res olved t o g o to
’

the garden a n d see if I could s peak to her ; a nd un de r pre

ten se of ga thering s ome herbs I wen t thither one day before
,

o ur depart ure The first pers on whom I met w a s her fat her
. ,

who addres s ed me in the to n g ue w hich throughou t Barbary ,

a n d eve n at Con s ta n ti n ople i s s poke n bet w ee n the ca ptives

,

a n d th e Moors a nd which i s neither Mooris h n or C a s t il i an nor

,

O f a ny other n atio n but a medley o f all lan guages i n w h ich we

, ,

may all u n derst an d on e an other. H e I sa y i n that mode Of , ,

s peech a s ked me what I w a s looki n g for i n h is g ard e n a nd

, ,

t o w hom I belo n ged . I a n s wered I w a s a s lave O f A rnaut ,

Marn i ( this beca us e I kn ew for certai n that h e w as a very

 CERVANTE S

goddes s from heaven com e to ea rt h for my h appi n ess a nd my

,

relief.
“
A s s oon a s s h e came up to us her father tol d h er in t h e i r ,

ow n to n gue that I w a s a s lave Of h i s frie n d Arnaut M a rni , ,

a n d had come to gat her a s alad . She took up th e wo rd a n d ,

i n that m ixed lan g uage of which I have s poken as ke d m e

w hether I w a s a gentleman a n d why I did n ot ran so m my s elf ,
.

I an s w ered that I w as a lready ran s omed and by th e p rice ,

m ight be s een at what my ma s ter v alued me for I h a d gi v e n ,

fifteen hu n dred s ul ta n ie s for mys elf . To which s h e repli ed

In truth if t hou hads t belo n ged to my father I w o uld
, ,

n ot have let hi m part with thee for t w ice a s much for y ou ,

Christian s alway s l ie in what you s a y and make yoursel ves

o ut poor to ch e at the Moors .
’

It may be so lady an swered I but i n sooth I h a ve

, ,
’
,

dealt truly with my mas ter and so deal and s hall deal w i th ,

everybody i n the world . ’

A n d when do s t thou go ? deman ded Z ora y da .

’

TO morrow I thi n k s aid I .

-

,There i s a ves s el h ere from

,
’

Fran ce which s ets s ail to morrow a nd I inten d t o go i n h er ,

’
.

Were it not better replied Z ora y da t o wait un t il some ,

’
,

s hip s s hould come from Spain a n d g o with them a n d not ,

with the French w h o a re n ot your friends ?

,
’

’
N o I s aid though if it i s true that t he re is a v essel
, ,
‘

comin g from Spain a s it is reported I wo uld yet wa i t f or h er

, , ,

though it i s more likely I s hall s tart to morrow for t h e des ire -

I have to be i n my ow n cou n try a n d with tho s e I l ove is so

great t h at it will not suEe r me t o wa it for any ot he r opp or
t un ity let it be ever s o good if it be delayed .
’
, ,

Thou s ho uld s t be married doubt le ss i n t hin e ow n co un , ,

try s aid Z ora yda a n d therefore art de sirou s to g o a n d see

,
’
,

thy w ife ? ’

’
N O I an s w ered I am n ot married ; but I have given
‘
, ,
‘

’
my w ord to marry upo n my arriva l there .
A n d i s s h e beautiful the lady to whom thou h as t given ,
’
it ? as ked Z ora yda .
So beautiful i s sh e I answered th at to app ra ise her ,
’
,
‘

and tell th ee the truth s h e i s much like th y self ,

’
.

At th is her father laughed ve ry he artily a n d cried ,

By Allah C h ris tia n the n s h e must be very be autif ul if

, ,
 DON QUI X OTE 3 43

sh e is like my daughter w h o is the greate s t be auty in a ll this

,

kin gdom ; look at h e r well and thou s halt se e whether or ,

not I s peak t h e truth . ’

For the mos t part of this dialogue it w a s Z ora yda s father ’

s e rved us for interpreter a s bein g a better li n g ui s t for a l

, ,

t hough s h e co uld s peak it the bas tard to n gue w hich I have

,

s aid w as i n use there s h e ex pre s s ed her meanin g more by

,

s ign s th a n by words .

While w e w ere thu s con vers in g there came run n in g up ,

to u s a Moor a n d called out loudly that four Turks had leapt

,

over the palin gs or wall Of the ga rde n a n d were plucki n g ,

t h e fr u it t hough it w a s n ot yet ripe

, The Old ma n got int o .

a fri ght and so did Z ora yd a ; for t h e Moors have common ly

, ,

a n d a s it w ere by in s ti n ct a fear of t h e Turks e s pecially of

, ,

the s oldier s w h o are so in s olen t a n d use such tyrann y t o t h e

,

Moors w h o are their s ubjects that they treat them wors e ,

t han t heir s lave s . Therefore Z ora y d a s fat her s aid t o her :

’

Daughter retire in to the hou s e a nd s hut thy self in while

, ,

I go a n d talk to the s e dog s ; a n d thou Christian gather t hin e , ,

herbs a nd go thy ways i n peace a n d may Allah ta ke thee ,

’
s af e t o t hi n e ow n cou n try .

I bow ed to him a n d h e we n t h i s w a y to look for the

,

Turk s leavin g me alon e with Z ora y da who made a s if s h e

, ,

w ere go i n g w hither her f ather had ordered her ; b ut hardly

w as he hidde n by the tree s i n the garden whe n sh e turn ed ,

to me w it h her eye s full of tea rs a nd c ri ed

, ,

Ta mej i Chris tian ta mej i

, t h at i s to s a y : Goe st tho u
,
-

aw ay Ch ri stian goe st th ou away ?

,
’

I an sw ered her : Ye s lady b ut n ever w ithout thee , , .

N ext J uma expect me and be n ot frig h ten ed when th ou s ee s t

,

u s f or su rely we s hall go to the lan d of the Chri s t ian s

’

,
.

“
I s aid t his i n s uch a mann er that s h e n ow u n derstood
qu it e we ll all the t a lk which had pass ed betw ee n us a n d , ,

t hrowing her arm about my n eck we began wi t h tremblin g , ,

s tep s to walk t o w ard s t h e ho us e

,
A s f ort un e wo uld have it
.

d it might have go n e very ill for us if Heave n had n ot

( a n

ordain ed i t otherw is e ) while we t w o were goin g i n this p os

,

t u re a n d ma n n er a s I have rel a ted wi t h her arm rou n d my ,

n ec k her father w h o h a d ret urn ed after gettin g rid Of t h e

, ,

Turk s sa w us a s we t h us wen t a nd we perceived that he had

, ,
344 CERVANT ES

s een us ; but Z ora yda , s

elf posses s ed a nd ready wit ted would- -

n ot take her arm from my n eck b ut rather d rew clos er to me , ,

lea nt her head upon my bosom be n din g her k n ee s a little , ,

a n d se emin g to give pl a in s igns a n d token s of being a bout t o

fain t w h i le I too made pretens e of holdin g her up a gains t

,

my will. Her father came run n in g up to w here we w ere ,

a n d s eein g h i s daught er i n that s tate as ked w h at ailed her ;

, ,

b ut a s s h e did n ot an sw er he s aid
, ,

Wit ho ut doubt s h e h a s fainted from the fright w hic h

,

the en tran ce of thos e dog s h a s give n her. A n d ta king her ’

,

f rom my bo s om he re s t ed her o n h i s ow n . She fe t ching a

, ,

s igh a nd w ith her eye s s till wet w ith tears turn ed rou n d a nd
, ,
‘
,
—
cried : A mej i Christian amen : g o aw ay Chri s tian go — ,

away .
’

To which her father replied

There i s n o cau s e child for the Christian to g o for he
‘
, , ,

hath don e thee n o harm a nd the Turk s are already go n e OE , .

DO n ot be frighte n ed for t h ere i s n aught to mak e t h e e un

,

eas y s in ce a s I have told t hee the Turks a t my e n trea ty

, , , , ,

have go n e back by the w a y they came. ’

I t w a s they sir quoth I to her father w h o te rri fied

‘
, ,
’

,
‘

her a s y ou have said ; b ut s in ce s h e bid s me go I w ould not , ,

vex her. Re st i n pea ce a n d by your leave I wi ll c o me again ,

if there s ho uld h e n eed for herbs to this garden ; for my ,

ma ster say s in n on e are there better herb s for a sa la d than

here .
’

“
Come a s often a s tho u wilt a n sw ered H a dj r M ura d ;
‘
,
’

my d a ughter s pea k s n ot th us becau se sh e i s dis ple as ed with

t hee or a n y o t her Chri s tia n b ut i n s tead O f tellin g t h e Turks
,

to be gon e s h e told thee to be gone ; or becaus e it w a s time

for t hee to gat her thy herb s
’
.

O n this I took my leave at on ce Of them both a n d s he , ,

looki n g a s i f her heart h a d been torn from her w en t away ,

w ith her fat her I un der pre ten s e Of lookin g for herb s w ent
. , ,

ro un d abou t a l l the garden at my ca se examin in g clos ely a ll ,

t h e approache s a n d o ut let s the de fe n s e s of the ho u s e a n d, ,

everyt hin g of w hich w e might take advan tage for th e des

p a tch of our bus i n e s s .

This don e I ret urn ed a n d gave a n acc oun t t o th e rene

,

gade and to my compan ion s of all that had pas sed a nd s till I ,
346 CERVANTE S

guard the re st Of us havin g s ti ll the renegade for our guide

, , ,

wen t to Hadji Mura d s ga rden a n d as good luck would ha ve ’

, ,

i t on reachin g the door ope n ed it as eas ily a s if it had n ot

,

bee n locked and so very quietly and si len tly w e we n t up to

, , ,

t h e hou s e witho ut bein g perceived by a n y o ne . The fair

,

Z ora y da w a s watchin g for us at a wi n dow a n d w hen s h e w as ,

aware O f our approach s h e as ked in a l ow voice if w e w ere , , ,

N a za re ne s that i s to s a y whether w e were Chris tian s . I

, ,

a n s wered Ye s a n d bade her come down . When s h e re cog

’
,

n i ze d me s h e s tayed n ot a mome n t b ut withou t sp eakin g a

, , ,

word i n reply came down in stant ly Open ed th e door a nd

, , ,

s ho w ed hers elf to all Of us more beautif ul and richly attire d

than I ca n at tempt t o des cribe . A S s oon as I sa w her I took
her by t h e han d a n d bega n to ki ss it ; the sa me did the re ne
gade a n d my two compan ion s a n d t h e re st though ign o ra nt , ,

O f t h e occas io n did what they sa w us do t h i n ki n g o n ly that

, ,

w e w ere givi n g h e r than k s a n d ack n o w ledgin g her a s t h e mis

tre ss Of our deliveran ce. The ren egade then asked her in the
Mooris h to n gue if her father w a s in t h e garden hou s e. S he -

an s wered Yes a n d that he w a s as leep. ,

’

Then w e mus t wake him s a id the ren egade a n d ca rry ,

’
,
‘

h i m wit h us a n d a l l that i s valu a ble i n th is beaut iful g arden

’
, .

‘
N O cried s h e
,
’
my fat her must n ot by a n y m ea n s be
,
‘

touched a nd i n t hi s ho us e there is n othing more than w hat

,

I am t akin g w ith me w hich i s as much as will s ufli ce t o leave

,

all rich a n d co n te n t ; wait a l ittle a nd h l l ’

u y ou s a see
y o , .

A n d w it h thi s s h e w en t in agai n s ayin g t hat s h e w ould very ,

s oo n ret urn a n d th a t w e were to remai n s ti ll w ith o ut making

,

a n y noi s e I a sked of t h e ren egade what had pas se d be tw een

.

them a n d when he told me I bade him do n o thin g b ut what

, ,

Z ora yd a w is hed Pres ently s h e retu rn ed laden with a s mal l

.

t run k full of s o man y gold crow n s that s h e w a s s carce able

t o carry i t In t h e mean time a s ill l uck wo uld ha ve i t h er
. , ,

f ather aw oke . He a rin g a n ois e in the garde n he looked out ,

o f t h e win do w a n d s eei n g at o n ce t h at there were Ch r i s ti ans

,

there he bega n to give voice lo udly a n d wildly call ing out

, ,

i n A rabic : Chris tian s ! Chri st ian s ! T h ieves ! Thieves ! ’

This o utcry p ut us all in to the utmo st fright a n d co n fus ion ;

b ut the ren egade s eein g t h e danger i n w hich we w ere a nd
, ,

h ow import a n t it w a s that w e s ho uld achieve this par t Of t he

 DON QUI XOTE 347

s cheme w ithout bein g detected mounted up with all s peed to

,

H adj i Mura d s room and with him there we n t s ome others

’
,

o f our comp a ny. I dared not lea ve Z ora yda who had s un k ,

f a in ti n g in to my a rm s . To be brief they w h o we n t up man ,

a ged s o well that i n a t rice they bro ught H adj i M ura d down
w ith h is hand s t ied a n d a handkerchief placed in h i s mo ut h
w hich hin dered him from s peaki n g a word — threate n in g him
t hat if he uttered a s oun d it s hould co s t him h i s life . When
h is da ughter s a w h i m sh e covered her eye s t h a t s h e might
n ot look upo n him wh i le her fat h er w a s s tu p e fi e d not kn owi n g
, ,

h p w w i llin gly sh e had p ut hers elf i n to our han d s ; but our

f eet the n bein g the more n ece ss ary we betook o urs elve s wit h ,

a ll ca u ti o n and s peed t o our ve s s el w here tho s e w e had left

,

b e hin d were already looki n g im patien tly for our return fearin g ,

t hat we had met w ith s o me ill chance. Some two ho urs h a d

p a s s ed O f the n igh t a fter w e were a l l o n bo a rd t h e bark be ,

f ore the b a n dage s w ere removed from t h e ha n d s O f Z ora yd a s

’

f ather a n d t h e kerchief from hi s mo ut h the re n egade o n ce

, ,

m ore tellin g him t h a t he mu st n ot s peak a w ord or els e they

w o uld take h i s life He when he s a w h i s daugh ter there
. , ,

b egan s ighin g very feeli ngly a n d the more whe n he O bse rve d
, ,

t hat I h a d her clas ped tigh t ly i n my arm s a n d that s h e re ,

m ain ed q uiet wit ho ut re s istan ce or complaint ; n evert hele s s

, ,

b e held h is peace le s t the re n egade s threats s ho uld be carried

’

o ut . Fin di ng herself n ow aboard a n d that we w o uld be ,

h an dling our oars a nd s eei n g her fat her there a n d the re s t

, ,

O f the Moors who w ere bo un d Z ora y d a bade t h e re n egade

,

a s k me t o d o her the favor t o relea s e the s e M oors a n d s e t her

father at libert y for s h e w o uld s oo n er throw hers elf in to the

,

s e a than see a f ather w h o loved h e r so de a rl y carried away a

c aptive before her eye s a nd f or her s ake

, The ren egade .

s poke to me a n d I an s w ered that I w a s very w ell pleas ed it

,

s hould be s o b ut he replied that it w a s not e xpedie n t ; f or

,

s ho uld we leave t hem there t hey wo uld pre s e nt ly rais e the

co un try a n d give t h e alarm to t h e city a n d cau s e s om e light ,

f riga tes to be s e n t i n cha s e O f us a n d so t ake us by se a a n d

,

by lan d as t hat it w o uld be impos sible for us to e s cape : what

cou ld be do n e w a s to give t hem t heir liberty at the firs t
Chris tian lan d w e reached O f this opin io n w ere w e a l l ;
.

and Z ora y da al s o w he n w e in formed her Of t h e rea s o n s why

,
348 CERVANT ES

we could n ot do at once w hat sh e des ired w as sa ti s fie d ; a nd ,

then i n gl a d s ilen ce a n d with bl it he agi lit y each of our lusty

, ,

row ers plied h i s oa r a n d commen din g o urs elve s to God with

, ,

a ll o ur hearts we bega n to st eer tow ards the is l es O f M ajorca

, ,

w hich is t h e n ear e s t Chri s tian lan d By reas on how eve r of . , ,

t h e no rth w in d blow i n g fres h a n d t h e se a bein g so m ewha t

rough it w a s n ot po ss ible to hold a cours e for M a j orc a a nd
, ,

we w ere f orced to keep alon g the s hore toward s O ra n not ,

without m uch uneas in e ss les t w e s hou ld be es pied fro m the

,

tow n of Cherchel w hich lies upon that coa s t s ome si xty miles
,

from A lgiers. We were afraid al s o O f mee tin g in t ho s e parts

w ith s ome O f thos e galliots w hich us ua lly come w i t h mer
c h a n d i s e from Tetuan t hough each o n e for him s el f a n d all
, ,

O f us join t ly f elt con fident that if a merchan t galliot were

,

e n coun t ered provided it w a s n ot a cruis er n ot on ly w e s hould

, ,

n ot be capt ured b ut that we s hould be able to t a ke a vessel

,

i n which we co uld more s a f ely accomplis h o ur v oyage . All

the while a s w e rowed on Zora yda lay w ith her head be tw een
my han d s t h a t s h e might n ot s ee her father and I felt t hat
, ,

s h e w a s calli n g upo n Lela M a rie n t o help us .

We had m a de f ull t hirty m iles when d a ybreak s how ed

us t o be n o t a bove t hree m us ke t s ho t s dis t an t f rom the l a nd
-

which we s a w t o be a l l a de s ert w itho ut a creatu re t o dis ,

cover us ; yet for all th a t we p l ied our oa rs hard t o g et farther

o ut t o s e a w hich w a s n o w a little s moot her
,
H avi n g put .

O E abo ut t w o leag ue s t h e w ord w a s given t hat o n ly every

,

fourth ma n s ho uld row in order that w e might ta ke s ome food ,

with w hich t h e bark w a s w ell provided ; b ut the row e rs said

i t w a s n o t ime t o re st that t ho se w h o did n ot row might give
,

t hem t o eat b ut t hey w ou ld by n o mean s let g o Of t heir oa rs.

,

Thi s we did u nt il a s tron g breeze beginn ing t o blow obl iged

,

us to hoi s t our s a il a n d le a ve the oars s teeri n g for O ra n for , ,

i t w a s n ot po s sible t o hold a n y oth er cou rs e All t his was .

do n e wit h g rea t promp t itude a n d w e s ailed thus at t h e ra te

,

O f above eigh t m ile s a n ho ur relieved O f al l fear s ave that of

, ,

falli n g i n w it h s ome ve ss el w hich might t urn out t o be a

pira te We ga ve the Moors s omethin g to ea t a n d the rene
. ,

gade co mforted t hem t ellin g them they were n ot s laves but

,

s ho uld h ave t heir libert y u pon t h e firs t opport un it y . The

s ame w a s s aid to Z o ra y d a s f a ther w h o an s w ered
’

,
35 2 C E RVANTE S

Come ba ck beloved daughter come ba ck to lan d ! I

,

pardon th ee a l l ! Give up the mon ey to t hose me n for it is ,

theirs ; a nd co me back to console thy wretched father w ho ,

i n these dese rt sands w i ll lose his lif e if thou f orsa kest

him 1
All this Zora y da heard ; all t his s h e felt and bewailed ,

nor could spea k n or answer a word but : A ll a h gran t dear ,

father that Lela Marie n w h o h a s been the cau se of my being

, ,

a Chri stian may comfort thee in thy sorrow. All ah knows

,

well that I could do nothing else than what I have done and ,

that these Christians ow e me nothing for my good wil l ; for -

even had I no min d to come with them a n d wished t o remai n

at home it was im possible so greatly w as my soul p res sed to
, ,

do this work which t o me se ems s o good as to th ee b eloved

, ,
’
father it appears wicked.
,

This she said at a time when neither could h er father hear

her nor we any longer see him ; and so whil e I comforted ,

Z ora yd a we all attended t o our voyage which w as made eas y

, ,

f or us by a fav o rable wi n d so that we looked f or certain , ,

o n the mo rning of the next day t o rea ch the shores of ,

Spain .
But as good seldom or never come s p ure and un mixed
without being attended or followed by some evil t o spoil or
disturb it our stars so w illed it or p erhaps the curs es which
, ,

the Moo r had disc harged upon hi s daugh ter ( for s uc h from a
father are ever to be dreaded whatever they may be) so willed ,

it I sa y that bein g now well out to sea and three hours of

, , , ,

the night being nearly spent going before the wind un der
—
,

ful l sail with th e o a rs shipped

,
for the prospe rous breeze ,

relieved us of the nece s sity of using them by the light of ,

the moon which w a s shin in g bri ghtly we des cried clo s e upon
, ,

u s a square rigged ship with all her sail s sp read steeri ng a

-
, ,

little off the wind which w a s standing across our bows a nd

,

s o n ear was she that we were obliged t o lower our sai l so as

n ot t o run foul of h e r a n d they also p ut their helm aweather

,
'

to give us room to pas s They w ere gathered on the ship s

.

deck to ask us who we were whither we were bound a nd , ,

whe n ce we came ; but as these questions were put in the

F rench tongue our ren egade bade none of us an swe r for
, ,

they were doub tles s Fre n ch corsa irs to who m eve ryth in g is ,
35 4 CE RVAN TE S

all ourtroubles and privations were forgotten a s completely

a s if they had n ot been actually su ff ered by us so gr ea t is ,
’
the hap p iness of recovering one s lost liberty.
It might be about midday when they put us in the boat ,

giving us tw o barrels of wa ter and some bis cuit ; and the

c a ptain moved I know not by what compassion a s the beau
, ,

tiful Z orayda was about to embark gave her some fort y gold
,

crowns and would n ot let his men take from her thos e same
,

clothes which n ow s h e has on . We g ot into the boa t giving ,

them thanks for the favor they had done us a n d showing

rather gratitude than resentm ent. They stood out t o se a ,

takin g a course to the Strait while we wit hout loo ki ng to

, ,

any other guiding star than the land which appea r ed ahead ,

plied our oars so vigorously and at sunset were so n ea r that

, ,

we thought we could well reach th e shore before the n ight

w a s far spent ; but as the moo n w a s n ot shining that n ight ,

a n d the sky looked black and bein g ig nora nt of the spot

,

where we were we thought it n ot safe t o touch the l an d as

, ,

some of us wished saying that we should do s o eve n though

, ,

it were among the rocks and far from any h abitation ; thus
we should be relieved of th e fear which we n atural ly felt lest
there might be roving therea bouts some p ir ates o f Tetuan ,

w h o are overnight i n Barba ry and in the morning on the coas t

of Spain usually picking up their prizes a n d retu rn in g to
,

sleep at home . Among these conflicting opinions that which ,

was followed w a s that we should draw near the land s lowly ,

and if the calmness of the sea permitted dise mbark where ,

we could. This w a s done and a little before midnight we

,

arrived at the foot of a large and lofty moun tain n ot s o near ,

the s hore but that there w a s a little space left convenient for
lan ding. We ran our boat upon the beach we lea pt on shore ;
we ki s sed the earth and with tears of gladdest joy we a l l ga ve
,

thank s to God our Lord for the unparal leled goodnes s H e ha d

vouchsafed to us in this our voyage . We took out of the
boa t such provisions as it contained ; we drew it up on the
sho re and went a good way up the hillside for althou gh we
, ,

stood upon it we could n ot yet assure our minds n or be satis

,

ned that it w a s on Christian l a n d we were . The dawn se eme d

t o u s to come mo re slowly than we could have wish ed ; at
last we ascended to the top of the mountain to see if w e
 DO N QU IXOTE 35 5
’
could descry some village or shepherds huts but as far as ,

we could ca rry our eyes n o village n or person n or path

, , , ,

n or highway could we discover. Thereupon we resolved

t o g o f a rther i nland for we could n ot miss fi ndi ng some
,

one soon who could tel l us where we were. But what dis
tressed me most was to se e Z ora yd a goi ng on foot among
thos e sharp rocks for although sometimes I took her on
,

my shoulders yet did my weariness more fatigue than did

,

her ow n rest refresh her and therefore she wished me n o

,

more t o take that trouble but went afoot with much patience
and prete nse of cheerfulnes s I st i ll leading her by the
,

hand .
We must have gone a little less than a quarter of a lea gue
when the sound of a little shee p be ll reached our ears -
a ,

clear sig n t here was a fl ock thereabouts and loo king about , ,

us carefu l ly t o see if on e appeared we e s p ied at the foot of a

, ,

cork tree a shepherd lad w h o was composedly and idly shap

-

ing a stick w ith h i s knife. We called out and he raisi ng h i s ,

head started nimbly to hi s feet a n d as we learnt a fterwards

, , , ,

t h e fi rst w h o appeared in sight being the renegade and

Z ora yda who were in the Moo rish habit thinking that all the
, ,

Moo rs of Barbary were upon him he made towards the wood ,

before us with e xtraordin a ry agility cryi ng out a s loudly as ,

h e could bawl : Moors ! There are Moors i n the la nd !

M oors ! Moo rs ! To arms ! t o a rms ! At these outcries we ’

we re a l l confou n ded and knew n ot what to d o but reflecting ,

’
that the shepherd s alarm would arouse the countr y and that ,

the mounted coast guard would soo n be there t o s ee what was

-

the matt er we ag reed that the renegade should dofi his

,

Turkish robes and put on a j acket or sla ve s cassock which ’

,

o ne of us gave him at once himself rem a i n i n g i n h is shirt .

,

A nd thus commen ding ourselves t o God we traveled along

, ,

the same road which we s a w the shepherd take expecting every ,

m oment the coast guard t o fall upo n us . N or we re we de

-

c e i v e d i n our expectation for t w o hours had n ot passed whe n

, ,

a s we ca me out from the thicket into the plain we discovered ,

a bo ut fif ty horsemen w h o rode towards us swiftly at a h a nd

,

g allop . A s soo n as we s a w them we stood still to wait for

,

them ; but when they came u p and s a w that in place of the

M oo rs they were after we were only a set of poor Christians ,
35 6 CE RVANT E S

they were perplexed ; and one of the m as ked us whet her we

were the reason of a shepherd s having ra ised t h e cry to arms. ’

I answered Yes and be ing about to tell him of our adventure

,
’
,

a n d whence we came on e of the Christians w h o w e re w ith us

,

recognized the trooper w h o had p ut the question and wi t ho ut ,

lett ing me speak a wo rd more cried ,

Th a nks be t o God gentlemen for brin ging us in to so

‘
, ,

good a place ; for if I am not deceived the soil we tr ea d is

, ,

that of Velez Malaga and so if my yea rs of ca pti v it y have

, ,

n ot e ff aced the recollectio n of you from my mem ory o u i r

y s , , ,

w h o are askin g us these question s are Pe d ro de Busta m a nte , ,

’
my uncle .

Hardly had the Christian captive sa id the s e word s w hen ,

the trooper threw himself ofi his horse and ran to e m b ra ce ,

the young man saying ,

N ephew of my s oul and life I know y ou a n d have , ,

bewailed you for dead I and my sister your mother a nd , , ,

all your folk w h o are still alive for God h a s pleas e d to

, ,

spare th e ir lives that they may enj oy the bliss o f s e eing

ou W e k n ew o u we re i n Algiers and by the sign
y .
y s ,

a n d tokens of your dress and t hat of the rest of this com

pany I perceive that you have had some mirac ulous d cliv
c rance
’
.

It is so answered the youth and we shal l have ti me

‘
,
’
,
‘

enough please God t o tell you a ll .

, ,
’

As s oo n a s the horsemen underst ood that w e we re Chri s

tian captives they dismou nted and each of them o ff ered us
, ,

h i s horse t o carry u s to the city of Velez Malag a w hic h w a s ,

a lea gue a nd a half ofi . Some of t hem went back t o w here

we told them we had left the boat t o bring it to the city ; ,

others to ok us up behi n d them Z ora yda sittin g behin d our ,

c a ptive s uncle A ll the town cam e out to receive us for

’
. ,

they h a d lea rnt the news of our comi ng from some on e w ho

had go n e on befo re They did not wonder at seeing ca p ti ves
.

free n or Moo rs c a ptive for a l l the people of that coas t are

,

used t o s e e both the on e a n d the other ; but they w on dered

at the be a uty of Z ora y da which at th a t peri od a n d m oment,

w a s a t i t s height a s well through th e exertion of the j o urn ey

,

a s the j oy of fi ndi n g he rself in the lan d of t h e Chri stians ,

without fear of any disaster. Thes e had brought out on her

35 8 CE RVAN TE S

and brothers tha t

, , them I shal l scarce fin d one to
,

know me .

I have n o more to tell you gentlemen of my sto ry which

, , ,

let your good judgments decide whether it be enterta i n i ng a n d

cu rious. For myself I can sa y that I would have wished to
,

tell it to y ou more briefly though the fear of t iring you has

,
”
kep t my tongue from a g reat number of deta ils.
 C H A PT E R XXX I X

Wid e/l trea t s qf w il a t / u rtlze r kapp a “! a t the i nn, a nd of ma ny otlm

'

ti ri ng: w or th know i ng

AVI NG thus sp oken the captive w as silent a n d Don ,

Fernando sa id t o him :
I n truth s ir captain the man n er i n which you
, ,

have related this strange adventure has been such as to equal

the n ovelty a nd strangen ess of the affa ir itself. The whole
is curi ous rare and full of passages which astonish and
, ,

amaze the hearers and so great i s the pleas ure we have re

,

c e i v e d i n liste n i n g t o it th a t th ough we we re occupied till

,

to morrow by the story we should be glad to have it begi n

-

,
”
aga i n
.

A n d upon his saying this Cardenio and all the others

o ffered the stranger their utmost se rvice with words and ,

a rgume n ts s o a ff ectionate a n d sincere that the captive w a s

heartily convin ced of their good will Don Fernando in
-
. ,

particular p romised that if he would return with him he

, ,

would make the marquess his brother godfather at Z ora yd a s

, ,
’

baptism a n d that himself for his part would furnish him in

, , ,

such a manner that he might be a bl e t o appear i n h i s ow n

'

c oun try with the decency and dignity becomin g to his pe rson .
F or all this the captive e xp ressed his gra titude in most
courteous te rms but would not accept any of their generous
,

o ffers
.

By this the night had closed in and when it was n ow dark

,

there arrived at the i n n a coach with some men on ho rseback ,

who dema nded accommodation The hostess mad e answer

.

that there was n ot an inch of Space u n occ upied in all the inn .
”
However that may be said on e of those on horseback
, ,
“
w h o had come in , there must be room foun d for my lord
”
j udge who comes he re .
A t this name the hostess was troubled and c ried ,

35 9
 DO N QU IXO TE

the judge was as attentive as never h a d been judge in any

ca se til l then . The priest went no farther than t o narrate
how the Frenchme n had desp oiled the Christi ans in the bark ,

a n d the pove rty and str ess in which h i s com rade a nd t h e

beautiful Mooress had be e n left sa ying he had not heard ,

a nything of what beca me of them whether they had arrived ,

i n Spain o r the Frenchmen had carried them away t o

,

France.
The captain sta nding a little way O E w a s listening to what
, ,

the pri est sa id and taking note of all the movements of his
,

brother ; who when the priest had come to the end of h i s

,

story fetching a dee p sigh and with h is eye s filling with

, ,

te ars c ried :
,

O h s ir ! if y ou knew what was the news you have given

,

m e and h ow it troubles me nearly so that I am forced to

, ,

s how it by these tears which in spite of all my fortitude and

, ,

s e lf rest raint flow from mine eyes

-
, This captain so valiant
.
,

o f whom you speak is my eldest brother w h o

, a s being , ,

s t ronge r and loftier of mind than I or my younger b rother ,

c hose the honorable and worthy p rofe s sion of arms which ,

w a s on e of the three roads our father p roposed to us as your ,

c o mrade told you in what yo u listened t o as a fable . I fol

lowed that of lett ers i n which God and my industry have
,

ra ised me to the degree which you see My yo unger brother .

i s in Peru s o rich that with what he h a s sent to my father

,

and me he has well made up for what he took away eve n ,

’

g iving into my father s hands enough to satisfy h i s natural

p rodigality and I also have been enabled in a more b e com ,

i n g and creditable fashion t o follow my studies a n d to reac h

,

the post in which you see me . My fathe r still lives though ,

d ying with the d esire of hearing of his el dest son a n d he ,

b eseeches God with continual pra ye rs n ot to let death close

h is eyes until he may se e those of his son alive ; and I am
s u rp rised how he being so sensible could in so many troub
, , ,

l es a n d a ffl ictio n s or in his p rosperous ventures have neg

, ,

l ecte d t o give news of himself to h i s fa ther for had he or one ,

O f us bee n i n formed of his co n dition the re would have been ,

n o need to wai t for that miracle o f the cave t o Obtain his

ra nsom . But the dread with which I am now troubled i s

t h rough th i nking whether the Frenchmen have set him at
 GE RVAN TE S

liberty or have killed him to conceal their robbery Th is .

will ca use me to pursue my voyage n ot with the j oy wi th ,

which I began it but i n all melancholy and sa d n es s O my

, .

dear good brother would I knew where thou a rt th at I might

, ,

go to look for and deliver thee from thy toils al though it be ,

at the cost of my ow n ! O h w h o s hall carry the n ews to our ,

aged father that thou art alive though thou wert in th e d ee p ,

est dun geo n s Of B a rbary for the n would h i s a n d m i ne a nd

,

thy brother s wealth rescue thee ! 0 beautiful and ge n ero us

’

Z ora y da who sh a ll repay thee the go od thou ha st don e a

,

brother ? W h o shall be p resen t at the new birt h of thy so ul ,

a n d a t those nuptials which would give us all s o much h a

p
p i n e s s

These a n d such like words did the judge utt er full of s o ,

much feeling at the new s he had received of h is brother th at ,

all w h o heard them bo re him company i n demonstr ati o ns of

comp a s s ion for h i s sorrow The p riest seeing that there . ,

w a s so h a ppy a n i s su e of his stratagem and of a ll th e c a p

tain desired would n ot keep th e m any longer sorrowful so
, ,

he rose fro m the table and goin g in whe re Zora yd a w a s

, ,

took h er by the han d Lucin da Dorothe a and the j udge s

, , ,
’

daughter following her The captain stood waiti ng t o se e.

wh a t the p ries t would do when the la tter taking him a lso , ,

by h is other h a n d went with them both to where the j ud ge

,

a n d the re st of the gentlemen were and c r ied ,

Let your tea rs ce a s e to flow sir judge and let your , ,

wish be c rown e d with all the happiness you can d es ire to

atta in for h e re you h a ve before y ou your good brother and
,

your good s is ter in law : he whom you behold is the Capta in

- -

V iedma a n d thi s the beautiful Moor w h o did s o much for

,

him ; the Frenchmen I told you of have reduced them to

the stra it y ou s ee i n order that you might show them the
,

libera lity Of your n oble heart .

The capta in ra n to embrace h i s brother who put his ,

han d s upo n h i s sh oulders t o look at him a lit tle ap a rt ; but

,

whe n he rec ogn ized him he clasped him in h is arms so ,

cl osely s heddin g su ch tender te ars of j oy that the rest of

, ,

tho se present h a d t o keep him compan y with theirs The .

term s the two brothers u sed t o each other a n d the emotions ,

they dis pla yed ca n h a rdly be conceived much less described.

, ,
 DO N QU IXOTE

N ow they g ive on e another briefly an account of their

adventu res ; now they display anew their extreme brotherly
love ; now the j udge embraces Z ora y da a n d o ff ers her a ll ,

that is h i s ; now he makes h is daughter embrace her ; now

t h e lovely Christian and the love ly Moor excite anew the
tears of a ll . A nd ther e Don Q uixote s tood enrapt without ,

s peaking a wo rd pondering all th e s e stran ge events a s cri b

, ,

in g them a ll to the chime ras of kn ight err an try . Presently -

they arran ged that the ca ptain a n d Z ora yd a should return

with h i s brother t o Seville and a dvise their fa th e r of his fi n d
i n g and delivera n ce that he might be able to a tten d the
,

wedd i ng and baptism of Z ora yd a it bein g impossible for the ,

j udge to give up the voyage he was underta kin g having ,

received news that the fleet would sai l from Seville for N ew
’
Spain in a month s time and it wou ld be a gr eat i ncon
,

v e n i e n ce t o him to los e h is passage .

I n the e n d the whole compan y re mai n ed h a ppy and joyful

a t the captain s good fortu n e
’
and since tw o th irds of the
,

n ight was n ow ne a rly spent they agreed t o retire and take

,

t heir repose d u rin g the remainder of it. Don Quixote pre

a red t o keep guard ove r the castle lest they might be
p ,

a ssaulted by some gia nt or dissolute villain coveto u s o f the ,

g r eat treasure o f beauty which w a s the r e contained They .

w h o k n ew him retur n ed h im thanks givin g the j udge an ,

a ccount of his extrava ga n t humor with which he w a s not ,

a little diverted . San cho alon e w a s cross at the delay in

g oing to bed
, a n d he disposed o f hi m self b e tte r tha n the m
a l l by throwi n g himself on h i s ass s harn e s s which cost him
’
,

s o dear as by a n d by shall be told

, The ladies be in g retired
.

t o their apartment and the rest accomm odated with the

,

least possible discom fort Don Quixote sallied out of the i n n

,

t o be se n tinel of the ca s tle a s he h a d p rom ised

, .

A little be fore the break of dawn a voice so sweet and

’
t u n able reached the ladies ears a s compelled them all t o
le n d it attentive hearing especially Dorothea who lay awake
, , ,

a n d by whos e s ide slept Do n a Cla ra d e Vie dma for s o was ,

the j udge s daughte r calle d N o n e could imagin e who w a s

’
.

the person who san g so well It w a s a s i n gle voice un a ccom

. ,

a n i e d by a n y i n strume n t a n d someti m e s it s e emed that the

p ,

s ingi n g was i n the ya rd — sometimes in the stable . W hile

 CH A PT E R XL

Wherei n
’
is rel a ted the f
a g r eea ble s tory om u l
theeteer l a d wi th other

stra nge i nci den t: w h i ch happ ened i n the i n n

OV E S
’
ma ri n er a m I
O n h is deep ocea n tossed ;
All h ope of rea ch i ng port,
Ah me ! I fea r is l os t .
A s ta r tha t s h i n es on h i gh ,
I m ta ki ng as my gui d e,
’

Mo re fa i r a nd brigh t t h a n all
Th a t Pa li nurus s pie d ;
I t lea ds I know n ot w h ith er,
And a ll perplexed I s t eer,
My h ea rt i n te n t on ga zing ,
Ca reles s , yet full of m e.
H er coy ness a ll t oo cruel,
An d too much mod es ty,
A re cl ouds w h i ch ve il h er face,
T o s e e h er w h e n I try .
0 Cla ra ! luce n t s ta r,
I fad e thy lig h t be nea th ,
B ut w h e n ob s cured t h y b ea ms ,
”
T h en na ugh t is left but dea th .

W hen the singer came to this point o f his song Doro ,

thea thought it unfair to let Cla ra miss hearin g s o fi n e a

voice a n d so shaking her ge n tly fro m side t o s ide awoke
, , ,

her saying
,

Pardon me child for awaking y ou but I do so that you

, , ,

may enjoy listening to the best voice you perhaps have ever
”
h eard in all your life .

Clara awoke all sleepy and at first did not understand

, ,

what Dorothea s a id a n d askin g her she told her again

, , , ,

when Cl a ra became attentive B ut sc a rcely had she heard

.

two verses of what the si n ger was repeatin g when s h e was ,

se ized with a s trange tremblin g as if s h e had been take n with

6
3 7
 CE RVAN TE S

a sev ere fit of a gue and hugging Dorothea ti ghtly in her

, ,

a rms s h e cried
,

A h l dear lady of my soul and life why did y ou w ake ,

me ? F or the greatest good fo rtune could d o me n ow were

t o keep my eyes and ears shut so as not to se e or hea r th at
”
unhappy musician .
What is it you say child ? Think that the si nger i s so
, ,

t hey say a muleteer l a d

, .
”
O h no he is n ot
, replied Clara but a lord of many
, ,

places ; and on e he holds in my heart so securely a s tha t if ,

he wishes not t o leave he shall be the tenant forever

, .

Dorothea was amazed at the passionate words of th e young

girl thinki ng them much in a dvance of what h er ten der ye ars
,

seemed to promise and so said to her

,

You S peak Lady Cl ar a in such a way that I ca n n ot un

, ,

d e rsta nd you ; explain yourself further a nd tell me what is , ,

this you say of you r heart and po ssession s and this minstrel ,

whose voice so di sq uie t s you ? But s a y noth in g n ow f or I ,

would n ot by atte nd i ng to your t ransports lo se the pl ea su re

, ,

of hearin g him w h o s i ngs for he seems t o be res uming h is

,
”
song with new verses and a new air.
”
Let it be so with all my heart answ ered Clara . An d , ,

that she might n ot listen to him she stopped both h e r ears ,

with her hands at which Doroth ea was ag ai n surpri se d ; but

, ,

attendin g to the song she found it ra n thus

,

Sweet h ope be bold !

And t hroug h al l obs ta cl es a nd h edges break ;
T he pa th s t ill h old
Firmly w h ich th ou th ys el f d ids t pla n a nd ma ke ;
N or fea r to s ee
T he d ea th a t e ve ry s te p a wa iti ng thee.

Th e h ea rt oppres s ed
By craven fea r n o j oy of tri umph knows,
And al l unbl es t
I s h e wh om fortune da res not to oppos e,
B ut ta me cons e nts
To yield h is soul up to s wee t indolence .

Th a t Love s h oul d se ll
Hi s troph ies ath igh price is fit a nd bes t ;
For w h o s h a l l te ll
 DON QU IXOTE
Th e worth of pledges by Lov e s ha nd i mpres sed ? ‘

And s ti l l i t s so,
’

W ha t cos ts but little is but ra ted l ow.

lover true
The
Of firm res olve t he impos s ible at ta ins ,
A nd th oug h I sue,
B eset by a ll imped iments a nd p a ins,
Des pa ir not I
From this dull ea rt h to rea ch tha t h ea ven on h igh . ”

’
Here the voice ceased and Clara s sighs broke out afresh .
,
’
A ll this excited Dorothea s curiosity w h o longe d to k n ow ,

t h e cau s e of s o sweet a song and so s a d a plaint ; a n d so s h e

asked Clara again to tell her what s h e was a bout to s a y before .
U pon this Clara a fraid that Lucind a might he a r her c r eep
, ,

i n g close to Dorothea put her mouth so near the other s ca r

’
,

a s that she could speak safely without being heard by any

o n e else and sa id
,

H e w h o sings d ear lady is s on to a gentleman native of

, , ,

the kingdom of Ara gon the lord o f t w o villages w h o lived

, ,

o pposite to my father s hou s e in M a drid A n d tho ugh my

’
.

father h as the windows of his house covered with ca nvas in

the wi nter and j alousies in summer I do not know h ow it was , ,

but this young gentlem a n saw me a s he w as goin g to his

stu dies I cannot say whether it w as at church or somewhere
,

else I n fact he fell i n love with me a n d gave me to un der

. , ,

sta nd s o from the wi n dows of h is house by so many tokens ,

a n d so m any tears that I had to believe him and even t o love

,

him without knowing what he wished of me Amo n g the

, .

sig ns he would m a ke me w a s to jo in on e hand to the other ,

giving me to understand he would marry me ; a n d tho ugh I

wo uld have been very glad if it might be s o bein g a lo n e a n d ,

without a mother I did n ot kn ow with whom to s pea k of it

, ,

a n d s o I let it be without givi n g him any other fa vo r th a n ,

when my father w a s from home a n d h is also to lift t h e cur ,

tain or j a lousie a little bit and let him s e e me fully a t which ,

he would be so enraptured that he see med like going mad .

N ow the time o f my father s dep a rture a rri ved which he had
’

l earnt though n ot of me for I c ou ld never tell him a n d then

, , ,

he fell sick as I le a rn from grief a n d s o I was never a ble to

, , ,

se e him t o bid him g ood by not eve n w ith my eyes .

-

, But a fter
35
 DO N ourxor s

i n , I being but a g irl and he a boy, for I verily believe we are

o f the same a g e , and I am n ot yet sixteen , n or shall be , my
”
f a ther s a ys, ti ll next Michaelmas day.
Dorothea could not help laughing to hear h ow like a child
D o ri a Clara spoke and said to her :
,

Let us sleep dear lady during the little which I think

, ,

r emai n s of the night and God wi ll send us morni ng when we

,
”
s h al l do well or my h an ds shall g o ill .
,

With this they fell asleep a nd throughout the in n there

,
’
r eigned a profou n d silence . The innkeeper s daughter and
M aritornes her servant alon e did not sleep for lea rning of
, , ,

the humor which possessed Don Q uixote a n d that he stood ,

o utside the inn armed and mounted on guard the two dete r ,

m ined to play him some trick or at least to pass a little time ,

i n listenin g t o his nonsense .

It so h a ppen ed that there w a s n o window in all the inn
w hic h looked out on the fields but only a hole in the loft o ut ,

o f which they used to th row o ut the straw A t this hole the .

t w o gir ls posted themselves and throug h it they espied Don

,

Q uix ote on horseback leaning on h

, i s lance giving forth from ,

t ime to time sighs so doleful and p rofound that it seemed

t hat each on e of them would tear up his soul A n d they .

h eard him likewise sa y in a soft delicate and amoro us

, , ,

v o rce

O lady mi n e D ulcinea Del Toboso s um of all beauty

, , ,

t e rm a n d crown of discretion trea sury of all the best grace , ,

d epositary o f virtue and lastly ideal of all that is wo rthy

, , , ,

c has te ,a n d delectable in the world ! A n d what at this

p resent may thy gr a ce be doing ? A rt peradventure mu s ing , ,

o n thy captive k n ight who all i n thy se rvice has desired o f

,

h is free will to subject himself to s o man y pe rils ? Give me

t i dings of h e r 0 t h ou luminary o f the three faces . Mayhap
,

w ith envy of hers thou art n ow looking down upon her it ,

m a y be p a cing some gallery of h e r sumptuous pa laces or with ,

h er bosom leant again st some balco n y deliberatin g how with , ,

s a fety of her ho n or a n d greatness s h e may assuage the ,

t o rture which for her this my aching heart endures what ,

g lory s h e may bestow o n m y pains what sol a ce t o my an x iety

, ,

a n d finally what life t o my death what guerdon to my se r

, , ,

v ices . A nd thou 0 S un ! who now shouldst be busy h ar

,
 CERVANTE S

nes s i n g thy steeds to rise be times a nd g o forth to behol d my

l ady I beseech thee when thou s eest h e r t o salute h e r o n
, , ,

my behalf ; but beware when thou seest a n d s a l ute st her th a t ,

thou dost not kis s her on the fa ce or I sh al l be m o re jeal ou s ,

of thee tha n eve r w a st thou of that n imble ingrate w h o m a d e

thee sweat and run so over the pla i ns of Thessaly or by th e

banks of Peneus for I m i nd me not where thou didst th e n r un
,

i n thy jealous and amorous frenzy.

A t this po int had Don Quixote a rrived in his patheti c
hara ngue when the in n keep er s daughter called to h im so ftly
,
’

a nd whispered

Dear s i r come this way if y ou please .

, ,

At this signal and voice Don Qui xote turned h i s h ea d

, ,

and saw by the light of the moon which was then i n a l l i t s ,

brightn ess that they beckoned him fro m the hole which t o
, ,

him appeared a window and even with gilded bars a s w a s

, ,

fi tti ng that such castles a s he imagined the inn t o he s h oul d

have . A n d at once on the instant he con ceived to hi mse lf
in his mad imag in ation h ow t h at aga in as once be fore t h e , ,

lovely maiden daug h ter of the lord of the cas tle conq u ere d
, ,

by love of him w as come once more t o conve rse with h i m ;

,

and in this f a ncy that he might not seem discourte o us a n d

,

ungrateful he turned Rozin a n te round and went up t o t h e

, ,

hole and when he sa w the t w o wenches he excla imed

, ,

I pity you beauteous lady that you have fixed your

, ,

amorous in cli n ations where it is not poss ible for you to fin d

a re s ponse suitable to your gr eat me rit a nd gentlehood ; o f
whic h you mu s t not impute the blame to this mis e ra bl e
knight erra nt whom love makes incapable of enga ging hi s
,

in clin ation to a ny o ther than to her whom from the mom en t

h i s eyes beheld h er he made absolute mrst re ss O f h is s oul
, .

Pardo n me am iable lady and retire to your chamber a n d be

, , ,

pleased not to reveal to me any further your love that I ,

may not appear more unthankful . An d if of the lov e y ou

bear me you may discover in me aught else with whic h I
c a n sati s fy you so that it be not love itself demand i t of me , ,

for I swear t o you by that absen t sweet enemy o f min e to

bestow it upon you incontine n tly ; y ea though y ou sh o ul d ,

deman d a lock of Med usa s hair which w a s a ll s n ake s or

’
, ,

even the rays of the sun enclosed in a vi

 DON QU IXOT E

My lady needs none of that s ir kn ight excl aim e d , ,

M aritornes.
What then does sh e need discreet dam e
, , answered
,

Don Quixote.
O nly o n e of your be autiful hands replied Maritornes , ,

w ith whic h s h e may appea se the great desire which h a s

brought her t o this window so much to the peril of her ,

honor t hat if my lo rd her father c a me to know it the leas t ,

slice he would take o ff her would be a n e a r.

”
I would fain se e that answered Don Quixote ; he had
,

best beware of that if he would n ot m ake the most disastrous

,

e n d that ever father did in the world for h avi n g laid hands ,
”
on the de l icate limbs of h is love str icke n daughte r -
.

Marito rn es makin g n o doubt but tha t Don Quixote would

,

gi ve the han d she h a d a sked Of him a n d havin g con trived in ,

her min d wh a t she would do with it came down from the loft ,

and ra n to the stable whence s h e took the halter of Sancho

,

Panza s ass and returned with it in all haste to the hole just
’
, ,

a s Don Quixote had s e t h i s feet on Rozi n a n t e s s a ddle to reach

’

t h e barred wi ndow at which b e imagin ed the smitten damsel

w a s sta n di n g and stretching forth h i s hand to h e r he cried
, ,

Take lady this h a n d or I should ra ther say this scourge

, , , , ,

o f the world s evil doe r s Take this hand I say which n o

’
-
. , ,

woman s h a s ever touched not eve n hers w h o holds entire

’
,

p ossession of my whole body . I giv e it to

y o u not that you ,

may kiss it b ut th a t you may admir e the contexture of its

,

s inews t h e i n te rl a ceme n t of the muscles the width a n d spa

, ,

c i o us n e s s of its vei n s whe n ce you ma y judge what must be

”
t h e strengt h of the a rm which ow n s such a han d .
”
That w e shall se e presently said M a ritorn es A nd , . ,

m aking a r unn ing k n ot on the halter she clapped it on h is ,

w rist a n d descendin g from the hol e tied the other end very
, , ,

fi rmly to the bolt of the loft door.

Don Quixote feelin g the rough n ess Of the cord about his
,

w rist exclaimed
,

Yo ur l a dyship seems rather t o g rate than to g reet my

h a nd . Treat it not so evilly since it i s not t o blam e for the
,

i l l my inclin a tio n does y ou n or is it well that on s o small a

,

p art should fall your whole disple a sure ; conside r that one
”
w h o loves well should not so ill avenge.
 DON Qurxor rz -

bellowed like a bull for he had n o hope that the day would
,

relieve h i s su ff eri n gs which he believed to be everlasti ng

, ,

taki ng himself to be enchan ted . And he believed this the

m ore by seeing that Rozi n a n te had n ot budged ever so little ,

a n d he co n cluded that in that fas hio n without eating or ,

d rinkin g or s leepi n g they had to stan d he and h i s horse

, , ,

until that ma li g n influen ce of the sta rs had passed or a nother

more learned nec roman cer should e ff ect his disenchant
ment .

But he was greatly deceived in this belief for scarce had ,

the day begu n to break when there arrived at the inn four
men on horseback well appointed and equipped with the ir
, ,

fi re l oc ks upon their saddle bows They called out at the inn

-
.

door which w as sti ll shut giving loud knocks ; which Don

, ,

Q u ixote perceiving from where he was perforce standing on

guard in a lofty a n d imperious voice he c ried out
,

Knights or squire s or whosoever ye be you have no right ,

t o knock at the gates of this castle for it i s su ffi cie n tly clear

,

that at such hours those within either are sleeping or a re n ot

in the habit of Ope n in g fortresse s until the s un h a s sp rea d h is
beams over the whole lan d Retire ye without a n d wait till
. ,

the broad day appear a nd then we shall s ee whether it be

,

r ight or not to open to you .

W hat the devil fortress or castle i s this t o oblige us to ,

” “
observe these ceremo n ies ? cried on e of them If you a re .

the inn keeper bid them O pen to us for we are travelers w h o

, ,

w an t no more than to bait our horses and pass on for we are ,

”
in haste .

Thi n k ye ge ntlemen that I have the look Of an inn

, ,

keeper ? respon ded Don Quixote .

I know n ot wh a t look you have replied the other but , ,
”
I know you ta lk n on se n se in calling this inn a castle .

“ ”
A c a stle it is s a id Don Q uix ote a nd even of the best
, ,

in all this p rovince a n d it co n ta i n s people within that have

,
”
held scepter in han d a n d crown upo n he a d .

It were bette r the other way q uoth the traveler ; the ,

scepter on the head a n d the c rown i n the han d M a ybe if . ,

we come to the fact the re will be within some company Of

,

pl a ye rs who ofte n wear th ose crowns a n d scepters y ou speak

,

o f ; f or in a n inn s o small a n d where they kee p such quiet a s

,
 CE RVAN T E S

this I d o not be lieve there l odge p e rson s wort hy of crow n

,
”
a n d scepter .

Ye know little of the world repli ed Do n Quixote si n ce, ,

ye are ign oran t of the acciden ts which are wont to h a p pen in

”
knight errantry
-
.

The compan ions of the questioner growing wea ry of th e ,

colloquy held with Don Quixote knocked again with gr e at ,

violen ce t o such e fl e ct that all w h o were in the inn were

,

startled a s well as the i nnkeep er who g ot up to inquire w h o

, ,

kn ocked .
Meanwhile it fell out that on e of the fo ur ho rses which t h e
strangers were riding went up to sme ll at Rozin a n te w h o , ,

s a d and melancholy wi th his ears hangi ng do w n bo r e with

, ,

o ut bud g ing h is outstretched maste r but be ing after a ll made ,

o f fle s h though he seemed t o be of wood he co u ld n ot help

, ,

u n bending and smelling again at him who came to o ff er h i m

the s e endearments B ut scarce had he moved one step wh en
.

Don Quixote s two feet which we re clo s e together sli pped

’

, , ,

a n d s liding from the saddle the knight would have co me t o

, ,

the ground had he n ot bee n suspen ded by the a rm ; whi ch

caused him so much pain that he felt as though his wrist w a s
being cut O ff or his arm torn away for he hung so nea r th e ,

gro und th a t with the extreme tips of hi s toes he could a lmost

, ,

tou ch it which was the m ore to h i s damage ; for se e

, ,

i n g how little w a s wan tin g to the s ettin g of h i s f e et flat on

the earth he strained a n d stretched himself a s much a s he
,

co uld d o to reach the groun d like those w h o a re under the

,

to rture of the strappado pla ced be tween touch a n d touch

,

not for they a re themselves the cau s e of the a ggravation of

,

thei r su ff erin g by their eage rn ess to stretch the m selves ,

deluded by the hope which they cherish that with a littl e ,

more stretching they will reach the ground

,
.
 CH A PT E R X LI

W
’herei n a re con ti nreed the unhea rd o a dventure: o the -

f f i nn

N e ff ect s o great w as the uproar which Don Quixote

,

rais ed that openi n g the i nn door hastily the la n dlord

, , ,

ra n out in a fright to see who was utte ri n g those cries .

M aritorn es whom the c ries had also awakened gues sin g

, ,

w hat it was ra n t o the s traw loft and unseen by a n y on e

, , , ,

loo s ed t h e h alter which h eld up Don Quixote a n d he fell at ,

o nce to the grou n d i n the sight o f the innkeeper and of the

t ravelers w h o coming up to him a s ked what ailed him that

, , ,

h e roared so loudly T h e knight without answerin g a word

. , ,

s lipped the h a lter o ff his wrist and risin g to h i s feet jumped

, , ,

u po n Rozi n a n t e braced on his s hield couched his lance and

, , ,

takin g a good circuit round the field rode back at a hand ,

gallop e xc l a irni n g
,

Whoever sha ll affi rm that I have been with just ti tle

e nch a nted if my lady the Pri n cess M i co mi con a wil l give me
,

license t o do so I give him the lie a nd challenge and defy

, ,

him to single combat !

The n ew arrivals were amaze d at these words of Don
Quixote ; but the inn keeper removed their wonder by telling
them who Don Q u ixote w a s and that they must n ot mind ,

h i m for he was out of his wits . They then inquired of the

,

landlord whether by a ny chance the re h a d come to that inn

, ,

a youth of abo ut fi fteen yea rs old on e dres s ed a s a m ule boy ,

-

with such a n d such m a rks giving the same which Do n a Cla ra s

,
’

lover bore The inn keeper replied that there were so many
.

p eople i n the i n n that he had n ot take n note of him they

asked about ; b ut on e of them having espied the coach the ,

j udge had come in cried ,

Here he must be without do ubt for this i s the coach

, ,

which they said he w a s followin g. Let one of us remai n at

the door and the rest go in to look for him ; and it would
377
 DON m or rs

i ng else ca n be expected from the pain he is in for your

”
a bsence .

W hy h ow did my father know said Don Loui s that I

, , ,

c ame this road a n d in this d ress

”
It was a studen t answered the servant whom you had
, ,

t o ld of your intentions that discovered it moved to pity for

, ,

the grief which your father showed wh en he mis sed you S o .

b e des patched four of h i s serva nts i n search of you a n d we ,

a re a ll he re at your se rvice more glad than y ou can imagine

,

a t the good despatch with which we s hall return restoring y ou ,

”
to the eyes that love y ou so dearly .
Th a t shall be a s I p lease or a s Heaven sh a ll will ,

answered Don Louis .

W h at would you pleas e or Heaven will other than con ,

sent to come back with us ? N othin g else is possible to be

”
done.
The mule boy who lay near Don Louis heard all this con
-

, ,

v e rsation a n d getting up he we n t to tell Don Fe rn ando

, ,

Carden io a n d the rest who were now dressed of what had

, , ,

passed sa ying also h ow that the ma n had called the lad Don
, ,
’

a n d repeati n g what he had said and how he wi s hed the boy ,

’
t o return to h i s fathe r s house a n d he would n ot . W ith this
, ,

a n d knowi n g already of the fi n e v oice with which He a ve n

h a d g ifted him they a ll felt a great desire to learn more

,

p a rticularly who he w as and also to help him if they sought

,

t o do him any viole n ce So they betook themselves to wher e

.

he w a s still talking and disputing with his servant Do rothea .

n ow came out of her chamber a n d behi n d her Do n a Clara, ,

all troubled ; a nd Dorothea callin g Ca rde n io aside told him

, ,

i n a few words the sto ry of the sin ger a n d of Do n a Cl a ra a n d ,

’
also of what pas sed when the father s se rva nts came to
searc h for the youth N or did he s peak s o l ow b ut that he
.

l e t Do n a Clara hear it a n d she was s o much a gitated th a t if

,

D orothea had n ot ru n to support h e r she would have falle n

t o the ground . C a rde n io bade Dorothea g o ba ck with Cla ra
t o their chamber and he would try to set eve rythin g to r i ghts ;
,

a nd they did s o The whole four w h o had com e in search of

.

Don Louis were now within the i n n and h a vin g got rou n d ,

h i m were urgin g him to return at on ce with o ut d e l a yi n g a ,

m o m ent to comfort hi s father

, he answeri n g that he co uld
,
 CE RVAN TE S

n ot on a ny account do so unti l he had concluded a n a Ea ir in

which his l ife h is honor and hi s heart wer e embarked. T he
, ,

servan ts then p res sed him sa yi ng that th ey wo uld n ev e r go ,

back with o ut him a n d would ca rry him away whet h e r h e

,

would or n ot.
That you shall n ot do repl ied Don Louis unles s y ou , ,

carry me away dead ; however y ou carry me it will be wit hout ,

”
life.

By this time all the others who were i n the inn h a d c ome
up to hear the dis pute notably Cardenio Don Fernan do his
, , ,

companions the j udge the priest the barber in cludi ng D on

, , , ,

Quixote to whom there seemed to be n o more ne ed for

,

guardin g the cas tle . Carde n io who knew the boy s story ,
’

already asked th ose who wished t o take h im wh a t mo tiv e

, ,

they had for carryin g th a t lad away aga in st h is will ?

”
O ur motive i s a n s we re d on e of the four
, that we ma y ,

g ive life t o h i s f a ther who stands i n peri l,of losing it t h r o ug h

’ ”
this gen tleman s absence .
Upo n this Don Louis said
There is no reason why I sho uld gi ve an a ccoun t here of
my a ff airs. I am free and I shall return if it pleas es me ; if
,

n ot n o n e o f y o u shall compel me
, .
”
Reason shall compel you answered the ma n an d
, ,

should that n ot suffice wit h y ou it must sufli ce with us to

'

d o that for which we are come and to which we a re by duty ,

boun d .

Let us kn ow what this is to th e bottom the j udge then , ,

said .
The man w h o knew him a s a neighbor of t h e hou se
, ,

replied
DO n ot y ou my lord judge kn ow th is gentleman your
, , ,

n eighbo r s s on w h o h a s run away from his father s hou s e i n

’ ’

a garb so unbecomin g his quality as your worship can s ee ,

The judge then looked at him more attentively and knew ,

him and embracing him cried

, ,
“
What child s trick s a re these Don Loui s or what are
’

, ,

the causes s o powerful a s to move you to come here i n this

manner a n d in this dress which suits so ill with your con
, ,

ditio n
The te ars came into the youth s eyes and he could not ’
,
 DO N ourxor n

answer a wo rd to the j udge who bade the four se rvants be ,

e as y for all would be well a n d taking Don Lo uis by the

, , ,

h and he led him a side a n d asked him the reason o f h i s

, ,

c oming the r e .

While the j udge was putting these a n d other que s tion s ,

l oud cries were heard at the inn door the cause of which w a s ,

that t w o guests w h o had lodged there that night seein g ,

e verybo dy occupied in learning about the quest of the four

s erv an ts h a d th o ught to g o O E without p a ying what they

,

o wed . But the in n keeper who attended more to h is ow n

,

busines s than to other people s laid hold of them a s they ’

w ere goi ng out of the door a n d dema n ded the reckoning , ,

u p bra idi n g them for their scu rvy desig n in such terms a s

m oved them to re s pond with their fi sts . This they began to

d o so vigo ro us ly that the po or i n n keeper w a s forced to give
'
t ongue and call for help . The h os tess a n d her daughter sa w
n o on e idle enough to be able to help but Don Quixote s o ,

t h e daughter cried t o him

H elp ! Sir kn ig ht by the vi rtue which God has given
,

—
you help my poo r father who m tw o wicked me n are ,

th rashing like a bundle of corn

To which D on Quixote deliberately a n d with much com
o u re replied :
p s

Beauteous da msel your petition c a n n ot at the p resen t

, ,

t ime be con s ide red for I am debarr ed f ro m engaging i n any

, ,

other adven ture until I have concluded the on e to which my

word has pledged me . But what I shall be able to d o for
your service i s what I will n ow tell you : run and sa y to your
father that he must maintain hims elf in th a t battle a s be st he
can a n d not i n any wise suffe r himself to be conquered whils t
, ,

I demand license of the Prin cess Micomicona to succ or him

in his distre s s which if she gran t me h old it for certai n th a t
, , ,

I will relieve him therefrom .

”
A s I am a s inner cried Maritornes who w a s by
, before , ,

y o u get that license yo u me n tio n my m a ste r will be i n the ,

”
ot her world .
“
Permit me lady but t o get the license I speak of
, , ,

respo n ded D on Quixote for so I h a ve it it will little matter

, ,

if he be in the ot h er world for I will fetc h him the n ce in ,

sp ite of that same world sh ould it ga in say me or at least I ,

 DO N QU IXO TE

f ollow her whereve r she m ight go a s the arrow the mark or ,

a s the mari n e r the p o le sta r. She kn ows n ot Of my passio n -

m o re than s h e h a s bee n able t o per ceive som etimes in my

t e a rful eyes from afar You s ir k n ow of the fortun e and . , ,

r ank o f my p a rents and that I am their sole hei r , If y ou .

think th a t these are e n dowme nts enough for y ou to venture

t o make me completely h a ppy receive m e n ow for you r s on ; ,

for though my father p rompted by othe r design s of hi s ow n , ,

sh ould n ot be plea s ed wit h this ble s sin g which I h a ve bee n

able to s eek out for m yself yet time has more power to direct ,
”
a n d a lte r things than hum a n will .

Sayin g this the enamored youth was silen t a n d the judge

, , ,

havi ng heard him w a s amazed and perplexed ,

— full Of ,

ad m iration no less at the in ge n uou s m ode in which D on

,

Lo uis had disclosed his feelin gs tha n a t fi n din g him s elf in

s uch a pass n o t k n owing what cou rs e t o take i n a matter s o
,

s udden and u n lo c ked f or Therefore he m a de no oth e r -

. ,

a n s wer than t o bid him be at his c a s e fo r the p re s e n t a n d

a r range with h i s se rvan t s n ot to g o back th a t d a y th a t he ,

m igh t have time to co n sider wh a t w a s best fo r all Don .

Lo uis kissed h i s han ds perforce n a y b a thed them with tears , , ,

a thing which might melt a heart of ma rble n ot t o say t h a t ,

o f the j udge w h o bei n g a prude n t m a n

, , had already p e r ,

ce i v e d h ow g ood such a match w a s for his d a ughter t h ough ,

h e wis hed that if it we re p oss ible it might be carried out

, ,

w i th the co n sent of Don Lou rs s fa ther w h o he k n ew aspired ,

t o have his s on made a nobleman of title .

By this ti me the re w a s peace between the guests a n d the

in n keepe r for by Don Quixote s pe rsuas ion s a n d fa ir words
, ,
’
,

m ore than th rough me n aces they h a d p a id him all be de ,

m a n d e d a n d the servan ts of Don Louis we re wa iti n g for the

,

e n d Of the judge s di s cou rs e a n d their maste r s de c isi on ;

’ ’

w hen the devil w h o n eve r sleep s s o o rde red it that i n th a t

, ,

s ame mome n t the re c a me i n to the i n n the ba rber f rom whom

D on Quixote had take n Ma mbri n o s helm et a n d S a n cho

’

P a nza the a s s trappin gs which he had exchan ged for h i s

-
,

ow n . This barber while se n din g h i s be a st to the s table p e r

, ,

c e i v e d Sancho Pa n za a s he w a s m endi n g s o m ethi n g about the

anel a n d a s soon as he saw him he knew him a n d fell on
p ,

S ancho boldly c rying out . ,

 CE RVANT E S

Ah sir t h i ef here I ha ve you ! Give up my ba s in a n d

, ,

my panel with a ll the t ra ppings y ou stole fro m me

,

Sancho fin ding him self att acked so suddenly a n d h ea ri n g

, ,

these foul words with on e hand s eize d h old of t h e p a n el

,

and with the other dealt the barber a blow which bath ed his
j a ws with blood But not for a ll that did t h e ba rber let g o
.

his grip of the panel ; on the c ontrary he rais ed h is v oice ,

so loud that all the people in the inn ra n up to t h e di n a n d

s cu ffl e .

Help here in the name of the king and of justice ! cried

,

he. Because I ta ke back my pro p er ty he w a nts t o kill me , ,

this highwayman thief !

You lie ! answered Sancho I a m n o highwaym a n , .

My ma ster Don Quixote won the s e S po i ls in fai r batt le.

, ,
”

Don Quixote w h o was p resent was right gla d t o se e h ow

, ,

well his squire s tood on the defense and oEen se a n d took hi m ,

from th a t time forth for a man of mettle a n d re s olved in his ,

heart to ha ve him dubbed kn ight on the first oppo rtuni ty

which might ofi e r con fi dent that on him the order of k night
,

hood would be well bestowed. N ow a mong the other things

the ba rbe r said i n the co urse of the fray said he , .

Gentlemen this p a nel is as su rely m ine a s the dea th I

,

owe to God a n d I know it a s well a s if I had brought it

,

into the world and there is my a s s in the stable who wo n t let

,
’

me li e ; if not t ry it on him a n d if it does n ot fit him to a

, ,

hair call me infamous ; a nd more by token th a t on t h e very

,

d a y it w a s ta ken from me they took from me als o a new ,

brass basin th a t had never bee n h a n dse l d which w a s good ’

,

f or a crow n .

Here D on Quixote could no lon ger contai n himse lf from

speakin g but t hrustin g himself between the t w o a n d p arting
,

them the panel being deposited on the groun d that it m ight

,

be open to public i nspection u n til the truth w a s as c erta i ned ,

he said
Why gen tlemen you may see the clea r a n d ma nifest
, ,

error into which this good squire hath fallen since he calls a ,

basin th a t which w a s is a n d shall be the helm of M a mbrino

, , ,

— the which I took from him in fair war and made myse lf ,

owner of it with right and lawful possess ion I n reg a rd to .

the p a nel I meddle n ot ; what I am able to sa y about it is

, ,
 DON QU IXOT E

t h a t my squire S a ncho besought my leave to strip the trap

p i ngs 0 3 the hors e o f this vanquished coward therewith to ,

a d orn h i s own I ga ve him leave a n d he took them . A s to

. ,

t h e convers ion of the trappings into an ass s pack saddle I

’
-

ca n gi v e n o other r eason but the common o ne — to wit th a t , ,

th ese transform a tions are wont to be seen in the a Ea i rs o f

c h iva l ry ; fo r a con fi rmation of which run Sancho my son
, , , ,

and bring here the helmet which this good man a v ouch eth to
b e a bas in .
”
E ga d sir cried Sancho
, , if we have not better proof of
,

o ur sto ry th a n this what your worship s ays the helmet of ,

M ambrin o i s as much a basin as th is fellow s trap pings are a ’

”
p ack saddle
-
.

“
DO what I command thee replied Don Quixote ; for,

it c a nnot be th at a l l things in this c a stle are governed by

e n chantm ent .
Sancho went and fetched the basin and as soon as Don ,

uixote it he t ook it in h i s hands and said

Q s a w , ,

Behold gentl emen with what face this squire hath be en

, ,

a ble t o a ffirm that this is a basin a n d n ot the helmet I have

,

m entioned ! I now swear by the order of knighthood I p ro

,

fe ss that this was the same helmet I took from him without
, ,
”
a nything being added t o or taken the refrom .
” “
There i s n o doubt of that sa id Sa n cho for since my
, ,

m aste r w on it till n ow he has n ot fought more than on e

batt le with it when he free d tha t un lucky chain gang a n d
,
-

w ere it n ot for this same basin helmet he h a d not g ot O E very

-

w ell that time f or the re was a deal Of stone throwing i n th a t

,
-

bout
 DON QU IXOT E

of thought regarding the a ff air of Don Louis ; but the s e ri ous

n ess of what he h a d in h i s mind held him s o engrossed that

h e gave little or n o attention to these pleasan tries .

’ ” “
Lord a me rcy cried the befooled barber at this ; and is
,

it po ssible that s o many honorable gentlemen should say this

is n ot a basin but a helmet ? Belike tis a thing to set a ,
’

w hole commu n ity a wondering a t let it he never s o wise

-

, .

W ell ; if s o be that this basin i s a helmet why this pack ,

’
s addle t oo mu s t need s be a h o rse s tra pp ings as this ge n tle ,
”
m a n has said .

“
To me it looks like a pack saddle exclaimed Don Quix -

o te but I h a ve a lready said I do n ot meddle with that

”
m atter.
Whether it be pack saddle or horse trappings observed
- -

,
“
t h e priest , it is but for Don Quixote to say for in these ,

m att ers o f chivalry all these gentlemen and myself yield him
”
t h e precedence .
By he a ve n si rs said Don Quixote so many and such
, , ,

s t range thin gs h a ve happened t o me i n this castle these t w o ,

o c casions i n which I have lodge d the rei n that I dare n ot ,

a ffi rm anythin g positively concerni n g aught that shall be de

m a nde d of what i s c ontained i n it f or I imagine that wh a t ,

e v er i s do n e here goes by enchantme n t The first time a . ,

w i zard Moor th e re is within muc h ann oyed me and Sancho ,

fared not very we ll with certa in of h is following and last ,

n ight I w a s hanged by this arm for nearly tw o hours without

k n owing ho w or why I came to fa ll into that mishap . The re
f o re for me to in terfere in an a ff a ir of so much perplexity t o
, ,

g ive my o pini on thereupon we re t o risk a rash j udgme n t

, .

A s touchi n g what they say th a t this is a ba s in and n o hel

,

m e t I have al rea dy answered ; but a s to the decl a r in g

,
’
w hether that i s a n ass s pan el or horse furniture I dare n ot -

u tter any de fi n itive opinion but leave it t o your w ors hips

’
,

b e tte r jud gme n t Mayhap th ro ugh y ou r n ot being dubbed

. ,

k n ights as I am the enchantm en ts of this place may have

,

n o thing to d o with you and yo u shall h a ve your unde rstan d

,

in gs free and shall be able to j udge of the a fl a i rs of this

'

ca s tle a s they really and truly are a n d n ot as they have a p ,

”
e a re d to me
p .

“ “
There is n o doubt Don Ferna n do replied to this t hat
, ,
 C E RVAN TE S

Don Quixote h a s said ve ry well that t o us belongs th e dete r ,

min ation of this cas e and that it may proceed upo n a m ore ,

solid foundation I will ta ke t h e vote s of the s e ge n tl emen

,
”
privi ly and gi ve you a ll full and clear notice of th e re s u lt.
A ll this was matter of most exce llent mirth to t hos e w ho
’
were a cquainted with Don Quixote s h umor but to those ,

w h o were ign orant of it it s eemed th e greatest n o n se n se in ,

the world especially to the fo ur serva nts of Don L o u i s a nd

, ,

t o Don Louis also and to three other tra vele rs w h o ha p ,

pened to arrive at the inn w h o had t he appearance o f o ffi cers ,

of justi ce as i n fact they were . But he w h o was m os t at h is

,

wits end was the barber who se bas in had been t urn e d b efore
’

his eyes in to Ma mbrin o s helmet a n d who se pack s ad dl e he ’

,
-

fully expected had to be changed into a rich horse ca p a riso n -

.

All of them laughed to see Don Fe rna n d o g o from o n e to

an other ta king their votes whis p erin g them in t h e e a r tha t ,

they might declare it i n sec ret if it were a s s pa nel or h orse ,

-

furniture that pretty thing over which there h a d bee n so

,

much figh ting ; and after he had ta ken the votes of t h ose
who knew Don Quixote he sa id aloud ,
“
The fact is my good ma n that I am weary Of tak i n g so
, ,

many O pin ion s for I fin d n obody whom I a sk what I w is h to

,

kn ow who does not tell me that it is absurd t o sa y th is is

,

a n ass s pack s a ddle a n d n ot t h e ca p ariso n of a h o rse

’
-

, ,

aye a n d of a well bred horse ; and therefo re you m u s t ha ve

,
-

patience for i n spite of you and of you r ass this is a ca pari

,

s o n and n o pa n el and you have made out the ca s e very

,
”
badly on you r p a rt .

Ma y I n eve r have a part in heaven cried the poo r ba r ,

ber if yo ur ho n o rs a re not a l l mista ken and so may my

,
“
,

soul appear befo re God a s this panel appears to me a panel

a n d n ot a capari s on ; but s o go the laws — a n d I sa y n o m ore ,

a n d truly I am n ot d r u n k ; for exce p t it be wit h sin I ha ve , ,

not broke n my fast .

The barber s simplicities caused no less laughter than the

’

ext ravaga n ces Of Don Quixote w h o at this juncture said ,

“
The re is n o more n ow t o be do n e than for every o n e to
”
take h i s ow n and wh a t God gives let Saint Peter bless
, .

“
Then s po ke on e Of the four servants : If th is be not a
plann ed j oke I can not persuade my se lf that men Of s uch
,
 DO N QU IXOTE

g ood i n telligence as are or se em t o be all who are here can ,

v e n tu r e t o sa y and a fli rm that this is n ot a basin n o r that a ,

p ack saddle
-
. Seei n g that they both sa
y it and a ffi rm it I ,

a m convinc e d th a t there must be s ome mystery i n thus i n

s isting o n a thin g s o Opposed to all that the ve ry truth and

e xperie n ce itself dem o n strate for I s w ear by this and by that

,

( p
r a p i ng o ut a r ound oath ) that a s m
, a n y a s live o n the earth
s hall n ot pe rs uade me that this i s no barber s basi n a n d this
’

’ ”
n o jackass s pa n el .

It might be a s h e as s s observed the priest

’
, .
” “
It is a l l the same exclaimed the servant ; for the point
,

l ie s not i n that but w h ether it is or i s n ot a pan el as your ,

”
w o rships say .

O n hearing this on e of the o ffi cers of j ustice w h o had come

,

i n a n d had bee n listenin g to the questi on a n d dispute cried ,

o ut a n grily and i m patiently

It is a s much a pan el as my fa ther i s my fa ther and he ,

”
w h o has said or will say anythi n g else mu s t be d run k .

Thou liest like a clown is h kn ave !

, an s we red Don
Quixote . A nd raising h is l a nce w h ich he had n ever let out ,

o f his hand he discharged suc h a bl ow at the O fficer s head

’
,

that had he n ot moved aside would h a ve left h i m stretched

, ,

the re . The lance w a s broke n to pieces a ga in st the groun d ;

a n d the other o ffi ce rs seei n g their com rade maltre a ted rais ed
, ,

a cry callin g for help fo r the Holy B rothe rh o od

, The i n n .

k eeper w h o w a s on e O f the fratern ity ra n i n a n in sta nt f or

, ,

his sta fi and his sword a n d placed himself by the side of his
fello w s . The servants of Don Louis g ot roun d him les t h e
s hould escape in the scu ffl e The ba rber s eein g the hou s e
. ,

t u rn ed t o psytu rvy laid hold again of his pa nel a n d S a ncho

, ,

d i d the same Don Quixote d rew h i s s word a n d fe ll up on

.

the O ffic e rs Don Louis c ried o ut t o his serva n ts to u n ha n d

.

him a n d t o hel p D on Quixote C a rden i o a n d Do n Fern a n do

, , , ,

who were on D on Quixote s side. The prie s t w a s s h outin g ;

’

the ho s tess sc reamin g ; h e r d a ughter wa ilin g ; Ma ritom e s

w eeping ; Do rothea dis t racted ; Luci n da f righte n ed ; and
Do n a Clara faintin g. The barber mauled San cho ; Sancho
pum meled the barbe r ; Do n Louis whom on e Of h i s se rvan ts ,

h a d ve n tu red t o s eize by the a rm that h e might n ot ru n away ,

g ave h i m such a blow a s bathed hi s j aws in blood ; the j udge

 DON ourxor r:

p ack -
saddle re m ained a horse caparison till the day of judg
-

ment the basin a helmet a n d the in n a castle in the i magina

, , ,

ti on of Don Quixote.
N o w all being pacifi ed a n d all made friends by the p e rsua
, ,

sion of the j udge a n d the priest the servants of Don Louis ,

agai n began to press him to g o with them a t once a n d whil e ,

he w a s sett lin g the matter with them the j udge consulted ,

with Don Fernando Cardenio and th e priest a s to what h e

, ,

should do i n the case tellin g t h em of Don Louis s story .

,
’

A t last it w a s agreed that Don Fernando should i nform

D on Louis s serva nts w h o he was and that it was h is wish
’
,

th at Don Louis s hould acco mpany him to Andalusia where ,

the youth would be received by the marquess his brother

a cco rding as h i s worth and condition deserved ; for he kne w

of Don Lou i s s deter m i nation n ot to return thus in to h i s

’

father s presence although they tore him in pieces . The

’
,

r a n k of Don Ferna n do and the resolution of Don L o ui s b e

i n g kn own to the serva nts they ar ranged among themselves

,

that three should return to tell h i s fa t h er of what had hap

p e n ed and
, the four t h should s tay t o wait upon Don Louis ,

n o t leavin g him until the others came back for him or u ntil ,

he learnt what were his father s comman ds In this manner ’

.

was this batch of quarrels settled by the a utho rity of King

A gr a ma n t e and the wisdom Of King Sobrino .
But the enemy of c on co rd a n d the adve rsary of peace see ,

i n g himself thus slighted a n d mocked and the l ittle fruit he ,

had gathe red from the laby rin th Of co n fusion i n which he

had i nvolved them all resolved to try hi s han d once more
, ,

and stir up fres h quarrels and disorders It fell out thus .

the Officers having g ot to he a r of the quality of tho s e with

,

w hom they had foug h t we re quieted and retired from the

, ,

fray thin kin g that h owever it wen t they were likely to come
, , ,

0 3 the worst from the batt le But one of them w h o w a s he

. ,

that had bee n beaten a nd kicked by Don Fernan do re col ,

l e cte d that a mong some wa rran ts which he had about h i m

f o r the arre s t of certai n deli n quents there was on e aga inst ,

D on Quixote whom the H oly B rotherhood had o rdered to

,

be seized for setting the galley slaves at liberty as Sancho -

h a d with such good reas on app rehended . Thin kin g of this ,

h e wished to assure himself whether t h e marks indi cated in

 C E RVANT E S

the warra nt ta l lied wi th those of Don Q uixote. D rawing

from h i s bos om a parchment he lighted upon wha t he sou ght , ,

a n d set ting himself to pe ruse it S lowly for he w a s n o grea t ,

reader , at eve ry word he c a me to b e fixed hi s eyes on Don

Quixote and went on comparing the details in h is wa rra nt
,

with Don Quixote s face and discovered that this b eyo nd all
’
,

doubt was he whom t h e warran t described. A s soon a s he

had satis fied himself of this he folded up h i s parchm en t a nd
, ,

taki ng the wa rrant in h i s left han d with the right h e l aid ,

hold of Don Quixote by the collar s o tightly a s not t o a llow

him t o breathe and cried out loudly
,

Help in the name of t h e H oly Brothe rhood ! And

that ye may se e I deman d it in ea rnest read this w a rrant , ,

where it is written that this robber on the highways is to be

”
arrested .
The priest took the warrant and sa w that what the o ffi cer
sai d was true and that the marks applied t o Don Qu ix ote ;
,

who on his part finding himself thus rudely handled by tha t

, ,

base scoundrel hi s anger risen to the utmost pitch a nd m a k

,

i n g all the bones Of h is body crackle caught the o ffi ce r by ,

-

the throat with both hands with all h i s might so th at h a d he , ,

n ot been rescued by h i s comrade s he would have gi v e n up ,

life there and then rather than Don Quixote his hold The .

in n keeper w h o w a s bound to help those of his offi ce ra n at

, ,

o nce to ta ke his part. The hostess w h o sa w her hu s ba nd ,

engaged anew in battle raised a fresh outc ry the bu rd e n of

, ,

which was c a ught up immediately by her daughter and Mari

tornes calli n g for help from Heaven and from the company.
,

Sancho seein g what w a s going on exclaimed

, ,

By the Lord ! but it is true what my master s ays of the

enchan tments of this castle . It i s impossible to l ive q uietly
”
in it an hou r togethe r.
Don Fernan d o parted the O ffi cer and Don Quixote a n d to , ,

the content of both unlocked their hands which were fas t

, ,

clenched : the one s i n the othe r s collar the other s in hi s

’ ’
,
’

adversary s throat. N evertheless the ofli cers ceas ed n ot to

’ ‘
,

deman d their p risoner a n d the assistan ce of the com p any to ,

have him bou n d and delivered up t o them to be at their plea s

u re for s o t h e service o f the king and the Holy Broth erhood
,

r eq u ired and they again asked for help a n d a i d i n the arre st

,
 DO N ourxor r:

ing of that robber and brigand Of the roads a n d hi gh

ways .
Don Q uixote laughed t o hear them speak these words and ,

said with much calm n ess

Come hither filthy a n d base born crew ! R obbery on the
,
-

highways do ye call it the g iving liberty t o the en ch a i ned the

, ,

freeing them who are bound t he succoring of the miserable , ,

the uplifti n g of the fallen the re l ievin g of the n eedy ? A h

, ,

i nfam o us brood ! dese rvi ng through y o ur base and l ow under

,

standing that Heaven should n ot communicate unto y ou the

,

vi rtue which lies i n kn ight e rrantry nor give y ou to kn ow Of

-

the S in a n d ignorance i n which ye lie in not revere n cin g the ,

shadow h ow m uch more the actual p resen ce of a kn ight

, ,

errant ! Come h ere ye that a re no t roopers b ut thieves in a

,
.

t roop ; highwaymen by license of the Holy Brotherhood !

,

tell me w h o was the blockhead who sig n ed a warrant of

,

arrest against such a knig ht as I am ? W ho w a s he that did

n ot know that knights errant are exempt f rom all j u r isdiction ,

that their law is the sword their charters their valor their , ,

statutes their ow n will a n d pleasu re ? W h o w a s the dullard ,

I ask again who knows n ot that there i s n o p a tent of n obility

,

with s o many pri vileges and immun ities a s that which the
k n ight e rra n t acqu ire s t h e day he i s dubbed a kn ight and ,

devotes himself to the stern exe rcise of chival ry ? W hat

’
k n ight erran t ever p a id tax ce s s queen s patten money , , ,

king s due s toll or cu stoms ? W h a t ta ilor ever had of him

’
,

m oney for a suit o f clot h es ? W h a t castella n lodged him i n

his castle and made him pay scot ? W hat kin g did not seat
,

him at his own table ? W hat d a msel w a s n ot e n amored of

him a n d did n ot surren der he rself wh olly to h i s plea s ure a n d
,

will ? A n d lastly wha t k n ight erran t has there ever been i s

, , , ,

o r shall be in the world who shall n ot have mettle enough

, ,

s i n gly to give f o ur hundred cudgeli n gs t o f o u r hu n d red

,

O ffi cers should they dare to confront him ?

,
 DO N QU IXOT E

Lou rs s servants should be content three of them t o return , , ,

leaving on e to acc ompany their master wherever Don Fer

nando might please t o take him ; and as n ow their good stars
and better fo rtune h a d begun t o remove all Obstacles and
smooth over all diffi cul ties in favor of the lovers and brave
spirits Of the inn so they were pleased t o carry it through
,

a n d cro w n all with a happy issue ; f or the servan ts consented

t o do what Don Louis wished at which Do n a Cla ra w a s s o

,

glad that n o on e could look into her face without discerning

h e r heart s co n tent. A s for Z ora yd a though s h e did not
’

well unde rstand the incidents sh e had witness ed s h e w a s sa d ,

and chee rf ul according as s h e Observed each one s coun te ’

na n ce especially her Spaniard s on whom s h e had her eyes

,
’

ever fixed and her soul dependent. The inn keeper on whom ,

had n ot been lo s t the compen s ation and gift which the p riest
had made the barber demanded Don Quixote s recko n in g
,
’

a s well a s payment for the damage o f h i s ski n s a n d the loss

O f his win e swearin g that neither Rozi n a n te n or San cho s

,
’

a s s should stir f rom the inn u n til he w a s fi rs t paid t o the

uttermost farthin g A ll this the priest peacefully settled a n d

.

D on Fern a n do paid though the judge h a d readily ofi ere d to

,

pay ; and thus they all rested in peace a n d quietn ess s o that ,

the inn n o lo n ge r resembled the confusio n Of A gra ma n t e s ’

cam p a s Don Quixote had said but the very peace a n d

, ,

tranquillity Of O ctavia n s time ; for all which it w a s the

’

ge n eral opinion that they should than k the good services of

the priest a n d the u n exampled gen erosity of D on Fe rn an do .

Don Quixote fin din g himself free a n d disembarrassed Of

,

all quarrels both h is squire s a n d his ow n thought it would

,
’

be well to pu rsue the j ourney he had begun a n d bring t o a ,

close that great advent ure whereun to he had been called a n d

elected . Therefore with a firm re s ol ution he we nt t o k n eel
, ,

down befo re Do rothea w h o would not pe rmit h i m t o utter a

,

word un til he rose again a n d so to obey her he g ot upon his

,

feet and said

“
It i s a common sayin g beauteous lady that diligen ce i s
, ,

the mother of good l uck ; a n d i n man y a n d weighty matters

experience h a s shown that the assiduity Of the advocate
brin gs a doubtful s uit to a happy issue ; but in nothing i s
this truth more man ifest than in the a ff airs of war wherein ,
 CE RVAN T E S

celerity a n d activity prevent the designs Of the enemy and ,

w i n the victory befo re the advers a ry can stand upon his

defe n se All this I sa y exalted and p recious l a dy fo r tha t
. , ,

it s eems to me th a t our further abode i n this castle i s p rofit

less and may be so much t o our prejudice a s we may find
,

o ut so m e d a y F or w h o kn ow s but that your e n e m y the

.

giant by mea n s Of occ ult and diligent s pies m a y have learnt

, ,

already Of my c omin g to de s troy him a n d the delay gi ving ,

him Oppo rtun ity he ma y fortify himself i n some impregn a ble

,

castle or fortress again st which my pains a n d the might of

,

my untirin g a rm may l ittle avail ? The refore lady min e l et , ,

u s preve n t a s I have s a id his designs by o ur d iligence and

, , ,

depart quickly with good fortune for Obta ining which a s your , ,

High n e s s may desire you shall wait n o longer than I del ay

,
”
i n facin g you r a dve rsa ry .

D on Q uixote stopped a n d s a id n o m ore aw ai ti n g com ,

p o s e d l y the a n swer O f the beauteous inf a n ta w h o with a , ,

l ordly air adapted to the s tyle Of the knight thus replied to

, ,

him :
“
I tha n k y ou sir kn ight for the in cli nation which y ou dis
, ,

play to s uccor me in m y great n ecess ity like a true k n ight , ,

wh os e p rovin ce and fu n ction it i s to succor the orpha n and

the needy ; a n d Heaven gra nt that your desire a n d m ine may
be ful filled that you may see there a re grateful women in the
world A s to my dep a rture let it be at o n ce for I have no
. , ,

other will but you rs. Dispo se Of me wholly after your own
m ode a n d ple a s u re ; for s h e w h o has once de l ive red t o you
the defe n se of h e r pe rson and committed in to your hands ,

the rec ove ry Of her domin ion s should have n o wish to go ,

”
c on trary to what your wisdom shall orda i n .
”
By the ha n d O f God cried Don Quixote sin ce it is so
, ,

that a lady humbles herself to m e I w ill not let sli p the ,

opp ortu n ity Of ra is in g h e r a n d placing her on the thro n e of

h e r herita ge Let o ur departure be immediate for inclina
. ,

tion i s s p u rri n g me to the jou rn ey a n d many a re wont t o say ,

that in delay t h e re is d a n ger A n d Since Heaven h a s not . ,

c re a ted n or Hell ever s een on e to daun t or intimidate me ,

s a ddle me Rozi n a n t e San cho a n d get rea dy your a ss and

, ,

the q ueen s p a lfrey a n d let us ta ke le a ve Of the castel l a n and

’

of the s e ge n tl e me n a n d go forth hence this mome n t.

,
 DO N ourxor rz -

Sancho who w a s present at all this sa id wagging his head

, , ,

from side t o side

A h master master there is more done in the village than
, , ,

makes a noise with pardon Of all revere n d hoods be it s a i

,

What matter can there be in any vill a ge or in a ny of the

cities of the earth which ca n be noised to my discredit
, ,

vil lain
If your worship gets into a passion an swered San cho , ,

I will hold m y tongue and forbear to s a y what I am bound

”
to tell as a good squire and a good serva nt to his master.
“ ” “
Say what thou wouldst replied Don Quixote if thy , ,

words te n d n ot to put me in fea r ; if thou fearest thou dost ,

”
like what thou a rt ; if I fear n ot I do like what I am . ,
”
It is n ot that as I have been a sinner to God an swered
, ,
“
Sancho on ly that I am certain a n d positive that th is lady
,

w h o calls herself queen of the great kin gdom Micomi con i s ,

n o more s o th a n my mother f or if s h e were what sh e says , ,

s h e would n ot go nuzzli n g at every tu rn o f the head a n d at

”
every co rn er with somebody of the p resen t company.
Dorothea redden ed at these word s Of Sancho for it w a s ,

t rue that h e r spouse Don Fe rn a n do had sometimes on the

, ,

s l y ga thered from her lips p a rt of the reward his love h a d

earned which Sancho had seen and h a d thought a kind of

, ,

wantonn ess n ot becoming the queen of s o mighty a kingdom .

She was n either able n or willin g to a n swer him a word but ,

let h i m g o on with his speech a s he did as follows ,

I tell you this master because if at the end Of our trav

, , ,

elin g by highwa ys a n d byways a n d our p a ssing bad nights ,

and wors e days on e here w h o is dis portin g himself in this

,

inn should c ome t o gathe r the fruit of our labors there i s ,

n o need t o h u rry o n eself in saddlin g Rozin a n t e p a ckin g the ,

ass or gettin g ready the p a lfrey but we had bette r rema in

, ,
”
quiet .

Good Lord h ow mighty a ra ge was kindled in Don Quixote

,

o n hearin g the s e unmannerly words of h i s squire ! It was s o

great that with a shaking voice a n d a stammerin g tongue
, ,

the live fire darting from h i s eye s he excl a imed ,

“
O villa i n o u s knave ! u n ci rcumspect ill mannered a n d ,
-

ignorant blasphemous foul m outhed audacious backbiter

, ,
-

a n d slanderer ! Da rest thou utte r these words in the pres

 DON QU IXOTE

Don Quixote an s wered that he pardoned him a n d the ,

priest wen t for San cho who came in very humble a n d

, , ,

fallin g d own on h i s k n ees besought h is maste r s hand who

,
’
,

gave it him and after having let him kiss it bestowed on

, ,

him a ble s sin g saying ,

N ow wilt thou be convinced Sancho my s on that it is , , ,

true what I have many times said t o thee h ow that all things ,

in this castle are do n e by way Of e n chan tment .

S O I believe quoth Sa n cho , except that a Ea ir Of the

,
”
blanket which really happened in the ordin ary way.
,
” “
DO not believe it re plied Don Quixote
,
f or had it ,

been s o I would have ave n ged thee the n a n d will n ow ; but

,

neither then n or n ow could I take or s ee on whom to take , ,

vengeance for that injury .

They a l l de s ired t o k n ow what was that affair of the

blanket a n d so the in n keeper recou n ted poin t by point
,

San cho s flyin g through the a i r at which they a ll laughed

’

n o t a little a n d n ot less wo uld S a n cho have bee n ashamed

, ,

if his master had n ot assu red him an ew that it was e n

chan tmen t. F or all th at n eve r did Sancho s folly reach,
’

t o s u ch a pitch a s n ot t o believe f or t rue a n d certain ,

witho ut a n y mixture Of deceptio n that he had been tossed ,

in a bla n ket by persons of flesh a n d bone a n d n ot by ,

visionary a n d u n real phan toms a s h i s ma s ter believed and

,

a ffi rmed .

Two days had n ow passed sin ce that illustrious company

had been in the inn ; a n d thin ki n g it n ow time t o dep a rt
they devised h ow with out putting Dorothea a n d Don Fer
,

nando to the troubl e of goin g back with Don Q uixote to his

vill age under preten se Of restorin g the Queen Micomicon a
, ,

the priest a n d the barber m ight ta ke h i m with th e m as they ,

wished and en deavor t o get h i m cured of h rs m adness at

,

home . A nd this w a s the plan t h ey con trived. They m ade

a bargain w ith a wago n er w h o chan ced to pas s by the re
with a team of oxen to carry him in this man n er : they m a de
,

a kin d Of cage of trellised poles ca pable Of holdin g Don ,

Quixote in it comforta bly a n d then Don Fe rn an do and h i s

,

compan ions together with the servants of Don Louis t h e

, ,

o ffi cers and the i n n keep e r all under the o rders and direction
,

of the p riest covered their faces a n d disguised themselves

, ,
 CE RVAN T E S

s ome in one manner and so m e in another so as they might ,

appear to Don Quixote to be person s di ff erent from th ose

whom he had s een i n that castl e. This done they entered ,

the room noiselessly where he l a y as leep reposi n g afte r t h e

, ,

late a fl ra y s They went up to where he was sleepin g

.

serenely reckless of any such accide n t a n d seizin g him by

, ,

mai n force they bound him fast han d and foot in such a
, , ,

man n er that when he awoke with the a la rm he could not ,

move n or do anything else than sta re and wonder at t he

strange faces he s a w before him A nd immediately he fell .

into the co n ceit which his distempe red i magi natio n w a s con
t i n ua l l y sugge s tin g to him and believed that all these fig ures
,

were phanto ms of that enchanted castle and that without a ny ,

doubt he was ench a n ted since he co uld neither move n or

,

defend himself ; all precisely as the priest the i nven tor of ,

thi s strata gem had expected would happen Sa ncho al o ne

, . ,

of all w h o were prese n t was in his right mind as well as in

,

his ow n figure ; and he though he wan ted but little of

,

s haring h i s master s in fi rmity co uld n ot but kno w w h o were

’
,

a l l these cou n te rfeit shapes ; but he dared n ot open his lips

un til he should se e what came of this assault and seizure of

h i s master who also spoke not a word waiting to se e what
, ,

would be the issue of this disaster .

The issue was that takin g the cage thither they shut hi m
, ,

i n naili n g the ba rs so fast as that they could n ot be ea s ily

,

burst Ope n . They then took him on their shoulders and on ,

going o ut of the room there was heard a dreadful voic e as ,

much so as the barber could make it ( not he of the p ack

saddle but the other) which said
, ,

0 K n ight Of the Rueful Figure be n ot disquie t ed bec ause ,

of the co n fi neme n t whe rein thou art for so it must be for the ,

mo re S peedy a chievement Of the adventu re to which thy grea t

daring h a s c ommitted thee. That shall be achieved wh e n the
raging Man chegan lion shall be linked in on e with the white
Tob os a n dove a n d after they have humbled the ir lofty crests
,

to the soft m a tri m o n ial yoke o f which unheard Oi conj u n ction

,
-

there shall come forth into the light of the world brave
whelps w h o s ha ll emulate the ramping talons Of thei r va lorous
,

sire . A n d this shall come to pass e re the pursuer of the

fugitive nymph shall have twice visited in h is s wift a nd
 DON QU IXOT E

n atu ral cours e the lucent im a ges A n d thou the most noble .
,

and obedien t s quire that ever bore sw ord in belt beard on ,

chin or smell i n n o s e be not dismayed n or displease d t o see

, ,

th u s carried away before thy very eyes t h e flower of knight

e rra n t ry fo r s oo n if it please the molder of the wo rld thou
, , ,

s halt see thyse l f s o exa lted a n d glori fi ed that thou shalt n ot

k n ow thyself and n either shalt thou be defrauded of the

,

p romises which thy good lord hath made thee A n d I assu re .

thee on be half of the sage Me n tiron ia n a that thy wa ges shall ,

be paid thee a s tho u shalt see in the p roof and follow thou th e
,

fo otsteps of the valia n t e n ch a nted k n ight for it is expedient

, ,

thou shouldst g o where you both shall stay a n d as it i s not ,

lawf ul for me to say any more rest ye with God for I return , ,
”
I only kn ow whithe r .

Towa rds the e n d o f the p rop h ecy the ba rber raised his
v oice t o such a pitch a n d then sa n k it in to s o soft a modula
,

t io n that even they w h o were privy to t h e joke were near

b e l ievi n g that what they hea rd w a s real . Don Quixote was
c o mforted by the prediction he heard for he at once com ,

p rehe n ded it s whole mea n i n g a n d sa w that it was promised ,

t o him to be j oined in h o ly and lawful m atrimony w ith his

b eloved Dulci n ea del Toboso w h e n ce should issue the whelps ,

h is so n s t o the everla s ti n g glo ry o f La Manch a

, A n d be l i ev .

i n g this since rely a n d firmly he lifted up h i s voice and with a

,

deep sigh cried

O thou whoever thou art w h o hast progn osticated this
, ,

great happin ess for me I beseech thee t o e n tre a t of the sage

,

e n cha n ter who has my affa irs in charge th a t he su ffer me n ot ,

t o pe ri sh in this duress w here now they h a ve p ut me u n til I ,

see accomplished th ose glad a n d i n comparable promis e s whic h

they have he re made me ; for so this be I will accoun t the ,

pain s of my pris on gl ory these chain s which bin d me com

,

fort and this tester whereon I am laid n o hard fi eld of ba ttle

, , , ,

but a soft cou c h a n d happy bridal bed. A n d in rega rd to the

c on sola tion of San cho Pa n za my squire I con fide in h i s , ,

h o nesty a n d good co n duct that he will not forsake me in

,

good or in evil fo rtu n e for though it should n ot happen

, ,

either thro ugh his or min e evil star that I am able to bestow ,

o n him the isle or some othe r thi n g equivalent w hich I have

, ,

promis ed him at least he shall not lose h i s wages for in my

, ,
 CH A PT E R X LI V

Of the s tra nge ma nner i n w h i ch D on Quix ote de la M a ncha wa s

encha nt ed, w i th oth er nota ble i nci den ts

H E N Don Quixote fou n d himself encaged in that

manner a n d atop of a cart he said M a ny a n d ,

very grave histories h a ve I read of kn ights errant ,

b ut never have I read n o r seen n or heard that they carried

, , ,

e nchan ted kn ights i n this wise a n d at the pace which these

,

slow and l a zy animals p romis e F or they are always used t o

.

be carri ed thro ugh the a ir with extraordin ary celerity wra pt ,

in some thick dark cloud or in a chariot of fi re or upo n

, , ,

some hippogriff or other si mila r bea st ; but that they should

,

carry me now upon a bullock cart fore God ! it puts me to

-

,
’

con fusio n. But perhaps the chivalry and the enchantments

o f these our times have t o take another co urse than t h at which

was pu rs ued by the men of old ; and it may be also that as I

am a new knight in the world and the fi rst w h o has revi ved
,

the already forgotten p rofession of k n ight errant ry t h ey have -

newly inve nted othe r ki n ds of e n cha n tmen t and other modes

o f ca rrying the enchanted . What dost thou think o f this s on ,

Sancho
“
I know n ot what to think replied San cho not being so
, ,

well read a s your worship in the erra n t writings ; but for all
t h at I dare a fli rm a n d swear that these apparition s we have
”
about us are n ot a ltogethe r Ca tholic .

Catholic — Father Of me ! answered Don Quixote ,

how should they be C a tholic if they a re all demon s w h o

have taken fan tastic sh a pes to come a n d do this a n d put me
,

in to this state ? A n d if thou wouldst kn ow this t o be true ,

touch the m and feel them and thou wilt see they have n o
,
”
bodies but of air a n d n o consisten cy but in appearan ce.
” “
E gad s i r replied San cho
, , I h a ve tou c h e d them already
, ,

and this devil here w h o goes about so busy is pl um p of fle s h ,

and has another property very di ff erent from what I have

0
4 3
 C E RVA N TE S

heard s a y the devils have ; for it is sa id they a ll sti nk of

brimstone and other bad smells but this one smel ls Of amber
,

h a lf a league o ff .
This S a ncho mean t of Don Fernando w h o being a fine , ,

ge ntlem a n m us t have smelt as Sancho sai d

,
.

Marvel n ot therea t friend San cho answere d Don

, ,

Q uixote for I would have thee learn th at the dev ils are very
,

knowin g ; a n d though they c a rry smells about them they ,

smell not for they are spiri ts ; or if they do smell t hey smell
, ,

n ot of good thin g s but such as are bad and fetid The .

reason is that wherever they are they ta ke hell with them , ,

a n d may receive no ki n d of relief fro m the torments ; and

a good smell being a thin g of delight and pleasure it is not ,

po s sible that they should ever smell well ; and if thou thinkest
that t his !d evil of whom thou speakest smells of amber either ,

thou d ece iv e st thy s elf or he would deceive thee by making

, ,
”
thee fancy he is n ot a dev il .
A ll this colloquy passed betwee n master and m a n ; a nd
Don Fernando and Cardenio fearing that Sancho wo uld find
,

out their stra tagem ,he being already on the heels of it ,

resolved t o hasten their departure ; so callin g the in n keeper ,

aside they ordered him to saddle Rozin a nte a n d put t h e pack

,

s addle on Sancho s ass which was done with great d espa tch.
’
,

The pries t mea nwhil e had already agreed with t h e ofi cers

, ,

that th ey should e s cort him for so much a da y to h is vill age

, ,
.

Ca rdenio hung on on e side of Rozina n te s saddle b o ws t he ’

-

target and on the other the basin and signed to Sa ncho to ,

get up on h i s a s s and ta ke Rozin a n te by the bridle placing ,

the Offi cers with their firel ock s on either side of t h e ( a rt .

B ut before the cart began t o move the ho stess her d a ughter , , ,

a n d Maritorn es c a me out to take leave of Don Q uixote ,

feigni n g to shed tea rs of s o rrow at his mishap .

”
Weep n ot good ladies Don Quixote s aid ; for a l l these
, ,
“

misch a nces a re in cide n ta l t o those w h o profe s s wh a t I pro

fess ; a n d if these disaste rs did not befall me I wo ul d not
deem myself a kn ight erran t of fame for to k n i ghts o f s mall ,

name and repute these accidents never happen since there is ,

n o on e i n t h e wo rld t o think about them : t o the va l ia n t they

d o for these a re envi ed f or the i r virt u e and va l o r by many

,

prin ces a n d other kn ights who seek by evi l w ays to d estroy

,
 DON ourxor n

go od men . N eve rtheless so pote n t is virtue that of herself

, ,

a lone in despite o f all the nec romancy th a t Z oroas ter its fi rst
, ,

in vento r ever kn ew she will come O fl victorious from a n y

, ,

trial a nd s hed her light over the w orld a s does the sun in
,

heaven Pa rdon me fair ladies if th rough my inadvertence

. , ,

I have given y ou a n y d ispleasure for willi n gly and wittin gly ,

have I given none to any ; and p ra y t o God to deliver me

from these bon ds into which some evil minded enchanter h a s
,
-

c ast me and if eve r I fi nd m y self free from them th e re shall

, ,

n ot lapse fro m my memory the favors which in this castle e

y
have bestowed on me that I m a y acknowledge them and,

requite them a s they deserve .

Whilst this was passing between the la dies of the castle
and Don Quixote the priest and the ba rbe r took their leave
,

of Don Fe rn ando and of his co m p a n ions and of the capta in ,

and his brother and of all those n ow well conten ted ladies
,
-

especially of Dorothea and Lucin d a . They all embraced on e

a n othe r a n d p ro m ised to give a n accou n t t o each other of their
,

adventu res Don Fernando telling the p riest where he was to

,

w r ite to i n fo rm him of what became of Don Quixote d ecl a r ,

ing that nothing would give him greater pleasure tha n to

he a r ; and that he t oo would acquaint the priest of all that
, ,

h e knew would give him pleasure of his marriage as we l l as , ,

o f Z ora y d a s baptism the a fi a ir o f D on Louis and Lucin da s

’ ’
, ,

return to her ho m e . The p riest u n dertook to d o all that he

desired with all punctuality. They again embraced and ,

again exchan ged Off ers of service. The in n keeper wen t up

t o the priest a n d gave him some pape rs sa yin g he h a d dis ,

cove red them i n the lining Of the val is e in which the n ovel of
the Impertin e n t Curiosity had been found and since their ,

o wner had never come back th a t way he might take them all ,

with h im for a s he could n ot read he did n ot want them him

,

s elf . The priest thanked him and openin g the papers at ,

once sa w written at the begin n i ng of the man uscript : The

,

N ovel of Rin con ete and Corta dillo by which he understood

i t w a s some tale a n d imagin ed th a t a s the other of the
, ,

Impertinent Curiosity had be e n good this should be als o , ,

si n ce p robably they were both written by the same author ;

and so he p reserved it with the i n te n tion of reading it whe n
h e had an opportunity . The n b e mo unted on horseback with
 DON QU IXO TE

Sir a s to what is t h e meaning of this g e ntl e ma n be i n g

'

carried in this man ner let him tell it himself for none , , of us
”
ca n.

Do n Quixote ov e rbea ring their ta lk said t o them : Per

, ,

chance y ou gentlemen are versed and skill ed in th is matter

, ,

of knight erran try ?-

If you are I will communicate to y ou ,

my misfortu n es ; if not there is n o reas on why I should we ary

,

myse lf in relating them .

By this time the priest and the b a rber seeing the tra velers ,

were disc oursing with Don Q uixote had come up to answer for ,

him so that their plot might not be discovered. The cano n

,

whom Don Quixote had addressed rep lied

“
T ruly brother I know more of books of chivalries than
, ,

o f Vil l a l p a n d o s Summaries if that is all therefore y ou ca n

’

, ,
”
safely i mp a rt to me what you please.
By God s hand then replied Don Quixote s ince it i s
’
, , ,

s o I would have y ou k n ow sir that I g o e n chanted in this

, , ,

cage through the envy and treachery of wicked encha n ters ,

for virt ue is more persecuted of th e evil tha n loved by th e

good A knight errant am I and n ot of those whose names
. ,

fame has n ever remembered to perpetuate in her reco rd but ,

O f those w h o m augre and in despite of envy herself a n d of

, ,

all the magicia n s that Persia t h e Brahmans that India or , ,

the Gymnosophists th at E thiopia ever produced,shall en roll

h is name in the temple O f immortal ity to se rve for an ensample ,

and pattern to en suing ages wherein kn ights e rran t may view ,

t h e steps which they have to follow if they would arrive at

”
the summit and honorable height of arms .
”
The Knight of La Mancha speaks the truth in terposed ,

the priest for he goes enchan ted in this wagon n ot th rough

, ,

his own faults or misdeeds but through the malignity Of thos e ,

whom virtue gall s and valor O fi e n d s . This sir is t h e Kn ig ht

—
, ,

if ye h a ve ever heard speak of him

’
O f the R ueful Figure ,

at any t ime — whose valiant achievements and mighty deeds

,

shall be inscribe d on e n durin g brass and eternal marble ,

though en vy sh oul d never so much tire herself to obscure

”
a n d malice to conceal them .

When the c a n on hea rd both bou n d a n d free talk in this

style he was near crossing himself for astonishme n t n or
, ,

co uld co n ceive w h at h a d happened and i n the same amaze ,

 CE RVAN TE S

ment fell al l w h o were of his company. At th is Sancho

Pan za who had drawn near to he a r the m ta lk sai d t o make
, , ,

all plain
Loo k ye sirs whether you like me or mislike me for wha t
, ,

I shall sa y this is the matter of it that Don Q uixote is as

, ,

much enchanted as my mother. He has a l l his senses pe r

fee t ; he eats and drinks a n d s ays his s a y like the r es t of , ,

men and a s he did yesterd ay before they ca ged him up Thi s

, .

being so h ow will they have me believe he is ench a n ted ?

,

F or I have heard m an y pe rsons say that the enc ha n ted neither

eat nor sleep nor ta lk ; and my master if they will only l e t
, ,

him alone will outtalk more than thirty la w yers. And

,
"
,

turn ing round to look at the pri est he proceeded saying : , ,

A h mas ter p ri est mas ter p ri est do you think I don t kn o w

, , ,
’

? A d d h d
’

y o u n o y ou think I do n t S ee throug a n g u ess the

d ri f t of these new e n chantments ? Let me t ell y ou I kn ow
you for all your maskin g of your fa ce and ca n m a ke you out , ,

however you may hide yo ur tricks. I n short whe re envy ,

reign s virtue cannot live n or boun ty live where the re is ,

p inching . I ll luck to the devil l and we re it n ot for your -

reverence by this hour my m a ster had been marrie d to th e

,

Infan ta Micomicon a a n d I had been a count at t he lea s t for

, ,

any thin g less I could n ot expect either from the bou n ty of ,

my master him of the R ueful Figure or from the great ness

, ,

of my services ; but I se e n ow the truth of what is sai d about

here that fortune s wheel goes swifter than a m ill wheel a nd

,
’
-

those w ho were yesterday at the tip top a re to day on the - -

ground What grieves me i s for my wife a nd children for

. ,

when they might and should see their father come in at the
d oor a full governor or viceroy of some isle or kin gdom th ey ,

wi ll see him e n ter a horse boy . A ll t h is which I h ave said -

master priest is o n ly to u rg e upon your fathe rho od t o have a

,

co n scien ce in h ow you il l tre a t my master and look to it that -

God d oes not make you acco un t in the other life f or this s eiz
i n g of my master and ch a rge against you all these s u c cors
,

a n d be n e fits w h ic h my lord Don Quixote leaves u n don e all

this time that he i s shut up .

S nufi me those candles ! here cried the barber ; what ,

a re y ou a lso Sancho of your master s fraternity ?

, As God
,
’

liveth I begi n t o see that you wi ll have to he a r him com

,
 DON QU IXOT E

p any in the cage and to rem

, a in a s enchanted as he is for ,

what you have caught of h i s hu mor and chivalry . In an evil

moment were you conceived of his fancies and in a n ill hour ,
”
did the isle y ou covet enter your pate .
I a m conceived of nobody s fancies retorted Sancho ; ’
,

though poor I am an ol d Christia n a n d ow e nobody n othing ;

, ,

a n d if I covet isles there are those w h o covet worse things ;

,

and every on e is the child of his works ; and by token I a m

a ma n I may come to be pope much more governor of a n ,

isle and especially a s my master is able to win s o many that

,

he may wan t persons to give them to. Mind h ow y ou speak ,

mas ter barber for shavin g of bea rds is not all and there is
, ,

a d i fi e rence between Peter and Peter. I sa y this for we all ,

know on e another a nd there is no passin g fa l s e dice u pon

,

me ; and as to this enchan ting of my master God knows the ,

”
tr uth and let it rest there for it is the worse for stirring.
, ,

The barber cared n ot to answer lest Sancho should reveal ,

through his bluntness what he and the priest were trying so

,

hard to conceal. The p riest under the same apprehension , ,

had a sked the canon t o ride on a little in advance and he ,

would unfold t o him the mystery of the caged one with other ,

things t o divert him The can on did s o a n d going forward

. , ,

with him and with his men was attentive to all th a t the priest
,

told him of Don Quixote s character life m a d n ess and habits.

’

, , ,

H e recounted briefly the beginning and origin of his distra e

tion and the whole course of h i s adventures up to his being
,

confined in that cag e and the p lan they had of taki ng him
,

home to s ee whether by any means they might fi nd a cure

,

for h i s madn ess . The c a non and his servants were amazed
’
anew at hearing of Don Quixote s stran ge history and hav ,

i n g heard it he said
V erily sir priest I fin d by my ow n expe ri e n ce that they
, ,

are mischievous t o the commonweal these which a re called ,

books of chival ri es ; a n d though carried away by a n idle and ,

false ta ste I have read the beginnings of almost all that are
,

printed I could never p revail upon myself to read any of

,

the m to the end for methinks they are all more or less the
,

same thing and this has n o more in it than that n or th a t

, ,

than the other. A n d in my O pinion this kind of writing a n d

, ,

composition falls under the order of fables they call the

 DON ourxor s

books of chival ries with an entire body of fable with all its ,

membe rs complete in such a manner a s that the middle

,

corre s po n ds wit h the beg inning a nd the e n d with the begin

,

ning and middle ; nay they are composed of so many mem

,

bers as to a ppear rather inten ded to form a chimera or a

monster than a proportioned shape Moreover they a re . ,

hard in style in credible in their a dventures licentiou s in

, ,

their amours impertinent in their compliments tedious in their

, ,

battles foolish in their discou rses preposterous in their

, ,

travels and fi nally void of all art and intelligence and

, , , ,

therefore deserv in g of being expelled from a C h ristian

”
c ommonwealth as an unpro fitable race .

The p riest li stened with great atten tion perceiving him to ,

be a man of good understandin g who had reason for what he ,

s a id ; and so he told h i m that being hi mself of t h e same

,

O pinion and be a ring a grudge against the books of chivalries ,

he had burnt those that belonged to Don Quixote which were ,

m any and he gave the canon a n account of the inquisition

,

which he had held upon them a n d of tho se he h a d con demned

,

t o the fi re a n d those whose lives he had spared ; wit h which

,

the cano n w a s n ot a little amused. Yet he said that for all ,

t h e ill he had s poken of these books he found one good ,

thing in them namely the subj ect which they o ffered for a
, ,

good in tellect to display itself. They presented a large a n d

spacious field through which the pen might run without let or
hin d rance describing shipwrecks tempests strifes a n d h a t
, , , ,

tles ; pain ting a valia nt captain with all the p arts required to
make h i m s uch ; showing him prudent in frustra ting the wiles
of his enemie s and eloquent in oratory persuading or d i s
, ,

s ua d i n g his s oldiers ; ripe in cou n se l prompt i n re s olve as , ,

courageous i n awaitin g as in deliveri n g the assault ; depicting

n ow a tragic a n d lamentable incident now a j oyful a n d un ,

lo c ked for even t ; here a beauteous lady chaste witty a n d

-

, , ,

modest ; there a Christia n k n ight brave and gentle ; i n on e ,

place a mon s trous barbarian bra gga rt i n an other a courteous ,

prince valorou s a n d wise represe n ting the faith a n d loyalty

,

of vassals the g reat n ess and generosity of noble me n

, He .

might show himself sometimes learn ed in astro logy some ,

times a n excellen t cosmographer mu s ician or sta tesma n ; , ,

sometimes if b e pleased t h e occasion might o ffer of proving

, ,
 CE RVAN T E S

his skill in necromancy . He may se t forth the subtlety of

Ulysse s the piety of IE n e as the p rowe s s of A ch i lles the
, , ,

m isfort unes of Hec tor the perfid y of Timon t h e fri ends h ip

, ,

of E u ryalus the generosity of A lexande r the cou ra ge o f

, ,

Ce sa r the clemency a n d truthful n ess of Trajan t he fidelity

, ,

of Zop yr us t h e prudence of Cato and in fin e a ll those fac

, ,

ulti es which serve t o make an illu s tr iou s he ro perfe ct n ow ,

pla cin g them i n on e sin gle ma n aga in distribut in g them am on g

,

many A n d this being done i n a pleas ant style with in ge n

. ,

io us invention inclin i n g as near as possible to truth the

, ,

author will without doubt compo se a web so woven of v ari

, ,

ous a n d bea utifu l th reads that whe n fi n is h ed it s h al l e xhi bit

,

that be a uty and pe rfection which reach t h e bes t en d ai m e d at

in these works which i s at on ce to in struct a n d to deli ght as
, ,

h as been sa id F or the free method of writi ng t h es e b ooks

.

gives the author room t o display h i s talent in the epic the ,

lyric the tragic a n d the co mic with a ll the parts includ e d in

, , ,

the sweet and delightful science s of poesy and o ratory. And

the e p ic may be written i n prose a s well as in ve rse.
 CH A PT E R X LV

Whe rei n the ca non p urs ues the s ub ect

j of the books o f ch i oa l ri es, w i th
other ma tters w or thy q/ h i s geni us

I R C AN O N replied the priest it is as you say ;

, ,

a n d for this reason a re they the more deserving of

blame who h a ve un til now co mpos ed such books

w ithout paying a n y heed t o good sense or to art or the rules ,

whereby they might h ave guarded themselves and so have

become a s famous in p rose as are the tw o princes of poesy ,
”
Greek a n d La tin in ve rse. ,
”
,I for one said the canon have myself been tempted to
, ,

w rite a book of chivalries ob se rving therein all the condition s

,

I have mentioned a n d to con fess the truth I have writte n

, , ,

more than a hundred sheets ; and to test whether they came

up to my Opinion of them I have show n them to learned and
j udicious men fo n d of this ki n d of reading as well a s to
, ,

others who a re ign orant a nd only look to the ple a sure of l i s

te n in g to absu rdities and from a l l I have met with a flatt e rin g
,

approbation N evertheless I have proceeded no farther n ot

. , ,

o nly because I deemed it a thing alien to my profession but ,

becaus e I found the n umber of the ign ora nt to exceed that of

the wise ; and though it is better to be p ra ised by the few wise
than l aughed at by the many foolish yet I would not subject ,

myself to the confused judgment of the giddy vul gar w h o are ,

chiefly given to the reading of such books B ut that which .

made m e rid my hands and eve n my thoughts from fi n ishin g

it w a s an argument I us ed to myself drawn from the come
, ,

dies which a re now represe n ted. F or said I if those which , ,

a re now i n fashion whether feigned or histo ric a l are all or

, , ,

m o st of them notorious abs u rdities things which h a ve n either

, ,

head n or ta il and yet the vulgar liste n to the m with pleasure

, ,

a n d hold and app rove them for good whe n they a re so far

from being s o ; and if the authors w h o composed them and ,

41
3
 DON e xor e

to the plays now in vogue which equals that I h ear to the

books of chivalries F or whereas the dra ma should be
. ,

accord i ng t o Tully a mir ror of human life a pattern of

, ,

m a n n ers and an image of truth those which are nowadays

, ,

represen ted are mirrors of ab s u rdity patterns of follies and , ,

images of lewd n ess. F or wh at greater absurdity can th ere

be i n suc h a thing as we treat of than for a ch ild to appear ,

in the first scene of the first act in swaddli ng clothes a n d in ,

the second to en ter a bearded ma n ? A n d what greater than

t o paint us a va lia n t dotard a n d a youthful poltroon ; a l a ckey
,

a rhetorician a page a coun selor a kin g a porter a nd a p rin

, , ,

cess a sc ullery maid ? Then what shall I s a y of their obse rv

-

ance of the times and places in w h ich the actions th ey

represe n t can or s h ould ha ppen but th at I h a ve seen a play ,

o f which the fi r st act Opened in E u rope the second i n A sia , ,

the th ird finis hed i n Africa ; a n d if there had bee n four acts ,

the fourth would have ended i n A merica and thus it woul d ,

h a ve been played in all the four qua rters of the globe If .

imita tion be the chief aim of the drama how is it possible ,

that any average understan ding should be satisfied when , ,

represent ing an ac tion which passed in the time of King

Pepin and Charlemagn e they make the p ri n cipal person age
,

in it the E mperor Heraclius who en te rs J erus a lem bearing,

the Cross a n d wins the H oly Sepulcher like Go dfrey of

, ,

Bouil lon nu mberless years having passed between one even t

a n d an other ; a n d the play being based upon a fi ction to i n ,

t rod uce therei n matters of histo r y mi n glin g with it patches ,

o f t h ings which happened t o diff ere n t pe rso n s at di fferent

times and th is with no atte mpt at verisimil itude but with

, ,

p atent erro rs at every

, point inexcusable ? A nd the wo r st
o f it i s that the re are blockheads who say that this is the

pe rfect ar t and that to look for aught el s e is to lo n g for

,

dainties B ut what if we come to the holy dram a s ? H ow

.

m a n y m iracles do they feig n in them ! How many thin gs

apocryphal and un in telligi ble — m iracl e s of on e sain t as
,

c r i be d to anothe r ! N a y even in the p rofan e they dare to

, ,

work mira cles up on no other reaso n and co ns ideration than

because they thi n k that here su ch a miracle or strange effect , ,

a s they call it will go well th a t ignora n t people ma y admire

, ,

and come to the play . All this is to the p rej udice Of the
 CE RVAN T E S

truth and the detriment of h istory ; yea to the rep ro a ch of ,

o ur Spa n is h wits for foreigners who observe t h e l aws of the

, ,

d ra ma with great nicety hold us for ignorant and ba rba rou s

, ,

seei ng the absu rdities and extravagances of t h e pl a ys we

write A nd wo uld it be a n y excuse t o plea d that the c h ief
.

i n tent which well ordered commo n wealths have i n per mitt ing
-

stage plays to be acted is to e n terta in t he commo na l ty with

some ho n est pastim e to divert t h e evil humors which idl en ess
,

at times is wont to engender ; a n d si nce th i s can be a ttain ed ,

with any play good or bad it were to no purpo se to i mpos e

, ,

laws or to compel the writers a n d the actors to ma ke t hem

a s they should be made for as I have s aid with any s ort of
, , ,

play they ca n carry out the desired object. To which I wo uld

reply that this end is much better achieved beyon d all com ,

parison by pla ys that are good tha n by th ose whic h a re not

,

s o ; for the spectator having s een a we l l w ritten a n d order ed

,

play would come away delighted by the comic part in

, ,

structed by the serious full of admiration at the i ncide n ts

, ,

shar pen ed by the lang uage forewarned by the truths made , ,

wise by the lesson s i ncen sed again st vice a n d enamored of

, ,

virtue F or a ll these sen sations will a good play awaken in

.

the mind of the listener let him be ever so gross or rude , .

And of a l l imposs ibil iti es it is most i mpossible that a play h a v

i n g all these qualities should n ot deligh t and e n terta in plea se ,

and conten t much more than on e whic h i s de ficient in t hem

, ,

a s are f or the greater part t h ose which nowadays are co m

m onl y acted N or is the blame t o be laid on t h e p oets w h o

.

co m pose them for some there are among them w h o very

,

well know wherein they err and know also thoroug h ly wh at

they ought to do ; but a s plays are become a m a rketa ble co m
m odity they sa y a n d s a y truly that the players would n ot
, , ,

buy them if they were n ot of that sample ; and therefo re th e

poet seeks to conform to what the player demands w h o h as
to p a y h i m for his work A n d that this is the truth may be
.

s e en by the in fi n ite number of plays composed by a m os t

fortunate genius of these kin gdoms with so much gl ory wi th ,

so m uch gra ce such elega n t verse suc h c h oice la ng uage

, , ,

with s uch weighty sentimen t — fin a l l y s o rich in eloquence , ,

a n d lofti n ess of style th at t h e world is fi lled by h i s re n o w n ;

,

a n d yet because he would accommodate h im se lf to t h e tas te

 DON ourxor r:

of the actors they have n ot all reached as some have the

, , ,

r equisite point of perfection O thers compose plays wi th so

.

litt le heed of what they are doing that a fter repre senta t ion , ,

the players are constrained to fly a nd to absent themsel v es ,

fearin g to be pu nished as has frequently hap pened through

, ,

their having acted things Obnoxi ous to kin gs or to the scan

dal of families. A ll these e v il s a nd many more of which I
, .

wi ll not speak would cea se were there some intelligent a n d

,

j udicious person at court to examine all plays before they are

a cted,
— not on ly those which are brought out in the capita l ,

but all wh ich are inten ded t o be acted in Spai n wit h out ,
-

whose approbation u n der han d and seal no magistrate in

, ,

a n y tow n should suff e r any play to be performed . Thus the ,

comedia ns would be careful to send their plays t o Madrid

and could then act them with s a fety . A nd the write rs would
use more caution a n d pains in what they did in fear of the ,

rigor ous exam i natio n which their pe rform ances would have
to pass at the hands of somebody who u n derstands that busi
ness. In this manner good plays would be produced and ,

there would be happily reached the end which is sought in

them not only the entertainment of the people but the repu
, ,

t a ti on o f the wits of Spai n the pro fi t a n d security of the

,

players and the saving of the trouble n ow spent in their

,

punishme n t. A n d if some other or the same pe rson we re

charged to exam ine the books of chivalries whic h shall be
composed in the future doubtless some would be put forth
,

with the pe rfection you have spoken of enri ching our lan ,

g u age with the gracious a n d precious treasure of eloquence ,

causin g the ol d o n es to be eclipsed by the bright p resence of

the new which would appear for the chas te enterta in ment
,

n ot o n ly of the idle but of t h ose most busy ; f or it i s not pos

sible that the bow can remain always bent n or can human ,
”
and frail n ature su s ta i n its elf without careful recreatio n .

The can on a n d t h e priest had arrived at this poin t of their

colloquy when the barber spurrin g on overtook them a nd
, , ,

sa i d to the priest
Here sir licentiate i s the spot which I told you of
, , ,

where wh ile we are ta king our rest our oxen can have fresh
, ,
”
and a bun dant pasture .

S o it seems t o me said the p riest ; and tell ing the

, ,

as
 DON e xor n

for it is an easy thing for enchanters to take any shape they

d esire a n d they will have ta ken that of these friends to give
,

thee cause to t h ink as thou dost and cast thee i nto a laby ,

rin t h of fancies out of which thou mays t n ot be able t o come

,
’
although thou hadst Theseus s clue . They will have done
s o moreover that I might waver in my un derstanding and
, ,

n ot be able t o conjecture whence there c o meth to me this

harm . F or if on the on e part thou tellest me that the priest

a n d the barbe r of our village he a r me comp a n y and on the ,

other I fi n d myself e n caged and know of myself tha t human

,

force unless it were supe rn atura l were in su ffi cient t o encage

, ,

me what wouldst th ou have me say or think but that the mode

, ,

o f my ench a ntme n t su rpasses a ll I have read of in all the

his tories which treat of kn ights erran t who have been e n

chan ted ? Therefore thou mayst be appe as ed a n d quieted in
respect of believin g them t o b e what thou s a yest for they ,

are j ust as much so as I am a Tu rk ; and as touching thy ,

wish to a s k me something speak for I will answe r thee

, , ,
”
t h ough thou que s ti on e st m e till the morrow
‘
.

Blessed Virgin exclaimed Sancho raisin g his voice , ,

and is it po ss ible that you r wo rship i s so thick sk ulled a n d -

s o brai n sick that y ou ca n miss seeing th a t it i s the very truth

-

I am telling you a n d that this your confi n eme n t a n d mis

,

fortun e h a s a greater share of wickedness in it tha n of e u

c h antment ? But sin ce it i s so I will prove to you clearly ,

h ow you a re n ot e n chanted N ow tell me a s God shall de

. , ,

liver y ou from this trouble a n d as you would se e yo urs elf

, ,

when you le a s t th in k it i n t h e a rm s of my la dy D ulcin ea

,
”
H a ve done with thy con j u rin g c ried Don Quixo te a nd , ,

a s k what tho u wilt f or I have a lready told thee I will a n swer

with all precis io n .

“
Th a t is wh a t I want replied Sancho ; a n d what I
,

would know i s tha t you tell me without adding or h a t in g

,

a ught but wit h the whole truth a s it i s expected th a t they

, ,

ought to spe a k a n d do speak all th o s e who m a ke p rofession

, ,

as yo ur wo rship doe s of arm s u n der the ti tle Of knights

, ,
”
errant .
“
I tell thee I will lie in n othing answered Don Qu ixote ; ,

desp a tch then with thy q uerie s for in tr ut h thou weariest ,

”
m e S a ncho with thy salvoes supplicatio n s a n d p reambles .
, , , ,
 CE RVAN TE S

I say quoth Sancho that I am sure of the goodness an d

, ,

truth of my master and the refore because it is to the poin t

, ,

of our story I a s k s p ea kin g with a ll respect if s o be by

, , ,

chance that since yo ur worship has bee n cooped up and as ,

y ou think enc h anted in thi

, s ca ge there
, h as c o m e t o
y ou the
feelin g a nd the desire to ea t or to d ri nk ?
Aye aye I understa nd thee Sancho . Ye s ma ny t i mes ;
, , , ,
”
I have it even now. Get me out of thi s strait.
 C H A PT E R X LVI

PVhi ch trea t : f
o the sh rew d colloquy w hi ch Sa ncho P a nza held wi th
his ma ster, D on Q
ui xote

H A ! cried Sancho now I have caught y ou. This,

is what I longed to k now with my l ife and soul .

Come now sir can you deny what is com monly said
, ,

about here when a p erson is down in the mouth I know ,

n ot wh a t ails S o and s o ; he does not eat n or d rink nor

- -

, ,

sleep n or a n swer straight when they ask him a question

, ,

sur e he seems to be bewitched From which it is t o be

gathered that they w h o eat not d ri n k n ot sleep n ot n or d o , , ,

t h e natural act s I speak of such like a re enchanted ; but n ot

,

they who have the desire your worship h a s and w h o d rin k ,

when it is given to them and eat whe n they have it to eat

, ,
”
and answer to a ll t hat i s asked them .
”
Thou s ayest true Sancho replied Don Quixote but I
, , ,

have told thee al rea dy that there a re many kinds of ench a nt

ment and it may be they change with the times from on e
,

kin d to an other and that now it is the fashio n for the en

,

chanted to do a ll that I do although formerly they did n ot

,

s o ; so th at against the c ustom of the age there is no arguin g

n or drawing of conclusions . I know and am ve ri ly per

s ua d e d tha t I am enchanted and that is su ffi cient for the
, ,

ease of my co n science which would be greatly burdened if I

,

thought that I was not enchanted and had let myself li e in ,

this cage like a n idler and coward — defrauding of the succor ,

I am able to give the many distres s ed and necessitous w h o

n ow at this hour should have positive and pressing need of
”
my help and p rotection .
”
But for all that answered San cho
, I say that for ,

greater security and satisfactio n it wo u ld be wel l for your

worship t o try and get out of this prison and I engage to ,

h el p y ou to do it with all my power and even to release y ou ,

a t
 D ON ourxor r:

h i s whole body, and then he went to where Rozin a nte stood ,

a n d , gi ving him a couple of slaps on the haunches c ri ed ,

I trust yet in God and in H is blessed mother 0 flower ,

a n d mirror of steeds ! that presently we two shall reach our

heart s desire ; thou wi th thy master on thy back and I on

’
, ,

t op of thee exercising the fu n ction for which God se n t me

,
”
in t o the world !
The canon g azed on him a n d wondered to s e e the strange
,

ness o f his mad humor a n d how that he showed in all his

, ,

speeches and respon ses a very good understanding losin g

, ,

his stir rups only as h a s been already s a id when u pon t h e

, ,

subj ect of hi s knight e rrantries. A n d so a fter they were all

-
,

s ea ted on the green turf waiti ng for their p rovender the

, ,

canon said to him

Is it possible good ge n tleman that the idle and u n happy
, ,

reading of books of chivalries hath so prevailed over you as

to have turn ed your bra in to such a degree that y ou have
come t o believe y ou are encha nted with other things of that ,

sort which are as far from being true as fal sehood itself i s
from the truth ? H ow is it possible that there i s any human
understanding which can persuade itself that there have bee n
in the world that infi n ity of A ma d i s es that m ultitude of re ,

n o w n e d knights so many emperors o f Tra p i s on d a so much

, ,

F el ixma rt e of Hyrcania so much palfrey s o much wan de r

, ,

ing damsel so many se rpents so many dragons s o many

, , ,

giants so m a ny unheard of adventures so many ki n ds of

,
-

ench a n tment s o many battles so many terrible encounters

, , ,

so much brave ry Of apparel s o many enamored prin ces s es, ,

so many esquires turn ed counts so many facetious dwarfs so , ,

much love letter so many valiant ladies

-
, a nd in fi n e s o , , ,

many and such monstrous absurdities a s are con tai n ed in the

books of chivalri es ? F or myself I can say that when I read ,

them ,
— s o long as I do n ot set my mind to the thought that

they are all lies a nd child s play — they give me a certain

’

pleasure ; but whe n I reflect upon what they are I pitch t h e ,

very best Of them to the wall yea I would throw them into
, ,

the fire had I one at hand or near as well meriti n g such a

, ,

punishment for being liars and imposto rs outside of th e r an ge ,

Of common nature ; a s founders of n e w sect s and new modes

of life and as cau s ing the ignora n t vulgar to believe a n d hold
,
 CE RVAN T E S

for t ru th a ll
the foll ies they conta in. A n d they have ev en
so muc h auda ci ty tha t they dare to confound the under
sta ndings of intelli gent an d well bred gentlemen as may w ell -
,

be see n by what they have done with your wo rship for they ,

have brought y ou to such a p as s a s t o make it n e c e ss ar y to

shut you up in a cage a nd carry y ou upo n an c x ca rt a s one
,
-
,

ca rries or takes about some li on or ti ger from place t o pla ce ,

to get a li vi ng by the sh owi ng of him . C ome Sir Don ,

Quixote have pity on yourself ; return in to t h e bos om of

,

common sense an d learn to use the large share of it w h ich

,

Heaven h a s be en ple a sed to bestow on you employi ng your ,

very happy talent of wit in s ome other kind Of readi n g w h ich

may redound to the p ro fit of your soul and the advan cement
of your honor If carried away by a n atural i rn p ul se y ou
. , ,

would read books of achievemen ts a n d chivalri es rea d in the ,

Holy Scripture the Book of J udges for there you will find ,

gra nd realiti es and deeds as true as any we hav e Portugal .

had a Viria tus Rome 3. C e sar C a rtha g e a Hanni bal Greece

, , ,

an Alexander Casti le a F e m a n Gonzalez V alencia a Cid

, , ,

A ndalusia a Gonzalo Fernandez E stremadura a Garci a de ,

Paredes J erez a Garci Perez de Vargas Toledo a Garc i la so

, , ,

Seville a Manuel de Le on ; whose valorous exploits ma y

enterta in instruct delight a nd move to ad miration the mos t
, , ,

exalted wits who read them . This ve ri ly were rea ding worthy
of your excellent understa nding my dea r Sir Don Qui xote , ,

from which you will rise learned in history enam ored of ,

virtue tutored in good n ess bettered in manners valia nt with

, , ,

out ras h ness prudent w ithout timidity ; a n d all this t o the

,

honor of God your ow n profit a n d the glory of La M a ncha

, , ,
”
when ce a s I have lea rnt you derive your birth and origi n
, , .

Don Quixote lis ten ed very att en tively to the cano n s dis ’

course and when he foun d he had finished after rega r ding

, ,

h im for some time he s aid ,

Meth i nks s ir that your discourse ba t h for its drif t the

, ,

desire t o convin ce me that there never have been knights

errant in the world and that all the books of chivalries have
,

been false lyin g hurtful and unpro fita ble to the co mmon
, , ,

wealth and that I have done wrong in read i ng them and

, ,

worse in believi n g them and worst of a l l in imitati ng t he m

,

by setti ng myself to follow the rigorous p rofession of errant

 DON ourxor r:

knighthood which they tea ch ; that you deny moreover that , ,

there have ever been in the world A ma di se s either of Gaul or

Greece or any of all the true knights of whom th e wri tings are
,
”
full.
I t is a l l prec is ely as you have sai d q uoth the can on. ,

To which Don Quixote rejoined

You were pleased also to add that such boo ks have done
me much harm since they have turned my bra in and put me
,

in a cage and t hat it would be better for me to change a n d

,

amend my reading by the study of other books more truth

,
”
ful and yielding more delight a n d instruc ti on .
,
”
It is so said the ca non .
,
”
Why then retorted Don Quixote I find by my account
, , ,

that the se nsele ss and enchanted person i s yourself w h o have ,

undertaken to utter so many blasphemies agai nst a thing s o

genera lly received in the world and held for such truth that ,

he w h o shou ld den y it as you deny it woul d merit the same

, ,

p unishment which y ou sa y y ou would gi ve t o the books when

read them a n d they d i s p l ea se yo u F or to desire to make
'

y o u .

any one believe that there never was an Amadis in the world ,

nor any of the other knights adventurers with whom the

histories are filled would be to desire to persuade him that
,

the s un does n ot shine the frost does not chill nor the ea rth
, ,

sustain . W hat wit can there be in the world cap able of per
s ua din g another it was not true that conce rning th e Infan ta
,

Floripes and Guy of Burgundy or about Fierabras at the ,

Bridge of Ma n tibl e which happened in the time of Charle

,

magne which I swear is a s true as that it is n ow daylight ;

,

and if it i s a lie so must it also be that there was a Hector

, ,

an Achilles a war of Troy the Twelve Peers of France Kin g

, , ,

A rthur of E n gland w h o goes yet about transformed in to a

,

raven and is expected in h i s kingdom co n tinually. And they

,

shall al so dare to s a y that the story of Guarino Mezquino is

false as al s o that O f the Quest of the Holy Grail ; and that
,

the loves O f Sir Tristram and the Queen Iseult and those o f
Guin evere a n d Lancelot are apocryphal ; whereas there are
persons w h o ca n almost remember to having Seen the Duenna
Q u i n t a fi on a who was the
, best wi n e skinker ever Great Britain
-

b a d A n d t his i s so true that I remember that a gra ndmother

.

of m i ne of my father s side would s a y to me when s h e sa w

'

, ,
 DON QU IXOTE

Spanish knights errant ; an d I am also willing to concede

that there were Twelve Peers of Fran ce but I wil l not be ,

lieve that they did all the things Archbishop Turp in writes
O f them ; for the truth of it is they were knights cho sen by
the kings of France whom they called peers as bein g all
,

equal in worth in rank a n d in valor ; at l east if they were

, , ,

not they were expected to be s o ; a n d it was a n order such

,

as those now are of Santiago or of Calatra va wherein it i s , ,

p resupposed that such as profess it are worthy kn ights val ,

ia n t a n d well born ; and as now we speak of a knight of St.

,
-

J oh n or of A lcan tara so they spoke i n those days of a knight

,

o f the Twelve Peers because they were tw elve equa ls chosen

, ,

o f that mi l itary order. That there was a Cid there is no ,

d oubt nor less that there w a s a Be rnardo del Carpio ; but

,

very great doubt whether they did the deeds told of them .
A s to the other thing you speak of the peg of Count Peter , ,

and its standin g next to B a vi eca s saddle in the kin g s armory ’ ’

I confess my son that I am so ig norant or so short sighted

, ,
-

that although I have seen the saddle I have never hit upon
, ,
”
the peg though it is so big as you sa y it is.
,

Yet there it is without any question rejoin ed Don

, , ,

Quixote and more by token they say it i s kept in a case

, , ,

of neat s leather that it may n ot take the rus t.

’

”
It is very probable answered the canon ; yet by the
, ,

orders I have received I d o n ot remembe r having seen it.

,

But g ra nted it is there I am not therefore compelled to

, ,

believe the stories of all these A ma d is es n or those of that ,

multitude of knights as are everyw here told of ; nor is it

,

reasonable that a man like you of such good repute a n d ,

p a rts and endowed with so excellent a n understandin g

, ,

should persuade himself that all such extravaga nt ab s urdities

a s those which are written in the nonsensical books of chival
”
ries are t rue .
 CH A PT E R X LV I I

Of the wi to' di sp uta ti ons w hi ch D on Qui x ote a nd the ca non he ld ;

w i th other ma tters

H AT were a good j est indeed a nswered Don Quix , ,

ote . Books which are printed with the ki n g s ’

license and with the approbatio n of those to whom

,

they are submitt ed which are re ad with general delight a nd a p

,

p l a ud e d by great and small by rich a n d by poo r,by t h e l e a rne d ,

and the ign orant by gentlemen a nd plebei ans in fi ne by every

, ,

so rt of persons of what degree or co nd ition soever t hey h e ,

should they h e lies especially hea rin g as they d o s uch an

-

appe a ra nce of truth since they tel l us of the father the

, ,

mother the cou ntry the kindred the time the plac e and
, , , , ,

the deeds step by step and day by day which such and such
, , ,

knight or knights performed ? Be silent sir utter n ot such , ,

blasphemy ; and believe me in th is I advis e you to a ct like a

man of sense ; nay read them and you shall s ee what pleas
, ,

ure y ou receive in their reading. F or tell me is the r e any , ,

greater delight th a n to behold here n ow as who should say

—
displayed before our eyes a great lake of pitch boiling h ot , ,

a n d there swimmi n g a n d w rithing abo ut in it a mult itude of

serpents snakes and lizards and many other sorts Of fierce

, , ,

and terrible cre a tures ; and there comes out of the la ke a most
dism a l voice which c ries : O kn ight whoever thou art tha t ,

art gazin g on this dreadful lake if thou wouldst rea ch th e ,

bliss th a t is con cea led ben eath these coal black waters show -

the valor of thy da u ntless breast a n d p l unge thee in the midst

of this d a rk bu rn i n g liquor ; for unless thou dost thou shalt
, ,

n ot be worthy to behold the mighty marvels hidden and con

t a i ne d in the seven ca s tles of the seven fairies w h o dwell

ben eath this murky flood A nd scarce does the knigh t hear
’
.

th a t dread voice when without further thought for himse lf

, ,

or stoppi n g to consider the peril to which he is ex osed and

p ,

428
 DON QU IXO TE

even without strippin g himself of h i s weighty armor com ,

mending him to God a nd h i s lady he d ings hi mself into th e

,

midst of the see thing pool a n d when he least imagines it nor

,

knows where he i s to stop he fi nds himself among flowery

,

meads with which the E lysia n can in n o wi se compare .

There the s ky appears to him more transparent and the s un
shines with a newer luster. A pleasant grove O pen s be fore
h i s eyes of t rees so green and leafy that their verdure re
,

j oices the sight while the ears are ravished with the sweet
, ,

un taught song of i nnumerable litt le p ai nted birds which flit

about the i ntertwining boughs . Here he discovers a rivulet ,

whose limpid waters like liquid crystal glide over the delica te
, ,

sands and blanched pebbles which sif ted gold and purest,

pe a rl resemble. There he perceives a fountain wrought of

mottled jasper and polished marble ; here another rustically ,

fa s hioned where the slender shells o f the mussel with the

,

tw isted white and yellow houses of the snail set in disor ,

dered order i n termingled with pieces of glitterin g crystal a n d

,

counte rfeit emeralds make varied work of such a fashion

,

that art imita tin g nature seems here to surpass her. You
, ,

der upon a sudden i s discovered a strong castle or sightly

palace whose walls are of beaten gold the turrets of diamonds
, , ,

the gates of jacinth ; i n short it is of structu re so admirable

,

that though the materials whereof it is built a re n o less than

diamonds carbuncles rubies pearls gold and emeralds the
, , , , , ,

workmanship is still more precious. A nd after havin g seen

all this i s there a prettier sight tha n to be hold sallying out
,

of the castle gate a goodly train of damsels i n such gay a n d

gorg eous attire that were I to attempt to describe it as the

,

histories recoun t it for us I should n ever have done ; and

,

then t o see her who appears the chief among them all take
by the hand the bold knight w h o plu n ged in to the b urnin g
lake and conduct him without speaki n g a word within the
, ,

rich palace or castle and bathe him in lukewarm water and

, ,

then an oin t him all over with sweet smelling u n guents and -

put on him a sh i rt of fi nest samite all perfumed and fragrant

, ,

while another damsel runs and throws over his shoulders a

mantle which at the least they say is wort h the price of a
city and even more ? W hat b raver sight th an to see after
all this as they tell us when they lead him into an other hal l
, , ,
 DON Qurxor rz -

friends especially this p oor San cho Panza my squire wh o is

, , ,

th e best fellow in the world ; a n d I would fain bestow on h i m

a countshi p as I have promised him long a g o but that I fear
, ,

he will n ot have the capacity to govern his estate .

Sancho w h o overhea rd these last words of h is master
, ,

You work Sir Don Quixote to get me that same

se t to , ,

countship so lon g promised by you and expected by me and , ,

’
I promise you that I won t fail in capacity to govern it ; and
supposing I should there are people in the world I ve heard
, ,
’

sa y w h o take the estates of noblemen in farm giving them

, ,

s o much a year and they take care of the management a n d

, ,

the lord himself lives at eas e enj oying the rent they pay him , ,

without caring for anything else . A nd so will I do and will ,

n ot stand haggl ing over a little more or less but give up ,

everything at once and enj oy my rent like a duke and let

, ,
”
the world wag .

That brother Sancho said the canon is to be under

, , ,

stood in respect of the enjoyment of th e revenue ; but a s to

the admin istratio n of j ustice the lord of the estate must a t ,

tend to it ; a n d here come in the capacity and the sound

judgmen t a n d especially an upright intention ; for if this be
,

lackin g i n the beginning all will go wrong in the middle a n d ,

the e n d ; a n d God i s wont to help the good intentions of

the simple a s well as to confou n d the evil designs of the
,
”
cunn ing .

I know nothing of these philosophies answered Sancho ,

P an za ; I on ly know that I would I had the countship a s

quickly as I should kno w h ow to rule it for I have as great ,

a soul a s any other man and a s great a body as most and I , ,

would be as much king of my estate as any one is of h i s ;

a n d bein g so I would do what I liked and doin g what I
, , , ,

liked I would do my pleasure a n d doing my pleasure I

, , , ,

w ould be conten t and being co nten t on e has no more to de

, , ,

sir e a n d there being no more to desire there i s an e n d of it ;

, , ,

a nd let the estate come in God s name and l et us see our

’ ‘
, ,
’ ”
selves as on e blind man said to the other
, .
“
These are n o bad philo s ophies as thou sayest San cho , , ,
“
said the c a n on ; but nevertheless there i s much to be sai d
on thi s matter of countships .
 CE RVANTE S

To that Don Quixote replied

I know not what there ma y be more to sa y ; I g overn
mysel f s olely by t h e many a n d various exa mples w hi ch can
be gathered t o t he purpo se O f t h e knights of my professi on ,

who responding t o the loyal a nd signal services whi ch t hey

,

received of th eir squ ires conferred upon them notab le f avors

, ,

making them lords absolute of citi es and isles a n d there were ,

those who se deserts reached to such a d egree th a t the y h a d

the pres umption to make them selves ki ngs . But w h y d o I
waste time i n this — when there i s oEered to me s o ill us
,

t ri ous an example by t h e g re at and neve r t o b e fully p ra is ed

- - - -

A madis of Gaul w h o made h is s q uire Coun t of the Firm Isle ?

,

So may I without scruple of con scienc e make a coun t of

Sancho Panza w h o is one of the be st s quire s kn ight erra nt
,
”
eve r had.
The canon was as tonished at the methodica l nonsen se (if
non sense permits of method ) which Don Q uixote h a d uttered ,

at the manner in which he h a d d epicted t h e advent ure of

the Knight of the Lake at th e impression which the delib
,

c rate lies of the books he had read had made upon him a nd ,

lastly he marveled at the simplicity of Sancho w h o so ar ,

d ent l y desired t o obtai n the coun tship his master h a d p rom

ised him.
By this time the canon s serva nts w h o had gone t o the
’

inn for the sumpter mule had returned a nd maki ng their

-

, , ,

ta ble of a carpet a nd the gr een mea dow gras s they sa t them ,

down under the shade of s ome trees a n d took their meal

there that the wagoner might n ot lose the bene fit of that
,

spot a s h a s been already said. Whil e they were eati ng they

,

heard on a sudden a rustli ng sound a nd the ti nkl in g of a l ittle

bell which issued from among some brambles and thick
,

bushes wh i ch grew thereabout and at the same momen t they

,

s a w run out of the thicket a beautif ul s h e goat all her coat ,

speckled black white a n d g ray. A fter her came a goath erd

, ,

calling to her in words such a s they use to stop or turn ba ck

,

to th e fold. The truant goat frightened and trembling ca me

, ,

up to the company a s though for protection and t he re s tood ,

still. The herdsman arrivin g he caught her by the horn s a nd

,

said to her a s though she were capable of dis co urs and

u n dersta ndi ng
 DON QU IXOTE

A h ! vagabond vagabond ! A h ! speckled wanton ! a nd

,

h ow have you gone limping about 0 these days ? W hat

’

wolves have scared you chil d ? Wil l you n ot tell me what it,

is my beauty ? But what else can it be than that you are a

,

woman and cannot be stil l ? A plague on your humor and

,

on that of all those of your like ! —

Come back come back ,

darl in g for if not so happy at least you wil l be safe in your

, , ,

fold and with your compan ions and if y ou w h o have to ta ke

, ,

care of them and guide the m roam th us guideless and astray ,

what wil l become of them

The words of the goatherd much amused the hearers ,

especially the canon who said to him : Prithee brother, , ,

calm yourself a little a n d be in no such hurry to take back

,

this she goat to her fold for sin ce she is a woman as you , ,

say she must follow her natural insti nct for all the pains you
, ,

take to hinder her Take this mouthful and drink a cup

. ,

with us whereby you wil l temper your choler and the goat
,
”
will rest her the wh ile.
A n d a s he spoke he gave him on the point of a kn ife the
hind qua rter of a cold rabbit The goatherd took it and .

tha n ked him drank a n d sat down a n d rested saying pres

, , ,

ently
I would n ot have you masters ta ke me for a simpleton , ,

for having talked to this an i mal so sensibly for in truth the ,

words I spoke a re n ot without a mystery . I am a rustic but ,

not s o much of on e as n ot to understand how one should

converse w ith men a n d with beasts.
” “
That I can very well believe answered the priest ; for ,

I know by experien ce that mountains breed scholars and

”
sheep c otes con tain philosophers
-
.
”
At least s ir rej oin ed the goatherd they harbor men
, , ,

tutored by experien ce a n d that y ou may believe this a n d

, ,

have samp l e of it — though n ot being asked I may seem t o

, , ,

put myself forward if I shall not tire you with it a n d you

, ,

will please len d me gen tlemen a patien t ear for a little while
, , ,

I will recou n t to you a true tale which will make good that ,
“
gentlema n s words ( poin ting t o the p riest) as well a s my
’

,
”
ow n .

To this Don Quixote an swered

. Seein g that this matter
has I know n ot what shadow of a n a dventure of knig ht
29
 C H A PT E R X LV I I I

PVhi ch trea t: o f w ha t the goa th erd rela ted to those who were ca r ry

i ng D on Q uix ote

H REE leagues from this valley is a town which ,

al though small i s yet one o f the richest in all these

,

parts wherein there was a farmer greatly honored

, ,

a n d as much for the v i rtue he had a s the we a lth he had a o

quired though to be honored is a perquisite of being rich

, .

But that wherei n h e accounted himself most fortunate a s he ,

would s a y was in having a daughter O f such consummate

,

beauty rare wit grace and virt ue that he w h o kne w and

, , , ,

beheld her wondered to se e the surpassing qualities wherewith

Heaven and nature had endowed her. A s a child s h e was
pretty a n d ever in creasing in good looks at the age of six
, ,

teen sh e was exceedingly be autiful. The fame of her l ov eli

ness began to spread through all the adjoining villages ,

but why do I say through the adjoin ing vil lages ? It extended
to remote cities a n d even made it s way i nto the palaces of
,

kin gs a n d into the ears of all kinds of people w h o would ,

come to se e her from all parts as somethin g rare or some

wonder w orkin g image . Her father guarded her carefully
-

and she guarded herself for there are no locks bolts or bars
, , ,

which better gu ard a maiden than those of her ow n modesty .

’
The father s wea lth and the daughter s beauty led many both
’

the townsmen a n d strangers to ask her to wif e ; but he as

, ,

on e havi ng disposal of s o rich a j ewel w a s much perplexed , ,

without being able to decide upon whom to be stow her of the

i n fin ite number who came t o w oo her. A mong the mul titude
who coveted her I w a s one who had many and good hope s
,

of success in the knowledge her father had O f me i n my being

, ,

a native of the same town of unblemished blood in the flower

, ,

of my age with an ample estate a n d no worse furnished in

, ,

mind . With all these qualifications there was another of the ,

43 5
 CE RVAN TE S

same village who sought her which caused the father s will
,
’

t o be suspe n ded and hang in the balance it seemin g t o him ,

that on either of us his daughter would be well bes t owed.

To be rid of this difficulty b e resolved t o refer it to Le an dra
,

( f or that i s the name of the rich maiden w h o has brought m e

to w oe ) thinking a s we tw o were equal it wa s best to leave

, , ,

to his beloved daughter the right t o choose to h er l ikin g a ,

course worthy of the imitation of all fathers w h o have ch ildren

to marry. I say not that they should leave them to choose in
things base and evil but that they should put before them t h e
,

good and of the good let their children choose accord ing to
,

their tastes. I know not what was Lean d ra s ; I only know ’

that her father put us both O E on the score of h is daughter s ’

ext reme youth with ge n e ral terms which neither bound h im

,

nor released us. My rival is call ed A nsel mo and I E ugenio , ,

that you may have the names of the pers ons conce rn ed in th is
tragedy whose conclusion is stil l in suspense th oug h it may
, ,

well be foreseen that it has t o be disa s trous .

About this time there came to our town on e Vicente de la
R oca s on of a poo r farmer of the same place whic h Vi cente
, ,

had retu rned from being a s oldier in Italy and divers oth er
parts . A captain w h o happened to be passin g by there w i th his
,

company carried him OE from our village he being then a la d

, ,

of about twelve years ; and the young spark retu rned twe lve ,

years a fter attired in soldier fashion painted in a t housa nd

, ,

colors a n d bedecked with a thousand crystal toys a n d fine

,

steel chains. To day he would put on one piec e of finery a nd

-
,

to morrow another ; though a ll flimsy showy of li tt le wei ght

-

, ,

a n d less worth . The country people w h o are n aturally ma l ev

,

olent , a n d idleness giving them leisure are malice it se lf , ,

noted it and took an exact account of his gewgaws a nd trip

,

pery a n d found that he had th ree suits of d i Ee rent colors w ith

, ,

their hose a n d garters ; but he m a naged them with so man y

tricks a n d inventions that if one did not c ount the m one would
, , ,

have sworn that he had show n ten suits of apparel a nd more

than twen ty plumes Of feathers. And let it not be d e emed
impertin ent or superfluous what I a m telli ng you of h is dress ,

f or it plays a chief p art i n my sto ry . H e would si t on a bench

which was u n de r a great poplar tree in our market pl ace a nd
- -
,

there would hold us with mouths agap e hanging upon the ,

 DON Qurxor s

exploits which he recounted to us. There w a s no country on

earth he had not visited n or battl e wherein he had not figured .
,

He had slai n more Moors than a re in Morocco and Tun is a n d ,

enga ge d i n more single combats accordin g to h i s account than , ,

Ga nte and Luna Diego Garc ia de Paredes a n d a thousand

, ,

others whom he named a n d had come OE victorious from all

, ,

without having sp ilt a si ngle drop of blood . Then aga in he , ,

would show marks of wounds which though they were n ot , ,

made out he would persu a de us were musket shots received i n

,
-

vari ous action s a n d e n counters . In short with an unheard o f ,

-

arrogance he would c a ll h is equals you even those who knew

, ,
’

him and declare that his right arm was h i s father his deeds h i s
, ,

lin eage and in h i s quality of soldier he owed the king himself

,

nothi ng. TO these prete n sions is to be add e d that he was a

little of a musician a n d could cl a w a g uitar so as some said
, , ,

to make it speak ; but his talents did not stop there for he had ,

also that of the poet and upon every tri flin g thing that passed
,

in the town he would compose a b a llad a league a n d a ha lf lo n g .

N ow this soldier whom I have here de scribed this V ice n te

, ,

de la R oca — this ru flle r this coxcomb this musicianer this

,
‘
, , ,

—
poe t was Often seen and admired by Lean dra from a win dow
of her house which looked upon the public square . She was
captivated by the tin sel of his gay attire en chanted by his bal ,

l a ds
,
— f or he would give away twenty copies of every on e he
composed ; the exploits which he had related of himself came .

t o her ears ; a n d in short for s o the devil must have o rdered it

, , ,

she ended by fa llin g i n love with h i m before he had conceived

the p resumptio n of wooin g h e r An d a s in the a ff airs of love .

non e a re more easily brought to an issue than that which has

on its side the lady s desire Lean d ra a n d V ice n te c a me to a n
’
,

understan ding without any diffi culty ; and before a n y of her

numerous suito rs could suspect her in clination she h a d al ready ,

gratifi ed it by leaving the home of her de a r a n d beloved father

( f or mothe r s h e had no n e ) a n d a bsco n di n g from the
, village
with the soldier who came O E with more triumph from this
,

enterprise than from all the man y others he had imputed to

himself The even t fi lled the whole town with amazeme n t as
. ,

well as all w h o b a d news of it I w a s left confounded A nselmo . ,

thun ders truck her fa ther lamen ti n g her kin smen ashamed
, , .

J ustice w a s awakened and the O ffi cers on the alert. They

,
 DON QU IXO TE

ing our sighs singly and apart and confid ing our pla ints to ,

Heaven . In imitation of us some others of Lea nd ra s ,

’

suitors have come into these rude mountains taking up the ,

like exercise ; and so many are they that this spot i s turned
i nto the pastoral A rcadia it is so crammed with shepherds
,

a n d sheepfolds ; nor is there a corner in which the re is not

heard the name of the fair Leand ra. This ma n curses her
a n d calls her fickl e i n c on sta n t immodest that one denounces
, , ,
_

her as forward and frail ; one excuses a nd pardons her ,

another arraigns and condemns her ; one celebrates her

beauty another vi li fie s her character ; in fi ne all disparage
, ,

a n d all ado re her ; and their madness extends so far that

there are some w h o complain of her scorn that never spoke

a word to her a n d some bemoan themselves and suff er from
,

the maddening disease of j ea lousy for which s h e never gave ,

any one cause for as I have said her fault was discovered
, , ,

be fore her flame There is n ot a hole in a rock nor bank of

. ,

a stream nor shade of a tree which is not occupied by some

, ,

shepherd rehearsin g his sorrows to the win ds . E cho repeats ,

wherever it can be formed the name of Leandra , Leandra ,

the hills resoun d Lean dra murmur the brooks ; Lea nd ra holds
,

u s all distracted and enchanted hoping without ho p e a nd fear

, ,

i n g without knowi ng what we fear.

O f all these demented me n he w h o shows the least and
h a s the most good se n se i s my rival Anselmo who having , ,

s o man y things else to complai n of complains only of absence , ,

a n d to the sound of a rebec which he p l ays admirably doth

, ,

s in g his fate in verses which show an excelle n t genius. I

,

follow another and to my seeming a wiser way which is to

, , ,

rail at the lightness of women ; at their in con stancy their ,

double dealing their broken promises a n d their unkept faith ;

-
, ,

and in fi ne at the little judgme n t they show in k n owin g

, ,

where to fi x their thoughts and aff ectio n s A n d this was the .

occasion gentlemen of the words I a ddressed to th is goat on

, ,

my coming hither ; bein g a female I despise her though she ,

be the best of all my flock. This is the story I promised to

tell you If I have been tedious in the tellin g of it I shall
. ,

not be brief i n servin g you Hard by is my cottage where

. ,

I have new milk and savory cheese with various fruits of ,

”
the season not less pleasant to the sight than to the ta ste.
 CH A PT E R X LI X

Of the qua f rel which D on Quix ote ha d w i th the goa therd , wi th t he

r a re a d ven ture of th e di scip li na nts, w hi ch he h a i
pp yl a ch i e ved w i th
th e s wea t of hi s brow

HE story of the goatherd much pleased all w h o heard

it, especially the canon w h o noted with a p a rtien
,

l a r cu riosity the m a nner of telli n g it wherein the ,

narra tor showed more of the polished courti er th a n th e rustic

herdsman confess ing that the p riest had wel l sa id tha t th e
,

mountain s bred scholars . The whole company oEe re d t heir

service to E ugenio but he who showed himself most liberal
,

in this was Don Quixote who said to him ,

Cert es brother goatherd were I free to be abl e to u ndertake

, ,

any new adventure I would instantly set out to ma ke yours good

, ,

f or I would deliver Leandra from the convent ( wherei n doubt ,

less she must be detained against her will ) in despite of the

, ,

abbess and all who should oppose it a n d I would place her i n ,

your hands that you might deal with her accordi ng to your
will and pleasure , observing still the l aws of chi valry which ,

ordain that to no damsel shall be done any kind of violence .

Yet I trust in God our Lord that the power of a mi schievous

e n chanter shall not have so much effi cacy but that some
better disposed enchanter may have more a n d aga inst th at ,

time I promise you my favor and aid as I a m bo und to do ,

by my p rofession which is none other than to s uccor the

,
”
helpl e ss and the destitute .
The goatherd star ed at him and seeing Don Quixote to be
, ,

of such s orry appearance and as pect he w a s s urprised a nd , ,

as ked the barber who sat near h im : Sir who is thi s ma n

, ,

that makes such a fi gure and talks in such a strain ?

”
Who should it be answered the ba rber but the famous
, ,

D on Quixote of La Man cha the redresser of i njuries the

, ,

righter of wrongs the suppo rt of damsels the terror of giants

, , ,

and the win ner of battles ?

 DO N QU IXOTE
“
That looks to me replied the goa therd like what one
, ,

reads in the books of knights errant who did a l l th a t you s a y ,

of this man th o u gh I ta ke it either th a t your wo rship is j est

,

i n g or that this g entlem a n has some chambe rs in his head

,

empty .
You a re a very great ra scal cried Don Q ui xote at this ; ,
”
and it is you who are empty and de ficie n t.
And so s a ying he c a ught up a loaf th a t w a s ne a r him and
, ,

with it struck the goatherd full in the f a ce with such force ,

as to beat h is n ose flat The goa therd who did not unde r
. ,

sta n d jesting pe rceivin g how he w a s handled in very earnest

, , ,

— with out a n y res pect to the c a rpet the ta ble cloth or those ,
-

who were din ing — jumped u po n Don Q ui xote and seizin g

, ,

him by the th roat with both hands would certainly have

, ,

s tran gled him if S a ncho Pa nza had n ot at th a t m o me n t come

,

to t h e rescue a n d taking the goatherd by the shoulders thrown

, , ,

him back u p on the table breaking plates sm a shing glass es, , ,

a n d spilli n g and s m otheri n g all that w a s upo n it. D o n Quix

o t e fi n d i ng him s elf free r u shed t o get on the goathe rd who

, , , ,

with h i s f a ce a l l be s me a red with blo od havin g been kicked ,

a n d b a tte red by Sa n c ho w a s feeling about o n all fou r s f or a

,

knife off the table to ta ke some bl oo dy ve n geance ; but the

can on a n d t h e p riest s topped h i m — the bar be r so co ntrivin g ,

th a t the go a the rd g ot Don Quixote unde r a nd rain ed upon ,

h i m s uch a sho w e r of blo w s that f ro m the poo r kn ig h t s face

’

there stre a med a s m uch blood as f rom h i s ow n . The cano n

a n d t h e p rie s t we re bu rstin g with laughte r ; the t ro o pe rs

d a nced w it h glee and eve ry on e hallooed them on a s men

,

d o with t w o d og s who a re fi ghti n g S a nch o Pa n za a l on e w a s

.

i n de s p a i r bec a u s e he could not get himself loose from one

,

o f t h e c a n on s s erv a n t s who kept him from helpin g h i s m a s

’

ter. A t l a st while they we re all merry with the s p ort except

t h e t w o c omb a t a n ts who we re wo rryin g one an othe r they
, ,

heard the s oun d of a trumpet s o doleful that it made the m ,

turn their fa c e s t owa rds t h e pla ce whence it seemed to come .

But h e w h o w a s m os t excited by hearing it was D on Quixote ,

w h o th ough he lay u n de r the g oather d sorely agai n st h i s will

, ,

a n d p retty well b r uised a n d b a ttered c ried to his adversary ,

B rothe r devil ! ( for it i s im p ossible you can be aught else ,

since thou has t p ro w e s s a n d stre ngth en ough t o subdue mine ) ,

30
 DO N QU IXOTE

Sir D on Quixote where are you goi n g ? What devils

,

a re i n yo u r bo s om t o s e t y ou on for t o go ag a in st our Catholic

f a ith ? Mind bad luck to me t h a t yon i s a procession of

, ,

penitents and th a t la dy they are carryi n g upon the bier is

,

the most bles sed image of the I mm a culate Virg in look si r , ,

w h at you d o f or this ti m e on e may s a y it is n ot wh a t y ou

,

kn ow.
S a ncho tired himself to no pu rpos e for h i s mas ter w a s so ,

inte n t upo n encounte ri n g the sheeted on e S a n d up on l ibe ra t ,

i n g the lady i n black th a t he he a rd not a wo rd a n d even

, , ,

if h e had he would n ot h a ve turn ed ba c k tho ugh th e king

, ,

himself h a d com m a n ded Comin g up with the processio n . ,

he halted Rozin a nt e who had a lre a dy a gre a t desire to rest

,

a l ittle a n d in a hoa rs e a n gry voice cried out

, ,

You who perh a p s th rough you r bei n g evil cover up

, ,

your fa ce s stay a n d list to what I shall say to you

, ,

The firs t to halt were they who were carryin g the image ,

a n d on e of the fo ur p rie s ts who ch a n ted the lita n ies ob se rv ,

i ng t h e sin g ul a r aspect of Don Q uixote t h e le a nn ess of ,

Rozi n a n t e with othe r circumsta n ces of ridicule which he

,

noted in the k n ight a n swered ,

B rother if y ou would s a y a n ythin g t o us s a y it quickly

, , ,

for the se our breth re n a re tea rin g t h eir flesh a nd we c a n n ot , ,

n or is it right we should s t o p to listen t o an ythi n g u n less it,

”
be s o brief th a t it may be sa id i n t w o words .

“ "
I will s a y it in on e rej oi n ed Don Q u ixote a n d it is
, ,

this that ye d o forthwith and up on the in sta n t se t free tha t

, , ,

be a ute ous lady wh ose te a rs a n d sa d a s pect a ff o rd man ife s t

toke n s that y ou a re h e a ri n g h e r a w ay aga in s t h e r will a n d ,

h a ve don e her s ome n ota ble f oul w ro n g I who was born . ,

into the wo rld i n o rder t o redre s s such i njurie s will n ot con ,

s e n t that ye p a s s on e sin gle s tep forwa rd till ye have resto red

”
to h e r the libe rty s h e d e s ires a n d de s erve s .

F ro m the s e w ord s all w h o heard them c oncluded th a t Don

Quixote mu s t be some m a d m an a n d they fell to la ughin g ,

very heartily which l a ughter w a s like a ddi n g gun powde r to

,

the fire of the k n ig ht s choler for without a word more he

’

drew h i s s wo rd a n d atta cked the litter. O n e of th ose who

c a rried it leavin g the bu rde n to h is comp a nio n s stepped
, ,

f orw ard to encou n te r D on Quixote brandis h ing a forked ,

 CE RV AN T E S

stick or pole on which he suppo rt ed the image when resting

, ,

a n d receiv in g on it s o heavy a str oke which D on Qui xot e

discharged at h im that it w a s s he a red i n two W ith the .

piece le ft in h i s hand the penitent deli vered such a thwa ck

o n the knight s s houlde r on the sword side that hi s target
’

w a s not a ble t o shie ld him agai n st the ru s tic as sa ult a n d ,

d ow n c a me p oor Don Q uixote to the grou n d in a ver y

l a men ta ble plig h t .

Sancho w h o c a me up pan ting close at his heels se e in g

, , , ,

him fa ll called out to h is assa ila n t n ot to s trike anot her blow

, ,

for he w a s a p oor encha n ted knight who had don e n o bod y

a n y har m i n all h i s life . But wh a t stopped the peas ant w a s
not S a n cho s cryin g but his s eeing tha t Don Q uixote sti rred
’

n eithe r han d n or f o ot ; a n d s o in the belief he had ki lled h i m

, ,

he h a stily tucked up h i s dres s to his girdle and fled a cro ss ,

the co un try like a deer. By this t ime a l l of Don Q uixote s ’

comp a ny h a d come up to where he l a y when those of the ,

p roces s ion se e in g t he others a pproach a t a run a mong th e m

, ,

t h e tr oope rs with their c ros s b ows fearing so me mi sc hi e f

-

, ,

ga the red in a circle round abo ut the image a n d t he pen iten ts , ,

liftin g up thei r hands and graspin g their s c o urge s a s t h e ,

p riests did thei r ta pers a waited the a ssa ult wit h full dete r
,

min a tion to defe n d them selves a nd if they could to ta ke the , , ,

o fi e n s iv e a g a i n s t th e ir a s s a il a nts But fortune c on trived it

.

better t h an they expected ; f or San cho did n othing but throw

himself u p on the b ody of his m a s ter m a king ove r him the ,

most doleful a n d l a u g h a ble l a ment in the world in the bel ief ,

th a t D on Q u ixote w a s dead O ur p riest was recogn iz ed b y

.

a n othe r w h o bel on ged to the p rocession and this recognitio n ,

dissipa ted the a pp rehen s ion s of b oth parties conce rn ed . T h e

o ne p rie s t ga ve t o the othe r in t w o wo r d s a n account of w h o

Don Quix ote w a s whereupon he w ith the whole crew of p en

, ,

i t e n t s we n t to s e e wheth e r the poor kn i ght was dea d a n d

, ,

heard S a n cho Pa n z a with te a rs i n h is eye s crying

, ,

O fl ow e r of chiva l ry w h o by one single bl o w of a cudgel

,

hast fin ish e d the c ours e of y e ars so well employed ! 0 thou

c re dit to thy f a mily a n d hono r a n d glory of a ll La Man c h a
, ,

a y e of the w h o le wo rld which l a cking thee in it will rem a in

, , , ,

fi lled with evil d oers n o lo n ge r a fraid of being chas ti s ed f or

-

their iniquities ! O thou bou ntiful above all the Alexa n ders ,
 DON QU IXO TE

since for only eight months of service th ou hast gi ven me the

best isle which the sea doth compass or su rround ! O thou
meek to the haugh ty and proud t o the humble and meek !
un dertaker of perils s u ff erer o f a fi ronts lover without reason
, , ,

imitator of the good scou rge of th e wicked enemy of th e

, ,

bad in one word knight erran t which is a ll that on e can

, ,

desire l
At t h e cries and lamenta ti ons of Sancho Don Q uixote ,

came to l ife and the fi rst word he spoke was

,

He w h o liveth absent from thee sweetest Dulcinea i s , ,

subject to greater torments t han these Help us Sancho . ,

friend to get upo n the enchanted ca r for I am not in a s ta te

, ,

to c u mber R os ina nte s saddle having this shoulder a ll beaten

’

,
”
to pieces .
“
That will I do with all my hea rt dear master responded , ,
“
Sancho and let us g o back to my village in company with
,

the s e gentlemen who wish you well and there we wil l lay a ,

scheme for an other sal ly which ma y be of more pro fit and

”
fame to us .

Thou sayest well Sancho a n d it will be prudent in us to let

, ,

the evil influence of the stars which n ow reigns pass over us . , ,

T h e canon the p riest and the b ar ber commended him for

, ,

this resoluti on a n d so hav ing received much delight from the

, ,

simplicities Of Sancho Pan za they placed Don Q uixote on ,

the ca rt as before . The procession resumed its former order ,

and went on its way. The goatherd took his leave of them
all . The troopers could go no farthe r a n d were paid by the ,

priest what w a s due to them The can on begged the priest to .

send hi m an accou n t of what h a ppened to Don Quixote ,

whether he recovered of his mad n ess or contin ued in it ,

and with this took leave to pu rsue his journey. I n fin e they ,

all separated and went their ways leaving the priest a n d t h e ,

ba rber alon e with Don Quixote and Sanch o Pan za a n d the

go od Rozin a nt e who bore himself through all he had seen
, ,

pass wit h as much p a tien ce as his maste r

, .

The wa go n er y oked his oxen a n d settling Don Quixote on ,

a tru s s of hay jogged on hi s way at his customary deliberate

,

pace a s the priest directed . At the end of s ix days they

arrived at D on Quixote s village whic h they entered at noon ;
’

a n d it happen i ng t o be S un d ay all the p e ople were in the

, ,
 DON QU IXOTE

vassals ? cried J uana Panza for s o was S a ncho s wife cal led
,
’

although they were not related ; be cause it is the custom in

La Mancha for wives to take their husbands names. ’

’
Don t fret thyself J uana to know all this in such a
, ,

h urry ; it is e n ough that I tell you the truth so sew up your ,

mouth . I ca n tell you this only by the way that there is ,

nothin g so pleasant in th e world as for a n honest man to

be sq uire to a kn ight erra nt that seeks adve n tures. It i s
,

very true that the most of them tha t we found were not so
much to on e s liking as a man could wish for out of a hun
’

d red that we met the n inety n ine are wont to turn up cross
-

and crooked . I know it by experience for from some I ,

came O E bla nketed and from others pounded but for all t hat ,

it is a pretty thing to be lookin g for chances ; crossin g moun

tain s pryin g into woods climbin g rocks visiting cas tles l od g
, , , ,
”
in g i n i nns at pleasure with the devi l a farthing to pay.
,

Wh ile this conversati on passed between Sancho Pa nza and

J uana Panza h is w ife Don Quixote s housekeeper and niece
,
’

received him undressed him and put him into his Ol d bed.
, ,

He looked at them with eyes askance n or could he make ,

‘

out whe re he w a s . The priest enj oi n ed the niece to cherish

her uncle very carefully and to w atch well that he did not
,

e s cape them again tellin g her all that it had been necessa ry
,

to do to bring him home . The two women set up their cries

afre s h now utt ering their curses on the books of chivalries
, ,

now implorin g Heaven to plunge into the center of the bot

t oml es s pit the a uthors Of so m a ny lies and absurdities . I n
short they were di stracted and fea rful lest they should again
,

lose their master a nd u n cle the mome nt he sh ould fin d him

,

self a little better ; a n d s o it fell out as they fea red .

B ut the author of this history though he h a s anxiously and ,

dilige ntly i n quired after the exploits which Don Quixote p e r

formed in h is third sally has not been able to dis cover a n y
,

account of them at least from any authe n tic documen ts .

, ,

O n ly tradition h a s preserved in the memory Of La Mancha

th a t Don Q uixote on the third time that he left h i s home
, ,

went to Z a ragoza where he appe a red in some famous j ousts

,

which were held in that city and there thin gs befell h i m ,

w orthy Of h i s va lor and good in tellige n ce N or would he .

have been a ble t o discove r a nythin g Of h i s end and death or ,

 CE RVAN T E S

e ver have learnt it if good luck had not thrown in h is wa y

,

a n aged physician w h o had in h i s possessio n a lea den box

, ,

found a s he a v e rt e d a mong the ruined foundatio n s of

, ,

an ancient hermita ge which was being rebuilt, in which ,

box were foun d certa in parchments written in th e Gothic

letter but in Castilia n vers e which conta ined m a n y o f his
, ,

exploits a n d celebrated the beauty of Dulcinea de l Tob oso

, ,

the shape of Rozi n a n te the fi delity of Sa ncho Pa nza a n d th e

, ,

burial of D on Quixote himself with various epitaphs a n d eu ,

logies on his life and cha racter. Such of thes e as could be

deciphered and inte rpreted are those which t h e trust w ort h y
aut hor of this novel a n d matchles s history h as here se t down ;
which author as ks nothing Of those who read it in recom pense
of the immense pains which it cost him to ransack a nd se arch
all the Man chega n archives to dr ag it into light but t hat they ,

should g ive it a s much credit a s the judicious are wont t o give

to the books of chival ries which are held of so muc h worth ,

in the world . Herewith he will reckon h imse lf well pa i d and

satisfied and he will be encouraged to seek and fin d out other
,

historie s if not so truthful as this at lea st of a s much i n ven

, ,

t ion a n d entert a inment.

The first words written in the parchment scroll fou n d in
t h e leaden box were these

THE AC ADE MI C I ANS or ARGA MA SI LL A, TO WN or LA MA NC HA , UPON

TH E L IF E A N D D EA T H or r u n V AL O RO US DON (21
1e 13 o r L A MA N
C HA, n oc SC RIP SE RUNT
.

M oni corg o, Aca demici a n qf A rg a ma s i ll a , up on the T00 1

6 qf D on Qui rate
'
'

T h e d und erh ea d th a t did for La Ma ncha ga n i

p i b l
More tro h es th a n o d J a s on for h is Greta ;
T h e w i t th a t on h i s n odd e ore a va ne l b
p
S h a r e dg ed a n d fine , w h e n roa d a nd
-
b
unt were meet er ; bl
T h e a rm t h a t from a th a unto G a eta , C y
p i i p
H is u ss a nt m g h t outs rea d ng , ma de to re g n ; i i
T h e Mus e t h a t ca rved h is vers e w th s tre nuous pen i
O n ra ss b y pl
a tes n on e h orr d er or d screeter ; i i
l v
I n o e a nd wa r w h o ea t t h e fa ed u es,b bl b lli
W h o l eft th e d oug h t Ama d s a t h is ta i ;
y i l
ll
T o w h om th e ga a nt G a a or a foo is , l l
’ ’ ’
l i
F ore w h om e e n Be lia nis g or es a e ; p l
H e w h o o n Rozi na nte erri ng w e nt ,

Lies buried here i n t his cold monument .

 DON QU IXO TE

Aca d emicia n f
o Arg a ma s i ll a , i n La nde m D ulci nea del

S h e wh om you s ee, th is plump checked las s a nd lus ty,

-

H igh b os omed , s tout, wi th mie n of grena d ier,

-

I s El Tobos o s Queen, fa ir Dulcin ea ,

’

T h e we ll be lov ed of Don Quixote trus ty ;

-

For h er t he Brown S ierra , Monti el s d usty

’

P la i n , to Ara nj uez ga rd ens , w it h out fea r,

’

O n foot, w ha t t i me h is s teed was ol d a nd rus ty,

H e trod a ll wearily i n love s career
’

Th e fa ul t w as Rozina nte s . 0 ha rd doom

’

O f t h is Ma nch ega n da me a nd he r unconquered knight !

H ers, tha t fell Dea th, h er in h er t ender bloo m,
I n d ea th but cea s ing t o be fa ir, di d blig h t ;
And h is , w h ose fa me a th ous a nd ma rbles prove,
W h o coul d n ot see pe th e wra th a nd wiles of Love.
’

a m m o
, a w ry w itty A ca demi ci a n of A rg a ma s ill a , i n p f
r a i se o Rosi
na nt e, hor se cf D on Qu ixote o
f L a M a n c h a

On proud ere cted trunk of a dama nt

-

Trod d en by migh ty Ma rs s bloody heel ’

,

T h e ma d Ma nch ega n dot h h is s ta ndard pla nt ,

Ha ng i ng h is a wful a rms h is d ea d ly s teel

, ,

W h e rew i th h e doth h ew level h a ck a nd kill ;

, , ,

N e w fea ts new a rt t h e older d oth s uppla nt

, , ,
N ew Pa la d in i n Quixote to re v ea l .

Let Ga ul or G reece no more h er heroes va unt ,

A th ous a nd ti mes h is b rows w i th la urel bound ,

O ertopp i ng a ll th e bra ves of a nci ent s tory ;
’

T o d a y Bellona ha th h er fa vorite crowned

-

Let h ig h La Ma n ch a ne er forget h is g lory

'

S i nce h im th e ga lla nt Rozi na nte bore ,

Grea ter th a n Ba ya rd or fa med Bril la dor.

B ur la dor , A ca demi ci a n f
o A rg a ma si ll a , to S a ncho Pa nza

S ee Sa n ch o Pa nza h ere, of bod y mea n

B ut yet, 0 miracl e ! of va lor grea t ;
T h e s i mples t s qui re t o kn ig h t th a t e er was seen,
’

More guile l es s wigh t, I trow, was never yet .

A count a t leas t i n a trice h e might ha ve be en
Ha d not th i mpert i nent age 00:1
’
3d w i t h fa te ,
Ma lig na ntly h is fortu ne to a ba te ;
N ot s pa ri ng i n its s ord id ra ncor e e n ’

( R e co rd e d b e t h e fa ct w i t h s h a me ) a n ass

Upon wh os e ba ck, des pite of fell disa s ter,