The history of the valorous and vvitty-knight-errant, Don-Quixote, of the Mancha tr. out of the Spanish.

CHAP. III.

Wherein is recounted the pleasant manner observed in the Knight∣ing of Don-Quixote.

AND being thus tossed in minde, he made a short beggerly supper; which being finished, he called for his Horse, and shutting the Stable door very fast, he laid himself down upon his knees in it before him, saying, I will never rise from the place where I am valourous Knight, untill your courtesie shall grant unto me a Boone that I mean to demand of you, the which will redound unto your renown, and also to the profit of all humane kinde. The Inn-keeper seeing his ghest at his feet, and hearing him speak those words, remained confounded beholding him, not knowing

what he might doe or say, and did studie and labour to make him arise: But all was in vain, untill he must have promised unto him, that he would grant him any gift that he sought at his hands. I did never expect lesse (replied Don-Quixote) from your magnificence, my Lord: And therefore I say unto you that the boon which I demand. of you, and that hath been granted unto me by your liberality, is, that to morrow in the morning you will dubb me Knight, and this night I will watch mine Armour in the Chappell of your Castle, and in the morning, as I have said, the rest of my desires shall be accomplished, that I may goe in due manner throughout the four parts of the World, to seek Adventures, to the benefit of the needy, as is the duty of Knight-hood, and of Knights Errant, as I am; whose desires are wholy inclined and dedica∣ted to such achievements. The Host, who, as we noted before, was a great giber, and had before gathered some arguments of the defect of wit in his ghest, did wholy now perswade himself that his suspicions were true, when he heard him speak in that manner: and that he might have an occasion of laughter, he resolved to feed his humor that night, and therefore answered him, that he had very great reason in that which he desired and sought, and that such projects were proper and naturall to Knigh••s of the garbe and worth he seemed to be of: And that he himself likewise in his youthfull years had followed that honourable exercise, going through divers parts of the World to seek Adventures, without either omitting the dangers of Malaga, [Percheles] the Isles of Riaran, the compasse of Sivill, the [Azuguezo] Quick-silver∣house of Segovia, the Olive-field of Valencia, the Circuit of Granada, the Wharf of S. Lucor, the Potro or Cowlt of Cordova, [The Potron of Cordova is a certain Foun∣tain wherein stands a Pegasus, and to that fountain resort a number of cunny-catching fel∣lowes, as Duke Humfrey at Paules] and the little Taverns of Toledo; and many other places, wherein he practised the dexteritie of his hands, doing many wrongs, sollici∣ting many widowes, undoing certain maydens, and deceiving many Pupils, and final∣ly making himself known and famous in all the Tribunals and Courts almost of all Spain, and that at last hee had retired himselfe to that his Castle, where hee was sustai∣ned with his own and other mens goods, entertaining in it all Knights Errant, of what∣soever quality and condition they were; only for the great affection hee bore towards them, and to the end they might divide with him part of their winnings in recompence of his good-will; hee added besides, that there was no Chappell in his Castle, wherein hee might watch his Armes, for hee had broken it down to build it up a new: But not∣withstanding hee knew very well, that in a case of necessitie they might lawfully bee watched in any other place, and therefore hee might watch them that night in the base Court of the Castle; for in the morning, an't pleased God, the Ceremonies requisite should bee done in such sort as hee should remaine a dubbed Knight, in so good fashion as in all the World hee could not bee bettered. Hee demanded of Don-Quixote whe∣ther hee had any money? who answered that hee had not a blanck, for hee had never read in any History of Knights Errant, that any one of them ever carried any money. To this his Host replyed, that hee was deceived; for admit that Histories made no men∣tion thereof, because the Authors of them deemed it not necessary to expresse a thing so manifest and needfull to bee carried as was money and clean shyrts, it was not therfore to bee credited that they had none; and therefore hee should hold for most certain and manifest, That all the Knights Errant, with the story of whose Acts so many Bookes are replenished and heaped, had their purses well lined for that which might befall, and did moreover cary with them a little Casket of oyntments and salves, to cure the wounds which they received, for they had not the commodity of a Surgeon to cure them, every time that they fought abroad in the fields and desarts, if they had not by chance some wise Enchanter to their friend, who would presently succour them, bring∣ing unto them, in some Cloud, through the Ayre, some Damzell or Dwarfe, with a Viol of water of so great virtue, as tasting one drop thereof, they remained as whole of their sores and wounds, as if they had never received any: But when they had not that benefit, the Knights of times past held it for a very commendable and secure course that their Squires should bee provided of money and other necessary things, as Lynt and

Oyntments for to cure themselves; and when it befell that the like Knights had no Squires to attend upon them (which hapned but very seldom) then would they them∣selves cary all this provision behind them on their Horses, in some sleight and subtle Wallets, which could scarce be perceived, as a thing of very great consequence. For, if it were not upon such an occasion, the cariage of Wallets was not very tollerable a∣mong Knights Errant. And in this respect hee did advise him, seeing hee might yet command him, as one that by receiving the Order of Knighthood at his hands, should very shortly become his God-childe, that hee should not travell from thence forward without money and other the preventions he had then given unto him; and hee should perceive himselfe how behoovefull they would prove unto him, when hee least expe∣cted it.

Don Quixote promised to accomplish all that hee had counselled him to doe, with all punctualitie; and so Order was forthwith given how hee should watch his Armes in a great yard that lay neere unto one side of the Inne: Wherefore Don-Quixote gathe∣ring all his Armes together, laid them on a Cistern that stood neer unto a Well: And buckling on his Target hee laid hold on his Launce, and walked up and down before the Cisterne very demurely, and when hee began to walke, the night likewise began to lock up the splendor of the day. The In-keeper, in the mean season, recounted to all the rest that lodged in the Inne, the folly of his Guest, the watching of his Armes, and the Knighthood which hee expected to receive. They all admired very much at so strange a kinde of folly, and went out to behold him from a far off, and saw that som∣times he pranced too and fro with a quiet gesture, other times, leaning upon his Launce, he looked upon his Armor, without beholding any other thing save his Armes for a good space.

The night being shut up at last wholly, but with such cleerenesse of the Moone, as it might well compare with his brightnesse that lent her her splendor; every thing which our new Knight did, was easily perceived by all the beholders. In this season one of the Carriers that lodged in the Inne resolved to water his Mules, and for that purpose it was necessarie to remove Don-Quixotes Armour that lay on the Cistern; who see∣ing him approach, said unto him with a loud voice: O thou! whosoever thou beest, bold Knight, that commest to touch the Armour of the most valorous Adventurer that ever gyrded sword, looke well what thou dost, and touch them not, if thou meanest not to leave thy life in payment of thy presumption. The Carrier made no account of those words (but it were better hee had, for it would have redounded to his benefit) but rather laying hold on the leatherings, threw the Armour a pretty way off from him which being perceived by Don-Quixote, hee lifted up his eyes towards heaven, and ad∣dressing his thoughts (as it seemed) to his

Lady Dulcinea, hee said; Assist mee deere Lady in this first dangerous affront and adventure offered to this breast, that is enthralled to thee, and let not thy favor and protection faile mee in this my first Traunce.

And uttering these and other such words, hee let slip his Target, and lift∣ing up his Launce with both hands, hee paid the Carrier so round a knock therewithall on the Pate, as hee overthrew him to the ground in so evill taki••g, as if hee had secon∣ded it with another, hee should not have needed any Surgeon to cure him. This done hee gathered up his Armour again, and laying them where they had-beene before, hee walked after up and downe by them, with as much quietnesse as hee did at the first.

But very soone after, another Carrier without knowing what had hapned (for his companion lay yet in a Trance on the ground) came also to give his Mules water, and coming to take away the Armes, that hee might free the Cistern of incumbrances, and take water the easier: Don-Quixote saying nothing, nor imploring favor of his Mis∣tris or any other, let slip again his Target, and lifting his Launce, without breaking of it in peeces, made more then three of the second Carriers noddle; for hee broke it in foure places. All the People of the Inne, and amongst them the Host likewise repay∣red at this time to the noyse: which Don-Quixote perceiving, imbracing his Targe••, and laying hand on his sword, hee said:

O Lady of all Beauty, Courage and Vigour

of my weakened heart, it is now high time that thou doe convert the eyes of thy greatnesse to this thy captive Knight, who doth expect so marveilous great an Adven∣ture.

Saying thus, hee recovered as hee thought so great courage, that if all the Ca∣riers of the world had assayled him, hee would not goe one step backward. The woun∣ded mens fellowes, seeing them so evill dight, from a far off began to raine stones on Don-Quixote, who did defend himself the best hee might with his Target, and durst not depart from the Cistern, lest hee should seeme to abandon his Armes. The Inkeep∣er cryed to them to let him alone; for hee had already informed them that hee was mad, and for such a one would scape scot free although hee had slain them all. Don-Quixote likewise cryed out louder, terming them all disloyall men and traytors, and that the Lord of the Castle was a treacherous and bad Knight, seeing that hee consented that Knights Errant should be so basely used; and that if hee had not yet received the

Order of Knighthood, hee would make him understand his treason, but of you base and rascally Kenell (quoth he) I make no reckoning at all: throw at mee, ap∣proach, draw neere, and doe mee all the hurt you may, for you shall ere long re∣ceive the reward you shall carie for this your madnesse and outrage:

Which words hee spoke with such great spirit and boldnesse, as hee stroke a terrible feare into all those that assaulted him: and therefore moved both by it, and the Inkeepers perswasi∣ons, they left oft throwing stones at him, and hee permitted them to carry away the wounded men, and returned to the guard of his Armes, with as great quietnes and gra∣vity, as he did at the beginning.

The Inkeeper did not like very much these tricks of his Guest, and therefore hee de∣termined to abbreviate, and give him the unfortunate Order of Knighthood forthwith, before some other disaster befell: and with this resolution coming unto him, hee excu∣sed himself of the insolencies those base fellowes had used to him, without his privity or consent, but their rashnesse, as hee said, remained well chastized: Hee added how he had already told unto him, that there was no Chappel in his Castle, and that for what yet rested unperfected of their intention, it was not necessarie, because the chiefe point of remayning Knighted consisted chiefly in blowes of the neck and shoulders, as hee had read in the ceremoniall Booke of the Order, and that, that might bee given in the very midst of the fields; and that hee had already accomplished the obligation of watching his Armes, which with only two houres watch might bee fullfilled; how much more after having watched foure, as hee had done. All this Don-Quixote belee∣ved, and therefore answered, That hee was most ready to obey him, and requested him to conclude with all the brevity possible: for if hee saw himselfe Knighted, and were once again assaulted, hee meant not to leave one person alive in all the Castle, ex∣cept those which the Constable should command, whom he would spare for his sake.

The Constable being thus advertised, and fearfull that hee would put this his delibe∣ration in execution, brought out a Booke presently, wherein hee was wont to write downe the accounts of the straw and Barly which hee delivered from time to time, to such Carriers as lodged in his Inne, for their Beasts: and with a But of a candle which a boy held lighted in his hand before him, accompanied by the two Damzels above mentioned, hee came to Don-Quixote, whom hee commanded to kneele upon his knees and reading in his Manual (as it seemed some devout Orison) hee held up his hand in the midst of the Lecture, and gave him a good blow on the neck, and after that gave him another trim thwack over the shoulders with his own sword (alwaies murmuring somthing between the teeth, as if hee prayed) this being done, hee com∣manded one of the Ladies to gyrd on his sword, which shee did with a singular good grace and dexteritie, which was much, the matter being of it self so ridiculous, as it wanted but little to make a man burst with laughter at every passage of the Ceremonies: but the prowesse which they had already beheld in the new Knight, did lymit and con∣tain their delight: At the gyrding on of his sword, the good Lady said, God make you a fortunate Knight, and give you good successe in all your debates. Don-Quixote deman∣ded then how shee was called, that hee might thence forward know to whom hee was so much obleged for the favor received? and shee answered with great buxomnesse

that shee was named Tolosa, and was a Butchers daughter of Toledo, that dwelt in Sancho Benegas street, and that shee would ever honour him as her Lord, Don-Quixote replied, requesting her, for his sake, to call her selfe from thence forth the Lady Tolosa which shee promised to perform. The other Lady buckled on his Spur, with whom he had the very like conference, and asking her name, shee told him shee was called Mo∣linera, and was daughter to an honest Miller of Antequera: her likewise our Knight intreated to call her selfe the Lady Molinera, proferring her new services and favours. The new and never seen before Ceremonies being thus speedily finished, as it seemed with a gallop, Don-Quixote could not rest untill hee was mounted on horseback, that hee might goe to seeke Adventures; wherefore causing Rozinante to bee instantly sad∣led, hee leaped on him, and imbracing his Hoste, hee said unto him such strange things, gratifying the favor hee had done him in dubbing him Knight, as it is impossible to hit upon the manner of recounting them right. The Inkeeper that hee might bee quickly rid of him, did answere his words with others no lesse ••hetoricall, but was in his speech somwhat breefer; and without demanding of him any thing for his lodging, hee suffe∣red him to depart in a fortunate houre.