in a trifle I shou'd make a Complement to those Honorable Gentlemen whose Liberality has prov'd so substantial an Incouragement to me in this Vndertaking but I must change my note to an Apology for the smallness of the Edition and the best I can make is humbly to beg their Pardon I design'd it a handsom Folio with a fair Letter but there was a necessity of publishing this first Part of the Work immediately being inform'd that while it was supervising with all leisurely Care the Booksellers concerned in the old Translation had got it alter'd with all speed and resolv'd at any Rate to have it come out first I hope my generous Patrons will forgive a Delay which was the effect of my good Fortune I mean the Employment for which with all Thankfulness I am proud to own my self oblig'd to the great Mr. Mountague's Recommendation and the Favor of those noble Patriots Sir Robert Cotton and Sir Thomas Frankland This made the Bookseller think of casting this into four little portable Duodecimos and indeed there is this Reason for 't that the Book being more for Diversion than Study is therefore more proper for the Pocket than the Closet I have nothing more to add but the Names of those noble Encouragers of this Translation which I presume to insert in the Order they subscrib'd for my particular Benefit The Right Honorable Charles Mountague Esq The Honorable Colonel Codrington the Right Honorable the Earl of Dorset the Right Honorable Henry Lord Colerane the Honorable Hugh Hare Esq the Honorable Edward Coke Esq Richard Norton Esq Anthony Henly Esq Mr. John Freeman William Bridgman Esq his Grace the Duke of Devonshire the Right Honorable the Lady Vicountess of Weymouth the Honorable Henry Thynne Esq Sir Robert Worsely Bar. the Honorable H. Heveningham and J. Manners Esquires Sir John Smith Bar. the Right Hon. the Earl of Darwentwater the Hon. Charles Boyle Esq Sir Rich. Blackmore Charles Caesar Esq and Sir Godfrey Kneller THE Author's PREFACE TO THE READER YOU may depend on my bare Word Reader without any farther security that I cou'd wish this Offspring of my Brain were as ingenious sprightly and accomplish'd as your self cou'd desire but the mischief on 't is Nature will have its course Every Production must resemble its Author and my barren and unpolish'd Understanding can produce nothing but what is very dull very impertinent and extravagant beyond imagination You may suppose it the Child of Disturbance ingendred in some dismal Prison in the very seat of Wretchedness and amidst all manner of Inconveniences Rest and Ease a convenient Place pleasant Fields and Groves murmuring Springs and a sweet Repose of Mind are helps that raise the Fancy and impregnat even the most barren Muses with Conceptions that fill the World with Admiration and Delight Some Parents are so blinded by a Fatherl Fondness that they mistake the very Imperfections of their Children for so many Beauties and the Folly and Impertinence of the brave Boy must pass upon their Friends and Acquaintance for Wit and Sense But I who am only a Step-Father disavow the Authority of this modern and prevalent Custom nor will I earnestly beseech you with Tears in my Eyes which is many a poor Author's Case dear Reader to pardon or dissemble my Child's Faults For what Favour can I expect from you who are neither his Friend nor Relation You have a Soul of your own and the privilege of Free-will whoever you be as well as the proudest He that struts in a gaudy Outside You are a King by your own Fire-side as much as any Monarch in his Throne You have Liberty and Property which set you above Favor or Affection and may therefore freely like or dislike this History according to your humor I had a great mind to have expos'd it as naked as it was born without the addition of a Preface or the numberless Trumpery of commendatory Sonnets Epigrams and other Poems that usually usher in the Conceptions of Authors For I dare boldly say that tho I bestow'd some time in writing the Book yet it cost me not half so much labour as this very Preface I very often took up my Pen and as often laid it down and cou'd not for my life think of any thing to the purpose Sitting once in a very studious Posture with my Paper before me my Pen in my Ear my Elbow on the Table and my Cheek on my Hand considering how I should begin a certain Friend of mine an ingenious Gentleman and of a merry Disposition came in and surpriz'd me He ask'd me what I was so very intent and thoughtful upon I was so free with him as not to mince the matter but told him plainly that I had been puzling my Brain for a Preface to Don Quixote and that I had made my self so uneasy about it that I was now resolv'd to trouble my head no further either with Preface or Book but rather not to let the Atchievements of that noble Knight be publish'd For continu'd I why should I expose my self to the Lash of the old Legislator the Vulgar They will say that I have spent my youthful Days very finely to have nothing to recommend my Gray Hairs to the World but a dry insipid Legend not worth a rush wanting good Language as well as Invention barren of Conceits or pointed Wit and without either Quotations on the Margin or Annotations at the end which other Books tho never so fabulous and profane have to set 'em off Other Authors can pass upon the Public by stuffing their Books from Aristotle Plato and the whole Company of antient Philosophers thus amusing their Readers into a great opinion of their prodigious Reading Plutarch and Cicero are slur'd on the Publick for as Orthodox Doctors as St. Thomas or any of the Fathers And then the Method of these Moderns is so wounderfully agreeable and full of variety that they cannot fail to please In one Line they will describe you a whining amorous Coxcomb and the next shall be some dry Scrap of a Homily with such ingenious Turns as cannot chuse but ravish the Reader Now I want all these Embelishments and Graces I have neither marginal Notes nor critical Remarks I do not so much as know what Authors I follow and consequently can have no formal Index as 't is the fashion now methodically strung on the Letters of the Alphabet beginning with Aristotle and ending with Xenophon or Zoâ—lus or Zeuxis which two are commonly cram'd into the same Piece tho one of them was a famous Painter and t'other a saucy Critic I shall want also the pompous Preliminaries of commendatory Verses sent to me by the Right Honourable my Lord such a one by the Honourable the Lady such a one or the most ingenious Mr. such a one tho I know that I might have them at an easy rate from two or three Brothers of the Quill of my acquaintance and better I 'm sure than the best Quality
incomparable Face Beautiful as an Angel's tho' very pale and strangely discompos'd her Eyes eagerly rolling on every side which made her appear distracted Dorothea and the rest not guessing what her Eyes sought by their violent motion beheld her with Grief and Wonder She struggl'd so hard and the Gentleman was so disorder'd by holding her that his Mask dropt off and discover'd to Dorothea who was assisting to hold the Lady the Face of her Husband Don Ferdinand Scarce had she known him when with a long and dismal Oh! she fell in a Swoon and would have reach'd the Floor with all her Weight had not the Barber by good Fortune stood behind and supported her The Curate ran presently to help her and pulling off her Veil to throw Water in her Face Don Ferdinand presently knew her and was struck almost as dead as she at the Sight nevertheless he did not quit Lucinda who was the Lady that struggl'd so hard to get out of his Hands Cardenio hearing Dorothea's Exclamation and imagining it to be Lucinda's Voice flew into the Chamber in great Disorder and the first Object he met was Don Ferdinand holding Lucinda who presently knew him They were all struck dumb with Amazement Dorothea gaz'd on Don Ferdinand Don Ferdinand on Cardenio and Cardenio and Lucinda on one another At last Lucinda broke Silence and addressing Don Ferdinand Let me go said she unloose your hold my Lord by the Generosity you shou'd have or by your Inhumanity since it must be so I conjure you leave me that I may cling like Ivy to my only Support and from whom neither your Threats nor Prayers nor Gifts nor Promises could ever alienate my Love Contend not against Heaven whose Power alone could bring me to my dear Husband's Sight by such strange and unexpected means You have a thousand Instances to convince you that nothing but Death can make me ever forget him Let this at least turn your Love into Rage which may prompt you to end my Miseries with my Life here before my dear Husband where I shall be proud to lose it since my Death may convince him of my unshaken Love and Honour till the last Minute of my Life Dorothea by this time had recover'd and finding by Lucinda's Discourse who she was and that Don Ferdinand would not unhand her she made a Virtue of Necessity and falling at his Feet my Lord cry'd she all bath'd in Tears if that Beauty which you hold in your Arms has not altogether dazl'd your Eyes you may behold at your Feet the once happy but now miserable Dorothea I am that poor and humble Villager whom your generous Bounty I dare not say your Love did condescend to raise to the honour of calling you her own I am she who once confin'd to peaceful Innocence led a contented Life till your Importunity your Shew of Honour and deluding Words charm'd me from my Retreat and made me resign my Freedom to your Power How I am recompenc'd may be guess'd by my Grief and my being found here in this strange Place whither I was led not through any dishonourable Ends but purely by Despair and Grief to be forsaken of You. 'T was at your Desire I was bound to you by the strictest Tye and whatever you do you can never cease to be mine Consider my dear Lord that my matchless Love may ballance the Beauty and Nobility of the Person for whom you would forsake me she cannot share your Love for 't is only mine and Cardenio's Interest in her will not admit a Partner 'T is easier far my Lord to re-call your wandring Desires and fix them upon her that adores you than to draw her to love who hates you Remember how you did sollicit my humble State and conscious of my Meanness yet paid a Veneration to my Innocence which join'd with the honourable Condition of my yielding to your Desires pronounce me free from ill Design or Dishonour Consider these undeniable Truths Have some Regard to your Honour Remember you 're a Christian Why should you then make her Life end so miserably whose Beginning your Favour made so happy If I must not expect the Usage and Respect of a Wife let me but serve you as a Slave so I belong to you though in the meanest Rank I never shall complain Let me not be expos'd to the slandring Reflections of the Censorious World by so cruel a Separation from my Lord Afflict not the declining Years of my poor Parents whose faithful Services to you and yours have merited a more suitable Return If you imagine the Current of your Noble Blood should be defil'd by mixing with mine consider how many Noble Houses have run in such a Channel besides the Woman's Side is not essentially requisite to ennoble Descent but chiefly think on this that Virtue is the truest Nobility which if you stain by basely wronging me you bring a greater Blot upon your Family than Marrying me could cause In fine my Lord you cannot must not disown me for your Wife to attest which Truth I call your own Words which must be true if you prize your self for Honour and that Nobility whose want you so despise in me witness your Oaths and Vows witness that Heaven which you so oft invok'd to ratify your Promises and if all these should fail I make my last Appeal to your own Conscience whose Sting will always represent my Wrongs fresh to your Thoughts and disturb your Joys amidst your greatest Pleasures These with many such Arguments did the mournful Dorothea urge appearing so lovely in her Sorrow that Don Ferdinand's Friends as well as all the rest sympathiz'd with her Lucinda particularly as much admiring her Wit and Beauty as mov'd by the Tears the piercing Sighs and Moans that follow'd her Entreaties and she would have gone nearer to have comforted her had not Ferdinand's Arms that still held her prevented it He stood full of Confusion with his Eyes fix'd attentively on Dorothea a great while at last opening his Arms he quitted Lucinda Thou hast Conquer'd cry'd he Charming Dorothea thou hast Conquer'd me 't is impossible to resist so many united Truths and Charms Lucinda was still so disorder'd and weak that she would have fall'n when Ferdinand quitted her had not Cardenio without regard to his Safety leap'd forward and caught her in his Arms and embracing her with Eagerness and Joy Thanks Gracious Heaven cry'd he aloud my dear my faithful Wife thy Sorrows now are ended for where canst thou rest more safe than in my Arms which now support thee as once they did when my bless'd Fortune first made thee mine Lucinda then opening her Eyes and finding her self in the Arms of her Cardenio without regard to Ceremony or Decency threw her Arms about his Neck and laying her Face to his Yes said she thou art he thou art my Lord indeed 'T is even you your self the right Owner of this poor harrass'd Captive Now Fortune act thy worst nor Fears
could not tell what to do and Donna Clara was strangely frighted the Barber pummell'd Sancho and Sancho belabour'd the Barber One of Don Lewis's Servants went to hold him but he gave him such a Rebuke on his Jaws that his Teeth had like to have forsook their Station and then the Judge took him into his Protection Don Ferdinand had got one of the Officers down and laid him on Back and Side The Inn-keeper still cry'd our Help the Holy Brotherhood so that the whole House was a Medley of Wailings Cries Shrieks Confusions Fears Terrors Disasters Slashes Buffets Blows Kicks Cuffs Battery and Bloodshed In the greatest Heat of this Hurly-burly it came into Don Quixote's Head that he was certainly involv'd in the Disorder and Confusion of King Agramant's Camp and calling out with a Voice that shook the whole House Hold valorous Knights said he all hold your furious Hands sheath all your Swords let none presume to stribe on Pain of Death but hear me speak The loud and monstrous Voice surpriz'd every Body into Obedience and the Don proceeded I told you before Gentlemen that this Castle was inchanted and that some Legion of Devils did inhabit it now let your own Eyes confirm my Words Don't you behold the strange and horrid Confusion of King Agramant's Army remov'd hither and put in Execution among us See see how there they fight for the Sword and yonder for the Horse behold how some contend for the Helmet and here others battel it for the Standard and all fight we don't know how nor can tell why Let therefore my Lord Judge and his Reverence Mr. Curate represent one King Agramant and the other King Sobrino and by their Wisdom and Conduct appease this Tumult for by the Powers Divine 't were a wrong to Honour and a blot on Chivalry to let so many Worthies as here engage fall on so slight a Cause Don Quixote's words were Hebrew to the Officers who having been roughly handl'd by Cardenio Ferdinand and his Friends would not give it over so But the Barber was content for Sancho had demolish'd his Beard and Pack-saddle both in the Scuffle The Squire dutifully retreated at the first sound of his Master's Voice Don Lewis's Servants were calm finding it their best way to be quiet but the Inn-keeper was refractory He swore that Mad-man ought to be punish'd for his ill-behaviour and that every Hour he was making some Disturbance or another in his House But at last the Matter was made up the Pack-saddle was agreed to be Horse-Furniture the Bason a Helmet and the Inn a Castle till the Day of Judgment if Don Quixote would have it so Don Lewis's Business came next in play The Judge in concert with Don Ferdinand Cardenio and the Curate resolv'd That Don Ferdinand should interpose his Authority on Don Lewis's behalf and let his Servants know That he would carry him to Andalusia where he should be entertain'd according to his Quality by his Brother the Marquess and they should not oppose this Design seeing Don Lewis was positively resolv'd not to be forc'd to go back to his Father yet Don Ferdinand's Quality and Don Lewis's Resolution prevail'd on the Fellows to order Matters so that three of them might return to acquaint their old Master and the fourth wait on Don Lewis Thus this monstrous heap of Confusion and Disorder was digested into Form by the Authority of Agramant and Wisdom of King Sobrino But the Enemy of Peace finding his Project of setting them all by the Ears so elluded resolv'd once again to have another Trial of Skill and play the Devil with them all the second bout For though the Officers understanding the Quality of their Adversaries were willing to desist yet one of them whom Don Ferdinand had kick'd most unmercifully remembring that among other Warrants he had one to apprehend Don Quixote for setting free the Galley-Slaves which Sancho was sadly afraid would come about he resolv'd to examine if the Marks and Tokens given of Don Quixote agreed with this Person then drawing out a Parchment and opening his Warrant he made a shift to read it at every other word looking cunningly on Don Quixote's Face whereupon having folded up the Parchment and taking his Warrant in the Left-hand he clap'd his Right hand fast in the Knight's Collar crying you 're the King's Prisoner Gentlemen I am an Officer here 's my Warrant I charge you all to aid and assist the Holy Brother-hood Don Quixote finding himself us'd so rudely by one whom he took to be a pitiful Scoundrel kindl'd up into such a Rage that he shook with Indignation and catching the Fellow by the Neck with both his Hands throttl'd him so eagerly that if his Companions had not presently freed him the Knight would have squeez'd out his Life before he had quitted his hold The Inn-keeper being oblig'd to assist his Brother-Officer presently joyn'd him The Hostess seeing her Husband engaging a second time rais'd a new Out-cry her Daughter and Maritornes bore the burden of the Song sometimes praying sometimes crying sometimes scolding Sancho seeing what pass'd By the Lord said he my Master is in the right this Place is Haunted that 's certain there 's no living quietly an Hour together At last Don Ferdinand parted Don Quixote and the Officer who were both pretty well pleas'd to quit their Bargain However the Officers still demanded their Prisoner and to have him deliver'd bound into their Hands commanding all the Company a second Time to help and assist them in securing that publick Robber upon the King 's high Road. Don Quixote smil'd at the suppos'd Simplicity of the Fellows at last with solemn Gravity Come hither said he you Off-spring of Filth and Extraction of Dunghills dare you call loosing the Fetter'd freeing the Captiv'd helping the Miserable raising the Fall'n and supplying the Indigent dare you I say base-spirited Rascals call these Actions Robbery Your Thoughts indeed are too grovelling and servile to understand or reach the Pitch of Chivalry otherwise you had understood that even the Shadow of a Knight-Errant had Claim to your Adoration You a Band of Officers you 're a Pack of Rogues indeed and Robbers on the High-way by Authority What Blockhead of a Magistrate durst issue out a Warrant to Apprehend a Knight-Errant like me Could not his Ignorance find out that we are exempt from all Courts of Judicature That our Valour is the Bench our Will the Common-Law and our Sword the Executioner of Justice Could not his Dulness inform him that no Rank of Nobility or Peerage enjoys more Immunities and Privileges Has he any President that a Knight-Errant ever paid Taxes Subsidy Poll-Money or so much as Fare or Ferry What Taylor ever had Money for his Cloaths or what Constable ever made him pay a Reckoning for his Lodging in his Castle What Kings are not proud of his Company and what Damsels of his Love And lastly did you ever read of any Knight-Errant that ever
let the Anguish of that miserable Knight thy tender Master mollify thy Heart Alass I see his very Soul just at his Throat and sticking not ten Inches from his Lips waiting only thy cruel or kind Answer either to fly out of his Mouth or return into his Breast Don Quixote hearing this clapp'd his Hand upon his Gullet and turning to the Duke By Heavens my Lord said he Dulcinea is in the right for I find my Soul travers'd in my Windpipe like a Bullet in a Cross-bow What 's your Answer now Sancho said the Dutchess I say as I said before quoth Sancho as for the flogging I prenounce it flat and plain Renounce you mean said the Duke Good your Lordship quoth Sancho this is no time for me to mind Niceties and spelling of Letters I have other Fish to fry This plaguy Whipping-bout makes me quite distracted I don't know what I say or do But I would fain know of my Lady Dulcinea del Toboso where she pick'd up this kind of Breeding to beg thus like a sturdy Begger Here she comes to desire me to lash my Back-side as raw as a piece of Beef and the best Word she can give is Soul of a broken Pitcher Monster Brute Sheep-stealer with a ribble rabble of saucy Nick-names that the Devil himself would not bear Do you think Mistress of mine that my Skin is made of Brass Or shall I get any thing by your Dis-inchantment Beshrew her Heart Where 's the fine Present she has brought along with her to soften me A Basket of fine Linnen Holland-Shirts Caps and Socks tho' I wear none had been somewhat like But to fall upon me and bespatter me thus with dirty Names d'yâ— think that will do No i'fackins Remember the old Sayings a Golden Load makes the Burden light Gifts will enter Stone-Walls Scratch my Breech and I 'll claw your Elbow a Bird in Hand is worth two in the Bush Nay my Master too who one would think should tell me a fine Story and coaks me up with dainty Sugar plumb Words talks of tying me to a Tree forsooth and of doubling the Whipping Odsbobs methinks those troublesome People should know who they Prate to 'T is not only a Squire Errant they would have to whip himself but a Governour and is there no more to do think they but up and ride Let 'em e'en learn Manners with a Pox. There 's a time for some things and a time for all things a time for great things and a time for small things Am I now in the humour to hear Petitions d' ye think just when my Heart 's ready to burst for having torn my new Coat they would have me tear my own Flesh too in the Devil's Name when I have no more Stomach to it than I 've to be among the Men-eaters Upon my Honour Sancho said the Duke if you don't relent and become as soft as a ripe Fig you shall have no Government 'T would be a fine thing indeed that I should send among my Islanders a merciless hard-hearted Tyrant whom neither the Tears of distress'd Damsels nor the Admonitions of Wise Ancient and Powerful Inchanters can move to Compassion In short Sir no Stripes no Government But quoth Sancho mayn't I have a Day or two to Consider on 't Not a Minute cry'd Merlin You must declare now and in this very Place what you resolve to do for Dulcinea must be again Transform'd into a Country-Wench and carried back immediately to Montesinos's Cave or else she shall go as she is now to the Elysian Fields there to remain till the number of the Stripes be made out Come come honest Sancho said the Dutchess pluck up a good Courage and shew your Gratitude to your Master whose Bread you have eaten and to whose generous Nature and high Feats of Chivalry we are all so much oblig'd Come Child give your Consent and make a Fool of the Devil Hang Fear faint Heart ne'er won fair Lady Fortune favours the Brave as you know better than I can tell you Hark you Master Merlin quoth Sancho without giving the Dutchess an Answer pray will you tell me one thing How comes it about that this same Post-Devil that came before you brought my Master Word from Signior Montesinos that he would be here and give him Directions about this Disinchantment and yet we hear no News of Montesinos all this while Pshaw answer'd Merlin the Devil 's an Ass and a lying Rascal he came from me and not from Montesinos for he poor Man is still in his Cave expecting the Dissolution of the Spell that confines him there yet so that he is not quite ready to be free But if he owes you any Money or you have any Business with him he shall be forth-coming when and where you please But now pray make an end and undergo this small Penance 't will do you a World of good for 't will not only prove beneficial to your Soul as an Act of Charity but also to your Body as a healthy Exercise for you are of a very Sanguine Complection Sancho and losing a little Blood will do you no harm Well quoth Sancho there is like to be no want of Physicians in this World I find the very Conjurers set up for Doctors too Well then since every body says as much though I can hardly believe it I am content to give my self the three thousand three hundred Stripes uâ—on condition that I may be paying 'em off as long as I please observe that tho' I will be out of Debt as soon as I can that the World mayn't be without the pretty Face of the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso which I must own I could never have believ'd to have been so handsom Item I shall not be bound to fetch Blood that 's certain and if any Stroke happen to miss me it shall pass for one however Item Master Merlin because he knows all things shall be oblig'd to reckon the Lashes and take care I don't give my self one over the Tale. There 's no fear of that said Merlin for at the very last Lash the Lady Dulcinea will be disinchanted come straight to you make you a Courtsy and give you Thanks Heaven forbid I should wrong any Man of the least hair of his Head Well quoth Sancho what must be must be I yield to my hard Luck and on the aforesaid Terms take up with my Pennance Scarce had Sancho spoke when the Musick struck up again and a Congratulatory Volley of small Shot was immediately discharg'd Don Quixote fell on Sancho's Neck hugging and kissing him a thousand Times The Duke the Dutchess and the whole Company seem'd mightily pleas'd The Chariot mov'd on and as it pass'd by the fair Dulcinea made the Duke and Dutchess a Bow and Sancho a low Courtsy And now the jolly Morn began to spread her smiling Looks in the Eastern Quarter of the Skies and the Flowers of the Field to disclose their bloomy Folds and raise their