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diff --git a/old/orig5946-h/p28.htm b/old/orig5946-h/p28.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1170b8d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig5946-h/p28.htm @@ -0,0 +1,980 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>THE HISTORY OF DON QUIXOTE, By Cervantes, Vol. II., Part 28.</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="p27.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="5946-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p29.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 28 +<br><br> +Chapters 29-31 +</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="#ch29b">CHAPTER XXIX</a> +OF THE FAMOUS ADVENTURE OF THE ENCHANTED BARK + +<a href="#ch30b">CHAPTER XXX</a> +OF DON QUIXOTE'S ADVENTURE WITH A FAIR HUNTRESS + +<a href="#ch31b">CHAPTER XXXI</a> +WHICH TREATS OF MANY AND GREAT MATTERS + +</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="ch29b"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>OF THE FAMOUS ADVENTURE OF THE ENCHANTED BARK +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p29a"></a><img alt="p29a.jpg (127K)" src="images/p29a.jpg" height="382" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p29a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>By stages as already described or left undescribed, two days after +quitting the grove Don Quixote and Sancho reached the river Ebro, +and the sight of it was a great delight to Don Quixote as he +contemplated and gazed upon the charms of its banks, the clearness +of its stream, the gentleness of its current and the abundance of +its crystal waters; and the pleasant view revived a thousand tender +thoughts in his mind. Above all, he dwelt upon what he had seen in the +cave of Montesinos; for though Master Pedro's ape had told him that of +those things part was true, part false, he clung more to their truth +than to their falsehood, the very reverse of Sancho, who held them all +to be downright lies.</p> + +<p>As they were thus proceeding, then, they discovered a small boat, +without oars or any other gear, that lay at the water's edge tied to +the stem of a tree growing on the bank. Don Quixote looked all +round, and seeing nobody, at once, without more ado, dismounted from +Rocinante and bade Sancho get down from Dapple and tie both beasts +securely to the trunk of a poplar or willow that stood there. Sancho +asked him the reason of this sudden dismounting and tying. Don Quixote +made answer, "Thou must know, Sancho, that this bark is plainly, and +without the possibility of any alternative, calling and inviting me to +enter it, and in it go to give aid to some knight or other person of +distinction in need of it, who is no doubt in some sore strait; for +this is the way of the books of chivalry and of the enchanters who +figure and speak in them. When a knight is involved in some difficulty +from which he cannot be delivered save by the hand of another +knight, though they may be at a distance of two or three thousand +leagues or more one from the other, they either take him up on a +cloud, or they provide a bark for him to get into, and in less than +the twinkling of an eye they carry him where they will and where his +help is required; and so, Sancho, this bark is placed here for the +same purpose; this is as true as that it is now day, and ere this +one passes tie Dapple and Rocinante together, and then in God's hand +be it to guide us; for I would not hold back from embarking, though +barefooted friars were to beg me."</p> + +<p>"As that's the case," said Sancho, "and your worship chooses to give +in to these—I don't know if I may call them absurdities—at every +turn, there's nothing for it but to obey and bow the head, bearing +in mind the proverb, 'Do as thy master bids thee, and sit down to +table with him;' but for all that, for the sake of easing my +conscience, I warn your worship that it is my opinion this bark is +no enchanted one, but belongs to some of the fishermen of the river, +for they catch the best shad in the world here."</p> + +<p>As Sancho said this, he tied the beasts, leaving them to the care +and protection of the enchanters with sorrow enough in his heart. +Don Quixote bade him not be uneasy about deserting the animals, "for +he who would carry themselves over such longinquous roads and +regions would take care to feed them."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand that logiquous," said Sancho, "nor have I ever +heard the word all the days of my life."</p> + +<p>"Longinquous," replied Don Quixote, "means far off; but it is no +wonder thou dost not understand it, for thou art not bound to know +Latin, like some who pretend to know it and don't."</p> + +<p>"Now they are tied," said Sancho; "what are we to do next?"</p> + +<p>"What?" said Don Quixote, "cross ourselves and weigh anchor; I mean, +embark and cut the moorings by which the bark is held;" and the bark +began to drift away slowly from the bank. But when Sancho saw +himself somewhere about two yards out in the river, he began to +tremble and give himself up for lost; but nothing distressed him +more than hearing Dapple bray and seeing Rocinante struggling to get +loose, and said he to his master, "Dapple is braying in grief at our +leaving him, and Rocinante is trying to escape and plunge in after us. +O dear friends, peace be with you, and may this madness that is taking +us away from you, turned into sober sense, bring us back to you." +And with this he fell weeping so bitterly, that Don Quixote said to +him, sharply and angrily, "What art thou afraid of, cowardly creature? +What art thou weeping at, heart of butter-paste? Who pursues or +molests thee, thou soul of a tame mouse? What dost thou want, +unsatisfied in the very heart of abundance? Art thou, perchance, +tramping barefoot over the Riphaean mountains, instead of being seated +on a bench like an archduke on the tranquil stream of this pleasant +river, from which in a short space we shall come out upon the broad +sea? But we must have already emerged and gone seven hundred or +eight hundred leagues; and if I had here an astrolabe to take the +altitude of the pole, I could tell thee how many we have travelled, +though either I know little, or we have already crossed or shall +shortly cross the equinoctial line which parts the two opposite +poles midway."</p> + +<p>"And when we come to that line your worship speaks of," said Sancho, +"how far shall we have gone?"</p> + +<p>"Very far," said Don Quixote, "for of the three hundred and sixty +degrees that this terraqueous globe contains, as computed by +Ptolemy, the greatest cosmographer known, we shall have travelled +one-half when we come to the line I spoke of."</p> + +<p>"By God," said Sancho, "your worship gives me a nice authority for +what you say, putrid Dolly something transmogrified, or whatever it +is."</p> + +<p>Don Quixote laughed at the interpretation Sancho put upon +"computed," and the name of the cosmographer Ptolemy, and said he, +"Thou must know, Sancho, that with the Spaniards and those who +embark at Cadiz for the East Indies, one of the signs they have to +show them when they have passed the equinoctial line I told thee of, +is, that the lice die upon everybody on board the ship, and not a +single one is left, or to be found in the whole vessel if they gave +its weight in gold for it; so, Sancho, thou mayest as well pass thy +hand down thy thigh, and if thou comest upon anything alive we shall +be no longer in doubt; if not, then we have crossed."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe a bit of it," said Sancho; "still, I'll do as +your worship bids me; though I don't know what need there is for +trying these experiments, for I can see with my own eyes that we +have not moved five yards away from the bank, or shifted two yards +from where the animals stand, for there are Rocinante and Dapple in +the very same place where we left them; and watching a point, as I +do now, I swear by all that's good, we are not stirring or moving at +the pace of an ant."</p> + +<p>"Try the test I told thee of, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "and +don't mind any other, for thou knowest nothing about colures, lines, +parallels, zodiacs, ecliptics, poles, solstices, equinoxes, planets, +signs, bearings, the measures of which the celestial and terrestrial +spheres are composed; if thou wert acquainted with all these things, +or any portion of them, thou wouldst see clearly how many parallels we +have cut, what signs we have seen, and what constellations we have +left behind and are now leaving behind. But again I tell thee, feel +and hunt, for I am certain thou art cleaner than a sheet of smooth +white paper."</p> + +<p>Sancho felt, and passing his hand gently and carefully down to the +hollow of his left knee, he looked up at his master and said, +"Either the test is a false one, or we have not come to where your +worship says, nor within many leagues of it."</p> + +<p>"Why, how so?" asked Don Quixote; "hast thou come upon aught?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, and aughts," replied Sancho; and shaking his fingers he +washed his whole hand in the river along which the boat was quietly +gliding in midstream, not moved by any occult intelligence or +invisible enchanter, but simply by the current, just there smooth +and gentle.</p> + +<p>They now came in sight of some large water mills that stood in the +middle of the river, and the instant Don Quixote saw them he cried +out, "Seest thou there, my friend? there stands the castle or +fortress, where there is, no doubt, some knight in durance, or +ill-used queen, or infanta, or princess, in whose aid I am brought +hither."</p> + +<p>"What the devil city, fortress, or castle is your worship talking +about, senor?" said Sancho; "don't you see that those are mills that +stand in the river to grind corn?"</p> + +<p>"Hold thy peace, Sancho," said Don Quixote; "though they look like +mills they are not so; I have already told thee that enchantments +transform things and change their proper shapes; I do not mean to +say they really change them from one form into another, but that it +seems as though they did, as experience proved in the transformation +of Dulcinea, sole refuge of my hopes."</p> + +<p>By this time, the boat, having reached the middle of the stream, +began to move less slowly than hitherto. The millers belonging to +the mills, when they saw the boat coming down the river, and on the +point of being sucked in by the draught of the wheels, ran out in +haste, several of them, with long poles to stop it, and being all +mealy, with faces and garments covered with flour, they presented a +sinister appearance. They raised loud shouts, crying, "Devils of +men, where are you going to? Are you mad? Do you want to drown +yourselves, or dash yourselves to pieces among these wheels?"</p> + +<p>"Did I not tell thee, Sancho," said Don Quixote at this, "that we +had reached the place where I am to show what the might of my arm +can do? See what ruffians and villains come out against me; see what +monsters oppose me; see what hideous countenances come to frighten us! +You shall soon see, scoundrels!" And then standing up in the boat he +began in a loud voice to hurl threats at the millers, exclaiming, +"Ill-conditioned and worse-counselled rabble, restore to liberty and +freedom the person ye hold in durance in this your fortress or prison, +high or low or of whatever rank or quality he be, for I am Don Quixote +of La Mancha, otherwise called the Knight of the Lions, for whom, by +the disposition of heaven above, it is reserved to give a happy +issue to this adventure;" and so saying he drew his sword and began +making passes in the air at the millers, who, hearing but not +understanding all this nonsense, strove to stop the boat, which was +now getting into the rushing channel of the wheels. Sancho fell upon +his knees devoutly appealing to heaven to deliver him from such +imminent peril; which it did by the activity and quickness of the +millers, who, pushing against the boat with their poles, stopped it, +not, however, without upsetting and throwing Don Quixote and Sancho +into the water; and lucky it was for Don Quixote that he could swim +like a goose, though the weight of his armour carried him twice to the +bottom; and had it not been for the millers, who plunged in and +hoisted them both out, it would have been Troy town with the pair of +them. As soon as, more drenched than thirsty, they were landed, Sancho +went down on his knees and with clasped hands and eyes raised to +heaven, prayed a long and fervent prayer to God to deliver him +evermore from the rash projects and attempts of his master. The +fishermen, the owners of the boat, which the mill-wheels had knocked +to pieces, now came up, and seeing it smashed they proceeded to +strip Sancho and to demand payment for it from Don Quixote; but he +with great calmness, just as if nothing had happened him, told the +millers and fishermen that he would pay for the bark most +cheerfully, on condition that they delivered up to him, free and +unhurt, the person or persons that were in durance in that castle of +theirs.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p29b"></a><img alt="p29b.jpg (314K)" src="images/p29b.jpg" height="833" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p29b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>"What persons or what castle art thou talking of, madman? Art thou +for carrying off the people who come to grind corn in these mills?"</p> + +<p>"That's enough," said Don Quixote to himself, "it would be preaching +in the desert to attempt by entreaties to induce this rabble to do any +virtuous action. In this adventure two mighty enchanters must have +encountered one another, and one frustrates what the other attempts; +one provided the bark for me, and the other upset me; God help us, +this world is all machinations and schemes at cross purposes one +with the other. I can do no more." And then turning towards the +mills he said aloud, "Friends, whoe'er ye be that are immured in +that prison, forgive me that, to my misfortune and yours, I cannot +deliver you from your misery; this adventure is doubtless reserved and +destined for some other knight."</p> + +<p>So saying he settled with the fishermen, and paid fifty reals for +the boat, which Sancho handed to them very much against the grain, +saying, "With a couple more bark businesses like this we shall have +sunk our whole capital."</p> + +<p>The fishermen and the millers stood staring in amazement at the +two figures, so very different to all appearance from ordinary men, +and were wholly unable to make out the drift of the observations and +questions Don Quixote addressed to them; and coming to the +conclusion that they were madmen, they left them and betook +themselves, the millers to their mills, and the fishermen to their +huts. Don Quixote and Sancho returned to their beasts, and to their +life of beasts, and so ended the adventure of the enchanted bark.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p29e"></a><img alt="p29e.jpg (54K)" src="images/p29e.jpg" height="721" width="507"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch30b"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>OF DON QUIXOTE'S ADVENTURE WITH A FAIR HUNTRESS +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p30a"></a><img alt="p30a.jpg (134K)" src="images/p30a.jpg" height="415" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p30a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>They reached their beasts in low spirits and bad humour enough, +knight and squire, Sancho particularly, for with him what touched +the stock of money touched his heart, and when any was taken from +him he felt as if he was robbed of the apples of his eyes. In fine, +without exchanging a word, they mounted and quitted the famous +river, Don Quixote absorbed in thoughts of his love, Sancho in +thinking of his advancement, which just then, it seemed to him, he was +very far from securing; for, fool as he was, he saw clearly enough +that his master's acts were all or most of them utterly senseless; and +he began to cast about for an opportunity of retiring from his service +and going home some day, without entering into any explanations or +taking any farewell of him. Fortune, however, ordered matters after +a fashion very much the opposite of what he contemplated.</p> + +<p>It so happened that the next day towards sunset, on coming out of +a wood, Don Quixote cast his eyes over a green meadow, and at the +far end of it observed some people, and as he drew nearer saw that +it was a hawking party. Coming closer, he distinguished among them a +lady of graceful mien, on a pure white palfrey or hackney +caparisoned with green trappings and a silver-mounted side-saddle. The +lady was also in green, and so richly and splendidly dressed that +splendour itself seemed personified in her. On her left hand she +bore a hawk, a proof to Don Quixote's mind that she must be some great +lady and the mistress of the whole hunting party, which was the +fact; so he said to Sancho, "Run Sancho, my son, and say to that +lady on the palfrey with the hawk that I, the Knight of the Lions, +kiss the hands of her exalted beauty, and if her excellence will grant +me leave I will go and kiss them in person and place myself at her +service for aught that may be in my power and her highness may +command; and mind, Sancho, how thou speakest, and take care not to +thrust in any of thy proverbs into thy message."</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p30b"></a><img alt="p30b.jpg (334K)" src="images/p30b.jpg" height="834" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p30b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>"You've got a likely one here to thrust any in!" said Sancho; "leave +me alone for that! Why, this is not the first time in my life I have +carried messages to high and exalted ladies."</p> + +<p>"Except that thou didst carry to the lady Dulcinea," said Don +Quixote, "I know not that thou hast carried any other, at least in +my service."</p> + +<p>"That is true," replied Sancho; "but pledges don't distress a good +payer, and in a house where there's plenty supper is soon cooked; I +mean there's no need of telling or warning me about anything; for +I'm ready for everything and know a little of everything."</p> + +<p>"That I believe, Sancho," said Don Quixote; "go and good luck to +thee, and God speed thee."</p> + +<p>Sancho went off at top speed, forcing Dapple out of his regular +pace, and came to where the fair huntress was standing, and +dismounting knelt before her and said, "Fair lady, that knight that +you see there, the Knight of the Lions by name, is my master, and I am +a squire of his, and at home they call me Sancho Panza. This same +Knight of the Lions, who was called not long since the Knight of the +Rueful Countenance, sends by me to say may it please your highness +to give him leave that, with your permission, approbation, and +consent, he may come and carry out his wishes, which are, as he says +and I believe, to serve your exalted loftiness and beauty; and if +you give it, your ladyship will do a thing which will redound to +your honour, and he will receive a most distinguished favour and +happiness."</p> + +<p>"You have indeed, squire," said the lady, "delivered your message +with all the formalities such messages require; rise up, for it is not +right that the squire of a knight so great as he of the Rueful +Countenance, of whom we have heard a great deal here, should remain on +his knees; rise, my friend, and bid your master welcome to the +services of myself and the duke my husband, in a country house we have +here."</p> + +<p>Sancho got up, charmed as much by the beauty of the good lady as +by her high-bred air and her courtesy, but, above all, by what she had +said about having heard of his master, the Knight of the Rueful +Countenance; for if she did not call him Knight of the Lions it was no +doubt because he had so lately taken the name. "Tell me, brother +squire," asked the duchess (whose title, however, is not known), "this +master of yours, is he not one of whom there is a history extant in +print, called 'The Ingenious Gentleman, Don Quixote of La Mancha,' who +has for the lady of his heart a certain Dulcinea del Toboso?"</p> + +<p>"He is the same, senora," replied Sancho; "and that squire of his +who figures, or ought to figure, in the said history under the name of +Sancho Panza, is myself, unless they have changed me in the cradle, +I mean in the press."</p> + +<p>"I am rejoiced at all this," said the duchess; "go, brother Panza, +and tell your master that he is welcome to my estate, and that nothing +could happen me that could give me greater pleasure."</p> + +<p>Sancho returned to his master mightily pleased with this +gratifying answer, and told him all the great lady had said to him, +lauding to the skies, in his rustic phrase, her rare beauty, her +graceful gaiety, and her courtesy. Don Quixote drew himself up briskly +in his saddle, fixed himself in his stirrups, settled his visor, +gave Rocinante the spur, and with an easy bearing advanced to kiss the +hands of the duchess, who, having sent to summon the duke her husband, +told him while Don Quixote was approaching all about the message; +and as both of them had read the First Part of this history, and +from it were aware of Don Quixote's crazy turn, they awaited him +with the greatest delight and anxiety to make his acquaintance, +meaning to fall in with his humour and agree with everything he +said, and, so long as he stayed with them, to treat him as a +knight-errant, with all the ceremonies usual in the books of +chivalry they had read, for they themselves were very fond of them.</p> + +<p>Don Quixote now came up with his visor raised, and as he seemed +about to dismount Sancho made haste to go and hold his stirrup for +him; but in getting down off Dapple he was so unlucky as to hitch +his foot in one of the ropes of the pack-saddle in such a way that +he was unable to free it, and was left hanging by it with his face and +breast on the ground. Don Quixote, who was not used to dismount +without having the stirrup held, fancying that Sancho had by this time +come to hold it for him, threw himself off with a lurch and brought +Rocinante's saddle after him, which was no doubt badly girthed, and +saddle and he both came to the ground; not without discomfiture to him +and abundant curses muttered between his teeth against the unlucky +Sancho, who had his foot still in the shackles. The duke ordered his +huntsmen to go to the help of knight and squire, and they raised Don +Quixote, sorely shaken by his fall; and he, limping, advanced as +best he could to kneel before the noble pair. This, however, the +duke would by no means permit; on the contrary, dismounting from his +horse, he went and embraced Don Quixote, saying, "I am grieved, Sir +Knight of the Rueful Countenance, that your first experience on my +ground should have been such an unfortunate one as we have seen; but +the carelessness of squires is often the cause of worse accidents."</p> + +<p>"That which has happened me in meeting you, mighty prince," +replied Don Quixote, "cannot be unfortunate, even if my fall had not +stopped short of the depths of the bottomless pit, for the glory of +having seen you would have lifted me up and delivered me from it. My +squire, God's curse upon him, is better at unloosing his tongue in +talking impertinence than in tightening the girths of a saddle to keep +it steady; but however I may be, allen or raised up, on foot or on +horseback, I shall always be at your service and that of my lady the +duchess, your worthy consort, worthy queen of beauty and paramount +princess of courtesy."</p> + +<p>"Gently, Senor Don Quixote of La Mancha," said the duke; "where my +lady Dona Dulcinea del Toboso is, it is not right that other +beauties should be praised."</p> + +<p>Sancho, by this time released from his entanglement, was standing +by, and before his master could answer he said, "There is no +denying, and it must be maintained, that my lady Dulcinea del Toboso +is very beautiful; but the hare jumps up where one least expects it; +and I have heard say that what we call nature is like a potter that +makes vessels of clay, and he who makes one fair vessel can as well +make two, or three, or a hundred; I say so because, by my faith, my +lady the duchess is in no way behind my mistress the lady Dulcinea del +Toboso."</p> + +<p>Don Quixote turned to the duchess and said, "Your highness may +conceive that never had knight-errant in this world a more talkative +or a droller squire than I have, and he will prove the truth of what I +say, if your highness is pleased to accept of my services for a few +days."</p> + +<p>To which the duchess made answer, "that worthy Sancho is droll I +consider a very good thing, because it is a sign that he is shrewd; +for drollery and sprightliness, Senor Don Quixote, as you very well +know, do not take up their abode with dull wits; and as good Sancho is +droll and sprightly I here set him down as shrewd."</p> + +<p>"And talkative," added Don Quixote.</p> + +<p>"So much the better," said the duke, "for many droll things cannot +be said in few words; but not to lose time in talking, come, great +Knight of the Rueful Countenance-"</p> + +<p>"Of the Lions, your highness must say," said Sancho, "for there is +no Rueful Countenance nor any such character now."</p> + +<p>"He of the Lions be it," continued the duke; "I say, let Sir +Knight of the Lions come to a castle of mine close by, where he +shall be given that reception which is due to so exalted a +personage, and which the duchess and I are wont to give to all +knights-errant who come there."</p> + +<p>By this time Sancho had fixed and girthed Rocinante's saddle, and +Don Quixote having got on his back and the duke mounted a fine +horse, they placed the duchess in the middle and set out for the +castle. The duchess desired Sancho to come to her side, for she +found infinite enjoyment in listening to his shrewd remarks. Sancho +required no pressing, but pushed himself in between them and the duke, +who thought it rare good fortune to receive such a knight-errant and +such a homely squire in their castle.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p30e"></a><img alt="p30e.jpg (54K)" src="images/p30e.jpg" height="699" width="463"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch31b"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>WHICH TREATS OF MANY AND GREAT MATTERS +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p31a"></a><img alt="p31a.jpg (155K)" src="images/p31a.jpg" height="428" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p31a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Supreme was the satisfaction that Sancho felt at seeing himself, +as it seemed, an established favourite with the duchess, for he looked +forward to finding in her castle what he had found in Don Diego's +house and in Basilio's; he was always fond of good living, and +always seized by the forelock any opportunity of feasting himself +whenever it presented itself. The history informs us, then, that +before they reached the country house or castle, the duke went on in +advance and instructed all his servants how they were to treat Don +Quixote; and so the instant he came up to the castle gates with the +duchess, two lackeys or equerries, clad in what they call morning +gowns of fine crimson satin reaching to their feet, hastened out, +and catching Don Quixote in their arms before he saw or heard them, +said to him, "Your highness should go and take my lady the duchess off +her horse."</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p31b"></a><img alt="p31b.jpg (334K)" src="images/p31b.jpg" height="824" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p31b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Don Quixote obeyed, and great bandying of compliments +followed between the two over the matter; but in the end the duchess's +determination carried the day, and she refused to get down or dismount +from her palfrey except in the arms of the duke, saying she did not +consider herself worthy to impose so unnecessary a burden on so +great a knight. At length the duke came out to take her down, and as +they entered a spacious court two fair damsels came forward and +threw over Don Quixote's shoulders a large mantle of the finest +scarlet cloth, and at the same instant all the galleries of the +court were lined with the men-servants and women-servants of the +household, crying, "Welcome, flower and cream of knight-errantry!" +while all or most of them flung pellets filled with scented water over +Don Quixote and the duke and duchess; at all which Don Quixote was +greatly astonished, and this was the first time that he thoroughly +felt and believed himself to be a knight-errant in reality and not +merely in fancy, now that he saw himself treated in the same way as he +had read of such knights being treated in days of yore.</p> + +<p>Sancho, deserting Dapple, hung on to the duchess and entered the +castle, but feeling some twinges of conscience at having left the +ass alone, he approached a respectable duenna who had come out with +the rest to receive the duchess, and in a low voice he said to her, +"Senora Gonzalez, or however your grace may be called-"</p> + +<p>"I am called Dona Rodriguez de Grijalba," replied the duenna; +"what is your will, brother?" To which Sancho made answer, "I should +be glad if your worship would do me the favour to go out to the castle +gate, where you will find a grey ass of mine; make them, if you +please, put him in the stable, or put him there yourself, for the poor +little beast is rather easily frightened, and cannot bear being +alone at all."</p> + +<p>"If the master is as wise as the man," said the duenna, "we have got +a fine bargain. Be off with you, brother, and bad luck to you and +him who brought you here; go, look after your ass, for we, the duennas +of this house, are not used to work of that sort."</p> + +<p>"Well then, in troth," returned Sancho, "I have heard my master, who +is the very treasure-finder of stories, telling the story of +Lancelot when he came from Britain, say that ladies waited upon him +and duennas upon his hack; and, if it comes to my ass, I wouldn't +change him for Senor Lancelot's hack."</p> + +<p>"If you are a jester, brother," said the duenna, "keep your +drolleries for some place where they'll pass muster and be paid for; +for you'll get nothing from me but a fig."</p> + +<p>"At any rate, it will be a very ripe one," said Sancho, "for you +won't lose the trick in years by a point too little."</p> + +<p>"Son of a bitch," said the duenna, all aglow with anger, "whether +I'm old or not, it's with God I have to reckon, not with you, you +garlic-stuffed scoundrel!" and she said it so loud, that the duchess +heard it, and turning round and seeing the duenna in such a state of +excitement, and her eyes flaming so, asked whom she was wrangling +with.</p> + +<p>"With this good fellow here," said the duenna, "who has particularly +requested me to go and put an ass of his that is at the castle gate +into the stable, holding it up to me as an example that they did the +same I don't know where—that some ladies waited on one Lancelot, +and duennas on his hack; and what is more, to wind up with, he +called me old."</p> + +<p>"That," said the duchess, "I should have considered the greatest +affront that could be offered me;" and addressing Sancho, she said +to him, "You must know, friend Sancho, that Dona Rodriguez is very +youthful, and that she wears that hood more for authority and custom +sake than because of her years."</p> + +<p>"May all the rest of mine be unlucky," said Sancho, "if I meant it +that way; I only spoke because the affection I have for my ass is so +great, and I thought I could not commend him to a more kind-hearted +person than the lady Dona Rodriguez."</p> + +<p>Don Quixote, who was listening, said to him, "Is this proper +conversation for the place, Sancho?"</p> + +<p>"Senor," replied Sancho, "every one must mention what he wants +wherever he may be; I thought of Dapple here, and I spoke of him here; +if I had thought of him in the stable I would have spoken there."</p> + +<p>On which the duke observed, "Sancho is quite right, and there is +no reason at all to find fault with him; Dapple shall be fed to his +heart's content, and Sancho may rest easy, for he shall be treated +like himself."</p> + +<p>While this conversation, amusing to all except Don Quixote, was +proceeding, they ascended the staircase and ushered Don Quixote into a +chamber hung with rich cloth of gold and brocade; six damsels relieved +him of his armour and waited on him like pages, all of them prepared +and instructed by the duke and duchess as to what they were to do, and +how they were to treat Don Quixote, so that he might see and believe +they were treating him like a knight-errant. When his armour was +removed, there stood Don Quixote in his tight-fitting breeches and +chamois doublet, lean, lanky, and long, with cheeks that seemed to +be kissing each other inside; such a figure, that if the damsels +waiting on him had not taken care to check their merriment (which +was one of the particular directions their master and mistress had +given them), they would have burst with laughter. They asked him to +let himself be stripped that they might put a shirt on him, but he +would not on any account, saying that modesty became knights-errant +just as much as valour. However, he said they might give the shirt +to Sancho; and shutting himself in with him in a room where there +was a sumptuous bed, he undressed and put on the shirt; and then, +finding himself alone with Sancho, he said to him, "Tell me, thou +new-fledged buffoon and old booby, dost thou think it right to +offend and insult a duenna so deserving of reverence and respect as +that one just now? Was that a time to bethink thee of thy Dapple, or +are these noble personages likely to let the beasts fare badly when +they treat their owners in such elegant style? For God's sake, Sancho, +restrain thyself, and don't show the thread so as to let them see what +a coarse, boorish texture thou art of. Remember, sinner that thou art, +the master is the more esteemed the more respectable and well-bred his +servants are; and that one of the greatest advantages that princes +have over other men is that they have servants as good as themselves +to wait on them. Dost thou not see—shortsighted being that thou +art, and unlucky mortal that I am!—that if they perceive thee to be a +coarse clown or a dull blockhead, they will suspect me to be some +impostor or swindler? Nay, nay, Sancho friend, keep clear, oh, keep +clear of these stumbling-blocks; for he who falls into the way of +being a chatterbox and droll, drops into a wretched buffoon the +first time he trips; bridle thy tongue, consider and weigh thy words +before they escape thy mouth, and bear in mind we are now in +quarters whence, by God's help, and the strength of my arm, we shall +come forth mightily advanced in fame and fortune."</p> + +<p>Sancho promised him with much earnestness to keep his mouth shut, +and to bite off his tongue before he uttered a word that was not +altogether to the purpose and well considered, and told him he might +make his mind easy on that point, for it should never be discovered +through him what they were.</p> + +<p>Don Quixote dressed himself, put on his baldric with his sword, +threw the scarlet mantle over his shoulders, placed on his head a +montera of green satin that the damsels had given him, and thus +arrayed passed out into the large room, where he found the damsels +drawn up in double file, the same number on each side, all with the +appliances for washing the hands, which they presented to him with +profuse obeisances and ceremonies. Then came twelve pages, together +with the seneschal, to lead him to dinner, as his hosts were already +waiting for him. They placed him in the midst of them, and with much +pomp and stateliness they conducted him into another room, where there +was a sumptuous table laid with but four covers. The duchess and the +duke came out to the door of the room to receive him, and with them +a grave ecclesiastic, one of those who rule noblemen's houses; one +of those who, not being born magnates themselves, never know how to +teach those who are how to behave as such; one of those who would have +the greatness of great folk measured by their own narrowness of +mind; one of those who, when they try to introduce economy into the +household they rule, lead it into meanness. One of this sort, I say, +must have been the grave churchman who came out with the duke and +duchess to receive Don Quixote.</p> + +<p>A vast number of polite speeches were exchanged, and at length, +taking Don Quixote between them, they proceeded to sit down to +table. The duke pressed Don Quixote to take the head of the table, +and, though he refused, the entreaties of the duke were so urgent that +he had to accept it.</p> + +<p>The ecclesiastic took his seat opposite to him, and the duke and +duchess those at the sides. All this time Sancho stood by, gaping with +amazement at the honour he saw shown to his master by these +illustrious persons; and observing all the ceremonious pressing that +had passed between the duke and Don Quixote to induce him to take +his seat at the head of the table, he said, "If your worship will give +me leave I will tell you a story of what happened in my village +about this matter of seats."</p> + +<p>The moment Sancho said this Don Quixote trembled, making sure that +he was about to say something foolish. Sancho glanced at him, and +guessing his thoughts, said, "Don't be afraid of my going astray, +senor, or saying anything that won't be pat to the purpose; I +haven't forgotten the advice your worship gave me just now about +talking much or little, well or ill."</p> + +<p>"I have no recollection of anything, Sancho," said Don Quixote; "say +what thou wilt, only say it quickly."</p> + +<p>"Well then," said Sancho, "what I am going to say is so true that my +master Don Quixote, who is here present, will keep me from lying."</p> + +<p>"Lie as much as thou wilt for all I care, Sancho," said Don Quixote, +"for I am not going to stop thee, but consider what thou art going +to say."</p> + +<p>"I have so considered and reconsidered," said Sancho, "that the +bell-ringer's in a safe berth; as will be seen by what follows."</p> + +<p>"It would be well," said Don Quixote, "if your highnesses would +order them to turn out this idiot, for he will talk a heap of +nonsense."</p> + +<p>"By the life of the duke, Sancho shall not be taken away from me for +a moment," said the duchess; "I am very fond of him, for I know he +is very discreet."</p> + +<p>"Discreet be the days of your holiness," said Sancho, "for the +good opinion you have of my wit, though there's none in me; but the +story I want to tell is this. There was an invitation given by a +gentleman of my town, a very rich one, and one of quality, for he +was one of the Alamos of Medina del Campo, and married to Dona +Mencia de Quinones, the daughter of Don Alonso de Maranon, Knight of +the Order of Santiago, that was drowned at the Herradura—him there +was that quarrel about years ago in our village, that my master Don +Quixote was mixed up in, to the best of my belief, that Tomasillo +the scapegrace, the son of Balbastro the smith, was wounded in.—Isn't +all this true, master mine? As you live, say so, that these gentlefolk +may not take me for some lying chatterer."</p> + +<p>"So far," said the ecclesiastic, "I take you to be more a +chatterer than a liar; but I don't know what I shall take you for +by-and-by."</p> + +<p>"Thou citest so many witnesses and proofs, Sancho," said Don +Quixote, "that I have no choice but to say thou must be telling the +truth; go on, and cut the story short, for thou art taking the way not +to make an end for two days to come."</p> + +<p>"He is not to cut it short," said the duchess; "on the contrary, for +my gratification, he is to tell it as he knows it, though he should +not finish it these six days; and if he took so many they would be +to me the pleasantest I ever spent."</p> + +<p>"Well then, sirs, I say," continued Sancho, "that this same +gentleman, whom I know as well as I do my own hands, for it's not a +bowshot from my house to his, invited a poor but respectable +labourer-"</p> + +<p>"Get on, brother," said the churchman; "at the rate you are going +you will not stop with your story short of the next world."</p> + +<p>"I'll stop less than half-way, please God," said Sancho; "and so I +say this labourer, coming to the house of the gentleman I spoke of +that invited him—rest his soul, he is now dead; and more by token +he died the death of an angel, so they say; for I was not there, for +just at that time I had gone to reap at Tembleque-"</p> + +<p>"As you live, my son," said the churchman, "make haste back from +Tembleque, and finish your story without burying the gentleman, unless +you want to make more funerals."</p> + +<p>"Well then, it so happened," said Sancho, "that as the pair of +them were going to sit down to table—and I think I can see them now +plainer than ever-"</p> + +<p>Great was the enjoyment the duke and duchess derived from the +irritation the worthy churchman showed at the long-winded, halting way +Sancho had of telling his story, while Don Quixote was chafing with +rage and vexation.</p> + +<p>"So, as I was saying," continued Sancho, "as the pair of them were +going to sit down to table, as I said, the labourer insisted upon +the gentleman's taking the head of the table, and the gentleman +insisted upon the labourer's taking it, as his orders should be obeyed +in his house; but the labourer, who plumed himself on his politeness +and good breeding, would not on any account, until the gentleman, +out of patience, putting his hands on his shoulders, compelled him +by force to sit down, saying, 'Sit down, you stupid lout, for wherever +I sit will be the head to you; and that's the story, and, troth, I +think it hasn't been brought in amiss here."</p> + +<p>Don Quixote turned all colours, which, on his sunburnt face, mottled +it till it looked like jasper. The duke and duchess suppressed their +laughter so as not altogether to mortify Don Quixote, for they saw +through Sancho's impertinence; and to change the conversation, and +keep Sancho from uttering more absurdities, the duchess asked Don +Quixote what news he had of the lady Dulcinea, and if he had sent +her any presents of giants or miscreants lately, for he could not +but have vanquished a good many.</p> + +<p>To which Don Quixote replied, "Senora, my misfortunes, though they +had a beginning, will never have an end. I have vanquished giants +and I have sent her caitiffs and miscreants; but where are they to +find her if she is enchanted and turned into the most ill-favoured +peasant wench that can be imagined?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Sancho Panza; "to me she seems the fairest +creature in the world; at any rate, in nimbleness and jumping she +won't give in to a tumbler; by my faith, senora duchess, she leaps +from the ground on to the back of an ass like a cat."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen her enchanted, Sancho?" asked the duke.</p> + +<p>"What, seen her!" said Sancho; "why, who the devil was it but myself +that first thought of the enchantment business? She is as much +enchanted as my father."</p> + +<p>The ecclesiastic, when he heard them talking of giants and +caitiffs and enchantments, began to suspect that this must be Don +Quixote of La Mancha, whose story the duke was always reading; and +he had himself often reproved him for it, telling him it was foolish +to read such fooleries; and becoming convinced that his suspicion +was correct, addressing the duke, he said very angrily to him, "Senor, +your excellence will have to give account to God for what this good +man does. This Don Quixote, or Don Simpleton, or whatever his name is, +cannot, I imagine, be such a blockhead as your excellence would have +him, holding out encouragement to him to go on with his vagaries and +follies." Then turning to address Don Quixote he said, "And you, +num-skull, who put it into your head that you are a knight-errant, and +vanquish giants and capture miscreants? Go your ways in a good hour, +and in a good hour be it said to you. Go home and bring up your +children if you have any, and attend to your business, and give over +going wandering about the world, gaping and making a laughing-stock of +yourself to all who know you and all who don't. Where, in heaven's +name, have you discovered that there are or ever were +knights-errant? Where are there giants in Spain or miscreants in La +Mancha, or enchanted Dulcineas, or all the rest of the silly things +they tell about you?"</p> + +<p>Don Quixote listened attentively to the reverend gentleman's +words, and as soon as he perceived he had done speaking, regardless of +the presence of the duke and duchess, he sprang to his feet with angry +looks and an agitated countenance, and said—But the reply deserves +a chapter to itself.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p31e"></a><img alt="p31e.jpg (46K)" src="images/p31e.jpg" height="617" width="429"> +</center> + + + + + +<br> +<br> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + <a href="p27.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="5946-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p29.htm">Next Part</a> + </td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br><br> + +</body> +</html> + |