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

CHAP. XIX.

Of the Adventure of the enamoured Sheepheard, with other, indeed, pleasant accidents.

DOn-Quixote was not gone far from Don Diego's towne, when hee overtooke two men that seemed to be Parsons, or Schollers, with two Husbandmen that were mounted upon four Asses. One of the Schollers had (as it were in a Portmantue) a piece of white cloth for Scarlet, wrapped up in a piece of greene Buckeram, and two payre of Cotton Stockings. The other had nothing but two Foiless and a paire of Pumpes. The Husbandmen had other things, which shewed they came from some Market Towne, where they had bought them to carry home to their village: so as well the Schollers as the Hus∣bandmen fell into the same admiration, that all they had done who first saw Don-Quixote, & they longed to know what manner of fellow he was, so different from all other men. Don-Quixote saluted them, and after hee asked them whither they went, and that they had said they went his way, he offered them his company, and desired them to go softlyer, for that their young Asses travelled faster then his horse: and to oblige them the more, he told them who he was, and of his profession, that he was a Knight Er∣rant, that he went to seeke Adventures round about the world. Hee told them his proper name was Don-Quixote de la Mancha, but his ordinary name, The Knight of the Lyons.

All this to the Husbandmen was Heathen Greek, or Pedlers French: but not to the Schollers, who straight perceived the weakenesse of Don-Quixotes brain: Not∣withstanding they beheld him with great admiration and respect, and one of them said, Knight, if you goe no set journey, as they which seeke Adventures seldome doe, I pray goe with us, and you shall see one of the bravest and most sumptuous mariages that ever was kept in the Mancha, or in many leagues round about. Don-Quixote asked them if it were of any Prince (for so hee imagined.) No, Sir, (said hee) but betwixt a Farmer, and a Farmers daughter: hee is the richest in all the Countrey, and she the fairest alive. Their provision for this marriage is new and rare, and it is to be kept in a medow neere the Brides towne. Shee is, called, the more to set her out, Quiteria the faire, and hee Camacho the rich: she is about eightteene yeeres of age, and hee two and twenty, both well met, but that some nice people, that busie them∣selves in all mens linages, will say that the faire Quiteria is of better parentage then he: but that's nothing, riches are able to soulder all clests. To say true, this Cha∣macho is liberall, and he hath longed to make an Arbor, and cover all the Medow on the Top so that the Sunne will bee troubled to enter to visit the greene hearbs under∣neath. Hee hath also certaine warlike Morrices, as well of swords, as little jyngling bels; for wee have those in the towne that will jangle them. For your foot-clappers I say nothing, you would wonder to see them bestirre themselves: but none of these, nor others I have told you of, are like to make this marriage so remarkeable, as the de∣spised Basilius. This Basilius is a neighbouring swaine of Quiteria's Towne, whose house was next dore to her Fathers. From hence Love tooke occasion to renew un∣to the world, the long forgotten loves of Pyramus and Thyshe; for Basilius loved

Quiteria from a childe, and shee answered his desires with a thousand loving favors. So that it grew a common talke in the towne, of the love betweene the two little ones. Quiteria began to grow to some yeeres, and her Father began to deny Basilius his ordinary accesse to the house; and to avoyd all suspicion, purposed to marry her to the rich Camacho, not thinking it fit to marry her to Basilius, who was not so rich in For∣tunes goods, as in those of the minde, (for to say truth without envy) hee is the acti∣vest youth wee have, a famous Barre-pitcher, an excellent Wrastler, a great Tennis-player, hee runnes like a Deere, out-leapes a shee-goat, and playes at tenne pinnes mi∣raculously, sings like a Larke, playes upon a Gitterne as if hee made it speake, and a∣bove all, fenceth as well as the best.

For that slight only (quoth Don Quixote) the youth deserves not onely to match with the faire Quiteria, but with Queene Ginebra her selfe, if she were now alive, in spight of Lansarote, and all that would gain say it. There's for my wife now (quoth Sancho that had beene all this while silent) that would have every one marry with their equals, holding her selfe to the Proverbe, that sayes; Like to like (quoth the Devill to the Collier.) All that I desire, is, that honest Basilius (for me thinkes I love him) were married to Quiteria, and God give um joy (I was saying) those that goe about to hinder the marriage of two that love well. If all that love well (quoth Don-Quixote) should marry, Parents would lose the priviledge of marrying their children, when and with whom they ought; and if daughters might chuse their husbands, you should have some would choose their fathers servants, and others, any passenger in the street, whom they thought to bee a lusty swaggerer, although hee were a cowardly Russian; for love and affection doe easily blinde the eyes of the understanding, which is onely fit to choose, and the state of Matrimony is a ticklish thing, and there is great heed to be taken, and a particular favour to be given from above to make it light happily.

Any man that would but undertake some voyage, if hee bee wise, before hee is on his way, hee will seeke him some good companion. And why should not hee doe so, that must travell all his life time till hee come to his resting place, Death? and the rather if his company must bee at bed and at boord, and in all places, as the Wives companie must be with the Husband? Your wife is not a commodity like others that is bought and sold, or exchang'd; but an inseparable accident, that lasts for terme of life. It is a nooze, that being fastned about the neck, turns to a Gordian knot, which cannot bee undone but by Deaths sickle.

I could tell yee much more in this businesse, were it not for the desire I have to bee satisfied by Master Parson, if there bee any more to come of Basilius his story. To which hee answered, This is all, that from the instant that Basilius knew the faire Qui∣teria was to bee married to the rich Camacho, hee was never seene to smile, or talke sen∣sibly; and hee is alwaies sad and pensative, talkes to himselfe; an evident token that hee is distracted: eates little, sleepes much; all he cates is fruits, and all his sleepe is in the fields, upon the hard ground like a Beast; now and then hee lookes up to Heaven, and sometimes casts his eyes downeward, so senslesse, as if he were only a Statue cloathed, and the very ayre strikes off his garments. In fine, hee hath all the signes of a passionate heart, and wee are all of opinion, that by that time Quiteria to morrow gives the, I, it will be the Sentence of his Death. God forbid (said Sancho) for God gives the wound, and God gives the salve, no body knowes what may happen, 'tis a good many houres betweene this and to morrow, and in one houre, nay one minute, a house falls; and I have seen the Sunne shine, and foule weather in an instant; one goes to bed sound at night, and stirres not the next morning: and pray tell mee, is there any one here that can say hee hath stayed the course of Fortunes great wheele? No truly, and betweene a womans I, and no, I would be loth to put a pins point, for it would hardly enter. Let mee have Mistrisse Quiteria love Basilius with all her heart, and Ile give him a bag full of good luck, for your love (as I have heard tell) lookes wantonly with eyes that make copper seeme gold, and poverty riches, and filth in the eyes, pearles. Whether a plague run'st thou Sancho, (quoth Don-Quixote?) when thou goest threding on thy Proverbs and thy flim-flams, Iudas himselfe though hee take thee cannot hold thee: Tell

me Beast; what knowest thou of fortune or her wheel, or any thing else? Oh if you understand me not, no marvell though my sentences bee held for fopperies: well, I know what I say, and know I have not spoken much from the purpose; but you, Sir, are allwaies the Tourney to my words and actions. Attourney thou wouldest say: God confound thee thou, prevaricator of language.

Doe not you deale with me (said Sancho) since you know I have not been brought up in Court, nor studied in Salamanca to know whether I add or diminish any of my syllables. Lord God, you must not think your Galizian [One of that Province that speak a bastard language to the Spanish,] can speak like your Toledonian, and they nei∣ther are not all so nimble. For matter of your Court language (quoth the Parson) 'tis true; for they that are bred in the Tanner-rows and the Zocodoner [The Market place so called in Toledo,] cannot discourse like them that walk all day in the high Church Cloysters; yet all are Toledonians, the language is pure, proper, and elegant (indeed) only in your discreet Courtiers, let them bee borne where they will: Discreet I say, because many are otherwise, and discretion is the Grammer of good language, which is accompanied with practice: I Sir, I thank God have studied the Canons in Salamanca, and presume sometimes to yeeld a reason in plain and significant tearms. If you did not presume (said the other Scholler) more on your using the foyles you carry then your tongue, you might have been Senior in your degree, whereas now you are lag. Look you Bachelour (quoth the Parson) you are in the most erronious opinion of the world, touching the skill of the weapon, since you hold it frivolous. 'Tis no opinion of mine (said Corchuelo) but a manifest truth; and, if you will have me shew it by experience, there you have foyles commodious: I have an arme, and strength, which, together with my courage, which is not small, will make you confesse I am not deceived; alight, and keep your distance, your circles, your corners, and all your Science; I hope to make your see the starres at noon day with my skill, which is but modern and mean, which though it bee small, I hope to God the man is yet unborn that shall make mee turne my back; and there is no man in the world but I'le make him give ground. For turning your back (said the skillfull) I meddle not, though perhaps where you first set your foot, there your grave might bee diged, I mean, you might bee killed for despising skill. That you shall trye (said Corchuelo) and lighting hastily from his Asse, hee snatch∣ed one of the Swords that the Parson carried. Not so (said Don-Quixote instantly) I'le bee the Master of this Fence, and the Judge of this undecided controversie: and lighting from Rozinante, and taking his Launce, hee stepped between them till such time as the Parson had put himself into his Posture and distance against Corchuelo, who rann (as you would say) darting fire out of his eyes. The two Husbandmen that were by, without lighting from their Asses, served for spectators of the mortall Tragedy: the blows, the stockadoes, your false thrusts, your back-blows, your doubling blows, that came from Corchuelo, were numberlesse, as thick as hopps, or haile, hee laid on like an angry Lyon; but still the Parson gave him a stopple for his mouth, with the button of his foyle, which stopped him in the mid'st of his fury; and hee made him kisse it as if it had been a Relike, though not with so much devotion as is due to them. In a word, the Parson with pure Stocados told all the buttons of his Cassock which hee had on, his skyrts flying about him like a fishes tayle. Twice hee strook off his hat, and so wea∣ried him, that what for despight, what for choller and rage, he took the sword by the hilt and flung it into the aire so forcibly, that one of the Husbandmen that was by, who was a notary, and went for it, gave testimony after, that he flung it almost three quarters of a mile; which testimony serves, and hath served, that it may bee known and really seen that force is overcome by Art.

Corchuelo sate down, being very weary, and Sancho coming to him, said; Truely Sir Bachelor, if you take my advice, hereafter challenge no man to fence, but to wrastle or throw the bar, since you have youth and force enough for it; for I have heard those that you call your skillfull men say, that they will thrust the poynt of a Sword through the eye of a Needle. I am glad (quoth Corchuelo) that I came from my Asse, and that experience hath shewed me what I would not have beleeved. So rising up, hee embra∣ced

the Parson, and they were as good friends as before So, not staying for the No∣tary that went for the Sword, because they thought he would tarry long, they resolved to follow, and come betimes to Quiteriaes Village, of whence they all were. By the way the Parson discourses to them, of the excellency of the Art of Fencing, with so many demonstrative Reasons, with so many Figures and Mathematicall demon∣strations, that all were satisfied with the rareness of the Science, and Corchuelo reduced from his obstinacy.

It began to grow darke, but before they drew neere, they all saw a kind of heaven of innumerable Stars before the Town. They heard likewise harmonious and confused sounds of divers instruments, as Flutes, Tabers, Psalteries, Recorders, hand-Drums and Bells; and when they drew neere, they saw that the trees of an Arbor, which had been made at the entrance of the towne, were all full of lights, which were not offended by the winde,•• that then blew not, but was so gentle, that it scarce moved the leaves of the trees. The Musicians were they that made the marriage more sprightly, who went two and two in companies, som dancing and singing, others playing upon divers of the a∣foresaid instruments: Nothing but myrth ran up and down the Medow, others were busied in raysing scaffolds, that they might the next day see the representations and dan∣ces commodiously, dedicated to the marriage of the rich Camacho, and the Obsequies of Basilius.

Don-Quixote would not enter the town, although the Husband-men and the Ba∣chelor entreated him; for he gave a sufficient excuse for himself (as he thought) that it was the custome of Knights Errant to sleep in Fields and Forrests, rather then in habita∣tions, though it were under golden roofs: so he went a little out of the way, much a∣gainst Sanchoes will, who remembred the good lodging he had in the Castle, or house of Don-Diego.