diff options
Diffstat (limited to '24754.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 24754.txt | 10019 |
1 files changed, 10019 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/24754.txt b/24754.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..527c66a --- /dev/null +++ b/24754.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10019 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Wit and Wisdom of Don Quixote, by Miguel de +Cervantes Saavedra, et al + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Wit and Wisdom of Don Quixote + + +Author: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra + + + +Release Date: March 4, 2008 [eBook #24754] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIT AND WISDOM OF DON QUIXOTE*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Turgut Dincer, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 24754-h.htm or 24754-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/7/5/24754/24754-h/24754-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/7/5/24754/24754-h.zip) + + + +------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's note: | + | | + | Proverbs in the original book are separated by | + | short horizontal lines; in this text file | + | proverbs are treated as indented block quotes | + | to distinguish them from the main body of the | + | text. | + +------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + +WIT AND WISDOM OF DON QUIXOTE. + +PATCH GRIEF WITH PROVERBS.--_Shakespeare._ + + + + + + + +[Illustration: CERVANTES.] + +[Illustration: Cervantes Monument in Madrid, Spain.] + + + +Boston: +Roberts Brothers. +1882. + +Copyright, 1882, +by Roberts Brothers. + +University Press: +John Wilson and Son, Cambridge. + + + + +INDEX. + + +Abadexo, 9. + +Adam, the first head scratched, 168. + +Adventure of the dead body, 51. + +Adventures of Esplandian, 17. + +Alamos of Medina del Campo, 199. + +Aldermen, the braying, 169. + +Altisidora, songs of, 219, 265. + +Amadis de Gaul, 4, 17. + +Amadis de Greece, 19. + +Arms, the honorable profession of, 173. + +Araucana, 24. + +Austriada, 24. + + +Bacallao, 9. + +Barabbas, wife for, 115. + +Barataria, the island of, 222, 223, 250. + +Barber's basin, taken for Mambrino's helmet, 58. + +Basilius the Poor, adventure of, 147. + +Belfreys and palfreys much the same, 125. + +Boar hunt, the, 182. + +Bray, town of, 172. + + +Cane, the hollow, 227. + +Carrasco, views upon critics, 109; + made executor, 286. + +Chrysostom, story of, 37; + interment of, 41; + song of, 45; + epitaph upon, 49. + +Clavileno, flight of, 203. + +Comedy, adherence to the unities necessary, 89. + +Countryman, the tale of, 239. + +Critic, not cricket, 163. + +Cuenza, cloth of, 180. + +Cupid's address at wedding of Quiteria, 153. + +Curadillo, 9. + +Cure of jealousy, 22. + + +Dapple, 181, 182, 184, 197. + +Darinel, 18. + +Dead body, adventure of, 51. + +Death, Sancho's views on, 165. + +Description of a lady, 33. + +Diana, the, of Montemayor, 21, 22. + +Disenchantment of Dulcinea, 187, 196. + +Don Bellionis, 20. + +Don Diego de Miranda, 20. + +Don Galaor, serving no especial mistress, 36. + +Don Olivante de Laura, 18. + +Don Kyrie Eleison of Montalvan, 21. + +Don Quixote, income of, 1; + family of, 1; + age of, 1; + fancies of, 2; + his armor, 2; + his steed, 3; + begins his adventures, 5; + arrival at inn, 6; + seeks knighthood, 10; + watches his armor, 13; + is knighted, 14; + his self-confidence, 16; + his library destroyed, 16, 25; + his squire, 25; + extolls the Golden Age, 29; + his requisites for a knight-errant, 35; + at the interment of Chrysostom, 41; + his adventure with a dead body, 51; + captures Mambrino's helmet, 56; + performs penance, 63; + his views of knight-errantry, 76, 82; + receives a visit from the lady Dulcinea, 126; + adventure with the lions, 133; + attends the wedding of Quiteria the Fair, 147; + a "sensible madman," 197; + counsels Sancho, 203, 210, 225; + his views upon poetry, 131; + of love, 161; + of marriage, 162; + upon long finger-nails, 211; + of proverbs, 212; + converses with an author, 273; + returns home, 282; + his will, 284, 285; + his death, 287; + epitaph upon, 288. + +Duke and Duchess, the, 181. + +Dulcinea, described by Don Quixote, 37; + letters to, 65; + lines to, 66; + disenchantment of, 187, 196; + lines to, 66; + sonnet to, 96. + + +Earldom, Sancho's views of the management of one, 91. + +El Cancionero, 23. + +Enchanter's errand, the, 188. + +Epitaphs on Don Quixote, 96, 98, 288. + +Epitaphs on Dulcinea, 99. + +Ermine, a modest women compared to one, 73. + + +Fabila, the fate of, 184. + +Fish Nicholas, 143. + +Florismarle of Hyrcania, 18. + +Fort, Sonnet on the, 84. + +Frasso, Antonio de lo, 22. + +Friendship, sonnet to, 69. + + +Galatea of Cervantes, 24. + +Genealogies reduced to four kinds, 119. + +Gil Polo, 22. + +Golden Age, panegyric upon the, 29. + +Goleta, sonnet upon the, 83. + +Governor's round of inspection, 245. + +Gratitude a duty, 61. + + +Heaven, death by the hand of, demands patience, 55. + +Herdsmen, the purse of the, 199. + +Herradura, the, 199. + + +Industry tranquillizing, 281. + +Instructions for government of Island, 203-210. + +Island of Sancho Panza, promise of, 25, 26; + possession taken of, 222, 223. + + +Julius Caesar, anecdote of, 174. + + +Knighted, Don Quixote, 14. + +Knight-errant, the, without a mistress, 4, 36, 177; + food of, 28; + impiety of, 35; + defence of, 35; + hunger of, 71; + compared to the courtier-knight, 118; + extolled, 141; + compared to the saints, 122, 123; + his need of money never recorded, 12. + +Knight-errantry, the surpassing excellence of, 76; + compared to the life of a scholar or soldier, 78, 79; + science of, 142. + +Knighthood, ceremonies of, 14, 15. + +Knight of the Cross, 19. + +Knight Platir, 19. + +Knight, the, reproved, 198; + if poor, his rank is manifested by his virtues, 128. + + +Lace-bone, 263. + +Lace worn in Purgatory, 281. + +La Mancha, 1, 95, 288. + +Lanzarote, romance of, 8. + +Learning of Sancho Panza, 28, 205. + +Letters, from Don Quixote, 255; + from the Duchess, 251; + from the Duke, 237; + from Sancho, 196, 258; + from Teresa, 261. + +Library of Don Quixote destroyed, 16. + +Licentiate, story of, 100. + +Lions, adventure with, 133. + +Lucifer, the first tumbler, 168. + + +Mambrino's helmet, 56. + +Manuscript discovered in Saragossa, 95. + +Marcela, cruelty of, 33, 37, 39. + +Marriage of Camacho the Rich, 147. + +Mateo Boyardo, 19. + +Merlin, 188-190. + +Miraguardia, castle of, 20. + +Mirror of chivalry, 19. + +Molinera buckles the spurs, 15. + +Monteil, plains of, 26. + +Monsurato, 24. + +Montesinos, care of, 181. + + +Nymphs of Enares, 23. + + +Olalia, poem to, 31. + +Oran, general of, 133. + + +Palinurus, 84. + +Panza, Sancho, _vide_ Sancho Panza. + +Panza, Teresa, _vide_ Teresa Panza. + +Parley about the penance, 189. + +Pastor Fido, 274. + +Penance, a pleasing, 65. + +Penance of Don Quixote, 63. + +Poem addressed to Dulcinea, 66. + +Poem addressed to Olalia, 31. + +Poetry, views of Don Quixote upon, 131 + +Praise of poverty, 217. + +Proverbs. See INDEX TO PROVERBS. + +Proverbs, Don Quixote's dislike of, 186, 212, 215, 216 + +Proverbs of Sancho Panza, 212. + +Pyramus and Thisbe, story of, 145. + + +Queen Pintiquinestra, 18. + +Quexana, Antonia, heiress of Don Quixote, 286. + +Quixote, Don, _vide_ Don Quixote. + +Quiteria, the Fair, 147. + + +Retention, definition of, 63. + +Rosinante, named, 3; + encomiums upon, 7; + sonnet to, 97, 124. + + +Saints and knights-errant compared, 123. + +Sancha Mary, a match for her considered, 113-115. + +Sanchica, 263. + +Sancho Panza, becomes a squire, 25; + counselled to ambition, 27; + defines retention, 63; + love to God, 71; + his views upon administration, 91; + is received by his wife, 93; + plain speaking of, 105; + conditions of his service, 110; + self-confidence of, 111; + rejoicing at rejoining Don Quixote, 112; + homecomings of, 117; + at the wedding of Quiteria, 147; + views upon death, 165; + upon penance, 189, 196; + upon sleep, 277; + his conundrum, 168; + description of, 168; + plight of, 181; + at the boar hunt, 183; + submits to penance, 195; + government of, 197; + official dress of, 205; + learning of, 28, 205; + proverbs of, 212; + receives advice, 213; + assumes the governorship, 222; + encounter with the doctor, 233; + advises the countryman, 239; + makes a round of inspection, 245; + returns home, 282. + +Saragossa, 95. + +Scholars, sufferings of, 78, 79. + +Serenade, a, 218. + +Seville, story of lunatic of, 100. + +Shepherd of Iberia, 23. + +Shepherd of Filida, 23. + +Sleep, Sancho's views upon, 277. + +Soldier, sufferings of the, 79, 80. + + +Tailor, the secret of a, 224. + +Tasters, story of, 129. + +Tears of St. Peter, 72. + +Tembleque, 200. + +Teresa Panza, receives Sancho, 93; + counsels him, 114; + her good sense, 116; + receives the page, 249; + writes Sancho, 261. + +Tirante the White, 21. + +Tolosa, girds on sword of Don Quixote, 14. + +Truchuela, 9. + +Truth, the mother of history, 29. + + +Wife, but one good, 160. + + +Zamora, a bagpipe, 152. + + + + +INDEX TO PROVERBS. + + +Actions, when prejudicial, not to be recorded, 106. + +Advice, a woman's, to be taken, 120. + +Affront, an, to be maintained, 177. + +Animals, lessons to be learned from, 127. + +Analysis of fables, 87. + +Army, the, a school for generosity, 82. + +Associates, character indicated by self-chosen ones, 124. + + +Beauty, all does not inspire to love, 49. + +Beauty in a modest woman, 49. + +Beautiful objects infinite, 49. + +Benefits conferred on the base, 61. + +Bird, a, in the hand, 71, 120, 127, 282. + +Birds, none in last year's nests, 218. + +Biters, the, are bit, 245. + +Book, good in every, 109. + +Books, no, no bacon, 124. + +Brevity pleasing, 60. + +Building on impossibilities, 74. + +By-and-by, the streets of, 162. + + +Cats, by night all are gray, 180. + +Church, the, the court, the sea, 83. + +Clergyman, a, what he should be to be beloved, 33. + +Companions, a man known by his, 124. + +Comparisons offensive, 104. + +Course, the middle, the one of valor, 104. + +Customs not all invented at once, 6. + + +Death, a remedy for everything but, 210. + +Delay breeds danger, 86, 281. + +Devil, the, assumes an angel form, 74. + +Diligence, the mother of success, 86. + +Disquietude designed for knights, 34. + +Drinker, a good, covered by a bad cloak, 186. + + +Enemy, an, the merits of his cause, 209. + +Epics, prose, 88. + +Ermine, an, a modest woman compared to, 73. + + +Fables, analysis of, 87. + +Fast bind, fast find, 120. + +Fear, the effect of, 49. + +Fiction, better as it resembles truth, 87. + +Finger, a, between two eye-teeth, 215. + +Flattery, the sway of, 145. + +Forewarned, forearmed, 132. + +Fortune, good, seldom comes single, 83. + +Fortune like a mill-wheel, 87. + +Friend, a, consolation, 62. + +Frying-pan, out of, 50. + + +God's mercy more glorious than His justice, 210. + +Good in every book, 109. + +Gold, all that glitters is not, 244. + +Governing pleasant, 203. + +Gratitude, a compensation, 271; a duty, 61. + +Grievance, no, can keep the sufferer from kindness, 70. + + +Handle, the right one of things, 56. + +Happiness as reckoned by sages, 130. + +History, a sacred subject, 108. + +History, faithful, will survive, 280. + +Holy days to be kept peacefully, 122. + +Hope and love coincident, 74. + +Host, to reckon without the, 104. + +Hypocrite, a, less dangerous than the open transgressor, 173. + + +Jest, a painful, no jest, 272. + +Jesting, a time for, 123. + +Judge, a, should lean toward compassion, 209. + + +King, serving the, in war, 173. + +Knights, all, not courteous, 118. + + +Lance, the, never blunted the pen, 49. + +Learned men among mountains. 93. + +Leap, a, better than a prayer, 60. + +Liberality, the blessings of, 288. + +Liberty, the blessings of, 2. + +Light, the, shines upon all, 245. + +Lineages, two kinds of, 60. + +Liver, the good, the best preacher, 166. + +Love, a leveller, 29. + +Love, the eyes of, 70. + +Love, unconstrained, 49. + +Love, uncompromising, 56. + +Love, conquered by flight, 74. + +Love, vanities of, 76. + +Love, wears spectacles, 163. + +Lovers, external actions of, 124. + + +Madness, the followers of, 129. + +Maiden, a, her reserve her defence, 104. + +Many littles make a mickle, 121. + +Man, a dishonored, 71. + +Manners, good, cheap, 202. + +Master, a, judged by his servants, 176. + +Mayor, he whose father is a, 214. + +Might overcomes, 86. + +Mischance, one, invites another, 70. + +Misfortunes never single, 70. + +Money willingly lent to officials, 118. + +Music, the effect of, 70. + + +Nail, a, in Fortune's wheel, 162. + +Nature is like a potter, 176. + +Nobility, true, 76. + + +Pains, those of others are easy to bear, 176. + +Patience, and shuffle the cards, 168. + +Paymaster, a good, needs no security, 176. + +Peace, no, in scruples of conscience, 104. + +Philosophers in cottages, 93. + +Purpose, the honest, favored, 76. + + +Railing is neighbor to forgiveness, 281. + +Remedy, a, for everything but death, 210. + +Retreat sometimes wise, 61. + +Riches, two roads to, 120. + +Riches, of little avail against trouble, 62. + +Rome, when in, 264. + +Rules for obtaining excellence, 62. + + +Seeing is believing, 128. + +Severity is not disdain, 50. + +Sleep, a cure for trouble, 280. + +Soldier, a covetous, a monster, 82. + +Soldier, equal to a captain, 34. + +Song, the relief of, 61. + +Sorrow, concealed, 73. + +Sorrow, a blessing, 128. + + +Thing, a, begun is half finished, 202. + +Thing, a, the right handle of, 56. + +To-day here, to-morrow gone, 121. + +Tongues as weapons, 177. + +Tricks of a town, 86. + +Truffles, to look for, in the sea, 106. + +Truth, the mother of history, 29. + +Truth may bend, 124. + + +Virtue more persecuted than beloved, 86. + + +Walls have ears, 244. + +Wealth, its gratification is a right application, 119. + +Wise, a word to the, 202. + +Wit and humor, attributes of genius, 108. + +Woman, varieties of, 70. + +Woman, the burden to which she is born, 118. + +Woman, her advice, to be taken, 120. + + +Yes or no of a woman, between the, 162. + + + + +[Illustration: DON QUIXOTE.] + +CERVANTES. + +A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. + + +The most trivial act of the daily life of some men has a unique +interest, independent of idle curiosity, which dissatisfies us with the +meagre food of date, place, and pedigree. So in the "Cartas de Indias" +was published, two years ago, in Spain, a facsimile letter from +Cervantes when tax-gatherer to Philip II., informing him of the efforts +he had made to collect the taxes in certain Andalusian villages. + +It is difficult, from the slight social record that we have of +Cervantes, to draw the line where imagination begins and facts end. + +Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, the contemporary of Shakspeare, Galileo, +Camoens, Rubens, Tasso, and Lope de Vega, was born obscurely and in +poverty, but with good antecedents. His grandfather, Juan de Cervantes, +was the corregidor, or mayor, of Ossuna, and our poet was the youngest +son of Rodrigo and Leonora de Cortinos, of the Barajas family. On either +side he belonged to illustrious houses. He speaks of his birthplace as +the "famous Henares,"--"Alcala de Henares," sometimes called Alcala de +San Justo, from the saint San Justo having there suffered martyrdom +under the traitor Daciamos. The town is beautifully situated on the +borders of the Henares River, two thousand feet above the level of the +sea. + +He was born on Sunday, October 9, 1547, and was baptized in the church +of Santa Maria la Mayor, receiving his name on the fete day of his +patron Saint Miguel, which some biographers have confounded with that of +his birthday. + +We may be forgiven for a few words about Alcala de Henares, since, had +it only produced so rare a man as was Cervantes, it would have had +sufficient distinction; but it was a town of an eventful historical +record. It was destroyed about the year 1000, and rebuilt and possessed +by the Moors, was afterwards conquered by Bernardo, Archbishop of +Toledo. Three hundred years later it was the favorite retreat of +Ximenes, then Cardinal Archbishop of Toledo, who returned to it, after +his splendid conquests, laden with gold and silver spoil taken from the +mosques of Oran, and with a far richer treasure of precious Arabian +manuscripts, intended for such a university as had long been his +ambition to create, and the corner-stone of which he laid with his own +hands in 1500. There was a very solemn ceremonial at the founding of +this famous university, and a hiding away of coins and inscriptions +under its massive walls, and a pious invocation to Heaven for a special +blessing on the archbishop's design! At the end of eight years the +extensive and splendid buildings were finished and the whole town +improved. With the quickening of literary labor and the increase of +opportunities of acquiring knowledge, the reputation of the university +was of the highest. + +The cardinal's comprehensive mind included in its professorships all +that he considered useful in the arts. Emulation was encouraged, and +every effort was made to draw talent from obscurity. To this enlightened +ecclesiastic is the world indebted for the undertaking of the Polyglot +Bible, which, in connection with other learned works, led the university +to be spoken of as one of the greatest educational establishments in the +world. From far and near were people drawn to it. King Ferdinand paid +homage to his subject's noble testimonial of labor, by visiting the +cardinal at Alcala de Henares, and acknowledging that his own reign had +received both benefit and glory from it. The people of Alcala punningly +said, the church of Toledo had never had a bishop of greater +_edification_ than Ximenes; and Erasmus, in a letter to his friend +Vergara, perpetrates a Greek pun on the classic name of Alcala, +intimating the highest opinion of the state of science there. The +reclining statue of Ximenes, beautifully carved in alabaster, now +ornaments his sepulchre in the College of St. Ildefonso. + +Cervantes shared the honor of the birthplace with the Emperor Ferdinand; +he of "blessed memory," who failed to obtain permission from the Pope +for priests to marry, but who, in spite of turbulent times, maintained +religious peace in Germany, and lived to see the closing of the Council +of Trent, marking his reign as one of the most enlightened of the age. + +Alcala also claims Antonio de Solis, the well-known historian, whose +"Conquest of Mexico" has been translated into many languages, as well as +Teodora de Beza, a zealous Calvinistic reformer and famous divine, a +sharer of Calvin's labors in Switzerland and author of the celebrated +manuscripts known as Beza's manuscripts. + +Judging from the character of the town and the refining educational +influence that so grand a university must have had over its inhabitants, +we have a right to believe that Cervantes was early imbued with all that +was noble and good, and it is difficult to understand why, with all the +advantages which the College of St. Ildefonso opened to him, he should +have been sent away from it to that of Salamanca. Even allowing that the +supposition of early poverty was correct, it would have appeared an +additional reason for his being educated in his native town, +particularly as liberal foundations were made for indigent students. +The fact of his being sent to Salamanca would seem to disprove the +supposition of pecuniary necessity. In its early days, the university of +Salamanca was justly celebrated for its progress in astronomy and +familiarity with Greek and Arabian writers; but, during the fifteenth +and sixteenth centuries, it seems to have remained very stationary, +little attention being paid to aught beside medicine and dogmatic +theology. + +After being two years at Salamanca he changed to Madrid, where he is +supposed to have made great progress, under the care of Juan Lopez de +Hoyos, a professor of _belles lettres_, who spoke of Cervantes as "our +dear and beloved pupil." Hoyos was himself a poet, and occasionally +published collections to which Cervantes contributed his pastoral +"Filena," which was much admired at the time. He also wrote several +ballads; but ballads generally belong to their own age, and those that +remain to us of his have lost much of their poignancy. Two poems, +written on the death of Isabella of Valois, wife of Philip II., +specially pleased Hoyos, who at the time gave full credit to his +promising pupil. That eighth wonder of the world, the Escurial, was in +progress during Cervantes' time in Madrid; built as expiatory by the +king, the husband of the same unfortunate Isabella. He was that subtle +tyrant of Spain, who had the grace to say, on the destruction of the +Invincible Armada, "I sent my fleet to combat with the English, not with +the elements. God's will be done." + +While he was yet a boy, bull-fights were introduced into Spain:-- + + "Such the ungentle sport that oft invites + The Spanish maid, and cheers the Spanish swain, + Nurtured in blood betimes, his heart delights + In vengeance, gloating on another's pain." + +The attention of the Cardinal Acquaviva was called to him through his +composition of "Filena," and, in 1568 or 1569, he joined the household +of the cardinal and accompanied him to Rome. It is sad to think that +only a few meagre items are all that remain to tell us of his daily life +at this important period of his life. By some of his biographers he is +mentioned as being under the protection of the cardinal; by one as +seeking to better his penniless condition; by another as having the +place of _valet de chambre_; and still again, we find him mentioned as a +chamberlain in the household. Monsignor Guilio Acquaviva, in 1568, went +as ambassador to Spain to offer the king the condolences of the Pontiff +on the death of Don Carlos. The cardinal was a man of high position, +young, yet of great accomplishments, and with cultivated literary +tastes. What then could have been more natural than that he should have +found companionship in Cervantes, and have desired to attach him to +himself as a friend or as a confidential secretary, to be always near +him. It is more than probable that his impressions of Southern France, +which he immortalized in his early pastoral romance of "Galatea" were +imbibed while making the journey to Rome with the cardinal, in whose +service he must have remained three years, as in October 7, 1571, we +find him joining the united Venetian, Papal, and Spanish expedition +commanded by Don John of Austria, against the Turks and the African +corsairs. + +In the naval engagement at Lepanto, Cervantes was badly wounded, and +finally lost his left hand and part of the arm. For six months he was +immured in the hospital at Messina. After his recovery, he joined the +expedition to the Levant, commanded by Marco Antonio Colonna, Duke of +Valiano. He joined at intervals various other expeditions, and not till +after his prominence in the engagement at Tunis, did he, in 1575, start +to return to Spain, the land of his heart, the theme of the poet, and +the region supposed by the Moors to have dropped from heaven. Don John +of Austria and Don Carlos of Arragon, Viceroy of Sicily, each bore the +warmest testimony to the bravery and heroism of our poet, and each gave +him strong letters of commendation to the king of Spain. + +In company with his own brother Roderigo, and other wounded soldiers +who were returning home, he started in the ship _El Sol_, which had the +misfortune, September 26, 1575, to be captured by an Algerine squadron. +Then it happened that the letters from the two kings, so highly prized +and upon which he had built so many hopes, proved a great misfortune to +him. The pirates cast lots for the captives. Cervantes fell to the share +of the captain, Dali Mami by name, who, in consequence of finding these +two letters, imagined he must be some Don of great importance and worth +a heavy ransom. He was watched and guarded with great strictness, loaded +with heavy fetters, and subjected to cruelties of every kind, till his +captor, not finding him of so much account as he had supposed, and no +money being offered for his ransom, the captain finally sold him for +five hundred escudos to the Dey Azan. + +Inasmuch as a change might lead to something better, Cervantes rejoiced. +His gallant spirit, ever hopeful, looked for the open door in +misfortune. But, alas! his increased sufferings with the Dey reached a +climax almost beyond endurance. He made every struggle to escape; but +even in the midst of all his own sufferings, he found ways of aiding his +fellow-victims and inspiring them with the hopes denied to himself. +Roderigo had escaped long before, and from that time was making constant +exertion to raise the needful amount to redeem Miguel from the Dey, but +not till September, 1580, did he succeed in effecting his release; some +biographers making it a still later date. + +His father had long been dead, and his mother and sisters gathered what +they could, but the combined family efforts were insufficient. There was +a society of pious and generous monks, who made special exertions to +assist in the liberation of Christian captives, and they finally made up +the amount demanded by Azan for Cervantes' release. + +Worn down in spirit, broken in health, crushed at heart, who may venture +to speak of the effect upon him when he once more found himself at home +and in the embraces of his family? He himself says: "What transport in +life can equal that which a man feels on the restoration of his +liberty?" There is probably no more thrilling or exact an account of the +Algerine slavery than he has given in "Don Quixote." Whether his love +for a military life still pursued him, whether he desired an opportunity +for revenge upon his persecutors, or whether it was fatality,--maimed +and ruined as he was he once more entered the army. We cannot analyze +his motive. He makes his bachelor Sampson say, "The historian must pen +things not as they ought to have been but as they really were, without +adding to or diminishing aught from the truth." The lives of literary +men are not always devoid of stirring incidents. M. Viardot says of +him: "Cervantes was an illustrious man before he became an illustrious +author; the doer of great deeds before he produced an immortal book." +Don Lope de Figueras then commanded a regiment of tried and veteran +soldiers in the army of the Duke of Alva, in Portugal. His brother +Roderigo was serving in it when he joined it; and as Figueras had known +Cervantes in former campaigns, it is most probable he was in his +regiment. Later on, we find Cervantes accompanying the Marquis de Santa +Cruz on an expedition to the Azores, serving long and bravely under him. +The conquest of the Azores is described as a fiercely won but brilliant +victory over all the islands; and Cervantes immortalized the genius and +gallantry of the admiral in a sonnet. + +The spirit of adventure ran high among the Castilians, while the whole +nation was at the same time in course of mental as well as moral +development. We are obliged to acknowledge that Spain in many ways was +far behind Italy, though hardly as some would have it, at the distance +of half a century. We must remember that, in 1530, there were only two +hundred printing-presses in the whole of Europe, and that when the first +one was set up in London, the Westminster abbot exclaimed, "Brethren, +this is a tremendous engine! We must control it, or it will conquer us." +The first press in Spain was set up in Valencia, in 1474, and Clemencin +says that more printing-presses in the infancy of the art were probably +at work in Spain than there are at the present day. + +A change seemed to have crept gradually over the whole national +character of Spain after the brilliant and prosperous reign of Ferdinand +and Isabella, commencing with the severity of the Inquisition and +continuing under the tyranny of Philip II., predisposing the army to +savage deeds, till even the women and children were infected and the +literature of the period slightly tinged. + +Cervantes is too often merged into Don Quixote as if he had no separate +existence. He accomplished more for the improvement of Spanish +literature with his well-timed satire than all the laws or sermons could +effect. His remarkable mind seems to have escaped the influence of the +times, unless we make an exception of his drama "Numancia," which, while +it excites the imagination, fills us with horror at its details, and +fails to touch our hearts, but is full of historical truths. Schlegel, +however, reviews it with enthusiasm. He calls his "Life in Algiers" a +comedy, but undoubtedly it is a true picture of his own captivity. We +are touched and filled with gloom at its perusal, and only remember it +as a tragedy. These two dramas were lost sight of till the end of the +eighteenth century, and they are superior to later dramatic efforts. He +was proud of his original conception of a tragedy composed of ideal and +allegorical characters which he permitted to have part in the "Life in +Algiers," as well as in "Numancia." Of the thirty plays spoken of as +given to the stage but few now remain; but others may yet be found. The +Spaniards say the faults of a great writer are not left in the +ink-stand. Spain, in Cervantes' day, had passed the chivalric age, +though many relics of it still remained in its legends, songs, and +proverbs. Cervantes becomes his own critic in his "Supplement to a +Journey to Parnassus," and speaking of his dramas, says: "I should +declare them worthy the favor they have received were they not my own." +Unfortunately, his comedy of "La Confusa" is among the lost ones. He +alludes to it as a good one among the best. + +We have known Cervantes as a student, a soldier, a captive, and an +author, and now we have to imagine our maimed and bronzed soldier-poet, +after his many fortunes of war, in the new character of a lover. In +thought we trace his noble features, his intelligent look and expressive +eye, combined with his dignified bearing and thoughtful manner, and in +so tracing we find it congenial to imagine him as being well dressed and +enveloped in the ample Spanish cloak thrown gracefully over his breast +and left shoulder, concealing the poor mutilated arm, and at the same +time making it all the more difficult to believe that the right one had +ever wielded a "Toledo blade" or sworn that very strongest vow of +loyalty, "A fe de Rodrigo."[1] + +We find him much interested in the quaint old-fashioned town of +Esquivias, making many friends therein, and sometimes gossiping with the +host of the _fonda_, so famed for the generous wines of Esquivias that +it needed no "bush;" and while enjoying his cigarito and taking an +occasional morsel from the dish of _quisado_ before him, he is learning +from the same gossiping host many items of interest about the very +illustrious families of Esquivias,--for it was famed for its chivalrous +prowess and its "claims of long descent." He had commenced his +"Galatea," and in it he was painting living portraits, and with great +delicacy he was, as the shepherd Elicio, portraying his passion for +Catalina, the daughter of Fernando de Salazar y Voxmediano and Catalina +de Palacios, both of illustrious families. Her father was dead, and she +had been educated by her uncle, Francisco de Salazar, who left her a +legacy in his will. + +The fair Catalina, like other Spanish senoritas, was under the espionage +of a strict duena, and his opportunities of seeing her were very +limited. Sometimes we fancy him awaiting the passing of the hour of the +siesta and knocking at the grating of the heavy door of the house of the +Salazars, and in reply to the porter's question of _Quien es_? +answering, in his melodious tones, _Gente de paz_ (literally, "a +friend"),--a precaution which still continues in Spain. Meanwhile, his +romance of "Galatea" and of his own life are both growing. The occasion +inspires him. He is still in Esquivias, wandering through the olive +groves and by the river side, sometimes resting, and drinking in the +fragrance from an orange-tree while his untold wealth of brain was +seeking for its exit. Sometimes he had Catalina for a companion, the +duena lingering slightly behind. Sometimes he saw her at the church like +a fair saint, kneeling; but oftener he wandered alone with his now happy +thoughts, scarce knowing that the night was closing about him, or scarce +heeding the watchman who cried, "All hail, Mary, mother of Jesus! half +past twelve o'clock and a cloudy morning!" and thus, to this day, are +the Spaniards warned of the hour and the weather. His "Galatea" remains +unfinished. He had not meant that all this song should be for the public +ear. The end was for his love alone! + +On the 12th of December, 1584, he was married to Catalina. Not many +years ago, the marriage contract was found in the public registry of +Esquivias. It contains an inventory of the marriage-dowry promised by +the bride's mother, of "lands, furniture, utensils, and live-stock." +Then follows the details, "several vineyards, amounting to twelve acres, +beds, chairs, brooms, brushes, poultry, and sundry sacks of flour." It +is spoken of as a very respectable dowry at a time when sacks of wheat +were worth eight reals. Then follows, in the same document, his own +settlement upon his wife, which is stated to be one hundred ducats. By +the custom of the time that was one-tenth of his whole property, or to +quote again, which "must have amounted to a thousand ducats, which at +present would be equivalent to about four hundred and fifty pounds +sterling." Gladly would we find some pleasant items of happy home life, +though, for the next four years, he lived quietly at Esquivias, and +cared for the vineyards like any landholder, till, perhaps, he tired and +went on to Seville, where he took up some mercantile business, though +never entirely giving up the pen; but from 1598 till 1605, there are no +real traces of him, when it would appear that he had removed to +Valladolid. + +There is little doubt but that he suffered both in purse and feeling +from want of appreciation; but the Spanish proverb says, "An author's +work who looks to money is the coat of a tailor who works late on the +vespers of Easter Sunday." He had too noble a mind to harbor so mean a +sentiment as jealousy, and was far in advance of his age. His +countrymen, with characteristic indolence, were ready to cry, _manana, +manana_ (to-morrow, to-morrow), and so it was left for later generations +to honor his memory, for his power of invention and purity of +imagination can never be rivalled. While acting as clerk in Seville to +Antonio de Guevara, the Commissary-General to the Indian and American +dependencies, he must have been sadly disappointed, particularly as, +during that time, he had been unjustly thrown into prison on the plea of +not accounting for trust-money with satisfaction. Mr. Ticknor gives the +following interesting account: "During his residence at Seville, +Cervantes made an ineffectual application to the king for an appointment +in America, setting forth by the exact documents a general account of +his adventures, services, and sufferings while a soldier in the Levant, +and of the miseries of his life while a slave in Algiers; but no other +than a formal answer seems to have been returned to his application, and +the whole affair leaves us to infer the severity of that distress which +could induce him to seek relief in exile to a colony of which he has +elsewhere spoken as the great resort for rogues." The appointment he +desired was either corregidor (or mayor) of the city of Paz or the +auditorship of New Grenada, the governorship of the province of +Socunusco or that of the galleys of Carthagena. His removal to +Valladolid seems to have been by command of the revenue authorities, +where he still collected taxes for public and private persons. While +collecting for the prior of the order of St. John, he was again +ill-treated and thrown into prison. + +Not till he was fifty-eight years old did he give to the world his +master-piece, and thus immortalizes La Mancha, in return for his +inhospitable and cruel treatment. "Don Quixote" was licensed at +Valladolid in 1604, and printed at Madrid in 1605. Its success was so +great that, during his lifetime, thirty thousand volumes were printed, +which in that day was little short of marvellous. Four editions were +published the first year, two at Madrid, one at Valencia, and one at +Lisbon. Byron says: "Cervantes laugh'd Spain's chivalry away!" So +popular was it, that a spurious second part, under the fictitious +authorship of Avellanada was published. Cervantes was furious, and +called him a blockhead; but Germond de Lavigue, the distinguished +Spanish scholar, rashly asserts that but for this Avellanada, he would +never have finished "Don Quixote." Even before it was printed, jealousy +evidently existed in the hearts of rival writers, for in one of Lope's +letters he refers to it, and spitefully hints that no poet could be +found to write commendatory verses on it. + +He recognized the fact of universal selfishness when he makes Sancho +Panza refuse to learn the Don's love-letter and say, "Write it, your +worship, for it's sheer nonsense to trust anything to my memory." + +Spain is so full of rich material for romance that from it his mature +mind seemed to inaugurate a new age in Spanish literature. After the +gloomy intolerance of Philip II., the advent of Philip III. added much +to the literary freedom of Spain, which still belonged to the "Age of +Chivalry," and to this day the true Spaniard nourishes the lofty and +romantic qualities which, combined with a tone of sentiment and gravity +and nobility of conversation, embellishes the legitimate grandee. +Sismondi de Sismondi says the style of "Don Quixote" is inimitable. +Montesquieu says: "It is written to prove all others useless." To some +it is an allegory, to some a tragedy, to some a parable, and to others a +satire. As a satirist we think him unrivalled, and this spirit found a +choice opportunity for vent when the troops of Don Carlos I. marched +upon Rome, taking Pope Clement VII. prisoner, while at the same time the +king was having prayers said in the churches of Madrid for the +deliverance of the Pope, on the plea that "he was obliged to make war +against the _temporal_ sovereign of Rome, but not upon the spiritual +head of the Church!" No wonder the king, after proving himself so good a +Catholic, should end his days in a monastery, or that he should mortify +himself by lying in a coffin, wrapped in a shroud, while funeral +services were performed over him. What, again, could have appealed more +to his sense of the ridiculous than the contest between the priests and +the authorities over the funeral obsequies of Philip II., so intolerant +a tyrant that he caused every Spaniard to breathe more freely as he +ceased so to do. He used his people as + + "Broken tools, that tyrants cast away + By myriads, when they dare to pave their way + With human hearts." + + +We can easily believe in the greater freedom during the reign of Philip +III. "Viva el Rey." + +The Count de Lemos was his near friend and protector when he brought out +the second part of "Don Quixote," and ridiculed his rival imitator. He +was a pioneer of so elevated a character as to preclude the possibility +of followers. Every one is familiar with it as a story, and the mishaps +of the gentle, noble-minded, kind-hearted old Don, as well as the +delusions, simplicity, and selfishness of the devoted squire, will never +lose their power to amuse. It may be extravagant, but it is not a +burlesque. The strong character painting, the ideas, situations, and +language, clothed in such simplicity that at times it becomes almost +solemn, give it a grandeur that no other book, considered as a romance, +possesses. The old anecdote of the king observing a student walking by +the river side and bursting into involuntary fits of laughter over a +book, exclaiming, "The man is either mad or reading 'Don Quixote,'" is +well preserved. One peculiar feature of the book is that, even now, for +some places, it would be a useful guide, many of the habits and customs +of Spain three hundred years ago being still the same. What a volume of +wit and wisdom is contained in the proverbs and aphorisms. One might +quote from it indefinitely had he not told us that "without discretion +there is no wit." His own motive in writing it we find in the last +paragraph of the book, namely, "My sole object has been to expose to the +contempt they deserved the extravagant and silly tricks of chivalry, +which this my true and genuine 'Don Quixote' has nearly accomplished, +their worldly credit being now actually tottering, and will doubtless +soon sink, never to rise again." + +Now, all languages have it. There are eight translations into English +alone; but it is always impossible for the translator to render its true +spirit or to give it full justice. With all its vivacity and drollery, +its delicate satire and keen ridicule, it has a mournful tinge of +melancholy running through, and here and there peeping out, only to have +been gathered from such experience as his. He wrote with neither +bitterness nor a diseased imagination, always realizing what is due to +himself and with a full appreciation of and desire for fame. Many scenes +of real suffering appear under a dramatic guise, and here and there +creep out bits of personal history. His nature was chivalrous in the +highest degree. His sorrows were greater than his joys. Born for the +library, he prefers the camp, and abandons literature to fight the +Turks. Does he not make the Don say, "Let none presume to tell me the +pen is preferable to the sword." Again he says: "Allowing that the end +of war is peace, and that in this it exceeds the end of learning, let us +weigh the bodily labors the scholar undergoes against those the warrior +suffers, and then see which are the greatest." Then he enumerates: +"First, poverty; and having said he endures poverty, methinks nothing +more need be urged to express his misery, for he that is poor enjoys no +happiness, but labors under this poverty in all its guises, at one time +in hunger, at another in cold, another in nakedness, and sometimes in +all of them together." Later on he makes him say: "It gives me some +concern to think that powder and lead may suddenly cut short my career +of glory." + +The world can only be grateful that "his career of glory" did not end in +the military advancement he had the right to expect. Had he been a +general, his Rozinante might still have been wandering without a name, +and Sancho Panza have died a common laborer. Again he says: "Would to +God I could find a place to serve as a private tomb for this wearisome +burden of life which I bear so much against my inclination." Surviving +almost unheard-of grievances only to emerge from them with greater +power; depicting in his works true outlines of his own adventures, +sometimes by a proverb, often by a romance, he never loses one jot of +his pride, giving golden advice to Sancho when a governor, and finishing +with the expression, "So may'st thou escape the PITY of the world." In +May, 1605, he was called upon as a witness in a case of a man who was +mortally wounded and dragged at night into his apartment, which almost +accidentally gives us his household, consisting of his wife; his natural +daughter Isabel, twenty years of age, unmarried; his sister, a widow, +above fifty years; her unmarried daughter, aged twenty-eight; his +half-sister, a religieuse; and a maid-servant. His "Espanola Inglesa" +appeared in 1611. His moral tales, the pioneers in Spanish literature, +are a combination without special plan of serious and comic, romance and +anecdote, evidently giving, under the guise of fiction, poetically +colored bits of his own experience in Italy and Africa. In his story of +"La Gitanilla" (the gipsy girl) may be found the argument of Weber's +opera of "Preciosa." "Parnassus" was written two years before his death, +after which he wrote eight comedies and a sequel to his twelve moral +tales. In his story of "Rinconete y Cortadilla" he evidently derives the +names from _rincon_ (a corner) and _cortar_ (to cut). His last work was +"Persiles and Sigismunda," the preface of which is a near presentiment +of his closing labors. He says: "Farewell, gayety; farewell, humor; +farewell, my pleasant friends. I must now die, and I desire nothing +more than to soon see you again happy in another world." His industry +was wonderful. We can but have a grateful feeling towards the Count de +Lemos for adding to his physical comfort for the last few years, and +feel a regret that the Count, who had lingered in Naples, could not have +arrived in time to see him once more when he so ardently desired it. In +a dedication to the Count of his final romance, written only four days +before his death, he very touchingly says: "I could have wished not to +have been obliged to make so close a personal application of the old +verses commencing 'With the foot already in the stirrup,' for with very +little alteration I may truly say that with my foot in the stirrup, +feeling this moment the pains of dissolution, I address this letter to +you. Yesterday I received extreme unction. To-day I have resumed my pen. +Time is short, my pains increase, my hopes diminish, yet I do wish my +life might be prolonged till I could see you again in Spain." His wish +was not to be gratified; the Count, unaware of the near danger of his +friend, only returned to find himself overwhelmed with grief at his +loss. + +After sixty-nine years of varied fortunes and many struggles, Miguel de +Cervantes Saavedra breathed his last, unsoothed by the hands he had +loved, for even this privilege seems to have been denied to him. At the +near end of his life he had joined the kindly third order of the +Franciscan friars, and the brethren cared for him at the last. His +remarkable clearness of intellect never failed him, and on April 23, +1616, the very day that Shakspeare died at Stratford, Cervantes died at +Madrid. Unlike the great English contemporary, whose undisturbed bones +have lain quietly under peril of his malediction, the bones of the great +Spanish poet were irrevocably lost when the old Convent of the Trinity, +in the Calle del Humilladero, was destroyed. Ungrateful Spain! the spot +had never been marked with a common tombstone. + +The old house[2] in the Calle de Francos, where he died, was so +dilapidated that, in 1835, it was destroyed. It was rebuilt, and a +marble bust of Cervantes was placed over the entrance by the sculptor, +Antonio Sola. + +The "Madrid Epoca," under the heading of "The Prison of Cervantes," +calls attention to the alarming state of decay of the house in +Argamasilla del Alba, in the cellar of which, as an extemporized +dungeon, tradition asserts that Cervantes was imprisoned, and where he +penned at least a portion of his work. It was in this cellar that, a few +years since, the Madrid publishing house of Rivadeneyra erected a press +and printed their edition _de luxe_ of "Don Quijote." The house was, +some years since, purchased by the late Infante Don Sebastian, with a +view to a complete and careful restoration; but political changes and +his death prevented a realization of his project. The "Epoca" now calls +public attention to the state of decay of the house, with a view to an +immediate restoration. + +In the Plaza de las Cortes, the city of Madrid has placed a beautiful +bronze statue of Cervantes upon a square pedestal of granite. Upon the +sides are bas-reliefs representing subjects taken from "Don Quijote de +la Mancha." + +The present time honors his memory; and for all time he will live in the +hearts of all true lovers of genius. + +REQUIESCAT IN PACE. + +EMMA THOMPSON. + +[Illustration: SANCHO PANZA.] + + + + +WIT AND WISDOM + +OF + +DON QUIXOTE. + + +Down in a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to +recollect, there lived, not long ago, one of those gentlemen who usually +keep a lance upon a rack, an old buckler, a lean horse, and a coursing +grayhound. Soup, composed of somewhat more mutton than beef, the +fragments served up cold on most nights, lentils on Fridays, collops and +eggs on Saturdays, and a pigeon by way of addition on Sundays, consumed +three-fourths of his income; the remainder of it supplied him with a +cloak of fine cloth, velvet breeches, with slippers of the same for +holidays, and a suit of the best homespun, in which he adorned himself +on week-days. His family consisted of a housekeeper above forty, a niece +not quite twenty, and a lad who served him both in the field and at +home, who could saddle the horse or handle the pruning-hook. The age of +our gentleman bordered upon fifty years: he was of a strong +constitution, spare-bodied, of a meagre visage, a very early riser, and +a lover of the chase. Some pretend to say that his surname was Quixada +or Quesada, for on this point his historians differ; though, from very +probable conjectures, we may conclude that his name was Quixana. This +is, however, of little importance to our history; let it suffice that, +in relating it, we do not swerve a jot from the truth. + +In fine, his judgment being completely obscured, he was seized with one +of the strangest fancies that ever entered the head of any madman; this +was, a belief that it behooved him, as well for the advancement of his +glory as the service of his country, to become a knight-errant, and +traverse the world, armed and mounted, in quest of adventures, and to +practice all that had been performed by knights-errant of whom he had +read; redressing every species of grievance, and exposing himself to +dangers, which, being surmounted, might secure to him eternal glory and +renown. The poor gentleman imagined himself at least crowned Emperor of +Trebisond, by the valor of his arm; and thus wrapped in these agreeable +delusions and borne away by the extraordinary pleasure he found in them, +he hastened to put his designs into execution. + +The first thing he did was to scour up some rusty armor which had been +his great-grandfather's, and had lain many years neglected in a corner. +This he cleaned and adjusted as well as he could; but he found one grand +defect,--the helmet was incomplete, having only the morion. This +deficiency, however, he ingeniously supplied by making a kind of visor +of pasteboard, which, being fixed to the morion, gave the appearance of +an entire helmet. It is true, indeed, that, in order to prove its +strength, he drew his sword, and gave it two strokes, the first of which +instantly demolished the labor of a week; but not altogether approving +of the facility with which it was destroyed, and in order to secure +himself against a similar misfortune, he made another visor, which, +having fenced in the inside with small bars of iron, he felt assured of +its strength, and, without making any more experiments, held it to be a +most excellent helmet. + +In the next place he visited his steed; and although this animal had +more blemishes than the horse of Gonela, which, "_tantum pellis et ossa +fuit_," yet, in his eyes, neither the Bucephalus of Alexander nor the +Cid's Babieca, could be compared with him. Four days was he deliberating +upon what name he should give him; for, as he said to himself, it would +be very improper that a horse so excellent, appertaining to a knight so +famous, should be without an appropriate name; he therefore endeavored +to find one that should express what he had been before he belonged to a +knight-errant, and also what he now was: nothing could, indeed, be more +reasonable than that, when the master changed his state, the horse +should likewise change his name and assume one pompous and +high-sounding, as became the new order he now professed. So, after +having devised, altered, lengthened, curtailed, rejected, and again +framed in his imagination a variety of names, he finally determined upon +Rozinante, a name in his opinion lofty, sonorous, and full of meaning; +importing that he had only been a rozin--a drudge horse--before his +present condition, and that now he was before all the rozins in the +world. + +Having given his horse a name so much to his satisfaction, he resolved +to fix upon one for himself. This consideration employed him eight more +days, when at length he determined to call himself Don Quixote; whence +some of the historians of this most true history have concluded that his +name was certainly Quixada, and not Quesada, as others would have it. +Then recollecting that the valorous Amadis, not content with the simple +appellation of Amadis, added thereto the name of his kingdom and native +country, in order to render it famous, styling himself Amadis de Gaul; +so he, like a good knight, also added the name of his province, and +called himself Don Quixote de la Mancha; whereby, in his opinion, he +fully proclaimed his lineage and country, which, at the same time, he +honored by taking its name. + +His armor being now furbished, his helmet made perfect, his horse and +himself provided with names, he found nothing wanting but a lady to be +in love with, as he said,-- + +"A knight-errant without a mistress was a tree without either fruit or +leaves, and a body without a soul!" + +One morning before day, being one of the most sultry in the month of +July, he armed himself cap-a-pie, mounted Rozinante, placed the helmet +on his head, braced on his target, took his lance, and, through the +private gate of his back yard, issued forth into the open plain, in a +transport of joy to think he had met with no obstacles to the +commencement of his honorable enterprise. But scarce had he found +himself on the plain when he was assailed by a recollection so terrible +as almost to make him abandon the undertaking; for it just then occurred +to him that he was not yet dubbed a knight; therefore, in conformity to +the laws of chivalry, he neither could nor ought to enter the lists +against any of that order; and, if he had been actually dubbed he +should, as a new knight, have worn white armor, without any device on +his shield, until he had gained one by force of arms. These +considerations made him irresolute whether to proceed, but frenzy +prevailing over reason, he determined to get himself made a knight by +the first one he should meet, like many others of whom he had read. As +to white armor, he resolved, when he had an opportunity, to scour his +own, so that it should be whiter than ermine. Having now composed his +mind, he proceeded, taking whatever road his horse pleased; for therein, +he believed, consisted the true spirit of adventure. Everything that our +adventurer saw and conceived was, by his imagination, moulded to what he +had read; so in his eyes the inn appeared to be a castle, with its four +turrets, and pinnacles of shining silver, together with its drawbridge, +deep moat, and all the appurtenances with which such castles are +visually described. When he had advanced within a short distance of it, +he checked Rozinante, expecting some dwarf would mount the battlements, +to announce by sound of trumpet the arrival of a knight-errant at the +castle; but, finding them tardy, and Rozinante impatient for the +stable, he approached the inn-door, and there saw the two girls, who to +him appeared to be beautiful damsels or lovely dames enjoying themselves +before the gate of their castle. + +It happened that, just at this time, a swineherd collecting his hogs (I +make no apology, for so they are called) from an adjoining stubblefield, +blew the horn which assembles them together, and instantly Don Quixote +was satisfied, for he imagined it was a dwarf who had given the signal +of his arrival. With extraordinary satisfaction, therefore, he went up +to the inn; upon which the ladies, being startled at the sight of a man +armed in that manner, with lance and buckler, were retreating into the +house; but Don Quixote, perceiving their alarm, raised his pasteboard +visor, thereby partly discovering his meagre, dusty visage, and with +gentle demeanor and placid voice, thus addressed them: "Fly not, ladies, +nor fear any discourtesy, for it would be wholly inconsistent with the +order of knighthood, which I profess, to offer insult to any person, +much less to virgins of that exalted rank which your appearance +indicates." The girls stared at him, and were endeavoring to find out +his face, which was almost concealed by the sorry visor; but hearing +themselves called virgins, they could not forbear laughing, and to such +a degree that Don Quixote was displeased, and said to them: "Modesty +well becomes beauty, and excessive laughter proceeding from slight cause +is folly." + +This language, so unintelligible to the ladies, added to the uncouth +figure of our knight, increased their laughter; consequently he grew +more indignant, and would have proceeded further but for the timely +appearance of the innkeeper, a very corpulent and therefore a very +pacific man, who, upon seeing so ludicrous an object, armed, and with +accoutrements so ill-sorted as were the bridle, lance, buckler, and +corselet, felt disposed to join the damsels in demonstrations of mirth; +but, in truth, apprehending some danger from a form thus strongly +fortified, he resolved to behave with civility, and therefore said, "If, +Sir Knight, you are seeking for a lodging, you will here find, excepting +a bed (for there are none in this inn), everything in abundance." Don +Quixote, perceiving the humility of the governor of the fortress,--for +such to him appeared the innkeeper,--answered, "For me, Signor +Castellano, anything will suffice, since arms are my ornaments, warfare +my repose." The host thought he called him Castellano because he took +him for a sound Castilian, whereas he was an Andalusian of the coast of +St. Lucar, as great a thief as Cacus and not less mischievous than a +collegian or a page; and he replied, "If so, your worship's beds must be +hard rocks, and your sleep continual watching; and that being the case, +you may dismount with a certainty of finding here sufficient cause for +keeping awake the whole year, much more a single night." So saying, he +laid hold of Don Quixote's stirrup, who alighted with much difficulty +and pain, for he had fasted the whole of the day. He then desired the +host to take especial care of his steed, for it was the finest creature +ever fed; the innkeeper examined him, but thought him not so good by +half as his master had represented him. Having led the horse to the +stable he returned to receive the orders of his guest, whom the damsels, +being now reconciled to him, were disarming; they had taken off the back +and breast plates, but endeavored in vain to disengage the gorget, or +take off the counterfeit beaver, which he had fastened with green +ribbons in such a manner that they could not be untied, and he would +upon no account allow them to be cut; therefore he remained all that +night with his helmet on, the strangest and most ridiculous figure +imaginable. + +While these light girls, whom he still conceived to be persons of +quality and ladies of the castle, were disarming him, he said to them, +with infinite grace: "Never before was knight so honored by ladies as +Don Quixote, after his departure from his native village! damsels +attended upon him; princesses took charge of his steed! O +Rosinante,--for that, ladies, is the name of my horse, and Don Quixote +de la Mancha my own; although it was not my intention to have discovered +myself until deeds performed in your service should have proclaimed me; +but impelled to make so just an application of that ancient romance of +Lanzarote to my present situation, I have thus prematurely disclosed my +name: yet the time shall come when your ladyships may command, and I +obey; when the valor of my arm shall make manifest the desire I have to +serve you." The girls, unaccustomed to such rhetorical flourishes, made +no reply, but asked whether he would please to eat anything. "I shall +willingly take some food," answered Don Quixote, "for I apprehend it +would be of much service to me." That day happened to be Friday, and +there was nothing in the house but some fish of that kind which in +Castile is called Abadexo; in Andalusia, Bacallao; in some parts, +Curadillo: and in others, Truchuela. They asked if his worship would +like some truchuela, for they had no other fish to offer him. "If there +be many troutlings," replied Don Quixote, "they will supply the place of +one trout; for it is the same to me whether I receive eight single rials +or one piece-of-eight. Moreover, these troutlings may be preferable, as +veal is better than beef, and kid superior to goat. Be that as it may, +let it come immediately, for the toil and weight of arms cannot be +sustained by the body unless the interior be supplied with aliments." +For the benefit of the cool air, they placed the table at the door of +the inn, and the landlord produced some of his ill-soaked and +worse-cooked bacallao, with bread as foul and black as the knight's +armor. But it was a spectacle highly risible to see him eat; for his +hands being engaged in holding his helmet on and raising the beaver, he +could not feed himself, therefore one of the ladies performed that +office for him; but to drink would have been utterly impossible had not +the innkeeper bored a reed, and placing one end into his mouth at the +other poured in the wine; and all this he patiently endured rather than +cut the lacings of his helmet. + + + + +THE PLEASANT METHOD DON QUIXOTE TOOK TO BE +DUBBED A KNIGHT. + +It troubled him to reflect that he was not yet a knight, feeling +persuaded that he could not lawfully engage in any adventure until he +had been invested with the order of knighthood. + +Agitated by this idea, he abruptly finished his scanty supper, called +the innkeeper, and, shutting himself up with him in the stable, he fell +on his knees before him and said, "Never will I arise from this place, +valorous knight, until your courtesy shall vouchsafe to grant a boon +which it is my intention to request,--a boon that will redound to your +glory and to the benefit of all mankind." The innkeeper, seeing his +guest at his feet and hearing such language, stood confounded and stared +at him without knowing what to do or say; he entreated him to rise, but +in vain, until he had promised to grant the boon he requested. "I +expected no less, signor, from your great magnificence," replied Don +Quixote; "know, therefore, that the boon I have demanded, and which your +liberality has conceded, is that on the morrow you will confer upon me +the honor of knighthood. This night I will watch my arms in the chapel +of your castle, in order that, in the morning, my earnest desire may be +fulfilled and I may with propriety traverse the four quarters of the +world in quest of adventures for the relief of the distressed, +conformable to the duties of chivalry and of knights-errant, who, like +myself, are devoted to such pursuits." + +The host, who, as we have said, was a shrewd fellow, and had already +entertained some doubts respecting the wits of his guest, was now +confirmed in his suspicions; and to make sport for the night, determined +to follow his humor. He told him, therefore, that his desire was very +reasonable, and that such pursuits were natural and suitable to knights +so illustrious as he appeared to be, and as his gallant demeanor fully +testified; that he had himself in the days of his youth followed that +honorable profession, and travelled over various parts of the world in +search of adventures; failing not to visit the suburbs of Malaga, the +isles of Riaran, the compass of Seville, the market-place of Segovia, +the olive-field of Valencia, the rondilla of Grenada, the coast of St. +Lucar, the fountain of Cordova, the taverns of Toledo, and divers other +parts, where he had exercised the agility of his heels and the dexterity +of his hands; committing sundry wrongs, soliciting widows, seducing +damsels, cheating youths,--in short, making himself known to most of the +tribunals in Spain; and that, finally, he had retired to this castle, +where he lived upon his revenue and that of others, entertaining therein +all knights-errant of every quality and degree solely for the great +affection he bore them, and that they might share their fortune with him +in return for his good will. He further told him that in his castle +there was no chapel wherein he could watch his armor, for it had been +pulled down in order to be rebuilt; but that, in cases of necessity, he +knew it might be done wherever he pleased. Therefore, he might watch it +that night in a court of the castle, and the following morning, if it +pleased God, the requisite ceremonies should be performed, and he should +be dubbed so effectually that the world would not be able to produce a +more perfect knight. He then inquired if he had any money about him. Don +Quixote told him he had none, having never read in their histories that +knights-errant provided themselves with money. The innkeeper assured +him he was mistaken; for, admitting that it was not mentioned in their +history, the authors deeming it unnecessary to specify things so +obviously requisite as money and clean shirts, yet was it not therefore +to be inferred that they had none; but, on the contrary, he might +consider it as an established fact that all knights-errant, of whose +histories so many volumes are filled, carried their purses well provided +against accidents; that they were also supplied with shirts, and a small +casket of ointments to heal the wounds they might receive, for in plains +and deserts, where they fought and were wounded, no aid was near unless +they had some sage enchanter for their friend, who could give them +immediate assistance by conveying in cloud through the air some damsel +or dwarf, with a phial of water possessed of such virtue that, upon +tasting a single drop of it, they should instantly become as sound as if +they had received no injury. But when the knights of former times were +without such a friend, they always took care that their esquires should +be provided with money and such necessary articles as lint and salves; +and when they had no esquires--which very rarely happened--they carried +these things themselves upon the crupper of their horse, in wallets so +small as to be scarcely visible, that they might seem to be something of +more importance; for, except in such cases, the custom of carrying +wallets was not tolerated among knights-errant. He therefore advised, +though, as his godson (which he was soon to be), he might command him, +never henceforth to travel without money and the aforesaid provisions, +and he would find them serviceable when he least expected it. Don +Quixote promised to follow his advice with punctuality: and an order was +now given for performing the watch of the armor in a large yard +adjoining the inn. Don Quixote, having collected it together placed it +on a cistern which was close to a well; then, bracing on his target and +grasping his lance, with graceful demeanor he paced to and fro before +the pile, beginning his parade as soon as it was dark. + +The innkeeper informed all who were in the inn of the frenzy of his +guest, the watching of his armor, and of the intended knighting. + +The host repeated to him that there was no chapel in the castle, nor was +it by any means necessary for what remained to be done; that the stroke +of knighting consisted in blows on the neck and shoulders, according to +the ceremonial of the order, which might be effectually performed in the +middle of the field; that the duty of watching his armor he had now +completely fulfilled, for he had watched more than four hours, though +only two were required. All this Don Quixote believed, and said that he +was there ready to obey him, requesting him, at the same time, to +perform the deed as soon as possible; because, should he be assaulted +again when he found himself knighted, he was resolved not to leave one +person alive in the castle, excepting those whom, out of respect to him, +and at his particular request, he might be induced to spare. The +constable, thus warned and alarmed, immediately brought forth a book in +which he kept his account of the straw and oats he furnished to the +carriers, and attended by a boy, who carried an end of candle, and the +two damsels before mentioned, went towards Don Quixote, whom he +commanded to kneel down; he then began reading in his manual, as if it +were some devout prayer, in the course of which he raised his hand and +gave him a good blow on the neck, and, after that, a handsome stroke +over the shoulders, with his own sword, still muttering between his +teeth, as if in prayer. This being done, he commanded one of the ladies +to gird on his sword, an office she performed with much alacrity, as +well as discretion, no small portion of which was necessary to avoid +bursting with laughter at every part of the ceremony; but indeed the +prowess they had seen displayed by the new knight kept their mirth +within bounds. + +At girding on the sword, the good lady said: "God grant you may be a +fortunate knight and successful in battle." + +Don Quixote inquired her name, that he might thenceforward know to whom +he was indebted for the favor received, as it was his intention to +bestow upon her some share of the honor he should acquire by the valor +of his arm. She replied, with much humility, that her name was Tolosa, +and that she was the daughter of a cobbler at Toledo, who lived at the +stalls of Sanchobienaya; and that, wherever she was, she would serve and +honor him as her lord. Don Quixote, in reply, requested her, for his +sake, to do him the favor henceforth to add to her name the title of +don, and call herself Donna Tolosa, which she promised to do. The other +girl now buckled on his spur, and with her he held nearly the same +conference as with the lady of the sword; having inquired her name, she +told him it was Molinera, and that she was daughter to an honest miller +of Antiquera: he then requested her likewise to assume the don, and +style herself Donna Molinera, renewing his proffers of service and +thanks. + +These never-till-then-seen ceremonies being thus speedily performed, Don +Quixote was impatient to find himself on horseback, in quest of +adventures. He therefore instantly saddled Rozinante, mounted him, and, +embracing his host, made his acknowledgments for the favor he had +conferred by knighting him, in terms so extraordinary, that it would be +in vain to attempt to repeat them. The host, in order to get rid of him +the sooner, replied, with no less flourish, but more brevity; and, +without making any demand for his lodging, wished him a good journey. + + The tongue slow and the eyes quick. + + Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open. + + The brave man carves out his own fortune. + +Very full of pain, yet soon as he was able to stir, he began to roll +himself on the ground, and to repeat, in what they affirm was said by +the wounded knight of the wood:-- + + "Where art thou, mistress of my heart, + Unconscious of thy lover's smart? + Ah me! thou know'st not my distress, + Or thou art false and pitiless." + +"I know who I am," answered Don Quixote; "and I know, too, that I am not +only capable of being those I have mentioned, but all the twelve peers +of France, yea, and the nine worthies, since my exploits will far exceed +all that they have jointly or separately achieved." + + + + +DESTRUCTION OF DON QUIXOTE'S LIBRARY. + +Long and heavy was the sleep of Don Quixote: meanwhile the priest having +asked the niece for the key of the chamber containing the books, those +authors of the mischief, which she delivered with a very good will, they +entered, attended by the housekeeper, and found above a hundred large +volumes well bound, besides a great number of smaller size. No sooner +did the housekeeper see them than she ran out of the room in great +haste, and immediately returned with a pot of holy water and a bunch of +hyssop, saying: "Signor Licentiate, take this and sprinkle the room, +lest some enchanter of the many that these books abound with should +enchant us, as a punishment for our intention to banish them out of the +world." + +The priest smiled at the housekeeper's simplicity, and ordered the +barber to reach him the books one by one, that they might see what they +treated of, as they might perhaps find some that deserved not to be +chastised by fire. + +"No," said the niece, "there is no reason why any of them should be +spared, for they have all been mischief-makers: so let them all be +thrown out of the window into the courtyard; and having made a pile of +them, set fire to it; or else make a bonfire of them in the back yard, +where the smoke will offend nobody." + +The housekeeper said the same, so eagerly did they both thirst for the +death of those innocents. But the priest would not consent to it without +first reading the titles at least. + +The first that Master Nicholas put into his hands was "Amadis de Gaul," +in four parts; and the priest said: "There seems to be some mystery in +this, for I have heard say that this was the first book of chivalry +printed in Spain, and that all the rest had their foundation and rise +from it; I think, therefore, as head of so pernicious a sect, we ought +to condemn him to the fire without mercy." + +"Not so," said the barber; "for I have heard also that it is the best of +all the books of this kind: therefore, as being unequalled in its way, +it ought to be spared." + +"You are right," said the priest, "and for that reason its life is +granted for the present. Let us see that other next to him." + +"It is," said the barber, "the 'Adventures of Esplandian,' the +legitimate son of 'Amadis de Gaul.'" + +"Verily," said the priest, "the goodness of the father shall avail the +son nothing; take him, Mistress Housekeeper; open that casement, and +throw him into the yard, and let him make a beginning to the pile for +the intended bonfire." + +The housekeeper did so with much satisfaction, and good Esplandian was +sent flying into the yard, there to wait with patience for the fire with +which he was threatened. + +"Proceed," said the priest. + +"The next," said the barber, "is 'Amadis of Greece;' yea, and all these +on this side, I believe, are of the lineage of Amadis." + +"Then into the yard with them all!" quoth the priest; "for rather than +not burn Queen Pintiquiniestra, and the shepherd Darinel with his +eclogues, and the devilish perplexities of the author, I would burn the +father who begot me, were I to meet him in the shape of a +knight-errant." + +"Of the same opinion am I," said the barber. + +"And I too," added the niece. + +"Well, then," said the housekeeper, "away with them all into the yard." +They handed them to her; and, as they were numerous, to save herself the +trouble of the stairs, she threw them all out of the window. + +"What tun of an author is that?" said the priest. + +"This," answered the barber, "is 'Don Olivante de Laura.'" + +"The author of that book," said the priest, "was the same who composed +the 'Garden of Flowers;' and in good truth I know not which of the two +books is the truest, or rather, the least lying: I can only say that +this goes to the yard for its arrogance and absurdity." + +"This that follows is 'Florismarte of Hyrcania,'" said the barber. + +"What! is Signor Florismarte there?" replied the priest; "now, by my +faith, he shall soon make his appearance in the yard, notwithstanding +his strange birth and chimerical adventures; for the harshness and +dryness of his style will admit of no excuse. To the yard with him, and +this other, Mistress Housekeeper. + +"With all my heart, dear sir," answered she, and with much joy executed +what she was commanded. + +"Here is the 'Knight Platir,'" said the barber. + +"That," said the priest, "is an ancient book, and I find nothing in him +deserving pardon: without more words, let him be sent after the rest;" +which was accordingly done. They opened another book, and found it +entitled the "Knight of the Cross." "So religious a title," quoth the +priest, "might, one would think, atone for the ignorance of the author; +but it is a common saying 'the devil lurks behind the cross:' so to the +fire with him." + +The barber, taking down another book, said, "This is 'The Mirror of +Chivalry.'" + +"Oh! I know his worship very well," quoth the priest. "I am only for +condemning this to perpetual banishment because it contains some things +of the famous Mateo Boyardo. + +"If I find him here uttering any other language than his own, I will +show no respect; but if he speaks in his own tongue, I will put him upon +my head." + +"I have him in Italian," said the barber, "but I do not understand him." + +"Neither is it any great matter, whether you understand him or not," +answered the priest; "and we would willingly have excused the good +captain from bringing him into Spain and making him a Castilian; for he +has deprived him of a great deal of his native value; which, indeed, is +the misfortune of all those who undertake the translation of poetry into +other languages; for, with all their care and skill, they can never +bring them on a level with the original production. This book, neighbor, +is estimable upon two accounts; the one, that it is very good of itself; +and the other, because there is a tradition that it was written by an +ingenious king of Portugal. All the adventures of the castle of +Miraguarda are excellent, and contrived with much art; the dialogue +courtly and clear; and all the characters preserved with great judgment +and propriety. Therefore, Master Nicholas, saving your better judgment, +let this and 'Amadis de Gaul' be exempted from the fire, and let all the +rest perish without any further inquiry." + +"Not so, friend," replied the barber; "for this which I have here is the +renowned 'Don Bellianis.'" + +The priest replied: "This, and the second, third, and fourth parts, want +a little rhubarb to purge away their excess of bile; besides, we must +remove all that relates to the castle of Fame, and other absurdities of +greater consequence; for which let sentence of transportation be passed +upon them, and, according as they show signs of amendment, they shall be +treated with mercy or justice. In the mean time, neighbor, give them +room in your house; but let them not be read." + +"With all my heart," quoth the barber; and without tiring himself any +farther in turning over books of chivalry, bid the housekeeper take all +the great ones and throw them into the yard. This was not spoken to the +stupid or deaf, but to one who had a greater mind to be burning them +than weaving the finest and largest web; and therefore, laying hold of +seven or eight at once, she tossed them out at the window. + +But, in taking so many together, one fell at the barber's feet, who had +a mind to see what it was, and found it to be the history of the +renowned knight Tirante the White. "Heaven save me!" quoth the priest, +with a loud voice, "is Tirante the White there? Give him to me, +neighbor; for in him I shall have a treasure of delight, and a mine of +entertainment. Here we have Don Kyrie-Eleison of Montalvan, a valorous +knight, and his brother Thomas of Montalvan, with the knight Fonseca, +and the combat which the valiant Tirante fought with the bull-dog, and +the witticisms of the damsel Plazerdemivida; also the amours and +artifices of the widow Reposada; and madam the Empress in love with her +squire Hypolito. Verily, neighbor, in its way it is the best book in the +world: here the knights eat and sleep, and die in their beds, and make +their wills before their deaths; with several things which are not to be +found in any other books of this kind. Notwithstanding this I tell you, +the author deserved, for writing so many foolish things seriously, to be +sent to the galleys for the whole of his life: carry it home, and read +it, and you will find all I say of him to be true." + +"I will do so," answered the barber: "but what shall we do with these +small volumes that remain?" + +"Those," said the priest, "are, probably, not books of chivalry, but of +poetry." Then opening one he found it was the 'Diana' of George de +Montemayor, and, concluding that all the others were of the same kind, +he said, "These do not deserve to be burnt like the rest; for they +cannot do the mischief that those of chivalry have done; they are works +of genius and fancy, and do injury to none." + +"O sir," said the niece, "pray order them to be burnt with the rest; for +should my uncle be cured of this distemper of chivalry, he may possibly, +by reading such books, take it into his head to turn shepherd, and +wander through the woods and fields, singing and playing on a pipe; and +what would be still worse, turn poet, which, they say, is an incurable +and contagious disease." + +"The damsel says true," quoth the priest, "and it will not be amiss to +remove this stumbling-block out of our friend's way. And, since we begin +with the 'Diana' of Montemayor, my opinion is that it should not be +burnt, but that all that part should be expunged which treats of the +sage Felicia, and of the enchanted fountain, and also most of the longer +poems; leaving him, in God's name, the prose and also the honor of being +the first in that kind of writing." + +"The next that appears," said the barber, "is the Diana, called the +second, by Salmantino; and another, of the same name, whose author is +Gil Polo." + +"The Salmantinian," answered the priest, "may accompany and increase the +number of the condemned--to the yard with him: but let that of Gil Polo +be preserved, as if it were written by Apollo himself. Proceed, friend, +and let us despatch; for it grows late." + +"This," said the barber, opening another, "is the 'Ten Books of the +Fortune of Love,' composed by Antonio de lo Frasso, a Sardinian poet." + +"By the holy orders I have received!" said the priest, "since Apollo was +Apollo, the muses muses, and the poets poets, so humorous and so +whimsical a book as this was never written; it is the best, and most +extraordinary of the kind that ever appeared in the world; and he who +has not read it may be assured that he has never read anything of taste: +give it me here, neighbor, for I am better pleased at finding it than if +I had been presented with a cassock of Florence satin." He laid it +aside, with great satisfaction, and the barber proceeded, saying:-- + +"These which follow are the 'Shepherd of Iberia,' the 'Nymphs of +Enares,' and the 'Cure of Jealousy.'" + +"Then you have only to deliver them up to the secular arm of the +housekeeper," said the priest, "and ask me not why, for in that case we +should never have done." + +"The next is the 'Shepherd of Filida.'" + +"He is no shepherd," said the priest, "but an ingenious courtier; let +him be preserved, and laid up as a precious jewel." + +"This bulky volume here," said the barber, "is entitled the 'Treasure of +Divers Poems.'" + +"Had they been fewer," replied the priest, "they would have been more +esteemed: it is necessary that this book should be weeded and cleared of +some low things interspersed amongst its sublimities: let it be +preserved, both because the author is my friend, and out of respect to +other more heroic and exalted productions of his pen." + +"This," pursued the barber, "is 'El Cancionero' of Lopez Maldonado." + +"The author of that book," replied the priest, "is also a great friend +of mine: his verses, when sung by himself, excite much admiration; +indeed such is the sweetness of his voice in singing them, that they are +perfectly enchanting. He is a little too prolix in his eclogues; but +there can never be too much of what is really good: let it be preserved +with the select. But what book is that next to it?" + +"The 'Galatea' of Miguel de Cervantes," said the barber. + +"That Cervantes has been an intimate friend of mine these many years, +and I know that he is more versed in misfortunes than in poetry. There +is a good vein of invention in his book, which proposes something, +though nothing is concluded. We must wait for the second part, which he +has promised: perhaps, on his amendment, he may obtain that entire +pardon which is now denied him; in the mean time, neighbor, keep him a +recluse in your chamber." + +"With all my heart," answered the barber. "Now, here come three +together: the 'Araucana' of Don Alonzo de Ercilla, the 'Austriada' of +Juan Rufo, a magistrate of Cordova, and the 'Monserrato' of Christoval +de Virves, a poet of Valencia." + +"These three books," said the priest, "are the best that are written in +heroic verse in the Castilian tongue, and may stand in competition with +the most renowned works of Italy. Let them be preserved as the best +productions of the Spanish Muse." + +The priest grew tired of looking over so many books, and therefore, +without examination, proposed that all the rest should be burnt; but +the barber, having already opened one called the "Tears of Angelica," "I +should have shed tears myself," said the priest, on hearing the name, +"had I ordered that book to be burnt; for its author was one of the most +celebrated poets, not only of Spain, but of the whole world: his +translations from Ovid are admirable." + +The same night the housekeeper set fire to and burnt all the books that +were in the yard and in the house. Some must have perished that deserved +to be treasured up in perpetual archives, but their destiny or the +indolence of the scrutineer forbade it; and in them was fulfilled the +saying, that-- + + "The just sometimes suffer for the unjust." + +In the mean time Don Quixote tampered with a laborer, a neighbor of his, +and an honest man (if such an epithet can be given to one that is poor), +but shallow brained; in short, he said so much, used so many arguments, +and made so many promises, that the poor fellow resolved to sally out +with him and serve him in the capacity of a squire. Among other things, +Don Quixote told him that he ought to be very glad to accompany him, for +such an adventure might some time or the other occur, that by one stroke +an island might be won, where he might leave him governor. With this and +other promises, Sancho Panza (for that was the laborer's name) left his +wife and children and engaged himself as squire to his neighbor. + +Sancho Panza proceeded upon his ass, like a patriarch, with his wallet +and leathern bottle, and with a vehement desire to find himself +governor of the island, which his master had promised him. Don Quixote +happened to take the same route as on his first expedition, over the +plain of Montiel, which he passed with less inconvenience than before, +for it was early in the morning, and the rays of the sun, darting on +them horizontally, did not annoy them. Sancho Panza now said to his +master: "I beseech your worship, good sir knight-errant, not to forget +your promise concerning that same island; for I shall know how to govern +it, be it ever so large." + +To which Don Quixote answered: "Thou must know, friend Sancho Panza, +that it was a custom much in use among the knights-errant of old to make +their squires governors of the islands or kingdoms they conquered, and I +am determined that so laudable a custom, shall not be lost through my +neglect; on the contrary, I resolve to outdo them in it: for they +sometimes, and perhaps most times, waited till their squires were grown +old; and when they were worn out in their service, and had endured many +bad days and worse nights, they conferred on them some title, such as +count, or at least marquis, of some valley or province of more or less +account; but if you live, and I live, before six days have passed I may +probably win such a kingdom as may have others depending on it, just fit +for thee to be crowned king of one of them. And do not think this any +extraordinary matter, for things fall out to knights by such unforeseen +and unexpected ways, that I may easily give thee more than I promise." + +"So then," answered Sancho Panza, "if I were a king by some of those +miracles your worship mentions, Joan Gutierrez, my duck, would come to +be a queen, and my children infantas!" + +"Who doubts it?" answered Don Quixote. + +"I doubt it," replied Sancho Panza, "for I am verily persuaded that, if +God were to rain down kingdoms upon the earth, none of them would sit +well upon the head of Mary Gutierrez; for you must know, sir, she is not +worth two farthings for a queen. The title of countess would sit better +upon her, with the help of Heaven and good friends." + +"Recommend her to God, Sancho," answered Don Quixote, "and he will do +what is best for her, but do thou have a care not to debase thy mind so +low as to content thyself with being less than a viceroy." + +"Heaven grant us good success, and that we may speedily get this island +which costs me so dear. No matter then how soon I die." + +"I have already told thee, Sancho, to give thyself no concern upon that +account; for, if an island cannot be had, there is the kingdom of +Denmark or that of Sobradisa, which will fit thee like a ring to the +finger. Besides, as they are upon _terra firma_, thou shouldst prefer +them. But let us leave this to its own time, and see if thou hast +anything for us to eat in thy wallet. We will then go in quest of some +castle, where we may lodge this night and make the balsam that I told +thee of, for I declare that my ear pains me exceedingly." + +"I have here an onion and a piece of cheese, and I know not how many +crusts of bread," said Sancho, "but they are not eatables fit for so +valiant a knight as your worship." + +"How little dost thou understand of this matter!" answered Don Quixote. +"I tell thee, Sancho, that it is honorable in knights-errant not to eat +once in a month; and, if they do taste food, it must be what first +offers: and this thou wouldst have known hadst thou read as many +histories as I have done; for, though I have perused many, I never yet +found in them any account of knights-errant taking food, unless it were +by chance and at certain sumptuous banquets prepared expressly for them. +The rest of their days they lived, as it were, upon smelling. And though +it is to be presumed they could not subsist without eating and +satisfying all other wants,--as, in fact, they were men,--yet, since +they passed most part of their lives in wandering through forests and +deserts, and without a cook, their usual diet must have consisted of +rustic viands, such as those which thou hast now offered me. Therefore, +friend Sancho, let not that trouble thee which gives me pleasure, nor +endeavor to make a new world, or to throw knight-errantry off its +hinges." + +"Pardon me, sir," said Sancho; "for, as I can neither read nor write, as +I told you before, I am entirely unacquainted with the rules of the +knightly profession; but henceforward I will furnish my wallet with all +sorts of dried fruits for your worship, who are a knight; and for +myself, who am none, I will supply it with poultry and other things of +more substance." + + There cannot be too much of a good thing. + + What is lost to-day may be won to-morrow. + + A saint may sometimes suffer for a sinner. + + Many go out for wool and return shorn. + + Matters of war are most subject to continual change. + + Every man that is aggrieved is allowed to defend himself by + all laws human and divine. + + Truth is the mother of history, the rival of time, the + depository of great actions, witness of the past, example + and adviser of the present, and oracle of future ages. + + Love, like knight-errantry, puts all things on a level. + + He that humbleth himself God will exalt.[3] + +After Don Quixote had satisfied his hunger, he took up a handful of +acorns, and, looking on them attentively, gave utterance to expressions +like these:-- + +"Happy times and happy ages were those which the ancients termed the +Golden Age! Not because gold, so prized in this our Iron age, was to be +obtained, in that fortunate period, without toil; but because they who +then lived were ignorant of those two words, Mine and Thine. In that +blessed age all things were in common; to provide their ordinary +sustenance no other labor was necessary than to raise their hands and +take it from the sturdy oaks, which stood liberally inviting them to +taste their sweet and relishing fruit. The limpid fountains and running +streams offered them, in magnificent abundance, their delicious and +transparent waters. In the clefts of rocks, and in hollow trees, the +industrious and provident bees formed their commonwealths, offering to +every hand, without interest, the fertile produce of their most +delicious toil. The stately cork-trees, impelled by their own courtesy +alone, divested themselves of their light and expanded bark, with which +men began to cover their houses, supported by rough poles, only as a +defence against the inclemency of the heavens. All then was peace, all +amity, all concord. The heavy colter of the crooked plough had not yet +dared to force open and search into the tender bowels of our first +mother, who, unconstrained, offered from every part of her fertile and +spacious bosom whatever might feed, sustain, and delight those, her +children, by whom she was then possessed." + + +ANTONIO. + + Yes, lovely nymph, thou art my prize; + I boast the conquest of thy heart, + Though nor the tongue, nor speaking eyes, + Have yet revealed the latent smart. + + Thy wit and sense assure my fate, + In them my love's success I see; + Nor can he be unfortunate + Who dares avow his flame for thee. + + Yet sometimes hast thou frowned, alas! + And given my hopes a cruel shock; + Then did thy soul seem formed of brass, + Thy snowy bosom of the rock. + + But in the midst of thy disdain, + Thy sharp reproaches, cold delays, + Hope from behind to ease my pain, + The border of her robe displays. + + Ah, lovely maid! in equal scale + Weigh well thy shepherd's truth and love, + Which ne'er but with his breath can fail, + Which neither frowns nor smiles can move. + + If love, as shepherds wont to say, + Be gentleness and courtesy, + So courteous is Olalia, + My passion will rewarded be. + + And if obsequious duty paid, + The grateful heart can never move, + Mine sure, my fair, may well persuade + A due return and claim thy love. + + For, to seem pleasing in thy sight, + I dress myself with studious care, + And, in my best apparel dight, + My Sunday clothes on Monday wear. + + And shepherds say I'm not to blame, + For cleanly dress and spruce attire + Preserve alive love's wanton flame + And gently fan the dying fire. + + To please my fair, in mazy ring + I join the dance, and sportive play; + And oft beneath thy window sing, + When first the cock proclaims the day. + + With rapture on each charm I dwell, + And daily spread thy beauty's fame; + And still my tongue thy praise shall tell, + Though envy swell, or malice blame. + + Teresa of the Berrocal, + When once I praised you, said in spite, + Your mistress you an angel call, + But a mere ape is your delight. + + Thanks to the bugle's artful glare, + And all the graces counterfeit; + Thanks to the false and curled hair, + Which wary Love himself might cheat. + + I swore 'twas false, and said she lied; + At that her anger fiercely rose; + I boxed the clown that took her side, + And how I boxed my fairest knows. + + I court thee not, Olalia, + To gratify a loose desire; + My love is chaste, without alloy + Of wanton wish or lustful fire. + + The church hath silken cords, that tie + Consenting hearts in mutual bands: + If thou, my fair, its yoke will try, + Thy swain its ready captive stands. + + If not, by all the saints I swear + On these bleak mountains still to dwell, + Nor ever quit my toilsome care, + But for the cloister and the cell. + + I think I see her now, with that goodly presence, looking as + if she had the sun on one side of her and the moon on the + other; and above all, she was a notable housewife, and a + friend to the poor; for which I believe her soul is at this + very moment in heaven. + + A clergyman must be over and above good, who makes all his + parishioners speak well of him. + + Parents ought not to settle their children against their + will. + + Though she does not fly or shun the company and conversation + of the shepherds, but treats them in a courteous and + friendly manner, yet, when any one of them ventures to + discover his intention, though it be as just and holy as + that of marriage, she casts him from her as out of a + stone-bow. And by this sort of behavior she does more + mischief in this country than if she carried the plague + about with her; for her affability and beauty win the hearts + of those who converse with her, and incline them to serve + and love her; but her disdain and frank dealing drive them + to despair; and so they know not what to say to her, and can + only exclaim against her, calling her cruel and ungrateful, + with such other titles as plainly denote her character; and, + were you to abide here, sir, awhile, you would hear these + mountains and valleys resound with the complaints of those + rejected wretches that yet follow her. There is a place not + far hence, where about two dozen of tall beeches grow, and + not one of them is without the name of Marcela written and + engraved on its smooth bark; over some of them is carved a + crown, as if the lover would more clearly observe that + Marcela deserves and wears the crown of all human beauty. + + Revels, banquets, and repose, were invented for effeminate + courtiers; but toil, disquietude, and arms alone were + designed for those whom the world calls knights-errant. + + For never sure was any knight + So served by damsel, or by dame, + As Lancelot, that man of might, + When he at first from Britain came. + + The soldier who executes his captain's command is no less + valuable than the captain who gave the order. + +"I am of the same opinion," replied the traveller; "but one thing, among +many others which appear to me to be censurable in knights-errant, is +that, when they are prepared to engage in some great and perilous +adventure to the manifest hazard of their lives, at the moment of attack +they never think of commending themselves to God, as every Christian is +bound to do at such a crisis, but rather commend themselves to their +mistresses, and that with as much fervor and devotion as if they were +really their God; a thing which to me savors of paganism." + +"Signor," answered Don Quixote, "this can by no means be otherwise; and +the knight-errant who should act in any other manner would digress much +from his duty; for it is a received maxim and custom in chivalry, that +the knight-errant, who, on the point of engaging in some great feat of +arms, has his lady before him, must turn his eyes fondly and amorously +towards her, as if imploring her favor and protection in the hazardous +enterprise that awaits him; and, even if nobody hear him, he must +pronounce some words between his teeth, by which he commends himself to +her with his whole heart; and of this we have innumerable examples in +history. Nor is it thence to be inferred that they neglect commending +themselves to God; for there is time and opportunity enough to do it in +the course of the action." + +"Notwithstanding all that," replied the traveller, "better had it been +if the words he spent in commending himself to his lady, in the midst of +the career, had been employed as the duties of a Christian require; +particularly as I imagine that all knights-errant have not ladies to +commend themselves to, because they are not all in love." + +"That cannot be," answered Don Quixote: "I say there cannot be a +knight-errant without a mistress; for it is as essential and as natural +for them to be enamored as for the sky to have stars; and most +certainly, no history exists in which a knight-errant is to be found +without an amour; for, from the very circumstance of his being without, +he would not be acknowledged as a legitimate knight, but a bastard who +had entered the fortress of chivalry, not by the gate, but over the +pales, like a thief and robber." + +"Nevertheless," said the traveller, "if I am not mistaken, I remember +having read that Don Galaor, brother to the valorous Amadis de Gaul, +never had a particular mistress, to whom he might commend himself; +notwithstanding which, he was no less esteemed, and was a very valiant +and famous knight." + +To which our Don Quixote answered: "Signor, one swallow does not make a +summer." [4] + +"If it is essential that every knight-errant be a lover," said the +traveller, "it may well be presumed that you are yourself one, being of +the profession; and, if you do not pique yourself upon the same secrecy +as Don Galaor, I earnestly entreat you, in the name of all this good +company and in my own, to tell us the name, country, quality, and beauty +of your mistress, who cannot but account herself happy that all the +world should know that she is loved and served by so worthy a knight." + +Here Don Quixote breathed a deep sigh, and said: "I cannot positively +affirm whether that sweet enemy of mine is pleased or not that the +world should know I am her servant. I can only say, in answer to what +you so very courteously inquire of me, that her name is Dulcinea; her +country Toboso, a town of la Mancha: her quality at least that of a +princess, since she is my queen and sovereign lady; her beauty more than +human, since in her all the impossible and chimerical attributes of +beauty which the poets ascribe to their mistresses are realized; for her +hair is gold, her forehead the Elysian Fields, her eyebrows rainbows, +her eyes suns, her cheeks roses, her lips coral, her teeth pearls, her +neck, alabaster, her bosom marble, her hands ivory, her whiteness snow, +and her whole person without parallel. She is of those of Toboso de la +Mancha; a lineage which, though modern, is yet such as may give a noble +beginning to the most illustrious families of future ages; and in this +let no one contradict me, unless it be on the conditions that Zerbino +fixed under the arms of Orlando, where it said:-- + + 'That knight alone these arms shall move, + Who dares Orlando's prowess prove.'" + + +THE STORY OF CHRYSOSTOM. + +"Comrades," said he, "do you know what is passing in the village?" + +"How should we know?" answered one of them. + +"Know, then," continued the youth, "that the famous shepherd and +scholar, Chrysostom, died this morning; and it is rumored that it was +for love of that saucy girl Marcela, daughter of William the rich; she +who rambles about these woods and fields in the dress of a +shepherdess." + +"For Marcela, say you?" quoth one. + +"For her, I say," answered the goatherd; "and the best of it is, he has +ordered in his will that they should bury him in the fields, like a +Moor, at the foot of the rock, by the cork-tree fountain, which, +according to report, and as they say, he himself declared was the very +place where he first saw her. He ordered also other tilings so +extravagant that the clergy say they must not be performed; nor is it +fit that they should, for they seem to be heathenish. But his great +friend Ambrosio, the student, who accompanied him, dressed also like a +shepherd, declares that the whole of what Chrysostom enjoined shall be +executed: and upon this the village is all in an uproar: but by what I +can learn, they will at last do what Ambrosio and all his friends +require; and to-morrow they come to inter him, with great solemnity, in +the place I mentioned; and, in my opinion, it will be a sight well worth +seeing; at least, I shall not fail to go, although I were certain of not +returning to-morrow to the village." + +"We will do the same," answered the goatherds; "and let us cast lots who +shall stay behind to look after the goats." + +"You say well, Pedro," quoth another; "but it will be needless to make +use of this expedient, for I will remain for you all: and do not +attribute this to self-denial or want of curiosity in me, but to the +thorn which stuck into my foot the other day, and hinders me from +walking." + +"We thank you, nevertheless," answered Pedro. + +Don Quixote requested Pedro to give him some account of the deceased man +and the shepherdess. To which Pedro answered, "that all he knew was, +that the deceased was a wealthy gentleman, and inhabitant of a village +situate among these mountains, who had studied many years at Salamanca; +at the end of which time he returned home, with the character of a very +learned and well read person; particularly, it was said, he understood +the science of the stars, and what the sun and moon are doing in the +sky; for he told us punctually the clipse of the sun and moon." + +"Friend," quoth Don Quixote, "the obscuration of those two luminaries is +called an _eclipse_, and not a _clipse_." + +But Pedro, not regarding niceties, went on with his story, saying, "He +also foretold when the year would be plentiful or starel." + +"_Sterile_, you would say, friend," quoth Don Quixote. + +"_Sterile_, or _starel_," answered Pedro, "comes all to the same thing. +And, as I was saying, his father and friends, who gave credit to his +words, became very rich thereby; for they followed his advice in +everything. This year he would say, 'Sow barley, and not wheat; in this +you may sow vetches, and not barley; the next year there will be plenty +of oil; the three following there will not be a drop.'" + +"This science they call astrology," said Don Quixote. + +"I know not how it is called," replied Pedro, "but I know that he knew +all this, and more too. In short, not many months after he came from +Salamanca, on a certain day he appeared dressed like a shepherd, with +his crook and sheepskin jacket, having thrown aside his scholar's gown; +and with an intimate friend of his, called Ambrosio, who had been his +fellow-student, and who now put on likewise the apparel of a shepherd. I +forgot to tell you how the deceased Chrysostom was a great man at making +verses; insomuch that he made the carols for Christmas-eve and the +religious plays for Corpus Christi, which the boys of the village +represented; and everybody said they were most excellent. When the +people of the village saw the two scholars so suddenly habited like +shepherds, they were amazed, and could not get at the cause that induced +them to make that strange alteration in their dress. About this time the +father of Chrysostom died, and he inherited a large estate, in lands and +goods, flocks, herds, and money, of all which the youth remained +absolute master; and, indeed, he deserved it all, for he was a very good +companion, a charitable man, and a friend to those that were good, and +had a face like any blessing. Afterwards it came to be known that he +changed his habit for no other purpose but that he might wander about +these desert places after that shepherdess Marcela, with whom, as our +lad told you, he was in love. + +"As all that I have related is certain truth, I can more readily believe +what our companion told us concerning the cause of Chrysostom's death; +and therefore I advise you, sir, not to fail being to-morrow at his +funeral, which will be very well worth seeing; for Chrysostom had a +great many friends, and it is not half a league hence to the place of +interment appointed by himself." + +"I will certainly be there," said Don Quixote, "and I thank you for the +pleasure you have given me by the recital of so entertaining a story." + +Morning scarcely had dawned through the balconies of the east, when five +of the six goatherds got up and went to awake Don Quixote, whom they +asked whether he continued in his resolution of going to see the famous +interment of Chrysostom, for, if so, they would bear him company. Don +Quixote, who desired nothing more, arose, and ordered Sancho to saddle +and pannel immediately, which he did with great expedition; and with the +same dispatch they all set out on their journey. + +They had not gone a quarter of a league, when upon crossing a pathway, +they saw six shepherds advancing towards them, clad in jackets of black +sheepskin, with garlands of cypress and bitter rosemary on their heads; +each of them having in his hand a thick holly club. There came also with +them two gentlemen on horseback, well equipped for travelling, who were +attended by three lackeys on foot. When the two parties met they +courteously saluted each other, and finding upon inquiry that all were +proceeding to the place of burial, they continued their journey +together. + +Proceeding on, they discerned through a cleft between two high mountains +about twenty shepherds coming down, all clad in jerkins of black wool, +and crowned with garlands, some of which were of yew, and some of +cypress. Six of them carried a bier covered with various flowers and +boughs. One of the goatherds said: "Those who come hither are bearing +the corpse of Chrysostom, and at the foot of yonder mountain is the +place where he desired to be interred." Four of them, with sharp +pickaxes, were making the grave by the side of a sharp rock. Upon the +bier lay a dead body, strewed with flowers, in the dress of a shepherd, +apparently about thirty years of age; and though dead, it was evident +that his countenance had been beautiful and his figure elegant. Several +books and a great number of papers, some open and some folded, lay round +him on the bier. All that were present, spectators as well as those who +were opening the grave, kept a marvellous silence, until one said to +another: "Observe carefully, Ambrosio, whether this be the place which +Chrysostom mentioned since you wish to be so exact in executing his +will." + +"It is here," answered Ambrosio; "for in this very place my unhappy +friend often told me of his woe. Here it was, he told me, that he first +beheld that mortal enemy of the human race; here it was that he declared +to her his no less honorable than ardent passion; here it was that +Marcela finally undeceived and treated him with such disdain that she +put an end to the tragedy of his miserable life; and here, in memory of +so many misfortunes, he desired to be deposited in the bowels of eternal +oblivion." + +Then, addressing himself to Don Quixote and the travellers, he thus +continued: "This body, sirs, which you are regarding with compassionate +eyes, was the receptacle of a soul upon which Heaven had bestowed an +infinite portion of its treasures; this is the body of Chrysostom, who +was a man of rare genius, matchless courtesy, and unbounded kindness; he +was a phoenix in friendship, magnificent without ostentation, grave +without arrogance, cheerful without meanness; in short, the first in all +that was good, and second to none in all that was unfortunate. He loved, +and was abhorred; he adored, and was scorned; he courted a savage; he +solicited a statue; he pursued the wind; he called aloud to the desert; +he was the slave of ingratitude, whose recompense was to leave him, in +the middle of his career of life, a prey to death, inflicted by a +certain shepherdess, whom he endeavored to render immortal in the +memories of men; as these papers you are looking at would sufficiently +demonstrate, had he not ordered me to commit them to the flames at the +same time that his body was deposited in the earth." + +"You would then be more rigorous and cruel to them," said Vivaldo, "than +their master himself. + +"It is neither just nor wise to fulfil the will of him who commands what +is utterly unreasonable. + +"Augustus Caesar deemed it wrong to consent to the execution of what the +divine Mantuan commanded in his will; therefore, Signor Ambrosio, +although you commit your friend's body to the earth, do not commit his +writings also to oblivion; and if he has ordained like a man aggrieved, +do not you fulfil like one without discretion, but rather preserve those +papers, in order that the cruelty of Marcela may be still remembered, +and serve for an example to those who shall live in times to come, that +they may avoid falling down the like precipices; for I am acquainted, as +well as my companions here, with the story of this your enamored and +despairing friend; we know also your friendship, and the occasion of +his death, and what he ordered on his deathbed; from which lamentable +history we may conclude how great has been the cruelty of Marcela, the +love of Chrysostom, and the sincerity of your friendship; and also learn +the end of those who run headlong in the path that delirious passion +presents to their view. Last night we heard of Chrysostom's death, and +that he was to be interred in this place; led, therefore, by curiosity +and compassion, we turned out of our way, and determined to behold with +our eyes what had interested us so much in the recital; and, in return +for our pity, and our desire to give aid, had it been possible, we +beseech you, oh wise Ambrosio--at least I request it on my own +behalf--that you will not burn the papers, but allow me to take some of +them." + +Then, without waiting for the shepherd's reply, he stretched out his +hand and took some of those that were nearest to him: upon which +Ambrosio said: "Out of civility, signor, I will consent to your keeping +those you have taken; but if you expect that I shall forbear burning +those that remain, you are deceived." + +Vivaldo, desirous of seeing what the papers contained, immediately +opened one of them, and found that it was entitled, "The Song of +Despair." Ambrosio, hearing it, said: "This is the last thing which the +unhappy man wrote; and that all present may conceive, signor, to what a +state of misery he was reduced, read it aloud; for you will have time +enough while they are digging the grave." + +"That I will do with all my heart," said Vivaldo; and, as all the +bystanders had the same desire, they assembled around him, and he read +in an audible voice as follows:-- + +CHRYSOSTOM'S SONG. + + I. + + Since, cruel maid, you force me to proclaim + From clime to clime, the triumph of your scorn, + Let hell itself inspire my tortured breast + With mournful numbers, and untune my voice; + Whilst the sad pieces of my broken heart + Mix with the doleful accents of my tongue, + At once to tell my griefs and thy exploits, + Hear, then, and listen with attentive ear-- + Not to harmonious sounds, but echoing groans, + Fetched from the bottom of my laboring breast, + To ease, in spite of thee, my raging smart. + + II. + + The lion's roar, the howl of midnight wolves, + The scaly serpent's hiss, the raven's croak, + The burst of fighting winds that vex the main, + The widowed owl and turtle's plaintive moan, + With all the din of hell's infernal crew, + From my grieved soul forth issue in one sound-- + Leaving my senses all confused and lost. + For ah! no common language can express + The cruel pains that torture my sad heart. + + III. + + Yet let not Echo bear the mournful sounds + To where old Tagus rolls his yellow sands, + Or Betis, crowned with olives, pours his flood, + But here, 'midst rocks and precipices deep, + Or to obscure and silent vales removed, + On shores by human footsteps never trod, + Where the gay sun ne'er lifts his radiant orb, + Or with the envenomed face of savage beasts + That range the howling wilderness for food, + Will I proclaim the story of my woes-- + Poor privilege of grief!--while echoes hoarse + Catch the sad tale, and spread it round the world. + + IV. + + Disdain gives death; suspicions, true or false, + O'erturn the impatient mind: with surer stroke + Fell jealousy destroys; the pangs of absence + No lover can support; nor firmest hope + Can dissipate the dread of cold neglect; + Yet I, strange fate! though jealous, though disdained, + Absent, and sure of cold neglect, still live. + And amidst the various torments I endure, + No ray of hope e'er darted on my soul, + Nor would I hope; rather in deep despair + Will I sit down, and, brooding o'er my griefs, + Vow everlasting absence from her sight. + + V. + + Can hope and fear at once the soul possess, + Or hope subsist with surer cause of fear? + Shall I, to shut out frightful jealousy, + Close my sad eyes, when every pang I feel + Presents the hideous phantom to my view? + What wretch so credulous but must embrace + Distrust with open arms, when he beholds + Disdain avowed, suspicions realized, + And truth itself converted to a lie? + Oh, cruel tyrant of the realm of love, + Fierce Jealousy, arm with a sword this hand, + Or thou, Disdain, a twisted cord bestow! + + VI. + + Let me not blame my fate; but, dying, think + The man most blest who loves, the soul most free + That love has most enthralled. Still to my thoughts + Let fancy paint the tyrant of my heart + Beauteous in mind as face, and in myself + Still let me find the source of her disdain, + Content to suffer, since imperial Love + By lover's woes maintains his sovereign state. + With this persuasion, and the fatal noose, + I hasten to the doom her scorn demands, + And, dying, offer up my breathless corse, + Uncrowned with garlands, to the whistling winds. + + VII. + + Oh thou, whose unrelenting rigor's force + First drove me to despair, and now to death; + When the sad tale of my untimely fall + Shall reach thy ear, though it deserve a sigh, + Veil not the heaven of those bright eyes in grief, + Nor drop one pitying tear, to tell the world + At length my death has triumphed o'er thy scorn: + But dress thy face in smiles, and celebrate + With laughter and each circumstance of joy + The festival of my disastrous end. + Ah! need I bid thee smile? too well I know + My death's thy utmost glory and thy pride. + + VIII. + + Come, all ye phantoms of the dark abyss: + Bring, Tantalus, thy unextinguished thirst, + And Sisyphus, thy still returning stone; + Come, Tityus, with the vulture at thy heart; + And thou, Ixion, bring thy giddy wheel; + Nor let the toiling sisters stay behind. + Pour your united griefs into this breast, + And in low murmurs sing sad obsequies + (If a despairing wretch such rites may claim) + O'er my cold limbs, denied a winding sheet. + And let the triple porter of the shades, + The sister Furies, and chimeras dire, + With notes of woe the mournful chorus join. + Such funeral pomp alone befits the wretch + By beauty sent untimely to the grave. + + IX. + + And thou, my song, sad child of my despair, + Complain no more; but since thy wretched fate + Improves her happier lot who gave thee birth, + Be all thy sorrows buried in my tomb. + +None of the shepherds departed until, the grave being made and the +papers burnt, the body of Chrysostom was interred, not without many +tears from the spectators. They closed the sepulchre with a large +fragment of a rock until a tombstone was finished, which Ambrosio said +it was his intention to provide, and to inscribe upon it the following +epitaph:-- + +CHRYSOSTOM'S EPITAPH. + + The body of a wretched swain, + Killed by a cruel maid's disdain, + In this cold bed neglected lies. + + He lived, fond, hapless youth! to prove + Th' inhuman tyranny of love, + Exerted in Marcela's eyes. + +Then they strewed abundance of flowers and boughs +on the grave, and after expressions of condolence to his +friend Ambrosio, they took their leave of him. + + All beauty does not inspire love; some please the sight + without captivating the affections. If all beauties were to + enamour and captivate, the hearts of mankind would be in a + continual state of perplexity and confusion--for beautiful + objects being infinite, the sentiments they inspire should + also be infinite. + + True love cannot be divided, and must be voluntary and + unconstrained. + + The viper deserves no blame for its sting, although it be + mortal--because it is the gift of Nature. + + Beauty in a modest woman is like fire or a sharp sword at a + distance; neither doth the one burn nor the other wound + those that come not too near them. + + Honor and virtue are ornaments of the soul, without which + the body, though it be really beautiful, ought not to be + thought so. + + Let him who is deceived complain. + + Let him to whom faith is broken despair. + + She who loves none can make none jealous, and sincerity + ought not to pass for disdain. + + Much time is necessary to know people thoroughly. + + We are sure of nothing in this life. + + There is no remembrance which time does not obliterate, nor + pain which death does not terminate. + + Fortune always leaves some door open in misfortune. + + Sometimes we look for one thing and find another. + + Self-praise depreciates. + + The cat to the rat--the rat to the rope--the rope to the + gallows. + + Out of the frying-pan into the fire. + + One man is no more than another, only inasmuch as he does + more than another. + + The lance never blunted the pen, nor the pen the lance. + + A mouth without teeth is like a mill without a stone. + + The dead to the bier, and the living to good cheer. + + One effect of fear is to disturb the senses, and make things + not to appear what they really are. + + +ADVENTURE OF THE DEAD BODY. + +They saw, advancing towards them, on the same road, a great number of +lights, resembling so many moving stars. Sancho stood aghast at the +sight of them, nor was Don Quixote unmoved. The one checked his ass and +the other his horse, and both stood looking before them with eager +attention. They perceived that the lights were advancing towards them, +and that as they approached nearer they appeared larger. Sancho trembled +like quicksilver at the sight, and Don Quixote's hair bristled upon his +head; but, somewhat recovering himself, he exclaimed: "Sancho, this must +be a most perilous adventure, wherein it will be necessary for me to +exert my whole might and valor." + +"Woe is me!" answered Sancho; "should this prove to be an adventure of +goblins, as to me it seems to be, where shall I find ribs to endure?" + +"Whatsoever phantoms they may be," said Don Quixote, "I will not suffer +them to touch a thread of thy garment: for if they sported with thee +before, it was because I could not get over the wall; but we are now +upon even ground, where I can brandish my sword at pleasure." + +"But, if they should enchant and benumb you, as they did then," quoth +Sancho, "what matters it whether we are in the open field or not?" + +"Notwithstanding that," replied Don Quixote, "I beseech thee, Sancho, to +be of good courage; for experience shall give thee sufficient proof of +mine." + +"I will, if it please God," answered Sancho; and, retiring a little on +one side of the road, and again endeavoring to discover what those +walking lights might be, they soon after perceived a great many persons +clothed in white. + +This dreadful spectacle completely annihilated the courage of Sancho, +whose teeth began to chatter, as if seized with a quartan ague; and his +trembling and chattering increased as more of it appeared in view; for +now they discovered about twenty persons in white robes, all on +horseback, with lighted torches in their hands; behind them came a +litter covered with black, which was followed by six persons in deep +mourning; the mules on which they were mounted being covered likewise +with black down to their heels; for that they were mules, and not +horses, was evident by the slowness of their pace. Those robed in white +were muttering to themselves in a low and plaintive tone. + +This strange vision, at such an hour, and in a place so uninhabited +might well strike terror into Sancho's heart, and even into that of his +master; and so it would have done had he been any other than Don +Quixote. As for Sancho, his whole stock of courage was now exhausted. +But it was otherwise with his master, whose lively imagination instantly +suggested to him that this must be truly a chivalrous adventure. He +conceived that the litter was a bier, whereon was carried some knight +sorely wounded, or slain, whose revenge was reserved for him alone; he, +therefore, without delay couched his spear, seated himself firm in his +saddle, and with grace and spirit advanced into the middle of the road +by which the procession must pass; and, when they were near, he raised +his voice and said: "Ho, knights, whoever ye are, halt, and give me an +account to whom ye belong; whence ye come, whither ye are going, and +what it is ye carry upon that bier; for in all appearance either ye have +done some injury to others, or others to you: and it is expedient and +necessary that I be informed of it, either to chastise ye for the evil +ye have done, or to revenge ye of wrongs sustained." + +"We are in haste," answered one in the procession; "the inn is a great +way off, and we cannot stay to give so long an account as you require." +Then, spurring his mule, he passed forward. + +Don Quixote, highly resenting this answer, laid hold of his bridle and +said: "Stand, and with more civility give me the account I demand; +otherwise I challenge ye all to battle." + +The mule was timid, and started so much upon his touching the bridle, +that, rising on her hind legs, she threw her rider over the crupper to +the ground. A lacquey that came on foot, seeing the man in white fall, +began to revile Don Quixote, whose choler being now raised, he couched +his spear, and immediately attacking one of the mourners, laid him on +the ground grievously wounded; then turning about to the rest, it was +worth seeing with what agility he attacked and defeated them; and it +seemed as if wings at that instant had sprung on Rozinante--so lightly +and swiftly he moved! All the white-robed people, being timorous and +unarmed, soon quitted the skirmish and ran over the plain with their +lighted torches, looking like so many masqueraders on a carnival or +festival night. The mourners were so wrapped up and muffled in their +long robes that they could make no exertion; so that Don Quixote, with +entire safety, assailed them all, and, sorely against their will, +obliged them to quit the field; for they thought him no man, but the +devil from hell broke loose upon them to seize the dead body they were +conveying in the litter. + +All this Sancho beheld with admiration at his master's intrepidity, and +said to himself: "This master of mine is certainly as valiant and +magnanimous as he pretends to be." + +A burning torch lay upon the ground near the first whom the mule had +overthrown, by the light of which Don Quixote espied him, and going up +to him, placed the point of his spear to his throat, commanding him to +surrender, on pain of death. To which the fallen man answered: "I am +surrendered enough already, since I cannot stir, for one of my legs is +broken. I beseech you, sir, if you are a Christian gentleman, do not +kill me: you would commit a great sacrilege, for I am a licentiate and +have taken the lesser orders." + +"Who the devil, then," said Don Quixote, "brought you hither, being an +ecclesiastic?" + +"Who, sir?" replied the fallen man; "my evil fortune." + +"A worse fate now threatens you," said Don Quixote, "unless you reply +satisfactorily to all my first questions." + +"Your worship shall soon be satisfied," answered the licentiate; "and +therefore you must know, sir, that though I told you before I was a +licentiate, I am in fact only a bachelor of arts, and my name is Alonzo +Lopez. I am a native of Alcovendas, and came from the city of Baeza with +eleven more ecclesiastics, the same who fled with the torches. We were +attending the corpse in that litter to the city of Segovia. It is that +of a gentleman who died in Baeza, where he was deposited till now, that, +as I said before, we are carrying his bones to their place of burial in +Segovia, where he was born." + +"And who killed him?" demanded Don Quixote. + +"God," replied the bachelor, "by means of a pestilential fever." + +"Then," said Don Quixote, "our Lord hath saved me the labor of revenging +his death, in case he had been slain by any other hand. But, since he +fell by the hand of Heaven, there is nothing expected from us but +patience and a silent shrug; for just the same must I have done had it +been His pleasure to pronounce the fatal sentence upon me. It is proper +that your reverence should know that I am a knight of La Mancha, Don +Quixote by name, and that it is my office and profession to go over the +world righting wrongs and redressing grievances." + + He that seeketh danger perisheth therein. + + Fear hath many eyes. + + Evil to him that evil seeks. + + Everybody has not discretion to take things by the right + handle. + + He loves thee well who makes thee weep. + + +THE GRAND ADVENTURE AND RICH PRIZE OF MAMBRINO'S HELMET. + +About this time it began to rain a little, and Sancho proposed entering +the fulling-mill; but Don Quixote had conceived such an abhorrence of +them for the late jest, that he would by no means go in: turning, +therefore, to the right hand, they struck into another road, like that +they had travelled through the day before. Soon after, Don Quixote +discovered a man on horseback, who had on his head something which +glittered as if it had been of gold; and scarcely had he seen it when, +turning to Sancho, he said, "I am of opinion, Sancho, there is no +proverb but what is true, because they are all sentences drawn from +experience itself, the mother of all the sciences; especially that which +says, 'Where one door is shut another is opened.' I say this because, if +fortune last night shut the door against what we sought, deceiving us +with the fulling-mills, it now opens wide another, for a better and +more certain adventure; in which, if I am deceived, the fault will be +mine, without imputing it to my ignorance of fulling-mills, or to the +darkness of night. This I say because, if I mistake not, there comes one +towards us who carries on his head Mambrino's helmet, concerning which +thou mayest remember I swore the oath." + +"Take care, sir, what you say, and more what you do," said Sancho; "for +I would not wish for other fulling-mills, to finish the milling and +mashing our senses." + +"The devil take thee!" replied Don Quixote: "what has a helmet to do +with fulling-mills?" + +"I know not," answered Sancho; "but in faith, if I might talk as much as +I used to do, perhaps I could give such reasons that your worship would +see you are mistaken in what you say." + +"How can I be mistaken in what I say, scrupulous traitor?" said Don +Quixote. "Tell me, seest thou not yon knight coming towards us on a +dapple-gray steed, with a helmet of gold on his head?" + +"What I see and perceive," answered Sancho, "is only a man on a gray ass +like mine, with something on his head that glitters." + +"Why, that is Mambrino's helmet," said Don Quixote; "retire, and leave +me alone to deal with him, and thou shalt see how, in order to save +time, I shall conclude this adventure without speaking a word, and the +helmet I have so much desired remain my own." + +"I shall take care to get out of the way," replied Sancho; "but Heaven +grant, I say again, it may not prove another fulling-mill adventure." + +"I have already told thee, Sancho, not to mention those fulling-mills, +nor even think of them," said Don Quixote: "if thou dost--I say no more, +but I vow to mill thy soul for thee!" Sancho held his peace, fearing +lest his master should perform his vow, which had struck him all of a +heap. + +Now the truth of the matter, concerning the helmet, the steed, and the +knight which Don Quixote saw, was this. There were two villages in that +neighborhood, one of them so small that it had neither shop nor barber, +but the other adjoining to it had both; therefore the barber of the +larger served also the less, wherein one customer now wanted to be let +blood and another to be shaved; to perform which, the barber was now on +his way, carrying with him his brass basin; and it so happened that +while upon the road it began to rain, and to save his hat, which was a +new one, he clapped the basin on his head, which being lately scoured +was seen glittering at the distance of half a league; and he rode on a +gray ass, as Sancho had affirmed. Thus Don Quixote took the barber for a +knight, his ass for a dapple-gray steed, and his basin for a golden +helmet; for whatever he saw was quickly adapted to his knightly +extravagances: and when the poor knight drew near, without staying to +reason the case with him, he advanced at Rozinante's best speed, and +couched his lance, intending to run him through and through; but, when +close upon him, without checking the fury of his career, he cried out, +"Defend thyself, caitiff! or instantly surrender what is justly my due." + +The barber, so unexpectedly seeing this phantom advancing upon him, had +no other way to avoid the thrust of the lance than to slip down from the +ass; and no sooner had he touched the ground than, leaping up nimbler +than a roebuck, he scampered over the plain with such speed that the +wind could not overtake him. The basin he left on the ground; with which +Don Quixote was satisfied, observing that the pagan had acted +discreetly, and in imitation of the beaver, which, when closely pursued +by the hunters, tears off with his teeth that which it knows by instinct +to be the object of pursuit. He ordered Sancho to take up the helmet; +who, holding it in his hand, said, "Before Heaven, the basin is a +special one, and is well worth a piece of eight, if it is worth a +farthing." + +He then gave it to his master, who immediately placed it upon his head, +turning it round in search of the visor; but not finding it he said, +"Doubtless the pagan for whom this famous helmet was originally forged +must have had a prodigious head--the worst of it is that one half is +wanting." + +When Sancho heard the basin called a helmet, he could not forbear +laughing; which, however, he instantly checked on recollecting his +master's late choler. + +"What dost thou laugh at, Sancho?" said Don Quixote. + +"I am laughing," answered he, "to think what a huge head the pagan had +who owned that helmet, which is for all the world just like a barber's +basin." + +"Knowest thou, Sancho, what I conceive to be the case? This famous +piece, this enchanted helmet, by some strange accident must have fallen +into the possession of one who, ignorant of its true value as a helmet +and seeing it to be of the purest gold, hath inconsiderately melted down +the one-half for lucre's sake, and of the other half made this, which, +as thou sayest, doth indeed look like a barber's basin; but to me, who +know what it really is, its transformation is of no importance, for I +will have it so repaired in the first town where there is a smith, that +it shall not be surpassed nor even equalled by that which the god of +smiths himself made and forged for the god of battles. In the mean time +I will wear it as I best can, for something is better than nothing; and +it will be sufficient to defend me from stones." + + Be brief in thy discourse, for what is prolix cannot be + pleasing. + + Never stand begging for that which you have the power to + take. + + There are two kinds of lineages in the world. Some there are + who derive their pedigree from princes and monarchs, whom + time has gradually reduced until they have ended in a point, + like a pyramid; others have had a low origin, and have risen + by degrees, until they have become great lords. So that the + difference is, that some have been what they now are not, + and others are now what they were not before. + + A leap from a hedge is better than the prayer of a bishop. + + A snatch from behind a bush is better than the prayer of + good men. + + Customs come not all together, neither were they all + invented at once. + + Who sings in grief procures relief. + + Let every one turn himself round, and look at home, and he + will find enough to do. + + To be grateful for benefits received is the duty of honest + men--one of the sins that most offendeth God is ingratitude. + + Benefits conferred on base-minded people are like drops of + water thrown into the sea. + + Retreating is not running away, nor is staying wisdom when + the danger overbalances the hope; and it is the part of wise + men to secure themselves to-day for to-morrow, and not to + venture all upon one throw. + + The wicked are always ungrateful. + + Necessity urges desperate measures. + + SONNET. + + Know'st thou, O love, the pangs that I sustain, + Or, cruel, dost thou view those pangs unmov'd? + Or has some hidden cause its influence proved, + By all this sad variety of pain? + + Love is a god, then surely he must know, + And knowing, pity wretchedness like mine; + From other hands proceeds the fatal blow-- + Is then the deed, unpitying Chloe, thine? + + Ah, no! a form so exquisitely fair + A soul so merciless can ne'er enclose. + From Heaven's high will my fate resistless flows, + And I, submissive, must its vengeance bear. + Nought but a miracle my life can save, + And snatch its destined victim from the grave. + + The devil is subtle, and lays stumbling-blocks in our way, + over which we fall without knowing how. + + In all misfortunes the greatest consolation is a + sympathizing friend. + + Riches are but of little avail against the ills inflicted by + the hand of Heaven. + + He that buys and denies, his own purse belies. + + Till you hedge in the sky, the starlings will fly. + + If a painter would be famous in his art, he must endeavor to + copy after the originals of the most excellent masters; the + same rule is also applicable to all the other arts and + sciences which adorn the commonwealth; thus, whoever aspires + to a reputation for prudence and patience, must imitate + Ulysses, in whose person and toils Homer draws a lively + picture of those qualities; so also Virgil, in the + character of AEneas, delineates filial piety, courage, and + martial skill, being representations of not what they really + were, but of what they ought to be, in order to serve as + models of virtue to succeeding generations. + + The absent feel and fear every ill. + +"I have heard say," quoth Sancho, "'from hell there is no retention.'" + +"I know not," said Don Quixote, "what retention means." + +"Retention," answered Sancho, "means that he who is once in hell never +does, nor ever can, get out again. I must strip off all my armor, and +remain as naked as I was born, if I should determine upon imitating +Orlando, in my penance, instead of Amadis." + +While they were thus discoursing, they arrived at the foot of a high +mountain, which stood separated from several others that surrounded it, +as if it had been hewn out from them. Near its base ran a gentle stream, +that watered a verdant and luxuriant vale, adorned with many +wide-spreading trees, plants, and wild flowers of various hues. This was +the spot in which the knight of the sorrowful figure chose to perform +his penance; and, while contemplating the scene, he thus broke forth in +a loud voice:-- + +"This is the place, O ye heavens! which I select and appoint for +bewailing the misfortune in which ye have involved me. This is the spot +where my flowing tears shall increase the waters of this crystal stream, +and my sighs, continual and deep, shall incessantly move the foliage of +these lofty trees, in testimony and token of the pain my persecuted +heart endures. O ye rural deities, whoever ye be, that inhabit these +remote deserts, give ear to the complaints of an unhappy lover, whom +long absence and some pangs of jealousy have driven to bewail himself +among these rugged heights, and to complain of the cruelty of that +ungrateful fair, the utmost extent and ultimate perfection of all human +beauty! O ye wood-nymphs and dryads, who are accustomed to inhabit the +dark recesses of the mountain groves (so may the nimble and lascivious +satyrs, by whom ye are wooed in vain, never disturb your sweet repose), +assist me to lament my hard fate, or at least be not weary of hearing my +groans! O my Dulcinea del Toboso, light of my darkness, glory of my +pain, the north-star of my travels, and overruling planet of my fortune +(so may Heaven listen to all thy petitions), consider, I beseech thee, +to what a condition thy absence hath reduced me, and reward me as my +fidelity deserves! O ye solitary trees, who henceforth are to be the +companions of my retirement, wave gently your branches, to indicate that +my presence does not offend you! And, O thou my squire, agreeable +companion in my prosperous and adverse fortunes, carefully imprint on +thy memory what thou shalt see me here perform, that thou mayest recount +and recite it to her who is the sole cause of all!" + +"There is no reason why you should threaten me," quoth Sancho, "for I am +not a man to rob or murder anybody. Let every man's fate kill him, or +God who made him. My master is doing a certain penance much to his +liking in the midst of yon mountains." + +Don Quixote took out the pocket-book, and, stepping aside, began with +much composure to write the letter; and having finished, he called +Sancho and said he would read it to him that he might have it by heart, +lest he might perchance lose it by the way, for everything was to be +feared from his evil destiny. To which Sancho answered: "Write it, sir, +two or three times in the book, and give it me, and I will take good +care of it; but to suppose that I can carry it in my memory is a folly, +for mine is so bad that I often forget my own name. Your worship, +however, may read it to me. I shall be glad to hear it, for it must +needs be very much to the purpose." + +"Listen, then," said Don Quixote, "this is what I have written ":-- + + +DON QUIXOTE'S LETTER TO DULCINEA DEL TOBOSO. + +HIGH AND SOVEREIGN LADY:--He who is stabbed by the point of absence, and +pierced by the arrows of love, O sweetest Dulcinea del Toboso, greets +thee with wishes for that health which he enjoys not himself. If thy +beauty despise me, if thy worth favor me not, and if thy disdain still +pursue me, although inured to suffering, I shall ill support an +affliction which is not only severe but lasting. My good squire Sancho +will tell thee, O ungrateful fair and most beloved foe, to what a state +I am reduced on thy account. If it be thy pleasure to relieve me, I am +thine; if not, do what seemeth good to thee,--for by my death I shall +at once appease thy cruelty and my own passion. + +Until death thine, +THE KNIGHT OF THE SORROWFUL FIGURE. + + One should not talk of halters in the house of the hanged. + + +LINES DISCOVERED ON THE BARK OF A TREE, ADDRESSED TO DULCINEA DEL +TOBOSO. + + Ye lofty trees, with spreading arms, + The pride and shelter of the plain; + Ye humble shrubs and flowery charms, + Which here in springing glory reign! + If my complaints may pity move, + Hear the sad story of my love! + While with me here you pass your hours, + Should you grow faded with my cares, + I'll bribe you with refreshing showers; + You shall be watered with my tears. + Distant, though present in idea, + I mourn my absent Dulcinea + Del Toboso. + + Love's truest slave, despairing, chose + This lonely wild, this desert plain, + This silent witness of the woes + Which he, though guiltless, must sustain. + Unknowing why these pains he bears, + He groans, he raves, and he despairs. + With lingering fires Love racks my soul: + In vain I grieve, in vain lament; + Like tortured fiends I weep, I howl, + And burn, yet never can repent. + Distant, though present in idea, + I mourn my absent Dulcinea + Del Toboso. + + While I through Honor's thorny ways, + In search of distant glory rove, + Malignant fate my toil repays + With endless woes and hopeless love. + Thus I on barren rocks despair, + And curse my stars, yet bless my fair. + Love, armed with snakes, has left his dart, + And now does like a fury rave; + And scourge and sting on every part, + And into madness lash his slave. + Distant, though present in idea, + I mourn my absent Dulcinea + Del Toboso. + + When the stars are adverse, what is human power? + + Who is there in the world that can boast of having fathomed + and thoroughly penetrated the intricate and ever-changing + nature of a woman? + + What causes all my grief and pain? + Cruel disdain. + What aggravates my misery? + Accursed jealousy. + How has my soul its patience lost? + By tedious absence crossed. + Alas! no balsam can be found + To heal the grief of such a wound. + When absence, jealousy, and scorn + Have left me hopeless and forlorn. + + What in my breast this grief could move? + Neglected love. + What doth my fond desires withstand? + Fate's cruel hand. + And what confirms my misery? + Heaven's fixed decree. + Ah me! my boding fears portend, + This strange disease my life will end: + For die I must, when three such foes, + Heaven, fate, and love, my bliss oppose. + + My peace of mind, what can restore? + Death's welcome hour. + What gains love's joys most readily? + Fickle inconstancy. + Its pains what medicine can assuage? + Wild frenzy's rage. + 'Tis therefore little wisdom, sure, + For such a grief to seek a cure, + That knows no better remedy + Than frenzy, death, inconstancy. + +The hour, the season, the solitude, the voice, and the skill of the +singer, all conspired to impress the auditors with wonder and delight, +and they remained for some time motionless, in expectation of hearing +more; but, finding the silence continue, they resolved to see who it was +who had sung so agreeably, and were again detained by the same voice +regaling their ears with this sonnet:-- + + Friendship, thou hast with nimble flight + Exulting gained the empyreal height, + In heaven to dwell, while here below + Thy semblance reigns in mimic show; + From thence to earth, at thy behest, + Descends fair peace, celestial guest! + Beneath whose veil of shining hue + Deceit oft lurks, concealed from view. + + Leave, friendship! leave thy heavenly seat, + Or strip thy livery off the cheat. + If still he wears thy borrowed smiles, + And still unwary truth beguiles, + Soon must this dark terrestrial ball + Into its first confusion fall. + + What is sudden death to a protracted life of anguish? + + "O heavens! have I then at last found a place which may + afford a secret grave for this wretched body? Yes, if the + silence of this rocky desert deceive me not, here I may die + in peace. Ah, woe is me! Here at least I may freely pour + forth my lamentations to Heaven, and shall be less wretched + than among men, from whom I should in vain seek counsel, + redress, or consolation." + + One evil produces another, and misfortunes never come + singly. + + O memory, thou mortal enemy of my repose! wherefore now + recall to me the incomparable beauty of that adored enemy of + mine! Were it not better, thou cruel faculty! to represent + to my imagination her conduct at that period--that moved by + so flagrant an injury, I may strive if not to avenge it, at + least to end this life of pain? + + For no grievance can harass or drive the afflicted to such + extremity, while life remains, as to make them shut their + ears against that counsel which is given with the most + humane and benevolent intention. + + Music lulls the disordered thoughts, and elevates the + dejected spirits. + + All women, let them be never so homely, are pleased to hear + themselves celebrated for beauty. + + The eyes of love or of idleness are like those of a lynx. + + One mischance invites another, and the end of one misfortune + is often the beginning of a worse. + + Among friends we ought not to stand upon trifles. + + No man can command the first emotions of his passions. + + Every new fault deserves a new penance. + + Where is the wonder one devil should be like another? + + Gifts are good after Easter. + + A sparrow in the hand is worth more than a bustard on the + wing. + + He that will not when he may, when he would he shall have + nay. + + Men may prove and use their friends, and not presume upon + their friendship in things contrary to the decrees of + Heaven. + + A man dishonored is worse than dead. + +"I have heard it preached," quoth Sancho, "that God is to be loved with +this kind of love, for Himself alone, without our being moved to it by +hope of reward or fear of punishment; though, for my part, I am inclined +to love and serve Him for what He is able to do for me." + +"The devil take thee for a bumpkin," said Don Quixote; "thou sayest ever +and anon such apt things that one would almost think thee a scholar." + +"And yet, by my faith," quoth Sancho, "I cannot so much as read." + + Squires and knight-errants are subject to much hunger and + ill-luck. + + A man on whom Heaven has bestowed a beautiful wife should be + as cautious respecting the friends he introduces at home as + to her female acquaintance abroad. + + If from equal parts we take equal parts, those that remain + are equal. + + To attempt voluntarily that which must be productive of evil + rather than good, is madness and folly. Difficult works are + undertaken for the sake of Heaven, or of the world, or both: + the first are such as are performed by the saints while they + endeavor to live the life of angels in their human frames; + such as are performed for love of the world are encountered + by those who navigate the boundless ocean, traverse + different countries and various climates to acquire what are + called the goods of fortune. Those who assail hazardous + enterprises for the sake of both God and man are brave + soldiers, who no sooner perceive in the enemy's wall a + breach made by a single cannon-ball, than, regardless of + danger and full of zeal in the defence of their faith, their + country, and their king, they rush where death in a thousand + shapes awaits them. These are difficulties commonly + attempted, and, though perilous, are glorious and + profitable. + + + TEARS OF ST. PETER. + + Shame, grief, remorse, in Peter's breast increase, + Soon as the blushing morn his crime betrays; + When most unseen, then most himself he sees, + And with due horror all his soul surveys. + For a great spirit needs no censuring eyes + To wound his soul, when conscious of a fault; + But, self-condemn'd, and e'en self-punished, lies, + And dreads no witness like upbraiding Thought. + + + Expect not, therefore, by concealment, to banish sorrow; + for, even though you weep not openly, tears of blood will + flow from your heart. So wept that simple doctor, who, + according to the poet, would venture to make a trial of the + cup which the more prudent Rinaldo wisely declined doing; + and although this be a poetical fiction, there is a + concealed moral in it worthy to be observed and followed. + + There is no jewel in the world so valuable as a chaste and + virtuous woman. The honor of women consists in the good + opinion of the world; and since that of your wife is + eminently good, why would you have it questioned? Woman, my + friend, is an imperfect creature; and, instead of laying + stumbling-blocks in her way, we should clear the path before + her, that she may readily attain that virtue which is + essential in her. Naturalists inform us that the ermine is a + little creature with extremely white fur, and that when the + hunters are in pursuit of it, they spread with mire all the + passes leading to its haunts, to which they then drive it, + knowing that it will submit to be taken rather than defile + itself. The virtuous and modest woman is an ermine, and her + character whiter than snow; and in order to preserve it, a + very different method must be taken from that which is used + with the ermine. + + The reputation of a woman may also be compared to a mirror + of crystal, shining and bright, but liable to be sullied by + every breath that comes near it. The virtuous woman must be + treated like a relic--adored but not handled; she should be + guarded and prized, like a fine flower-garden, the beauty + and fragrance of which the owner allows others to enjoy only + at a distance, and through iron rails. + + The devil, when he would entrap a cautious person, assumes + an angel form till he carries his point, when the cloven + foot appears. + + He who builds on impossibilities should be denied the + privilege of any other foundation. + + Hope is ever born with love. + + Castles should not be left without governors, nor armies + without generals. + + The passion of love is to be conquered by flight alone; it + is vain to contend with a power which, though human, + requires more than human strength to subdue. + + + SONNET. + + In the dead silence of the peaceful night, + When others' cares are hushed in soft repose, + The sad account of my neglected woes + To conscious Heaven and Chloris I recite. + And when the sun, with his returning light, + Forth from the east his radiant journey goes, + With accents such as sorrow only knows, + My griefs to tell is all my poor delight. + And when bright Phoebus from his starry throne + Sends rays direct upon the parched soil, + Still in the mournful tale I persevere; + Returning night renews my sorrow's toil; + And though from morn to night I weep and moan, + Nor Heaven nor Chloris my complainings hear. + + + Are we to take all that enamored poets sing for truth? + + + SONNET. + + Believe me, nymph, I feel th' impending blow, + And glory in the near approach of death; + For when thou see'st my corse devoid of breath, + My constancy and truth thou sure wilt know, + Welcome to me Oblivion's shade obscure! + Welcome the loss of fortune, life, and fame! + But thy loved features, and thy honored name, + Deep graven on my heart, shall still endure. + And these, as sacred relics, will I keep + Till that sad moment when to endless night + My long-tormented soul shall take her flight + Alas for him who on the darkened deep + Floats idly, sport of the tempestuous tide, + No port to shield him, and no star to guide! + + + He who gives freely gives twice. + + That which is lightly gained is little valued. + + For love sometimes flies and sometimes walks--runs with one + person, and goes leisurely with another: some he warms, and + some he burns; some he wounds, and others he kills: in one + and the same instant he forms and accomplishes his projects. + He often in the morning lays siege to a fortress which in + the evening surrenders to him--for no force is able to + resist him. + + Heaven always favors the honest purpose. + + Rank is not essential in a wife. + + True nobility consists in virtue. + + It is no derogation to rank to elevate beauty adorned with + virtue. + + Time will discover. + + +"Certainly, gentlemen, if we rightly consider it, those who make +knight-errantry their profession often meet with surprising and most +stupendous adventures. For what mortal in the world, at this time +entering within this castle, and seeing us sit together as we do, will +imagine and believe us to be the same persons which in reality we are? +Who is there that can judge that this lady by my side is the great queen +we all know her to be, and that I am that Knight of the Sorrowful Figure +so universally made known by fame? It is, then, no longer to be doubted +but that this exercise and profession surpasses all others that have +been invented by man, and is so much the more honorable as it is more +exposed to dangers. Let none presume to tell me that the pen is +preferable to the sword. This may be ascertained by regarding the end +and object each of them aims at; for that intention is to be most valued +which makes the noblest end its object. The scope and end of learning, I +mean human learning (in this place I speak not of divinity, whose aim is +to guide souls to Heaven, for no other can equal a design so infinite as +that), is to give a perfection to distribute justice, bestowing upon +every one his due, and to procure and cause good laws to be observed; an +end really generous, great, and worthy of high commendation, but yet not +equal to that which knight-errantry tends to, whose object and end is +peace, which is the greatest blessing man can wish for in this life. +And, therefore, the first good news that the world received was that +which the angels brought in the night--the beginning of our day--when +they sang in the air, 'Glory to God on high, peace on earth, and to men +good-will.' And the only manner of salutation taught by our great Master +to His friends and favorites was, that entering any house they should +say, 'Peace be to this house.' And at other times He said to them, 'My +peace I give to you,' 'My peace I leave to you,' 'Peace be among you.' A +jewel and legacy worthy of such a donor, a jewel so precious that +without it there can be no happiness either in earth or heaven. This +peace is the true end of war; for arms and war are one and the same +thing. Allowing, then, this truth, that the end of war is peace, and +that in this it excels the end of learning, let us now weigh the bodily +labors the scholar undergoes against those the warrior suffers, and then +see which are the greatest. + +"These, then, I say, are the sufferings and hardships a scholar endures. +First, poverty (not that they are all poor, but to urge the worst that +may be in this case); and having said he endures poverty, methinks +nothing more need be urged to express his misery; for he that is poor +enjoys no happiness, but labors under this poverty in all its parts, at +one time in hunger, at another in cold, another in nakedness, and +sometimes in all of them together; yet his poverty is not so great, but +still he eats, though it be later than the usual hour, and of the scraps +of the rich; neither can the scholar miss of somebody's stove or +fireside to sit by; where, though he be not thoroughly heated, yet he +may gather warmth, and at last sleep away the night under a roof. I will +not touch upon other less material circumstances, as the want of linen, +and scarcity of shoes, thinness and baldness of their clothes, and their +surfeiting when good fortune throws a feast in their way; this is the +difficult and uncouth path they tread, often stumbling and falling, yet +rising again and pushing on, till they attain the preferment they aim +at; whither being arrived, we have seen many of them, who, having been +carried by a fortunate gale through all these quick-sands, from a chair +govern the world; their hunger being changed into satiety, their cold +into comfortable warmth, their nakedness into magnificence of apparel, +and the mats they used to lie upon, into stately beds of costly silks +and softest linen, a reward due to their virtue. But yet their +sufferings, being compared to those the soldier endures, appear much +inferior, as I shall in the next place make out." + +Don Quixote, after a short pause, continued his discourse thus:--"Since, +in speaking of the scholar, we began with his poverty and its several +branches, let us see whether the soldier be richer. We shall find that +poverty itself is not more poor: for he depends on his wretched pay, +which comes late, and sometimes never; or upon what he can pillage, at +the imminent risk of his life and conscience. Such often is his +nakedness that his slashed buff-doublet serves him both for finery and +shirt; and in the midst of winter, on the open plain, he has nothing to +warm him but the breath of his mouth, which, issuing from an empty +place, must needs be cold. But let us wait, and see whether night will +make amends for these inconveniences: if his bed be too narrow it is his +own fault, for he may measure out as many feet of earth as he pleases, +and roll himself thereon at pleasure without fear of rumpling the +sheets. Suppose the moment arrived of taking his degree--I mean, +suppose-the day of battle come: his doctoral cap may then be of lint, to +cover some gun-shot wound, which perhaps has gone through his temples, +or deprived him of an arm or leg. + +"And even suppose that Heaven in its mercy should preserve him alive and +unhurt, he will probably remain as poor as ever; for he must be engaged +and victorious in many battles before he can expect high promotion; and +such good fortune happens only by a miracle: for you will allow, +gentlemen, that few are the number of those that have reaped the reward +of their services, compared with those who have perished in war. The +dead are countless; whereas those who survived to be rewarded may be +numbered with three figures. Not so with scholars, who by their salaries +(I will not say their perquisites) are generally handsomely provided +for. Thus the labors of the soldier are greater, although his reward is +less. It may be said in answer to this, that it is easier to reward two +thousand scholars than thirty thousand soldiers: for scholars are +rewarded by employments which must of course be given to men of their +profession; whereas the soldier can only be rewarded by the property of +the master whom, he serves; and this defence serves to strengthen my +argument. + +"But, waiving this point, let us consider the comparative claims to +pre-eminence: for the partisans of each can bring powerful arguments in +support of their own cause. It is said in favor of letters that without +them arms could not subsist; for war must have its laws, and laws come +within the province of the learned. But it may be alleged in reply, that +arms are necessary to the maintenance of law; by arms the public roads +are protected, cities guarded, states defended, kingdoms preserved, and +the seas cleared of corsairs and pirates. In short, without arms there +would be no safety for cities, commonwealths or kingdoms. Besides, it is +just to estimate a pursuit in proportion to the cost of its attainment. +Now it is true that eminence in learning is purchased by time, watching, +hunger, nakedness, vertigo, indigestion, and many other inconveniences +already mentioned; but a man who rises gradually to be a good soldier +endures all these, and far more. What is the hunger and poverty which +menace the man of letters compared with the situation of the soldier, +who, besieged in some fortress, and placed as sentinel in some ravelin +or _cavalier_, perceives that the enemy is mining toward the place where +he stands, and yet he must on no account stir from his post or shun the +imminent danger that threatens him? All that he can do in such a case is +to give notice to his officer of what passes, that he may endeavor to +counteract it; in the meantime he must stand his ground, in momentary +expectation of being mounted to the clouds without wings, and then +dashed headlong to the earth. And if this be thought but a trifling +danger, let us see whether it be equalled or exceeded by the encounter +of two galleys, prow to prow, in the midst of the white sea, locked and +grappled together, so that there is no more room left for the soldier +than the two-foot plank at the break-head; and though he sees as many +threatening ministers of death before him as there are pieces of +artillery pointed at him from the opposite side, not the length of a +lance from his body; though he knows that the first slip of his foot +sends him to the bottom of the sea; yet, with an undaunted heart, +inspired by honor, he exposes himself as a mark to all their fire, and +endeavors by that narrow pass to force his way into the enemy's vessel! +And, what is most worthy of admiration, no sooner is one fallen, never, +to rise again in this world, than another takes his place; and if he +also fall into the sea, which lies in wait to devour him, another and +another succeeds without intermission! In all the extremities of war +there is no example of courage and intrepidity to exceed this. Happy +those ages which knew not the dreadful fury of artillery!--those +instruments of hell (where, I verily believe, the inventor is now +receiving the reward of his diabolical ingenuity), by means of which the +cowardly and the base can deprive the bravest soldier of life. While a +gallant spirit animated with heroic ardor is pressing to glory, comes a +chance ball, sent by one who perhaps fled in alarm at the flash of his +own accursed weapon, and in an instant cuts short the life of him who +deserved to live for ages! When I consider this, I could almost repent +having undertaken this profession of knight-errantry in so detestable an +age; for though no danger can daunt me, still it gives me some concern +to think that powder and lead may suddenly cut short my career of glory. +But Heaven's will be done! I have this satisfaction, that I shall +acquire the greater fame if I succeed, inasmuch as the perils by which I +am beset are greater than those to which the knights-errant of past ages +were exposed." + + + The army is a school in which the miser becomes generous, + and the generous prodigal. + + A covetous soldier is a monster which is rarely seen. + + Liberality may be carried too far in those who have children + to inherit from them. + + How seldom promises made in slavery are remembered after a + release from bondage. + + Good fortune seldom comes pure and single, unattended by + some troublesome or unexpected circumstance. + + Though we love the treason we abhor the traitor. + + What transport in life can equal that which a man feels on + the restoration of his liberty? + + "The church, the court, or the sea;" as if it more fully + expressed the following advice,--He that would make his + fortune, ought either to dedicate his time to the church, go + to sea as a merchant, or attach himself to the court: for it + is commonly observed, that "the king's crumb is worth the + baron's batch."[5] + + + SONNET UPON THE GOLETA. + + O happy souls, by death at length set free + From the dark prison of mortality, + By glorious deeds, whose memory never dies-- + From earth's dim spot exalted to the skies! + What fury stood in every eye confessed! + What generous ardor fired each manly breast, + While slaughtered heaps distained the sandy shore, + And the tinged ocean blushed with hostile gore! + O'erpowered by numbers, gloriously ye fell: + Death only could such matchless courage quell; + Whilst dying thus ye triumphed o'er your foes-- + Its fame the world, its glory heaven, bestows! + + + SONNET ON THE FORT. + + From 'midst these walls, whose ruins spread around, + And scattered clods that heap the ensanguined ground, + Three thousand souls of warriors, dead in fight, + To better regions took their happy flight. + Long with unconquered souls they bravely stood, + And fearless shed their unavailing blood: + Till, to superior force compelled to yield, + Their lives they quitted in the well-fought field. + This fatal soil has ever been the tomb + Of slaughtered heroes, buried in its womb: + Yet braver bodies did it ne'er sustain, + Nor send more glorious soul the skies to gain. + + + I. + + Tossed in a sea of doubts and fears, + Love's hapless mariner, I sail, + Where no inviting port appears, + To screen me from the stormy gale. + + II. + + At distance viewed, a cheering star + Conducts me through the swelling tide; + A brighter luminary, far, + Than Palinurus o'er descried. + + III. + + My soul, attracted by its blaze, + Still follows where it points the way, + And while attentively I gaze, + Considers not how far I stray. + + IV. + + But female pride, reserved and shy, + Like clouds that deepen on the day, + Oft shroud it from my longing eye, + When most I need the genial ray. + + V. + + O lovely star, so pure and bright! + Whose splendor feeds my vital fire, + The moment thou deny'st thy light, + Thy lost adorer will expire! + + + SONG. + + Unconquered hope, thou bane of fear, + And last deserter of the brave, + Thou soothing ease of mortal care, + Thou traveller beyond the grave; + Thou soul of patience, airy food, + Bold warrant of a distant good, + Reviving cordial, kind decoy; + Though fortune frowns and friends depart, + Though Silvia flies me, flattering joy, + Nor thou, nor love, shall leave my doting heart. + + No slave, to lazy ease resigned, + E'er triumphed over noble foes; + The monarch fortune most is kind + To him who bravely dares oppose. + They say, Love rates his blessing high, + But who would prize an easy joy? + My scornful fair then I'll pursue, + Though the coy beauty still denies; + I grovel now on earth, 'tis true, + But, raised by her, the humble slave may rise. + + + Might overcomes. + + Him to whom God giveth may St. Peter bless. + + Diligence is the mother of success, and in many important + causes experience hath shown that the assiduity of the + solicitor hath brought a very doubtful suit to a very + fortunate issue; but the truth of this maxim is nowhere more + evinced than in war, where activity and despatch anticipate + the designs of the enemy, and obtain the victory before he + has time to put himself in a posture of defence. + + The common adage that delays are dangerous acts as spurs + upon the resolution. + + There are more tricks in the town than are dreamt of. + + Virtue is always more persecuted by the wicked than beloved + by the righteous. + + Virtue is so powerful that of herself she will, in spite of + all the necromancy possessed by the first inventor, + Zoroaster, come off conqueror in every severe trial, and + shine refulgent in the world, as the sun shines in the + heavens. + + Fables should not be composed to outrage the understanding; + but by making the wonderful appear possible, and creating in + the mind a pleasing interest, they may both surprise and + entertain; which cannot be effected where no regard is paid + to probability. I have never yet found a regular, + well-connected fable in any of our books of chivalry--they + are all inconsistent and monstrous; the style is generally + bad; and they abound with incredible exploits, lascivious + amours, absurd sentiment, and miraculous adventures; in + short, they should be banished every Christian country. + + Just are virtue's fears where envy domineers. + + Bounty will not stay where niggards bear the sway. + + Fortune turns faster than a mill-wheel, and those who were + yesterday at top, may find themselves at bottom to-day. + + Every one is the son of his own works. + + The mind receives pleasure from the beauty and consistency + of what is presented to the imagination, not from that which + is incongruous and unnatural. + + Fiction is always the better the nearer it resembles truth, + and agreeable in proportion to the probability it bears and + the doubtful credit which it inspires. Wherefore, all such + fables ought to be suited to the understanding of those who + read them, and written so as that, by softening + impossibilities, smoothing what is rough, and keeping the + mind in suspense, they may surprise, agreeably perplex, and + entertain, creating equal admiration and delight; and these + never can be excited by authors who forsake probability and + imitation, in which the perfection of writing consists. + + Epics may be written in prose as well as verse. + + To assert that there never was an Amadis in the world, nor + any other of the knights-adventurers of whom so many records + remain, is to say that the sun does not enlighten, the frost + produce cold, nor the earth yield sustenance. + + The approbation of the judicious few should far outweigh + the censure of the ignorant. + + An author had better be applauded by the few that are wise, + than laughed at by the many that are foolish. + + Our modern plays, not only those which are formed upon + fiction, but likewise such as are founded on the truth of + history, are all, or the greatest part, universally known to + be monstrous productions, without either head or tail, and + yet received with pleasure by the multitude, who approve and + esteem them as excellent performances, though they are far + from deserving that title; and if the authors who compose, + and the actors who represent them, affirm that this and no + other method is to be practised, because the multitude must + be pleased; that those which bear the marks of contrivance, + and produce a fable digested according to the rules of art, + serve only for entertainment to four or five people of + taste, who discern the beauties of the plan, which utterly + escape the rest of the audience; and that it is better for + them to gain a comfortable livelihood by the many, than + starve upon reputation with the few; at this rate, said I, + if I should finish my book, after having scorched every hair + in my whiskers in poring over it, to preserve those rules + and precepts already mentioned, I might fare at last like + the sagacious botcher, who sewed for nothing and found his + customers in thread. + + It is not a sufficient excuse to say that the object in + permitting theatrical exhibitions being chiefly to provide + innocent recreation for the people, it is unnecessary to + limit and restrain the dramatic author within strict rules + of composition; for I affirm that the same object is, beyond + all comparison, more effectually attained by legitimate + works. The spectator of a good drama is amused, admonished, + and improved by what is diverting, affecting, and moral in + the representation; he is cautioned against deceit, + corrected by example, incensed against vice, stimulated to + the love of virtue. + + Comedy, according to Tully, ought to be the mirror of life, + the exemplar of manners, and picture of truth; whereas those + that are represented in this age are mirrors of absurdity, + exemplars of folly, and pictures of lewdness; for sure, + nothing can be more absurd in a dramatic performance, than + to see the person, who, in the first scene of the first + act, was produced a child in swaddling-clothes, appear a + full-grown man with a beard in the second; or to represent + an old man active and valiant, a young soldier cowardly, a + footman eloquent, a page a counsellor, a king a porter, and + a princess a scullion. Then what shall we say concerning + their management of the time and place in which the actions + have, or may be supposed to have happened? I have seen a + comedy, the first act of which was laid in Europe, the + second in Asia, and the third was finished in Africa; nay, + had there been a fourth, the scene would have shifted to + America, so that the fable would have travelled through all + the four divisions of the globe. If imitation be the chief + aim of comedy, how can any ordinary understanding be + satisfied with seeing an action that passed in the time of + King Pepin and Charlemagne, ascribed to the Emperor + Heraclius, who, being the principal personage, is + represented, like Godfrey of Boulogne, carrying the cross + into Jerusalem, and making himself master of the holy + sepulchre, an infinite number of years having passed between + the one and the other? Or, when a comedy is founded upon + fiction, to see scraps of real history introduced, and facts + misrepresented both with regard to persons and times, not + with any ingenuity of contrivance, but with the most + manifest and inexcusable errors and stupidity; and what is + worst of all, there is a set of ignorant pretenders who call + this the perfection of writing, and that every attempt to + succeed by a contrary method is no other than a wild-goose + chase. + + The bow cannot remain always bent; and relaxation, both of + body and mind, is indispensable to all. + + Can you deny what is in everybody's mouth, when a person is + in the dumps? It is always then said, "I know not what such + a one ails--he neither eats, nor drinks, nor sleeps, nor + answers to the purpose, like other men--surely he is + enchanted." Wherefore, it is clear that such, and such only, + are enchanted who neither eat, nor drink, nor sleep, and not + they who eat and drink when they can get it, and answer + properly to all that is asked them. + + The poor man is unable to exercise the virtue of liberality; + and the gratitude which consists only in inclination is a + dead thing, even as faith without works is dead. I shall, + therefore, rejoice when fortune presents me with an + opportunity of exalting myself, that I may show my heart in + conferring benefits on my friends, especially on poor Sancho + Panza here, my squire, who is one of the best men in the + world; and I would fain bestow on him an earldom, as I have + long since promised; although I am somewhat in doubt of his + ability in the government of his estate. + + +Sancho, overhearing his master's last words, said: "Take you the +trouble, Signor Don Quixote, to procure me that same earldom, which your +worship has so often promised, and I have been so long waiting for, and +you shall see that I shall not want ability to govern it. But even if I +should, there are people, I have heard say, who farm these lordships; +and paying the owners so much a year, take upon themselves the +government of the whole, while his lordship lolls at his ease, enjoying +his estate, without concerning himself any further about it. Just so +will I do, and give myself no more trouble than needs mast, but enjoy +myself like any duke, and let the world rub." + +"This, brother Sancho," said the canon, "may be done, as far as regards +the management of your revenue; but the administration of justice must +be attended to by the lord himself, and requires capacity, judgment, +and, above all, an upright intention, without which nothing prospers; +for Heaven assists the good intent of the simple, and disappoints the +evil designs of the cunning." + +"I do not understand these philosophies," answered Sancho; "all that I +know is, that I wish I may as surely have the earldom as I should know +how to govern it; for I have as large a soul as another, and as large a +body as the best of them; and I should be as much king of my own +dominion as any other king; would do what I pleased; and, doing what I +pleased, I should have my will; and having my will, I should be +contented; and, being content, there is no more to be desired; and when +there is no more to desire, there is an end of it." + +"These are no bad philosophies, as you say, Sancho," quoth the canon; +"nevertheless, there is a great deal more to be said upon the subject of +earldoms." + +"That may be," observed Don Quixote; "but I am guided by the numerous +examples offered on this subject by knights of my own profession; who, +in compensation for the loyal and signal services they had received from +their squires, conferred upon them extraordinary favors, making them +absolute lords of cities and islands: indeed, there was one whose +services were so great that he had the presumption to accept of a +kingdom. But why should I say more, when before me is the bright example +of the great Amadis de Gaul, who made his squire knight of the Firm +Island? Surely I may, therefore, without scruple of conscience, make an +earl of Sancho Panza, who is one of the best squires that ever served +knight-errant." + +The mountains breed learned men, and the cottages of shepherds contain +philosophers. + +Upon the news of Don Quixote's arrival, Sancho Panza's wife repaired +thither, and on meeting him, her first inquiry was whether the ass had +come home well. + +Sancho told her that he was in a better condition than his master. + +"The Lord be praised," replied she, "for so great a mercy to me! But +tell me, husband, what good have you got by your squireship? Have you +brought a petticoat home for me, and shoes for your children?" + +"I have brought you nothing of that sort, dear wife," quoth Sancho; "but +I have got other things of greater consequence." + +"I am very glad of that," answered the wife, "pray show me your things +of greater consequence, friend; for I would fain see them, to gladden my +heart, which has been so sad, all the long time you have been away." + +"You shall see them at home, wife," quoth Sancho, "and be satisfied at +present; for if it please God that we make another sally in quest of +adventures, you will soon see me an earl or governor of an island, and +no common one either, but one of the best that is to be had." + +"Grant Heaven it may be so, husband," quoth the wife, "for we have need +enough of it. But pray tell me what you mean by islands; for I do not +understand you." + +"Honey is not for the mouth of an ass," answered Sancho: "in good time, +wife, you shall see, yea, and admire to hear yourself styled ladyship by +all your vassals." + +"What do you mean, Sancho, by ladyship, islands, and vassals?" answered +Teresa Panza; for that was Sancho's wife's name, though they were not of +kin, but because it is the custom in La Mancha for the wife to take the +husband's name. + +"Be not in so much haste, Teresa, to know all this," said Sancho; "let +it suffice that I tell you the truth, and sew up your mouth. But for the +present know that there is nothing in the world so pleasant to an honest +man, as to be squire to a knight-errant, and seeker of adventures. It is +true indeed, most of them are not so much to a man's mind as he could +wish; for ninety-nine of a hundred one meets with fall out cross and +unlucky. This I know by experience; for I have sometimes come off tossed +in a blanket, and sometimes well cudgelled. Yet, for all that, it is a +fine thing to be in expectation of accidents, traversing mountains, +searching woods, marching over rocks, visiting castles, lodging in inns, +all at discretion, and the devil a farthing to pay." + +Fame has preserved in the memoirs of La Mancha, that Don Quixote, the +third time he sallied from home, went to Saragossa, where he was present +at a famous tournament in that city, and that there befell him things +worthy of his valor and good understanding. Nor would the chronicler +have learned any thing concerning his death had he not fortunately +become acquainted with an aged physician, who had in his custody a +leaden box, found, as he said, under the ruins of an ancient hermitage +then rebuilding: in which box was found a manuscript of parchment +written in Gothic characters, but in Castilian verse, containing many of +his exploits, and giving an account of the beauty of Dulcinea del +Toboso, the figure of Rozinante, the fidelity of Sancho Panza, and the +burial of Don Quixote himself, with several epitaphs and eulogies on his +life and manners. All that could be read, and perfectly made out, were +those inserted here by the faithful author of this strange and +never-before-seen history; which author desires no other reward from +those who shall read it, in recompense of the vast pains it has cost him +to inquire into and search all the archives of La Mancha to bring it to +light, but that they would afford him the same credit that ingenious +people give to books of knight-errantry, which are so well received in +the world; and herewith he will reckon himself well paid, and will rest +satisfied; and will moreover be encouraged to seek and find out others, +if not as true, at least of as much invention and entertainment. The +first words, written in the parchment which was found in the leaden box, +were these:-- + + + THE ACADEMICIANS OF ARGAMASILLA, + A TOWN OF LA MANCHA, + ON THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE VALOROUS + DON QUIXOTE DE LA MANCHA, + HOC SCRIPSERUNT. + + +_Monicongo, Academician of Argamasilla, on the Sepulture of + Don Quixote._ + + EPITAPH. + + La Mancha's thunderbolt of war, + The sharpest wit and loftiest muse, + The arm which from Gaeta far + To Catai did its force diffuse; + He who, through love and valor's fire, + Outstripped great Amadis's fame + Bid warlike Galaor retire, + And silenced Belianis' name: + He who, with helmet, sword, and shield, + On Rozinante, steed well known, + Adventures fought in many a field, + Lies underneath this frozen stone. + + +_Paniaguado, Academician of Argamasilla, in praise of Dulcinea + Del Toboso._ + + SONNET. + + She whom you see the plump and lusty dame, + With high erected chest and vigorous mien, + Was erst th' enamored knight Don Quixote's flame, + The fair Dulcinea, of Toboso, queen. + + For her, armed cap-a-pie with sword and shield, + He trod the sable mountain o'er and o'er; + For her he traversed Montiel's well-known field, + And in her service toils unnumbered bore. + Hard fate! that death should crop so fine a flower! + And love o'er such a knight exert his tyrant power! + + +_Caprichoso, a most ingenious Academician of Argamasilla, in + praise of Don Quixote's Horse Rozinante._ + + SONNET. + + On the aspiring adamantine trunk + Of a huge tree, whose root, with slaughter drunk + Sends forth a scent of war, La Mancha's knight, + Frantic with valor, and returned from fight, + His bloody standard trembling in the air, + Hangs up his glittering armor beaming far, + With that fine-tempered steel whose edge o'erthrows, + Hacks, hews, confounds, and routs opposing foes. + Unheard-of prowess! and unheard-of verse! + But art new strains invents, new glories to rehearse. + + If Amadis to Grecia gives renown, + Much more her chief does fierce Bellona crown. + Prizing La Mancha more than Gaul or Greece, + As Quixote triumphs over Amadis. + Oblivion ne'er shall shroud his glorious name, + Whose very horse stands up to challenge fame! + Illustrious Rozinante, wondrous steed! + Not with more generous pride or mettled speed, + His rider erst Rinaldo's Bayard bore, + Or his mad lord, Orlando's Brilladore. + + +_Burlador, the little Academician of Argamasilla, on Sancho Panza._ + + SONNET. + + See Sancho Panza, view him well, + And let this verse his praises tell. + His body was but small, 'tis true, + Yet had a soul as large as two. + No guile he knew, like some before him + But simple as his mother bore him. + This gentle squire on gentle ass + Went gentle Rozinante's pace, + Following his lord from place to place. + To be an earl he did aspire, + And reason good for such desire; + But worth in these ungrateful times, + To envied honor seldom climbs. + Vain mortals! give your wishes o'er, + And trust the flatterer Hope no more, + Whose promises, whate'er they seem, + End in a shadow or a dream. + + +_Cachidiablo, Academician of Argamasilla, on the Sepulture of + Don Quixote._ + + EPITAPH. + + Here lies an evil-errant knight, + Well bruised in many a fray, + Whose courser, Rozinante hight, + Long bore him many a way. + + Close by his loving master's side + Lies booby Sancho Panza, + A trusty squire of courage tried, + And true as ever man saw. + + +_Tiquitoc, Academician of Argamasilla, on the sepulture of Dulcinea + del Toboso._ + + Dulcinea, fat and fleshy, lies + Beneath this frozen stone; + But, since to frightful death a prize, + Reduced to skin and bone. + + Of goodly parentage she came, + And had the lady in her; + She was the great Don Quixote's flame, + But only death could win her. + + +These were all the verses that could be read: the rest, the characters +being worm-eaten, were consigned to one of the Academicians, to find out +their meaning by conjectures. We are informed he has done it, after many +lucubrations and much pains, and that he designs to publish them, giving +us hopes of Don Quixote's third sally. + + "Forsi altro cantara con miglior plectro." + + + The noble mind may be clouded by adversity, but cannot be + wholly concealed; for true merit shines by a light of its + own, and, glimmering through the rents and crannies of + indigence, is perceived, respected, and honored by the + generous and the great. + + +A SHORT STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED ONCE IN SEVILLE. + +A certain man, being deranged in his intellects, was placed by his +relations in the mad-house of Seville. He had taken his degrees in the +canon law at Ossuna; but had it been at Salamanca, many are of opinion +he would, nevertheless, have been mad. This graduate, after some years' +confinement, took into his head that he was quite in his right senses, +and therefore wrote to the archbishop, beseeching him, with great +earnestness and apparently with much reason, that he would be pleased to +deliver him from that miserable state of confinement in which he lived; +since, through the mercy of God, he had regained his senses; adding that +his relations, in order to enjoy part of his estate, kept him still +there, and, in spite of the clearest evidence, would insist upon his +being mad as long as he lived. + +The archbishop, prevailed upon by the many sensible epistles he received +from him, sent one of his chaplains to the keeper of the mad-house to +inquire into the truth of what the licentiate had alleged, and also to +talk with him, and if it appeared that he was in his senses, to set him +at liberty. The chaplain accordingly went to the rector, who assured him +that the man was still insane, for though he sometimes talked very +sensibly, it was seldom for any length of time without betraying his +derangement; as he would certainly find on conversing with him. The +chaplain determined to make the trial, and during the conversation of +more than an hour, could perceive no symptom of incoherence in his +discourse; on the contrary, he spoke with so much sedateness and +judgment that the chaplain could not entertain a doubt of the sanity of +his intellects. Among other things he assured him that the keeper was +bribed by his relations to persist in reporting him to be deranged; so +that his large estate was his great misfortune, to enjoy which his +enemies had recourse to fraud, and pretended to doubt of the mercy of +Heaven in restoring him from the condition of a brute to that of a man. +In short, he talked so plausibly that he made the rector appear venal +and corrupt, his relations unnatural, and himself so discreet that the +chaplain determined to take him immediately to the archbishop, that he +might be satisfied he had done right. + +With this resolution the good chaplain desired the keeper of the house +to restore to him the clothes which he wore when he was first put under +his care. The keeper again desired him to beware what he did, since he +might be assured that the licentiate was still insane; but the chaplain +was not to be moved either by his cautions or entreaties; and as he +acted by order of the archbishop, the keeper was compelled to obey him. +The licentiate put on his new clothes, and now, finding himself rid of +his lunatic attire, and habited like a rational creature, he entreated +the chaplain, for charity's sake, to permit him to take leave of his +late companions in affliction. Being desirous of seeing the lunatics +who were confined in that house, the chaplain, with several other +persons, followed him upstairs, and heard him accost a man who lay +stretched in his cell outrageously mad; though just then composed and +quiet. "Brother," said he to him, "have you any commands for me? for I +am going to return to my own house, God having been pleased, of His +infinite goodness and mercy, without any desert of mine, to restore me +to my senses. I am now sound and well, for with God nothing is +impossible; put your whole trust and confidence in Him, and he will +doubtless restore you also. I will take care to send you some choice +food; and fail not to eat it: for I have reason to believe, from my own +experience, that all our distraction proceeds from empty stomachs, and +brains filled with wind. Take heart, then, my friend, take heart; for +despondence under misfortune impairs our health, and hastens our death." + +This discourse was overheard by another madman, who was in an opposite +cell; and raising himself up from an old mat, whereon he had thrown +himself stark naked, he demanded aloud, who it was that was going away +recovered and in his senses. + +"It is I, brother," answered the licentiate, "that am going; for I need +stay no longer here, and am infinitely thankful to heaven for having +bestowed so great a blessing upon me." + +"Take heed, licentiate, what you say, let not the devil delude you," +replied the madman; "stir not a foot, but keep where you are, and you +will spare yourself the trouble of being brought back." + +"I know," replied the licentiate, "that I am perfectly well, and shall +have no more occasion to visit the station churches."[6] + +"You well?" said the madman; "we shall soon see that; farewell! but I +swear by Jupiter, whose majesty I represent on earth, that for this +offence alone, which Seville is now committing, in carrying you out of +this house, and judging you to be in your senses, I am determined to +inflict such a signal punishment on this city, that the memory thereof +shall endure for ever and ever, Amen. Know you not, little crazed +licentiate, that I can do it, since, as I say, I am thundering Jupiter, +who hold in my hands the flaming bolts, with which I can, and use, to +threaten and destroy the world? But in one thing only will I chastise +this ignorant people; and that is, there shall no rain fall on this +town, or in all its district, for three whole years, reckoning from the +day and hour in which this threatening is denounced. You at liberty, you +recovered, and in your right senses! and I a madman, I distempered and +in bonds! I will no more rain than I will hang myself." + +All the bystanders were very attentive to the madman's discourse: but +our licentiate, turning himself to our chaplain, and holding him by both +hands, said to him: "Be in no pain, good sir, nor make any account of +what this madman has said; for, if he is Jupiter and will not rain, I, +who am Neptune, the father and the god of the waters, will rain as +often as I please, and whenever there shall be occasion." To which the +chaplain answered: "However, signor Neptune, it will not be convenient +at present to provoke signor Jupiter; therefore, pray stay where you +are; for, some other time, when we have a better opportunity and more +leisure, we will come for you." The rector and the bystanders laughed; +which put the chaplain half out of countenance. They disrobed the +licentiate, who remained where he was; and there is an end of the story. + + + True valor lies in the middle, between the extremes of + cowardice and rashness. + + No padlocks, bolts, or bars can secure a maiden so well as + her own reserve. + + Honey is not for the mouth of an ass. + + He must be blind, indeed, who cannot see through a sieve. + + Comparisons, whether as to sense, courage, beauty, or rank, + are always offensive. + + Scruples of conscience afford no peace. + + You have reckoned without your host. + + When the head aches, all the members ache also. + + _Me pondra en la espina de Santa Lucia_;--_i. e._, Will put + me on St. Lucia's thorn; applicable to any uneasy situation. + + Let every man lay his hand upon his heart, and not take + white for black, nor black for white; for we are all as God + made us, and oftentimes a great deal worse. + + +"First and foremost, then," said Sancho, "the common people take your +worship for a downright madman, and me for no less a fool. The gentry +say that, not content to keep to your own proper rank of a gentleman, +you call yourself Don, and set up for a knight, with no more than a +paltry vineyard and a couple of acres of land. The cavaliers say they do +not choose to be vied with by those country squires who clout their +shoes, and take up the fallen stitches of their black stockings with +green silk." + +"That," said Don Quixote, "is no reflection upon me; for I always go +well clad, and my apparel is never patched; a little torn it may be, but +more by the fretting of my armor than by time." + +"As to your valor, courtesy, achievements, and undertakings," continued +Sancho, "there are many different opinions. Some say you are mad, but +humorous; others, valiant, but unfortunate; others, courteous, but +absurd; and thus they pull us to pieces, till they leave neither your +worship nor me a single feather upon our backs." + +"Take notice, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "that, when virtue exists in an +eminent degree, it is always persecuted." + +"There cannot be a more legitimate source of gratification to a virtuous +and distinguished man," said Don Quixote, "than to have his good name +celebrated during his lifetime, and circulated over different nations; I +say his good name, for if it were otherwise than good, death in any +shape would be preferable." + + + To be represented otherwise than with approbation is worse + than the worst of deaths. + + There are as many different opinions as there are different + tastes. + + _Pedir cotufas en el golfo_, signifies to look for truffles + in the sea, a proverb applicable to those who are too + sanguine in their expectations and unreasonable in their + desires. + + "There is no necessity for recording actions which are + prejudicial to the hero, without being essential to the + history. It is not to be supposed that AEneas was in all his + actions so pure as Virgil represents him, nor Ulysses so + uniformly prudent as he is described by Homer." + + +"True," replied Sampson; "but it is one thing to write as a poet, and +another to write as an historian. The poet may say or sing, not as +things were, but as they ought to have been; but the historian must pen +them not as they ought to have been, but as they really were, without +adding to or diminishing aught from the truth." + + + There is no human history that, does not contain reverses of + fortune. + + Let every man take care how he speaks or writes of honest + people, and not set down at a venture the first thing that + comes uppermost. + + +"Sancho, thou art an arch rogue," replied Don Quixote, "and in faith, +upon some occasions, hast no want of memory." + +"Though I wanted ever so much to forget what my poor body has suffered," +quoth Sancho, "the tokens that are still fresh on my ribs would not let +me." + +"Peace, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "and let signor bachelor proceed, +that I may know what is further said of me in the history." + +"And of me too," quoth Sancho, "for I hear that I am one of the +principal parsons in it." + +"Persons, not parsons, friend Sancho," quoth Sampson. + +"What, have we another corrector of words?" quoth Sancho; "if we are to +go on at this rate, we shall make slow work of it." + +"As sure as I live, Sancho," answered the bachelor, "you are the second +person of the history; nay, there are those who had rather hear you talk +than the finest fellow of them all; though there are also some who +charge you with being too credulous in expecting the government of that +island promised you by Signor Don Quixote, here present." + +"There is still sunshine on the wall," quoth Don Quixote; "and when +Sancho is more advanced in age, with the experience that years bestow, +he will be better qualified to be a governor than he is at present." + +"'Fore Gad! sir," quoth Sancho, "if I am not fit to govern an island at +these years, I shall be no better, able at the age of Methusalem. The +mischief of it is, that the said island sticks somewhere else, and not +in my want of a headpiece to govern it." + +"Recommend the matter to God, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "and all will +be well--perhaps better than thou mayst think; for not a leaf stirs on +the tree without his permission." + +"That is very true," quoth Sampson; "and if it please God, Sancho will +not want a thousand islands to govern, much less one." + +"I have seen governors ere now," quoth Sancho, "who, in my opinion, do +not come up to the sole of my shoe; and yet they are called 'your +lordship,' and eat their victuals upon plate." + + + With hay or with straw it is all the same. + + Much knowledge and a mature understanding are requisite for + an historian. + + Wit and humor belong to genius alone. + + The wittiest person in the comedy is he that plays the fool. + + History is a sacred subject, because the soul of it is + truth; and where truth is, there the divinity will reside; + yet there are some who compose and cast off books as if they + were tossing up a dish of pancakes. + + There is no book so bad but something good may be found in + it. + + Printed works may be read leisurely, their defects easily + seen, so they are scrutinized more or less strictly in + proportion to the celebrity of the author. + + "Men of great talents, whether poets or historians, seldom + escape the attacks of those who, without ever favoring the + world with any production of their own, take delight in + criticising the works of others." + + +"Nor can we wonder at that," said Don Quixote, "when we observe the same +practice among divines, who, though dull enough in the pulpit +themselves, are wonderfully sharp-sighted in discovering the defects of +other preachers." + +"True, indeed, Signor Don Quixote," said Carrasco; "I wish critics would +be less fastidious, nor dwell so much upon the motes which may be +discerned even in the brightest works; for, though _aliquando bonus +dormitat Homerus_, they ought to consider how much he was awake to +produce a work with so much light and so little shade; nay, perhaps even +his seeming blemishes are like moles, which are sometimes thought to be +rather an improvement to beauty. But it cannot be denied that whoever +publishes a book to the world, exposes himself to imminent peril, since, +of all things, nothing is more impossible than to satisfy everybody. +Above all, I would let my master know that, if he takes me with him, it +must be upon condition that he shall battle it all himself, and that I +shall only have to tend his person--I mean, look after his clothes and +food; all which I will do with a hearty good-will; but if he expects I +will lay hand to my sword, though it be only against beggarly +wood-cutters with hooks and hatchets, he is very much mistaken. I, +Signor Sampson, do not set up for being the most valiant, but the best +and most faithful squire that ever served knight-errant; and if my lord +Don Quixote, in consideration of my many and good services, shall please +to bestow on me some one of the many islands his worship says he shall +light upon, I shall be much beholden to him for the favor; and if he +give me none, here I am, and it is better to trust God than each other; +and mayhap my government bread might not go down so sweet as that which +I should eat without it; and how? do I know but the devil, in one of +these governments, might set up a stumbling-block in my way, over which +I might fall, and dash out my grinders? Sancho I was born, and Sancho I +expect to die; yet for all that, if, fairly and squarely, without much +care or much risk, Heaven should chance to throw an island, or some such +thing, in my way, I am not such a fool neither as to refuse it; for, as +the saying is, 'when the heifer is offered, be ready with the rope.'" + + + When good fortune knocks, make haste to bid her welcome. + + +"Brother Sancho," quoth the bachelor, "you have spoken like any +professor; nevertheless, trust in Heaven and Signor Don Quixote, and +then you may get not only an island but even a kingdom." + +"One as likely as the other," answered Sancho, "though I could tell +Signor Carrasco that my master will not throw the kingdom he gives me +into a rotten sack; for I have felt my pulse, and find myself strong +enough to rule kingdoms and govern islands; and so much I have signified +before now to my master." + +"Take heed, Sancho," quoth the bachelor, "for honors change manners; and +it may come to pass, when you are a governor, that you may not know even +your own mother." + +"That," answered Sancho, "may be the case with those that are born among +the mallows, but not with one whose soul, like mine, is covered four +inches thick with the grace of an old Christian. No, no, I am not one of +the ungrateful sort." + +"Heaven grant it," said Don Quixote; "but we shall see when the +government comes, and methinks I have it already in my eye." + +Sancho went home in such high spirits that his wife observed his gayety +a bow-shot off, insomuch that she could not help saying, "What makes you +look so blithe, friend Sancho?" + +To which he answered: "Would to Heaven, dear wife, I were not so well +pleased as I seem to be!" + +"I know not what you mean, husband," replied she, "by saying you wish +you were not so much pleased; now, silly as I am, I cannot guess how any +one can desire not to be pleased." + +"Look you, Teresa," answered Sancho, "I am thus merry because I am +about to return to the service of my master, Don Quixote, who is going +again in search after adventures, and I am to accompany him, for so my +fate wills it. Besides, I am merry with the hopes of finding another +hundred crowns like those we have spent, though it grieves me to part +from you and my children; and if Heaven would be pleased to give me +bread, dryshod and at home, without dragging me over crags and +cross-paths, it is plain that my joy would be better grounded, since it +is now mingled with sorrow for leaving you; so that I was right in +saying that I should be glad if it pleased Heaven I were not so Well +pleased." + +"Look you, Sancho," replied Teresa, "ever since you have been a +knight-errant man you talk in such a roundabout manner that nobody can +understand you." + +"It is enough, wife," said Sancho, "that God understands me, for He is +the understander of all things; and so much for that. And do you hear, +wife, it behooves you to take special care of Dapple for these three or +four days to come, that he may be in a condition to bear arms; so double +his allowance, and get the pack-saddle in order and the rest of his +tackling, for we are not going to a wedding, but to roam about the world +and to give and take with giants, fiery dragons, and goblins, and to +hear hissings, roarings, bellowings, and bleatings, all which would be +but flowers of lavender if we had not to do with Yangueses and enchanted +Moors." + +"I believe, indeed, husband," replied Teresa, "that your squires-errant +do not eat their bread for nothing, and therefore I shall not fail to +beseech Heaven to deliver you speedily from so much evil hap." + +"I tell you, wife," answered Sancho, "that did I not expect, ere long, +to see myself governor of an island, I vow I should drop down dead upon +the spot." + +"Not so, good husband," quoth Teresa, "let the hen live, though it be +with the pip. Do you live, and the devil take all the governments in the +world! Without a government you came into the world, without a +government you have lived till now, and without it you can be carried to +your grave whenever it shall please God. How many folks are there in the +world that have no government! and yet they live and are reckoned among +the people. The best sauce in the world is hunger, and as that is never +wanting to the poor, they always eat with a relish. But if, perchance, +Sancho, you should get a government, do not forget me and your children. +Consider that your son Sancho is just fifteen years old, and it is fit +he should go to school if his uncle the abbot means to breed him up to +the church. Consider, also, that Mary Sancha, your daughter, will not +break her heart if we marry her; for I am mistaken if she has not as +much mind to a husband as you have to a government. And verily say I, +better a daughter but humbly married than highly kept." + +"In good faith, dear wife," said Sancho, "if Heaven be so good to me +that I get anything like a government, I will match Mary Sancha so +highly that there will be no coming near her without calling her your +ladyship." + +"Not so, Sancho," answered Teresa, "the best way is to marry her to her +equal; for if you lift her from clouted shoes to high heels, and +instead of her russet coat of fourteenpenny stuff, give her a +farthingale and petticoats of silk, and instead of plain Molly and thou +she be called madam and your ladyship, the girl will not know where she +is and will fall into a thousand mistakes at every step, showing her +homespun country stuff." + +"Peace, fool!" quoth Sancho, "she has only to practise two or three +years and the gravity will set upon her as if it were made for her; and +if not, what matters it? Let her be a lady, and come of it what will." + +"Measure yourself by your condition, Sancho," answered Teresa, "and do +not seek to raise yourself higher, but remember the proverb, 'Wipe your +neighbor's son's nose and take him into your house.' It would be a +pretty business, truly, to marry our Mary to some great count or knight, +who, when the fancy takes him, would look upon her as some strange +thing, and be calling her country-wench, clod-breaker's brat, and I know +not what else. No, not while I live, husband; I have not brought up my +child to be so used. Do you provide money, Sancho, and leave the +matching of her to my care; for there is Lope Tocho, John Tocho's son, a +lusty, hale young man, whom we know, and I am sure he has a sneaking +kindness for the girl. To him she will be very well married, considering +he is our equal, and will be always under our eye; and we shall be all +as one, parents and children, grandsons and sons-in-law, and so the +peace and blessing of Heaven will be among us all; and do not you be for +marrying her at your courts and great palaces, where they will neither +understand her nor she understand herself." + +"Hark you, beast, and wife for Barabbas," replied Sancho, "why would you +now, without rhyme or reason, hinder me from marrying my daughter with +one who may bring me grandchildren that may be styled your lordships? +Look you, Teresa, I have always heard my betters say, 'He that will not +when he may, when he will he shall have nay'; and it would be wrong, now +that fortune is knocking at our door, not to open it and bid her +welcome. Let us spread our sail to the favorable gale, now that it +blows.' ... Can't you perceive, animal, with half an eye," proceeded +Sancho, "that I shall act wisely, in devoting this body of mine to some +beneficial government that will lift us out of the dirt, and enable me +to match Mary Sancha according to my own good pleasure; then wilt thou +hear thyself called Donna Teresa Panza, and find thyself seated at +church upon carpets, cushions, and tapestry, in despite and defiance of +all the small gentry in the parish; and not be always in the same moping +circumstances, without increase or diminution, like a picture in the +hangings. But no more of this; Sanchica shall be a countess, though thou +shouldst cry thy heart out." + +"Look before you leap, husband," answered Teresa; "after all, I wish to +God this quality of my daughter may not be the cause of her perdition; +take your own way, and make her duchess or princess, or what you please; +but I'll assure you it shall never be with my consent or good-will; I +was always a lover of equality, my dear, and can't bear to see people +hold their heads high without reason. Teresa was I christened, a bare +and simple name, without the addition, garniture, and embroidery of Don +or Donna; my father's name is Cascajo, and mine, as being your spouse, +Teresa Panza, though by rights I should be called Teresa Cascajo; but as +the king minds, the law binds; and with that name am I contented, though +it be not burdened with a Don, which weighs so heavy that I should not +be able to bear it. Neither will I put it in the power of those who see +me dressed like a countess or governor's lady, to say: 'Mind Mrs. +Porkfeeder, how proud she looks! it was but yesterday she toiled hard at +the distaff, and went to mass with the tail of her gown about her head, +instead of a veil; but now, forsooth, she has got her fine farthingales +and jewels, and holds up her head as if we did not know her.' If God +preserves me in my seven or five senses, or as many as they be, I shall +never bring myself into such a quandary. As for your part, spouse, you +may go to your governments and islands, and be as proud as a peacock; +but as for my daughter and me, by the life of my father! we will not +stir one step from the village; for, the wife that deserves a good name, +stays at home as if she were lame; and the maid must be still a-doing, +that hopes to see the men come awooing." + + + He that covers, discovers. + + The poor man is scarcely looked at, while every eye is + turned upon the rich; and if the poor man grows rich and + great, then I warrant you there is work enough for your + grumblers and backbiters, who swarm everywhere like bees. + + "The first time, he was brought home to us laid athwart an + ass, all battered and bruised. The second time he returned + in an ox-wagon, locked up in a cage, and so changed, poor + soul, that his own mother would not have known him; so + feeble, wan, and withered, and his eyes sunk into the + farthest corner of his brains, insomuch that it took me + above six hundred eggs to get him a little up again, as + Heaven and the world is my witness, and my hens, that will + not let me lie." + + "I can easily believe that," answered the bachelor; "for + your hens are too well bred and fed to say one thing and + mean another." + + All objects present to the view exist, and are impressed + upon the imagination with much greater energy and force, + than those which we only remember to have seen. + + When we see any person finely dressed, and set off with rich + apparel and with a train of servants, we are moved to show + him respect; for, though we cannot but remember certain + scurvy matters either of poverty or parentage, that formerly + belonged to him, but which being long gone by are almost + forgotten, we only think of what we see before our eyes. And + if, as the preacher said, the person so raised by good luck, + from nothing, as it were, to the tip-top of prosperity, be + well behaved, generous, and civil, and gives himself no + ridiculous airs, pretending to vie with the old nobility, + take my word for it, Teresa, nobody will twit him with what + he was, but will respect him for what he is; except, indeed + the envious, who hate every man's good luck. + + People are always ready enough to lend their money to + governors. + + Clothe the boy so that he may look not like what he is, but + what he may be. + + To this burden women are born, they must obey their husbands + if they are ever such blockheads. + + He that's coy when fortune's kind, may after seek but never + find. + + All knights cannot be courtiers, neither can all courtiers + be knights. + + The courtier knight travels only on a map, without fatigue + or expense; he neither suffers heat nor cold, hunger nor + thirst; while the true knight-errant explores every quarter + of the habitable world, and is by night and day, on foot or + on horseback, exposed to all the vicissitudes of the + weather. + + All are not affable and well-bred; on the contrary, some + there are extremely brutal and impolite. All those who call + themselves knights, are not entitled to that distinction; + some being of pure gold, and others of baser metal, + notwithstanding the denomination they assume. But these last + cannot stand the touch-stone of truth; there are mean + plebeians, who sweat and struggle to maintain the appearance + of gentlemen; and, on the other hand, there are gentlemen of + rank who seem industrious to appear mean and degenerate; the + one sort raise themselves either by ambition or virtue, + while the other abase themselves by viciousness or sloth; so + that we must avail ourselves of our understanding and + discernment in distinguishing those persons, who, though + they bear the same appellation, are yet so different in + point of character. All the genealogies in the world may be + reduced to four kinds. The first are those families who from + a low beginning have raised and extended themselves, until + they have reached the highest pinnacle of human greatness; + the second are those of high extraction, who have preserved + their original dignity; the third sort are those who, from a + great foundation, have gradually dwindled, until, like a + pyramid, they terminate in a small point. The last, which + are the most numerous class, are those who have begun and + continue low, and who must end the same. + + Genealogies are involved in endless confusion, and those + only are illustrious and great who are distinguished by + their virtue and liberality, as well as their riches; for + the great man who is vicious is only a great sinner, and the + rich man who wants liberality is but a miserly pauper. + + The gratification which wealth can bestow is not in mere + possession, nor in lavishing it with prodigality, but in the + wise application of it. + + The poor knight can only manifest his rank by his virtues + and general conduct. He must be well-bred, courteous, kind, + and obliging; not proud nor arrogant; no murmurer. Above + all, he must be charitable, and by two maravedis given + cheerfully to the poor he shall display as much generosity + as the rich man who bestows large alms by sound of bell. Of + such a man no one would doubt his honorable descent, and + general applause wall be the sure reward of his virtue. + + There are two roads by which men may attain riches and + honor: the one by letters, the other by arms. + + The path of virtue is narrow, that of vice is spacious and + broad; as the great Castilian poet expresses it:-- + + "By these rough paths of toil and pain + The immortal seats of bliss we gain, + Denied to those who heedless stray + In tempting pleasure's flowery way." + + Fast bind, fast find. + + He who shuffles is not he who cuts. + + A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. + + Though there is little in a woman's advice, yet he that + won't take it is not over-wise. + + We are all mortal: here to-day and gone to-morrow. + + The lamb goes to the spit as soon as the sheep. + + No man in this world can promise himself more hours of life + than God is pleased to grant him; because death if deaf, and + when he knocks at the door of life is always in a hurry, and + will not be detained either by fair means or force, by + sceptres or mitres, as the report goes, and as we have often + heard it declared from the pulpit. + + The hen sits, if it be but upon one egg. + + Many littles make a mickle, and he that is getting aught is + losing naught. + + While there are peas in the dove-cote, it shall never want + pigeons. + + A good reversion is better than bad possession, and a good + claim better than bad pay. + + The bread eaten, the company broke up. + + A man must be a man, and a woman a woman. + + Nothing inspires a knight-errant with so much valor as the + favor of his mistress. + + O envy! thou root of infinite mischief and canker-worm of + virtue! The commission of all other vices, Sancho, is + attended with some sort of delight; but envy produces + nothing in the heart that harbors it but rage, rancor, and + disgust. + + The love of fame is one of the most active principles in the + human breast. + + Let us keep our holy days in peace, and not throw the rope + after the bucket. + +"And now pray tell me which is the most difficult, to raise a dead man +to life or to slay a giant?" + +"The answer is very obvious," answered Don Quixote; "to raise a dead +man." + +"There I have caught you!" quoth Sancho. "Then his fame who raises the +dead, gives sight to the blind, makes the lame walk, and cures the sick; +who has lamps burning near his grave, and good Christians always in his +chapels, adoring his relics upon their knees,--his fame, I say, shall be +greater both in this world and the next than that which all the heathen +emperors and knights-errant in the world ever had or ever shall have." + +"I grant it," answered Don Quixote. + +"Then," replied Sancho, "the bodies and relics of saints have this power +and grace, and these privileges, or how do you call them, and with the +license of our holy mother church have their lamps, winding-sheets, +crutches, pictures, perukes, eyes, and legs, whereby they increase +people's devotion and spread abroad their own Christian fame. Kings +themselves carry the bodies or relics of saints upon their shoulders, +kiss the fragments of their bones, and adorn their chapels and most +favorite altars with them." + +"Certainly, but what wouldst thou infer from all this, Sancho?" quoth +Don Quixote. + +"What I mean," said Sancho, "is, that we had better turn saints +immediately, and we shall then soon get that fame we are seeking after. +And pray take notice, sir, that it was but yesterday--I mean very +lately--a couple of poor barefooted friars were canonized, and people +now reckon it a greater happiness to touch or kiss the iron chains that +bound them, and which are now held in greater veneration than Orlando's +sword in the armory of our lord the king, Heaven save him; so that it is +better to be a poor friar of the meanest order than the bravest +knight-errant, because four dozen of good penitent lashes are more +esteemed in the sight of God than two thousand tilts with a lance, +though it be against giants, goblins, or dragons." + +"I confess," answered Don Quixote, "all this is true. We cannot all be +friars, and many and various are the ways by which God conducts his +elect to Heaven. Chivalry is a kind of religious profession, and some +knights are now saints in glory." + +"True," quoth Sancho, "but I have heard say there are more friars in +Heaven than knights-errant." + +"It may well be so," replied Don Quixote, "because their number is much +greater than that of knights-errant." + +"And yet," quoth Sancho, "there are abundance of the errant sort." + +"Abundance, indeed," answered Don Quixote, "but few who deserve the name +of knight." + + There is a time for jesting, and a time when jokes are + unseasonable. + + Truth may bend but never break, and will ever rise above + falsehood, like oil above water. + + With lovers the external actions and gestures are couriers, + which bear authentic tidings of what is passing in the + interior of the soul. + + A stout heart flings misfortune. + + Where you meet with no books you need expect no bacon. + + The hare often starts where the hunter least expects her. + + There is a remedy for everything but death, who will take us + in his clutches spite of our teeth. + + Show me who thou art with, and I will tell thee what thou + art. + + Not with whom thou wert bred, but with whom thou art fed. + + Sorrow was made for man, not for beasts; yet if men + encourage melancholy too much, they become no better than + beasts. + +"Thou bringest me good news, then?" cried Don Quixote. + +"So good," answered Sancho, "that your worship has only to clap spurs to +Rozinante, and get out upon the plain, to see the lady Dulcinea del +Toboso, who, with a couple of her damsels, is coming to pay your worship +a visit." + +"Gracious Heaven!" exclaimed Don Quixote, "what dost thou say? Take care +that thou beguilest not my real sorrow by a counterfeit joy." + +"What should I get," answered Sancho, "by deceiving your worship, only +to be found out the next moment? Come, sir, put on, and you will see the +princess our mistress all arrayed and adorned--in short, like herself. +She and her damsels are one blaze of naming gold; all strings of pearls, +all diamonds, all rubies, all cloth of tissue above ten hands deep; +their hair loose about their shoulders, like so many sunbeams blowing +about in the wind; and what is more, they come mounted upon three pied +belfreys, the finest you ever laid eyes on." + +"Palfreys, thou wouldst say, Sancho," quoth Don Quixote. + +"Well, well," answered Sancho, "belfreys and palfreys are much the same +thing; but let them be mounted how they will, they are sure the finest +creatures one would wish to see; especially my mistress the princess +Dulcinea, who dazzles one's senses." + +They were now got out of the wood, and saw the three wenches very near. + +Don Quixote looked eagerly along the road towards Toboso, and seeing +nobody but the three wenches, he asked Sancho, in much agitation, +whether they were out of the city when he left them. + +"Out of the city!" answered Sancho; "are your worship's eyes in the +nape of your neck, that you do not see them now before you, shining like +the sun at noon-day?" + +"I see only three country girls," answered Don Quixote, "on three +asses." + +"Now, Heaven keep me from the devil," answered Sancho; "is it possible +that three palfreys, or how do you call them, white as the driven snow, +should look to you like asses? As the Lord liveth, you shall pluck off +this beard of mine if it be so." + +"I tell thee, friend Sancho," answered Don Quixote, "that it is as +certain they are asses, as that I am Don Quixote and thou Sancho +Panza;--at least, so they seem to me." + +"Sir," quoth Sancho, "say not such a thing; but snuff those eyes of +yours, and come and pay reverence to the mistress of your soul." So +saying he advanced forward to meet the peasant girls, and, alighting +from Dapple, he laid hold of one of their asses by the halter, and +bending both knees to the ground, said to the girl: "Queen, princess, +and duchess of beauty, let your haughtiness and greatness be pleased to +receive into grace and good-liking your captive knight, who stands +turned there into stone, all disorder, and without any pulse, to find +himself before your magnificent presence. I am Sancho Panza, his squire, +and he is that way-worn knight Don Quixote de la Mancha, otherwise +called the Knight of the Sorrowful Figure." + + + It is not courage, but rashness, for one man singly to + encounter an army, where death is present, and where + emperors fight in person, assisted by good and bad angels. + + Good Christians should never revenge injuries. + + A sparrow in the hand is better than a vulture on the wing. + + At the conclusion of this drama of life, death strips us of + the robes which make the difference between man and man, and + leaves us all on one level in the grave. + + From a friend to a friend,[7] etc. + + Nor let it be taken amiss that any comparison should be made + between the mutual cordiality of animals and that of men; + for much useful knowledge and many salutary precepts have + been taught by the brute creation. + + We may learn gratitude as well as vigilance from cranes, + foresight from ants, modesty from elephants, and loyalty + from horses. + + Harken, and we shall discover his thoughts by his song, for + out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.[8] + + + SONNET. + + Bright authoress of my good or ill, + Prescribe the law I must observe; + My heart, obedient to thy will, + Shall never from its duty swerve. + + If you refuse my griefs to know, + The stifled anguish seals my fate; + But if your ears would drink my woe, + Love shall himself the tale relate. + + Though contraries my heart compose, + Hard as the diamond's solid frame, + And soft as yielding wax that flows, + To thee, my fair, 'tis still the same. + + Take it, for every stamp prepared; + Imprint what characters you choose; + The faithful tablet, soft or hard, + The dear impression ne'er shall lose. + + + The sorrows that may arise from well-placed affections, + ought rather to be accounted blessings than calamities. + + Good fare lessens care. + + The rarest sporting is that we find at other people's cost. + + Covetousness bursts the bag. + + Other folk's burdens break the ass's back. + + There is no road so smooth but it has its stumbling-places. + + Madness will have more followers than discretion. + + Comparisons in grief lessen its weight. + + If the blind lead the blind, both may fall into the ditch. + + A good paymaster needs no pledge. + + Nobody knows the heart of his neighbor; some go out for wool + and come home shorn. + + Let us drink and live, for time takes care to rid us of our + lives, without our seeking ways to go before our appointed + term and season. + +"You must know I have had in my family, by the father's side, two of the +rarest tasters that were ever known in La Mancha; and I will give you a +proof of their skill. A certain hogshead was given to each of them to +taste, and their opinion asked as to the condition, quality, goodness, +or badness, of the wine. One tried it with the tip of his tongue; the +other only put it to his nose. The first said the wine savored of iron; +the second said it had rather a twang of goat's leather. The owner +protested that the vessel was clean, and the wine neat, so that it could +not taste either of iron or leather. Notwithstanding this, the two +famous tasters stood positively to what they had said. Time went on; +the wine was sold off, and, on cleaning the cask, a small key, hanging +to a leathern thong, was found at the bottom. Judge then, sir, whether +one of that race may not be well entitled to give his opinion in these +matters." + +"That being the case," quoth he of the wood, "we should leave off +seeking adventures, and, since we have a good loaf, let us not look for +cheesecakes." + + + The conquered must be at the discretion of the conqueror. + + It is easy to undertake, but more difficult to finish a + thing. + + "Pray, which is the greater madman, he who is so because he + cannot help it, or he who is so on purpose?" + + "The difference between these two sorts of madmen is," + replied Sampson, "that he who cannot help it will remain so, + and he who deliberately plays the fool may leave off when he + thinks fit." + + Heaven knows the truth of all things. + + The ancient sages, who were not enlightened with the + knowledge of the true God, reckoned the gifts of fortune and + nature, abundance of friends, and increase of dutiful + children, as constituting part of the supreme happiness. + + Letters without virtue are like pearls on a dunghill. + + +DON QUIXOTE ON POETRY. + +Poetry I regard as a tender virgin, young and extremely beautiful, whom +divers other virgins--namely, all the other sciences--are assiduous to +enrich, to polish, and adorn. She is to be served by them, and they are +to be ennobled through her. But the same virgin is not to be rudely +handled, nor dragged through the streets, nor exposed in the +market-places, nor posted on the corners of gates of palaces. She is of +so exquisite a nature that he who knows how to treat her will convert +her into gold of the most inestimable value. He who possesses her should +guard her with vigilance; neither suffering her to be polluted by +obscene, nor degraded by dull and frivolous works. Although she must be +in no wise venal, she is not, therefore, to despise the fair reward of +honorable labors, either in heroic or dramatic composition. Buffoons +must not come near her, neither must she be approached by the ignorant +vulgar, who have no sense of her charms; and this term is equally +applicable to all ranks, for whoever is ignorant is vulgar. He, +therefore, who, with the qualifications I have named, devotes himself to +poetry, will be honored and esteemed by all nations distinguished for +intellectual cultivation. + +Indeed, it is generally said that the gift of poesy is innate--that is, +a poet is born a poet, and, thus endowed by Heaven, apparently without +study or art, composes things which verify the saying, _Est Deus in +nobis_, etc. Thus the poet of nature, who improves himself by art, rises +far above him who is merely the creature of study. Art may improve, but +cannot surpass nature; and, therefore, it is the union of both which +produces the perfect poet. + +Let him direct the shafts of satire against vice, in all its various +forms, but not level them at individuals, like some who, rather than not +indulge their mischievous wit, will hazard a disgraceful banishment to +the Isles of Pontus. If the poet be correct in his morals, his verse +will partake of the same purity: the pen is the tongue of the mind, and +what his conceptions are, such will be his productions. The wise and +virtuous subject who is gifted with a poetic genius is ever honored and +enriched by his sovereign, and crowned with the leaves of the tree which +the thunderbolt hurts not, as a token that all should respect those +brows which are so honorably adorned. + + + Forewarned, forearmed; to be prepared is half the victory. + + It is a nobler sight to behold a knight-errant assisting a + widow in solitude than a courtier-knight complimenting a + damsel in the city. + + Well I know that fortitude is a virtue placed between the + two extremes of cowardice and rashness: but it is better the + valiant should rise to the extreme of temerity than sink to + that of cowardice, for, as it is easier for the prodigal + than the miser to become liberal, so it is much easier for + the rash than the cowardly to become truly brave. + + +THE ADVENTURE WITH THE LIONS. + +Don Quixote, after having wiped his head, face, beard, and helmet, again +put it on, and fixing himself firm in his stirrups, adjusting his sword, +and grasping his lance, he exclaimed, "Now, come what may, I am prepared +to encounter Satan himself!" + +They were soon overtaken by the cart with flags, which was attended only +by the driver, who rode upon one of the mules, and a man sitting upon +the fore part of it. Don Quixote planted himself just before them, and +said, "Whither go ye, brethren? What carriage is this? What does it +contain, and what are those banners?" + +"The cart is mine," answered the carter, "and in it are two fierce +lions, which the general of Oran is sending to court as a present to his +majesty; the flags belong to our liege the king, to show that what is in +the cart belongs to him." + +"And are the lions large?" demanded Don Quixote. + +"Larger never came from Africa to Spain," said the man on the front of +the cart; "I am their keeper, and in my time have had charge of many +lions, but never of any so large as these. They are a male and a female; +the male is in the first cage, and the female is in that behind. Not +having eaten to-day, they are now hungry and therefore, sir, stand +aside, for we must make haste to the place where they are to be fed." + +"What!" said Don Quixote, with a scornful smile, "lion-whelps against +me! Against me, your puny monsters! and at this time of day! By yon +blessed sun! those who sent them hither shall see whether I am a man to +be scared by lions. Alight, honest friend! and, since you are their +keeper, open the cages and turn out your savages of the desert: for in +the midst of this field will I make them know who Don Quixote de la +Mancha is, in spite of the enchanters that sent them hither to me." + +"So, so," quoth the gentleman to himself, "our good knight has now given +us a specimen of what he is; doubtless the curds have softened his +skull, and made his brains mellow." + +Sancho now coming up to him, "For Heaven's sake, sir," cried he, "hinder +my master from meddling with these lions; for if he does they will tear +us all to pieces." + +"What, then, is your master so mad," answered the gentleman, "that you +really fear he will attack such fierce animals?" + +"He is not mad," answered Sancho, "but daring." + +"I will make him desist," replied the gentleman; and, going up to Don +Quixote, who was importuning the keeper to open the cages, "Sir," said +he, "Knights-errant should engage in adventures that, at least, afford +some prospect of success, and not such as are altogether desperate; for +the valor which borders on temerity has in it more of madness than +courage. Besides, sir knight, these lions do not come to assail you: +they are going to be presented to his majesty; and it is, therefore, +improper to detain them or retard their journey." + +"Sweet sir," answered Don Quixote, "go hence, and mind your decoy +partridge, and your stout ferret, and leave every one to his functions. +This is mine, and I shall see whether these gentlemen lions will come +against me or not." Then, turning to the keeper, he said, "I vow to +Heaven, Don Rascal, if thou dost not instantly open the cages, with this +lance I will pin thee to the cart." + +The carter seeing that the armed lunatic was resolute, "Good sir," said +he, "for charity's sake, be pleased to let me take off my mules and get +with them out of danger, before the lions are let loose: for should my +cattle be killed, I am undone for ever, as I have no other means of +living than by this cart and these mules." + +"Incredulous wretch!" cried Don Quixote, "unyoke and do as thou wilt; +but thou shalt soon see that thy trouble might have been spared." + +The carter alighted and unyoked in great haste. The keeper then said +aloud, "Bear witness, all here present, that against my will, and by +compulsion, I open the cages and let the lions loose. I protest against +what this gentleman is doing, and declare all the mischief done by these +beasts shall be placed to his account, with my salary and perquisites +over and above. Pray, gentlemen, take care of yourselves before I open +the door; for, as to myself, I am sure they will do me no hurt." + +Again the gentleman pressed Don Quixote to desist from so mad an action; +declaring to him that he was thereby provoking God's wrath. Don Quixote +replied that he knew what he was doing. The gentleman rejoined, and +entreated him to consider well of it, for he was certainly deceived. + +"Nay, sir," replied Don Quixote, "if you will not be a spectator of what +you think will prove a tragedy, spur your flea-bitten, and save +yourself." + +Sancho, too, besought him, with tears in his eyes, to desist from an +enterprise compared with which that of the windmills, the dreadful one +of the fulling-mills, and in short, all the exploits he had performed in +the whole course of his life, were mere tarts and cheesecakes. +"Consider, sir," added Sancho, "here is no enchantment, nor anything +like it; for I saw, through the grates and chinks of the cage, the paw +of a true lion; and I guess, by the size of its claw, that it is bigger +than a mountain." + +"Thy fears," answered Don Quixote, "would make it appear to thee larger +than half the world. Retire, Sancho, and leave me; and if I perish here, +thou knowest our old agreement: repair to Dulcinea--I say no more." To +these he added other expressions, which showed the firmness of his +purpose, and that all argument would be fruitless. The gentleman would +fain have compelled him to desist, but thought himself unequally matched +in weapons and armor, and that it Would not be prudent to engage with a +madman, whose violence and menaces against the keeper were now +redoubled; the gentleman therefore spurred his mare, Sancho his Dapple, +and the carter his mules, and all endeavored to get as far off as +possible from the cart, before the lions were let loose. Sancho bewailed +the death of his master; verily believing it would now overtake him +between the paws of the lions; he cursed his hard fortune, and the +unlucky hour when he again entered into his service. But, +notwithstanding his tears and lamentations, he kept urging on his Dapple +to get far enough from the cart. The keeper, seeing that the fugitives +were at a good distance, repeated his arguments and entreaties, but to +no purpose: Don Quixote answered that he heard him, and desired he would +trouble himself no more, but immediately obey his commands, and open the +door. + +Whilst the keeper was unbarring the first gate, Don Quixote deliberated +within himself whether it would be best to engage on horseback or not, +and finally determined it should be on foot, as Rozinante might be +terrified at the sight of the lions. He therefore leaped from his horse, +flung aside his lance, braced on his shield, and drew his sword; and +marching slowly, with marvellous intrepidity and an undaunted heart, he +planted himself before the car, devoutly commending himself, first to +God and then to his mistress Dulcinea. + +Here it is to be noted that the author of this faithful history, coming +to this passage, falls into exclamations, and cries out, O strenuous and +beyond all expression courageous Don Quixote de la Mancha! thou mirror +wherein all the valiant ones of the world may behold themselves, thou +second and new Don Manuel de Leon, who was the glory and honor of the +Spanish knights! With what words shall I relate this tremendous exploit? +By what arguments shall I render it credible to succeeding ages? or what +praises, though above all hyperboles hyperbolical, do not fit and become +thee? Thou, alone, on foot, intrepid and magnanimous, with a single +sword, and that none of the sharpest, with a shield not of the brightest +and most shining steel, standest waiting for and expecting two of the +fiercest lions that the forests of Africa ever bred. Let thy own deeds +praise thee, valorous Manchegan! for here I must leave off for want of +words whereby to enhance them. Here the author ends his exclamation, and +resumes the thread of the history, saying:-- + +The keeper, seeing Don Quixote fixed in his posture, and that he could +not avoid letting loose the male lion on pain of falling under the +displeasure of the angry and daring knight, set wide open the door of +the first cage, where lay the lion, which appeared to be of an +extraordinary bigness and of a hideous and frightful aspect. The first +thing he did was to turn himself round in the cage, reach out a paw, and +stretch himself at full length. Then he gaped and yawned very leisurely; +then licked the dust off his eyes, and washed his face, with some half a +yard of tongue. This done, he thrust his head out of the cage and stared +round on all sides with eyes of fire-coals,--a sight and aspect enough +to have struck terror into temerity itself. Don Quixote only observed +him with attention, wishing he would leap out from the car and grapple +with him, that he might tear him in pieces, to such a pitch of +extravagance had his unheard-of madness transported him. + +But the generous lion, more civil than arrogant, taking no notice of his +vaporing and bravados, after having stared about him, as has been said, +turned his back and showed his posteriors to Don Quixote, and with +great phlegm and calmness laid himself down again in the cage; which Don +Quixote perceiving, he ordered the keeper to give him some blows and +provoke him to come forth. + +"That I will not do," answered the keeper; "for, should I provoke him, I +myself shall be the first he will tear in pieces. Be satisfied, signor +cavalier, with what is done, which is all that can be said in point of +courage, and do not tempt fortune a second time. The lion has the door +open, and it is in his choice to come forth or not; and since he has not +yet come out, he will not come out all this day. The greatness of your +worship's courage is already sufficiently shown. No brave combatant, as +I take it, is obliged to more than to challenge his foe, and expect him +in the field; and if the antagonist does not meet him, the disgrace +falls on him, while the challenger is entitled to the crown of victory." + +"That is true," answered Don Quixote; "shut the door, and give me a +certificate in the best form you can of what you have here seen me +perform. It should be known that you opened the door to the lion; that I +waited for him; that he came not out; again I waited for him; again he +came not out; and again he laid himself down. I am bound to no +more,--enchantments avaunt! So Heaven prosper right and justice and true +chivalry! Shut the door, as I told thee, while I make a signal to the +fugitive and absent, that from your own mouth they may have an account +of this exploit." + +The keeper closed the door, and Don Quixote, having fixed the linen +cloth with which he had wiped the curds from his face upon the point of +his lance, began to hail the troop in the distance, who, with the +gentleman in green at their head, were still retiring, but looking round +at every step, when suddenly Sancho observed the signal of the white +cloth. + +"May I be hanged," cried he, "if my master has not vanquished the wild +beasts, for he is calling to us!" + +They all stopped, and saw that it was Don Quixote that made the sign; +and, their fear in some degree abating, they ventured to return slowly +till they could distinctly hear the words of Don Quixote, who continued +calling to them. When they had reached the cart again, Don Quixote said +to the driver: "Now, friend, put on your mules again, and in Heaven's +name proceed; and, Sancho, give two crowns to him and the keeper, to +make them amends for this delay." + +"That I will, with all my heart," answered Sancho; "but what has become +of the lions? are they dead or alive?" + +The keeper then very minutely, and with due pauses, gave an account of +the conflict, enlarging, to the best of his skill, on the valor of Don +Quixote, at sight of whom the daunted lion would not, or durst not, stir +out of the cage, though he had held open the door a good while; and, +upon his representing to the knight that it was tempting God to provoke +the lion, and to force him out, he had at length, very reluctantly, +permitted him to close it again. + +"What sayest thou to this, Sancho?" said Don Quixote; "can any +enchantment prevail against true courage? Enchanters may, indeed, +deprive me of good fortune, but of courage and resolution they never +can." + +Sancho gave the gold crowns; the carter yoked his mules; the keeper +thanked Don Quixote for his present, and promised to relate this +valorous exploit to the king himself when he arrived at court. + +"If, perchance, his majesty," said Don Quixote, "should inquire who +performed it, tell him the Knight of the Lions; for henceforward I +resolve that the title I have hitherto borne, of the Knight of the +Sorrowful Figure, shall be thus changed, converted, and altered; and +herein I follow the ancient practice of knights-errant, who changed +their names at pleasure." + +It is a gallant sight to see a cavalier in shining armor prancing over +the lists at some gay tournament in sight of the ladies; it is a gallant +sight when, in the middle of a spacious square, a brave cavalier, before +the eyes of his prince, transfixes with his lance a furious bull; and a +gallant show do all those knights make, who, in military or other +exercises, entertain, enliven, and do honor to their prince's court; but +far above all these is the knight-errant, who, through deserts and +solitudes, through cross-ways, through woods, and over mountains, goes +in quest of perilous adventures, which he undertakes and accomplishes +only to obtain a glorious and immortal fame. + +All knights have their peculiar functions. Let the courtier serve the +ladies, adorn his prince's court with rich liveries, entertain the +poorer cavaliers at his splendid table, order his jousts, manage +tournaments, and show himself great, liberal, and magnificent; above +all, a good Christian, and thus will he fulfil his duties. + +In enterprises of every kind, it is better to lose the game by a card +too much than one too little; for it sounds better to be called rash and +daring than timorous and cowardly. + +"Signor Don Diego de Miranda, your father, sir, has informed me of the +rare talents you possess, and particularly that you are a great poet." + +"Certainly not a great poet," replied Lorenzo; "it is true I am fond of +poetry, and honor the works of good poets; but I have no claim to the +title my father is pleased to confer upon me." + +"I do not dislike this modesty," answered Don Quixote; "for poets are +usually very arrogant, each thinking himself the greatest in the world." + +"There is no rule without an exception," answered Don Lorenzo; "and +surely there may be some who do not appear too conscious of their real +merits." + +"Very few, I believe," said Don Quixote. + + +THE SCIENCE OF KNIGHT-ERRANTRY. + +"It is a science," replied Don Quixote, "which comprehends all, or most +of the other sciences; for he who professes it must be learned in the +law, and understand distributive and commutative justice, that he may +know not only how to assign to each man what is truly his own, but what +is proper for him to possess; he must be conversant in divinity, in +order to be able to explain, clearly and distinctly, the Christian faith +which he professes; he must be skilled in medicine, especially in +botany, that he may know both how to cure the diseases with which he may +be afflicted, and collect the various remedies which Providence has +scattered in the midst of the wilderness, nor be compelled on every +emergency to be running in quest of a physician to heal him; he must be +an astronomer, that he may if necessary ascertain by the stars the exact +hour of the night and what part or climate of the world he is in; he +must understand mathematics, because he will have occasion for them; and +taking it for granted that he must be adorned with all the cardinal and +theological virtues, I descend to other more minute particulars, and say +that he must know how to swim as well as it is reported of Fish +Nicholas;[9] he must know how to shoe a horse and repair his saddle and +bridle: and to return to higher concerns, he must preserve his faith +inviolable towards Heaven, and also to his mistress; he must be chaste +in his thoughts, modest in his words, liberal in good works, valiant in +exploits, patient in toils, charitable to the needy, and steadfastly +adhering to the truth, even at the hazard of his life. Of all these +great and small parts a good knight-errant is composed." + + + THE TEXT. + + Could I recall departed joy, + Though barred the hopes of greater gain, + Or now the future hours employ + That must succeed my present pain. + + + THE PARAPHRASE. + + All fortune's blessings disappear, + She's fickle as the wind; + And now I find her as severe + As once I thought her kind. + How soon the fleeting pleasures passed! + How long the lingering sorrows last! + Unconstant goddess, in thy haste, + Do not thy prostrate slave destroy, + I'd ne'er complain, but bless my fate, + _Could I recall departed joy._ + + Of all thy gifts I beg but this, + Glut all mankind with more, + Transport them with redoubled bliss, + But only mine restore. + With thought of pleasure once possessed, + I'm now as cursed as I was blessed: + Oh, would the charming hours return, + How pleased I'd live, how free from pain, + I ne'er would pine, I ne'er would mourn. + _Though barred the hopes of greater gain._ + + But oh, the blessing I implore + Not fate itself can give! + Since time elapsed exists no more, + No power can bid it live. + Our days soon vanish into naught, + And have no being but in thought. + Whate'er began must end at last, + In vain we twice would youth enjoy, + In vain would we recall the past, + _Or now the future hours employ._ + + Deceived by hope, and racked by fear, + No longer life can please; + I'll then no more its torments bear, + Since death so soon can ease. + This hour I'll die--but, let me pause-- + A rising doubt my courage awes. + Assist, ye powers that rule my fate, + Alarm my thoughts, my rage restrain, + Convince my soul there's yet a state + _That must succeed my present pain._ + + + O Flattery, how potent is thy sway! How wide the bounds of + thy pleasing jurisdiction! + + +_On the story of Pyramus and Thisbe._ + + SONNET. + + The nymph who Pyramus with love inspired + Pierces the wall, with equal passion fired: + Cupid from distant Cyprus thither flies, + And views the secret breach with laughing eyes. + + Here silence, vocal, mutual vows conveys, + And whispering eloquent, their love betrays: + Though chained by fear, their voices dare not pass, + Their souls, transmitted through the chink, embrace. + + Ah, woful story of disastrous love! + Ill-fated haste that did their ruin prove! + One death, one grave, unite the faithful pair, + And in one common fame their memories share. + + + No parents can see the deformity of their own children, and + still stronger is this self-deception with respect to the + offspring of the mind. + + +At parting, Don Quixote addressing himself to Don Lorenzo: "I know not," +said he, "whether I have already told your worship, but if I have, let +me now repeat the intimation, that when you are inclined to take the +shortest and easiest road to the inaccessible summit of the temple of +fame, you have no more to do, but to leave on one side the path of +poetry, which is pretty narrow, and follow that of knight-errantry, +which, though the narrowest of all others, will conduct you to the +throne of empire in the turning of a straw." + + +Riches are able to solder abundance of flaws. + +Every sheep to its like. + +Let every goose a gander choose. + + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE MARRIAGE OF CAMACHO THE RICH; AND ALSO THE ADVENTURE +OF BASILIUS THE POOR. + +"Come with us, and you will see one of the greatest and richest weddings +that has ever been celebrated in La Mancha, or for many leagues round." + +"The nuptials of some prince, I presume?" said Don Quixote. + +"No," replied the scholar, "only that of a farmer and a country maid: he +the wealthiest in this part of the country, and she the most beautiful +that eyes ever beheld. The preparations are very uncommon: for the +wedding is to be celebrated in a meadow near the village where the bride +lives, who is called Quiteria the Fair, and the bridegroom Camacho the +Rich: she is about the age of eighteen, and he twenty-two, both equally +matched, though some nice folks, who have all the pedigrees of the world +in their heads, pretend that the family of Quiteria the Fair has the +advantage over that of Camacho; but that is now little regarded, for +riches are able to solder up abundance of flaws. In short, this same +Camacho is as liberal as a prince; and, intending to be at some cost in +this wedding, has taken it into his head to convert a whole meadow into +a kind of arbor, shading it so that the sun itself will find some +difficulty to visit the green grass beneath. He will also have +morris-dances, both with swords and bells; for there are people in the +village who jingle and clatter them with great dexterity. As to the +number of shoe-clappers[10] invited, it is impossible to count them; but +what will give the greatest interest to this wedding is the effect it +is expected to have on the slighted Basilius. + +"This Basilius is a swain of the same village as Quiteria; his house is +next to that of her parents, and separated only by a wall, whence Cupid +took occasion to revive the ancient loves of Pyramus and Thisbe: for +Basilius was in love with Quiteria from his childhood, and she returned +his affection with a thousand modest favors, insomuch that the loves of +the two children, Basilius and Quiteria, became the common talk of the +village. When they were grown up, the father of Quiteria resolved to +forbid Basilius the usual access to his family; and to relieve himself +of all fears on his account, he determined to marry his daughter to the +rich Camacho; not choosing to bestow her on Basilius, whose endowments +are less the gifts of fortune than of nature: in truth he is the most +active youth we know; a great pitcher of the bar, an excellent wrestler, +a great player at cricket, runs like a buck, leaps like a wild goat, and +plays at ninepins as if by witchcraft; sings like a lark, and touches a +guitar delightfully and, above all, he handles a sword like the most +skilful fencer." + +It now began to grow dark, and as they approached the village there +appeared before them a new heaven, blazing with innumerable stars. At +the same time they heard the sweet and mingled sounds of various +instruments--such as flutes, tambourines, psalters, cymbals, drums, and +bells; and, drawing still nearer, they perceived a spacious arbor, +formed near the entrance into the town, hung round with lights that +shone undisturbed by the breeze; for it was so calm that not a leaf was +seen to move. The musicians, who are the life and joy of such festivals, +paraded in bands up and down this delightful place, some dancing, others +singing, and others playing upon different instruments: in short, +nothing was there to be seen but mirth and pleasure. Several were +employed in raising scaffolds, from which they might commodiously behold +the shows and entertainments of the following day, that were to be +dedicated to the nuptial ceremony of the rich Camacho and the obsequies +of poor Basilius. + +If he is poor he cannot think to wed Quiteria. A pleasant fancy, +forsooth, for a fellow who has not a groat in his pocket to look for a +yoke-mate above the clouds. Faith, sir, in my opinion a poor man should +be contented with what he finds, and not be seeking for truffles at the +bottom of the sea. + +The first thing that presented itself to Sancho's sight was a whole +bullock spitted upon a large elm. The fire it was roasted by was +composed of a middling mountain of wood, and round it were placed six +pots, not cast in common moulds; for they were half-jars, each +containing a whole shamble of flesh; and entire sheep were sunk and +swallowed up in them, as commodiously as if they were only so many +pigeons. The hares ready cased, and the fowls ready plucked, that hung +about upon the branches, in order to be buried in the caldrons, were +without number. Infinite was the wild fowl and venison hanging about the +trees, that the air might cool them. Sancho counted above threescore +skins, each of above twenty-four quarts, and all, as appeared +afterwards, full of generous wines. + +There were also piles of the whitest bread, arranged like heaps of wheat +on the threshing-floor, and cheeses, piled up in the manner of bricks, +formed a kind of wall. Two caldrons of oil, larger than dyers' vats, +stood ready for frying all sorts of batter-ware; and, with a couple of +stout peels, they shovelled them up when fried, and forthwith immersed +them in a kettle of prepared honey that stood near. The men and women +cooks were about fifty in number, all clean, all active, and all in good +humor. In the bullock's distended belly were sewed up a dozen sucking +pigs, to make it savory and tender. The spices of various kinds, which +seemed to have been bought, not by the pound, but by the hundredweight, +were deposited in a great chest, and open to every hand. In short the +preparation for the wedding was all rustic, but in sufficient abundance +to have feasted an army. + +Sancho beheld all with wonder and delight. The first that captivated and +subdued his inclinations were the flesh-pots, out of which he would have +been glad to have filled a moderate pipkin; next the wine-skins drew his +affections; and lastly the products of the frying-pans--if such +capacious vessels might be so called; and, being unable any longer to +abstain, he ventured to approach one of the busy cooks, and in +persuasive and hungry terms begged leave to sop a luncheon of bread in +one of the pots. + +To which the cook answered, "This, friend, is not a day for hunger to be +abroad--thanks to rich Camacho. Alight, and look about you for a ladle +to skim out a fowl or two, and much good may they do you." + +"I see no ladle," answered Sancho. + +"Stay," said the cook. "Heaven save me, what a helpless varlet!" So +saying, he laid hold of a kettle, and sousing it into one of the +half-jars, he fished out three pullets and a couple of geese, and said +to Sancho, "Eat, friend, and make your breakfast of this scum, to stay +your stomach till dinner-time." + +"I have nothing to put it in," answered Sancho. + +"Then take ladle and all," quoth the cook; "for Camacho's riches and joy +supply everything." + +While Sancho was thus employed, Don Quixote stood observing the entrance +of a dozen peasants at one side of the spacious arbor, each mounted on a +beautiful mare, in rich and gay caparisons, hung round with little +bells. They were clad in holiday apparel, and in a regular troop made +sundry careers about the meadow, with a joyful Moorish cry of "Long live +Camacho and Quiteria! he as rich as she is fair, and she the fairest of +the world!" + +Don Quixote hearing this, said to himself, "These people, it is plain, +have never seen my Dulcinea del Toboso; otherwise they would have been +less extravagant in the praise of their Quiteria." + +Soon after there entered, on different sides of the arbor, various sets +of dancers, among which was one consisting of four-and-twenty +sword-dancers; handsome, sprightly swains, all arrayed in fine white +linen, and handkerchiefs wrought with several colors of fine silk. One +of those mounted on horseback inquired of a young man who led the +sword-dance, whether any of his comrades were hurt. + +"No," replied the youth; "thank Heaven, as yet we are all well;" and +instantly he twined himself in among his companions with so many turns, +and so dexterously, that though Don Quixote had often seen such dances +before, none had ever pleased him so well. Another dance also delighted +him much, performed by twelve damsels, young and beautiful, all clad in +green stuff of Cuenza, having their hair partly plaited, and partly +flowing, all of golden hue, rivalling the sun itself, and covered with +garlands of jessamine, roses and woodbine. They were led up by a +venerable old man and an ancient matron, to whom the occasion had given +more agility than might have been expected from their years. A Zamora +bagpipe regulated their motions, which being no less sprightly and +graceful than their looks were modest and maidenly, more lovely dancers +were never seen in the world. + +A pantomimic dance now succeeded, by eight nymphs, divided into two +ranks--"Cupid" leading the one, and "Interest," the other; the former +equipped with wings, bow, quiver, and arrows; the latter gorgeously +apparelled with rich and variously colored silks, embroidered with gold. +The nymphs in Cupid's band displayed their names, written in large +letters on their backs. "Poetry" was the first: then succeeded +"Discretion," "Good Lineage," and "Valor." The followers of "Interest" +were "Liberality," "Bounty," "Wealth," and "Security." This band was +preceded by a wooden castle, drawn by savages, clad so naturally in ivy +and green cloth, coarse and shaggy, that Sancho was startled. On the +front and sides of the edifice was written, "The Castle of Reserve." +Four skilful musicians played on the tabor and pipe; Cupid began the +dance, and after two movements, he raised his eyes, and bending his bow, +pointed an arrow towards a damsel that stood on the battlements of the +castle; at the same time addressing to her the following verses:-- + + CUPID'S ADDRESS. + + I am the god whose power extends + Through the wide ocean, earth, and sky; + To my soft sway all nature bends, + Compelled by beauty to comply. + + Fearless I rule, in calm and storm, + Indulge my pleasure to the full; + Things deemed impossible perform, + Bestow, resume, ordain, annul. + +Cupid, having finished his address, shot an arrow over the castle, and +retired to his station; upon which Interest stepped forth, and after two +similar movements, the music ceasing, he said:-- + + My power exceeds the might of love, + For Cupid bows to me alone; + Of all things framed by heaven above, + The most respected, sought, and known. + + My name is Interest; mine aid + But few obtain, though all desire: + Yet shall thy virtue, beauteous maid, + My constant services acquire. + +Interest then withdrew, and Poetry advanced; and, fixing her eyes on the +damsel of the castle, she said:-- + + Let Poetry, whose strain divine + The wondrous power of song displays, + Her heart to thee, fair nymph, consign, + Transported in melodious lays: + + If haply thou wilt not refuse + To grant my supplicated boon, + Thy fame shall, wafted by the muse, + Surmount the circle of the moon. + +Poetry having retired from the side of Interest, Liberality advanced; +and, after making her movements, said:-- + + My name is Liberality, + Alike beneficent and wise, + To shun wild prodigality, + And sordid avarice despise. + Yet, for thy favor lavish grown, + A prodigal I mean to prove; + An honorable vice I own, + But giving is the test of love. + +In this manner all the figures of the two parties advanced and +retreated, and each made its movements and recited its verses, some +elegant, and some ridiculous of which Don Quixote, who had a very good +memory, treasured up the foregoing only. + + +The bridal pair proceeded towards a theatre on one side of the arbor, +decorated with tapestry and garlands, where the nuptial ceremony was to +be performed, and whence they were to view the dances and shows +prepared for the occasion. Immediately on their arrival at that place, a +loud noise was heard at a distance, amidst which a voice was +distinguished calling aloud, "Hold a little, rash and thoughtless +people!" On turning their heads they saw that these words were uttered +by a man who was advancing towards them, clad in a black doublet, welted +with flaming crimson. He was crowned with a garland of mournful cypress, +and held in his hand a large truncheon; and, as he drew near, all +recognized the gallant Basilius, and waited in fearful expectation of +some disastrous result from this unseasonable visit. + +At length he came up, tired and out of breath, and placed himself just +before the betrothed couple; then, pressing his staff, which was pointed +with steel, into the ground, he fixed his eyes on Quiteria, and in a +broken and tremulous voice thus addressed her: "Ah, false and forgetful +Quiteria, well thou knowest that, by the laws of our holy religion, thou +canst not marry another man whilst I am living; neither art thou +ignorant that, while waiting till time and mine own industry should +improve my fortune, I have never failed in the respect due to thy honor. +But thou hast cast aside every obligation due to my lawful love, and art +going to make another man master of what is mine: a man who is not only +enriched, but rendered eminently happy by his wealth; and, in obedience +to the will of Heaven, the only impediment to his supreme felicity I +will remove, by withdrawing this wretched being. Long live the rich +Camacho with the ungrateful Quiteria! Long and happily may they live, +and let poor Basilius die, who would have risen to good fortune had not +poverty clipped his wings and laid him in an early grave!" + +So saying, he plucked his staff from the ground, and, drawing out a +short tuck, to which it had served as a scabbard, he fixed what might be +called the hilt into the ground, and, with a nimble spring and resolute +air, he threw himself on the point, which, instantly appearing at his +back, the poor wretch lay stretched on the ground, pierced through and +through, and weltering in his blood. + +His friends, struck with horror and grief, rushed forward to help him, +and Don Quixote, dismounting, hastened also to lend his aid, and taking +the dying man in his arms, found that he was still alive. They would +have drawn out the tuck, but the priest who was present thought that it +should not be done till he had made his confession; as, the moment it +was taken out of his body he would certainly expire. But Basilius, not +having quite lost the power of utterance, in a faint and doleful voice +said: "If, cruel Quiteria, in this my last and fatal agony, thou wouldst +give me thy hand, as my spouse, I should hope my rashness might find +pardon in heaven, since it procured me the blessing of being thine." +Upon which the priest advised him to attend rather to the salvation of +his soul than to his bodily appetites, and seriously implore pardon of +God for his sins, especially for this last desperate action. Basilius +replied that he could not make any confession till Quiteria had given +him her hand in marriage as that would be a solace to his mind, and +enable him to confess his sins. + +Don Quixote, hearing the wounded man's request, said, in a loud voice, +that Basilius had made a very just and reasonable request, and, +moreover, a very practicable one; and that it would be equally honorable +for Signor Camacho to take Quiteria, a widow of the brave Basilius, as +if he received her at her father's hand; nothing being required but the +simple word, "Yes," which could be of no consequence, since, in these +espousals, the nuptial bed must be the grave. Camacho heard all this, +and was perplexed and undecided what to do or say; but so much was he +importuned by the friends of Basilius to permit Quiteria to give him her +hand, and thereby save his soul from perdition, that they at length +moved, nay forced him to say that if it pleased Quiteria to give it to +him, he should not object, since it was only delaying for a moment the +accomplishment of his wishes. They all immediately applied to Quiteria, +and, with entreaties, tears, and persuasive arguments, pressed and +importuned her to give her hand to Basilius; but she, harder than +marble, and more immovable than a statue, returned no answer, until the +priest told her that she must decide promptly, as the soul of Basilius +was already between his teeth, and there was no time for hesitation. + +Then the beautiful Quiteria, in silence, and to all appearance troubled +and sad, approached Basilius, whose eyes were already turned in his +head, and he breathed short and quick, muttering the name of Quiteria, +and giving tokens of dying more like a heathen than a Christian. At +last Quiteria, kneeling down by him, made signs to him for his hand. +Basilius unclosed his eyes, and fixing them steadfastly upon her, said +"O Quiteria! thou relentest at a time when thy pity is a sword to put a +final period to this wretched life; for now I have not strength to bear +the glory thou conferrest upon me in making me thine, nor will it +suspend the pain which shortly will veil my eyes with the dreadful +shadow of death. What I beg of thee, O fatal star of mine! is that thou +give not thy hand out of compliment, or again to deceive me, but to +declare that thou bestowest it upon me as thy lawful husband, without +any compulsion on thy will--for it would be cruel in this extremity to +deal falsely or impose on him who has been so true to thee." + +Here he fainted, and the bystanders thought his soul was just departing. +Quiteria, all modesty and bashfulness, taking Basilius's right hand in +hers, said: "No force would be sufficient to bias my will; and +therefore, with all the freedom I have, I give thee my hand to be thy +lawful wife, and receive thine, if it be as freely given, and if the +anguish caused by thy rash act doth not trouble and prevent thee." + +"Yes, I give it thee," answered Basilius, "neither discomposed nor +confused, but with the clearest understanding that Heaven was ever +pleased to bestow on me; and so I give and engage myself to be thy +husband." + +"And I to be thy wife," answered Quiteria, "whether thou livest many +years, or art carried from my arms to the grave." + +"For one so much wounded," observed Sancho, "this young man talks a +great deal. Advise him to leave off his courtship and mind the business +of his soul; though to my thinking he has it more on his tongue than +between his teeth." + +Basilius and Quiteria being thus, with hands joined, the tender-hearted +priest, with tears in his eyes, pronounced the benediction upon them, +and prayed to Heaven for the repose of the bridegroom's soul; who, as +soon as he had received the benediction, suddenly started up, and nimbly +drew out the tuck which was sheathed in his body. All the spectators +were astonished, and some more simple than the rest cried out "A +miracle, a miracle!" But Basilius replied, "no miracle, no miracle, but +a stratagem, a stratagem!" + +The priest, astonished and confounded, ran to feel, with both his hands, +the wound, and found that the sword had passed, not through Basilius's +flesh and ribs, but through a hollow iron pipe, cunningly fitted to the +place, and filled with blood, so prepared as not to congeal. In short, +the priests, Camacho, and the rest of the spectators, found they were +imposed upon, and completely duped. The bride showed no signs of regret +at the artifice: on the contrary, hearing it said the marriage, as being +fraudulent, was not valid, she said that she confirmed it anew; it was, +therefore, generally supposed that the matter had been concerted with +the privity and concurrence of both parties; which so enraged Camacho +and his friends that they immediately had recourse to vengeance, and +unsheathing abundance of swords they fell upon Basilius, in whose +behalf as many more were instantly drawn, and Don Quixote, leading the +van on horseback, his lance upon his arm, and well covered with his +shield, made them all give way. + +Don Quixote cried aloud, "Hold, sirs, hold! It is not right to avenge +the injuries committed against us by love. Remember that the arts of +warfare and courtship are in some points alike; in war, stratagems are +lawful, so likewise are they in the conflicts and rivalships of love, if +the means employed be not dishonorable. Quiteria and Basilius were +destined for each other by the just and favoring will of Heaven. Camacho +is rich, and may purchase his pleasure when, where and how he pleases. +Basilius has but this one ewe-lamb; and no one, however powerful, has a +right to take it from him; for those whom God hath joined let no man +sunder, and whoever shall attempt it must first pass the point of this +lance." Then he brandished it with such vigor and dexterity that he +struck terror into all those who did not know him. + +Quiteria's disdain made such an impression upon Camacho, that he +instantly banished her from his heart. The persuasions, therefore, of +the priest, who was a prudent, well-meaning man, had their effect; +Camacho and his party sheathed their weapons and remained satisfied, +blaming rather the fickleness of Quiteria than the cunning of Basilius. +With much reason Camacho thought within himself that if Quiteria loved +Basilius when a virgin, she would love him also when married, and that +he had more cause to thank Heaven for so fortunate an escape than to +repine at the loss he had sustained. The disappointed bridegroom and +his followers, being thus consoled and appeased, those of Basilius were +so likewise; and the rich Camacho, to show that his mind was free from +resentment, would have the diversions and entertainments go on as if +they had been really married. The happy pair, however, not choosing to +share in them, retired to their own dwelling, accompanied by their +joyful adherents; for, if the rich man can draw after him attendants and +flatterers, the poor man who is virtuous and deserving is followed by +friends who honor and support him. + +Don Quixote joined the party of Basilius, having been invited by them as +a person of worth and bravery; while Sancho, finding it impossible to +remain and share the relishing delights of Camacho's festival, which +continued till night, with a heavy heart accompanied his master, leaving +behind the flesh-pots of Egypt, the skimmings of which, though now +almost consumed, still reminded him of the glorious abundance he had +lost. + +"If love only were to be considered," said Don Quixote, "parents would +no longer have the privilege of judiciously matching their children. +Were daughters left to choose for themselves, there are those who would +prefer their father's serving-man, or throw themselves away on some +fellow they might chance to see in the street, mistaking, perhaps, an +impostor and swaggering poltroon for a gentleman, since passion too +easily blinds the understanding, so indispensably necessary in deciding +on that most important point, matrimony, which is peculiarly exposed to +the danger of a mistake, and therefore needs all the caution that human +prudence can supply, aided by the particular favor of Heaven. A person +who proposes to take a long journey, if he is prudent, before he sets +forward will look out for some safe and agreeable companion; and should +not he who undertakes a journey for life use the same precaution, +especially as his fellow-traveller is to be his companion at bed and +board and in all other situations? The wife is not a commodity which, +when once bought, you can exchange or return; the marriage bargain, once +struck, is irrevocable. It is a noose which, once thrown about the neck, +turns to a Gordian knot, and cannot be unloosed till cut asunder by the +scythe of death." + + + By the streets of "by-and-by" one arrives at the house of + "never." + + God who gives the wound sends the cure. + + Nobody knows what is to come. A great many hours come in + between this and to-morrow; and in one hour, yea, in one + minute, down falls the house. I have seen rain and sunshine + at the same moment. A man may go to bed well at night and + not be able to stir next morning: and tell me who can boast + of having driven a nail in fortune's wheel? + + Between the yes and no of a woman I would not undertake to + thrust the point of a pin. + +"Love, as I have heard say, wears spectacles, through which copper looks +like gold, rags like rich apparel, and specks in the eye like pearls." + +"A curse on thee, Sancho," said Don Quixote; "what wouldst thou be at? +When once thy stringing of proverbs begins, Judas alone--I wish he had +thee!--can have patience to the end. Tell me, animal! what knowest thou +of nails and wheels, or of anything else?" + +"Oh, if I am not understood," replied Sancho, "no wonder that what I say +passes for nonsense. But no matter for that,--I understand myself. +Neither have I said many foolish things, only your worship is such a +cricket." + +"Critic, not cricket, fool! thou corrupter of good language!" said the +knight. + +"Pray, sir, do not be so sharp upon me," answered Sancho, "for I was not +bred at court nor studied in Salamanca, to know whether my words have a +letter short or one too many. As Heaven shall save me, it is +unreasonable to expect that beggarly Sayagnes should talk like Toledans; +nay, even some of them are not over-nicely spoken." + + Purity, propriety, and elegance of style will always be + found among polite, well-bred, and sensible men. + + I have heard it said of your fencers that they can thrust + you the point of a sword through the eye of a needle. + +O happy thou above all that live on the face of the earth, who, neither +envying nor envied, canst take thy needful rest with tranquillity of +soul, neither persecuted by enchanters nor affrighted by their +machinations! Sleep on! a hundred times I say, sleep on! No jealousies +on thy lady's account keep thee in perpetual watchings, nor do anxious +thoughts of debts unpaid awake thee; nor care how on the morrow thou and +thy little straitened family shall be provided for. Ambition disquiets +thee not, nor does the vain pomp of the world disturb thee; for thy +chief concern is the care of thy ass, since to me is committed the +comfort and protection of thine own person,--a burden imposed on the +master by nature and custom. The servant sleeps, and the master lies +awake considering how he is to maintain, assist, and do him kindness. +The pain of seeing the heavens obdurate in withholding the moisture +necessary to refresh the earth touches only the master, who is bound to +provide in times of sterility and famine for those who served him in the +season of fertility and abundance. + + + So much thou art worth as thou hast, and so much thou hast + as thou art worth. + + There are only two families in the world,--the have + somethings and the have nothings. Nowadays we are apt to + feel more often the pulse of property than of wisdom. + + An ass with golden trappings makes a better appearance than + a horse with a pack-saddle. + + +"That ought not to be called deception which aims at a virtuous end," +said Don Quixote; "and no end is more excellent than the marriage of +true lovers; though love," added he, "has its enemies, and none greater +than hunger and poverty, for love is all gayety, joy, and content." + + +SANCHO PANZA ON DEATH. + +"In good sooth, signor," said the squire, "there is no trusting to Mrs. +Ghostly, I mean Death, who gobbles up the gosling as well as the goose; +and, as I have heard our curate observe, tramples down the lofty turrets +of the prince as well as the lowly cottage of the swain. That same lady, +who is more powerful than coy, knows not what it is to be dainty and +squeamish; but eats of everything, and crams her wallet with people of +all nations, degrees, and conditions; she is none of your laborers that +take their afternoon's nap, but mows at all hours, cutting down the dry +stubble as well as the green grass; nor does she seem to chew, but +rather swallows and devours everything that falls in her way; for she is +gnawed by a dog's hunger that is never satisfied; and though she has no +belly, plainly shows herself dropsical, and so thirsty as to drink up +the lives of all the people upon earth, just as one would swallow a +draught of cool water." + +"Enough, friend Sancho," cried the knight, interrupting him in this +place; "keep thyself well, now thou art in order, and beware of +stumbling again; for really a good preacher could not speak more to the +purpose than thou hast spoken upon Death, in thy rustic manner of +expression; I say unto thee, Sancho, if thy discretion were equal to thy +natural parts, thou mightest ascend the pulpit, and go about teaching +and preaching to admiration." + +"He is a good preacher who is a good liver," answered Panza, "and that +is all the divinity I know." + +"And that is sufficient," said the knight; "yet I shall never understand +or comprehend, as the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, how thou, +who art more afraid of a lizard than of thy Maker, should be so wise?" + +"Signor," replied Sancho, "I desire your worship would determine in your +own affairs of chivalry, without taking the trouble to judge of other +people's valor or fears; for my own part, I am as pretty a fearer of God +as one would desire to see in any neighbor's child; wherefore, I beseech +your worship, let me discuss this same scum; for everything else is idle +chat, of which we shall be able to give a bad account in the other +world." + +"The poor man of honor (if a poor man can deserve that title) possesses, +in a beautiful wife, a jewel; and when that is taken away, he is +deprived of his honor, which is murdered; a beautiful and chaste woman, +whose husband is poor, deserves to be crowned with laurel and palms of +triumph; for beauty alone attracts the inclinations of those who behold +it; just as the royal eagle and soaring hawk stoop to the savory lure; +but if that beauty is incumbered by poverty and want, it is likewise +attacked by ravens, kites, and other birds of prey; and if she who +possesses it firmly withstands all these assaults, she well deserves to +be called the crown of her husband. + +"Take notice, dearest Basilius," added the knight, "it was the opinion +of a certain sage, that there was but one good wife in the whole world; +and he advised every husband to believe she had fallen to his share, and +accordingly be satisfied with his lot. I myself am not married, nor +hitherto have I entertained the least thought of changing my condition; +nevertheless, I will venture to advise him who asks my advice, in such a +manner, that he may find a woman to his wish; in the first place, I +would exhort him to pay more regard to reputation than to fortune; for a +virtuous woman does not acquire a good name merely by being virtuous; +she must likewise maintain the exteriors of deportment, for the honor of +the sex suffers much more from levity and freedom of behavior in public, +than from any private misdeeds. If thou bringest a good woman to thy +house, it will be an easy task to preserve and even improve her virtue; +but, shouldst thou choose a wife of a different character, it will cost +thee abundance of pains to mend her; for it is not very practicable to +pass from one extreme to another; I do not say it is altogether +impossible, though I hold it for a matter of much difficulty." + + + The ox that is loose is best licked. + + +Sancho, who had been attentive to the student's discourse, said: "Tell +me, sir--so may heaven send you good luck with your books--can you +resolve me--but I know you can, since you know every thing--who was the +first man that scratched his head? I for my part am of opinion it must +have been our father Adam." + +"Certainly," answered the scholar; "for there is no doubt but Adam had a +head and hair; and, this being granted, he, being the first man in the +world, must needs have been the first who scratched his head." + +"That is what I think," said Sancho; "but tell me now, who was the first +tumbler in the world?" + +"Truly, brother," answered the scholar, "I cannot determine that point +till I have given it some consideration, which I will surely do when I +return to my books, and will satisfy you when we see each other again, +for I hope this will not be the last time." + +"Look ye, sir," replied Sancho, "be at no trouble about the matter, for +I have already hit upon the answer to my question. Know, then, that the +first tumbler was Lucifer, when he was cast or thrown headlong from +heaven, and came tumbling down to the lowest abyss." + +"Sancho," quoth Don Quixote, "thou hast said more than thou art aware +of; for some there are who bestow much labor in examining and explaining +things which when known are not worth recollecting." + + + I am thoroughly satisfied that all the pleasures of this + life pass away like a shadow or dream, or fade like a flower + of the field. + + Patience, and shuffle the cards. + + We are all bound to respect the aged. + + Tell me thy company and I will tell thee what thou art. + + Whatever is uncommon appears impossible. + + +THE BRAYING ALDERMEN. + +"You must know, gentlemen, that in a town four leagues and a half from +this place, a certain alderman happened to lose his ass, all through the +artful contrivance (too long to be told) of a wench his maid-servant; +and though he tried every means to recover his beast, it was to no +purpose. Fifteen days passed, as public fame reports, after the ass was +missing, and while the unlucky alderman was standing in the +market-place, another alderman of the same town came up to him, and +said, 'Pay me for my good news, gossip, for your ass has made its +appearance.' + +"'Most willingly, neighbor,' answered the other; 'but tell me--where has +he been seen?' + +"'On the mountain,' answered the other; 'I saw him there this morning, +with no panel or furniture upon him of any kind, and so lank that it was +grievous to behold him. I would have driven him before me and brought +him to you, but he is already become so shy that when I went near him he +took to his heels and fled to a distance from me. Now, if you like it we +will both go seek him; but first let me put up this of mine at home, and +I will return instantly.' + +"'You will do me a great favor,' said the owner of the lost ass, 'and I +shall be happy at any time to do as much for you.' + +"In short the two aldermen, hand in hand and side by side, trudged +together up the hill; and on coming to the place where they expected to +find the ass, they found him not, nor was he anywhere to be seen, though +they made diligent search. Being thus disappointed, the alderman who had +seen him said to the other, 'Hark you, friend, I have thought of a +stratagem by which we shall certainly discover this animal, even though +he had crept into the bowels of the earth, instead of the mountain; and +it is this: I can bray marvellously well, and if you can do a little in +that way the business is done.' + +"'A little, say you, neighbor?' quoth the other, 'before Heaven, in +braying I yield to none--no, not to asses themselves.' + +"'We shall soon see that,' answered the second alderman; 'go you on one +side of the mountain, while I take the other, and let us walk round it, +and every now and then you shall bray, and I will bray; and the ass will +certainly hear and answer us, if he still remains in these parts.' +'Verily, neighbor, your device is excellent, and worthy your good +parts,' said the owner of the ass. + +"They then separated, according to agreement, and both began braying at +the same instant, with such marvellous truth of imitation that, mutually +deceived, each ran towards the other, not doubting but that the ass was +found; and, on meeting, the loser said, 'Is it possible, friend, that it +was not my ass that brayed?' + +"'No, it was I,' answered the other. + +"'I declare, then,' said the owner, 'that, as far as regards braying, +there is not the least difference between you and an ass; for in my life +I never heard anything more natural.' + +"'These praises and compliments,' answered the author of the stratagem, +'belong rather to you than to me, friend; for by Him that made me, you +could give the odds of two brays to the greatest and most skilful brayer +in the world; for your tones are rich, your time correct, your notes +well sustained, and cadences abrupt and beautiful; in short, I own +myself vanquished, and yield to you the palm in this rare talent.' + +"'Truly,' answered the ass owner, 'I shall value and esteem myself the +more henceforth, since I am not without some endowment. It is true, I +fancy that I brayed indifferently well, yet never flattered myself that +I excelled so much as you are pleased to say.' + +"'I tell you,' answered the second, 'there are rare abilities often lost +to the world, and they are ill-bestowed on those who know not how to +employ them to advantage.' + +"'Right, brother,' quoth the owner, 'though, except in cases like the +present, ours may not turn to much account; and even in this business, +Heaven grant it may prove of service.' + +"This said, they separated again, to resume their braying; and each time +were deceived as before, and met again, till they at length agreed, as a +signal, to distinguish their own voices from that of the ass, that they +should bray twice together, one immediately after the other. Thus, +doubling their brayings, they made the tour of the whole mountain, +without having any answer from the stray ass, not even by signs. How, +indeed, could the poor creature answer, whom at last they found in a +thicket, half devoured by wolves? On seeing the body, the owner said, +'Truly, I wondered at his silence; for, had he not been dead, he +certainly would have answered us, or he were no true ass; nevertheless, +neighbor, though I have found him dead, my trouble in the search has +been well repaid in listening to your exquisite braying.' + +"'It is in good hands, friend,' answered the other; 'for if the abbot +sings well, the novice comes not far behind him.' + +"Hereupon they returned home hoarse and disconsolate, and told their +friends and neighbors all that had happened to them in their search +after the ass; each of them extolling the other for his excellence in +braying. The story spread all over the adjacent villages, and the devil, +who sleeps not, as he loves to sow discord wherever he can, raising a +bustle in the wind, and mischief out of nothing, so ordered it that all +the neighboring villagers, at the sight of any of our towns-people, +would immediately begin to bray, as it were hitting us in the teeth with +the notable talent of our aldermen. The boys fell to it, which was the +same as falling into the hands and mouths of a legion of devils; and +thus braying spread far and wide, insomuch that the natives of the town +of Bray are as well known and distinguished as the negroes are from +white men. And this unhappy jest has been carried so far that our people +have often sallied out in arms against their scoffers, and given them +battle: neither king nor rook, nor fear nor shame, being able to +restrain them. Tomorrow, I believe, or next day, those of our town will +take the field against the people of another village about two leagues +from us, being one of those which persecute us most: and I have brought +the lances and halberds which you saw, that we may be well prepared for +them." + + + The hypocrite who cloaks his knavery is less dangerous to + the commonwealth than he who transgresses in the face of + day. + + He who only wears the garb of piety does less harm than the + professed sinner. + + I had rather serve the king in his wars abroad, than be the + lackey of any beggarly courtier at home. + + There is nothing more honorable, next to the service which + you owe to God, than to serve your king and natural lord, + especially in the profession of arms, which, if less + profitable than learning, far exceeds it in glory. More + great families, it is true, have been established by + learning, yet there is in the martial character a certain + splendor, which seems to exalt it far above all other + pursuits. But allow me, sir, to offer you a piece of advice, + which, believe me, you will find worth your attention. Never + suffer your mind to dwell on the adverse events of your + life; for the worst that can befall you is death, and when + attended with honor there is no event so glorious. Julius + Caesar, that valorous Roman, being asked which was the kind + of death to be preferred, "That," said he, "which is sudden + and unforeseen!" + + Though he answered like a heathen, who knew not the true + God, yet, considering human infirmity, it was well said. + For, supposing you should be cut off in the very first + encounter, either by cannon-shot or the springing of a mine, + what does it signify? it is but dying, which is inevitable, + and, being over, there it ends. Terence observes that the + corpse of a man who is slain in battle looks better than the + living soldier who has saved himself by flight; and the good + soldier rises in estimation according to the measure of his + obedience to those who command him. Observe, moreover, my + son, that a soldier had better smell of gunpowder than of + musk; and if old age overtakes you in this noble profession, + though lame and maimed, and covered with wounds, it will + find you also covered with honor; and of such honor as + poverty itself cannot deprive you. From poverty, indeed, you + are secure; for care is now taken that veteran and disabled + soldiers shall not be exposed to want, nor be treated as + many do their negro slaves, when old and past service, + turning them out of their houses, and, under pretence of + giving them freedom, leave them slaves to hunger, from which + they can have no relief but in death. + + There are often rare abilities lost to the world that are + but ill-bestowed on those who do not know how to employ them + to advantage. + + Who reads and travels much, sees and learns much. + + It is the prerogative of God alone to truly comprehend all + things. To Him there is nothing past or future. Everything + is present. + + There is nothing that Time, the discoverer of all things, + will not bring to light, even though it be hidden in the + bowels of the earth. + + Length begets loathing. + + Heaven is merciful, and sends relief in the greatest + distress. + + Affectation is the devil. + + Heaven help every one to what is their just due, but let us + have plain dealing. + + When choler once is born, + The tongue all curb doth scorn. + + When a brave man flies, he must have discovered foul play. + + To retire is not to fly. The valor which has not prudence + for its basis is termed rashness, and the successful + exploits of the rash are rather to be ascribed to good + fortune than to courage. + + Other men's pains are easily borne. + + He who errs and mends, Himself to Heaven commends. + + Those who sin and kiss the rod, Find favor in the sight of + God. + + If you obey the commands of your lord, You may sit as a + guest at his board. + + In this world there is nothing but plots and counter-plots, + mines and countermines. + + A good paymaster needs no surety; and where there is plenty, + dinner is soon dressed. + + Often the hare starts where she is least expected. + + I have heard it said that the power called Nature is like a + potter, who, if he can make one beautiful vessel, can in + like manner make two, three, ay, and a hundred. + + Wit and gay conceits proceed not from dull heads. + + Every man must speak of his wants wherever he may be. + + Modesty is as becoming a knight-errant as courage. + + The master is respected in proportion to the discretion and + good breeding of his servants. + + Who sets up for a talker and a wit, sinks at the first trip + into a contemptible buffoon. + + The weapons of gownsmen, like those of women, are their + tongues. + + Keep company with the good, and you will be one of them. + + Not where you were born, but where you were bred. + + Well sheltered shall he be + Who leans against a sturdy tree. + + An affront must come from a person who not only gives it, + but who can maintain it when it is given; an injury may come + from any hand. + + He who can receive no affront can give none. + + One must live long to see much. + + He who lives long; must suffer much. + + To deprive a knight-errant of his mistress is to rob him of + the eyes with which he sees, the sun by which he is + enlightened, and the support by which he is maintained. I + have many times said, and now I repeat the observation, that + a knight-errant without a mistress is like a tree without + leaves, a building without cement, and a shadow without the + substance by which it is produced. + + Possessing beauty without blemish, dignity without pride, + love with modesty, politeness springing from courtesy, and + courtesy from good breeding, and, finally, of illustrious + descent: for the beauty that is of a noble race shines with + more splendor than that which is meanly born. + + Virtue ennobles blood, and a virtuous person of humble birth + is more estimable than a vicious person of rank. + + I must inform your graces that Sancho Panza is one of the + most pleasant squires that ever served a knight-errant. + Sometimes his simplicity is so arch, that to consider + whether he is more fool or wag yields abundance of pleasure. + He has roguery enough to pass for a knave, and absurdities + sufficient to confirm him a fool. He doubts everything and + believes everything; and often, when I think he is going to + discharge nonsense, he will utter apothegms that will raise + him to the skies. In a word, I would not exchange him for + any other squire, even with a city to boot; and therefore I + am in doubt whether or not it will be expedient to send him + to that government which your grace has been so good as to + bestow upon him, although I can perceive in him a certain + aptitude for such an office; so that, when his understanding + is a very little polished, he will agree with any + government, like the king with his customs; for we know by + repeated experience that great talents and learning are not + necessary in a governor, as there are a hundred at least who + govern like gerfalcons, though they can hardly read their + mother tongue. Provided their intention is righteous and + their desire to do justice, they will never want counsellors + to direct them in every transaction, like your military + governors, who being illiterate themselves, never decide + without the advice of an assessor. I shall advise him + corruption to eschew, but never quit his due, and inculcate + some other small matters that are in my head, which, in + process of time, may redound to his own interest as well as + to the advantage of the island under his command. + + The customs of countries, or of great men's houses, are good + as far as they are agreeable. + +"Faith, madam," quoth Sancho, "that same scruple is an honest scruple, +and need not speak in a whisper, but plain out, or as it lists; for I +know it says true, and had I been wise, I should long since have left my +master but such is my lot, or such my evil-errantry, I cannot help +it,--follow him I must. We are both of the same town; I have eaten his +bread; I love him, and he returns my love; he gave me his ass-colts. +Above all, I am faithful, so that nothing in the world, can part us but +the sexton's spade and shovel; and if your highness does not choose to +give me the government you promised, God made me without it, and perhaps +it may be all the better for my conscience if I do not get it; for fool +as I am, I understand the proverb, 'The pismire had wings to her +sorrow;' and perhaps it may be easier for Sancho the squire to get to +heaven than for Sancho the governor. They make as good bread here as in +France, and by night all cats are gray. Unhappy is he who has not +breakfasted at three, and no stomach is a span bigger than another, and +may be filled as they say, with straw or with hay. + +"Of the little birds in the air, God himself takes the care; and four +yards of coarse cloth of Cuenza are warmer than as many of fine Segovia +serge; and in travelling from this world to the next, the road is no +wider for the prince than the peasant. The Pope's body takes up no more +room than that of the sexton, though a loftier person, for in the grave +we must pack close together whether we like it or not; so good-night to +all. + +"And let me tell you again that if your highness will not give me the +island because I am a fool, I will be wise enough not to care a fig for +it. I have heard say the devil lurks behind the cross; all is not gold +that glitters. From the plough-tail Bamba was raised to the throne of +Spain, and from his riches and revels was Roderigo cast down to be +devoured by serpents, if ancient ballads tell the truth." + + + None shall dare the loaf to steal + From him that sifts and kneads the meal. + + An old dog is not to be coaxed with a crust. + + No man is ever a scholar at his birth, and bishops are made + of men, not of stones. + + There is a Judge in heaven who knows the heart. + + A good name is better than tons of gold. + + +"And you, Signor Panza, be quiet and leave the care of making much of +Dapple to me; for being a jewel of Sancho's, I will lay him upon the +apple of my eye." + +"Let him lie in the stable, my good lady," answered Sancho, "for upon +the apple of your grandeur's eye neither he nor I are worthy to lie one +single moment,--'slife! they should stick me like a sheep sooner than I +would consent to such a thing; for though my master says that, in +respect to good manners, we should rather lose the game by a card too +much than too little, yet, when the business in hand is about asses and +eyes, we should step warily, with compass in hand." + +"Carry him, Sancho," quoth the Duchess, "to your government, and there +you may regale him as you please, and set him free from further labor." + +"Think not, my lady Duchess," quoth Sancho, "that you have said much, +for I have seen more asses than one go to governments, and therefore, if +I should carry mine, it would be nothing new." + + +SANCHO'S PLIGHT. + +The Duke and Duchess were extremely diverted with the humors of their +two guests; and resolving to improve their sport by practising some +pleasantries that should have the appearance of a romantic adventure, +they contrived to dress up a very choice entertainment from Don +Quixote's account of the Cave of Montesinos, taking that subject +because the Duchess had observed with astonishment that Sancho now +believed his lady Dulcinea was really enchanted, although he himself had +been her sole enchanter! Accordingly, after the servants had been well +instructed as to their deportment towards Don Quixote, a boar-hunt was +proposed, and it was determined to set out in five or six days with a +princely train of huntsmen. The knight was presented with a hunting suit +proper for the occasion, which, however, he declined, saying that he +must soon return to the severe duties of his profession, when, having no +sumpters nor wardrobes, such things would be superfluous. But Sancho +readily accepted a suit of fine green cloth which was offered to him, +intending to sell it the first opportunity. + +The appointed day being come, Don Quixote armed himself, and Sancho in +his new suit mounted Dapple (which he preferred to a horse that was +offered him) and joined the troop of hunters. The Duchess issued forth +magnificently attired, and Don Quixote, out of pure politeness, would +hold the reins of the palfrey, though the Duke was unwilling to allow +it. Having arrived at the proposed scene of their diversion, which was +in a wood between two lofty mountains, they posted themselves in places +where the toils were to be pitched; and all the party having taken their +different stations, the sport began with prodigious noise and clamor, +insomuch that between the shouts of the huntsmen, the cry of the hounds, +and the sound of the horns, they could not hear each other. + +The Duchess alighted, and with a boar-spear in her hand, took her stand +in a place where she expected the boars would pass. The Duke and Don +Quixote dismounted also, and placed themselves by her side; while Sancho +took his station behind them all, with his Dapple, whom he would not +quit, lest some mischance should befall him. Scarcely had they ranged +themselves in order when a hideous boar of monstrous size rushed out of +cover, pursued by the dogs and hunters, and made directly towards them, +gnashing his teeth and tossing foam with his mouth. + +Don Quixote, on seeing him approach, braced his shield, and drawing his +sword, stepped before the rest to meet him. The Duke joined him with his +boar-spear, and the Duchess would have been the foremost had not the +Duke prevented her. Sancho alone stood aghast, and at the sight of the +fierce animal, leaving even his Dapple, ran in terror towards a lofty +oak, in which he hoped to be secure; but his hopes were in vain, for, as +he was struggling to reach the top, and had got half-way up, +unfortunately a branch to which he clung, gave way, and falling with it, +he was caught by the stump of another, and here left suspended in the +air, so that he could neither get up nor down. + +Finding himself in this situation, with his new green coat tearing, and +almost in reach of the terrible creature should it chance to come that +way, he began to bawl so loud and to call for help so vehemently, that +all who heard him and did not see him thought verily he was between the +teeth of some wild beast. The tusked boar, however, was soon laid at +length by the numerous spears that were levelled at him from all sides, +at which time Sancho's cries and lamentations reached the ears of Don +Quixote, who, turning round, beheld him hanging from the oak with his +head downwards, and close by him stood Dapple, who never forsook him in +adversity,--indeed, it was remarked by Cid Hamet, that he seldom saw +Sancho Panza without Dapple, or Dapple without Sancho Panza, such was +the amity and cordial love that subsisted between them! + +Don Quixote hastened to the assistance of his squire, who was no sooner +released than he began to examine the rent in his hunting suit, which +grieved him to the soul, for he looked upon that suit as a rich +inheritance. + +The huge animal they had slain was laid across a sumpter-mule, and after +covering it with branches of rosemary and myrtle, they carried it, as +the spoils of victory, to a large field-tent, erected in the midst of +the wood, where a sumptuous entertainment was prepared, worthy of the +magnificence of the donor. Sancho, showing the wounds of the torn +garments to the Duchess, said: "Had hares or birds been our game, I +should not have had this misfortune. For my part I cannot think what +pleasure there can be in beating about for a monster that, if it reaches +you with a tusk, may be the death of you. There is an old ballad which +says,-- + +"'May fate of Fabila be thine, + And make thee food for bears or swine.'" + + +"That Fabila," said Don Quixote, "was a king of the Goths, who, going to +the chase, was devoured by a bear." + +"What I mean," quoth Sancho, "is, that I would not have kings and other +great folks run into such dangers merely for pleasure; and, indeed, +methinks it ought to be none to kill poor beasts that never meant any +harm." + +"You are mistaken, Sancho," said the duke, "hunting wild beasts is the +most proper exercise for knights and princes. The chase is an image of +war: there you have stratagems, artifices, and ambuscades to be +employed, in order to overcome your enemy with safety to yourself. +There, too, you are often exposed to the extremes of cold and heat; +idleness and ease are despised; the body acquires health and vigorous +activity: in short, it is an exercise which may be beneficial to many +and injurious to none. Besides, it is not a vulgar amusement, but, like +hawking, is the peculiar sport of the great. Therefore, Sancho, change +your opinion before you become a governor, for then you will find your +account in these diversions." + +"Not so, i' faith," replied Sancho, "the good governor and the broken +leg should keep at home. It would be fine, indeed, for people to come +after him about business and find him gadding in the mountains for his +pleasure. At that rate what would become of his government? In good +truth, sir, hunting and such like pastimes are rather for your idle +companions than for governors. The way I mean to divert myself shall be +with brag at Easter and at bowls on Sundays and holidays; as for your +hunting, it befits neither my condition nor conscience." + +"Heaven grant you prove as good as you promise," said the duke, "but +saying and doing are often wide apart." + +"Be that as it will," replied Sancho, "the good paymaster wants no pawn; +and God's help is better than early rising, and the belly carries the +legs, and not the legs the belly,--I mean that, with the help of Heaven +and a good intention, I warrant I shall govern better than a gos-hawk. +Ay, ay, let them put their fingers in my mouth and try whether or not I +can bite." + +"A curse upon thy proverbs," said Don Quixote, "when will the day come +that I shall hear thee utter one coherent sentence without that base +intermixture! Let this blockhead alone, I beseech your excellencies, He +will grind your souls to death, not between two, but two thousand +proverbs, all timed as well and as much to the purpose as I wish God may +grant him health, or me, if I desire to hear them." + +"Sancho Panza's proverbs," said the duchess, "though more numerous than +those of the Greek commentator, are equally admirable for their +sententious brevity." + + He who has been a good squire will never be a bad governor. + + A bad cloak often covers a good drinker. + + When a friend drinks one's health, who can be so + hard-hearted as not to pledge him? + + God's help is better than early rising. + + Flame may give light and bonfires may illuminate, yet we may + easily be burnt by them; but music is always a sign of + feasting and merriment. + + +THE ACCOUNT OF THE METHOD PRESCRIBED TO DON QUIXOTE FOR DISENCHANTING +DULCINEA; WITH OTHER WONDERFUL EVENTS. + +As the agreeable music approached, they observed that it attended a +stately triumphal car, drawn by six gray mules covered with white linen, +and upon each of them rode a penitent of light, clothed also in white, +and holding a lighted torch in his hand. The car was more than double +the size of the others which had passed, and twelve penitents were +ranged in order within it, all carrying lighted torches,--a sight which +at once caused surprise and terror. Upon an elevated throne sat a nymph, +covered with a thousand veils of silver tissue, bespangled with +innumerable flowers of gold, so that her dress, if not rich, was gay and +glittering. Over her head was thrown a transparent gauze, so thin that +through its folds might be seen a most beautiful face; and from the +multitude of lights, it was easy to discern that she was young as well +as beautiful, for she was evidently under twenty years of age, though +not less than seventeen. Close by her sat a figure, clad in a +magnificent robe reaching to the feet, having his head covered with a +black veil. + +The moment this vast machine arrived opposite to where the duke and +duchess and Don Quixote stood, the attending music ceased, as well as +the harps and lutes within the car. The figure in the gown then stood +up, and throwing open the robe and uncovering his face; displayed the +ghastly countenance of death, looking so terrific that Don Quixote +started, Sancho was struck with terror, and even the duke and duchess +seemed to betray some symptoms of fear. This living Death, standing +erect, in a dull and drowsy tone and with a sleepy articulation, spoke +as follows:-- + + THE ENCHANTER'S ERRAND. + + Merlin I am, miscalled the devil's son + In lying annals, authorized by time; + Monarch supreme, and great depositary + Of magic art and Zoroastic skill; + Rival of envious ages, that would hide + The glorious deeds of errant cavaliers, + Favored by me and my peculiar charge. + Though vile enchanters, still on mischief bent, + To plague mankind their baleful art employ, + Merlin's soft nature, ever prone to good, + His power inclines to bless the human race. + + In Hades' chambers, where my busied ghost + Was forming spells and mystic characters, + Dulcinea's voice, peerless Tobosan maid, + With mournful accents reached my pitying ears; + I knew her woe, her metamorphosed form, + From high-born beauty in a palace graced, + To the loathed features of a cottage wench. + With sympathizing grief I straight revolved + The numerous tomes of my detested art, + And in the hollow of this skeleton + My soul enclosing, hither am I come, + To tell the cure of such uncommon ills. + + O glory thou of all that case their limbs + In polished steel and fenceful adamant! + Light, beacon, polar star, and glorious guide + Of all who, starting from the lazy down, + Banish ignoble sleep for the rude toil + And hardy exercise of errant arms! + Spain's boasted pride, La Mancha's matchless knight, + Whose valiant deeds outstrip pursuing fame! + Wouldst thou to beauty's pristine state restore + The enchanted dame, Sancho, thy faithful squire, + Must to his brawny buttocks, bare exposed, + Three thousand and three hundred stripes apply, + Such as may sting and give him smarting pain: + The authors of her change have thus decreed, + And this is Merlin's errand from the shades. + +THE PARLEY ABOUT THE PENANCE. + +"What!" quoth Sancho, "three thousand lashes! Odd's-flesh! I will as +soon give myself three stabs as three single lashes, much less three +thousand! The devil take this way of disenchanting! I cannot see what my +buttocks have to do with enchantments. Before Heaven! if Signor Merlin +can find out no other way to disenchant the lady Dulcinea del Toboso, +enchanted she may go to her grave for me!" + +"Not lash thyself! thou garlic-eating wretch!" quoth Don Quixote; "I +shall take thee to a tree, and tie thee naked as thou wert born, and +there, not three thousand and three hundred, but six thousand six +hundred lashes will I give thee, and those so well laid on that three +thousand three hundred hard tugs shall not tug them off. So answer me +not a word, scoundrel! for I will tear thy very soul out!" + +"It must not be so," said Merlin; "the lashes that honest Sancho is to +receive must not be applied by force, but with his good-will, and at +whatever time he pleases, for no term is fixed; and furthermore, he is +allowed, if he please, to save himself half the trouble of applying so +many lashes, by having half the number laid on by another hand, provided +that hand be somewhat heavier than his own." + +"Neither another hand nor my own," quoth Sancho, "no hand, either heavy +or light, shall touch my flesh. Was the lady Dulcinea brought forth by +me that my posteriors must pay for the transgressions of her eyes? My +master, indeed, who is part of her, since at every step he is calling +her his life, his soul, his support and stay,--he it is who ought to +lash himself for her and do all that is needful for her delivery; but +for me to whip myself,--no, I pronounce it!" + +No sooner had Sancho thus declared himself than the spangled nymph who +sat by the side of Merlin arose, and throwing aside her veil, discovered +a face of extraordinary beauty; and with a masculine air and no very +amiable voice, addressed herself to Sancho: "O wretched squire, with no +more soul than a pitcher! thou heart of cork and bowels of flint! hadst +thou been required, nose-slitting thief! to throw thyself from some +high tower; hadst thou been desired, enemy of human kind! to eat a dozen +of toads, two dozen of lizards, and three dozen of snakes; hadst thou +been requested to kill thy wife and children with some bloody and sharp +scimitar,--no wonder if thou hadst betrayed some squeamishness; but to +hesitate about three thousand three hundred lashes, which there is not a +wretched school-boy but receives every month, it amazes, stupefies, and +affrights the tender bowels of all who hear it, and even of all who +shall hereafter be told it. Cast, thou marble-hearted wretch!--cast, I +say, those huge goggle eyes upon these lovely balls of mine, that shine +like glittering stars, and thou wilt see them weep, drop by drop, and +stream after stream, making furrows, tracks, and paths down these +beautiful cheeks! Relent, malicious and evil-minded monster! Be moved by +my blooming youth, which, though yet in its teens, is pining and +withering beneath the vile bark of a peasant wench; and if at this +moment I appear otherwise, it is by the special favor of Signor Merlin, +here present, hoping that these charms may soften that iron heart, for +the tears of afflicted beauty turn rocks into cotton and tigers into +lambs. Lash, untamed beast! lash away on that brawny flesh of thine, and +rouse from that base sloth which only inclines thee to eat and eat +again, and restore to me the delicacy of my skin, the sweetness of my +temper, and all the charms of beauty. And if for my sake thou wilt not +be mollified into reasonable compliance, let the anguish of that +miserable knight stir thee to compassion,--thy master, I mean, whose +soul I see sticking crosswise in his throat, not ten inches from his +lips, waiting only thy cruel or kind answer either to fly out of his +mouth or to return joyfully into his bosom." + +Don Quixote, here putting his finger to his throat, "Before Heaven!" +said he, "Dulcinea is right, for I here feel my soul sticking in my +throat like the stopper of a crossbow!" + +"What say you to that, Sancho?" quoth the duchess. + +"I say, madam," answered Sancho, "what I have already said, that as to +the lashes, I pronounce them." + +"_Renounce_, you should say, Sancho," quoth the duke, "and not +pronounce." + +"Please your grandeur to let me alone," replied Sancho, "for I cannot +stand now to a letter more or less. These lashes so torment me that I +know not what I say or do. But I would fain know one thing from the Lady +Dulcinea del Toboso, and that is, where she learnt her manner of asking +a favor? She comes to desire me to tear my flesh with stripes, and at +the same time lays upon me such a bead-roll of ill names that the devil +may bear them for me. What! does she think my flesh is made of brass? or +that I care a rush whether she is enchanted or not? Where are the +presents she has brought to soften me? Instead of a basket of fine linen +shirts, night-caps, and socks (though I wear none), here is nothing but +abuse. Every one knows that 'the golden load is a burden light;' that +'gifts will make their way through stone walls;' 'pray devoutly and +hammer on stoutly;' and 'one take is worth two I'll give thee's.' +There's his worship my master, too, instead of wheedling and coaxing me +to make myself wool and carded cotton, threatens to tie me naked to a +tree and double the dose of stripes. These tender-hearted gentlefolks +ought to remember, too, that they not only desire to have a squire +whipped, but a governor, making no more of it than saying, 'Drink with +your cherries.' Let them learn,--plague take them!--let them learn how +to ask and entreat, and mind their breeding. All times are not alike, +nor are men always in a humor for all things. At this moment my heart is +ready to burst with grief to see this rent in my jacket, and people come +to desire that I would also tear my flesh, and that, too, of my own good +will. I have just as much mind to the thing as to turn Turk." + +"In truth, friend Sancho," said the duke, "if you do not relent and +become softer than a ripe fig, you finger no government. It were good +indeed, that I should send my islanders a cruel flinty-hearted governor; +one who relents not at the tears of afflicted damsels, nor at the +entreaties of wise, awful, and ancient enchanters, and sages. In fine, +Sancho, either you must whip yourself, or let others whip you, or be no +governor." + +"My lord," answered Sancho, "may I not be allowed two days to consider +what is best for me to do?" + +"No, in no wise," quoth Merlin; "here, at this instant and upon this +spot, the business must be settled: or Dulcinea must return to +Montesinos' cave, and to her former condition of a country wench; or +else in her present form be carried to the Elysian fields, where she +must wait till the number of lashes be fulfilled." + +"Come, honest Sancho," quoth the duchess, "be of good cheer, and show +gratitude for the bread you have eaten of your master Don Quixote, whom +we are all bound to serve for his good qualities and his high +chivalries. Say, yes, son, to this whipping bout, and the devil take the +devil, and let the wretched fear; for a good heart breaks bad fortune, +as you well know." + +"Hark you, Signor Merlin," quoth Sancho, addressing himself to the sage; +"pray will you tell me one thing--how comes it about that the +devil-courier just now brought a message to my master from Signor +Montesinos, saying that he would be here anon, to give directions about +this disenchantment; and yet we have seen nothing of them all this +while?" + +"Pshaw!" replied Merlin, "the devil is an ass and a lying rascal; he was +sent from me and not from Montesinos, who is still in his cave +contriving, or rather awaiting, the end of his enchantment, for the tail +is yet unflayed. If he owes you money, or you have any other business +with him, he shall be forthcoming in a trice, when and where you think +fit; and therefore come to a decision, and consent to this small +penance, from which both your soul and body will receive marvellous +benefit; your soul by an act of charity, and your body by a wholesome +and timely bloodletting." + +"How the world swarms with doctors," quoth Sancho, "the very enchanters +seem to be of a trade! Well, since everybody tells me so, though the +thing is out of all reason, I promise to give myself the three thousand +three hundred lashes, upon condition that I may lay them on whenever I +please, without being tied to days or times; and I will endeavor to get +out of debt as soon as I possibly can, that the beauty of my lady +Dulcinea del Toboso may shine forth to all the world; as it seems she is +really beautiful, which I much doubted. Another condition is, that I +will not be bound to draw blood, and if some lashes happen only to +fly-flap, they shall all go into the account. Moreover if I should +mistake in the reckoning, Signor Merlin here, who knows everything, +shall give me notice how many I want or have exceeded." + +"As for exceedings, there is no need of keeping account of them," +answered Merlin; "for when the number is completed, that instant will +the lady Dulcinea del Toboso be disenchanted, and come full of gratitude +in search of good Sancho, to thank and even reward him for the generous +deed. So that no scruples are necessary about surplus and deficiency; +and Heaven forbid that I should allow anybody to be cheated of a single +hair of their head." + +"Go to, then, in God's name," quoth Sancho; "I must submit to my ill +fortune: I say I consent to the penance upon the conditions I have +mentioned." + +No sooner had Sancho pronounced his consent than the innumerable +instruments poured forth their music, the volleys of musketry were +discharged, while Don Quixote clung about Sancho's neck, giving him, on +his forehead and brawny cheeks, a thousand kisses; the duke and duchess, +and all who were present, likewise testified their satisfaction. The car +now moved on, and in departing the fair Dulcinea bowed her head to the +duke and duchess, and made a low curtesy to Sancho. + +By this time the cheerful and joyous dawn began to appear, the flowerets +of the fields expanded their fragrant beauties to the light; and brooks +and streams, in gentle murmurs, ran to pay expecting rivers in their +crystal tribute. The earth rejoiced, the sky was clear, and the air +serene and calm; all, combined and separately, giving manifest tokens +that the day, which followed fast upon Aurora's heels, would be bright +and fair. The duke and duchess, having happily executed their ingenious +project, returned highly gratified to their castle, and determined on +the continuation of fictions which afforded more pleasures than +realities. + + +SANCHO PANZA'S LETTER TO HIS WIFE TERESA PANZA. + +If I have been finely lashed, I have been finely mounted up: if I have +got a good government, it has cost me many good lashes. This, my dear +Teresa, thou canst not understand at present; another time thou wilt. + +Thou must know, Teresa, that I am determined that thou shalt ride in thy +coach, which is somewhat to the purpose, for all other ways of going are +no better than creeping upon all fours, like a cat. Thou shalt be a +governor's wife; see then whether anybody will dare to tread on thy +heels. I here send thee a green hunting-suit which my lady duchess gave +me; fit it up so that it may serve our daughter for a jacket and +petticoat. They say in this country that my master Don Quixote is a +sensible madman and a pleasant fool, and that I am not a whit behind +him. We have been in Montesino's cave, and the sage Merlin, the wizard, +has pitched upon me to disenchant the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso, who +among you is called Aldonza Lorenzo. When I have given myself three +thousand and three hundred lashes, lacking five, she will be as free +from enchantment as the mother that bore her. + +Say nothing of this to anybody; for, bring your affairs into council, +and one will cry it is white, another it is black. A few days hence I +shall go to the government, whither I go with a huge desire to get +money; and I am told it is the same with all new governors. I will first +see how matters stand, and send thee word whether or not thou shalt come +to me. + +Dapple is well, and sends thee his hearty service; part with him I will +not, though I were made the great Turk. The duchess, my mistress, kisses +thy hands a thousand times over. Return her two thousand; for, as my +master says, nothing is cheaper than civil words. God has not been +pleased to throw in my way another portmanteau and another hundred +crowns, as once before; but take no heed, my dear Teresa, for he that +has the game in his hand need not mind the loss of a trick,--the +government will make up for all. One thing only troubles me: I am told +if I once try it I shall eat my very fingers after it; and if so, it +will not be much of a bargain, though, indeed, the crippled and maimed +enjoy a petty canonry in the alms they receive; so that, one way or +another, thou art sure to be rich and happy. God send it may be so, as +He easily can, and keep me for thy sake. + +Thy husband, the governor, +SANCHO PANZA. +From this Castle, the 20th of July, 1614. + + +THE KNIGHT REPROVED. + +After a thousand courtly compliments mutually interchanged, Don Quixote +advanced towards the table, between the duke and duchess, and, on +preparing to seat themselves, they offered the upper end to Don Quixote, +who would have declined it but for the pressing importunities of the +duke. The ecclesiastic seated himself opposite to the knight, and the +duke and duchess on each side. + +Sancho was present all the while, in amazement to see the honor paid by +those great people to his master; and, whilst the numerous entreaties +and ceremonies were passing between the duke and Don Quixote, before he +would sit down at the head of the table, he said: "With your honor's +leave I will tell you a story of what happened in our town about seats." + +Don Quixote immediately began to tremble, not doubting that he was going +to say something absurd. Sancho observed him, and, understanding his +looks, he said: "Be not afraid, sir, of my breaking loose or saying +anything that is not pat to the purpose. I have not forgotten the advice +your worship gave me awhile ago about talking much or little, well or +ill." + +"I remember nothing, Sancho," answered Don Quixote; "say what thou wilt, +so as thou sayst it quickly." + +"What I would say," quoth Sancho, "is very true, for my master, Don +Quixote, who is present, will not suffer me to lie." + +"Lie as much as thou wilt for me, Sancho," replied Don Quixote, "I shall +not hinder thee; but take heed what thou art going to say." + +"I have heeded it over and over again, so that it is as safe as if I had +the game in my hand, as you shall presently see." + +"Your graces will do well," said Don Quixote, "to order this blockhead +to retire, that you may get rid of his troublesome folly." + +"By the life of the duke," quoth the duchess, "Sancho shall not stir a +jot from me. I have a great regard for him, and am assured of his +discretion." + +"Many happy years may your holiness live," quoth Sancho, "for the good +opinion you have of me, little as I deserve it. But the tale I would +tell is this-- + +"A certain gentleman of our town, very rich and of a good family,--for +he was descended from the Alamos of Medina del Campo, and married Donna +Mencia de Quinnones, who was daughter to Don Alonzo de Maranon, knight +of the order of St. James, the same that was drowned in the Herradura, +about whom that quarrel happened in our town, in which it was said my +master Don Quixote had a hand, and Tommy the mad-cap, son of Balvastro +the blacksmith, was hurt. Pray, good master of mine, is not all this +true? Speak, I beseech you, that their worships may not take me for some +lying prater." + +"As yet," said the ecclesiastic, "I take you rather for a prater than +for a liar; but I know not what I shall next take you for." + +"Thou hast produced so many witnesses and so many proofs," said Don +Quixote, "that I cannot but say thou mayst probably be speaking truth; +but, for Heaven's sake, shorten thy story, or it will last these two +days." + +"He shall shorten nothing," quoth the duchess; "and to please me, he +shall tell it his own way, although he were not to finish these six +days; and, should it last so long, they would be to me days of delight." + +"I must tell you, then," proceeded Sancho, "that this same +gentleman--whom I know as well as I do my right hand from my left, for +it is not a bow-shot from my house to his--invited a husbandman to dine +with him,--a poor man, but mainly honest." + +"On, friend," said the chaplain, "for, at the rate you proceed, your +tale will not reach its end till you reach the other world." + +"I shall stop," replied Sancho, "before I get half-way thither, if it +please Heaven! This same farmer coming to the house of the gentleman his +inviter--God rest his soul, for he is dead and gone; and, moreover, died +like an angel, as it is said,--for I was not by myself, being at that +time gone a reaping to Tembleque." + +"Prithee, son," said the ecclesiastic, "come back quickly from +Tembleque, and stay not to bury the gentleman, unless you are determined +upon more burials. Pray make an end of your tale." + +"The business, then," quoth Sancho, "was this, that, they being ready +to sit down to table,--methinks I see them plainer than ever." + +The duke and duchess were highly diverted at the impatience of the good +ecclesiastic, and at the length and pauses of Sancho's tale; but Don +Quixote was almost suffocated with rage and vexation. + +"I say, then," quoth Sancho, "that, as they were both standing before +the dinner-table, just ready to sit down, the farmer insisted that the +gentleman should take the upper end of the table, and the gentleman as +positively pressed the farmer to take it, saying he ought to be master +in his own house. But the countryman, piquing himself upon his good +breeding, still refused to comply, till the gentleman, losing all +patience, laid both his hands upon the farmer's shoulders, and made him +sit down by main force, saying, 'Sit thee down, clod-pole! for in +whatever place I am seated, that is the upper end to thee.' That is my +tale, and truly I think it comes in here pretty much to the purpose." + + + All things are not alike, nor are men always in a humor for + all things. + + Leave fear to the cowardly. + + A stout heart quails misfortune. + + Letters written in blood cannot be disputed. + + If you seek advice about your own concerns, one will say it + is white and another will swear it is black. + + Nothing is so reasonable and cheap as good manners. + + He is safe who has good cards to play. + + Avarice bursts the bag, and the covetous governor doeth + ungoverned justice. + + The law's measure + Is the king's pleasure. + + The game is as often lost by a card too many as one too few; + but a word to the wise is sufficient. + + Come, death, with gently-stealing pace, + And take me unperceived away, + Nor let me see thy wished-for face, + Lest joy my fleeting life should stay. + + The tyrant fair whose beauty sent + The throbbing mischief to my heart, + The more my anguish to augment, + Forbids me to reveal the smart. + + When a thing is once begun, it is almost half finished. + + When the heifer you receive, + Have a halter in your sleeve. + + Delay breeds danger. + + Who sits in the saddle must get up first. + + There is nothing so sweet as to command and be obeyed. + + It is a pleasant thing to govern, even though it be but a + flock of sheep. + + +INSTRUCTIONS WHICH DON QUIXOTE GAVE TO SANCHO PANZA BEFORE HE WENT TO +HIS GOVERNMENT; WITH OTHER WELL CONSIDERED MATTERS. + +The duke and duchess being so well pleased with the afflicted duenna, +were encouraged to proceed with other projects, seeing that there was +nothing too extravagant for the credulity of the knight and squire. The +necessary orders were accordingly issued to their servants and vassals +with regard to their behavior towards Sancho in his government of the +promised island. The day after the flight of Clavileno, the duke bade +Sancho prepare, and get himself in readiness to assume his office, for +his islanders were already wishing for him as for rain in May. Sancho +made a low bow, and said: "Ever since my journey to heaven, when I +looked down and saw the earth so very small, my desire to be a governor +has partly cooled: for what mighty matter is it to command on a spot no +bigger than a grain of mustard-seed; where is the majesty and pomp of +governing half a dozen creatures no bigger than hazel-nuts? If your +lordship will be pleased to offer me some small portion of heaven, +though it be but half a league, I would jump at it sooner than for the +largest island in the world." + +"Look you, friend Sancho," answered the duke, "I can give away no part +of heaven, not even a nail's breadth; for God has reserved to Himself +the disposal of such favors: but what it is in my power to give, I give +you with all my heart; and the island I now present to you is ready +made, round and sound, well-proportioned, and above measure fruitful, +and where, by good management, you may yourself, with the riches of the +earth, purchase an inheritance in heaven." + +"Well, then," answered Sancho, "let this island be forthcoming, and it +shall go hard with me but I will be such a governor that, in spite of +rogues, heaven will take me in. Nor is it out of covetousness that I +forsake my humble cottage and aspire to greater things, but the desire I +have to taste what it is to be a governor." + +"If once you taste it, Sancho," quoth the duke, "you will lick your +fingers after it; so sweet it is to command and be obeyed. And certain I +am, when your master becomes an emperor, of which there is no doubt, as +matters proceed so well, it would be impossible to wrest his power from +him, and his only regret will be that he had it not sooner." + +"Faith, sir, you are in the right," quoth Sancho, "it is pleasant to +govern, though it be but a flock of sheep." + +"Let me be buried with you, Sancho," replied the duke, "if you know not +something of every thing, and I doubt not you will prove a pearl of a +governor. But enough of this for the present: to-morrow you surely +depart for your island, and this evening you shall be fitted with +suitable apparel and with all things necessary for your appointment." + +"Clothe me as you will," said Sancho, "I shall still be Sancho Panza." + +"That is true," said the duke; "but the garb should always be suitable +to the office and rank of the wearer: for a lawyer to be habited like a +soldier, or a soldier like a priest, would be preposterous; and you; +Sancho, must be clad partly like a scholar and partly like a soldier; +as, in the office you will hold, arms and learning are united." + +"As for learning," replied Sancho, "I have not much of that, for I +hardly know my A B C; but to be a good governor, it will be enough that +I am able to make my Christ-cross; and as to arms, I shall handle such +as are given me till I fall, and so God help me." + +"With so good an intention," quoth the duke, "Sancho cannot do wrong." + +Here they were joined by Don Quixote, who understanding the subject of +their conversation, and the short space allotted to Sancho to prepare +for his departure, took the squire by the hand, with the duke's +permission, and led him to his apartment, in order to instruct him how +to behave in his office. Having entered the chamber he locked the door, +and obliging Sancho to sit down by him, spoke to this effect, in a grave +and solemn tone:-- + +"I return infinite thanks to Heaven, friend Sancho, for having ordained +that, before I myself have met with the least success, good fortune hath +gone forth to bid thee welcome. I, who had balanced the remuneration of +thy service in my own prosperity, find myself in the very rudiments of +promotion; while thou, before thy time, and contrary to all the laws of +reasonable progression, findest thy desire accomplished: other people +bribe, solicit, importune, attend levees, entreat, and persevere, +without obtaining their suit; and another comes, who, without knowing +why or wherefore, finds himself in possession of that office to which so +many people laid claim: and here the old saying is aptly introduced, 'A +pound of good luck is worth a ton of merit.' Thou, who, in comparison to +me, art doubtless an ignorant dunce, without rising early or sitting up +late, or, indeed, exerting the least industry: without any pretension +more or less than that of being breathed upon by knight-errantry, seest +thyself created governor of an island as if it was a matter of +moonshine. + +"All this I observe, O Sancho, that thou mayst not attribute thy success +to thy own deserts: but give thanks to heaven for having disposed +matters so beneficially in thy behalf, and then make thy acknowledgments +to that grandeur which centres in the profession of knight-errantry. Thy +heart being thus predisposed to believe what I have said, be attentive, +O my son, to me who am thy Cato, thy counsellor, thy north-pole and +guide, to conduct thee into a secure harbor from the tempestuous sea +into which thou art going to be engulfed; for great posts and offices of +state are no other than a profound gulf of confusion. + +"In the first place, O my son, you are to fear God: the fear of God is +the beginning of wisdom; and if you are wise you cannot err. + +"Secondly, you must always remember who you are, and endeavor to know +yourself,--a study of all others the most difficult. This self-knowledge +will hinder you from blowing yourself up like the frog in order to rival +the size of the ox: if, therefore, you succeed in this learning, the +consideration of thy having been a swineherd will, like the peacock's +ugly feet, be a check upon thy folly and pride." + +"I own I once took care of hogs when I was a boy," said Sancho; "but, +after I grew up, I quitted that employment and took care of geese; but I +apprehend that matter is not of great consequence, for all governors are +not descended from the kingly race." + +"No, sure," answered the knight; "and, for that reason, those who are +not of noble extraction ought to sweeten the gravity of their function +with mildness and affability: which, being prudently conducted, will +screen them from those malicious murmurs that no station can escape. + +"Conceal not the meanness of thy family, nor think it disgraceful to be +descended from peasants; for, when it is seen that thou art not thyself +ashamed, none will endeavor to make thee so; and deem it more +meritorious to be a virtuous humble man than a lofty sinner. Infinite is +the number of those who, born of low extraction, have risen to the +highest dignities both in church and state; and of this truth I could +tire thee with examples. + +"If thou takest virtue for the rule of life, and valuest thyself upon +acting in all things conformably thereto, thou wilt have no cause to +envy lords and princes; for blood is inherited, but virtue is a common +property and may be acquired by all. It has, moreover, an intrinsic +worth which blood has not. This being so, if, peradventure, any one of +thy kindred visit thee in thy government, do not slight nor affront him; +but receive, cherish, and make much of him, for in so doing thou wilt +please God, who allows none of His creatures to be despised; and thou +wilt also manifest therein a well-disposed nature. + +"If thou takest thy wife with thee (and it is not well for those who are +appointed to governments to be long separated from their families), +teach, instruct, and polish her from her natural rudeness; for it often +happens that all the consideration a wise governor can acquire is lost +by an ill-bred and foolish woman. + +"If thou shouldst become a widower (an event which is possible), and thy +station entitles thee to a better match, seek not one to serve thee for +a hook and angling-rod, or a friar's hood to receive alms in;[11] for, +believe me, whatever the judge's wife receives, the husband must account +for at the general judgment, and shall be made to pay fourfold for all +that of which he has rendered no account during his life. + +"Be not under the dominion of thine own will: it is the vice of the +ignorant, who vainly presume on their own understanding. + +"Let the tears of the poor find more compassion, but not more justice, +from thee than the applications of the wealthy. + +"Be equally solicitous to sift out the truth amidst the presents and +promises of the rich and the sighs and entreaties of the poor. + +"Whenever equity may justly temper the rigor of the law, let not the +whole force of it bear upon the delinquent; for it is better that a +judge should lean on the side of compassion than severity. + +"If, perchance, the scales of justice be not correctly balanced, let the +error be imputable to pity, not to gold. + +"If, perchance, the cause of thine enemy come before thee, forget thy +injuries, and think only on the merits of the case. + +"Let not private affection blind thee in another man's cause; for the +errors thou shalt thereby commit are often without remedy, and at the +expense both of thy reputation and fortune. + +"When a beautiful woman comes before thee to demand justice, consider +maturely the nature of her claim, without regarding either her tears or +her sighs, unless thou wouldst expose thy judgment to the danger of +being lost in the one, and thy integrity in the other. + +"Revile not with words him whom thou hast to correct with deeds; the +punishment which the unhappy wretch is doomed to suffer is sufficient, +without the addition of abusive language. + +"When the criminal stands before thee, recollect the frail and depraved +nature of man, and as much as thou canst, without injustice to the +suffering party, show pity and clemency; for, though the attributes of +God are all equally adorable, yet His mercy is more shining and +attractive in our eyes, and strikes with greater lustre, than His +justice. + +"If you observe, and conduct yourself by these rules and precepts, +Sancho, your days will be long upon the face of the earth; your fame +will be eternal, your reward complete, and your felicity unutterable; +your children will be married according to your wish; they and their +descendants will enjoy titles; you shall live in peace and friendship +with all mankind; when your course of life is run, death will overtake +you in a happy and mature old age, and your eyes will be shut by the +tender and delicate hands of your posterity, in the third or fourth +generation. + +"The remarks I have hitherto made are documents touching the decoration +of your soul; and now you will listen to the directions I have to give +concerning thy person and deportment." + + +OF THE SECOND SERIES OF INSTRUCTIONS DON QUIXOTE GAVE TO SANCHO PANZA. + +Who that has duly considered Don Quixote's instructions to his squire +would not have taken him for a person of singular intelligence and +discretion? But, in truth, as it has often been said in the progress of +this great history, he raved only on the subject of chivalry; on all +others he manifested a sound and discriminating understanding; wherefore +his judgment and his actions appeared continually at variance. But, in +these second instructions given to Sancho, which showed much ingenuity, +his wisdom and frenzy are both singularly conspicuous. + +During the whole of this private conference, Sancho listened to his +master with great attention, and endeavored so to register his counsel +in his mind that he might thereby be enabled to bear the burden of +government and acquit himself honorably. Don Quixote now proceeded:-- + +"As to the regulation of thine own person and domestic concerns," said +he, "in the first place, Sancho, I enjoin thee to be cleanly in all +things. Keep the nails of thy fingers constantly and neatly pared, nor +suffer them to grow as some do, who ignorantly imagine that long nails +beautify the hand, and account the excess of that excrement simply a +finger-nail, whereas it is rather the talon of the lizard-hunting +kestrel,--a foul and unsightly object. A slovenly dress betokens a +careless mind; or, as in the case of Julius Caesar, it may be attributed +to cunning. + +"Examine prudently the income of thy office, and if it will afford thee +to give liveries to thy servants, give them such as are decent and +lasting, rather than gaudy and modish; and what thou shalt thus save in +thy servants bestow on the poor; so shalt thou have attendants both in +heaven and earth--a provision which our vain-glorious great never think +of. + +"Eat neither garlic nor onions, lest the smell betray thy rusticity. +Walk with gravity, and speak deliberately, but not so as to seem to be +listening to thyself; for affectation is odious. + +"Eat little at dinner and less at supper; for the health of the whole +body is tempered in the laboratory of the stomach. + +"Drink with moderation; for inebriety never keeps a secret nor performs +a promise. + +"In the next place, Sancho, do not intermix in thy discourse such a +multitude of proverbs as thou wert wont to do; for though proverbs are +concise and pithy sentences, thou dost so often drag them in by the head +and shoulders that they look more like the ravings of distraction than +well-chosen apothegms." + +"That defect God himself must remedy," said Sancho; "for I have more +proverbs by heart than would be sufficient to fill a large book; and, +when I speak, they crowd together in such a manner as to quarrel for +utterance; so that my tongue discharges them just as they happen to be +in the way, whether they are or are not to the purpose: but I will take +care henceforward to throw out those that may be suitable to the gravity +of my office: for, 'Where there's plenty of meat, the supper will soon +be complete;' 'He that shuffles does not cut;' 'A good hand makes a +short game;' and, 'It requires a good brain to know when to give and +retain.'" + +"Courage, Sancho," cried Don Quixote; "squeeze, tack, and string your +proverbs together; here are none to oppose you. My mother whips me, and +I whip the top. Here am I exhorting thee to suppress thy proverbs, and +in an instant thou hast spewed forth a whole litany of them, which are +as foreign from the subject as an old ballad. Remember, Sancho, I do not +say that a proverb properly applied is amiss; but, to throw in, and +string together old saws helter-skelter, renders conversation altogether +mean and despicable. + +"When you appear on horseback do not lean backward over the saddle, nor +stretch out your legs stiffly from the horse's belly, nor let them hang +dangling in a slovenly manner, as if you were upon the back of Dapple; +for some ride like jockeys, and some like gentlemen. + +"Be very moderate in sleeping; for he who does not rise with the sun +cannot enjoy the day; and observe, O Sancho, industry is the mother of +prosperity; and laziness, her opposite, never saw the accomplishment of +a good wish. + +"This is all the advice, friend Sancho, that occurs to me at present; +hereafter, as occasions offer, my instructions will be ready, provided +thou art mindful to inform me of the state of thy affairs." + +"Sir," answered Sancho, "I see very well that all your worship has told +me is wholesome and profitable; but what shall I be the better for it if +I cannot keep it in my head? It is true, I shall not easily forget what +you have said about paring my nails, and marrying again if the +opportunity offers; but for your other quirks and quillets, I protest +they have already gone out of my head as clean as last year's clouds; +and therefore, let me have them in writing; for though I cannot read +them myself, I will give them to my confessor, that he may repeat and +drive them into me in time of need." + +"Heaven defend me!" said Don Quixote, "how scurvy doth it look in a +governor to be unable to read or write! Indeed, Sancho, I must needs +tell thee that when a man has not been taught to read, or is +left-handed, it argues that his parentage was very low, or that, in +early life, he was so indocile and perverse that his teachers could beat +nothing good into him. Truly this is a great defect in thee, and +therefore I would have thee learn to write, even if it were only thy +name." + +"That I can do already," quoth Sancho; "for when I was steward of the +brotherhood in our village, I learned to make certain marks like those +upon wool-packs, which they told me, stood for my name. But, at the +worst, I can feign a lameness in my right hand, and get another to sign +for me: there is a remedy for every thing but death; and, having the +staff in my hand, I can do what I please. Besides, as your worship +knows, he whose father is mayor[12]--and I, being governor, am, I trow, +something more than mayor. + +"Ay, ay, let them come that list, and play at bo-peep--ay, fleer and +backbite me; but they may come for wool and go back shorn: 'His home is +savory whom God loves;'--besides, 'The rich man's blunders pass current +for wise maxims;' so that I, being a governor, and therefore wealthy, +and bountiful to boot--as I intend to be--nobody will see any blemish in +me. No, no, let the clown daub himself with honey, and he will never +want flies. 'As much as you have, just so much you are worth,' said my +grandam; revenge yourself upon the rich who can." + +"Heaven confound thee!" exclaimed Don Quixote; "sixty thousand devils +take thee and thy proverbs! This hour, or more, thou hast been stringing +thy musty wares, poisoning and torturing me without mercy. Take my word +for it, these proverbs will one day bring thee to the gallows;--they +will surely provoke thy people to rebellion! Where dost thou find them? +How shouldst thou apply them, idiot? for I toil and sweat as if I were +delving the ground to utter but one, and apply it properly." + +"Before Heaven, master of mine," replied Sancho, "your worship complains +of very trifles. Why, in the devil's name, are you angry that I make use +of my own goods? for other stock I have none, nor any stock but proverbs +upon proverbs; and just now I have four ready to pop out, all pat and +fitting as pears in a pannier--but I am dumb: Silence is my name."[13] + +"Then art thou vilely miscalled," quoth Don Quixote, "being an eternal +babbler. Nevertheless, I would fain know these four proverbs that come +so pat to the purpose; for I have been rummaging my own memory, which is +no bad one, but for the soul of me, I can find none." + +"Can there be better," quoth Sancho, "than--'Never venture your fingers +between two eye-teeth;' and with 'Get out of my house--what would you +have with my wife?' there is no arguing; and, 'Whether the pitcher hits +the stone, or the stone hits the pitcher, it goes ill with the pitcher.' +All these, your worship must see, fit to a hair. Let no one meddle with +the governor or his deputy, or he will come off the worst, like him who +claps his finger between two eye-teeth, and though they were not +eye-teeth, 'tis enough if they be but teeth. To what a governor says +there is no replying, any more than to 'Get out of my house--what +business have you with my wife?' Then as to the stone and the pitcher--a +blind man may see that. So he who points to the mote in another man's +eye, should first look to the beam in his own, that it may not be said +of him, the dead woman was afraid of her that was flayed. Besides, your +worship knows well that the fool knows more in his own house than the +wise in that of another." + +"Not so, Sancho," answered Don Quixote, "the fool knows nothing, either +in his own or any other house; for knowledge is not to be erected upon +so bad a foundation as folly. But here let it rest, Sancho, for, if thou +governest ill, though the fault will be thine, the shame will be mine. +However, I am comforted in having given thee the best counsel in my +power; and therein having done my duty, I am acquitted both of my +obligation and promise; so God speed thee, Sancho, and govern thee in +thy government, and deliver me from the fears I entertain that thou wilt +turn the whole island topsy-turvy!--which, indeed, I might prevent by +letting the duke know what thou art, and telling him that all that +paunch-gut and little carcass of thine is nothing but a sack full of +proverbs and impertinence." + +"Signor," replied Sancho, "if your worship really thinks I am not +qualified for that government, I renounce it from henceforward forever, +amen. I have a greater regard for a nail's breadth of my soul than my +whole body; and I can subsist, as bare Sancho, upon a crust of bread and +an onion, as well as governor on capons and partridges; for, while we +sleep, great and small, rich and poor, are equal all. If your worship +will consider, your worship will find that you yourself put this scheme +of government into my head. As for my own part, I know no more of the +matter than a bustard; and, if you think the governorship will be the +means of my going to the devil, I would much rather go as simple Sancho +to Heaven than as a governor to hell-fire." + +"Before God!" cried the knight, "from these last reflections thou hast +uttered, I pronounce thee worthy to govern a thousand islands. Thou hast +an excellent natural disposition, without which all science is naught. +Recommend thyself to God, and endeavor to avoid errors in the first +intention. I mean, let thy intention and unshaken purpose be to deal +righteously in all thy transactions, for Heaven always favors the +upright design. And now let us go in to dinner, for I believe their +graces wait for us." + + + Without discretion there can be no wit. + + +O poverty, poverty! I know not what should induce the great Cordovan +poet to call thee a holy, unrequited gift. I, though a Moor, am very +sensible, from my correspondence with Christians, that holiness consists +in charity, humility, faith, poverty, and obedience; yet, nevertheless, +I will affirm that he must be holy indeed, who can sit down content with +poverty, unless we mean that kind of poverty to which one of the +greatest saints alludes, when he says, "Possess of all things as not +possessing them;" and this is called spiritual poverty. But thou second +poverty, which is the cause I spoke of, why wouldst thou assault +gentlemen of birth rather than any other class of people? Why dost thou +compel them to cobble their shoes, and wear upon their coats one button +of silk, another of hair, and a third of glass? Why must their ruffs be +generally yellow and ill-starched? (By the by, from this circumstance we +learn the antiquity of ruffs and starch. But thus he proceeds:) O +wretched man of noble pedigree! who is obliged to administer cordials to +his honor, in the midst of hunger and solitude, by playing the hypocrite +with a toothpick, which he affects to use in the street, though he has +eat nothing to require that act of cleanliness. Wretched he, I say, +whose honor is ever apt to be startled, and thinks that everybody at a +league's distance observes the patch upon his shoe, his greasy hat, and +his threadbare cloak, and even the hunger that consumes him. + + + Better a blush on the face than a stain in the heart. + + Look not in last year's nests for this year's birds. + + +A SERENADE. + +And he forthwith imagined that some damsel belonging to the duchess had +become enamored of him. Though somewhat fearful of the beautiful foe, he +resolved to fortify his heart, and on no account to yield; so, +commending himself with fervent devotion to his mistress, Dulcinea del +Toboso, he determined to listen to the music; and to let the damsel know +he was there he gave a feigned sneeze, at which they were not a little +pleased, as they desired above all things that he should hear them. The +harp being now tuned, Altisidora began the following song[14]:-- + + Wake, sir knight, now love's invading, + Sleep in Holland sheets no more; + When a nymph is serenading, + 'Tis an arrant shame to snore. + + Hear a damsel tall and tender, + Moaning in most rueful guise, + With heart almost burned to cinder + By the sunbeams of thine eyes. + + To free damsels from disaster + Is, they say, your daily care: + Can you then deny a plaster + To a wounded virgin here? + + Tell me, doughty youth, who cursed thee + With such humors and ill-luck? + Was't some sullen bear dry-nursed thee, + Or she-dragon gave thee suck? + + Dulcinea, that virago, + Well may brag of such a Cid, + Now her fame is up, and may go + From Toledo to Madrid. + + Would she but her prize surrender, + (Judge how on thy face I dote!) + In exchange I'd gladly send her + My best gown and petticoat. + + Happy I, would fortune doom me + But to have me near thy bed, + Stroke thee, pat thee, currycomb thee, + And hunt o'er thy knightly head. + + But I ask too much, sincerely, + And I doubt I ne'er must do't, + I'd but kiss your toe, and fairly + Get the length thus of your foot. + + How I'd rig thee, and what riches + Should be heaped upon thy bones! + Caps and socks, and cloaks and breeches, + Matchless pearls and precious stones. + + Do not from above, like Nero, + See me burn and slight my woe, + But to quench my fires, my hero, + Cast a pitying eye below. + + I'm a virgin-pullet, truly; + One more tender ne'er was seen. + A mere chicken fledged but newly;-- + Hang me if I'm yet fifteen. + + Wind and limb, all's tight about me, + My hair dangles to my feet; + I am straight, too:--if you doubt me, + Trust your eyes, come down and see't. + + I've a bob nose has no fellow, + And a sparrow's mouth as rare; + Teeth, like bright topazes, yellow; + Yet I'm deemed a beauty here. + + You know what a rare musician + (If you hearken) courts your choice; + I dare say my disposition + Is as taking as my voice. + +Here ended the song of the amorous Altisidora, and began the alarm of +the courted Don Quixote, who, fetching a deep sigh, said within himself: +"Why am I so unhappy a knight-errant that no damsel can see but she must +presently fall in love with me? Why is the peerless Dulcinea so unlucky +that she must not be suffered singly to enjoy this my incomparable +constancy? Queens, what would ye have with her? Empresses, why do ye +persecute her? Damsels from fourteen to fifteen, why do ye plague her? +Leave, leave the poor creature; let her triumph and glory in the lot +which love bestowed upon her in the conquest of my heart and the +surrender of my soul. Take notice, enamored multitude, that to Dulcinea +alone I am paste and sugar, and to all others flint. To her I am honey, +and to the rest of ye aloes. To me, Dulcinea alone is beautiful, +discreet, lively, modest, and well-born; all the rest of her sex foul, +foolish, fickle, and base-born. To be hers, and hers alone, nature sent +me into the world. Let Altisidora weep or sing, let the lady despair on +whose account I was buffeted in the castle of the enchanted Moor; boiled +or roasted, Dulcinea's I must be, clean, well-bred, and chaste, in spite +of all the necromantic powers on earth." + + +HOW THE GREAT SANCHO PANZA TOOK POSSESSION OF HIS ISLAND, AND OF THE +MANNER OF HIS BEGINNING TO GOVERN IT.--THE GOVERNOR'S WISDOM. + +O thou ceaseless discoverer of the antipodes, torch of the world, eye of +Heaven, and sweet cause of earthen wine coolers; here Thymbrius, there +Phoebus; here archer, there physician, father of poesy, inventor of +music; thou who always risest, and, though thou seemest to do so, never +settest,--to thee I speak, O sun! thee I invoke to favor and enlighten +the obscurity of the great Sancho Panza; without thee I find myself +indolent, dispirited, and confused! + +Sancho, then, with all his attendants, arrived at a town containing +about a thousand inhabitants, which was one of the largest and best the +duke had. They gave him to understand that it was called the island of +Barataria, either because Barataria was really the name of the place, or +because he obtained the government of it at so cheap a rate. On his +arrival near the gates of the town, which was walled about, the +municipal officers came out to receive him. The bells rung, and, with +all the demonstrations of a general joy and a great deal of pomp, the +people conducted him to the great church to give thanks to God. +Presently after, with certain ridiculous ceremonies, they presented him +the keys of the town and constituted him perpetual governor of the +island of Barataria. The garb, the beard, the thickness and shortness of +the new governor, surprised all who were not in the secret, and, indeed, +those who were, who were not a few. In fine, as soon as they had brought +him out of the church, they carried him to the tribunal of justice and +placed him in the chair. The duke's steward then said to him, "It is an +ancient custom here, my lord governor, that he who comes to take +possession of this famous island is obliged to answer a question put to +him, which is to be somewhat intricate and difficult. By his answer the +people are enabled to feel the pulse of their new governor's +understanding, and, accordingly, are either glad or sorry for his +coming." + +While the steward was saying this, Sancho was staring at some capital +letters written on the wall opposite to his chair, and, being unable to +read, he asked what that writing was on the wall. He was answered, "Sir, +it is there written on what day your honor took possession of this +island. The inscription runs thus: 'This day, such a day of the month +and year, Signor Don Sancho Panza took possession of this island. Long +may he enjoy it.'" + +"Pray who is it they call Don Sancho Panza?" demanded Sancho. + +"Your lordship," answered the steward! "for no other Panza, besides him +now in the chair, ever came into this island." + +"Take notice, then, brother," returned Sancho, "that the _Don_ does not +belong to me, nor ever did to any of my family. I am called plain Sancho +Panza: my father was a Sancho, and my grandfather was a Sancho, and they +were all Panzas, without any addition of _Dons_, or any other title +whatever. I fancy there are more _Dons_ than stones in this island. But +enough: God knows my meaning: and perhaps, if my government lasts four +days, I may weed out these _Dons_ that over-run the country, and, by +their numbers, are as troublesome as mosquitoes and cousins. On with +your question, Master Steward, and I will answer the best I can, let the +people be sorry or rejoice." + +About this time two men came into the court, the one clad like a country +fellow, and the other like a tailor, with a pair of shears in his hand; +and the tailor said: "My lord governor, I and this countryman come +before your worship by reason this honest man came yesterday to my shop +(saving your presence, I am a tailor, and have passed my examination, +God be thanked), and putting a piece of cloth into my hands, asked me, +'Sir, is there enough of this to make me a cap?' I, measuring the piece, +answered Yes. Now he bade me view it again, and see if there was not +enough for two. I guessed his drift, and told him there was. Persisting +in his knavish intentions, my customer went on increasing the number of +caps, and I still saying yes, till we came to five caps. A little time +ago he came to claim them. I offered them to him, but he refuses to pay +me for the making, and insists I shall either return him his cloth, or +pay him for it." + +"Is all this so, brother?" demanded Sancho. + +"Yes," answered the man; "but pray, my lord, make him produce the five +caps he has made me." + +"With all my heart," answered the tailor; and pulling his hand from +under his cloak, he showed the five caps on the ends of his fingers and +thumb, saying: "Here are the five caps this honest man would have me +make, and on my soul and conscience, not a shred of the cloth is left, +and I submit the work to be viewed by any inspectors of the trade." + +All present laughed at the number of the caps and the novelty of the +suit. Sancho reflected a moment, and then said: "I am of opinion there +needs no great delay in this suit, and it may be decided very equitably +off-hand. Therefore I pronounce, that the tailor lose the making, and +the countryman the stuff, and that the caps be confiscated to the use of +the poor: and there is an end of that." + +If the sentence Sancho afterwards passed on the purse of the herdsman +caused the admiration of all the bystanders, this excited their +laughter. However, what the governor commanded was executed, and two old +men next presented themselves before him. One of them carried a cane in +his hand for a staff; the other, who had no staff, said to Sancho: "My +lord, some time ago I lent this man ten crowns of gold to oblige and +serve him, upon condition that he should return them on demand. I let +some time pass without asking for them, being loth to put him to a +greater strait to pay me than he was in when I lent them. But at length, +thinking it full time to be repaid, I asked him for my money more than +once, but to no purpose: he not only refuses payment, but denies the +debt, and says I never lent him any such sum, or, if I did that he had +already paid me. I have no witnesses to the loan, nor has he of the +payment which he pretends to have made, but which I deny; yet if he will +swear before your worship that he has returned the money, I from this +minute acquit him before God and the world." + +"What say you to this, old gentleman?" quoth Sancho. + +"I confess, my lord," replied the old fellow, "that he did lend me the +money, and if your worship pleases to hold down your wand of justice, +since he leaves it to my oath, I will swear I have really and truly +returned it to him." + +The governor accordingly held down his wand, and the old fellow, seeming +encumbered with his staff, gave it to his creditor to hold while he was +swearing; and then taking hold of the cross of the wand, he said it was +true indeed the other had lent him ten crowns, but that he had restored +them to him into his own hand; but having, he supposed, forgotten it, he +was continually dunning him for them. Upon which his lordship the +governor demanded of the creditor what he had to say in reply to the +solemn declaration he had heard. He said that he submitted, and could +not doubt but that his debtor had sworn the truth; for he believed him +to be an honest man and a good Christian; and that, as the fault must +have been in his own memory, he would thenceforward ask him no more for +his money. The debtor now took his staff again, and bowing to the +governor, went out of court. + +Sancho having observed the defendant take his staff and walk away, and +noticing also the resignation of the plaintiff, he began to meditate, +and laying the fore-finger of his right hand upon his forehead, he +continued a short time apparently full of thought; and then raising his +head, he ordered the old man with the staff to be called back; and when +he had returned, "Honest friend," said the governor, "give me that +staff, for I have occasion for it." + +"With all my heart," answered the old fellow; and delivered it into his +hand. Sancho took it, and giving it to the other old man, said: "Go +about your business, in God's name, for you are paid." "I, my lord," +answered the old man; "what! is this cane worth ten golden crowns?" + +"Yes," quoth the governor, "or I am the greatest dunce in the world! and +now it shall appear whether I have a head to govern a whole kingdom." +Straight he commanded the cane to be broken before them all. Which being +done there were found in the hollow of it ten crowns in gold. + +All were struck with admiration, and took their new governor for a +second Solomon. They asked him, whence he had collected that the ten +crowns were in the cane. He answered, that upon seeing the old man give +it his adversary, while he was taking the oath, and swearing that he +had really and truly restored them into his own hands, and, when he had +done, ask for it again, it came into his imagination, the money in +dispute must be in the hollow of the cane. Whence it may be gathered, +that, God Almighty often directs the judgment of those who govern, +though otherwise mere blockheads: besides, he had heard the priest of +his parish tell a like case; and, were it not that he was so unlucky as +to forget all he had a mind to remember, his memory was so good, there +would not have been a better in the whole island. + +At length, both the old men marched off, the one ashamed, and the other +satisfied; the bystanders were surprised, and the secretary, who minuted +down the words, actions, and behavior of Sancho Panza, could not +determine with himself, whether he should set him down for a wise man or +a fool. All the court were in admiration at the acuteness and wisdom of +their new governor; all of whose sentences and decrees, being noted down +by the appointed historiographer, were immediately transmitted to the +duke, who waited for these accounts with the utmost impatience. + + We see that governors, though otherwise fools, are sometimes + directed in their decisions by the hand of God. + + Time is ever moving; nothing ever can impede his course. + + An understanding in the beginning is often an effectual cure + for those who are indiscreetly in love. + +At eleven o'clock Don Quixote retired to his apartment, and finding a +lute there, he tuned it, opened the window, and, perceiving there was +somebody walking in the garden, he ran over the strings of the +instrument; and, having tuned it again as nicely as he could, he coughed +and cleared his throat; and then, with a voice somewhat hoarse, yet not +unmusical, he sang the following song, which he had composed himself +that very day:-- + +THE ADVICE. + +MATTEAUX'S TRANSLATION. + + Love, a strong, designing foe. + Careless hearts with ease deceives; + Can thy breast resist his blow, + Which your sloth unguarded leaves? + + If you're idle you're destroyed, + All his art on you he tries; + But be watchful and employed, + Straight the baffled tempter flies. + + Maids for modest grace admired, + If they would their fortunes raise, + Must in silence live retired: + 'Tis their virtue speaks their praise. + + The divine Tobosan fair, + Dulcinea, claims me whole; + Nothing can her image tear! + 'Tis one substance with my soul. + + Then let fortune smile or frown, + Nothing shall my faith remove; + Constant truth, the lover's crown, + Can work miracles in love. + +THE SAME AS TRANSLATED BY SMOLLETT. + + Love, with idleness combined, + Will unhinge the tender mind: + But to few, to work and move, + Will exclude the force of love. + Blooming maids that would be married, + Must in virtue be unwearied; + Modesty a dower will raise, + And be a trumpet of their praise. + A cavalier will sport and play + With a damsel frank and gay; + But, when wedlock is his aim, + Choose a maid of sober fame. + Passion kindled in the breast, + By a stranger or a guest, + Enters with the rising sun, + And fleets before his race be run: + Love that comes so suddenly, + Ever on the wing to fly, + Neither can nor will impart + Strong impressions to the heart. + Pictures drawn on pictures, show + Strange confusion to the view: + Second beauty finds no base, + Where a first has taken place: + Then Dulcinea still shall reign + Without a rival or a stain; + Nor shall fate itself control + Her sway, or blot her from my soul: + Constancy, the lover's boast, + I'll maintain whate'er it cost: + This, my virtue will refine; + This will stamp my joys divine. + +THE SAME AS TRANSLATED BY JARVIS. + + Love, with idleness is friend, + O'er a maiden gains its end: + But let business and employment + Fill up every careful moment; + These an antidote will prove + 'Gainst the pois'nous arts of love. + Maidens that aspire to marry, + In their looks reserve should carry: + Modesty their price should raise, + And be the herald of their praise. + Knights, whom toils of arms employ, + With the free may laugh and toy; + But the modest only, choose + When they tie the nuptial noose. + Love that rises with the sun, + With his setting beams is gone: + Love that guest-like visits hearts, + When the banquet's o'er, departs: + And the love that comes to-day, + And to-morrow wings its way, + Leaves no traces on the soul, + Its affections to control. + Where a sovereign beauty reigns, + Fruitless are a rival's pains,-- + O'er a finished picture who + E'er a second picture drew? + Fair Dulcinea, queen of beauty, + Rules my heart, and claims its duty, + Nothing there can take her place, + Naught her image can erase. + Whether fortune smile or frown, + Constancy 's the lover's crown; + And, its force divine to prove, + Miracles performs in love. + + +THE GOVERNOR IN A RAGE. + +The history relates that Sancho Panza was conducted from the court of +justice to a sumptuous palace, where in a great hall he found a +magnificent entertainment prepared. He had no sooner entered than his +ears were saluted by the sound of many instruments, and four pages +served him with water to wash his hands, which the governor received +with becoming gravity. The music having ceased, Sancho now sat down to +dinner in a chair of state placed at the upper end of the table, for +there was but one seat and only one plate and napkin. A personage, who, +as it afterwards appeared, was a physician, took his stand at one side +of his chair with a whalebone rod in his hand. They then removed the +beautiful white cloth, which covered a variety of fruits and other +eatables. Grace was said by one in a student's dress, and a laced bib +was placed by a page under Sancho's chin. Another, who performed the +office of sewer, now set a plate of fruit before him; but he had +scarcely tasted it, when, on being touched by the wand-bearer, it was +snatched away, and another containing meat instantly supplied its place. +Yet before Sancho could make a beginning it vanished, like the former, +on a signal of the wand. + +The governor was surprised at this proceeding, and looking around him, +asked if this dinner was only to show off their sleight of hand. + +"My lord," said the wand-bearer, "your lordship's food must here be +watched with the same care as is customary with the governors of other +islands. I am a doctor of physic, sir, and my duty, for which I receive +a salary, is to watch over the governor's health, whereof I am more +careful than of my own. I study his constitution night and day, that I +may know how to restore him when sick; and therefore think it incumbent +on me to pay especial regard to his meals, at which I constantly +preside, to see that he eats what is good and salutary, and prevent his +touching whatever I imagine may be prejudicial to his health or +offensive to his stomach. It was for that reason, my lord," continued +he, "I ordered the dish of fruit to be taken away, as being too watery, +and that other dish, as being too hot and over-seasoned with spices, +which are apt to provoke thirst; and he that drinks much destroys and +consumes the radical moisture, which is the fuel of life." + +"Well, then," quoth Sancho, "that plate of roasted partridges, which +seem to me to be very well seasoned, I suppose will do me no manner of +harm?" + +"Hold," said the doctor, "my lord governor shall not eat them while I +live to prevent it." + +"Pray, why not?" quoth Sancho. + +"Because," answered the doctor, "our great master Hippocrates, the north +star and luminary of medicine, says in one of his aphorisms, _Omnis +saturatio mala, perdicis autem pessima_; which means, 'All repletion is +bad, but that from partridges the worst.'" + +"If it be so," quoth Sancho, "pray cast your eye, signor doctor, over +all these dishes here on the table, and see which will do me the most +good or the least harm, and let me eat of it without whisking it away +with your conjuring-stick; for, by my soul, and as Heaven shall give me +life to enjoy this government, I am dying with hunger; and to deny me +food--let signor doctor say what he will--is not the way to lengthen my +life, but to cut it short." + +"Your worship is in the right, my lord governor," answered the +physician, "and therefore I am of opinion you should not eat of these +stewed rabbits, as being a food that is tough and acute; of that veal, +indeed, you might have taken a little, had it been neither roasted nor +stewed; but as it is, not a morsel." + +"What think you, then," said Sancho, "of that huge dish there, smoking +hot, which I take to be an olla-podrida?--for, among the many things +contained in it, I surely may light upon something both wholesome and +toothsome." + +"_Absit!_" quoth the doctor, "far be such a thought from us. +Olla-podrida! there is no worse dish in the world. Leave them to +prebends and rectors of colleges or lusty feeders at country weddings; +but let them not be seen on the tables of governors, where nothing +contrary to health and delicacy should be tolerated. Simple medicines +are always more estimable and safe, for in them there can be no mistake, +whereas in such as are compounded all is hazard and uncertainty. +Therefore, what I would at present advise my lord governor to eat, in +order to corroborate and preserve his health, is about a hundred small +rolled-up wafers, with some thin slices of marmalade, that may sit upon +the stomach and help digestion." + +Sancho, hearing this, threw himself backward in his chair, and looking +at the doctor from head to foot very seriously, asked him his name and +where he had studied. To which he answered, "My lord governor, my name +is Doctor Pedro Rezio de Aguero; I am a native of a place called +Tirteafuera, lying between Caraquel and Almoddobar del Campo, on the +right hand, and I have taken my doctor's degrees in the university of +Ossuna." + +"Then, hark you," said Sancho in a rage, "Signor Doctor Pedro Rezzio de +Aguero, native of Tirteafuera, lying on the right hand as we go from +Caraquel to Almoddobar del Campo, graduate in Ossuna, get out of my +sight this instant, or, by the light of Heaven, I will take a cudgel, +and, beginning with your carcass, will so belabor all the physic-mongers +in the island, that not one of the tribe shall be left!--I mean of those +like yourself, who are ignorant quacks. For those who are learned and +wise I shall make much of and honor as so many angels. I say again, +Signor Pedro Rezio, begone, or I shall take the chair I sit on and comb +your head to some tune; and if I am called to an account for it when I +give up my office, I shall prove that I have done a good service in +ridding the world of a bad physician, who is a public executioner. Body +of me! give me something to eat, or let them take back their +government,--for an office that will not find a man in victuals is not +worth two beans." + +On seeing the governor in such a fury the doctor would have fled out in +the hall had not the sound of a courier's horn at that instant been +heard in the street. "A courier from my lord duke," said the sewer (who +had looked out of the window), "and he must certainly have brought +despatches of importance." + +The courier entered hastily, foaming with sweat and in great agitation, +and pulling a packet out of his bosom, he delivered it into the +governor's hands, and by him it was given to the steward, telling him to +read the superscription, which was this: "To Don Sancho Panza, Governor +of the Island of Barataria. To be delivered only to himself or to his +secretary." + +"Who is my secretary?" said Sancho. + +"It is I, my lord," answered one who was present, "for I can read and +write, and am, besides, a Biscayan." + +"With that addition," quoth Sancho, "you may very well be secretary to +the emperor himself. Open the packet and see what it holds." + +The new secretary did so, and having run his eye over the contents, he +said it was a business which required privacy. Accordingly, Sancho +commanded all to retire excepting the steward and sewer; and when the +hall was cleared, the secretary read the following letter:-- + +"It has just come to my knowledge, Signor Don Panza, that certain +enemies of mine intend very soon to make a desperate attack, by night, +upon the island under your command; it is necessary, therefore, to be +vigilant and alert, that you may not be taken by surprise. I have also +received intelligence from trusty spies, that four persons in disguise +are now in your town, sent thither by the enemy, who, fearful of your +great talents, have a design upon your life. Keep a strict watch, be +careful who are admitted to you, and eat nothing sent you as a present. +I will not fail to send you assistance if you are in want of it. +Whatever may be attempted, I have full reliance on your activity and +judgment. + +"Your friend, + +"THE DUKE. + +"From this place, the 16th of August, at four in the morning." + +Sancho was astonished at this information, and the others appeared to be +no less so. At length, turning to the steward, "I will tell you," said +he, "the first thing to be done, which is to clap Doctor Rezio into a +dungeon; for if anybody has a design to kill me, it is he, and that by +the most lingering and the worst of all deaths,--starvation." + +"Be that as it may," said the steward, "it is my opinion your honor +would do well to eat none of the meat here upon the table, for it was +presented by some nuns, and it is a saying, 'The devil lurks behind the +cross.'" + +"You are in the right," quoth Sancho, "and for the present give me only +a piece of bread and some four pounds of grapes,--there can be no poison +in them,--for, in truth, I cannot live without food, and if we must keep +in readiness for these battles that threaten us, it is fit that we +should be well fed, for the stomach upholds the heart and the heart the +man. Do you, Mr. Secretary, answer the letter of my lord duke, and tell +him his commands shall be obeyed throughout most faithfully; and present +my dutiful respects to my lady duchess, and beg her not to forget to +send a special messenger with my letter and bundle to my wife Teresa +Panza, which I shall take as a particular favor, and will be her humble +servant to the utmost of my power. And, by the way, you may put in my +hearty service to my master, Don Quixote de la Mancha, that he may see +that I am neither forgetful nor ungrateful; and as to the rest, I leave +it to you, as a good secretary and a true Biscayan, to add whatever you +please, or that may turn to the best account. Now away with this cloth, +and bring me something that may be eaten, and then let these spies, +murderers, and enchanters see how they meddle with me or my island." + +A page now entered, saying, "Here is a countryman who would speak with +your lordship on business, as he says, of great importance." + +"It is very strange," quoth Saneho, "that these men of business should +be so silly as not to see that this is not a time for such matters. +What! we who govern and belike are not made of flesh and bone like +other men! We are made of marble-stone, forsooth, and have no need of +rest or refreshment! Before Heaven and upon my conscience, if my +government lasts, as I have a glimmering it will not, I shall hamper +more than one of these men of business! Well, for this once, tell the +fellow to come in; but first see that he is no spy, nor one of my +murderers." + +"He looks, my lord," answered the page, "like a simple fellow, and I am +much mistaken if he be not as harmless as a crust of bread." + +"Your worship need not fear," quoth the steward, "since we are with +you." + +"But now that Doctor Pedro Rezio is gone," quoth Sancho, "may I not have +something to eat of substance and weight, though it were but a luncheon +of bread and an onion?" + +"At night your honor shall have no cause to complain," quoth the sewer; +"supper shall make up for the want of dinner." + +"Heaven grant it may," replied Sancho. + + +THE COUNTRYMAN'S TALE. + +The countryman, who was of goodly presence, then came in, and it might +be seen a thousand leagues off that he was an honest, good soul. + +"Which among you here is the lord governor?" said he. + +"Who should it be," answered the secretary, "but he who is seated in the +chair?" + +"I humble myself in his presence," quoth the countryman; and kneeling +down, he begged for his hand to kiss. + +Sancho refused it, and commanded him to rise and tell his business. The +countryman did so, and said: "My lord, I am a husbandman, a native of +Miguel Terra, two leagues from Ciudad Real." + +"What! another Tirteafuera?" quoth Sancho. "Say on, brother; for let me +tell you, I know Miguel Terra very well; it is not very far from my own +village." + +"The business is this, sir," continued the peasant: "by the mercy of +Heaven I was married in peace and in the face of the holy Roman Catholic +Church. I have two sons, bred scholars; the younger studies for +bachelor, and the elder for licentiate. I am a widower, for my wife +died, or rather a wicked physician killed her by improper medicines when +she was pregnant; and if it had been God's will that the child had been +born, and had proved a son, I would have put him to study for doctor, +that he might not envy his two brothers, the bachelor and the +licentiate." + +"So that, if your wife," quoth Sancho, "had not died, or had not been +killed, you would not now be a widower." + +"No, certainly, my lord," answered the peasant. + +"We are much the nearer," replied Sancho; "go on, friend, for this is an +hour rather for bed than business." + +"I say, then," quoth the countryman, "that my son who is to be the +bachelor fell in love with a damsel in the same village, called Clara +Perlerino, daughter of Andres Perlerino, a very rich farmer; which name +of Perlerino came to them not by lineal or any other descent, but +because all of that race are paralytic; and to mend the name, they call +them Perlerinos. Indeed, to say the truth, the damsel is like any +oriental pearl, and looked at on the right side seems a very flower of +the field; but on the left not quite so fair, for on that side she wants +an eye, which she lost by the small-pox; and though the pits in her face +are many and deep, her admirers say they are not pits but graves wherein +the hearts of her lovers are buried. So clean and delicate, too, is she, +that to prevent defiling her face, she carries her nose so hooked up +that it seems to fly from her mouth; yet for all that she looks +charmingly, for she has a large mouth, and did she not lack half a score +or a dozen front teeth she might pass and make a figure among the +fairest. I say nothing of her lips, for they are so thin that, were it +the fashion to reel lips, one might make a skein of them; but, being of +a different color from what is usual in lips, they have a marvellous +appearance, for they are streaked with blue, green, and orange-tawny. +Pardon me, good my lord governor, if I paint so minutely the parts of +her who is about to become my daughter; for in truth I love and admire +her more than I can tell." + +"Paint what you will," quoth Sancho, "for I am mightily taken with the +picture; and had I but dined, I would not desire a better dessert than +your portrait." + +"It shall be always at your service," answered the peasant; "and the +time may come when we may be acquainted, though we are not so now; and +I assure you, my lord, if I could but paint her genteelness and the +tallness of her person, you would admire: but that cannot be, because +she is crooked, and crumpled up together, and her knees touch her mouth; +though, for all that, you may see plainly that could she but stand +upright she would touch the ceiling with her head. And she would ere now +have given her hand to my bachelor to be his wife, but that she cannot +stretch it out, it is so shrunk; nevertheless, her long guttered nails +show the goodness of its make." + +"So far so good," quoth Sancho; "and now, brother, make account that you +have painted her from head to foot. What is it you would be at? Come to +the point without so many windings and turnings, so many fetches and +digressions." + +"What I desire, my lord," answered the countryman, "is, that your +lordship would do me the favor to give me a letter of recommendation to +her father, begging his consent to the match, since we are pretty equal +in our fortunes and natural endowments; for, to say the truth, my lord +governor, my son is possessed, and scarcely a day passes in which the +evil spirits do not torment him three or four times; and having thereby +once fallen into the fire, his face is as shrivelled as a piece of +scorched parchment, and his eyes are somewhat bleared and running; but, +bless him! he has the temper of an angel, and did he not buffet and +belabor himself, he would be a very saint for gentleness." + +"Would you have anything else, honest friend?" said Sancho. + +"One thing more I would ask," quoth the peasant, "but I dare not,--yet +out it shall; come what may, it shall not rot in my breast. I say then, +my lord, I could wish your worship to give me three or six hundred +ducats towards mending the fortunes of my bachelor,--I mean, to assist +in furnishing his house; for it is agreed that they shall live by +themselves, without being subject to the impertinences of their +fathers-in-law." + +"Well," quoth Sancho, "see if there is anything else you would have, and +be not squeamish in asking." + +"No, nothing more," answered the peasant. + +The governor then rising, and seizing the chair on which he had been +seated, exclaimed, "I vow to Heaven, Don Lubberly, saucy bumpkin, if you +do not instantly get out of my sight, I will break your head with this +chair! Son of a rascal, and the devil's own painter! At this time of day +to come and ask me for six hundred ducats! Where should I have them, +villain? And if I had them, idiot! why should I give them to thee? What +care I for Miguel Terra, or for the whole race of the Perlerinos? +Begone, I say! or, by the life of my lord duke, I will be as good as my +word. Thou art no native of Miguel Terra, but some scoffer sent from the +devil to tempt me. Impudent scoundrel! I have not yet had the government +a day and a half, and you expect I should have six hundred ducats!" + +The sewer made signs to the countryman to go out of the hall, which he +did, hanging down his head, and seemingly much afraid lest the governor +should put his threat into execution,--for the knave knew very well how +to play his part. + +But let us leave Sancho in his passion; peace be with him! + + + The devil will never give you a high nose if a flat nose + will serve your turn. + + All is not gold that glitters. + + I am fully convinced that judges and governors are, or ought + to be, made of brass, so as that they may not feel the + importunity of people of business, who expect to be heard + and despatched at all hours and at all seasons, come what + will, attending only to their own affairs; and if the poor + devil of a judge does not hear and despatch them, either + because it is not in his power, or it happens to be an + unseasonable time for giving audience, then they grumble and + backbite, gnaw him to the very bones, and even bespatter his + whole generation. Ignorant man of business! foolish man of + business! be not in such a violent hurry; wait for the + proper season and conjuncture, and come not at meals and + sleeping-time; for judges are made of flesh and blood, and + must give to nature that which nature requires. + + Good physicians deserve palms and laurels. + + Either we are, or we are not. + + Walls have ears. + + Let us all live and eat together in harmony and good + friendship. + + When God sends the morning, the light shines upon all. + + Make yourselves honey, and the flies will devour you. + + Your idle and lazy people in a commonwealth are like drones + in a beehive, which only devour the honey the laboring bees + gather. + + Every day produces something new in the world: jests turn + into earnest, and the biters are bit. + + They who expect snacks should be modest, and take cheerfully + whatever is given them, and not haggle with the winners; + unless they know them to be sharpers, and their gains + unfairly gotten. + + +THE GOVERNOR'S ROUND OF INSPECTION. + +After traversing a few streets, they heard the clashing of swords, and, +hastening to the place, they found two men fighting. On seeing the +officers coming they desisted, and one of them said, "Help, in the name +of Heaven and the king! Are people to be attacked here, and robbed in +the open streets?" + +"Hold, honest man," quoth Sancho, "and tell me what is the occasion of +this fray; for I am the governor." + +His antagonist, interposing, said, "My lord governor, I will briefly +relate the matter:--Your honor must know that this gentleman is just +come from the gaming-house over the way, where he has been winning above +a thousand reals, and heaven knows how, except that I, happening to be +present, was induced, even against my conscience, to give judgment in +his favor in many a doubtful point; and when I expected he would have +given me something, though it were but the small matter of a crown, by +way of present, as it is usual with gentlemen of character like myself, +who stand by, ready to back unreasonable demands, and to prevent +quarrels, up he got, with his pockets filled, and marched out of the +house. + +"Surprised and vexed at such conduct, I followed him, civilly reminded +him that he could not refuse me the small sum of eight reals, as he knew +me to be a man of honor, without either office or pension; my parents +having brought me up to nothing: yet this knave, who is as great a thief +as Cacus, and as arrant a sharper as Andradilla, would give me but four +reals! Think, my lord governor, what a shameless and unconscionable +fellow he is! But as I live had it not been for your worship coming, I +would have made him disgorge his winnings, and taught him how to balance +accounts." + +"What shall be done," replied Sancho, "is this: you, master winner, +whether by fair play or foul, instantly give your hackster here a +hundred reals, and pay down thirty more for the poor prisoners; and you, +sir, who have neither office nor pension, nor honest employment, take +the hundred reals, and, some time to-morrow, be sure you get out of +this island, nor set foot in it again these ten years, unless you would +finish your banishment in the next life: for if I find you here, I will +make you swing on a gibbet--at least the hangman shall do it for me: so +let no man reply, or he shall repent it." + +The decree was immediately executed: the one disbursed, the other +received; the one quitted the island, the other went home. + + + Cheats are always at the mercy of their accomplices. + + The maid that would keep her good name, stays at home as if + she were lame. A hen and a housewife, whatever they cost, if + once they go gadding will surely be lost. And she that longs + to see, I ween, is as desirous to be seen. + + Good fortune wants only a beginning. + + When they offer thee a government, lay hold of it. + + When an earldom is put before thee, lay thy clutches on it. + + When they throw thee some beneficial bone, snap at the + favor; if not, sleep on and never answer to good fortune and + preferment when they knock at thy door. + + Truth will always rise uppermost, as oil rises above water. + + Seeing is believing. + + According to reason, each thing has its season. + + When justice is doubtful, I should lean to the side of + mercy. + + +A MESSENGER TO TERESA PANZA. + +Being desirous to please his lord and lady, he set off with much glee to +Sancho's village. Having arrived near it, he inquired of some women whom +he saw washing in a brook if there lived not in that town one Teresa +Panza, wife of one Sancho Panza, squire to a knight called Don Quixote +de la Mancha. + +"That Teresa Panza is my mother," said a young lass who was washing +among the rest, "and that Sancho my own father, and that knight our +master." + +"Are they so?" quoth the page: "come then, my good girl, and lead me to +your mother, for I have a letter and a token for her from that same +father of yours." + +"That I will, with all my heart, sir," answered the girl (who seemed to +be about fourteen years of age); and leaving the linen she was washing +to one of her companions, without stopping to cover either her head or +feet, away she ran skipping along before the page's horse, bare-legged, +and her hair dishevelled. + +"Come along, sir, an 't please you," quoth she, "for our house stands +hard by, and you will find my mother in trouble enough for being so long +without tidings of my father." + +"Well," said the page, "I now bring her news that will cheer her heart, +I warrant her." + +So on he went, with his guide running, skipping, and capering before +him, till they reached the village, and, before she got up to the house, +she called out aloud, "Mother, mother, come out! here's a gentleman who +brings letters and other things from my good father." + +At these words out came her mother Teresa Panza with a distaff in her +hand--for she was spinning flax. She was clad in a russet petticoat, so +short that it looked as if it had been docked at the placket, with a +jacket of the same, and the sleeves of her under-garment hanging about +it. She appeared to be about forty years of age and was strong, hale, +sinewy, and hard as a hazel-nut. + +"What is the matter, girl?" quoth she, seeing her daughter with the +page; "what gentleman is that?" + +"It is an humble servant of my Lady Donna Teresa Panza," answered the +page; and throwing himself from his horse, with great respect he went +and kneeled before the Lady Teresa, saying, "Be pleased, Signora Donna +Teresa, to give me your ladyship's hand to kiss, as the lawful wife of +Signor Don Sancho Panza, sole governor of the island of Barataria." + +"Alack-a-day, good sir, how you talk!" she replied: "I am no court-dame, +but a poor country woman, daughter of a ploughman, and wife indeed of a +squire-errant, but no governor." + +"Your ladyship," answered the page, "is the most worthy wife of a +thrice-worthy governor, and to confirm the truth of what I say, be +pleased, madam, to receive what I here bring you." + +He then drew the letter from his pocket, and a string of corals, each +bead set in gold, and, putting it about her neck, he said, "This letter +is from my lord governor, and another that I have here, and those corals +are from my lady duchess, who sends me to your ladyship." + +Teresa and her daughter were all astonishment. + +"May I die," said the girl, "if our master Don Quixote be not at the +bottom of this--as sure as day he has given my father the government or +earldom he has so often promised him." + +"It is even so," answered the page; "and for Signor Don Quixote's sake, +my Lord Sancho is now governor of the island of Barataria, as the letter +will inform you." + +"Pray, young gentleman," quoth Teresa, "be pleased to read it; for +though I can spin I cannot read a jot." + +"Nor I neither, i' faith," cried Sanchica; "but stay a little, and I +will fetch one who can, either the bachelor Sampson Carrasco or the +priest himself, who will come with all their hearts to hear news of my +father." + +"You need not take that trouble," said the page; "for I can read though +I cannot spin, and will read it to you." Which he accordingly did: but +as its contents have already been given, it is not here repeated. He +then produced the letter from the duchess, and read as follows:-- + +"FRIEND TERESA,-- + +"Finding your husband Sancho worthy of my esteem for his honesty and +good understanding, I prevailed upon the duke, my spouse, to make him +governor of one of the many islands in his possession. I am informed he +governs like any hawk; at which I and my lord duke are mightily pleased, +and give many thanks to Heaven that I have not been deceived in my +choice, for madam Teresa may be assured that it is no easy matter to +find a good governor--and God make me as good as Sancho governs well. I +have sent you, my dear friend, a string of corals set in gold--I wish +they were oriental pearls; but whoever gives thee a bone has no mind to +see thee dead: the time will come when we shall be better acquainted, +and converse with each other, and then heaven knows what may happen. +Commend me to your daughter Sanchica, and tell her from me to get +herself ready; for I mean to have her highly married when she least +expects it. I am told the acorns near your town are very large--pray +send me some two dozen of them; for I shall value them the more as +coming from your hand. Write to me immediately, to inform me of your +health and welfare; and if you want anything, you need but open your +mouth, and it shall be measured. So God keep you. + +"Your loving Friend, + +"The DUCHESS. + +"From this place." + +"Ah!" quoth Teresa, at hearing the letter, "how good, how plain, how +humble a lady! let me be buried with such ladies as this, say I and not +with such proud madams as this town affords, who think because they are +gentlefolks, the wind must not blow upon them; and go flaunting to +church as if they were queens! they seem to think it a disgrace to look +upon a peasant woman: and yet you see how this good lady, though she be +a duchess, calls me friend, and treats me as if I were her equal!--and +equal may I see her to the highest steeple in La Mancha! As to the +acorns, sir, I will send her ladyship a peck of them, and such as, for +their size, people shall come from far and near to see and admire. But +for the present, Sanchica, let us make much of this gentleman. Do thou +take care of his horse, child, and bring some new-laid eggs out of the +stable, and slice some rashers of bacon, and let us entertain him like +any prince; for his good news and his own good looks deserve no less." + +Sanchica now came in with her lap full of eggs. "Pray, sir," said she to +the page, "does my father, now he is a governor, wear trunk-hose?"[15] + +"I never observed," answered the page, "but doubtless he does." + +"God's my life!" replied Sanchica, "what a sight to see my father in +long breeches? Is it not strange that ever since I was born I have +longed to see my father with breeches of that fashion laced to his +girdle?" + +"I warrant you will have that pleasure if you live," answered the page; +"before Heaven, if his government lasts but two months, he is likely to +travel with a cape to his cap." [16] + + +OF THE PROGRESS OF SANCHO PANZA'S GOVERNMENT. + +The first business that occurred on that day was an appeal to his +judgment in a case which was thus stated by a stranger--the appellant: +"My lord," said he, "there is a river which passes through the domains +of a certain lord, dividing it into two parts--I beseech your honor to +give me your attention, for it is a case of great importance and some +difficulty. I say, then, that upon this river there was a bridge, and at +one end of it a gallows and a kind of court-house, where four judges sit +to try, and pass sentence upon those who are found to transgress a +certain law enacted by the proprietor, which runs thus: 'Whoever would +pass over this bridge must first declare upon oath whence he comes, and +upon what business he is going; and if he swears the truth, he shall +pass over; but if he swears to a falsehood, he shall certainly die upon +a gibbet there provided.' + +"After this law was made known, many persons ventured over it, and the +truth of what they swore being admitted, they were allowed freely to +pass. But a man now comes demanding a passage over the bridge; and, on +taking the required oath, he swears that he is going to be executed +upon the gibbet before him, and that he has no other business. The +judges deliberated, but would not decide. 'If we let this man pass +freely,' said they, 'he will have sworn falsely, and by the law, he +ought to die: and, if we hang him, he will verify his oath, and he, +having sworn the truth, ought to have passed unmolested as the law +ordains.' The case, my lord, is yet suspended, for the judges know not +how to act; and, therefore having heard of your lordship's great wisdom +and acuteness, they have sent me humbly to beseech your lordship on +their behalf, to give your opinion in so intricate and perplexing a +case." + +"To deal plainly with you," said Sancho, "these gentlemen judges who +sent you to me might have saved themselves and you the labor; for I have +more of the blunt than the acute in me. However, let me hear your +question once more, that I may understand it the better, and mayhap I +may chance to hit the right nail on the head." + +The man accordingly told his tale once or twice more, and when he had +done, the governor thus delivered his opinion: "To my thinking," said +he, "this matter may soon be settled; and I will tell you how. The man, +you say, swears he is going to die upon the gallows; and if he is +hanged, it would be against the law, because he swore the truth; and if +they do not hang him, why then he swore a lie, and ought to have +suffered." + +"It is just as you say, my lord governor," said the messenger, "and +nothing more is wanting to a right understanding of the case." + +"I say, then," continued Sancho, "that they must let that part of the +man pass that swore the truth and hang that part that swore the lie, and +thereby the law will be obeyed." + +"If so, my lord," replied the stranger, "the man must be divided into +two parts; and thereby he will certainly die, and thus the law, which we +are bound to observe, is in no respect complied with." + +"Harkee, honest man," said Sancho, "either I have no brains, or there is +as much reason to put this passenger to death as to let him live and +pass the bridge; for, if the truth saves him, the lie also condemns him, +and this being so, you may tell those gentlemen who sent you to me, that +since the reasons for condemning and acquitting him are equal, they +should let the man pass freely, for it is always more commendable to do +good than to do harm." + +Sancho having plentifully dined that day, in spite of all the aphorisms +of Dr. Tirteafuera, when the cloth was removed in came an express with a +letter from Don Quixote to the governor. Sancho ordered the secretary to +read it to himself, and if there was nothing in it for secret perusal, +then to read it aloud. The secretary having first run it over, +accordingly, "My lord," said he, "the letter may not only be publicly +read, but deserves to be engraved in characters of gold; and thus it +is:--" + +DON QUIXOTE DE LA MANCHA TO SANCHO PANZA, GOVERNOR OF THE ISLAND OF +BARATARIA. + +"When I expected to have had an account of thy carelessness and +blunders, friend Sancho, I was agreeably disappointed with news of thy +wise behavior,--for which I return thanks to Heaven, that can raise the +lowest from their poverty and turn the fool into a man of sense. I hear +thou governest with all discretion; and that, nevertheless, thou +retainest the humility of the meanest creature. But I would observe to +thee, Sancho, that it is often expedient and necessary, for the due +support of authority, to act in contradiction to the humility of the +heart. The personal adornments of one that is raised to a high situation +must correspond with his present greatness, and not with his former +lowliness. Let thy apparel, therefore, be good and becoming; for the +hedgestake, when decorated no longer, appears what it really is. I do +not mean that thou shouldst wear jewels or finery; nor, being a judge, +would I have thee dress like a soldier; but adorn thyself in a manner +suitable to thy employment. To gain the good-will of thy people, two +things, among others, thou must not fail to observe: one is, to be +courteous to all,--that, indeed, I have already told thee; the other is, +to take especial care that the people be exposed to no scarcity of food, +for, with the poor, hunger is, of all afflictions, the most +insupportable. Publish few edicts, but let those be good; and, above +all, see that they are well observed, for edicts that are not kept are +the same as not made, and serve only to show that the prince, though he +had wisdom and authority to make them had not the courage to insist upon +their execution. Laws that threaten and are not enforced become like +King Log, whose croaking subjects first feared, then despised him. Be a +father to virtue and a step-father to vice. Be not always severe, nor +always mild; but choose the happy mean between them, which is the true +point of discretion. Visit the prisons, the shambles, and the markets; +for there the presence of the governor is highly necessary. Such +attention is a comfort to the prisoner hoping for release; it is a +terror to the butchers, who then dare not make use of false weights; and +the same effect is produced on all other dealers. Shouldst thou +unhappily be secretly inclined to avarice, to gluttony, or women,--which +I hope thou art not,--avoid showing thyself guilty of these vices; for, +when those who are concerned with thee discover thy ruling passion, they +will assault thee on that quarter, nor leave thee till they have +effected thy destruction. View and review, consider and reconsider, the +counsels and documents I gave thee in writing before thy departure hence +to thy government, and in them thou wilt find a choice supply to sustain +thee through the toils and difficulties which governors must continually +encounter. Write to thy patrons, the duke and duchess, and show thyself +grateful, for ingratitude is the daughter of pride, and one of the +greatest sins; whereas, he who is grateful to those that have done him +service, thereby testifies that he will be grateful also to God, his +constant benefactor. + +"My lady duchess has despatched a messenger to thy wife Teresa with thy +hunting-suit, and also a present from herself. We expect an answer every +moment. I have been a little out of order with a certain cat-clawing +which befell me, not much to the advantage of my nose; but it was +nothing, for if there are enchanters who persecute me, there are others +who defend me. Let me know if the steward who is with thee had any hand +in the actions of the Trifaldi, as thou hast suspected; and give me +advice, from time to time, of all that happens to thee, since the +distance between us is so short. I think of quitting this idle life very +soon, for I was not born for luxury and ease. A circumstance has +occurred which may, I believe, tend to deprive me of the favor of the +duke and duchess; but, though it afflicts me much, it affects not my +determination, for I must comply with the duties of my profession in +preference to any other claim; as it is often said, _Amicus Plato, sed +magis amica veritas_. I write this in Latin, being persuaded that thou +hast learned that language since thy promotion. Farewell, and God have +thee in His keeping; so mayst thou escape the pity of the world. + +"Thy friend, + +"DON QUIXOTE DE LA MANCHA." + +Sancho gave great attention to the letter; and it was highly applauded, +both for sense and integrity, by everybody that heard it. After that, he +rose from the table, and calling the secretary, went without any further +delay and locked himself up with him in his chamber, to write an answer +to his master, Don Quixote, which was as follows:-- + +SANCHO PANZA TO DON QUIXOTE DE LA MANCHA. + +"I am so taken up with business that I have not yet had time to let you +know whether it goes well or ill with me in this same government, where +I am more hunger-starved than when you and I wandered through woods and +wildernesses. + +"My lord duke wrote to me the other day to inform me of some spies that +were got into this island to kill me; but as yet I have discovered none +but a certain doctor, hired by the islanders to kill all the governors +that come near it. They call him Dr. Pedro Rezio de Anguero, and he was +born at Tirteafuera. His name is enough to make me fear he will be the +death of me. This same doctor says of himself, that he does cure +diseases when you have them; but when you have them not, he only +pretends to keep them from coming. The physic he uses is fasting upon +fasting, till he turns a body to a mere skeleton; as if to be wasted to +skin and bones were not as bad as a fever. In short, he starves me to +death; so that, when I thought, as being a governor, to have plenty of +good hot victuals and cool liquor, and to repose on a soft feather-bed, +I am come to do penance like a hermit. + +"I have not yet so much as fingered the least penny of money, either for +fees or anything else; and how it comes to be no better with me I cannot +imagine, for I have heard that the governors who come to this island are +wont to have a very good gift, or at least a very round sum given them +by the town before they enter. And they say, too, that this is the usual +custom, not only here but in other places. + +"Last night, in going my rounds, I met with a mighty handsome damsel in +boy's clothes, and a brother of hers in woman's apparel. My +gentleman-waiter fell in love with the girl, and intends to make her +his wife, as he says. As for the youth, I have pitched on him to be my +son-in-law. To-day we both design to talk to the father, one Diego de la +Llana, who is a gentleman, and an old Christian every inch of him. + +"I visit the markets as you advised me, and yesterday found one of the +hucksters selling hazel-nuts. She pretended they were all new; but I +found she had mixed a whole bushel of old, empty, rotten nuts among the +same quantity of new. With that I adjudged them to be given to the +hospital boys, who know how to pick the good from the bad, and gave +sentence against her that she should not come into the market for +fifteen days; and people said I did well. + +"I am mighty well pleased that my lady duchess has written to my wife, +Teresa Pauza, and sent her the token you mention. It shall go hard but I +will requite her kindness one time or other. Pray give my service to +her, and tell her from me she has not cast her gift in a broken sack, as +something more than words shall show. + +"If I might advise you, and had my wish, there should be no falling out +between your worship and my lord and lady; for, if you quarrel with +them, it is I must come by the worst for it. And, since you mind me of +being grateful, it will not look well in you not to be so to those who +have made so much of you at their castle. + +"If my wife, Teresa Panza, writes to me, pray pay the postage and send +me the letter; for I have a mighty desire to know how fares it with her, +and my house and children. So Heaven protect your worship from +evil-minded enchanters, and bring me safe and sound out of this +government; which I very much doubt, seeing how I am treated by Doctor +Pedro Rezio. + +"Your worship's servant, + +"SANCHO PANZA, _the Governor_." + + +TERESA PANZA'S LETTER TO HER HUSBAND, SANCHO PANZA. + +"I received thy letter, dear Sancho of my soul, and I promise and swear +to thee, on the faith of a Catholic Christian, I was within two +finger-breadths of running mad with joy; and take notice, brother, when +I heard thou wast a governor, I had liked to have dropped down dead with +pure pleasure; for thou knowest they say sudden joy kills as well as +deadly sorrow. + +"Thy hunting-suit lay before me, the string of corals sent by lady +duchess was tied round my neck, the letters were in my hand, and the +messenger in my presence; and yet I imagined and believed that all I saw +and handled was a dream, for who could conceive that a goatherd should +come to be governor of islands? Thou knowest, my friend, that my mother +said, 'One must live long to see a great deal.' This I mention because I +hope to see more if I live longer, for I do not intend to stop until I +see thee a farmer or collector of the revenue,--offices which, though +they carry those who abuse them to the devil, are, in short, always +bringing in the penny. + +"My lady duchess will tell thee how desirous I am of going to court. +Consider of it, and let me know thy pleasure, for I will endeavor to do +thee honor there by riding in my coach. + +"The curate, barber, bachelor, and even the sexton, cannot believe thou +art a governor, and say the whole is a deception or matter of +enchantment, like all the affairs of thy master, Don Quixote. Sampson +vows he will go in quest of thee, and drive this government out of thy +head, as well as the madness out of Don Quixote's skull. I say nothing, +but laugh in my own sleeve, look at my beads, and contrive how to make +thy hunting-suit into a gown and petticoat for our daughter. I have sent +some acorns to my lady duchess, and I wish they were of gold. Send me +some strings of pearls, if they are in fashion in thy island. + +"The news of our town are these: the widow of the hill has matched her +daughter with a bungling painter, who came here and undertook all sort +of work. The corporation employed him to paint the king's arms over the +gate of the town-house. He asked them two ducats for the job, which they +paid beforehand; so he fell to it and worked eight days, at the end of +which he had made nothing of it, and said he could not bring his hand to +paint such trumpery, and returned the money; yet, for all that, he +married in the name of a good workman. The truth is, he has left his +brushes and taken up the spade, and goes to the field like a gentleman. +Pedro de Lobo's son has taken orders and shaved his crown, meaning to be +a priest. Minguilla, Mingo Silvato's niece, hearing of it, is suing him +upon a promise of marriage. We have had no olives this year, nor is +there a drop of vinegar to be had in all the town. A company of +foot-soldiers passed through here, and carried off with them three +girls. I will not say who they are; mayhap they will return, and +somebody or other marry them, with all their faults. Sanchica makes +bone-lace, and gets eight maravedis a day, which she drops into a +saving-box, to help her toward household stuff; but now that she is a +governor's daughter, she has no need to work, for thou wilt give her a +portion without it. The fountain in our market-place is dried up. A +thunderbolt fell upon the pillory, and there may they all alight! I +expect an answer to this, and about my going to court. And so God grant +thee more years than myself, or as many, for I would not willingly leave +thee behind me. + +"Thy wife, + +"TERESA PANZA." + +To think that the affairs of this life are always to remain in the same +state is an erroneous fancy. The face of things rather seems continually +to change and roll with circular motion; summer succeeds the spring, +autumn the summer, winter the autumn, and then spring again. So time +proceeds in this perpetual round; only the life of man is ever hastening +to its end, swifter than time itself, without hopes to be renewed, +unless in the next, that is unlimited and infinite. For even by the +light of nature and without that of faith, many have discovered the +swiftness and instability of this present being, and the duration of the +eternal life which is expected. + + "I know St. Peter is well at Rome," meaning every one does + well to follow the employment to which he was bred. + + Let no one stretch his feet beyond the length of his sheet. + + When thou art in Rome follow the fashions of Rome. + + Sweet is our love of native land. + + The prudent man who is expecting to be deprived of his + habitation looks out for another before he is turned out of + doors. + + Well-got wealth may meet disaster, + But ill-got wealth destroys its master. + + Bread is relief for all kind of grief. + + We can bear with patience the ill-luck that comes alone. + + Man projects in vain, + For God doth still ordain. + + As is the reason, + Such is the season. + + Let no man presume to think + Of this cup I will not drink. + Where the flitch we hope to find, + Not even a hook is left behind. + + Keep a safe conscience, and let people say what they will. + + It is as impracticable to tie up the tongue of malice as to + erect barricades in the open fields. + +"If a governor resigns his office in good circumstances, people say he +must have been an oppressor and a knave; and if poverty attends him in +his retreat, they set him down as an idiot and fool." + +"For this time," answered Sancho, "I am certain they will think me more +fool than knave." + + The great Sancho Panza, the flower and mirror of all island + governors. + + A law neglected is the same as if it had never been enacted. + + Give always to the cat + What was kept for the rat, + And let it be thy view + All mischief to eschew. + + It is fitting that all who receive a benefit should show + themselves grateful, though it be only a trifle. + +SONG OF ALTISIDORA. + + Stay, cruel knight, + Take not thy flight, + Nor spur thy battered jade; + Thy haste restrain, + Draw in the rein, + And hear a love-sick maid. + Why dost thou fly? + No snake am I, + That poison those I love. + Gentle I am + As any lamb, + And harmless as a dove. + Thy cruel scorn + Has left forlorn + A nymph whose charms may vie + With theirs who sport + In Cynthia's court, + Though Venus' self were by. +Since, fugitive knight, to no purpose I woo thee, +Barabbas's fate still pursue and undo thee! + + Like ravenous kite + That takes its flight + Soon as't has stol'n a chicken, + Thou bear'st away + My heart, thy prey, + And leav'st me here to sicken. + Three night-caps, too, + And garters blue, + That did to legs belong + Smooth to the sight + As marble white, + And faith, almost as strong. + Two thousand groans, + As many moans, + And sighs enough to fire + Old Priam's town, + And burn it down, + Did it again aspire. +Since, fugitive knight, to no purpose I woo thee, +Barabbas's fate still pursue and undo thee! + + May Sancho ne'er + His buttocks bare + Fly-flap, as is his duty; + And thou still want + To disenchant + Dulcinea's injured beauty. + May still transformed, + And still deformed, + Toboso's nymph remain, + In recompense + Of thy offence, + Thy scorn and cold disdain. + When thou dost wield + Thy sword in field, + In combat, or in quarrel, + Ill-luck and harms + Attend thy arms, + Instead of fame and laurel. +Since, fugitive knight, to no purpose I woo thee, +Barabbas's fate still pursue and undo thee! + + May thy disgrace + Fill every place, + Thy falsehood ne'er be hid, + But round the world + Be tossed and hurled, + From Seville to Madrid. + If, brisk and gay, + Thou sitt'st to play + At ombre or at chess, + May ne'er spadille + Attend thy will, + Nor luck thy movements bless. + Though thou with care + Thy corns dost pare, + May blood the penknife follow; + May thy gums rage, + And naught assuage + The pain of tooth that's hollow. +Since, fugitive knight, to no purpose I woo thee, +Barabbas's fate still pursue and undo thee! + + Liberty is one of the most precious gifts which Heaven hath + bestowed on man, exceeding all the treasures which earth + encloses, or which ocean hides; and for this blessing, as + well as for honor, we may and ought to venture life itself. + On the other hand, captivity and restraint are the greatest + evils that human nature can endure. I make this observation, + Sancho, because thou hast seen the delicacies and the plenty + with which we were entertained in that castle; yet, in the + midst of those savory banquets and ice-cooled potations, I + thought myself confined within the very straits of famine, + because I did not enjoy the treat with that liberty which I + should have felt had it been my own. + + Obligations incurred by benefits and favors received are + fetters which hamper the free-born soul. + + Happy is he to whom Heaven hath sent a morsel of bread, for + which he is obliged to none but Heaven itself. + + The man in wisdom must be old + Who knows in giving where to hold. + + All times are not the same, nor equally fortunate; and those + incidents which the vulgar call omens, though not founded on + any natural reason, have, even by persons of sagacity, been + held and deemed as fair and fortunate. One of these + superstitious omen-mongers rises in the morning, goes + abroad, chances to meet a friar belonging to the beatified + St. Francis; and as if he had encountered a dragon in his + way, runs back to his own house with fear and consternation. + Another Foresight by accident scatters the salt upon the + table, by which fear and melancholy are scattered through + his heart; as if Nature was obliged to foretell future + misfortunes by such trivial signs and tokens; whereas a + prudent man and a good Christian will not so minutely + scrutinize the purposes of Heaven. Scipio, chancing to fall + in landing upon the coast of Afric, and perceiving that his + soldiers looked upon this accident as a bad omen, he + embraced the soil with seeming eagerness, saying, "Thou + shalt not 'scape me, Afric, for I have thee safe in my + arms." + + Love has no respect of persons, and laughs at the + admonitions of reason; like Death, he pursues his game both + in the stately palaces of kings and the humble huts of + shepherds. When he has got a soul fairly in his clutches, + his first business is to deprive it of all shame and fear. + + Beauty, they say, is the chief thing in love-matters. + +"Hearken to me, Sancho," said Don Quixote; "there are two kinds of +beauty,--the one of the mind, the other of the body. That of the mind +shines forth in good sense and good conduct, in modesty, liberality, and +courtesy; and all these qualities may be found in one who has no +personal attractions; and when that species of beauty captivates, it +produces a vehement and superior passion. I well know, Sancho, that I am +not handsome, but I know also that I am not deformed; and a man of +worth, if he be not hideous, may inspire love, provided he has those +qualities of the mind which I have mentioned." + +Of all the sins that men commit, though some say pride, in my opinion +ingratitude is the worst. It is truly said that hell is full of the +ungrateful. From that foul crime I have endeavored to abstain ever since +I enjoyed the use of reason; and if I cannot return the good offices +done me by equal benefits, I substitute my desire to repay them; and if +this be not enough, I publish them: for he who proclaims the favors he +has received would return them if he could. And generally the power of +the receiver is unequal to that of the giver, like the bounty of Heaven, +to which no man can make an equal return. But, though utterly unable to +repay the unspeakable beneficence of God, gratitude affords an humble +compensation suited to our limited powers. + + Lay a bridge of silver for a flying enemy. + + Let Martha die, so that she be well fed. + + He that has skill should handle the quill. + + There is no greater folly than to give way to despair. + + Patience often falls to the ground when it is over-loaded + with injuries. + + Alexander the Great ventured to cut the Gordian knot, on the + supposition that cutting would be as effectual as untying + it, and, notwithstanding this violence, became sole master + of all Asia. + + "Be not concerned," said Roque, addressing himself to Don + Quixote, "nor tax Fortune with unkindness. By thus + stumbling, you may chance to stand more firmly than ever; + for Heaven, by strange and circuitous ways, + incomprehensible to men, is wont to raise the fallen and + enrich the needy." + + Oh, maddening sting of jealousy, how deadly thy effects! + + Justice must needs be a good thing, for it is necessary even + among thieves. + + "Signor Roque," said he, "the beginning of a cure consists + in the knowledge of the distemper and in the patient's + willingness to take the medicines prescribed to him by his + physician. You are sick; you know your malady, and God, our + physician, is ready with medicines that, in time, will + certainly effect a cure. Besides, sinners of good + understanding are nearer to amendment than those who are + devoid of it; and, as your superior sense is manifest be of + good cheer and hope for your entire recovery. If in this + desirable work you would take the shortest way and at once + enter that of your salvation, come with me and I will teach + you to be a knight-errant,--a profession, it is true, full + of labors and disasters, but which, being placed to the + account of penance, will not fail to lead you to honor and + felicity." + + The abbot must eat that sings for his meat. + + Courtesy begets courtesy. + + The jest that gives pain is no jest. + + That pastime should not be indulged which tends to the + detriment of a fellow-creature. + + The fire is discovered by its own light; so is virtue by its + own excellence. + + No renown equals in splendor that which is acquired by the + profession of arms. + + Virtue demands our homage wherever it is found. + + Women are commonly impatient and inquisitive. + + By a man's actions may be seen the true disposition of his + mind. + +"Body of me," said Don Quixote, "what a progress you have made, signor, +in the Tuscan language! I would venture a good wager that where the +Tuscan says _piace_, you say, in Castilian, _plaze_; and where he says +_piu_, you say _mas_; and _su_ you translate by the word _arriba_; and +_giu_ by _abaxo_." + +"I do so, most certainly," quoth the author, "for such are the +corresponding words." + +"And yet, I dare say, sir," quoth Don Quixote, "that you are scarcely +known in the world,--but it is the fate of all ingenious men. What +abilities are lost, what genius obscured, and what talents despised! +Nevertheless, I cannot but think that translation from one language into +another, unless it be from the noblest of all languages, Greek and +Latin, is like presenting the back of a piece of tapestry, where, +though the figures are seen, they are obscured by innumerable knots and +ends of thread, very different from the smooth and agreeable texture of +the proper face of the work; and to translate easy languages of a +similar construction requires no more talent than transcribing one paper +from another. But I would not hence infer that translating is not a +laudable exercise; for a man may be worse and more unprofitably +employed. Nor can my observation apply to the two celebrated +translators, Doctor Christopher de Figueroa, in his 'Pastor Fido,' and +Don John de Xaurigui, in his 'Aminta,' who, with singular felicity, have +made it difficult to decide which is the translation and which is the +original. But tell me, signor, is this book printed at your charge, or +have you sold the copyright to some bookseller?" + +"I print it, sir, on my own account," answered the author, "and expect a +thousand ducats by this first impression of two thousand copies. At six +reals each copy they will go off in a trice." + +"'Tis mighty well," quoth Don Quixote, "though I fear you know but +little of the tricks of booksellers, and the juggling there is amongst +them. Take my word for it, you will find a burden of two thousand +volumes upon your back no trifling matter, especially if the book be +deficient in sprightliness." + +"What, sir!" cried the author, "would you have me give my labor to a +bookseller, who, if he paid me three maravedis for it, would think it +abundant, and say I was favored? No, sir, fame is not my object: of that +I am already secure. Profit is what I now seek, without which fame is +nothing." + +"Well, Heaven prosper you, sir!" said the knight, who, passing on, +observed a man correcting a sheet of a book entitled "The Light of the +Soul." On seeing the title, he said, "Books of this kind, numerous as +they already are, ought still to be encouraged; for numerous are the +benighted sinners that require to be enlightened." He went forward, and +saw another book under the corrector's hand, and, on inquiring the +title, they told him it was the second part of the ingenious gentleman +Don Quixote de la Mancha, written by such a one, of Tordesillas. + +"I know something of that book," quoth Don Quixote, "and, on my +conscience, I thought it had been burnt long before now for its +stupidity; but its Martinmas will come, as it does to every hog. Works +of invention are only so far good as they come near to truth and +probability; as general history is valuable in proportion as it is +authentic." + + Rashness is not valor; doubtful hopes ought to make men + resolute, not rash. + + There is a remedy for all things except death. + + Between said and done + A long race may be run. + + He whom Heaven favors may St. Peter bless. + + They that give must take. + + Where there are hooks, we do not always find bacon. + + Good expectation is better than bad possession. + + To-day for you, and to-morrow for me. + + He that falls to-day may rise to-morrow. + + Great hearts should be patient under misfortunes, as well as + joyful when all goes well. + + I have heard say, she they call Fortune is a drunken, + freakish dame, and withal so blind that she does not see + what she is about; neither whom she raises, nor whom she + pulls down. + + One thing I must tell thee, there is no such thing in the + world as fortune; nor do the events which fall out, whether + good or evil, proceed from chance, but from the particular + appointment of Heaven,--and hence comes the usual saying, + that every man is the maker of his own fortune. + + The faults of the ass should not be laid on the pack-saddle. + + When it rains let the shower fall upon my cloak. + + "Observe, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "there is a great deal + of difference between love and gratitude. It is very + possible for a gentleman not to be in love; but, strictly + speaking, it is impossible he should be ungrateful." + + The sin will cease when the temptation is removed. + + The heart will not grieve for what the eye doth not + perceive. + + What prayers can ne'er gain, a leap from a hedge may obtain. + + Proverbs are short maxims of human wisdom, the result of + experience and observation, and are the gifts of ancient + sages; yet the proverb which is not aptly applied, instead + of being wisdom, is stark nonsense. + + It is the part of a good servant to sympathize with his + master's pains. + + "Methinks," quoth Sancho, "that a man cannot be suffering + much when he can turn his brain to verse-making." + + +SANCHO PANZA ON SLEEP. + +"No entiendo eso," replied Sancho; "solo entiendo que en tanto que +duermo, ni tengo temor, ni esperanza, ni trabajo, ni gloria; y bien haya +el que invento el sueno, capa que cubre todos los humanos pensamientos, +manjar que quita la hambre, agua que ahuyenta la sed, fuego que calienta +el frio, frio que templa el ardor, y finalmente moneda general con que +todas las cosas se compran, balanza y peso que iguala al pastor con el +rey, y al simple con el discreto. Sola una cosa tiene mala el sueno, +segun he oido decir, y es que se parece a la muerte, pues de un dormido +a un muerto hay muy poca diferencia." + +"I know not what that means," replied Sancho; "I only know that while I +am asleep I have neither fear, nor hope, nor trouble, nor glory. +Blessings light on him who first invented sleep! Sleep is the mantle +that shrouds all human thoughts; the food that dispels hunger; the drink +that quenches thirst; the fire that warms the cold; the cool breeze that +moderates heat; in a word, the general coin that purchases every +commodity; the weight and balance that makes the shepherd even with his +sovereign, and the simple with the sage. There is only one bad +circumstance, as I have heard, in sleep: it resembles death, inasmuch as +between a dead corse and a sleeping man there is no apparent +difference." + +"Enjoy thy repose," said Don Quixote; "thou wast born to sleep and I to +watch; and, during the little of night that remains, I will give my +thoughts the rein, and cool the furnace of my reflections with a short +madrigal, which I have this evening, unknown to thee, composed in my own +mind." + + Amor, cuando yo pienso + En el mal que me das terrible y fuerte, + Voy corriendo a la muerte, + Pensando asi acabar mi mal inmenso: + + Mas en llegando al paso, + Que es puerto en este mar de mi tormento, + Tanta alegria siento, + Que la vida se esfuerza, y no le paso. + + Asi el vivir me mata, + Que la muerte me torna a dar la vida. + O condicion no oida, + La que conmigo muerte y vida trata! + + O love! when, sick of heart-felt grief, + I sigh, and drag thy cruel chain, + To death I fly, the sure relief + Of those who groan in lingering pain. + + But coming to the fatal gates, + The port in this my sea of woe, + The joy I feel new life creates, + And bids my spirits brisker flow. + + Thus dying every hour I live, + And living I resign my breath. + Strange power of love, that thus can give + A dying life and living death! + + + Till Heaven, in pity to the weeping world, + Shall give Altisidora back to day, + By Quixote's scorn to realms of Pluto hurled, + Her every charm to cruel death a prey; + While matrons throw their gorgeous robes away, + To mourn a nymph by cold disdain betrayed: + To the complaining lyre's enchanting lay + I'll sing the praises of this hapless maid, +In sweeter notes than Thracian Orpheus ever played. + + Nor shall my numbers with my life expire, + Or this world's light confine the boundless song: + To thee, bright maid, in death I'll touch the lyre, + And to my soul the theme shall still belong. + When, freed from clay, the flitting ghosts among, + My spirit glides the Stygian shores around, + Though the cold hand of death has sealed my tongue, + Thy praise the infernal caverns shall rebound, +And Lethe's sluggish waves move slower to the sound. + + + Better kill me outright than break my back with other men's + burdens. + + Sleep is the best cure for waking troubles. + + Devils, play or not play, win or not win, can never be + content. + + History that is good, faithful, and true, will survive for + ages; but should it have none of these qualities, its + passage will be short between the cradle and the grave. + + As for dying for love, it is all a jest; your lovers, + indeed, may easily say they are dying, but that they will + actually give up the ghost, believe it--Judas. + +"Madam," said he, "your ladyship should know that the chief cause of +this good damsel's suffering is idleness, the remedy whereof is honest +and constant employment. Lace, she tells me, is much worn in purgatory, +and since she cannot but know how to make it, let her stick to that; +for, while her fingers are assiduously employed with her bobbins, the +images that now haunt her imagination will keep aloof, and leave her +mind tranquil and happy. This, madam, is my opinion and advice." + +"And mine, too," added Sancho, "for I never in my life heard of a +lacemaker that died for love; for your damsels that bestir themselves at +some honest labor think more of their work than of their sweethearts. I +know it by myself; when I am digging, I never think of my Teresa, +though, God bless her! I love her more than my very eyelids." + + + Railing among lovers is the next neighbor to forgiveness. + + The ass will carry the load, but not a double load. + + When money's paid before it's due, + A broken limb will straight ensue. + + Delay breeds danger. + + Pray to God devoutly, + And hammer away stoutly. + + A sparrow in the hand is worth an eagle on the wing. + +"No more proverbs, for God's sake," quoth Don Quixote, "for, methinks, +Sancho, thou art losing ground, and returning to _sicut erat_. Speak +plainly, as I have often told thee, and thou wilt find it worth a loaf +per cent to thee." + +"I know not how I came by this unlucky trick," replied Sancho: "I cannot +bring you in three words to the purpose without a proverb, nor give you +a proverb which, to my thinking, is not to the purpose;--but I will try +to mend." + + The straw is too hard to make pipes of. + +The knight and squire ascended a little eminence, whence they discovered +their village; which Sancho no sooner beheld than, kneeling down, he +said: "Open thine eyes, O my beloved country! and behold thy son, Sancho +Panza, returning to thee again, if not rich, yet well whipped! Open +thine arms, and receive thy son Don Quixote, too! who, though worsted by +another, has conquered himself, which, as I have heard say, is the best +kind of victory! Money I have gotten, and though I have been soundly +banged, I have come off like a gentleman." + +"Leave these fooleries, Sancho," quoth Don Quixote, "and let us go +directly to our homes, where we will give full scope to our imagination, +and settle our intended scheme of a pastoral life." + +It must here be mentioned that Sancho Panza, by way of sumpter-cloth, +had thrown the buckram robe painted with flames, which he had worn on +the night of Altisidora's revival, upon his ass. He likewise clapped the +mitre on Dapple's head,--in short, never was an ass so honored and +bedizened. The priest and bachelor, immediately recognizing their +friends, ran toward them with open arms. Don Quixote alighted, and +embraced them cordially. In the mean time, the boys, whose keen eyes +nothing can escape, came flocking from all parts. + +"Ho!" cries one, "here comes Sancho Panza's ass, as gay as a parrot, and +Don Quixote's old horse, leaner than ever!" + +Thus, surrounded by the children and accompanied by the priest and the +bachelor, they proceeded through the village till they arrived at Don +Quixote's house, where, at the door, they found the housekeeper and the +niece, who had already heard of his arrival. It had likewise reached the +ears of Sancho's wife, Teresa, who, half-naked, with her hair about her +ears, and dragging Sanchica after her, ran to meet her husband; and +seeing him not so well equipped as she thought a governor ought to be, +she said: "What makes you come thus, dear husband? methinks you come +afoot and foundered! This, I trow, is not as a governor should look." + +"Peace, wife," quoth Sancho; "the bacon is not so easily found as the +pin to hang it on. Let us go home, and there you shall hear wonders. I +have got money, and honestly, too, without wronging anybody." + +"Hast thou got money, good husband? Nay, then, 't is well, however it +be gotten; for, well or ill, it will have brought up no new custom in +the world." + +All things human, especially the lives of men, are transitory, ever +advancing from their beginning to their decline and final determination. + +"The greatest folly," said Sancho, "that a man can commit in this world, +is to give himself up to death without any good cause for it, but only +from melancholy." + + +THE WILL OF DON QUIXOTE. + +"I feel, good sirs," said Don Quixote, "that death advances fast upon +me. Let us then be serious, and bring me a confessor, and a notary to +draw up my will, for a man in my state must not trifle with his soul. +Let the notary be sent for, I beseech you, while my friend here, the +priest, is taking my confession." + +The priest, having listened to his dying friend's confession, came out +of the room and told them that the good Alonzo Quixano was near his end, +and certainly in his right senses; he therefore advised them to go in, +as it was full time that his will should be made. These tidings gave a +terrible stab to the overcharged hearts of the two ladies and his +faithful squire, whose eyes overflowed with weeping, and whose bosoms +had well-nigh burst with a thousand sighs and groans; for, indeed, it +must be owned, as we have somewhere observed, that whether in the +character of Alonzo Quixano the Good, or in the capacity of Don Quixote +de la Mancha, the poor gentleman had always exhibited marks of a +peaceable temper and agreeable demeanor, for which he was beloved, not +only by his own family, but also by all those who had the pleasure of +his acquaintance. + +The notary entering the apartment with the rest of the company, wrote +the preamble of the will, in which Don Quixote disposed of his soul in +all the necessary Christian forms; then proceeding to the legacies, he +said:-- + +"Item: whereas, Sancho Panza, whom, in my madness, I made my squire, has +in his hands a certain sum of money for my use; and, as divers accounts, +disbursements, and pecuniary transactions have passed between us, it is +my will that he shall not be charged or brought to account for the said +money; but, if there be any overplus after he has deducted the payment +of what I owe him, the said overplus, which must be a mere trifle, shall +be his own, and much good may it do him; and as, during my disorder, I +contributed to his being made governor of an island, I would now, while +I enjoy my perfect senses, confer upon him, were it in my power, a whole +kingdom, which he richly deserves for the innocency of his heart and the +fidelity of his service." + +Then turning to the disconsolate squire, "Forgive me, friend," said he, +"for having been the cause of thy appearing in the eye of the world a +madman like myself, by drawing thee into my erroneous notions concerning +the existence and adventures of knights-errant." + +"Gentlemen," said Don Quixote, "let us proceed fair and softly. I was +mad, I am now sane; I was Don Quixote de la Mancha; I am now, as +formerly styled, Alonzo Quixano the Good. And may my repentance and +sincerity restore me to the esteem you once had for me. Now let the +notary proceed. + +"Item: I bequeath to Antonia Quixano, my niece, here present, all my +estate, real and personal, after the payment of all my debts and +legacies; and the first to be discharged shall be the wages due to my +housekeeper for the time she has been in my service, and twenty ducats +besides for a suit of mourning. + +"I appoint for my executors signor the priest and signor bachelor +Sampson Carrasco, here present. + +"Item: It is also my will that, if Antonia Quixano, my niece, should be +inclined to marry, it shall be only with a man who, upon the strictest +inquiry, shall be found to know nothing of books of chivalry; and, in +case it appear that he is acquainted with such books, and that my niece, +notwithstanding, will and doth marry him, then shall she forfeit all I +have bequeathed her, which my executors may dispose of in pious uses as +they think proper. + +"And, finally, I beseech the said gentlemen, my executors, that if haply +they should come to the knowledge of the author of a certain history +dispersed abroad, entitled, 'The Second Part of the Achievements of Don +Quixote de la Mancha,' that they will, in my name, most earnestly +entreat him to forgive me for having been the innocent cause of his +writing such a number of absurdities as that performance contains; for I +quit this life with some scruples of conscience arising from that +consideration." + +The will being thus concluded, he was seized with a fainting-fit, and +stretched himself at full length in the bed, so that all the company +were alarmed and ran to his assistance. During three days which he lived +after the will was signed and sealed, he frequently fainted, and the +whole family was in confusion. Nevertheless, the niece ate her victuals, +the housekeeper drank to the repose of his soul, and even Sancho +cherished his little carcass; for the prospect of succession either +dispels or moderates that affliction which an heir ought to feel at the +death of the testator. + +At last Don Quixote expired, after having received all the sacraments, +and in the strongest terms, pathetically enforced, expressed his +abomination against all books of chivalry; and the notary observed, that +in all the books of that kind which he had perused, he had never read of +any knight-errant who died quietly in his bed as a good Christian, like +Don Quixote; who, amidst the tears and lamentations of all present, gave +up the ghost, or, in other words, departed this life. The curate was no +sooner certified of his decease, than he desired the notary to make out +a testimonial, declaring that Alonzo Quixano the Good, commonly called +Don Quixote de la Mancha, had taken his departure from this life, and +died of a natural death; that no other author, different from Cid Hamet +Benengeli, should falsely pretend to raise him from the dead, and write +endless histories of his achievements. + + +This was the end of that extraordinary gentleman of La Mancha, whose +birthplace Cid Hamet was careful to conceal, that all the towns and +villages of that province might contend for the honor of having produced +him, as did the seven cities of Greece for the glory of giving birth to +Homer. The lamentations of Sancho, the niece and the housekeeper, are +not here given, nor the new epitaphs on the tomb of the deceased knight, +except the following one, composed by Sampson Carrasco:-- + + Here lies the valiant cavalier, + Who never had a sense of fear: + So high his matchless courage rose, +He reckoned death among his vanquished foes. + + Wrongs to redress, his sword he drew, + And many a caitiff giant slew; + His days of life though madness stained, +In death his sober senses he regained. + + + FOOTNOTES + + [1] Rodrigo de Bivar, or the Cid, the national champion of + Spain. + + [2] Some biographers have it that the house was in the Calle + de Leon, afterwards the royal asylum, and that his wife and + sister had belonged to the third order of St. Francis for + seven years before his death. + + [3] Showing that Cervantes was familiar with the Bible as + well as Latin classics. + + [4] Showing also his familiarity with AEsop. + + [5] The king's morsel is better than the lord's bounty. + + [6] Certain churches, with indulgences, appointed to be + visited, either for pardon of sins, or for procuring + blessings. Madmen, probably, in their lucid intervals, were + obliged to this exercise. + + [7] "From a friend to a friend, a bug in the eye," is a + proverb applied to the false professions of friendship. + + [8] Cervantes makes frequent use of Bible quotations. + + [9] A Sicilian, native of Catania, who lived in the latter + part of the sixteenth century. He was commonly called + Pesce-cola, or Fish-Nicholas, and is said to have lived so + much in the water from his infancy, that he could cleave the + waters in the midst of a storm like a marine animal. + + [10] _Zapateadores_: dancers that strike the soles of their + shoes with the palms of their hands, in time and measure. + + [11] The phrase, _No quiero de tu capilla_, alludes to the + practice of friars, who, when charity is offered, hold out + their hoods to receive it, while they pronounce a refusal + with their tongues. + + [12] The entire proverb is: "He whose father is mayor goes + safe to his trial." + + [13] The proverb is: "To keep silence well is called + _Santo_." + + [14] Jarvis's translation. + + [15] Trunk-hose were prohibited by royal decree shortly + after the publication of _Don Quixote_. + + [16] It was customary for men of quality to wear a veil or + mask depending from the covering worn on the head, in order + to shield the face from the sun. + + +University Press: John Wilson and Son, Cambridge. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIT AND WISDOM OF DON QUIXOTE*** + + +******* This file should be named 24754.txt or 24754.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/7/5/24754 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |