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. LXIX.

Of the newest and strangest Aduenture, that in all the course of this History befell Don Quixote.

THe Horsemen all alighted, and the footmen taking Don Quixote and Sancho forcibly in their Armes, they set them in the Court, where round about were burning a hundreth Torches in their Vessels of purpose; and about the Turrets aboue fiue hundreth lights; so that in spight of darke night, they might there see day.

In the midst of the Court there was a Hearse raised some two yards from the ground, couered with a Cloth of State of blacke Veluet, and round about it there burned a hundred Virgin Waxe Candles in siluer Candlestickes; on the top of it there lay a faire Damozell, that shewed to be dead, that with her beauty made death her selfe seeme faire: her head was laid vpon a Pil∣low-beare of Cloth of gold, crowned with a Garland, wouen with diuers odoriferous Flowers: her hands were crossed vpon 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 vp, and two Personages in their Chaires, who with their crownes on their heads, and Scepters in their hands, seemed to be eyther reall or fained Kings: at the side of this Theater where they went vp by steps, there were two other Chayres, vvhere they that brought the prisoners, set Don Quixote and Sancho, and all this vvith silence and signes to them that they should bee si∣lent too: but without that they held their peace: for the admi∣ration of what they there saw, tyed their tongues: After this two other principall Personages came vp, vvhom Don Quixote

straight knew to be the Duke and Duchesse, his Oast and Oa∣stesse, who sate downe in two rich Chaires, neere the two see∣ming Kings. Whom would not this admire? especially hauing seene that the body vpon the Hearse, was the faire Altisidora? When the Duke and Duchesse mounted, Don Quixote and San∣cho 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 blacke Buckram on him, all painted vvith flames of fire: and taking his Cap off, hee set a Miter on his head, iust such a one as the Inquisition causes to be set vpon Heretickes, and bade him in his eare, he should not vn∣sowe his lips, for they would clap a gagge in his mouth, or kill him.

Sancho beheld himselfe all ouer, and saw himselfe burning in flames: but since they burned not indeed, he cared not a rush for them: he tooke off his Miter, and saw it painted with Diuels: he put it on againe, and said within himselfe, Well yet, neither the one burnes me, nor the others carry me away.

Don Quixote beheld him also, and though feare suspended his sences, he could not but laugh at Sancho's Picture: and now from vnder the Herse there seemed to sound, a low and plea∣sing sound of Flutes; which being vn-interrupted by any mans voice (for there it seemed Silence selfe kept Silence) was soft and amorous.

Straight there appeared suddenly on the Pillow of the Hearse, a Carkeise of a goodly Youth, clad like a Romane, who to the sound of a Harpe himselfe playd on, with a most sweet and cleere voice, sung these two Stanza's following. Enough said one of the two, that seemed to be Kings: Enough, diuine singer: for it were to proceede in infinitum, to paint vnto vs the misfortunes and graces of the peerelesse Altisidora, not dead, as the simple world surmiseth; but liuing in the tongues of Fame, and in the penance that Sancho is to passe, to returne her to the lost ••ight: and therefore thou, oh Radamanthus, that iudgest with mee in the darksome Caues of Dis, since thou knowest all that is determining in the inscrutable Fates, touching the restoring of this Damozel, tell and declare it forthwith,

that the happinesse we expect from her returne, may not be de∣ferred.

Scarce had Iudge Minos said this, when Radamanthus stan∣ding vp, said, Goe too, Ministers of this house, high and low, great and small, come one after another, and seale Sancho's Chin with foure and twenty tuckes, twelue pinches, and vvith pins pricke his armes and buttocks sixe times, in which Altisido∣ra's health consists.

When Sancho Pansa heard this, he broke off silence, and said, I vow, you shall as soone tucke me, or handle my face, as make me turne Moore. Body of me, vvhat hath the handling my face to doe with this Damozels resurrection? The old Woman tasted the Spinage, &c. Dulcinea is enchanted, and I must be 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 tuckes giuen me, and with grinding my body with pins thrusts, and pinching my armes blacke and blue: away with your tricks to some other, I am an old Dogge, and there's no histing to me.

Thou dyest, quoth Radamanthus alowd: relent, thou Ty∣ger, humble thy selfe proud Nembroth, suffer and be silent, since no impossibilities are required of thee; and stand not vpon dif∣ficulties in this businesse: thou shalt be tuckt, and see thy selfe grinded, thou shalt grone with pinching. Goe too, I say, Mi∣nisters, fulfill my command; if not, as I am honest man, you shall rue the time that euer you vvere borne.

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

No sooner had Sancho seene them, vvhen bellowing like a Bull, he said, Well might I suffer all the world else to handle me, but that Waiting-vvomen touch mee, I vvill neuer consent: Let vm Cat-scratch my face, as my Master was serued in this Castle: let vm thrust me thorow with Bodkin-pointed Dag∣gers: let vm pull off my flesh vvith hote burning Pincers, and I

will beare it patiently, and serue these Nobles: but that Waiting women touch me, let the Diuell take me, I will not consent.

Don Quixote then interrupted him, saying, Haue patience soone, and please these Lordings, and thanke God, that hee hath giuen such vertue to thy person, that with the martyrdome of it thou mayst dis-enchant the Enchanted, and raise vp the dead.

And now the Waiting-women drew neere Sancho; who be∣ing wonne and perswaded, settled in his Chaire, offered his face and chin to the first that came, who gaue him a well-sealed tuck, and so made him a curtsie. Lesse curtsie, and lesse slabber-sauces, good Mistris Mumpsimus, quoth Sancho: for, I protest your hands smell of Vineger.

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 he rose out of his Chaire very moody, and laying hold of a lighted Torch that was neere him, he ran after the women, and his Executioners, saying, Auant, 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 vpon her backe, turned on one side: which when the by-standers saw, all of them cryed out ioyntly, Altisidora liues, Altisidora liues.

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

And as Don Quixote saw Altisidora stirre, he went to kneele downe to Sancho, saying, Sonne of my entrailes: 'Tis now high time, that thou giue thy selfe some of the lashes to vvhich thou art obliged, for the dis-enchanting of Dulcinea.

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

To which (quoth Sancho) Heida: this is sowre vpon sowre: 'twere good after these pinchings, Tucks & Pins-prickings, that lashes should follow; there's no more to be done, but euen take a good stone, and tye it to my necke, and cast me into a Well: for which I should not grieue much; if so bee that to cure other solkes ills, I must be the Pack-horse: let mee alone, if not, I shall

marre all; and now Altisidora sate vp in the Herse, and the Hoboyes, accompanied with Flutes and Voyces, began to sound, and all cryed out, Liue Altisidora, Altisidora liue. The Dukes rose vp, & with them Minos & Radamanthus, and all to∣gether with Don Quixote and Sancho went to receiue Altisidora, and to helpe her out of the Herse, who faining a kinde of dis∣maying, bowed downe to her Lords, and to the two Kings, and looking ask once on Don Quixote, said; God pardon thee, dis∣courteous Knight, since by thy cruelty I haue remained in ano∣ther world, methinkes at least these thousand yeeres, and thee I thanke, the most compassionate Squire in the world, I thanke thee for the life I possesse: and now dispose of sixe of my smockes, which I giue thee to make sixe shirts; and if they be not all whole, yet they are cleane 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 in stead of his gowne with the flames, they should returne him his Gaberdine. Sancho desired the Duke that they would leaue him both, which he would carry into his Country, in memory of that vn-heard-of successe. The Duchesse answe∣red, they should, and that he knew how much she was his friend. The Duke commanded all to auoid the Court, and to retire to their lodgings, and that Don Quixote and Sancho should be car∣ried to theirs they knew of old.

Notes

• Which I likewise omit as being base∣ly made on purpose, & so not worth the translation.