very common propensity with those of that nation； though； as they
are such enemies of ours； it is conceivable that there were
omissions rather than additions made in the course of it。 And this
is my own opinion； for； where he could and should give freedom to
his pen in praise of so worthy a knight； he seems to me deliberately
to pass it over in silence； which is ill done and worse contrived； for
it is the business and duty of historians to be exact； truthful； and
wholly free from passion； and neither interest nor fear； hatred nor
love； should make them swerve from the path of truth； whose mother
is history； rival of time； storehouse of deeds； witness for the
past； example and counsel for the present； and warning for the future。
In this I know will be found all that can be desired in the
pleasantest； and if it be wanting in any good quality； I maintain it
is the fault of its hound of an author and not the fault of the
subject。 To be brief； its Second Part； according to the translation；
began in this way：
With trenchant swords upraised and poised on high； it seemed as
though the two valiant and wrathful combatants stood threatening
heaven； and earth； and hell； with such resolution and determination
did they bear themselves。 The fiery Biscayan was the first to strike a
blow； which was delivered with such force and fury that had not the
sword turned in its course； that single stroke would have sufficed
to put an end to the bitter struggle and to all the adventures of
our knight； but that good fortune which reserved him for greater
things； turned aside the sword of his adversary； so that although it
smote him upon the left shoulder； it did him no more harm than to
strip all that side of its armour； carrying away a great part of his
helmet with half of his ear； all which with fearful ruin fell to the
ground； leaving him in a sorry plight。
Good God！ Who is there that could properly describe the rage that
filled the heart of our Manchegan when he saw himself dealt with in
this fashion？ All that can be said is； it was such that he again
raised himself in his stirrups； and； grasping his sword more firmly
with both hands； he came down on the Biscayan with such fury；
smiting him full over the cushion and over the head； that… even so
good a shield proving useless… as if a mountain had fallen on him；
he began to bleed from nose； mouth； and ears； reeling as if about to
fall backwards from his mule； as no doubt he would have done had he
not flung his arms about its neck； at the same time； however； he
slipped his feet out of the stirrups and then unclasped his arms；
and the mule； taking fright at the terrible blow； made off across
the plain； and with a few plunges flung its master to the ground。
Don Quixote stood looking on very calmly； and； when he saw him fall；
leaped from his horse and with great briskness ran to him； and；
presenting the point of his sword to his eyes； bade him surrender；
or he would cut his head off。 The Biscayan was so bewildered that he
was unable to answer a word； and it would have gone hard with him；
so blind was Don Quixote； had not the ladies in the coach； who had
hitherto been watching the combat in great terror； hastened to where
he stood and implored him with earnest entreaties to grant them the
great grace and favour of sparing their squire's life； to which Don
Quixote replied with much gravity and dignity； 〃In truth； fair ladies；
I am well content to do what ye ask of me； but it must be on one
condition and understanding； which is that this knight promise me to
go to the village of El Toboso； and on my behalf present himself
before the peerless lady Dulcinea； that she deal with him as shall
be most pleasing to her。〃
The terrified and disconsolate ladies； without discussing Don
Quixote's demand or asking who Dulcinea might be； promised that
their squire should do all that had been commanded。
〃Then； on the faith of that promise；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃I shall
do him no further harm； though he well deserves it of me。〃
CHAPTER X
OF THE PLEASANT DISCOURSE THAT PASSED BETWEEN DON QUIXOTE AND HIS
SQUIRE SANCHO PANZA
NOW by this time Sancho had risen； rather the worse for the handling
of the friars' muleteers； and stood watching the battle of his master；
Don Quixote； and praying to God in his heart that it might be his will
to grant him the victory； and that he might thereby win some island to
make him governor of； as he had promised。 Seeing； therefore； that
the struggle was now over； and that his master was returning to
mount Rocinante； he approached to hold the stirrup for him； and；
before he could mount； he went on his knees before him； and taking his
hand； kissed it saying； 〃May it please your worship； Senor Don
Quixote； to give me the government of that island which has been won
in this hard fight； for be it ever so big I feel myself in
sufficient force to be able to govern it as much and as well as anyone
in the world who has ever governed islands。〃
To which Don Quixote replied； 〃Thou must take notice； brother
Sancho； that this adventure and those like it are not adventures of
islands； but of cross…roads； in which nothing is got except a broken
head or an ear the less： have patience； for adventures will present
themselves from which I may make you； not only a governor； but
something more。〃
Sancho gave him many thanks； and again kissing his hand and the
skirt of his hauberk； helped him to mount Rocinante； and mounting
his ass himself； proceeded to follow his master； who at a brisk
pace； without taking leave； or saying anything further to the ladies
belonging to the coach； turned into a wood that was hard by。 Sancho
followed him at his ass's best trot； but Rocinante stepped out so
that； seeing himself left behind； he was forced to call to his
master to wait for him。 Don Quixote did so； reining in Rocinante until
his weary squire came up； who on reaching him said； 〃It seems to me；
senor； it would be prudent in us to go and take refuge in some church；
for； seeing how mauled he with whom you fought has been left； it
will be no wonder if they give information of the affair to the Holy
Brotherhood and arrest us； and； faith； if they do； before we come
out of gaol we shall have to sweat for it。〃
〃Peace；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃where hast thou ever seen or heard
that a knight…errant has been arraigned before a court of justice；
however many homicides he may have committed？〃
〃I know nothing about omecils；〃 answered Sancho； 〃nor in my life
have had anything to do with one； I only know that the Holy
Brotherhood looks after those who fight in the fields； and in that
other matter I do not meddle。〃
〃Then thou needst have no uneasiness； my friend；〃 said Don
Quixote； 〃for I will deliver thee out of the hands of the Chaldeans；
much more out of those of the Brotherhood。 But tell me； as thou
livest； hast thou seen a more valiant knight than I in all the known
world； hast thou read in history of any who has or had higher mettle
in attack； more spirit in maintaining it； more dexterity in wounding
or skill in overthrowing？〃
〃The truth is；〃 answered Sancho； 〃that I have never read any
history； for I can neither read nor write； but what I will venture
to bet is that a more daring master than your worship I have never
served in all the days of my life； and God grant that this daring be
not paid for where I have said； what I beg of your worship is to dress
your wound； for a great deal of blood flows from that ear； and I
have here some lint and a little white ointment in the alforjas。〃
〃All that might be well dispensed with；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃if I had
remembered to make a vial of the balsam of Fierabras； for time and
medicine are saved by one single drop。〃
〃What vial and what balsam is that？〃 said Sancho Panza。
〃It is a balsam；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃the receipt of which I have
in my memory； with which one need have no fear of death； or dread
dying of any wound； and so when I make it and give it to thee thou
hast nothing to do when in some battle thou seest they have cut me
in half through the middle of the body… as is wont to happen
frequently；… but neatly and with great nicety； ere the blood
congeal； to place that portion of the body which shall have fallen
to the ground upon the other half which remains in the saddle；
taking care to fit it on evenly and exactly。 Then thou shalt give me
to drink but two drops of the balsam I have mentioned； and thou
shalt see me become sounder than an apple。〃
〃If that be so；〃 said Panza； 〃I renounce henceforth the government
of the promised island； and desire nothing more in payment of my
many and faithful services than that your worship give me the
receipt of this supreme liquor； for I am persuaded it will be worth
more than two reals an ounce anywhere； and I want no more to pass
the rest of my life in ease and honour； but it remains to be told if
it costs much to make it。〃
〃With less than three reals； six quarts of it may be made；〃 said Don
Quixote。
〃Sinner that I am！〃 said Sancho； 〃then why does your worship put off
making it and teaching it to me？〃
〃Peace； friend；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃greater secrets I mean to
teach thee and greater favours to bestow upon thee； and for the
present let us see to the dressing； for my ear pains me more than I
could wish。〃
Sancho took out some lint and ointment from the alforjas； but when
Don Quixote came to see his helmet shattered； he was like to lose
his senses； and clapping his hand upon his sword and raising his
eyes to heaven； be said； 〃I swear by the Creator of all things and the
four Gospels in their fullest extent； to do as the great Marquis of
Mantua did when he swore to avenge the death of his nephew Baldwin
（and that was not to eat bread from a table…cloth； nor embrace his
wife； and other points which； though I cannot now call them to mind； I
here grant as expressed） until I take complete vengeance upon him
who has committed such an offence against me。〃
Hearing this； Sancho said to him； 〃Your worship should bear in mind；
Senor Don Quixote； that if the knight has done what was commanded
him in going to present himself before my lady Dulcinea del Toboso； he
will have done al