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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/p34.htm b/old/orig5946-h/p34.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6010feb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig5946-h/p34.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1166 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>THE HISTORY OF DON QUIXOTE, By Cervantes, Vol. II., Part 34.</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="p33.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="5946-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p35.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 34 +<br><br> +Chapters 54-57 +</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="#ch54b">CHAPTER LIV</a> +WHICH DEALS WITH MATTERS RELATING TO THIS HISTORY +AND NO OTHER + +<a href="#ch55b">CHAPTER LV</a> +OF WHAT BEFELL SANCHO ON THE ROAD, AND OTHER THINGS +THAT CANNOT BE SURPASSED + +<a href="#ch56b">CHAPTER LVI</a> +OF THE PRODIGIOUS AND UNPARALLELED BATTLE THAT TOOK +PLACE BETWEEN DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA AND THE LACQUEY +TOSILOS IN DEFENCE OF THE DAUGHTER OF DONA RODRIGUEZ + +<a href="#ch57b">CHAPTER LVII</a> +WHICH TREATS OF HOW DON QUIXOTE TOOK LEAVE OF THE DUKE, +AND OF WHAT FOLLOWED WITH THE WITTY AND IMPUDENT +ALTISIDORA, ONE OF THE DUCHESS'S DAMSELS + +</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="ch54b"></a>CHAPTER LIV.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>WHICH DEALS WITH MATTERS RELATING TO THIS HISTORY AND NO OTHER +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p54a"></a><img alt="p54a.jpg (109K)" src="images/p54a.jpg" height="371" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p54a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The duke and duchess resolved that the challenge Don Quixote had, +for the reason already mentioned, given their vassal, should be +proceeded with; and as the young man was in Flanders, whither he had +fled to escape having Dona Rodriguez for a mother-in-law, they +arranged to substitute for him a Gascon lacquey, named Tosilos, +first of all carefully instructing him in all he had to do. Two days +later the duke told Don Quixote that in four days from that time his +opponent would present himself on the field of battle armed as a +knight, and would maintain that the damsel lied by half a beard, nay a +whole beard, if she affirmed that he had given her a promise of +marriage. Don Quixote was greatly pleased at the news, and promised +himself to do wonders in the lists, and reckoned it rare good +fortune that an opportunity should have offered for letting his +noble hosts see what the might of his strong arm was capable of; and +so in high spirits and satisfaction he awaited the expiration of the +four days, which measured by his impatience seemed spinning themselves +out into four hundred ages. Let us leave them to pass as we do other +things, and go and bear Sancho company, as mounted on Dapple, half +glad, half sad, he paced along on his road to join his master, in +whose society he was happier than in being governor of all the islands +in the world. Well then, it so happened that before he had gone a +great way from the island of his government (and whether it was +island, city, town, or village that he governed he never troubled +himself to inquire) he saw coming along the road he was travelling six +pilgrims with staves, foreigners of that sort that beg for alms +singing; who as they drew near arranged themselves in a line and +lifting up their voices all together began to sing in their own +language something that Sancho could not with the exception of one +word which sounded plainly "alms," from which he gathered that it +was alms they asked for in their song; and being, as Cide Hamete says, +remarkably charitable, he took out of his alforias the half loaf and +half cheese he had been provided with, and gave them to them, +explaining to them by signs that he had nothing else to give them. +They received them very gladly, but exclaimed, "Geld! Geld!"</p> + +<p>"I don't understand what you want of me, good people," said Sancho.</p> + +<p>On this one of them took a purse out of his bosom and showed it to +Sancho, by which he comprehended they were asking for money, and +putting his thumb to his throat and spreading his hand upwards he gave +them to understand that he had not the sign of a coin about him, and +urging Dapple forward he broke through them. But as he was passing, +one of them who had been examining him very closely rushed towards +him, and flinging his arms round him exclaimed in a loud voice and +good Spanish, "God bless me! What's this I see? Is it possible that +I hold in my arms my dear friend, my good neighbour Sancho Panza? +But there's no doubt about it, for I'm not asleep, nor am I drunk just +now."</p> + +<p>Sancho was surprised to hear himself called by his name and find +himself embraced by a foreign pilgrim, and after regarding him +steadily without speaking he was still unable to recognise him; but +the pilgrim perceiving his perplexity cried, "What! and is it +possible, Sancho Panza, that thou dost not know thy neighbour +Ricote, the Morisco shopkeeper of thy village?"</p> + +<p>Sancho upon this looking at him more carefully began to recall his +features, and at last recognised him perfectly, and without getting +off the ass threw his arms round his neck saying, "Who the devil could +have known thee, Ricote, in this mummer's dress thou art in? Tell +me, who bas frenchified thee, and how dost thou dare to return to +Spain, where if they catch thee and recognise thee it will go hard +enough with thee?"</p> + +<p>"If thou dost not betray me, Sancho," said the pilgrim, "I am +safe; for in this dress no one will recognise me; but let us turn +aside out of the road into that grove there where my comrades are +going to eat and rest, and thou shalt eat with them there, for they +are very good fellows; I'll have time enough to tell thee then all +that has happened me since I left our village in obedience to his +Majesty's edict that threatened such severities against the +unfortunate people of my nation, as thou hast heard."</p> + +<p>Sancho complied, and Ricote having spoken to the other pilgrims they +withdrew to the grove they saw, turning a considerable distance out of +the road. They threw down their staves, took off their pilgrim's +cloaks and remained in their under-clothing; they were all +good-looking young fellows, except Ricote, who was a man somewhat +advanced in years. They carried alforjas all of them, and all +apparently well filled, at least with things provocative of thirst, +such as would summon it from two leagues off. They stretched +themselves on the ground, and making a tablecloth of the grass they +spread upon it bread, salt, knives, walnut, scraps of cheese, and +well-picked ham-bones which if they were past gnawing were not past +sucking. They also put down a black dainty called, they say, caviar, +and made of the eggs of fish, a great thirst-wakener. Nor was there +any lack of olives, dry, it is true, and without any seasoning, but +for all that toothsome and pleasant. But what made the best show in +the field of the banquet was half a dozen botas of wine, for each of +them produced his own from his alforjas; even the good Ricote, who +from a Morisco had transformed himself into a German or Dutchman, took +out his, which in size might have vied with the five others. They then +began to eat with very great relish and very leisurely, making the +most of each morsel—very small ones of everything—they took up on +the point of the knife; and then all at the same moment raised their +arms and botas aloft, the mouths placed in their mouths, and all +eyes fixed on heaven just as if they were taking aim at it; and in +this attitude they remained ever so long, wagging their heads from +side to side as if in acknowledgment of the pleasure they were +enjoying while they decanted the bowels of the bottles into their +own stomachs.</p> + +<p>Sancho beheld all, "and nothing gave him pain;" so far from that, +acting on the proverb he knew so well, "when thou art at Rome do as +thou seest," he asked Ricote for his bota and took aim like the rest +of them, and with not less enjoyment. Four times did the botas bear +being uplifted, but the fifth it was all in vain, for they were +drier and more sapless than a rush by that time, which made the +jollity that had been kept up so far begin to flag.</p> + +<p>Every now and then some one of them would grasp Sancho's right +hand in his own saying, "Espanoli y Tudesqui tuto uno: bon compano;" +and Sancho would answer, "Bon compano, jur a Di!" and then go off into +a fit of laughter that lasted an hour, without a thought for the +moment of anything that had befallen him in his government; for +cares have very little sway over us while we are eating and +drinking. At length, the wine having come to an end with them, +drowsiness began to come over them, and they dropped asleep on their +very table and tablecloth. Ricote and Sancho alone remained awake, for +they had eaten more and drunk less, and Ricote drawing Sancho aside, +they seated themselves at the foot of a beech, leaving the pilgrims +buried in sweet sleep; and without once falling into his own Morisco +tongue Ricote spoke as follows in pure Castilian:</p> + +<p>"Thou knowest well, neighbour and friend Sancho Panza, how the +proclamation or edict his Majesty commanded to be issued against those +of my nation filled us all with terror and dismay; me at least it did, +insomuch that I think before the time granted us for quitting Spain +was out, the full force of the penalty had already fallen upon me +and upon my children. I decided, then, and I think wisely (just like +one who knows that at a certain date the house he lives in will be +taken from him, and looks out beforehand for another to change +into), I decided, I say, to leave the town myself, alone and without +my family, and go to seek out some place to remove them to comfortably +and not in the hurried way in which the others took their departure; +for I saw very plainly, and so did all the older men among us, that +the proclamations were not mere threats, as some said, but positive +enactments which would be enforced at the appointed time; and what +made me believe this was what I knew of the base and extravagant +designs which our people harboured, designs of such a nature that I +think it was a divine inspiration that moved his Majesty to carry +out a resolution so spirited; not that we were all guilty, for some +there were true and steadfast Christians; but they were so few that +they could make no head against those who were not; and it was not +prudent to cherish a viper in the bosom by having enemies in the +house. In short it was with just cause that we were visited with the +penalty of banishment, a mild and lenient one in the eyes of some, but +to us the most terrible that could be inflicted upon us. Wherever we +are we weep for Spain; for after all we were born there and it is +our natural fatherland. Nowhere do we find the reception our unhappy +condition needs; and in Barbary and all the parts of Africa where we +counted upon being received, succoured, and welcomed, it is there they +insult and ill-treat us most. We knew not our good fortune until we +lost it; and such is the longing we almost all of us have to return to +Spain, that most of those who like myself know the language, and there +are many who do, come back to it and leave their wives and children +forsaken yonder, so great is their love for it; and now I know by +experience the meaning of the saying, sweet is the love of one's +country.</p> + +<p>"I left our village, as I said, and went to France, but though +they gave us a kind reception there I was anxious to see all I +could. I crossed into Italy, and reached Germany, and there it +seemed to me we might live with more freedom, as the inhabitants do +not pay any attention to trifling points; everyone lives as he +likes, for in most parts they enjoy liberty of conscience. I took a +house in a town near Augsburg, and then joined these pilgrims, who are +in the habit of coming to Spain in great numbers every year to visit +the shrines there, which they look upon as their Indies and a sure and +certain source of gain. They travel nearly all over it, and there is +no town out of which they do not go full up of meat and drink, as +the saying is, and with a real, at least, in money, and they come +off at the end of their travels with more than a hundred crowns saved, +which, changed into gold, they smuggle out of the kingdom either in +the hollow of their staves or in the patches of their pilgrim's cloaks +or by some device of their own, and carry to their own country in +spite of the guards at the posts and passes where they are searched. +Now my purpose is, Sancho, to carry away the treasure that I left +buried, which, as it is outside the town, I shall be able to do +without risk, and to write, or cross over from Valencia, to my +daughter and wife, who I know are at Algiers, and find some means of +bringing them to some French port and thence to Germany, there to +await what it may be God's will to do with us; for, after all, Sancho, +I know well that Ricota my daughter and Francisca Ricota my wife are +Catholic Christians, and though I am not so much so, still I am more +of a Christian than a Moor, and it is always my prayer to God that +he will open the eyes of my understanding and show me how I am to +serve him; but what amazes me and I cannot understand is why my wife +and daughter should have gone to Barbary rather than to France, +where they could live as Christians."</p> + +<p>To this Sancho replied, "Remember, Ricote, that may not have been +open to them, for Juan Tiopieyo thy wife's brother took them, and +being a true Moor he went where he could go most easily; and another +thing I can tell thee, it is my belief thou art going in vain to +look for what thou hast left buried, for we heard they took from thy +brother-in-law and thy wife a great quantity of pearls and money in +gold which they brought to be passed."</p> + +<p>"That may be," said Ricote; "but I know they did not touch my hoard, +for I did not tell them where it was, for fear of accidents; and so, +if thou wilt come with me, Sancho, and help me to take it away and +conceal it, I will give thee two hundred crowns wherewith thou +mayest relieve thy necessities, and, as thou knowest, I know they +are many."</p> + +<p>"I would do it," said Sancho; "but I am not at all covetous, for I +gave up an office this morning in which, if I was, I might have made +the walls of my house of gold and dined off silver plates before six +months were over; and so for this reason, and because I feel I would +be guilty of treason to my king if I helped his enemies, I would not +go with thee if instead of promising me two hundred crowns thou wert +to give me four hundred here in hand."</p> + +<p>"And what office is this thou hast given up, Sancho?" asked Ricote.</p> + +<p>"I have given up being governor of an island," said Sancho, "and +such a one, faith, as you won't find the like of easily."</p> + +<p>"And where is this island?" said Ricote.</p> + +<p>"Where?" said Sancho; "two leagues from here, and it is called the +island of Barataria."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! Sancho," said Ricote; "islands are away out in the sea; +there are no islands on the mainland."</p> + +<p>"What? No islands!" said Sancho; "I tell thee, friend Ricote, I left +it this morning, and yesterday I was governing there as I pleased like +a sagittarius; but for all that I gave it up, for it seemed to me a +dangerous office, a governor's."</p> + +<p>"And what hast thou gained by the government?" asked Ricote.</p> + +<p>"I have gained," said Sancho, "the knowledge that I am no good for +governing, unless it is a drove of cattle, and that the riches that +are to be got by these governments are got at the cost of one's rest +and sleep, ay and even one's food; for in islands the governors must +eat little, especially if they have doctors to look after their +health."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand thee, Sancho," said Ricote; "but it seems to +me all nonsense thou art talking. Who would give thee islands to +govern? Is there any scarcity in the world of cleverer men than thou +art for governors? Hold thy peace, Sancho, and come back to thy +senses, and consider whether thou wilt come with me as I said to +help me to take away treasure I left buried (for indeed it may be +called a treasure, it is so large), and I will give thee wherewithal +to keep thee, as I told thee."</p> + +<p>"And I have told thee already, Ricote, that I will not," said +Sancho; "let it content thee that by me thou shalt not be betrayed, +and go thy way in God's name and let me go mine; for I know that +well-gotten gain may be lost, but ill-gotten gain is lost, itself +and its owner likewise."</p> + +<p>"I will not press thee, Sancho," said Ricote; "but tell me, wert +thou in our village when my wife and daughter and brother-in-law +left it?"</p> + +<p>"I was so," said Sancho; "and I can tell thee thy daughter left it +looking so lovely that all the village turned out to see her, and +everybody said she was the fairest creature in the world. She wept +as she went, and embraced all her friends and acquaintances and +those who came out to see her, and she begged them all to commend +her to God and Our Lady his mother, and this in such a touching way +that it made me weep myself, though I'm not much given to tears +commonly; and, faith, many a one would have liked to hide her, or go +out and carry her off on the road; but the fear of going against the +king's command kept them back. The one who showed himself most moved +was Don Pedro Gregorio, the rich young heir thou knowest of, and +they say he was deep in love with her; and since she left he has not +been seen in our village again, and we all suspect he has gone after +her to steal her away, but so far nothing has been heard of it."</p> + +<p>"I always had a suspicion that gentleman had a passion for my +daughter," said Ricote; "but as I felt sure of my Ricota's virtue it +gave me no uneasiness to know that he loved her; for thou must have +heard it said, Sancho, that the Morisco women seldom or never engage +in amours with the old Christians; and my daughter, who I fancy +thought more of being a Christian than of lovemaking, would not +trouble herself about the attentions of this heir."</p> + +<p>"God grant it," said Sancho, "for it would be a bad business for +both of them; but now let me be off, friend Ricote, for I want to +reach where my master Don Quixote is to-night."</p> + +<p>"God be with thee, brother Sancho," said Ricote; "my comrades are +beginning to stir, and it is time, too, for us to continue our +journey;" and then they both embraced, and Sancho mounted Dapple, +and Ricote leant upon his staff, and so they parted.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p54e"></a><img alt="p54e.jpg (40K)" src="images/p54e.jpg" height="365" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch55b"></a>CHAPTER LV.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>OF WHAT BEFELL SANCHO ON THE ROAD, AND OTHER THINGS THAT CANNOT BE SURPASSED +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p55a"></a><img alt="p55a.jpg (126K)" src="images/p55a.jpg" height="373" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p55a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>The length of time he delayed with Ricote prevented Sancho from +reaching the duke's castle that day, though he was within half a +league of it when night, somewhat dark and cloudy, overtook him. This, +however, as it was summer time, did not give him much uneasiness, +and he turned aside out of the road intending to wait for morning; but +his ill luck and hard fate so willed it that as he was searching about +for a place to make himself as comfortable as possible, he and +Dapple fell into a deep dark hole that lay among some very old +buildings. As he fell he commended himself with all his heart to +God, fancying he was not going to stop until he reached the depths +of the bottomless pit; but it did not turn out so, for at little +more than thrice a man's height Dapple touched bottom, and he found +himself sitting on him without having received any hurt or damage +whatever. He felt himself all over and held his breath to try +whether he was quite sound or had a hole made in him anywhere, and +finding himself all right and whole and in perfect health he was +profuse in his thanks to God our Lord for the mercy that had been +shown him, for he made sure he had been broken into a thousand pieces. +He also felt along the sides of the pit with his hands to see if it +were possible to get out of it without help, but he found they were +quite smooth and afforded no hold anywhere, at which he was greatly +distressed, especially when he heard how pathetically and dolefully +Dapple was bemoaning himself, and no wonder he complained, nor was +it from ill-temper, for in truth he was not in a very good case. +"Alas," said Sancho, "what unexpected accidents happen at every step +to those who live in this miserable world! Who would have said that +one who saw himself yesterday sitting on a throne, governor of an +island, giving orders to his servants and his vassals, would see +himself to-day buried in a pit without a soul to help him, or +servant or vassal to come to his relief? Here must we perish with +hunger, my ass and myself, if indeed we don't die first, he of his +bruises and injuries, and I of grief and sorrow. At any rate I'll +not be as lucky as my master Don Quixote of La Mancha, when he went +down into the cave of that enchanted Montesinos, where he found people +to make more of him than if he had been in his own house; for it seems +he came in for a table laid out and a bed ready made. There he saw +fair and pleasant visions, but here I'll see, I imagine, toads and +adders. Unlucky wretch that I am, what an end my follies and fancies +have come to! They'll take up my bones out of this, when it is +heaven's will that I'm found, picked clean, white and polished, and my +good Dapple's with them, and by that, perhaps, it will be found out +who we are, at least by such as have heard that Sancho Panza never +separated from his ass, nor his ass from Sancho Panza. Unlucky +wretches, I say again, that our hard fate should not let us die in our +own country and among our own people, where if there was no help for +our misfortune, at any rate there would be some one to grieve for it +and to close our eyes as we passed away! O comrade and friend, how ill +have I repaid thy faithful services! Forgive me, and entreat +Fortune, as well as thou canst, to deliver us out of this miserable +strait we are both in; and I promise to put a crown of laurel on thy +head, and make thee look like a poet laureate, and give thee double +feeds."</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p55b"></a><img alt="p55b.jpg (273K)" src="images/p55b.jpg" height="838" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p55b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>In this strain did Sancho bewail himself, and his ass listened to +him, but answered him never a word, such was the distress and +anguish the poor beast found himself in. At length, after a night +spent in bitter moanings and lamentations, day came, and by its +light Sancho perceived that it was wholly impossible to escape out +of that pit without help, and he fell to bemoaning his fate and +uttering loud shouts to find out if there was anyone within hearing; +but all his shouting was only crying in the wilderness, for there +was not a soul anywhere in the neighbourhood to hear him, and then +at last he gave himself up for dead. Dapple was lying on his back, and +Sancho helped him to his feet, which he was scarcely able to keep; and +then taking a piece of bread out of his alforjas which had shared +their fortunes in the fall, he gave it to the ass, to whom it was +not unwelcome, saying to him as if he understood him, "With bread +all sorrows are less."</p> + +<p>And now he perceived on one side of the pit a hole large enough to +admit a person if he stooped and squeezed himself into a small +compass. Sancho made for it, and entered it by creeping, and found +it wide and spacious on the inside, which he was able to see as a +ray of sunlight that penetrated what might be called the roof showed +it all plainly. He observed too that it opened and widened out into +another spacious cavity; seeing which he made his way back to where +the ass was, and with a stone began to pick away the clay from the +hole until in a short time he had made room for the beast to pass +easily, and this accomplished, taking him by the halter, he +proceeded to traverse the cavern to see if there was any outlet at the +other end. He advanced, sometimes in the dark, sometimes without +light, but never without fear; "God Almighty help me!" said he to +himself; "this that is a misadventure to me would make a good +adventure for my master Don Quixote. He would have been sure to take +these depths and dungeons for flowery gardens or the palaces of +Galiana, and would have counted upon issuing out of this darkness +and imprisonment into some blooming meadow; but I, unlucky that I +am, hopeless and spiritless, expect at every step another pit deeper +than the first to open under my feet and swallow me up for good; +'welcome evil, if thou comest alone.'"</p> + +<p>In this way and with these reflections he seemed to himself to +have travelled rather more than half a league, when at last he +perceived a dim light that looked like daylight and found its way in +on one side, showing that this road, which appeared to him the road to +the other world, led to some opening.</p> + +<p>Here Cide Hamete leaves him, and returns to Don Quixote, who in high +spirits and satisfaction was looking forward to the day fixed for +the battle he was to fight with him who had robbed Dona Rodriguez's +daughter of her honour, for whom he hoped to obtain satisfaction for +the wrong and injury shamefully done to her. It came to pass, then, +that having sallied forth one morning to practise and exercise himself +in what he would have to do in the encounter he expected to find +himself engaged in the next day, as he was putting Rocinante through +his paces or pressing him to the charge, he brought his feet so +close to a pit that but for reining him in tightly it would have +been impossible for him to avoid falling into it. He pulled him up, +however, without a fall, and coming a little closer examined the +hole without dismounting; but as he was looking at it he heard loud +cries proceeding from it, and by listening attentively was able to +make out that he who uttered them was saying, "Ho, above there! is +there any Christian that hears me, or any charitable gentleman that +will take pity on a sinner buried alive, on an unfortunate disgoverned +governor?"</p> + +<p>It struck Don Quixote that it was the voice of Sancho Panza he +heard, whereat he was taken aback and amazed, and raising his own +voice as much as he could, he cried out, "Who is below there? Who is +that complaining?"</p> + +<p>"Who should be here, or who should complain," was the answer, "but +the forlorn Sancho Panza, for his sins and for his ill-luck governor +of the island of Barataria, squire that was to the famous knight Don +Quixote of La Mancha?"</p> + +<p>When Don Quixote heard this his amazement was redoubled and his +perturbation grew greater than ever, for it suggested itself to his +mind that Sancho must be dead, and that his soul was in torment down +there; and carried away by this idea he exclaimed, "I conjure thee +by everything that as a Catholic Christian I can conjure thee by, tell +me who thou art; and if thou art a soul in torment, tell me what +thou wouldst have me do for thee; for as my profession is to give +aid and succour to those that need it in this world, it will also +extend to aiding and succouring the distressed of the other, who +cannot help themselves."</p> + +<p>"In that case," answered the voice, "your worship who speaks to me +must be my master Don Quixote of La Mancha; nay, from the tone of +the voice it is plain it can be nobody else."</p> + +<p>"Don Quixote I am," replied Don Quixote, "he whose profession it +is to aid and succour the living and the dead in their necessities; +wherefore tell me who thou art, for thou art keeping me in suspense; +because, if thou art my squire Sancho Panza, and art dead, since the +devils have not carried thee off, and thou art by God's mercy in +purgatory, our holy mother the Roman Catholic Church has +intercessory means sufficient to release thee from the pains thou +art in; and I for my part will plead with her to that end, so far as +my substance will go; without further delay, therefore, declare +thyself, and tell me who thou art."</p> + +<p>"By all that's good," was the answer, "and by the birth of +whomsoever your worship chooses, I swear, Senor Don Quixote of La +Mancha, that I am your squire Sancho Panza, and that I have never died +all my life; but that, having given up my government for reasons +that would require more time to explain, I fell last night into this +pit where I am now, and Dapple is witness and won't let me lie, for +more by token he is here with me."</p> + +<p>Nor was this all; one would have fancied the ass understood what +Sancho said, because that moment he began to bray so loudly that the +whole cave rang again.</p> + +<p>"Famous testimony!" exclaimed Don Quixote; "I know that bray as well +as if I was its mother, and thy voice too, my Sancho. Wait while I +go to the duke's castle, which is close by, and I will bring some +one to take thee out of this pit into which thy sins no doubt have +brought thee."</p> + +<p>"Go, your worship," said Sancho, "and come back quick for God's +sake; for I cannot bear being buried alive any longer, and I'm dying +of fear."</p> + +<p>Don Quixote left him, and hastened to the castle to tell the duke +and duchess what had happened Sancho, and they were not a little +astonished at it; they could easily understand his having fallen, from +the confirmatory circumstance of the cave which had been in +existence there from time immemorial; but they could not imagine how +he had quitted the government without their receiving any intimation +of his coming. To be brief, they fetched ropes and tackle, as the +saying is, and by dint of many hands and much labour they drew up +Dapple and Sancho Panza out of the darkness into the light of day. A +student who saw him remarked, "That's the way all bad governors should +come out of their governments, as this sinner comes out of the +depths of the pit, dead with hunger, pale, and I suppose without a +farthing."</p> + +<p>Sancho overheard him and said, "It is eight or ten days, brother +growler, since I entered upon the government of the island they gave +me, and all that time I never had a bellyful of victuals, no not for +an hour; doctors persecuted me and enemies crushed my bones; nor had I +any opportunity of taking bribes or levying taxes; and if that be +the case, as it is, I don't deserve, I think, to come out in this +fashion; but 'man proposes and God disposes;' and God knows what is +best, and what suits each one best; and 'as the occasion, so the +behaviour;' and 'let nobody say "I won't drink of this water;"' and +'where one thinks there are flitches, there are no pegs;' God knows my +meaning and that's enough; I say no more, though I could."</p> + +<p>"Be not angry or annoyed at what thou hearest, Sancho," said Don +Quixote, "or there will never be an end of it; keep a safe +conscience and let them say what they like; for trying to stop +slanderers' tongues is like trying to put gates to the open plain. +If a governor comes out of his government rich, they say he has been a +thief; and if he comes out poor, that he has been a noodle and a +blockhead."</p> + +<p>"They'll be pretty sure this time," said Sancho, "to set me down for +a fool rather than a thief."</p> + +<p>Thus talking, and surrounded by boys and a crowd of people, they +reached the castle, where in one of the corridors the duke and duchess +stood waiting for them; but Sancho would not go up to see the duke +until he had first put up Dapple in the stable, for he said he had +passed a very bad night in his last quarters; then he went upstairs to +see his lord and lady, and kneeling before them he said, "Because it +was your highnesses' pleasure, not because of any desert of my own, +I went to govern your island of Barataria, which 'I entered naked, and +naked I find myself; I neither lose nor gain.' Whether I have governed +well or ill, I have had witnesses who will say what they think fit. +I have answered questions, I have decided causes, and always dying +of hunger, for Doctor Pedro Recio of Tirteafuera, the island and +governor doctor, would have it so. Enemies attacked us by night and +put us in a great quandary, but the people of the island say they came +off safe and victorious by the might of my arm; and may God give +them as much health as there's truth in what they say. In short, +during that time I have weighed the cares and responsibilities +governing brings with it, and by my reckoning I find my shoulders +can't bear them, nor are they a load for my loins or arrows for my +quiver; and so, before the government threw me over I preferred to +throw the government over; and yesterday morning I left the island +as I found it, with the same streets, houses, and roofs it had when +I entered it. I asked no loan of anybody, nor did I try to fill my +pocket; and though I meant to make some useful laws, I made hardly +any, as I was afraid they would not be kept; for in that case it comes +to the same thing to make them or not to make them. I quitted the +island, as I said, without any escort except my ass; I fell into a +pit, I pushed on through it, until this morning by the light of the +sun I saw an outlet, but not so easy a one but that, had not heaven +sent me my master Don Quixote, I'd have stayed there till the end of +the world. So now my lord and lady duke and duchess, here is your +governor Sancho Panza, who in the bare ten days he has held the +government has come by the knowledge that he would not give anything +to be governor, not to say of an island, but of the whole world; and +that point being settled, kissing your worships' feet, and imitating +the game of the boys when they say, 'leap thou, and give me one,' I +take a leap out of the government and pass into the service of my +master Don Quixote; for after all, though in it I eat my bread in fear +and trembling, at any rate I take my fill; and for my part, so long as +I'm full, it's all alike to me whether it's with carrots or with +partridges."</p> + +<p>Here Sancho brought his long speech to an end, Don Quixote having +been the whole time in dread of his uttering a host of absurdities; +and when he found him leave off with so few, he thanked heaven in +his heart. The duke embraced Sancho and told him he was heartily sorry +he had given up the government so soon, but that he would see that +he was provided with some other post on his estate less onerous and +more profitable. The duchess also embraced him, and gave orders that +he should be taken good care of, as it was plain to see he had been +badly treated and worse bruised.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p55e"></a><img alt="p55e.jpg (18K)" src="images/p55e.jpg" height="361" width="303"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch56b"></a>CHAPTER LVI.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>OF THE PRODIGIOUS AND UNPARALLELED BATTLE THAT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN +DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA AND THE LACQUEY TOSILOS IN DEFENCE OF THE +DAUGHTER OF DONA RODRIGUEZ +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p56a"></a><img alt="p56a.jpg (158K)" src="images/p56a.jpg" height="432" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p56a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The duke and duchess had no reason to regret the joke that had +been played upon Sancho Panza in giving him the government; especially +as their majordomo returned the same day, and gave them a minute +account of almost every word and deed that Sancho uttered or did +during the time; and to wind up with, eloquently described to them the +attack upon the island and Sancho's fright and departure, with which +they were not a little amused. After this the history goes on to say +that the day fixed for the battle arrived, and that the duke, after +having repeatedly instructed his lacquey Tosilos how to deal with +Don Quixote so as to vanquish him without killing or wounding him, +gave orders to have the heads removed from the lances, telling Don +Quixote that Christian charity, on which he plumed himself, could +not suffer the battle to be fought with so much risk and danger to +life; and that he must be content with the offer of a battlefield on +his territory (though that was against the decree of the holy Council, +which prohibits all challenges of the sort) and not push such an +arduous venture to its extreme limits. Don Quixote bade his excellence +arrange all matters connected with the affair as he pleased, as on his +part he would obey him in everything. The dread day, then, having +arrived, and the duke having ordered a spacious stand to be erected +facing the court of the castle for the judges of the field and the +appellant duennas, mother and daughter, vast crowds flocked from all +the villages and hamlets of the neighbourhood to see the novel +spectacle of the battle; nobody, dead or alive, in those parts +having ever seen or heard of such a one.</p> + +<p>The first person to enter the-field and the lists was the master +of the ceremonies, who surveyed and paced the whole ground to see that +there was nothing unfair and nothing concealed to make the +combatants stumble or fall; then the duennas entered and seated +themselves, enveloped in mantles covering their eyes, nay even their +bosoms, and displaying no slight emotion as Don Quixote appeared in +the lists. Shortly afterwards, accompanied by several trumpets and +mounted on a powerful steed that threatened to crush the whole +place, the great lacquey Tosilos made his appearance on one side of +the courtyard with his visor down and stiffly cased in a suit of stout +shining armour. The horse was a manifest Frieslander, broad-backed and +flea-bitten, and with half a hundred of wool hanging to each of his +fetlocks. The gallant combatant came well primed by his master the +duke as to how he was to bear himself against the valiant Don +Quixote of La Mancha; being warned that he must on no account slay +him, but strive to shirk the first encounter so as to avoid the risk +of killing him, as he was sure to do if he met him full tilt. He +crossed the courtyard at a walk, and coming to where the duennas +were placed stopped to look at her who demanded him for a husband; the +marshal of the field summoned Don Quixote, who had already presented +himself in the courtyard, and standing by the side of Tosilos he +addressed the duennas, and asked them if they consented that Don +Quixote of La Mancha should do battle for their right. They said +they did, and that whatever he should do in that behalf they +declared rightly done, final and valid. By this time the duke and +duchess had taken their places in a gallery commanding the +enclosure, which was filled to overflowing with a multitude of +people eager to see this perilous and unparalleled encounter. The +conditions of the combat were that if Don Quixote proved the victor +his antagonist was to marry the daughter of Dona Rodriguez; but if +he should be vanquished his opponent was released from the promise +that was claimed against him and from all obligations to give +satisfaction. The master of the ceremonies apportioned the sun to +them, and stationed them, each on the spot where he was to stand. +The drums beat, the sound of the trumpets filled the air, the earth +trembled under foot, the hearts of the gazing crowd were full of +anxiety, some hoping for a happy issue, some apprehensive of an +untoward ending to the affair, and lastly, Don Quixote, commending +himself with all his heart to God our Lord and to the lady Dulcinea +del Toboso, stood waiting for them to give the necessary signal for +the onset. Our lacquey, however, was thinking of something very +different; he only thought of what I am now going to mention.</p> + +<p>It seems that as he stood contemplating his enemy she struck him +as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen all his life; and the +little blind boy whom in our streets they commonly call Love had no +mind to let slip the chance of triumphing over a lacquey heart, and +adding it to the list of his trophies; and so, stealing gently upon +him unseen, he drove a dart two yards long into the poor lacquey's +left side and pierced his heart through and through; which he was able +to do quite at his ease, for Love is invisible, and comes in and +goes out as he likes, without anyone calling him to account for what +he does. Well then, when they gave the signal for the onset our +lacquey was in an ecstasy, musing upon the beauty of her whom he had +already made mistress of his liberty, and so he paid no attention to +the sound of the trumpet, unlike Don Quixote, who was off the +instant he heard it, and, at the highest speed Rocinante was capable +of, set out to meet his enemy, his good squire Sancho shouting lustily +as he saw him start, "God guide thee, cream and flower of +knights-errant! God give thee the victory, for thou hast the right +on thy side!" But though Tosilos saw Don Quixote coming at him he +never stirred a step from the spot where he was posted; and instead of +doing so called loudly to the marshal of the field, to whom when he +came up to see what he wanted he said, "Senor, is not this battle to +decide whether I marry or do not marry that lady?" "Just so," was +the answer. "Well then," said the lacquey, "I feel qualms of +conscience, and I should lay a-heavy burden upon it if I were to +proceed any further with the combat; I therefore declare that I +yield myself vanquished, and that I am willing to marry the lady at +once."</p> + +<p>The marshal of the field was lost in astonishment at the words of +Tosilos; and as he was one of those who were privy to the +arrangement of the affair he knew not what to say in reply. Don +Quixote pulled up in mid career when he saw that his enemy was not +coming on to the attack. The duke could not make out the reason why +the battle did not go on; but the marshal of the field hastened to him +to let him know what Tosilos said, and he was amazed and extremely +angry at it. In the meantime Tosilos advanced to where Dona +Rodriguez sat and said in a loud voice, "Senora, I am willing to marry +your daughter, and I have no wish to obtain by strife and fighting +what I can obtain in peace and without any risk to my life."</p> + +<p>The valiant Don Quixote heard him, and said, "As that is the case +I am released and absolved from my promise; let them marry by all +means, and as 'God our Lord has given her, may Saint Peter add his +blessing.'"</p> + +<p>The duke had now descended to the courtyard of the castle, and going +up to Tosilos he said to him, "Is it true, sir knight, that you +yield yourself vanquished, and that moved by scruples of conscience +you wish to marry this damsel?"</p> + +<p>"It is, senor," replied Tosilos.</p> + +<p>"And he does well," said Sancho, "for what thou hast to give to +the mouse, give to the cat, and it will save thee all trouble."</p> + +<p>Tosilos meanwhile was trying to unlace his helmet, and he begged +them to come to his help at once, as his power of breathing was +failing him, and he could not remain so long shut up in that +confined space. They removed it in all haste, and his lacquey features +were revealed to public gaze. At this sight Dona Rodriguez and her +daughter raised a mighty outcry, exclaiming, "This is a trick! This is +a trick! They have put Tosilos, my lord the duke's lacquey, upon us in +place of the real husband. The justice of God and the king against +such trickery, not to say roguery!"</p> + +<p>"Do not distress yourselves, ladies," said Don Quixote; "for this is +no trickery or roguery; or if it is, it is not the duke who is at +the bottom of it, but those wicked enchanters who persecute me, and +who, jealous of my reaping the glory of this victory, have turned your +husband's features into those of this person, who you say is a lacquey +of the duke's; take my advice, and notwithstanding the malice of my +enemies marry him, for beyond a doubt he is the one you wish for a +husband."</p> + +<p>When the duke heard this all his anger was near vanishing in a fit +of laughter, and he said, "The things that happen to Senor Don Quixote +are so extraordinary that I am ready to believe this lacquey of mine +is not one; but let us adopt this plan and device; let us put off +the marriage for, say, a fortnight, and let us keep this person +about whom we are uncertain in close confinement, and perhaps in the +course of that time he may return to his original shape; for the spite +which the enchanters entertain against Senor Don Quixote cannot last +so long, especially as it is of so little advantage to them to +practise these deceptions and transformations."</p> + +<p>"Oh, senor," said Sancho, "those scoundrels are well used to +changing whatever concerns my master from one thing into another. A +knight that he overcame some time back, called the Knight of the +Mirrors, they turned into the shape of the bachelor Samson Carrasco of +our town and a great friend of ours; and my lady Dulcinea del Toboso +they have turned into a common country wench; so I suspect this +lacquey will have to live and die a lacquey all the days of his life."</p> + +<p>Here the Rodriguez's daughter exclaimed, "Let him be who he may, +this man that claims me for a wife; I am thankful to him for the same, +for I had rather be the lawful wife of a lacquey than the cheated +mistress of a gentleman; though he who played me false is nothing of +the kind."</p> + +<p>To be brief, all the talk and all that had happened ended in Tosilos +being shut up until it was seen how his transformation turned out. All +hailed Don Quixote as victor, but the greater number were vexed and +disappointed at finding that the combatants they had been so anxiously +waiting for had not battered one another to pieces, just as the boys +are disappointed when the man they are waiting to see hanged does +not come out, because the prosecution or the court has pardoned him. +The people dispersed, the duke and Don Quixote returned to the castle, +they locked up Tosilos, Dona Rodriguez and her daughter remained +perfectly contented when they saw that any way the affair must end +in marriage, and Tosilos wanted nothing else.</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p56e"></a><img alt="p56e.jpg (46K)" src="images/p56e.jpg" height="517" width="607"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch57b"></a>CHAPTER LVII.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>WHICH TREATS OF HOW DON QUIXOTE TOOK LEAVE OF THE DUKE, AND OF +WHAT FOLLOWED WITH THE WITTY AND IMPUDENT ALTISIDORA, ONE OF THE +DUCHESS'S DAMSELS +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p57a"></a><img alt="p57a.jpg (119K)" src="images/p57a.jpg" height="451" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p57a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>Don Quixote now felt it right to quit a life of such idleness as +he was leading in the castle; for he fancied that he was making +himself sorely missed by suffering himself to remain shut up and +inactive amid the countless luxuries and enjoyments his hosts lavished +upon him as a knight, and he felt too that he would have to render a +strict account to heaven of that indolence and seclusion; and so one +day he asked the duke and duchess to grant him permission to take +his departure. They gave it, showing at the same time that they were +very sorry he was leaving them.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p57b"></a><img alt="p57b.jpg (370K)" src="images/p57b.jpg" height="840" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p57b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The duchess gave his wife's letters to +Sancho Panza, who shed tears over them, saying, "Who would have +thought that such grand hopes as the news of my government bred in +my wife Teresa Panza's breast would end in my going back now to the +vagabond adventures of my master Don Quixote of La Mancha? Still I'm +glad to see my Teresa behaved as she ought in sending the acorns, +for if she had not sent them I'd have been sorry, and she'd have shown +herself ungrateful. It is a comfort to me that they can't call that +present a bribe; for I had got the government already when she sent +them, and it's but reasonable that those who have had a good turn done +them should show their gratitude, if it's only with a trifle. After +all I went into the government naked, and I come out of it naked; so I +can say with a safe conscience—and that's no small matter—'naked I +was born, naked I find myself, I neither lose nor gain.'"</p> + +<p>Thus did Sancho soliloquise on the day of their departure, as Don +Quixote, who had the night before taken leave of the duke and duchess, +coming out made his appearance at an early hour in full armour in +the courtyard of the castle. The whole household of the castle were +watching him from the corridors, and the duke and duchess, too, came +out to see him. Sancho was mounted on his Dapple, with his alforjas, +valise, and proven supremely happy because the duke's majordomo, +the same that had acted the part of the Trifaldi, had given him a +little purse with two hundred gold crowns to meet the necessary +expenses of the road, but of this Don Quixote knew nothing as yet. +While all were, as has been said, observing him, suddenly from among +the duennas and handmaidens the impudent and witty Altisidora lifted +up her voice and said in pathetic tones:</p> + + +<pre> +Give ear, cruel knight; + Draw rein; where's the need +Of spurring the flanks + Of that ill-broken steed? +From what art thou flying? + No dragon I am, +Not even a sheep, + But a tender young lamb. +Thou hast jilted a maiden + As fair to behold +As nymph of Diana + Or Venus of old. + +Bireno, AEneas, what worse shall I call thee? + +Barabbas go with thee! All evil befall thee! + +In thy claws, ruthless robber, + Thou bearest away +The heart of a meek + Loving maid for thy prey, +Three kerchiefs thou stealest, + And garters a pair, +From legs than the whitest + Of marble more fair; +And the sighs that pursue thee + Would burn to the ground +Two thousand Troy Towns, + If so many were found. + +Bireno, AEneas, what worse shall I call thee? + +Barabbas go with thee! All evil befall thee! + +May no bowels of mercy + To Sancho be granted, +And thy Dulcinea + Be left still enchanted, +May thy falsehood to me + Find its punishment in her, +For in my land the just + Often pays for the sinner. +May thy grandest adventures + Discomfitures prove, +May thy joys be all dreams, + And forgotten thy love. + +Bireno, AEneas, what worse shall I call thee? + +Barabbas go with thee! All evil befall thee! + +May thy name be abhorred + For thy conduct to ladies, +From London to England, + From Seville to Cadiz; +May thy cards be unlucky, + Thy hands contain ne'er a +King, seven, or ace + When thou playest primera; +When thy corns are cut + May it be to the quick; +When thy grinders are drawn + May the roots of them stick. + +Bireno, AEneas, what worse shall I call thee? + +Barabbas go with thee! All evil befall thee! + +</pre> + + +<p> +All the while the unhappy Altisidora was bewailing herself in the +above strain Don Quixote stood staring at her; and without uttering +a word in reply to her he turned round to Sancho and said, "Sancho +my friend, I conjure thee by the life of thy forefathers tell me the +truth; say, hast thou by any chance taken the three kerchiefs and +the garters this love-sick maid speaks of?"</p> + +<p>To this Sancho made answer, "The three kerchiefs I have; but the +garters, as much as 'over the hills of Ubeda.'"</p> + +<p>The duchess was amazed at Altisidora's assurance; she knew that +she was bold, lively, and impudent, but not so much so as to venture +to make free in this fashion; and not being prepared for the joke, her +astonishment was all the greater. The duke had a mind to keep up the +sport, so he said, "It does not seem to me well done in you, sir +knight, that after having received the hospitality that has been +offered you in this very castle, you should have ventured to carry off +even three kerchiefs, not to say my handmaid's garters. It shows a bad +heart and does not tally with your reputation. Restore her garters, or +else I defy you to mortal combat, for I am not afraid of rascally +enchanters changing or altering my features as they changed his who +encountered you into those of my lacquey, Tosilos."</p> + +<p>"God forbid," said Don Quixote, "that I should draw my sword against +your illustrious person from which I have received such great favours. +The kerchiefs I will restore, as Sancho says he has them; as to the +garters that is impossible, for I have not got them, neither has he; +and if your handmaiden here will look in her hiding-places, depend +upon it she will find them. I have never been a thief, my lord duke, +nor do I mean to be so long as I live, if God cease not to have me +in his keeping. This damsel by her own confession speaks as one in +love, for which I am not to blame, and therefore need not ask +pardon, either of her or of your excellence, whom I entreat to have +a better opinion of me, and once more to give me leave to pursue my +journey."</p> + +<p>"And may God so prosper it, Senor Don Quixote," said the duchess, +"that we may always hear good news of your exploits; God speed you; +for the longer you stay, the more you inflame the hearts of the +damsels who behold you; and as for this one of mine, I will so +chastise her that she will not transgress again, either with her +eyes or with her words."</p> + +<p>"One word and no more, O valiant Don Quixote, I ask you to hear," +said Altisidora, "and that is that I beg your pardon about the theft +of the garters; for by God and upon my soul I have got them on, and +I have fallen into the same blunder as he did who went looking for his +ass being all the while mounted on it."</p> + +<p>"Didn't I say so?" said Sancho. "I'm a likely one to hide thefts! +Why if I wanted to deal in them, opportunities came ready enough to me +in my government."</p> + +<p>Don Quixote bowed his head, and saluted the duke and duchess and all +the bystanders, and wheeling Rocinante round, Sancho following him +on Dapple, he rode out of the castle, shaping his course for +Saragossa.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p57e"></a><img alt="p57e.jpg (71K)" src="images/p57e.jpg" height="745" width="607"> +</center> + + + + +<br> +<br> + + + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + <a href="p33.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="5946-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p35.htm">Next Part</a> + </td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br><br> + +</body> +</html> + |