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

CHAP. LXIX.

Of the newest and strangest Adventure that in all the course of this Hi∣story befell Don-Quixote.

THe Horsemen all alighted, and the Foot-men taking Don-Quixote and Sancho forcibly in their Armes, they set them in the Court, where round about were burning a hundred Torches in their Ves∣sels of purpose; and about the Turrets above five hundred lights; so that in spight of dark night, they might there see day.

In the midest of the Court there was a Hearse raised some two yards from the ground, covered with a Cloth of State of black Velvet, and round about it there burned a hundred Virgin Wax Candles in silver Candle-sticks; on the top of it there lay a fair Damzell that shewed to bee dead, that with her beauty made death her self seem faire: her head was laid upon a Pillow-bear of Cloth of gold, crowned with a Garland, woven with divers odo∣riferous Flowers: her hands was crosted upon her brest, and betwixt them was a bough of flourishing yellow Palme.

On one side of the Court there was a kinde of Theater set up, and two personages in their Chaires, who with their Crowns on their heads and Scepters in their hands, seemed to bee eyther reall or feigned Kings: at the side of this Theater where they went up by steps there were two other Chaires, where they that brought the prisoners set Don-Quixote and Sancho; and all this with silence, and signes to them that they should bee silent too: but without that they held their peace; for the admiration of what they there saw, tyed their tongues: After this two other principall personages came up, whom Don-Quixote straight knew to bee the Duke and Duchesse, his Host and Hostess, who sate down in two rich Chairs, neer the two seeming Kings. Whom would not this admire? especially having seen that the body upon the Hearse was the fair Altisidora? When the Duke and Duchesse mounted, Don Quixote and Sancho bowed to them, and the Dukes did the like, nodding their heads a little: And now an Officer entred athwart them; and comming to Sancho, clapt a Coat of black Buckram on him, all painted with flames of fire: and taking his Cap off, hee set a Miter on his head, just such a one as the Inquisition causes to bee set upon Heretiques, and bade him in his eare, hee should not unsow his lips, for they would clap a gagg in his mouth, or kill him.

Sancho beheld himself all over, and saw himself burning in flames; but since they burned not indeed, hee cared not a rush for them: hee took off his Miter and saw it painted with Devills; hee put it on again, and said within himself: Well, yet neither the one burns nor the other carries me away.

Don-Quixote beheld him also, and though fear suspended his sences, hee could not but laugh at Sancho's Picture: and now from under the Hearse there seemed to sound a low and pleasant sound of Flutes, which being un-interrupted by any mans voyce (for there it seemed silence it self kept silence) was soft and amorous.

Straight there appeared suddainly on the Pillow of the Hearse, a Carkeise of a goodly Youth clad like a Romane, who to the sound of a Harp himself plaid on, with a most sweet and cleer voyce, sung these two Stanza's following; [Which I likewise omit, as being basely made on purpose, and so not worth the translation.] Enough, said one of the two that seemed to bee Kings; Enough, divine singer: for it were to proceed in insi∣nitum to paint unto us the misfortunes and graces of the peerlesse Altisidora, not dead, as the simple world surmizeth; but living in the tongues of Fame, and in the penance that Sancho is to passe, to return her to the lost fight: and therefore thou, oh Rada∣manthus! that judgest with me in the darksome Caves of Dis, since thou knowest all that is determining in the inscrutable Fates, touching the restoring of this Damzel, tell

and declare it forthwith, that the happinesse wee expect from her returne, may not be deferred.

Scarce had Judge Minos said this, when Radamanthus standing up, said, Goe too, Ministers of this house, high and low, great and small, come one after another, and seal Sancho's Chin with four and twenty Tuckes, twelve Pinches, and with Pins prick his Armes and Buttocks six times, in which Altisidora's health consists.

When Sancho Panca heard this, hee broke off silence, and said, I vow, you shall as soone Tuck mee, or handle my face, as make mee turne Moor. Body of mee, what hath the handling my face to doe with this Damozells Resurrection? The old Wo∣man tasted the Spinage, &c. Dulcinea is enchanted, and I must bee whipped to dis∣enchant her: Altisidora dyes of some sicknesse it pleased God to send her; and her raising must bee with foure and twenty Tucks given mee, and with grinding my body with Pins thrusts, and Pinching my Armes black and Blue: away with your tricks to some other, I am an old Dogg, and there's no Histing to mee.

Thou dyest, quoth Radamanthus aloud: ••elent, thou Tyger, humble thy selfe proud Nembroth, suffer and bee silent, since no impossibilities are required of thee; and stand not upon difficulties in this businesse: thou shalt bee Tuckt, and see thy selfe grinded, thou shalt grone with Pinching. Goe too, I say, Ministers, fulfill my command; if not, as I am honest man, you shall rue the time that ever you were born.

Now there came thorow the Court, six like old Waiting-women, one after ano∣ther in Procession; foure with Spectacles, and all with their right hands lifted aloft, with foure fingers breadths of their wrists discovered, to make their hands seeme larger (as the fashion is.)

No sooner had Sancho seene them, when bellowing like a Bull, hee said, Well might I suffer all the world else to handle mee, but that Waiting-women touch mee, I will never consent: Let um Cat-scratch my face, as my Master was served in this Castle: let um thrust mee thorow with Bodkin-pointed Daggers: let um pull off my flesh with hot burning Pincers, and I will beareit patiently and serve these Nobles: but that Waiting-women touch me let the Divell take me, I will not consent.

Don-Quixote then interrupted him saying, Have patience soone: and please these Lordings, and thanke God, that hee hath given such vitrue to thy person; that with the Ma••tyrdome of it thou mayst disenchant the enchanted, and raise up the dead!

And now the Waiting-women drew neere Sancho; who being wonne and per∣swaded, settled in his Chaire, offered his face and Chin to the first that came, who gave him a well-sealed Tuck, and so made him a courtsie. Lesse courtsie, and lesse Slabber∣sauces, good Mistris Mumpsimus, quoth Sancho: for, I protest your hands smell of Vinegar.

At length all the Waiting-women sealed him, and others Pinched him: but that which hee could not suffer, was the Pins-pricking; and therefore hee rose out of his Chaire very moody, and laying hold of a lighted Torch that was neere him, hee ran after the women, and his executioners, saying, Avant, infernall Ministers, for I am not made of Brasse, not to be sensible of such extraordinary martyrdome.

By this Altisidora that was weary with lying so long upon her backe, turned on one side: which when the by-standers saw, all of them cryed out joyntly, Altisidora lives, Altisidora lives,

Radamanthus commanded Sancho to lay aside his choller, since now his intent was obtained.

And as Don-Quixote saw Altisidora stirre, he went to kneel down to Sancho, saying, Sonne of my entrailes; 'Tis now high time, that thou give thy selfe some of the lashes to which thou art obliged, for the disenchanting of Dulcinea.

Now, I say, is the time, wherein thy virtue may be seasoned, and thou mayst with efficacy effect the good that is expected from thee.

To which (quoth Sancho) Heida: this is lowre upon sowre: 'twere good after these Pinchings, Tucks and Pins-prickings, that lashes should follow; there's no more to be done, but even take a good Stone, and tye it to my Neck, and cast mee into a Well: for

which I should not grieve much; if so bee that to cure other folks ills, I must bee the Pack-horse; let me alone, if not, I shall marre all: And now Altisidora sate up in the Hearse, and the Ho-boyes, accompanied with Flutes and Voyces, began to sound, and all cryed out, Live Altisidora, Altisidora live. The Dukes rose up, and with them Minos and Radamanthus, and altogether with Don-Quixote and Sancho went to re∣ceive Altisidora, and to help her out of the Herse, who feigning a kinde of dismaying, bowed down to her Lords, and to the two Kings, and looking askonce on Don-Quixote said: God pardon thee, discourteous Knight, since by thy cruelty I have remained in another world, me thinks at least this thousand yeers: And thee I thank, the most com∣passionate Squire in the world; I thank thee for the life I possesse: And now dispose of six of my Smocks, which I give thee to make six shirts; and if they be not all whole, yet they are clean at least.

Sancho kissed her hands with his Miter off and his knees on the ground, and the Duke commanded they should return him his Cap, and instead of his Gown with the flames, they should return him his Gaberdine. Sancho desired the Duke, that they would leave him both, which hee would carry into his Country, in memory of that unheard of suc∣cesse. The Duchesse answered they should, and that hee knew how much shee was his friend. The Duke commanded all to avoid the Court, and to retire to their lodgings, and that Don-Quixote and Sancho should bee carried to theirs they knew of old.