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

CHAP. XI.

Of the strange Adventure that befell Don-Quixote, with the Cart or Waggon of the Parliament of Death.

DON-QVIXOTE went on, wonderfull pensative to thinke what a shrewd trick the Enchanters had played him, in changing his Mi∣stresse Dulcinea into the rustick shape of a Country-wench, and could not imagine what meanes hee might use to bring her to her pristine being; and these thoughts so distracted him, that carelesly hee gave Rozinante the Reines, who perceiving the liberty hee had, stayed every stitch-while to feede upon the greene grasse, of which those fields were full; but Sancho put him out of his Maze, saying Sir; sorrow was not ordained for beasts, but men, yet if men doe exceede in it, they become beasts; pray Sir recollect and come to your selfe, and pluck up Rozinantes Reines, revive and cheere your selfe, shew the courage that befits a Knight Errant. What a Devil's the matter? What faintnesse is this? are we dreaming on a dry Summer? Now Satan take all the Dulcineaes in the world, since the wel-fare of one only Knight Errant, is more worth then all the Enchantments and transformations in the world.

Peace Sancho (quoth Don-Quixote) with a voice now not very faint, Peace I say, and speake no blasphemies against that Enchanted Lady; for I only am in fault for her misfortune and unhappinesse: Her ill-plight springs from the envie that Enchanters beare mee. So say I too (quoth Sancho) for what heart sees her now, that saw her before, and doth not deplore? Thou maist well say so Sancho, replied Don-Quixote, since thou sawest her in her just entyre beautie, and the Enchantment dimmed not thy sight nor concealed her fairnesse: Against me only, only against mine eyes the force of its venome is directed.

But for all that Sancho, I have faln upon one thing, which is, that thou didst ill de∣scribe her beauty to me; for if I forget not, thou saidst she had eyes of Pearles: and such eyes are rather the eyes of a Sea-Breame then a fayre Dames; but as I thinke, Dul∣cineaes eyes are like two green-Emralds raled with two Celestiall Arkes, that serve them for eye-brows. And therfore for your Pearles, take them from her eyes, and put them to her teeth: for doubtlesse Sancho, thou mistook'st eyes for teeth. All this may be, said Sancho, for her beauty troubled me, as much as her foulnesse since hath done you; but leave we all to God, who is the knower of all things that befalls us in this Vale of teares, in this wicked world; where there is scarce any thing without mixture of mischief, Im∣postorship, or villanie.

One thing (Master mine) troubles me more then all the rest; to think what meanes there will bee, when you overcome any Giant or other Knight, and command him to

present himself before the beauty of the Lady Dulcinea, where this poor Gyant, or mi∣serable vanquisht Knight shall finde her? Me thinks I see um goe staring up and down Toboso, to finde my Lady Dulcinea, and though they should meet her in the middle of the street, yet they would no more know her then my Father.

It may bee Sancho (quoth Don-Quixote) her Enchantment will not extend to take from vanquish••d and presented Gyants and Knights the knowledge of Dulcinea: and therefore in one or two of the first I conquer and send, wee will make tryall whether they see her or no, commanding them that they return to relate unto me what hath befaln them.

I say Sir (quoth Sancho) I like what you have said very well, and by this device wee shall know what wee desire; and if so bee shee bee only hidden to you, your misfor∣tune is beyond hers: but so my Lady Dulcinea have health and content, wee will beare and passe it over here as well as wee may, seeking our Adventures; and let time alone, who is the best Phisician for these and other infirmities.

Don-Quixote would have answered Sancho Panca; but hee was interrupted by a Waggon that came crosse the way, loaden with the most different and strange perso∣nages and shapes that might be imagined. Hee that guided the Mules, and served for Waggoner, was an ugly Devill. The Wagons self was open without Tilt or Boughs. The first shape that presented it self to Don-Quixotes eyes, was of Death her self, with a humane face: And next her an Angel with large painted wings. On one side stood an Emperour, with a crown upon his head, to see to, of gold. At Deaths feet was the God called Cupid, not blind-folded, but with his Bow, his Quiver, and Arrows. There was also a Knight compleatly Arm'd, only hee had no Murrion or Head-peece, but a Hat full of divers colour'd plumes: With these there were other personages of different fashions and faces.

All which seen on a suddain, in some sort troubled Don-Quixote, and affrighted Sancho's heart; but straight Don-Quixote was jocund, beleeving that some rare and dangerous Adventure was offered unto him; and with this thought, and a minde, dispo∣sed to give the onset to any perill, hee got himself before the Waggon, and with a loud and threatning voyce cryed out: Carter, Coach-man, or Devill, or whatsoe're thou art, bee not slow to tell mee who thou art? Whither thou goest? And what People these are thou carriest in thy Cart-Coach, rather like Charons Boat, then Waggons now in use?

To which the Devill, staying the Cart, gently replied, Sir, wee are Players of Thomas Angulo's Companie; wee have played a Play called The Parliament of Death against this Corpus Christi tyde, in a Town behinde the ridge of yonder Mountain, and this afternoon wee are to play it again at the Town you see before us, which because it is so neer, to save a labour of new attiring us, wee goe in the same clothes in which wee are to Act. That young man playes Death: That other an Angell: That woman, our Authors wife, the Queen: A fourth there, a Souldier: A fifth the Empe∣rour: And I the Devill, which is one of the chiefest Actors in the Play, for I have the best part. If you desire to know any thing else of us, ask mee, and I shall answer you most punctually; for as I am a Devill, nothing is unknown to mee.

By the faith of a Knight Errant (said Don-Quixote) as soon as ever I saw this Wag∣gon, I imagined some strange Adventure towards; and now I say it is fit to bee fully satisfied of these apparitions, by touching them with our hands. God bee with you honest people; Act your Play, and see whether you will command any thing wherein I may bee serviceable to you; for I will be so most cheerfully and willingly: for since I was a boy, I have loved Mask-shews, and in my youth I have been ravished with Stage-Playes.

Whilest they were thus discoursing, it fell out, that one of the companie came to∣ward them, clad for the Fool in the Play, with Morrice-bells, and at the end of a stick hee had three Cows bladders full-blown, who thus masked running toward Don-Quixote, began to fence with his cudgell, and to thwack the bladders upon the ground,

and to frisk with his bells in the aire; which dreadfull sight so troubled Rozinante that Don-Quixote not able to hold him in (for hee had gotten the bridle betwixt his teeth) hee fell a running up and down the Field, much swifter then his anatomized bones made shew for.

Sancho that considered in what danger of being thrown down his Master might bee, leapt from Dapple, and with all speed ran to help him; but by that time hee came to him, hee was upon the ground, and Rozinante by him; for they both tumbled together. This was the common passe Rozinante's tricks and boldnesse came to: But no sooner had Sancho left his horse-backship to come to Don-Quixote, when the damning De∣vill with the bladders leapt on Dapple, and clapping him with them, the fear and noyse, more then the blows, made him fly thorow the Field, toward the Place where they were to Play. Sancho beheld Dapples career and his Masters fall, and knew not to which of the ill chances hee might first repaire: But yet, like a good Squire and faithfull Servant, his Masters love prevailed more with him then the cockering of his Asse: though every hoysting of the bladders, and falling on Dapples buttocks, were to him trances and tydings of death, and rather had he those blowes had lighted on his eye∣balls, then on the least haire on his Asses tayle.

In this perplexitie hee came to Don-Quixote, who was in a great deale worse plight then he was willing to see him; and helping him on Rozinante said; Sir, the Devill hath carried away Dapple. What Devill (quoth Don-Quixote?) He with the blad∣ders replied Sancho. Well, I will recover him (said Don-Quixote) though hee should lock him up with him in the darkest and deepest dungeons of Hell: Follow me Sancho, for the waggon goes but slowly, and the Mules shall satisfie Dapples losse. There is no need (said Sancho) temper your choller, for now I see the Devill hath left Dapple, and he returnes to his home: and he said true, for the Devill having falne with Dapple, to imitate Don-Quixote and Rozinante, he went on foot to the town, and the Asse came back to his Master.

For all that (said Don-Quixote) it were fit to take revenge of the Devil's un∣mannerlynesse upon some of those in the Waggon, even of the Emperour him∣selfe. Oh never thinke of any such matter (said Sancho) and take my Conncell, that is, Never to meddle with Players, for they are a people mightily beloved: I have knowne one of um in Prison for two murders, and yet scap'd Scot-free: Know this Sir, That as they are Merry Joviall Lads; all men Love, Esteeme and helpe them, especially if they be the Kings Players, and all of them in their fashion and garbe are Gentleman-like.

For all that (said Don-Quixote) the Devill-Player shall not scape from mee and bragge of it, though all mankinde helpe him: And so saying, hee got to the Waggon, that was now somwhat neere the Towne, and crying aloud, said; Hold, stay, merry Greekes, for Ile make yee know what belongs to the Asses and Furni∣ture, belonging to the Squires of Knights Errant. Don-Quixotes noyse was such, that those of the Waggon heard it; and guessing at his intention by his speeches, in an instant Mistrisse Death leapt out of the Waggon, and after her the Emperour, the Devill-Waggoner, and the Angell, and the Queene too, with little Cupid, all of them were streight loaded with stones, and put themselves in Order, expecting Don-Quixote with their peeble poynts.

Don-Quixote, that saw them in so gallant a Squadron, ready to discharge strongly their stones, held in Rozinantes Reynes, and began to consider how he should set upon them with least hazard of his Person. Whil'st hee thus stayed, Sancho came to him, and seeing him ready to give the onset said; 'Tis a meere madnesse Sir, to attempt this en∣terprize: I pray consider, that for your River-sops [Meaning the stones] there are no defensive weapons in the world, but to bee shut up and inlay'd under a brazen Bell: And consider likewise, 'tis rather Rashnesse then Valour, for one man alone to set upon an Army wherein Death is, and where Emperours fight in Person, and where good and bad Angels helpe: And if the consideration of this bee not sufficient, may this move you to know; That amongst all there (though they

seeme to bee Kings, Princes and Emperours, yet there is not so much as one Knight Errant.

Thou hast hit upon the right Sancho (said Don-Quixote) the very point that may alter my determination: I neyther can nor must draw my Sword, as I have often told thee, against any that bee not Knights Errant. It concernes thee Sancho, if thou meanest to bee Revenged for the wrong done unto thine Asse, and I will en∣courage thee, and from hence give thee wholsome instructions. There needes no being Revenged of any body (said Sancho) for there is no Christianity in it; besides, mine Asse shall bee contented to put his Cause to mee, and to my Will; which is to live peaceable and quietly, as long as Heaven shall bee pleased to afford mee Life.

Since this is thy determination (said Don-Quixote) honest, wise, disceet, Christian∣like, pure Sancho, let us leave these dreams, and seek other better and more reall Ad∣ventures; for I see this Countrey is like to afford us many miraculous ones. So hee turned Rozinantes reines, and Sancho took his Dapple, Death with all the flying Squa∣dron returned to the Waggon, and went on their voyage: And this was the happy end of the Waggon of Deaths Adventure; thanks be to the good advice that Sancho Panca gave his Master; to whom the day after there hapned another Adventure, no lesse pleasant, with an enamoured Knight Errant as well as hee.