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 History of the famous Princesse Micomi∣cona, with other delightfull Adventures.

SANCHO gave eare to all this with no small grief of minde, seeing that all the hopes of his Lordship vanished away like smoak, and that the fair Princesse Micomicona was turned into Dorotea, and the Gyant into Don Fernando, and that his Master slept so souldly and carelesse of all that had hapned. Dorotea could not yet assure her self whether the happinesse that shee possest was a dream or no. Cardenio was in the very same taking, and also Luscindaes thoughts run the same race.

Don Fernando yielded many thanks to Heaven for having dealt with him so propi∣tiously and unwinding him out of the intricate Labyrinth, wherein straying, hee was at the poynt to have at once lost his soul and credit: and finally as many as were in the Inne were very glad and joyfull of the successe of so thwart, intricate, and desperate affairs. The Curate compounded and ordered all things through his discetion, and con∣gratulated every one of the good hee obtained: But shee that kept greatest Jubilee and Joy was the Hostesse, for the promise that Cardenio and the Curate had made, to pay her the damages and harms committed by Don-Quixote; only Sancho, as wee have said, was afflicted, unfortunate and sorrowfull. And thus hee entred with melancholy semblance to his Lord, who did but then awake, and said unto him;

Well and securely may you sleep, Sir Knight of the heavy countenance, as long as it shall

please your self, without troubling your self with any care of killing any Gyant, or of restoring the Queen to her Kingdome; for all is concluded and done already. I be∣lieve thee very easily, replyed Don-Quixote; for I have had the monstrousest and most terrible battail with that Gyant that ever I think to have all the dayes of my life with any; and yet with one thwart blow-thwack, I overthrew his head to the ground; and there issued so much blood as the streams thereof ranne along the earth as if they were of water. As if they were of red Wine you might better have said, replyed Sancho Panca: for I would let you to understand, if you know it not already, That the dead Gyant is a bored Wine-bagg; and the blood six & thirty gallons of red Wine, which it contained in it's belly: the head that was slash'd off so neatly, is the Whore my Mother; and let the Devill take all away for me. And what is this thou sayest, mad man (quoth Don-Quixote?) Art thou in thy right wits? Get up Sir (quoth Sancho) and you your self shall see the fair stuffe you have made, and what wee have to pay; and you shall behold the Queen transformed into a particular Lady, called Dorotea, with other suc∣cesses; which if you may once conceive them aright, will strike you into admiration. I would marvell at nothing, quoth Don-Quixote; for if thou beest well remembred, I told thee the other time that wee were here, how all that succeded in this place was done by inchantment; And what wonder then if now the like should eftsoons befall? I could easily bee induced to believe all, replyed Sancho, if my canvassing in the Co∣verlet were of that nature: But indeed it was not, but most reall and certain: And I saw well how the Inn-keeper that is here yet this very day alive, held one end of the Coverlet, and did tosse me up towards Heaven with very good grace and strength, no lesse merily then lightly: And where the notice of parties intercurs, I doe believe, although I am a simple man and a sinner, that there is no kinde of inchantment, but rather much trouble, brusing, and misfortune. Well, God will remedie all, said Don-Quixote; and give me mine apparell; for I will get up and goe forth, and see those successes and transformations which thou speakest of. Sancho gave him his clothes; and whilest hee was a making of him ready, the Curate recounted to Don Fernando and to the rest Don-Quixotes mad pranks, and the guile hee had used to bring him away out of the poor Rock, wherein hee imagined that hee lived exiled through the disdain of his Lady. Hee told them moreover all the other Adventures which Sancho had discovered, whereat they did not laugh a little and wonder withall, because it seemed to them all to be one of the extravagantest kinds of madnesse that ever befell a distracted brain. The Curate also added, That seeing the good successe of the Lady Dorotea did impeach the farther prosecuting of their designe, that it was requisite to invent and finde some other way, how to carrie him home to his own Village. Cardenio offered himself to prosecute the Adventure, and Luscinda should represent Doroteaes person. No, quoth Don Fernando, it shall not bee so; for I will have Dorotea to prosecute her own invention: For so that the Village of this good Gentleman bee not very farre off from hence, I will bee very glad to procure his remedy. It is no more then two dayes journey from hence, said the Curate. Well though it were more, replyed Don Fer∣nando, I would bee pleased to travail them, in exchange of doing so good a work. Don-Quixote sallied out at this time compleatly armed with Mambrino's Helmet (although with a great hole in it) on his head, his Target on his arme, and leaned on his Trunk or Javelin. His strange countenance and gate amazed Don Fernando and his Companions very much, seeing his ill-favoured visage so withered and yellow, the in∣equalitie and insutabilitie of his Armes, and his grave manner of proceeding; and stood all silent to see what hee would; who casting his eyes on the Bautifull Dorotea, with very great gravity and staidnesse said.

I am informed (beautifull Lady) by this my Squire, that your greatnesse is annihi∣lated, and your being destroyed: For of a Queen and mighty Princesse which you were wont to bee, you are now become a particular Damzell: which if it hath been done by particular orde of the Magicall King your Father, dreading that I would not bee able to give you the necessarie and requisite help for your restitution; I say that hee neither knew nor doth know the one half of the enterprize, and that hee was

very little acquainted with Histories of Chivalrie: For if hee had read them, or pas∣sed them over with so great attention and leisure as I have done, and read them, hee should have found at every other steppe, how other Knights of a great deale lesse fame then my selfe, have ended more desperate Adventures; seeing it is not so great a matter to kill a Gyant, bee hee ever so arrogant; for it is not many houres since I my selfe fought with one, and what insued I will not say, lest they should tell mee that I doe lye; but time the detector of all things will disclose it, when we doe least think thereof.

Thou foughtest with two wine-bags and not with a Gyant quoth the Oast at this season: But Don Fernando commanded him to bee silent and not interrupt Don-Qui∣xote in any wise, who prosecuted his speech saying. In fine I say, high and disinherited Lady, that if your Father hath made this M••tam••rphosis in your person for the causes related, give him no credit; for there is no perill so great on earth but my Sword shall open a way through it, wherewithall I overthrowing your enemies head to the ground will set your Crowne on your owne head within a few dayes. Here Don-Quixote held his peace, and awaited the Princesse her Answere, who knowing Don Fernandoes determination and will, that shee should continue the commenced guile untill Don-Quixote were caried home againe, answered with a very good grace and countenance in this manner: Whosoever informed you valorous Knight of the illfavoured face, that I have altered and changed my being, hath not told you the truth; for I am the very same to day that I was yesterday; true it is, that some unexpected, yet fortunate suc∣cesses have wrought some alteration in mee, by bestowing on mee better hap then I ho∣ped for, or could wish my self; but yet for all that I have not left off to be that which before, or to have the very same thoughts which I ever had, to helpe my selfe by the va∣lour of your most valorous and invincible arme. And therfore I request you, good my Lord, of your accustomed bountie, to return my father his honor again, and account of him as of a very discreet and prudent man, seeing that he found by this skill, so easy and so infallible a way to redresse my disgraces; for I doe certainly beleeve, that if it had not been by your meanes, I should never have hapned to attain to the good fortune which now I possesse, as all those Noblemen present may witnesse; what therefore rests is, that to morrow morning we doe set forward, for to day is now already so overgone, as we should not be able to travell very far from hence; as for the conclusion of the good successe that I doe hourly expect, I refer that to God and the valour of your invinci∣ble Arme.

Thus much the discreete Dorotea said, and Don-Quixote having heard her, he turned him to Sancho with very manifest tokens of indignation and said, Now I say unto thee little Sancho, that thou art the veriest Rascall that is in all Spayne: tell mee theefe and vagabond, didst not thou but even very now say unto mee that this Princesse was tur∣ned into a Damzell, and that, called Dorotea? and that the head which I thought I had slashed from a Gyants shoulders, was the whore that bore thee? with a thousand o∣ther follies, which did plunge me into the greatest confusion that ever I was in in my life? I vow (and then hee looked upon heaven, and did crash his teeth together) that I am about to make such a wrack on thee, as shall beate wit into the pates of all the lying Squires that shall ever hereafter serve Knights errant in this world. I pray you have pa∣tience good my Lord, answered Sancho, for it may very well befall mee to bee decei∣ved in that which toucheth the transmutation of the Lady and Princesse Micomicona; but in that which concerneth the Gyants head, or at least the boring of the wine-bags, and that the blood was but red-wine, I am not deceived I sweare; for the bags lie yet wounded there within at your owne beds head; and the red-wine hath made a Lake in the Chamber, and if it bee not so, it shall bee perceived at the frying of the Egges, I meane that you shall see it when master In-keepers worship, who is here present, shall demand the losse and dammage. I say then Sancho quoth Don-Quixote, that thou art a mad cap; pardon mee, and so it is enough. It is enough indeede quoth Don Fernan∣do, and therefore let mee intreate you to say no more of this, and seeing my Lady the Princesse sayes shee will goe away to morrow, seeing it is now too late to depart to day,

let it bee so agreed on, and wee will spend this night in pleasant discourses, until the ap∣proach of the ensuing day, wherein wee will all accompany and attend on the worthy Knight Sir Don-Quixote, because wee would bee eye-witnesses of the valorous and un∣matchable feats of arms which he shal do in the pursuit of this weighty enterprize which he hath taken upon him. I am he that will serve and accompany you, good my Lord, re∣plyed Don-Quixote, and I doe highly gratifie the honor that is done me, and the goo•• opinion that is held of me, the which I will endeavor to verifie and approve, or it shall cost me my life, or more, if more it might cost me.

Many other words of complement and gratification past between Don-Quixote and Don Fernando, but a certaine passenger imposed silence to them all, by his arivall to the Inne in that very season, who by his attyre shewed that hee was a Christian newly re∣turned from among the Moores, for hee was apparelled with a short skyrted Caslock of blue cloth, sleeves reaching downe halfe the Arme, and without a coller; his breeches were likewise of blue linnen, and hee wore a bonnet of the same colour, a payre of Date coloured Buskins, and a Turkish Semiter hanging at his neck in a Scarfe, which went athwart his brest; there entred after him, riding on an Asle, a woman clad like a Moore, and her face covered with a peece of the Vaile of her head, shee wore on her head a little cap of cloth of gold, and was covered with a little turkish Mantle from the shoulders downe to the feete; the man was of strong and comely making of the age of forty yeeres or thereabouts, his face was somewhat tanned, hee had long Mustachoes and a very handsome Beard; to conclude, his making was such, as if hee were well at∣tyred, men would take him to bee a person of qualitie and good byrth; hee demanded a Chamber as soone as hee had entred, and being answered that there was no one va∣cant in the Inne, hee seemed to bee grieved, and comming to her which in her attyre de∣noted her selfe to bee a Moore, hee tooke her downe from her Asle. Luscinda, Doro∣tea, the Oastesse, her daughter and Maritornes, allured to behold the new and strange attyre of the Moore, compassed her about; and Dorotea, who was alwaies most graci∣ous, courteous and discreete, deeming that both shee and hee that had brought her, were discontented for the want of a lodging shee said Ladie, bee not grieved for the trouble you are here like to endure for want of meanes to refresh your selfe, seeing it is an universall vice of all Innes to bee defective herein; yet notwithstanding if it shall please you to passe away the time among us (pointing to Luscinda) perhaps you have met in the discourse of your travells, other worse places of entertainment then this shall prove. The disguised Lady made none answere, nor other thing then arising from the place wherein shee sate, and setting both her armes a crosse on her bosome, shee in∣clined her head and bowed her bodie, in signe that shee rendred them thanks; by her si∣lence they doubtlesly conjectured her to bee a Moore, and that shee could not speake the Castilian tongue. In this the captive arived, who was otherwise imployed untill then, and seeing that they all had invironed her that came with him, and that she made no answere to their speech hee said; Ladies, this Maiden scarce understands my tongue yet, nor doth shee know any other then that of her owne Countrey, and therefore she hath not, nor can make any answere to your demands. Wee demand nothing of her quoth Luscinda, but only doe make her an offer of our companies for this night, and part of the Roome where wee our selves are shall bee accomodated, where shee shall bee cherished up as much as the commodity of this place, and the Obligation wherein wee bee tyed to shew courtesies to strangers that may want it doe binde us; especially shee being a woman to whom wee may doe this service. Sweet Lady, I kisse your hands both for her and my selfe, replyed the captive, and I doe highly prize, as it deser∣veth, the favour you have proffered, which in such an occasion, and offered by such Persons as you seeme to bee, doth very plainly shew how great it is. Tell mee good Sir, quoth Dorotea, whether is this Lady a Christian or a Moore? for by her attyre and silence shee makes us suspect that shee is that wee would not wish shee were. A Moore shee is in attyre and body, answered the captive; but in minde shee is a very fervent Christian, for shee hath very expresly desired to become one. Then shee is not yet bap∣tized, said Luscinda? there hath beene no oportunitie offered to us, quoth the captive,

to christen her, since shee departed from Argell, which is her Town and Countrey; and since that time shee was not in any so eminent a danger of death as might obliege her to bee baptized, before shee were first instructed in all the Ceremonies which our holy Mother the Church commandeth: but I hope shortly (if it shall please God) to see her baptized with that decencie which her quality and calling deserves, which is greater then her attire or mine makes shew of.

These words inflamed all the hearers with a great desire to know who the Moor and and her Captive were; yet none of them would at that time intreat him to satisfie their longing, because the season rather invited them to take some order how they might rest after their travails, then to demand of them the discourse of their lives. Dorotea then taking her by the hand, caused her to sit down by her self, and prayed her to take off the veile from her face. She instantly beheld the Captive, as if shee de∣manded of him what they said; and hee in the Arabicall language told her, how they desired her to discover her face, and bade her to doe it; which presently shee did, and discovered so beautifull a visage, as Dorotea esteemed her to bee fairer then Luscinda, and Luscinda prized her to excell Dorotea: and all the beholders perceived that if any one could surpasse them both in Beautie, it was the Moor; and there were some that thought shee excelled them both in some respects, And as Beautie hath evermore the prerogative and grace to reconcile mens mindes and attract their wills to it; so all of them forthwith dedicated their desires to serve and make much of the lovely Moor. Don Fernando demanded of the Captive how shee was called; and hee answered that her name was Lela Zoraida: and as soon as shee heard him, and understood what they had demanded, shee suddainly answered with anguish, but yet with a very good grace, No, not Zoraida, but Maria, Maria; giving them to understand that shee was called Maria, and not Zoraida.

These words, and the great affect and vehemenci•• wherewithall the Moor delivered them, extorted more then one tear from the hearers, especially from the women who are naturally tender-hearted and compassive. Luscinda embraced her then with great love, and said, I, I, Maria, Maria. To which shee answered, I, I, Maria; Zoraida ••ancanga; that is and not Zoraida. By this it was grown some four of the clock in the afternoon; and by order of those which were Don Fernando's Companions, the Inn-keeper had provided for them as good a Beaver as the Inne could in any wise afford unto them: Therefore it being the houre, they sate down all together at a long Table (for there was never a square or round one in all the house) and they gave the first and principall end (although hee refused it as much as hee could) to Don-Quixote, who commanded that the Ladie Micomicona should sit at his elbow, seeing hee was her Champion: Presently were placed Luscinda, and Zoraida, and Don Fernando, and Cardenio right over against them, and after the Captive and other Gentlemen, and on the other side the Curate and Barber: And thus they made their drinking with very great recreation, which was the more augmented to see Don-Quixote, leaving of his meat, and moved by the like spirit of that which had made him once before talk so much to the Goat-heards, beginne to offer them an occasion of Speech in this manner.

Truely, good Sirs, if it bee well considered, those which professe the Order of Knight-hood, doe see many great and unexpected things. If it bee not so, say, what mortall man alive is there, that entring in at this Castle gate, and seeing of us all in the manner wee bee now present here, can judge or believe that wee are those which wee bee? Who is it that can say, that this Ladie which sits here at my sleeve, is the great Queen that wee all know her to bee; and that I am that Knight of the Heavie Coun∣tenance, that am so much blab'd of abroad by the mouth of Fame? therefore it cannot bee now doubted, but that this Art and Exercise excelleth all the others which ever hu∣man wit, the underminer of Nature, invented; and it is the more to be prized, by how much it exposeth it self, more then other Trades, to dangers and inconveniences. Away with those that shall affirm learning to surpasse Armes; for I will say unto them, bee they what they list, that they know not what they say: For the reason which such

men doe most urge, and to which they doe most relye, is, That the travails of the Spirit doe farre exceed those of the Body: And that the use of Armes are only Exercised by the Body, as if it were an Office fit for Porters, for which nothing were requisite but Bodily forces; or as if in that which wee that professe it doe call Armes, were not included the acts of Fortitude which require deep understanding to execute them; or as if the Warriours Minde did not labour as well as his Body, who had a great Army to lead and command, or the defence of a besiged Citie: If not, see if hee can arrive by his corporall strength to know or sound the intent of his Enemie, the Designes, Stratagems, and Difficulties, how to prevent imminent Dangers, all these being opera∣tions of the understanding, wherein the body hath no medling at all: It being there∣fore so, that the Exercise of Armes require Spirit as well as those of Learning; let us now examine which of the two Spirits, that of the Scholler or Souldier, doe take most pains: And this may bee best understood by the end, to which both of them are ad∣dressed; for that intention is most to bee esteemed, which hath for object the most noble end. The end and conclusion of Learning is; I speak not now of Divinitie, whose scope is to lead and addresse souls to Heaven; for to an end so much without end as this, no other may bee compared; I mean of humane Sciences or Arts to maintaine distributive justice in his perfection, and give to every one that which is is his own: to indeavour and cause good Laws to bee religiously observed; an end most certainly generous, high and worthy of great praise: but not of so much as that, to which the Exercise of Armes is annext, which hath for his object and end Peace; which is the great∣est good men can desire in this life: and therefore the first good news that ever the World had or Men received, were those which the Angels brought on that night which was our day, when they sung in the skies, Glorie bee in the heights, and Peace on earth to men of good mindes. And the Salvation which the best Master that ever was on Earth or in Heaven taught to his Disciples and Favorites was, That when they entrd into any house, they should say, Peace bee to this house: and many other times hee said, I give unto you my Peace; I leave my Peace unto you: Peace bee amongst you. It is a good, as precious as a Jewell, and a Gift given, and left by such a hand: a Jewel, without which neither on Earth or in Heaven can there bee any perfect good. This Peace is the true end of Warre; for Armes and Warre are one and the selfe same things. This truth being therefore presupposed, that the end of Warre is Peace, and that herein it doth excell the end of Learning: let us descend to the corporall labours of the Scholler, and to those of him which professeth Armes, and consider which of them are more toylsome.

Don-Quixote did prosecute his discourse in such sort, and with so pleasing terms, as hee had almost induced his Audients to esteem him to hee at that time at least ex∣empt from his frenzie: and thereforeby reason that the greater number of them were Gentlemen, to whom the use of Armes is in a manner essentiall and proper, they did willingly listen to him; a••d therefore hee continued on with his discourse in this manner.

I say then, that the pains of the Student are commonly these: Principally povertie (not that I would maintain that all Students are poor, but that I may put the case in greatest extreamitie it can have) and by saying that hee may bee poor, me thinks there may bee no greater aggravation of his misery: For hee that is poor hath no perfection: and this poverty is suffered by him sundrie waies; sometimes by hunger, other times by cold or nakednesse, and many times by all of them together: Yet it is never so extream but that hee doth eate, although it bee somewhat later then the custome, or of the Scraps and Reversion of the rich man: and the greatest miserie of the Student is that which they terme, to live by sops and pottage: and though they want fire of their own, yet may they have recourse to their neighbours Chimney, which if it doe not warm, yet will it weaken the cold: And finally, they sleep at night under a Roof. I will not descend to other trifles, to wit, the want of Shirts and Shoes, the barenesse of their clothes, or the over-loading of their stomacks with meat when good fortune lends them as good a meale: For by this way which I have decyphered so rough and

difficult, stumbling here, falling there; getting up again on the other side, and refalling on this; they attained the degree which they have desired so much; which many having compassed as wee have seen, which having passed thorow these difficulties, and sailed by Scylla and Charibdis (borne away flying in a manner by favourable fortune) they command and govern all the World from a Chair, turning their hunger into sacietie, their nakednesse into pompe, and their sleeping on a Matt into a sweet repose among Hollands and Damask; a reward justly merited by their Virtue: But their labours confronted and compared to those of the militant Souldier, remain very farre behinde as I will presently declare.