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The First BookChapter IV.
Chapter IV.
Of That Which Befel to Our Knight after He Departed from the Inn
Aurora began to display her beauties about the time that Don Quixote
issued out of the inn, so content, lively, and jocund to behold himself
knighted, as his very horse - girths were ready to burst for joy. But calling
to memory the counsels that his host had given him, touching the most needful
implements that he was ever to carry about him, of money and clean shirts, he
determined to return to his house, and to provide himself of them, and also of
a squire; making account to entertain a certain labourer, his neighbour, who
was poor and had children, but yet one very fit for this purpose and squirely
function belonging to knighthood. With this determination he turned Rozinante
towards the way of his own village, who, knowing in a manner his will, began
to trot on with so good a pace as he seemed not to touch the ground. He had
not travelled far, when he thought that he heard certain weak and delicate
cries, like to those of one complained, to issue out from the thickest of a
wood that stood on the right hand. And scarce had he heard them when he said:
`I render infinite thanks to Heaven for the favour it doth me, by proffering
me so soon occasion wherein I may accomplish the duty of my profession, and
gather the fruits of my good desires. These plaints doubtlessly be of some
distressed man on woman, who needeth my favour and aid.` Then, turning the
reins, he guided Rozinante towards the place from whence he thought the
complaints sallied; and within a few paces after he had entered into the
thicket, he saw a mare tied unto an holm oak, and to another was tied a young
youth, all naked from the middle upward, of about the age of fifteen years,
and was he that cried so pitifully: and not without cause; for a certain
countryman of comely personage did whip him with a girdle, and accompanied
every blow with a reprehension and counsel; for he said, `The tongue must
peace, and the eyes be wary.` And the boy answered, `I will never do it again,
good master; for the passion of God, I will never do it again. And I promise
to have more care of your things from henceforth.`
But Don Quixote, viewing all that passed, said, with an angry voice,
`Discourteous knight, it is very uncomely to see thee deal thus with one that
cannot defend himself. Mount, therefore, on horseback, and take thy lance`
(for the farmer had also a lance leaning to the very same tree whereunto his
mare was tied), `for I will make thee know that it is the use of cowards to do
that which thou dost.` The other, beholding such an antic to hover him, all
laden with arms, and brandishing of his lance towards his face, made full
account that he should be slain, and therefore he answered, with very mild and
submissive words, saying, `Sir knight, the boy which I chastise is mine own
servant, and keepeth for me a flock of sheep in this commark; who is grown so
negligent, as he loseth one of them every other day, and because I correct him
for his carelessness and knavery, he says I do it through covetousness and
pinching, as meaning to defraud him of his wages; but, before God, and in
conscience, he belies me.` `What! the lie in my presence, rascally clown?
quoth Don Quixote. `By the sun that shines on us, I am about to run thee
through and through with my lance, base carle! Pay him instantly, without more
replying; or else, by that God which doth manage our sublunar affairs, I will
conclude thee and annihilate thee in a moment! Loose him forthwith!` The
countryman, hanging down of his head, made no reply, but loosed his servant;
of whom Don Quixote demanded how much did his master owe unto him. He said,
nine months` hire, at seven reals a month. Don Quixote made then the account,
and found that all amounted to sixty-one reals, and therefore commanded the
farmer to pay the money presently, if he meant not to die for it. The fearful
countryman answered, that by the trance wherein he was then, and by the oath
he had made (which was none at all, for he swore not), that he owed not so
much; for there should be deducted out of the account three pairs of shoes he
had given unto him, and a real for twice letting him blood, being sick. `All
is well,` quoth Don Quixote; `but let the price of the shoes and letting blood
go for the blows which thou hast given him without any desert; for if he have
broken the leather of those shoes thou hast bestowed on him, thou hast
likewise torn the skin of his body; and if the barber took away his blood,
being sick, thou hast taken it out, he being in health; so as in that respect
he owes thee nothing.` `The damage is, sir knight,` replied the boy`s master,
`that I have no money here about me. Let Andrew come with me to my house, and
I will pay him his wages, one real upon another.` `I go with him!` quoth the
boy; evil befall me then! No, sir, I never meant it; for as soon as ever he
were alone, he would flay me like St. Bartholomew.` `He will not dare to do
it,` quoth Don Quixote; `for my command is sufficient to make him respect me,
and so that he will swear to me to observe it, by the order of knighthood
which he hath received, I will set him free, and assure thee of the payment.`
`Good sir,` quoth the youth, `mark well what you say; for this man, my master,
is no knight, nor did ever receive any order of knighthood, for he is John
Haldudo, the rich man, a dweller of Quintinar.` `That makes no matter,` quoth
Don Quixote; `for there may be knights of the Haldudos; and what is more,
every one is son of his works.` `That`s true,` quoth Andrew; `but of what
works can this my master be son, seeing he denies me my wages, and my sweat
and labour?` `I do not deny thy wages, friend Andrew`, quoth his master; `do
me but the pleasure to come with me, and I swear, by all the orders of
knighthood that are in the world, to pay thee as I have said, one real upon
another - yea, and those also perfumed.` `For the perfuming, I thank thee,`
quoth Don Quixote; `give it him in reals, and with that I will rest satisfied;
and see that thou fulfillest it as thou hast sworn: if not, I swear again to
thee, by the same oath, to return and search thee, and chastise thee, and I
will find thee out, though thou shouldst hide thyself better than a lizard;
and if thou desirest to note who commands thee this, that thou mayst remain
more firmly obliged to accomplish it, know that I am the valorous Don Quixote
of the Mancha, the righter of wrongs and undoer of injuries; and so farewell,
and do not forget what thou hast promised and sworn, on pain of the pains
already pronounced.` And, saying these words, he spurred Rozinante, and in
short space was got far off from them. The countryman pursued him with his
eye, and, perceiving that he was past the wood, and quite out of sight, he
returned to his man Andrew, and said to him, `Come to me, child, for I will
pay thee what I owe thee, as that righter of wrongs hath left me commanded.`
`That I swear,` quoth Andrew; `and you shall deal discreetly in fulfilling
that good knight`s commandment, who I pray God may live a thousand years; for,
seeing he is so valorous and so just a judge, I swear by Rocque, that if you
pay me not, he shall return and execute what he promised.` `I also do swear he
same,` quoth the farmer; `but in respect of the great affection I bear unto
thee, I will augment the debt, to increase the payment.` And, catching the
youth by the arm, he tied him again to the oak, where he gave him so may blows
as he left him for dead. `Call now, Master Andrew,` quoth he, `for the righter
of wrongs, and thou shalt see that he cannot undo this, although I believe it
is not yet ended to be done; for I have yet a desire to flay thee alive, as
thou didst thyself fear.` Notwithstanding all these threats, he untied him at
last, and gave him leave to go seek out his judge, to the end he might execute
the sentence pronounced. Andrew departed somewhat discontent, swearing to
search for the valorous Don Quixote of the Mancha, and recount unto him, word
for word, all that had passed, and that he should pay the abuse with usury;
but, for all his threats, he departed weeping, and his master remained behind
laughing: and in this manner the valorous Don Quixote redressed that wrong.
Who, glad above measure for his success, accounting himself to have given
a most noble beginning to his feats of arms, did travel towards his village,
with very great satisfaction of himself, and said, in a low tone, these words
following: `Well mayst thou call thyself happy above all other women of the
earth, O above all beauties, beautiful Dulcinea of Toboso! since thy good
fortune was such, to hold subject and prostrate to thy will and desire so
valiant and renowned a knight as is, and ever shall be, Don Quixote of the
Mancha, who, as all the world knows, received the order to knighthood but
yesterday, and hath destroyed to-day the greatest outrage and wrong that
want of reason could form, or cruelty commit. To-day did he take away the
whip out of that pitiless enemy`s hand, which did so cruelly scourge without
occasion the delicate infant.`
In this discourse he came to a way that divided itself into four, and
presently these thwarting cross-ways represented themselves to his
imagination, which ofttimes held knights-errant in suspense which way they
should take; and, that he might imitate them, he stood still a while, and,
after he had bethought himself well, he let slip the reins to Rozinante,
subjecting his will to that of his horse, who presently pursued his first
design, which was to return home unto his own stable: and having travelled
some two miles, Don Quixote discovered a great troop of people, who, as it was
after known, were certain merchants of Toledo, that rode towards Murcia to buy
silks. They were six in number, and came with their quitasoles, or shadows of
the sun, four serving - men on horseback, and three lackeys. Scarce had Don
Quixote perceived them, when he straight imagined them to be a new adventure.
And because he would imitate as much as was possible the passages which he
read in his books, he represented this to himself to be just such an adventure
as he purposed to achieve. And so, with comely gesture and hardiness, settling
himself well in the stirrups, he set his lance into his rest, and embraced his
target, and, placing himself in the midst of the way, he stood awaiting when
those knights-errant should arrive; for now he judged and took them for such.
And when they were so near as they might hear and see him, he lifted up his
voice, and said: `Let all the world stand and pass no further, if all the
world will not confess that there is not in all the world a more beautiful
damsel than the Empress of the Mancha, the peerless Dulcinea of Toboso!` The
merchants stayed at these words to behold the marvellous and ridiculous shape
of him that spake them, and, by his fashion and them joined did incontinently
gather his folly and distraction, and, notwithstanding, would leisurely behold
to what tended that confession which he exacted of them; and therefore one of
them, who was somewhat given to gibing, and was withal very discreet, said
unto him. `Sir knight, we do not know that good lady of whom you speak; show
her therefore to us, and if she be so beautiful as you affirm, we will
willingly, and without any compulsion, confess the truth which you now demand
of us." `If I did show her to you,` replied Don Quixote, `what mastery were it
then for you to acknowledge a truth so notorious? The consequence of mine
affairs consists in this, that, without beholding her, you do believe,
confess, affirm, swear, and defend it; which if you refuse to perform, I
challenge you all to battle, proud and unreasonable folk; and, whether you
come one by one (as the order of knighthood requires), or all at once, as is
the custom and dishonourable practice of men of your brood, here will I expect
and await you all, trusting in the reason which I have on my side.` `Sir
knight,` replied the merchant, `I request you, in all these princes` names, as
many as we be here, that to the end we may not burden our consciences,
confessing a thing which we never beheld nor heard, and, chiefly, being so
prejudicial to the empresses and queens of the kingdoms of Alcaria and
Estremadura, you will please to show us some portraiture of that lady,
although it be no bigger than a grain of wheat, for by one thread we may judge
of the whole clew; and we will with this favour rest secure and satisfied, and
you likewise remain content and apaid. And I do believe, moreover, that we are
already so inclined to your side, that although her picture showed her to be
blind of the one eye, and at the other than she ran fire and brimstone, yet
would we, notwithstanding, to please you, say in her favour all that you
listed.` `There drops not, base scoundrels,` quoth Don Quixote, all inflamed
with choler, - `there drops not, I say, from her that which thou sayst, but
amber and civet among bombase; and she is not blind of an eye, or
crook-backed, but is straighter than a spindle of Guadarama. But all of you
together shall pay for the great blasphemy thou hast spoken against so immense
a beauty as is that of my mistress.` And, saying so, he abased his lance
against him that had answered, with such fury and anger, as, if good fortune
had not so ordained it that Rozinante should stumble and fall in the midst of
the career, it had gone very ill with the bold merchant. Rozinante fell, in
fine, and his master reeled over a good piece of the field; and though he
attempted to rise, yet was he never able, he was so encumbered by his lance,
target, spurs, helmet, and his weighty old armour. And in the meanwhile that
he strove to arise, and could not, he cried: `Fly not, cowardly folk! abide,
base people, abide! for I lie not her through mine own fault, but through the
defect of my horse.`
[See Rozinante Fell: master lay rolling about the field.]
One of the lackeys that came in the company, and seemed to be a man of
none of the best intentions, hearing the poor overthrown knight speak such
insolent words, could not forbear them without returning him an answer on his
ribs; and with that intention approaching to him he took his lance, and, after
he had broken it in pieces, he gave Don Quixote so many blows with one of
them, that, in despite of his armour, he threshed him like a sheaf of wheat.
His masters cried to him, commanding him not to beat him so much, but that he
should leave him; but all would not serve, for the youth was angry, and would
not leave off the play, until he had avoided the rest of his choler. And
therefore, running for the other pieces of the broken lance, he broke them all
on the miserable fallen knight; who, for all the tempest of blows that rained
on him, did never shut his mouth, but threatened heaven and earth, and those
murderers; for such they seemed to him. The lackey tired himself at last, and
the merchants followed on their way, carrying with them occasion enough of
talk of the poor belaboured knight; who, when he saw himself alone, turned
again to make trial whether he might arise; but if he could not do it when he
was whole and sound, how was it possible he being so bruised and almost
destroyed? And yet he accounted himself very happy, persuading himself that
his disgrace was proper and incident to knights-errant, and did attribute
all to the fault of his horse, and could in no wise get up, all his body was
so bruised and laden with blows.
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