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you might have known her to have been an hireling, at the distance of a bow-shot. Under the foot of her rider was a label, containing these words, Don Sancho de Azpetia, which was doubtless his name; and beneath our knight was another, with the title of Don Quixote. Rozinante was most wonderfully delineated, so long and raw-boned, so lank and meagre, so sharp in the back, and consumptive, that one might easily perceive with what propriety and penetration the name of Rozinante had been bestowed upon him. Hard by the steed was Sancho Panza, holding his ass by the halter, at whose feet was a third label, inscribed Sancho Zancas, who, in the picture, was represented as a person of a short stature, swag belly, and long spindle-shanks: for this reason he ought to be called indiscriminately by the names of Panza and Zancas ;* for by both these surnames is he sometimes mentioned in history. There were divers other minute circumstances to be observed, but all of them of small importance and concern to the truth of the history, though indeed nothing that is true can be impertinent: however, if any objection can be started to the truth of this, it can be no other, but that the author was an Arabian, of a nation but too much addicted to falsehood, though, as they are at present our enemies, it may be supposed, that he has rather failed than exceeded in the representation of our hero's exploits: for, in my opinion, when he had frequently opportunities and calls to exercise his pen in the praise of such an illustrious knight, he seems to be industriously silent on the subject,-a circumstance very little to his commendation, for all historians ought to be punctual, candid, and dispassionate, that neither interest, rancour, fear, nor affection, may mislead them from the road of truth, whose mother is history, that rival of time, that repository of great actions, witness of the past, example and pattern of the present, and oracle of future ages. In this, I know, will be found whatsoever can be expected in the most pleasant performance; and if any thing seems imperfect, I affirm it must be owing to the fault of the infidel its author, rather than to any failure of the subject itself: in short, the second book in the translation begins thus:

The flaming swords of the two valiant and incensed combatants, brandished in the air, seemed to threaten heaven, earth, and hell, such was the rage and resolution of those that wielded them: but the first blow was discharged by the choleric Biscayan, who struck with such force and fury, that if the blade had not turned by the way, that single stroke would have been sufficient to have put an end to this dreadful conflict, and all the other adventures of our

knight; but his good genius, which preserved him for mightier things, turned the sword of his antagonist aside, so that, though it fell upon his left shoulder, it did no other damage than disarm that whole side, slicing off, in its passage, the greatest part of his helmet, with half of his ear, which fell to the ground with hideous ruin, leaving him in a very uncomfortable situation. Good heavens! where is the man who can worthily express the rage and indignation which entered into the heart of our Manchegan, when he saw himself handled in this manner? I shall only say, his fury was such, that, raising himself again in the stirrups, and grasping his sword with both hands, he discharged it so full upon the cushion and head of the Biscayan, which it but ill defended, that, as if a mountain had fallen upon him, he began to spout blood from his nostrils, mouth, and ears, and seemed ready to fall upon his mule; which would certainly have been the case, if he had not laid hold of the mane: yet, notwithstanding this effort, his feet falling out of the stirrups, and his arms quitting their hold, the mule, which was frightened at the terrible stroke, began to run across the field, and, after a few plunges, came with her master to the ground. Don Quixote, who sat observing him with great tranquillity, no sooner perceived him fall, than, leaping from his horse, he ran up to him with great agility, and, setting the point of his sword to his throat, bade him surrender on pain of having his head cut off. The Biscayan was so confounded by the blow and fall he had sustained, that he could not answer one syllable; and, as Don Quixote was blinded by his rage, he would have fared very ill, if the ladies of the coach, who had hitherto, in great consternation, been spectators of the battle, had not run to the place where he was, and requested, with the most fervent entreaties, that his worship would grant them the favour to spare the life of their squire.

To this petition, the knight replied, with great stateliness and gravity," Assuredly, most beautiful ladies, I am very ready to do what you desire, but it shall be upon condition and proviso, that this cavalier promise to go straight to Toboso, and present himself, in my behalf, before the unparalleled Donna Dulcinea, that she may use him according to her good pleasure." The timorous and disconsolate ladies, without entering into the detail of what Don Quixote desired, or inquiring who this Dulcinea was, promised that the 'squire should obey the knight's commands in every thing. "Upon the faith of your word, then (said Don Quixote), I will do him no farther damage, though he has richly deserved it at my hand."

Panza, in Castilian, signifies Paunch; and Zancas, Spindle-shanks.

CHAP. II.

Of what farther happened between Don Quixote only I know, that the holy brotherhood com

and the Biscayan.

ALL this time Sancho Panza having got up, though very roughly handled by the lacquies of the friars, stood very attentively beholding the battle of his master Don Quixote, and put up ejaculatory petitions to Heaven, that it would please to grant him the victory, and that he might gain by it some island, of which he himself might be made governor, in consequence of the knight's promise. Seeing, therefore, the battle ended, and his master returning to mount Rozinante, he went to hold his stirrup, and, before he got up, fell on his knees before him; then, laying hold of his hand, and kissing it, pronounced, with great fervency, "Sir Don Quixote, will your worship be pleased to bestow on me the government of that island which you have won in this dreadful combat; for, let it be ever so great, I find I have strength enough to govern it, as well as any he who governs an island in this world?" To this request Don Quixote replied, "You must know, brother Sancho, that such as these are not adventures of islands, but frays that happen in byeroads, in which there is nothing to be got but a broken head, with the loss of an ear: have a little patience, and we shall meet with adventures, which will enable me to make you not only a governor, but something more. Sancho made him many hearty acknowledgments for his promise, then, kissing his hand again, and his coat of mail, helped him to mount Rozinante; and he himself getting upon his ass, followed his master, who set off at a round pace; and, without bidding adieu, or speaking one syllable, to those in the coach, entered a wood that was in the neighbourhood.

thing of your honey-seeds (answered Sancho), nor in my life did I ever see one of them: this monly looks after those who quarrel and fight up and down the country; and, as to the other affair, I have no business to intermeddle in it."

"Set your heart at ease then, friend Sancho (replied Don Quixote), for I will deliver you from the hands of the Philistines, much more from the clutches of the brotherhood: but tell me, on thy life, hast thou ever seen a more valiant knight than me in any country of the known world? Hast thou ever read in story of any other who possesses, or has possessed, more courage in attacking, more breath in preserving, more dexterity in wounding, and more agility in overthrowing his antagonist ?" "The truth is (answered Sancho), I never read a history since I was born; for indeed I can neither read nor write; but what I will make bold to wager upon is, that a more daring master than your worship I never served in the days of my life; and I wish to God that your courage may not meet with that reward I have already mentioned. What I beg of your worship at present is, that you would allow me to dress that ear, which bleeds very much, for I have got some lint and a little white ointment in my wallet." "These would have been altogether needless (answered the knight), if I had remembered to make a phial of the balsam of Fierabras, one single drop of which would save abundance of time and trouble." "What sort of a phial and balsam is that?" (said Sancho Panza). "It is a balsam (replied Don Quixote), the receipt of which I retain in my memory, and he that pos sesses the valuable composition needs to be in no fear of death, nor think of perishing by any wound whatsoever: and therefore, when I shall have made it, and delivered it into thy keeping, thou hast no more to do, when thou seest me Sancho followed him as hard as his beast in any combat cut through the middle, a circumwould trot; but Rozinante exerted such speed, stance that very often happens, but to snatch up that, seeing himself left behind, he was obliged that part of the body which falls to the ground, to call to his master to wait for him. The and, before the blood shall congeal, set it upon knight complied with his request, and checked the other half that remains in the saddle, his horse until he was overtaken by his weary taking care to join them with the utmost nicety 'squire, who, when he approached him, "Sir and exactness: then, making me swallow a (said he), methinks it would be the wisest couple of draughts of the aforesaid balsam, thou course for us to retreat to some church; for as wilt see me, in a twinkling, as whole and as he with whom you fought remains but in a sound as an apple." sorry condition, 'tis odds but they inform the holy brotherhood of the affair, and have us apprehended; and verily, if they do, before we get out of prison we may chance to sweat for it." "Peace, Sancho (said Don Quixote), where didst thou ever see or hear that a knight errant was brought to justice for the greatest homicides he had committed?" "I know no

"If that be the case (said Sancho Panza), I henceforth renounce the government of that island you promised me, and desire no other reward for my long and faithful service, but that your worship will give me the receipt of that same most exceeding liquor; for I imagine that it will sell for two rials an ounce at least, and that will be sufficient to make me spend

Santa Hermandad was a brotherhood or society instituted in Spain in times of confusion, to suppress robbery, and render travelling safe.

the rest of my days in credit and ease: but it will be necessary to know, if the composition be costly." "I can make a gallon of it for less than three rials," (replied the knight). "Sinner that I am (cried Sancho), what hinders your worship from teaching me to make it this moment ?" "Hold thy tongue, friend (said the knight), I intend to teach thee greater secrets, and bestow upon thee more considerable rewards, than that; but, in the mean time, let us dress my ear, which pains me more than I could wish."

"

The 'squire accordingly took out his lint and ointment; but, when his master found that his helmet was quite demolished, he had almost run stark mad: he laid his hand upon his sword, and, lifting up his hands to heaven, pronounced aloud, "I swear by the Creator of all things, and by all that is written in the four holy evangelists, to lead the life which the great Marquis of Mantua led, when he swore to revenge the death of his cousin Valdovinos, neither to eat food upon a table, nor enjoy his wife, with many other things, which, though I do not remember, I here consider as expressed, until I shall have taken full vengeance upon him who has done me this injury.' Sancho hearing this invocation," Sir Don Quixote (said he), I hope your worship will consider, that if the knight shall accomplish what he was ordered to do, namely, to present himself before my lady Dulcinea del Toboso, he will have done his duty, and certainly deserves no other punishment, unless he commits a new crime." Thou hast spoke very much to the purpose, and hit the nail on the head (replied Don Quixote); therefore I annul my oath, so far as it regards my revenge; but I make and confirm it anew, to lead the life I have mentioned, until such time as I can take by force as good a helmet as this from some other knight; and thou must not think, Sancho, that I am now making a smoke of straw; for I know very well whom I imitate in this affair; the same thing having literally happened about the helmet of Mambrino, which cost Sacripante so dear."+

"Sir, sir (replied Sancho), with some heat, I wish your worship would send to the devil all

:

such oaths, which are so mischievous to the health and prejudicial to the conscience; for, tell me now, if we should not find in many days a man armed with a helmet, what must we do? Must we perform this vow, in spite of all the rubs and inconveniences in the way; such as to lie in one's clothes, and not to sleep in an inhabited place, with a thousand other penances contained in the oath of that old mad Marquis of Mantua, which your worship now wants to renew? Pray, sir, consider that there are no armed people in these roads, none but carriers and carters, which, far from wearing helmets themselves, perhaps never heard of any such thing during the whole course of their lives." "There thou art egregiously mistaken (replied Don Quixote), for, before we are two hours in these cross-ways, we shall see armed men more numerous than those that came to Albraca, in order to win Angelica the Fair." "On then, and be it so (said Sancho), and pray God we may succeed, and that the time may come when we shall gain that island which has cost me so dear, and then I care not how soon I die." "I have already advised thee, Sancho (said the knight), to give thyself no trouble about that affair; for, should we be disappointed in the expectation of an island, there is the kingdom of Denmark, or that of Sobrediza, which will suit thee as well as ever a ring fitted a finger, and ought to give thee more joy, because it is situated on terra firma; but let us leave these things to the, determination of time; and see if thou hast got any thing in thy wallet; for we must go presently in quest of some castle, where we may procure a night's lodging, and ingredients to make that same balsam I mentioned; for, I vow to God, my ear gives me infinite pain."

"I have got here in my bags (said Sancho), an onion, a slice of cheese, and a few crusts of bread; but these are eatables which do not suit the palate of such a valiant knight-errant as your worship." "How little you understand of the matter! (answered Don Quixote). Thou must know, Sancho, that it is for the honour of knights-errant to abstain whole months together from food, and when they do eat, to be

These ridiculous oaths or vows are not confined to romances. Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, at a public banquet, vowed to God, the holy Virgin, the peacock, and the ladies, that he would declare war against the infidels and a great number of persons who were present listed themselves under the same vow, and incurred voluntary penance until it should be accomplished. Some swore they would never lie upon a bed, others renounced the use of a table-cloth, a third set obliged themselves to fast one particular day in the week, a fourth went without one particular piece of armour, a fifth wore his armour night and day, and many confined themselves to shirts of sackcloth and hair.

+ Geoffri de Rancon, having been injured by the Count de la Marche, swore by the saints that he would wear his buskin like a woman, and never suffer himself to be shaved, in the manner of chivalry, until he should be revenged. This oath he scrupulously observed, until he saw his adversary, with his wife and children, kneeling in distress before the king, and imploring his forgiveness; then he called for a stool, adjusted his buskin, and was shaved in presence of his majesty and all the court.

The knight's forehead was commonly shaved, that, in case he should lose his helmet in combat, his antago. nist should have no hold by which he might be pulled off his horse.

contented with what is next at hand; this thou wouldst not have been ignorant of, hadst thou read so many histories as I have perused, in which, numerous as they are, I have never found any account of knights-errant eating, except occasionally, at some sumptuous banquet made on purpose for them; at other times, living upon air; and though it must be taken for granted, that they could not altogether live without eating, or complying with the other necessities of nature, being in effect men as we are, yet we are likewise to consider, that, as the greatest part of their lives was spent in travelling through woods and deserts, without any cook or caterer, their ordinary diet was no other than such rustic food as thou hast now got for our present occasions: therefore, friend Sancho, give thyself no uneasiness, because thou hast got nothing to gratify the palate, nor seek to unhinge or alter the constitution of things.' "I beg your worship's pardon (said Sancho), for as I can neither read nor write, as I have already observed, I may have mistaken the rules of your knightly profession; but, from hence forward, I will store my budget with all sorts of dry fruits for your worship, who are a knight; and for myself, who am none, I will provide other more volatile and substantial food." "I do not say, Sancho, that knights-errant are obliged to eat nothing except these fruits, but only that their most ordinary sustenance is composed of them and some certain herbs, which they know how to gather in the fields; a species of knowledge which I myself am no stranger to." "Surely (answered Sancho), it is a great comfort to know those same herbs; for it comes into my head, we shall, one day or another, have occasion to make use of the knowledge;" and, taking out the contents of his wallet, they eat together with great harmony and satisfaction; but, being desirous of finding some place for their night's lodging, they finished their humble repast in a hurry, and, mounting their beasts, put on at a good rate, in order to reach some village before it should be dark; but the hope of gratifying that desire failed them with day-light, just when they happened to be near a goatherd's hut, in which they resolved to pass the night; and in the same proportion that Sancho was disgusted at not being able to reach some village, his master was rejoiced at an opportunity of sleeping under the cope of Heaven, because he looked upon every occasion of this kind as an act of profession, that strengthened the proof of his knight-errantry.

CHAP. III.

Of what happened to Don Quixote while he remained with the goatherds.

He received a very hearty welcome from the goatherds, and Sancho having, as well as he could, accommodated Rozinante and his ass, was attracted by the odour that issued from some pieces of goat's flesh that were boiling in a kettle; but though he longed very much, at that instant, to see if it was time to transfer them from the kettle to the belly, he checked his curiosity, because the landlord took them from the fire, and spreading some sheep-skins upon the ground, set out their rustic table without loss of time, inviting their two guests to a share of their mess, with many expressions of good-will and hospitality. Then those who belonged to the cot, being six in number, seated themselves round the skins, having first, with their boorish ceremony, desired Don Quixote to sit down on a trough, which they had overturned for that purpose.

The knight accepted their offer, and Sancho remained standing, to administer the cup, which was made of horn; but his master perceiving him in this attitude, "That thou mayest see, Sancho (said he), the benefit which is concentered in knight-errantry, and how near all those who exercise themselves in any sort of ministry belonging to it are to preferment and esteem of the world, I desire thee to sit down here by my side, in company with these worthy people; and that thou mayest be on an equal footing with me, thy natural lord and master, eating in the same dish, and drinking out of the same cup that I use; for what is said of love may be observed of knight-errantry, that it puts all things upon a level."

"I give you a thousand thanks (said Sancho); but I must tell your worship, that, provided I have plenty, I can eat as much, nay more to my satisfaction, standing on my legs, and in my own company, than if I was to sit by the side of an emperor; and, if all the truth must be told, I had much rather dine by myself in a corner, though it should be upon a bit of bread and an onion, without all your niceties and ceremonies, than eat turkey-cocks at another man's table, where I am obliged to chew softly, to drink sparingly, to wipe my mouth every minute, to abstain from sneezing or coughing, though I should be ever so much

• We read in Perceforest, that there were flat stones placed at certain distances in uninhabited parts of the country, for the use of knights-errant, who, having killed a roe-buck, pressed the blood out of it upon one of these tables, by the help of another smooth stone, and then ate it with some salt and spices, which they carried along with them for that purpose. This diet is called in the French romances, “ Chevraux de presse, nourriture des Heraux."

+ Volatiles in the original, signify any things that fly; and therefore Sancho may be supposed to mean, he would provide himself with game or poultry but the blunder which we have made him commit seems to be more in character.

inclined to either, and from a great many other things, which I can freely do when alone: therefore, sir master of mine, I hope these honours which your worship would put upon me, as being the servant and abetter of knighterrantry, which, to be sure, I am, while I remain in quality of your 'squire, may be converted into other things of more ease and advantage to me, than those which, though I hold them as received in full, I renounce from henceforth for ever, amen." "Thou must nevertheless sit thee down (said his master); for him that is humble God will exalt;" and, seizing him by the arm, he pulled him down to the seat on which he himself sat.

The goatherds, who understood not a word of all this jargon of 'squire and knights-errant, did nothing but eat in silence, and gaze upon their guests, who, with keen appetite, and infinite relish, solaced their stomachs, by swallowing pieces as large as their fists. This service of meat being finished, they spread upon their skins great quantities of acorns, and half a cheese, harder than plaster of Paris: all this time the horn was not idle, but went round so fast, sometimes full, sometimes empty, like the buckets of a well, that they soon voided one of the two skins of wine that hung in view.

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Don Quixote having satisfied his appetite, took up an handful of the acorns, and, after looking at them attentively, delivered himself to this purpose: Happy age, and happy days were those to which the ancients gave the name of golden; not that gold, which, in these our iron-times, is so much esteemed, was to be acquired without trouble in that fortunate period, but because people then were ignorant of those two words MINE and THINE; in that sacred age all things were in common; no man was necessitated, in search of his daily food, to undergo any other trouble than that of reaching out his hand, and receiving it from the sturdy oak, that liberally invited him to pull his sweet and salutary fruit. The limpid fountains and murmuring rills afforded him their savoury and transparent waters in magnificent abundance. In clefts of rocks and hollow trees, the prudent and industrious bees formed their commonwealths, offering, without interest, to every hand the fruitful harvest of their delicious toil. The stately cork-trees voluntarily stripped themselves of their light extended bark, with which men began to cover their rural cottages, supported upon rustic poles, with a view only to defend themselves from the inclemencies of the weather. All was then peace, all was harmony, and all was friendship. As yet the ponderous coulter of the crooked plough had not presumed to open or visit the pious entrails of our first mother, who, without compulsion, presented, on every part of her wide and fertile bosom, every thing that could satisfy, sustain. and delight her sons, who then possessed her. Then did

the simple and beautiful shepherdesses rove from hill to hill, and dale to dale, bareheaded, in their braided locks, without any other clothes than what were necessary to cover modestly that which modesty commands, and always has commanded, to be covered. Neither were their ornaments, such as are used now-a-days, enhanced in value by the Tyrian purple and the manyways martyred silk, but composed of verdant dock-leaves and ivy interwove together; with which they appeared, perhaps, with as great pomp and contrivance as the court-ladies of our days, dressed in all the rare and foreign fashions which idle cusiosity has invented. Then were the amorous dictates of the soul expressed in sensible simplicity, just as they were conceived, undisguised by the artificial cloak of specious words. There was no fraud, no deceit, no malice intermixed with plain-dealing Truth: Justice then kept within her proper bounds, undisturbed and unbiassed by interest and favour, which now impair, confound, and persecute her so much; law was not then centred in the arbitrary bosom of the judge; for, at that time, there was neither cause nor contest. Damsels and decency, as I have already said, went about single, and without fear of being injured by insolence or lust; and their ruin, when it happened, was the fruit of their own will and pleasure. But, now-a-days, in this detestable age, no maid is secure, though she was concealed and shut up in such another labyrinth as was that of Crete; for, even there, the amorous pestilence, with the zeal of mischievous importunity, would enter, either by the help of wings, or by gliding through some chink or other, and all her barricadoed chastity would go to wreck. For the security of this virtue, in process of time, when mischief grew to a greater head, the order of knight-errantry was first instituted to defend damsels, protect widows, and succour the needy and the fatherless. This order, brother goatherds, I profess, and thank you for this kind entertainment and reception which I and my 'squire have received at your hands; for though, by the law of nature, all mankind are obliged to favour and assist knights-errant, during the whole course of their lives, yet, as you have received and regaled me, before you knew yourselves to be under that obligation, I think it my duty to return my most sincere acknowledgment for your hospitality."

The whole of this tedious harangue, which might very well have been spared, was pronounced by our knight, because the acorns they presented recalled to his memory the golden age: therefore he took it in his head to make these useless reflections to the goatherds, who, without answering one syllable, listened with suspense and astonishment. Sancho was also silent; but kept his teeth employed upon the acorns, and paid many a visit to the second

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