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

CHAP. XXI.

Of the prosecution of Camacho's marriage, with other delightfull accidents.

AS Don-Quixote and Sancho were in their discourse mentioned in the former chapter, they heard a great noyse and out-cry, which was caused by them that rode on the Mares, who with a large Career and shouts went to meet the married couple; who hemmed in with a thousand trickes and devices, came in company of the Vicar, and both their kindreds, and all the better sort of the neighbouring townes, all clad in their best apparell. And as Sancho saw the Bride•• he said, In good faith she is not drest like a country-wench, but like one of your nice Court Dames: by th'Masse me thinkes her glasse necke-laces shee should weare are rich Corrall; and her course greene of Cuenca, is a thirty piled velvet, [In stead of three piled;] and her lacing that should bee white linnen, (I vow by mee) is Satten: well looke on her hands that should have their jette rings, let mee not thrive if they bee not golden rings, arrant gold, and set with pearles as white as a sillabub, each of them as precious as an eye. Ah whoreson, and what lockes shee hath? for if they bee no•• false, I never saw longer, nor fairer in my life. Well, well, finde not fault with her livelinesse and stature, and compare her me to a Date tree, that bends up and down when it is loaden with bunches of Dates; for so doth shee with her trinkets hanging at her hayre and about her necke: I sweare by my soule, shee is a wench of mettall, and may very well passe the pike in Flanders.

Don-Quixote laughed at Sancho's rustick praises, a••d hee thought that setting his Mistris Dulcinea aside, hee never saw a fairer woman: the beauteous Quiteria was somewhat pale belike, with the ill night that Brides alwaies have when they dresse them∣selves for the next daies marriage: They drew neer to a Theater on one side of the Medow that was dressed with Carpets and Boughs, where the marriage was to bee solemnized, and where they should behold the Dances and inventions: And just as they should come to the place, they heard a great out-cry behinde them, and a voyce saying; Stay a while rash people as well as hasty: At whose voyce and words they all turned about, and saw that hee that spoke was one clad (to see to) in a black Jacket, all welted with Crimson in flames, crowned (as they straight perceived) with a crown of mourn∣full Cypresse; in his hand he had a great Truncheon: and comming neerer he was the known to bee the gallant Basilius, who were in suspence, expecting what should be the issue of those cryes & words, fearing some ill successe from this so unlooked-for arrivall: Hee drew neer, weary, and out of breath; and comming before the married couple, and clapping his Truncheon upon the ground, which had a steel pike at the end of it: his colour changed, and his eyes fixed upon Quiteria, with a fearfull hollow voyce, thus spoke.

Well knowest thou, forgetfull Quiteria, that according to the Law of God that we

professe, that whilest I live thou canst not bee married to any other; neither are you ignorant, that because I would stay till time and my industrie might better my For∣tunes, I would not break that decorum that was fitting to the preserving of thy hone∣sty: but you forgetting all duetie due to my virtuous desires will make another Ma∣ster of what is mine, whose riches serve not only to make him happie in them, but every way fortunate; and that he may bee so to the full (not as I think hee deserves it, but as the Fates ordain it for him) I will with these hands remove the impossibilitie or in∣convenience that may disturbe him, removing my self out of the way. Live rich Cama∣cho, live with the ungratefull Quiteria many and prosperous yeers; and let your poor Basilius die, whose povertie cliped the wings of his happinesse, and laid him in his grave: And saying this, hee laid hold of his Truncheon that he had stuck in the ground, and the one half of it remaining still there, shewed that it served for a scabberd to a short Tuck that was concealed in it, and putting that which might bee called the hilt on the ground, with a nimble spring and a resolute purpose, hee cast himself upon it, and in an instant the bloody poynt appeared out of his back, with half the steel blade; the poor soul weltring in his blood all along on the ground, runne thorow with his own weapon: His friends ranne presently to help him, grieved with his misery and miserable hap, and Don-Quixote forsaking his Rozinante, went also to help him; took him in his armes, but found that as yet there was life in him. They would have pulled out the Tuck, but the Vicar there present, was of opinion that it were not best, before hee had con∣fessed himself; for that the drawing it out and his death would bee both at one instant. But Basilius comming a little to himself, with a faint and dolefull voyce, said, If thou wouldest, O Quiteria, yet in this last and forcible trance, give me thy hand to be my Spouse, I should think my rashnesse might something excuse me, since with this I ob∣tain to bee thine.

The Vicar hearing this, bade him hee should have a care of his souls health, rather then of the pleasures of his body, and that hee should heartily ask God forgivenesse for his sinnes, and for his desparate action. To which Basilius replyed, That hee would by no means confesse himself if Quiteria did not first give him her hand to bee his Spouse, for that content would make him cheerfully confesse himself. When Don-Quixote heard the wounded mans petition, hee cryed aloud, that Basilius desired a thing very just and reasonable, and that Signior Camacho would bee as much honoured in receiving Quiteria, the worthy Basilius his Widdow, as if hee had received her from her Fathers side: here is no more to doe but give one I, no more then to pronounce it, since the nuptiall Bed of this marriage must be the Grave.

Camacho gave eare to all this, and was much troubled, not knowing what to doe or say: but Basilius his friends were so earnest, requesting him to consent that Quite∣ria might give him her hand to be his Spouse, that hee might not endanger his Soul by de∣parting desperately, that they moved him and enforced him to say, That if Quiteria would, hee was contented, seeing it was but deferring his desires a minute longer. Then all of them came to Quiteria, some with intreaties, others with tears, most with for∣cible reasons, and perswaded her shee should give her hand to poor Basilius; and shee more hard then marble, more lumpish then a statue, would not answer a word, nei∣ther would shee at all, had not the Vicar bid her resolve what shee would doe, for Ba∣silius was even now ready to depart, and could not expect her irresolute determination. Then the fair Quiteria, without answering a word, all sad and troubled, came where Basilius was with his eyes even set, his breath failing him, making shew as if hee would dye like a Gentile, and not like a Christian. Quiteria came at length, and upon her knees made signes to have his hand. Basilius unjoyned his eyes and looking stedfastly upon her, said, Oh Quiteria! thou art now come to bee pittifull, when thy pittie must bee the sword that shall end my life, since now I want force to receive the glory that thou givest in choosing me for thine, or to suspend the dolor that so hastily closeth up mine eyes with the fearfull shade of death: All I desire thee is (oh fatall starre of mine!) that the hand thou requirest, and that that thou wilt give me, that it bee not for fashion-sake, nor once more to deceive me, but that thou confesse and say, with∣out

being forced to it, that thou givest mee thy hand freely, as to thy lawfull Spouse, since it were unmercifull in this Trance to deceive mee, or to deale falsly with him that hath beene so true to thee. In the middest of this Discourse hee fainted, so that all the standers by thought now hee had beene gone. Quiteria all honest and shamefac'd, laying hold with her right hand on Basilius his hand, said to him; No force can worke upon my Will, and so I give thee the freest hand I have, to bee thy lawfull Spouse, and receive thine, if thou give it mee as freely, and that the anguish of thy sodaine accident doe not too much trouble thee. I give it (said Basilius) lively and coura∣giously, with the best understanding that Heaven hath endowed mee withall, and therefore take mee, and I deliver my selfe as thy Espousall; and I (said Quiteria) as thy Spouse, whether thou live long, or whether from my armes they carry thee to thy Grave.

This young man said Sancho, being so wounded, talks much mee think, let him leave his wooing, and attend his soules health, which me thinks appeares more in his tongue, then in his teeth.

Basilius and Quiteria having their hands thus fastened, the Vicar tender-hearted and compassionate, powred his blessing upon them, and prayed God to give good rest to the new married mans soule, who as soone as he received this benediction, sodainly starts up, and with an unlook'd for agility, drew out the Tuck which was sheathed in his body. All the spectators were in a maze, and some of them, more out of simplicitie then curiositie, began to cry out, A miracle, a miracle: But Basilius replyed, No Miracle, no miracle; but a Trick, a trick. But the Vicar heed-lesse and astonish't, came with both his hands to feele the wound, and found that the blade had neyther pas∣sed through flesh or ribs, but through a hollow pipe of iron, that hee filled with blood, well fitted in that place, and (as after it was knowne) prepared so that it could not congeale. At last the Vicar and Camacho, and all the standers by, thought that they were mocked and made a laughing stock. The Bride made no great shew of sorrow, ra∣ther when shee heard say that the marriage could not stand currant, because it was de∣ceitfull, shee said, that shee anew confirmed it; by which they all collected, That the businesse had beene plotted by the knowledge and consentment of them both.

At which Camacho and his friends were so abashed, that they remitted their revenge to their hands, and unsheathing many swords, they set upon Basilius, in whose favour, in an instant there were as many more drawne: and Don••Quixote taking the Vant∣guard on Horseback, with his Launce at his rest, and well covered with his shield, made way through um all. Sancho (whom such feares did never please or solace) ran to the pottage-pot, from whence hee had gotten the skimmings, thinking that to bee a San∣ctuary, and so to bee respected. Don-Quixote cryed aloud, Hold, hold Sirs; for there is no reason that you should take revenge for the wrongs that Love doth us; and ob∣serve that Love and Warre are all one; and as in warre it is lawfull to use sleights and stratagems to overcome the Enemie; So in amorous strifes and competencies, Impo∣stu••es and juggling-tricks are held for good, to attaine to the wished end, so it bee not in prejudice and dishonour of the thing affected. Quiteria was due to Basilius, and Basilius to Quiteria, by the just and favourable inclination of Heaven. Camacho, is rich, and may purchase his delight, and whom God hath joyned, let no man separate. Basilius hath but this one sheepe, let none offer to take it from him, bee hee never so powerfull: Hee that first attempts it, must first passe through the point of this Launce; at which hee shaked his Launce strongly and cunningly, that hee frighted all that knew him not: But Quiteriaes disdaine was so inwardly fixt in Camachoes heart, that hee forgot her in an instant; so that the Vicars perswasions prevailed with him (who was a good discreete and honest-minded man) by which Camacho and his complices were pacified and quieted, in signe of which, they put up their swords, rather blaming Qui∣terias facilitie, then Basilius his industry. Camacho fram'd this Discourse to himselfe, That if Quiteria loved Basilius when shee was a maide, shee would also have continued her love to him though she had beene his wife, so that he ought to give God thanks ra∣ther

for having ridden him of her, then to have given her to him. Camacho then, and those of his crue being comforted and pacified; all Basilius his likewise were so: and Camacho, to shew that hee stomacked not the jest, nor cared for it, was willing the Feast should goe forward, as if hee had been really married. But neither Basilius nor his Spouse, nor their followers would stay, but went to Basilius his Town: for your poor that bee virtuous and discreet, have as well those that will follow, honour, and uphold them, as the rich theirs, and such as will flatter them. Don-Quixote went with them too, for they esteemed him to bee a man of worth and valour: But Sancho's minde was in a mist to see that it was impossible for him to stay for Camacho's sumptu∣ous Feast and Sports that lasted till the evening; so that straightned and sorrowfull he followed on with his Master that went in Basilius his Squadron, and thus left behinde him those flesh-pots of Aegypt; though he bore them with him in his minde, whose skum which hee carried in the Kettle being consumed now and ended, represented un∣to him the glorious and aboundant happinsse hee lost; so that all sad and sorrow∣full, though hungerlesse, without alighting from Dapple, hee followed Rozinantes track.