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

CHAP. X.

Wherein is prosecuted the Adventure of Sierra Morena.

THE Historie affirmes, that great was the attention wherewithall Don-Quixote listned to the unfortunate Knight of the Rock, who be∣gan his speech on this manner: Truly, good Sir, whatsoever you bee (for I know you not) I doe with all my heart gratifie the signes of affection and courtesie which you have used towards mee, and wish heartily that I were in termes to serve with more then my will, the good-will you beare towards mee, as your courteous entertain∣ment denotes; but my fate is so niggardly, as it affords mee no other meanes to repay good works done to mee, then only to lend mee a good desire sometime to satisfie them.

So great is mine affection, replied Don-Quixote, to serve you, as I was fully resol∣ved never to depart out of these Mountaines untill I had found you, and known of your selfe whether there might bee any kinde of remedy found for the griefe that this your so unusuall a kinde of life argues doth possess your soule; and if it were requisite, to search it out with all possible diligence: and when your disasters were knowne of those which clap their doores in the face of comfort, I intended in that case to beare a part in your lamentations, and plaine it with the dolefull note; for it is a consolation in afflictions, to have one that condoles in them. And if this my good intention may merit any acceptance, or bee gratified by any courtesie, let mee intreat you Sir, by the

excesse thereof, which I see accumulated in your bosome; and joyntly I conjure you by that thing which you have, or doe presently most affect; that you will please to dis∣close unto mee who you are, and what the cause hath beene that perswaded you to come to live and die in these Desarts, like a bruite beast, seeing you live among such, so alie∣nated from your selfe, as both your attyre & countenance demonstrate. And I doe vow (quoth Don-Quixote) by the high order of Chivalry, which I (although unwor∣thy and a sinner) have received; and by the profession of Knighes Errant, that if you doe pleasure mee herein, to assist you with as good earnest as my profession doth binde mee, eyther by remedying your disaster, if it can bee holpen; or else by assisting you to lament it, if it bee so desperate.

The Knight of the Rock, who heard him of the Illfavored face speake in that manner, did nothing else for a great while, but behold him again and again, and re-behold him from top to toe, And after viewing him well hee said, If you have any thing to eate, I pray you give it mee for Gods sake, and after I have eaten I will satisfie your demand throughly, to gratifie the many courtesies and undeserved proffers you have made unto mee. Sancho, and the Goatheard presents the one out of his Wallet, the other out of his Scrip, tooke some meate and gave it to the Knight of the Rock to allay his hunger, and hee did eate so fast, like a distracted man, as hee left no intermission betweene bit and bit, but clapt them up so swiftly, as hee rather seemed to swallow then to chew them; and whilest hee did eate, neither hee or any of the rest spake a word; and ha∣ving ended his dinner, hee made them signes to follow him, as at last they did, unto a little Meadow seated hard by that place, at the fold of a Mountaine, where being ari∣ved, hee stretched himselfe on the grasse, which the rest did likewise in his imitation, without speaking a word, untill that hee after setling himselfe in his place, began in this manner; If Sirs, you please to heare the exceeding greatnesse of my disasters briefly re∣hearsed, you must promise mee, that you will not interrupt the file of my dolefull nar∣ration, with either demand or other thing; for in the very instant that you shall doe it, there also must remaine that which I say depending. These words of our ragged Knights, called to Don-Quixotes remembrance the tale which his Squire had told unto him, where hee erred in the account of his Goates which had passed the River, for which that Historie remained suspended. But returning to our ragged man, hee said; This prevention which now I give, is to the end that I may compendiously passe over the discourse of my mishaps; for the revoking of them to remembrance, only serves mee to none other stead, then to increase the old, by adding of new misfortunes; and by how much the fewer your questions are, by so much the more speedily shall I have finished my pittifull discourse; and yet I meane not to omit the essentiall point of my woes untouch't, that your desires may bee herein sufficiently satisfied. Don-Quixote in his owne, and his other companions name, promised to perform his request, where∣upon he began his relation on this manner.

My name is Cardenic, the place of my byrth, one of the best Cities in Andaluzia, my linage noble, my parents rich, and my misfortunes so great, as I thinke my parents have ere this deplored, and my kinsfolke condoled them; being very little able with their wealth to redresse them; for the goods of fortune are but of small vertue to re∣medie the disasters of Heaven. There dwelt in the same Citie a Heaven, wherein love had placed all the glorie that I could desire: so great is the beauty of Luscinda, a dam∣zel as noble and rich as I, but more fortunate, and lesse constant then my honourable desires expected. I loved, honoured and adored this Luscinda, almost from my very infancy, and shee affected mee likewise, with all the integritie and good will which with her so young yeeres did accord. Our parents knew our mutuall amitie, for which they were nothing agrieved, perceiving very well, that although wee continued it, yet could it have none other end but that of Matrimonie; a thing which the equalitie of our blood and substance, did of it selfe almost invite us to. Our age and affection increa∣sed in such sort, as it seemed fit for Luscinda's father, for certaine good respects, to de∣ny mee the entrance of his house any longer; imitating in a manner therein Tisbi, so much solemnized by the Poets, her parents, which hindrance served only to add flame

to flame, and desire to desire: for although it set silence to our tongues, yet would they not impose it to our Pens, which are wont to expresse to whom it pleased, the most hidden secrecies of our souls, with more libertie then the tongue; for the pre∣sence of the beloved doth often distract, trouble, and strike dumb the boldest tongue and firmest resolution. O Heavens! how many Letters have I written unto her? What cheerfull and honest answers have I received? How many Ditties and amorous Verses have I composed, wherein my soul declared and published her passions, declined her inflamed desires, entertained her remembrance, and recreated her will? In effect, perceiving my self to be forced, and that my soul consumed with a perpetuall desire to behold her, I resolved to put my desires in execution, and finish in an instant that which I deemed most expedient for the better atchieving of my desired, and de∣served reward; which was (as I did indeed) to demaund her of her father for my lawfull Spouse.

To which he made answer, That he 'did gratifie the good will which I shewed by honouring him, and desire to honour my self with pawns that were his: But seeing my Father yet lived, the motion of that matter properly most concerned him: For if it were not done with his good liking and pleasure, Luscinda was not a woman to be taken or given by stealth. I rendred him thanks for his good will, his words seeming unto me very reasonable, as that my father should agree unto them, as soon as I should explain the matter; and therefore departed presently to acquaint him with my desires; who at the time which I entred into a chamber, wherein he was, stood with a letter open in his hand; and espying me, e're I could break my minde unto him, gave it me, saying; By that Letter, Cardenio, you may gather the desire that Duke Ricardo bears, to doe you any pleasure or favour.

This Duke Ricardo, as I think you know Sirs already, is a Grandee of Spain, whose Dukedome is seated in the best part of all Andaluzia. I took the Letter and read it, which appeared so urgent, as I my self accounted it would be ill done, if my father did not accomplish the contents thereof, which were indeed, that he should presently ad∣dresse me to his Court, to the end I might be companion (and not servant) to his eldest sonne; and that hee would incharge himself with the advancing of me to such preferments as might be answerable unto the value and estimation hee made of my person. I past over the whole Letter, and was strucken dumb at the reading thereof; but chiefly hearing my Father to say, Cardenio, thou must depart within two dayes, to accomplish the Dukes desire; and omit not to render Almighty God thanks, which doth thus open the way, by which thou mayest attain in fine to that which I know thou doest merit: And to these words added certain others of Fatherly counsell and direction. The term of my departure arrived, and I spoke to my Luscinda on a cer∣tain night, and recounted unto her all that passed, and likewise to her father, intreat∣ing him to overslip a few dayes, and defer the bestowing of his daughter else-where, untill I went to understand Duke Ricardo his will; which he promised me, and shee confirmed it with a thousand oaths and promises.

Finally, I came to Duke Ricardo's Court, and was so friendly received and enter∣tained by him, as even very then envie began to exercise her accustomed Function, be∣ing forthwith emulated by the ancient Servitors; perswading themselves, that the tokens the Duke shewed to doe me favours could not but turn to their prejudice. But hee that rejoyced most at mine arrivall was a second sonne of the Dukes, called Fer∣nando, who was young, gallant, very comely, liberall and amorous; who within a while after my coming, held me so deerly, as every one wondred thereat: And though the elder loved me well, and did me favour; yet was it in no respect comparable to that wherewithall Don Fernando loved and treated me. It therefore befell, that as there is no secresie amongst friends so great, but they will communicate it the one to the other; and the familiarity which I had with Don Fernando was now past the limits of favour, and turned into dearest amitie: He revealed unto me all his thoughts; but chiefly one of his Love, which did not a little molest him: For he was enamoured on a Farmers daughter that was his Fathers Vassall, whose parents were marvellous rich,

and shee her self so bautifull, warie, discret, and honest, as never a one that knew her could absolutely determine wherein, or in which of all her perfections shee did most excell, or was most accomplished. And those good parts of the beautifull Countrey∣maide, reduced Don-Fernando his desires to such an exigent, as hee resolved that hee might the better gaine her good will, and conquer her integritie, to passe her a promise of marriage; for otherwise hee should labour to effect that which was impossible, and but strive against the streame. I, as one bound thereunto by our friendship, did thwart and disswade him from his purpose with the best reasons, and most efficacious words I might: and seeing all could not prevaile, I determined to acquaint the Duke Ricardo his father therewithall; But Don Fernando being very crafty and discreete, su∣spected and feared as much, because hee considered that in the law of a faithfull servant, I was bound not to conceale a thing that would turne so much to the prejudice of the Duke my Lord, and therefore both to divert and deceive mee at once, that hee could finde no meanes so good, to deface the remembrance of that beautie out of his minde, which held his heart in such subjection, then to absent himselfe for certaine moneths; and hee would likewise have that absence to be this, That both of us should depart to∣gether, and come to my fathers house, under prettence (as he would informe the Duke) that he went to see and cheap••n certain great horses that were in the City wherein I was borne; a place of breeding the best horses in the world.

Scarce had I heard him say this (when borne away by the naturall propension each one hath to his Countrey, and my love joyn'd) although his designment had not been so good, yet would I have ratified it, as one of the most expedient that could be ima∣gined, because I saw occasion and oportunity so fairly offered, to return and see again my Luscinda. And thereof set on by this thought and desire, I approved his opinion, and did quicken his purpose, perswading him to prosecute it with all possible speed; for absence would in the end work her effect in despight of the most forcible and ur∣gent thoughts; And when he said this to me, he had already, under the title of a hus∣band (as it was afterward known) reaped the fruits of his longed desires, from his beautifull Countr••y-Maid, and did only await an oportunity to reveal it without his own detriment, fearfull of the Duke his fathers indignation, when he should under∣stand his erro••r.

It afterward hapned, that as love in young men is not for the most part Love, but last, the which (as it ever proposeth to it self as his last end and period, is delight) so as soon as it obteineth the same, it likewise decayeth and maketh forcibly to retire that which was tearmed Love; for it cannot transgresse the limits which Nature hath assigned it which boundings are meares, Nature hath in no wise allotted to true and sincere affe∣ction. I would say, that as soon as Don Fernando had injoyed his Countrey-Lasse, his desires weakned, and his importunities waxed cold; and if at the first he ••eigned an excuse to absent himself, that he might with more facility compasse them, he did now in very good earnest procure to depart, to the end hee might not put them in execu∣tion. The Duke gave him licence to depart, and commanded me to accompany him. Wee came to my Citie, where my Father entertained him according 〈◊〉〈◊〉 talling. I saw Luscinda, and then again were reviv'd (although indeed they were neither dead nor mortified) my desires, and acquainted Don Fernando (alas, to my totall ruine) with them, because I thought it was not lawfull by the law of amity to keep any thing concealed from him: There I dilated to him, on the Beauty, Wit, and Discretion of Luscinda, in so ample manner, as my prayses stirred in him a desire to view a Damzell so greatly adorned, and inriched with so rare endowments: And this his desire I (through my misfortune) satisfied, shewing her unto him by the light of a candle, at a window where wee two were wont to pa••le together; where he beheld her to bee such as was sufficient to blot out of his memory all the beauties which ever hee had viewed before. Hee stood mute, beside himself, and ravished; and moreover rested so greatly enamoured, as you may perceive in the discourse of this my do••efull narration: And to inflame his desires the more (a thing which I fearfully avoyded, and only discovered to heaven) fortune so disposed; that hee found after me one of her Letters, wherein

she requested that I would demand her of her father for wife, which was so discreete, honest and amorously penned, as he said after reading it, that in Luscinda alone were included all the graces of Beauty and Understanding joyntly, which were divided and separate in all the other women of the world.

Yet in good sooth I will here confesse the truth, that although I saw cleerely how de∣servedly Luscinda was thus extold by Don Fernando, yet did not her prayses please mee so much pronounced by him; and therefore began to feare and suspect him, because he let no moment overslip us, without making some mention of Luscinda, and would still himselfe begin the Discourse, were the occasion ever so far fetched, a thing which rowsed in mee I cannot tell what jealousie; not that I did feare any traverse in Luscindaes loyalty, but yet for all my Fates made mee the very thing which they most assured mee: and Don Fernando procured to read all the papers I sent to Luscinda, or shee to mee, under pretext that hee tooke extraordinary delight to note the witty con∣ceits of us both. It therefore fell out, that Luscinda having demanded of mee a booke of Chivalry to read, wherein shee took marveilous delight, and was that of Amadis du Gaule.

Scarce had Don-Quixote well heard him make mention of bookes of Knighthood, when hee replyed to him. If you had, good sir, but once told mee at the beginning of your historicall narration, that your Lady Luscinda was affected to the reading of Knightly Adventures, you needed not to have used any amplification to indeer or make plaine unto mee the eminencie of her wit, which certainly could not in any wise bee so excellent and perspicuous as you have figured it, if shee wanted the propension and fee∣ling you have rehearsed, to the perusing of so pleasing discourses; so that henceforth, with mee, you neede not spend any more words to explane and manifest the height of her beauty, worths and understanding, for by this only notice I have received of her devo∣tion to bookes of Knighthood, I doe confirme her for the most faire and accomplished woman for all perfections in the world; and I would to God, good Sir, that you had also sent her together with Amadis, the Histories of the good Don Rugel of Grecia, for I am certaine, the Lady Luscinda would have taken great delight in Darayda and Ga∣raya, and in the witty conceits of the Sheepheard Darinel, and in those admirable ver∣ses of his Bucolicks, sung and rehearsed by him with such grace, discretion and libertie. But a time may come, wherein this fault may bee recompenced, if it shall please you to come with mee to my Village; for there I may give you three hundred Bookes, which are my Soules greatest contentment, and the entertainment of my life; although I doe now verily beleeve that none of them are left, thanks bee to the malice of evill and en∣vious Enchanters. And I beseech you to pardon me this transgression of our agreement at the first, promised not to interrupt your Discourses; for when I heare any motion made of Chivalry or Knights Errant, it is no more in my power to omit to speake of them, then in the Sunne-beames to leave off warming, or in the Moones to render things humid. And therefore I intreate pardon, and that you will prosecute your Hi∣story, as that which most imports us.

Whilest Don-Quixotes spoke those words, Cardenio hanged his head on his breast, giving manifest tokens that hee was exceeding sad. And although Don-Quixote reque∣sted him twice to follow on with his Discourse, yet neither did he lift up his head, or answere a word, till at last, after hee had stood a good while musing, hee held up his head and said; It cannot bee taken out of my minde, nor is there any one in the world can deprive me of the conceit, or make me beleeve the contrary; and hee were a bottle-head, that would think or beleeve otherwise then that the great villain Mr. Elisabat the Barbar kept Queen Madasima as his Lemman.

That is not so, I vow by such and such, quoth Don-Quixote in great choler (and as hee was wont, rapt out three or foure round oathes) It is great malice, or rather vil∣lany to say such a thing. For Queene Madasima was a very noble Lady, and it ought not to bee presumed that so high a Princesse would fall in love with a Quack-salver, and whosoever thinks the contrary, lies like an arrant Villaine, as I will make him under∣stand a horseback or a foote, armed or disarmed, by night or by day, or as he best liketh.

Cardenio stood beholding him very earnestly as hee spoke these words, whom the acci∣dent of his madnesse had by this possessed, and was not in plight to prosecute his Histo∣ry, nor would Don-Quixote give eare to it, he was so mightily disgusted to hear Queen Madasima detracted.

A marvellous accident! for hee took her defence as earnestly, as if she were verily his true and naturall Princesse, his wicked books had so much distracted him. And Cardenio being by this furiously madd, hearing himself answered with the lye, and the denomination of a Villaine, with other the like outrages, hee took the rest in ill part; and lifting up a stone that was neer unto him, gave Don-Quixote such a blow there∣withall, as he overthrew him to the ground on his back. Sancho Panca seeing his Ma∣ster so roughly handled, set upon the fool with his fist shut; and the ragged man re∣ceived his assault in such manner, as he likewise overthrew him at his feet with one fist, and mounting afterward upon him, did work him with his feet like a piece of dough: And the Goat-heard who thought to succour him, was like to incur the same danger. And after he had overthrown and beaten them all very well, he departed from them and entred into the wood very quietly. Sancho arose, and with rage to see himself so belaboured without desert, he ran upon the Goat-heard to be revenged on him, say∣ing that he was in the fault, who had not premonished them, how that mans raving fits did take him so at times; for had they been advertised thereof, they might have stood all the while on their guard.

The Goat-heard answered, that he had already advised them thereof; and if he had not been attentive thereunto, yet he was therefore nothing the more culpable.

Sancho Panca replyed, and the Goat-heard made a rejoynder thereunto; but their disputation ended at last in the catching hold of one anothers beards, and be-fisting themselves so uncompassionately, as if Don-Quixote had not pacified them, they would have torne one another to pieces. Sancho holding still the Goat-heard fast, said unto his Lord, Let me alone, Sir Knight of the Ill-favoured face; for on this man who is a Clown as I am my self, and no dubed Knight, I may safely satisfie my self of the wrong hee hath done me, by fighting with him hand to hand like an honourable man. It is true, quoth Don-Quixote, but I know well, that hee is in no wise culpa∣ble of that which hath hapned. And saying so, appeased them, and turned a∣gain to demand of the Goat-heard, whether it were possible to meet again with Cardenio; for he remained possessed with an exceeding desire to know the end of his History.

The Goat-heard turned again to repeat what he had said at the first, to wit, that he knew not any certain place of his abode; but if hee haunted that Commark any while, he would some time meet with him, either in his madd or modest humour.