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

CHAP. XL.

Of matters that touch and pertaine to this Adventure, and most memorable Historie.

CERTAINLY, all they that delight in such Histories as this, must bee thankfull to Cid Hamete the Author of the Original, for his curiositie in setting downe every little tittle, without lea∣ving out the smallest matter that hath not been distinctly brought to ••light; hee paints out conceits, discovers imaginations, an∣sweres secrets, cleeres doubts, resolves arguments: To conclude manifests the least moate of each curious desire. Oh famous Au∣thor! Oh happy Don-Quixote! Oh renowned Dulcinea! Oh pleasant Sancho! all together, and each in particular, long may you live, to the delight and generall recreation of mortalls. The Storie then goes on, that just as Sancho saw the Afflicted dismay'd, he said, As I am honest man, and by the memorie of the Pancaes, I never heard nor saw, nor my Master never told me, nor could he ever conceit in his fancy such an Adventure as this. A thousand Satans take thee (not to curse thee) for an Enchanter as thou art, Gyant Malambruno, and hadst thou no kinde of punish∣ment for these sinners but this bearding them? What, had it not beene better and fit∣ter for them, to have bereaved them of halfe their Noses, though they had snuffled for it, and not to have clapt these Beards on them? I hold a wager they have no money to pay for their shaving. You say true Sir, quoth one of the twelve, wee have nothing to cleanse us with, therefore some of us have used a remedy of sticking Plaisters, which, applyed to our faces, and clapped on upon a suddaine, make them as plaine and smooth

as the bottome of a stone Morter; for though in Candaya there be women that goe up and down from house to house to take away the haire of the body, and to trim the eye-brows, and other slibber-sawces touching women, yet wee my Ladies wo∣men would never admit them, because they smell something of the Bawde: and if Signior Don-Quixote doe not help us, wee are like to goe with beards to our graves.

I would rather lose mine amongst Infidels (quoth Don-Quixote) then not ease you of yours. By this the Trifaldi came to her self again, and said, the very jyngling of this promise came into my eares in the midest of my Trance, and was enough to recover my sences: therefore once again renowned Errant and untamed Sir, let mee be∣seech you that your graciouspromise bee put in execution. For my part it shall (quoth Don-Quixote:) tell me Lady what I am to doe, for my minde is very prompt, and ready to serve you.

Thus it is (quoth the Afflicted) from hence to the Kingdome of Candaya, if you goe by Land, you have five thousand leagues, wanting two or three; but if you goe in the ayre, some three thousand two hundred and seven and twenty by a direct line. You must likewise know, that Malambruno told me, that when Fortune should bring mee to the Knight that must free us, that hee would send a Horse much better, and with fewer tricks then your Hirelings, which is the self-same Horse of wood, on which the valiant Pierres stole and carried away the fair Magalona, which Horse is governed by a pin that hee hath in his forehead, that serves for a bridle, and flies in the aire so swiftly as if the Devills themselves carried him. This Horse, according to Tradition, was made by the sage Merlin, and hee lent him to his friend Pierres, who made long voyages upon him, and stole away, as is said, the faire Magalona, carrying her in the aire at his Crupper, leaving all that beheld them on earth in a staring gaze; and hee lent him to none but those whom hee loved, or that payed him best; and since the Grand Pierres, hitherto wee have not heard that any else hath come upon his back: Malambruno got him from thence by his Art, and keeps him, making use of him in his voyages, which hee hath every foot thorow all parts of the world; and hee is here to day, and to morrow in France, and the next day at Ierusalem: and the best is, that this Horse neither eats nor sleeps, nor needs shooing; and hee ambles in the aire without wings, that hee that rides upon him, may carry a cup full of water in his hand, without spilling a jot: hee goes so soft and so easie, which made the fair Magalona glad to ride upon him.

Then (quoth Sancho) for your soft and easie going, my Dapple bears the bell, though hee goe not in the aire; but upon earth I'le play with him with all the Amblers in the world.

All of them laughed, and the Afflicted went on: And this Horse (if Malambruno will grant an end of our misfortune) within half an hour at night will bee with us; for hee told me, that the signe that I had found the Knight that should procure our liberty, should bee the sending of that Horse, whither hee should come speedily. And how many (quoth Sancho) may ride upon that Horse? The Afflicted answered, Two; one in the Saddle, and the other at the Crupper; and most commonly such two are Knight and Squire, when some stoln Damzell is wanting. I would faine know, Afflicted Ma∣dam (quoth Sancho) what this Horses name is. His name (quoth shee) is not like Bellerophons horse Pegasus, or Alexanders the great Bucephalus, or Orlando Furioso's Briliadoro, or Bayarte Reynaldos de Mantaluans, or Rogeros Frontino, or Bootes, or Perithons, the horses of the Sunne, nor Orelia Rodrigo the last unhappie King of the Goths his Horse, in that Battell where hee lost his life and Kingdome together.

I hold a wager (said Sancho) that since hee hath none of all these famous known names, that his name neither is not Rozinante my Masters horses name, which goes be∣yond all those that have been named already.

'Tis true (quoth the bearded Countesse) notwithstanding hee hath a name that fits him very well, which is Clavileno the swift: [Clavo a naile or wooden pinne; Leno wood in Spanish:] first, because hee is of wood; and then, because of the pinne in his

fore-head: so that for his name, hee may compare with Rozinante. I dislike not his name (said Sancho:) but what bridle, or what halter is hee governed with? I have told (said the Trifaldi) that with the pinne, turned as pleaseth the party that rides on him; hee will goe either in the aire, or raking and sweeping along the earth, or in a meane which ought to be sought in all well-ordered actions. I would faine see him (quoth Sancho) but to thinke that Ile get up on him, eyther in the saddle, or at the crupper, were to aske Peares of the Elme. 'Twere good indeede, that I that can scarce sit upon Dapple, and a pack-saddle as soft as silke, should get up upon a woodden crupper with∣out a Cushion or Pillow-beere: by Gad Ile not bruise my selfe to take away any bo∣dies Beard; let every one shave himselfe as well as hee can, for Ile not goe so long a Voyage with my Master: Besides, there is no use of mee for the shaving of these Beards, as there is for the disinchanting my Lady Dulcinea. Yes mary is there, said the Trifaldi, and so much, that I beleeve, without you we shall doe nothing. God and the King (quoth Sancho) [aqui del Roy; The usuall speech of Officers in Spayne, when a∣ny arested Person resists.] What have the Squires to doe with their Masters Adventures, they must reape the credit of ending them, and wee must beare the burden? Body of mee, if your Historians would say, Such a Knight ended such an Adventure, but with the helpe of such and such a Spuire, without whom it had been impossible to end it, 'twere somthing; but that they write drylie, Don Parlalipomenon, Knight of the three starres, ended the Adventure of the sixe Hob-goblins, without naming his Squires per∣son that was present at all, as if hee were not alive, I like it not my Masters; I tell you againe my Master may goe alone, much good may it doe him, and Ile stay here with my Lady the Duchesse, and it may bee when hee comes back, he shall find the Lady Dulcineaes business three-fold, nay five-fold bettered, for I purpose at idle times and when I am at leisure to give my selfe a Bout of whipping, bare-breeched. For all that (quoth the Duchesse) if need bee you must accompany him, honest Sancho, for all good People will intreat, that for your unnecessary feare these Gentlewomens faces be not so thick-bearded, for it were great pitty.

God and the King againe (quoth Sancho) when this charity were performed for some retired Damozels, as some working Gyrles, a man might undertake any hazard; but for to unbeard wayting-women, a pox: I would I might see um bearded from the highest to the lowest, from the nicest to the neatest. You are still bitter against waiting-women friend, quoth the Duchesse, you are much addicted to the Toledanian Apothe∣caries opinion; but on my faith you have no reason, for I have women in my House, that may bee a Patterne for Waiting-women, and here is Donna Rodriguez, that will not contradict mee. Your Excellency (quoth Rodriguez) may say what you will, God knowes all, whether wee bee Good or Bad; Bearded or Smoothe, as wee are our Mothers brought us forth as well as other Women, and since God cast us into the world, he knowes to what end; and I rely upon his mercy, and no bodies beard.

Well Mistrisse Rodriguez, and Lady Trifaldi quoth Don-Quixote, I hope to God he will behold your sorrowes with pittying eyes, and Sancho shall doe as I will have him, if Clavilenno were come once, and that I might encounter Malambruno; for I know, no Rasor would shave you with more facilitie, then my Sword should shave Malambrunoes head from his shoulders, for God permits the wicked, but not for ever.

Ah (quoth the Afflicted) now all the starres of the heavenly Region looke upon your Greatnesse, valorous Knight, with a gentle aspect, and infuse all prosperitie into your minde, and all valour, and make you the shield and succour of all dejected and reviled Waiting-woman-ship, abhominable to Apothecaries, backbited by Squires, and scoffed at by Pages, and the Devill take the Queane that in the floure of her youth put not her selfe in a Nunnery, rather then bee a waiting-woman, unfortunate as wee are, for though wee descend in a direct line, by man to man from Hector the Trojan, yet our Mistresses will never leave bethouing of us, tho••gh they might bee Queenes for it: O Gyant Malambruno (for though thou beest an Enchanter, thou art most

sure in my promises) send the matchlesse Clavileno unto us, that our misfortune may have an end; for if the heats come in, and these beards of ours last, woe bee to our ill fortune.

This the Trifaldi said with so much feeling, that she drew tears from all the spectators eyes, and stroaked them even from Sancho's; so that now hee resolved to accompanie his Master to the very end of the world, so he might obtain the taking the wooll from those venerable faces.