this deplored and my kinsfolke condoled them being very little able with their wealth to redresse them for the goods of fortune are but of small vertue to remedie the disasters of Heaven There dwelt in the same Citie a Heaven wherein love had placed all the glorie that I could desire so great is the beauty of Luscinda a damzel as noble and rich as I but more fortunate and lesse constant then my honourable desires expected I loved honoured and adored this Luscinda almost from my very infancy and shee affected mee likewise with all the integritie and good will which with her so young yeeres did accord Our parents knew our mutuall amitie for which they were nothing agrieved perceiving very well that although wee continued it yet could it have none other end but that of Matrimonie a thing which the equalitie of our blood and substance did of it selfe almost invite us to Our age and affection increased in such sort as it seemed fit for Luscinda's father for certaine good respects to deny mee the entrance of his house any longer imitating in a manner therein Tisbi so much solemnized by the Poets her parents which hindrance served only to add flame to flame and desire to desire for although it set silence to our tongues yet would they not impose it to our Pens which are wont to expresse to whom it pleased the most hidden secrecies of our souls with more libertie then the tongue for the presence of the beloved doth often distract trouble and strike dumb the boldest tongue and firmest resolution O Heavens how many Letters have I written unto her What cheerfull and honest answers have I received How many Ditties and amorous Verses have I composed wherein my soul declared and published her passions declined her inflamed desires entertained her remembrance and recreated her will In effect perceiving my self to be forced and that my soul consumed with a perpetuall desire to behold her I resolved to put my desires in execution and finish in an instant that which I deemed most expedient for the better atchieving of my desired and deserved reward which was as I did indeed to demaund her of her father for my lawfull Spouse To which he made answer That he ' did gratifie the good will which I shewed by honouring him and desire to honour my self with pawns that were his But seeing my Father yet lived the motion of that matter properly most concerned him For if it were not done with his good liking and pleasure Luscinda was not a woman to be taken or given by stealth I rendred him thanks for his good will his words seeming unto me very reasonable as that my father should agree unto them as soon as I should explain the matter and therefore departed presently to acquaint him with my desires who at the time which I entred into a chamber wherein he was stood with a letter open in his hand and espying me e're I could break my minde unto him gave it me saying By that Letter Cardenio you may gather the desire that Duke Ricardo bears to doe you any pleasure or favour This Duke Ricardo as I think you know Sirs already is a Grandee of Spain whose Dukedome is seated in the best part of all Andaluzia I took the Letter and read it which appeared so urgent as I my self accounted it would be ill done if my father did not accomplish the contents thereof which were indeed that he should presently addresse me to his Court to the end I might be companion and not servant to his eldest sonne and that hee would incharge himself with the advancing of me to such preferments as might be answerable unto the value and estimation hee made of my person I past over the whole Letter and was strucken dumb at the reading thereof but chiefly hearing my Father to say Cardenio thou must depart within two dayes to accomplish the Dukes desire and omit not to render Almighty God thanks which doth thus open the way by which thou mayest attain in fine to that which I know thou doest merit And to these words added certain others of Fatherly counsell and direction The term of my departure arrived and I spoke to my Luscinda on a certain night and recounted unto her all that passed and likewise to her father intreating him to overslip a few dayes and defer the bestowing of his daughter else-where untill I went to understand Duke Ricardo his will which he promised me and shee confirmed it with a thousand oaths and promises Finally I came to Duke Ricardo's Court and was so friendly received and entertained by him as even very then envie began to exercise her accustomed Function being forthwith emulated by the ancient Servitors perswading themselves that the tokens the Duke shewed to doe me favours could not but turn to their prejudice But hee that rejoyced most at mine arrivall was a second sonne of the Dukes called Fernando who was young gallant very comely liberall and amorous who within a while after my coming held me so deerly as every one wondred thereat And though the elder loved me well and did me favour yet was it in no respect comparable to that wherewithall Don Fernando loved and treated me It therefore befell that as there is no secresie amongst friends so great but they will communicate it the one to the other and the familiarity which I had with Don Fernando was now past the limits of favour and turned into dearest amitie He revealed unto me all his thoughts but chiefly one of his Love which did not a little molest him For he was enamoured on a Farmers daughter that was his Fathers Vassall whose parents were marvellous rich and shee her self so bautifull warie discret and honest as never a one that knew her could absolutely determine wherein or in which of all her perfections shee did most excell or was most accomplished And those good parts of the beautifull Countrey-maide reduced Don-Fernando his desires to such an exigent as hee resolved that hee might the better gaine her good will and conquer her integritie to passe her a promise of marriage for otherwise hee should labour to effect that which was impossible and but strive against the streame I as one bound thereunto by our friendship did thwart and disswade him from his purpose with the best reasons and most efficacious words I might and seeing all could not prevaile I determined to acquaint the Duke Ricardo his father therewithall But Don Fernando being very crafty and discreete suspected and feared as much because hee considered that in the law of a faithfull servant I was bound not to conceale a thing that would turne so much to the prejudice of the Duke my Lord and therefore both to divert and deceive mee at once that hee could finde no meanes so good to deface the remembrance of that beautie out of his minde which held his heart in such subjection then to absent himselfe for certaine moneths and hee would likewise
word rather then my will on the one side I am assaulted and urged by a desire to goe and see my Ladie on the other my promised faith and the glory I shall winne in this enterprize doe incite and call me away But that which I resolve to doe is to travaill with all speed that I may quickly arive to the place where that Giant is and will cut off his head at my coming and when I have peaceably installed the Princesse in her Kingdome will presently return to see the light that doth lighten my senses to whom I will yield such forcible reasons of my so long absence as she shall easily condescend to excuse my stay seeing all doth redound to her glory and fame For all that I have gained doe win or shall hereafter atchieve by force of Armes in this life proceeds wholy from the gracious favour she pleaseth to bestow upon me and my being hers O God! quoth Sancho I perceive that you are greatly diseased in the pate I pray you Sir tell me whether you mean to goe this long voyage for nought and let slip and lose so rich and so noble a preferment as this where the dowrie is a Kingdome which is in good faith as I have heard say twenty thousand leagues in compasse and most plentifully stored with all things necessary for the susteining of humane life and that it is greater then Portugall and Castile joyned together Peace for Gods love and blush at your owne words and take my councell and marry presently in the first village that hath a Parish-Priest and if you will not doe it there can you wish a better commoditie then to have our own Master Licentiat who will doe it most excellently And note that I am old enough to give counsaile and that this which I now deliver is as fit for you as if it were expresly cast for you in a mould For a Sparrow in the fist is worth more then a flying Bittor For hee that can have good and evill doth choose For ill that betides him must not Patience loose Why Sancho quoth Don-Quixote if thou givest mee councell to marry to the end I may become a King after I have slaine the Giant and have commoditie thereby to promote thee and give thee what I have promised I let thee to understand that I may doe all that most easily without marrying my selfe For before I enter into the battel I will make this condition that when I come away victor although I marry not the Princesse yet shall a part of the Kingdome bee at my disposition to bestow upon whom I please and when I receive it upon whom wouldst thou have me bestowe it but on thy selfe That is manifest said Sancho but I pray you Sir have care to choose that part you would reserve towards the Sea side to the end that if the living doe not please me I may imbarque my black vassails and make the benefit of them which I have said And likewise I pray you not to trouble your mind thinking to goe and see my Lady Dulcinea at this time but travaile towards the place where the Gyant is and kill him and conclude that businesse first for I sweare unto you that I am of opinion it will prove an Adventure of very great honor and profit I assure thee Sancho quoth Don-Quixote thou art in the â—ight and I will follow thy counsaile in rather going first with the Princesse then to visit Dulcinea And I warne thee not to speake a word to any body no not to those that ride with us of that which wee have here spoken and discoursed together for since Dulcineae is so warie and secret as shee would not have her thoughts discovered it is no reason that I eyther by my self or any other should detect them If that bee so quoth Sancho why then doe you send all those which you vanquish by virtue of your arme to present themselves to my Lady Dulcinea seeing this is as good as subsignation of your hands-writing that you wish her well and are enamoured on her And seeing that those which goe to her must forcibly lay them down on their knees before her presence and say that they come from you to doe her homage how then can the thoughts of you both bee hidden and concealed O! how great a foole art thou and how simple quoth Don-Quixote Dost not thou perceive Sancho how all this results to her greater glory For thou oughtest to wit that in our Knightly proceedings it is great honour that one Lady alone have many Knights Errant for her Servitors without extending their thoughts any farther then to serve her only for her high worths without attending any other reward of their many and good desires then that shee will deigne to accept them as her Servants and Knights I have heard preach said Sancho that men should love our Saviour with that kinde of love only for his owne sake without beeing mooved thereunto eyther by the hope of Glory or the feare of Payne although for my part I would love and serve him for what hee is able to doe The Devill take thee for a Clowne quoth Don-Quixote how sharpe and pertinently doest thou speake now and then able to make a man imagine that thou hast studied Now by mine honesty quoth Sancho I can neither reade nor write Master Nicholas perceiving them drowned thus in their Discourses cryed out to them to stay and drinke of a little Fountaine that was by the way Don-Quixote rested to Sanchoes very great contentment who was already tyred with telling him so many lies and was afraid his Master would intrap him in his owne words For although hee knew Dulcinea to bee of Toboso yet had hee never seene her in his life And Cardenio had by this time put on the apparell Doroten wore when they found her in the Mountaines which though they were not very good yet exceeded with great advantage those which hee had himselfe before And alighting hard by the Fountaine they satisfied with the provision the Curate had brought with him from the Inne although it were but little the great hunger that pressed them And whilest they tooke their ease there a certaine young stripling that travelled passed by who looking very earnestly on all those which sate about the Fountaine hee ranne presently after to Don-Quixote and imbracing his Legs hee said weeping downright O my Lord doe not you know mee Looke well upon mee for I am the youth Andrew whom you unloosed from the Oake whereunto I was tyed Don-Quixote presently knew him and taking him by the hands hee turned to those that were present and said Because you may see of how great importance it is that there bee Knights Errant in the World to undoe wrongs and injuries that are committed in it by the insolent and bad men which live therein you shall wit that a few daies past as I rode through a Wood I heard certaine lamentable screetches and cries
nimble for Don-Quixote had told him by this that hee had seen that man goe by leaping among the Rocks Don-Quixote rested marvailously admired at the Goatheards tale and with greater desire to know who that unfortunate mad-man was purposed with himselfe as he had already resolved to search him throughout the Mountaines without leaving a corner or Cave of it unsought untill hee had gotten him But Fortune disposed the matter better then hee expected for hee appeared in that very instant in a clift of a Rock that answered to the place where they stood speaking who came towards them murmuring somwhat to himselfe which could not bee understood neere at hand and much lesse a farre off His aparrell was such as wee have delivered only differing in this as Don-Quixote perceived when hee drew neerer that hee wore on him although torne a leather Jerkin perfumed with Amber by which hee throughly collected that the person which wore such attire was not of the least qualitie When the young man came to the place where they discoursed hee saluted them with a hoarce voice but with great courtesie and Don-Quixote returned him his greetings with no lesse complement and alighting from Rozinante hee advanced to imbrace him with very good carriage and countenance and held him a good while streightly betweene his armes as if hee had known him of long time The other whom wee may call The unfortunate Knight of the Kock as well as Don-Quixote the Knight of the illfavored face after hee had permitted himselfe to bee imbraced a while did step a little off from our Knight and laying his hand on his shoulders began to behold him earnestly as one desirous to call to minde whether hee had ever seene him before being perhaps no lesse admired to see Don-Quixotes figure proportion and Armes then Don-Quixote was to view him In resolution the first that spoke after the imbracing was the ragged Knight and said what wee will presently recount CHAP. X. Wherein is prosecuted the Adventure of Sierra Morena THE Historie affirmes that great was the attention wherewithall Don-Quixote listned to the unfortunate Knight of the Rock who began his speech on this manner Truly good Sir whatsoever you bee for I know you not I doe with all my heart gratifie the signes of affection and courtesie which you have used towards mee and wish heartily that I were in termes to serve with more then my will the good-will you beare towards mee as your courteous entertainment denotes but my fate is so niggardly as it affords mee no other meanes to repay good works done to mee then only to lend mee a good desire sometime to satisfie them So great is mine affection replied Don-Quixote to serve you as I was fully resolved never to depart out of these Mountaines untill I had found you and known of your selfe whether there might bee any kinde of remedy found for the griefe that this your so unusuall a kinde of life argues doth possess your soule and if it were requisite to search it out with all possible diligence and when your disasters were knowne of those which clap their doores in the face of comfort I intended in that case to beare a part in your lamentations and plaine it with the dolefull note for it is a consolation in afflictions to have one that condoles in them And if this my good intention may merit any acceptance or bee gratified by any courtesie let mee intreat you Sir by the excesse thereof which I see accumulated in your bosome and joyntly I conjure you by that thing which you have or doe presently most affect that you will please to disclose unto mee who you are and what the cause hath beene that perswaded you to come to live and die in these Desarts like a bruite beast seeing you live among such so alienated from your selfe as both your attyre countenance demonstrate And I doe vow quoth Don-Quixote by the high order of Chivalry which I although unworthy and a sinner have received and by the profession of Knighes Errant that if you doe pleasure mee herein to assist you with as good earnest as my profession doth binde mee eyther by remedying your disaster if it can bee holpen or else by assisting you to lament it if it bee so desperate The Knight of the Rock who heard him of the Illfavored face speake in that manner did nothing else for a great while but behold him again and again and re-behold him from top to toe And after viewing him well hee said If you have any thing to eate I pray you give it mee for Gods sake and after I have eaten I will satisfie your demand throughly to gratifie the many courtesies and undeserved proffers you have made unto mee Sancho and the Goatheard presents the one out of his Wallet the other out of his Scrip tooke some meate and gave it to the Knight of the Rock to allay his hunger and hee did eate so fast like a distracted man as hee left no intermission betweene bit and bit but clapt them up so swiftly as hee rather seemed to swallow then to chew them and whilest hee did eate neither hee or any of the rest spake a word and having ended his dinner hee made them signes to follow him as at last they did unto a little Meadow seated hard by that place at the fold of a Mountaine where being arived hee stretched himselfe on the grasse which the rest did likewise in his imitation without speaking a word untill that hee after setling himselfe in his place began in this manner If Sirs you please to heare the exceeding greatnesse of my disasters briefly rehearsed you must promise mee that you will not interrupt the file of my dolefull narration with either demand or other thing for in the very instant that you shall doe it there also must remaine that which I say depending These words of our ragged Knights called to Don-Quixotes remembrance the tale which his Squire had told unto him where hee erred in the account of his Goates which had passed the River for which that Historie remained suspended But returning to our ragged man hee said This prevention which now I give is to the end that I may compendiously passe over the discourse of my mishaps for the revoking of them to remembrance only serves mee to none other stead then to increase the old by adding of new misfortunes and by how much the fewer your questions are by so much the more speedily shall I have finished my pittifull discourse and yet I meane not to omit the essentiall point of my woes untouch't that your desires may bee herein sufficiently satisfied Don-Quixote in his owne and his other companions name promised to perform his request whereupon he began his relation on this manner My name is Cardenic the place of my byrth one of the best Cities in Andaluzia my linage noble my parents rich and my misfortunes so great as I thinke my parents have ere
but that which thou sayest thou wilt trie and put in practise shall never gaine thee Gods glorie the goods of fortune or renoune among men for suppose that thou bringest it to passe according to thine owne fantasie thou shalt remaine nothing more contented rich or honourable then thou art already and if thou dost not then shalt thou see thy selfe in the greatest misery of any wretch living for it will little availe thee then to thinke that no man knowes the disgrace befaln thee it being sufficient both to afflict and dissolve thee that thou knowest it thy self and for greater confirmation of this truth I will repeat unto thee a stanza of the famous Poet Ludâ—vice Tansilâ— in the end of his first part of saint Peters teares which is THE griefe increaseth and withall the shame In Peter when the day it self did show And though hee no man sees yet doth hee blame Himself because hee had offended so For brests magnanimous not onely tamâ— When that of others they are seâ—â—e they know But of themselves asham'd they often bee Though none but Heav'n and Earth their error see So that thou canst not excuse thy griefe with secrecie bee it never so great but rather shalt have continuall occasion to weepe if not watry teares from thine eyes at least teares of blood from thy heart such as that simple Doctor wept of whom our Poet makes mention who made tryall of the Vessell which the prudent Reynaldos upon maturer discourse refused to deale withall and although it bee but a Poeticall fixion yet doth it containe many hidden morals worthy to bee noted understood and imitated how much more seeing that by what I mean to say now I hope thou shalt begin to conceive the great error which thou wouldest wittingly commit Tell me Anselmo if Heaven or thy Fortunes had made thee Lord and lawfull possessor of a most precious Diamond of whose goodnesse and qualitie all the Lapidaries that had viewed the same would rest satisfied and that all of them would joyntly and uniformly affirm that it arived in quality goodnesse and finenesse to all that to which the nature of such a stone might extend it self and that thou thy self didest believe the same without witting any thing to the contrarie would it be just that thou shouldest take an humour to set that Diamond between an Anvile and a hammar and to trie there by very force of blows whether it be so hard so fine as they say And farther when thou didest put thy designe in execution put the case that the stone made resistance to thy foolish tryall yet wouldest thou add thereby no new valour or esteem to it And if it did break as it might befall were not then all lost Yes certainly and that leaving the Owner in all mens opinion for a very poor ignorant person Then friend Anselmo make account that Camila is a most precious Diamond as well in thine as in other mens estimation and it is no reason to put her in contingent danger of breaking seeing that although shee remain in her integrity she cannot mount to more worth then she hath at the present and if she faltred or did not resist consider even at this present what state you would bee in then and how justly thou mightest then complain of thy self for being cause of her perdition and thine own See how there is no Jewell in the world comparable to the modest and chaste Woman and that all Womens honour consists in the good opinion that 's had of them and seeing that of thy Spouse is so great as it arrives to that sum of perfection which thou knowest why wouldest thou call this verity in question Know friend that a Woman is an imperfect Creature and should therefore have nothing cast in her way to make her stumble fall but rather to cleer doe all incumbrances away out of it to the end shee may without impeachment run with a swift course to obtain the perfection shee wants which only consists in being virtuous The Naturalists recount that the Ermine is a little Beast that hath a most white skin and that when the hunters would chase him they use this art to take him As soon as they finde out his haunt and places where he hath recourse they thwart them with mire and dirt and after when they discrie the little Beast they pursue him towards those places which are defiled and the Ermine espying the mire stands still and permits himself to be taken and captived in exchange of not passing thorow the mire or staining of his whitenesse which it esteems more then either liberty or life The honest and chaste Woman is an Ermine and the virtue of chastity is whiter and purer then Snow and he that would not lose it but rather desires to keep and preserve it must proceed with a different stile from that of the Ermine For they must not propose and lay before her the mire of the passions flatteries and services of importunate Lovers for perhaps she shall not have the naturall impulse and force which commonly through proper debility is wont to stumble to passe over those incumbrances safely and therefore it is requisite to free the passage and take them away and lay before her the cleernesse of virtue and the beauty comprized in good fame The good woman is also like unto a bright and cleer mirrour of Crystall and therefore is subject to bee stained and dimmed by every breath that toucheth it The honest woman is to bee used as reliques of Saints to wit shee must be honoured but not touched The good woman is to be kept and prized like a fair Garden full of sweet Flowers and Roses that is held in estimation whose owner permits no man to enter and trample or touch his Flowers but holds it to bee sufficient that they standing a far off without the rails may joy at the delightfull sight and fragrancie thereof Finally I will repeat certain Verses unto thee that have now come to my memorie the which were repeated of late in a new Play and seem to me very fit for the purpose of which wee treat A prudent old man did give a neighbour of his that had a daughter counsell to keep and shut her up and among many other reasons he used these TRuely Woman is of Glasse Therefore no man ought to trie If she broke or not might be Seeing all might come to passe Yet to break her 't is more easie And it is no wit to venter A thing of so brittle temper That to Soulder is so queafie And I would have all men dwell In this truth and reasons ground That if Danaes may bee found Golden showres are found as well All that which I have said to thee Anselmo untill this instant hath been for that which may touch thy self and it is now high time that somewhat bee heard concerning me And if by chance I shall be somewhat prolixe I pray thee to pardon me for
make unto her by thy order and licence I did also beleeve that if she had been such as she ought to be and her that we both esteemed her she would have by this time acquainted you with my importunacy but seeing that she lingers therein I presume that her promises made unto me are true that when you did again absent your self out of town she would speak with me in the Wardrobe and it was true for there Camila was accustomed to talke with him yet would not I have thee runne rashly to take revenge seeing the sinne is not yet otherwise committed then in thought and perhaps between this and the oportunity shee might hope to put it in execution her minde would bee changed and shee repent her self of her folly And therefore seeing thou hast ever followed mine advice partly or wholly follow and keep one counsell that I will give unto thee now to the end that thou mayest after with carefull assurance and without fraud satisfie thine own will as thou likest best faine thy self to bee absent two or three dayes as thou art wont and then convey thy self cunningly into the Wardrobe where thou mayest very well hide thy self behinde the Tapestry and then thou shalt see with thine own eyes and I with mine what Camila will doe and if it bee that wickednesse which rather ought to bee feared then hoped for thou mayest with wisedome silence and discretion bee the proper executioner of so injurious a wrong Anselmo remained amazed and almost besides himself hearing his friend Lothario so unexpectedly to acquaint him with those things in a time whereing hee least expected them for now hee esteemed Camila to have escaped victresse from the forged assaults of Lothario and did himself triumph for glorie of her victorie Suspended thus and troubled hee stood silent a great while looking on the earth without once removing his eye from it and finally turning towards his friend hee said Lothario thou hast done all that which I could expect from so intire amitie and I doe therefore mean to follow thine advice in all things precisely Doe therefore what thou pleasest and keep that secret which is requisite in so weighty and unexpected an event All that I doe promise quoth Lothario and so departed wholly repented for that hee had told to Anselmo seeing how foolishly hee had proceeded since hee might have revenged himself on Camila very well without taking a way so cruell and dishonourable There did hee curse his little wit and abased his light resolution and knew not what means to use to destroy what hee had done or give it some reasonable and contrary issue In the end hee resolved to acquaint Camila with the whole matter and by reason that hee never missed of oportunity to speake unto her hee found her alone the very same day and shee seeing likewise that shee had fit time to speak unto him said Know friend Lothario that a certain thing doth pinch my heart in such manner as it seems ready to burst in my brest as doublesly I fear me that in time it will if wee cannot set a remedie to it For such is the immodesty of Leonela as shee shuts up a Lover of hers every night in this house and remains with him untill day-light which so much concernes my credit as it leaves open a spacious field to him that sees the other goe out of my house at so unseasonable times to judge of me what hee pleaseth and that which most grieves me is that I dare not punish or rebuke her for it For shee being privie to our proceedings sets a bridle on me and constrains me to conceale hers and hence I fear will bad successe befall us Lothario at the first suspected that Camila did speak thus to make him believe that the man whom hee had espied was Leonelaes friend and none of hers but seeing her to weep indeed and bee greatly afflicted in minde hee began at last to give credit unto the truth and believing it was greatly confounded and grieved for that hee had done And yet notwithstand hee answered Camila that shee should not trouble or vexe her self any more for hee would take such order as Leonelaes impudencies should bee easily crost and suppressed And then did recount unto her all that hee had said to Anselmo spur'd on by thâ— furious rage of jealous indignation and how her Husband had agreed to hide himself behinde the Tapestry of the Wardrobe that hee might from thence cleerly perceive the little Loyalty shee kept towards him and demanded pardon of her for that folly and counsell to redresse it and come safely out of the intricate Labyrinth whereinto his weake-eyed discourse had conducted him Camila having heard Lothario's discourse was afraid and amazed and with great anger and many and discrect reasons did rebuke him reviling the basenesse of his thoughts and the simple and little consideration that hee had But as women have naturally a suddain with for good or bad much more prompt then men although when indeed they would make discourses it proves defective So Camila found in an instant a remedy for an affair in appearance so irremediable and helplesse and therefore bade Lothario to induce his friend Anselmo to hide himself the next day ensuing for shee hoped to take commodity out of his being there for them both to enjoy one another with more security then ever they had before and without wholy manifesting her proverb to him shee only advertised him to have care that after Anselmo were hidden hee should presently come when Leonela called for him and that hee should answer her as directly to every question she proposed as if Anselmo were not in place Lothario did urge her importunately to declare her designe unto him to the end hee might with more security and advice obscure all that was necessarie I say quoth Camila there is no other observance to bee had then only to answer me directly to what I shall demand For shee would not give him account before-hand of her determination fearfull that hee would not conform himself to her opinion which shee took to bee so good or else lest hee would follow or seek any other that would not prove after so well Thus departed Lothario and Anselmo under pretext that hee would visit his friend out of Town departed and returned convertly back again to hide himself which hee could doe the more commodiously because Camila and Leonela did purposely afford him oportunity Anselmo having hidden himself with the grief that may bee imagined one would conceive who did expect to see with his own eyes an Anatomie made of the bowels of his honour and was in danger to lose the highest felicitie that hee accounted himself to possesse in his beloved Camila Camila and Leonela being certain that hee was hidden within the Wardrobe entred into it wherein scarce had Camila set her foot when breathing forth of a deep sigh shee spoke in this manner Ah friend Leonela were it
his sense Don-Quixote answered that hee did willingly pardon him And therefore the Curate went for Sancho who returned very humbly and kneeling down on his knees demanded his Lords hand which hee gave unto him and after that hee had permited him to kisse it hee gave him his blissing saying Now thou shalt finally know Sancho that which I have told thee divers times how that all the things of this Castle are made by way of inchantment So doe I verily believe said Sancho except that of the canvassing in the Blanket which really succeeded by an ordinary and naturall way Doe not believe that said Don-Quixote for if it were so I would both then and also now have taken a dire revenge but neither then nor now could I ever see any on whom I might revenge that thine injurie All of them desired greatly to know what that accident of the Blanket was And then the Inn-keeper recounted it point by point the flights that Sancho Panca made whereat they all did laugh not a little and Sancho would have been ashamed no lesse if his Lord had not anew perswaded him that it was a meer inchantment And yet Sancho's madnesse was never so great as to beleeve that it was not a reall truth verily befaln him without any colour or mixture of fraud or illusion but that hee was tossed by persons of Flesh Blood and Bone and not by dreamed and imagined shadows or Spirits as his Lord beleeved and so constantly affirmed Two dayes were now expired when all that Noble companie had sojourned in the Inn and then it seeming unto them high time to depart They devised how without putting Dorotea and Don Fernando to the pains to turn back with Don-Quixote to his Village under pretence of restoring the Queen Micomicona the Curate and Barber might carry him back as they desired and indevour to have him cured of his folly in his own house And their invention was this They agreed with one who by chance passed by that way with a Teame of Oxen to carry him in this order following They made a thing like a Cage of Timber so big as that Don-Quixote might sit or lie in it at his ease and presently after Don Fernando and his fellows with Don Lewis his Servants the Troupers and the Inn-keeper did all of them by Master Curates direction cover their faces and disguise themselves every one as hee might best so that they might seem to Don-Quixote other people then such as hee had seen in the Castle And this being done they entred with very great silence into the place where hee slept and took his rest after the related conflicts And approaching him who slept securely not fearing any such accident and laying hold on him very strongly they tyed his hands and his feet very strongly so that when hee started out of his sleep hee could not stir himself nor doe any other thing then admire and wonder at those strange shapes that he saw standing before him and presently hee fell into the conceit which his continuall and distracted imagination had already suggested unto him beleeving that all those strange figures were the Spirits and shadows of that inchanted Castle and that hee himself was now without doubt inchanted seeing hee could neither move nor defend himself All this succeeded just as the Curate who plotted the jest made full account it would Only Sancho among all those that were present was in his right sense and shape and although hee wanted but little to bee sick of his Lords disease yet for all that hee knew all those counterfeit Ghosts but hee would not once unfold his lips untill hee might see the end of that surprizall and imprisonment of his Master who likewise spoke never a word but only looked to see what would bee the period of his disgrace Which was that bringing him to the Cage they shut him within and afterwards nailed the Barrs thereof so well as they could not bee easily broken They presently mounted him upon their shoulders and as hee issued out at the chamber door they heard as dreadfull a voyce as the Barber could devise not hee of the Pannellâ— but the other which said O Knight of the sad-Countenance bee not grieved at the imprisonment whereinto thou art led for so it must bee that thereby the Adventure into which thy great Force and Valour have thrust thee may bee the more spedily ended and ended it will bee when the furious Manchegall-Lyon and the white Tobosian-Dove shall bee united in one and after they have humbled their lofty Crest unto the soft Yoake of Wedlock from whose wonderfull consort shall issue to the light of the Orbe fierce Whelps which shall imitate the raunching paws of their valourous Father And this shall bee before the pursuer of the fugitive Nymph doe with his swift and naturall course make two turns in visitation of the glistring Images And thou O the most noble and obedient Squire that ever had Sword at a Gyrdle Beard on a Face or Dent in a Nose let it not dismay or discontent thee to see carried away before thy eyes the flowre of all Chivalrie Errant For very speedily if it please the framer of the World thou shalt see thy self so exalted and ennobled as thou shalt scarce know thy self Nor shalt thou bee defrauded of the promises made unto thee by thy noble Lord And I doe assure thee from the wise Mentironiana that thy wages shall bee payed thee as thou shalt quickly see in effect And therefore follow the steps of the valorous and inchanted Knight for it is necessary that thou goe to the place where you both shall stay And because I am not permitted to say more farewell for I doe return I well know whither Towards the end of this Prophecie hee lifted up his voyce and afterwards lessened it with so slender an accent that even those which were acquainted with the jest almost believed what they had heard Don-Quixote was very much comforted by the Prophecie for hee presently apprehended the whole sense thereof and perceived how hee was promised in marriage his beloved Dulcinea of Toboso from whose happy womb should salley the whelps which were his Sonnes to the eternall glory of the Mancha And believing all this most firmly hee elevated his voyce and breathing forth a great sigh thus said O thou whatsoever thou beest which hast prognosticated so great good to me I desire thee to request in my name the Wise man who hath charge to record mine acts that hee permit me not to perish in this Prison to which they now doe carrie me before the accomplishment of so joyfull and incomparable promises as now have been made unto me For so that this may befall I will account the pains of my Prison a Glory and the Chains that inviron me an ease and will not esteem this Bed whereon I am laid a hard Field of Battell but a soft Tick and a most fortunate Lodging And as concerning the
Ioane Panca for so was she called although her Husband and she were not Knisfolk but by reason that in the Mancha the Wives are usually called after their Husbands Sirname Doe not busie thy self Ioane quoth Sancho to know these things on such a sudden let it suffice that I tell thee the truth and therewithall sow up thy mouth I will onely say thus much unto thee as it were by the way that there is nothing in the World so pleasant as for an honest man to be the Squire of a Knight Errant that seeks Adventures It is very true that the greatest number of Adventures found out succeeded not to a mans satisfaction so much as he would desire for of a hundred that are incountred the ninety and nine are wont to be crosse and untoward ones I know it by experience for I have come away my self out of some of them well canvassed and out of others well beaten But yet for all that it is a fine thing to expect events traverse Groves search Woods tread on Rocks visit Castles and lodge in Innes at a mans pleasure without paying the Devill a crosse All these Discourses passed between Sancho Panca and his wife Ioane Panca whilst the old woman and Don-Quixotes Niece did receive him put off his clothes and lay him down in his ancient bed he looked upon them very earnestly and could not conjecture where he was The Curate charged the Niece to cherish her Uncle very carefully and that they should look well that he made not the third escape relating at large all the adoe that they had to bring him home Here both the women renewed their exclamations their execreations of all Books of Knighthood here came to be reiterated here they besought Heaven to throw down into the very Center of the bottomlesse Pit the out-cryes of so many lies and ravings Finally they remained perplexed and timorous that they should lose again their Master and Uncle as soon as he was any thing recovered and it befell just as they suspected but the Authour of this History although he have with all diligence and curiosity inquired after the Acts atcheived by Don-Quixote in his third sally to seek Adventures yet could he never attaine at least by authenticall Writings to any notice of them Only Fame hath left in the memories of the Mancha that Don-Quixote after his third escape was at Saragosa and present at certain famous Justs made in that Citty and that therein befell him events most worthy of his valour and good wit But of his end he could finde nothing nor ever should have known ought if good fortune had not offered to his view an old Phisician who had in his custodie a leaden Box which as hee affirmed was found in the ruines of an old Eremitage as it was a repayring in which Box were certaine scroles of Parchment written with Gothicall Characters but contayning Castilian verses which comprehended many of his Acts and specified Dulcinea of Toboso her beautie decyphered Rozinante and intreated of Sancho Panca's fidelitie as also of Don-Quixotes Sepulchre with sundry Epitaphs and Elogies of his Life and Manners and those that could bee read and copied out throughly were those that are here set downe by the faithfull Authour of this new and unmatched Relation Which Authour demands of the Readers no other guerdon in regard of his huge travaile spent in the search of all the old Records of the Mancha for the bringing thereof unto light but that they will daigne to afford it as much credit as discreete men are wont to give unto Bookes of Knighthood which are of so great Reputation now a dayes in the World for herewith hee will rest most fully contented and satisfied and withall encouraged to publish and seeke out for other Discourses if not altogether so true as this at least of as great both Invention and Recreation The first words written in the Scrole of Parchment that was found in the leaden Box were these The Academicks of Argamasilla a Towne of the Mancha on the Life and Death of the valorous DON-QUIXOTE of the Mancha hoc scripserunt An Epitaph of Monicongo the Academick of Argamasilla to DON-QUIXOTES Sepulcre THE clattring Thunderbolt that did adorne The Mancha with more spoyles then Jason Creete The Wit whose Wether-cock was sharp was Thorne When somewhat flatter it to bee was meete The Arme which did his powre so much dilate As it Gaeta and Cathay did retch The dreadfull'st Muse and eke discreetest that In brazen-sheets did prayses ever stretch Hee that the Amadises left behinde And held the Gataors but in small esteeme Both for his braverie and his loving minde Hee dumb that made Don-Belianis to seeme And hee that farre on Rozinante err'd Vnder this frozen stone doth lie interr'd Paniagando an Academick of Argamasilla in prayse of DULCINEA of Toboso SONNET SHE which you view with triple face and sheene High-breasted and couragious like a man Is tall Dulcinea of Toboso Queene Of great Quixote wellbeloved than Hee for her sake treads th' one and th' other side Of the browne Mountaine and the famous Fields Of Montiel and Aran Ivez so wide On foote all tyr'd loaden with Speere and Shield The fault was Rozinantes O hard starre That this Manchegan Dame and worthy Knight In tender yeeres when people strongest are Shee lost by death the glimpse of beautie bright And hee although in Marble richly done Yet Loves wrath and deceits shee could not shunne Caprichioso the most ingenious Academick of Argamasilla in praise of Rozinante DON-QUIXOTE his Steed SONNET INto the proud erected Diamond stock Which Mars with bloody plants so often bored Half wood with Valour the Manchegan stuck His wav'ring Standard and his Arms restored For them thereon hee hung and his bright Sword Wherewith hee hacks rents parts and overthrows New prowesses to which Art must afford New stiles on this new Palatine to gloze And if Gaule mâ—ch her Amadis doth prize Whose brave descendants have illustred Greece And fild it full of Trophies and of Fame Much more Bellona's Court doth solemnize Quixote whose like in Gaule nor Grecia is So honourd's none as in Mancha his name Let no oblivion his glory stain Seeing in swiftnesse Rozinant his Steed Even Bayard doth and Briliador exceed Burlador Academick of Argamasilla to SANCHO PANCA SONNET THis Sancho Panca is of Body little But yet O miracle in Valour great The simplest Squire and sooth to say lest suttle That in this World I swear liv'd ever yet From being an Earl he scarce was a threads bredth Had not at once conspir'd to crosse his guerdon The malice of the times and men misled Which scarce an Asse incountring would him pardon Vpon the like hee rode O give me leave To tell how this meek Squire after the Horse Milde Rozinante and his Lord did drive O! then vain hopes of men what thing is worse Which proves us desired case to lend Yet doe at last in smoaks our glories end Chachidiablo
whom the Dukes of Ferrara at this day are descended according to Turpin in his Cosmographie All these Knights and many more Master Vicar that I could tell you were Knights Errant the very light and glorie of Knighthood These or such as these are they I wish for which if it could bee his Majestie would bee well served and might save a great deal of expence and the Turk might goe shake his eares And therefore let me tell you I scorn to keep my house since the Chaplaine delivers me not and his Iupiter as goodman Barber talkes raines not here am I that will raigne when I list this I speak that goodman Bason may know I understand him Truly Mr. Don-Quixote said the Barber I spoke it not to that end and so helpe me God as I meane well and you ought not to resent any thing I know well enough whether I ought or no Sir replyed Don-Quixote Then quoth the Vicar well goe to I have not spoken a word hitherto I would not willingly remaine with one scruple which doth grate and gnaw upon my Conscience sprung from what Master Don-Quixote hath here told us For this and much more you have full liberty good Master Vicar said Don-Quixote and therefore tell your scruple for sure it is no pleasure to continue with a scrupulous conscience Under correction quoth the Vicar this it is I can by no meanes be perswaded that all that Troop of Knights Errant which you named were ever true and really persons of flesh and bone in this world I rather imagine all is fiction tales and lies or dreames set downe by men waking or to say trulyer by men halfe and lies or dreames set downe by men waking or to say trulyer by men halfe a sleepe There 's another error quoth Don-Quixote into which many have falln who beleeve not that there have beene such Knights in the world and I my selfe many times in divers companies and upon severall occasions have laboured to shew this common mistake but somtimes have fayled in my purpose at others not supporting it upon the shoulders of Truth which is so infallible that I may say that with these very eyes I have beheld Amadis de Gaul who was a goodly tall man well complexioned had a broad Beard and black an equall countenance betwixt milde and sterne a man of small discourse slow to anger and soone appeased and just as I have delineated Amadis I might in my judgement paint and decipher out as many Knights Errant as are in all the Histories of the World for by apprehending they were such as their Histories report them by their exploits they did and their qualities their features colours and Statures may in good Philosophy be guessed at How big deere Master Don-Quixote quoth the Barber might Gyant Morgante be Touching Gyants quoth Don-Quixote there bee different opinions whether there have beene any or no in the world but the holy Scripture which cannot erre a jot in the truth doth shew us plainly that there were telling us the story of that huge Philistine Golias that was seven cubits and a halfe high which is an unmeasurable greatnesse Besides in the Isle of Sicillia there have beene found shanke-bones and shoulder-bones so great that their bignesse shewed their owners to have beene Gyants and as huge as high Towers which Geometry will make good But for all this I cannot easily tell you how big Morgante was though I suppose he was not very tall to which opinion I incline because I finde in his History where there is particular mention made of his Acts that many times hee lay under a Roofe and therefore since hee found an House that would hold him 't is plaine hee could not bee of extraordinary bignesse T is true quoth the Vicar who delighting to heare him talke so wildly asked him what hee thought of the faces of Renaldo of Mont-alban Don Roldan and the rest of the twelve Peeres of France who were all Knights Errant For Renaldo quoth Don-Quixote I dare boldly say hee was broad faced his complexion high quick and full eyed very exceptious and extremely cholerick a lover of theeves and debaucht company Touching Rolando or Rotolando or Orlando for Histories afford him all these names I am of opinion and affirme that hee was of a meane stature broad-shouldred somewhat bow legged abourne Bearded his body hayrie and his lookes threatning dull of discourse but affable and well behaved If Orlando said the Vicar was so sweet a youth as you describe him no marvell though the faire Angelica disdained him and left him for the handsome briske and conceited beard-budding Medor and that she had rather have his softnesse then tothers roughnesse That Angelica quoth Don-Quixote was a light houswife a gadder and a wanton and left the world as full of her fopperies as the reports of her beauty shee despised a thousand Knights a thousand both valiant and discreet and contented her selfe with a poore beardlesse Page without more wealth or honour then what her famous Singer Ariosto could give her in token of his thankfullnesse to his friends love either because hee durst not in this respect or because hee would not chaunt what befell this Lady after her base prostitution for sure her carriage was not very honest So he left her when he said And how Catayaes Scepter shee had at will Perhaps some one will write with better quill And undoubtedly this was a kinde of Prophesie for Poets are called Vates that is Sooth-sayers and this truth hath been cleerely seene for since that time a famous Andaluzian Poet wept â—and sung her teares and another famous and rare Poet of Castile her beautie But tell mee Master Don-Quixote quoth the Barber was there ever any Poet that wrote a Satyre against this faire Lady amongst those many that have written in her praise I am well perswaded quoth Don-Quixote that if Sacripant or Orlando had beene Poets they had trounced the Damozell for it is an ordinary thing amongst Poets once disdayned or not admitted by their fayned Mistrisses fayned indeede because they fayne they love them to revenge themselves with Satyres and Lybells a revenge truly unworthy noble Spirits But hitherto I have not heard of any infamatory verse against the Lady Angelica that hath made any hurly burly in the world Strange quoth the Vicar With that they might heare the Neece and the Old woman who were before gone from them keep a noyse without in the Court so they went to see what was the matter CHAP. II. Of the notable fray that Sancho Panca had with the Neece the old-Woman and other delightfull passages THe Story sayes that the noyse which Don-Quixote the Vicar and the Barber heard was of the Neece and the old woman that were rating Sancho Panca that strove with them for entrance to see Don-Quixote who kept dore against him What will this blood-hound have here said they Get you home to your own house for you are he and
to ride behinde him but for the supper hee did And at this season they say Sancho sayd to himselfe Lord defend thee Master And is it possible that a man that knowes to speake such so many and so good things as hee hath sayd here should say hee hath seene such impossible fooleries as hee hath told us of Montesino's Cave Well wee shall see what will become of it And by this they came to the Vente just as it was night for which Sancho was glad because too his Master took it to bee a true Vente and notâ— Castle as hee was wont They were no sooner entred when Don Quixote asked the Venter for the man with the Lances and Halberds Ventero the Master of the Vente who answered him Hee was in the stable looking to his Moyle Sancho and the Scholler did the same to their Asses giving Don-Quixotes Rozinante the best manger and roome in the stable CHAP. XXV Of the Adventure of the Braying and the merry one of the Puppet-man with the memorable soothsaying of the prophesying Ape DON-Quixote stood upon thornes till hee might heare and know the promised wonders of the man that carried the Armes and went where the Venter had tolde him to seeke him where finding him hee sayd That by all meanes hee must tell him presently what hee had promised him upon the way The man answered him The story of the wonders requires more leisure and must not bee told thus standing good Sir let me make an end of provandring my Beast and I will tell you things that shall admire you Let not that hinder you quoth Don-Quixote for I 'le helpe you and so hee did sifting his Barley and cleansing the manger a humility that obliged the fellow to tell him his tale heartily thus sitting downe upon a bench Don-Quixote by him with the Scholler Page and Sancho and the Venter for his complete Senate and Auditory hee began You shall understand that in a towne some foure leagues and an halfe from this Vente it fell out that an Alderman there by a trick and wile of a wench his maid-servant which were long to tell how lost his Asse and though the sayd Alderman used all manner of diligence to finde him it was impossible His Asse was wanting as the publike voyce and fame goeth fifteene dayes when the Alderman that lost him being in the market-place another Alderman of the same towne told him Pay mee for my news Gossip for your Asse is forth-comming I will willingly Gossip said the other but let mee know where hee is This morning said the Second I saw him upon the mountaines without his pack-saddle or any other furniture so leane that it was pitty to see him I would have gotten him before mee and have driven him to you but hee is so mountainous and wilde that when I made towards him hee flew from mee and got into the thickest of the wood If you please wee will both returne and seeke him let mee first put up this Asse at home and I 'le come by and by You shall doe mee a great kindnesse quoth hee and I will repay you if neede bee in the like kinde With all these circumstances just as I tell you all that know the truth relate it In fine the two Aldermen afoot and hand to hand went to the Hils and comming to the place where they thought to finde the Asse they missed of him neither could they finde him for all their seeking round about Seeing then there was no appearance of him the Alderman that had seene him sayd to the other Harke you Gossip I have a trcike in my head with which wee shall finde out this Beast though hee bee hidden under ground much more if in the mountaine Thus it is I can bray excellent well and so can you a little well 't is a match A little Gossip quoth the other Verily I 'le take no ods of any body nor of an Asse himself We shall see then said the second Alderman for my plot is that you goe on one side of the hill and I on the other so that wee may compasse it round now and then you shall bray and so will I and it cannot bee but that your Asse will answer one of us if hee bee in the mountaine To this the owner of the Asse answered I tell you Gossip the device is rare and worthy your great wit so dividing themselves according to the agreement it fell out that just at one instant both brayed and each of them cozened with the others braying came to look one another thinking now there had been news of the Asse and as they met the Loser said Is it possible Gossip that it was not mine Asse that brayed No 't was I said the other Then replyed the Owner Gossip between you and an Asse there is no difference touching your braying for in my life I never heard a thing more naturall These praises and extolling said the other doe more properly belong to you then me for truely you may give two to one to the best and skillfullest Brayer in the world for your sound is lofty you keep very good time and your cadences thick and suddain To conclude I yeeld my self vanquished and give you the prize and glory of this rare abilitie Well said the Owner I shall like my self the better for this hereafter and shall think I know something since I have gotten a qualitie for though I ever thought I brayed well yet I never thought I was so excellent at it as you say Let me tell you said the other there bee rare abilities in the world that are lost and ill imployed in those that will not good themselves with them Ours quoth the Owner can doe us no good but in such businesses as wee have now in hand and pray God in this they may This said they divided themselves again and returned to their braying and every foot they were deceived and met till they agreed upon a counter-signe that to know it was themselves and not the Asse they should bray twice together So that with this doubling their brayes every stitch-while they compassed the hill the lost Asse not answering so much as by the least signe but how could the poor and ill-thriving Beast answer when they found him in the Thicket eaten with Wolve And his Owner seeing him said I marvelled hee did not answer for if hee had not been dead hee would have brayed if hee had heard us or else hee had beene no Asse But i'faith Gossip since I have heard your delicate braying I think my pains well bestowed in looking this Asse though I have found him dead 'T is in a very good hand Gossip said the other En buenna mano esta Alluding to two that strive to make one another drink first And if the Abbot sing well the little Monk comes not behinde him The one as very an Asse as the other With this all comfortlesse and hoarce home they went where they told
grant it said Sancho and let sinne bee deaf for I have alwaies heard that a good hope is better then a bad possession In this discourse they were when as Don-Antonio entred with shews of great content saying My reward Signior Don-Quixote for the news I bring for Don Gregorio and the Runnagate Spainiard with him are upon the Wharf the Wharf quoth I in the Vice-roys house and will bee here presently Don-Quixote was somewhat revived and said Truly I was about to have said I would it had been otherwise that I might have gone into Barbary and with the strength and vigor of this Arme not only have given liberty to Don Gregorio but to all the Christian Captives in Barbary But what say I wretch that I am Am not I vanquished Am not I overthrown Am not I hee that must not touch Armes this twelve moneths What then doe I promising Why doe I praise my self since it were fitter for me to use a Distaff then a Sword No more of that Sir said Sancho a man is a man though hee have but a hose on his head To day for thee and to morrow for me and for these thumps and encounters there is no heed to bee taken for hee that falls to day may rise to morrow except it bee that hee mean to lye a-bed I mean to dismay and not take heart to fresh skirmishes and therefore raise you your self now to welcome Don Gregorio for me thinks the people of the house are in an uproar and by this hee is come and hee said true for Don Gregorio having given the Vice-roy account of his going and comming desirous to see Ana Felix he came with the Runnagate to Don Antonio's house and though Don Gregorio when they brought him out of Argiers were in a womans habit yet by the way in the Boat he changed it with a Captive that came with him but whatsoever habit hee had been in hee would have seemed a personage worthy to bee coveted sought after and served for hee was extraordinary comely and about some seventeen or eighteen yeers of age Ricote and his Daughter went out to welcome him the Father with tears and the Daughter with honesty They did not embrace each other for where there is Love there is never much loosenesse The two joynt Beauties of Don Gregorio and Ana Felix astonished all the by-standers Silence there spoke for the two Lovers and their eyes were tongues that discovered their joyfull but honest thoughts The Runagate told them the means and slight hee had used to get Don Gregorio away Don Gregorio told his dangers and straits hee was put to amongst the women with whom hee remained not in tedions manner but with much brevity where hee shewed that his discretion was above his yeers Finally Ricote paid and royally satisfied as well the Runagate as those that had rowed with him The Runagate was reduc't and re-encorporated with the Church and of a rotten member became clean and sound by penance and repentance Some two dayes after the Vice-roy treated with Don Antonio about means that Ricote and his Daughter might remain in Spain thinking it to bee no inconvenience that so Christianly a Father and a Daughter should remain and to see too so well intentionated Don Antonio offered to negotiate it amongst other businesse for which hee was to goe to the Court of necessitie letting them know that there by favour and bribes many difficult matters are ended There is no trust in favours or bribes said Ricote then present for with the Grand Don Bernardine de Volasco Counte Salazar to whom his Majestie hath given in charge our expulsion neither entreaties promises bribes or compassion can prevail for though true it bee that he mixeth his Justice with Mercy yet because hee sees the whole body of our Nation is putrid and contaminated hee useth rather cauterizing that burns it then oyntment that softens it and so with prudence skill diligence and terror hee hath born upon his strong shoulders and brought to due execution the waight of this great Machine our industries tricks slights and frauds not being able to blinde his watchfull eyes of Argus which wake continually to the end that none of ours may remain that like a hidden root may in time sprout up and scatter venemous fruit throughout all Spain now cleansed and free from the fear into which their multitude put her a heroick resolution of the Grand Philip the third and unheard of wisedome to have committed it to Don Bernardino and Velasco Well when I come thither said Don Antonio I will use the best means I can and let Heaven dispose what shall bee fittest Don Gregorio shall goe with me to comfort the affliction of his Parents for his absence Ana Felix shall stay with my Wife here or in a Monastery and I know the Vice-roy will bee glad to have honest Ricote stay with him till hee sees how I can negotiate The Vice-roy yeelded to all that was proposed but Don Gregorio knowing what passed said that by no means hee could or would leave Ana Felix but intending to see his friends and to contrive how hee might return for her at length hee agreed Ana Felix remained with Don Antonio's Wife and Ricote in the Vice-roy his house The time came that Don Antonio was to depart and Don-Quixote and Sancho which was some two dayes after for Don-Quixotes fall would not suffer him to travell sooner When Don Gregorio parted from Ana Felix all was tears swounding sighs and sobs Ricote offered Don Gregorio a thousand Crowns but hee refused them and borrowed only five of Don Antonio to pay him at the Court again With this they both departed and Don-Quixote and Sancho next as hath been said Don-Quixote disarmed and Sancho on foot because Dapple was laden with the Armour CHAP. LXVI That treats of what the Reader shall see and he that hearkens heare AS they went out of Barselona Don-Quixote beheld the place where he had his fall and said Hic Troja fuit here was my ill fortune and not my cowardize that bereaved mee of my former gotten glorie here Fortune used her turns and returns with me here my exploits were darkned and finally my fortune fell never to rise again Which Sancho hearing said Signior mine 'T is as proper to great Spirits to bee patient in adversitie as joâ—und in prosperity and this I take from my self for if when I my self being a Governour was merry now that I am a poor Squire on foot I am not sad For I have heard say that she you call up and down Fortune is a drunken longing woman and withall blinde and so shee sees not what shee doth neither knows whom shee casts down or whom shee raiseth up Sancho quoth Don-Quixote thou art very Philosophicall thou speak'st marvellous wisely I know not who hath taught thee All I can tell thee is that in the world there is no such thing as Fortune neither doe things that happen in it good or
in that Inn without omitting the accident that had befallen Sancho himself and in conclusion the Hostesse tricked up the Curate so handsomely as there could bee no more deâ—ired for she attired him in a Gown of broad-cloth laid over with guards of black Velvet each being a span bredth full of gashes and cuts the bodies and sleeves of green Velvet welted with white sattin which gown and doublet as I suspect were both made in the time of of King Bamba The Curate would not permit them to vaile and be kerchif him but set on his head a white-quilted-linnen-night-cap which hee carried for the night and girded his fore-head with a black Taffata garter and with the other hee masked his face wherewithall he covered his beard and visage very neatly then did hee incask his pate in his hat which was so broad as it might serve him excellently for a Quitasoll and lapping himself up handsomly in his long cloak hee went to horse and rode as women use Then mounted the Barber likewise on his Mule with his beard hanging down to the girdle half red and half white as that which as wee have said was made of the taile of a pyed coloured Oxe then taking leave of them all and of the good Maritornes who promised although a sinner to say a Rosary to their intention to the end that God might give them good successe in so Christian and difficult an adventure as that which they undertooke But scarce were they gone out of the Inne when the Curate begann to dread a little that he had done ill in apparrelling himself in that wise accounting it a very indecent thing that a Priest should dight himself so although the matter concerned him never so much And acquainting the Barber with his surmise hee intreated him that they might change attires seeing it was much more just that hee because a Lay-man should faine the oppressed Lady and himself would become his Squire for so his dignitie would be less prophaned to which if he would not condescend he resolved to passe on no farther although the Divell should carrie therefore Don-Quixote away Sancho came over to them about this season and seeing them in that habit hee could not contain his laughter The Barber to bee brief did all that which the Curate pleased and making thus an exchange of inventions the Curate instructed him how hee should behave himself and what words he should use to Don-Quixote to press and move him to come away with him and forsake the propension and love of that place which hee had chosen to perform his vain penance The Barber answered that he would set every thing in his due poynt and perfection though he had never lessoned him but would not set on the array untill they came neer to the place where Don-Quixote abode and therefore folded up his clothes and Master Parson his beard and forthwith went on their way Sancho Panca playing the guide who recounted at large to them all that had hapned with the mad-man whom they found in the Mountain concealing notwithstanding the booty of the Malet with the other things found therein for although otherwise most simple yet was our young man an ordinary vice of fools and had a spice of covetousness They arrived the next day following to the place where Sancho had left the tokens of boughs to finde that wherein his Master sojourned and having taken notice thereof hee said unto them that that was the entry and therefore they might doe well to apparrell themselves if by change that might be a mean to procure his Lords liberty for they had told him already that on their going and apparrelling in that manner consisted wholly the hope of freeing his Lord out-of that wretched life hee had chosen and therefore did charge him on his life not to reveal to his Lord in any case what they were nor seem in any sort to know them and that if he demanded as they were sure hee would whether hee had delivered his Letter to Dulcinea hee should say hee did and that by reason she could not read shee answered him by word of mouth saying that shee commanded under pain of her indignation that presently abandoning so austere a life hee would come and see her for this was most requisite to the end that moved therewithall and by what they meant likewise to say unto him they made certain account to reduce him to a better life and would besides perswade him to that course instantly which might set him in the way to become an Emperour or Monarch for as concerning the being an Archbishoppe he needed not to feare it at all Sancho listned to all the talke and instruction and bore them away well in memorie and gave them great thanks for the intention they had to counsell his Lord to become an Emperour and not an Archbishop for as hee said hee imagined in his simple judgement that an Emperour was of more abilitie to reward his Squire then an Archbishop Errant Hee likewise added that hee thought it were necessarie hee went somwhat before them to search him and deliver his Ladies answere for perhaps it alone would be sufficient to fetch him out of that place without puting them to any farther paines They liked of Sancho Pancaes device and therefore determined to expect him untill his return with the news of finding his Master With that Sancho entred in by the Clifts of the Rocks leaving them both behinde together by which ran a little smoothe streame to which other Rocks and some trees that grew neere unto it made a fresh and pleasing shadow The heats and the day wherein they arived there was one of those of the moneth of August when in those places the heate is intolerable the hour about three in the afternoon All which did render the place more gratefull and invited them to remain therein untill Sancho's return Both therefore resting there quietly under the shadow there arrived to their hearing the sound of a voyce which without being accompanied by any instrument did resound so sweet and melodiously as they remained greatly admired because they esteemed not that to be a place wherein any so good a Musician might make his abode For although it is usually said that in the Woods and Fields are found Shepheards of excellent voyces yet is this rather a Poeticall indeerment then an approved truth and most of all when they perceived that the verses they heard him singing were not of rustick composition but rather of delicate and Courtly invention The truth whereof is confirmed by the verses which were these WHo doth my Weale diminish thus and staine Disdaine And say by whom my woes augmented be By Iealousie And who my patience doth by triall wrong An absence long If that be so then for my grievous wrong No remedie at all I may obtainâ— Since my best hopes I cruelly finde slain By Disdain Iealousie and Absence long Who in my minde those dolours still doth move Dire
Love And who my glories ebb doth most importune Fortune And to my Plaints by whom increase is giv'n By Heav'n If that be so then my mistrust jumps ev'n That of my wondrous evill I must die Since in my harme joyn'd and united be Love wavering Fortune and a rig'rous Heaven Who better hap can unto me bequeath Death From whom his favours doth not Love estrange From change And his too serious harms who cureth wholy Folly If that bee so it is no wisedome truly To think by humane means to cure that care Where th' only Antidotes and Med'cines are Desired Death light Change and endlesse Folly The hour the time the solitarinesse of the place voice and art of him that sung struck wonder and delight in the Hearers mindes which remained still quiet listning whether they might hear any thing else But perceiving that the silence continued a prettie while they agreed to issue and seek out the Musician that sung so harmoniously And being ready to put their resolution in practise they were again arrested by the same voyce the which touched their ears anew with this Sonnet A SONNET HOly Amitie which with nimble wings Thy semblance leaving here on earth behinde Among the blessed Souls of Heaven up-flings To those Imperiall rooms to cheer thy minde And thence to us is when thou lik'st assign'd Iust Peace whom shadie vail so cover'd brings As oft instead of her Deceit wee find Clad in the weeds of good and vertuous things Leave Heav'n O Amitie doe not permit Foul Fraud thus openly thy Robes t' invest With which sincere intents destroy does it For if thy likenesse from 't thou do'st not wrest The World will turn to the first conflict soon Of Discord Chaâ—â— and Confusion The Song was concluded with a profound sigh and both the others lent attentive eare to heare if hee would sing any more but perceiving that the Musick was converted into throbs and dolefull plaints they resolved to goe and learn who was the wretch as excellent for his voyce as dolorous in his sighs and after they had gone a little at the doubling of the poynt of a cragg they perceived one of the very same form and fashion that Sancho had painted unto them when hee told them the History of Cardenio which man espying them likewise shewed no semblance of fear but stood still with his head hanging on his breast like a male-content not once lifting up his eyes to behold them from the first time when they unexpectedly arrived The Curate who was a man very well spoken as one that had already intelligence of his misfortune for he knew him by his signes drew neerer to him and prayed and perswaded him with short but very forcible reasons to forsake that miserable life left hee should there eternally lose it which of all miseries would prove the most miserable Cardenio at this season was in his right sense free from the furious accident that distracted him so often therefore viewing them both attyred in so strange unusuall a fashion from that which was used among those Desarts he rested somewhat admired but chiefly hearing them speak in his affair as in a matter known for so much he gathered out of the Curates speeches and therefore answered in this manner I perceive well good Sirs whosoever you be that Heaven which hath alwayes care to succour good men yea even and the wicked many times hath without any desert addrest unto me by these Desarts and places so remote from vulgar haunt persons which laying before mine eyes with quick and pregnant reasons the little I have to lead this kinde of life doe labour to remove me from this place to a better And by reason they know not as much as I doe and that after escaping this harme I shall fall into a far greater they account me perhaps for a man of weak discourse and what is worse for one wholly devoid of judgement And were it so yet is it no marvell for it seems to me that the force of the imagination of my disasters is so bent and powerfull in my destruction that I without being able to make it any resistance doe become like a stone void of all good feeling and knowledge and I come to know the certainty of this truth when some men doe recount and shew unto me tokens of the things I have done whilest this terrible accident over-rules me and after I can doe no more then be grieved though in vain and curse without benefit my too froward fortune and render as an excuse of my madnesse the relation of the cause thereof to as many as please to hear it for wise men perceiving the cause will not wonder at the effects And though they give me no remedie yet at least will not condemn me for it will convert the anger they conceive at my mis-rules into compassion of my disgraces And Sirs if by chance it be so that you come with the same intention that others did I request you e're you inlarge farther your discreet perswasions that you will give eare a while to the relation of my mis-haps for perhaps when you have understood it you may save the labour that you would take comforting an evill wholy incapable of consolation Both of them which desired nothing so much as to understand from his own mouth the occasion of his harmes did intreate him to relate it promising to doe nothing else in his remedie or comfort but what himselfe pleased And with this the sorrowfull Gentleman began his dolefull Historie with the very same words almost that hee had rehearsed it to Don-Quixote and the Goat-heard a few dayes past when by occasion of Master Elisabat and Don-Quixotes curiositie in observing the Decorum of Chivalrie the tale remained imperfect as our Historie left it above But now good fortune so disposed things that his foolish fit came not upon him but gave him leisure to continue his Storie to the end and so ariving to the passage that spoke of the Letter Don Ferdinando found in the booke of Amadis du Gaule Cardenio said that hee had it very well in memorie and the sence was this LUSCINDA to CARDENIO I Discover daily in thee worths that obliege and inforces mee to hold thee deere and therefore if thou desirest to have mee discharge this Debt without serving a Writ on my Honour thou mayst easily doe it I have a Father that knowes thee and loves mee likewise well who without forcing my Will will accomplish that which justly thou oughtest to have if it bee so that thou esteemest mee as much as thou sayest and I doe beleeve This Letter moved mee to demand Luscinda of her father for my wife as I have already recounted and by it also Luscinda remayned in Don Ferdinandoes opinion crowned for one of the most discreete women of her time And this billet Letter was that which first put him in minde to destroy mee ere I could effect my desires I told to Don