The second part of the history of the valorous and witty knight-errant, Don Quixote of the Mançha. Written in Spanish by Michael Ceruantes: and now translated into English

CHAP. LXII.

The Aduenture of the Enchanted head, with other flim∣flams that must be recounted.

DOn Quixote's Oasts name was Don Antonio Morino, a rich Gentleman and a discreet, and one that loued to be honestly and affably merry; who hauing Don Quixote now at home, began to inuent, how, without preiudice to him, he might divulge his madnesse; for iests ought not to be too bitter, nor pastimes in detriment of a third person.

The first thing he did then, was to cause Don Quixote to be vnarmed, and to make him appeare in that straight Chamois ap∣parell of his (as heretofore we haue painted and described him:) so he brought him to a Bay window which looked toward one of the chiefest streetes in the City, to be publikely seene by all commers, and the boyes that beheld him as if hee had beene a Monkey. They in the Liueries began a-fresh to fetch Careeres before him, as if for him onely, (and not to solemnize that festi∣uall day) their Liueries had beene put on: and Sancho was most iocund, as thinking he had found out, he knew not how, nor which way, a new Camacho's marriage, or another house like Don Diego and Miranda's, or the Dukes Castle.

That day some of Don Antonio's friends dined vvith him, all honouring Don Quixote, and obseruing him as a Knight Errant: with which, being most vaine-glorious, hee could scarce con∣taine himselfe in his happinesse. Sancho's conceits were such & so many, that all the seruants of the house hung vpon his lippes, and as many also as heard him.

Being at Table, Don Antonio said to Sancho, We haue heard heere, honest Sancho, that thou louest Leech and roasted Oliues so well, that when thou canst eat no more, thou keepest the rest in thy bosome till another time. No, Sir, tis not so, said Sancho, for I am more cleanly then so, and my Master Don Quixote here present knowes well, that we are wont both of vs to liue eight daies with a handfull of Acornes or Walnuts: true it is, that

now and then I looke not a giuen horse in the mouth (I meane) I eate what is giuen me, and make vse of the time present, and whosoeuer hath said that I am an extraordinary eater, and not cleanely, let him know he doth me wrong; and I should pro∣ceed farther, were it not for the company heere at Table.

Truely, said Don Quixote, the parsimony and cleanlinesse with which Sancho feedes, may be written and graued in sheetes of brasse, that it may be eternally remembred by ensuing Ages: True it is, that when he is hungry, he is somewhat rauenous, eates apace, and chawes on both sides; but for cleanlinesse, that he hath punctually obserued: and when he was a Gouernour, learnt to eat most neatly; for hee would eat you Grapes, nay, Pomegranat seedes with his forke. How, quoth Don Antonio, hath Sancho beene a Gouernour? I, said Sancho, and of an Iland called Barataria: tenne daies I gouerned to my will, in them I lost my rest, and learnt to contemne all the Gouernments in the world. From thence I came flying, and fell into a pit, where I thought I should haue died, from whence I escaped miracu∣lously.

Don Quixote recounted all the particulars of Sancho's Go∣uernment, with which the hearers were much delighted. The cloth now taken away, and Don Antonio taking Don Quixote by the hand, carried him into a priuate chamber, in which there was no other kinde of furniture, but a Table that seemed to bee of Iasper, borne vp with feete of the same, vpon which there was set a Head, as if it beene of brasse, iust as your Romane Em∣perors are vsed to be, from the brest vpward. Don Antonio wal∣ked with Don Quixote vp and downe the chamber, and hauing gone a good many turnes about the Table, at last he said, Signi∣or Don Quixote, now that I am fully perswaded no-body heares vs, and that the doore is fast, I will tell you one of the rarest Ad∣uentures, or rather Nouelties, that can be imagined; prouided, that what I tell you, shall be deposited in the vttermost priuy Chambers of secresie.

That I vow, said Don Quixote: and for more safety, I vvill clap a Tombe-stone ouer it; for let me tell you, Signior Don An∣tonio (for now he knew his name) you conuerse with one, that

though he haue eares to heare, yet he hath no tongue to tell: so that what is in your brest, you may freely translate it into mine, and rest assured, that you haue flung it into the Abissus of silence.

In confidence of this promise (answered Don Antonio) I wil make you admire at what you shall heare and see, and so you shall somewhat ease me of the trouble I am in, in not finding one that I may communicate my secrets with; with which, euery one is not to be trusted.

Don Quixote was in great suspence, expecting what vvould be the issue of all these circumstances; so Don Antonio taking him by the hand, he made him feele all ouer the brazen head & the Table, and Iasper feet, and then said, This head, Signior, was made by one of the greatest Enchanters or Magicians that hath beene in the world, and I beleeue, by Nation he was a Po∣lander, and one of that famous Scotus his disciples, of whom so many wonders are related, who was heere in my house, and for a thousand Crownes I gaue him, framed me this head, that hath the property and quality to answer to any thing that it is asked in your eare: he had his trickes & deuices, his painting of Cha∣racters, his obseruing of Starres, lookt to euery tittle, and final∣ly, brought this head to the perfection that to morrow you shall see, for on the Fridayes still it is mute, which being this day, we must expect till to morrow; and so in the meane time you may bethink you what you will demand; for I know by experience, this head answers truly to all that is asked.

Don Quixote admired at the vertue and property of the head, and could scarce beleeue Don Antonio, but seeing how short a time there was to the triall, he would not gain-say him, but than∣ked him for discouering so great a secret: So out of the roome they went: Don Antonio locked the doore after him, and they came into a Hall where the rest of the Gentlemen were: in this interim, Sancho had related to them many of the Aduentures & successes that befell his Master. That after-noone they carried Don Quixote abroad, not armed, but clad in the City garbe, with a loose coat of tawny cloth, that in that season might haue made frost it selfe sweat: they gaue order to their seruants to entertain

Sancho, and not to let him stirre out of dores. Don Quixote rode not vpon Rosinante, but on a goodly trotting Mule, with good furniture, they put his coat vpon him, and at his backe (hee not perceiuing it) they sowed a piece of Parchment, wherein vvas written in Text letters, This is Don Quixote de la Mancha: as they began their walke, the scrowle drew all mens eyes to looke on it, and as they read, This is Don Quixote de la Mancha, hee admired to see what a number beheld & named him, and knew him; and turning to Don Antonio that went by him, said, Great is the Prerogatiue due to Knight Errantry, since ouer all the world, it makes its Professors knowne and renowned; for looke you, Signior Don Antonio, euen the very boyes of this Ci∣ty hauing neuer seene mee before, know me. Tis true, Signior, quoth Don Antonio: for as fire cannot be hidden nor bounded, no more can vertue but it must be knowne; and that vvhich is gotten by the profession of Armes, doth most flourish and tri∣umph aboue the rest.

It hapned, that Don Quixote riding with this applause, a Ca∣stilian that read the scrowle at his backe, raised his voyce, saying, The Deuill take thee for Don Quixote de la Mancha: and art thou gotten hither without being killed with those infinite ba∣stings thou hast borne vpon thy shoulders? Thou art a madde man, and wert thou so in priuate, and within thy house, twere lesse euill; but thy property is, to make all that conuerse or treat with thee, mad-men and Coxe-combes, as may appeare by these that accompany thee: get thee home, Ideot, and looke to thy Estate, Wife, and Children, and leaue these vanities that worm-eate thy braines, and defile thy intellect. Brother, said Don An∣tonio, follow your way, and giue no counsaile to those that need it not: Signior Don Quixote is wise, and we that do accompany him, are no fooles, vertue is worthy to be honoured wheresoe∣uer she is, and so be gone with a poxe to you, and meddle not where you haue nothing to doe. I vow (quoth the Castilian) you haue reason; for to giue counsaile to this man, is to striue a∣gainst the streame: but for all that, it pitties me very much, that the good vnderstanding they say this blocke-head hath in all things else, should be let out at the pipe of his Knight Errantry,

and a pox light on me (as you wish, Sir) and all my posterity, if from hence forward, though I should liue to the yeeres of Me∣thusalem, I giue counsaile to any, though it be desired.

Thus the Counseller went by, and the shew went on: but the boyes, and all manner of people pressed so thicke to reade the scrowle, that Don Antonio was forced to take it off from him, as if he had done something else.

The night came on, and they returned home, where was a Reuels of women: for Don Antonio's wife, that was well bred, mirthfull, faire, and discreet, inuited other shee-friends of hers, to come to welcome her new ghest, and to make merry vvith his strange madnesse. Some of them came, and they had a roy∣all Supper, and the Reuels began about ten a clocke at night. A∣mong these Dames, there were two of anotable waggish dispo∣sition, and great scoffers; and though honest, yet they strained their carriage, that their trickes might the better delight without yrksomnes; these were so eager to take Don Quixote out to dāce, that they wearied not onely his body, but his minde likewise: twas a goodly sight to see his shape, long, lanke, leane, his visage pale, the whole man shut vp in his apparell, vngracefull, and vnweildy. The Damozels wooed him as it were by stealth, and he by stealth disdained them as fast; but seeing himselfe much pressed by their courtings, he lifted vp his voyce, and said, Fu∣gite partes aduersae, and leaue me, oh vnwelcome imaginations, to my quiet: Get you further off with your wishes, Ladies; for she that is the Lady of mine, the peerelesse Dulcinea del Toboso, will haue none but hers subiect and conquer me: and so saying, he sate him downe in the middest of the Hall vpon the ground, bruised and broken with his dancing exercise. Don Antonio made him be taken vp in mens armes, & carried to bed; the first that layd hold on him was Sancho, saying, In the name of God, what meant you, Master mine, to dance? Thinke you that all that are valiant, must be dancers? and all Knights Errant, skip∣iacks? I say, if you thinke so, you are deceiued; you haue some that would rather kill Gyants then fetch a caper: if you were to friske, I would saue you that labour, for I can doe it like a Ier-Falcon: but in your dancing, I cannot worke a stitch.

With this and such like discourse, Sancho made the Reuellers laugh, and laid his Master to bed, laying cloaths enough on him, that hee might sweat out the cold he had taken by dancing.

The next day, Don Antonio thought fit to try the Enchanted head, and so, with Don Quixote, Sancho, and others his friends, and the two Gentlewomen that had so laboured Don Quixote in the dance, that stayd all night with Don Antonio's wife, hee locked himselfe in the roome where the head was; he told them it's property, enioyning them to silence: and hee said to them, That this was the first time in which hee meant to make proofe of the vertue of the Enchanted head, and except his two friends, no liuing creature else knew the tricke of that Enchantment; and if Don Antonio had not discouered it to them, they also would haue falne into the same admiration that the rest did; for it was not otherwise possible, the fabricke of it being so curious and cunning.

The first that came to the Heads hearing, was Don Antonio himselfe, who spoke softly, but so, that he might be heard by all: Tell me, Head, by the vertue that is contained in thee, What thinke I of now? And the head answered (not moouing the lips, with a loud and distinct voyce, that all the by-standers might heare this reason,) I iudge not of thoughts. Which when they all heard, they were astonisht, and the more, seeing neyther in all the roome, nor any where about the table, there was not any humane creature to answere. How many heere be there of vs (quoth Don Antonio againe?) And answere was made him in the same tenor voyce: There are thou and thy wife, with two of thy hee-friends, and two of her shee-friends, and a famous Knight called Don Quixote de la Mancha, and a Squire of his that hight Sancho Pansa. I marry, sir, heere was the wondring a-fresh, heere was euery ones haire standing on end with pure horror. And Don Antonio getting him aside from the head, said, Tis enough now for mee to know that I was not deceiued by him that sold thee mee, Sage Head, Talking Head, Answering Head, Admired Head! Come another now, & ask what he wil: & as your women for the most part are hastiest, & most inqui∣sitiue, the first that came, was one of Don Antonio's wiues friends,

and her demand was this, Tell me, Head, What shall I doe to make my selfe faire? The answer was, Be honest. I haue done, said she. Strait came her other companion, and said, I would faine know, Head, whether my Husband loue mee or no: and the answer was, Thou shalt know by his vsage. The married woman stood by, saying; The question might haue been spared: for good vsage is the best signe of affection. Then came one of Don Antonio's friends, and asked, Who am I? The answer was, Thou knowest. I aske thee not that said the Gentleman, but whether thou know me? I doe, it was answered; Thou art Don Pedro Noris. No more, O Head, let this suffice, to make mee know thou knowest all. And so stepping aside, the other friend came and asked, Tell me, Head, What desires hath my eldest sonne? I haue told you (it was answered) that I iudge not of thoughts; yet let mee tell you, your sonne desires to bury you; That (quoth the Gentleman) I know well, and daily perceiue, but I haue done. Don Antonio's wife came next, and said, Head, I know not what to aske thee, I would onely faine know of thee, if I shall long enioy my deare Husband: and the answere was, Thou shalt, for his health and spare diet promise him many yeeres, which many shorten by distempers.

Now came Don Quixote, and said, Tell me, thou that answe∣rest, Was it true, or a dreame, that (as I recount) befell mee in Montesino's Caue? shall Sancho my Squires whipping be accom∣plisht? shall Dulcinea be dis-enchanted? For that of the Caue, (quoth the Answerer) there is much to be said, it partakes of all: Sancho's whipping shall be prolonged: but Dulcinea's dis-en∣chanting shall come to a reall end. I desire no more, said Don Quixote; for so Dulcinea be dis-enchanted, I make account, all my good fortunes come vpon me at a clap.

Sancho was the last Demander, and his question vvas this; Head, shall I haply haue another Gouernment? shall I be free from this penurious Squires life? shall I see my Wife and Chil∣dren againe? To which it vvas answered him: In thy house shalt thou gouerne; whither if thou returne, thou shalt see thy Wife and children, and leauing thy seruice, thou shalt leaue be∣ing a Squire. Very good (quoth Sancho) this I could haue told

before my selfe, and my fathers horse could haue said no more. Beast, quoth Don Quixote, what answere wouldst thou haue? Is it not enough, that the answeres this head giues thee, are cor∣respondent to thy questions? Tis true, said Sancho: but I would haue knowne more.

And now the questions and answeres were ended: but not the admiration, in which all remained, but Don Antonio's friends that knew the conceit. Which Cid Hamete Benengeli vvould forthwith declare, not to hold the world in suspence, to thinke that some VVitch, or extraordinary mysterie was inclosed in the said head: and thus saith he, that Don Antonio Moreno, in imitati∣on of another head, which he saw in Madrid, framed by a Car∣uer, caused this to be made in his house, to entertaine the sim∣ple, and make them wonder at it, and the Fabricke was in this manner:

The table it selfe vvas of wood, painted and varnished ouer like Iasper, and the foot on vvhich it stood was of the same, with foure Eagles clawes standing out to vphold it the better.

The head that shewed like the Medall, or picture of a Ro∣mane Emperour, and of brasse colour, was all hollow, and so was the Table too; to which, it was so cunningly ioyned, that there was no appearance of it: the foot of the Table was like∣wise hollow, that answered to the brest, and neck of the head: and all this answered to another Chamber, that was vnder the roome where the head was: and thorow all this hollownesse of the foote, the table, brest and neck of the Medall, there vvent a Tinne pipe, made fit to them, that could not be perceiued.

He that was to answere, set his mouth to the Pipe in the Chamber vnderneath, answering to this vpper roome; so that the voice ascended, and descended, as thorow a Trunk, cleerely and distinctly, and it was not possible to find the Iuggling out.

A Nephew of Don Antonio's; a Scholler, a good witty and discreet Youth, was the answerer: who hauing notice from his Vncle, of those that were to enter the Roome, it was easie for him to answere suddenly, and punctually, to their first questi∣ons, and to the rest he answered by discreet coniectures.

Moreouer, Cid Hamete sayes, that this maruellous Engine

lasted for some ten or twelue dayes: but when it was divulged vp and downe the Citie, that Don Antonio had an Enchanted head in his house, that answered to all questions; fearing lest it should come to the notice of the waking Centinels of our Faith: hauing acquainted those Inquisitors with the businesse, they commanded him to make away with it, lest it should scan∣dalize the ignorant Vulgar: but yet in Don Quixote and Sancho's opinion the head was still enchanted, and answering: but indeed not altogether so much to Sancho's satisfaction.

The Gallants of the Citie, to please Don Antonio, and for Don Quixote's better hospitalitie, and on purpose that his mad∣nesse might make the more generall sport, appointed a running at the Ring, about a six dayes after, which was broken off vpon an occasion that after hapned.

Don Quixote had a minde to walke round about the Citie on foot; fearing, that if he went on horsebacke, the Boyes would persecute him: so he & Sancho, with two seruants of Don An∣tonio's, went a walking. It hapned, that as they passed throow one street, Don Quixote looked vp, and saw written vpon a doore in great Letters, Heere are Bookes printed, which pleased him wonderously; for till then he had neuer seene any Presse; and he desired to know the manner of it.

In he vvent, with all his retinue, vvhere hee saw in one place drawing of sheetes, in another Correcting, in this Composing, in that mending: Finally, all the Machine that is vsuall in great Presses.

Don Quixote came to one of the Boxes, and asked vvhat they had in hand there? The Workmen told him: he wondred and passed further. To another he came, and asked one that was in it, what he vvas doing? The vvorkman answered, Sir, This Gentleman you see; (and he shewed him a good comely proper man, and somewhat ancient) hath translated an Italian Booke in∣to Spanish; and I am composing of it heere to be printed.

What is the name of it (quoth Don Quixote?) To which (said the Author) Sir, it is called Le Bagatele, to wit, in Spanish, The Trifle: and though it beare but a meane name, yet it containes in it many great and substantiall matters.

I vnderstand a little Italian, said Don Quixote, and dare ven∣ter vpon a Stanzo of Ariosto's: but tell me, Signior mine (not that I would examine your skill, but onely for curiositie:) haue you euer found set downe in all your writing, the vvord Pinna∣ta? Yes, often quoth the Author: and how translate you it, said Don Quixote?

How should I translate it, said the Author, but in saying, Po∣tage-Pot? Body of me (said Don Quixote) and how forward are you in the Italian Idiome? Ile lay a good wager that vvhere the Italian sayes, Piaccie, you translate it, Please; and vvhere Piu, you say, more, and Su, is aboue; and Giu, beneath.

Yes indeed doe, I said the Author: for these be their proper significations.

I dare sweare (quoth Don Quixote) you are not knowne to the world, which is alwayes backward in rewarding flourishing wits, and laudable industry: Oh what a company of rare abili∣ties are lost in the vvorld! What wits cubbed vp, what vertues contemned: but for all that, mee thinkes this translating from one language into another (except it be out of the Queenes of Tongues, Greeke and Latine) is iust like looking vpon the wrong side of Arras-Hangings: that although the Pictures be seene, yet they are full of threed ends, that darken them, and they are not seene with the plainenesse & smoothnesse, as on the other side; and the translating out of easie languages, argues neither wit, nor elocution, no more then doth the copying from out of one paper into another: yet I inferre not from this, that translating is not a laudable exercise: for a man may be far worse employed, and in things lesse profitable.

I except amongst Translators our two famous ones: the one, Doctor Christoual de Figneroa in his Pastor fido, and the other, Don Iohn de Xaurigni, in his Amyntas, vvhere they haply leaue it doubtfull, which is the Translation or Originall. But tell me, Sir, Print you this Booke vpon your owne charge, or sell you your licence to some Booke-binder? Vpon mine owne, said the Author, and I thinke to get a thousand crownes by it at least, vvith this first impression: for there will be two thou∣sand Copies, and they will vent at three shillings apiece roundly.

You vnderstand the matter well, said Don Quixote: it seemes you know not the passages of Printers, and the corresponden∣cies they haue betwixt one and the other: I promise you, that when you haue two thousand Copies lying by you, you'le be so troubled, as passeth; and the rather, if the booke be but a lit∣tle dull, and not conceited all thorow.

Why, would you haue me (quoth the Author) let a Booke∣seller haue my Licence, that would giue me but a halfe-penny a sheete, and that thinkes he doth me a kindnes in it too? I print not my workes to get fame in the world: for I am by them vvell knowne in it, I must haue profit; for without that, fame is not worth a rush.

God send you good lucke, said Don Quixote; so he passed to another Box, where he saw some correcting a sheete of a Book, Intituled, The Light of the Soule: and in seeing it, he said, Such bookes as these (though there be many of them) ought to bee imprinted: for there be many sinners, and many lights are need∣full, for so many be darkned.

Hee went on, and saw them correcting another Booke; and enquiring the Title, they answered him, that it was cal∣led, The second part of the Ingenious Knight, Don Quixote de la Mancha, made by such a one, an Inhabitant of Torde∣sillas.

I haue notice of this Book, said Don Quixote, and in my con∣science, I thought before now, it had beene burnt and turned to ashes for an idle Pamphlet: but it will not, like Hogs, a want it's Saint Martin: for your fained Histories are so much the more good and delightfull, by how much they come neere the truth, or the likenesse of it: and the true ones are so much the better, by how much the truer; and saying thus, with some shewes of distaste, he left the Presse: and that very day Don Antonio pur∣posed to carry him to the Gallies, that vvere in the Wharfe: at which Sancho much reioyced; for hee had neuer in his life seene any.

Don Antonio gaue notice to the Generall of the Gallies, that in the afternoone he would bring his ghest, the famous Don Quixote de la Mancha, to see them: of whom all the Citie by

this time had notice. And in the next Chapter, what hapned to him, shall be declared.

Notes

• a

  Against that Saints day is Hogs fearing.