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

CHAP. LVII.

How Don-Quixote tooke his leave of the Duke, and what befell him with the witty-Wanton Altisidora, the Duchesses Damozell.

NOw it seemed good to Don-Quixote, to leave the idle life hee had in the Castle, thinking it a great wrong to his person, to bee shut up, and lazy amongst so many delights and dainties as were offered to him as a Knight Errant by those Nobles, and hee thought hee was to give a strict account to Heaven for that idlenesse and retirement, and so asked licence one day of the Dukes to depart: which they gave him, but seemed to bee very sorrowfull that hee would leave them. The Duchesse gave Sancho Panca his wives Letters, who wept in them, and said, Who would have thought that such great hopes as the newes of my Government, en∣gendred in my Wife Teresa Panca's brest, should stop in this, that I must return to my Master Don-Quixote's dragged Adventures? For all that, I am glad to see that my Te∣resa was like her selfe, by sending the Acorns to the Duchesse, which if shee had not sent, I being sorry shee had shewed her selfe ungratefull: my comfort is, that this kinde of Present could not bee called a bribe; for I had my Government before shee sent it, and 'tis very fit that they who receive a benefit, though it bee but in tristes, shew them∣selves thankfull. In effect, naked I came into the Government, and naked I goe out of it, and therefore I may say (which is no small matter) with a safe Conscience, Naked was I borne, naked I am I neyther win nor lose. This Sancho discoursed with himselfe at the time when he was to depart and Don-Quixote going out, (having taken his leave the night before of the Dukes) one morning hee presented himselfe all armed in the Castle Court, all the people of the house beheld him from the Galleries, and the Dukes too went out to see him. Sancho was upon his Dapple, with his Wallets, his Cloak∣bagge, and his Sumpter-provision most frollike; for the Dukes Steward, hee that had been Trifaldis, gave him a purse with two hundred crownes in gold, to supply his wants by the way, and yet Don-Quixote knew nothing of this.

Whilest all were thus beholding him, unlookt for, amongst other Matrons and Damzells of the Duchesses, the witty and wanton Altisidora beheld him, and with a wofull voyce said;

HEarken, O thou wicked Knight; Hold a little backe thy reines; Doe not so bestirre the ••lanke, Of thy most ungovern'd beast.

False; behold, thou ••liest not From a Serpent that is fierce, No; but from a little Lambe, Lacks not much of being a Sheep Horrid Monster, th'hast abused The most beauteous Damozell, That Diana in hills hath seene, Or Venus in woods beheld. Cruell Virenus, Aeneas fugitive, Barrabas take thee, never maist thou thrive.

Thou carriest (Oh ill carrying) In thy wicked clutching pawes, Th' entrailes of an humble one, Tender and enamoured. Three Night-caps hast thou borne hence, And a paire of Garters too, That doe equall Marble pure, For their smoothnesse, white and blacke. Two thousand sighes thou bearest away, Which, were they but fire, they might Set on fire two thousand Troyes. (If two thousand Troyes there were.) Cruell Virenus, Aeneas fugitive, Barrabas take thee, never maist thou thrive.

Of thy Squire that Sancho hee, May his entrailes bee so tough, And so hard that Dulcine∣a may not dis-enchanted bee. For the Fault that thou hast made, Let poore shee the burden beare, For the just, for wrongers doe Sometimes in my Countrey pay, Let thy best Adventures all, Into mis adventures turne: All thy pleasure to a Dreame, Firmenesse to forgetfullnesse. Cruell Virenus, Aeneas fugitive, Barrabas take thee, never maist thou thrive

Maist thou false accounted bee, From Sevill to Marchena, From Granada unto Loia, From* 1.1 London to England. Whenso'ere thou plai'st at Trumpe, At Primera, or at Saint, Never mai'st thou see a King, Aces, sevens fly from thee. If thou chance to cut thy Cornes, Maist thou wound till blood doe come•• Also let the stumps remaine, If thou plucke out hollow Teeth. Cruell Virenus, Aeneas fugitive, Barrabas take thee, never maist thou thrive.

Whilest the grieved Altisidora thus lamented, Don-Quixote beheld her, and with∣out answering a word, turning to Sancho, he said; By thy fore-fathers lives, I conjure thee, my Sancho, that thou tell me one truth: tell me happily, hast thou the three night-Caps and the Garters that this enamoured Damzel speaks of? To which (quoth San∣cho) the three Caps I have; but for your Garters as sure as the sea burns.

The Duches••e wondred at Al••isidora's loosnesse: for though she held her to be bold, witty and wanton; yet she never thought she would have proceeded so far: and know∣ing nothing of this jest, her admiration was the greater.

The Duke meant to second the sport; and therefore said, I doe not like it well, Sir Knight, that having received this good entertainment that hath been made you in my Castle, you should presume to carry away three night-Caps at least; if it were but only my Damzels Garters, 'tis a signe of a false heart, not sutable to your Honour; and therefore restore her Garters: if not, I challenge you to a mortall combat; and Ile not fear that your Elvish Enchanters will truck or change my face as they have done my Lackie Tosilos, that was to have fought with you.

God forbid (quoth Don-Quixote) that I should unsheath my sword against your most illustrious Person, from whom I have received so many favours. The night-Caps I will restore; for Sancho sayes he hath them: the Garters 'tis impossible; for neither her nor I received them: and if this your Damzel will look into her corners, I warrant her she findes them. I, my Lord, was never Thief, nor never think I shall as long as I live, if God forsake me not. This Damzell speaks (as shee pleaseth) as being enamoured on what I am not faulty of: and therefore I have no reason to ask forgivenesse, neither of her nor your Excellency, whom I beseech to have a better opinion of me: and again, I desire your Licence to be upon my way.

God send you, Signior Don-Quixote (quoth the Duchesse) so good a journey, that wee may alwaies hear happy news of your brave exploits, and so God be with you•• for the longer you stay, the more you increase the flames in the Damzels hearts that behold you: and for mine, Ile punish her so, that hence forward shee shall neither mis-behave her self in look or action. Hear me then but a word, oh valorous Don-Quixote (quoth Altisidora) which is, That I cry thee mercy for the theft of my Garters; for in my soul and conscience I have them on; and I have faln into the same carelessnesse of his that looked for his Asle when hee rode upon him.

Did not I not tell you (quoth Sancho) I am a fit Youth to conceal Thefts? for had I been so, I had in two bouts fit occasions in my Government.

Don-Quixote inclined his head, and made an obeysance to the Dukes and by-standers, and turning Rozinantes reins, Sancho following him on Dapple, hee went out of the Castle, taking his way towards Saragosa.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Though these Verses were made on purpose, to bee absurd; yet sure the authoritie here fell into the com∣mon absurditie, that I have known many of his Coun∣treymen doe, which is, that England is in London, and not Vice Versa.