of Hercules； O illustrious reviver of knight…errantry； so long
consigned to oblivion！ O never yet duly extolled knight； Don Quixote
of La Mancha； courage of the faint…hearted； prop of the tottering； arm
of the fallen； staff and counsel of all who are unfortunate！〃
Don Quixote was thunderstruck； Sancho astounded； the cousin
staggered； the page astonished； the man from the braying town agape；
the landlord in perplexity； and； in short； everyone amazed at the
words of the puppet…showman； who went on to say； 〃And thou； worthy
Sancho Panza； the best squire and squire to the best knight in the
world！ Be of good cheer； for thy good wife Teresa is well； and she
is at this moment hackling a pound of flax； and more by token she
has at her left hand a jug with a broken spout that holds a good
drop of wine； with which she solaces herself at her work。〃
〃That I can well believe；〃 said Sancho。 〃She is a lucky one； and
if it was not for her jealousy I would not change her for the giantess
Andandona； who by my master's account was a very clever and worthy
woman； my Teresa is one of those that won't let themselves want for
anything； though their heirs may have to pay for it。〃
〃Now I declare；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃he who reads much and travels
much sees and knows a great deal。 I say so because what amount of
persuasion could have persuaded me that there are apes in the world
that can divine as I have seen now with my own eyes？ For I am that
very Don Quixote of La Mancha this worthy animal refers to； though
he has gone rather too far in my praise； but whatever I may be； I
thank heaven that it has endowed me with a tender and compassionate
heart； always disposed to do good to all and harm to none。〃
〃If I had money；〃 said the page； 〃I would ask senor ape what will
happen me in the peregrination I am making。〃
To this Master Pedro； who had by this time risen from Don
Quixote's feet； replied； 〃I have already said that this little beast
gives no answer as to the future； but if he did； not having money
would be of no consequence； for to oblige Senor Don Quixote； here
present； I would give up all the profits in the world。 And now；
because I have promised it； and to afford him pleasure； I will set
up my show and offer entertainment to all who are in the inn；
without any charge whatever。〃 As soon as he heard this； the
landlord； delighted beyond measure； pointed out a place where the show
might be fixed； which was done at once。
Don Quixote was not very well satisfied with the divinations of
the ape； as he did not think it proper that an ape should divine
anything； either past or future； so while Master Pedro was arranging
the show； he retired with Sancho into a corner of the stable； where；
without being overheard by anyone； he said to him； 〃Look here； Sancho；
I have been seriously thinking over this ape's extraordinary gift； and
have come to the conclusion that beyond doubt this Master Pedro； his
master； has a pact； tacit or express； with the devil。〃
〃If the packet is express from the devil；〃 said Sancho； 〃it must
be a very dirty packet no doubt； but what good can it do Master
Pedro to have such packets？〃
〃Thou dost not understand me； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃I only
mean he must have made some compact with the devil to infuse this
power into the ape； that he may get his living； and after he has grown
rich he will give him his soul； which is what the enemy of mankind
wants； this I am led to believe by observing that the ape only answers
about things past or present； and the devil's knowledge extends no
further； for the future he knows only by guesswork； and that not
always； for it is reserved for God alone to know the times and the
seasons； and for him there is neither past nor future； all is present。
This being as it is； it is clear that this ape speaks by the spirit of
the devil； and I am astonished they have not denounced him to the Holy
Office； and put him to the question； and forced it out of him by whose
virtue it is that he divines； because it is certain this ape is not an
astrologer； neither his master nor he sets up； or knows how to set up；
those figures they call judiciary； which are now so common in Spain
that there is not a jade； or page； or old cobbler； that will not
undertake to set up a figure as readily as pick up a knave of cards
from the ground； bringing to nought the marvellous truth of the
science by their lies and ignorance。 I know of a lady who asked one of
these figure schemers whether her little lap…dog would be in pup and
would breed； and how many and of what colour the little pups would be。
To which senor astrologer； after having set up his figure； made answer
that the bitch would be in pup； and would drop three pups； one
green； another bright red； and the third parti…coloured； provided
she conceived between eleven and twelve either of the day or night；
and on a Monday or Saturday； but as things turned out； two days
after this the bitch died of a surfeit； and senor planet…ruler had the
credit all over the place of being a most profound astrologer； as most
of these planet…rulers have。〃
〃Still；〃 said Sancho； 〃I would be glad if your worship would make
Master Pedro ask his ape whether what happened your worship in the
cave of Montesinos is true； for； begging your worship's pardon； I； for
my part； take it to have been all flam and lies； or at any rate
something you dreamt。〃
〃That may be；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃however； I will do what you
suggest； though I have my own scruples about it。〃
At this point Master Pedro came up in quest of Don Quixote； to
tell him the show was now ready and to come and see it； for it was
worth seeing。 Don Quixote explained his wish； and begged him to ask
his ape at once to tell him whether certain things which had
happened to him in the cave of Montesinos were dreams or realities；
for to him they appeared to partake of both。 Upon this Master Pedro；
without answering； went back to fetch the ape； and； having placed it
in front of Don Quixote and Sancho； said： 〃See here； senor ape； this
gentleman wishes to know whether certain things which happened to
him in the cave called the cave of Montesinos were false or true。〃
On his making the usual sign the ape mounted on his left shoulder
and seemed to whisper in his ear； and Master Pedro said at once；
〃The ape says that the things you saw or that happened to you in
that cave are； part of them false； part true； and that he only knows
this and no more as regards this question； but if your worship
wishes to know more； on Friday next he will answer all that may be
asked him； for his virtue is at present exhausted； and will not return
to him till Friday； as he has said。〃
〃Did I not say； senor；〃 said Sancho； 〃that I could not bring
myself to believe that all your worship said about the adventures in
the cave was true； or even the half of it？〃
〃The course of events will tell； Sancho；〃 replied Don Quixote；
〃time； that discloses all things； leaves nothing that it does not drag
into the light of day； though it be buried in the bosom of the
earth。 But enough of that for the present； let us go and see Master
Pedro's show； for I am sure there must be something novel in it。〃
〃Something！〃 said Master Pedro； 〃this show of mine has sixty
thousand novel things in it； let me tell you； Senor Don Quixote； it is
one of the best…worth…seeing things in the world this day； but
operibus credite et non verbis； and now let's get to work； for it is
growing late； and we have a great deal to do and to say and show。〃
Don Quixote and Sancho obeyed him and went to where the show was
already put up and uncovered； set all around with lighted wax tapers
which made it look splendid and bright。 When they came to it Master
Pedro ensconced himself inside it； for it was he who had to work the
puppets； and a boy； a servant of his； posted himself outside to act as
showman and explain the mysteries of the exhibition； having a wand
in his hand to point to the figures as they came out。 And so； all
who were in the inn being arranged in front of the show； some of
them standing； and Don Quixote； Sancho； the page； and cousin；
accommodated with the best places； the interpreter began to say what
he will hear or see who reads or hears the next chapter。
CHAPTER XXVI
WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE DROLL ADVENTURE OF THE PUPPET…SHOWMAN；
TOGETHER WITH OTHER THINGS IN TRUTH RIGHT GOOD
ALL were silent； Tyrians and Trojans； I mean all who were watching
the show were hanging on the lips of the interpreter of its wonders；
when drums and trumpets were heard to sound inside it and cannon to go
off。 The noise was soon over； and then the boy lifted up his voice and
said； 〃This true story which is here represented to your worships is
taken word for word from the French chronicles and from the Spanish
ballads that are in everybody's mouth； and in the mouth of the boys
about the streets。 Its subject is the release by Senor Don Gaiferos of
his wife Melisendra； when a captive in Spain at the hands of the Moors
in the city of Sansuena； for so they called then what is now called
Saragossa； and there you may see how Don Gaiferos is playing at the
tables； just as they sing it…
At tables playing Don Gaiferos sits；
For Melisendra is forgotten now。
And that personage who appears there with a crown on his head and a
sceptre in his hand is the Emperor Charlemagne； the supposed father of
Melisendra； who； angered to see his son…in…law's inaction and
unconcern； comes in to chide him； and observe with what vehemence
and energy he chides him； so that you would fancy he was going to give
him half a dozen raps with his sceptre； and indeed there are authors
who say he did give them； and sound ones too； and after having said
a great deal to him about imperilling his honour by not effecting
the release of his wife； he said； so the tale runs；
Enough I've said； see to it now。
Observe； too； how the emperor turns away； and leaves Don Gaiferos
fuming； and you see now how in a burst of anger； he flings the table
and the board far from him and calls in haste for his armour； and asks
his cousin Don Roland for the loan of his sword； Durindana； and how
Don Roland