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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:26:40 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:26:40 -0700 |
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diff --git a/old/orig5946-h/p31.htm b/old/orig5946-h/p31.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e5a4272 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig5946-h/p31.htm @@ -0,0 +1,859 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>THE HISTORY OF DON QUIXOTE, By Cervantes, Vol. II., Part 31.</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7; margin:10%; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; } + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + PRE { font-family: Times; font-size: 97%; margin-left: 15%;} + // --> +</style> + + +</head> +<body> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + <a href="p30.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="5946-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p32.htm">Next Part</a> + </td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<center> +<h1>DON QUIXOTE</h1> +<br> +<h2>by Miguel de Cervantes</h2> +<br> +<h3>Translated by John Ormsby</h3> +</center> + +<br><br> +<center><h3> +Volume II., Part 31 +<br><br> +Chapters 44-45 +</h3></center> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="bookcover.jpg (230K)" src="images/bookcover.jpg" height="842" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/bookcover.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="spine.jpg (152K)" src="images/spine.jpg" height="842" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/spine.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<center> +<h3>Ebook Editor's Note</h3> +</center> +<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +The book cover and spine above and the images which follow were not part of the original Ormsby +translation—they are taken from the 1880 edition of J. W. Clark, illustrated by +Gustave Dore. Clark in his edition states that, "The English text of 'Don Quixote' +adopted in this edition is that of Jarvis, with occasional corrections from Motteaux." +See in the introduction below John Ormsby's critique of +both the Jarvis and Motteaux translations. It has been elected in the present Project Gutenberg edition +to attach the famous engravings of Gustave Dore to the Ormsby translation instead +of the Jarvis/Motteaux. The detail of many of the Dore engravings can be fully appreciated only +by utilizing the "Enlarge" button to expand them to their original dimensions. Ormsby +in his Preface has criticized the fanciful nature of Dore's illustrations; others feel +these woodcuts and steel engravings well match Quixote's dreams. + D.W.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="p003.jpg (307K)" src="images/p003.jpg" height="813" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p003.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<center><h2>CONTENTS</h2></center> + + +<pre> + +<a href="#ch44b">CHAPTER XLIV</a> +HOW SANCHO PANZA WAS CONDUCTED TO HIS GOVERNMENT, +AND OF THE STRANGE ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE +IN THE CASTLE + +<a href="#ch45b">CHAPTER XLV</a> +OF HOW THE GREAT SANCHO PANZA TOOK POSSESSION OF HIS +ISLAND, AND OF HOW HE MADE A BEGINNING IN GOVERNING + +</pre> + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<center><h1>DON QUIXOTE</h1></center> +<br><br> +<center><h2>Volume II.</h2></center> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + +<br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch44b"></a>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>HOW SANCHO PANZA WAS CONDUCTED TO HIS GOVERNMENT, AND OF THE STRANGE +ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE IN THE CASTLE +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p44a"></a><img alt="p44a.jpg (140K)" src="images/p44a.jpg" height="425" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p44a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>It is stated, they say, in the true original of this history, that +when Cide Hamete came to write this chapter, his interpreter did not +translate it as he wrote it—that is, as a kind of complaint the +Moor made against himself for having taken in hand a story so dry +and of so little variety as this of Don Quixote, for he found +himself forced to speak perpetually of him and Sancho, without +venturing to indulge in digressions and episodes more serious and more +interesting. He said, too, that to go on, mind, hand, pen always +restricted to writing upon one single subject, and speaking through +the mouths of a few characters, was intolerable drudgery, the result +of which was never equal to the author's labour, and that to avoid +this he had in the First Part availed himself of the device of novels, +like "The Ill-advised Curiosity," and "The Captive Captain," which +stand, as it were, apart from the story; the others are given there +being incidents which occurred to Don Quixote himself and could not be +omitted. He also thought, he says, that many, engrossed by the +interest attaching to the exploits of Don Quixote, would take none +in the novels, and pass them over hastily or impatiently without +noticing the elegance and art of their composition, which would be +very manifest were they published by themselves and not as mere +adjuncts to the crazes of Don Quixote or the simplicities of Sancho. +Therefore in this Second Part he thought it best not to insert novels, +either separate or interwoven, but only episodes, something like them, +arising out of the circumstances the facts present; and even these +sparingly, and with no more words than suffice to make them plain; and +as he confines and restricts himself to the narrow limits of the +narrative, though he has ability; capacity, and brains enough to +deal with the whole universe, he requests that his labours may not +be despised, and that credit be given him, not alone for what he +writes, but for what he has refrained from writing.</p> + +<p>And so he goes on with his story, saying that the day Don Quixote +gave the counsels to Sancho, the same afternoon after dinner he handed +them to him in writing so that he might get some one to read them to +him. They had scarcely, however, been given to him when he let them +drop, and they fell into the hands of the duke, who showed them to the +duchess and they were both amazed afresh at the madness and wit of Don +Quixote. To carry on the joke, then, the same evening they +despatched Sancho with a large following to the village that was to +serve him for an island. It happened that the person who had him in +charge was a majordomo of the duke's, a man of great discretion and +humour—and there can be no humour without discretion—and the same +who played the part of the Countess Trifaldi in the comical way that +has been already described; and thus qualified, and instructed by +his master and mistress as to how to deal with Sancho, he carried +out their scheme admirably. Now it came to pass that as soon as Sancho +saw this majordomo he seemed in his features to recognise those of the +Trifaldi, and turning to his master, he said to him, "Senor, either +the devil will carry me off, here on this spot, righteous and +believing, or your worship will own to me that the face of this +majordomo of the duke's here is the very face of the Distressed One."</p> + +<p>Don Quixote regarded the majordomo attentively, and having done +so, said to Sancho, "There is no reason why the devil should carry +thee off, Sancho, either righteous or believing—and what thou meanest +by that I know not; the face of the Distressed One is that of the +majordomo, but for all that the majordomo is not the Distressed One; +for his being so would involve a mighty contradiction; but this is not +the time for going into questions of the sort, which would be +involving ourselves in an inextricable labyrinth. Believe me, my +friend, we must pray earnestly to our Lord that he deliver us both +from wicked wizards and enchanters."</p> + +<p>"It is no joke, senor," said Sancho, "for before this I heard him +speak, and it seemed exactly as if the voice of the Trifaldi was +sounding in my ears. Well, I'll hold my peace; but I'll take care to +be on the look-out henceforth for any sign that may be seen to confirm +or do away with this suspicion."</p> + +<p>"Thou wilt do well, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "and thou wilt let me +know all thou discoverest, and all that befalls thee in thy +government."</p> + +<p>Sancho at last set out attended by a great number of people. He +was dressed in the garb of a lawyer, with a gaban of tawny watered +camlet over all and a montera cap of the same material, and mounted +a la gineta upon a mule. Behind him, in accordance with the duke's +orders, followed Dapple with brand new ass-trappings and ornaments +of silk, and from time to time Sancho turned round to look at his ass, +so well pleased to have him with him that he would not have changed +places with the emperor of Germany. On taking leave he kissed the +hands of the duke and duchess and got his master's blessing, which Don +Quixote gave him with tears, and he received blubbering.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p44b"></a><img alt="p44b.jpg (341K)" src="images/p44b.jpg" height="846" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p44b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>Let worthy Sancho go in peace, and good luck to him, Gentle +Reader; and look out for two bushels of laughter, which the account of +how he behaved himself in office will give thee. In the meantime +turn thy attention to what happened his master the same night, and +if thou dost not laugh thereat, at any rate thou wilt stretch thy +mouth with a grin; for Don Quixote's adventures must be honoured +either with wonder or with laughter.</p> + +<p>It is recorded, then, that as soon as Sancho had gone, Don Quixote +felt his loneliness, and had it been possible for him to revoke the +mandate and take away the government from him he would have done so. +The duchess observed his dejection and asked him why he was +melancholy; because, she said, if it was for the loss of Sancho, there +were squires, duennas, and damsels in her house who would wait upon +him to his full satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"The truth is, senora," replied Don Quixote, "that I do feel the +loss of Sancho; but that is not the main cause of my looking sad; +and of all the offers your excellence makes me, I accept only the +good-will with which they are made, and as to the remainder I +entreat of your excellence to permit and allow me alone to wait upon +myself in my chamber."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, Senor Don Quixote," said the duchess, "that must not be; +four of my damsels, as beautiful as flowers, shall wait upon you."</p> + +<p>"To me," said Don Quixote, "they will not be flowers, but thorns +to pierce my heart. They, or anything like them, shall as soon enter +my chamber as fly. If your highness wishes to gratify me still +further, though I deserve it not, permit me to please myself, and wait +upon myself in my own room; for I place a barrier between my +inclinations and my virtue, and I do not wish to break this rule +through the generosity your highness is disposed to display towards +me; and, in short, I will sleep in my clothes, sooner than allow +anyone to undress me."</p> + +<p>"Say no more, Senor Don Quixote, say no more," said the duchess; +"I assure you I will give orders that not even a fly, not to say a +damsel, shall enter your room. I am not the one to undermine the +propriety of Senor Don Quixote, for it strikes me that among his +many virtues the one that is pre-eminent is that of modesty. Your +worship may undress and dress in private and in your own way, as you +please and when you please, for there will be no one to hinder you; +and in your chamber you will find all the utensils requisite to supply +the wants of one who sleeps with his door locked, to the end that no +natural needs compel you to open it. May the great Dulcinea del Toboso +live a thousand years, and may her fame extend all over the surface of +the globe, for she deserves to be loved by a knight so valiant and +so virtuous; and may kind heaven infuse zeal into the heart of our +governor Sancho Panza to finish off his discipline speedily, so that +the world may once more enjoy the beauty of so grand a lady."</p> + +<p>To which Don Quixote replied, "Your highness has spoken like what +you are; from the mouth of a noble lady nothing bad can come; and +Dulcinea will be more fortunate, and better known to the world by +the praise of your highness than by all the eulogies the greatest +orators on earth could bestow upon her."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, Senor Don Quixote," said the duchess, is nearly +supper-time, and the duke is is probably waiting; come let us go to +supper, and retire to rest early, for the journey you made yesterday +from Kandy was not such a short one but that it must have caused you +some fatigue."</p> + +<p>"I feel none, senora," said Don Quixote, "for I would go so far as +to swear to your excellence that in all my life I never mounted a +quieter beast, or a pleasanter paced one, than Clavileno; and I +don't know what could have induced Malambruno to discard a steed so +swift and so gentle, and burn it so recklessly as he did."</p> + +<p>"Probably," said the duchess, "repenting of the evil he had done +to the Trifaldi and company, and others, and the crimes he must have +committed as a wizard and enchanter, he resolved to make away with all +the instruments of his craft; and so burned Clavileno as the chief +one, and that which mainly kept him restless, wandering from land to +land; and by its ashes and the trophy of the placard the valour of the +great Don Quixote of La Mancha is established for ever."</p> + +<p>Don Quixote renewed his thanks to the duchess; and having supped, +retired to his chamber alone, refusing to allow anyone to enter with +him to wait on him, such was his fear of encountering temptations that +might lead or drive him to forget his chaste fidelity to his lady +Dulcinea; for he had always present to his mind the virtue of +Amadis, that flower and mirror of knights-errant. He locked the door +behind him, and by the light of two wax candles undressed himself, but +as he was taking off his stockings—O disaster unworthy of such a +personage!—there came a burst, not of sighs, or anything belying +his delicacy or good breeding, but of some two dozen stitches in one +of his stockings, that made it look like a window-lattice. The +worthy gentleman was beyond measure distressed, and at that moment +he would have given an ounce of silver to have had half a drachm of +green silk there; I say green silk, because the stockings were green.</p> + +<p>Here Cide Hamete exclaimed as he was writing, "O poverty, poverty! I +know not what could have possessed the great Cordovan poet to call +thee 'holy gift ungratefully received.' Although a Moor, I know well +enough from the intercourse I have had with Christians that holiness +consists in charity, humility, faith, obedience, and poverty; but +for all that, I say he must have a great deal of godliness who can +find any satisfaction in being poor; unless, indeed, it be the kind of +poverty one of their greatest saints refers to, saying, 'possess all +things as though ye possessed them not;' which is what they call +poverty in spirit. But thou, that other poverty—for it is of thee I +am speaking now—why dost thou love to fall out with gentlemen and men +of good birth more than with other people? Why dost thou compel them +to smear the cracks in their shoes, and to have the buttons of their +coats, one silk, another hair, and another glass? Why must their ruffs +be always crinkled like endive leaves, and not crimped with a crimping +iron?" (From this we may perceive the antiquity of starch and +crimped ruffs.) Then he goes on: "Poor gentleman of good family! +always cockering up his honour, dining miserably and in secret, and +making a hypocrite of the toothpick with which he sallies out into the +street after eating nothing to oblige him to use it! Poor fellow, I +say, with his nervous honour, fancying they perceive a league off +the patch on his shoe, the sweat-stains on his hat, the shabbiness +of his cloak, and the hunger of his stomach!"</p> + +<p>All this was brought home to Don Quixote by the bursting of his +stitches; however, he comforted himself on perceiving that Sancho +had left behind a pair of travelling boots, which he resolved to +wear the next day. At last he went to bed, out of spirits and heavy at +heart, as much because he missed Sancho as because of the +irreparable disaster to his stockings, the stitches of which he +would have even taken up with silk of another colour, which is one +of the greatest signs of poverty a gentleman can show in the course of +his never-failing embarrassments. He put out the candles; but the +night was warm and he could not sleep; he rose from his bed and opened +slightly a grated window that looked out on a beautiful garden, and as +he did so he perceived and heard people walking and talking in the +garden. He set himself to listen attentively, and those below raised +their voices so that he could hear these words:</p> + +<p>"Urge me not to sing, Emerencia, for thou knowest that ever since +this stranger entered the castle and my eyes beheld him, I cannot sing +but only weep; besides my lady is a light rather than a heavy sleeper, +and I would not for all the wealth of the world that she found us +here; and even if she were asleep and did not waken, my singing +would be in vain, if this strange AEneas, who has come into my +neighbourhood to flout me, sleeps on and wakens not to hear it."</p> + +<p>"Heed not that, dear Altisidora," replied a voice; "the duchess is +no doubt asleep, and everybody in the house save the lord of thy heart +and disturber of thy soul; for just now I perceived him open the +grated window of his chamber, so he must be awake; sing, my poor +sufferer, in a low sweet tone to the accompaniment of thy harp; and +even if the duchess hears us we can lay the blame on the heat of the +night."</p> + +<p>"That is not the point, Emerencia," replied Altisidora, "it is +that I would not that my singing should lay bare my heart, and that +I should be thought a light and wanton maiden by those who know not +the mighty power of love; but come what may; better a blush on the +cheeks than a sore in the heart;" and here a harp softly touched +made itself heard. As he listened to all this Don Quixote was in a +state of breathless amazement, for immediately the countless +adventures like this, with windows, gratings, gardens, serenades, +lovemakings, and languishings, that he had read of in his trashy books +of chivalry, came to his mind. He at once concluded that some damsel +of the duchess's was in love with him, and that her modesty forced her +to keep her passion secret. He trembled lest he should fall, and +made an inward resolution not to yield; and commending himself with +all his might and soul to his lady Dulcinea he made up his mind to +listen to the music; and to let them know he was there he gave a +pretended sneeze, at which the damsels were not a little delighted, +for all they wanted was that Don Quixote should hear them. So having +tuned the harp, Altisidora, running her hand across the strings, began +this ballad:</p> + + +<pre> +O thou that art above in bed, + Between the holland sheets, +A-lying there from night till morn, + With outstretched legs asleep; + +O thou, most valiant knight of all + The famed Manchegan breed, +Of purity and virtue more + Than gold of Araby; + +Give ear unto a suffering maid, + Well-grown but evil-starr'd, +For those two suns of thine have lit + A fire within her heart. + +Adventures seeking thou dost rove, + To others bringing woe; +Thou scatterest wounds, but, ah, the balm + To heal them dost withhold! + +Say, valiant youth, and so may God + Thy enterprises speed, +Didst thou the light mid Libya's sands + Or Jaca's rocks first see? + +Did scaly serpents give thee suck? + Who nursed thee when a babe? +Wert cradled in the forest rude, + Or gloomy mountain cave? + +O Dulcinea may be proud, + That plump and lusty maid; +For she alone hath had the power + A tiger fierce to tame. + +And she for this shall famous be + From Tagus to Jarama, +From Manzanares to Genil, + From Duero to Arlanza. + +Fain would I change with her, and give + A petticoat to boot, +The best and bravest that I have, + All trimmed with gold galloon. + +O for to be the happy fair + Thy mighty arms enfold, +Or even sit beside thy bed + And scratch thy dusty poll! + +I rave,—to favours such as these + Unworthy to aspire; +Thy feet to tickle were enough + For one so mean as I. + +What caps, what slippers silver-laced, + Would I on thee bestow! +What damask breeches make for thee; + What fine long holland cloaks! + +And I would give thee pearls that should + As big as oak-galls show; +So matchless big that each might well + Be called the great "Alone." + +Manchegan Nero, look not down + From thy Tarpeian Rock +Upon this burning heart, nor add + The fuel of thy wrath. + +A virgin soft and young am I, + Not yet fifteen years old; +(I'm only three months past fourteen, + I swear upon my soul). +I hobble not nor do I limp, + All blemish I'm without, +And as I walk my lily locks + Are trailing on the ground. + +And though my nose be rather flat, + And though my mouth be wide, +My teeth like topazes exalt + My beauty to the sky. + +Thou knowest that my voice is sweet, + That is if thou dost hear; +And I am moulded in a form + Somewhat below the mean. + +These charms, and many more, are thine, + Spoils to thy spear and bow all; +A damsel of this house am I, + By name Altisidora. + +</pre> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p44c"></a><img alt="p44c.jpg (266K)" src="images/p44c.jpg" height="836" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p44c.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p> +Here the lay of the heart-stricken Altisidora came to an end, +while the warmly wooed Don Quixote began to feel alarm; and with a +deep sigh he said to himself, "O that I should be such an unlucky +knight that no damsel can set eyes on me but falls in love with me! +O that the peerless Dulcinea should be so unfortunate that they cannot +let her enjoy my incomparable constancy in peace! What would ye with +her, ye queens? Why do ye persecute her, ye empresses? Why ye pursue +her, ye virgins of from fourteen to fifteen? Leave the unhappy being +to triumph, rejoice and glory in the lot love has been pleased to +bestow upon her in surrendering my heart and yielding up my soul to +her. Ye love-smitten host, know that to Dulcinea only I am dough and +sugar-paste, flint to all others; for her I am honey, for you aloes. +For me Dulcinea alone is beautiful, wise, virtuous, graceful, and +high-bred, and all others are ill-favoured, foolish, light, and +low-born. Nature sent me into the world to be hers and no other's; +Altisidora may weep or sing, the lady for whose sake they belaboured +me in the castle of the enchanted Moor may give way to despair, but +I must be Dulcinea's, boiled or roast, pure, courteous, and chaste, in +spite of all the magic-working powers on earth." And with that he shut +the window with a bang, and, as much out of temper and out of sorts as +if some great misfortune had befallen him, stretched himself on his +bed, where we will leave him for the present, as the great Sancho +Panza, who is about to set up his famous government, now demands our +attention.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p44e"></a><img alt="p44e.jpg (145K)" src="images/p44e.jpg" height="421" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p44a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch45b"></a>CHAPTER XLV.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>OF HOW THE GREAT SANCHO PANZA TOOK POSSESSION OF HIS ISLAND, AND +OF HOW HE MADE A BEGINNING IN GOVERNING +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p45a"></a><img alt="p45a.jpg (141K)" src="images/p45a.jpg" height="453" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p45a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>O perpetual discoverer of the antipodes, torch of the world, eye +of heaven, sweet stimulator of the water-coolers! Thimbraeus here, +Phoebus there, now archer, now physician, father of poetry, inventor +of music; thou that always risest and, notwithstanding appearances, +never settest! To thee, O Sun, by whose aid man begetteth man, to thee +I appeal to help me and lighten the darkness of my wit that I may be +able to proceed with scrupulous exactitude in giving an account of the +great Sancho Panza's government; for without thee I feel myself +weak, feeble, and uncertain.</p> + +<p>To come to the point, then—Sancho with all his attendants arrived +at a village of some thousand inhabitants, and one of the largest +the duke possessed. They informed him that it was called the island of +Barataria, either because the name of the village was Baratario, or +because of the joke by way of which the government had been +conferred upon him. On reaching the gates of the town, which was a +walled one, the municipality came forth to meet him, the bells rang +out a peal, and the inhabitants showed every sign of general +satisfaction; and with great pomp they conducted him to the +principal church to give thanks to God, and then with burlesque +ceremonies they presented him with the keys of the town, and +acknowledged him as perpetual governor of the island of Barataria. The +costume, the beard, and the fat squat figure of the new governor +astonished all those who were not in the secret, and even all who +were, and they were not a few. Finally, leading him out of the +church they carried him to the judgment seat and seated him on it, and +the duke's majordomo said to him, "It is an ancient custom in this +island, senor governor, that he who comes to take possession of this +famous island is bound to answer a question which shall be put to him, +and which must be a somewhat knotty and difficult one; and by his +answer the people take the measure of their new governor's wit, and +hail with joy or deplore his arrival accordingly."</p> + +<p>While the majordomo was making this speech Sancho was gazing at +several large letters inscribed on the wall opposite his seat, and +as he could not read he asked what that was that was painted on the +wall. The answer was, "Senor, there is written and recorded the day on +which your lordship took possession of this island, and the +inscription says, 'This day, the so-and-so of such-and-such a month +and year, Senor Don Sancho Panza took possession of this island; +many years may he enjoy it.'"</p> + +<p>"And whom do they call Don Sancho Panza?" asked Sancho.</p> + +<p>"Your lordship," replied the majordomo; "for no other Panza but +the one who is now seated in that chair has ever entered this island."</p> + +<p>"Well then, let me tell you, brother," said Sancho, "I haven't got +the 'Don,' nor has any one of my family ever had it; my name is +plain Sancho Panza, and Sancho was my father's name, and Sancho was my +grandfather's and they were all Panzas, without any Dons or Donas +tacked on; I suspect that in this island there are more Dons than +stones; but never mind; God knows what I mean, and maybe if my +government lasts four days I'll weed out these Dons that no doubt +are as great a nuisance as the midges, they're so plenty. Let the +majordomo go on with his question, and I'll give the best answer I +can, whether the people deplore or not."</p> + +<p>At this instant there came into court two old men, one carrying a +cane by way of a walking-stick, and the one who had no stick said, +"Senor, some time ago I lent this good man ten gold-crowns in gold +to gratify him and do him a service, on the condition that he was to +return them to me whenever I should ask for them. A long time passed +before I asked for them, for I would not put him to any greater +straits to return them than he was in when I lent them to him; but +thinking he was growing careless about payment I asked for them once +and several times; and not only will he not give them back, but he +denies that he owes them, and says I never lent him any such crowns; +or if I did, that he repaid them; and I have no witnesses either of +the loan, or the payment, for he never paid me; I want your worship to +put him to his oath, and if he swears he returned them to me I forgive +him the debt here and before God."</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p45b"></a><img alt="p45b.jpg (400K)" src="images/p45b.jpg" height="856" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p45b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>"What say you to this, good old man, you with the stick?" said +Sancho.</p> + +<p>To which the old man replied, "I admit, senor, that he lent them +to me; but let your worship lower your staff, and as he leaves it to +my oath, I'll swear that I gave them back, and paid him really and +truly."</p> + +<p>The governor lowered the staff, and as he did so the old man who had +the stick handed it to the other old man to hold for him while he +swore, as if he found it in his way; and then laid his hand on the +cross of the staff, saying that it was true the ten crowns that were +demanded of him had been lent him; but that he had with his own hand +given them back into the hand of the other, and that he, not +recollecting it, was always asking for them.</p> + +<p>Seeing this the great governor asked the creditor what answer he had +to make to what his opponent said. He said that no doubt his debtor +had told the truth, for he believed him to be an honest man and a good +Christian, and he himself must have forgotten when and how he had +given him back the crowns; and that from that time forth he would make +no further demand upon him.</p> + +<p>The debtor took his stick again, and bowing his head left the court. +Observing this, and how, without another word, he made off, and +observing too the resignation of the plaintiff, Sancho buried his head +in his bosom and remained for a short space in deep thought, with +the forefinger of his right hand on his brow and nose; then he +raised his head and bade them call back the old man with the stick, +for he had already taken his departure. They brought him back, and +as soon as Sancho saw him he said, "Honest man, give me that stick, +for I want it."</p> + +<p>"Willingly," said the old man; "here it is senor," and he put it +into his hand.</p> + +<p>Sancho took it and, handing it to the other old man, said to him, +"Go, and God be with you; for now you are paid."</p> + +<p>"I, senor!" returned the old man; "why, is this cane worth ten +gold-crowns?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the governor, "or if not I am the greatest dolt in the +world; now you will see whether I have got the headpiece to govern a +whole kingdom;" and he ordered the cane to be broken in two, there, in +the presence of all. It was done, and in the middle of it they found +ten gold-crowns. All were filled with amazement, and looked upon their +governor as another Solomon. They asked him how he had come to the +conclusion that the ten crowns were in the cane; he replied, that +observing how the old man who swore gave the stick to his opponent +while he was taking the oath, and swore that he had really and truly +given him the crowns, and how as soon as he had done swearing he asked +for the stick again, it came into his head that the sum demanded +must be inside it; and from this he said it might be seen that God +sometimes guides those who govern in their judgments, even though they +may be fools; besides he had himself heard the curate of his village +mention just such another case, and he had so good a memory, that if +it was not that he forgot everything he wished to remember, there +would not be such a memory in all the island. To conclude, the old men +went off, one crestfallen, and the other in high contentment, all +who were present were astonished, and he who was recording the +words, deeds, and movements of Sancho could not make up his mind +whether he was to look upon him and set him down as a fool or as a man +of sense.</p> + +<p>As soon as this case was disposed of, there came into court a +woman holding on with a tight grip to a man dressed like a +well-to-do cattle dealer, and she came forward making a great outcry +and exclaiming, "Justice, senor governor, justice! and if I don't +get it on earth I'll go look for it in heaven. Senor governor of my +soul, this wicked man caught me in the middle of the fields here and +used my body as if it was an ill-washed rag, and, woe is me! got +from me what I had kept these three-and-twenty years and more, +defending it against Moors and Christians, natives and strangers; +and I always as hard as an oak, and keeping myself as pure as a +salamander in the fire, or wool among the brambles, for this good +fellow to come now with clean hands to handle me!"</p> + +<p>"It remains to be proved whether this gallant has clean hands or +not," said Sancho; and turning to the man he asked him what he had +to say in answer to the woman's charge.</p> + +<p>He all in confusion made answer, "Sirs, I am a poor pig dealer, +and this morning I left the village to sell (saving your presence) +four pigs, and between dues and cribbings they got out of me little +less than the worth of them. As I was returning to my village I fell +in on the road with this good dame, and the devil who makes a coil and +a mess out of everything, yoked us together. I paid her fairly, but +she not contented laid hold of me and never let go until she brought +me here; she says I forced her, but she lies by the oath I swear or am +ready to swear; and this is the whole truth and every particle of it."</p> + +<p>The governor on this asked him if he had any money in silver about +him; he said he had about twenty ducats in a leather purse in his +bosom. The governor bade him take it out and hand it to the +complainant; he obeyed trembling; the woman took it, and making a +thousand salaams to all and praying to God for the long life and +health of the senor governor who had such regard for distressed +orphans and virgins, she hurried out of court with the purse grasped +in both her hands, first looking, however, to see if the money it +contained was silver.</p> + +<p>As soon as she was gone Sancho said to the cattle dealer, whose +tears were already starting and whose eyes and heart were following +his purse, "Good fellow, go after that woman and take the purse from +her, by force even, and come back with it here;" and he did not say it +to one who was a fool or deaf, for the man was off like a flash of +lightning, and ran to do as he was bid.</p> + +<p>All the bystanders waited anxiously to see the end of the case, +and presently both man and woman came back at even closer grips than +before, she with her petticoat up and the purse in the lap of it, +and he struggling hard to take it from her, but all to no purpose, +so stout was the woman's defence, she all the while crying out, +"Justice from God and the world! see here, senor governor, the +shamelessness and boldness of this villain, who in the middle of the +town, in the middle of the street, wanted to take from me the purse +your worship bade him give me."</p> + +<p>"And did he take it?" asked the governor.</p> + +<p>"Take it!" said the woman; "I'd let my life be taken from me +sooner than the purse. A pretty child I'd be! It's another sort of cat +they must throw in my face, and not that poor scurvy knave. Pincers +and hammers, mallets and chisels would not get it out of my grip; +no, nor lions' claws; the soul from out of my body first!"</p> + +<p>"She is right," said the man; "I own myself beaten and powerless; +I confess I haven't the strength to take it from her;" and he let go +his hold of her.</p> + +<p>Upon this the governor said to the woman, "Let me see that purse, my +worthy and sturdy friend." She handed it to him at once, and the +governor returned it to the man, and said to the unforced mistress +of force, "Sister, if you had shown as much, or only half as much, +spirit and vigour in defending your body as you have shown in +defending that purse, the strength of Hercules could not have forced +you. Be off, and God speed you, and bad luck to you, and don't show +your face in all this island, or within six leagues of it on any side, +under pain of two hundred lashes; be off at once, I say, you +shameless, cheating shrew."</p> + +<p>The woman was cowed and went off disconsolately, hanging her head; +and the governor said to the man, "Honest man, go home with your +money, and God speed you; and for the future, if you don't want to +lose it, see that you don't take it into your head to yoke with +anybody." The man thanked him as clumsily as he could and went his +way, and the bystanders were again filled with admiration at their new +governor's judgments and sentences.</p> + +<p>Next, two men, one apparently a farm labourer, and the other a +tailor, for he had a pair of shears in his hand, presented +themselves before him, and the tailor said, "Senor governor, this +labourer and I come before your worship by reason of this honest man +coming to my shop yesterday (for saving everybody's presence I'm a +passed tailor, God be thanked), and putting a piece of cloth into my +hands and asking me, 'Senor, will there be enough in this cloth to +make me a cap?' Measuring the cloth I said there would. He probably +suspected—as I supposed, and I supposed right—that I wanted to steal +some of the cloth, led to think so by his own roguery and the bad +opinion people have of tailors; and he told me to see if there would +be enough for two. I guessed what he would be at, and I said 'yes.' +He, still following up his original unworthy notion, went on adding +cap after cap, and I 'yes' after 'yes,' until we got as far as five. +He has just this moment come for them; I gave them to him, but he +won't pay me for the making; on the contrary, he calls upon me to +pay him, or else return his cloth."</p> + +<p>"Is all this true, brother?" said Sancho.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the man; "but will your worship make him show the +five caps he has made me?"</p> + +<p>"With all my heart," said the tailor; and drawing his hand from +under his cloak he showed five caps stuck upon the five fingers of it, +and said, "there are the caps this good man asks for; and by God and +upon my conscience I haven't a scrap of cloth left, and I'll let the +work be examined by the inspectors of the trade."</p> + +<p>All present laughed at the number of caps and the novelty of the +suit; Sancho set himself to think for a moment, and then said, "It +seems to me that in this case it is not necessary to deliver +long-winded arguments, but only to give off-hand the judgment of an +honest man; and so my decision is that the tailor lose the making +and the labourer the cloth, and that the caps go to the prisoners in +the gaol, and let there be no more about it."</p> + +<p>If the previous decision about the cattle dealer's purse excited the +admiration of the bystanders, this provoked their laughter; however, +the governor's orders were after all executed. All this, having been +taken down by his chronicler, was at once despatched to the duke, +who was looking out for it with great eagerness; and here let us leave +the good Sancho; for his master, sorely troubled in mind by +Altisidora's music, has pressing claims upon us now.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p45e"></a><img alt="p45e.jpg (11K)" src="images/p45e.jpg" height="265" width="263"> +</center> + + + + +<br> +<br> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + <a href="p30.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="5946-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p32.htm">Next Part</a> + </td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br><br> + +</body> +</html> + |