There was a large Scaffold erected on one side of the Meadow and adorn'd with Carpets and Boughs for the Marriage-Ceremony and the more convenient Prospect of the Shows and Entertainments The Procession was just arriv'd to this Place when they heard a piercing out-cry and a voice calling out Stay rash and hasty People stay upon which all turning about they saw a Person coming after them in a black Coat border'd with Crimson powder'd with Flames of Fire On his Head he wore a Garland of mournful Cypress and a large Truncheon in his Hand headed with an Iron Spike As soon as he drew near they knew him to be the gallant Basil and the whole Assembly began to fear some Mischief would ensue seeing him come thus unlook'd for and with such an Outcry and Behaviour He came up tir'd and panting before the Bride and Bridegoom then leaning on his Truncheon he fix'd his Eyes on Quiteria turning pale and trembling at the same time and with a fearful hollow Voice Too well you know cry'd he unkind Quiteria that by the Ties of Truth and Law of that Heaven which we all revere while I have Life you cannot be marry'd to another You may remember too that all the while I stay'd hoping that Time and Industry might better my Fortune and render me a Match more equal for you I never offer'd to transcend the Bounds of honourable Love by solliciting Favours to the Prejudice of your Virtue But you forgetting all the Ties between us are going now to break 'em and give my Right to another whose large Possessions tho' they can procure him all other Blessings I had never envy'd could they not have purchas'd you But no more the Fates have ordain'd it and I will further their Design by removing this unhappy Obstacle out of your Way Live rich Camacho live happy with the ungrateful Quiteria many Years and let the poor the miserable Basil die whose Poverty has clipp'd the Wings of his Felicity and laid him in the Grave Saying these last Words he drew out of his suppos'd Truncheon a short Tuck that was conceal'd in it and setting the Hilt of it to the Ground he fell upon the Point in such a Manner that it came out all bloody at his Back the poor Wretch weltring on the Ground in Blood His Friends strangely confounded by this sad Accident ran to help him and Don Quixote forsaking Rozinante made Haste to his Assistance and taking him up in his Arms found there was still Life in him They would fain have drawn the Sword out of his Body but the Curate urg'd it was not convenient till he had made his Confession and prepar'd himself for Death which would immediately attend the Effusion of Blood upon pulling the Tuck out of his Body While they were debating this Point Basil seem'd to come a little to himself and calling on the Bride Oh. Quiteria said he with a faint and doleful Voice now now in this last and departing Minute of my Life even in this dreadful Agony of Death would you but vouchsafe to give me your Hand and own your self my Wife I should think my self rewarded for the Torments I endure and pleas'd to think this desparate Deed made me yours tho' but for a Moment I would die contented The Curate hearing this very earnestly recommended to him the Care of his Soul's Health which at the present Juncture was more proper than any Gratification of his outward Man that his Time was but short and he ought to be very earnest with Heaven in imploring its Mercy and Forgiveness for all his Sins but especially for his last desperate Action To which Basil answer'd That he could think of no Happiness till Quiteria yielded to be his but if she would do it that Satisfaction would calm his Spirits and dispose him to confess himself heartily Don Quixote hearing this cry'd out aloud That Basil's Demand was just and reasonable and that Signior Camacho might as honourably receive her as the worthy Basil's Widow as if he had receiv'd her at her Father's Hands Say but the Word Madam continu'd he pronounce it once to save a Man from Despair and Damnation you will not be long bound to it since the nuptial Bed of this Bridegroom must be the Grave Camacho stood all this while strangely confounded till at last he was prevail'd on by the repeated Importunities of Basil's Friends to consent that Quiteria should humour the dying Man knowing her own Happiness would be deferr'd but some few Minutes longer Then they all bent their Entreaties to Quiteria some with Tears in theiâ— Eyes others with all the engaging Arguments their Pity could suggest She stood a long Time inexorable and did not return any Answer till 〈◊〉 last the Curate came to her and bid her resolâ—â— what she would do for Basil was just ready to 〈◊〉 up the Ghost But then the poor Virgin trembling and dismay'd without speaking a Word came to poor Basil who lay gasping for Breath with his Eyes fix'd in his Head as if he were just expiring she kneel'd down by him and with the most manifest Signs of Grief beckon'd to him for his Hand Then Basil opening his Eyes and fixing them in a languishing Posture on hers Oh Quiteria said he your Heart at last relents when your Pity comes too late Thy Arms are now extended to relieve me when those of Death draw me to their Embraces and they alas are much too strong for thine All I desire of thee O fatal Beauty 〈◊〉 this let not that fair Hand deceive me now as 〈◊〉 has done before but confess that what you do iâ— free and voluntary without Constraint or in Compliance to any one's Commands declare me openly thy true and lawful Husband Thou wilt noâ— sure dissemble with one in Death and deal falsâ—â— with his departing Soul that all his Life has beeâ— true to thee In the Midst of all this Discourse 〈◊〉 fainted away and all the By-standers thought hiâ— gone The poor Quiteria with a blushing Modesâ—â— a kind of Violence upon her self took him by 〈◊〉 Hand and with a great deal of Emotion 〈◊〉 Force said she could ever work upon my Will 〈◊〉 this Degree therefore I believe it purely my owâ— free Will and Inclination that I here publickly dâ—clare you my only lawful Husband Here 's 〈◊〉 Hand in Pledge and I expect yours as freely 〈◊〉 return if your Pains and this sudden Accideâ—â— have not yet bereft you of all Sense I give it you said Basil with all the Presence of Mind imaginable and here I own my self thy Husband And I thy Wife said she whether thy Life be â—ong or whether from my Arms they bear thee this Instant to the Grave Methinks quoth Sancho this young Man talks too much for a Man in his Condition pray advise him to leave off his Wooing and mind his Soul's Health I 'm afraid his Death is more in his Tongue than in his Teeth Now when Basil and Quiteria had
Custom he came to the Legacies as follows Item I give and bequeath to Sancha Pança whom in my Madness I made my Squire whatever Money he has or may have of mine in his Hands and whereas there are Reckonings and Accounts to be adjusted between us for what he has received and disburs'd my Will and Pleasure is That whatever may remain due to me which can be but small be enjoy'd by him as my free Gift without any Let or Molestation and much Good may it do him And as when I was mad he was thro' my Means made Governour of an Island I wou'd now in my right Senses give him the Government of a Kingdom were it in my Power in Consideration of his Integrity and Faithfulness And now my Friend said he turning to Sancho pardon me that I have brought upon thee as well as my self the Scandal of Madness by drawing thee into my own Errors and perswading thee there have been and there are still Knights-Errant in the World Woe is me my dear Master's Worship cry'd Sancho all in Tears don't die this Bout but e'en take my Counsel and live on a many Years 't is the maddest Trick a Man can ever play in his Life to let his Breath sneak out of his Body without any more ado and without so much as a Rap o'er the Pate or a Kick of the Guts to go out like the Snuff of a Farthing-Candle and die meerly of the Mulligrubs or the Sullens For Shame Sir don't give way to Sluggishness but get out of your doleful Dumps and rise Is this a Time to lie honing and groaning a Bed when we shou'd be abroad in the Fields in our Shepherd's Coats as we had resolv'd Ten to one but behind some Bush or under some Hedge we may find the Lady Madam Dulcinea stripp'd of her inchanted Rags and as fine as a Queen Mayhaps you take it to Heart that you were unhors'd and a little Crupper-scratch'd t'other Day but if that be all lay the Blame upon me and say 't was my Fault in not girting Rozinante tight enough You know too there 's nothing more common in your Errantry-Books than for the Knights to be every Foot justl'd out of the Saddle There 's nothing but Ups and Downs in this World and he that 's cast down to Day may be cock-a-hoop to Morrow Even so said Sampson honest Sancho has the right Notion of the Matter Soft and fair Gentlemen reply'd Don Quixote ne'er look for Birds of this Year in the Nests of the last I was mad but I am now in my Senses I was once Don Quixote de la Mancha but I am once more the good Alonso Quixano and I hope the Sincerity of my Words and my Repentance may restore me the same Esteem you have had for me before and so Mr. Scrivener pray go on Item I constitute and appoint Antonia Quixano my Niece here present sole Heiress of all my Estate both Real and Personal after all my just Debts and Legacies bequeath'd by these Presents shall have been pay'd satisfy'd and deducted out of the best of my Goods and Chattels and the first of that Kind to be discharged shall be the Salary due to my House-keeper together with twenty Ducats over and above her Wages which said Sum I leave and bequeath her to buy her Mourning Item I appoint Mr. Curate and Mr. Sampson Carrasco the Batchelor here present to be the Executors of this my last Will and Testament Item It is my Will that if my Niece Antonia Quixano be inclinable to marry it be with none but a Person who upon strict Inquiry shall be found never to have read a Book of Knight-Errantry in his Life and in case it appears that he has been conversant in such Books and that she persists in her Resolution to marry him she is then to forfeit all Right and Title to my Inheritance which in such Case my Executors are hereby impower'd to dispose to pious Uses as they shall think most convenient Item I entreat the said Executors that if at any time they happen to meet with the Author of a Book now extant entitl'd The Second Part of the Atchievements of Don Quixote de la Mancha they wou'd from me most heartily beg his Pardon for my being undesignedly the Occasion of his writing such a Parcel of Impertinences as is contain'd in that Book for it is the greatest Burden to my departing Soul that ever I was the Cause of his making such a Thing publick Having finish'd the Will he fell into a swooning Fit and extended his Body to the full Length in the Bed All the Company were troubl'd and alarm'd and ran to his Assistance However he came to himself at last but relaps'd into the like Fits almost every Hour for the Space of three Days that he liv'd after he had made his Will The whole Family was in Grief and Confusion and yet after all the Niece continu'd to eat the House-keeper drank and wash'd down Sorrow and Sancho Pança made much of himself For there is a strange Charm in the Thoughts of a good Legacy or the Hopes of an Estate which wondrously removes or at least alleviates the Sorrow that Men shouâ—d otherwise feel for the Death of Friends At last Don Quixote's Dying-Day did come after he had made all those Preparations for Death which good Christians ought to do and by many fresh and weighty Arguments shew'd his Abhorrence of Books of Knight-Errantry The Scrivener who was by protested he had never read in any Books of that kind of any Knight-Errant who ever dy'd in his Bed so quietly and like a good Christian as Don Quixote did In short amidst the Tears and Lamentations of his Friends he gave up the Ghost or to speak more plainly died which when the Curate perceiv'd he desir'd the Scrivener or Notary to give him a Certificate how Alonso Quixano commonly call'd The Good and sometimes known bp the Name of Don Quixote de la Mancha was departed out of this Life into another and died a natural Death This lest any other Author but Cid Hamet Benengeli shou'd take Occasion to raise him from the Dead and presume to write fabulous Histories of his pretended Adventures Thus dy'd that ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote de la Mancha whose Native Place Cid Hamet has not thought fit directly to mention that all the Towns and Villages in La Mancha should contend for the Honour of giving him Birth as the Seven Cities of Greece did for Homer We shall omit Sancho's Lamentations and those of the Niece and the House-keeper as also several Epitaphs that were made for his Tomb and will only give you this which the Batchelor Carrasco caus'd to be put over it Don Quixote's Epitaph THE Body of a Knight lies here So brave that to his latest Breath Immortal Glory was his Care And makes him triumph over Death His Looks spread Terrour every Hour He strove Oppression to controul Nor cou'd all Hell's United Pow'r Subdue or daunt his Mighty Soul Nor has his Death the World deceiv'd Less than his wondrous Life surpriz'd For if he like a Madman liv'd At least he like a Wise One dy'd Here the Sagsacious Cid Hamet addressing himself to his Pen O thou my slender Pen says he thou of whose Knib whether well or ill cut I dare not speak my Thoughts Suspended by this Wire remain upon this Rack where I deposite thee There may'st thou claim a Being many Ages unless presumptuous Scribblers take thee down to profane thee But e'er they lay their heavy Hands on thee bid 'em beware and as well as thou can'st in their own Stile tell 'em Avaunt ye Scoundrels all and some I 'm kept for no such thing Defile not me but hang your selves And so God save the King For me alone was the great Quixote born and I alone for him Deeds were his Task and to record 'em mine We two like Tallies for each other struck are nothing when apart In vain the spurlous Scribe of Tordesellas dar'd with his blunt and bungling Ostridge-Quill invade the Deeds of my most Valorous Knight The great Attempt derides his feeble Skill while he betrays a Sense benumm'd and frozen And thou Reader if ever thou can'st find him out in his Obscurity I beseech thee advise him likewise to let the wearied mouldring Bones of Don Quixote rest quiet in the Earth that covers ' em Let him not expose 'em in Old Castile against the Sanctions of Death impiously raking him out of the Grave where he really lies stretch'd out beyond a Possibility of taking a third Ramble thro' the World The two Sallies that he has made already which are the Subject of these two Volumes and have met with such universal Applause in this and other Kingdoms are sufficient to ridicule the pretended Adventures of other Knights-Errant Thus advising him for the best thou shalt discharge the Duty of a Christian and do good to him that wishes thee Evil. As for me I must esteem my self happy and gain my End in rendring those fabulous Nonsensical Stories of Knight-Errantry the Object of the Publick Aversion They are already going down and I do not doubt but they will drop and fall altogether in good Earnest never to rise again Adieu FINIS
and the Sea Ports which occasion'd the Blunder she had made by saying that she landed at Ossuna I perceiv'd it reply'd the Curare and therefore I put in what you heard which brought matters to rights again But is it not an amazing thing to see how ready this unfortunate Gentleman is to give credit to these fictitious Reports only because they have the Air of the extravagant Stories in Books of Knight-Errantry Cardenio said that he thought this so strange a Madness that he did not believe the Wit of Man cou'd devise any thing like it shou'd any one ever start the thought of such another The Gentleman reply'd the Curate has some Qualities in him ev'n as surprizing in a Madman as his unparallel'd Frenzy For take him but off from his Romantick Humour to discourse with him of any other Subject you will find him to handle it with a great deal of Reason and shew himself by his Conversation to have very clear and entertaining Conceptions Insomuch that if Knight-Errantry bears no relation to his Discourse there is no Man but will esteem him for his vivacity of Wit and strength of Judgment While they were thus discoursing Don Quixote prosecuting his Converse with his Squire Sancho said he let us lay aside all manner of Animosity and tell me as speedily as thou canst without any remains of thy last displeasure how when and where didst thou find my Lady Dulcinea What was she doing when thou first pay'st thy respects to her How didst thou express thy self to her What Answer was she pleas'd to make thee What Countenance did she put on at the perusal of my Letter Who transcrib'd it fairly for thee and every thing else which has any relation to this Affair without Addition Lies or Flattery On the other side take care thou losest not a Tittle of the whole matter by abbreviating it lest thou rob me of part of that delight which I propose to my self from it Sir answer'd Sancho if I must speak the truth and nothing but the truth no body copy'd out the Letter for me for I carry'd none at all That 's right cry'd Don Quixote for I found the Pocket-Book in which it was written two days after thy departure which occasion'd exceeding grief in me because I knew not what thou couldst do when thou found'st thy self without the Letter and I could not but be induc'd to believe that thou wouldst have return'd in order to take it with Thee I had certainly done so reply'd Sancho were it not for this Head of mine which kept it in Remembrance ever since your Worship read it to me and help'd me to say it over to a Parish-Clerk who writ it out for me word for word so purely that he swore tho' he had written out many a Letter of Excommunication in his time he never in all the days of his life had read or seen any thing so well spoken as it was And dost thou still retain the Memory of it my dear Sancho cry'd Don Quixote Not I quoth Sancho for as soon as I had giv'n it her and your turn was serv'd I was very willing to forget it But if I remember any thing 't is what was on the top and it was thus High and Subterrene I would say Soveraign Lady and at the bottom Yours untill Death The Knight of the Woful Figure and I put between these two things three hundred Souls and Lives and Pigsnyes CHAP. IV. The pleasant Dialogue between Don Quixote and his Squire continu'd with other Adventures ALL this is mighty well said Don Quixote proceed therefore You arriv'd and how was that Queen of Beauty then employ'd On my Conscience thou found'st her stringing of Orient Pearls or imbroideing some curious Device in Gold for me her Captive Knight was it not so my Sancho No faith answer'd the Squire I found her winnowing a parcel of Wheat very seriously in the back Yard Then said the Don you may rest assur'd that every Corn of that Wheat was a Grain of Pearl since she did it the honour of touching it with her Divine Hand Didst thou observe the quality of the Wheat was it not of the finest sort Very indifferent I thought said the Squire Well this it least you must allow it must make the finest whitest Bread if sifted by her white Hands but go on when you deliver'd my Letter did she kiss it Did she treasure it in her Bosom or what Ceremony did she use worthy such a Letter How did she behave her self Why truly Sir answer'd Sancho when I offer'd her the Letter she was very busy handling her Sieve and prithee honest Friend said she do so much as lay that Letter down upon the Sack there I can't read it till I have winnow'd out what 's in my hands O unparallel'd Discretion cry'd Don Quixote she knew that a Perusal requir'd leisure and therefore deferr'd it for her more pleasing and private Hours But on my Squire while she was thus employ'd what Conferences past what did she ask about her Knight and what did you reply Say all say all my dearest Sancho let not the smallest Circumstance scape thy Tongue speak all that Thought can frame or Pen describe Her Questions were easily answer'd Sir said Sancho for she ask'd me none at all I told her indeed in what a sad pickle I had left you for her sake naked to the Waste that you eat and slept like the Brute Beasts that you wou'd let a Rasor as soon touch your Throat as your Beard that you were still blubbering and crying or swearing and cursing your Fortune There you mistook reply'd Don Quixote I rather bless my Fortune and always shall while Life affords me Breath since I am thought to merit the esteem of so high a Lady as Dulcinea del Toboso There you hit it said Sancho she is a high Lady indeed Sir for she 's taller than I am by a Foot and a half Why how now Sancho said the Knight hast thou measur'd thy length with her Ay marry did I Sir said the Squire for you must know that she desir'd me to lend her a hand in lifting a Sack of Wheat on an Ass so we buckl'd about it and I came so close to her that I found she was taller than I by a full span at least Right answered Don Quixote but thou art also conscious that the uncommon Stature of her Person is adorn'd with innumerable Graces and Endowments of Soul but Sancho when you approach'd the charming She did not an Aromatick Smell strike thy Sense a Scent so Odoriferous pleasing and sweet as I want a Name for it sweet as you understand me as the richest Fragrancy diffus'd around a Perfumer's Magazine of Odours this at least you must grant me I did indeed feel a sort of Scent a little unsavory said Sancho somewhat vigorous or so for I suppose she had wrought hard and sweat somewhat plentifully 'T is false answer'd the Knight thy smelling has been debauch'd
incomparable Face Beautiful as an Angel's tho' very pale and strangely discompos'd her Eyes eagerly rolling on every side which made her appear distracted Dorothea and the rest not guessing what her Eyes sought by their violent motion beheld her with Grief and Wonder She struggl'd so hard and the Gentleman was so disorder'd by holding her that his Mask dropt off and discover'd to Dorothea who was assisting to hold the Lady the Face of her Husband Don Ferdinand Scarce had she known him when with a long and dismal Oh! she fell in a Swoon and would have reach'd the Floor with all her Weight had not the Barber by good Fortune stood behind and supported her The Curate ran presently to help her and pulling off her Veil to throw Water in her Face Don Ferdinand presently knew her and was struck almost as dead as she at the Sight nevertheless he did not quit Lucinda who was the Lady that struggl'd so hard to get out of his Hands Cardenio hearing Dorothea's Exclamation and imagining it to be Lucinda's Voice flew into the Chamber in great Disorder and the first Object he met was Don Ferdinand holding Lucinda who presently knew him They were all struck dumb with Amazement Dorothea gaz'd on Don Ferdinand Don Ferdinand on Cardenio and Cardenio and Lucinda on one another At last Lucinda broke Silence and addressing Don Ferdinand Let me go said she unloose your hold my Lord by the Generosity you shou'd have or by your Inhumanity since it must be so I conjure you leave me that I may cling like Ivy to my only Support and from whom neither your Threats nor Prayers nor Gifts nor Promises could ever alienate my Love Contend not against Heaven whose Power alone could bring me to my dear Husband's Sight by such strange and unexpected means You have a thousand Instances to convince you that nothing but Death can make me ever forget him Let this at least turn your Love into Rage which may prompt you to end my Miseries with my Life here before my dear Husband where I shall be proud to lose it since my Death may convince him of my unshaken Love and Honour till the last Minute of my Life Dorothea by this time had recover'd and finding by Lucinda's Discourse who she was and that Don Ferdinand would not unhand her she made a Virtue of Necessity and falling at his Feet my Lord cry'd she all bath'd in Tears if that Beauty which you hold in your Arms has not altogether dazl'd your Eyes you may behold at your Feet the once happy but now miserable Dorothea I am that poor and humble Villager whom your generous Bounty I dare not say your Love did condescend to raise to the honour of calling you her own I am she who once confin'd to peaceful Innocence led a contented Life till your Importunity your Shew of Honour and deluding Words charm'd me from my Retreat and made me resign my Freedom to your Power How I am recompenc'd may be guess'd by my Grief and my being found here in this strange Place whither I was led not through any dishonourable Ends but purely by Despair and Grief to be forsaken of You. 'T was at your Desire I was bound to you by the strictest Tye and whatever you do you can never cease to be mine Consider my dear Lord that my matchless Love may ballance the Beauty and Nobility of the Person for whom you would forsake me she cannot share your Love for 't is only mine and Cardenio's Interest in her will not admit a Partner 'T is easier far my Lord to re-call your wandring Desires and fix them upon her that adores you than to draw her to love who hates you Remember how you did sollicit my humble State and conscious of my Meanness yet paid a Veneration to my Innocence which join'd with the honourable Condition of my yielding to your Desires pronounce me free from ill Design or Dishonour Consider these undeniable Truths Have some Regard to your Honour Remember you 're a Christian Why should you then make her Life end so miserably whose Beginning your Favour made so happy If I must not expect the Usage and Respect of a Wife let me but serve you as a Slave so I belong to you though in the meanest Rank I never shall complain Let me not be expos'd to the slandring Reflections of the Censorious World by so cruel a Separation from my Lord Afflict not the declining Years of my poor Parents whose faithful Services to you and yours have merited a more suitable Return If you imagine the Current of your Noble Blood should be defil'd by mixing with mine consider how many Noble Houses have run in such a Channel besides the Woman's Side is not essentially requisite to ennoble Descent but chiefly think on this that Virtue is the truest Nobility which if you stain by basely wronging me you bring a greater Blot upon your Family than Marrying me could cause In fine my Lord you cannot must not disown me for your Wife to attest which Truth I call your own Words which must be true if you prize your self for Honour and that Nobility whose want you so despise in me witness your Oaths and Vows witness that Heaven which you so oft invok'd to ratify your Promises and if all these should fail I make my last Appeal to your own Conscience whose Sting will always represent my Wrongs fresh to your Thoughts and disturb your Joys amidst your greatest Pleasures These with many such Arguments did the mournful Dorothea urge appearing so lovely in her Sorrow that Don Ferdinand's Friends as well as all the rest sympathiz'd with her Lucinda particularly as much admiring her Wit and Beauty as mov'd by the Tears the piercing Sighs and Moans that follow'd her Entreaties and she would have gone nearer to have comforted her had not Ferdinand's Arms that still held her prevented it He stood full of Confusion with his Eyes fix'd attentively on Dorothea a great while at last opening his Arms he quitted Lucinda Thou hast Conquer'd cry'd he Charming Dorothea thou hast Conquer'd me 't is impossible to resist so many united Truths and Charms Lucinda was still so disorder'd and weak that she would have fall'n when Ferdinand quitted her had not Cardenio without regard to his Safety leap'd forward and caught her in his Arms and embracing her with Eagerness and Joy Thanks Gracious Heaven cry'd he aloud my dear my faithful Wife thy Sorrows now are ended for where canst thou rest more safe than in my Arms which now support thee as once they did when my bless'd Fortune first made thee mine Lucinda then opening her Eyes and finding her self in the Arms of her Cardenio without regard to Ceremony or Decency threw her Arms about his Neck and laying her Face to his Yes said she thou art he thou art my Lord indeed 'T is even you your self the right Owner of this poor harrass'd Captive Now Fortune act thy worst nor Fears
this hasty Service For Shame my Lord Governour said another what a Faint-heartedness is this See! we bring you here Arms offensive and defensive Arm your self and march to the Market-place Be our Leader and Captain as you ought and shew your self a Governor Why then arm me and good Luck attend me quoth Sancho with that they brought him two large Shields which they had provided and without letting him put on his other Cloaths clapp'd 'em over his Shirt and ty'd the one behind upon his Back and the other before upon his Breast having got his Arms through some Holes made on purpose Now the Shields being fasten'd to his Body as hard as Cords could bind 'em the poor Governor was cas'd up and immur'd as straight as an Arrow without being able so much as to bend his Knees or stir a Step. Then having put a Lance into his Hand for him to lean upon and keep himself up they desir'd him to march and lead 'em on and put Life into 'em all telling him that they did not doubt of Victory since they had him for their Commander March quoth Sancho how do ye think I am able to do it squeez'd as I am These Boards stick so plaguy close to me I can't so much as bend the Joynts of my Knees You must e'en carry me in your Arms and lay me a cross or set me upright before some Passage and I 'll make good that Spot of Ground either with this Lance or my Body Go to my Lord Governor said another 't is more your Fear than your Armour â—hat stiffens your Legs and hinders you from Moving Move move March on 't is high Time the Enemy grows stronger and the Danger presses The poor Governor thus urg'd and upbraided endeavour'd to go forwards but the first Motion he made threw him to the Ground at his full Length so heavily that he gave over all his Bones for broken and there he lay like a huge Tortoise in his Shell or a Flitch of Bacon clapp'd between two Boards or like a Boat overturn'd upon a Flat with the Keel upwards Nor had those drolling Companions the least Compassion upon him as he lay quite contrary having put out their Lights they made a terrible Noise and clutter'd with their Swords and trampl'd too and again upon the poor Governor's Body and laid on furiously with their Swords upon his Shields insomuch that if he had not shrunk his Head into 'em for Shelter he had been in a woful Condition Shrugg'd up in his narrow Shell he was in a grievous Fright and a terrible Sweat praying from the Bottom of his Heart for Deliverance from the cursed Trade of governing Islands Some kick'd him some stumbl'd and fell upon him and one among the rest jump'd full upon him and there stood for some Time as on a Watch-Tower like a General encouraging his Soldiers and giving Orders crying out There Boys there the Enemies charge most on that Side make good that Breach secure that Gate down with those Scaling-Ladders fetch Fire-balls more Grenadoes burning Pitch Rosin and Kettles of scalding Oyl Intrench your selves get Beds Quilts Cushions and barricadoe the Streets in short he call'd for all the Instruments of Death and all the Engines us'd for the Defence of a City that is besieg'd and storm'd Sancho lay snug though sadly bruis'd and while he endur'd all quietly Oh that it would please the Lord quoth he to himself that this Island were but taken or that I were fairly dead or out of this Peck of Troubles At last Heaven heard his Prayers and when he least expected it he heard 'em cry Victory Victory The Enemy's routed Now my Lord Governour rise come and enjoy the Fruits of Conquest and divide the Spoils taken from the Enemy by the Valour of your invincible Arms. Help me up cry'd poor Sancho in a doleful Tone and when they had set him on his Legs let all the Enemy I have routed quoth he be nail'd to my Fore-head I 'll divide no Spoils of Enemies But if I have one Friend here I only beg he would give me a Draught of Wine to comfort me and help to dry up the Sweat that I am in for I am all over Water Thereupon they wip'd him gave him Wine and took off his Shields after that as he sate upon his Bed what with his Fright and what with the Toil he had endur'd he fell into a Swoon insomuch that those who acted this Scene began to repent they had carry'd it so far But Sancho recovering from his Fit in a little Time they also recover'd from their Uneasiness Being come to himself he ask'd what 't was a Clock They answer'd 't was now Break of Day He said nothing but without any Words began to put on his Cloaths While this was doing and he continu'd seriously silent all the Eyes of the Company were fix'd upon him wondring what could be the meaning of his being in such Haste to put on his Cloaths At last he made an End of dressing himself and creeping along softly for he was too much bruis'd to go along very fast he got to the Stable follow'd by all the Company and coming to Dapple he embrac'd the quiet Animal gave him a loving Kiss on the Fore-head and with Tears in his Eyes Coms hither said he my Friend thou faithful Companion and Fellow-sharer in my Travels and Miseries when thee and I consorted together and all my Cares were but to mend thy Furniture and feed thy little Carcass then happy were my Days my Months and Years But since I forsook thee and clamber'd up the Towers of Ambition and Pride a thousand Woes a thousand Torments and four thousand Tribulations have haunted and worry'd my Soul While he was talking thus he fitted on his Pack-Saddle no Body offering to say any thing to him This done with a great deal of Difficulty he mounted his Ass and then addressing himself to the Steward the Secretary the Genleman-waiter and Doctor Pedro Rezio and many others that stood by make Way Gentlemen said he and let me return to my former Liberty Let me go that I may seek my old Course of Life and rise again from that Death that buries me here alive I was not born to be a Governour nor to defend Islands nor Cities from Enemies that break in upon ' em I know better what belongs to Ploughing Delving Pruning and Planting of Vineyards than how to make Laws and defend Countries and Kingdoms St. Peter is very well at Rome That is as good as to say let every one stick to the Calling he was born to A Spade does better in my Hand than a Governour 's Truncheon and I had rather fill my Belly with a Mess of plain Porridge than lie at the Mercy of a coxcombly Physick-monger that starves me to Death I had rather solace my self under the Shade of an Oak in Summer and wrap my Corps up in a double Sheep-skin in the Winter at my Liberty
Regard to Virgin-Decency are forc'd to give their Tongues a Loose and betray the Secrets of their Hearts Alas Noble Don Quixote de la Mancha I am one of those unhappy Persons over-rul'd by my Passion but yet so reserv'd and patient in my Sufferings that Silence broke my Heart and my Heart broke in Silence 'T is now two Days most inexorable and Marble-hearted Man since the Sense of your severe Usage and Cruelty brought me to my Death or something so like it that every one that saw me judg'd me to be dead And had not Love been compassionate and assign'd my Recovery on the Sufferings of this kind Squire I had ever remain'd in the other World Truly quoth Sancho Love might e'en as well have made Choice of my Ass for that Service and he would have obliged me a great deal more But pray good Mistress tell me one Thing now and so Heaven provide you a better natur'd Sweet-heart than my Master what did you see in the other World What Sort of Folks are there in Hell For there I suppose you have been for those that die of themselves must needs go to that Summer-house To tell you the Truth reply'd Altisidora I fancy I could not be dead out-right because I was not got so far as Hell for had I got in I 'm sure I should ne'er have been allow'd to have got out again I got to the Gates indeed where I found a round Dozen of Devils in their Breeches and Waste-coats playing at Tennis with flaming Rackets they wore flat Bands with scollop'd Lace and Ruffles of the same Their Arms were naked four Fingers Breadth to give an Air to their Wrists and make their Hands look the longer But what I most wonder'd at was that instead of Tennis-balls they made use of Books that were every whit as light and stuff'd with Wind and Flock or such Kind of Trumpery This was indeed most strange and wonderful but what still amaz'd me more I found that contrary to the Custom of Gamesters among whom the gaining Party at least is in good Humour and the Losers only angry these Hellish Tossers of Books of both sides did nothing but fret fume stamp curse and swear most horribly as if they had been all Losers That 's no Wonder at all quoth Sancho for your Devils whether they play or no win or lose they can never be contented That may be said Altisidora but another Thing that I admire I then admir'd I would say was that the Ball would not bear a second Blow but at every Stroke they were oblig'd to change Books some of 'em new some old which I thought very strange And one Accident that happen'd upon this I can't forget They tos'd up a new Book fairly bound and gave it such a smart Stroke that the very Guts flew out of it and all the Leaves were scatter'd about Then cry'd one of the Devils to another look look what Book is that 'T is the Second Part of the History of Don Quixote said the other not that which was compos'd by Cid Hamet the Author of the first but by a certain Arragonian who professes himself a Native of Tordesillas Away with it cry'd the first Devil down with it plunge it to the lowest Pit of Hell where I may never see it more Why is it such sad stuff said the other Such intolerable Stuff cry'd the first Devil that if I and all the Devils in Hell should set our Heads together to make it worse it were past our Skill The Devils continu'd their Game and shatter'd a World of other Books but the Name of Don Quixote that I so passionately ador'd confin'd my Thoughts only to that Part of the Vision which I told you It could be nothing but a Vision to be sure said Don Quixote for I am the only Person of that Name now in the Universe and that very Book is tos'd about here at the very same rate never resting in a Place for every Body has a Fling at it Nor am I concern'd that any Phantom assuming my Name should wander in the Shades of Darkness or in the Light of this World since I am not the Person of whom that History treats If it be well writ faithful and authentick it will live Ages but if it be bad 't will have but a bad Journey from its Birth to the Grave of Oblivion Altisidora was then going to renew her Expostulations and Complaints against Don Quixote had not he thus interrupted her I have often caution'd you Madam said he of fixing your Affections upon a Man who is absolutely uncapable of making a suitable Return It grieves me to have a Heart obtruded upon me when I have no Entertainment to give it but bare cold Thanks I was only born for Dulcinea del Toboso and to her alone the Destinies if such there be have devoted my Affection So 't is â—resumption for any other Beauty to imagine she can displace her or but share the Possession she holds in my Soul This I hope may suffice to take away all Foundation from your Hopes and to recal your Modesty and re-instate it in its proper Bounds for nothing is to be expected from a Man in Impossibilities Upon hearing this Death of my Life Cry'd Altisidora putting on a violent Passion thou Lump of Lead thou with a Soul of Morter and a Heart as little and as hard as the Stone of an Olive more stubborn than a fullen Plough-driver or a Carrier's Horse that will never go out of his Road I have a good Mind to tear your Eyes out as deep as they are in your Head Why thou beaten Swash-buckler thou Rib-roasted Knight of the Cudgel hast thou the Impudence to think that I dy'd for Love of thy Lanthorn-Jaws No no Sir Tiffany all that you have seen this Night has been Counterfeit for I would not suffer the Pain of a Flea-bite much less that of dying for such a Dromedary as thou art Troth Lass I believe thee quoth Sancho for all these Stories of People dying for Love are meer Tales of a roasted Horse They tell you they 'll dye for Love but the Devil a-bit Trust to that and be laugh'd at Their Discourse was interrupted by the coming in of the Harper Singer and Composer of the Stanza's that were perform'd in the Court the Night before Sir Knight said he to Don Quixote making a profound Obeisance let me beg the Favour of being number'd among your most humble Servants 't is an Honour which I have long been ambitious to receive in regard of your great Renown and the Value of your Atchievements Pray Sir said Don Quixote let me know who you are that I may proportion my Respects to your Merits The Spark gave him to understand he was the Person that made and sung the Verses he heard the last Night Truly Sir said Don Quixote you have an excellent Voice but I think your Poetry was little to the Purpose for what Relation pray have
pace that they might get thither in time and so they arriv'd just as the Bearers had set down the Bier upon the ground and four of 'em had began to open the ground with their Spades just at the foot of a Rock They all saluted each other courteously and condol'd their mutual loss and then Don Quixote with those who came with him went to view the Bier where they saw the Dead Body of a young man in Shepherds weeds all strew'd over with Flowers The Deceased seem'd to be about 30 years old and dead as he was 't was easily perceiv'd that both his Face and Shape were extraordinary handsome Wâ—â—hin the Bier were some few Books and several Papers some open and the rest folded up This doleful object so strangely fill'd all the Company with sadness that not only the Beholders but also the Grave-makers and all the Mourning Shepherds remain'd a long time silent till at last one of the Bearers addressing himself to one of the rest Look Ambrose cry'd he whether this be the place which Chrysostome meant since you must needs have his Will so punctually perform'd This is the very place answer'd the other There it was that my unhappy Friend many times told me the sad story of his cruel Fortune There it was that he first saw that mortal Enemy of Mankind There it was that he made the first Discovery of his Passion no less innocent than violent There it was that the relentless Marcella last deny'd shunn'd him and drove him to that extremity of Sorrow and Despair that hasten'd the sad Catastrophe of his Tragical and Miserable Life and There it was that in token of so many Misfortunes he desir'd to be committed to the Bowels of eternal Oblivion Then addressing himself to Don Quixote and the rest of the Travellers This Body Sirs said he which here you now behold was once enliven'd by a Soul which Heaven had enrich'd with the greatest part of its most wealthy Graces This is the Body of that Chrysostome who was unrivall'd in Wit matchless in Courteousness incomparable in Gracefulness a Phaenix in Friendship Generous and Magnificent without Ostentation Prudent and Grave without Pride Modest without Affectation Pleasing and Complaisant without Meanness In a word the first in every esteemable Qualification and second to none in Misfortune He lov'd well and was hated he ador'd and was disdain'd he begg'd Pity of Cruelty itself he strove to move obdurate Marble pursu'd the Wind made his moans to solitary Desarts was constant to Ingratitude and for the Recompence of his Fidelity became a prey to Death in the Flower of his Age thro the barbarity of a Sheperdess whom he strove to immortalize by his Verse as these Papers which are here deposited might testify had he not commanded me to sacrifice 'em to the Flames at the same time that his body was committed to the Earth Shou'd you do so cry'd Vivaldo you wou'd appear more cruel to 'em than their exasperated unhappy Parent Consider Sir 't is not consistent with Discretion nor even with Justice so nicely to perform the Request of the Dead when 't is repugnant with Reason Augustus Caesar himself wou'd have forfeited his Title to Wisdom had he permitted that to have been effected which the Divine Virgil had order'd by his Will Therefore Sir now that you resign your Friends Body to the Grave do not hurry thus the noble and only Remains of that dear unhappy man to a worse Fate the Death of Oblivion What tho he has doom'd 'em to perish in the height of his Resentment you ought not indiscreetly to be their Executioner But rather reprieve and redeem 'em from eternal silence that they may live and flying thro the World transmit to all ages the dismal story of your Friends Virtue and Marcella s Ingratitude as a warning to others that they may avoid such tempting Snares and enchanting Destructions Therefore in the name of all the company like me deeply affected with a sense of Chrysostome's extraordinary merit and his unhappy fate and desirous to prevent such deplorable disasters for the future I beg that you will permit me to save some of these Papers whatever you resolve to do with the rest And so without expecting an answer he stretch'd out his arm and took out those Papers which lay next to his hand Well Sir said Ambrose you have found a way to make me submit and you may keep those Papers but for the rest nothing shall make me alter my Resolution of burning ' em Vivaldo said no more but being impatient to see what those Papers were which he had rescu'd from the Flames he open'd one of 'em immediately and read the Title of it which was The Despairing Lover That said Ambrose was the first Piece my dear Friend ever wrote and therefore that you may all hear to what a sad condition his unhappy Passion had reduc'd him read it aloud I beseech you Sir while the Grave is making With all my heart reply'd Vivaldo And so the Company having the same Desire presently gather'd round about him and he read the following lines CHAP. VI. The unfortunate Shepherd's Verses and other unexpected matters The Despairing Lover RElentless Tyrant of my heart Attend and hear thy Slave impart The matchless Story of his Pain In vain I labour to conceal What my extorted groans reveal Who can be rack d and not complain But oh who duly can express Thy cruelty and my distress No humane Art no humane Tongue Then Fiends assist and Rage infuse A raving Fury be my Muse And Hell inspire the dismal Song Owls Ravens Terrors of the Night Wolves Monsters Fiends with dire affright Joyn your dread accents to my Moans Joyn howling Winds your sullen Noise Thou grumbling Thunder joyn thy Voice Mad Seas your Roar and Hell thy Groans Thou still I mourn in dreiry Caves To desart Rocks and silent Graves My loud complaints shall wander far Born by the Winds they shall survive By pitying Ecchoes kept alive And fill the World with my despair Love's deadly Cure is fierce Disdain Distracting Fear a dreadful Pain And Jealousy a Matchless Woe Absence is Death yet while it kills I live with all these mortal Ills Scorn'd jealous loath'd and absent too No Dawn of hope e're cheer'd my heart No pitying Ray e're sooth'd my smart All all the sweets of Life are gone Then come Despair and frantic Rage With instant Fate my Pains asswage And end a thousands Deaths by one But ev'n in Death let Love be crown'd My fair destruction guiltless found And I be thought with Justice scorn'd Thus let me fall unlov'd unblest With all my Load of Woes opprest And even too wretched to be mourn'd Oh! thou by whose destructive hate Im hurried to this doleful Fate When I 'm no more thy Pity spare I dread thy Tears Oh spare 'em then But oh I rave I was too vain My Death can never cost a Tear Tormented Souls on you I call Hear one
for his sufferings If I have deceiv'd any one let him complain If I have broke my promise to any one let him despair If I encourage any one let him presume If I entertain any one let him boast But let no man call me cruel nor murtherer till I either deceive break my promise encourage or entertain him Heaven has not yet been pleas'd to shew whether 't is its will I shou'd love by destiny and 't is vain to think I will ever do it by choice So let this general caution serve every one of those who make their addresses to me for private ends And if any one hereafter dyes on my account let not their Jealousy nor my Scorn or Hate be thought the cause of their death for she who never pretended to love cannot make any one jealous and a free and generous Declaration of our fix'd Resolution ought not to be accounted hate nor disdain In short let him that calls me a Tygress and a Basilisk avoid me as a dangerous Thing and let him that calls me ungrateful give over serving me I assure 'em I will never seek nor pursue ' em Therefore let none hereafter make it their business to disturb my ease nor strive to make me haâ—â—â—d among men the quiet I now enjoy which I am perswaded is not to be found with ' em I have wealth enough and the innocent conversation of the neighbouring Shepherdesles with the care of my Flocks help me to pass away my time without either coquetting with this man or practising Arts to ensnare that other My Thoughts are limited by these Mountains and if they wander further 't is only to admire the Beauty of Heaven and thus by steps to raise my Soul towards her original dwelling As soon as she had said this without expecting any answer she left the place and ran into the thickest of the adjoyning Wood leaving all that heard her charm'd with her Discretion as well as with her Beauty However so prevalent were the Charms of the latter that some of the Company who were desperately struck cou'd not forbear offering to follow her without being the least deterr'd by the solemn Protestations which they had heard her make that very moment But Don Quixote perceiving their design and believing he had now a fit opportunity to exert his Knight-Errantry Let no man cry'd he of what Quality or Condition soever presume to follow the fair Marcella under the penalty of incurring my furious indignation She has made it appear by undeniable Reasons that she was not guilty of Chrysostome's Death and has positively declar'd her firm resolution never to condescend to the desires of any of her Admirers For which reason instead of being importun'd and persecuted she ought to be esteem'd and honour d by all good men as being perhaps the only Woman in the World that ever liv'd with such a Virtuous Reserv'dness Now whether it were that Don Quixote's Threats terrify'd the amorous Shepherds or that Ambrose's Persuasion prevail'd with 'em to stay and see their Friend interr'd none of the Shepherds left the place till the Grave being made and the Papers burnt the Body was deposited into the Bosom of the Earth not without many Tears from all the assistants They cover'd the Grave with a great Stone till a Monument were made which Ambrose said he design'd to have set up there with the following Epitaph upon it Chrysostome's Epitaph HEre of a wrethed Swain The frozen Body 's laid Kill'd by the cold Disdain Of an ungrateful Maid Here first Love's Pow'r he try'd Here first his Pains exprest Here first he was deny'd Here first he chose to rest You who the Shepherd mourn From coy Marcella fly Who Chrysostome cou'd scorn May all Mankind destroy The Shepherds strew'd the Grave with many Flowers and Boughs and every one having condol'd a while with his Friend Ambrose they took their leaves of him and departed Vivaldo and his Friend did the like as did also Don Quixote who was not a person to forgot himself on such occasions He likewise bid adieu to the kind Goat-herds that had entertain'd him and to the two Travellers who desir'd him to go with 'em to Sivill assuring him there was no place in the world more fertile in Adventures every street and every corner there producing some Don Quixote return'd them thanks for their kind information but told 'em he neither wou'd nor ought to go to Sivill till he had clear'd all those Mountains of the Thieves and Robbers which he heard very much infested all those parts Thereupon the Travellers being unwilling to divert him from so pious a design took their leaves of him once more and pursu'd their Journey sufficiently supply'd with matter to discourse on from the story of Marcella and Chrysostome and Don Quixote's follies As for him he resolv'd to find out the Shepherdess Marcella if possible to offer her his service to protect her to the utmost of his power But he happen'd to be crost in his designs as you shall hear in the sequel of this true History For here ends the second Book THE Life and Atchievements Of the Renowned Don Quixote de la Mancha PART I. BOOK III. CHAP. I. Giving an account of Don Quixote's unfortunate Rencounter with certain Yanguesian Carriers THe Sage Cid Hamet Benengeli relates that when Don Quixote had taken his leave of all those that were at Chrysostome's Funeral he and his Squire went after Marcella into the Wood and having rang'd it above two hours without being able to find her they came at last to a Meadow whose springing Green water'd with a delightful and refreshing Rivulet invited or rather pleasingly forc'd em to alight and give way to the heat of the day which began to be very violent So leaving the Ass and Rozinante to graze at large they ransackt the Wallet and without Ceremony the Master and the Man fell to and fed lovingly on what they found Now Sancho had not taken care to tye up Rozinante knowing him to be a Horse of that Sobriety and Chastity that all the Mares in the Pastures of Cordona cou'd not have rais'd him to attempt an indecent thing But either Fortune or the Devil who seldom sleeps so order'd it that a good number of Galician Mares belonging to some Yanguesian Carriers were then feeding in the same Valley it being the custom of those Men about the hottest time of the day to stop where-ever they meet with Grass and Water to refresh their Horses Nor cou'd they have found a fitter place than that where Don Quixote was Rozinante as I said before was chaste and modest however he was flesh and blood so that assoon as he had smelt the Mares forsaking his natural Gravity and Reserv'dness without asking his Masters leave away he trots it briskly to make 'em sensible of his little necessities But they who it seems had more mind to feed than to be merry receiv'd their Gallant so rudely with their heels and
find himself where he might flatter his Ambition with the hopes of fresh Adventures to signalize his Valour for these vast Desarts made him call to mind the wonderful Exploits of other Knights-Errant perform'd in such Solitudes Fill'd with those airy Notions he thought on nothing else But Sancho was for more substantial Food and now thinking himself quite out of the reach of the holy Brotherhoods pursuit his only care was to fill his Belly with the Relicks of the Clerical Booty which Rozinante was now forc'd to carry and so trudging on after his Master he slily took out now one piece of Meat then another and kept his Grinders going faster than his Feet Thus plodding on he wou'd not have given a Rush to have met with any other Adventure While he was thus employ'd he observ'd that his Master endeavour'd to take up something that lay on the ground with the end of his Lance this made him run to help him to lift up the Bundle which proved to be a Portmanteau and the Seat of a Saddle that were half or rather quite rotted with lying expos'd to the Weather The Portmanteau was somewhat heavy and Don Quixote having order'd Sancho to see what it contain'd tho it was shut with a Chain and a Padlock he easily saw what was in it thro the Cracks and pull'd out four fine Holland Shirts and other clean and fashionable Linen besides a considerable quantity of Gold ty'd up in a Hankerchief Bless my Eye-sight quoth Sancho and now Heav'n I thank thee for sending us a lucky Adventure once â—n our Lives With that groping further in the Portmanteau he found a Table-Book richly bound Give me this said Don Quixote and do thou keep the Gold Heaven reward your Worship quoth Sancho kissing his Master's hand and at the same time clapping up the Linnen and the other Things into the Bag where he kept the Victuals I fancy said Don Quixote that some Person having lost his way in these Mountains has been met by Robbers who have murder'd him and buried his Body somewhere hereabouts Sure your Worship 's mistaken answer'd Sancho for had they been Highway-men they wou'd ne'r have left such a Booty behind ' em Thou' rt in the right reply'd Don Quixote and therefore I cannot imagin what it must be But stay I will examin the Table-Book perhaps we shall find something written in it that will help us to discover what I wou'd know With that he open'd it and the first thing he found was the following rough draught of a Sonnet fairly enough written to be read with ease So he read it aloud that Sancho might know what it was as well as himself The RESOLVE A Sonnet Love's God sure never knows our Pain Or Cruelty's his darling Attribute Else he 'd ne'r force me to complain And to his Spight my raging Pains impute But sure if Love's a God he must Have knowledg equal to his Pow'r And 't is a Crime to think a God unjust Whence then the Pains that now my Heart devour From Phillis No Why do I pause Such cruel Ills ne'r boast so sweet a Cause Nor from the Gods such Torments do we bear Let Death then quickly be my Cure When thus we Ills unknown endure 'T is shortest to despair The De'il of any thing can be pic'kd out of this quoth Sancho unless you can tell who that same Phill is I did not read Phill but Phillis said Don Quixote O then mayhap the Man has lost his Philly-foal Phillis said Don Quixote is the Name of a Lady that 's belov'd by the Author of this Sonnet who truly seems to be a pretty good Poet or I've but little Judgment Why then quoth Sancho belike your Worship understands how to make Varses too That I do answer'd Don Quixote and better than thou imagin'st as thou shalt see when I shall give thee a Letter written all in Verse to carry to my Lady Dulcinea del Toboso For I must tell thee Friend Sancho all the Knights-Errant or at least the greatest part of 'em in former times were great Poets and as great Musicians those two Qualifications or to speak better those two Gifts or Accomplishments being almost inseparable from amorous Adventurers Tho I must confess the Verses of the Knights in former Ages are not altogether so polite nor so adorn'd with Words as with Thoughts and Invention Good Sir quoth Sancho look again in the Pocket-Book mayhap you 'll find somewhat that will inform you of what you wou'd know With that Don Quixote turning over-leaf There 's some Prose cry'd he and I think 't is the sketch of a Love-Letter O good your Worship quoth Sancho read it out by all means for I mightily delight in hearing of Love-Stories Don Quixote read it aloud and found what follows THE Falshood of your Promises and my Despair hurry me from you for ever and you shall sooner hear the News of my Death than the Cause of my Complaints You have forsaken me ungrateful Fair for one more wealthy indeed but not more deserving than your abandon'd Slave Were Virtue a Treasure esteemed equal to its worth by your unthinking Sex I must presume to say I should have no reason to envy the Wealth of others and no Misfortune to bewail What your Beauty had rais'd your Infidelity has destroy'd The first made me mistake you for an Angel but the last has convinc'd me you'r a very Woman However O too lovely disturber of my Peace may uninterrupted Rest and downy Ease engross your happy Hours and may forgiving Heaven still keep your Husband's Perfidiousness conceal'd lest it should cause your repenting Heart a Sigh for the Injustice you have done to so faithful a Lover and so I should be prompted to a Revenge which I do not desire to take Farewel This Letter said Don Quixote does not give us any further insight into the Things we wou'd know all I can infer from it is that the Person that wrote it was a betray'd Lover And so turning over the remaining Leaves he found several other Letters and Verses some of which were legible and some so scribbled that he could not well peruse ' em As for those he read he cou'd meet with nothing in 'em but Accusations Complaints and Expostulations Distrusts and Jealousies Pleasures and Discontents Favours and Disdain And while the Knight was poring in the Table-Book Sancho was romaging the Portmanteau and the Seat of the Saddle with that exactness that he did not leave a Corner unsearch'd nor a Seam unript nor a single Lock of Wool unpickt for the Gold he had found which was above a hundred Ducats had but whetted his greedy Appetite and made him wild for more Yet tho this was all he cou'd find he thought himself well paid for the more than Herculean Labours he had undergone nor cou'd he now repine at his being toss'd in a Blanket the straining and griping Operation of the Balsam the Benedictions of the Packslaves and Leavers
Love and Fortune are my Foes III. Where shall I find a speedy Cure Death is a sure No milder Means to set me free Inconstancy Can nothing else my Pains assuage Distracting Rage What dye or change Lucinda lose O let me rather Madness chuse But judg ye Gods what we endure When Death or Madness are a Cure The Time the Hour the solitariness of the Place the Voice and agreeable manner with which the unseen Musician sung so fill'd the Hearers Minds with Wonder and Delight that they were all attention and when the Voice was silent they continued so too a pretty while watching with list'ning Ears to catch the expected Sounds and expressing their satisfaction best by that dumb Applause At last suspecting it wou'd sing no more they resolv'd to find out the charming Songster but as they were going to attempt it they heard the wish'd for Voice begin another Air which fix'd 'em where they stood till it had sung the following Sonnet A SONNET O Sacred Friendship Heaven's Delight Which tir'd with Man's unequal Mind Took to thy Native Skies thy Flight While scarce thy Shadow 's left behind From thee diffusive Good below Peace and her Train of Joys we trace But Falshood with dissembled show Too oft usurps thy sacred Face Blest Genius then resume thy Seat Destroy Imposture and Deceit Which in thy Dress confound the Ball Harmonious Peace and Truth renew Show the false Friendship from the true Or Nature must to Chaos fall This Sonnet concluded with a deep Sigh and such â—oleful Throbs that the Curate and the Barber now out of Pity as well as Curiosity before resolv'd instantly to find out who this mournful Songsâ—er was They had not gon far when by the side of a Rock they discover'd a Man whose Shape and Aspect answer'd exactly to the Description which Sancho had given 'em of Cardenio They observ'd that he stop'd short as soon as he spy'd 'em yet without any signs of fear only he hung down his â—â—ad like one abandon'd to Sorrow never so much aâ— lifting up his Eyes to mind what they did The Curate who was a good and a well spoken Man â—â—esently guessing him to be the same of whom Sancho had given them an account went towards him and addressing himself to him with great Civility and Discretion earnestly intreated him tâ— forsake this Desert and a course of Life so wretched and forlorn which endanger'd his Title to a better and from a wilful Misery might make him fall into greater and everlasting Woes Cardenio was then free from the Distraction that so often disturb'd his Senses yet seeing two Persons in a Garb wholly different from that of those few Rusticks who frequented these Desarts and hearing 'em talk as if they were no Strangers to his Concerns he was somewhat surpris'd at first however having look'd upon 'em earnestly for some time Gentlemen said he whoever ye be I find Heaven pitying my Misfortunes has brought ye to these Solitary Regions to retrieve me from this afrightful Retirement and recover me to the Society of Men. But because you do not know how unhappy a Fate attends me and that I never am freed from one Affliction but to fall into a greater you perhaps take me for a Man naturally endow'd with a very small stock of Sense and what 's worse for one of those Wretches who are altogether depriv'd of Reason and indeed I cannot blame any one that entertains such thoughts of me for even I my self am convinc'd that the bare remembrance of my Disasters often distracts me to that degree that losing all Sense of Reason and Knowledg I unman my self for the time and launch into those Extravagances which nothing but the height of Frenzy and Madness wou'd commit And I am the more sensible of my being troubled with this Distemper when People tell me what I have done during the Violence of that terrible Accident and give me too certaâ—â— Proofs of it And after all I can alledg no othâ—â— Excuse but the Cause of my Misfortune which oâ—casion'd that frantick Rage and therefore tell the story of my hard Fate to as many as have the patience to hear it for Men of Sense perceiving the Cause will not wonder at the Effects and tho' they can give me no Relief yet at least they will cease to condemn me for a bare Relation of my Wrongs must needs make 'em lose their Resentments of the Effects of my Disorder into a Compassion of my miserable Fate Therefore Gentlemen if you come here with that design I beg that before you give your selves the trouble of reproving or advising me you will be pleased to attend to the Relation of my Calamities For perhaps when you 've heard it you will think 'em past Redress and so will save your selves the labour you wou'd take The Curate and the Barber who desir'd nothing more than to hear the Story from his own Mouth were extremely glad of his Proffer and having assur'd him they had no design to aggravate his Miseries with pretending to remedy 'em nor wou'd they cross his Inclinations in the least they entreated him to begin his Relation The unfortunate Cardenio then began his Story and went on with the first part of it almost in the same Words as far as when he related it to Don Quixote and the Goatherd when the Knight out of his superstitious Niceness to observe the Decorum of Chivalry gave an Interruption to the Relation by quarrelling about Master Elizabat as we have already said Then he went on with that Passage concerning the Letter sent him by Lucinda which Don Ferdinand had unluckily found happening to be by and to open the Book of Amadis de Gâ—ule first when Lucinda sent it back to Cardenio with that Letter in it between the Leaves which Cardenio told 'em was as follows Lucinda to Cardenio I discover in you every Day so much Merit that I am oblig'd or rather forc'd to esteem you more and more If you think this Acknowledgment to your Advantage make that use of it which is most consistent with your Honour and mine I have a Father that knows you and is too kind a Parent ever to obstruct my Designs when he shall be satisfied with their being just and honourable So that 't is now your part to show you love me as you pretend and I believe This Letter continued Cardenio made me resolve once more to demand Lucinda of her Father in Marriage and was the same that encreas'd Don Ferdinand's Esteem for her by that discovery of her Sense and Discretion which so enflam'd his Soul that from that Moment he secretly resolv'd to destroy my Hopes e're I cou'd be so happy as to crown 'em with Success I told that perfidious Friend what Lucinda's Father had advis'd me to do when I rashly had ask'd her for my Wife before and that I durst not now impart this to my Father left he shou'd not willingly consent I shou'd marry yet Not
said Lucinda to me my Wedding Clothes are on and the perfidious Ferdinand with my covetous Father and the rest stay for me in the Hall to perform the Marriage Rites but they shall sooner be Witnesses of my Death than of my Nuptials Be not troubled my Dear Cardenio but rather strive to be present at that Sacrifice I promise thee if Entreaties and Words cannot prevent it I have a Dagger that shall do me Justice and my Death at least shall give thee undeniable Assurances of my Love and Fidelity Do Madam cry'd I to her with Precipitation and so disorder'd that I did not know what I said let your Actions verify your Words Let us leave nothing unattempted that may serve our common Interests and I assure you if my Sword does not defend 'em well I will turn it upon my own Breast rather than outlive my Disappointment I cannot tell whether Lucinda heard me for she was call'd away in great haste the Bride-Groom impatiently expecting her My Spirit forsook me when she left me and my Sorrow and Confusion cannot be express'd Methought I saw the Sun set for ever and my Eyes and my Senses partaking of my Distraction I cou'd not so much as spy the Door to go into the House and seem'd rooted to the place where I stood But at last the Consideration of my Love having rous'd me out of this stupifying Astonishment I got into the House without being discover'd every thing being there in a hurry and going into the Hall I hid my self behind the Hangings where two pieces of Tapstry met and gave me liberty to see without being seen Who can describe the various Thoughts the Doubts the Fears the Anguish that perplex'd and toss'd my Soul while I stood waiting there Don Ferdinand enter'd the Hall not like a Bride-Groom but in his usual Habit with only a Cousin German of Lucinda's the rest were the People of the House Some time after came Lucinda her self with her Mother and two waiting Women I perceiv'd she was as richly drest as was consistent with her Quality and the solemnity of the Ceremony but the Distraction that possess'd my Soul lent me no time to note particularly the Apparel she had on I only mark'd the Colours that were Carnation and White and the splendor of the Jewels that enrich'd her Dress in many places but nothing equal'd the lustre of her Beauty that adorn'd her Person much more than all those Ornaments Oh Memory thou fatal Enemy of my Ease why dost thou now so faithfully represent to the Eyes of my Mind Lucinda's incomparable Charms Why dost thou not rather show me what she did then that mov'd by so provoking a Wrong I may indeavour to revenge it or at least to dye Forgive me these tedious Digressions Gentlemen Alas my Woes are none of those that can or ought to be related with Brevity for to me every Circumstance seems worthy to be enlarg d upon The Curate assur'd Cardenio that they attended every word with a mournful Pleasure that made 'em greedy of hearing the least Passage With that Cardenio went on All Parties being met said he the Priest enter'd and taking the young Couple by the Hands he ask'd Lucinda whether she were willing to take Don Ferdinand for her Wedded Husband With that I thrust out my Head from between the two pieces of Tapstry listening with anxious Heart to hear her answer upon which depended my Life and Happiness Dull heartless Wretch that I was Why did I not then shew my self why did I not call to her aloud Consider what thou dost Lucinda thou art mine and can'st not be another Man's Nor can'st thou speak now the fatal Yes without injuring Heaven thy self and me and murthering thy Cardenio And thou perfidious Ferdinand who dar'st to violate all Rights both human and divine to rob me of my Treasure Can'st thou hope to deprive me with impunity of the comfort of my Life Or think'st thou that any Consideration can stifle my Resentments when my Honour and my Love lye at stake Fool that I am now that 't is too late and danger is far distant I say what I shou'd have done and not what I did then After I 've suffer'd the Treasure of my Soul to be stolen I exclaim against the Thief whom I might have punish'd for the base Attempt had I had but so much Resolution to revenge as I have now to complain Then let me rather accuse my faint Heart that durst not do me right and let me dye here like a Wretch void both of Sense and Honour the outcast of Society and Nature The Priest stood waiting for Lucinda's Answer a good while before she gave it and all that time I expected she wou'd have pull'd out her Dagger or unloos'd her Tongue to plead her former Engagement to me But alas to my eternal Disappointment I heard her at last with a feeble Voice pronounce the fatal Yes and then Don Ferdinand saying the same and giving her the Ring the sacred Knot was ty'd which Death alone can dissolve Then did the faithless Bridegroom advance to embrace his Bride but she laying her Hand upon her Heart in that very Moment swoon'd away in her Mother 's Arms. Oh what Confusion seiz'd me what Pangs what Torments rack'd my Soul seeing the Falshood of Lucinda's Promises all my hopes shipwrack'd and the only thing that made me wish to live for ever ravish'd from me Confounded and despairing I look'd upon my self as abandon'd by Heaven to the Cruelty of my Destiny and the Violence of my Grief stifling my Sighs and denying a passage to my Tears I felt my self transfix'd with killing Anguish and burning with jealous Rage and Vengeance In the mean time the whole Company was troubled at Lucinda's swooning and as her Mother unclasp'd her Gown before to give her Air a folded Paper was found in her Bosom which Don Ferdinand immediately snatch'd then stepping a little aside he open'd it and read it by the light of one of the Tapers And as soon as he had done he as it were let himself fall upon a Chair and there he sat with his Hand upon the side of his Face with all the signs of Melancholy and Discontent as unmindful of his Bride as if he had been insensible of her Accident For my own part seeing all the House thus in an uproar I resolv'd to leave the hated Place without caring whether I were seen or not and in case I were perceiv'd to act such a desperate part in punishing the Traytor Ferdinand that the World shou'd at once be inform'd of his Perfidiousness and the Severity of my just Resentment But my Destiny that reserv'd me for more lasting Woes allow'd me then the use of that small remainder of my Senses which afterwards quite forsook me So that I left the House without revenging my self on my Enemies whom I cou'd have easily sacrific'd to my Rage in this unexpected Disorder and I chose to inflict upon my self for
could not tell what to do and Donna Clara was strangely frighted the Barber pummell'd Sancho and Sancho belabour'd the Barber One of Don Lewis's Servants went to hold him but he gave him such a Rebuke on his Jaws that his Teeth had like to have forsook their Station and then the Judge took him into his Protection Don Ferdinand had got one of the Officers down and laid him on Back and Side The Inn-keeper still cry'd our Help the Holy Brotherhood so that the whole House was a Medley of Wailings Cries Shrieks Confusions Fears Terrors Disasters Slashes Buffets Blows Kicks Cuffs Battery and Bloodshed In the greatest Heat of this Hurly-burly it came into Don Quixote's Head that he was certainly involv'd in the Disorder and Confusion of King Agramant's Camp and calling out with a Voice that shook the whole House Hold valorous Knights said he all hold your furious Hands sheath all your Swords let none presume to stribe on Pain of Death but hear me speak The loud and monstrous Voice surpriz'd every Body into Obedience and the Don proceeded I told you before Gentlemen that this Castle was inchanted and that some Legion of Devils did inhabit it now let your own Eyes confirm my Words Don't you behold the strange and horrid Confusion of King Agramant's Army remov'd hither and put in Execution among us See see how there they fight for the Sword and yonder for the Horse behold how some contend for the Helmet and here others battel it for the Standard and all fight we don't know how nor can tell why Let therefore my Lord Judge and his Reverence Mr. Curate represent one King Agramant and the other King Sobrino and by their Wisdom and Conduct appease this Tumult for by the Powers Divine 't were a wrong to Honour and a blot on Chivalry to let so many Worthies as here engage fall on so slight a Cause Don Quixote's words were Hebrew to the Officers who having been roughly handl'd by Cardenio Ferdinand and his Friends would not give it over so But the Barber was content for Sancho had demolish'd his Beard and Pack-saddle both in the Scuffle The Squire dutifully retreated at the first sound of his Master's Voice Don Lewis's Servants were calm finding it their best way to be quiet but the Inn-keeper was refractory He swore that Mad-man ought to be punish'd for his ill-behaviour and that every Hour he was making some Disturbance or another in his House But at last the Matter was made up the Pack-saddle was agreed to be Horse-Furniture the Bason a Helmet and the Inn a Castle till the Day of Judgment if Don Quixote would have it so Don Lewis's Business came next in play The Judge in concert with Don Ferdinand Cardenio and the Curate resolv'd That Don Ferdinand should interpose his Authority on Don Lewis's behalf and let his Servants know That he would carry him to Andalusia where he should be entertain'd according to his Quality by his Brother the Marquess and they should not oppose this Design seeing Don Lewis was positively resolv'd not to be forc'd to go back to his Father yet Don Ferdinand's Quality and Don Lewis's Resolution prevail'd on the Fellows to order Matters so that three of them might return to acquaint their old Master and the fourth wait on Don Lewis Thus this monstrous heap of Confusion and Disorder was digested into Form by the Authority of Agramant and Wisdom of King Sobrino But the Enemy of Peace finding his Project of setting them all by the Ears so elluded resolv'd once again to have another Trial of Skill and play the Devil with them all the second bout For though the Officers understanding the Quality of their Adversaries were willing to desist yet one of them whom Don Ferdinand had kick'd most unmercifully remembring that among other Warrants he had one to apprehend Don Quixote for setting free the Galley-Slaves which Sancho was sadly afraid would come about he resolv'd to examine if the Marks and Tokens given of Don Quixote agreed with this Person then drawing out a Parchment and opening his Warrant he made a shift to read it at every other word looking cunningly on Don Quixote's Face whereupon having folded up the Parchment and taking his Warrant in the Left-hand he clap'd his Right hand fast in the Knight's Collar crying you 're the King's Prisoner Gentlemen I am an Officer here 's my Warrant I charge you all to aid and assist the Holy Brother-hood Don Quixote finding himself us'd so rudely by one whom he took to be a pitiful Scoundrel kindl'd up into such a Rage that he shook with Indignation and catching the Fellow by the Neck with both his Hands throttl'd him so eagerly that if his Companions had not presently freed him the Knight would have squeez'd out his Life before he had quitted his hold The Inn-keeper being oblig'd to assist his Brother-Officer presently joyn'd him The Hostess seeing her Husband engaging a second time rais'd a new Out-cry her Daughter and Maritornes bore the burden of the Song sometimes praying sometimes crying sometimes scolding Sancho seeing what pass'd By the Lord said he my Master is in the right this Place is Haunted that 's certain there 's no living quietly an Hour together At last Don Ferdinand parted Don Quixote and the Officer who were both pretty well pleas'd to quit their Bargain However the Officers still demanded their Prisoner and to have him deliver'd bound into their Hands commanding all the Company a second Time to help and assist them in securing that publick Robber upon the King 's high Road. Don Quixote smil'd at the suppos'd Simplicity of the Fellows at last with solemn Gravity Come hither said he you Off-spring of Filth and Extraction of Dunghills dare you call loosing the Fetter'd freeing the Captiv'd helping the Miserable raising the Fall'n and supplying the Indigent dare you I say base-spirited Rascals call these Actions Robbery Your Thoughts indeed are too grovelling and servile to understand or reach the Pitch of Chivalry otherwise you had understood that even the Shadow of a Knight-Errant had Claim to your Adoration You a Band of Officers you 're a Pack of Rogues indeed and Robbers on the High-way by Authority What Blockhead of a Magistrate durst issue out a Warrant to Apprehend a Knight-Errant like me Could not his Ignorance find out that we are exempt from all Courts of Judicature That our Valour is the Bench our Will the Common-Law and our Sword the Executioner of Justice Could not his Dulness inform him that no Rank of Nobility or Peerage enjoys more Immunities and Privileges Has he any President that a Knight-Errant ever paid Taxes Subsidy Poll-Money or so much as Fare or Ferry What Taylor ever had Money for his Cloaths or what Constable ever made him pay a Reckoning for his Lodging in his Castle What Kings are not proud of his Company and what Damsels of his Love And lastly did you ever read of any Knight-Errant that ever
Bones seemed to promise Sancho considering the Danger of his Master's being thrown presently alighted and ran as fast as he cou'd to his Assistance but before he cou'd come up to him Rozinante had made a false Step and laid his Master and himself on the Ground which was indeed the common end of Rozinante's mad Tricks and presumptuous Racing On the other side the Fool no sooner saw Sancho slide off to help his Master but he leap'd upon poor Dapple and rattling his Bladders over the terrify'd Animal's Hide made him fly thro' the Field towards the Town where they were to play Sancho beheld his Master's Fall and his Ass's Flight at the same time and stood strangely divided in himself not knowing which to assist first his Master or his Beast At length the Duty of a good Servant and a faithful Squire prevailing he ran to his Master tho' every obstreperous Bounce with the Bladders upon Dapple's Hind-quarters struck him to the very Soul and he would have wish'd every Blow upon his own Eye-Balls rather than on the least Hair of his Ass's Tail In this Agony of Spirit he came to Don Quixote whom he found in far worse Circumstances than the poor Knight cou'd have wish'd and helping him to remount Oh! Sir cry'd he the Devil is run away with Dapple What Devil ask'd Don Quixote The Devil with the Bladders answer'd Sancho No matter said Don Quixote I 'll force the Traytor to restore him tho' he were to lock him up in the most profound and gloomy Caverns of Hell Follow me Sancho We may easily overtake the Waggon and the Mules shall attone for the Loss of the Ass You need not be in such haste now quoth Sancho for I perceive the Devil has left Dapple already and is gone his ways What Sancho said was true for both Ass and Devil tumbl'd for Company in imitation of Don Quixote and Rozinante and Dapple having left his new Rider to walk on Foot to the Town now came himself running back to his Master All this said Don Quixote shall not hinder me from revenging the Affront put upon us by that unmannerly Devil at the Expence of some of his Companions tho' it were the Emperor himself Oh good your Worship cry'd Sancho never mind it I beseech you take my Counsel Sir never meddle with Players there 's never any thing to be got by 't they are a sort of People that always find a many Friends I have known one of 'em taken up for two Murders yet ' scape the Gallows You must know that as they are a Parcel of merry Wags and make Sport wherever they come every Body is fond of 'em and is ready to stand their Friend especially if they be the King's Players or some of the noted Gangs who go at such a taring Rate that one might mistake some of 'em for Gentlemen or Lords I care not said Don Quixote though all Mankind united to assist 'em that buffooning Devil shall never ' scape unpunish'd to maâ—e his Boast that he has affronted me Whereupon riding up to the Waggon which was now got pretty near the Town Hold hold he cry'd stay my merry Sparks I 'll teach you to be civil to the Beasts that are intrusted with the honourable Burden of a Squire to a Knight-Errant This loud Salutation having reach'd the Ears of the strolling Company tho' at a good Distance they presently understood what it imported and resolving to be ready to entertain him Death presently leap'd out of the Cart the Emperor the Devil-driver and the Angel immediately follow'd and even the Queen and the God Cupid as well as the rest having taken up their share of Flints stood rang'd in Battle-Array ready to receive their Enemy as soon as he should come within Stone-shot Don Quixote seeing them drawn up in such excellent Don Quixote Encounter with the Players page 707. Order with their Arms lifted up and ready to let fly at him a furious Volley of Shot made a Halt to consider in what Quarter he might attack this Dreadful Battalion with least Danger to his Person Thus pausing Sancho overtook him and seeing him ready to charge For Goodness sake Sir cry'd he what d' ye mean Are you mad Sir There 's no Fence against the Beggar 's Bullets unless you cou'd fight with a Brazen Bell over you Is it not rather Rashness than true Courage think you for one Man to offer to set upon a whole Army Where Death is too and where Emperors fight in Person nay and where good and bad Angels are against you But if all this weighs nothing with you consider I beseech you that though they seem to be Kings Princes and Emperors yet there 's not so much one Knight-Errant among 'em all Now thou hast hit upon the only Point said Don Quixote that could stop the Fury of my Arm For indeed as I have often told thee Sancho I am bound up from drawing my Sword against any below the Order of Knighthood 'T is thy Business to fight in this Cause if thou hast a just Resentment of the Indignities offer'd to thy Ass and I from this Post will encourage and assist thee with salutary Orders and Instructions No I thank you Sir quoth Sancho I hate Revenge a true Christian must forgive and forget and as for Dapple I don't doubt but to find him willing to leave the Matter to me and stand to my Verdict in the Case which is to live peaceably and quietly as long as Heaven is pleas'd to let me Nay then said Don Quixote if that be thy Resolution Good Sancho Prudent Sancho Christian Sancho downright Sancho let us leave these idle Apparitions and proceed in search of more substantial and honourable Adventures of which in all Probability this part of the World will afford us a wonderful Variety So saying he wheel'd off and Sancho follow'd him On the other side Death with all his flying Squadron return'd to their Cart and went on their Journey Thus ended the most dreadful Adventure of the Chariot of Death much more happily than could have been expected thanks to the laudable Counsels which Sancho Pança gave his Master who the Day following had another Adventure no less remarkable with one that was a Knight-Errant and a Lover too CHAP. XII The Valorous Don Quixote's Strange Adventure with the Knight of the Mirrors DON Quixote pass'd the Night that succeeded his Encounter with Death under the Covert of some lofty Trees where at Sancho's persuasion he refresh'd himself with some of the Provisions which Dapple carried As they were at Supper Well Sir quoth the Squire what a rare Fool I had been had I chosen for my good News the Spoils of your first Venture instead of the Breed of the three Mares Troth commend me to the saying A Bird in Hand is worth two in the Busb However answer'd Don Quixote had'st thou let me fall on as I wou'd have done thou might'st have shar'd at least the Emperor 's
make this to be an Adventure I will not yet affirm answer'd Don Quixote that 't is an Adventure but a very fair Rise to one as ever was seen But hark he 's tuning some Instrument and by his coughing and spitting he 's clearing his Throat to sing Troth now Sir quoth Sancho 't is e'en so in good earnest and I fancy 't is some Knight that 's in Love All Knight-Errants must be so answer'd Don Quixote But le ts us hearken and if he sings we shall know more of his Circumstances presently for out of the Abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaks Sancho wou'd have answer'd but that the Knight of the Wood's Voice which was but indifferent interrupted him with the following SONG 1. BRight Queen how shall your Loving Slave Be sure not to displease Some Rule of Duty let him crave He begs no other Ease 2. Say must I die or hopeless live I 'll Act as you Ordain Despair a silent Death shall give Or Love himself complain 3. My Heart tho' soft as Wax will provâ— Like Diamonds firm and true For what th' Impression can remove That 's stamp'd by Love and you The Knight of the Wood concluded his Song with a Sigh that seem'd to be fetch'd from the very bottom of his Heart and after some pause with a mournful and disconsolate Voice Oh the most Beautiful but most Ungrateful of Woman-kind cry'd he how is it possible most Serene Casildea de Vandalia your Heart shou'd consent that a Knight who idolizes your Charms should waste the Flower of his Youth and kill himself with continual Wandrings and hard Fatigues Is it not enough that I have made you to be acknowledg'd the greatest Beauty in the World by all the Knights of Navarre all the Knights of Leon all the Tartesians all the Castilians and in fine by all the Knights of La Mancha Not so neither said Don Quixote then for I my self am of La Mancha and never acknowledg'd nor ever cou'd nor ought to acknowledge a Thing so injurious to the Beauty of my Mistress therefore Sancho 't is a plain case this Knight is out of his Senses But let us hearken perhaps we shall discover something more That you will I 'll warrant you quoth Sancho for he seems in Tune to hoan a Month together But it happen'd otherwise for the Knight of the Wood over-hearing them ceas'd his Lamentation and raising himself on his Feet in a loud but courteous Tone call'd to them Who 's there What are ye Are ye of the Number of the Happy or the Miserable Of the Miserable answer'd Don Quixote Repair to me then said the Knight of the Wood and be assur'd you have met Misery and Affliction it self Upon so moving and civil an Invitation Don Quixote and Sancho drew near him and the Mournful Knight taking Don Quixote by the Hand Sit down said he Sir Knight for that your Profession is Chivalry I need no other Conviction than to have found you in this Retirement where Solitude and the cold Night-dews are your Companions and the proper Stations and reposing places of Knight-Errants I am a Knight answer'd Don Quixote and of the Order you mention and tho' my Sorrows and Disasters and Misfortunes usurp the Seat of my Mind I have still a Heart dispos'd to entertain the afflictions of others Yours as I gather by your Complaints is deriv'd from Love and I suppose owing to the Ingratitude of that Beauty you now mention'd While they were thus parleying together they sate close by one another on the hard-Ground very peaceably and lovingly and not like Men that by Break of Day were to break one another's Heads And is it your Fortune to be in Love ask'd the Knight of the Wood 'T is my Misfortune answer'd Don Quixote tho' the pleasant Reflection of having plac'd our affections Worthily sufficiently ballances the Weight of our Disasters and turns them to a Blessing This might be true reply'd the Knight of the Wood if the Disdain of some Mistresses were not often so galling to our Tempers as to inspire us with something like the Spirit of Revenge For my part said Don Quixote I never felt my Mistress's Disdain No truly quoth Sancho who was near them for my Lady is as gentle as a Lamb and as soft as Butter Is that your Squire said the Knight of the Wood It is answer'd Don Quixote I never saw a Squire said the Knight of the Wood that durst presume to interrupt his Master when he was speaking himself There 's my Fellow yonder he 's as big as his Father and yet no Man can say he was ever so saucy as to open his Lips when I spoke Well well quoth Sancho I have talk'd and may talk again and before as and perhaps but I have done The more ye stir the more 't will stink At the same time the Squire of the Wood pulling Sancho by the Arm come Brother said he let us two go where we may chat freely by our selves like downright Squires as we are and let our Masters get over Head and Ears in the Stories of their Loves I 'll warrant ye they 'll be at it all Night and won't have done by that time 't is Day With all my Heart quoth Sancho and then I 'll tell you who I am and what I am and you shall judge if I am not fit to make one among the talking Squires With that the two Squires with-drew and had a Dialogue as Comical as that of their Masters was Serious CHAP. XIII The Adventure with the Knight of the Wood continu'd with the Wise Rare and Pleasant Discourse that pass'd between the two Squires THE Knights and their Squires thus divided the latter to tell their Lives and the former to relate their Amours the Story begins with the Squire of the Wood. Sir said he to Sancho this is a troublesome kind of Life that we Squires of Knight-Errants lead Well may we say we eat our Bread with the sweat of our Brows which is one of the Curses laid on our first Parents Well may we say too quoth Sancho we eat it with a cold Shivering of our Bodies for there are no poor Creatures that suffer more by heat or cold than we do Nay if we cou'd but eat at all 't wou'd never vex one for good Fare lessens Care but sometimes we shall go ye a Day or two and never so much as breakfast unless it be upon the Wind that blows After all said the Squire of the Wood we may bear with this when we think of the reward we are to expect for that same Knight-Errant must be excessively Unfortunate that has not some time or other the Government of some Island or some good handsome Earldom to bestow on his Squire As for me quoth Sancho I have often told my Master I wou'd be contented with the Government of any Island and he is so Noble and Free-hearted that he has promis'd it me over and over For my part
the Cages For as for my self I know the Lions will do me no harm Once more the Gentleman try'd to disswade Don Quixote from doing so mad a thing telling him that he tempted Heaven in exposing himself without Reason to so great a Danger To this Don Quixote made no other answer but that he knew what he had to do Consider however what you do reply'd the Gentleman for 't is most certain that you are very much mistaken Well Sir said Don Quixote if you care not to be Spectator of an Action which you think is like to be Tragical e'en set Spurs to your Mare and provide for your Safety Sancho hearing this came up to his Master with Tears in his Eyes and begg'd him not to go about this fearful Undertaking to which the Adventure of the Wind-mills and the Fulling-mills and all the Brunts he had ever born in his Life were but Childrens Play Good your Worship cry'd he do but mind here'e no Inchantment in the Case nor any thing like it A lack a-day Sir I peep'd e'en now through the Grates of the Cage and I 'm sure I saw the Claw of a true Lion and such a Claw as makes me think the Lion that owns it must be as big as a Mountain Alas poor Fellow said Don Quixote thy Fear will make him as big as half the World Retire Sancho and leave me and if I chance to fall here thou know'st our old Agreement repair to Dulcinea I say no more To this he added some Expressions which cut off all Hopes of his giving over his mad Design The Gentleman in the Green would have oppos'd him but considering the other was much better Arm'd and that it was not Prudence to encounter a Mad-man he even took the Opportunity while Don Quixote was storming at the Keeper to march off with his Mare as Sancho did with Dapple and the Carter with his Mules every one making the best of their way to get as far as they could from the Waggon before the Lions were let loose Poor Sancho at the same time made sad Lamentations for his Master's Death for he gave him for lost not questioning but the Lions had already got him into their Clutches He curs'd his ill-fortune and the hour he came again to his Service but for all his Wailing and Lamenting he punch'd on poor Dapple to get as far as he could from the Lions The Keeper perceiving the Persons who fled to be at a good distance fell to arguing and entreating Don Quixote as he had done before But the Knight told him again that all his Reasons and Entreaties were but in vain and bid him say no more but immediately dispatch Now while the Keeper took time to open the foremost Cage Don Quixote stood debating with himself whether he had best make his attack on Foot or on Horse-back and upon mature Deliberation he resolv'd to do it on Foot lest Rozinante not us'd to Lions should be put into disorder Accordingly he quitted his Horse threw aside his Lance grasp'd his Shield and drew his Sword then advancing with a deliberate Motion and an undaunted Heart he posted himself just before the door of the Cage commending himself to Heaven and afterwards to his Lady Dulcinea Here the Author of this faithful History could not forbear breaking the Thread of his Narration and rais'd by Wonder to a Rapture and Enthusiasm makes the following Exclamation Oh thou most magnanimous Heroe Brave and unutterably Bold Don Quixote de la Mancha Thou Mirrour and grand Exemplar of Valour Thou second and thou new Don Manuel de Leon the late Glory and Honour of all Spanish Cavaliers What Words what Colours shall I use to express to paint in equal Lines this astonishing Deed of thine What Language shall I employ to convince Posterity of the Truth of this thy more than Humane Enterprize What Praises can be Coin'd what Elogies invented that will not be out-vy'd by thy superiour Merit tho' Hyperboles were pil'd on Hyperboles Thou alone on Foot Intrepid and Magnanimous with nothing but a Sword and that none of the sharpest with thy single Shield and that none of the brightest stood'st ready to receive and encounter the Savage force of two vast Lions as fierce as ever roar'd within the Lybian Desarts Then let thy own unrivall'd Deeds that best can speak thy Praise amaze the World and fill the mouth of Fame brave Champion of la Mancha while I 'm oblig'd to leave off the high Theme for want of vigour to maintain the Flight Here ended the Author's Exclamation and the History goes on The Keeper observing the Posture Don Quixote had put himself in and that it was not possible for him to prevent letting out the Lions without incurring the Resentment of the desperate Knight set the Door of the foremost Cage wide open where as I have said that Lion lay who then appear'd of a Monstrous Bigness and of a hideous frightful Aspect The first thing Don Quixots Adventure of the Lyons page 162. he did was to roll and turn himself round in his Cage in the next place he stretch'd out one of his Paws put forth his Claws and rouz'd himself After that he gap'd and yawn'd for a good while and shew'd his dreadful Fangs and then thrust out half a Yard of broad Tongue and with it lick'd the Dust out of his Eyes and Face Having done this he thrust his Head quite out of the Cage and star'd about with his Eyes that look'd like two live Coals of Fire a Sight and Motion enough to have struck Terror into Temerity it self But Don Quixote only regarded it with Attention wishing his grim Adversary would leap out of his Hold and come within his reach that he might exercise his Valour and cut the Monster Piece-meal To this height of Extravagance had his Folly transported him but the generous Lion more Gentle than Arrogant taking no notice of his Vapouring and Bravadoes after he had look'd about him a while turn'd his Tail and having shew'd Don Quixote his Posteriors very contentedly lay down again in his Apartment Don Quixote seeing this commanded the Keeper to roufe him with his Pole and force him out whether he would or no. Not I indeed Sir answer'd the Keeper I dare not do it for my Life for if I provoke him I 'm sure to be the first he 'll tear to Pieces Let me advise you Sir to be satisfy'd with what you have done 'T is as much as the bravest He that wears a Head ought to do Then pray go no further I beseech you The Door stands open the Lion is at his Choice whether he will come out or no. You have waited for him you see he does not care to look you in the Face and since he did not come out at the first I dare engage he will not stir out this Day You have shewn enough the Greatness of your Courage No Man is oblig'd to do more than Challenge his Enemy and
recall departed Joy Though barr'd the Hopes of greater Gain Or now the future Hours employ That must succeed my pleasant Pain The Gloss or Paraphrase I. ALL Fortune's Blessings disappear She 's Fickle as the Wind And now I find her as severe As once I thought her kind How soon the fleeting Pleasure's past How long the ling'ring Sorrows last Unconstant Goddess thro' thy Hate Do not thy prostrate Slave Destroy I 'd ne'er complain but bless my Fate Could I recall departed Joy II. Of all thy Gifts I beg but this Glut all Mankind with more Transport 'em with redoubled Bliss But only mine restore With thought of Pleasure once possess'd I 'm now as curst as I was bless'd Oh wou'd the charming Hours return How pleas'd I 'd live how free from Pain I ne'er wou'd pine I ne'er wou'd mourn Tho' barr'd the Hopes of greater Gain III. But oh the Blessing I implore Not Fate it self can give Since Time elaps'd exists no more No Pow'r can bid it live Our Days soon vanish into nought And have no Being but in Thought Whate'er began must end at last In vain we twice wou'd Youth enjoy In vain would we recall the past Or now the future Hours employ IV. Deceiv'd by Hope and Rack'd by Fear No longer Life can please I 'll then no more its Torments bear Since Death so soon can ease This Hour I 'll die But let me Pause A rising Doubt my Courage awes Assist ye Powers that rule my Fate Alarm my Thoughts my Rage refrain Convince my Soul there 's yet a State That must succeed my present Pain As soon as Don Lorenzo had read over his Paraphrase Don Quixote rose from his Seat and taking him by the Hand By the highest Mansions in the Skies cry'd the Knight aloud Noble Youth you 're the best Poet in the World and deserve to be Crown'd with Laurel not at Cyprus or Gaeta as a certain Poet said whom Heaven forgive but at the University of Athens were it still in being and at those of Paris Bologna and Salamanca May those Judges that deny you the Honour of the first Prize be shot with Arrows by the God of Verse and may the Muses abhor to come within their Houses Pray Sir if I may beg that Favour let me hear you read one of your loftiest Productions for I desire to have a full Taste of your admirable Genius I need not tell you that Don Lorenzo was mightily pleas'd to hear himself prais'd by Don Quixote tho' he believ'd him to be Mad. So bewitching and welcome a thing is Adulation even from those we at other times despise Don Lorenzo verify'd this Truth by his ready Compliance with Don Quixote's Request and recited to him the following Sonnet on the Story of Pyramus and Thisbe Pyramus and Thisbe A Sonnet SEE how to bless the lovely loving Boy The Nymph for whom he burns with equal Fires Pierces the Wall that parts 'em from their Joy While hovering Love prompts gazes and admires The trembling Maid in Whispers and in Sighs Dares hardly breathe the Passion she betrays But Silence speaks and Love thro' ravish'd Eyes Their Thoughts their Flames their very Souls conveys Wild with Desire they Sally out at last But quickly find their Ruin in their Haste And rashly lose all Pleasure in Despair Oh strange Mischance But do not Fortune blame Love joyn'd 'em first then Death the Grave and Fame What loving Wretch a Nobler Fate would share Now Heaven be prais'd said Don Quixote when Don Lorenzo had made an end Among the infinite Number of insipid Men of Rhime I have at last found a Man of Rhime and Reason and in a Word an absolute Poet. Don Quixote stay'd four Days at Don Diego's House and during all that time met with a very generous Entertainment However he then desâ—r'd his leave to go and return'd him a Thousand Thanks for his kind Reception letting him know that the Duty of his Profession did not admit of his staying any longer out of Action and therefore he design'd to go in quest of Adventures which he knew were plentifully to be â—ound in that part of Spain and that he wou'd employ his Time in that till the Tilts and Tournaments began at Saragossa to which Place 't was now his chief Intent to go However he wou'd first go to Montesino's Cave about which so many wonderful Stories were told in those Parts and there he wou'd endeavour to explore and discover the source and original Springs of the seven Lakes commonly call'd the Lakes of Ruydera Don Diego and his Son highly commended his noble Resolution and desir'd him to command whatever their House afforded assuring him he was sincerely Welcome to do it the Respect they had for his Honourable Profession and his particular Merit obliging them to do him all manner of Service In short the Day of his departure came a Day of Joy and Gladness to Don Quixote but of Grief and Sadness to poor Sancho who had no mind to change his Quarters and lik'd the good Cheer and Plenty at Don Diego's House much better than his short hungry Commons in Forests and Desarts the sorry Pittance of his ill-stor'd Wallet which â—e however Cramm'd and Stuff'd with what he â—hought cou'd best make the change of his Condition tolerable And now Don Quixote taking â—is leave of Don Lorenzo Sir said he I don't know whether I have already said it to you but if I have give me leave to repeat it once more that if you are Ambitious of climbing up to the difficult and in a manner inaccessible summit of the Temple of Fame your surest way is to leave on one hand the narrow Path of Poetry and follow the narrower Tack of Knight-Errantry which in a trice may raise you to an Imperial Throne With these Words Don Quixote seem'd to have Summ'd up the whole Evidence of his Madness However he cou'd not conclude without adding something more Heaven knows said he how willingly I would take Don Lorenzo with me to instruct him in those Vertues that are annex'd to the Employment I profess to spare the humble and crush the Proud and Haughty But since his tender Years do not yet qualifie him for the Hardships of that Life and his Laudable Exercises detain him I must rest Contented with letting you know That one way to acquire Fame in Poetry is to be govern'd by other Mens Judgment more than your own For 't is natural to Fathers and Mothers not to think their own Children ugly and this Error is no where so common as in the Off-spring of the Mind Don Diego and his Son were again surpriz'd to hear this Medley of good Sense and Extravagance and to find the poor Gentleman so strongly bent on the quest of his unlucky Adventures the only Aim and Object of his Desires After this and many Compliments and mutual Reiterations of Offers of Service Don Quixote having taken leave of the Lady of the Castle he on
no kind of Office of any Value that is not purchas'd with some sort of Bribe or Gratification of one kind or other all that I expect for advancing you to this Government is only that you wait on your Master in this Expedition that there may be an End of this memorable Adventure And I here engage my Honour that whether you return on Clavileno with all the speed his Swiftness promisâ—s or that it should be your ill Fortune to be oblig'd to Foot it back like a Pilgrim begging from Inn to Inn and Door to Door still whenever you come you will find your Island where you left it and your Islanders as glad to receive you for their Governour as ever And for my own Part Signior Sancho I 'll assure you you 'd very much wrong my Friendship shou'd you in the least doubt my Readiness to serve you Good your Worship say no more cry'd Sancho I am but a poor Squire and your Goodness is too great a Load for my Shoulders But hang Baseness Mount Master and blindfold me some-body wish me a good Voyage and pray for me But harkee good Folks when I am got up and fly in the Skies mayn't I say my Prayers and call on the Angels my self to help me trow Yes yes answer'd Trifaldi for Malumbruno though an Inchanter is nevertheless a Christian and does all things with a great deal of Sagacity having nothing to do with those he should not meddle with Come on then quoth Sancho let 's away and Heaven prosper us Thy Fear Sancho said Don Quixote might by a superstitious Mind be thought ominous Since the Adventure of the Fulling-Mills I have not seen thee possess'd with such a panick Terrour But hark ye begging this noble Company 's Leave I must have a Word with you in private Then withdrawing into a distant Part of the Garden among some Trees My dear Sancho said he thou feest we are going to take a long Journey thou art no less sensible of the Uncertainty of our Return and Heaven alone can tell what Leisure or Conveniency we may have in all that Time Let me therefore beg thee to slip aside to thy Chamber as if it were to get thy self ready for our Journey and there presently dispatch me only some 500 Lashes on the Account of the 3300 thou standest engag'd for 't will soon be done and a Business once begun you know is half ended Stark mad before George cry'd Sancho I wonder you are not asham'd Sir This is just as they say You see me in Haste and ask me for a Maidenhead I am just going to ride the wooden Horse and you would have me flea my Back-side Truly truly you 're plaguily out this Time Come come Sir let 's do one thing after another let us get off these Women's Whiskers and then I 'll feague it away for Dulcinea I have no more to say on the Matter at present Well honest Sancho reply'd Don Quixote I 'll take thy Word for once and I hope thou 'lt make it good for I believe thou art more Fool than Knave I am what I am quoth Sancho but whatever I be I 'll keep my Word ne'er fear it Upon this they return'd to the Company and just as they were going to mount Blind thy Eyes Sancho said Don Quixote and get up Sure he that sends so far for us can have no Design to deceive us since 't would never be to his Credit to delude those that rely on his Word of Honour and tho' the Success should not be answerable to our Desires still the Glory of so brave an Attempt will be ours and 't is not in the Power of Malice to eclipse it To Horse then Sir cry'd Sancho to Horse The Tears of those poor bearded Gentlewomen have melted my Heart and methinks I feel their Bristles sticking in it I shan't eat a Bit to do me Good till I see them have as pretty dimpled smooth Chins and soft Lips as they had before Mount then I say and blindfold your self first for if I must ride behind 't is a plain Case you must get up before me That 's right said Don Quixote and with that pulling a Handkerchief out of his Pocket he gave it to the disconsolate Matron to hoodwink him close She did so but presently after uncovering himself If I remember right said he Virgil tells us of the Trojan Palladium that wooden Horse which the Greeks offer'd Pallas full of arm'd Knights who afterwards prov'd the total Ruin of that famous City 'T were Prudence therefore before we get up to probe this Steed and see what he has in his Guts You need not said the Countess Trifaldi I dare engage there 's no Ground for any such Surmise for Malambruno is a Man of Honour and wou'd not so much as countenance any base or treacherous Practice and whatever Accident befalls ye I dare answer for Upon this Don Quixote mounted without any Reply imagining that what he might further urge concerning his Security would be a Reflection on his Valour He then began to try the Pin which was easily turn'd and as he sate with his long Legs stretch'd at Length for want of Stirrups he look'd like one of those antique Figures in a Roman Triumph woven in some old Piece of Arras Sancho very leisurely and unwillingly was made to climb up behind him and fixing himself as well as he cou'd on the Crupper felt it somewhat hard and uneasy With that looking on the Duke Good my Lord quoth he will you lend me something to clap under me some Pillow from the Page's Bed or the Dutchess's Cushion of State or any thing for this Horse's Crupper is so confounded hard I fancy 't is rather Marble than Wood. 'T is needless said the Countess for Clavileno will bear no kind of Furniture upon him so that for your greater Ease you had best sit side-ways like a Woman Sancho took her Advice and then after he had taken his Leave of the Company they bound a Cloth over his Eyes But presently after uncovering his Face with a pitiful Look on all the Spectators Good tender-hearted Christians cry'd he with Tears in his Eyes bestow a few Pater Nosters and Ave-Marys on a poor departing Brother and pray for my Soul as you expect the like Charirity your selves in such a Condition What! you Rascal said Don Quixote d' ye think your self at the Gallows and at the Point of Death that you hold forth in such a lamentable Strain Dastardly Wretch without a Soul dost thou not know that the fair Magalona once sate in thy Place and alighted from thence not into the Grave thou Chicken-hearted Varlet but into the Throne of France if there 's any Truth in History And do not I sit by thee that I may vie with the valorous Peter of Provence and press the Seat that was once press'd by him Come blindfold thy Eyes poor spiritless Animal and let me not know thee betray the least
bravest Knight the Earth had ever Possess'd As for Sancho he was looking up and down the Garden for the Disconsolate Matron to see what sort of a Face she had got now her Firz-bush was off But he was inform'd that as Clavileno came down Flaming in the Air the Countess with her Women Vanish'd immediately but not one of 'em Chinbristl'd nor so much as a Hair upon their Faces Then the Dutchess ask'd Sancho how he had far'd in his long Voyage Why truly Madam answer'd he I have seen Wonders for you must know that though my Master would not suffer me to pull the Cloath from my Eyes yet as I have a kind of an Itch to know every thing and a Spice of the Spirit of Contradiction still hankering after what 's forbidden me so when as my Master told me we were Flying through the Legion of Fire I shov'd my Handkerchief a little above my Nose and look'd down and what d' you think I saw I spy'd the Earth a hugeous way a far off below me Heaven bless us no bigger than a Mustard-seed and the Men walking to and fro upon 't not much larger than Hazle-Nuts Judge now if we were not got up wounded high Have a Care what you say my Friend said the Dutchess for if the Men were bigger than Hazle-Nuts and the Earth no bigger than a Mustard-seed one Man must be bigger than the whole Earth and cover it so that you cou'd not see it Like enough answer'd Sancho but for all that d' you see I saw it with a kind of a side-Look upon one Part of it or so Look you Sancho reply'd the Dutchess that won't bear for no Thing can be wholly seen by any Part of it Well well Madam quoth Sancho I don't understand your Parts and Wholes I saw it and there 's an end of the Story Only you must think that as we flew by Inchantment so we saw by Inchantment and thus I might see the Earth and all the Men which way soever I look'd I 'll warrant you won't believe me neither when I tell you that when I thrust up the Kerchief above my Brows I saw my self so near Heaven that between the top of my Cap. and the main Sky there was not a Span and a half And Heaven bless us forsooth what a hugeous great Place it is And we happen'd to Travel that Road where the * * The Pleiades vulgarly call'd in Spanish the Seven young She-Goats seven She-Goat-Stars were And Faith and Troth I had such a Mind to Play with 'em having been once a Goat-herd my self that I fancy I 'd have cry'd my self to Death had I not done it So soon as I spy'd 'em what does me I but sneaks down very soberly from behind my Master without telling any living Soul and play'd and leap'd about for three quarters of an Hour by the Clock with the pretty Nanny-Goats who are as sweet and fine as so many Marigolds or Gilly-Flowers And honest Wooden Peg stirr'd not one Step all the while And while Sancho employ'd himself with the Goats ask'd the Duke how was Don Quixote employ'd Truly answer'd the Knight I am sensible all things were alter'd from their Natural Course therefore what Sancho says seems the less strange to me But for my own part I neither saw Heaven nor Hell Sea nor Shore I perceiv'd indeed we pass'd through the middle Region of the Air and were pretty near that of Fire but that we came so near Heaven as Sancho says is altogether incredible because we then must have pass'd quite through the Fiery Region which lies between the Sphere of the Moon and the upper Region of the Air. Now it was impossible for us to reach that part where are the Pleiades or the Seven Goats as Sancho calls 'em without being Consum'd in the Elemental Fire and therefore since we escap'd those Flames certainly we did not soar so high and Sancho either Lies or Dreams I neither Lie nor Dream reply'd Sancho Uds Precious I can tell you the Marks and Colour of every Goat among 'em if you don't believe me Do but ask and try me You 'll easily see whether I speak Truth or no. Well said the Dutchess prithee tell us good Sancho Look you answer'd Sancho there were two of 'em Green two Carnation two Blue and one party-colour'd Truly said the Duke that 's a new kind of Goats you have found out Sancho we have none of those Colours upon Earth Sure Sir reply'd Sancho you 'll make some short difference between Heavenly She-Goats and the Goats of this World But Sancho said the Duke among those She-Goats did you see never a He Not one Horn'd Beast of the Masculine Gender Not one Sir I saw no other Horn'd thing but the Moon and I have been told that neither He-Goats nor any other Cornuted Tups are suffer'd to lift their Horns beyond those of the Moon They did not think fit to ask Sancho any more Questions about his Airy Voyage for in the Humour he was in they judg'd he would not stick to ramble all over the Heavens and tell 'em News of whatever was doing there though he had not stirr'd out of the Garden all the while Thus ended in short the Adventure of the Disconsolate Matron which afforded sufficient Sport to the Duke and Dutchess not only for the present but for the rest of their Lives and might have supply'd Sancho with matter of Talk from Generation to Generation for many Ages could he have liv'd so long Sancho said Don Quixote whispering him in the Ear since you 'll have us believe what you have seen in Heaven I desire you to believe me in what I said I saw in Montesino's Cave Not a Word more CHAP. XLII The Instructions which Don Quixote gave Sancho Pança before he went to the Government of his Island with other Matters of Moment THE Satisfaction which the Duke and Dutchess receiv'd by the happy Success of the Adventure of the Disconsolate Matron encourag'd 'em to carry on some other Pleasant Project since they could with so much Ease Impose on the Credulity of Don Quixote and his Squire Having therefore given Instructions to their Servants and Vassals how to behave themselves towards Sancho in his Government the Day after the Scene of the Wooden Horse the Duke bid Sancho prepare and be in a readiness to take Possession of his Government for now his Islanders wish'd as heartily for him as they did for Rain in a dry Summer Sancho made an humble Bow and looking demurely on the Duke Sir quoth he since I came down from Heaven whence I saw the Earth so very small I a'n't half so hot as I was for being a Governour For what Greatness can there be in being at the Head of a puny Dominion that 's but a little Nook of a tiny Mustard-seed And what Dignity and Power can a Man be reckon'd to have in governing half a dozen Men no bigger than Hazle-Nuts For I cou'd not
is void of Consideration and disclaims the Rules of Reason in his Proceedings He is like Death and equally affects the lofty Palaces of Kings and the lowly Cottages of Shepherds Where-ever he takes entire Possession of a Soul the first Thing he does is to dismiss all Bashfulness and Shame So these being banish'd from Altisidora's Breast she confidently discover'd her loose Desires which alas rather fill'd me with Confusion than Pity Well go to quoth Sancho you are confoundedly cruel how could you be so hard-hearted and ungrateful had the poor Thing but made Love to me I dare say I should have come to at the first Word and have been at her Service Beshrew my Midriff what a Heart of Marble Bowels of Brass and Soul of Plaister you have But I can't for the Blood of me imagine what the poor Creature saw in your Worship to make her doat on you and play the Fool at this Rate Where the Devil was the sparkling Appearance the Briskness the fine Carriage the sweet Face that betwich'd her Indeed and indeed I often survey your Worship from the Tip of your Toe to the topmost hair on your Crown and not to flatter you I can see nothing in you but what 's more likely to scare one than to make one fall in Love I 've heard that Beauty is the first and chief Thing that begets Love now you not having any an 't like your Worship I can't guess what the poor Soul was smitten with Take notice Sancho answer'd Don Quixote that there are two Sorts of Beauty the one of the Soul and the other of the Body That of the Soul lies and displays it self in the Understanding in Principles of Honour and Vertue in a handsome Behaviour in Generosity and good Breeding all which Qualities may be found in a Person not so accomplish'd in outward Features And when this Beauty and not that of the Body is the Object of Love then the Assaults of that Passion are much more fierce more surprizing and effectual Now Sancho though I am sensible I am not handsome I know at the same time I 'm not deform'd and provided an honest Man be possess'd of the Endowments of the Mind which I have mention'd and nothing appears monstrous in him 't is enough to entitle him to the Love of a reasonable Creature Thus discoursing they got into a Wood quite out of the Road and on a sudden Don Quixote before he knew where he was found himself entangl'd in some Nets of green Thread that were spread across among the Trees Not being able to imagine what it was certainly Sancho cry'd he this Adventure of the Nets must be one of the most unaccountable that can be imagin'd Let me die now if this be not a Stratagem of the evil-minded Necromancers that haunt me to entangle me so that I may not proceed as it were to revenge my Contempt of Altisidora's Addresses But let 'em know that tho' these Nets were Adamantine Chains as they are only made of green Thread and though they were stronger than those in which the jealous God of Blacksmiths caught Venus and Mars I would break them with as much Ease as if they were weak Rushes or fine Cotton-Yarn With that the Knight put briskly forwards resolv'd to break through and make his Words good but in the very Moment there sprung from behind the Trees two most beautiful Shepherdesses at least they appear'd to be so by their Habits only with this Difference that they were richly dress'd in Gold Brocade Their flowing Hair hung down about their Shoulders in Curls as charming as the Sun 's Golden Rays and circl'd on their Brows with Garlands of green Bays and Red-flower-gentle interwoven As for their Age it seem'd not less than fifteen nor more than eighteen Years This unexpected Vision dazzl'd and amaz'd Sancho surpriz'd Don Quixote made even the gazing Sun stop short in his Career and held the surpriz'd Parties a while in the same Suspence and Silence 'till at last one of the Shepherdesses opening her Coral-Lips hold Sir she cry'd pray do not tear those Nets which we have spread here not to offend you but to divert our selves and because 't is likely you 'll enquire why they are spread here and who we are I shall tell you in few Words About two Leagues from this Place lies a Village where there are many People of Quality and good Estates among these several have made up a Company all of Friends Neighbours and Relations to come and take their Diversion in this Place which is one of the most delightful in these Parts To this purpose we design to set up a new Arcadia The young Men have put on the Habit of Shepherds and Ladies the Dress of Shepherdesses We have got two Eclogues by Heart one out of the famous Garcilasso and the other out of Camoen's that most excellent Portugueze Poet tho' the Truth is we have not yet repeated them for Yesterday was but the first Day of our coming hither We have pitch'd some Tents among the Trees near the Banks of a large Brook that waters all these Meadows And last Night we spread these Nets to catch such simple Birds as our Calls shou'd allure into the Snare Now Sir if you please to afford us your Company you shall be made very welcome and handsomely entertain'd for we are all dispos'd to pass the Time agreeably and for a while banish Melancholy from this Place Truly fair Lady answer'd Don Quixote Actaeon cou'd not be more lost in Admiration and Amazement at the Sight of Diana Bathing her self than I was at the Appearance of your Beauty I applaud the Design of your Entertainment and return you Thanks for your obliging Offers assuring you that if it lies in my Power to serve you you may depend on my Obedience to your Commands For my Profession is the very Reverse of Ingratitude and aims at doing Good to all Persons especially those of your Merit and Condition so that were these Nets spread over the Surface of the whole Earth I would seek out a Passage thro' new Worlds rather than I wou'd break the smallest Thread that conduces to your Pastime And that you may give some Credit to this seeming Exaggeration know that he who makes this Promise is no less than Don Quixote de la Mancha if ever such a Name has reach'd your Ears Oh my Dear cry'd the other Shepherdess what good Fortune this is You see this Gentleman before us I must tell you he is the most valiant the most amorous and the most complaisant Person in the World if the History of his Exploits already in Print does not deceive us I have read it my Dear and I hold a Wager that honest Fellow there by him is one Sancho Pança his Squire the most comical Creature that ever was You have nick'd it quoth Sancho I am that comical Creature and that very Squire you wot of and there 's my Lord and Master the self-same
at the Appearance of above forty live Banditti who pour'd upon 'em and surrounded 'em on a sudden charging 'em in the Gatalan Tongue to stand till their Captain came Don Quixote found himself on Foot his Horse unbridl'd his Launce against a Tree at some Distance and in short void of all Defence and therefore he was forc'd to put his Arms a-cross hold down his Head and shâ—â—g up his Shoulders reserving himself for a better Opportunity The Robbers presently fell to Work and began to rifle Dapple leaving on his Back nothing of what he carry'd either in the Wallets or the Cloâ—k bag and 't was very well for Sancho that the Duke's Pieces of Gold and those he brought from home were hid in a Girdle about his Waste though for all that those honest Gentlemen would certainly have taken the Pains to have search'd and survey'd him all over and would have had the Gold tho' they had stripp'd him of his Skin to come at it But by good Fortune their Captain came in the Interim He seem'd about four and thirty Years of Age his Body robust his Stature tall his Visage austere and his Complexion swarthy He was mounted on a lusty Horse wore a Coat of Steel and no less than two Pistols on each Side Perceiving that his Squires for so they call Men of that Profession in those Parts were going to strip Sancho he order'd 'em to forbear and was instantly obey'd by which means the Girdle escap'd He wonder'd to see a Launce rear'd up against a Tree a Shield on the Ground and Don Quixote in Armour and pensive with the saddest melancholick Countenance that Sadness it self could frame Coming up to him be not so sad honest Man said he you have not fall'n into the Hands of some cruel Busâ—â—â—s but into those of Roque Guinart a Man rather compassionate than severe I am not sad answer'd Don Quixote for having fall'n into thy Power valorous Roque whose boundless Fame spreads thro' the Universe but for having been so remiss as to be surpriz'd by thy Soldiers with my Horse unbridl'd whereas according to the Order of Chivalry-Errant which I profess I am oblig'd to live always upon my Guard and at all Hours be my own Centinel for let me tell thee great Roque had they met me mounted on my Steed arm'd with my Shield and Launce they would have found it no easy Task to make me yield for know I am Don Quixote de la Mancha the same whose Exploits are celebrated through all the habitable Globe Roque Guinart found out immediately Don Quixote's blind Side and judg'd there was more Madness than Valour in the Case Now though he had several Times heard him mention'd in Discourse he could never believe what was related of him to be true nor could he be perswaded that such a Humour should reign in any Man for which Reason he was very glad to have met him that Experience might convince him of the Truth Therefore addressing himself to him Valorous Knight said he vex not your self nor tax Fortune with Unkindness for it may happen that what you look upon now as a sad Accident may redound to your Advantage for Heaven by strange and unaccountable Ways beyond the Reach of humane Imagination uses to raise up those that are fall'n and fill the Poor with Riches Don Quixote was going to return him Thanks when from behind 'em they heard a Noise like the trampling of several Horses though it was occasion'd but by one on which came full speed a Person that look'd like a young Gentleman about twenty Years of Age. He was clad in green Damask edg'd with Gold Galloon suitable to his Wastecoat a Hat turn'd up behind straight Wax'd-leather Boots his Spurs Sword and Dagger gilt a light Birding-piece in his Hand and a Case of Pistols before him Roque having turn'd his Head at the Noise discover'd the handsome Apparition which approaching nearer spoke to him in this manner You are the Gentleman I look'd for valiant Roque for with you I may perhaps find some Comfort though not a Remedy in my Affliction In short not to hold you in Suspence for I am sensible you don't know me I 'll tell you who I am My Name is Claudia Jeronima I am the Daughter of your particular Friend Simon Forte sworn Foe to Clauquel Torrellas who is also your Enemy being one of your adverse Faction You already know this Torrellas had a Son whom they call Don Vincente Torrellas at least he was call'd so within these two Hours That Son of his to be short in my sad Story I 'll tell you in four Words what Sorrow he has brought me to He saw me courted me was heard and was belov'd Our Amour was carried on with so much Secrecy that my Father knew nothing of it for there is no Woman though ever so retir'd and closely look'd to but can find Time enough to compass and fulfil her unruly Desires In short he made me a Promise of Marriage and I the like to him but without proceeding any further Now Yesterday I understood that forgetting his Engagements to me he was going to wed another and that they were to be marry'd this Morning a Piece of News that quite distracted me and made me lose all Patience Therefore my Father being out of Town I took the Opportunity of equipping my self as you see and by the Speed of this Horse overtook Don Vincente about a League hence where without urging my Wrongs or staying to hear his Excuses I fir'd at him not only with this Piece but with both my Pistols and as I believe shot him through the Body thus with his Heart's-Blood washing away the Stains of my Honour This done there I left him to his Servants who neither dar'd nor could prevent the sudden Execution and came to seek your Protection that by your Means I may be conducted into France where I have Relations to entertain me and withal to beg of you to defend my Father from Don Vincente's Party who might otherwise revenge his Death upon our Family Roque admiring at once the Resolution agreeable Deportment and handsome Figure of the beautiful Claudia come Madam said he let us first be afford of your Enemy's Death and then consider what is to be done for you Hold cry'd Don Quixote who had hearken'd with great Attention to all this Discourse none of ye need trouble your selves with this Affair the Defence of the Lady is my Province Give me my Horse and Arms and stay for me here I will go and find out this Knight and dead or alive force him to perform his Obligations to so great a Beauty Ay ay quoth Sancho you may take his Word for 't my Master has a rare Stroke at making Matches 'T is but t'other Day he made a young Rogue yield to marry a Maid whom he would have left in the Lurch after he was promis'd to her and had it not been for the Inchanters that plague his
the Road while the rest of the Footmen had secured Sancho and Dapple and drove 'em silently before ' em Don Quixote attempted twice or thrice to ask the Cause of this Usage but he no sooner began to open but they were ready to run the Heads of their Spears down his Throat Poor Sancho far'd worse yet for as he offer'd to speak one of the Foot-Guards gave him a Jagg with a Goad and serv'd Dapple as bad though the poor Beast had no Thought of saying a Word As it grew Night they mended their Pace and then the Darkness encreas'd the Fears of the Captive Knight and Squire especially when every Minute their Ears were tormented with these or such like Words On on ye Troglodytes Silence ye Barbarian Slaves Vengeance ye Anthropophagi Grumble not ye Scythians Be blind ye Murdering Polyphemes ye devouring Lions Bless us thought Sancho what Names do they calls us here Trollopites Barber's Slaves and Andrew Hodgepodgy City-Cans and Bur-frames I don't like the Sound of ' em Here 's one Mischief on the Neck of another When a Man 's down down with him I wou'd compound for a good dry Beating and glad to ' scape so too Don Quixote was no less perplex'd not being able to imagine the Reason either of their hard Usage or scurrilous Language which hitherto promis'd but little Good At last after they had rode about an Hour in the Dark they came to the Gates of a Castle which Don Quixote presently knowing to be the Duke's where he had so lately been Heaven bless me cry'd he what do I see Was not this the Mansion of Civility and Humanity But thus the Vanquish'd are doom'd to see every Thing frown upon ' em With that the two Prisoners were led into the great Court of the Castle and found such strange Preparations made there as encreas'd at once their Fear and their Amazement as we shall find in the next Chapter CHAP. LXIX Of the most singular and strangest Advenventure that befel Don Quixote in the whole Course of this famous History ALL the Horse-men alighted and the Footmen snatching up Don Quixote and Sancho in their Arms hurry'd 'em into the Court-Yard that was illuminated with above a hundred Torches six'd in huge Candle-sticks and about all the Galleries round the Court were plac'd above five hundred Lights insomuch that all was Day in the Midst of the Darkness of the Night In the Middle of the Court there was a Tomb rais'd some two Yards from the Ground with a large Pall of black Velvet over it and round about it a hundred Tapers of Virgins-Wax stood burning in Silver-Candlesticks Upon the Tomb lay the Body of a young Damsel who though to all Appearance dead was yet so beautiful that Death it self seem'd lovely in her Face Her Head was crown'd with a Garland of fragrant Flowers and supported by a Pillow of Cloath of Gold and in her Hands that laid across her Breast was seen a Branch of that yellow Palm that us'd of old to adorn the Triumphs of Conquerors On one Side of the Court there was a Kind of a Theatre erected on which two Personages sate in Chairs who by the Crowns upon their Heads and Scepters in their Hands were or at least appear'd to be Kings By the Side of the Theatre at the Foot of the Steps by which the Kings ascended two other Chairs were plac'd and thither Don Quixote and Sancho were led and caus'd to sit down the Guards that conducted 'em continuing silent all the while and making their Prisoners understand by awful Signs that they must also be silent But there was no great Occasion for that Caution for their Surprize was so great that it had ty'd up their Tongues with Amazement At the same Time two other Persons of Note ascended the Stage with a numerous Retinue and seated themselves on two stately Chairs by the two Theatrical Kings These Don Quixote presently knew to be the Duke and Dutchess at whose Palace he had been so nobly entertain'd But what he discover'd as the greatest Wonder was that the Corps upon the Tomb was the Body of the fair Altisidora Assoon as the Duke and Dutchess had ascended Don Quixote and Sancho made 'em aâ— profound Obeysance which they return'd with a short declining of their Heads Upon this a certain Officer enter'd the Court and coming up to Sancho he clapp'd over him a black Buckram-Frock all figur'd over with Flames of Fire and taking off his Cap he put on his Head a Kind of Mitre such as is worn by those who undergo publick Penance by the Inquisition whispering him in the Ear at the same Time that if he did but offer to open his Lips they would put a Gag in his Mouth or murder him to rights Sancho view'd himself over from Head to Foot and was a little startl'd to see himself all over in Fire and Flames but yet since he did not feel himself burn he car'd not a Farthing He pull'd off his Mitre and found it pictur'd over with Devils but he put it on again and bethought himself that since neither the Flames burn'd him nor the Devils ran away with him 't was well enough Don Quixote also stedfastly survey'd him and in the Midst of all his Apprehensions could not forbear smiling to see what a strange Figure he made And now in the midst of that profound Silence while every Thing was mute and Expectation most atrentive a soft and charming Symphony of Flutes that seem'd to issue from the Hollow of the Tomb agreeably fill'd their Ears Then there appear'd at the Head of the Monument a young Man extremely handsome and dress'd in a Roman Habit who to the Musick of a Harp touch'd by himself sung the following Stanza's with an excellent Voice Altisidora's Dirge While slain the fair Altisidora lies A Victim to Don Quixote's cold Disdain Here all Things mourn all Pleasure with her dies And Weeds of Woe disguise the Graces Train I 'll Sing the Beauties of her Face and Mind Her hopeless Passion her unhappy Fate No Orpheus's self in Numbers more refin'd Her Charms her Love her Sufferings cou'd relate Nor shall the Fair alone in Life be sung Her boundless Praise is my immortal Choice In the cold Grave when Death benums my Tongue For thee bright Maid my Soul shall find a Voice When from this narrow Cell my Spirit 's free And wanders grieving with the Shades below Ev'n o'er Oblivion's Waves I 'll sing to thee And Hell it self shall sympathize in Woe Enough cry'd one of the two Kings no more Divine Musician it were an endless Task to enumerate the Perfections of Altisidora or give us the Story of her Fate Nor is she dead as the ignorant Vulgar surmises No in the Mouth of Fame she lives and once more shall revive as soon as Sancho has undergone the Penance that is decreed to restore her to the World Therefore O Rhadamanthus thou who sittest in joynt Commission with me in
you The Niece and Maid who without Doubt were good-natur'd Creatures undress'd him put him to Bed brought him something to eat and tended him with all imaginable Care CHAP. LXXIV How Don Quixote fell sick made his last Will and died AS all humane Things especially the Lives of Men are transitory their very Beginnings being but Steps to their Dissolution so Don Quixote who was no way exempted from the common Fate was snatch'd away by Death when he least expected it Whether his Sickness was the Effect of his melancholick Reflections or pre-ordain'd by the Heavens I will not determine but he was seiz'd with a violent Feaver that confin'd him to his Bed six Days All that Time his good Friends the Curate Batchelor and Barber came often to see him and his trusty Squire Sancho Pança never stirr'd from his Bed-side They conjectur'd that his Sickness proceeded from the Regret of his Defeat and his being disappointed of Dulcinea's Dis-inchantment and accordingly they left nothing unessay'd to divert him The Batchelor begg'd him to pluck up a good Heart and rise that they might begin their Pastoral Life telling him that he had already writ an Eclogue to that Purpose not inferiour to those of Sannazaro and that he bought with his own Money of a Shepherd of Quintana two tearing Dogs to watch their Flock the one call'd Barcino and the other Bueron but this had no Effect on Don Quixote for he still continu'd dejected A Physician was sent for who upon feeling his Pulse did not very well like it and therefore desir'd him of all Things to provide for his Soul's Health for that of his Body was in a dangerous Condition Don Quixote heard this with much more Temper than those about him for his Niece his House-keeper and his Squire fell a weeping as bitterly as if he had been laid out already Don Quixote desir'd them to leave him a little to himself because he found himself inclinable to Rest they retir'd and he had a hearty Sleep of above Six Hours which the Maid and Niece were afraid would be his last At length he wak'd and with a loud Voice Blessed be the Almighty cry'd he for this great Benefit he has vouchsafed to do me Infinite are his Mercies they are greater and more in Number than the Sins of Men. The Niece harkening very attentively to these Words of her Uncle and finding more Sense in them than there was in his usual Talk at least since he had fallen ill What do you say Sir said she has any Thing extraordinary happen'd What Mercies are these you mention Mercies answer'd he that Heaven has this Moment vouchsafed to shew me in spite of all my Iniquities My Judgment is return'd clear and undisturb'd and that Cloud of Ignorance is now remov'd which the continual Reading of those damnable Books of Knight-Errantry had cast over my Understanding Now I perceive their Nonsense and Impertinence and am only sorry the Discovery happens so late when I want Time to make Amends by those Studies that shou'd enlighten my Soul and prepare me for Futurity I find Niece my End approaches but I wou'd have it such that tho' my Life has got me the Character of a Mad-man I may deserve a better at my Death Dear Child continu'd he send for my honest Friends the Curate the Batchelor Carrasco and Master Nicholas the Barber for I intend to make my Confession and my Will His Niece was sav'd the Trouble of sending for presently they all three came in which Don Quixote perceiving My good Friends said he I have happy News to tell you I am no longer Don Quixote de la Mancha but Alonso Quixano the same whom the World for his fair Behaviour has been pleas'd to call the Good I now declare my self an Enemy to Amadis de Gaul and his whole Generation all profane Stories of Knight-Errantry all Romances I detest I have a true Sense of the Danger of reading them and of all my pass'd Follies and thro' Heaven's Mercy and my own Experience I abhor them His three Friends were not a little surprized to hear him talk at this rate and concluded some new Frenzy had possess'd him What now said Sampson to him What 's all this to the Purpose Signior Don Quixote We have just had the News that the Lady Dulcinea is dis-inchanted and now we are upon the point of turning Shepherds to sing and live like Princes you are dwindl'd down to a Hermit No more of that I beseech you reply'd Don Quixote all the Use I shall make of these Follies at present is to heighten my Repentance and though they have hitherto prov'd prejudicial yet by the Assistance of Heaven they may turn to my Advantage at my Death I find it comes fast upon me therefore pray Gentlemen let us be serious I want a Priest to receive my Confession and a Scrivener to draw up my Will There 's no trifling at a Time like this I must take Care of my Soul and therefore pray let the Scrivener be sent for while Mr. Curate prepares me by Confession Don Quixote's Words put them all into such Admiration that they stood gazing upon one another they thought they had Reason to doubt of the Return of his Understanding and yet they cou'd not help believing him They were also apprehensive he was near the Point of Death considering the sudden Recovery of his Intellects and he deliver'd himself after that with so much Sense Discretion and Piety and shew'd himself so resign'd to the Will of Heaven that they made no Scruple to believe him restor'd to his perfect Judgement at last The Curate thereupon clear'd the Room of all the Company but himself and Don Quixote and then confess'd him In the mean time the Batchelor ran for the Scrivener and presently brought him with him and Sancha Pança being inform'd by the Batchelor how ill his Master was and finding his Niece and House-keeper all in Tears began to make wry Faces and fall a crying The Curate having heard the sick Person 's Confession came out and told them that the good Alonso Quixano was very near his End and certainly in his Senses and therefore they had best go in that he might make his Will These dismal Tidings open'd the Sluices of the House-keeper's the Niece's and the good Squire 's swollen Eyes so that a whole Inundation of Tears burst out of those Flood-Gates and a thousand Sighs from their Hearts for indeed either as Alonso Quixano or as Don Quixote de la Mancha as it has been observ'd the sick Gentleman had always shew'd himself such a good-natur'd Man and of so agreeable a Conversation that he was not only belov'd by his Family but by every one that knew him The Scrivener with the rest of the Company then went into the Chamber and the Preamble and formal Part of the Will being drawn and the Testator having recommended his Soul to Heaven and bequeath'd his Body to the Earth according to
more wretched than you all Come Howl as in redoubled Flames Attend me to th' eternal Night No other Dirge nor Funral Rite A poor despairing Lover claims And thou my Song sad Child of Woe When Life is gone and I m below For thy lost Parent cease to grieve With Life and Thee my Woes increase And shou'd they not by dying cease Hell has no pains like those I leave These Verses were well approv'd by all the Company only Vivaldo observ'd that the Jealousies and Fears of which the Shepherd complain'd did not very well agree with what he had heard oâ— Marcella's unspotted Modesty and Reservedness But Ambrose who had been always privy tâ— the most secret Thoughts of his Friend inform d him that the unhappy Chysostome wrote those Verses when he had torn himself from his ador'd Mistress to try whether absence the comâ—â—â— cure of Love wou'd relieve him and mitigaâ—â— his Pain And as every thing disturbs an absent Lover and nothing is more usual than for him to torment himself with a thousand Chymera's of his own Brain so did Chrysostome perplex himself with jealousies and suspicions which had no ground but in his distracted imagination and therefore whatever he said in those uneasie Circumstances cou'd never affect or in the least prejudice Marcella's Virtuous Character upon whom setting aside her Cruelty and her disdainful Haughtiness Envy itself could never fix the least Reproach Vivaldo being thus convinc'd they were going to read another Paper when they were unexpectedly prevented by a kind of an Apparition that offered it self to their View 'T was Marcella herself who appear'd at the top of the Rock at the foot of which they were digging the Grave but so beautiful that Fame seem'd rather to have lessen'd than to have magnify'd her Charms those who had never seen her before gaz'd on her with silent wonder and delight nay those who us'd to see her every day seem'd no less lost in admiration than the rest But scarce had Ambrose spy'd her when with anger and indignation in his heart he cry'd out What mak'st thou there thou fierce thou cruel Basilisk of these Mountains com'st thou to see whether the Wounds of this murther'd Wretch will bleed afresh at thy presence Or com'st thou thus mounted aloft to glory in the fatal effects of thy native Inhumanity like another Nero at the sight of Flaming Rome Or is it to Trample this unfortunate Corps as Tarquin's ungrateful Daughter did her Fathers Tell us quickly why thou com'st and what thou yet desirest For since I know that Chrysostome's whole study was to serve and please thee while he liv'd I 'm willing to dispose all his Friends to pay thee the like obedience now he 's dead I come not here to any of those ungrateful ends Ambrose reply'd Marcella but only to clear my Innocence and show the injustice of all those who lay their misfortunes and Chrysostome's Death to my charge Therefore I entreat you all who are here at this time to hear me a little for I shall not need to use many words to convince People of sense of an evident Truth Heav'n you 're pleas'd to say has made me beautiful and that to such a degree that you are forc'd nay as it were compell'd to love me in spight of your endeavours to the contrary and for the sake of that love you say I ought to love you again Now tho I am sensible that whatever is beautiful is lovely I cannot conceive that what is lov'd for being handsom shou'd be bound to love that by which 't is lov'd meerly because 't is lov'd he that loves a beautiful object may happen to be ugly and as what is ugly deserves not to be lov'd it wou'd be ridiculous to say I love you because you are handsom and therefore you must love me again tho I am ugly But suppose two persons of different Sex are equally handsom it does not follow that their desires shou'd be alike and reciprocal for all Beauties do not kindle Love some only recreate the sight and never reach nor captivate the heart Alas shou'd whatever is beautiful beget Love and in slave the mind Mankind's desires wou'd ever run confus'd and wandering without being able to fix their determinate choice for as there is an infinite number of beautiful objects the Desires wou'd consequently be also infinite whereas on the contrary I have heard that true Love is still confin'd to one and voluntary and unforc'd This being granted why wou'd you have me force my Inclinations for no other reason but that you say you love me Tell me I beseech you had Heaven form'd me as ugly as it has made me beautiful cou'd I justly complain of you for not loving me Pray consider also that I do not possess those Charms by choice such as they are they were freely bestow'd on me by Heaven and as the Viper is not to be blam'd for the Poyson with which she kills seeing 't was assign'd her by Nature so I ought not to be censur'd for that Beauty which I derive from the same Cause For Beauty in a Virtuous Woman is but like a distant Flame or a sharp-edg'd Sword and only burns and wounds those who approach too near it Honour and Virtue are the ornaments of the Soul and that Body that 's destitute of 'em cannot be esteem'd beautiful tho it be naturally so If then Honour be one of those Endowments which most adorn the Body why shou'd she that 's belov'd for her Beauty expose herself to the loss of it meerly to gratifie the loose Desires of one who for his own selfish ends uses all the means imaginable to make her lose it I was born free and that I might continue so I retir'd to these solitary hills and plains where Trees are my Companions and clear Fountains my Looking-glasses Those whom I have attracted with my sight I have undeceiv'd with my words And if hope be the food of desire I never gave any encouragement to Chrysostome nor to any other it may well be said 't was rather his own obstinacy than my cruelty that shorten'd his life If you tell me that his intentions were honest and therefore ought to have been complyd with I answer that when at the very place where his Grave is making he discover'd his Passion I told him I was resolv'd to live and dye single and that the Earth alone shou'd reap the spoils of my Reserv'dness and Beauty and if after all the admonitions I gave him he wou'd persist in his obstinate pursuit and sail against the Wind what wonder is' t he shou'd perish in the Waves of his Indiscretion had I ever encourag'd him or amus'd him with ambiguous words then I had been false and had I gratify'd his wishes I had acted contrary to my better resolves He persisted tho I had given him a due caution and he despair'd e're he was hated Now I leave you to judge whether I ought to be blam'd
and a pair of green Velvet Bodice with Sleeves of the same and fac'd with white Satin which Accoutremâ—nts probably had been in fashion in old Queen Bamba's Days The Curat would not let her encomber his Head with Woman's Headgeer but only clapp'd upon his Crown a white quilted Cap which he us'd to wear a-nights and bound his Forehead with one of his Garters that was of black Taffety making himself a kind of a Muffler and Vizard-Mask with the other Then he half buried his Head under his Hat pulling it down to squeeze in his Ears and as the broad Brim flapp'd down over his Eyes it seem'd a kind of Umbrella This done he wrapp'd himself up in his long Cloke and up he got upon his Side-Saddle like a Woman Then the Barber clapt on his Ox-tail Beard half red half grizzled which hung from his Chin down to his Waste and having mounted his Mule they took leave of their Host and Hostess as also of the good condition'd Maritornes who vow'd tho she was a Sinner to tumble her Beads and say a Rosary to their Intention But scarce were they got out of the Inn when the Curat began to be troubled with a Scruple of Conscience about his putting on Woman's Apparel being apprehensive of the Indecency of the Disguise in a Priest tho the goodness of his Intent might well warrant a Dispensation from the strictness of Decorum Therefore he desir'd the Barber that they might change Dresses thinking that in his Habit of a Squire he shou'd less prophane his own Dignity and Character to which after all he ought to have a greater regard than to Don Quixote withal assuring the Barber that unless he consented to this exchange he was absolutely resolv'd to go no further Sancho came up with 'em just upon this Demur and was ready to split his sides with laughing at the sight of those strange Masqueraders In short the Barber consented to be the Damosel and to let the Curat be the Squire Now while they were thus changing Sexes the Curat offer'd to tutor him how to behave himself in that Female Attire so as to be able to wheedle Don Quixote out of his Penance But the Barber desir'd him not to trouble himself about that matter assuring him that he was well enough vers'd in Female Affairs to be able to act a Damosel without any directions However he said he would not now stand fiddling and managing his Pins to prink himself up seeing 't wou'd be time enough to do that when they came near Don Quixote's Hermitage and therefore having folded up his Clothes and the Curat his Beard they spurr'd on while their Guide Sancho entertain'd 'em with a Relation of the mad tatter'd Gentleman whom they had met in the Mountain however without mentioning a word of the Portmanteau or the Gold For as much a Fool as he was he lov'd to keep Money when he had it and was wise enough to keep his own Counsel They got next day to the place where Sancho had strew'd the Boughs to direct him to Don Quixote and therefore he advis'd 'em to put on their Disguises if 't were as they told him that their Design was only to make his Master leave that wretched kind of Life in order to become an Emperor Thereupon they charg'd him on his Life not to take the least notice who they were As for Dulcinea's Letter if Don Quixote ask'd him about it they order'd him to say he had deliver'd it but that by reason she cou'd neither write nor read she had sent him her answer by word of Mouth which was that on pain of her Indignation he shou'd immediatly put an end to his severe Penance and repair to her Presence This they told Sancho together with what they themselves design'd to say was the only way to oblige his Master to leave the Desart that he might prosecute his Design of making himself an Emperor assuring him they wou'd take care he shou'd not entertain the least thought of an Archbishoprick Sancho listen'd with great attention to all these Instructions and treasur'd 'em up in his mind giving the Curat and the Barber a world of Thanks for their good Intention of advising his Master to become an Emperor and not an Archbishop for as he said he imagin'd in his simple Judgment that an Emperor-Errant was ten times better than a sneaking Archbishop-Errant and cou'd reward his Squire a great deal better He likewise added that he thought it wou'd be better for him to go to his Master somewhat before 'em and give him an account of his Lady's kind Answer for perhaps that alone wou'd be sufficient to fetch him out of that place without putting 'em to any further trouble They lik'd this Proposal very well and therefore agreed to let him go and wait there till he came back to give 'em an account of his Success With that Sancho rode away and struck into the Clefts of the Rocks in order to seek out his Master leaving the Curat and the Barber by the side of a Brook where the neighbouring Hills and some Trees that grew along its Banks combin'd to make a cool and pleasant Shade There they shelter'd themselves from the scorching Beams of the Sun that commonly shines intolerably hot in those parts at that time being about the middle of Augâ—st and hardly three a Clock in the Afternoon While they quietly refresh'd themselves in that delightful place where they had agreed to stay till Sancho's return they heard a Voice which tho unattended with any Instrument ravish'd their Ears with its melodious sound And what increas'd their surprise and their admiration was to hear such artful Notes and such delicate Music in so unfrequented and wild a place where scarce any Rustics ever straggled much less such skilful Songsters as the Person whom they heard unquestionably was For tho the Poets are pleas'd to fill the Fields and Woods with Swains and Shepherdesses that sing with all the sweetness and delicacy imaginable yet 't is well enough known that those Gentlemen deal more in Fiction than in Truth and love to embellish the Descriptions they make Nor cou'd our two listning Travellers think it the Voice of a Peasant when they began to distinguish the Words of the Song for they seem'd to relish more of a Courtly Stile than of a Rural Composition These were the Verses A SONG I. WHAT makes me languish and complain O 't is disdain What yet more fiercely Tortures me 'T is Jealousy How have I all my Patience lost By Absence crost Then hopes farewel there 's no Relief I sink beneath oppressing Grief Nor can a Wretch without despair Scorn Jealousy and Absence bear II. What in my Breast this Anguish drove Intruding Love What cou'd such mighty ills create Blind Fortune's hate What cruel Pow'rs my Fate approve The Pow'rs above Then let me bear and cease to moan 'T is glorious thus to be undone When these invade who dares oppose Heav'n