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

CHAP. L.

Where is declared, who were the Enchanters and Executioners that whipped the Matron, pincht and scratcht Don-Quixote; with the successe the Page had that carried the Letter to Teresa Pança, Sancho's Wife.

CID Hamete, the most punctuall Searcher of the very m••ats of this true History, sayes, That when Donna Rodriguez went out of her Chamber, to goe to Don-Quixotes lodging, another Wayting-woman that lay with her, perceived her: and as all of them have an itch to smell after novelties, shee went after so softly, that the good Rodriguez perceived it not: and as soon as the Waiting-woman saw her goe in to Don-Quixote, that shee might not bee defective in the generall custome of Make-bates, shee went pre∣sently to put this into the Duchesses head; and so told her that Donna Rodriguez was in Don-Quixotes Chamber; the Duchesse told the Duke, and asked his leave, that shee and Altisidora might goe see what the Matron would have with Don-Quixote: the Duke granted, and both of them very softly came close to Don-Quixotes door, and so neer that they heard all that was spoken within: and when the Duchesse heard that Rodriguez had set the Ara••xnez of her springs a running in the streets, shee could not suffer it, nor Altisidora neither: so, full of rage and greedy to revenge, they entred the Chamber so dainly, and stabbed Don-Quixote with their nails, and banged the Woman, as hath been related: for affronts that are directly done against beauty, doe awaken womens choller, and inflame in them a desire of revenge.

The Duchesse told the Duke what had passed, which made him passing merry: and the Duchesse proceeding with her intention of mirth and pastime with Don Quixote, dispatcht the Page that played the Enchanted Dulcinea's part (for Sancho had forgot∣ten it, being busied in his Government) to Teresa Panca with her Husbands Letter, and and another from her self, and a chain of fair Corall for a token.

The Story too tells us, that the Page was very discreet and wittie, and with a desire to serve his Lords, hee went with a very good will to Sancho's Town; and before hee entred into it, hee saw a company of women washing in a brook; whom hee asked, if they could tell him, if there lived in that Town a woman, whose name was Teresa Panca, wife to one Sancho Panca, Squire to a Knight called Don-Quixote de la Mancha; to which question a little Girle that was washing there, stood up and said, That Teresa Panca is my Mother, and that Sancho my Father, and that Knight our Master.

Well then Damzell (quoth the Page) come and bring me to your Mother; for I bring her a Letter and a Present from your said Father.

That I will with a very good will Sir, said the Wench, that seemed to bee about a some fourteen yeers of age, more or lesse: and leaving the clothes that shee was wash∣ing to another companion of hers, without dressing her head or putting on stockings and shooes (for shee was bare-legged, and with her haire about her eares) shee leaped before the Pages Beast hee rode on, and said, Come Sir, for our house is just as you come in at the Town, and there you shall finde my Mother with sorrow enough, be∣cause shee hath not heard from my Father this great while.

Well, I have so good news for her (quoth hee) that shee may thank God for it.

At length, leaping, running, and jumping, the Girle got to the Town, and before 〈◊〉〈◊〉 came into the house, shee cryed out aloud at the door: Come out Mother Teresa,

Come out, come out: for here's a Gentleman hath Letters and other things from my good Father: at which noise Teresa Panca her Mother came out, spinning a rowle of Flax, with a Russet Petti-coat, and it seemed by the shortnesse of it, that it had been cut off at the Placket; and shee had Russet bodies of the same, and shee was in her smo••k-sleeves; shee was not very old, for shee lookt as if shee had beene about for∣ty: but shee was strong, tough, sinowie, and raw-boned; who seeing her Daughter, and the Page a horse-back, said, What's the matter, child? What Gentleman is this? A servant of my Lady Teresa Panca's (quoth the Page:) so, doing and speaking, hee flung himselfe from his horse, and with great humilitie went to prostrate himselfe before the Lady Teresa, saying, My Lady Teresa, give mee your hands to kisse, as you are lawfull and particular Wife to my Lord Don Sancho Panca, proper Governour of the Island Barataria.

Ah good Sir, forbear I pray do not doe so, quoth Teresa: for I am no Court-noll, but a poore Husband-woman, a Ploughmans daughter, and wife to a Squire Errant, and not a Governour.

You are (quoth the Page) a most worthy wife, to an Arch-worthy Governour: and for proofe of what I say I pray receive this Letter, and this token; when instantly hee plucked out of his pocket a Corall string, with the lac'd Beads of gold, and put it a∣bout her neck, and said, This Letter is from the Governour; and another that I bring; and these Corals are from my Lady the Duchesse that sends me to you.

Teresa was amazed, and her daughter also: and the Wench said, Hang mee, if our Master Don-Quixote have not a hand in this businesse; and hee it is that hath given my Father this Government or Earledome that he so often promised him.

You say true (quoth the Page) for, for Signior Don-Quixotes sake, Signior Sancho Panca is now Governour of the Island Barataria, as you shall see by this Letter.

Reade it, gentle Sir, said Teresa: for though I can spin, I cannot reade a jot; nor I neither, added Sanchica: but stay a little and Ile call one that shall; either the Vicar himselfe, or the Bachelor Samson Carrasco, who will both come hither with all their hearts to heare newes of my Father.

You need not call any body, said hee: for though I cannot spin, yet I can reade, and therefore I will reade it; so hee did thorowout: which, because it was before re∣lated, it is not now set downe here and then hee drew out the Duchesses, which was as followeth:

FRiend Teresa, your Husbands good parts of his wit and ho∣nesty, moved and obliged mee, to request the Duke my Hus∣band, to give him the Government of one of the many Islands hee hath: I have understood, that hee governs like a Ier-Falcon, for which I am very glad; and consequently my Lord the Duke: for which I render heaven many thankes, in that I have not beene decei∣ved in making choise of him for the said government: for let mee tell, Mistris Teresa, it is a very difficult thing, to finde a good Gover∣nour in the world; and so God deale with mee, as Sancho governes. I have sent you (my beloved) a string of Corall Beads, with the tens of gold, I could wish they had beene Orientall Pearles; but something is better then nothing: time will come, that wee may know and converse one with another; and God knowes what will become of it.

Commend me to Sanchica your Daughter, and bid her from me, that

shee bee in a readinesse; for I mean to Marry her highly when shee least thinks of it.

They tell me that in your Town there, you have goodly Acornes; I pray send me some two dozen of them, & I shall esteem them much as comming from you: and write me at large, that I may know of your health and well-being; and if you want ought, there is no more to be done but mouth it, and your mouth shall have full measure, so God keep you. From this Town.

Your loving Friend, The Duchesse.

Lord! quoth Teresa, when she heard the Letter, what a good plain meek-Lady 'tis! God bury me with such Ladies, and not with your stately ones that are used in this town, who think, because they are Jantle-folks, the winde must not touch them: and they go so fantastically to Church, as if they were Queenes at least, and they think it a dis∣grace to um to looke upon a poor Countrey Woman: But looke you, here's a good Lady, that though she bee a Duchesse, calls mee friend, and useth mee as if I were her e∣quall: equall may I see her with the highest Steeple in the Mancha: and concern∣ing her Acorns, Signior mine, I will send her Ladyship a whole Pecke, that every body, shall behold, and admire them for their bignesse: and now, Sanchica, doe thou see that this Gentleman bee welcome: set his Horse up, and get some Egges out of the Stable, and cut some Bacon: hee shall fare like a Prince, for the good newes hee hath brought us, and his good face deserves it all: in the meane time I will goe tell my neigh∣bours of this good newes, and to our father Vicar, and Master Nicholas the Barber, who have beene, and still are so much thy fathers friends.

Yes marry will I (quoth Sanchica: but harke you: you must give mee half that string, for I doe not thinke my Ladie Duchesse such a foole, that shee would send it all to her.

'Tis all thine, Daughter, said Teresa: but let mee weare it a few dayes about my neck: for verily, it glads mee to the heart.

You will bee glad (quoth the Page) when you see the bundle that I have in my Port-mantue, which is a garment of fine cloth, which the Governour onely wore one day a Hunting, which he hath sent to Mistris Sanchica. Long may he live (quoth San∣chica) and hee that brings it too.

Teresa went out with her chaine about her neck, and playd with her fingers upon her Letters, as if they had been a Timbrel: and meeting by chance with the Vicar, and Samson Carrasce, shee began to dance, and to say, yfaith now there is none poore of the kinn, we have a little Government; No, no. Now let the proudest Gentlewoman of um all meddle with mee, and Ile shew her a new tricke.

What madnesse is this, Teresa Panca, and what Papers are these? No madnesse (quoth shee) but these are Letters from Duchesses and Governours: and these I weare about my neck are fine Corals; the Ave-Maries and Pater-nosters are of beaten gold, and I am a Governesse

Now God shield us Teresa: wee understand you not, neither know wee what you meane.

There you may see (quoth Teresa) and gave um the Letters.

The Vicar reads them that Samson Carrasco might heare: so hee and the Vicar look•• one upon the other, wondring at what they had read.

And the Bachelor asked, Who brought those Letters? Teresa answered, that they

should goe home with her and they should see the Messenger; a young Youth as fair as a golden Pine-Apple, and that hee brought her another Present twice as good.

The Vicar took the Corals from her neck and beheld them again and again, and assuring himself that they were right, hee began to wonder afresh, and said; By my Coat I swear, I know not what to say or think of these Letters and Tokens: for on the one side, I see and touch the finenesse of these Corals; and on the other, that a Du∣chesse sends to beg two dozen of Acornes. Come crack me that nut, quoth Carasco. Well, let us goe see the Bearer of this Letter, and by him wee will bee informed of these doubts that are offered. They did so, and Teresa went back with them: they found the Page sifting a little Barley for his Beast, and Sanchica cutting a Rasher to* pave it with Eggs for the Pages dinner, whose presence and attire much contented them both; [*Para Empedarte. A pretty metaphor, for in Spain they use to fry their Collops and Egs all together; not as wee doe, first Bacon, and then Eggs: and therefore the Author calls it paving:] and after they had courteously saluted him, and hee them, Samson asked him for news as well of Don-Quixote as Sancho: for though they had read Sancho and the Lady Duchesses Letters, yet they were troubled, and could not ghesse what Sancho's Government should mean, especially of an Island, since all or the most that were in the Mediterranean Sea, belonged to his Majesty.

To which the Page answered; That Signior Sancho Panca is Governour, 'tis not to be doubted; but whether it be an Island or no that hee governs, I meddle not with it; 'tis enough that is a place of above a thousand Inhabitants•• and concerning the Acornes let mee tell you: My Lady the Duchesse is so plaine and humble, that her sending for Acornes to this Countrey-woman is nothing. I have knowne when shee hath sent to borrow a Combe of one of her neighbours, and let mee tell you; The Ladies of Aragon, though they bee as Noble, yet they stand not so much upon their points, nei∣ther are so lofty as your Castilians, and they are much plainer.

Whilest they were in the middest of this discourse, Sanchica came leaping with her lap full of Egges, and asked the Page; Tell mee, Sir, doth my Father weare pained hose since his being Governour? I never marked it, quoth the Page, but sure hee doth. Oh God, quoth shee, what a sight it would bee, to see my Father in his linnen hose first! how say you? that ever since I was borne I have had a desire to see my Father in pain'd hose. With many of these you shall see him (quoth the Page) if you live. And I protest, if his Government last him but two Moneths longer, hee will bee likely to weare a Cap with a Beaver.

The Vicar and Bachelor perceived very well, that the Page played the Jack with them; but the goodnesse of the Corall-Beads and the hunting suit that Sancho sent made all straight again, for Teresa had shewed them the apparell, and they could not but laugh at Sanchica's desire, and most when Teresa said, Master Vicar, pray will you hearken out if there bee any body that goe toward Madrid or Toledo, that they may buy me a Farthingale round and well made, just in the fashion, and of the best sort; for in truth, in truth, I mean to credit my Husbands Government as much as I can; and if I bee angry, Ile to Court my self too, and have my Coach as well as the best: for shee that hath a Governour to her Husband may very well have it and maintain it.

And why not Mother (quoth Sanchica?) and the sooner the better, though those that see mee set with my Mother in the Coach should say, Look yee on Mistrisse Wha∣cham, good-man Garlike-eaters daughter, how shee is set and stretcht at ease in the Coach, as if shee were a Pope Ioane: but let them tread in the dirt, and let me goe in my Coach: a pox on all back-biters; the Fox fares best when hee is cursed. Say I well Mother mine? Very well (quoth shee) and my good Sancho foretold me of all these blessings and many more; and thou shalt see Daughter. Ile never rest till I am a Countesse; for all is but to begin well, and (as I have often heard thy good Father say, who is likewise the father of Proverbs:) Look not a given horse in the mouth: when a Government is given thee, take it; when an Earldome, gripe it; and when they hist, hist, to thee with a reward [hiss, hiss, as if it were the calling of a dog to give him meat]

take it up. No, no, be carelesse, and answer not good fortune when she knocks at your doors. And what care I (quoth Sanchica) what hee sayes that sees me stately and Ma∣jesticall: there's a dog in a doublet and such like.

When the Vicar heard all this, hee said, I cannot beleeve but all the stock of the Pan∣ca's were borne with a bushell of Proverbs in their bellies, I never saw any of them that did not scatter them at all times, and upon all occasions. You say true (quoth the Page) for Signior Sancho the Governour speaks them every foot; and though many of them bee nothing to the purpose, yet they delight, and my Lady the Duchesse and the Duke doe much celebrate them. That still you should affirm Sir, that this of Sancho's Government is true, and that there can bee any Duchesse in the world that sends him Presents, and writes to him; for wee, although wee see them, and have read the Letters, yet we cannot beleeve it & we think that this is one of Don-Quixote our Country-man his inventions, who thinks that all are by way of Enchantment: So that I am about to desire to feel and touch you, to see whether you bee an ayrie Ambassador, or a man of flesh and blood.

Sir (quoth the Page) all I know of my self, is, that I am a reall Ambassador, and that Signior Sancho Panca is an effective Governour, and that my Lords the Duke and Duchesse may give, and have given the said Government; and I have heard say that the said Sancho Panca demeans himself most robustiously in it. If in this there bee any Enchantment, you may dispute it amongst your selves, for I know no more, by an oath I shall swear, which is, By the life of my Parents, who are alive, and I love them very well.

It may very well bee (quoth the Bachelour) but dubitat Augustinus. Doubt it who so will (quoth the Page) I have told you the truth, which shall alwaies prevaile above lyes, as the oyle above the water: and if not operibus credite & non verbis, one of you goe with me, and you shall see with your eyes what you will not beleeve with your ears. That journey will I goe (quoth Sanchica;) you shall carrie me Sir, at your horses crupper, and Ile goe with a very good will to see my Father. Governours Daughters (quoth hee) must not travell alone, but accompanied with Carroches and Horse-Litters, and good store of Servants. Marry (quoth Sancha) I can goe as well upon a young Asse-Colt, as upon a Coach; you have a daintie piece of mee no doubt.

Peace wench (said Teresa) thou knowest not what thou sayest, and this Gentleman is in the right; the times are altered: When thy Father was Sancho, then mightest thou bee Sancha; but now hee is Governour, Madam; and I know not whether I have said ought. Mistris Teresa sayes more then shee is aware of (quoth the Page) and now pray let me dine and bee quickly dispatcht, for I must return this afternoon. Then (quoth the Vicar) you shall doe Penance with mee to day; for Mistris Teresa hath more good will then good cheer to wellcome so good a guest. The Page refused, but for his better fare, hee was forced to accept of the kindnesse; and the Vicar carried him the more willingly, that hee might have time to ask at leisure after Don-Quixotes exploits. The Bachelor offered Teresa to write the answers of her Letters, but shee would not that hee should deal in her affairs; for shee held him to bee a Scoffer: and so shee gave a little rowle of bread and a couple of eggs to a little Monk that could write, who wrote her two Letters, one for her Husband, and the other for the Duchesse, framed by her own pate, and are not the worst in all this grand History, as you may see hereafter.