Don Quixote

recalling the advice of his host as to the requisites he ought to carry with him, especially that referring to money and shirts, he determined to go home and provide himself with al

lage, and Rocinante, thus reminded of his old quarters, ste

o doubt, come from some man or woman in want of help, and needing my aid and protection;” and wheeling, he turned Rocinante in the direction whence the cries seemed to proceed. He had gone but a few paces into the wood, when he saw a mare tied to an oak, and tied to another, and stripped from the waist upwards, a youth of about fifteen years of age, from

make you know that you are behaving as a coward.” The farmer, seeing before him this figure in full armour brandishing a lance over his head, gave himself up for dead, and made answer meekly, “Sir Knight, this youth that I am chastising is my servant, employed by me t

o run you through with this lance. Pay him at once without another word; if not, by the God t

word untied his servant, of whom Don Qui

it up, found that it came to sixty-three reals, and told the far

not sworn any) it was not so much; for there were to be taken into account and deducted t

ve given him without any cause; for if he spoiled the leather of the shoes you paid for, you have damaged that of his body, and

e no money here; let Andres come home with

! No, senor, not for the world; for once alone wi

nd, and he will obey me; and as he has sworn to me by the order of knight

master of mine is not a knight, nor has he received any order

te; “there may be Haldudos knights; more

of mine — of what works is he the son, when he

come along with me, and I swear by all the orders of knighthood there a

nd punish you; and I shall find you though you should lie closer than a lizard. And if you desire to know who it is lays this command upon you, that you be more firmly bound to obey it, know that I am the va

and when he saw that he had cleared the wood and was no longer in sight, he turned to his boy Andres, an

nd of that good knight — may he live a thousand years — for, as he is a valiant an

I want to add to the debt in order to add to the payment;” and seizing him by the

h I am not sure that I have quite done with you, for I have a good mind to flay you alive.” But at last he un

Quixote of La Mancha and tell him exactly what had happened, and that all would have to be

yest thou this day call thyself fortunate above all on earth, O Dulcinea del Toboso, fairest of the fair! since it has fallen to thy lot to hold subject and submissive to thy full will and pleasure a knight so renowned as is and will be Don Quixote of La Mancha, who, as all the w

as afterwards appeared, were some Toledo traders, on their way to buy silk at Murcia. There were six of them coming along under their sunshades, with four servants mounted, and three muleteers on foot. Scarcely had Don Quixote descried them when the fancy possessed him that this must be some new adventure; and to help him to imitate as far as he could those passages he had read of in his books, here seemed to come one made on purpose, which he resolved to attempt. So with a lofty bearing and determin

learn quietly what was the object of this confession that was demanded of them, and one of them, who was rather fond of a joke and was very sharp-witted, said to him, “Sir Knight, we do not know who this

t believe, confess, affirm, swear, and defend it; else ye have to do with me in battle, ill-conditioned, arrogant rabble that ye are; and come ye on, one by one as the o

ses and Queens of the Alcarria and Estremadura, your worship will be pleased to show us some portrait of this lady, though it be no bigger than a grain of wheat; for by the thread one gets at the ball, and in this way we shall be satisfied and easy, and you will be conte

d, I say, only ambergris and civet in cotton; nor is she one-eyed or humpbacked, but straighter than a G

gone hard with the rash trader. Down went Rocinante, and over went his master, rolling along the ground for some distance; and when he tried to rise he was unable, so encumbered was he with lance, buckler,

o leave him alone, but the muleteers blood was up, and he did not care to drop the game until he had vented the rest of his wrath, and gathering up the remaining fragments of the lance he finished with a discharge upon the unhappy victim, who all through the storm of sticks that rained on him never ceased threatening heaven, and earth, and the brigands, for such they seemed to him. At last the muleteer was tired, and the traders continued their journey, taking with th