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

CHAP. LXXIII.

Of the presages and fore-boadings, which hapned to Don-Quixote at the entrance into his Village; with other Adventures, which serve for grace and ornament unto this famous History, and which give credit unto it.

CID Hamete reporteth, That as they were come neer unto the entrance into their Village Don Quixote perceived how in the Commons thereof there were two yong Lads, who in great anger contested and disputed together. The one said to the other: Pierrot, thou must not chafe or be angry at it; for, as long as thou livest thou shalt ne∣ver set thine eyes upon her. Which Don Quixote hearing, hee began this speech unto Sancho: Friend (said hee) doest not thou under∣stand what yonder yong Lad saith? So long as thou livest thou shalt never let eyes upon her.

And what imports (quoth Sancho) what the yong Lad hath spoken? What (re∣plyed Don Quixote?) seest thou not, how that applying the words unto mine inten∣tion; his meaning is, that I shall never see my Dulcinea. Sancho was about to an∣swer him, but hee was hindred by an Hare, which chased, crossed their way. Shee was eagerly pursued by divers Gray-hounds and Hunts-men; so that fearfully amazed shee squatted down between the feet of Dapple.

Sancho boldly took her up and presented the same unto Don Quixote, who cryed out alowd, Malum signum, malum signum: A Hare runnes away, Gray-hounds pur∣sue her, and Dulcinea appears not. You are a strange man (then quoth Sancho) let us imagine that this Hare is Dulcinea, and the Gray-hounds which pursue her, the wicked Enchanters that have transformed her into a Country-Lasse: Shee runnes away, I take her up and deliver her into your own hands: You hold her in your armes, you hug and make much of her: What ill-boading may this be? and what misfortune can bee im∣plyed upon this?

In the mean while, the two yong Boyes came neer unto them, to see the Hare: and Sancho demanded of one of them the cause or ground of their brabling controversie? Then hee who had uttered the words, So long as thou livest, thou shalt never set eyes upon her, related unto Sancho, how that he had taken from the other boy a little cage full of Crickets, and that hee never purposed to let him have it again. Then Sancho pul'd out of his pocket a peece of six Blanks, and gave it to the other Boy for his Cage, which hee put into Don Quixotes hands, saying thus unto him, Behold, good Sir, all

these fond Sooth-sayings and ill-presages are dasht and overthrown, and have now no∣thing to doe with our Adventures (according to my understanding, although I bee but a silly gull) no more then with the last yeers snow. And, if my memory fail me not, I think I have heard the Curate of our Village say, That it fits not good Christians and wise folks to stand upon such fopperies.

It is not long since you told me so your self, vnd gave me to understand, That all such Christians as plodded and amused themselves upon Augures or Divinations, were very fools: And therefore let us no longer trouble our selves with them, but let us goe on and enter into our Village. There whilest the Hunters came in, they demanded to have their Hare, and Don••Quixote delivered the same unto them.

Then hee and Sancho kept on their way; and at the entrance into the Village, in a little Medow, they met with the Curate and the Bachelor Carrasco, who with their Beads in their hands were saying their prayers.

It is to bee understood, that Sancho Panca had placed upon Dapple, and upon the fardell of their weapons, the Jacket or Gaberdine of Boccasin, all painted over with fierie flames, which was upon him in the Dukes Castle, the night that Altisidora rose again from death to life; which Jubb or Jacket served them instead of a Carpet or Sumpter-cloth.

They had likewise placed upon the Asses head, the Miter, whereof wee have spoken before. It was the newest kinde of transformation, and the fittest decking or array, that ever Asse did put upon his head.

The Curate and the Bachelor knew them incontinently, and with wide-open armes ranne towards them.

Don••Quixote alighted presently and very kindely embraced them. But the little Children who are as sharp-sighted as any Linx, having eyed the Asses Myter, flocked sodainly about them to see the same, saying the one to the other, Come, come, and run all you Camarados, and you shall see Sancho Panca's Asse more brave and gallant then Mingo: and Don••Quixotes Palfry leaner, fainter, and more flaggy then it was the first day.

Finally, being environed with a many yong Children, and attended on by the Curate and Bachelor, they entred the Village, and went directly unto Don••Quixotes house: At the dore whereof they met with his Maid-servant, and with his Neece, who had already heard the news of their comming.

Teresa Panca, the Wife of Sancho, had likewise been advertised thereof. She ranne all dishevelled and half naked to see her Husband, leading her Daughter Sanchica by the hand. But when shee saw that hee was not so richly attired as shee imagined, and in that equipage a Governor should bee, shee thus began to discourse with him: My Husband, after what fashion doest thou come home? Me thinks thou commest on foot, and with toylesome travelling all tyred and faint-hearted: Thou rather bearest the countenance of a miserable wretch, then of a Gover∣nour.

Hold thy peace Teresa (quoth Sancho) for oftentimes when there bee Boots, there bee no Spurs: Let us goe unto our house, and there thou shalt heare wonders. So it is, that I have Money, which is of more consequence, and I have gotten it by mine own industrie, without doing wrong to any body.

Why then you have Money, my good Husband (replyed Teresa?) That's very well. It is no matter how you came by it, bee it by hook or crook: For, after what manner soever you have laid hands on it, you bring no new custome into the world. Sanchica embraced her Father, and asked him whether hee had brought her any thing; and that she had as earnestly looked for him, as men doe for dew in the moneth of May.

Thus his Wife holding him by the one hand, and his Daughter by the one side of his Girdle, and with the other hand leading Dapple, they entred into their Cottage, leaving Don••Quixote in his own house, in the power of his Neece and Maid-servant, and in the company of the Curate and the Bachelor.

Don-Quixote without longer delay, at that very instant drew the Bachelour and the Curate aside, and in few words related his being defeated unto them, and the Vow which hee had been forced to make, Not to goe out of his Village during the space of one whole yeere: how his purpose was fully to keep the same, without transgressing it one jot or attome; since that by the rules of Knight Errantry, and as he was a true Knight Errant, hee was strictly oblieged to performe it: Which was the reason that hee had resolved, during the time of that yeer, to become a Sheepheard, and entertain himself among the Desarts and solitarie places of that Country, where hee might freely vent out and give scope to his amorous passions, by exercising himself in commendable and pastorall exercises: And now besought them, if they had no greater affairs in hand, and were not imployed in matters of more importance, they would both bee pleased to become his companions and fellow Sheepheards: For hee would buy store of sheep, and get so sufficient a Flock together, as they might well take upon them the name of Sheepheards.

And in the mean time hee gave them to understand, that the chiefest point of his bu∣sinesse was already effected: for hee had already appointed them so proper and conve∣nient names, as if they had been cast in a mould.

The Curate would needs know these names. Don-Quixote told him, that himself would bee called the Sheepheard Quixotis; the Bachelor, the Sheepheard Carrascon; and the Curate, the Sheepheard Curambro; and as for Sancho Panca, hee should bee stiled Pansino.

They were all astonisht at Don-Quixotes new folly: Neverthelesse, that hee might not another time goe out of his Village, and return to his Kinghthoods and Cavaliers tricks: and therewithall supposing, that in the space of this yeer hee might bee cured and recovered; they allowed of his designe and new invention, and in that rurall exercise offered to become his companions.

Wee shall lead a pleasant life (said Samson Carrasco) since, as all the world know∣eth, I am an excellent Poet, and shall every hand-while be composing of Pa∣storall Ditties and Eglogues, or else some Verses of the Court, as best shall agree to our purpose. Thus shall wee entertain our selves by the wayes wee shall passe and goe.

But good Sirs, the thing that is most necessary is, that every one make choyse of the name of the Sheepheardesse whom hee intendeth to celebrate in his Verses: and that there bee no Tree, how hard or knurry soever but therein wee shall write, carve, or engrave her name, even as amorous Sheepheards are accustomed to doe.

In good sooth, that will doe passing well (quoth Don-Quixote) albeit I need not go farr to finde out an imaginary Sheepheardesse, since I have the never matched or para∣lelled Dulcinea of T••boso, the glory of all these shores; the ornament of these medows; the grace and comelinesse of beauty; the cream and prime of all gracefullnesse: and (to be short) the subject on which the extremity of all commendations may rightly be con∣ferred, how hyperbolicall soever it be.

It is most true (said the Curate:) But for us, wee must seek out some barren Sheep∣heardesses, and at least, if they bee not ••it and proper for us, yet on way or other they may stead us, if not in the main, yet in the by. Although wee have none (quoth Sam∣son Carrasco) yet will wee give them those very names as wee see in print, and where∣with the world is full. For wee will call them Phillis, Amarillis, Diana, Florinda, Galathea, and Belisarda. Since they are publiquely to bee sold in the open Mar∣ket-place, wee may very well buy them; and lawfully appropriate them unto our selves.

If my Mi••tris or to say better, my Sheepheardesse have to name Anna, I will cele∣brate her under the stile of Anarda; If shee bee called Francis, I will call her Fran∣cina; And if shee hight Lucie, her name shall be Lucinda; for all such names square and encounter. As for Sancho Panca, if hee will be one of our fraternity, hee may celebrate his Wife Teresa Panca under the name of Teresaina.

Don-Quixote burst out a laughing at the application of these names, whilest the

Curate did infinitely commend and extoll his honourable resolution, and again offer∣ed to keep him company all the time that hee could spare, having acquitted himself of the charge unto which hee was bound.

With that they took leave of him, perswading, and intreating him to have a care of his health, and indevour to bee merry.

So it hapned, that his Neece and his Maid-servant heard all the speeches, which they three had together: And when the Bachelour and the Curate were gone from him, they both came neer unto Don••Quixote, and thus his Neece bespake him.

What means this (my Lord, mine Uncle?) Now when we imagined that you would have continued in your own house, & there live a quiet, a reposed, & honourable life, you goe about to cast your self head-long into new Labyrinths and troubles, with becom∣ming a Swain or Sheepheard: Verily the corne is already over-hard to make Oaten pipes of it.

But how (quoth the Maid-servant) can you indure and undergoe in the opon fields the scorching heat of Summer, and the cold and frost of winter nights, and heare the howlings of Wolves, without quaking for very fear? No truely, for so much as that belongs only to such as are of a robust and surly complexion, of a hard and rugged skin, and that from their Cradles are bred and enured to such a Trade and occupation. If the worst come to the worst, it were better to bee still a Knight Errant, then a Sheepheard.

I beseech you, good my Lord, follow my counsell which I give you, not as being full of Wine and Bread, but rather fasting, and as one that have fifty yeers upon my head: Abide still in your house, think on your domestick Affairs, confesse your self often, serve God, doe good unto the poor, and if any harme come to you of it, let me take it upon my soul.

Good Wenches hold your peace (replyed Don-Quixote;) for I know what I have to doe: In the mean while, let me be had to bed; me thinks I am not very well: yet assure your selves, that whether I bee an Errant Knight, or a Sheepheard, I will carefully provide for all that you may stand in need of, and you shall see the effects of it.

The Neece and the Maid-servant who without doubt were two merry good Wen∣ches, laid him in his bed, and attended and lookt so well unto him, as they could not possibly have done better.