silence will never come up to all thou hast talked； art talking； and
wilt talk all thy life； moreover； it naturally stands to reason；
that my death will come before thine； so I never expect to see thee
dumb； not even when thou art drinking or sleeping； and that is the
utmost I can say。〃
〃In good faith； senor；〃 replied Sancho； 〃there's no trusting that
fleshless one； I mean Death； who devours the lamb as soon as the
sheep； and； as I have heard our curate say； treads with equal foot
upon the lofty towers of kings and the lowly huts of the poor。 That
lady is more mighty than dainty； she is no way squeamish； she
devours all and is ready for all； and fills her alforjas with people
of all sorts； ages； and ranks。 She is no reaper that sleeps out the
noontide； at all times she is reaping and cutting down； as well the
dry grass as the green； she never seems to chew； but bolts and
swallows all that is put before her； for she has a canine appetite
that is never satisfied； and though she has no belly； she shows she
has a dropsy and is athirst to drink the lives of all that live； as
one would drink a jug of cold water。〃
〃Say no more； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote at this； 〃don't try to
better it； and risk a fall； for in truth what thou hast said about
death in thy rustic phrase is what a good preacher might have said。
I tell thee； Sancho； if thou hadst discretion equal to thy mother wit；
thou mightst take a pulpit in hand； and go about the world preaching
fine sermons。〃 〃He preaches well who lives well；〃 said Sancho； 〃and
I know no more theology than that。〃
〃Nor needst thou；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but I cannot conceive or
make out how it is that； the fear of God being the beginning of
wisdom； thou； who art more afraid of a lizard than of him； knowest
so much。〃
〃Pass judgment on your chivalries； senor；〃 returned Sancho； 〃and
don't set yourself up to judge of other men's fears or braveries；
for I am as good a fearer of God as my neighbours； but leave me to
despatch these skimmings； for all the rest is only idle talk that we
shall be called to account for in the other world；〃 and so saying；
he began a fresh attack on the bucket； with such a hearty appetite
that he aroused Don Quixote's； who no doubt would have helped him
had he not been prevented by what must be told farther on。
CHAPTER XXI
IN WHICH CAMACHO'S WEDDING IS CONTINUED； WITH OTHER DELIGHTFUL
INCIDENTS
WHILE Don Quixote and Sancho were engaged in the discussion set
forth the last chapter； they heard loud shouts and a great noise；
which were uttered and made by the men on the mares as they went at
full gallop； shouting； to receive the bride and bridegroom； who were
approaching with musical instruments and pageantry of all sorts around
them； and accompanied by the priest and the relatives of both； and all
the most distinguished people of the surrounding villages。 When Sancho
saw the bride； he exclaimed； 〃By my faith； she is not dressed like a
country girl； but like some fine court lady； egad； as well as I can
make out； the patena she wears rich coral； and her green Cuenca
stuff is thirty…pile velvet； and then the white linen trimming… by
my oath； but it's satin！ Look at her hands… jet rings on them！ May I
never have luck if they're not gold rings； and real gold； and set with
pearls as white as a curdled milk； and every one of them worth an
eye of one's head！ Whoreson baggage； what hair she has！ if it's not
a wig； I never saw longer or fairer all the days of my life。 See how
bravely she bears herself… and her shape！ Wouldn't you say she was
like a walking palm tree loaded with clusters of dates？ for the
trinkets she has hanging from her hair and neck look just like them。 I
swear in my heart she is a brave lass； and fit 'to pass over the banks
of Flanders。'〃
Don Quixote laughed at Sancho's boorish eulogies and thought that；
saving his lady Dulcinea del Toboso； he had never seen a more
beautiful woman。 The fair Quiteria appeared somewhat pale； which
was； no doubt； because of the bad night brides always pass dressing
themselves out for their wedding on the morrow。 They advanced
towards a theatre that stood on one side of the meadow decked with
carpets and boughs； where they were to plight their troth； and from
which they were to behold the dances and plays； but at the moment of
their arrival at the spot they heard a loud outcry behind them； and
a voice exclaiming； 〃Wait a little； ye； as inconsiderate as ye are
hasty！〃 At these words all turned round； and perceived that the
speaker was a man clad in what seemed to be a loose black coat
garnished with crimson patches like flames。 He was crowned （as was
presently seen） with a crown of gloomy cypress； and in his hand he
held a long staff。 As he approached he was recognised by everyone as
the gay Basilio； and all waited anxiously to see what would come of
his words； in dread of some catastrophe in consequence of his
appearance at such a moment。 He came up at last weary and
breathless； and planting himself in front of the bridal pair； drove
his staff； which had a steel spike at the end； into the ground； and；
with a pale face and eyes fixed on Quiteria； he thus addressed her
in a hoarse； trembling voice：
〃Well dost thou know； ungrateful Quiteria； that according to the
holy law we acknowledge； so long as live thou canst take no husband；
nor art thou ignorant either that； in my hopes that time and my own
exertions would improve my fortunes； I have never failed to observe
the respect due to thy honour； but thou； casting behind thee all
thou owest to my true love； wouldst surrender what is mine to
another whose wealth serves to bring him not only good fortune but
supreme happiness； and now to complete it （not that I think he
deserves it； but inasmuch as heaven is pleased to bestow it upon him）；
I will； with my own hands； do away with the obstacle that may
interfere with it； and remove myself from between you。 Long live the
rich Camacho！ many a happy year may he live with the ungrateful
Quiteria！ and let the poor Basilio die； Basilio whose poverty
clipped the wings of his happiness； and brought him to the grave！〃
And so saying； he seized the staff he had driven into the ground；
and leaving one half of it fixed there； showed it to be a sheath
that concealed a tolerably long rapier； and； what may he called its
hilt being planted in the ground； he swiftly； coolly； and deliberately
threw himself upon it； and in an instant the bloody point and half the
steel blade appeared at his back； the unhappy man falling to the earth
bathed in his blood； and transfixed by his own weapon。
His friends at once ran to his aid； filled with grief at his
misery and sad fate； and Don Quixote； dismounting from Rocinante；
hastened to support him； and took him in his arms； and found he had
not yet ceased to breathe。 They were about to draw out the rapier； but
the priest who was standing by objected to its being withdrawn
before he had confessed him； as the instant of its withdrawal would be
that of this death。 Basilio； however； reviving slightly； said in a
weak voice； as though in pain； 〃If thou wouldst consent； cruel
Quiteria； to give me thy hand as my bride in this last fatal moment； I
might still hope that my rashness would find pardon； as by its means I
attained the bliss of being thine。〃
Hearing this the priest bade him think of the welfare of his soul
rather than of the cravings of the body； and in all earnestness
implore God's pardon for his sins and for his rash resolve； to which
Basilio replied that he was determined not to confess unless
Quiteria first gave him her hand in marriage； for that happiness would
compose his mind and give him courage to make his confession。
Don Quixote hearing the wounded man's entreaty； exclaimed aloud that
what Basilio asked was just and reasonable； and moreover a request
that might be easily complied with； and that it would be as much to
Senor Camacho's honour to receive the lady Quiteria as the widow of
the brave Basilio as if he received her direct from her father。
〃In this case；〃 said he； 〃it will be only to say 'yes；' and no
consequences can follow the utterance of the word； for the nuptial
couch of this marriage must be the grave。〃
Camacho was listening to all this； perplexed and bewildered and
not knowing what to say or do； but so urgent were the entreaties of
Basilio's friends； imploring him to allow Quiteria to give him her
hand； so that his soul； quitting this life in despair； should not be
lost； that they moved； nay； forced him； to say that if Quiteria were
willing to give it he was satisfied； as it was only putting off the
fulfillment of his wishes for a moment。 At once all assailed
Quiteria and pressed her； some with prayers； and others with tears；
and others with persuasive arguments； to give her hand to poor
Basilio； but she； harder than marble and more unmoved than any statue；
seemed unable or unwilling to utter a word； nor would she have given
any reply had not the priest bade her decide quickly what she meant to
do； as Basilio now had his soul at his teeth； and there was no time
for hesitation。
On this the fair Quiteria； to all appearance distressed； grieved；
and repentant； advanced without a word to where Basilio lay； his
eyes already turned in his head； his breathing short and painful；
murmuring the name of Quiteria between his teeth； and apparently about
to die like a heathen and not like a Christian。 Quiteria approached
him； and kneeling； demanded his hand by signs without speaking。
Basilio opened his eyes and gazing fixedly at her； said； 〃O
Quiteria； why hast thou turned compassionate at a moment when thy
compassion will serve as a dagger to rob me of life； for I have not
now the strength left either to bear the happiness thou givest me in
accepting me as thine； or to suppress the pain that is rapidly drawing
the dread shadow of death over my eyes？ What I entreat of thee； O thou
fatal star to me； is that the hand thou demandest of me and wouldst
give me； be not given out of complaisance or to deceive me afresh； but
that thou confess and declare that without any constraint upon thy
will thou givest it to me as to thy lawful husband； for it is not me