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 meet
that thou shouldst trifle with me at such a moment as this； or have
recourse to falsehoods with one who has dealt so truly by thee。〃
While uttering these words he showed such weakness that the
bystanders expected each return of faintness would take his life
with it。 Then Quiteria； overcome with modesty and shame； holding in
her right hand the hand of Basilio； said； 〃No force would bend my
will； as freely； therefore； as it is possible for me to do so； I
give thee the hand of a lawful wife； and take thine if thou givest
it to me of thine own free will； untroubled and unaffected by the
calamity thy hasty act has brought upon thee。〃
〃Yes； I give it；〃 said Basilio； 〃not agitated or distracted； but
with unclouded reason that heaven is pleased to grant me； thus do I
give myself to be thy husband。〃
〃And I give myself to be thy wife；〃 said Quiteria； 〃whether thou
livest many years； or they carry thee from my arms to the grave。〃
〃For one so badly wounded；〃 observed Sancho at this point； 〃this
young man has a great deal to say； they should make him leave off
billing and cooing； and attend to his soul； for to my thinking he
has it more on his tongue than at his teeth。〃
Basilio and Quiteria having thus joined hands； the priest； deeply
moved and with tears in his eyes； pronounced the blessing upon them；
and implored heaven to grant an easy passage to the soul of the
newly wedded man； who； the instant he received the blessing； started
nimbly to his feet and with unparalleled effrontery pulled out the
rapier that had been sheathed in his body。 All the bystanders were
astounded； and some； more simple than inquiring； began shouting； 〃A
miracle； a miracle！〃 But Basilio replied； 〃No miracle； no miracle；
only a trick； a trick！〃 The priest； perplexed and amazed； made haste
to examine the wound with both hands； and found that the blade had
passed； not through Basilio's flesh and ribs； but through a hollow
iron tube full of blood； which he had adroitly fixed at the place； the
blood； as was afterwards ascertained； having been so prepared as not
to congeal。 In short； the priest and Camacho and most of those present
saw they were tricked and made fools of。 The bride showed no signs
of displeasure at the deception； on the contrary； hearing them say
that the marriage； being fraudulent； would not be valid； she said that
she confirmed it afresh； whence they all concluded that the affair had
been planned by agreement and understanding between the pair；
whereat Camacho and his supporters were so mortified that they
proceeded to revenge themselves by violence； and a great number of
them drawing their swords attacked Basilio； in whose protection as
many more swords were in an instant unsheathed； while Don Quixote
taking the lead on horseback； with his lance over his arm and well
covered with his shield； made all give way before him。 Sancho； who
never found any pleasure or enjoyment in such doings； retreated to the
wine…jars from which he had taken his delectable skimmings；
considering that； as a holy place； that spot would be respected。
〃Hold； sirs； hold！〃 cried Don Quixote in a loud voice； 〃we have no
right to take vengeance for wrongs that love may do to us： remember
love and war are the same thing； and as in war it is allowable and
common to make use of wiles and stratagems to overcome the enemy； so
in the contests and rivalries of love the tricks and devices
employed to attain the desired end are justifiable； provided they be
not to the discredit or dishonour of the loved object。 Quiteria
belonged to Basilio and Basilio to Quiteria by the just and beneficent
disposal of heaven。 Camacho is rich； and can purchase his pleasure
when； where； and as it pleases him。 Basilio has but this ewe…lamb； and
no one； however powerful he may be； shall take her from him； these two
whom God hath joined man cannot separate； and he who attempts it
must first pass the point of this lance；〃 and so saying he
brandished it so stoutly and dexterously that he overawed all who
did not know him。
But so deep an impression had the rejection of Quiteria made on
Camacho's mind that it banished her at once from his thoughts； and
so the counsels of the priest； who was a wise and kindly disposed man；
prevailed with him； and by their means he and his partisans were
pacified and tranquillised； and to prove it put up their swords again；
inveighing against the pliancy of Quiteria rather than the
craftiness of Basilio； Camacho maintaining that； if Quiteria as a
maiden had such a love for Basilio； she would have loved him too as
a married woman； and that he ought to thank heaven more for having
taken her than for having given her。
Camacho and those of his following； therefore； being consoled and
pacified； those on Basilio's side were appeased； and the rich Camacho；
to show that he felt no resentment for the trick； and did not care
about it； desired the festival to go on just as if he were married
in reality。 Neither Basilio； however； nor his bride； nor their
followers would take any part in it； and they withdrew to Basilio's
village； for the poor； if they are persons of virtue and good sense；
have those who follow； honour； and uphold them； just as the rich
have those who flatter and dance attendance on them。 With them they
carried Don Quixote； regarding him as a man of worth and a stout
one。 Sancho alone had a cloud on his soul； for he found himself
debarred from waiting for Camacho's splendid feast and festival； which
lasted until night； and thus dragged away； he moodily followed his
master； who accompanied Basilio's party； and left behind him the
flesh…pots of Egypt； though in his heart he took them with him； and
their now nearly finished skimmings that he carried in the bucket
conjured up visions before his eyes of the glory and abundance of
the good cheer he was losing。 And so； vexed and dejected though not
hungry； without dismounting from Dapple he followed in the footsteps
of Rocinante。
CHAPTER XXII
WHERIN IS RELATED THE GRAND ADVENTURE OF THE CAVE OF MONTESINOS IN
THE HEART OF LA MANCHA； WHICH THE VALIANT DON QUIXOTE BROUGHT TO A
HAPPY TERMINATION
MANY and great were the attentions shown to Don Quixote by the newly
married couple； who felt themselves under an obligation to him for
coming forward in defence of their cause； and they exalted his
wisdom to the same level with his courage； rating him as a Cid in
arms； and a Cicero in eloquence。 Worthy Sancho enjoyed himself for
three days at the expense of the pair； from whom they learned that the
sham wound was not a scheme arranged with the fair Quiteria； but a
device of Basilio's； who counted on exactly the result they had
seen； he confessed； it is true； that he had confided his idea to
some of his friends； so that at the proper time they might aid him
in his purpose and insure the success of the deception。
〃That；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃is not and ought not to be called
deception which aims at virtuous ends；〃 and the marriage of lovers
he maintained to be a most excellent end； reminding them； however；
that love has no greater enemy than hunger and constant want； for love
is all gaiety； enjoyment； and happiness； especially when the lover
is in the possession of the object of his love； and poverty and want
are the declared enemies of all these； which he said to urge Senor
Basilio to abandon the practice of those accomplishments he was
skilled in； for though they brought him fame； they brought him no
money； and apply himself to the acquisition of wealth by legitimate
industry； which will never fail those who are prudent and persevering。
The poor man who is a man of honour （if indeed a poor man can be a man
of honour） has a jewel when he has a fair wife； and if she is taken
from him； his honour is taken from him and slain。 The fair woman who
is a woman of honour； and whose husband is poor； deserves to be
crowned with the laurels and crowns of victory and triumph。 Beauty
by itself attracts the desires of all who behold it； and the royal
eagles and birds of towering flight stoop on it as on a dainty lure；
but if beauty be accompanied by want and penury； then the ravens and
the kites and other birds of prey assail it； and she who stands firm
against such attacks well deserves to be called the crown of her
husband。 〃Remember； O prudent Basilio；〃 added Don Quixote； 〃it was the
opinion of a certain sage； I know not whom； that there was not more
than one good woman in the whole world； and his advice was that each
one should think and believe that this one good woman was his own
wife； and in this way he would live happy。 I myself am not married；
nor； so far； has it ever entered my thoughts to be so； nevertheless
I would venture to give advice to anyone who might ask it； as to the
mode in which he should seek a wife such as he would be content to
marry。 The first thing I would recommend him； would be to look to good
name rather than to wealth； for a good woman does not win a good
name merely by being good； but by letting it he seen that she is so；
and open looseness and freedom do much more damage to a woman's honour
than secret depravity。 If you take a good woman into your house it
will he an easy matter to keep her good； and even to make her still
better； but if you take a bad one you will find it hard work to mend
her； for it is no very easy matter to pass from one extreme to
another。 I do not say it is impossible； but I look upon it as
difficult。〃
Sancho； listening to all this； said to himself； 〃This master of
mine； when I say anything that has weight and substance； says I
might take a pulpit in hand； and go about the world preaching fine
sermons； but I say of him that； when he begins stringing maxims
together and giving advice not only might he take a pulpit in hand；
but two on each finger； and go into the market…places to his heart's
content。 Devil take you for a knight…errant； what a lot of things
you know！ I used to think in my heart that the only thing he knew
was what belonged to his chivalry； but there is nothing he won't
have a finger in。〃
S