Sancho Panza； who was coming on close behind puffing and blowing；
seeing him fall； cried out to his assailant not to strike him again；
for he was poor enchanted knight； who had never harmed anyone all
the days of his life； but what checked the clown was； not Sancho's
shouting； but seeing that Don Quixote did not stir hand or foot； and
so； fancying he had killed him； he hastily hitched up his tunic
under his girdle and took to his heels across the country like a deer。
By this time all Don Quixote's companions had come up to where he
lay； but the processionists seeing them come running； and with them
the officers of the Brotherhood with their crossbows； apprehended
mischief； and clustering round the image； raised their hoods； and
grasped their scourges； as the priests did their tapers； and awaited
the attack； resolved to defend themselves and even to take the
offensive against their assailants if they could。 Fortune； however；
arranged the matter better than they expected； for all Sancho did
was to fling himself on his master's body； raising over him the most
doleful and laughable lamentation that ever was heard； for he believed
he was dead。 The curate was known to another curate who walked in
the procession； and their recognition of one another set at rest the
apprehensions of both parties； the first then told the other in two
words who Don Quixote was； and he and the whole troop of penitents
went to see if the poor gentleman was dead； and heard Sancho Panza
saying； with tears in his eyes； 〃Oh flower of chivalry； that with
one blow of a stick hast ended the course of thy well…spent life！ Oh
pride of thy race； honour and glory of all La Mancha； nay； of all
the world； that for want of thee will be full of evil…doers； no longer
in fear of punishment for their misdeeds！ Oh thou； generous above
all the Alexanders； since for only eight months of service thou hast
given me the best island the sea girds or surrounds！ Humble with the
proud； haughty with the humble； encounterer of dangers； endurer of
outrages； enamoured without reason； imitator of the good； scourge of
the wicked； enemy of the mean； in short； knight…errant； which is all
that can be said！〃
At the cries and moans of Sancho； Don Quixote came to himself； and
the first word he said was； 〃He who lives separated from you； sweetest
Dulcinea； has greater miseries to endure than these。 Aid me； friend
Sancho； to mount the enchanted cart； for I am not in a condition to
press the saddle of Rocinante； as this shoulder is all knocked to
pieces。〃
〃That I will do with all my heart； senor；〃 said Sancho； 〃and let
us return to our village with these gentlemen； who seek your good； and
there we will prepare for making another sally； which may turn out
more profitable and creditable to us。〃
〃Thou art right； Sancho；〃 returned Don Quixote； 〃It will be wise
to let the malign influence of the stars which now prevails pass off。〃
The canon； the curate； and the barber told him he would act very
wisely in doing as he said； and so； highly amused at Sancho Panza's
simplicities； they placed Don Quixote in the cart as before。 The
procession once more formed itself in order and proceeded on its road；
the goatherd took his leave of the party； the officers of the
Brotherhood declined to go any farther； and the curate paid them
what was due to them； the canon begged the curate to let him know
how Don Quixote did； whether he was cured of his madness or still
suffered from it； and then begged leave to continue his journey； in
short； they all separated and went their ways； leaving to themselves
the curate and the barber； Don Quixote； Sancho Panza； and the good
Rocinante； who regarded everything with as great resignation as his
master。 The carter yoked his oxen and made Don Quixote comfortable
on a truss of hay； and at his usual deliberate pace took the road
the curate directed； and at the end of six days they reached Don
Quixote's village； and entered it about the middle of the day； which
it so happened was a Sunday； and the people were all in the plaza；
through which Don Quixote's cart passed。 They all flocked to see
what was in the cart； and when they recognised their townsman they
were filled with amazement； and a boy ran off to bring the news to his
housekeeper and his niece that their master and uncle had come back
all lean and yellow and stretched on a truss of hay on an ox…cart。
It was piteous to hear the cries the two good ladies raised； how
they beat their breasts and poured out fresh maledictions on those
accursed books of chivalry； all which was renewed when they saw Don
Quixote coming in at the gate。
At the news of Don Quixote's arrival Sancho Panza's wife came
running； for she by this time knew that her husband had gone away with
him as his squire； and on seeing Sancho； the first thing she asked him
was if the ass was well。 Sancho replied that he was； better than his
master was。
〃Thanks be to God；〃 said she； 〃for being so good to me； but now tell
me； my friend； what have you made by your squirings？ What gown have
you brought me back？ What shoes for your children？〃
〃I bring nothing of that sort； wife；〃 said Sancho； 〃though I bring
other things of more consequence and value。〃
〃I am very glad of that；〃 returned his wife； 〃show me these things
of more value and consequence； my friend； for I want to see them to
cheer my heart that has been so sad and heavy all these ages that
you have been away。〃
〃I will show them to you at home； wife；〃 said Sancho； 〃be content
for the present； for if it please God that we should again go on our
travels in search of adventures； you will soon see me a count； or
governor of an island； and that not one of those everyday ones； but
the best that is to be had。〃
〃Heaven grant it； husband；〃 said she； 〃for indeed we have need of
it。 But tell me； what's this about islands； for I don't understand
it？〃
〃Honey is not for the mouth of the ass；〃 returned Sancho； 〃all in
good time thou shalt see； wife… nay； thou wilt be surprised to hear
thyself called 'your ladyship' by all thy vassals。〃
〃What are you talking about； Sancho； with your ladyships； islands；
and vassals？〃 returned Teresa Panza… for so Sancho's wife was
called； though they were not relations； for in La Mancha it is
customary for wives to take their husbands' surnames。
〃Don't be in such a hurry to know all this； Teresa；〃 said Sancho；
〃it is enough that I am telling you the truth； so shut your mouth。 But
I may tell you this much by the way； that there is nothing in the
world more delightful than to be a person of consideration； squire
to a knight…errant； and a seeker of adventures。 To be sure most of
those one finds do not end as pleasantly as one could wish； for out of
a hundred； ninety…nine will turn out cross and contrary。 I know it
by experience； for out of some I came blanketed； and out of others
belaboured。 Still； for all that； it is a fine thing to be on the
look…out for what may happen； crossing mountains； searching woods；
climbing rocks； visiting castles； putting up at inns； all at free
quarters； and devil take the maravedi to pay。〃
While this conversation passed between Sancho Panza and his wife；
Don Quixote's housekeeper and niece took him in and undressed him
and laid him in his old bed。 He eyed them askance； and could not
make out where he was。 The curate charged his niece to be very careful
to make her uncle comfortable and to keep a watch over him lest he
should make his escape from them again； telling her what they had been
obliged to do to bring him home。 On this the pair once more lifted
up their voices and renewed their maledictions upon the books of
chivalry； and implored heaven to plunge the authors of such lies and
nonsense into the midst of the bottomless pit。 They were； in short；
kept in anxiety and dread lest their uncle and master should give them
the slip the moment he found himself somewhat better； and as they
feared so it fell out。
But the author of this history； though he has devoted research and
industry to the discovery of the deeds achieved by Don Quixote in
his third sally； has been unable to obtain any information
respecting them； at any rate derived from authentic documents；
tradition has merely preserved in the memory of La Mancha the fact
that Don Quixote； the third time he sallied forth from his home；
betook himself to Saragossa； where he was present at some famous
jousts which came off in that city； and that he had adventures there
worthy of his valour and high intelligence。 Of his end and death he
could learn no particulars； nor would he have ascertained it or
known of it； if good fortune had not produced an old physician for him
who had in his possession a leaden box； which； according to his
account； had been discovered among the crumbling foundations of an
ancient hermitage that was being rebuilt； in which box were found
certain parchment manuscripts in Gothic character； but in Castilian
verse； containing many of his achievements； and setting forth the
beauty of Dulcinea； the form of Rocinante； the fidelity of Sancho
Panza； and the burial of Don Quixote himself； together with sundry
epitaphs and eulogies on his life and character； but all that could be
read and deciphered were those which the trustworthy author of this
new and unparalleled history here presents。 And the said author asks
of those that shall read it nothing in return for the vast toil
which it has cost him in examining and searching the Manchegan
archives in order to bring it to light； save that they give him the
same credit that people of sense give to the books of chivalry that
pervade the world and are so popular； for with this he will consider
himself amply paid and fully satisfied； and will be encouraged to seek
out and produce other histories； if not as truthful； at least equal in
invention and not less entertaining。 The first words written on the
parchment found in the leaden box were these：
THE ACADEMICIANS OF
ARGAMASILLA； A VILLAGE OF
LA MANCHA；
ON THE LIFE AND DEATH
OF DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA；
HOC SCRIPSERUNT
MONICONGO； ACADEMICIAN