squire); but, however, I will do as your worship desires; though there is no necessity for trying those experiments; for I can see with my own eyes that we have not moved five yards from the bank, no, nor have we driven two yards below the cattle; for there stand Rozinante and Dapple, in the very spot where they were left; and taking aim as I do now, I vow to God, we do not move or go at the pace of a pismire."-" Sancho (said the knight), perform the investigation I have mentioned, and give thyself no trouble about any other circumstance; for thou dost not know the meaning of colures, lines, parallels, zodiacs, ecliptics, poles, solstices, equinoxes, planets, constellations, points, and measures, that compose the spheres celestial and terrestrial. Wert thou acquainted with these, or even a part of them, thou wouldst distinctly perceive what parallels we have crossed, what signs we have seen, and what constellations we have left, and are now leaving, behind us. I therefore repeat my request, that thou wouldst examine and go afishing upon thyself; for I am persuaded thou art clean and smooth as a sheet of white paper." Sancho, in compliance with his desire, slipped down his hand softly, and felt about his left ham; then raising his head, and looking at his master, "Either the experiment is false (said he), or we have not reached the place your worship mentioned by many leagues." "What (said the knight), hast thou found something?" Ay, more than one something," answered the 'squire; who snapped his fingers, and afterwards washed them in the river, along the current of which the boat glided softly, without the assistance of any secret power, or concealed enchanter, being conveyed by nothing but the stream, which then ran with a smooth and gentle course. In this manner they proceeded, when they discovered some large mills, built in the middle of the river, which Don Quixote no sooner perceived than he addressed himself to Sancho in an exalted voice: "Behold, my friend, yonder appears the city, castle, or fortress, that contains some oppressed knight-errant, queen, infanta, or princess in distress, for whose relief I am brought hither."-" What the devil does your worship mean by a city, fortress, or castle? (cried the squire); don't you see these are mills built in the river for grinding wheat ?”"Peace, Sancho (replied the knight), although they appear to be mills, they are in reality edifices of a very different nature: I have already told thee that all things are transformed and changed by the power of enchantment; I do not mean that they are really changed in any circumstance but appearance, as we have been taught by woful experience, , in t the transforma tion of Dulcinea, the sole refuge of my hope." By this time, the boat being sucked into the middle of the stream, so as to move considerably faster than at first, was perceived by the millers, who seeing it advancing to the indraught of the wheels, came suddenly out in a body, with long poles to stop its motion; and as their faces and clothes were bepowdered with meal, they made a frightful figure, while they exclaimed with great vociferation, "You devils of men! where are you going? are you mad, to come and drown yourselves, or be ground to pieces by the wheels?" Don Quixote hearing this address, "Did not I tell thee, Sancho (said he), that we had arrived at the scene in which I must exert the prowess of mine arm. Behold what felons and assassins come forth to try my valour! behold what a number of hobgoblins range themselves against me! behold, I say, what horrid physiognomies appear to scare and overawe us; but you shall presently see what will happen, ye ruffians!" Then, starting up, he began to threaten and revile them, exclaiming aloud, " Ye scum, ye scoundrels, ill-intentioned and worse-advised, release, I charge you, and restore to the full fruition of freedom, the person whom ye keep confined and oppressed in that fortress or gaol, let him be high or low, or of what rank and quality soever he may be; for I am Don Quixote de la Mancha, otherwise entitled the Knight of the Lions, destined, by the appointment of Heaven above, to bring this adventure to an happy issue!" So saying, he unsheathed his sword, and brandished it in the air, in defiance of the millers, who, hearing this rhapsody without understanding it, began to employ their poles, in order to turn aside the boat, which, by this time, had entered the current and canal of the wheels. As for Sancho, he fell upon his knees, and prayed devoutly that Heaven would deliver him from such imminent danger; and his deliverance was accordingly effected by the alertness and dexterity of the millers, who pushed back the boat with their poles; yet not without oversetting the vessel; so as that the knight and his 'squire were soused over head and ears in the water. It was well for Don Quixote that he could swim like a goose; nevertheless the weight of his armour sunk him twice to the bottom; and had not the millers thrown themselves into the river, and weighed them up by main strength, it might have been said, Here Troy once stood." They were no sooner dragged ashore, rather drenched than dead of drought, than the 'squire humbling himself upon his knees, again clasp In allusion to the speech that Virgil puts in the mouth of Panthus Othryades, who says to Eneas, fuit Ilium, et ingens Gloria Tincrorum! ing his hands, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, uttered a very fervent petition to God that he might be from thenceforward delivered from the frantic projects and mad attempts of his master. This ejaculation was scarce finished, when they were joined by the fishermen, who were owners of the boat, which was crushed to pieces by the mill-wheels; and they perceiving the wreck, began to strip Sancho, and demand indemnification of his master, who, with great tranquillity, as if nothing at all had happened, told the millers and fishermen that he would pay for the bark with the utmost cheerfulness, on condition that they would release, without ransom or security, the person or persons whom they detained in durance and oppression within that castle. "What does the madman mean by persons and castles (answered one of the millers); wouldst thou carry off the customers that bring grist to our mills, forsooth ?"-" Enough (said Don Quixote within himself), I might as well preach to the desert as attempt by entreaties to prevail upon such miscreants to do any virtuous action. In this adventure there must certainly be two powerful enchanters engaged on opposite sides, one of whom baffles the designs of the other: by one I was provided with a bark, and his antagonist overturned me in the water. Lord mend us! the world is nothing but a continual warfare of opposite machinations and deceit: for my own part, I can do no more." Then raising his voice, and fixing his eyes upon the mills," Friends (cried he), whosoever you are who lie confined within that prison, forgive me, that for my misfortune, as well as yours, it is not in my power to extricate you from your distress; for some other knight the adventure must be reserved." Having pronounced this apostrophe, he compounded with the fishermen, for whose boat he paid fifty rials, which Sancho disbursed with great reluctance, saying, "Two such boatfuls will sink our whole stock to the bottom." The fishermen and millers gazed with admiration at those two figures, so different in appearance from other men; and as they could by no means understand the meaning and tendency of Don Quixote's discourse, and the questions he asked, they looked upon them as madmen, and went away. The millers retreated to their mills; the fishermen betook themselves to their cottage; the knight and 'squire, like beasts, returned to their beasts; and thus ended the adventure of the enchanted bark. CHAP. XIII. indeed they were both sufficiently out of humour, especially Sancho, who was cut to the soul by the encroachment upon their capital, which to him was as precious as the apple of his eye. At length they mounted, in the most profound silence, and departed from the banks of that famous river; Don Quixote buried as it were amidst the meditations of his love, and Sancho immersed in those of his preferment, which at that time seemed to be at a weary distance; for maugre all his simplicity and folly, he could easily perceive that all, or the greatest part, of his master's actions proceeded from frenzy and distraction; he therefore resolved to take an opportunity of retreating abruptly to his own house, without expostulation, or the ceremony of taking leave. But fortune ordained that things should fall out quite contrary to his apprehensions. Next day at sun-set, as they came out of a wood, Don Quixote extending his view over a delightful green meadow, perceived some people at the farther end of it; and as he proceeded, saw they were falconers: approaching still nearer, he observed among them a gay lady, mounted upon a palfrey or beautiful pad as white as the driven snow, adorned with green furniture, and a saddle of silver; the lady was likewise dressed in a rich habit of the same colour, as fine as finery itself. On her left hand she carried a hawk, a circumstance from which the knight concluded she was some lady of high rank, and mistress of all the rest; nor was he mistaken. On this supposition, therefore, he said to his 'squire, "Make haste, son Sancho, go and tell that lady of the palfrey and hawk, that I, the Knight of the Lions, send my respects to her exceeding beauty; and that, with her good leave, I will go and pay my com pliments in person, and make her a tender of my service to the utmost of my power, in whatever she shall please to command: but keep a guard upon your tongue, Sancho, and beware of thrusting in some of your proverbs, while you deliver my embassy."-" To be sure, you have found me a deadly thruster (answered the 'squire), that you give me such warning, as if this were the first time in my life that I have carried embassies to ladies of high rank and augmentation."-" Except that which you carried to the lady Dulcinea (said the knight), I do not know that ever you carried another, at least while in my service."-" That's true (replied Sancho), but a good paymaster never wants bail; and a dinner is easily got where there is plenty of meat for the pot: what I mean is, that there is no occasion to tell me or advertise me of any thing; for I am never out, and have Of what passed between Don Quixote and a fair a sort of a smack of every thing."-" I believe huntress. In a melancholy plight did the knight and 'squire reach the place where their cattle stood; it, Sancho (said Don Quixote); go in peace, and God be your guide." The 'squire setting out accordingly, at a good rate, and spurring Dapple beyond his natural pace, came up with the fair huntress; then alighting and kneeling before her, "Beautiful lady (said he), yonder knight, called the Knight of the Lions, is my master, and I am his 'squire, known at my own home by the name of Sancho Panza; and that same Knight of the Lions, though formerly of the Rueful Countenance, sends me to beg your grandeur would be pleased to allow him purposely, courteously, and consentingly, to come and gratify his desire, which is no other, as he says, and I believe, than to serve your exalted beauty and hawkingship; and in so doing, your excellency will do a thing that will redound to your own advantage, and from which he will receive the most notorious honour and satisfaction." "Worthy 'squire (replied the lady), assuredly you have delivered your embassy with all the circumstances that such embassies require: pray rise, for it is not reasonable that the 'squire of such a great knight-errant as he of the Rueful Countenance, whose character is well known in these parts, should remain in that posture; rise, friend, and go and tell your master, that he shall be extremely welcome to command the services of me and the duke my husband, at our countryhouse in the neighbourhood." Sancho arose, equally astonished at the beauty, good-breeding, and affability of this worthy lady; but he was still more surprised at what she said concerning the well-known character of the Knight of the Rueful Countenance; for if she did not give him the appellation of the Lions, it was because he had but lately assumed that epithet. "Pray, tell me, brother 'squire (said the duchess, whose title is not known), is not your master the person whose history is printed under the name of the sage Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha, who professes himself the admirer of one Dulcinea del Toboso?"-"The very same, my lady (answered Sancho), and I myself am that very 'squire of his who is mentioned, or ought to be mentioned, in that history, by the name of Sancho Panza, unless they have changed me in the cradle, I mean in the press."-" I am extremely glad to hear it (replied the duchess): go, brother Sancho, and tell your master, that he is well met, and welcome to my estate; and that nothing could give me more pleasure than his arrival." Sancho, in an excess of joy, occasioned by this agreeable answer, returned and recounted to his master all that this lady of rank had said, extolling to the skies, in his rustic phrase, her exceeding beauty, good humour, and politeness. The knight chose one of his genteelest attitudes, fixed himself well in his stirrups, adjusted his vizor, quickened Rozinante, and with an agreeable air, advanced to pay his respects to the duchess, who, while he approached, caused her husband to be called, and communicated the curious embassy. As they had read the first part of the history, from which they learned the extravagant humour of Don Quixote, they waited with infinite pleasure, and the most eager desire of being acquainted with the original, fully determined to gratify his humour in every thing, and treat him all the time he should stay with them as a real knight-errant; that is, with all the ceremonies described in those books of chivalry they had read, and to which, indeed, they were greatly attached. Meanwhile, Don Quixote approaching with his beaver up, made a motion to alight, and Sancho made haste to hold the stirrup; but he was so unfortunate, that in dismounting from Dapple, he slipped his foot through the noose of the stirrup-rope in such a manner that he could not possibly disentangle himself, but continued hanging with his face and part of his body on the ground. The knight, who never alighted without his assistance, imagining that Sancho, as usual, held the stirrup, threw himself off with a swing, and the saddle, which must have been very ill girted, and he came to the ground together; not without great disgrace and a thousand curses, which he muttered between his teeth, against the unfortunate Sancho, whose leg was still in the stocks. The duke, seeing their distress, ordered his huntsman to assist the knight and 'squire; and they lifted up Don Quixote, who was very much bruised by the fall; nevertheless, he advanced as well as he could, with a limping pace, and kneeled before this noble pair: but the duke would by no means allow him to remain in that posture; on the contrary, alighting from his horse, he ran to embrace the knight, saying, "I am heartily sorry, Sir Knight of the Rueful Countenance, that the first time you touch my ground you should be so unlucky; but the carelessness of 'squires is often the cause of greater misfortunes."- "This accident, valiant prince (replied Don Quixote), cannot possibly be deemed a misfortune, though I had been plunged into the profound abyss: for even from thence should I have been raised and extricated by the glory of seeing your grace. My 'squire, whom God confound, is more ready at untying his tongue, in order to utter malicious insinuations, than at tying and securing the girth of a saddle: but, whether fallen or exalted, afoot or on horseback, I shall always be devoted to your service, and that of my lady duchess, your grace's worthy consort, the dignified queen of beauty, and universal princess of politeness." Softly, my good Signor Don Quixote de la Mancha (said the duke), where my lady Dul cinea del Toboso reigns no other beauty deserves applause." By this time Sancho Panza had disentangled himself and come up, and interposing in the discourse, before his master could make any reply, "It cannot be denied (said he), but must always be affirmed, that my lady Dulcinea del Toboso is extremely beautiful: but the hare starts where she is least expected; for I have heard it said, that the power called nature is like a potter, who, if he can make one beautiful vessel, can in like manner make two, three, ay, and a hundred: this I observe, because in good faith my lady duchess comes not a whit behind my lady mistress Donna Dulcinea del Toboso." Don Quixote, turning to the duchess, "Your grace must know (said he), that no knighterrant upon earth has such a prattling and freespoken 'squire as mine; and he will certainly verify my words, if your highness shall be pleased to make use of my service for a few days."-"I have the better opinion of honest Sancho for his being free-spoken (answered the duchess): that is a sign of his discretion; for pleasantry and wit, Signor Don Quixote, as your worship very well knows, do not love to dwell in a reserved disposition; and therefore, since honest Sancho is frank and free-spoken, I from henceforth set him down as a man of discretion."-" And loquacity," added the knight. "So much the better (said the duke), for a great deal of wit cannot be expressed in a few words; and that we may not spend more time in them, come, renowned Knight of the Rueful Countenance"Of the Lions, your highness must call him (cried Sancho); the Rueful Countenance is no more."—" Of the Lions let it be then (continued the duke); I say, come, Sir Knight of the Lions, to a castle I have in this neighbourhood, where you shall meet with that reception which is due to a person of your fame and character, and that respect which I and the duchess always pay to the knights-errant who favour us with their company.' By this time Sancho having replaced and secured Rozinante's saddle, Don Quixote bestrode that famous steed; and the duke mounting a beautiful courser, they rode towards the castle, on each side of the duchess, who desired Sancho to keep close to her; for she took infinite pleasure in hearing his conceits. Indeed, the squire did not need entreaty; but, mingling among the three, made a fourth in the conversation, to the unspeakable satisfaction of their graces, who thought themselves extremely for tunate in having an opportunity of entertaining at their castle such a knight-errant and such an erring 'squire. CHAP. XIV. Which treats of manifold important subjects. SANCHO rejoiced exceedingly at seeing himself, as he thought, a favourite with the duchess; for, being a staunch well-wisher to good cheer, he imagined he should find the same abundance in the castle which prevailed in the houses of Don Diego and Basilius, and always took by the forelock every occasion of living at his ease. The history then relates, that before they reached the castle or pleasurehouse, the duke riding on before, directed his servants how to behave to Don Quixote, who no sooner arrived at the gate with the duchess, than two lacquies or grooms came forth, clad in long trailing morning gowns of fine crimson satin, and lifting him off, said, without being heard or perceived, "Your highness must go and help my lady duchess to dismount." The knight took the hint, and a dispute of compliments passed between them on the subject; but at length the obstinacy of the duchess prevailed; for she would not quit her palfrey, or alight, except in the arms of the duke, saying, she was not worthy to load such an excellent knight with such an useless burden: at last, the duke came out to perform the office, and when they entered the court-yard, they were met by two beautiful damsels, who threw a mantle of the finest scarlet over Don Quixote's shoulders, and the corridores were instantly crowded with servants of both sexes, who exclaimed aloud, "Welcome, thou flower and cream of knightserrant;" while all, or the greatest part of them, emptied bottles of sweet water upon him and their graces, to the admiration of Don Quixote, who now, for the first time, was sure and satisfied of his being a real, and not a fantastic knight-errant, because he saw himself treated as the knights of former ages whose histories he had read. Sancho quitted Dapple, and betaking himself to the duchess, entered the castle, where, however, his conscience upbraiding him for having left his beast alone, he made up to a reverend duenna, who, with others, had come out to receive the duchess, and accosting her in a soft voice, "Signora Gonçalez (said he), or what's your name, madam ?"-" My name is Duenna Rodriguez de Grijalva (answered the gentlewoman); what are your commands, brother?" "I wish you would do me the favour, good madam (replied the 'squire), to go to the castlegate, where you will find a dapple ass of mine, and be so good as either to send or lead him to the stable; for the poor creature is a little timorous, and cannot bear to be alone by any manner of means."-" If the master be as wise as the man (cried the duenna), we have brought our pigs to a fine market; get you gone, brother, with a vengeance to you, and those who brought you hither, and take care of your ass with your own hands: the duennas of this house are not used to such employment.""But, for all that (said Sancho), I have heard my master, who is a perfect mine of history, tell us how, when Lancelot came from Britain, ladies tended his own person, and duennas took care of his horse: now, with respect to my ass, I declare I would not exchange him for Signor Lancelot's courser."-" Hark ye, friend (replied the duenna), if you are a jack-pudding, keep your jokes for a proper place, where they may turn to account: from me you'll get nothing but a fig for them."-" Very well (said the 'squire), I'll answer for its ripeness: your lady ship won't lose your game by a short reckoning." "You whoreson (cried the duenna), in a violent rage, whether I am old or not, I must render an account to God, and not to such a garlic-eating rascal as you." This address she pronounced in such an audible voice, that she was overheard by the duchess, who, turning about, and seeing her woman in such wrath and trepidation, asked, with whom she was in such a passion?" With this honest fellow here (answered the duenna), who has earnestly desired me to go and house an ass of his that stands at the castle-gate, telling me forsooth, as an example, that the same employment was undertaken by some ladies, who took care of one Lancelot, while the duennas looked after his horse; and, to crown the compliment, he tells me I am old."-" I myself (said the duchess), would construe that into the greatest affront that could be given: take notice (friend Sancho), that Donna Rodriguez is in the prime of her youth, and that the veil which she wears is more for authority and custom than on account of her years." "Accursed be those I have to live (cried the 'squire), if I spoke to her for that reason; but only the great affection I bear to my ass, whom I thought I could not recommend to a more charitable person than Signora Donna Rodriguez." Don Quixote overhearing all that passed, "Is that proper discourse for this place, Sancho?" said he. "Signor (replied the 'squire), every man must speak of his wants where he finds them: here I thought of Dapple, and here I talked of him; and if he had come into my head in the stable, there too he should have been honourably mentioned." Here the duke interposing, "Sancho is very much in the right (said he), and must not be blamed for what he has said: Dapple shall have no more to do but ask and have as much provender as he can eat, so that Sancho may be quite easy in that respect, for his beast shall be treated like his own person." " This conversation, which was extremely agreeable to all, except Don Quixote, brought them to the top of the staircase: and the knight being conducted into an apartment, hung with the richest tissue and brocade, was unarmed, and attended by six sprightly damsels, well instructed by the duke and duchess in the particulars of behaviour which they were to observe towards Don Quixote, in order to convince him that he was treated in all respects like a knight-errant. Thus disarmed, he remained in his strait breeches and shamoy doublet, so long, so lank, so lean, with his lantern jaws kissing each other, that if the damsels had not been very careful in preserving their gravity, according to the precise orders they had received, they must certainly have burst with laughing at sight of such an uncouth figure. They desired he would allow them to undress and shift him; but he would not assent to this proposal, saying, that knights-errant ought to be as remarkable for decency as for valour: he therefore bade them deliver the shirt to Sancho, with whom shutting himself up in a cham ber, furnished with a magnificent bed, he was immediately undressed and shifted. Then be ing alone with his 'squire, "Tell me (said he), thou modern buffoon and ancient blockhead! was it thy province to dishonour and affront a venerable duenna, so worthy of reverence and respect? Was that a time to think of Dapple? or couldst thou imagine those noble persons would neglect the cattle belonging to guests whom they treated with such elegance? For the love of God, Sancho, set a guard upon thy tongue, and behave so as that people may not discover, by the thread, the coarse country web of which thou art woven: consider, sinner as thou art, that the master is respected in propor tion to the discretion and good breeding of his servants; and this is one of the great advantages which noblemen have over people of infe rior rank: dost thou not consider, thou plague to thyself, and vexation to me! that if they perceive thee to be a base-bred clown or blun dering fool, they will take me for some cheating impostor, or knight of the post! No, no, Sancho, shun and avoid those inconveniences; for he who sets up for a merry-andrew, falls at the first stumble into a disgraced buffoon: bridle thy tongue, therefore, consider and ruminate well before the words issue from thy mouth; and remember that we are now arrived at a place from whence, by the favour of God, and the valour of mine arm, we shall depart, bet tered three, nay fivefold, both in fortune and in fame." Sancho promised with repeated assu rances, that he would rather stitch up his mouth, or bite off his tongue, than utter one word that should not be pat to the purpose, and well considered, according to his command; and that he might make himself perfectly easy on that score; for by him it should never be discovered who they were. Don Quixote having dressed himself, girded on his sword, thrown the scarlet mantle over his shoulders, and covered his head with a cap of green velvet, which he received from the damsels, came forth thus equipped, into the great hall, where he found the maidens placed in two equal rows, furnished with the implements for hands-washing, which they adminis tered with profound respect and abundance of ceremony: then came the major-domo, attended by twelve pages, to conduct them to the table where their graces waited for him; he was ac cordingly surrounded by these domestics, and led with great pomp and majesty into another hall, in which appeared a table nobly decorated, |