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

CHAP. XXIII.

Of the discreet contention between Don-Quixote and the Canon, with other accidents.

THat were a Jest indeed, quoth Don-Quixote, that Books which are printed with the Kings licence, and approbation of those to whom their examination was commited, and that are read with universall delight and acceptance, and celebrated by great and little, rich and poor, learned and ignorant, Plebeyans and Gentlemen; and finally, by all kinde of persons of what state or condition soever, should bee so lying and fabulous, spe∣cially seeing they have such probability of truth; seeing they describe unto us the Father, Mother, Countrey, Kinsfolk, Age, Town, and Acts of such a Knight or Knights, and that so exactly, point by point, and day by day. Hold your peace, and never speak again such a blasphemie, and beleeve me; for I doe sincerely councell you, what you, as a discreet man, ought to doe herein; and if not, read them but once, and you shall see what delight you shall receive thereby: if not, tell me; what greater pleasure can there bee then to behold (as one would say) even here and before our eyes a great Lake of Pitch boyling-hot, and many Serpents, Snakes, Lizarts, and other kindes of cruell and dreadfull Beasts swimming a thwart it and in every part of it; and that there issues out of the Lake a most lamentable voyce, saying: O thou Knight, whatsoever thou art, which doest behold the fearfull Lake; if thou desirest to obtain the good concealed under these horrid and black waters, show the valour of thy strong brest, and throw thy self into the midest of this sable, and inflamed liquor: for if thou doest not so, thou shall not be worthy to discover the great wonders hidden in the seven Castles of the seven Fates, which are seated under these gloomie waves: And

that scarce hath the Knight heard the fearfull voyce, when without entring into any new discourses, or once considering the danger whereinto hee thrusts himself, yea or easing himself of the weight of his ponderous Armour, but only commending himself unto God, and his Ladie Mistrisse, hee plunges into the midest of that burning puddle, and when hee neither cares nor knows what may befall him, hee findes himself in the midest of flourishing Fields, with which the very Elisean Plains can in no sort bee com∣pared; There it seems to him that the element is more transparent, and that the Sun shines with a cleerer light then in our Orbe: There offers it self to his greedie and curious eye, a most pleasing Forrest replenished with so green and well-spread. Trees, as the verdure thereof both joyes and quickens the sight; whilest the eares are enter∣tained by the harmonious, though artlesse Songs of infinite and enamelled. Birds, which traverse the intricate boughs of that shadie habitation: Here hee discovers a small stream whose fresh waters, resembling liquid Cristall, slides over the small Sands and white little stones, resembling sifted Gold wherein Orientall Pearls are inchaced: There hee discerns an artificiall Fountain wrought of motly Jasper and smooth Marble; and hard by it another rudely and negligently framed, wherein the sundry Cockle-shels with the wreathed white and yellow houses of the Perwinkle and Snail intermingled, and placed after a disorderly manner (having now and then peeces of cleer Cristall and counterfeit Emeralds mingled among them) doe make a work of so gracefull varietie, as Art imitating Nature, doth herein seem to surpasse her.

Suddainly he discovers a strong Castle or goodly Palace, whose walles are of beaten gold, the pinacles of Diamonds, the gates of Iacinths; finally, it is of so ex∣quisite Workemanship, as although the materials whereof it is built, are no worse then Diamonds, Carbuncles, Rubies, Emeralds, Pearles, and Gold, yet is the Archi∣tecture thereof of more estimation and value then they, and is there any more to be seen, after the seeing hereof, then to see sallie out at the Castle gates, a goodly troup of lovely Damzels, whose brave and costly attyre, if I should attempt to describe, as it is laid down in Histories, we should never make an end? and she that seems the chiefest of all, to take presently our bold Knight, that threw himself into the boyling Lake, by the hand, and carry him into the rich Castle or Palace without speaking a word, and cause him to strip himself, as naked, as he was when his Mother bore him, and bathe him in very temperate waters, and afterwards anoint him all over with precious oyntments, and put on him a shirt of most fine, odoriferous, and perfumed Sendall, and then another Damzell to come suddainly, and cast on his back a rich mantle, which they say is wont to be worth, at the very least a rich Citty, yea and more. Then what a sport it is, when they tell us after, that after this he is carried into another Hall, where he finds the tables covered so orderly as he rests amazed? what, to see cast on his hands water distilled all of Amber, and most fragrant flowers? what, to see him seated in a chaire of Ivory? what, to see him served by all the Damzels with marvellous silence? what the setting before him such variety of accares, and those so excellently dressed, as his appetite knowes not to which of them it shall first ad∣dresse his hand? what to hear the Musicke which sounds whilst he is at dinner, with∣out knowing who makes it, or whence it comes? and after that dinner is ended, and the tables taken away, the Knight to remaine leaning on a chaire, and perhaps picking of his teeth, as the custome is, and on a suddaine to enter at the Hall-door another much more beautifull Damzell then any of the former, and to sit by his side, and be∣gin to recount unto him what Castle that is, and how she is inchanted therein, with many other things that amazed the Knight and amazed the Readers. I will not en∣large my self any more in this matter, seeing that you may collect out of that which I have said, that any part that is read of any book of a Knight Errant, will delight, and astonish him, that shall peruse it with attention: and therefore I pray you beleeve me, and as I have said already, reade those kinde of books, and you shall finde, that they will exile all the Melancholy that shall trouble you, and rectifie your disposition, if by fortune it be depraved: for I dare affirme of my self, that since I am become a Knight Errant, I am valiant, courteous, liberall, well-manner'd, generous, gentle, bold,

mild, patient, and indurer of labours, imprisonments, and inchantments: and al∣though it be but so little a while since I was shut up in a Cage like a mad man, yet doe I hope by the valour of mine arme (heaven concurring, and fortune not crossing me) to see my self within a few daies, the King of some Kingdoms, wherein I may shew the bounty and liberality included within my brest. For in good truth, Sir, a poor man is made unable to manifest the virtue of liberality toward any other, al∣though he virtually possesse it himself in a most eminent degree: and the will to gra∣tifie, which onely consists of will, is a dead thing, as Faith without Works. For which cause I doe wish, that fortune would quickly present me some occasion whereby I might make my self an Emperour; that I may discover the desire I have to doe good unto my friends, but especially to this my poor Squire, Sancho Panca, who is one of the honestest men in the world, on whom I would faine bestow the Earledome which I promised him many daies past, but that I fear me he will not be able to governe his estate.

Sancho overhearing those last words of his Masters, said Labour you, Sir Don-Quixote, to get me that Earledome as often promised by you, as much longed for by me, and I promise you that I will not want sufficiency to governe it; and though I should, yet have I heard say, that there are men in the world, who take Lordships to farme paying the Lord so much by the yeer, and undertaking the care of the go∣vernment thereof, whilst the Lord himself with outstretched legs doth live at his ease; enjoying the rents they bring him, and caring for nothing else: and so will I do, and will not stand wracking it to the utmost, but presently desist from all administration and live merily upon my Rent, like a young Duke; and so let the World wag and goe how it will. That, friend Sancho, is to bee understood, quoth the Canon, of enjoying the Revenues; but as concerning the administration of Justice, the Lord of the Seig∣niory is bound to look to it; in that is required a sufficiencie and abilitie to govern, and above all, a good intention to deal justly, and determine rightly; for if this bee wanting when wee begin, our means and ends will alwaies bee subject to errour: And therefore is God wont as well to further the good Designes of the simple, as to disfavour the bad ones of those that be wittily wicked.

I understand not those Philosophies, quoth Sancho Panca; but this I know well, that I would I had as speedily the Earldome, as I could tell how to govern it; for I have as much Soul as another, and as much Body as hee that hath most; and I would bee as absolute a King in my estate, as any one would bee in his; and being such, I would doe what I liked; and doing what I liked, I would take my pleasure; and taking my pleasure, I would bee content; and when one is content, hee hath no more to desire; and having no more to desire, the matter were ended: and then come the state when it will, or farewell it, and let us behold our selves, as one blinde man said to another. They are no bad Philosophies which thou comest out with, kinde Sancho, quoth the Canon; but yet for all that there is much to bee said concerning this matter of Earldomes. To that Don-Quixote replyed, I know not what more may bee said, only I govern my self by the example of Amadis de Gaule, who made his Squire Earl of the firm Island; and therefore I may without scruple of conscience make Sancho Panca an Earl; for hee is one of the best Squires that ever Knight Errant had. The Canon abode amazed at the well compacted and orderly ravings of Don-Quixote; at the manner wherewith hee had deciphred the Adventure of the Knight of the Lake; at the impression which his lying Books had made into him: and finally hee wondred at the simplicity of Sancho Panca, who so earnestly desired to bee made Earl of the County his Lord had promised him.

By this time the Canons Serving-men, which had gone to the Inne for the sumpture Mule, were returned, and making their Table of a Carpet and of the green grasse of that Meddow, they sate down under the shadow of the Trees and did eate there, to the end that the Wain-man might not lose the commoditie of the Pasture, as wee have said before; And as they sate at dinner, they suddainly heard the sound of a little Bell issuing from among the Bryers and Brambles that were at hand; and instantly after they saw

come out of the Thicket a very fair shee-Goate, whose hide was powdred all over with black, white & brown spots: after her followed a Goat-heard crying unto her, and in his language, bidding her stay or return to the Fold; but the fugitive Goat, all affrighted and fearfull, ran towards the companie, and as it were seeking in her dumbe manner to bee protected, strayed neer unto them: Then did the Goat-heard arive; and laying hold of her hornes (as if shee had been capable of his reprehension) said unto her; O yee wanton Ape, yee spotted Elfe; how come yee to halt with me of late dayes? What Wolves doe skarre your daughter? Will you not tell me, fair, what the matter is? But what can it be other then that you are a female, and therefore can never bee quiet? A foul evill take your conditions, and all theirs whom you so much resemble: Turn back, love, turn back, and though you bee not so content withall, yet shall you at least bee more safe in your own Fold, and among the rest of your fellows: for if you that should guide and direct them, goe thus distracted and wandring, what then must they doe? what will become of them?

The Goat-heards words did not a little delight the hearers, but principally the Ca∣non, who said unto him, I pray thee, good fellow, take thy rest heere a while, and doe not hasten that Goat so much to her Fold for seeing she is a female, as thou sayest, she will follow her naturall instinct, how much soever thou opposest thy selfe unto it: take therefore that bit, and drink a draught wherewithall thou maiest temper thy choller, and the Goate will rest her the whilst: and saying so, he gave him the hinder quarter of a cold Rabbet: which he receiving, rendered him many thanks and drinking a draught of wine, did pacifie himself, and said presently after, I would not have you, my Masters, account me simple, although I spoke to this beast in so earnest a fashion; for in truth the words which I used unto her, were not without some mistery, I am indeed rustick, and yet not so much, but that I know how to converse with men, and with beasts. I beleeve that easily, quoth the Curate, for I know already by experience, that the woods breed learned men, and sheep-coats containe Philosophers. At the least, Sir, replyed the Goat-heard, they have among them experienced men: and that you may give the more credit to this truth, and as it were, touch it with your owne hands, (although till I be ••idden, I may seeme to invite my self) I will, if you please to hear me but a while, relate unto you a very true accident, which shall make good what this Gentleman (pointing to the Curate) and my self have affirmed. To this Don-Quixote answered, Because the case doth seem to have in it some shadow of Knightly adventures, I will for my part listen unto thee with a very good will, and I presume that all these Gentlemen will doe the like, so great is their discretion, and desire to know curious novelty which amaze, delight, and entertain the senses, as I doe certainly beleeve thy history will. Therefore begin it, friend, and all of us will lend our eares unto it. I except mine, quoth Sancho; for I will goe with this Pastie unto that little streame, where I mean to fill my self for three daies; for I have heard my Lord Don-Quixote say, that a Knight Errants Squire must eate when he can, and alwaies as much as he can, because that oftentimes they enter by chance into some, wood so intricate, as they cannot get out of it again in five or six daies: and if a mans panch be not then well stuffed, or his wallet well stored, he may there remaine, and be turned, as many times it happens, into mummy. Thou art in the right of it, Sancho, quoth Don-Quixote: goe therefore where thou wilt, and eate what thou maiest; for I am already satisfied, and only want refection for my minde, which now I will give it by listening to this good fellow. The same will we also give unto ours, quoth the Canon, who therewithall intreated the Goat-heard to keepe pro∣mise, and begin his ••ale. Then he stroking once or twice his pretty Goat, (which he yet held fast by the horns) said thus, Lie down, pide fool, by me, for we shall have time enough to return home againe. It seemed that the Goat understood him; for as soone as her Master sate, downe, shee quietly stretched her self along by him, and looking him in the face, did give to understand, that shee was attentive to what he was saying; And then he began his history in this manner.