ordinarily take to wives yea and account very good hap to light on one of them for they are much more accounted of then the women of the Nation it selfe Yet in all these Discourses we strayed very farr from the truth of the accident and so from thence-forward all our passing of the time was imployed in beholding that Window as our North wherein had appeared the Starr of the cane but fifteen daies past over or we could descrie either it or the hand again or any other signe And although in the meane time we endeavour all that we might to know who dwelled in that house or whether there were any Runagate Christian therein yet never a one could tell us any other things but that it belonged to a very rich and noble Moor called Aguimorato who had been Constable of the Pata a dignity among them of very great qualitie But when wee thought least that it would rain any more Zianiys by that way wee saw the Cain suddainly to appear and another linnen hanging on it whose bulk was much greater and this befell when the Bath was freed of concourse and void as the other time before Wee made the accustomed triall every one approaching it before me but without effect untill I came for presently as I approached it it was permited to fall I untied the knot and found inwreathed in it fourty Duckets of Spanish gold with a Letter written in the Arabian tongue and at the end thereof was drawn a very great crosse I kissed the crosse took up the money and returned again to the battlements and wee altogether made our receivers The hand also appeared I made signes that I would read the paper and the window was shut incontinently All of us were marvellously astonished yet joyfull at that which had befaln us and by reason that none of us understood the Arabian tongue the desire that wee had to understand the contents of the Letter was surpassing great but greater the difficultie to finde out some trustie person that might read it In the end I resolved to trust in this affair a Runnagate of Murcia who did professe himself to bee my very great friend and having by my liberalitie and other good turns done secretly obliged him to bee secreet in the affair wherein I would use him for some runagates are accustomed when they have an intention to return into the Christian Countries to bring with the testimonies of the most principall Captives wherein they inform and in the amplest manner they may how the Bearer is an honest man and that hee hath ever done many good turns to the Christians and that hee hath himself a desire to escape by the first commoditie Some Runnagates there are which procure those testimonies sincerely and with a good intention Others take the benefit of them either by chance or industrie who intending to goe and rob into the Countries of Christians if by chance they be astray or taken bring forth their testimonies and say that by those papers may bee collected the purpose wherewithall they came that is to remain in Christian Countries and that therefore they came abroad a Pyrating with the other Turks and by this means they escape that first brunt and are reconciled again to the Church without receiving any harme at all and when they espie their time doe return again into Barbarie to bee such as they were before Others there are which procure those writings with a pure intention and doe after stay in Christian Countries Well this my friend was a Runnagate of this last kinde who had the testimonies of all my Companions wherein wee did commend him as amply as wee could devise And certainly if the Moors had found those Papers about him they would have burnt him for it I understand how hee could speak the Arabian tongue very perfectly and not only that alone but also write it withall yet before I would wholly break my minde to him I requested him to reade mee that scrowle which I had found by chance in a hole of my Cabine hee opened it and stood a good while beholding and construing thereof murmuring somewhat betweene his Teeth I demanded therefore of him whether hee understood it And he answered that hee did very well and that if I desired to have it translated verbatim I should bring unto him Pen and Inke to the end hee might doe it more completely wee presently gave unto him that which hee asked and hee did translate it by little and little and haviâ—g finished it hee said All that is here in Spanish is punctually without omitting a Letter the contents of the Moorish paper And here you must note that where it sayes Lela Marien it meanes our Ladie the blessed Virgin Mary Wee read the Paper whereof the contents were these which ensue WHen I was a Childe my Father had a certain Christian Woman Captive that taught me in mine own tongue all the Christian Religion and told me many things of Lela Marien The Christian dyed and I know shee went not to the fire but to Ala for shee appeared to me twice after her death and bade me goe to the Christian Countrey to see Lela Marien who loved me much I know not how I may goe I have seen many Christians thorow this Window and none of them hath seemed to me a Gentleman but thy self I am very beautifull and young and I have a great deal of Riches to carry with me See thou whether thou canst contrive the way how wee may depart and thou shalt there bee my Husband if thou pleasest and if thou wilt not I doe not greatly care for Lela Marien will provide me of a Husband I wrote my self this Billet bee therefore warie whom thou trustest to read it Doe not trust any Moor for they are all of them deceitfull Traytors It is this that grieves me most of all for I would not have thee if it were possible to disclose the matter to any living bodie for if my Father did know it hee would throw me down into a Well and oppresse me in it with stones I will hang a thread to the end of the Cane and therein thou mayst tye thine Answer And if thou canst not write the Arabian tell me thy minde by signes for Lela Marien will make mee to understand it Who with Ala preserve thee and this Crosse which I doe many times kisse for so the Captive commanded me to doe See good Sir if it was not great reason that the reasons comprehended in this Letter should recreate and astonish us And certainly the one and the other was so great as the Runagate perceived well that the Paper was not found by chance but was really addressed unto some one of us and therefore desired us earnestly that if that were true which hee suspected that wee would trust and tell it unto him and hee would adventure his life to procure our Liberties And saying this hee took out of his bosome a Crucifixe of mettle and protested
no body lies in wait to hear us besides the by-standers I will answer you without fear of fright all that you have asked and all that you will ask mee And first of all I say That I hold my Master Don-Quixote for an incurable Mad-man though sometimes hee speaks things that in my opinion and so in all theirs that heare him are so discreet and carried in so even a track that the Devill himself cannot speak better but truly and without scruple I take him to bee a very Frantick for so I have it in my mazard I dare make him beleeve that that hath neither head nor foot as was the answer of that Letter and another thing that hapned some eight dayes agoe which is not yet in print to wit the Enchantment of my Ladie Dulcinea for I made him beleeve she is Enchanted it being as true as the Moon is made of green Cheese The Duchesse desired him to tell her that Enchantment and conceit which hee did just as it passed at which the hearers were not a little delighted And prosecuting her discourse the Duchesse said I have one scruple leaps in my minde touching what Sancho hath told mee and a certain buz comming to mine eares that tells me If Don-Quixote de la Mancha bee such a shallow Mad-man and Widgin and Sancho Panca his Squire know it yet why for all that hee serves and follows him and relies on his vain promises doubtlesse hee is as very a Mad-man and Block-head as his Master which being so as it is it will be very unfitting for my Lord the Duke to give Sancho an Island to Govern for hee that cannot govern himself will ill govern others By 'r Lady quoth Sancho that scruple comes in pudding-time but bid your Buzze speake plaine or how he will for I know he sayes true and if I had been wise I might long since have left my Master but 't was my lucke and this vilde Errantry I cannot doe withall I must follow him wee are both of one place I have eaten his bread I love him well hee is thankfull hee gave mee the Asse-colts and above all I am faithfull and it is impossible any chance should part us but death and if your Altitude will not bestow the Government on mee with lesse was I borne and perhaps the missing it might bee better for my conscience for though I bee a foole yet I understand the Proverbe that sayes The Ant had wings to doe her hurt and it may bee Sancho the Squire may sooner goe to Heaven then Sancho the Governour Here is as good bread made as in France and in the night Ione is as good as my Lady and unhappy is that man that is to breake his fast at two of the clocke in the after-noone and there 's no heart a handfull bigger then another and the stomacke is filled with the coursest victuals and the little Fowles in the aire have God for their Provider and Cater and foure yards of course Cuenca cloth keepe a man as warme as foure of fine Lemster wooll of Segovia Their Lemster breed came first out of England when wee once leave this world and are put into the earth the Prince goes in as narrow a path as the Journey-man and the Popes body takes up no more roome then a Sextons though the one bee higher then the other for when wee come to the pit all are even or made so in spite of their teethes and and good-night Let mee say againe If your Lady-ship will not give mee the Island as I am a foole I 'le refuse it for being a wise man for I have heard say The neerer the Church the further from God and All is not gold that glistreth and that from the Oxen plough and yokes the Husband-man Bamba was chosen for King of Spaine and that Radrigo from his tissues sports and riches was cast out to bee eaten by Snakes if wee may beleeve the rimes of the old Romants that lye not Why no more they doe not said Donna Rodriguez the Wayting-woman that was one of the Auditours for you have one Romant that sayes that Don Rodrigo was put alive into a Tombe full of Toades Snakes and Lizards and some two dayes after from within the Tombe hee cryed with a low and pittifull voyce Now they eat now they eat mee in the place where I sinned most and according to this this man hath reason to say hee had rather bee a Labourer then a King to bee eaten to death with vermine The Duchesse could not forbeare laughing to see the simplicity of her woman nor to admire to heare Sancho's proverbiall reasons to whom shee said Honest Sancho knows that when a Gentleman once makes a promise he will perform it though it cost him his life My Lord and Husband the Duke though hee bee no Errant yet hee is a Knight and so hee will accomplish his promise of the Island in spight of envy or the worlds malice Bee of good cheere Sancho for when thou least dreamest of it thou shalt bee seated in the Chayre of thy Island and of Estate and shalt claspe thy Government in thy robes of Tissue All that I charge thee is that you looke to the governing your Vassalls for you must know they are all well-borne and loyall For governing quoth Sancho there 's no charging mee for I am naturally charitable and compassionate to the poor and of him that does well they will not speake ill and by my Holidam they shall play mee no false play I am an old dog and understand all their Hist hist and I can snuffe my selfe when I see time and I will let no cobwebs fall in my eyes for I know where my shoo wrings mee this I say because honest men shall have hand heart but wicked men neyther foot nor fellowship And meethinkes for matter of Government there is no more but to begin and in fifteen daies Governour I could manage the place and know as well to governe as to labour in which I was bredd You have reason Sancho quoth the Duchesse for no man is born wise and Bishops are made of men and not of stones But turning to our discourse that wee had touching the Lady Dulcinea's Enchantment I am more then assured that that imagination that Sancho had to put a tricke upon his Master and to make him thinke the Country wench was Dulcinea that if his Master knew her not all was invented by some of those Enchanters that persecute Signior Don-Quixote for I know partly that that Country wench that leapt upon the Asse-colt was and is Dulcinea and Sancho thinking to be the deceiver is himselfe deceived and there is no more to be doubted in this then in things that wee never saw and know Sancho that here wee have our Enchanters too that love and tell us plainly and truely what passed in the world without trickes or devices and beleeve mee Sancho that leaping wench was and is Dulcinea who is inchanted
his work which if I can finde among these and that he speaks not his own native tongue I 'le use him with no respect but if he talk in his own language I will put him for honours sake on my head If that be so quoth the Barber I have him at home in the Italian but cannot understand him Neither were it good you should understand him replyed the Curate and here we would willingly have excused the good Captain that translated it into Spanish from that labour or bringing it into Spain if it had pleased himself For he hath deprived it of much naturall worth in the translation a fault incident to all those that presume to translate Verses out of one language into another for though they imploy all their industry and wit therein they can never arive to the height of that Primitive conceit which they bring with them in their first byrth I say therefore that this booke and all the others that may bee found in this Library to treate of French affaires bee cast and deposited in some drie Vault untill wee may determine with more deliberation what wee should doe with them alwaies excepting Bernardo del Carpio which must bee there amongst the rest and another called Roncesualles for these two coming to my hands shall bee rendred up to those of the old guardian and from hers into the fires without any remission All which was confirmed by the Barbar who did ratifie his Sentence holding it for good and discreete because hee knew the Curate to bee so vertuous a man and so great a friend of the truth as he would say nothing contrary to it for all the goods of the world And then opening another booke he saw it was Palmerin de Oliva neere unto which stood another intituled Palmerin of England which the â—icenciat perceiving said let Oliva be presently rent in pieces and burned in such sort that even the very ashes thereof may not be found and let Palmerin of England be preserved as a thing rarely delectable and let such another box as that which Alexander found among Darius spoyls and depured to keep Homers works be made for it for gossip this booke hath sufficient authority for two reasons the first because of it self it is very good and excellently contrived the other for as much as the report runnes that a certain discreet King of Portugal was the author thereof All the Adventures of the Castle of Miraguarda are excellent and artificiall The discourses very cleere and courtly observing evermore a decorum in him that speaks with great propriety and conceit therefore I say Master Nicholas if you think good this and Amadis de Gaule may bee preserved from the fire and let all the rest without farther search or regard perish In the devills name doe not so gentle gossip replyed the Barbar for this which I hold now in my hand is the famous Don Belianis What hee quoth the Curate the second third and fourth part thereof have great neede of some Ruybarbe to purge his excessive choller and wee must moreover take out of him all that of the Castell of Fame and other impertinencies of more consequence Therefore wee give them a terminus Vltramarinus and as they shall bee corrected so will wee use Mercy or justice towards them and in the meane space Gossip you may keepe them at your house but permit no man to read them I am pleased quoth the Barbar and being unwilling to tyre himself any more by reading of Titles hee bad the old woman to take all the great volumes and throw them into the yard the words were not spoken to a Mome or deaf person but to one that had more desire to burn them then to weave a peace of Linnen were it never so great and fine and therefore taking eight of them together shee threw them all out of the window and returning the second time thinking to carry away a great many at once one of them fell at the Barbers feet who desirous to know the Title saw that it was the Historie of the famous Knight Tirante the white Good God quoth the Curate with a loud voice is Tirante the white here Give mee it Gossip for I make account to find in it a Treasure of delight and a copious Mine of pastime Here is Don Quireleison of Montalban a valiant Knight and his brother Thomas of Montalban and the Knight Fonseca and the combat which the valiant Detriante fought with Alano and the witty conceits of the damzell Plazerdeminida with the love and guiles of the widow Reposada and of the Empresse enamoured on her Squire Ipolite I say unto you gossip that this booke is for the stile one of the best of the world in it Knights doe eate and drinke and sleepe and die in their beds naturally and make their testaments before their death with many other things which all other bookes of this subject doe want yet notwithstanding if I might bee Judge the Author thereof deserved because hee purposely penned and writ so many follies to bee sent to the Gallies for all the dayes of his life Carie it home and read it and you shall see all that I have said thereof to bee true I beleeve it very well quoth the Barber But what shall wee doe with these little bookes that remaine These as I take said the Curate are not bookes of Knighthood but of Poetry and opening one hee perceived it was The Diana of Montemayor and beleeving that all the rest were of that stampe hee said these deserve not to bee burned with the rest for they have not nor can doe so much hurt as bookes of Knighthood being all of them works full of understanding and conceits and doe not prejudice any other O good Sir quoth Don-Quixote his Niese your reverence shall likewise doe well to have them also burned lest that mine Uncle after hâ—â— bee cured of his Knightly disease may fall by reading of these in an humor of becomming a Sheepheard and so wander through the woods and fields singing of Rounde layes and playing on a Crowd and what is more dangerous then to become a Poet which is as some say an incurable and infectious disease This maiden saies true quoth the Curate and it will not bee amisse to remove this stumbling block and occasion out of our friends way and since wee begin with the Diana of Montemayor I am of opinion that it bee not burned but only that all that which treates of the wise Felicia and of the inchanted water bee taken away and also all the longer verses and let him remaine with his Proses and the honour of being the best of that kinde This that followes quoth the Barber is the Diana called the second written by him of Salamanca and this other is of the same name whose Author is Gil Polo Let that of Salamanca answered Master Parson augment the number of the condemned in the yard and that of Gil Polo bee kept as charity
my dire pangs I' le only make effusion Mongst those steep Rocks aud hollow bottom lands With mortified tongue but living teares Sometimes in hidden Dales where nought appeares Or in unhaunted plaines free from accesse Or where the Sun could ne're intrude a Beam Amidst the venemous crue of Beasts unclean Whose wants with bounty the free plains redresse For though among those vast and Desart downes The hollow Eccho indistinctly sounds Thy matchlesse rigour and my cruell paine Yet by the priviledge of my niggard Fates It will their force throughout the world proclaim 4 A disdain kils and patience runs a ground By a suspicion either false or true But Iealousie with greater rigour slayes A prolix absence doth our life confound Against fear of oblivion to ensue Firm hope of best successe gives little ease Inevitable death lurks in all these But I O unseen Miracle doe still live Iealous absent disdain'd and certain too Of the suspicions that my life undoe Drownd in Oblivion which my fire revives And amongst all those paines I never scope Got to behold the shadow once of hope Nor thus despaired would I it allow But cause I may more aggravate my moanes To live ever without it here I vow 5 Can hope and fear at once in one consist Or is it reason that it should bee so Seeing the cause more certain is of feare If before mee dyre Iealousie exist Shall I deflect mine eyes since it will shew It self by a thousand wounds in my soule there Or who will not the gates unto Despair Wide open set after that hee hath spy'd Murdring disdain and noted each suspicion To seeming truth transform'd O sowre conversion Whil'st Verity by Falshood is beli'd O Tyrant of Loves state fierce Iealousie With cruell chaines these hands together tie With stubborn cords couple them rough Disdain But woe is mee with bloody victory Your memory is by my sufferance slain 6 I die in fine and cause I 'le not expect In death or life for the least good successe I obstinate will rest in Fantasie And say hee doth well that doth affect And eke the Soule most liberty possesse That is most thrall to Loves old Tyrannie And will affirm mine ever enemie In her fair shrine a fairer soule containes And her oblivion from my fault to spring And to excuse her wrongs will witnesse bring That Love by her in peace his state maintains And with a hard knot and this strange opinion I will accelerate the wretched summon To which guided I am by her scornes rife And offer to the ayre Body and Soule Without hope or reward of future life 7 Thou that by multiplying wrongs dost shew The reason forcing mee t' use violence Vnto this loathsom life grown to mee hatefull Since now by signes notorious thou maist know From my hearts deepest wound how willingly sense Doth sacrifice mee to thy scorns ingratefull If my deserts have seemd to thee so bootefull As thy fayr eyes cleer heav'n should bee ore-cast And clouded at my death yet doe not so For I 'le no recompence take for the woe By which of my Soules spoyles possest thou wast But rather laughing at my funerals sad Shew how mine end begins to make thee glad But 't is a folly to advise thee this For I know in my deaths acceleration Consists thy glory and thy chiefest blisse 8 Let Tantalus from the profoundest deeps Come for it is high time now with his thirst And Sisifus with his oppressing stone Let Ticius bring his Raven that ne're sleeps And Ixion make no stay with wheele accurst Nor the three Sisters ever lab'ring on And let them all at once their mortall moane Translate into my breast and lovely sound If it may bee a debt due to despaire And chant sad obsequies with dolefull ayre Over a Corse unworthy of the ground And the three-fac'd-infernall Porter Grimme With thousand Monsters and Chymaeraes dimme Relish the dolorous descant out amain For greater Pomp then this I think not fit That any dying Lover should obtain 9 Despayring Canzone doe not thou complain When thou my sad soci'ty shalt refrain But rather since the cause whence thou didst spring By my misfortune growes more fortunate Ev'n in the Grave thou must shun sorrowing Chrisostomes Canzone liked wonderfully all the hearers although the reader thereof affirmed that it was not conformable to the relation that he had received ef Marcelaes virtue and care of her self For in it Crisostome did complain of jealousies suspicions and absence being all of them things that did prejudice Marcelaes good fame To this objection Ambrosio answered as one that knew very well the most hidden secrets of his friend you must understand Sir to the end you may better satisfie your own doubt That when the unfortunate Sheepheard wrote that Canzone he was absent from Marcela from whose presence he had wittingly withdrawn himself to see if he could deface some part of his excessive passions procured by absence And as every thing doth vex an absent Lover and every fear afflict him so was Crisostome likewise tormented by imagined jealousies and feared suspicions as much as if they were reall and true And with this remains the truth in her perfection and poynt of Marcelaes virtue who excepting that she is cruel and somewhat arrogant and very disdainfull very envy it self neither ought nor can attaint her of the least defect You have reason quoth Vivaldo and so desiring to read another paper he was interrupted by a marvellous vision for such it seemed that unexpectedly offered it self to their view Which was That on the top of the Rock wherein they made the grave appeared the Sheepheardesse Marcela so fair that her beauty surpassed far the fame that was spread thereof such as had not beheld her before did look on her then with admiration and silence and those which were wont to view her remained no lesse suspended then the others which never had seen her But scarce had Ambrosio eyed her when with an irefull disdaining minde he spake these words Com'st thou by chance O fierce Basilisk of these Mountains to see whether the wounds of this wretch will yet bleed at thy presence Or doest thou come to insult and vaunt in the Tragicall feats of thy stern nature Or to behold from that height like another mercilesse Nero the Fire of inflamed Rome Or arrogantly to trample this infortunate Carkasse as the ingratefull daughter did her father Tarquin's Tell us quickly why thou commest or what thou doest most desire For seeing I know that Crisostomes thoughts never disobeyed thee in life I will likewise cause that all those his friends shall serve and reverence thee I come not here good Ambrosio to any of those ends thou sayest quoth Marcela but only to turn for mine honour and give the world to understand how little reason have all those which make me the Authour eyther of their own pains or of Crisostom's death and therefore I desire all you that be
Love And who my glories ebb doth most importune Fortune And to my Plaints by whom increase is giv'n By Heav'n If that be so then my mistrust jumps ev'n That of my wondrous evill I must die Since in my harme joyn'd and united be Love wavering Fortune and a rig'rous Heaven Who better hap can unto me bequeath Death From whom his favours doth not Love estrange From change And his too serious harms who cureth wholy Folly If that bee so it is no wisedome truly To think by humane means to cure that care Where th' only Antidotes and Med'cines are Desired Death light Change and endlesse Folly The hour the time the solitarinesse of the place voice and art of him that sung struck wonder and delight in the Hearers mindes which remained still quiet listning whether they might hear any thing else But perceiving that the silence continued a prettie while they agreed to issue and seek out the Musician that sung so harmoniously And being ready to put their resolution in practise they were again arrested by the same voyce the which touched their ears anew with this Sonnet A SONNET HOly Amitie which with nimble wings Thy semblance leaving here on earth behinde Among the blessed Souls of Heaven up-flings To those Imperiall rooms to cheer thy minde And thence to us is when thou lik'st assign'd Iust Peace whom shadie vail so cover'd brings As oft instead of her Deceit wee find Clad in the weeds of good and vertuous things Leave Heav'n O Amitie doe not permit Foul Fraud thus openly thy Robes t' invest With which sincere intents destroy does it For if thy likenesse from 't thou do'st not wrest The World will turn to the first conflict soon Of Discord Chaâ—â— and Confusion The Song was concluded with a profound sigh and both the others lent attentive eare to heare if hee would sing any more but perceiving that the Musick was converted into throbs and dolefull plaints they resolved to goe and learn who was the wretch as excellent for his voyce as dolorous in his sighs and after they had gone a little at the doubling of the poynt of a cragg they perceived one of the very same form and fashion that Sancho had painted unto them when hee told them the History of Cardenio which man espying them likewise shewed no semblance of fear but stood still with his head hanging on his breast like a male-content not once lifting up his eyes to behold them from the first time when they unexpectedly arrived The Curate who was a man very well spoken as one that had already intelligence of his misfortune for he knew him by his signes drew neerer to him and prayed and perswaded him with short but very forcible reasons to forsake that miserable life left hee should there eternally lose it which of all miseries would prove the most miserable Cardenio at this season was in his right sense free from the furious accident that distracted him so often therefore viewing them both attyred in so strange unusuall a fashion from that which was used among those Desarts he rested somewhat admired but chiefly hearing them speak in his affair as in a matter known for so much he gathered out of the Curates speeches and therefore answered in this manner I perceive well good Sirs whosoever you be that Heaven which hath alwayes care to succour good men yea even and the wicked many times hath without any desert addrest unto me by these Desarts and places so remote from vulgar haunt persons which laying before mine eyes with quick and pregnant reasons the little I have to lead this kinde of life doe labour to remove me from this place to a better And by reason they know not as much as I doe and that after escaping this harme I shall fall into a far greater they account me perhaps for a man of weak discourse and what is worse for one wholly devoid of judgement And were it so yet is it no marvell for it seems to me that the force of the imagination of my disasters is so bent and powerfull in my destruction that I without being able to make it any resistance doe become like a stone void of all good feeling and knowledge and I come to know the certainty of this truth when some men doe recount and shew unto me tokens of the things I have done whilest this terrible accident over-rules me and after I can doe no more then be grieved though in vain and curse without benefit my too froward fortune and render as an excuse of my madnesse the relation of the cause thereof to as many as please to hear it for wise men perceiving the cause will not wonder at the effects And though they give me no remedie yet at least will not condemn me for it will convert the anger they conceive at my mis-rules into compassion of my disgraces And Sirs if by chance it be so that you come with the same intention that others did I request you e're you inlarge farther your discreet perswasions that you will give eare a while to the relation of my mis-haps for perhaps when you have understood it you may save the labour that you would take comforting an evill wholy incapable of consolation Both of them which desired nothing so much as to understand from his own mouth the occasion of his harmes did intreate him to relate it promising to doe nothing else in his remedie or comfort but what himselfe pleased And with this the sorrowfull Gentleman began his dolefull Historie with the very same words almost that hee had rehearsed it to Don-Quixote and the Goat-heard a few dayes past when by occasion of Master Elisabat and Don-Quixotes curiositie in observing the Decorum of Chivalrie the tale remained imperfect as our Historie left it above But now good fortune so disposed things that his foolish fit came not upon him but gave him leisure to continue his Storie to the end and so ariving to the passage that spoke of the Letter Don Ferdinando found in the booke of Amadis du Gaule Cardenio said that hee had it very well in memorie and the sence was this LUSCINDA to CARDENIO I Discover daily in thee worths that obliege and inforces mee to hold thee deere and therefore if thou desirest to have mee discharge this Debt without serving a Writ on my Honour thou mayst easily doe it I have a Father that knowes thee and loves mee likewise well who without forcing my Will will accomplish that which justly thou oughtest to have if it bee so that thou esteemest mee as much as thou sayest and I doe beleeve This Letter moved mee to demand Luscinda of her father for my wife as I have already recounted and by it also Luscinda remayned in Don Ferdinandoes opinion crowned for one of the most discreete women of her time And this billet Letter was that which first put him in minde to destroy mee ere I could effect my desires I told to Don
which may and are wont to bee had of women doe not eftsoones enter into the profound depths of new inconveniences nor take thou any other Pilot to make experience of the goodnesse and strength of the Vessell that Heaven hath alotted to thee to passe therein thorow the Seas of this world but make account that thou art harboured in a safe Haven and there hold thy selfe fast with the Anchor of good consideration and so rest thee untill death come to demand his debt from the payment whereof no Nobility or priviledge whatsoever can exempt us Anselmo rested singularly satisfied at Lotharioes discourse and did beleeve it as firmly as if it were delivered by an Oracle but did intreate him notwithstanding to prosecute his attempt although it were only done for curiositie and to passe away the time yet not to use so efficacious meanes as hee thitherto practised and that hee only desired him to write some verses in her praise under the name of Clori for hee would make Camila beleeve that hee was enamoured on a certaine Lady to whom hee did appropriate that name that hee might celebrate her prayses with the respect due to her honour and that if hee would not take the pains to invent them that hee himselfe would willingly compose them That is not needfull quoth Lothario for the Muses are not so alienated from mee but that they visite mee somtimes in the yeere Tell you unto Camila what you have devised of my loves and as for the verses I will make them my selfe if not so well as the subject deserves yet at the least as artificially as I may devise them The impertinent curious man and his treacherous friend having thus agreed and Anselmo returned to his house hee demanded of Camila that which shee marvelled hee had not asked before that shee should tell unto him the occasion why shee sent unto him the Letter Camila made answer Because it seemed unto her that Lothario beheld her some what more immodest then when he was at home but that now she did againe disswade her selfe and beleeved that it was but a light surmise without any ground because that shee perceived Lothario to loath her presence or be by any meanes alone with her Anselmo told her that she might very well live secure for him for that he knew Lothario's affections were bestowed else-where and that upon one of the noblest Damzels of the Citie whose praises hee solemnized under the name of Clori and that although hee were not yet was there no cause to doubt of Lothario's virtue or the amitie that was between them both Here if Camila had not been premonished by Lothario that the love of Clori was but fained and that hee himself had told it to Anselmo to blinde him that hee might with lesse difficultie celebrate her own praises under the name of Clori shee had without doubt faln into the desperate toyles of jealousie but being already advertised shee posted over that assault lightly The day following they three sitting together at dinner Anselmo requested Lothario to repeat some one of the Verses that hee had made to his beloved Clori for seeing that Camila knew her not hee might boldly say what hee pleased Although shee knew her quoth Lothario yet would I not therefore suppresse any part of her praises For when any Lover praiseth his Ladie for her beauty and doth withall taxe her of cruelty her credit incurs no danger But befall what it list I composed yesterday a Sonnet of the ingratitude of Clori and is this ensuing A SONNET AMid'st the silence of the darkest night When sweetest sleep invadeth mortall eyes I poor account to Heav'n and Clori bright Give of the richest harmes which ever rise And at the time wee Phoebus may devise Shine through the roseal gates of th' Orient bright With deep accents and sighs in Wonted guise I doe my Plaints renew with main and might And when the Sunne down from his Starry seat Directest rayes towards the earth doth send My sighs I double and my sad regret And night returns but of my Woes no end For I finde alwaies in my mortall strife Heav'n without eares and Clori likewise deaf Camila liked the Sonnet very well but Anselmo best of all for hee praised it and said that the Lady must bee very cruell that would not answer such perspicuous truths with reciprocall affection But then Camila answered Why then belike all that which enamoured Poets say is true In as much as Poets quoth Lothario they say not truth but as they are inamoured they remain as short as they are true That is questionlesse quoth Anselmo all to underprop and give Lothario more credit with Camila who was as carelesse of the cause her Husband said so as shee was inamoured of Lothario and therefore with the delight shee took in his compositions but chiefly knowing that his desires and labours were addrest to her self who was the true Clori shee intreated him to repeat some other Sonnet or Dittie if hee remembred any Yes that I doe quoth Lothario but I believe that it is not so good as the first as you may well judge for it is this A SONNET I Die and if I cannot bee believ'd My death 's more certain as it is most sure To see me aâ— thy feet of life depriv'd Rather then grieve this thraldome to indure Well may I in oblivious shades obscure Of Glorie Life and Favour bee deny'd And yet even there shall in my bosome pure The shape of thy fair face iugrav'd bee ey'd For that 's a relique which I doe reserve For the last Trances my contentions threaten Which mid'st thy rigour doth it self preserve O woe's the Wight that is by tempests beaten By night in unknown Seas in danger rife For want of North or Hav'n to lose his life Anselmo commended also this second Sonnet as hee had done the first and added by that means one link to another in the chain wherewith hee intangled himself and forged his own dishonour seeing when Lothario dishonoured him most of all hee said unto him then that hee honoured him most And herewithall Camila made all the links that verily served only to abase her down to the Center of contempt seem to mount her in her Husbands opinion up to the height of virtue and good fame It befell soon after that Camila finding her self alone with her Maiden said to her I am ashamed friend Leonela to see how little I knew to value my self seeing that I made not Lothario spend some time at least in the purchasing the whole possession of me which I with a prompt will bestowed upon him so speedily I fear me that hee will impute my hastinesse to lightnesse without considering the force hee used towards me which wholly hindred and disabled my resistance Let not that afflict you Madam quoth Leonela for it is no sufficient cause to diminish estimation that that bee given quickly which is to bee given if that in effect be good
Constantinople where I was sometime captive who was one of the most valiant Souldiers and Captaines that might bee found among all the Spanish foote but hee was as unfortunate as hee was valorous and resolute And how was that Captaine called good Sir quoth the Judge His name was replyed Master Curate Ruy Perez Viedma and hee was borne in a Village of the Mountaines of Leon and hee recounted unto mee an occurrence hapned betweene his Father him and his other Brethren which if I had not beene told by a man of such credit and reputation as hee was I would have esteemed for one of these fables which old Wives are wont to rehearse by the fire side in Winter for hee said to mee that his Father had divided his goods among his three sonnes and gave them withall certaine Precepts better then those of Cato and I know well that the choice which hee made to follow the Warre had such happy success as within a few yeeres through his forwardnesse and valour without the helpe of any other arme hee was advanced to a company of Foote and made a Captaine and was in the way and course of becomming one day a Colonell but Fortune was contrary to him for even there where he was most to expect her favour hee lost it with the losse of his Liberty in that most happy journey wherein so many recovered it to wit in the Battell of Lepanto I lost mine in Goleta and after by different successe wee became companions in Constantinople from whence wee went to Argiers where did befall him one of the most notable Adventures that ever hapned in the World and there the Curate with succinct brevitie recounted all that had hapned between the Captain and Zoraida to all which the Judge was so attentive as in all his life hee never listened to any cause so attentively as then And the Curate only arived to the point wherein the French-men spoyled the Christians that came in the Barke and the necessitie wherein his Companion and the beautifull Zoraida remained of whom hee had not learned any thing after nor knew not what became of them or whether they came into Spain or were carried away by the French-men into France The Captain stood listening somewhat aloof off to all the Curates words and noted the while the motions and gestures of his brother who seeing that the Curate had now made an end of his Speech breathing forth a great sigh and his eyes being filled with teares hee said O Sir if you had known the news which you have told me and how neerly they touch me in some points whereby I am constrained to manifest these teares which violently break forth in despight of my discretion and calling you would hold me excused for this excesse That Captaine of whom you spoke is my eldest Brother who as one stronger and of more noble thoughts then I or my younger Brother made election of the honourable military calling one of the three estates which our Father proposed to us even as your Comrade informed when as you thought hee related a Fable I followed my Book by which God and my dilligence raised me to the State you see My younger Brother is in Peru and with that which hee hath sent to my Father and my self hath bountifully recompenced the portion hee carried and given to him sufficient to satisfie his liberall disposition and to me wherewithall to continue my Studies with the decencie and authority needfull to advance me to the rank which now I possesse My Father lives yet but dying through desire to learne somewhat of his eldest Sonne and doth dayly importune God with incesâ—ant prayers that death may not shut his eyes untill hee may once again see him alive I only marvell not a little considering his discreetion that among all his labours afflictions or prosperous successes hee hath been so carelesse in giving his Father notice of his Proceedings for if either hee or any one of us had known of his Captivity hee should not have needed to expect the miracle of the Cane for his Ransome But that which troubles me most of all is to think whether these French-men have restored him again to libertie or else slain him that they might conceale their robberie the better all which will bee an occasion to me to prosecute my Voyage not with the joy wherewithall I began it but rather with Melancholy and Sorrow O dear Brother I would I might know now where thou art that I my self might goe and search thee out and free thee from thy pains although it were with the hazard of mine own O who is hee that could carrie news to our old Father that thou wert but alive although thou were hidden in the most abstruse Dungeons of Barbarie for his Riches my Brothers and mine would fetch thee from thence O beautifull and bountifull Zoraida who might bee able to recompence thee for the good thou hast done to my Brother How happie were hee that might bee present at thy Spirituall Birth and Baptisme and at thy nuptials which would bee so gratefull to us all These and many other such words did the Judge deliver so full of compassion for the news that hee had received of his Brother as all that heard him kept him companie in shewing signes of compassion for his sorrow The Curate therefore perceiving the happie successe whereto his designe and the Captains desire had sorted would hold the company sad no longer and therefore arising from the Table and entring into the Room wherein Zoraida was hee took her by the hand and after her followed Luscinda Dorotea and the Judge his Daughter the Captain stood still to see what the Curate would doe who taking him fast by the other hand martched over with them both towards the Judge and the other Gentlemen and said Suppresse your teares Master Justice and glut your desire with all that good which it may desire seeing you have here before you your good brother and your loving sister in law this man whom you view here is the Captaine Viedma and this the beautifull Moore which hath done so much for him The Frenchmen which I told you of have reduced them to the povertie you see to the end that you may shew the liberalitie of your noble brest Then did the Captaine draw neere to embrace his brother but hee held him off a while with his armes to note whether it was hee or no but when hee once knew him hee embraced him so lovingly and with such abundance of teares as did attract the like from all the beholders The words that the brothers spoke one to another or the feeling affection which they shewed can hardly bee conceived and therefore much lesse written by any one whatsoever There they did briefly recount the one to the other their successes there did they shew the true love and affection of brothers in his prime there did the Judge embrace Zoraida there hee made her an ofâ—er of
Writs of Sonnetry Whose pleasing strains doe them commend If with my earnestnesse I thee Importune not faire Damzell soone Thy envi'd fortune shall by mee Mount the circle of the Moone Poetrie gave way and from Monies side came Liberalitie and after her changes spoke To give is Liberalitie In him that shunnes two contraries The one of Prodigalitie Tother of hatefull Avarice I le bee profuse in praysing thee Profusenesse hath accounted beene A vice yet sure it commeth nie Affection which in gifts is seene In this sort both the shews of the two Squadrons came in and out and each of them performed their changes and spoke their Verses some elegant some ridiculous Don-Quixote only remembred for he had a great memorie the rehearsed ones and now the whole troope mingled together winding in and out with great spritelynesse and dexteritie and still as Love went before the Castle he shot a flight aloft but Money broke gilded bals and threw into it At last after Money had danc'd a good while hee drew out a great Purse made of a Roman Cats skinne which seemed to bee full of money and casting it into the Castle with the blow the boords were disjoyned and fell downe leaving the Damzell discovered without any defence Money came with his Assistants and casting a great chaine of gold about her neck they made a shew of leiding her Captive Which when Love and his Party saw they made shew as if they would have rescued her and all these motions were to the sound of the Tabrer with skillfull dancing the Savages parted them who very speedily went to set up and joyne the boords of the Castle and the Damzell was inclosed there anew and with this the dance ended an the great content of the spectators Don-Quixote asked one of the Nymphs Who had so drest and ordered her Shee answered A Parson of the towne who had an excellent capacity for such inventions I 'le lay a wager said Don-Quixote he was more Basilius his friend then Camacho's and that he knowes better what belongs to a Satyre then an Even song he hath well fitted Basilius his abilities to the dance and Camacho's riches Sancho Panca that heard all sayd The King is my Cocke I hold with Camacho Well Sancho quoth Don-Quixote thou art a very Peasant and like them that Long live the Conquerour I know not who I am like said Sancho but I know I shall never get such delicate froth out of Basilius his Pottage-pots as I have out of Camacho's and with that shewed him the kettle full of Geese and Hens and laying hold on one he fell to it merrily and hungerly and for Basilius abilities this he sayd to their teeth So much thou art worth as thou hast and so much as thou hast thou art worth An old Grandame of mine was wont to say there were but two linages in the world Have-much and Have-little and she was mightly enclined to the former and at this day Master your Physician had rather feele a having pulse then a knowing pulse and an Asse covered with gold makes a better shew then a horse with a pack-saddle So that I say again I am of Camacho's side the scumme of whose pots are Geese Hens Hares and Conies and Basilius his bee they neere or farre off but poore thin water Hast thou ended with thy tediousnesse Sancho said Don-Quixote I must end sayd hee because I see it offends you for if it were not for that I had worke cut out for three dayes Pray God Sancho quoth Don-Quixote that I may see thee dumbe before I die According to our life sayd Sancho before you die I shall bee mumbling clay and then perhaps I shall bee so dumbe that I shall not speake a word till the end of the world or at least till Dooms-day Although it should bee so Sancho said hee thy silence will never bee equall to the talking past and thy talke to come besides 't is very likely that I shall die before thee and so I shall never see thee dumbe no not when thou drinkest or sleepest to paint thee out thorowly In good faith Master quoth Sancho there is no trusting in the raw bones I meane Death that devoures lambes as well as sheepe and I have heard our Vicar say shee tramples as well on the high Towres of Kings as the humble cottages of poore men this Lady hath more power then squeamishnesse she is nothing dainty shee devoures all playes at all and fils her wallets with all kinde of people ages and preeminences Shee is no Mower that sleepes in the hot weather but mowes at all houres and cuts as well the greene grasse as the hay shee doth not chew but swallowes at once and crams downe all that comes before her shee hath a Canine apetite that is never satisfied and though shee have no belly yet shee may make us thinke shee is Hyâ—ropsicall with the thrist she hath to drinke all mens lives as if it were a jugg of colde water No more Sancho quoth Don-Quixote at this instant hold while thou art well and take heed of falling for certainely thou hast spoken of Death in thy rusticall tearms as much as a good Preacher might have spoken I tell thee Sancho that for thy naturall discretion thou might'st get thee a Pulpit and preach thy fine knacks up and downe the world Hee preaches well that lives well said Sancho and I know no other preaching Thou needest not quoth hee But I wonder at one thing that wisedome beginning from the feare of God that thou who fearest a Lizard more then him should'st be so wise Judge you of your Knight Errantry said Sancho and meddle not with other mens feares or valors for I am as pretty a Fearer of God as any of my neighbours and so let mee snuffe away this scum Meaning to eat his Hen and the Goose for all the rest are but idle words for which wee must give account in another life And in so saying hee began to give another assault to the kettle with such a courage that hee wakened Don-Quixote that undoubtedly would have taken his part if he had not beene hindered by that that of necessity must be set down CHAP. XXI Of the prosecution of Camacho's marriage with other delightfull accidents AS Don-Quixote and Sancho were in their discourse mentioned in the former chapter they heard a great noyse and out-cry which was caused by them that rode on the Mares who with a large Career and shouts went to meet the married couple who hemmed in with a thousand trickes and devices came in company of the Vicar and both their kindreds and all the better sort of the neighbouring townes all clad in their best apparell And as Sancho saw the Brideâ— he said In good faith she is not drest like a country-wench but like one of your nice Court Dames by th' Masse me thinkes her glasse necke-laces shee should weare are rich Corrall and her course greene of Cuenca is a
needs goe on my way Farewell But if you will know why I carry them I shall lodge to night in the Vente above the Hermitage Ventes places in Spain in barren unpeopled parts for lodging like our beggerly Alehouses upon the high-waies and if you goe that way there you shall have mee and I will tell you wonders and so once more Farewell So the Mule pricked on so fast that Don Quixote had no leisure to aske him what wonders they were and as hee was curious and alwaies desirous of novelties hee tooke order that they should presently goe and passe that night in the Vente without touching at the Hermitage where the Scholer would have stayed that night So all three of them mounted went toward the Vente whither they reached somewhat before it grew darke and the Scholer invited Don-Quixote to drinke a sup by the way at the Hermitage which as soone as Sancho heard hee made haste with Dapple as did Don-Quixote and the Scholer likewise but as Sanchoes ill-luck would have it the Hermite was not at home as was told them by the under-Hermit they asked him whether hee had any of the deerer sort of wine who answered his Master had none but if they would have any cheape water hee would give it them with a good will If my thirst would be quench'd with water we might have had Wels to drinke at by the way Ah Camachoes marriage and Don Diegoes plenty how oft shall I misse you Now they left the Hermitage and spurred toward the Vente and a little before them they overtooke a youth that went not very fast before them so they overtooke him he had a sword upon his shoulder and upon it as it seemed a bundle of cloathes as breeches and cloake and a shirt for hee wore a velvet jerkin that had some kinde of remainder of Sattin and his shirt hung out his stockins were of silke and his shooes square at toe after the Court fashion he was about eighteene yeeres of age and active of body to see to to passe the tediousnesse of the way he went singing short peeces of Songs and as they came neer him he made an end of one which the Scholer they say learnt by heart and it was this To the Warres I goe for necessitie At home would I tarry if I had Monie Don-Quixote was the first that spoke to him saying You goe very naked Sir Gallant And whither a Gods-name Let 's know if it be your pleasure to tell us To which the Youth answered Heat and Poverty are the causes that I walke so light and my journey is to the Wars Why for poverty quoth Don-Quixote for heat it may well be Sir said the Youth I carry in this bundle a payre of slops fellowes to this Jerkin if I weare um by the way I shall doe my self no credit with them when I come to any Town and I have no money to buy others with so as well for this as to aire my selfe I goe till I can overtake certaine Companies of Foote which are not above twelve leagues from hence where I shall get mee a place and shall not want carriages to travell in till I come to our imbarking place which they say must bee in Cartagina and I had rather have the King to my Master and serve him then any beggerly-Courtier And pray tell mee have you any extraordinary pay said the Scholer Had I served any Grandee or man of qualitie said the Youth no doubt I should for that comes by your serving good Masters that out of the Scullary men come to bee Livetenants or Captaines or to have some good pay but I alwaies had the ill-luck to serve your shag-rags and up-starts whose alowance was so bare and short that one halfe of it still was spent in starching me a Ruffe and it is a miracle that one ventring Page amongst a hundred should ever get any reasonable Fortune But tell mee friend quoth Don-Quixote is it possible that in all the time you served you never got a Livery Two said the Page but as he that goes out of a Monastery before he professeth hath his habit taken from him and his clothes given him back so my Masters returned me mine when they had ended their businesses for which they came to the Court and returned to their own homes and with-held their Liveries which they had only shewed for ostentation A notable Espilooherio Cullionry as saith your Italian quoth Don-Quixote for all that thinke your selfe happy that you are come from the Court with so good an intention for there is nothing in the world better nor more profitableâ— then to serve God first and next your Prince and naturall Master especially in the practise of Armes by which if not more wealth yet at least more honour is obtained then by Learning as I have said many times That though Learning hath raysed more Houses then Armes yet your Sword-men have a kinde of I know not what advantage above Scholers with a kind of splendor that doth advantage them over all And beare in your minde what I shall now tell you which shall bee much for your good and much lighten you in your travells that is not to think upon adversity for the worst that can come is death which if it be a good death the best fortune of all is to die Iulius Caesar that brave Romane Emperour being asked Which was the best death answered A suddain one and unthought of and though hee answered like a Gentile and void of the knowledge of the true God yet hee said well to save humane feeling a labour for say you should bee slain in the first skirmish either with Canon shot or blown up with a mine what matter is it All is but dying and there 's an end And as Terence sayes A Souldier slain in the Field shews better then alive and safe in flight and so much the more famous is a good Souldier by how much hee obeyes his Captains and those that may command him and mark childe it is better for a Souldier to smell of his Gun-powder then of Civet and when old age comes upon you in this honourable exercise though you bee full of scars maimed or lame at least you shall not bee without honour which poverty cannot diminish and besides there is order taken now That old and maimed Souldiers may bee relieved neither are they dealt withall like those mens Negars that when they are old and can doe their Masters no service they under colour of making them free turn them out of doors and make themslaves to hunger from which nothing can free them but death Hee describes the right subtil and cruel nature of his damned Country-men and for this time I will say no more to you but only get up behinde me till you come to the Vente and there you shall sup with me and to morrow take your Journey which God speed as your desires deserve The Page accepted not of his invitement
some half an hour the apparitions vanished Donna Rodrignez tucked up her Coats and bewailing her mishap got her out of the door not speaking a word to Don-Quixote who heavy and all to bee pinched sad and pensative remained alone where wee will leave him desirous to know who was the perverse Enchanter that had so drest him But that shall be told in due time for Sancho Panca calls us and the Decorum of this Historie CHAP. XLIX What hapned to Sancho in walking the Round in his Island WEe left the famous Governour moody angry with the knavish Husbandman-painter who instructed by the Steward and the Steward by the Duke all made sport with Sancho but hee held them all tack though a Fool a Dullard and a Block and said to those about him and to Doctor Pedro Rezio for as soon as hee had ended the secret of the Dukes Letter hee came into the Hall again Certainly said hee I think now Judges and Governours had need bee made of Brasse that they may have no feeling of the importunities of suitors that would that at all hours and all times they should give them audience and dispatch them intending only their businesse let them have never so much of their own and if the poor Judge hear them not or dispatch them not either because hee cannot or because they come not in a fit time to have audience straight they back-bite and curse him gnaw his bones and unbury his Ancestors Oh foolish Suiter and idle make not such haste stay for a fit season and conjuncture to negotiate in come not at dinner time or bed time for Judges are flesh and blood and must satisfie nature except it bee I that give my self nothing to eat thanks to Master Doctor Pedro Rezio Tirte a fuera here present that would have me die for hunger and yet stands in it that this death is life such a life God grant him and all his profession I mean such ill Physicians for the good deserve Lawrell and Palme All that knew Sancho admired him when they heard him speak so elegantly and knew not to what they should attribute it except it were that Offices and great charges doe eythet season the understanding or altogether dull it Finally the Doctor Pedro Rezio Agnero de Tirte a fuera promised him hee should sup that night though hee exceeded all Hypocrates his Aphorismes With this the Governour was well pleased and very greedily expected the comming of the night and supper time and though time as hee thought stood still not moving a jot from his place yet at length it came so longed for by him and hee had to supper a cold mince-meat of Beef and Onions with a Calves foot somewhat stale and fell to as contentedly as if they had given him a God-wit of Milan or a Pheasant of Rome or Veale of Sorrentum or Partridges of Moron or Geese of Lanaxos and in the midest of his Supper hee turned to the Doctor and said Look yee Master Doctor hence-forward never care to give me dainties or exquisite meats to eat for you will pluck my stomack quite off the hinges which is used only to Goat Beef and Bacon Pork and Turneps and Onions and if you come to me with your Court dishes they make my stomack squeamish and many times I loath um Carver let it bee your care to provide me a good Olla podrida and the more podrida it is the better and more favorie and in your Olla's you may boil and ballast in what you will so it bee victuals and I will bee mindefull of you and make you amends one day and let no man play the fool with mee for either wee are or wee are not Let 's bee merry and wife when the Sunne shines hee shines upon all I le Govern this Island without looking my due or taking Bribes and therefore let all the world bee watchfull and look to their bolt for I give um to understand there 's Rods in Pisse for them and if they put me to it they shall see wonders I I cover your selves with Honey and you shall see the Flies will eat you Truly Sir Governour quoth the Carver you have reason in all you speak and let me promise you in the behalf of all the Islanders of this Island that they will serve you with all diligence love and good will for the sweet and milde kinde of Governing that hitherto in the beginning you have used makes them neither doe nor speak ought that may redound to your contempt I beleeve it quoth Sancho and they were very Asses if they did or thought otherwise and therefore let me say again Let there bee a care had for the maintenance of my Person and Dapples which is very important and to the matter And so when 't is time to walk the Round let us goe for my purpose is to cleanse this Island from all kinde of filth Vagamunds lazie and masterlesse persons for know friends that slothfull and idle people in a Common-wealth are the same that Drones in Hives that eate the Honey which the labouring Bees make I purpose to cherish the Husbandman and to grant the Gentlemen their preeminencies to reward the Virtuous and above all to have Religion in reverence and to honour Religious persons What think yee of this friends Say I ought or doe I talk idlely So well Sir said the Steward that I wonder to see that a man so without learning as you for I think you cannot skill of a letter should speak such sentences and instructions so contrary to what was expected from your wit by all that sent you and by all us that came with you Every day wee see novelties in the world jests turn'd to earnest and those that mock are mocked at Well it was night and the Governour supped with Master Doctor Rezio's licence They made ready to walk the Round the Steward the Secretary and Carver went with him and the Chroniclist that was carefull to keep a Register of his actions together with Constables and Notaries so many that they might well make a reasonable Squadron Sancho went in the midest of them with his Rod of Justice which was the only chief fight and when they had walkâ— some few streets of the Town they heard a noyse of flashing thither they made and found that they were two men only that were together by the eares who seeing the Justice comming stood still and the one of them said Here for God and the King shall I bee suffered to bee robbed in the midest of a Town and that the midest of the streets bee made the high-way Softly honest friend quoth Sancho and tell me what 's the reason of this fray for I am the Governour The other his contrary said Sir Governour I le tell you briefly the matter You shall understand Sir that this Gentleman even now at a Gaming-house here over the way got a thousand Ryâ—lls God knows by what tricks and I being present
see 't is true pray stay and you shall see it with your eyes and rising hee left his dinner and went to uncover the first Image which shewed to bee Saint George on horse back with a winding Serpent at his feet and his Launce runne thorow the throat of it with the fiercenesse he useth to be painted with all the Images seemed to bee of pure gold And Don-Quixote seeing it said This Knight was one of the best Errants that the divine War-fare had his name was Saint George and he was a wonderfull defender of Damzels Let 's see this next The man discovered it and it seemed to see Saint Martin on Horse-back that divided his cloak with the poor man and Don-Quixote no sooner saw it but he said This Knight also was one of our Christian Adventâ—rers and I beleeve he was more liberall then valiant as thou mayest see Sancho by his dividing his cloak and giving the poor man half and doubtlesse it was then Winter for had it been Summer he would have given him all he was so charitable Not so quoth Sancho but he stuck to the Proverb To give and to have doth a brain crave Don-Quixote laughed and desired them to take away another peece of linnen under which was the Image of the Patron of Spain on Horse-back his sword bloodied trampling on Moors and treading on heads and Don-Quixote seeing it said I marry Sir here 's a Knight indeed one of Christs Squadrons this is called Don-Saint Diego Moorkiller one of the Valientest Saints and Knights in the world then or in heaven now Then they discovered another peece which shewed Saint Paul his falling from his Horse with all the circumstances usually painted in the Table of his Conversion when hee saw him so lively as if you would say Christ were then speaking to him and Paul answering hee said This was the greatest enemie that the Church of God had in a long time and the greatest Defender that ever it shall have a Knight Errant in his life time and a quiet Saint in his death a restless Laboror in the Vineyard of the Lord a Doctor of Nations whose School was Heaven and Christ himself his Reader and Instructer Now there were no more Images and so Don-Quixote commanded them to cover them again and said to those that carried them I hold it for a propitious signe Brethen to have seen what I have seen for those Saints and Knights were of my Profession which is to exercise Armes onely the difference between them and me is that they were Saints and fought Divinely I am a sinner and fight humanely They conquer'd heaven by force of their Armes for heaven suffers force and hitherto I know not what I conquer by the force of my sufferings but if my Dulcinea del Toboso be once free from hers my Fortune bettering it self and my judgement repaired perhaps I might take a better course then I doe God grant and Sin be deaf quoth Sancho straight The men wondred as well at Don-Quixotes shape as at his discourse and understood not one half what it meant They ended their dinner and got up their Images and taking leave of Don-Quixote they went on their way Sancho admired afresh as if hee had never known his Master at his knowledge thinking there was no Historyin the world or Accident that hee had not ciphered upon his nayle and nayled in his memory and said Truly Master mine if this that hath befaln us to day may be called an Adventure it hath been one of the most delicious sweetest that in all our peregrination hath befaln us for wee are come out of it without blows or affrightment or laying hands to our swords or without beating the earth with our bodies or being hungry God be thanked that hee hath let me see this with these eyes of mine Thou sayest well Sancho quoth Don-Quixote but thou must know the times are not alwaies alike nor run on in one fashion and that which the vulgar commonly call Bodings which are not grounded upon any naturall reason ought to bee held and reputed and judged by a wise man for good luck One of your Wizards riseth in a morning goes out of his house meets with a Frier of the blessed Order of S. Francis and as if hee had met with a Griffin turns his back and runs home again Tother Mendoza hee spils the salt on the Table and straight hath a melancholy sprinkled all over his heart as if Nature were bound to shew signes of ensuing mischances with things of so small moment as the aforesaid The discreet Christians ought not to stand upon points or to look into the doings of Heaven Scipio comes into Africa and leaping on shore hee stumbles his Souldiers hold it for an ill signe but hee embracing the ground said Thou canst not flye from me Africa for I have fast hold on thee in mine Armes So that Sancho the meeting with these Images hath been a most happie successe to mee I beleeve you quoth Sancho and pray tell me the cause why wee Spainiards cry Saint Iaques and shut Spain is Spain open troe so that it needed bee shut or what ceremonie is this Thou art most simple Sancho quoth Don-Quixote and look This Grand Knight with the red Crosse God hath given him to Spain for a Patron and Protector especially in the hard conflicts that the Moors and wee had together and therefore they invoke and call on him as their Protector in all their battels they give and many times they have visibly seen him in them overthrowing trampling destroying and killing Agaren Squadrons Many examples could I produce to confirm this out of the true Spanish Histories Sancho changed his discourse and said to his Master Sir I doe wonder at the loosnesse of Altisidora the Duchesses Damzell that same fellow called Love hath bravely wounded and runne her thorow they say hee is a little blinde boy that though hee bee blearâ— ey'd or to say truer blinde takes the least heart for his mark and hits it and pierceth it with his Flight from one side to the other I have also heard say that in the modesty and warinesse of Damzells his amorous Arrows are headlesse and dull but in this Altisidora it seems they are rather whetted then dull Look you Sancho quoth Don-Quixote Love hath no respect or limit in his dealing and hath the same condition with Death that as well sets upon the high Palaces of Kings as the low Cottages of Sheepheards and when he takes entire possession of a soul the first thing hee does is to banish shame without which Altisidora declared her desires that rather engendred in my brest confusion then pitty Notable cruelty quoth Sancho unheard of thanklesnesseâ— I know for my part that the least amorous reason of hers would have humbled and made me her Vassall ah whoreson what a heart of marble entrails of brasse and soul of rough-cast had you but I cannot imagine what this Damzel saw in you
breath Don-Quixote ate nothing for pure griefe neither durst Sancho touch any meate before him for pure mannerlinesse and expected his Master should first bee his Taster but seeing him carried on with his imaginations not remembring to put a bit in his mouth he never asked him and over-running all kinde of manners he began to barrell up all the Bread and Cheese that was before him in his stomack Eate friend Sancho quoth Don-Quixote hold life together for thou hast more need then I and leave mee to dye by the hands of my sorrowes and the force of my mis-fortunes I was borne Sancho to live dying and thou to dye eating and that thou maist see I tell thee true consider mee printed in Histories famous in Armes well nurtured in mine Actions respected by Princes courted by Damzells now at the end of all when I hoped for Bayes Triumphs and Crownes layd up and merited by my famous exploits this morning I have seene my selfe trampled on and kicked and bruised with the feet of base un-cleane Beasts the consideration of this duls my teeth makes slow my grinders and benummes my hands and altogether beâ—eaves mee of my appetite so that I thinke I shall dye with hunger the cruellest of all deaths So that quoth Sancho not leaving his fast chewing you will not allow of that Proverbe that sayes Let Martha dye so she dye not empty at least I will not because of my death I meane rather to doe as the Shoo-maker doth that streacheth the Leather with his teeth till hee makes it reach as hee list I le draw out my life by eating till it come to the end that Heaven hath allotted it and know Sir there is no greater madnesse in the world then to despaire as you doe and beleeve mee and after you have eaten rest your selfe a little upon the Downe-beds of this green Grasse and you shall see that when you wake you shall finde your selfe somewhat lightned Don-Quixote tooke his councell taking his reasons to bee rather Philosophicall then senselesse and said If thou O Sancho wouldest doe what I shall now tell thee for mee my lightsomnesse would bee certaine and my sorrowes not so great which is that whil'st I obeying thy counsell sleepe thou goe out of the way a little and with Rozinantes reines turning thy flesh to the ayre give thy selfe three or foure hundred lashes upon account of the three thousand and so many that thou art to give for the dis-enchanting Dulcinea which is no small pitty that that poor Lady should bee enchanted by thy carelesnesse and negligence There is much to bee said in this businesse quoth Sancho let 's both sleepe now and God will provide afterward Know Sir that this whipping in cold blood is a cruell thing especially if it light upon a weake body and worse fed let my Lady Dulcinea have patience for when shee least thinkes of it shee shall see mee a very sieve with lashes and till death all is life I meane I live with a desire to fulfill my promise Don-Quixote giving him thankes eate somthing and Sancho a great deale leaving the two continuall friends and companions Rozinante and Dapple to their Liberum Arbitrium disorderly feeding upon the Pasture that was plentifull in that Meddow They awaked somewhat late and up they got againe and went on their way making haste to come to an Inne which seemed to bee about a league off I say an Inn for Don-Quixote called it so contrary to his ordinarie custome of calling all Innes Castles Well to it they come they asked mine Host if there were any Lodging Hee answered Yes with all the commodiousnesse and provision that they might have in the Towne of Saragosa They alighted and Sancho retyred with his Sumptry into a Chamber of which the Host gave him the Key the Beasts hee carried to the Stable and gave them their stint and so went to see what Don-Quixote who sate by upon a Bench would command him giving God particular thankes that that Inne had not appeared to him a Castle Supper time came on So to their resting place they got Sancho asked mine Host what hee had for supper To which quoth hee Your mouth shall have measure aske what you will a good character of a lying beggerly vain-glorious Spanish-Host in generall For from the Byrds of the ayre to the Poultry of the earth and the fishes of the sea that Inne was provided Not so much quoth Sancho for so wee may have a couple of roasted Chickens 't will bee enough For my Master is weake somack'd and eates little and I am no very greedy-gut Mine Host answered him hee had no Chickens for the Kytes had devoured them Why then let 's have a tender Pullet roasted quoth hee A Pullet My Father as soon trust mee trust me I sent above fifty yesterday to the City to sell saving Pullets ask what you will Why then quoth Sancho you waâ—t no Veale or Kidde Wee have none in the House now said mine Host for it is all spent but by next weeke wee shall have to spare The matter is mended quoth Sancho I hold a wager all these wants are supplied with Egs and Bacon Assuredly quoth mine Hoast here 's fine doings with my guest I have told him we have neyther Pullet nor Hens and yet he would have Egs. Run if you will to other dainties and leave these gluttonies Resolve us Body of mee quoth Sancho and tell mee what wee shall have and leave you your running mine Host. The Host said The very truth is I have two Neates-feete like Calves-feet or two Calves-feet like Neates-feet they are sod with their Pease Bacon and Onyons and just at this instant cry Come eat me Come eat me For mine I mark them hence forward quoth Sancho and let no man touch them for I le pay more for them then any body else and there could have beene no better meat for mee in the world No man shall touch them said mine Host for other Guests I have out of pure Gentilitie bring their Cook Cater and Butler with them If it goe by Gentle quoth Sancho none more gentle then my Master but his Calling permits no Landers or Butteries wee clap us down in the midest of a field and fill our selves with Acorns and Medlars This discourse passed between Sancho and the Host without Sancho's answering him who asked what Calling his Master was of Supper was ready Don-Quixote went to his Chamber mine Host brought the pot of meat just as it was and sate him fair and well down to supper it seemed that in another Chamber next Don-Quixotes divided only by a thin Lath wall hee might heare one say By your life Signior Don Ieronimo whilest supper is to come in let us read another Chapter in the second part of Don-Quixote Don-Quixote scarce heard himself named when up hee stood and watchfully gave care to their discourse concerning him and hee heard that the aforesaid Don Ieronimo answered Signior
is proper unto those that win at any Game to rejoyce and bee glad whereas those that lose are ever sad and discontent there all grumbled chafed fretted and bitterly cursed one another That 's no wonder quoth Sancho since the Divels whether they play or play not whether they winn or winn not at that play they can never be content Belike it is even so replyed Altisidora but there is also another thing which likewise bred some amazement in mee that is to say brought mee into admiration Which is that the Ball that was but once tossed or strucken could not serve another time so that at every stroke they were forced to change Books whether they were old or new which was a marvellous thing to behold Now it hapned that they gave so violent a stroake unto a moderne Booke and very fairely bound that it made the very Guts to fly out of it and scattered the Leaves thereof up and down Then said one Divell unto another I prethee looke what that Booke treateth of It is answed the other Divell the Second part of the History of Don-Quixote de la Mancha not composed by Cid Hamete it 's first Authour but by an Aragonis who braggeth to bee born at Tordesillas Now fye upon it quoth the other Divell out of my sight with it and let it bee cast into the very lowest pit of Hell so deep as mine eyes may never see it againe But why said the other Divell is it so bad a Booke It is so vile a Booke replied the first Divell that had I my selfe expressely composed it I could never have encountred worse In the meane time they followed on their game tossing other Bookes to and fro but having heard the name of Don-Qâ—ixote hee whom I love so passionately I have laboured to engrave that vision in my memory Now without doubt then said Don-Quixote it was a right vision for there is no other Man of that name in the whole World but my selfe And that History doth already goe from Hand to hand thorow all parts of the Universe and yet stayes in no place for so much as every one will have a kicke at it Now I have not beene angry or vexed when I have heard that I wander up and downe like a fantasticke body amidst the Pitchy shades of Hell and not in the light of the earth since I am not the man that History speaketh of If it bee true and faithfully compiled it will live many ages but if it be nothing worth it will dye even at it's birth Altisidora would have continued her plaints accusing Don-Quixote of rigour and unkindnesâ—e but hee said thus unto her Madame I have often told you that I am very angry that you have settled your thoughts on mee since you can draw nothing from mee but bare thanks and no remedy at all I was onely borne for Dulcinea of Toboso and to her onely have the Destinies if there bee any wholly dedicated mee To thinke that any other beauty can possesse or usurpe the place which shee possesseth in my soule were to beleeve an impossibility And this should suffice to disabuse you and to make you to retire your selfe within the bounds of your honesty since no creature is tyde unto impossibilities Altisidora hearing these words made a semblance to bee very angry so that as it were in a great anger shee thus bespake him I sweare by the Prince of the Mumps the soul of a Morter and stone of a Date more obstinate and hard-hearted thena rude and base Pesant when one sueth unto him and when hee addresseth his levell to the Butt or Marke if I take you in hand I will plucke your very Eyes out of your head Doe you haply suppose Sir vanquished and Don Knockt downe with Bats and Cudgels that I would have dyed for you No no Sir whatsoever you have seene this night hath been nothing but a fiction or thing fained I am not a Maiden that would suffer so much as the least-least pain at the tip of my Nailes for such a Camell as you are much lesse that I would dye for such a grosse Animall I beleeve it well quoth Sancho then for all these Lovers deaths are but to cause sport and laughter Well may they say that they dye but that they will hasten their deaths Iudas may beleeve it if hee list As they were in these discourses the Musician and Poet who had sung the fore-going Stanza's entred into the Chamber and making a very low reverence unto Don-Quixote hee thus said unto him Sir Knight I beseech you to hold mee in the number of your humblest servants I have long since been most affectionate unto you as well by reason of your farre-bruited renown as for your high-raised fears of Armes Tell me answered Don-Quixote who you are that my courtesie may answer your merit The Young man gave him to understand that hee was the Musician and the Panegirick of the fore-passed night In good sooth replyed Don-Quixote you have a very good voyce Neverthelesse mee seems that what you sung was not greatly to the purpose for what have the Stanza's of Garsilasse to doe with the death of this Damzell My fair Sir said the Musician you ought not to wonder at that the best and choisest Poets of our age doe practice it so that every man writes as best pleaseth his fantasie and stealeth what and from whom he lists whether it cohere with the purpose or not By reason whereof all the follies absurdities or fopperies that they sing indite or write they ascribe unto a Poeticall licence Don-Quixote would have answered but hee was hindred by the Duke and Duchesse who both entred the Chamber to see him Amongst whom there passed so long a discourse and pleasant a conference in which Sancho alledged so many ready quips witty conceits merry Proverbs and therewithall so many wyly shifts and subtill knaveries as the Duke and the Duchesse were all astonished again as well by reason of his simplicity as of his subtiltie Don-Quixotâ— besought them to give him leave to depart the very same day since that Knights subdued as hee was ought rather to dwell in an homely Cottage or simple Shed then in Kingly Palaces which they most willingly granted him And the Duchesse demanded of him whether Altisidora was in his good favour or no. Madame answered Don-Quixote you are to understand that all the infirmitie of this Damzell takes its beginning and being from idlenesse and that an honest occupation continuall exercise is the only remedy for it Shee was even now telling me that in Hell they are working Tapistry work and that there are made Tyrings and Net works I think that shee is skillfull in such works and that 's the reason shee therein imployes her self never ceasing to handle small Spindles or Spooles and thus the Images of him shee loveth will never be removed in her imagination What I tell you is most certainâ— It is my opinion it is my
distribute in pious uses Item I intreat the said Executors and Over-seers of my Will that if by good fortune they come to the knowledge of the Authour who is said to have composed an History which goes from hand to hand under the Title of The second part of the heroike feats of Armes of Don Quixote de la Mancha they shall in my behalf most affectionately desire him to pardon me for that I have unawares given them occasion to write so infinite a number of great extravagancies and idle impertinencies for so much as I depart out of this life with this scruple upon my conscience to have given him subject and cause to publish them to the world Hee had no sooner ended his discourse and signed and sealed his Will and Testament but a swouning and faintnesse surprizing him hee stretched himself the full length of his Bed All the company were much distracted and moved thereat and ranne presently to help him And during the space of three dayes that hee lived after hee had made his Will hee did Swoun and fall into Trances almost every hour All the house was in a confusion and uproare All which notwithstanding the Neece ceased not to feed very devoutly the Maid-servant to drink profoundly and Sancho to live merrily For when a man is in hope to inherit any thing that hope doth deface or at least moderate in the minde of the inheritor the remembrance or feeling of the sorrow and grief which of reason hee should have a feeling of the Testators death To conclude the last day of Don-Quixote came after hee had received all the Sacraments and had by many and Godly reasons made demonstration to abhorr all the Books of Errant Chivalry The Notary was present at his death and reporteth how hee had never read or found in any Book of Chivalrie that any Errant Knight dyed in his Bed so mildly so quietly so Christianly as did Don-Quixote Amidst the wailfull plaints and blubbering tears of the by-standers hee yeelded up the ghost that is to say hee dyed which the Curate perceiving hee desired the Notary to make him an Attestation or Certificate how Alonso Quixano surnamed the good and who was commonly called Don-Quixote de la Mancha hee was deceased out of this life unto another and dyed of a naturall death Which Testificate hee desired to remove all occasions from some Authors except Cid Hamete Benengeli falsly to raise him from death again and write endlesse Histories of his famous Acts. This was the end of the ingenious Gentleman de la Mancha of whose birth-place Cid Hamete hath not been pleased to declare manifestly the situation unto us to the end that all Villages Towns Boroughs Hamlets of la Mancha should contest quarrell dispute among themselves the honour to have produced him as did the seven Cities of Greece for the love of Homer we have not been willing to make mention and relate in this place the dolefull plaints of Sancho nor those of the Neece and Maid-servant of Don Quixote nor likewise the sundry new and quaint Epitaphs which were graven over his tombe Content your self with this which the Bachelor Samson Carrasco placed there Here lies the Gentle Knight and stout That to that height of valour got As if you marke his deeds throughout Death on his life triumphed not With bringing of his death about The world as nothing hee did prize For as a Scar-crow in mens eyes Hee liv'd and was their Bug-bear too And had the luck with much adoe To live a foole and yet die wise In the meane while the wise and prudent Cid Hamete Benengeli addrest this speech unto his witty Pen Here it is oh my slender Quill whether thou bee ill or well cut that thou shalt abide hanged upon those Racks whereon they hang Spits and Broaches being there-unto fastned with this Copper Wire There shalt thou live many ages except some rash fond-hardy and lewd Historian take thee downe to profane thee Neverthelesse before they lay hands upon thee thou maist as it were by way of advertisement and as well as thou canst boldly tell them Away pack hence stand a farr off you wicked botchers and ungracious Souters and touch mee not since to mee only it belongs to cause to bee imprinted Cum bono Privilegio Regiae Majestatis Don-Quixote was borne for mee alone and I had my birth onely for him If hee hath been able to produce the effects I have had the glory to know how to write and compile them well To be short He and I are but one selfe-same thing maugre and in despight of the fabulous Scribler de Tordesillas who hath rashly and malapâ—rtly dared with an Estridge course and bungling Pen to write the prowesse and high Feates of Armes of my valorous Knight This fardle is too-too heavy for his weake shoulders and his dull wit over-cold and frozen for such an enterprize And if peradventure thou know him thou shalt also advise him to suffer the weary and already rotten bones of Don-Quixote to rest in his Sepulchre For it would bee too great a cruelty if contrary to all Orders and Decrees of Death hee should goe about to make shew of him in Castila the olde where in good sooth hee lyeth within a Sepulchre layd all along and unable to make a third journey and a new outrode It is sufficient to mocke those that so many wandring Knights have made that those two whereof hee hath made shew unto the world to the generall applause and universall content of all Peoples and Nations that have had knowledge of them as well through the whole Countries of Spain as in all other forreigne Kingdomes Thus shalt thou performe what a good Christian is bound to doe in giving good counsell to him that wisheth thee evill As for mee I shall rest contented and well satisfied to have been the first that fully enjoyed the fruites of his writings and that according to my desires since I never desired any other thing then that men would utterly abhore the fabulous impertinent and extravagant Bookes of Chivalries And to say truth by meanes of my true Don-Quixote they begin already to stagger for undoubtedly such fables and slim-slam tales will shortly faile and I hope shall never rise again Farewell FINIS * O dulces prendas A beginning of a Sonnet in Diana de Monto Mayoâ— which D. Q. here rapâ— out upon a suddain Verses made on purpose absurdly as the subject required and so translated ad verbum a These verses and the former of Altisidora are made to bee scurvy on purpose by the Author fitting the occasions and the subjects so he observes neyther Verse nor Rime * Though these Verses were made on purpose to bee absurd yet sure the authoritie here fell into the common absurditie that I have known many of his Countreymen doe which is that England is in London and not Vice Versa