famous name searching you for to remedy her mis-haps I will not answere you a word faire Lady quoth Don-Quixote nor heare a jot of your affaire untill you arise from the ground I will not get up from hence my Lord quoth the afflicted Lady if first of your wonted bountie you doe not grant to my request I doe give and grant it said Don-Quixote so that it bee not a thing that may turn to the dammage or hindrance of my King my Country or of her that keeps the key of my Heart and Liberty It shall not turn to the dammage or hindrance of those you have said good Sir replied the dolorous Damzel and as shee was saying this Sancho Panca rounded his Lord in the eare saying softly to him Sir you may very well grant the request she asketh for it is a matter of nothing it is only to kill a monstrous Gyant and she that demands it is the mightie Princesse Micomicona Queen of the great Kingdome of Micomicon in Ethiopia Let her bee what shee will quoth Don-Quixote for I will accomplish what I am bound and my conscience shall inform me comformable to the State I have professed And then turning to the Damzell hee said Let your great beauty arise for I grant to you any boon which you shall please to ask of me Why then quoth the Damzell that which I demand is That your magnanimous person come presently away with me to the place where I shall carry you and doe likewise make me a promise not to undertake any other Adventure or demand untill you revenge me upon a Traytor who hath against all Laws both Divine and Humane usurped my Kingdome I say that I grant you all that quoth Don-Quixote and therefore Lady you may cast away from this day forward all the Melancholy that troubles you and labour that your languishing and dismaied hopes may recover again new strength and courage for by the help of God and that of mine arme you shall see your self shortly restored to your Kingdome and enthronized in the Chair of your ancient and great Estate in despite and maugre the Traytors that shall dare gainsay it and therefore hands to the work for they say that danger alwayes follows delay The distressed Damzell strove with much adoe to kisse his hand But Don-Quixote who was a most accomplished Knight for courtesie would never condescend thereunto but making her arise hee imbraced her with great kindnesse and respect and commanded Sancho to saddle Rozinante and help him to Arme himself Sancho took down the Armes forthwith which hung on a Tree like Trophies and searching the Gyrts armed his Lord in a moment who seeing himself Armed said Let us in Gods name depart from hence to assist this great Lady The Barber kneeled all this while and could with much adoe dissemble his laughter or keep on his Beard that threatned still to fall off with whose fall perhaps they should all have remained without bringing their good purpose to passe And seeing the boon was granted and noted the dilligence wherewithall Don-Quixote made himself ready to depart and accomplish the same hee arose and took his Ladie by the hand and both of them together holp her upon her Mule and presently after Don-Quixote leaped on Rozinante and the Barber got on his Beast Sancho only remaining a foot where he afresh renewed the memory of the losse of his gray Asse with the want procured to him thereby But all this hee bore with very great patience because hee supposed that his Lord was now in the way and next degree to bee an Emperour for he made an infallible account that hee would marry that Princesse and at least bee King of Micomicon But yet it grieved him to think how that Kingdome was in the Country of black Moors and that therefore the Nation which should bee given to him for his Vassals should be all black For which difficultie his imagination coyned presently a good remedie and hee discoursed with himself in this manner Why should I care though my Subjects be all black Moors is there any more to be done then to load them in a Ship and bring them into Spain where I may sell them and receive the price of them in ready mony and with that money may I buy some Title or Office wherein I may after live at mine ease all the dayes of my life No! but sleep and have no wit nor abilitie to dispose of things and to sell thirty or ten thousand Vassals in the space that one would say give me those straws I will dispatch them all they shall â—lie the little with the great or as I can best contrive the matter And bee they ever so black I will transform them into white or yellow ones come neer and see whether I cannot suck well my fingers ends And thus hee travailed so solicitous and glad as hee quite forgot his pain of travailing a foot Cardenio and the Curate stood in the mean timebeholding all that passed from behinde some Brambles where they lay luâ—king and were in doubt what means to use to issue and joyn in company with them But the Curate who was an ingenious and prompt plotter devised instantly what was to bee done that they might attain their desire Thus hee took out of his case a pair of Shears and cut off Cardenio's Beard therewithall in a trice and then gave unto him to wear a riding Capouch which hee himself had on and a black Cloak and himself walked in a Doublet and Hose Cardenio thus attired looked so unlik that he was before as he would not have known himself in a Looking-glasse This being finished and the others gone on before whilest they disguised themselves they sallied out with facilitie to the high way before Don-Quixote or his company for the Rocks and many other bad passages did not permit those that were a horse-back to make so speedie an end of their Journey as they and having thorowly past the Mountain they expected at the foot â—hereof for the Knight and his company who when he appeared the Curate looked on him very earnestly for a great space with inkling that he began to know him And after hee had a good while beheld him hee ran towards him with his armes spread abroad saying In a good houre bee the mirrour of all Knighthood found and my noble country man Don-Quixote of the Mancha the flower and cream of Gentility the shadow and remedie of the afflicted and the Quintescence of Knights Errantâ— and saying this he held Don-Quixote his left thigh embraced Who admiring at that which hee heard that man to say and doe did also review him with attention and finally knew him and all amazed to see him made much adoe to alight but the Curate would not permit him wherefore Don-Quixote said Good Master Licentiat permit me to alight for it is in no sort decent that I bee a horse-back and so reverend a person as you goe on foot I
after him and committed a hundred thousand other insolencies worthy of eternall fame and memorie And although I meane not to imitate Roldan or Orlands or Rowland for hee had all these names exactly in every mad pranke that hee played Yet will I doe it the best I can in those things which shall seeme unto mee most essentiall And perhaps I may rest contented with the only imitation of Amadis who without indammaging any by his ravings and only using these of feeling laments ariving to as great fame thereby as any one whatsoever I beleeve replied Sancho that the Knights which performed the like penances were moved by some reasons to doe the like austerities and follies but good Sir what occasion hath beene offered unto you to become madd What Lady hath disdayned you Or what arguments have you found that the Lady Dulcinea of Toboso hath ever dallied with Moore or Christian There is the point answered our Knight and therein consists the perfection of mine affaires for that a Knight Errant doe runne madd upon any just occasion deserves neither prayse nor thanks the wit is in waxing madd without cause whereby my Mistresse may understand that if drie I could doe this what would I have done being watered How much more seeing I have a just motive through the proliâ—e absence that I have made from my ever supremest Lady Dulcinea of Toboso For as thou mightest have heard read in Marias Ambrosio his Sheepheard To him that absent is All things succeede amiss So that friend Sancho I would not have thee lavish time longer in advising to let slip so rare so happy and singular an imitation I am madd and will bee madd untill thou returne againe with answere upon a Letter which I meane to send with thee to my Lady Dulcinea and if it bee such as my loyalty deserves my madnesse and penance shall end but if the contrary I shall runne madd in good earnest and bee in that state that I shall apprehend nor feele any thing So that howsoever I bee answered I shall issue out of the conflict and paine wherein thou leavest me by joying the good thou shalt bring mee as wise or not feeling the evill thou shalt denounce as mad But tell mee Sancho keepest thou charily yet the helmet of Mambrino which I saw thee take up from the ground the other day when that ungratefull fellow thought to have broken it into pieces but could not by which may be collected the excellent temper thereof Sancho answered to this demand saying I cannot suffer or bear longer Sir Knight of the Ill-favoured face nor take patiently many things which you say and I beginne to suspect by your words that all that which you have said to mee of Chivalry and of gaining Kingdomes and Empires of bestowing Islands and other gifts and great things as Knights Errant are wont are all matters of ayre and lies all couzenage or couzening or how else you please to term it for he that shall hear you name a Barbers Bason Mambrino's Helmet and that you will not abandon that errour in more then four dayes what other can he think but that hee who affirms such a thing doth want wit and discretion I carry the Bason in my Bagge all battered and boared and will have it mended and dresse my beard in it at home if God shall doe me the favour that I may one day see my Wife and Barnes Behold Sancho quoth Don-Quixote I doe likewise swear that thou haste the shallowest pate that ever any Squire had or hath in the World is it possible that in all the time thou hast gone with me thou couldest not perceive that all the Adventers of Knights Errant doe appear Chimera's follies and desperate things being quite contrary Not that they are indeed such but rather by reason that wee are still haunted by a crue of Inchanters which change and transforme our acts making them seem what they please according as they like to favour or annoy us And so this which seems to thee a Barbers Bason is in my conceit Mambrino his Helmet and to another will appear in some other shape And it is doubtlesly done by the profound Science of the wise man my friend to make that seem a Bason which really and truely is Mambrino's Helmet because that it being so precious a Jewell all the world would pursue me to deprive me of it but now seeing that it is to like a Barbers Bason they indeavour not to gain it as was cleerly shewed in him that thought to break it the other day and would not carry it with him but left it lying behinde him on the ground for yfaith hee had never left it did he know the worthinesse thereof Keep it friend for I need it not at this present wherein I must rather diâ—arme my self of the Armes I weare and remain as naked as I was at the hour of my birth if I shall take the humour rather to imitate Orlando in doing of my penance then Amadis Whilest thus hee discoursed hee arived to the foote of a loftie Mountaine which stood like a hewn Rock divided from all the rest by the skyrt whereof glyded a smooth River hemmed in on every side by a greene and flourishing Meadow whose verdure did marveilously delight the greedy beholding eye There were in it also many wilde Trees and some plants and floures which rendred the place much more pleasing The Knight of the illfavored face made choice of this place to accomplish therein his penance and therefore as soone as hee had viewed it hee began to say with a loud voice like a distracted man these words ensuing This is the place where the humor of mine eyes shall increase the liquid veines of this Chrystall Current and my continuall and deepe sighes shall give perpetuall motion to the leaves of these mountanie Trees in testimony of the paine which my oppressed heart doth suffer O you whosoever ye bee Rusticall Gods which have your Mansion in this inhabitable place give care to the plaints of this unfortunate Lover whom a long absence and a few imagined suspicions have conducted to deplore his state among these Desarts and make him exclame on the rough condition of that Ingrate and Faire who is the top the suâ—â—â— the period terme and end of all humane beauty O ye Napeas and Driades which doe wontedly inhabite the Thickets and Groves so may the nimble and lascyvious Satyres by whom although in vaine you are beloved never have power to interrupt your sweet rest as you shall assist mee to lament my disasters or at least attend them whilest I dolefully breathe them O Dulcinea of Toboso the day of my night the glory of my paine North of my travells and starre of my Fortunes so heav'n enrich thee with the highest whensoever thou shalt demand it as thou wilt consider the place and passe unto which thine absence hath conducted mee and answere my faith and desires in compassionate and gracious manner
for that day fifteen thousand Christians which came slaves and inchained in the Turkish Gallies recovered their desired liberty I was carried to Constantinople where the great Turk Selim made my Lord Generall of the sea by reason that he had so well performed his duty in the battell having brought away for a witnesse of his valour the Standard of the Order of Malta I was the yeer insuing of 1572. in Navarino rowing in the Admirall of the three Lanthâ—rnâ—s and saw and noted there the oportunity that was lost of taking all the Turkish Navy within the haven for all the Ienisaries and other souldiers that were in it made full account that they should be set upon even within the very Port and therefore trussed up all their baggage and made ready their shoo 's to flie away presently to the land being in no wise minded to expect the assault our Navy did strike such terrour into them But God disposed otherwise of the matter not through the fault or negligence of the Generall that governed our men but for the sinnes of Christendome and because God permits and wills that wee have alwaies some executioners to chastise us In summe Vchali got into Modon which is an Island neer to Navarino and landing his Men there hee fortified the mouth of the Haven and there remained untill Don Iohn departed In this Voyage was taken the Gally called Presa whereof the famous Pirate Barbarossas his sonne was Captain it was surprized by the head Gally of Naples called the Shee-Wolfe that was commanded by the Thunderbolt of Warre the Father of Souldiers that fortunate and never overthrown Don Alvaro de Bacan the Marquesse of Sancta Cruez And here I will not forget to recount what befell at the taking of the Presa this sonne of Barbarossas was so cruell and used his Slaves so ill that as soon as they that were rowing perceived the Shee-Wolfe to approach them and that shee had overtaken them they cast away their Oares all at one time and laying hands on their Captain that stood on the Poop Estanderil p 44â— crying to them to row with more speed and passing him from one bank to another from the Poope to the Prow they took so many bits out of him as hee hâ—d scarce passed beyond the Mast when his soul was already wasted to Hell such was the cruelty wherewithall hee intreated them and so great the hate they also bore towards him Wee returned the next yeer after to Constantinople being that of seventie three and there wee learned how Don Iohn had gained Tunez and taking that Kingdome away from the Turks had by installing Muley Hamet therein cut away all Muley Hameda's hopes to raign again there who was the most cruell and valiant Moor that ever lived The great Turk was very much grieved for this losse and therefore using the sagacitie wherewithall all his race were indued hee made Peace with the Venetians which wished for it much more then hee did himself And the yeer after of seventie and four he assaulted the Fortresse of Goleta and the other Fortresse that Don Iohn had raised neer unto Tunez And in all these occasions I was present tyed to the Oare without any hope of liberty at least wise by ransome being resolved never to signifie by Letter my misfortunes to my Father The Goleta was lost in fine and also the Fortresse before which two places lay in siege seventy five thousand Turks and more then four hundred thousand Moors and other Sarasins of all the other parts of Affrica being furnished with such aboundance of Munition and Warlike Engines and so many Pioneers as were able to cover Goleta and the Fortresse if every one did cast but his handfull of earth upon them Thus was Goleta accounted untill then impregnable first lost the which did not happen through default of valour in the Defendants who in defence thereof did all they could or ought to have done but because experience shewed the facility wherewithall Trenches might bee raised in that desart sand for though water had been found in it within two spans depth the Turks could not finde it in the depth of two yards and therefore filling many Sacks full of Sand they raised their Trenches so high as they did surmount the walls of the Sconce and did so gall the Defendants from them with their shot as no one could stand to make any defence It was a common report that our men would not immure themselves within Goleta but expect the enemie in the champain at their disembarquing but those that gave this out spake widely as men very little acquainted with the like Affairs For if in Goleta and the Fortresse there were scarce seven thousand Souldiers how could so few a number were they ever so resolute make a sallie and remain in the Forts against so great a number of enemies or how is it possible that the forces which are not seconded and supplied should not bee overcome specially being besieged by many and obstinate enemies and those in their own Countrey But many others esteemed and so did I likewise among the rest that almighty God did a particular grace and favour unto Spain in that manner permitting to bee destroyed the stop and cloak of all wickednesse and the Spundge and Moth of innumerable summes of money spent there unprofitably without serving to any other end then to preserve the memory of being gained by the Emperour Charles the fift as if it had been requisite for the keeping of it eternall as it is and shall be ever that those stones should sustain it The Fortresse was also wonne but the Turks were constrained to gain it span by span for the Souldiers which defended it fought so manfully and resolutely as the number of the enemies slain in two and twenty generall assaults which they gave unto it did passe five and twenty thousand Never a one was taken Prisoner but three hundred which survived their fellows a certain and manifest token of their valour and strength and how well they had defended themselves and kept their Fortresses with great magnanimity A little Fort or Turret that stood in the mid'st of the place under the command of Don Iohn Zonaguera a Valentian Gentleman and famous Souldier was yielded upon composition and Don Pedro de Puerto carrero Generall of Goleta was taken Prisoner who omitted no diligence possible to defend the place but yet was so grieved to have lost it as hee dyed for very grief on the way towards Constantinople whither they carried him Captive The Generall likewise of the Fort called Gabriel Cerbellon being a Gentleman of Milan and a great Engineer and most resolute Souldier was taken and there dyed in both the places many persons of worth among which Pagan de Oria was one a Knight of the Order of Saint Iohn of a most noble disposition as the exceeding liberality which hee used towards his brother the famous Iohn Andrea de Oria cleerly demonstrates and that which
Kingdoms that they conquered and I am resolved that so good a custome shall never be abolished by me but rather I will passe and exceed them therein for they sometimes and as I take it did for the greater part expect untill their Squires waxed aged and after they were cloyed with service and had suffered many bad dayes and worse nights then did they bestow upon them some title of an Earl or at least of a Marquesse of some Valley or Province of more or lesse account But if thou livest and I withall it may happen that I may conquer such a Kingdome within six dayes that hath other Kingdomes adherent to it which would fall out as just as it were cast in a mould for thy purpose whom I would crown presently King of one of them And doe not account this to be any great matter for things and chances do happen to such Knights Adventurers as I am by so unexpected and wonderfull wayes and means as I might give thee very easily a great deal more then I have promised After that manner said Sancho Pancha if I were a King through some miracle of those which you say then should Iean Gutierez my wife become a Queen and my children Princes Who doubts of that said Don-Quixote That doe I replyed Sancha Panca for I am fully perswaded that although God would rain Kingdomes down upon the earth none of them would sit well on Mary Gutierez her head For Sir you must understand that shee 's not worth a Dodkin for a Queen To be a Countesse would agree with her better and yet I pray God that she be able to discharge that calling Commend thou the matter to God quoth Don-Quixote that he may give her that which is most convenient for her But doe not thou abase thy minde so much as to content thy self with lesse then at the least to be a Vice-Roy I will not good Sir quoth Sancho especially seeing I have so worthy a Lord and Master as your self who knows how to give me all that may turn to my benefit and that I shall be able to discharge in good sort CHAP. VIII Of the good successe Don-Quixote had in the dreadfull and never imagined adventure of the Winde-mils with other accidents worthy to be recorded AS thus they discoursed they discovered some thirty or forty Wind-mils that are in that field and as soone as Don Quixote espied them hee said to his Squire Fortuue doth addresse our affaires better then wee our selves could desire for behold there friend Sancho Panca how there appeares thirty or forty monstrous Giants with whom I mean to fight and deprive them all of their lives with whose spoyles wee will begin to bee rich for this is a good Warre and a great service unto God to take away so bad a seede from the face of the Earth What Giants quoth Sancho Panca Those that thou seest there quoth his Lord with the long armes and some there are of that race whose armes are almost two leagues long I pray you understand quoth Sancho Panca that those which appeare there are no Giants but Windmills and that which seemes in them to bee armes are their Sayles that are swinged about by the Winde doe also make the Mill goe It seemes well quoth Don-Quixote that thou art not yet acquainted with matter of Adventures they are Giants and if thou beest afraid goe aside and pray whilst I enter into cruell and unequall battell with them And saying so hee spur'd his horse Rozinante without taking heed to his Squire Sanchoes cryes advertising him how they were doubtlesse Windmills that hee did assault and no Giants but hee went so fully perswaded that they were Giants as hee neither heard his Squires out-cries nor did discern what they were although hee drew very neere to them but rather said as loud as hee could Flie not ye Cowards and vile creatures for it is only one Knight that assaults you With this the winde increased and the Mill Sailes began to turne about which Don-Quixote espying said although thou movedst more armes then the Giant Briares thou shalt stoope to mee and after saying this and commending himself most devoutly to his Lady Dulcinea desiring her to succour him in that trance covering himself well with his Buckler and setting his Launce on his rest hee spurred on Rozinante and encountred with the first Mill that was before him and striking his Launce into the Sayle the wind swinged it about with such furie that it broke his Launce into shivers carrying him and his Horse after it and finally tumbled him a good way off from it on the field in very evill plight Sancho Panca repayred presently to succour him as fast as his Asse could drive and when hee arived hee found him not able to stir hee had gotten such a crush with Rozinante Good God quoth Sancho did I not foretell unto you that you should looke well what you did for they were none other then Windmills nor could any thinke otherwise unlesse hee had also Windmills in his braines Peace Sancho quoth Don-Quixote for matters of Warre are more subject then any other thing to continuall change how much more seeing I doe verily perswade my self that the wise Freston who robbed my Studie and Bookes hath transformed these Giants into Mills to deprive mee of the glory of the Victory such is the enmitie hee beares towards mee But yet in fine all his bad arts shall but little prevaile against the goodnesse of my Sword God grant it as hee may said Sancho Panca and then helpt him to arise and presently hee mounted on Rozinante who was half shoulder-pitcht Medio spaldado by rough encounter and discoursing upon that Adventure they followed on the way which guided towards the passage or gate of Lapice A passage through the Mountains for there as Don-Quixote avouched it was not possible but to finde many Adventures because it was a through-fare much frequented and yet hee affirmed that he went very much grieved because hee wanted a Launce and telling it to his Squire hee said I remember how I have read that a certain Spanish Knight called Diego Peres of Vargas having broken his Sword in a Battell tore off a great branch or stock from an Oake tree and did such marvailes with it that day and battered so many Moors as he remained with the surname of Machuca which signifies a stumpe and as well hee as all his Progenie were ever after that day called Vargas and Machuca I tell thee this because I mean to tear another branch such or as good as that at least from the first Oake we shall encounter and I mean to atchieve such Adventures therewithall as thou wilt account thy self fortunate for having merited to behold them and be a witnesse of things almost incredible In Gods name quoth Sancho I doe believe every word you said But I pray you sit right in your saddle for you ride sideling which proceeds as I suppose of the
Arms were only invented and made for those which the world terms Knights Errant of which number I my self although unworthy am one and the least of all Scarce had they heard him say this when they all held him to be wood And to find out the truth better Viualdo did ask him again what meant the word Knights Errant Have you not read then quoth Don-Quixote the Histories and Annals of England wherein are treated the famous acts of King Arthur whom we continually call in our Castilian Romance King Artus of whom it is an ancient and common tradition in the Kingdome of Great Brittain that he never dyed but that he was turned by art of Inchantment into a Crow and that in processe of time he shall return again to raign and recover his Scepter and Kingdom For which reason it cannot be proved that ever since that time untill this any English man hath killed a Crow In this good Kings time was first instituted the famous order of Knighthood of the Knights of the Round Table and the love that is there recounted did in every respect passe as it is laid down between Sir Launcelot du Lake and Queen Genever the honourable Lady Quintaniona being a dealer and privie thereto Whence sprung that so famous a Dittie and so celebrated here in Spain of Never was Knight of Ladies so well served as Launcelot when that hee in Brittain arrived c. with that progresse so sweet and delightfull of his amorous and valiant Acts And from that time forward the Order of Knight went from hand to hand dilating and spreading it self through many and sundry parts of the World And in it were famous and renowned for their feats of Armes the valiant Amadis of Gaule with all his progenie untill the fifth generation and the valourous Felixmarte of Hircania and the never-duely-praised Tirante the White together with Sir Bevis of Hampton Sir Gay of Warwick Sir Eglemore with diverse others of that Nation and Age. And almost in our dayes we saw and communed and heard of the invincible and valiant Knight Don Belianis of Greece This then good Sirs is to be a Knight Errant and that which I have said is the Order of Chivalry wherein as I have already said I although a sinner have made profession and the same doe I professe that those Knights professed whom I have above mentioned and therefore I travell through these Solitudes and Desarts seeking Adventures with full resolution to offer mine own Arm and Person to the most dangerous that fortune shall present in the aid of weak and needy persons By these reasons of Don-Quixot's the travellers perfectly perceived that he was none of the wisest and knew the kinde of folly wherewithall he was crossed whereat those remained wonderfully admired that by the relation of the others came to understand it and Vivaldo who was very discreete and likewise of a pleasant disposition to the end they might passe over the rest of the way without heavines unto the rock of the buriall which the Sheepheards said was neere at hand he resolved to give him further occasion to passe onward with his follies and therefore said unto him Me thinkes Sir Knight that you have profest one of the most austere professions in the world And I doe constantly hold that even that of the Charterhouse Munkes is not neer so straight It may bee as straight as our profession quoth Don-Quixote but that it should be so necessary for the world I am within the breadth of two fingers to call it in doubt For if we would speak a truth the Souldier that puts in execution his Captains command doth no lesse then the very Captain that commands him Hence I infer That Religious men doe with all peace and quietnesse seek of Heaven the good of the Earth But Souldiers and wee Knights doe put in execution that which they demand defending it with the valour of our Armes and files of our Swords not under any roof but under the wide Heavens made as it were in Summer a mark to the insupportable Sun beams and in Winter to the rage of withering Frosts So that wee are the Ministers of God on earth and the Armes wherewith he executeh here his Justice And as the Affairs of Warr and things thereunto pertaining cannot be put in execution without sweat labour and travell it follows that those which professe warfare take questionlesse greater pain then those which in quiet peace and rest doe pray unto God that he will favour and assist those that need it I mean not therefore to affirm nor doth it once passe through my thought that the state of a Knight Errant is as perfect as that of a retyred religious man but only would infer through that which I my self suffer that it is doubtlesly more laborious more battered hungry thirsty miserable torn and lowsie For the Knights Errant of times past did without all doubt suffer much woe and misery in the discourse of their life And if some of them ascended at last to Empires won by the force of their life And if some of them ascended at last to Empires won by the force of their Arms in good faith it cost them a great part of their sweat and blood And if those which mounted to so high a degree had wanted those inchanters and wise men that assisted them they would have remained much defrauded of their desires and greatly deceived of their hopes I am of the same opinion replyed the Traveller but one thing among many others hath seemed to me very ill in Knights Errant which is when they perceive themselves in any occasion to begin any great and dangerous Adventure in which appears manifest perill of losing their lives they never in the instant of attempting it remember to commend themselves to God as every Christian is bound to doe in like dangers but rather doe it to their Ladies with so great desire and devotion as if they were their Gods a thing which in my opinion smells of gentillisme Sir quoth Don-Quixote they can doe no lesse in any wise and the Knight Errant which did any other would digresse much from his duty For now it is a received use and custome of errant Chivalry that the Knight adventurous who attempting of any great feat of Arms shall have his Lady in place do mildly and amorously turn his eyes towards her as it were by them demanding that she doe favour and protect him in that ambiguous trance which he undertakes and moreover if none doe hear him he is bound to say certain words between his teeth by which he shall with all his heart commend himself to her and of this wee have innumerable examples in Histories Nor is it therefore to be understood that they doe omit to commend themselves to God for they have time and leisure enough to doe it in the progresse of the work For all that replied the Traveller there remains in me yet one scruple which is That
horses and let them goe a foot if that it befall the Victor to lose in the conflict his own for in such a case it is lawfull to take that of the Vanquished as won in fair warre So that Sancho leave that Horse or Asse or what else thou pleasest to call it for when his owner sees us departed he will return again for it God knows quoth Sancho whether it will be good or no for me to take him or at least change for mine own which me thinks is not so good Truely the Laws of Knighthood are straight since they extend not themselves to licence the exchange of one Asse for another And I would know whether they permit at least to exchange the one harnesse for another In that I am not very sure quoth Don-Quixote and as a case of doubt untill I be better informed I say that thou exchange them if by chance thy need bee extream So extream quoth Sancho that If they were for mine own very person I could not neede them more And presently enabled by the Licence he made mutatio Caparum and set forth his beast like a hundred holydayes This being done they broak their fast with the reliques of the spoyles they had made in the Camp of Sumpter horse and drunk of the Mills streams without once turning to look on them so much they abhor'd them for the marveilous terrour they had strucken them in and having by their repast cut away all cholerick and melancholick humours they followed on the way which Rozinante pleased to lead them who was the depository of his Masters will and also of the Asses who followed him alwaies wheresoever he went in good amity and company For all this they returned to the high-way wherein they travelled at randome without any certain deliberation which way to goe And as they thus travailed Sancho said to his Lord Sir will you give me leave to commune a little with you for since you have imposed upon me that sharp commandement of silence more then four things have rotted in my stomack and one thing that I have now upon the tip of my tongue I would not wish for any thing that it should miscarrie Say it quoth Don-Quixote and be brief in thy reasons for none is delightfull if it bee prolix I say then quoth Sancho that I have beene these later daies considering how little is gained by following these Adventures that you doe through these Desarts and crosse waies where though you overcome and finish the most dangerous yet no man sees or knowes them and so they shall remaine in perpetuall silence both to your prejudice and that of the fame which they deserve And therefore mee thinks it were better still excepting your better judgement herein that wee went to serve some Emperour or other great Prince that maketh warre in whose service you might shew the valour of your Person your marvelous force and wonderfull Judgement which being perceived by the Lord whom wee shall serve hee must perforce reward us every one according to his deserts and in such a place will not want one to record your noble acts for a perpetuall memory of mine I say nothing seeing they must not transgresse the Squire-like limits although I dare avouch that if any notice bee taken in Chivalry of the feats of Squires mine shall not fall away betwixt the lines Sancho thou sayest not ill quoth Don-Quixote but before such a thing come to passe it is requisite to spend some time up and down the World as in probation seeking of Adventures to the end that by atchieving some a man may acquire such fame and renown as when hee goes to the Court of any great Monarch hee bee there already known by his works and that hee shall scarcely bee perceived to enter at the gates by the boyes of that Citie when they all will follow and inviron him crying out aloud That is the Knight of the Sunne or the Serpent or of some other device under which hee hath atchieved strange Adventures This is hee will they say who overcame in single sight the huge Giant Brocabruno of the invincible strength Hee that disinchanted the great Sophie of Persia of the large inchantment wherein hee had lien almost nine hundred years So that they will thus goe proclaiming his acts from hand to hand and presently the King of that Kingdome moved by the great bruit of the boyes and other people will stand at the Windows of his Pallace to see what it is And as soon as hee shall eye the Knight knowing him by his Armes or by the Impresa of his Shield he must necessarily say Up goe all of you my Knights as many of you as are in Court forth to receive the flower of Chivalry which comes there At whose commandement they all will salley and hee himself will come down to the midest of the stairs and will imbrace him most straightly will give him the peace kissing him on the cheek and presently will carrie him by the hand to the Queens Chamber where the Knight shall finde her accompanied by the Princesse her daughter which must bee one of the fairest and debonair Damzels that can be found throughout the vast compasse of the earth After this will presently and in a trice succeed that shee will cast her eye on the Knight and hee on her and each of them shall seem to the other no humane creature but an Angell and then without knowing how or how not they shall remain captive and intangled in the intricable amorous Net and with great care in their mindes because they know not how they shall speak to discover their anguish and feeling From thence the King will carrie him without doubt to some quarter of his Pallace richly hanged where having taken off his Armes they will bring him a rich Mantle of Scarlet furred with Ermines to wear and if hee seemed well before being Armed hee shall now look as well or better out of them The night being come hee shall Sup with the King Queen and Princesse where he shall never take his eye off her beholding unawares of those that stand present and shee will doe the like with as much discretion for as I have said shee is a very discreet Damzell The Tables shall bee taken up there shall enter unexpectedly in at the hall an ill-favoured little Dwarff with a fair Lady that comes behinde the Dwarff between two Giants with a certain Adventure wrought by a most ancient wise man and that hee who shall end it shall be held for the best Knight of the World Presently the King will command all those that are present to prove it which they doe but none of them can finish it but only the new come Knight to the great proof of his fame Whereat the Princesse will remain very glad and will be very joyfull and well apaid because shee hath setled her thoughts in so high a place And the best of it is That this King or
affirmed if that humour passed on any farther hee feared his Lord would bee in danger never to become an Emperour as hee was bound in honour no nor a Cardinall which was the least that could be expected of him The Licentiat bid him bee of good cheer for they would bring him from thence whether he would or no and recounted to Cardenio and Dorotea what they had bethought for Don-Quixotes remedie or at least for the carrying him home to his house To that Dorotea answered that shee would counterfeit the distressed Ladie better then the Barber and chiefly seeing she had apparrel wherewithall to act it most naturally And therefore desired them to leave to her charge the representing of all that which should bee needfull for the atchieving of their Designe for shee had read many books of Knighthood and knew well the stile that distressed Damzels used when they requested any favour of Knights Adventurous And then need we nothing else quoth the Curate but only to put our purpose presently in execution For questionlesse good successe turns on our side seeing it hath so unexpectedly begun already to open the gates of your remedy and hath also facilitated for us that whereof we had most necessity in this exigent Dorotea took forthwith out of her Pillow-bear a whole Gown of very rich stuff and a short Mantle of another green stuff and a Collar and many other rich Jewels out of a Boxe wherewithall she adorned her self in a trice so gorgeously as shee seemed a very rich and goodly Ladie All which and much more shee had brought with her as shee said from her house to prevent what might happen but never had any use of them untill then Her grace gesture and beauty liked them all extreamly and made them account Don Fernando to bee a man of little understanding seeing hee contemned such feature But hee which was most of all admired was Sancho Panca because as hee thought and it was so indeed that hee had not in all the dayes of his life before seen so fair a creature and he requested the Curate very seriously to tell him who that beautifull Ladie was and what shee sought among those thorow-fares This fair Lady friend Sancho answered the Curate is as if a man said nothing shee is so great Heir apparent by direct line of the mighty Kingdome of Micomicon and comes in the search of your Lord to demand a boon of him which is that hee will destroy and undoe a great wrong done unto her by a wicked Gyant and through the great fame which is spread over all Guinea of your Lords prowesse this Princesse is come to finde him out A happy searcher and a fortunate finding quoth Sancho and chiefly if my Master bee so happy as to right that injury and redresse that wrong by killing that ô the mighty Lubber of a Gyant whom you say yes hee will kill him I am very certain if hee can once but meet him and if hee bee not a Spirit for my Master hath no kinde of power over Spirits But I must request one favour of you among others most earnestly good Master Licentiat and it is That to the end my Lord may not take an humbur of becoming a Cardinall which is the thing I fear most in this world that you will give him counsell to marry this Princesse presently and by that means hee shal remain incapable of the dignity of a Cardinall and will come very easily by his Empire and I to the end of my desires for I have thought well of the matter and have found that it is in no wise expedient that my Lord should become a Cardinall for I am wholy unfit for any Ecclesiasticall dignity seeing I am a married man And therefore to trouble my self now with seeking of dispensations to enjoy Church livings having as I have both wife and children were never to end So that all my good consists in that my Lord doe marry this Princesse instantly whose name yet I know not and therefore I have not said it Shee is hight quoth the Curate the Princesse Micomicona for her Kingdome being called Micomicon it is evident shee must be termed so That is questionlesse quoth Sancho for I have known many to take their denomination and surname from the place of their birth calling themselves Peter of Alcala Iohn of Vbeda and Iames of Valedolid and perhaps in Guinea Princes and Queens use the same custome and call themselves by the names of their Provinces So I thinke quoth the Curate and as touching your Masters marriage with her I will labour therein as much as lies in my power Wherewithall Sancho remained as well satisfied as the Curate admired at his simplicitie and to see how firmly hee had fixed in his fantasie the very ravings of his Master seeing hee did beleeve without doubt that his Lord should become an Emperour Dorotea in this space had gotten upon the Curates Mule and the Barber had somwhat better fitted the beard which hee made of the Oxes tayle on his face and did after intreat Sancho to guide them to the place where Don-Quixote was and advertised him withall that hee should in no wise take any notice of the Curate or Barber or confesse in any sort that hee knew them for therein consisted all the meanes of bringing Don-Quixote to the minde to become an Emperour Yet Cardenio would not goe with them fearing lest thereby Don-Quixote might call to minde their contention and the Curate thinking also that his presence was not expedient◠remayned with him letting the others goe before and these followed a far off fayre and softlie on foote and ere they departed the Curate instructed Dorotea anew what shee should say who bid him to feare nothing for shee would discharge her part to his satisfaction and as Bookes of Chivalrie required and laid downe They travelled about three quarters of a league as they espied the Knight and at last they discovered him among a number of intricate Rocks all apparelled but not armed and as soone as Dorotea beheld him shee struck her Palfrey her well-bearded Barber following her and as they approached Don-Quixote the Barber leaped lightly downe from his Mule and ran towards Dorotea to take her downe betweene his armes who alighting went with a very good grace towards Don-Quixote and kneeled before him And although hee strived to make her arise yet shee remayning still on her knees spake to him in this manner I will not arise from hence thrice valorous and approved Knight untill your bountie and courtesie shall grant unto mee one Boone which shall much redound unto your honour and prize of your Person and to the profit of the most disconsolate and wronged Damzell that the Sunne hath ever seene And if it bee so that the valour of your invincible Arme bee correspondent to the bruite of your immortall same you are obliged to succour this comfortlesse Wight that comes from lands so remote to the sound of your
were hee ever so unreasonable and great and mighty My Father likewise added then that after his death I should see Landâ—filando usurpe my Kingdome and that I should in no wise stand to my defence for that would prove my destruction but leaving to him the Kingdome freely without troubles if I meant to excuse mine owne death and the totall ruine of my good and loyall Subjects for it would be impossible to defend my self from the divellish force of the Gyant I should presently direct my course towards Spain where I should finde a redresse of my harmes by incountring with a Knight Errant whose fame should extend it self much about that time thorowout that Kingdome and his name should be if I forget not my self Don Acote or Don Gigote Ladie you would say Don-Quixote quoth Sancho Panca or as he is called by another name The Knight of the Ill-favoured face You have reason replyed Dorotea hee said moreover that he should be high of stature have a withered face and that on the right side a little under the left shoulder or thereabouts he should have a tawny spot with certain hairs like to bristles Don-Quixote hearing this said to his Squire Hold my horse here Sonne Sancho and help me to take off mine apparrell for I will see whether I be the Knight of whom the wise King hath prophesied Why would you now put off your clothes quoth Dorotea To see whether I have that spot which your father mentioned answered Don-Quixote You need not undoe your apparrell for that purpose said Sancho for I know already that you have a spot with the tokens she named on the very ridges of your back and argues you to be a very strong man That is sufficient quoth Dorotea for we must not look too neer or be over-curious in our friends affairs and whether it be on the shoulder or ridge of the back it imports but little for the substance consists only in having such a mark and not wheresoever it shall be seeing all is one and the self-same flesh and doubtlesly my good father did aim well at all and I likewise in commending my self to Don-Quixote for surely he is the man of whom my father spoke seeing the signes of his face agree with those of the great renown that is spread abroad of this Knight not only in Spain but also in Aethiopia for I had no sooner landed in Osuna when I heard so many of his prowesses recounted as my minde gave me presently that he was the man in whose search I travailed But how did you land in Osuna good Madam quoth Don-Quixote seeing it is no Sea Town Marrie Sir quoth the Curate anticipating Dorotea's answer the Princesse would say that after she had landed in Malaga but the first place wherein she heard tidings of you was at Osuna So I would have said quoth Dorotea And it may be very well quoth the Curate and I desire your Majestie to continue your discourse There needs no farther continuation quoth Dorotea but that finally my Fortune hath been so favourable in finding of Don-Quixote as I doe already hold and account my self for Queen and Lady of all mine Estate seeing that he of his wonted bountie and mignificence hath promised me the boon to accompanie me wheresoever I shall guide him which shall be to none other place then to set him before Pandafilando of the duskie fight to the end you may slay him and restore me to that which he hath so wrongfully usurped for all will succeed in the twinkling of an eye as the wise Tinacrio my good father hath already foretold who said moreover and also left it written in Chaldaicall or Greek charactars for I cannot read them that if the Knight of the Prophecie after having beheaded the Gyant would take me to wife that I should in no sort refuse him but instantly admit him for my Spouse make him at once possessor of my self and my Kingdome What thinkest thou of this friend Sancho quoth Don-Quixote then when he heard her say so How likest thou this poynt Did not I tell thee thus much before See now whether we have not a Kingdome to command and a Queen whom we may marry I swear as much quoth Sancho a pox on the knave that will not marry as soon as Master Pundahilado his winde-pipes are cut Mount then and see whether the Queen be ill or no I would to God all the Fleas of my bed were turned to be such And saying so he gave two or three friskles in the air with very great signes of contentment and presently went to Dorotea and taking her Mule by the bridle he withheld it and laying himself down on his knees before her requested her very submissively to give him her hands to kisse them in signe that he received her for his Queen and Ladie Which of the beholders could abstain from laughter perceiving the Masters madnesse and the Servants simplicity To be brief Dorotea must needs give them unto him and promised to make him a great Lord in her Kingdome when Heaven became so propitious to her as to let her once recover and possesse it peaceably And Sancho returned her thanks with such words as made them all laugh anew This is my Historie noble Sirs quoth Dorotea whereof only rests untold That none of all the Train which I brought out of my Kingdome to attend on me is now extant but this well-bearded Squire for all of them were drowned in a great storm that over-took us in the very sight of Harbor whence he and I escaped and came to land by the help of two planks on which we laid hold almost by miracle as also the whole discourse and mistery of my life seems none other then a miracle as you might have noted And if in any part of the relation I have exceeded or not observed a due decorum you must impute it to that which Master Licentiat said to the first of my History that continuall pains and afflictions of minde deprives them that suffer the like of their memory That shall not hinder me O high and valourous Ladie quoth Don-Quixote from enduring as many as I shall suffer in your service be they never so great or difficult And therefore I doe now ratifie and confirm the promise I have made and doe swear to goe with you to the end of the world untill I finde out your fierce enemy whose proud head I mean to slice off by the help of God and my valorous arme with the edge of this I will not say a good Sword thanks be to Gines of Passamonte which took away mine own this he said murmuring to himself and then prosecuted saying And after I have cut it off and left you peaceably in the possession of your state it shall rest in your own will to dispose of your person as you like best For as long as I shall have my memory possessed and my will captived and my understanding yeelded to her I will
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
greatnesse of my deserts but now I perceive that to bee true which is commonly said That the wheel of Fortune turns about more swiftly then that of a Mill and that they which were yesterday on the top thereof lie to day all along on the ground I am chiefly grieved for my Wife and Children for whereas they ought and might hope to see their Father come in at his gates made a Governour or Vice-Roy of some Isle or Kingdome they shall now see him return unto them no better then a poor Horse-Boy All which I have urged so much Master Curate only to intimate to your paternitie how you ought to have remorse and make a scruple of conscience of treating my dear Lord as you doe and look to it well that God doe not one day demand at your hands in the other life amends for the prison whereinto you carrie him and that you bee not answerable for all the succours and good deeds which hee would have afforded the World in this time of his Captivitie Snuffe me those candles quoth the Barber hearing him speak so What Sancho art thou also of thy Masters confraternity I swear by the Lord I begin to see that thou art very like to keep him company in the Cage and that thou shalt be as deeply inchanted as he for the portion which thou hast of humour and Chivalry Thou wast in an ill hour begotten with child by his promises and in a worse did the Isle which thou so greatly longest for sink into thy pate I am not with child by any body said Sancho nor am I a man of humour to let any body get me with child no though it were the King himself and although I be poor yet am I a Christian and owe nothing to any one and if I desire Islands others there are that desire worse things and every one is the sonne of his own workes and under the name of a man I may become Pope how much more the Governour of an Island and chiefly seeing my Lord may gaine so many as he may want men to bestow them on and therefore Master Barber you should take heed how you speak for all consists not in trimming of beards and there is some difference between Peter and Peter I say it because all of us know one another and no man shall unperceived put a false Die upon me As concerning my Lords inchantment God knowes the truth and therefore let it rest as it is seeing it is the worse for the stirring in The Barber would not reply unto Sancho lest that with his simplicities he should discover what the Curate and himselfe did labour so much to conceale and the Curate doubting the same had intreated the Canon to prick on a little forward and he would unfold to him the mistery of the encaged Knight with other matters of delight The Canon did so and taking his men along with them was very attentive to all that he rehearsed of the condition life madnesse and fashion of Don-Quixote There did he briefly acquaint him with the originall cause of his distraction and all the progresse of his adventures untill his shutting up in that Cage and their own designe in carrying him home to his Country to try whether they might by any means finde out a remedy for his frenzy The Canon and his men again admired to hear so strange a History as that of Don-Quixote and as soon as the Curate had ended his relation the Canon said Verily Master Curate I doe find by experience that those Books which are instituted of Chivalry or Knighthood are very prejudicicall to wel-governed Common-wealths and although borne away by an idle and curious desire I have read the beginning of almost as many as are imprinted of that subject yet could I never indure my selfe to finish and read any one of them thorow for me thinkes that somewhat more or lesse they all import one thing and this hath no more then that nor the other more then his fellow And in mine opinion this kinde of writing and invention falls within the compasse of the Fables called Milesid which are wandring and idle Tales whose only scope is delight and not instruction quite contrarie to the project of those called Fabulae Apologae which delight and instruct together And though that the principall end of such Books bee recreation yet cannot I perceive how they can yeeld it seeing they bee forced with so many and so proportionlesse untruths For the delight that the minde conceives must proceed from the beautie and conformitie which it sees or contemplates in such things as the sight or imagination represents unto it and all things that are deformed and discordant must produce the contrary effect Now then what beautie can there be or what proportion between the parts and the whole or the whole and the parts in a Book or Fable wherein a Youth of sixteen yeers of age gives a blow to a Gyant as great as a Jewes and with that blow divides him in two as easily as if hee were a pellet of Sugar And when they describe a Battell after that they have told us how there were at least a million of men on the adverse side yet if the Knight of the Book bee against them wee must of force and whether wee will or no understand that the said Knight obtained the Victory through the invincible strength of his Arme. what then shall wee say of the facilitie wherewithall the Inheritrix of a Kingdome or Empire falls between the armes of those Errant and unknown Knights What understanding if it bee not altogether barren or barbarous can delight it self reading how a great Tower full of Knights doth passe thorow the Sea as fast as a Ship with the most prosperous winde And that going to Bed a man is in Lombardie and the next morning findes himself in Prester Iohn's Countrey among the Indians or in some other Region which never was discovered by Ptolomeus nor seen by Marcus Polus And if I should bee answered that the inventers of such Books doe write them as Fables and therefore are not bound unto any respect of circumstances or observation of truth I would reply that an untruth is so much the more pleasing by how much the neerer it resembles a truth and so much the more gratefull by how much the more it is doubtfull and possible For lying Fables must bee suited unto the Readers understanding and so written as that facilitating impossible things levelling untrue things and holding the minde in suspence they may ravish a more delight and entertain such manners as pleasure and wonder may step by step walk together all which things hee that writes not likelihoods shall never bee able to perform And as touching imitation wherein consists the perfection of that which is written I have not seen in any Books of Knight-hood an intire bulk of a Fable so proportioned in all the members thereof as that the middle may answer the beginning
Errant Behold here are my poor and weake armes that shall bee imployed in your service I am Don-Quixote de la Mancha whose Function is to succour the needy which being so as it is you need not Lady to use any Rhetorick or to seek any Preambles but plainly and without circumstances tell your griefs for they shall bee heard by those that if they cannot redresse them yet they will commiserate them Which when the afflicted Matron heard shee seem'd to fall at Don-Quixotes feet and cast her self down striving to embrace them and said Before these feet and leggs I cast my self oh invincible Knight since they are the Basis and Columnes of Knight Errantry these feet will I kisse on whose steps the whole remedy of my misfortunes doth hang and depend Oh valorous Errant whose valorous exploits doe obscure and darken the fabulous ones of the Amadises Esplandiasus and Belianises And leaving Don-Quixote shee laid hold on Sancho Panca and griping his hands said Oh thou the loyallest Squire that ever served Knight Errant in past of present times longer in goodnesse then my Usher Trifaldins beard well mayest thou vaunt that in serving Don-Quixote thou servest in Cipher the whole Troop of Knights that have worn Armes in the world I conjure thee by thy most loyall goodnesse that thou be a good Intercessor with thy Master that hee may eftsoons favour this most humble most unfortunate Countesse To which said Sancho that my goodnesse Lady bee as long as your Squires beard I doe not much stand upon the businesse is Bearded or with Mustacho's let me have my soul goe to Heaven when I die for for beards here I care little or nothing but without these clawings or intreaties I will desire my Master for I know hee loves me well and the rather because now in a certain businesse hee hath need of me that hee favour and help your Worship as much as hee may but pray uncage your griefs and tell them us and let us alone to understand them The Dukes were ready to burst with laughter as they that had taken the pulse of this Adventure and commended within themselves the wit and dissimulation of the Trifaldi who sitting her down said Of the famous Kingdome of Taprobana which is between the great Taprobana and the South sea some two leagues beyond Cape Comorin was Queen the Lady Donna Maguncia widdow to King Archipielo her Lord and Husband in which matrimony they had the Princesse Antonomasia Heire to the Kingdome The said Princesse was brought up and increased under my Tutorage and instruction because I was the ancientest and chiefest Matron that waited on her Mother It fell out then that times comming and going the Childe Antonomasia being about fourteen yeers of age shee was so fair that Nature could give no further addition Discretion it self was a Snotty-nose to her that was as discreet as fair and shee was the fairest in the world and is if envious Fates and inflexible Destinies have not cut the threed of her life but sure they have not for Heaven will not permit that Earth suffer such a losse as would bee the lopping of a branch of the fairest Vine in the world On this beauty never-sufficiently extolled by my rude tongue a number of Princes were enamoured as well Neighbours as strangers amongst whom a private Gentleman durst raise his thoughts to the Heaven of that beauty one that lived in Court confident in his youth and gallantry and other abilities and happy facilities of wit for let mee give your Greatnesses to understand if it bee not tedious hee played on a Gitterne as if hee made it speake hee was a Poet and a great Dancer and could very well make Bird-cages and onely with this Art might have gotten his living when he had been in great necessity so that all these parts and adornments were able to throw downe a mountaine much more a delicate Damzell but all his gentry all his graces all his behaviour and abilities could have little prevailed to render my childes fortresse if the cursed theefe had not conquered mee first First the cursed Rascall Vagamund sought to get my good will and to bribe mee that I ill keeper should deliver him the keyes of my fortresse To conclude hee inveigled my understanding and obtained my consent with some toyes and trifles I know not what that hee gave mee but that which most did prostrate mee and made mee fall was certaine verses that I heard him sing one night from a grated Window toward a Lane where hee lay which were as I remember these An ill upon my soule doth steale From my sweetest enemy And it more tormenteth mee That I feele yet must conceale The Ditty was most precious to mee and his voyce as sweet as sugar and many a time since have I thought seeing the mis-hap I fell into by these and such other like verses and have considered that Poets should bee banisht from all good and well-governed Common-wealths as Plato counselled at least lascivious Poets for they write lascivious verses not such as those of the Marquesse of Mantua Old Ballad verses the Author speakes here Satyrically that delight and make women and children weepe but piercing ones that like sharpe thornes but soft traverse the soule and wound it like lightning leaving the garment sound and againe he sung Come death hidden without paine Let me not thy comming know That the pleasure to die so Make me not to live againe Other kindes of songs hee had which being sung enchanted and written suspended for when they daigned to make a kinde of verse in Candaya then in use called Roundelaies there was your dancing of soules and tickling with laughter and unquietnesse of the body and finally the quicksilver of all the sences So my Masters let mee say that such Rithmers ought justly to bee banished to the Island of Lizards but the fault is none of theirs but of simple creatures that commend them and foolish wenches that beleeve in them and if I had been as good a Waiting-woman as I ought to have beene his over-nights conceits would not have moved mee neither should I have given credit to these kinde of speeches I live dying I burne in the frost I shake in the fire I hope hopelesse I goe and yet I stay with other impossibilities of this seumme of which his writings are full and then your promising the Phoenix of Arabia Ariadne's Crowne the Lockes of the Sunne the Pearles of the South the Gold of Tyber and Balsamum of Pancaia and here they are most liberall in promising that which they never think to performe But whither aye mee unhappy doe I divert my selfe What folly or what madnesse makes mee recount other folkes faults having so much to say of mine owne Aye mee againe unfortunate For not the verses but my folly vanquished mee not his musicke but my lightnesse my ignorance softned mee that and my ill fore sight opened the way and made plaine the
thee Vndaunted Squire now now you fly in the aire cutting it with more speede then an arrow now you begin to suspend and astonish as many as behold you from earth Hold hold valorous Sancho for now thou goest waviug in the aire take heede thou fall not for thy fall will bee worse then the bold Youths that desired to governe his father the Suns charriot Sancho heard all this and getting close to his Master hee girt his armes about him and said Sir why doe they say wee are so high if wee can heare their voyces and me thinkes they talke here hard by us Ne're stand upon that quoth Don-Quixote for as these kindes of flyings are out of the ordinary course of thousaâ—ds of leagues thou mayst heare and see any thing and doe not presse mee so hard for thou wilt throw mee downe and verily I know not why thou shouldest thus tremble and bee afrayd for I dare sweare in all my life I never rode upon an easier-paced horse he goes as if hee never mooved from the place Friend banish feare for the businesse goes on successefully and wee have winde at will Indeede 't is true quoth Sancho for I have a winde comes so forcibly on this side of mee as if I were blowed upon by a thousand paire of bellowes and it was true indeede they were giving him aire with a very good paire of bellowes This Adventure was so well contrived by the Duke the Duchesse and the Steward that there was no requisite awanting to make it perfect Don-Quixote too feeling the breath said Vndoutedly Sancho wee are now come to the middle Region where Haile Snow Thunder and Lightning and the Thunder-bolt are ingendred in the third Region and if wee mount long in this manner wee shall quickly be in the Region of fire and I know not how to use this Pin that wee mount not where wee shall bee scorcht Now they heated their faces with flax set on fire and easie to be quencht in a Cave a farre off and Sancho that felt the heate saidâ— Hang mee if wee bee not now in that place where the fire is for a great part of my Beard is signed I 'le unblind-fold my self Master see where abouts we are Doe not qd Don-Quixote and remember that true tale of the Scholler Toraina whom the Devill hoysted up into the ayre a horse-back on a Reede with his eyes shut A story beleeved in Spayne as Gospell and in twelve houres he arived at Rome and lighted at the Towre of Nona which is one of the streets of the City and saw all the mis-chance the assault and death of Borbon and the morrow after returned back to Madrid relating all hee had seene and sayd That as hee went in the ayre the Devill bid him open his eyes which hee did and saw himselfe as hee thought so neere the body of the Moone that hee might have touched her with his hands and that he durst not look toward the Earth for fear to be made giddy So that Sancho there is no uncovering us for he that hath the charge of carrying us will look to us and peradventure we goe doubling of points and mounting on high to fall even with the Kingdome of Candaya as doth the Sacar or Hawke upon the Heron to catch her mount she never so high and though it seem to us not halfe an houre since we parted from the Garden beleeve me we have travelled a great way I know not what belongs to it quoth Sancho but this I know that if your Lady Magallanes or Magalona were pleased with my seat she was not very tender breech'd All these discourses of the two most valiant were heard by the Duke and Duchesse and them in the Garden which gave them extraordinary content who willing to make an end of this strange and well composed Adventure clapt fire with some flax at Clavileno's tayle and straight the horse being stuffed with Crackers flew into the ayre making a strange noyse and threw Don-Quixote and Sancho both on the ground and singed And now all the bearded-Squadron of the Matrons vanished out of the Garden and Trifaldi too and all and they that remained counterfeited a dead swound and lay all along upon the ground Don-Quixote and Sancho ill-intreated rose up and looking round about they wondred to see themselves in the same Garden from whence they had parted and to see such a company of People laid upon the ground and their admiration was the more increased when on one side of the Garden they saw a great Launce fastned in the ground and a smoothe white peece of Parchment hanging at it with two twisted strings of greene silke in which the following words were written with Letters of Gold THE famous and valorous Knight Don-Quixote de la Mancha finisht and ended the Adventure of the Contesse Trifaldi otherwise called The Afflicted Matron and her Company only with undertaking it Malambruno is satisfied and contented with all his heart and now the Wayting-womens chins are smoothe and cleane and the Princes Don Clanixo and Aptonomasia are in their pristine being and when the Squires whipping shall bee accomplished the white Pigeon shall bee free from the pestiferous Ier-Falcons that persecute her and in her loved Lullers armes for so it is ordained by the sage Merlin proto-Enchanter of Enchanters When Donâ—Quixote had read these Letters of the parchment hee understood plainly that they spoke of the disinchanting of Dulcinea and giving many thanks to Heaven that with so little danger hee had ended so great an exploit as reducing the faces of the venerable Wayting-women to their former smoothnesse that was now gone he went towards the Duke and the Duchesse who were not as yet come to themselves and taking the Duke by the hand hee said Courage courage noble Sir all 's nothing the Adventure is now ended without braking of barrs as you may plainly see by the writing there in that Register The Duke like one that riseth out of a profound sleep by little and little came to himself and in the same Tenor the Duchesse and all they that were down in the Garden with such shews of marvell and wonderment that they did even seem to perswade that those things had hapned to them in earnest which they counterfeited in jest The Duke read the scrowle with his eyes half shut and straight with open arme hee went to embrace Don-Quixote telling him hee was the bravest Knight that ever was Sancho looked up and down for the Afflicted to see what manner of face shee had now shee was dis-bearded and if shee were so faire as her gallant presence made shew for But they told him that as Clavileno came down burning in the aire and lighted on the ground all the Squadron of Wayting-women with Trifaldi vanished and now they were shaved and unfeathered The Duchesse asked Sancho how hee did in that long voyage To which hee answered I Madam thought as my Master told mee wee passed
what thou wilt have with mee If thou bee'st a soule in Purgatory tell mee and I will doe what I am able for thee for I am a Catholike Christian and love to doe good to all the world for for this cause I tooke upon mee the order of Knight Errant which I professe whose practice extends even to doe good to the soules in Purgatorie The broken Matron that heard her selfe thus conjured by her feare ghessed at Don-Quixote and with a low and pittifull voice shee answered him Signior Don-Quixote if you bee hee I meane I am no Apparition nor Vision nor soule of Purgatory as you have thought but Donna Rodriguez my Lady the Duchesses honour'd Matron that come to you with a case of necessity of those that you usually give redresse to Tell me Donna Rodriguez quoth Don-Quixote come you happily about some peece of brokage For let mee tell you if you doe there 's no good to bee done with mee for any body thanks to the peerelesse Beauty of my Mistris Dulcinea del Toboso So that let me tell you Donna Rodriguez setting aside all amorous messages you may goe light your candle again and return and impart what you will command me and any thing you please excepting I say all kinde of inciting nicities I Sir messages from any body You know not me yfaith I am not so stale yet that I should fall to those triflles for God be praised I have life and flesh and all my teeth and my grinders in my mouth except some few that the Catarrs which are so common in this Country of Aragon have usurped on but stay a little Sir I le goe out and light my Candle and I le come in an instant and relate my griefs to you as to the Redressor of all such like in the world And so without staying for an answer shee left the rooms where Don-Quixote remained still and pensative expecting her but straight a thousand imaginations came into his minde touching this new Adventure and hee thought it would bee very ill done or worse imagined to endanger the breach of his vowed loyalty to his Mistris and said to himself Who knows whether the Devill that is so subtil and crafty may deceive mee now with this Matron which hee hath not been able to doe with Empresses Queens Duchesses Marquesses and I have heard say often by many well experienced men that hee will rather make a man sinne with a foul then a fair one and who knows whether this privacie this oportunitie silence may not awake my desires now sleeping and that now in my old age I may fall where I never stumbled in such like chances 't is better fly then try the combat but sure I am out of my wits since I talk thus idlely and sure it is not possible that a white-stoled lank-spectacled Matron should moove or stirre up a lascivious thought in the ungodliest brest in the world Is there any Matron in the world that hath soft flesh Is there any that is not foolish nice and coy Avaunt then you Matronly troops unprofitable for mans delight How well did that Lady of whom it was observed that shee had two Matrons Statue-wayes of wood with their Spectacles and Pin-pillows at the end of her Seat of State as if they had been at work and those Statues served as well to authorize her room as if they had been reall Matrons And this said hee flung from the Bed to have shut the door and not have let Mistris Rodriguez come in but as hee was going to doe it shee was come back with her candle lighted of white wax and when shee saw Don Quixote neer her wrapped in his Quilt his Bends his wollen Cap and a thick cloth about his neck shee began to fear again and stepping two or three steps backward shee asked Am I safe Sir Knight for I hold it not a very honest signe that you are up from your Bed 'T were fit I asked that question of you quoth Don-Quixote and therefore let me know whether I shall be free from ravishing By whom quoth she By you said Don-Quixote for neither am I of marble or you of brasse neither is it now ten a clock at day time but mid-night and something more as I think and wee are in a more secret and close couch then the Cave in which the bold trayterous Aeneas enjoyed the fair and pitying Dido but give me your hand Mistris and I le have no other assurance then mine own continencie and warinesse And in saying this hee kissed her right hand and shee layd hold of his which shee gave him with the same solemnitie Here Cid Hamete makes a parenthesis and earnestly protesteth he would have given the best coat he had to have seen them both go so joyned and linked from the Chamber dore to the bed In fine Don-Quixote went to his Bed and Donna Rodriguez sate downe in a Chayre a pretty way from it without taking off her spectacles or setting downe the Candle Don-Quixote crowded up together and covered himselfe all over leaving nothing but his face uncovered So both of them beeing quiet the first that broke off their silence was Don-Quixote saying Now Mistrisse Rodriguez you may unrip your selfe and dis-mawe all that you have in your troubled Heart and grieved Entrailes which shall bee heard by my chaste Eares and relieved with my pious Workes I beleeve no lesse said the Matron for from your gentle and pleasing presence there could not be but a Christian answere expected Thus then it is Signior Don-Quixote that though you see mee set in this Chaire and in the midst of the Kingdome of Aragon in the habit of a poore and way-beaten Matron I was borne in the Asturias A barcen Mountainous countrey in Spaine like our Wales and Kingdome of Oniedo and of a linage allied to the best of that Province but my hard fortune and my fathers lavishing that grew to bee a Begger before his time God knowes how brought mee to the Court at Madrid where very quietly and to avoid other inconveniencies my friends placed mee to serve as a Chamber-maid to a worthy Ladie and though I say it that for white-worke hemming and stitching I was never yet put downe in all my life My friends left mee at service and returned homeward and not long after went in likelyhood to heaven for they were wonderfull good Catholike Christians thus was I an Orphan and stinted to the miserable wages and hard allowance that at Court is given to such kinde of servants and at that time I not giving any occasion thereto a Squire of the house fell in love with mee somewhat an elderly man big-bearded and personable and above all as good a Gentleman as the King for hee was of the Mountaines wee kept not our loves so close but that they came to my Ladies eares who without any more adoe with full conof our Holy Mother the Catholique Romane Church caused us to bee married by sent
of Bells and Out-cries as if the whole Island had been sunk he sate up in his Bed and was very attentive hearkning if he could ghesse at the cause of so great an Up-roar but he was so farre from knowing it that a noyse of a world of Drumms and Trumpets added to that of the Bells and Cries made him more confused and more full of fear and horror and rising up he put on a pair of Slippers for the moystnesse of the ground and without any night-Gown upon him or any thing like it he went out at his Chamber door at such time as he saw at least twenty persons come running thorow the Entries with Torches in their hands lighted and Swords unsheathed crying all out aloud Arm Arm Sir Governour Arm for a world of enemies are entred the Island and we are undone if your skill and valour help us not With this Fury Noyse and Uproar they came where Sancho was astonisht and embeseld with what he heard saw and when they came to him one of them said Arm your self strait Sir if you mean not to be destroyed and that all the Island be lost I Arm my self quoth Sancho Know I any thing what belongs to Arms or Succours 't were better leave these things to my Master Don-Quixote de la Mancha he will dispatch and put them in safety in an instant for I sinner that I am understand nothing of this quick service Ha Sir Governour said another what faint-heartednesse is this Arm your self for here we bring you Arms offensive and defensive Martch to the Mâ—rket-place and bee our Guide and Captain since you ought being our Governour to be so Arm me on Gods name quoth Sancho And strait they brought him two Shields of which they had good store and they clapt them upon his Shirt without letting him take any other clothes one they put before and the other behinde and they drew out his arms at certain holes they had made and bound him very well with cords so that hee was walled and boorded up straight like a spindle not able to bend his knees or to move a step In his hands they put a Launce on which he leant to keep himself up When they had him thus they bade him martch and guide them and cheer them all for that hee being their Lanthorne North and Morning starre their matters would be well ended How should I wretch that I am martch quoth Sancho for my knee bones will not move since these boords that are so sowed to my flesh doe hinder me your only way is to carry me in your armes and to lay me a-thwart or let me stand up at some Postern which I will make good either with my Launce or body Fie Sir said another 't is more your fear then the boords that hinder your pace make an end for shame and bestir your self for it is late and the enemies increase the cries are augmented and the danger waxeth more and more At whole perswasions and vitupery the poor Governour tryed if he could move himself so he fell to the ground and had such a fall that he thought he had broken himself to pieces and now he lay like a Tortoise shut in and covered with his shell or like a Flitch of Bacon clapped between two boords or like a Boat overturned upon a flat and for all his fall those Scoffers had no compassion at all on him but rather putting out their Torches they began to re enforce their cryes to reiterate their Arme Arm so fast running over poor Sancho giving him an infinite company of flashes upon his Shields that if he had not withdrawn himself and shrunk his head up into them the poor Governour had been in wofull plight who being thus shrugged up in this straight he was in a terrible sweat and berayed and recommended himself heartily to God Almighty to deliver him from that danger Some stumbled upon him others fell and another would get upon him for a good while and from thence as from a watch-Tower governed the Army and cryed aloud Here on our side here the enemies are thickest Make this Breach good keep that Gate shut down with those Ladders Wilde-fire-Balls Pitch and Rozin and Kettles of scalding Oyle Trench the streets with Beds in fine he named all manner of Ware Instruments and Furniture of Warre for the defence of a City assaulted And the bruised Sancho that heard and suffered all said to himself Oh that it would please the Lord that this Island were once lost or that I were dead or delivered from this strait Heaven heard his Petition and when he least expected he heard this cry Victory Victory the Foes are vanquished Ho Sir Governour rise rise enjoy the conquest and divide the spoyles that are taken from the enemies by the valour of your invincible arme Raise me quoth the grieved Sancho with a pittyfull voyce They helpt to raise him and being up he said Every enemie that I have vanquished naile him in my fore-head I le divide no spoils of enemies but desire some friend if I have any to give me a draught of Wine that may dry up this sweat for I am all water They wiped him brought him Wine and unbound the Shields from him he sate upon his Bed and with the very anguish of the sodain fright and his toyle he fell into a swound and they that plaid that trick with him were sorry it fell out so heavily but Sancho's comming straight to himself tempered their sorrow Hee asked them what a clock it was They answered him it grew to be day Hee held his peace and without more words began to cloath himself all buried in silence and all beheld him expecting what would bee the issue of his hasty dressing himself Thus by little and little he made himself ready for by reason of his wearinesse hee could not doe it very fast and so went toward the Stable all they that were there following him and comming to Dapple he embraced and gave him a loving kisse on the fore-head and not without tears in his eyes said Come thou hither companion mine and friend fellow-partner of my labours and miseries when I consorted with you no other cares troubled me then to mend thy Furniture and to sustein thy little corps happy then were my hours dayes and yeers but since I left thee and mounted on the towers of Ambition and Pride a thousand miseries a thousand toyles four thousand unquietnesses have entred my soul. And as he was thus discoursing he fitted on the Pack-saddle no body saying ought unto him Dapple being thus Pack-saddled with much adoe he got upon him and directing his speeches and reasons to the Stward the Doctor and many others there present he said Give me room Sirs and leave to return to my former liberty let me seek my ancient life to rise from this present death I was not born to bee a Governour not to defend Islands nor Cities from enemies that would assault
them I can tell better how to Plough to Digg to Prune and Plant Vineyards then to give Laws or defend Provinces and Kingdomes 't is good sleeping in a whole skin I mean 't is fit that every man should exercise the Calling to which hee was borne a Sickle is better in my hand then a Governours Scepter I had rather fill my selfe with a good dish of Gaspachos then bee subject to the misery of an impertinent Physician that would kill mee with hunger I had rather solace my selfe under the shade of an Oake in Summer and cover my selfe with a double sheepe skinne in Winter quietly then lay mee downe to the subjection of a Government in fine Holland sheetes and bee clothed in Sables fare you well Sir and tell my Lord the Duke Naked was I borne naked I am I neyther winne nor lose I meane I came without crosse to this government and I goe from it without a crosse contrary to what Governours of other Islands are used to doe Stand out of the way and let mee goe for I must seare-cloth my selfe for I beleeve all my ribs are bruised I thanke the enemy that trampled over mee all this night You shall not doe so Sir Governour quoth Doctor Rezio for I will give you a drinke good against falls and bruises that shall straight recover you and touching your diet I promise you to make amends and you shall eat plentifully of what you list 'T is too late quoth Sancho I le as soon tarry as turne Turke these jests are not good the second time you shall as soone get mee to stay here or admit of any other Government though it were presented in two platters to mee as make mee flye to heaven without wings I am of the linage of the Panca's and wee are all head-strong and if once wee cry odd odde it must bee though it be even in spite of all the world Here in this Stable let my Ants wings remaine that lifted mee up in the ayre to bee devouted by Marrlets and other birds and now let 's goe a plaine pace on the ground and though wee weare no pinked Spanish-leather shoos yet wee shall not want course pack-thread Sandals Like to like quoth the Devill to the Collier and let every man cut his measure according to his cloth and so let mee goe for it is late To which quoth the Steward With a very good will you should goe though wee shall bee very sorry to lose you for your judgement and Christian proceeding oblige us to desire your company but you know that all Governours are obliged before they depart from the place which they have governed to render first an account of their place which you ought to doe for the tenne daies you have governed and so Gods peace bee with you No man can aske any account of mee said hee but hee whom my Lord the Duke will appoint to him I goe and to him I le give a fiâ—ting account besides I going from hence so bare as I doe there can bee no greater signe that I have governed like an Angell I protest quoth Doctor Rezio the Grand Sancho hath a great deale of reason and I am of opinion that wee let him goe for the Duke will bee infinitely glad to see him So all agreed and let him goe offering first to accompany him and whatsoever hee had need of for himselfe or for the commodiousnesse of his Voyage Sancho told them hee desired nothing but a little Barley for Dapple and halfe a Cheese and a Loafe for himselfe for that by reason of the shortnesse of the way hee needed no other provision All of them embraced him and hee with teares embraced them and left them astonished as well at his discourse as his most resolute and discreet determination CHAP. LIV. That treats of matters concerening this History and no other THe Duke and Duchesse were resolved that Don-Quixote's Challenge that hee made against their Vassall for the aforesaid cause should goe forward and though the young man were in Flanders whither hee fled because hee would not have Donna Rodriguez to his Mother in Law yet they purposed to put a Gascoigne Lackey in his stead which was called Tosilos instructing him first very well in all that hee had to doe Some two daies after the Duke said to Don-Quixote that within foure daies his contrary would bee present and present himselfe in the field like an armed Knight and maintaine that the Damzell lied in her throat if shee affirmed that hee had promised her marriage Don-Quixote was much pleased with this newes and promised to himselfe to worke miracles in this businesse and hee held it to bee a speciall happinesse to him that occasion was offered wherein those Nobles might see how far the valor of his powerfull arme extended and so with great jocundnesse and content hee expected the foure daies which in the reckoning of his desire seemed to him to bee foure hundred Ages Let wee them passe as wee let passe divers other matters and come to the Grand Sancho to accompany him who betwixt mirth and mourning upon Dapple went to seeke out his Master whose company pleased him more then to bee Governour of all the Islands in the world It fell out so that hee having not gone very farre from the Island of his Government for hee never stood to averre whether it were Island Citty Village or Towne which hee governed hee saw that by the way hee went there came sixe Pilgrimes with their walking staves your strangers that use to beg almes singing who when they came neere beset him round and raising their voyces all together began to sing in their language what Sancho could not understand except it were one word which plainly signified Almes which hee perceived they begged in their song And hee as saith Cid Hamete being very charitable tooke halfe a Loafe and halfe a Cheese out of his wallet of which hee was provided and gave it them telling them by singnes hee had nothing else to give them they received it very willingly and said Guelte Guelte I understand you not what you would have good people quoth Sancho Then one of them tooke a purse out of his bosome and shewed it to Sancho whereby hee understood they asked him for money but hee putting his thumbe to his throat and his hand upward gave them to understand hee had not a Denier and spurting Dapple hee broke thorow them and passing by one of them looking wishly upon him layd hold on him and casting his armes about his middle with a loud voyce and very good spanish said God defend mee and what doe I see is it possible I have my deare friend in my armes my honest neighbour Sancho Panca Yes sure I have for I neyther sleep nor am drunke Sancho wondred to heare himselfe so called by his name and to see himselfe embraced by a Pilgrime-stranger and after hee had beheld him a good while without speaking a word and with
all bruised and amazed without heaving up his Visor as if hee had spoken out of a Toombe with a faint and weake voyce said Dulcinea del Toboso is the fairest Woman in the world and I the unfortunatest Knight on earth and it is not fit that my weaknesse defraud this truth thrust your Launce into mee Knight and kill mee since you have bereaved mee of my honour Not so truly quoth hee of the White-Moone let the same of my Lady Dulcinea's beauty live in her entirenesse I am onely contented that the Grand Don-Quixote retire home for a yeer or till such time as I please as wee agreed before wee began the battell All this the Vice-Roy with Don Antonio and many others standing by heard and Don-Quixote answered that so nothing were required of him in prejudice of his Lady Dulcinea hee would accomplish all the rest like a true and punctuall Knight This Confession ended the Knight of the white-Moone turned his Horse and making a low obeysance on Horse-back to the Vice-Roy hee rode a false gallop into the Citty The Vice-Roy willed Don Antonio to follow him and to know by all meanes who hee was Don-Quixote was lifted up and they discovered his face and found him discolour'd and in a cold sweat Rozinante out of pure hard handling could not as yet stirr Sancho all sad and sorrowfull knew not what to doe or say and all that had hapned to him seemed but a dreame and all that Machine a matter of Enchantment hee saw his Master was vanquished and bound not to take Armes for a yeer Now he thought the light of his glory was Eclipsed the hopes of his late promises were undone and parted as smoke with winde hee feared lest Rozinante's bones were broken and his Masters out of joynt Finally in a Chaire which the Vice-Roy commanded to bee brought hee was carryed to the Citty whither the Vice-Roy too returned desirous to know who the Knight of the White-Moone was that had left Don-Quixote in so bad a taking CHAP. LV. Who the Knight of the White-Moon was with Don Gregorio's liberty and other passages DOn Antonio Moreno followed the Knight of the White-Moone and many Boyes too followed and persecuted him till hee got him to his Inne into the Citty Don Antonio entred desirous to know him and hee had his Squire to un-arme him hee shut himselfe in a lower Roome and Don Antonio with him who stood upon Thornes till hee knew who hee was Hee of the White-Moone seeing then that the Gentleman would not leave him said I well know Sir wherefore you come and to know who I am and since there is no reason to deny you this I will tell you whilest my man is unarming me the truth without erring a jot Know Sir that I am stiled the Bachelour Samson Carrasco and am one of Don-Quixotes Town whose wilde madnesse hath moved as many of us as know him to compassion and mee amongst the rest most and beleeving that the best means to procure his health is to keep him quiet And so to have him in his own house I thought upon this device and so about a three moneths since I met him upon the way calling my self by the name of The Knight of the Looking-glasses with a purpose to fight with him and vanquish him without doing him any hurt and making this the condition of our Combat That the vanquished should bee left to the discretion of the vanquisher and that which I would enjoyne him for I held him already conquered was That hee should retâ—rn home and not abroad again in a whole yeer in which time hee might haply have been cured but fortune would have it otherwise for he vanquished me and unhorsed me and so my project took no effect hee went on his way and I returned conquered ashamed and bruised with my fall that was very dangerous but for all that I had still a desire to finde him again and to conquer him as now you have seen And hee being so punctuall in observing the Orders of Knight Errantry will doubtlesse keep his promise made to me This Sir is all I can tell you and I beseech you conceale me from Don-Quixote that my desires may take effect and that the man who hath otherwise a good understanding may recover it if his madnesse leave him Oh Sir said Don Antonio God forgive you the wrong you doe the whole world in seeking to recover the pleasantest mad-man in the world Perceive you not that this recovery cannot be so much worth as the delight that his fopperies cause but I imagine Sir Bachelor that all your Art will not make a man so irrecoverably mad wise again and if it were not uncharitable I would say Never may he recover for in his health wee lose not only his own conceits but Sancho Panca his Squires too each of which would turn melancholy it self into mirth for all that I will hold my peace I will say nothing and see whether I ghesse right that Signior Carrasco's pains will bee to no purpose Who answered that as yet the businesse was brought to a good passe and hee hoped for a happy successe and so offering Don Antonio his service hee took leave of him And causing his Armour to hee packed upon a great hee Mule at the instant hee got himself upon the Horse with which hee entred the Lists and the same day hee went out of the Citie homeward where by the way nothing hapned to him worth the relating in this true Historie Don Antonio told the Vice-roy all that Carrasco said at which hee received not much content for in Don-Quixotes retirement was theirs also that ever had notice of his mad pranks Six dayes was Don-Quixote in his bed all muddy sad sorrowfull and wayward descanting in his thoughts upon his ill fortune to bee vanquished Sancho comforted him and amongst other reasons told him Signior mine cheer up bee lively if you can give Heaven thanks that though you came with a tumbling cast to the ground yet you have never a rib broken and since you know that sweet meat must have sowre sawce that there is not alwaies good cheer where there is a smoaking Chimney cry A fig for the Physician since you need not his help in this disease Let 's home to our houses and leave looking after these Adventures thorow Countries and places wee know not and if you consider it well I am here the greatest loser though you be in the worst pickle â—â—though when I left to bee a Governour left also my desires that way yet left not my desire of being an Earle which will never bee effected if you leave to bee a King by leaving the exercise of Chivalrie and so my hopes are like to vanish into smoak Peace Sancho said Don-Quixote my retirement shall bee but for a yeer and then I le straight to my honourable Profession again and I shall not want a Kingdome for my self and some Earldome for thee God
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