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CHAP. XV.
Who the Knight of the Looking-glasses and his Squire were.
DOn-Quixote was extreamly contented, glad and vain-glorious, that hee had subdued so valiant a Knight as hee imagined hee of the Looking-glasses was, from whose Knightly word hee hoped to know if the Enchantment of his Mistris were certain, since of necessity the said vanquished Knight was to return (on pain of not being so) to re∣late what had hapned unto him: but Don Quixote thought one thing, and he of the Glasses another, though for the present hee minded nothing, but to seek where hee might sear-cloth himself: The History then tels us, that when the Bachelor Samson Carrasco advised Don Quixote to prosecute his forsaken Cavallery, hee entred first of all into counsell with the Vicar and the Bar∣ber to know what means they should use, that Don-Quixote might bee perswaded to stay at home peaceably and quietly, without troubling himself with his unluckie Ad∣ventures; from which counsail by the common consent of all, and particular opinion of Carrasco, it was agreed, That Don-Quixote should abroad again, since it was im∣possible to stay him; And that Samson should meet him upon the way like a Knight Errant, and should fight with him, since an occasion would not bee wanting, and so to overcome him, which would not bee difficult, and that there should bee a covenant and agreement, that the vanquished, should stand to courtesie of the vanquisher, so that Don-Quixote being vanquished, the Bachelor Knight should command him to get him home to his Town and House, and not to stir from thence in two yeers after, or till hee should command him to the contrary; the which in all likelihood Don-Quixote once vanquished would infallibly accomplish, as unwilling to contradict or bee defective in the Laws of Knighthood, and it might so be, that in this time of sequestring, he might for∣get all his vanities, or they might finde out some convenient remedie for his madnesse. Carrasco accepted of it, and Thomas Cecial offered himself to bee his Squire, Sancho Panca's neighbour and Gossip, a merry knave and a witty. Samson armed himself, as you have heard, and Thomas Cecial fitted the false nose to his own, and afterwards hee clapt on his vizard, that hee might not bee known by his Gossip when they should meet: So they held on the same voyage with Don-Quixote, and they came even just as hee was in the Adventure of Deaths Waggon: And at last they lighted on them in the Wood, where what befell them, the discreet Reader hath seen, and if it had not been for the strange opinion that Don Quixote had, that the Bachelor was not the selfe-same man, hee had been spoyled for ever, for taking another Degree since hee mist his mark.
Thomas Cecial that saw what ill use hee had made of his hopes, and the bad effect that his journey took, said to the Bachelor; Truely Master Samson wee have our deserts; things are easily conceived, and enterprizes easily undertaken, but very hardly perfor∣med. Don Quixote mad; we wife; but he is gone away sound and merry; you are here bruised and sorrowfull; let us know then who is the greatest mad-man, he that is so and cannot doe withall, or he that is so for his pleasure? The difference (quoth Samson) that between these mad-men is, that he that of necessity is so, will alwaies remain so; & he that accidentally is so, may leave it when hee will. Since it is so (said Thomas Cecial) I that for my pleasure was mad, when I would needs bee your Squire; for the same reason I will leave the Office and return home to my own house. 'Tis fit you should (said Samson) yet to think that I will doe so till I have soundly banged Don Quixote is vain; and now I goe not about to restore him to his wits, but to revenge my self on him; for the intollerable pain I feel in my ribs will not permit mee a more charitable discourse. Thus they two went on parlying, till they came to a Town where by chance they lighted