regard to your person, entirely void of offence." "What! (cried Claudia), is it not true that you this morning intended to marry Leonora, daughter of the rich Balvastro?"-"No, surely (replied Don Vincente): my evil genius must have alarmed you with such information, that your jealousy being inflamed, you might deprive me of life, which, as I leave it in your arms and your embrace, I consider as happily lost: and, that you may be convinced of my sincerity, give me your hand, and, if you please, receive me for your husband; this being the only satisfaction I can make for the offence I was supposed to have given." Accordingly, Claudia and he joined hands and hearts to gether in such a manner that she fainted away upon his bloody breast, and he sunk into a mortal paroxysm.

Roque being confounded and perplexed, the servants ran for water, which they sprinkled upon their faces, and Claudia recovered from her swoon; but this was not the case with her unhappy lover, who had already breathed his last. The young lady, perceiving her beloved husband was no more, rent the air with her groans, wounded the heavens with her lamentation, tore her locks and scattered them to the winds, and disfigured her face with her own nails, exhibiting all the marks of the most severe grief that ever took possession of an afflicted bosom. "O cruel and inconsiderate woman! (she cried): how easily wast thou provoked to execute such dire revenge! O furious jealousy! to what fatal despair dost thou conduct all those who give thee harbour in their breasts! O my dear husband! whose unhappy fate, in being mine, hath made thy marriage bed thy grave!"

Such were the melancholy exclamations of Claudia, which brought water into the eyes of Roque, who had seldom or never shed tears before: their servants wept bitterly; the young lady swooned almost at every step, and this whole circuit seemed to be the scene of sorrow and field of misfortune. At length, Roque Guinart ordered the servants to carry their master's body to his father's country-seat, which was hard by, that it might be buried according to the old gentleman's directions: and Claudia expressed her desire of retiring to a certain monastery, the abbess of which was her aunt, where she intended to finish her life in company of a more eternal husband. Roque applauded her design, and offered to conduct her to the place, promising at the same time to defend her father from the kindred of Don Vincente, and all the world, should they conspire against his peace. She would by no means avail herself of his attendance; but, thanking him for his obliging offers in the most courteous terms she could use, took her leave of him, shedding a torrent of tears. The servants of Don Vincente carried off the body, Roque re

turned to his gang, and thus ended the amour of Claudia Geronima,-a catastrophe not to be wondered at when we consider that the web of her melancholy fate was woven by the baleful and invincible force of jealousy.

Roque Guinart found his 'squires in the place where he had ordered them to take up their night's lodging, and in the midst of them Don Quixote upon Rozinante, exhorting them in a long harangue to quit that way of life so dangerous both to soul and body; but as the greatest part of them were Gascoons, a brutal and disorderly set of people, the knight's arguments made but little impression. The chief arriv ing, asked Sancho Panza if the men had restored the furniture and effects they had taken from Dapple; and the 'squire replied in the affirmative, excepting, however, three night-caps worth as many royal cities. "What the devil does the fellow say? (cried one of the gang): here they are, and any body may see they would not sell for three rials."

"True (said Don Quixote): but my 'squire values them at that rate, on account of the person of whom I received them in a present." Roque commanded the man to restore them instantly; then, forming his people into a line, gave orders for bringing before them all the clothes, jewels, money, and every thing they had acquired by robbery since the last partition; then, making a short valuation, and reducing the indivisibles into cash, he shared the whole among his company with such equity and discretion, that, in the most minute article, he neither exceeded nor fell short of distributive justice.

Having made this partition, with which every individual was perfectly well satisfied and contented, Roque turning to Don Quixote, "If we did not observe this punctuality (said he), there would be no living among such a crew.' To this declaration Sancho replied, "From what I have seen, I find justice so excellent in itself, that the practice of it is necessary even among thieves.'

One of the 'squires overhearing the remark, lifted up the butt end of his musket, with which, in all probability, he would have shattered Sancho's skull, had not the general commanded him to desist; while Panza, trembling in every limb, resolved never to open his lips again so long as he should sojourn among such ruffians.

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About this time arrived one of the gang, who was placed sentinel on the road to reconnoitre travellers and bring intelligence; and riding up to their chief, Signor (said he), not far from hence there is a large company of people travelling to Barcelona." "Have you perceived (answered Roque), whether they are such as we seek, or such as are in quest of us?" When the 'squire replied that they were such as he sought;"Set out then all together (said

he), and bring the whole company hither, without suffering one to escape."

This whole gang departed accordingly, leaving their chief alone with Don Quixote and Sancho, to wait the issue of their expedition; and, during this interval, Roque addressing himself to the knight, "This life of ours (said he), must appear very strange to Don Quixote, exposed as it is to infinite adventures and incidents replete with danger; and, indeed, I do not wonder that it should appear in that light; for I must know there can be no situation so full of terror and disquiet as that in which I live, and into which I was misled by the desire of revenge, which is often powerful enough to disturb the most philosophic breast. I am naturally benevolent and compassionate; but, as I have already observed, the desire of revenging an injury which I received, hath overturned all my virtuous inclinations in such a manner, that I persevere in this career, maugre and in despite of my own understanding; and, as deep calleth unto deep, and sin unto sin, different schemes of revenge are so linked together, that I undertake not only my own, but also those of other people; yet, by the blessing of God, although I find myself thus involved in a labyrinth of confusion, I have not lost the hope of being one day happily extricated from all my troubles."

Don Quixote was surprised to hear Roque talk so sensibly and with such moderation; for he imagined, that among those who are in the daily practice of assaulting, robbing, and murdering their fellow-creatures, there could not surely be one single person of sense and reflection." Signor Roque (said he), the beginning of health is the knowledge of the disease, and the patient's desire to comply with the physician's prescription. You are now in the diseased condition, sensible of your infirmity, and Heaven, or rather God himself, who is the great physician, will apply those medicines which are proper for the cure of your distemper; but these remedies are wont to operate slowly, not in a sudden miraculous manner; and sensible sinners are much more likely to recover than delinquents of little understanding. Now, as your discourse evinces your discretion, be of good cheer, and courageously wait for the perfect recovery of your conscience. If you are in earnest inclined to quit this road and enter at once into that which leads to salvation, come along with me and learn to be a knight-errant, in which capacity you will undergo such toils and disasters as will be deemed sufficient penance, and exalt you to heaven in the turning of two balls."

Roque could not help smiling at Don Quixote's advice; but, changing the conversation, he recounted the tragical adventure of Claudia Geronima, at which Sancho was exceeding ly grieved; for he had been hugely pleased

with the beauty, vivacity, and demeanour of the young lady.

About this time they were joined by the 'squires of the booty, who brought along with them two gentlemen on horseback, two pilgrims on foot, and a coach full of women, attended by six servants, partly mounted and partly footmen, together with two muleteers who waited upon the gentlemen. These came all in a troop surrounded by the 'squires, and universal silence prevailed among the victors and the vanquished; both sides expecting with resignation the commands of the great Roque Guinart, who, approaching the gentlemen, asked who they were, whither they were going, and what money they had?

To these interrogations one of them replied, "Signor, we are captains of the Spanish infantry, our companies are in Naples; our intention is to embark on board of four gallies, which they say are now in the harbour of Barcelona, ready to sail for Sicily; and our funds amount to two or three hundred crowns, with the possession of which we thought ourselves rich and happy, considering the narrow appointments of a soldier, which will not permit him to heap up a great deal of wealth.”

Then Roque putting the same questions to the pilgrims, they answered, that their design was to embark for Italy, in order to visit Rome; and that, between both, they could muster about sixty rials. He likewise desired to know the quality of those who were in the coach, the place to which they were going, and the state of their finances? In these particulars he was satisfied by one of the horsemen, who said, "The company in the coach consists of my lady Donna Guiomar de Quinones, wife to the regent of the vicariate of Naples, her little daughter, a damsel, and a duenna; I am one of the six servants who attend them, and her ladyship's cash may amount to six hundred crowns."" At that rate then (replied the mighty Roque), here are nine hundred crowns and sixty rials: I have sixty soldiers; see what each man's share will come to, for I am but an indifferent arithmetician." The robbers hearing this decision, cried aloud, "Long life to Roque Guinart, and confusion to the knaves who endeavour to effect his ruin !"

The captains exhibited evident marks of affliction, and my lady regent assumed a very sorrowful countenance, and the pilgrims did not at all rejoice at this confiscation of their effects. Although Roque kept them for some time in suspense, he had no mind to protract their me lancholy, which was plainly perceivable a gunshot off; but, turning to the captains, "Gentlemen (said he), be so good as to lend me sixty crowns, and my lady regent will favour me with fourscore, in order to satisfy my squadron; you know the abbot must not want, who for his bread doth chant: then you may prose

cute your journey without fear or molestation, by virtue of a safe conduct I will grant; in consequence of which you will be exempted from plunder, in case you should fall in with any other of those squadrons which I have posted up and down in different divisions; for it is not my intention to aggrieve either soldiers or ladies, especially ladies of quality."

Infinite and well-turned were the compliments in which the captains acknowledged their obligation to Roque for his politeness and liberality, for such they accounted it, in leaving them possessed of their own money. My lady Donna Guiomar de Quinones would have thrown herself from the coach, in order to kiss the feet and hands of the great Roque, but he would by no means accept such marks of submission; on the contrary, he begged pardon for the injury which he was compelled to do them, in compliance with the precise duty of his wicked profession. The lady ordered her servant to pay instantly the eighty crowns which were de manded; the captains had already disbursed threescore; and the pilgrims were going to surrender their miserable pittance, when Roque desired them to desist; and turning to his gang, "Of these crowns (said he), two shall fall to the share of each man, and then there will be an overplus of twenty, one half of which I give to the pilgrims, and the other ten to this honest 'squire, that he may make a favourable report of the adventure."

After this decision, he took pen, ink, and paper, with which he was always provided, and writing a safe conduct, directed to the chiefs of his squadrons, gave it to the company, whom he courteously dismissed, and they proceeded on their journey, struck with admiration at his noble demeanour, gallant disposition, and strange conduct, looking upon him rather as an Alexander the Great than a notorious robber. One of the 'squires, displeased at the booty, said in his Catalonian dialect, "This captain of ours is fitter for praying than preying: if henceforth he has a mind to shew his generosity, let it be from his own purse, and not what is ours by right of conquest."

The unhappy wretch did not speak so softly but that he was overheard by Roque, who instantly unsheathing his sword, cleft his head almost in two, saying, "Thus I chastise mutiny and presumption." All the rest of the gang were terrified at this execution, and not one of them durst open his lips, so much were they overawed by the character of their chief.

Ás for Roque, he went aside and wrote a letter to a friend at Barcelona, giving him to understand how he had met with the famous Don Quixote de la Mancha, that knight-errant whose exploits were in every body's mouth; and he assured him, that the adventurer was the most agreeable and understanding man in

the whole world: he likewise gave him notice, that in four days from the date of the letter, on the feast of St John, the said knight-errant would appear on the beach of the city, armed cap-a-pee, mounted on Rozinante, and accompanied by his 'squire Sancho upon an ass. He therefore desired his correspondent to communicate this intelligence to his friends the Nearri, that they might enjoy the character of Don Quixote, and wished his enemies the Cadelli might not partake of the diversion. But that was a vain desire, because the mixture of madness and discretion in the knight, and the pleasantries of his 'squire, were such as could not fail to yield entertainment to the whole world in general.

This letter was despatched by one of his 'squires, who, disguising himself in the habit of a peasant, entered Barcelona, and delivered it according to the direction.

CHAP. IX.

Of what happened to Don Quixote on his entrance into Barcelona, with other circumstances, that partake more of truth than of discretion.

THREE days and three nights did Don Quixote remain with Roque; and had he stayed as many hundred years, he would not have wanted subject for inquiry and admiration at their way of life: they lodged in one place, dined in another; sometimes they fled from they knew not what, sometimes waited for they knew not whom. They slept standing, and even that slumber was often interrupted; they shifted from place to place: in a word, their whole time was spent in appointing spies, examining sentinels, and blowing matches for their muskets, though they had but few: for they chiefly used firelocks. As for Roque, he passed the night by himself, in private haunts and places concealed even from the knowledge of his own gang; for the repeated proclamations issued by the viceroy of Barcelona, setting a price upon his head, had rendered him restless, diffident, and fearful, so that he durst not confide in any person whatever, being apprehensive that even his own followers would either murder or deliver him up to justice,-a life of all others assuredly the most tiresome and miserable. length, this renowned freebooter, accompanied by Don Quixote and Sancho, and attended by six of his own 'squires, set out for Barcelona, through unfrequented roads, short cuts, and private paths, and arrived upon the strand, after it was dark, on the eve of St John..

At

Here Roque, embracing Don Quixote, and giving to Sancho the ten crowns, which, though promised, had not hitherto been paid, took his leave, and returned to his station, after mutual

protestations of friendship had passed between him and our hero, who resolved to sit on horseback as he was till day, which was not far off. Accordingly they had not tarried long in this situation, when Aurora disclosed her rosy face through the balconies of the east, infusing vigour and seeming joy into every plant or flower, instead of gratifying the ear, which, however, was also that instant regaled with the sound of waits and kettle-drums, together with the noise of morrice bells, the clatter of horses upon the pavement, and the repetition of" Clear the way," pronounced by the couriers who came forth from the city. Aurora vanished before the sun, who, with a countenance ample as a target, gradually arose from below the horizon: then Don Quixote and Sancho, extending their view all around, perceived the sea, which they had never before beheld, and which seemed to be infinitely vast, and abundantly more spacious than even the lakes of Ruydera, which they had seen in La Mancha: they likewise beheld the gallies in the road, which, when their awnings were furled, displayed a glorious sight of pendants, flags, and streamers, that wantoned in the wind, and kissed and brushed the surface of the deep while they were surrounded with clarions, trumpets, and other sorts of music, which filled the air for many leagues around, with sweet and martial accents. Now they began to move, and, forming themselves into line of battle, exhibited the representation of a naval fight upon the tranquil bosom of the sea. At the same time, a mock` skirmish was acted on the shore, by a great number of gentlemen, mounted on beautiful horses, who came forth from the city in gay attire, with splendid liveries. The soldiers of the gallies discharged an infinite number of fire-arms, which were answered from the wall and forts of the city; and to the great guns, which seemed to rend the air with their tremendous sound, the midship cannons of the gallies made a suitable reply: the joy that resounded on board, the pleasure that appeared on shore, together with the serenity of the air, which was sometimes disturbed by the smoke of the artillery, seemed to infuse and engender a sudden flow of spirits and delight in every breast. As for Sancho, he could not conceive how those great bulks could use such a number of feet in moving through the sea.

:

About this time, the cavaliers so richly caparisoned, crying, hallooing, and shouting, in the Moorish manner, came riding up to the place where Don Quixote sat on horseback, overwhelmed with surprsie and astonishment; and one of their number, who had been apprised by Roque, exclaimed in a loud voice, "Welcome to our city, thou mirror, lantern, planet, and polar star of all chivalry in its utmost extent! welcome, valorous Don Quixote de la Mancha, not the false, fictitious, and apocryphal

adventurer, lately in sparious history described, but the real, legal, and loyal knight recorded by Cid Hamet Benengeli, the flower of historians."

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Don Quixote answered not a word; nor did the cavaliers wait for his reply; but, with their followers, began to wheel and turn, and curvet in a circle round the knight, who, addressing himself to Sancho, "As these people know us so well (said he), I will lay a wager they have read our history, and even that of the Arrago nian, which hath been lately printed." The gentleman, who had at first accosted him, returning, renewed his address in these words: Signor Don Quixote, be so good as to go along with us, who are all the intimate friends and humble servants of Roque Guinart." To this entreaty the knight replied, "If courtesy engenders courtesy, yours, signor cavalier, is the daughter, or, at least, nearly allied to that which I experienced in the gallant Roque. Conduct me whither you please to go; my will shall, in all respects, be conformable to yours, and I should be proud if you would employ it in your service.'

The gentleman answered this compliment with expressions equally polite; and all his companions surrounding the knight in a body, they, to the music of the waits and kettledrums, conducted him to the city, his entrance into which was attended with a small misfortune. That mischief, from which all mischief is produced, ordained that two bold and impudent boys, more mischievous than mischief it. self, should squeeze themselves through the crowd, and approaching Rozinante and Dapple, clap an handful of furze under the tail of each: the poor animals, feeling the severity of this new kind of spurs, augmented the pain by pressing their tails more closely to their but tocks; so that, after a thousand plunges, they came with their riders to the ground, to the unutterable shame and indignation of Don Quixote, who, with great despatch, delivered the posteriors of his companion from this disagree able plumage; while Sancho performed the same kind office for his friend Dapple.

The gentlemen would have willingly chastised the boys for their presumption; but it was not in their power to give the strangers that satisfaction for they had no sooner executed their purpose, than they concealed themselves among the crowd of above a thousand youngsters who followed the cavalcade: so that Don Quixote and Sancho were obliged to pocket the affront; and, remounting their beasts, proceeded, with the same music and acclamation, to the house of their conductor, which was large and magnificent, and in all respects suitable to the rank of an opulent cavalier. Here then we shall leave him for the present; for such is the will of Cid Hamet Benengeli.

CHAP. X.

Containing the adventure of the Enchanted Head, with other trivial incidents, which, however, must not be omitted.

Don Quixote's landlord was called Don Antonio Moreno, a wealthy gentleman of good understanding, who loved a joke in a fair and good-humoured way; so that, finding our knight safely housed under his roof, he began to contrive means for extracting diversion from the madness of his guest, without prejudice to his person; for those are no jests that give pain; nor is that pastime to be indulged which tends to the detriment of a fellow-creature. His first step was to unarm Don Quixote, and in that strait shamoy doublet, which we have already painted and described, expose him to public view in a balcony that jutted out into one of the chief streets in the city, where he was surveyed by the people and the children, who gazed upon him as if he had been a monster or baboon. While he stood in this situation, the gentlemen with the rich liveries performed their courses before him, as if for his sake only, and not in order to celebrate the festival, they had provided all their finery; and Sancho was ravished with the thoughts of having so luckily found, without knowing how, or wherefore, another wedding of Camacho, another house like that of Don Diego de Miranda, and another palace equal to the duke's castle, where he had been so hospitably entertained.

Don Antonio had that day invited some friends to dinner, and all of them paid particular respect to Don Quixote, whom they treated as a renowned knight-errant,-a circumstance that elevated his vanity to such a pitch, that he could scarce contain his satisfaction; and Sancho's conceits flowed so fast and humour ous, that all the servants of the family, and all who heard his sallies, seemed to hang upon his lips. While he waited at table, Don Antonio accosting him, "Honest Sancho (said he), we are informed you are such a lover of fowls and balls of forced meat, that, when you can eat no longer, you pocket what remains for next day."-" No, signor (answered Sancho), that is not the case: and your worship must have been misinformed; I am a cleanly 'squire, and no such filthy glutton; for my master, here present, knows very well, that we have often passed eight whole days without any other sustenance than an handful of nuts or acorns. True it is, if ever the heifer is offered, the tether is at hand; my meaning is, I eat what I get, and ride the ford as I find it. If, therefore, any person whatever hath said that I am

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an exceeding glutton and foul feeder, your worship may take it for granted that he is in a mistake; and I would tell him my mind in another manner, if it was not for the respect I bear to the honourable beards of this company.' Assuredly (said Don Quixote), Sancho's cleanliness and moderation in eating might be inscribed and engraved on tables of brass, for an everlasting memorial and example to succeeding ages. True it is, when very hungry, he may seem to be a little voracious; for he eats with precipitation, chewing with both sides of his jaws; but cleanliness he punctually maintains; and while a governor, learned to eat so delicately, that he took up grapes, and even the grains of a pomegranate, with a fork." -"How! (cried Don Antonio), hath Sancho been a governor ?"-"Yes, sure (replied the 'squire), and that of an island called Barataria, which I governed according to my own will and pleasure for the space of ten days, during which I lost my natural rest, and learned to despise all the governments upon earth: I therefore fled from it, as I would fly from the devil; and tumbled into a cavern, from whence, though I gave myself up as a dead man, I was brought up alive by a perfect miracle." Then Don Quixote gave them a circumstantial account of Sancho's government, which afforded extraordinary entertainment to the whole audience.

Dinner being ended, and the table uncovered, Don Antonio took our hero by the hand, and conducted him into a private apartment, where there was no furniture but a table, that seemed to be of jasper, supported by one foot of the same substance; and upon this table was placed a bust of bronze, from the breast upwards, representing a head of one of the Ro man emperors. Don Antonio, after having traversed the room with his guest, and more than once walked round the table, "Signor Don Quixote (said he), now that I am assured no person overhears us, as nobody listens, and the door is bolted, I will impart to your worship one of the rarest adventures, or rather one of the greatest rarities, that ever was known; on condition, however, that you will deposite the secret in the most hidden recesses of your heart."-" I swear to that condition (answered Don Quixote); and, for the greater security, will put a tombstone over whatever you shall communicate; for know, Signor Don Antonio (by this time he had learned his name), your worship is talking to one who, though he has ears to hear, has never a tongue to tattle; so that you may securely transfuse the contents of your own breast into mine, and take it for granted, you have ingulfed them in the abyss of silence."-" On the faith of that promise