I cajoled him, I should have been perfidious; had I gratified his inclination, I should have acted contrary to my own reason and resolution. But, because he persisted after I had explained myself, and despaired before he had cause to think I abhorred him, I leave you to judge, whether or not it be reasonable to lay his misfortune at my door? Let him whom I have deceived complain, and let him despair to whom I have broke my promise; if I call upon any man, he may depend upon me; if I admit of his addresses, he may rejoice in his success; but why should I be styled a barbarous homicide by him whom I never soothed, deceived, called, or admitted? Hitherto Heaven has not thought fit that I should love by destiny; and the world must excuse me from loving by election. Let this general declaration serve as an answer to all those who solicit me in particular, and hence forward give them to understand, that whosoever dies for me, perishes not by jealousy or disdain, for she who never gave her love, can never give just cause of jealousy; neither ought her plain-dealing to be interpreted into disdain. Let him who terms me a fierce basilisk, shun me as an evil being; if any man thinks me ungrateful, let him refuse his services when I ask them. If I have disowned any one, let him renounce me in his turn; and let him who has found me cruel, abandon me in my distress: this fierce basilisk, this ungrateful, cruel, supercilious wretch, will neither seek, serve, own, nor follow you in any shape whatever. If Chrysostom perished by the impatience of his own extravagant desire, why should my innocent reserve be inveighed against? If I have preserved my virginity in these deserts, why should he that loves me wish to see me lose it among mankind? I have riches of my own, as you all know, and covet no man's wealth: I am free, and will not be subjected: I neither love nor hate any man: I do not cajole this one, nor teaze that, nor do I joke with one, or discourse with another; but amuse myself with the care of my goats, and the innocent conversation of the shepherdesses belonging to the neighbour ing villages. My desires are bounded by these mountains; or, if my meditation surpasses these bounds, it is only to contemplate the beauty of the heavens, those steps by which the soul as cends to its original mansion." So saying, without waiting for any reply, she turned her back, and vanished into a thicket on a neighbouring mountain, leaving all that were present equally surprised with her beauty and discre

tion.

Some of the bye-standers being wounded by the powerful shafts that were darted from her fair eyes, manifested an inclination to follow her, without availing themselves of the ingenuous declaration they had heard; which being perceived by Don Quixote, who thought this a proper occasion for exercising his chivalry in

defence of distressed damsels, he laid his hand upon the hilt of the sword, and, in a lofty and audible voice, pronounced, "Let no person, of whatsoever rank or degree, presume to follow the beautiful Marcella, on pain of incurring my most furious indignation. She has demonstrat ed, by clear and undeniable arguments, how little, if at all, she is to be blamed for the death of Chrysostom; and how averse she is to comply with the desires of any of her admirers; for which reason, instead of being pursued and persecuted, she ought to be honoured and esteemed by all virtuous men, as the only person in the universe who lives in such a chaste and laudable intention." Whether it was owing to these menaces of the knight or to the advice of Ambrose, who desired them to perform the last office to their deceased friend, not one of the shepherds attempted to stir from the spot, until the grave being finished, and the papers burnt, the body of poor Chrysostom was interred, not without abundance of tears shed by his surviving companions. The grave was secured by a large fragment of the rock which they rolled upon it, till such time as a tomb-stone could be made, under the direction of Ambrose, who was resolved to have the following epitaph engraved upon it:

The body of a wretched swain,
Kill'd by a cruel maid's disdain,

In this cold bed neglected lies;
He lived, fond hapless youth! to prove
Th' inhuman tyranny of love,

Exerted in Marcella's eyes."

Having strewed the place with a profusion of flowers and branches, every body present condoled, and took leave of the afflicted executor; and Don Quixote bade farewell to his kind landlords, as well as to the travellers, who would have persuaded him to accompany them to Seville, which, they said, was a city so well adapt. ed for adventures, that they occurred in every street, nay, at the corner of every blind alley. Our hero thanked them most courteously for their advice, and the inclination they expressed to give him pleasure; but assured them he neither could nor would set out for Seville, until he should have cleared these deserts of the robbers and banditti, of whom they were reported to be full.

The travellers, seeing him thus laudably determined, importuned him no further, but, taking leave of him anew, pursued their journey, during which they did not fail to discuss the story of Marcella and Chrysostom, as well as the madness of Don Quixote, who, on his part, resolved to go in quest of the shepherdess, and offer her all the service in his power: but this scheme did not turn out according to his expectation, as will be related in the course of this faithful history, the second book of which is here concluded.

CHAP. I.

Wherein is recounted the unlucky adventure which happened to Don Quixote, in meeting with cer tain unmerciful Yanguesians.

THE sage Cid Hamet Benengeli relates, that Don Quixote, having bid adieu to his enter tainers, and to all who were present at the funeral of the shepherd Chrysostom, entered, with his 'squire, the same wood to which Marcella had retreated; where, when they had wandered about upwards of two hours, without seeing her, they chanced to find themselves in a delightful spot, overgrown with verdant grass, and watered by a cool and pleasant stream; which was so inviting, as to induce them to stay in it during the heat of the day, that now began to be very sultry; the knight and 'squire therefore dismounting, and leaving the ass and Rozinante at pleasure to regale themselves with the rich pasture, emptied their knapsack, and, with out any ceremony, attacked the contents, which they ate together like good friends, laying aside all vain distinction of master and man.

Sancho had been at no pains to tether Rozinante, secure, as he thought, in knowing him to be so meek and peaceable, that all the mares in the meadows of Cordova could not provoke his concupiscence. Chance, however, or the devil, who is not often found napping, ordered it so, as that a drove of Gallician fillies, belonging to certain Yanguesian carriers, happened, at that very instant, to be feeding in the same valley; for it being the custom of these people to halt and refresh themselves and their beasts in places where there is plenty of water and grass, they could not have lighted on a more convenient spot than that where Don Quixote chanced to be. It was then that Rozinante, seized with an inclination to solace himself with some of those skittish females, no sooner had them in the wind, than, deviating from his natural disposition and accustomed deliberation, without asking leave of his lord and master, he went off at a small trot, to communicate his occasions to the objects of his desire. But they, it seems, more fond of their pasture than of his addresses, received him so uncivilly with their hoots and teeth, that, in a twinkling, his girth was broke, his saddle kicked off, and he himself remained in cuerpo. But what he chiefly suffered was from the carriers, who, seeing violence offered to their mares, ran to their assistance with long staves, which they exercised upon him so unmercifully, that he fell prostrate to the ground, almost battered to death.

The knight and Sancho, seeing their steed thus bastinadoed, made all the haste they could to his rescue; the former addressing the latter in this manner: "I perceive, friend Sancho, that these are no knights, but fellows of low degree and infamous descent: this particular I mention, because thou mayest now assist me, in taking just vengeance upon them for the injury they have done to Rozinante before my face." "What a devil of vengeance can we pretend to take (answered the 'squire), when they are more than twenty, and we but two? nay, I believe, if it was put to the trial, no better than one and a half." "Myself am worth an hundred of such vagabonds," cried Don Quixote; and, without uttering another syllable, he unsheathed his sword, and assaulted the Yanguesians, being seconded by Sancho, who suffered himself to be roused and encouraged by the example of his master: and indeed the knight lent the first he met with such a hearty stroke, as laid open a leathern jacket he wore, together with a large portion of his shoulder.

The carriers, seeing themselves thus maltreated by two men only, took the benefit of their numbers, and ran to sustain one another with their staves; then, surrounding the two assailants, began to drum upon their carcasses with infinite eagerness and dexterity. True it is, at the second application, Sancho fell to the earth,-a misfortune that also happened to his master, who, in spite of all his own address, together with the assistance of his good friend, soon found himself stretched at the feet of Ro zinante, who had not as yet been able to rise: from whence we may learn what furious execution is often done by pack-staves, when managed by the hands of such enraged clowns.

The carriers, perceiving the havock they had made, thought proper to load again with all. despatch, and pursue their journey, leaving our adventurers in miserable plight and doleful dilemma. The first that recovered the use of his senses was Sancho Panza, who, finding himself laid along by the side of his master, pronounced, with a weak and lamentable voice, "Sir Don Quixote! ah Sir Don Quixote!" "What wouldst thou have, brother Sancho?" replied the knight, in the same feeble and complaining tone. "I wish (resumed Sancho), your worship would, if it be possible, comfort me with a couple of gulps of that same balsam made by Fairy Blas, if you have got any of it about you: perhaps it may be serviceable in bruises and broken bones as well as in wounds and running sores." "Would to God I had it here, unfortunate wight that I am! (cried Don Quixote); but I swear to thee,

Sancho, on the faith of a knight-errant, that ere two days pass, if some mischievous accident does not intervene, I will have it in my possession, if my hands do not very much misgive me."-"In how many days does your worship think we shall be able to move our feet?" said the 'squire. "With regard to myself (answered the battered knight), I really cannot fix any number of days; but this I know, that I alone am to blame for what has happened, in condescending to use my sword against antagonists who were not dubbed and knighted like myself. I therefore firmly believe, that, as a punishment for having transgressed the laws of chivalry, the God of battles hath permitted me to receive this disgraceful chastisement: for which reason, brother Sancho, it is proper that thou shouldst be apprised of what I am going to say, as it may be of great importance to the safety of us both: whenever thou shalt see us insulted or aggrieved for the future, by such rascally scum, thou shalt not wait for my drawing upon them, for I will in no shape meddle with such unworthy foes; but lay thy hand upon thy sword, and with thy own arm chastise them to thy heart's content: but should any knights make up to their de fence and assistance, then shall I know how to protect thee, and assault them with all my might; and thou art already convinced, by a thousand amazing proofs, how far extends the valour of this my invincible arm." So arrogant was the poor knight become by his victory over the valiant Biscayan.

This wholesome advice, however, was not so much relished by Sancho, but that he replied, "Sir, I am a quiet, meek, peaceable man, and can digest any injury, be it ever so hard; for I have a wife and small children to maintain and bring up wherefore, let me also apprize (since I cannot lay my commands upon) your worship, that I will in no shape whatever use my sword against either knight or knave; and that henceforward, in the sight of God, I forgive all injuries past, present, or to come, which I have already received, at this present time suffer, or may hereafter undergo, from any person whatsoever, high or low, rich or poor, gentle or simple, without exception to rank or circumstance." His master hearing this declaration, answered, "I wish the grievous pain I feel in this rib would abate a little, so as that I could speak for a few moments with ease, and convince thee of thy damnable error, Panza. Hark ye me, sinner! suppose the gale of fortune, which hath been hitherto so adverse, should change in our favour, and, swelling the sails of our desire, conduct us safely, without the least impediment, into the haven of some one of those islands which I have promised thee-what would become of thy wretched affairs, if, after I had won and given it into thy possession, thou shouldst frustrate my intention, by thy lack of knighthood, ambition, valour, and courage, to

revenge thy wrongs, or defend thy government? for I would have thee to know, that, in all newconquered kingdoms or provinces, the friends of their natural masters are never so quiet or reconciled to their new sovereign, as to dispel all fear of some fresh insurrection, to alter the government again, and, as the saying is, try for tune once more: it is therefore requisite that the new possessor should have understanding to govern, resolution to punish, and valour to defend himself, in case of any such accident."

"In this last accident which hath befallen us (said Sancho), I wish the Lord had pleased to give me that same understanding and valour your worship mentions: but I protest, upon the word of a poor sinner, that I am at present more fit for a searcloth than such conversation. See if your worship can make shift to rise, and then we will give some assistance to Rozinante, though it be more than he deserves; for he was the principal cause of all this plaguy rib-roasting: never could I believe such a thing of Rozinante, who I always thought was as chaste and sober a person as myself: but this verifies the common remark, that you must keep company a long time with a man before you know him thoroughly; and that there is nothing certain in this life. Who could have thought that those huge back-strokes your worship dealt so heartily to the unlucky traveller would be followed, as it were post-haste, by such a mighty tempest of blows as just now discharged itself upon our shoulders."" Thy carcass, Sancho (said Don Quixote), was formed for enduring such rough weather; but my limbs were tenderly nursed in soft wool and fine linen, and therefore must feel more sensibly the pain of this discomfiture; and if I did not believe (believe, said I), if I were not certain, that all these inconveniences are inseparably annexed to the exercise of arms, I would lie still where I am, and die with pure vexation."

To this protestation the 'squire replied, "Seeing these misfortunes are the natural crops of chivalry, pray, good your worship, do they happen at all times of the year, or only fall at an appointed season; because, in my simple conjecture, two such harvests will leave us altogether incapable of reaping a third, if God, of his infinite mercy, will not be pleased to send us extraordinary succour?" "Thou must know, friend Sancho (answered Don Quixote), that the life of a knight-errant is subject to a thousand dangers and mishaps; but then he enjoys the self-same chance of being a king or emperor, as experience demonstrates to have been the case of divers and sundry knights, the history of whose lives I am perfectly well acquainted with; and I could now relate, if this pain would give me leave, the fortunes of some who, by their valour alone, have risen to that supreme degree: and those very persons, both before and after their success, have undergone various calamities

and affliction; witness the valiant Amadis de Gaul, who saw himself in the power of his mortal enemy Arcalaus the enchanter, of whom it is positively affirmed, that, while the knight was his prisoner, he caused him to be bound to a pillar in his court-yard, and gave him two hundred stripes with the reins of his horse's bridle. There is likewise a certain secret author of no small credit, who relates that the knight of the sun was caught in a trap in a certain castle, and falling, found himself tied hand and foot in a deep dungeon below ground, where was administered unto him one of those things they call clysters, composed of sand and water, which had well nigh cost him his life; and if he had not been succoured in that perilous conjuncture by a sage who was his good friend, the poor knight would have fared very ill. Wherefore, what hath happened to me may easily pass unheeded, among those much greater affronts that such worthy people have undergone: besides, I would have thee know, Sancho, that it is never reckoned an affront to be wounded by those instruments which are casually in the hands of our enemies; for it is expressly mentioned in the laws of duelling, that if a shoemaker beats a man with a last he has by accident in his hand, the man cannot properly be said to be cudgelled, although the said last was made of wood. This particular I mention, that thou mayest not suppose us affronted, although we have been mauled in this unlucky fray; for the weapons with which those men threshed us so severely were no other than their own packstaves; and, so far as I can remember, there was neither tuck, poniard, nor sword among them."

"They did not give me time (answered Sancho), to make any such observation: for scarce had I laid my fingers upon my Toledo, when there rained a shower of cudgels upon my poor shoulders, that banished the light from my eyes, and strength from my feet, and laid me flat upon the spot where I now lie, not so much concerned about thinking whether this drubbing be an affront or not, as about the intolerable pain of the blows, which remain imprinted upon my memory as well as upon my carcass." Notwithstanding all this complaining (said the knight), I aver, brother Sancho, that there is no remembrance which time does not efface, nor pain that death does not remove." "And pray what greater misfortune can there be. (answered Sancho), than that which nothing but time can remove, or death put a stop to? If this mishap of ours were such a one as might be cured with a couple of snips of searcloth, it would not be altogether so vexatious; but so far as I can see, all the plaster of an hospital

66

will not be sufficient to set us cleverly on our legs again."

Truce with thy reflections (replied Don Quixote), and, collecting strength out of weakness, as I will endeavour to do, let us rise and examine Rozinante's case; for, in all appearance, the poor beast has not suffered the least part of the misfortune." "That is not to be wondered at (said the 'squire), he being a knight-errant also; but what surprises me most is, that my Dapple should get off without paying his score, when we are scored all over.” “ Destiny, when one door is shut, always leaves another open, as a resource in all calamities (said Don Quixote): this I observe, because thy ass will now supply the place of Rozinante, and and carry me from hence to some castle, where my wounds may be cured; more especially as such carriage will be no dishonour to chivalry: for I remember that the good old Silenus, tutor and companion of the jolly god of mirth and wine, entered the city of the hundred gates, lolling at his ease upon a most comely ass.' "It may be very true that he rode upon an ass (replied Sancho); but there is some difference, I apprehend, between riding and lying across the beast like a bag of dirt." To this observation the knight answered, "Those wounds which are received in battle may well give, but can never deprive one of honour therefore, friend Sancho, do as I bid thee, without further reply; get up as well as thou canst, and lay me upon Dapple just as thou shalt find most convenient, that we may be gone before night comes to surprise us in this unfrequented place."

"And yet (said Sancho), I have heard your worship remark, that it is usual for knights-errant to sleep upon commons and heaths the greatest part of the year; ay, and to be thankful for their good fortune in being able so to do." "Yes (said the knight), when they can do no better, or are in love; and this is so true, that there was a knight who lay upon a bare rock, exposed to the sultry noon and midnight damps, with all the inclemencies of the weather, during two whole years, before his mistress knew any thing of the matter: this was no other than Amadis, who, assuming the name of Beltenebros, took up his quarters upon the naked rock, for the space of eight years, or eight months, I really do not remember which; only that he remained doing penance in that place, for some disgust shewn to him by his dame Oriana: but truce with this conversation, Sancho, and make haste, before such another accident can happen to thy beast as that which hath already befallen Rozinante."

"Odds my life! that would be the devil indeed," cried Sancho, who, uttering thirty ah's