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diff --git a/old/orig5946-h/p39.htm b/old/orig5946-h/p39.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9600603 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig5946-h/p39.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1158 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>THE HISTORY OF DON QUIXOTE, By Cervantes, Vol. II., Part 39.</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="p38.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="5946-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p40.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 39 +<br><br> +Chapters 63-66 +</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="#ch63b">CHAPTER LIII</a> +OF THE TROUBLOUS END AND TERMINATION SANCHO PANZA'S +GOVERNMENT CAME TO + +<a href="#ch64b">CHAPTER LIV</a> +WHICH DEALS WITH MATTERS RELATING TO THIS HISTORY +AND NO OTHER + +<a href="#ch65b">CHAPTER LV</a> +OF WHAT BEFELL SANCHO ON THE ROAD, AND OTHER THINGS +THAT CANNOT BE SURPASSED + +<a href="#ch66b">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 + +</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="ch63b"></a>CHAPTER LXIII.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>OF THE MISHAP THAT BEFELL SANCHO PANZA THROUGH THE VISIT TO THE +GALLEYS, AND THE STRANGE ADVENTURE OF THE FAIR MORISCO +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p63a"></a><img alt="p63a.jpg (151K)" src="images/p63a.jpg" height="440" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p63a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p> +Profound were Don Quixote's reflections on the reply of the +enchanted head, not one of them, however, hitting on the secret of the +trick, but all concentrated on the promise, which he regarded as a +certainty, of Dulcinea's disenchantment. This he turned over in his +mind again and again with great satisfaction, fully persuaded that +he would shortly see its fulfillment; and as for Sancho, though, as +has been said, he hated being a governor, still he had a longing to be +giving orders and finding himself obeyed once more; this is the +misfortune that being in authority, even in jest, brings with it.</p> + +<p>To resume; that afternoon their host Don Antonio Moreno and his +two friends, with Don Quixote and Sancho, went to the galleys. The +commandant had been already made aware of his good fortune in seeing +two such famous persons as Don Quixote and Sancho, and the instant +they came to the shore all the galleys struck their awnings and the +clarions rang out. A skiff covered with rich carpets and cushions of +crimson velvet was immediately lowered into the water, and as Don +Quixote stepped on board of it, the leading galley fired her gangway +gun, and the other galleys did the same; and as he mounted the +starboard ladder the whole crew saluted him (as is the custom when a +personage of distinction comes on board a galley) by exclaiming "Hu, +hu, hu," three times. The general, for so we shall call him, a +Valencian gentleman of rank, gave him his hand and embraced him, +saying, "I shall mark this day with a white stone as one of the +happiest I can expect to enjoy in my lifetime, since I have seen Senor +Don Quixote of La Mancha, pattern and image wherein we see contained +and condensed all that is worthy in knight-errantry."</p> + +<p>Don Quixote delighted beyond measure with such a lordly reception, +replied to him in words no less courteous. All then proceeded to the +poop, which was very handsomely decorated, and seated themselves on +the bulwark benches; the boatswain passed along the gangway and +piped all hands to strip, which they did in an instant. Sancho, seeing +such a number of men stripped to the skin, was taken aback, and +still more when he saw them spread the awning so briskly that it +seemed to him as if all the devils were at work at it; but all this +was cakes and fancy bread to what I am going to tell now. Sancho was +seated on the captain's stage, close to the aftermost rower on the +right-hand side. He, previously instructed in what he was to do, +laid hold of Sancho, hoisting him up in his arms, and the whole +crew, who were standing ready, beginning on the right, proceeded to +pass him on, whirling him along from hand to hand and from bench to +bench with such rapidity that it took the sight out of poor Sancho's +eyes, and he made quite sure that the devils themselves were flying +away with him; nor did they leave off with him until they had sent him +back along the left side and deposited him on the poop; and the poor +fellow was left bruised and breathless and all in a sweat, and +unable to comprehend what it was that had happened to him.</p> + +<p>Don Quixote when he saw Sancho's flight without wings asked the +general if this was a usual ceremony with those who came on board +the galleys for the first time; for, if so, as he had no intention +of adopting them as a profession, he had no mind to perform such feats +of agility, and if anyone offered to lay hold of him to whirl him +about, he vowed to God he would kick his soul out; and as he said this +he stood up and clapped his hand upon his sword. At this instant +they struck the awning and lowered the yard with a prodigious +rattle. Sancho thought heaven was coming off its hinges and going to +fall on his head, and full of terror he ducked it and buried it +between his knees; nor were Don Quixote's knees altogether under +control, for he too shook a little, squeezed his shoulders together +and lost colour. The crew then hoisted the yard with the same rapidity +and clatter as when they lowered it, all the while keeping silence +as though they had neither voice nor breath. The boatswain gave the +signal to weigh anchor, and leaping upon the middle of the gangway +began to lay on to the shoulders of the crew with his courbash or +whip, and to haul out gradually to sea.</p> + +<p>When Sancho saw so many red feet (for such he took the oars to be) +moving all together, he said to himself, "It's these that are the real +chanted things, and not the ones my master talks of. What can those +wretches have done to be so whipped; and how does that one man who +goes along there whistling dare to whip so many? I declare this is +hell, or at least purgatory!"</p> + +<p>Don Quixote, observing how attentively Sancho regarded what was +going on, said to him, "Ah, Sancho my friend, how quickly and +cheaply might you finish off the disenchantment of Dulcinea, if you +would strip to the waist and take your place among those gentlemen! +Amid the pain and sufferings of so many you would not feel your own +much; and moreover perhaps the sage Merlin would allow each of these +lashes, being laid on with a good hand, to count for ten of those +which you must give yourself at last."</p> + +<p>The general was about to ask what these lashes were, and what was +Dulcinea's disenchantment, when a sailor exclaimed, "Monjui signals +that there is an oared vessel off the coast to the west."</p> + +<p>On hearing this the general sprang upon the gangway crying, "Now +then, my sons, don't let her give us the slip! It must be some +Algerine corsair brigantine that the watchtower signals to us." The +three others immediately came alongside the chief galley to receive +their orders. The general ordered two to put out to sea while he +with the other kept in shore, so that in this way the vessel could not +escape them. The crews plied the oars driving the galleys so furiously +that they seemed to fly. The two that had put out to sea, after a +couple of miles sighted a vessel which, so far as they could make out, +they judged to be one of fourteen or fifteen banks, and so she proved. +As soon as the vessel discovered the galleys she went about with the +object and in the hope of making her escape by her speed; but the +attempt failed, for the chief galley was one of the fastest vessels +afloat, and overhauled her so rapidly that they on board the +brigantine saw clearly there was no possibility of escaping, and the +rais therefore would have had them drop their oars and give themselves +up so as not to provoke the captain in command of our galleys to +anger. But chance, directing things otherwise, so ordered it that just +as the chief galley came close enough for those on board the vessel to +hear the shouts from her calling on them to surrender, two Toraquis, +that is to say two Turks, both drunken, that with a dozen more were on +board the brigantine, discharged their muskets, killing two of the +soldiers that lined the sides of our vessel. Seeing this the general +swore he would not leave one of those he found on board the vessel +alive, but as he bore down furiously upon her she slipped away from +him underneath the oars. The galley shot a good way ahead; those on +board the vessel saw their case was desperate, and while the galley +was coming about they made sail, and by sailing and rowing once more +tried to sheer off; but their activity did not do them as much good as +their rashness did them harm, for the galley coming up with them in +a little more than half a mile threw her oars over them and took the +whole of them alive. The other two galleys now joined company and +all four returned with the prize to the beach, where a vast +multitude stood waiting for them, eager to see what they brought back. +The general anchored close in, and perceived that the viceroy of the +city was on the shore. He ordered the skiff to push off to fetch +him, and the yard to be lowered for the purpose of hanging forthwith +the rais and the rest of the men taken on board the vessel, about +six-and-thirty in number, all smart fellows and most of them Turkish +musketeers. He asked which was the rais of the brigantine, and was +answered in Spanish by one of the prisoners (who afterwards proved +to be a Spanish renegade), "This young man, senor that you see here is +our rais," and he pointed to one of the handsomest and most +gallant-looking youths that could be imagined. He did not seem to be +twenty years of age.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, dog," said the general, "what led thee to kill my +soldiers, when thou sawest it was impossible for thee to escape? Is +that the way to behave to chief galleys? Knowest thou not that +rashness is not valour? Faint prospects of success should make men +bold, but not rash."</p> + +<p>The rais was about to reply, but the general could not at that +moment listen to him, as he had to hasten to receive the viceroy, +who was now coming on board the galley, and with him certain of his +attendants and some of the people.</p> + +<p>"You have had a good chase, senor general," said the viceroy.</p> + +<p>"Your excellency shall soon see how good, by the game strung up to +this yard," replied the general.</p> + +<p>"How so?" returned the viceroy.</p> + +<p>"Because," said the general, "against all law, reason, and usages of +war they have killed on my hands two of the best soldiers on board +these galleys, and I have sworn to hang every man that I have taken, +but above all this youth who is the rais of the brigantine," and he +pointed to him as he stood with his hands already bound and the rope +round his neck, ready for death.</p> + +<p>The viceroy looked at him, and seeing him so well-favoured, so +graceful, and so submissive, he felt a desire to spare his life, the +comeliness of the youth furnishing him at once with a letter of +recommendation. He therefore questioned him, saying, "Tell me, rais, +art thou Turk, Moor, or renegade?"</p> + +<p>To which the youth replied, also in Spanish, "I am neither Turk, nor +Moor, nor renegade."</p> + +<p>"What art thou, then?" said the viceroy.</p> + +<p>"A Christian woman," replied the youth.</p> + +<p>"A woman and a Christian, in such a dress and in such circumstances! +It is more marvellous than credible," said the viceroy.</p> + +<p>"Suspend the execution of the sentence," said the youth; "your +vengeance will not lose much by waiting while I tell you the story +of my life."</p> + +<p>What heart could be so hard as not to be softened by these words, at +any rate so far as to listen to what the unhappy youth had to say? The +general bade him say what he pleased, but not to expect pardon for his +flagrant offence. With this permission the youth began in these words.</p> + +<p>"Born of Morisco parents, I am of that nation, more unhappy than +wise, upon which of late a sea of woes has poured down. In the +course of our misfortune I was carried to Barbary by two uncles of +mine, for it was in vain that I declared I was a Christian, as in fact +I am, and not a mere pretended one, or outwardly, but a true +Catholic Christian. It availed me nothing with those charged with +our sad expatriation to protest this, nor would my uncles believe +it; on the contrary, they treated it as an untruth and a subterfuge +set up to enable me to remain behind in the land of my birth; and +so, more by force than of my own will, they took me with them. I had a +Christian mother, and a father who was a man of sound sense and a +Christian too; I imbibed the Catholic faith with my mother's milk, I +was well brought up, and neither in word nor in deed did I, I think, +show any sign of being a Morisco. To accompany these virtues, for such +I hold them, my beauty, if I possess any, grew with my growth; and +great as was the seclusion in which I lived it was not so great but +that a young gentleman, Don Gaspar Gregorio by name, eldest son of a +gentleman who is lord of a village near ours, contrived to find +opportunities of seeing me. How he saw me, how we met, how his heart +was lost to me, and mine not kept from him, would take too long to +tell, especially at a moment when I am in dread of the cruel cord that +threatens me interposing between tongue and throat; I will only say, +therefore, that Don Gregorio chose to accompany me in our +banishment. He joined company with the Moriscoes who were going +forth from other villages, for he knew their language very well, and +on the voyage he struck up a friendship with my two uncles who were +carrying me with them; for my father, like a wise and far-sighted man, +as soon as he heard the first edict for our expulsion, quitted the +village and departed in quest of some refuge for us abroad. He left +hidden and buried, at a spot of which I alone have knowledge, a +large quantity of pearls and precious stones of great value, +together with a sum of money in gold cruzadoes and doubloons. He +charged me on no account to touch the treasure, if by any chance +they expelled us before his return. I obeyed him, and with my +uncles, as I have said, and others of our kindred and neighbours, +passed over to Barbary, and the place where we took up our abode was +Algiers, much the same as if we had taken it up in hell itself. The +king heard of my beauty, and report told him of my wealth, which was +in some degree fortunate for me. He summoned me before him, and +asked me what part of Spain I came from, and what money and jewels I +had. I mentioned the place, and told him the jewels and money were +buried there; but that they might easily be recovered if I myself went +back for them. All this I told him, in dread lest my beauty and not +his own covetousness should influence him. While he was engaged in +conversation with me, they brought him word that in company with me +was one of the handsomest and most graceful youths that could be +imagined. I knew at once that they were speaking of Don Gaspar +Gregorio, whose comeliness surpasses the most highly vaunted beauty. I +was troubled when I thought of the danger he was in, for among those +barbarous Turks a fair youth is more esteemed than a woman, be she +ever so beautiful. The king immediately ordered him to be brought +before him that he might see him, and asked me if what they said about +the youth was true. I then, almost as if inspired by heaven, told +him it was, but that I would have him to know it was not a man, but +a woman like myself, and I entreated him to allow me to go and dress +her in the attire proper to her, so that her beauty might be seen to +perfection, and that she might present herself before him with less +embarrassment. He bade me go by all means, and said that the next +day we should discuss the plan to be adopted for my return to Spain to +carry away the hidden treasure. I saw Don Gaspar, I told him the +danger he was in if he let it be seen he was a man, I dressed him as a +Moorish woman, and that same afternoon I brought him before the +king, who was charmed when he saw him, and resolved to keep the damsel +and make a present of her to the Grand Signor; and to avoid the risk +she might run among the women of his seraglio, and distrustful of +himself, he commanded her to be placed in the house of some Moorish +ladies of rank who would protect and attend to her; and thither he was +taken at once. What we both suffered (for I cannot deny that I love +him) may be left to the imagination of those who are separated if they +love one another dearly. The king then arranged that I should return +to Spain in this brigantine, and that two Turks, those who killed your +soldiers, should accompany me. There also came with me this Spanish +renegade"—and here she pointed to him who had first spoken—"whom I +know to be secretly a Christian, and to be more desirous of being left +in Spain than of returning to Barbary. The rest of the crew of the +brigantine are Moors and Turks, who merely serve as rowers. The two +Turks, greedy and insolent, instead of obeying the orders we had to +land me and this renegade in Christian dress (with which we came +provided) on the first Spanish ground we came to, chose to run along +the coast and make some prize if they could, fearing that if they +put us ashore first, we might, in case of some accident befalling +us, make it known that the brigantine was at sea, and thus, if there +happened to be any galleys on the coast, they might be taken. We +sighted this shore last night, and knowing nothing of these galleys, +we were discovered, and the result was what you have seen. To sum +up, there is Don Gregorio in woman's dress, among women, in imminent +danger of his life; and here am I, with hands bound, in expectation, +or rather in dread, of losing my life, of which I am already weary. +Here, sirs, ends my sad story, as true as it is unhappy; all I ask +of you is to allow me to die like a Christian, for, as I have +already said, I am not to be charged with the offence of which those +of my nation are guilty;" and she stood silent, her eyes filled with +moving tears, accompanied by plenty from the bystanders. The +viceroy, touched with compassion, went up to her without speaking +and untied the cord that bound the hands of the Moorish girl.</p> + +<p>But all the while the Morisco Christian was telling her strange +story, an elderly pilgrim, who had come on board of the galley at +the same time as the viceroy, kept his eyes fixed upon her; and the +instant she ceased speaking he threw himself at her feet, and +embracing them said in a voice broken by sobs and sighs, "O Ana Felix, +my unhappy daughter, I am thy father Ricote, come back to look for +thee, unable to live without thee, my soul that thou art!"</p> + +<p>At these words of his, Sancho opened his eyes and raised his head, +which he had been holding down, brooding over his unlucky excursion; +and looking at the pilgrim he recognised in him that same Ricote he +met the day he quitted his government, and felt satisfied that this +was his daughter. She being now unbound embraced her father, +mingling her tears with his, while he addressing the general and the +viceroy said, "This, sirs, is my daughter, more unhappy in her +adventures than in her name. She is Ana Felix, surnamed Ricote, +celebrated as much for her own beauty as for my wealth. I quitted my +native land in search of some shelter or refuge for us abroad, and +having found one in Germany I returned in this pilgrim's dress, in the +company of some other German pilgrims, to seek my daughter and take up +a large quantity of treasure I had left buried. My daughter I did +not find, the treasure I found and have with me; and now, in this +strange roundabout way you have seen, I find the treasure that more +than all makes me rich, my beloved daughter. If our innocence and +her tears and mine can with strict justice open the door to +clemency, extend it to us, for we never had any intention of +injuring you, nor do we sympathise with the aims of our people, who +have been justly banished."</p> + +<p>"I know Ricote well," said Sancho at this, "and I know too that what +he says about Ana Felix being his daughter is true; but as to those +other particulars about going and coming, and having good or bad +intentions, I say nothing."</p> + +<p>While all present stood amazed at this strange occurrence the +general said, "At any rate your tears will not allow me to keep my +oath; live, fair Ana Felix, all the years that heaven has allotted +you; but these rash insolent fellows must pay the penalty of the crime +they have committed;" and with that he gave orders to have the two +Turks who had killed his two soldiers hanged at once at the +yard-arm. The viceroy, however, begged him earnestly not to hang them, +as their behaviour savoured rather of madness than of bravado. The +general yielded to the viceroy's request, for revenge is not easily +taken in cold blood. They then tried to devise some scheme for +rescuing Don Gaspar Gregorio from the danger in which he had been +left. Ricote offered for that object more than two thousand ducats +that he had in pearls and gems; they proposed several plans, but +none so good as that suggested by the renegade already mentioned, +who offered to return to Algiers in a small vessel of about six banks, +manned by Christian rowers, as he knew where, how, and when he could +and should land, nor was he ignorant of the house in which Don +Gaspar was staying. The general and the viceroy had some hesitation +about placing confidence in the renegade and entrusting him with the +Christians who were to row, but Ana Felix said she could answer for +him, and her father offered to go and pay the ransom of the Christians +if by any chance they should not be forthcoming. This, then, being +agreed upon, the viceroy landed, and Don Antonio Moreno took the +fair Morisco and her father home with him, the viceroy charging him to +give them the best reception and welcome in his power, while on his +own part he offered all that house contained for their +entertainment; so great was the good-will and kindliness the beauty of +Ana Felix had infused into his heart.</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p63e"></a><img alt="p63e.jpg (23K)" src="images/p63e.jpg" height="437" width="425"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch64b"></a>CHAPTER LXIV.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>TREATING OF THE ADVENTURE WHICH GAVE DON QUIXOTE MORE UNHAPPINESS +THAN ALL THAT HAD HITHERTO BEFALLEN HIM +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p64a"></a><img alt="p64a.jpg (80K)" src="images/p64a.jpg" height="221" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p64a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p> +The wife of Don Antonio Moreno, so the history says, was extremely +happy to see Ana Felix in her house. She welcomed her with great +kindness, charmed as well by her beauty as by her intelligence; for in +both respects the fair Morisco was richly endowed, and all the +people of the city flocked to see her as though they had been summoned +by the ringing of the bells.</p> + +<p>Don Quixote told Don Antonio that the plan adopted for releasing Don +Gregorio was not a good one, for its risks were greater than its +advantages, and that it would be better to land himself with his +arms and horse in Barbary; for he would carry him off in spite of +the whole Moorish host, as Don Gaiferos carried off his wife +Melisendra.</p> + +<p>"Remember, your worship," observed Sancho on hearing him say so, +"Senor Don Gaiferos carried off his wife from the mainland, and took +her to France by land; but in this case, if by chance we carry off Don +Gregorio, we have no way of bringing him to Spain, for there's the sea +between."</p> + +<p>"There's a remedy for everything except death," said Don Quixote; +"if they bring the vessel close to the shore we shall be able to get +on board though all the world strive to prevent us."</p> + +<p>"Your worship hits it off mighty well and mighty easy," said Sancho; +"but 'it's a long step from saying to doing;' and I hold to the +renegade, for he seems to me an honest good-hearted fellow."</p> + +<p>Don Antonio then said that if the renegade did not prove successful, +the expedient of the great Don Quixote's expedition to Barbary +should be adopted. Two days afterwards the renegade put to sea in a +light vessel of six oars a-side manned by a stout crew, and two days +later the galleys made sail eastward, the general having begged the +viceroy to let him know all about the release of Don Gregorio and +about Ana Felix, and the viceroy promised to do as he requested.</p> + +<p>One morning as Don Quixote went out for a stroll along the beach, +arrayed in full armour (for, as he often said, that was "his only +gear, his only rest the fray," and he never was without it for a +moment), he saw coming towards him a knight, also in full armour, with +a shining moon painted on his shield, who, on approaching sufficiently +near to be heard, said in a loud voice, addressing himself to Don +Quixote, "Illustrious knight, and never sufficiently extolled Don +Quixote of La Mancha, I am the Knight of the White Moon, whose +unheard-of achievements will perhaps have recalled him to thy +memory. I come to do battle with thee and prove the might of thy +arm, to the end that I make thee acknowledge and confess that my lady, +let her be who she may, is incomparably fairer than thy Dulcinea del +Toboso. If thou dost acknowledge this fairly and openly, thou shalt +escape death and save me the trouble of inflicting it upon thee; if +thou fightest and I vanquish thee, I demand no other satisfaction than +that, laying aside arms and abstaining from going in quest of +adventures, thou withdraw and betake thyself to thine own village +for the space of a year, and live there without putting hand to sword, +in peace and quiet and beneficial repose, the same being needful for +the increase of thy substance and the salvation of thy soul; and if +thou dost vanquish me, my head shall be at thy disposal, my arms and +horse thy spoils, and the renown of my deeds transferred and added +to thine. Consider which will be thy best course, and give me thy +answer speedily, for this day is all the time I have for the +despatch of this business."</p> + +<p>Don Quixote was amazed and astonished, as well at the Knight of +the White Moon's arrogance, as at his reason for delivering the +defiance, and with calm dignity he answered him, "Knight of the +White Moon, of whose achievements I have never heard until now, I will +venture to swear you have never seen the illustrious Dulcinea; for had +you seen her I know you would have taken care not to venture +yourself upon this issue, because the sight would have removed all +doubt from your mind that there ever has been or can be a beauty to be +compared with hers; and so, not saying you lie, but merely that you +are not correct in what you state, I accept your challenge, with the +conditions you have proposed, and at once, that the day you have fixed +may not expire; and from your conditions I except only that of the +renown of your achievements being transferred to me, for I know not of +what sort they are nor what they may amount to; I am satisfied with my +own, such as they be. Take, therefore, the side of the field you +choose, and I will do the same; and to whom God shall give it may +Saint Peter add his blessing."</p> + +<p>The Knight of the White Moon had been seen from the city, and it was +told the viceroy how he was in conversation with Don Quixote. The +viceroy, fancying it must be some fresh adventure got up by Don +Antonio Moreno or some other gentleman of the city, hurried out at +once to the beach accompanied by Don Antonio and several other +gentlemen, just as Don Quixote was wheeling Rocinante round in order +to take up the necessary distance. The viceroy upon this, seeing +that the pair of them were evidently preparing to come to the +charge, put himself between them, asking them what it was that led +them to engage in combat all of a sudden in this way. The Knight of +the White Moon replied that it was a question of precedence of beauty; +and briefly told him what he had said to Don Quixote, and how the +conditions of the defiance agreed upon on both sides had been +accepted. The viceroy went over to Don Antonio, and asked in a low +voice did he know who the Knight of the White Moon was, or was it some +joke they were playing on Don Quixote. Don Antonio replied that he +neither knew who he was nor whether the defiance was in joke or in +earnest. This answer left the viceroy in a state of perplexity, not +knowing whether he ought to let the combat go on or not; but unable to +persuade himself that it was anything but a joke he fell back, saying, +"If there be no other way out of it, gallant knights, except to +confess or die, and Don Quixote is inflexible, and your worship of the +White Moon still more so, in God's hand be it, and fall on."</p> + +<p>He of the White Moon thanked the viceroy in courteous and +well-chosen words for the permission he gave them, and so did Don +Quixote, who then, commending himself with all his heart to heaven and +to his Dulcinea, as was his custom on the eve of any combat that +awaited him, proceeded to take a little more distance, as he saw his +antagonist was doing the same; then, without blast of trumpet or other +warlike instrument to give them the signal to charge, both at the same +instant wheeled their horses; and he of the White Moon, being the +swifter, met Don Quixote after having traversed two-thirds of the +course, and there encountered him with such violence that, without +touching him with his lance (for he held it high, to all appearance +purposely), he hurled Don Quixote and Rocinante to the earth, a +perilous fall. He sprang upon him at once, and placing the lance +over his visor said to him, "You are vanquished, sir knight, nay +dead unless you admit the conditions of our defiance."</p> + +<p>Don Quixote, bruised and stupefied, without raising his visor said +in a weak feeble voice as if he were speaking out of a tomb, "Dulcinea +del Toboso is the fairest woman in the world, and I the most +unfortunate knight on earth; it is not fitting that this truth +should suffer by my feebleness; drive your lance home, sir knight, and +take my life, since you have taken away my honour."</p> + +<p>"That will I not, in sooth," said he of the White Moon; "live the +fame of the lady Dulcinea's beauty undimmed as ever; all I require +is that the great Don Quixote retire to his own home for a year, or +for so long a time as shall by me be enjoined upon him, as we agreed +before engaging in this combat."</p> + +<p>The viceroy, Don Antonio, and several others who were present +heard all this, and heard too how Don Quixote replied that so long +as nothing in prejudice of Dulcinea was demanded of him, he would +observe all the rest like a true and loyal knight. The engagement +given, he of the White Moon wheeled about, and making obeisance to the +viceroy with a movement of the head, rode away into the city at a half +gallop. The viceroy bade Don Antonio hasten after him, and by some +means or other find out who he was. They raised Don Quixote up and +uncovered his face, and found him pale and bathed with sweat.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p64b"></a><img alt="p64b.jpg (344K)" src="images/p64b.jpg" height="822" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p64b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Rocinante from the mere hard measure he had received lay unable to +stir for the present. Sancho, wholly dejected and woebegone, knew +not what to say or do. He fancied that all was a dream, that the whole +business was a piece of enchantment. Here was his master defeated, and +bound not to take up arms for a year. He saw the light of the glory of +his achievements obscured; the hopes of the promises lately made him +swept away like smoke before the wind; Rocinante, he feared, was +crippled for life, and his master's bones out of joint; for if he were +only shaken out of his madness it would be no small luck. In the end +they carried him into the city in a hand-chair which the viceroy +sent for, and thither the viceroy himself returned, cager to ascertain +who this Knight of the White Moon was who had left Don Quixote in such +a sad plight.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p64e"></a><img alt="p64e.jpg (44K)" src="images/p64e.jpg" height="280" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p64e.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch65b"></a>CHAPTER LXV.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>WHEREIN IS MADE KNOWN WHO THE KNIGHT OF THE WHITE MOON WAS; LIKEWISE +DON GREGORIO'S RELEASE, AND OTHER EVENTS +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p65a"></a><img alt="p65a.jpg (149K)" src="images/p65a.jpg" height="416" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p65a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p> +Don Antonia Moreno followed the Knight of the White Moon, and a +number of boys followed him too, nay pursued him, until they had him +fairly housed in a hostel in the heart of the city. Don Antonio, eager +to make his acquaintance, entered also; a squire came out to meet +him and remove his armour, and he shut himself into a lower room, +still attended by Don Antonio, whose bread would not bake until he had +found out who he was. He of the White Moon, seeing then that the +gentleman would not leave him, said, "I know very well, senor, what +you have come for; it is to find out who I am; and as there is no +reason why I should conceal it from you, while my servant here is +taking off my armour I will tell you the true state of the case, +without leaving out anything. You must know, senor, that I am called +the bachelor Samson Carrasco. I am of the same village as Don +Quixote of La Mancha, whose craze and folly make all of us who know +him feel pity for him, and I am one of those who have felt it most; +and persuaded that his chance of recovery lay in quiet and keeping +at home and in his own house, I hit upon a device for keeping him +there. Three months ago, therefore, I went out to meet him as a +knight-errant, under the assumed name of the Knight of the Mirrors, +intending to engage him in combat and overcome him without hurting +him, making it the condition of our combat that the vanquished +should be at the disposal of the victor. What I meant to demand of him +(for I regarded him as vanquished already) was that he should return +to his own village, and not leave it for a whole year, by which time +he might be cured. But fate ordered it otherwise, for he vanquished me +and unhorsed me, and so my plan failed. He went his way, and I came +back conquered, covered with shame, and sorely bruised by my fall, +which was a particularly dangerous one. But this did not quench my +desire to meet him again and overcome him, as you have seen to-day. +And as he is so scrupulous in his observance of the laws of +knight-errantry, he will, no doubt, in order to keep his word, obey +the injunction I have laid upon him. This, senor, is how the matter +stands, and I have nothing more to tell you. I implore of you not to +betray me, or tell Don Quixote who I am; so that my honest +endeavours may be successful, and that a man of excellent wits—were +he only rid of the fooleries of chivalry—may get them back again."</p> + +<p>"O senor," said Don Antonio, "may God forgive you the wrong you have +done the whole world in trying to bring the most amusing madman in +it back to his senses. Do you not see, senor, that the gain by Don +Quixote's sanity can never equal the enjoyment his crazes give? But my +belief is that all the senor bachelor's pains will be of no avail to +bring a man so hopelessly cracked to his senses again; and if it +were not uncharitable, I would say may Don Quixote never be cured, for +by his recovery we lose not only his own drolleries, but his squire +Sancho Panza's too, any one of which is enough to turn melancholy +itself into merriment. However, I'll hold my peace and say nothing +to him, and we'll see whether I am right in my suspicion that Senor +Carrasco's efforts will be fruitless."</p> + +<p>The bachelor replied that at all events the affair promised well, +and he hoped for a happy result from it; and putting his services at +Don Antonio's commands he took his leave of him; and having had his +armour packed at once upon a mule, he rode away from the city the same +day on the horse he rode to battle, and returned to his own country +without meeting any adventure calling for record in this veracious +history.</p> + +<p>Don Antonio reported to the viceroy what Carrasco told him, and +the viceroy was not very well pleased to hear it, for with Don +Quixote's retirement there was an end to the amusement of all who knew +anything of his mad doings.</p> + +<p>Six days did Don Quixote keep his bed, dejected, melancholy, moody +and out of sorts, brooding over the unhappy event of his defeat. +Sancho strove to comfort him, and among other things he said to him, +"Hold up your head, senor, and be of good cheer if you can, and give +thanks to heaven that if you have had a tumble to the ground you +have not come off with a broken rib; and, as you know that 'where they +give they take,' and that 'there are not always fletches where there +are pegs,' a fig for the doctor, for there's no need of him to cure +this ailment. Let us go home, and give over going about in search of +adventures in strange lands and places; rightly looked at, it is I +that am the greater loser, though it is your worship that has had +the worse usage. With the government I gave up all wish to be a +governor again, but I did not give up all longing to be a count; and +that will never come to pass if your worship gives up becoming a +king by renouncing the calling of chivalry; and so my hopes are +going to turn into smoke."</p> + +<p>"Peace, Sancho," said Don Quixote; "thou seest my suspension and +retirement is not to exceed a year; I shall soon return to my honoured +calling, and I shall not be at a loss for a kingdom to win and a +county to bestow on thee."</p> + +<p>"May God hear it and sin be deaf," said Sancho; "I have always heard +say that 'a good hope is better than a bad holding."</p> + +<p>As they were talking Don Antonio came in looking extremely pleased +and exclaiming, "Reward me for my good news, Senor Don Quixote! Don +Gregorio and the renegade who went for him have come ashore—ashore do +I say? They are by this time in the viceroy's house, and will be +here immediately."</p> + +<p>Don Quixote cheered up a little and said, "Of a truth I am almost +ready to say I should have been glad had it turned out just the +other way, for it would have obliged me to cross over to Barbary, +where by the might of my arm I should have restored to liberty, not +only Don Gregorio, but all the Christian captives there are in +Barbary. But what am I saying, miserable being that I am? Am I not +he that has been conquered? Am I not he that has been overthrown? Am I +not he who must not take up arms for a year? Then what am I making +professions for; what am I bragging about; when it is fitter for me to +handle the distaff than the sword?"</p> + +<p>"No more of that, senor," said Sancho; "'let the hen live, even +though it be with her pip; 'today for thee and to-morrow for me;' in +these affairs of encounters and whacks one must not mind them, for +he that falls to-day may get up to-morrow; unless indeed he chooses to +lie in bed, I mean gives way to weakness and does not pluck up fresh +spirit for fresh battles; let your worship get up now to receive Don +Gregorio; for the household seems to be in a bustle, and no doubt he +has come by this time;" and so it proved, for as soon as Don +Gregorio and the renegade had given the viceroy an account of the +voyage out and home, Don Gregorio, eager to see Ana Felix, came with +the renegade to Don Antonio's house. When they carried him away from +Algiers he was in woman's dress; on board the vessel, however, he +exchanged it for that of a captive who escaped with him; but in +whatever dress he might be he looked like one to be loved and served +and esteemed, for he was surpassingly well-favoured, and to judge by +appearances some seventeen or eighteen years of age. Ricote and his +daughter came out to welcome him, the father with tears, the +daughter with bashfulness. They did not embrace each other, for +where there is deep love there will never be overmuch boldness. Seen +side by side, the comeliness of Don Gregorio and the beauty of Ana +Felix were the admiration of all who were present. It was silence that +spoke for the lovers at that moment, and their eyes were the tongues +that declared their pure and happy feelings. The renegade explained +the measures and means he had adopted to rescue Don Gregorio, and +Don Gregorio at no great length, but in a few words, in which he +showed that his intelligence was in advance of his years, described +the peril and embarrassment he found himself in among the women with +whom he had sojourned. To conclude, Ricote liberally recompensed and +rewarded as well the renegade as the men who had rowed; and the +renegade effected his readmission into the body of the Church and +was reconciled with it, and from a rotten limb became by penance and +repentance a clean and sound one.</p> + +<p>Two days later the viceroy discussed with Don Antonio the steps they +should take to enable Ana Felix and her father to stay in Spain, for +it seemed to them there could be no objection to a daughter who was so +good a Christian and a father to all appearance so well disposed +remaining there. Don Antonio offered to arrange the matter at the +capital, whither he was compelled to go on some other business, +hinting that many a difficult affair was settled there with the help +of favour and bribes.</p> + +<p>"Nay," said Ricote, who was present during the conversation, "it +will not do to rely upon favour or bribes, because with the great +Don Bernardino de Velasco, Conde de Salazar, to whom his Majesty has +entrusted our expulsion, neither entreaties nor promises, bribes nor +appeals to compassion, are of any use; for though it is true he +mingles mercy with justice, still, seeing that the whole body of our +nation is tainted and corrupt, he applies to it the cautery that burns +rather than the salve that soothes; and thus, by prudence, sagacity, +care and the fear he inspires, he has borne on his mighty shoulders +the weight of this great policy and carried it into effect, all our +schemes and plots, importunities and wiles, being ineffectual to blind +his Argus eyes, ever on the watch lest one of us should remain +behind in concealment, and like a hidden root come in course of time +to sprout and bear poisonous fruit in Spain, now cleansed, and +relieved of the fear in which our vast numbers kept it. Heroic resolve +of the great Philip the Third, and unparalleled wisdom to have +entrusted it to the said Don Bernardino de Velasco!"</p> + +<p>"At any rate," said Don Antonio, "when I am there I will make all +possible efforts, and let heaven do as pleases it best; Don Gregorio +will come with me to relieve the anxiety which his parents must be +suffering on account of his absence; Ana Felix will remain in my house +with my wife, or in a monastery; and I know the viceroy will be glad +that the worthy Ricote should stay with him until we see what terms +I can make."</p> + +<p>The viceroy agreed to all that was proposed; but Don Gregorio on +learning what had passed declared he could not and would not on any +account leave Ana Felix; however, as it was his purpose to go and +see his parents and devise some way of returning for her, he fell in +with the proposed arrangement. Ana Felix remained with Don Antonio's +wife, and Ricote in the viceroy's house.</p> + +<p>The day for Don Antonio's departure came; and two days later that +for Don Quixote's and Sancho's, for Don Quixote's fall did not +suffer him to take the road sooner. There were tears and sighs, +swoonings and sobs, at the parting between Don Gregorio and Ana Felix. +Ricote offered Don Gregorio a thousand crowns if he would have them, +but he would not take any save five which Don Antonio lent him and +he promised to repay at the capital. So the two of them took their +departure, and Don Quixote and Sancho afterwards, as has been +already said, Don Quixote without his armour and in travelling gear, +and Sancho on foot, Dapple being loaded with the armour.</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p65e"></a><img alt="p65e.jpg (43K)" src="images/p65e.jpg" height="433" width="635"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch66b"></a>CHAPTER LXVI.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h3>WHICH TREATS OF WHAT HE WHO READS WILL SEE, OR WHAT HE WHO HAS IT +READ TO HIM WILL HEAR +</h3></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center><a name="p66a"></a><img alt="p66a.jpg (125K)" src="images/p66a.jpg" height="396" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p66a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p> +As he left Barcelona, Don Quixote turned gaze upon the spot where he +had fallen. "Here Troy was," said he; "here my ill-luck, not my +cowardice, robbed me of all the glory I had won; here Fortune made +me the victim of her caprices; here the lustre of my achievements +was dimmed; here, in a word, fell my happiness never to rise again."</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p66b"></a><img alt="p66b.jpg (251K)" src="images/p66b.jpg" height="524" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p66b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>"Senor," said Sancho on hearing this, "it is the part of brave +hearts to be patient in adversity just as much as to be glad in +prosperity; I judge by myself, for, if when I was a governor I was +glad, now that I am a squire and on foot I am not sad; and I have +heard say that she whom commonly they call Fortune is a drunken +whimsical jade, and, what is more, blind, and therefore neither sees +what she does, nor knows whom she casts down or whom she sets up."</p> + +<p>"Thou art a great philosopher, Sancho," said Don Quixote; "thou +speakest very sensibly; I know not who taught thee. But I can tell +thee there is no such thing as Fortune in the world, nor does anything +which takes place there, be it good or bad, come about by chance, +but by the special preordination of heaven; and hence the common +saying that 'each of us is the maker of his own Fortune.' I have +been that of mine; but not with the proper amount of prudence, and +my self-confidence has therefore made me pay dearly; for I ought to +have reflected that Rocinante's feeble strength could not resist the +mighty bulk of the Knight of the White Moon's horse. In a word, I +ventured it, I did my best, I was overthrown, but though I lost my +honour I did not lose nor can I lose the virtue of keeping my word. +When I was a knight-errant, daring and valiant, I supported my +achievements by hand and deed, and now that I am a humble squire I +will support my words by keeping the promise I have given. Forward +then, Sancho my friend, let us go to keep the year of the novitiate in +our own country, and in that seclusion we shall pick up fresh strength +to return to the by me never-forgotten calling of arms."</p> + +<p>"Senor," returned Sancho, "travelling on foot is not such a pleasant +thing that it makes me feel disposed or tempted to make long +marches. Let us leave this armour hung up on some tree, instead of +some one that has been hanged; and then with me on Dapple's back and +my feet off the ground we will arrange the stages as your worship +pleases to measure them out; but to suppose that I am going to +travel on foot, and make long ones, is to suppose nonsense."</p> + +<p>"Thou sayest well, Sancho," said Don Quixote; "let my armour be hung +up for a trophy, and under it or round it we will carve on the trees +what was inscribed on the trophy of Roland's armour-</p> + +<center> +<p> These let none move +<br> Who dareth not his might with Roland prove."</p> +</center> + +<p> +"That's the very thing," said Sancho; "and if it was not that we +should feel the want of Rocinante on the road, it would be as well +to leave him hung up too."</p> + +<p>"And yet, I had rather not have either him or the armour hung up," +said Don Quixote, "that it may not be said, 'for good service a bad +return.'"</p> + +<p>"Your worship is right," said Sancho; "for, as sensible people hold, +'the fault of the ass must not be laid on the pack-saddle;' and, as in +this affair the fault is your worship's, punish yourself and don't let +your anger break out against the already battered and bloody armour, +or the meekness of Rocinante, or the tenderness of my feet, trying +to make them travel more than is reasonable."</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p66c"></a><img alt="p66c.jpg (389K)" src="images/p66c.jpg" height="816" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p66c.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>In converse of this sort the whole of that day went by, as did the +four succeeding ones, without anything occurring to interrupt their +journey, but on the fifth as they entered a village they found a great +number of people at the door of an inn enjoying themselves, as it +was a holiday. Upon Don Quixote's approach a peasant called out, +"One of these two gentlemen who come here, and who don't know the +parties, will tell us what we ought to do about our wager."</p> + +<p>"That I will, certainly," said Don Quixote, "and according to the +rights of the case, if I can manage to understand it."</p> + +<p>"Well, here it is, worthy sir," said the peasant; "a man of this +village who is so fat that he weighs twenty stone challenged +another, a neighbour of his, who does not weigh more than nine, to run +a race. The agreement was that they were to run a distance of a +hundred paces with equal weights; and when the challenger was asked +how the weights were to be equalised he said that the other, as he +weighed nine stone, should put eleven in iron on his back, and that in +this way the twenty stone of the thin man would equal the twenty stone +of the fat one."</p> + +<p>"Not at all," exclaimed Sancho at once, before Don Quixote could +answer; "it's for me, that only a few days ago left off being a +governor and a judge, as all the world knows, to settle these doubtful +questions and give an opinion in disputes of all sorts."</p> + +<p>"Answer in God's name, Sancho my friend," said Don Quixote, "for I +am not fit to give crumbs to a cat, my wits are so confused and +upset."</p> + +<p>With this permission Sancho said to the peasants who stood clustered +round him, waiting with open mouths for the decision to come from his, +"Brothers, what the fat man requires is not in reason, nor has it a +shadow of justice in it; because, if it be true, as they say, that the +challenged may choose the weapons, the other has no right to choose +such as will prevent and keep him from winning. My decision, +therefore, is that the fat challenger prune, peel, thin, trim and +correct himself, and take eleven stone of his flesh off his body, here +or there, as he pleases, and as suits him best; and being in this +way reduced to nine stone weight, he will make himself equal and +even with nine stone of his opponent, and they will be able to run +on equal terms."</p> + +<p>"By all that's good," said one of the peasants as he heard +Sancho's decision, "but the gentleman has spoken like a saint, and +given judgment like a canon! But I'll be bound the fat man won't +part with an ounce of his flesh, not to say eleven stone."</p> + +<p>"The best plan will be for them not to run," said another, "so +that neither the thin man break down under the weight, nor the fat one +strip himself of his flesh; let half the wager be spent in wine, and +let's take these gentlemen to the tavern where there's the best, and +'over me be the cloak when it rains."</p> + +<p>"I thank you, sirs," said Don Quixote; "but I cannot stop for an +instant, for sad thoughts and unhappy circumstances force me to seem +discourteous and to travel apace;" and spurring Rocinante he pushed +on, leaving them wondering at what they had seen and heard, at his own +strange figure and at the shrewdness of his servant, for such they +took Sancho to be; and another of them observed, "If the servant is so +clever, what must the master be? I'll bet, if they are going to +Salamanca to study, they'll come to be alcaldes of the Court in a +trice; for it's a mere joke—only to read and read, and have +interest and good luck; and before a man knows where he is he finds +himself with a staff in his hand or a mitre on his head."</p> + +<p>That night master and man passed out in the fields in the open +air, and the next day as they were pursuing their journey they saw +coming towards them a man on foot with alforjas at the neck and a +javelin or spiked staff in his hand, the very cut of a foot courier; +who, as soon as he came close to Don Quixote, increased his pace and +half running came up to him, and embracing his right thigh, for he +could reach no higher, exclaimed with evident pleasure, "O Senor Don +Quixote of La Mancha, what happiness it will be to the heart of my +lord the duke when he knows your worship is coming back to his castle, +for he is still there with my lady the duchess!"</p> + +<p>"I do not recognise you, friend," said Don Quixote, "nor do I know +who you are, unless you tell me."</p> + +<p>"I am Tosilos, my lord the duke's lacquey, Senor Don Quixote," +replied the courier; "he who refused to fight your worship about +marrying the daughter of Dona Rodriguez."</p> + +<p>"God bless me!" exclaimed Don Quixote; "is it possible that you +are the one whom mine enemies the enchanters changed into the +lacquey you speak of in order to rob me of the honour of that battle?"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, good sir!" said the messenger; "there was no +enchantment or transformation at all; I entered the lists just as much +lacquey Tosilos as I came out of them lacquey Tosilos. I thought to +marry without fighting, for the girl had taken my fancy; but my scheme +had a very different result, for as soon as your worship had left +the castle my lord the duke had a hundred strokes of the stick given +me for having acted contrary to the orders he gave me before +engaging in the combat; and the end of the whole affair is that the +girl has become a nun, and Dona Rodriguez has gone back to Castile, +and I am now on my way to Barcelona with a packet of letters for the +viceroy which my master is sending him. If your worship would like a +drop, sound though warm, I have a gourd here full of the best, and +some scraps of Tronchon cheese that will serve as a provocative and +wakener of your thirst if so be it is asleep."</p> + +<p>"I take the offer," said Sancho; "no more compliments about it; pour +out, good Tosilos, in spite of all the enchanters in the Indies."</p> + +<p>"Thou art indeed the greatest glutton in the world, Sancho," said +Don Quixote, "and the greatest booby on earth, not to be able to see +that this courier is enchanted and this Tosilos a sham one; stop +with him and take thy fill; I will go on slowly and wait for thee to +come up with me."</p> + +<p>The lacquey laughed, unsheathed his gourd, unwalletted his scraps, +and taking out a small loaf of bread he and Sancho seated themselves +on the green grass, and in peace and good fellowship finished off +the contents of the alforjas down to the bottom, so resolutely that +they licked the wrapper of the letters, merely because it smelt of +cheese.</p> + +<p>Said Tosilos to Sancho, "Beyond a doubt, Sancho my friend, this +master of thine ought to be a madman."</p> + +<p>"Ought!" said Sancho; "he owes no man anything; he pays for +everything, particularly when the coin is madness. I see it plain +enough, and I tell him so plain enough; but what's the use? especially +now that it is all over with him, for here he is beaten by the +Knight of the White Moon."</p> + +<p>Tosilos begged him to explain what had happened him, but Sancho +replied that it would not be good manners to leave his master +waiting for him; and that some other day if they met there would be +time enough for that; and then getting up, after shaking his doublet +and brushing the crumbs out of his beard, he drove Dapple on before +him, and bidding adieu to Tosilos left him and rejoined his master, +who was waiting for him under the shade of a tree.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p66e"></a><img alt="p66e.jpg (29K)" src="images/p66e.jpg" height="431" width="421"> +</center> + + + + +<br> +<br> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + <a href="p38.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="5946-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p40.htm">Next Part</a> + </td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br><br> + +</body> +</html> + |