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

CHAP. XLV.

How the Grand Sancho Pança took possession of his Island, and the manner of his beginning to Govern.

OPerpetuall discoverer of the Antipodes; Torch to the World; Eye of Heaven; sweet Stirrer of Wine-cooling Vessells: one while Titan, another Phoebus: some times an Archer, other whiles a Physician; Father of Poesie; Inventer of Musick; thou that alwaies risest, and (though it seem so) yet never settest. To thee I speak, O Sunne, by which man begets man: To thee I speak; help me, and lighten my obscure wit, that I may punctually runn thorow the narration of the Grand Sancho Panca's Government; for without thee I am dull, unmolded, and con∣fused. I proceed then thus.

Sancho with all his troop came to a Town, which had in it about a thousand Inhabi∣tants, which was one of the best the Duke had: They told him the Island was called Barataria, eyther because the Town was called Baratario, or else because hee had ob∣tained his Government so cheap. When hee came to the Town Gates (for it was wall∣ed)

the Officers came out to welcome him; the bells rung, and all the Inhabitants made shew of a generall gladnesse, and they carried him in great pomp to the high Church, to give God thanks: and straight, after some ridiculous ceremonies, they de∣livered him the Keyes, & admitted him for perpetuall Governour of the Island Barata∣ria. His apparell, his beard, his fatnesse, and the shortnesse of this new Governour, made all the people admire that knew not the jigg of the matter, and those also that knew it, which were many.

Finally, when hee came out of the Church, they carried him to the Judgement seat, and seated him i•• it, and the Dukes Steward told him; It is an old custome, Sir Gover∣nour in this Island, that hee that comes to take possession of this famous Island, must answer to a question that shall bee asked him, that must bee somewhat hard and intricate, by whose answer the Town ghesseth and taketh the pulse of their new Governours capacity, and accordingly, is either glad or sorry at his comming.

Whilest the Steward said this to Sancho, hee was looking upon certain great letters that were written upon the wall over against his seat; and because hee himself could not read, hee asked what painting that was in the wall? It was (answered him:) Sir, the day is set down there in which your Honour took possession of this Island, and the Epitaph saies thus; This day, such a day of the moneth and yeer, Signior Don Sancho Pança took possession of this Island, long may hee enjoy it. And whom call they Don San∣cho Panca (said Sancho?) Your Honour (quoth the Steward;) for no other Panca hath come into this Island, but hee that is seated in that seat. Well, mark you Brother (quoth Sancho) there belongs no Don to me, neither ever was there any in all my Linage; I am plain Sancho, my Father was called Sancho, my Grandfather and all were Pansa's without any additions of Dons or Donnaes, and I beleeve this Island is as full of Dons as stones: but 'tis enough, God knows my meaning; and perhaps if my Government last but four daies to an end, I'le weed out these Dons that with their multiplicity doe weary and trouble like Mosquitos. On with your question, Master Steward, I'le an∣swer you as well as I can, let the Town bee sorry or not sorry.

At this instant two men came into the Judgemen•• place; the one clad like a Hus∣bandman, and the other like a Taylor, having sheeres in his hand; the Taylor said, Sir Governour, I and this Husbandman are come before you for this cause: This honest man came yesterday to my shop, and I, saving your reverence, am a Taylor, and a free man, God bee thanked, and shewing mee a piece of cloth, asked mee; Sir, will there bee enough here to make mee a Capouch? I measuring the cloth, answered him, Yes: he thought as I did, and I thought true, that I would steale some of his cloth, be∣ing maliciously bent, and out of the ill opinion hee had of Ta••l••rs: and hee replied a∣gaine, that I should tell if there were enough to make two: I smelt his drift, and told him, I; and my Gallant in his first knavish intention, went adding more Capouches, and I answered with more yesses, till wee came to five, and even now hee came for them, I give them him, but hee will not pay mee for the making, rather hee demands that I pay him, or returne him his cloth. Is it true this (quoth Sancho)? Yes, said the fellow; but pray, Sir, let him shew his five Capouches that hee hath made mee With a very good will, (quoth the Taylor:) and continently taking his hand from under his cloake, hee shewed five Capouches in it, upon each finger one, and said; Behold here the five Capouches that this man would have mee make, and in my soul and conscience I have not a jot of cloth left, as any workeman shall judge.

All the by standers laughed at the number of the Capouches, and the strange con∣tention. Sancho, after a little consideration, said; Mee thinkes, in this suit there need no delayes, but a quicke and plaine judgement; My sentence therefore is, that the Tay∣lor lose his labour, and the Husbandman his cloth, and that the Capouches bee carried to the poore in the prison, without any more adoe.

If the sentence that passed of the Grazier bred admiration in the by-stander, this mov'd them to laughter; but what the Governour commanded, was fulfilled: be∣fore whom, two ancient men were now presented; the one had a hollow Cane, in stead of a staffe, the other had none: hee without the staffe, said, Sir, I lent this ho∣nest

man long since, tenne Crownes in good Gold, to doe him a kindnesse: I let him alone a good while, without asking for them, because I would not put him to more trouble to repay mee, then hee had to borrow them of mee; but because I saw him carelesse of the payment, I have asked him more then once or twice for my money•• which hee not onely doth not returne mee, but denies, and sayes, hee never received the tenne Crownes I lent him or that if I did lend them him, hee hath payd mee: I have no witnesses, neyther of the lending, or of the payment: I pray, Sir, will you take his Oath? and if hee will sweare that hee hath payd mee, I give him an acquitance from henceforth, and before God. What say you to this, honest old man with the staffe (quoth Sancho?) Sir, I confesse that hee lent them mee, and hold downe your rod, [The custome in Spaine being, that hee who is to sweare, makes a crosse over the rod of Iustice,] and since hee will have mee sweare, I will, that I have payd him really and truely. The Governour held out his rod, and in the meane time, hee with the staffe, gave it to the other old man to hold, whilest hee was to sweare, as if it had hindred him: so with his hand hee made a crosse over the rod of Justice, saying, 'Twas true that hee had lent him the ten crownes that hee demanded; but that hee had truely restored them to him againe, and that his forgetting of it, made him continually de∣mand them. Which when the Grand Governour saw, hee asked the Creditor what hee could say against his Adversary? Hee said, that surely his debter said true, for hee held him to bee an honest man, and a good Christian, and that it might bee hee had forgotten, how or when hee payd him, and that from henceforward hee would never demand him ought. The debtor tooke his staffe again making an obeysance, was go∣ing out of the judgement place: Which when Sancho saw, and that hee was going with∣out any more adoe, and seeing likewise the others patience, hee nodded with his head on his brest, and clapt the Index of his right hand, upon his nose and eye-browes, and a pretty while was as it were considering, and by and by lifted up his head, and com∣manded that the old man with the staffe should bee brought to him: and Sancho see∣ing him, said, Honest man, give mee that staffe; for I have use for it. With a very good will, quoth the old man••••here 'tis, Sir, and gave it him. Sancho tooke it, and giv∣ing it to the other old man, ••ayd, Goe on Gods name, now you are payd. I Sir, said the old man? why, can this Cane bee worth ten crownes? Yes, said the Grvernour, or else I am the veriest block-head in the world: and now you shall see whether I have a braine or no to governe a whole Kingdome: so hee commanded that before them all the Cane should bee broken, which was done, and in the midst of it, they found the ten crownes.

All of them admired at this and held their Governour for a second Salomon. They asked him how hee gathered that the ten Crownes was in the Cane? He answered, That because hee saw the old man that was to sweare, give his Adversary the staffe whi∣lest hee tooke his oath, and that hee swore hee had given him the money truly and real∣ly; and that when hee had ended his oath, hee demanded his staffe of him againe, it came into his imagination, that within it the money was hidden; whereby it may bee collected, That although many Governors are starke Asses, yet somtimes it plea∣seth God to direct them in their Judgements; for besides, hee had heard the Vicar of his parish tell of such an Accident as this, and that hee had a speciall Memorie, for if it were not for forgetting all hee desired to remember, there were not such a Memory in the Island.

At last one of the old men ashamed, and the other payed his money, they departed, and those that were present were astonish't; and hee that wrote down Sanchoes words, deeds and behaviour, could not resolve, whether hee should set him dawn a foole or a wise-man.

As soone as this sute was ended, there came a woman into the place of Judgement, laying hold strongly on a man clad to see too, like a rich Grazier, who came crying a∣loud, saying, Justice (Lord Governour) Justice; and if I have it not on Earth, I will seeke it in Heaven. Sweete Governor this wicked man met mee on the high-way, and hath abused my body, as if it had beene an un-washed ragge; and, unhappy that I

am, hee hath gotten that that I have kept these three and twenty yeeres, defending it from Moores and Christians, from home-bred ones and strangers; I have beene as hard as a Corke-tree, and kept my selfe as entire as the Salamander in the fire, or as the wooll amongst the Bryars, and this man must come now with a washt hand and handle mee. This is to bee tryed yet (quoth Sancho) whether this gallants hands bee washt or no; and turning to the fellow hee said. What answere you to yonder womans com∣plaint? Who all in a fright answered: Sir (quoth hee) I am a poor Grazier, and deal in swine; a••d this morning I went (with pardon bee it spoken) from this Town to sell four Hoggs, and the tallage and other fees cost me little lesse then they were worth: as I went homeward, by the way I met with this good Matron, and the Devill, the Au∣thour of all mischief, yoaked us together: I gave her sufficient pay, but shee not sa∣tisfied, layd hold on me, and would not let me goe till shee had brought me hither: she sayes I forced her, but I swear shee lies; and this is true every jot of it. Then the Go∣vernour asked him, if hee had any money about him? Who answered him, Yes; that hee had in a leathern purse in his bosome some twenty Crowns in silver. He command∣ed him to take it out, and deliver it just as it was to the Plaintiff; which hee did trem∣bling: The woman received it, and making a thousand Moorish ducks to the company and praying to God for the Governours life and health, that was so charitable to poor Orphans and Maidens, shee went out from the place of Judgement, laying fast hold with both her hands on the purse, though first shee looked whether 'twere silver within or no. Shee was scarce gone, when Sancho said to the Grazier, that had tears standing in his eyes, and his heart going after his purse; Honest fellow, run after yonder wo∣man, and take her purse from her whether shee will or no, and bring it me hither. Hee spoke not to a fool or a deaf man, for straight hee parted like lightning, and went to perform what was commanded him.

All that were present were in suspence and expectation of the end of that suit, and a little after, both man and woman returned together, more fastened and clung together then formerly, shee with her coat up and her purse in her lapp, and hee striving to get it from her, which was not possible, she did so resist, crying out and saying, Justice of God and the World: Look you, Sir Governour, mark the little shame or fear of this despe∣rate man, that in the midest of a congregation, and in the midest of a street, would take away my purse that you commanded him to give me.

And hath hee got it (said the Governour?) Got it (said shee?) I had rather lose my life then the purse: I were a pretty childe yfaith then; you must set other manner of Colts upon me then this poor nasty sneak up: Pincers, Hammers, Beetles, scraping-Tools, shall not get it out of my claws, out of my Lyons paws; they shall rather get one half of my soul out of my flesh. Shee sayes right (quoth the fellow) I yeeld to her; I have no more power, I confesse my force is not sufficient to take it away.

Then said the Governour to the woman; You, Honesty, Virago, give me that purse hither; which shee did: and the Govenor restored it again to the man; and said to the forcible woman, but not forced, Doe you heare, sister? if you had shewed but half your valour and breath to defend your body, that you did for your purse, Hercules his force could not have forced you: get you gon with a Pox; come not into this Island, nor in six leagues round about it, on pain of two hundred lashes: get you gone straight (I say) Make-bate, shamelesse Coozener. The woman was afrighted, and away shee went like a Sheep-biter, and melancholy; and the Governour said to the man, Honest fellow, get you home on Gods name with your Money; and henceforward if you mean not to lose it, pray have no mind to yoak with any body. The man as clownishly as hee could, thanked him, and went his way: The by-standers admired afresh at the judgement and sentences of their new Governour. All which noted by his Chroniclist, was straight written to the Duke, that with much desire expected it. And leave wee honest Sancho here: for his Master hastens us now, that was all in a hurly-burly with Altifidora's Musick.