The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Story of Don Quixote, by Arvid Paulson,
Clayton Edwards, and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Illustrated by Florence
ChoateandElizabethCurtis
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Title:TheStoryofDonQuixote
Author:ArvidPaulson,ClaytonEdwards,andMigueldeCervantesSaavedra
ReleaseDate:July20,2009[eBook#29468]
Language:English
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***STARTOFTHEPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKTHESTORYOFDON
QUIXOTE***
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"DONQUIXOTEINSISTEDTHATTHEBOATHADBEENSENTBY
MAGICTOFETCHHIMTOSOMEGREATKNIGHT."—Page222
"DONQUIXOTEINSISTEDTHATTHEBOATHADBEENSENTBY
MAGICTOFETCHHIMTOSOMEGREATKNIGHT."—Page222
THESTORYOF
DONQUIXOTE
BY
ARVIDPAULSON
AND
CLAYTONEDWARDS
WITHILLUSTRATIONSINCOLORBY
FLORENCECHOATE
AND
ELIZABETHCURTIS
THEHAMPTONPUBLISHINGCOMPANY
NEWYORK
Copyright,MCMXXII,by
FREDERICKA.STOKESCOMPANY
Allrightsreserved,includingthatoftranslationintoforeignlanguages
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
CONTENTS
VOLUMEI
CHAPTER
I
II-III
PAGE
WHICHTREATSOFTHECHARACTERANDPURSUITSOFTHE
FAMOUSGENTLEMAN,DONQUIXOTEOFLAMANCHA
1
WHICHTREATSOFTHEFIRSTSALLYDONQUIXOTEMADEFROM
HOME
6
WHICHTREATSOFDONQUIXOTE'SFURTHERADVENTURES
14
INWHICHTHENARRATIVEOFOURKNIGHT'SMISHAPIS
CONTINUED
20
OFTHEDIVERTINGANDIMPORTANTSCRUTINYWHICHTHE
CURATEANDTHEBARBERMADEINTHELIBRARYOFOUR
INGENIOUSGENTLEMAN
22
OFTHESECONDSALLYOFOURWORTHYKNIGHT,DON
QUIXOTEOFLAMANCHA
24
OFTHEGOODFORTUNEWHICHTHEVALIANTDONQUIXOTE
HADINTHETERRIBLEANDUNDREAMT-OFADVENTUREOF
THEWINDMILLS,WITHOTHEROCCURRENCESWORTHYTOBE
FITLYRECORDED,INCLUDINGTHETERRIBLEBATTLE
BETWEENTHEGALLANTBISCAYANANDTHEVALIANT
MANCHEGAN
27
OFTHEPLEASANTDISCOURSETHATPASSEDBETWEENDON
QUIXOTEANDHISSQUIRESANCHOPANZA
33
OFWHATBEFELLDONQUIXOTEWITHCERTAINGOATHERDS
37
XII
OFWHATAGOATHERDRELATEDTOTHOSEWITHDONQUIXOTE
39
XIII
INWHICHISENDEDTHESTORYOFTHESHEPHERDESSMARCELA
WITHOTHERINCIDENTS
41
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII-IX
X
XI
XIV
WHEREINAREDESCRIBEDTHEDESPAIRINGVERSESOFTHE
DEADSHEPHERD
45
XV
XVI
XVII
XVIII
XIX
XX
XXI
XXII
XXIII
XXIV
XXV
INWHICHISRELATEDTHEUNFORTUNATEADVENTURETHAT
DONQUIXOTEFELLINWITHWHENHEFELLOUTWITH
CERTAINHEARTLESSYANGUESANS
47
OFWHATHAPPENEDTOTHEINGENIOUSGENTLEMANINTHEINN
WHICHHETOOKTOBEACASTLE
50
INWHICHARECONTAINEDTHEINNUMERABLETROUBLES
WHICHTHEBRAVEDONQUIXOTEANDHISGOODSQUIRE
SANCHOPANZAENDUREDATTHEINN,WHICH,TOHIS
MISFORTUNE,HETOOKTOBEACASTLE
51
INWHICHISRELATEDTHEDISCOURSESANCHOPANZAHELD
WITHHISMASTER,DONQUIXOTE,TOGETHERWITHOTHER
ADVENTURESWORTHRELATING
55
OFTHESHREWDDISCOURSEWHICHSANCHOHELDWITHHIS
MASTER,ANDOFTHEADVENTURETHATBEFELLHIMWITHA
DEADBODY,TOGETHERWITHOTHERNOTABLE
OCCURRENCES
59
OFTHEUNEXAMPLEDANDUNHEARD-OFADVENTUREWHICH
WASACHIEVEDBYTHEVALIANTDONQUIXOTEOFLA
MANCHAWITHLESSPERILTHANANYEVERACHIEVEDBY
ANYFAMOUSKNIGHTINTHEWORLD
62
WHICHTREATSOFTHEEXALTEDADVENTUREANDRICHPRIZE
OFMAMBRINO'SHELMET,TOGETHERWITHOTHERTHINGS
THATHAPPENEDTOOURINVINCIBLEKNIGHT
65
OFTHEFREEDOMDONQUIXOTECONFERREDONSEVERAL
UNFORTUNATESWHOAGAINSTTHEIRWILLWEREBEING
CARRIEDWHERETHEYHADNOWISHTOGO
68
OFWHATBEFELLDONQUIXOTEINTHESIERRAMORENA,
WHICHISONEOFTHERARESTADVENTURESRELATEDIN
THISVERACIOUSHISTORY
71
INWHICHISCONTINUEDTHEADVENTUREOFTHESIERRA
MORENA
73
WHICHTREATSOFTHESTRANGETHINGSTHATHAPPENEDTO
THESTOUTKNIGHTOFLAMANCHAINTHESIERRAMORENA
XXVI
XXVII
XXVIII
XXIX
XXX
XXXI
XXXIIXXXIV
XXXV
XXXVI
XXXVII
XXXVIII
XXXIXXLI
75
INWHICHARECONTINUEDTHEREFINEMENTSWHEREWITHDON
QUIXOTEPLAYEDTHEPARTOFALOVERINTHESIERRA
MORENA
77
OFHOWTHECURATEANDTHEBARBERPROCEEDEDWITHTHEIR
SCHEME,TOGETHERWITHOTHERMATTERSWORTHYOF
RECORDINTHISGREATHISTORY
80
WHICHTREATSOFTHESTRANGEANDDELIGHTFULADVENTURE
THATBEFELLTHECURATEANDTHEBARBERINTHESAME
SIERRA
81
WHICHTREATSOFTHEDROLLDEVICEANDMETHODADOPTED
TOEXTRICATEOURLOVE-STRICKENKNIGHTFROMTHE
SEVEREPENANCEHEHADIMPOSEDUPONHIMSELF
83
WHICHTREATSOFTHEADDRESSDISPLAYEDBYTHEFAIR
DOROTHEA,WITHOTHERMATTERS,PLEASANTANDAMUSING
88
OFTHEDELECTABLEDISCUSSIONBETWEENDONQUIXOTEAND
SANCHOPANZA,HISSQUIRE,TOGETHERWITHOTHER
INCIDENTS
90
WHICHTREATSOFWHATBEFELLALLDONQUIXOTE'SPARTY
ATTHEINN
91
WHICHTREATSOFTHEHEROICANDPRODIGIOUSBATTLEDON
QUIXOTEHADWITHCERTAINSKINSOFREDWINE,AND
BRINGSTHENOVELOFTHE"ILL-ADVISEDCURIOSITY"TOAN
END
92
WHICHTREATSOFMORECURIOUSINCIDENTSTHATOCCURRED
ATTHEINN
95
INWHICHISCONTINUEDTHESTORYOFTHEFAMOUSPRINCESS
MICOMICONA,WITHOTHERDROLLADVENTURES
98
WHICHTREATSOFTHECURIOUSDISCOURSEDONQUIXOTE
DELIVEREDONARMSANDLETTERS
102
WHEREINTHECAPTIVERELATESHISLIFEANDADVENTURES
103
XLII
XLIII
XLIV
XLV
XLVI
XLVII
XLVIII
XLIX
L-LI
LII
WHICHTREATSOFWHATFURTHERTOOKPLACEINTHEINN,
ANDOFSEVERALOTHERTHINGSWORTHKNOWING
108
WHEREINISRELATEDTHEPLEASANTSTORYOFTHEMULETEER,
TOGETHERWITHOTHERSTRANGETHINGSTHATCAMETO
PASSINTHEINN
112
INWHICHARECONTINUEDTHEUNHEARD-OFADVENTURESAT
THEINN
117
INWHICHTHEDOUBTFULQUESTIONOFMAMBRINO'SHELMET
ANDTHEPACK-SADDLEISFINALLYSETTLED,WITHOTHER
ADVENTURESTHATOCCURREDINTRUTHANDEARNEST
123
OFTHEENDOFTHENOTABLEADVENTUREOFTHEOFFICERSOF
THEHOLYBROTHERHOOD;ANDOFTHEGREATFEROCITYOF
OURWORTHYKNIGHT,DONQUIXOTE
127
OFTHESTRANGEMANNERINWHICHDONQUIXOTEOFLA
MANCHAWASCARRIEDAWAYENCHANTED,TOGETHERWITH
OTHERREMARKABLEINCIDENTS
132
INWHICHTHECANONPURSUESTHESUBJECTOFTHEBOOKSOF
CHIVALRY,WITHOTHERMATTERSWORTHYOFHISWIT
137
WHICHTREATSOFHOWOURKNIGHTISPERMITTEDTO
DESCENDFROMHISCAGE,ANDOFTHECANON'SATTEMPTTO
CONVERTHIMFROMHISILLUSIONS
138
OFTHESHREWDCONTROVERSYWHICHDONQUIXOTEANDTHE
CANONHELD,TOGETHERWITHOTHERINCIDENTS
139
OFTHEQUARRELTHATDONQUIXOTEHADWITHTHE
GOATHERD,TOGETHERWITHTHERAREADVENTUREOFTHE
PENITENTS,WHICHWITHANEXPENDITUREOFSWEATHE
BROUGHTTOAHAPPYCONCLUSION
142
VOLUMEII
CHAPTER
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
PAGE
OFTHEINTERVIEWTHECURATEANDTHEBARBERHADWITH
DONQUIXOTEABOUTHISMALADY
147
WHICHTREATSOFTHENOTABLEALTERCATIONWHICHSANCHO
PANZAHADWITHDONQUIXOTE'SNIECEANDHIS
HOUSEKEEPER,TOGETHERWITHOTHERDROLLMATTERS
150
OFTHELAUGHABLECONVERSATIONTHATPASSEDBETWEEN
DONQUIXOTE,SANCHOPANZA,ANDTHEBACHELORSAMSON
CARRASCO
153
INWHICHSANCHOPANZAGIVESASATISFACTORYREPLYTO
THEDOUBTSANDQUESTIONSOFTHEBACHELORSAMSON
CARRASCOTOGETHERWITHOTHERMATTERSWORTH
KNOWINGANDMENTIONING
156
OFTHESHREWDANDDROLLCONVERSATIONTHATPASSED
BETWEENSANCHOPANZAANDHISWIFETERESAPANZA,
ANDOTHERMATTERSWORTHYOFBEINGDULYRECORDED
159
OFWHATTOOKPLACEBETWEENDONQUIXOTEANDHIS
NIECEANDHISHOUSEKEEPER;ONEOFTHEMOSTIMPORTANT
CHAPTERSINTHEWHOLEHISTORY
161
OFWHATPASSEDBETWEENDONQUIXOTEANDHISSQUIRE,
TOGETHERWITHOTHERVERYNOTABLEINCIDENTS
163
WHEREINISRELATEDWHATBEFELLDONQUIXOTEONHIS
WAYTOSEEHISLADYDULCINEADELTOBOSO
167
WHEREINISRELATEDWHATWILLBESEENTHERE
170
WHEREINISRELATEDTHECRAFTYDEVICESANCHOADOPTED
TOENCHANTTHELADYDULCINEA,ANDOTHERINCIDENTSAS
LUDICROUSASTHEYARETRUE
172
OFTHESTRANGEADVENTUREWHICHTHEVALIANTDON
QUIXOTEHADWITHTHECARORCARTOF"THECORTESOF
DEATH"
XII
XIII-XIV
XV
XVI
XVII
XVIII
XIX
XX
XXI
XXII
XXIII
175
OFTHESTRANGEADVENTUREWHICHBEFELLTHEVALIANT
DONQUIXOTEWITHTHEBOLDKNIGHTOFTHEGROVE
178
INWHICHISCONTINUEDTHEADVENTUREOFTHEKNIGHTOF
THEGROVE,TOGETHERWITHTHESENSIBLEANDTRANQUIL
COLLOQUYTHATPASSEDBETWEENTHETWOSQUIRES
180
WHEREINITISMADEKNOWNHOWTHEKNIGHTOFTHE
MIRRORANDHISSQUIREEMERGEDFROMTHEIRADVENTURE
186
OFWHATBEFELLDONQUIXOTEWITHADISCREETGENTLEMAN
OFLAMANCHA
187
WHEREINISSHOWNTHEFARTHESTANDHIGHESTPOINTWHICH
THEUNEXAMPLEDCOURAGEOFDONQUIXOTEREACHEDOR
COULDREACH;TOGETHERWITHTHEHAPPILYACHIEVED
ADVENTUREOFTHELIONS
190
OFWHATHAPPENEDTODONQUIXOTEINTHECASTLEOR
HOUSEOFTHEKNIGHTOFTHEGREENCOAT,TOGETHERWITH
OTHERMATTERSOUTOFTHECOMMON
194
INWHICHISRELATEDTHEADVENTUREOFTHEENAMORED
SHEPHERD,TOGETHERWITHOTHERTRULYDROLLINCIDENTS
196
WHEREINANACCOUNTISGIVENOFTHEWEDDINGOF
CAMACHOTHERICH,TOGETHERWITHTHEINCIDENTOF
BASILIOTHEPOOR
199
INWHICHCAMACHO'SWEDDINGISCONTINUED,WITHOTHER
DELIGHTFULINCIDENTS
200
WHEREINISRELATEDTHEGRANDADVENTUREOFTHECAVEOF
MONTESINOSINTHEHEARTOFLAMANCHA,WHICHTHE
VALIANTDONQUIXOTEBROUGHTTOAHAPPYTERMINATION
203
OFTHEWONDERFULTHINGSTHEINCOMPARABLEDONQUIXOTE
SAIDHESAWINTHEPROFOUNDCAVEOFMONTESINOS,THE
IMPOSSIBILITYANDMAGNITUDEOFWHICHCAUSETHIS
ADVENTURETOBEAPOCRYPHAL
206
WHEREINARERELATEDSOMETRIFLINGMATTERS,ASTRIVIAL
ASTHEYARENECESSARYTOTHERIGHTUNDERSTANDINGOF
THISGREATHISTORY
209
WHEREINISSETDOWNTHEBRAYINGADVENTURE,ANDTHE
DROLLONEOFTHEPUPPET-SHOWMAN,TOGETHERWITHTHE
MEMORABLEDIVINATIONSOFTHEDIVININGAPE
210
WHEREINISCONTINUEDTHEDROLLADVENTUREOFTHE
PUPPET-SHOWMAN,TOGETHERWITHOTHERTHINGSINTRUTH
RIGHTGOOD
214
WHEREINITISSHOWNWHOMASTERPEDROANDHISAPE
WERE,TOGETHERWITHTHEMISHAPDONQUIXOTEHADIN
THEBRAYINGADVENTURE,WHICHHEDIDNOTCONCLUDE
ASHEWOULDHAVELIKEDORASHEHADEXPECTED
217
OFMATTERSTHATBENENGELISAYSHEWHOREADSTHEM
WILLKNOW,IFHEREADSTHEMWITHATTENTION
220
XXIX
OFTHEFAMOUSADVENTUREOFTHEENCHANTEDBARK
222
XXX
OFDONQUIXOTE'SADVENTUREWITHAFAIRHUNTRESS
225
WHICHTREATSOFMANYANDGREATMATTERS
228
OFTHEREPLYDONQUIXOTEGAVEHISCENSURER,WITH
OTHERINCIDENTS,GRAVEANDDROLL
232
OFTHEDELECTABLEDISCOURSEWHICHTHEDUCHESSAND
HERDAMSELSHELDWITHSANCHOPANZA,WELLWORTH
READINGANDNOTING
236
WHICHRELATESHOWTHEYLEARNEDTHEWAYINWHICH
THEYWERETODISENCHANTTHEPEERLESSDULCINEADEL
TOBOSO,WHICHISONEOFTHERARESTADVENTURESIN
THISBOOK
238
WHEREINISCONTINUEDTHEINSTRUCTIONGIVENTODON
QUIXOTETOUCHINGTHEDISENCHANTMENTOFDULCINEA,
TOGETHERWITHOTHERMARVELOUSINCIDENTS
242
XXIV
XXV
XXVI
XXVII
XXVIII
XXXI
XXXII
XXXIII
XXXIV
XXXV
XXXVI
WHEREINISRELATEDTHESTRANGEANDUNDREAMED-OF
ADVENTUREOFTHEDISTRESSEDDUENNA,ALIASTHE
XXXVIIXXXIX
XL
XLI
XLII
XLIII
XLIV
XLV
XLVI
XLVII
XLVIIIXVIX
L
LI
COUNTESSTRIFALDI,TOGETHERWITHALETTERWHICH
SANCHOPANZAWROTETOHISWIFE,TERESAPANZA
244
WHEREINISCONTINUEDTHENOTABLEADVENTUREOFTHE
DISTRESSEDDUENNA,INCLUDINGHERMARVELOUSAND
MEMORABLETALEOFMISFORTUNE
246
OFMATTERSRELATINGANDBELONGINGTOTHISADVENTURE
ANDTOTHISMEMORABLEHISTORY
249
THEENDOFTHISPROTRACTEDADVENTURE
250
OFTHECOUNSELSWHICHDONQUIXOTEGAVESANCHOPANZA
BEFOREHESETOUTTOGOVERNTHEISLAND,TOGETHER
WITHOTHERWELL-CONSIDEREDMATTERS
254
OFTHESECONDSETOFCOUNSELSDONQUIXOTEGAVE
SANCHOPANZA
255
HOWSANCHOPANZAWASCONDUCTEDTOHISGOVERNMENT;
ANDOFTHESTRANGEADVENTURETHATBEFELLDON
QUIXOTEINTHECASTLE
257
OFHOWTHEGREATSANCHOPANZATOOKPOSSESSIONOFHIS
ISLAND;ANDOFHOWHEMADEABEGINNINGINGOVERNING
259
OFTHETERRIBLEBELLANDCATFRIGHTTHATDONQUIXOTE
GOTINTHECOURSEOFTHEENAMOREDALTISIDORA'S
WOOING
260
WHEREINISCONTINUEDTHEACCOUNTOFHOWSANCHOPANZA
CONDUCTEDHIMSELFINHISGOVERNMENT
263
OFWHATHAPPENEDTOSANCHOINMAKINGTHEROUNDOF
HISISLAND
265
WHEREINISSETFORTHHOWGOVERNORSANCHOPANZA'S
WIFERECEIVEDAMESSAGEANDAGIFTFROMTHEDUCHESS;
ANDALSOWHATBEFELLTHEPAGEWHOCARRIEDTHE
LETTERTOTERESAPANZA
267
OFTHEPROGRESSOFSANCHO'SGOVERNMENT;ANDOTHER
SUCHENTERTAININGMATTERS
271
LII
LIII
LIV-LV
LVI-LVII
LVIII
LIX
LX
LXI
LXII
LXIII
LXIV
LXV
WHEREINTHREEDELECTABLEEPISTLESAREREADBYTHE
DUCHESS
273
OFTHETROUBLOUSENDANDTERMINATIONOFSANCHO
PANZA'SGOVERNMENT
275
OFWHATBEFELLSANCHOONTHEROAD;ANDOTHERTHINGS
THATCANNOTBESURPASSED
280
WHICHTREATSOFHOWDONQUIXOTEAGAINFELTTHE
CALLINGOFKNIGHT-ERRANTRYANDHOWHETOOKLEAVE
OFTHEDUKE,ANDOFWHATFOLLOWEDWITHTHEWITTY
ANDIMPUDENTALTISIDORA,ONEOFTHEDUCHESS'DAMSELS
284
WHICHTELLSHOWADVENTURESCAMECROWDINGONDON
QUIXOTEINSUCHNUMBERSTHATTHEYGAVEONE
ANOTHERNOBREATHING-TIME
286
WHEREINISRELATEDTHESTRANGETHING,WHICHMAYBE
REGARDEDASANADVENTURE,THATHAPPENEDTODON
QUIXOTE
292
OFWHATHAPPENEDTODONQUIXOTEONHISWAYTO
BARCELONA
297
OFWHATHAPPENEDTODONQUIXOTEONENTERING
BARCELONA,TOGETHERWITHOTHERMATTERSTHAT
PARTAKEOFTHETRUERATHERTHANTHEINGENIOUS
303
WHICHDEALSWITHTHEADVENTUREOFTHEENCHANTED
HEAD,TOGETHERWITHOTHERTRIVIALMATTERSWHICH
CANNOTBELEFTUNTOLD
305
THEMISHAPTHATBEFELLSANCHOPANZATHROUGHTHEVISIT
TOTHEGALLEYS
310
TREATINGOFTHEADVENTUREWHICHGAVEDONQUIXOTE
MOREUNHAPPINESSTHANALLTHATHADHITHERTO
BEFALLENHIM
313
WHEREINISMADEKNOWNWHOTHEKNIGHTOFTHEWHITE
MOONWAS;LIKEWISEOTHEREVENTS
316
LXVILXVII
LXVIII
LXIX
LXX
LXXI
LXXIILXXIII
LXXIV
OFTHERESOLUTIONWHICHDONQUIXOTEFORMEDTOTURN
SHEPHERDANDTAKETOALIFEINTHEFIELDSWHILETHE
YEARFORWHICHHEHADGIVENHISWORDWASRUNNING
ITSCOURSE;WITHOTHEREVENTSTRULYDELECTABLEAND
HAPPY
317
OFTHEBRISTLYADVENTURETHATBEFELLDONQUIXOTE
319
OFTHESTRANGESTANDMOSTEXTRAORDINARYADVENTURE
THATBEFELLDONQUIXOTEINTHEWHOLECOURSEOFTHIS
GREATHISTORY
323
WHICHFOLLOWSCHAPTERSIXTY-NINEANDDEALSWITH
MATTERSINDISPENSABLEFORTHECLEARCOMPREHENSIONOF
THISHISTORY
328
OFWHATPASSEDBETWEENDONQUIXOTEANDHISSQUIRE
SANCHOONTHEWAYTOTHEIRVILLAGE
331
OFTHEOMENSDONQUIXOTEHADASHEENTEREDHISOWN
VILLAGE;ANDOTHERINCIDENTSTHATEMBELLISHANDGIVE
ACOLORTOTHISGREATHISTORY
334
OFHOWDONQUIXOTEFELLSICK,ANDOFTHEWILLHE
MADE,ANDHOWHEDIED
337
LISTOFILLUSTRATIONS
"DonQuixoteinsistedthattheboathadbeensentbymagicto
fetchhimtosomegreatknight"
Frontispiece
FACINGPAGE
"Slashingrightandleft,dreamingthathehadencounteredthe
giantenemy"
"Heprayedthatheshouldnotbelefttoperishinthecage"
"Witheachlashhegaveoutthemostheartrendingcries"
94
132
334
THESTORYOFDONQUIXOTE
VOLUMEI
CHAPTERI
WHICHTREATSOFTHECHARACTERANDPURSUITSOFTHEFAMOUSGENTLEMAN,
DONQUIXOTEOFLAMANCHA
N
EARLYfourhundredyearsago,therelivedinthevillageofLaManchain
Spain an old gentleman of few worldly possessions but many books, who was
giventoahardyandadventurouswayoflife,andwhobeguiledhissparetime
by reading the many tales of chivalry and knighthood that were in his
possession.
Thisoldgentlemanwasatall,gauntmanofaboutfifty,withalanternjawand
straggling gray hair, and eyes that had a sparkle of madness in them. His
surname was Quixada or Quesada, and though not rich, he was well known to
thecountryfolkandhadsomereputationinthecommunitywherehelived.
Inhisyoungerdayshewasagreatsportsmanandusedtogetupbeforethesun
tofollowhisfavoritepursuitsofhuntingandhawking,butashegrewolderhe
spent almost all his time in reading books on chivalry and knighthood with
whichhislibrarywasstocked;andatlasthegrewsofondofthesebooksthathe
forgottofollowthehoundsoreventolookafterhisproperty,butspentallhis
time in his library, mulling over the famous deeds and love affairs of knights
whoconquereddragonsandvanquishedwickedenchanters.
AtthetimewhenQuesadalived,Spainwassaturatedwiththissortofliterature,
andeverybodywastedmuchtimeinreadingbookswhichhadnomeritorvalue
of any kind and which were full of the most ridiculous and impossible
adventures.Onthewholetheywerethemostutterrubbishthatitwaspossibleto
print. They told about impossible deeds in the most impossible language, and
were filled with ambitious sentences that meant nothing under the sun. Señor
Quesadaspenthoursrackinghisbrainstopuzzleoutthemeaningofsomething
likethis:
"The reason of the unreason with which my reason is afflicted so
weakensmyreasonthatwithreasonImurmuratyourbeauty."
Oragain:
"Thehighheavensthatofyourdivinitydivinelyfortifyyouwiththe
stars,renderyoudeservingofthedesertyourgreatnessdeserves."
PoorSeñorQuesadacouldnotunderstandthesesentences.Whocould?Noman
in his right mind certainly, it would have taken a madman to read any real
meaningintothem.Andhewastedsomuchtimeinpuzzlingoverthemthatat
lasthebecamequitemadandthewordsinthebookswouldappearonthewalls
ofhisroom,writteninlettersoffire,withsobrightalightthattheyprevented
him from sleeping. From trying to read a meaning into things that had no
meaningwhatever,SeñorQuesadawasmad—asmadasthebookshehadbeen
reading.
Señor Quesada lived with his niece and his housekeeper, both sensible women
wholovedhimandwhoweremuchgrievedoverthehavochisbooksofchivalry
hadworkedwithhissenses.Theybelievedthattotalkaboutthesebooksmade
theoldgentlemanworse,sotheyrefusedtoanswerhimwhenhearguedabout
knightsanddragonsandwhetherthisfairladywasanenchantressindisguiseor
only a mortal woman, and whether that dragon actually did breathe forth fire
from his nostrils, or only sulphur fumes and smoke. His niece and the
housekeeperwouldrunawaywhenhestartedupononeofhisfavoritesubjects;
soheturnedtothesocietyofthevillagecurate,alearnedmanforthosetimes,
who knew almost as much about books of chivalry as Señor Quesada himself,
andtothatofMasterNicholas,thevillagebarber.Andthesethreefriendswould
sit up until dawn arguing as to who was the better knight, Sir Lancelot or
AmadisofGaul,andhowthesebothcomparedwiththeKnightoftheBurning
Sword,whowithonebackstrokecutinhalftwofierceandmonstrousgiants.
After he had become thoroughly mad from reading, and more so from such
arguments and discussions, Señor Quesada hit upon the strangest notion that
everenteredtheheadofalunatic.Hebelievedthatheandnootherwascalled
upontorestoretheentireworldtotheancientconditionsofchivalry,andbring
back the tournaments and the courteous knights and fair ladies whose like had
existedinthetimesofthefamousKingArthurofBritain.Believingthis,itwas
an easy step for him to think that the world was still full of giants and fierce
dragons for him to vanquish, and that as a man of honor and skill at arms he
must leave his comfortable home and do battle with them. To his disordered
senses things took on a different appearance than was actually the case—inns
seemedcastles,andtowersandhillsappearedasgiantsthatmovedaboutinthe
distance; and Señor Quesada could hardly wait before he could meet them on
horsebackandoverthrowtheminbattle.
Tobecomeaknightandencounterallthesestrangeandvisionarydangersitwas
necessary for him, however, to have a war horse, a stout lance and a suit of
armor,and he castaboutamonghispossessions tosee whathecouldfindthat
would answer the purpose—for he had no money to buy them, and no shop
couldhavefurnishedthemforhimifhehadpossessedallthemoneyinSpain.In
hisattichefoundanoldsuitofarmorthathadbelongedtohisgreat-grandfather
andhadbeenlyingthereforages,rottingwithrustandmildewincompanywith
oldchests,beddingandotherfamilytreasures.Hebroughtitoutandscouredit
asbesthecouldandatlastmadeitshinewithconsiderablebrightness.Butthe
helmetwasonlypartiallycomplete,foritlackedabeaverandavisortoprotect
hisface,soSeñorQuesadaconstructedthesefrompasteboardandpaintedthem
to resemble the armor as closely as possible. He tried their strength with his
rusty sword, and on the first stroke cut them entirely away; so he rebuilt them
andforboretotrythemagain,hopingtheywouldbestrongenough,butfearing
tomakeatestthatmightundooncemoreallthetroublesomeworkthathehad
spentuponthem.
Hisarmornowcomplete,helookedinhisstablesforahorsetocarryhim,and
foundtherehisoldhack,whoseeverybonewasvisibleandwhowasmoreused
tocarryingsacksofpotatoesandonionstomarketthantobearingtheweightof
aknightoramanatarms.Thishorsemusthavebeenatleasttwentyyearsold
intothebargain,buttoQuixada'sbrainitappearedamettlesomechargerandhe
wasquitesurethathisnewsteedwouldproveequaltoanyfatigueordangerthat
might come its way in the course of his adventures. And remembering that all
thehorsesoffamouswarriorshadpossessedhigh-soundingnameshecalledhis
horseRocinanteandadoptedforhimselfthetitleofDonQuixoteofLaMancha,
underwhichnamehewillbeknownthroughtherestofthepresenthistory.
Another thing, however, remained wanting—a lady-love for whose sake he
might do battle and whose affections might inspire him to endure all sorts of
dangers and hardships. So Don Quixote straightway searched through his
recollection to find one that might answer, and hit at last upon a peasant girl
namedAldonzaLorenzo,withwhomitissupposedhehadbeeninlovewhenhe
wasayoungman.AndthoughAldonzaLorenzowasmoreusedtowinnowing
wheatandcaringforthelive-stockthantofinephrasesandcourtlymanners,and
though she was no better than any of the other peasant girls who lived in her
locality, Don Quixote believed that she was a lady of high lineage and noble
birthandchristenedherinhismindDulcineadelToboso.Andhewasreadyto
fight with any man in Spain who would not acknowledge that she was the
loveliestandmostgiftedladyintheworld.
Alancewaseasilymade,andnow,possessedofwarhorse,armor,weapons,and
agloriousladytodobattlefor,thepooroldmanwasready,sohebelieved,togo
forthandmeetthehighadventuresthathefeltsurewereawaitinghim.
CHAPTERSII-III
WHICHTREATSOFTHEFIRSTSALLYDONQUIXOTEMADEFROMHOME
A
LL things being ready, Don Quixote wished for no delay, and before
sunriseononeofthehottestdaysofmidsummer,hestolefromhisbed—taking
care not to awaken his niece or his housekeeper—put on his ancient armor,
saddledRocinante,andwithlanceinhandandswordclatteringbesidehimmade
his way across the fields in the highest state of content and satisfaction at the
ease with which his purpose had been accomplished. He could hardly wait for
hisadventurestobegin,orforthechancetotrythestrengthofhismightyarm
uponsomewickedwarrioror,betterstill,somedragonorgiant;butscarcelydid
hefindhimselfupontheopenplainbeforeaterriblethoughtcametohismind
andonethatnearlymadehimabandonhisadventurebeforeitwaswellbegun.
Hereflectedthat,accordingtotherulesofchivalry,hemustbedubbedaknight
before he could undertake any battles or engagements, and afterward he must
wear white armor without any device upon his shield, until he had proved by
braveryandendurancehisrighttotheseprivilegesofknighthood.Heconsoled
himself, however, by resolving to have himself dubbed a knight by the first
personwhocamealong;andasforwhitearmor,hedeterminedtomakehisown
rivalthebrightnessofthemoonbyindustriousscouring.
Comfortinghimselfwiththoughtssuchasthese,hepursuedhisway,whichhe
allowed his horse to choose for him, thinking that in so doing he would be
guidedmoresurelyandmorequicklytotheadventuresthatwereawaitinghim.
And as he rode along he amused himself by quoting imaginary passages from
thebooksthathefeltsurewouldbewrittenabouthisnobledeeds—deedsthathe
wouldsoonaccomplishandthatwouldastonishtheentireworldbytheirbravery
and hardihood. At times he would break into wild speech, calling his lady
Dulcineabynameandsaying:"OPrincessDulcinea,ladyofthiscaptiveheart,a
grievouswronghastthoudonemetodrivemeforthwithscornandbanishme
fromthepresenceofthybeauty!"
Andsohewentalong,stringingsuchabsurdphrasestogether,whilethehotsun
rose and grew hotter,untilitwouldhavemeltedhisbrainsinhishelmet,ifhe
hadany.Hetravelednearlyalldaywithoutseeinganythingremarkable,atwhich
hewasindespair,forhecouldhardlywait,aswehavesaid,forhisadventuresto
begin.
Towardeveninghecameinsightofacommonwaysideinn,andstandingatthe
doorweretwopeasantgirlswholookedwithastonishmentonthestrangefigure
thatwasapproachingthem.TothedisorderedimaginationofDonQuixote,this
appearedtobeacastlewithfourtowers,andthegirlswhostoodinfrontofthe
doorseemedladiesofnoblebirthandpeerlessbeauty.Heseemedtoseebehind
them a drawbridge and a moat, and waited for some dwarf to appear upon the
castle battlements and by sound of a trumpet announce that a knight was
approachingthegates.
Atthispointaswineherdwhowasgatheringhispigsdidhappentoblowablast
on his horn to scare his charges along the road; and this, appearing to Don
Quixote to be the dwarfs signal that he had expected, he drew near in high
satisfaction,whileRocinante,scentingstablesandhayandwater,prickeduphis
earsandadvancedatabrisktrotuntiltheinndoorwasreachedandDonQuixote
addressedtheastonishedgirlswhowerewaitingthere.
Thegirls,onseeinganarmedmanapproachingthem,hadturnedtoseeksafety
indoors, when Don Quixote, lifting his pasteboard beaver, said to them in the
mostcourteousmannerhecouldcommand:
"Ladies, I beseech you, do not fly or fear any manner of rudeness, for it is
againsttherulesoftheknighthood,whichIprofess,toofferharmtohigh-born
ladiessuchasyouappeartobe."
Thegirls,hearingthemselvesaddressedinthisstrangemannerandcalledladies,
couldnotrefrainfromgiggling,atwhichDonQuixoterebukedthem,saying:
"Modestybecomesthefair,andlaughterwithoutcauseisthegreatestsilliness."
Thestrangelanguageanddilapidatedappearanceofthespeakeronlyincreased
thegirls'laughter,andthatincreasedDonQuixote'sirritation;andmattersmight
have gone farther if the landlord had not appeared at this moment to see what
mightbethematter.Whenhebeheldthegrotesquefigureonhorsebackwhose
armordidnotmatchandwhosemountwasthesorriestoneimaginable,itwasall
hecoulddotorefrainfromjoiningthegirlsintheirhilarity;butbeingalittlein
aweofthestrangeknight,whoselancewaspointedandwhoseswordappeared
tohavebothstrengthandweight,hespokecourteouslytoDonQuixote.Hetold