lowly virtue is more to be regarded and esteemed than exalted vice。
Dulcinea； besides； has that within her that may raise her to be a
crowned and sceptred queen； for the merit of a fair and virtuous woman
is capable of performing greater miracles； and virtually； though not
formally； she has in herself higher fortunes。〃
〃I protest； Senor Don Quixote；〃 said the duchess； 〃that in all you
say； you go most cautiously and lead in hand； as the saying is；
henceforth I will believe myself； and I will take care that everyone
in my house believes； even my lord the duke if needs be； that there is
a Dulcinea in El Toboso； and that she is living to…day； and that she
is beautiful and nobly born and deserves to have such a knight as
Senor Don Quixote in her service； and that is the highest praise
that it is in my power to give her or that I can think of。 But I
cannot help entertaining a doubt； and having a certain grudge
against Sancho Panza； the doubt is this； that the aforesaid history
declares that the said Sancho Panza； when he carried a letter on
your worship's behalf to the said lady Dulcinea； found her sifting a
sack of wheat； and more by token it says it was red wheat； a thing
which makes me doubt the loftiness of her lineage。〃
To this Don Quixote made answer； 〃Senora； your highness must know
that everything or almost everything that happens me transcends the
ordinary limits of what happens to other knights…errant； whether it he
that it is directed by the inscrutable will of destiny； or by the
malice of some jealous enchanter。 Now it is an established fact that
all or most famous knights…errant have some special gift； one that
of being proof against enchantment； another that of being made of such
invulnerable flesh that he cannot be wounded； as was the famous
Roland； one of the twelve peers of France； of whom it is related
that he could not be wounded except in the sole of his left foot；
and that it must be with the point of a stout pin and not with any
other sort of weapon whatever； and so； when Bernardo del Carpio slew
him at Roncesvalles； finding that he could not wound him with steel；
he lifted him up from the ground in his arms and strangled him；
calling to mind seasonably the death which Hercules inflicted on
Antaeus； the fierce giant that they say was the son of Terra。 I
would infer from what I have mentioned that perhaps I may have some
gift of this kind； not that of being invulnerable； because
experience has many times proved to me that I am of tender flesh and
not at all impenetrable； nor that of being proof against
enchantment； for I have already seen myself thrust into a cage； in
which all the world would not have been able to confine me except by
force of enchantments。 But as I delivered myself from that one； I am
inclined to believe that there is no other that can hurt me； and so；
these enchanters； seeing that they cannot exert their vile craft
against my person； revenge themselves on what I love most； and seek to
rob me of life by maltreating that of Dulcinea in whom I live； and
therefore I am convinced that when my squire carried my message to
her； they changed her into a common peasant girl； engaged in such a
mean occupation as sifting wheat； I have already said； however； that
that wheat was not red wheat； nor wheat at all； but grains of orient
pearl。 And as a proof of all this； I must tell your highnesses that；
coming to El Toboso a short time back； I was altogether unable to
discover the palace of Dulcinea； and that the next day； though Sancho；
my squire； saw her in her own proper shape； which is the fairest in
the world； to me she appeared to be a coarse； ill…favoured farm…wench；
and by no means a well…spoken one； she who is propriety itself。 And
so； as I am not and； so far as one can judge； cannot be enchanted； she
it is that is enchanted； that is smitten； that is altered； changed；
and transformed； in her have my enemies revenged themselves upon me；
and for her shall I live in ceaseless tears； until I see her in her
pristine state。 I have mentioned this lest anybody should mind what
Sancho said about Dulcinea's winnowing or sifting； for； as they
changed her to me； it is no wonder if they changed her to him。
Dulcinea is illustrious and well…born； and of one of the gentle
families of El Toboso； which are many； ancient； and good。 Therein；
most assuredly； not small is the share of the peerless Dulcinea；
through whom her town will be famous and celebrated in ages to come；
as Troy was through Helen； and Spain through La Cava； though with a
better title and tradition。 For another thing； I would have your
graces understand that Sancho Panza is one of the drollest squires
that ever served knight…errant； sometimes there is a simplicity
about him so acute that it is an amusement to try and make out whether
he is simple or sharp； he has mischievous tricks that stamp him rogue；
and blundering ways that prove him a booby； he doubts everything and
believes everything； when I fancy he is on the point of coming down
headlong from sheer stupidity； he comes out with something shrewd that
sends him up to the skies。 After all； I would not exchange him for
another squire； though I were given a city to boot； and therefore I am
in doubt whether it will be well to send him to the government your
highness has bestowed upon him； though I perceive in him a certain
aptitude for the work of governing； so that； with a little trimming of
his understanding； he would manage any government as easily as the
king does his taxes； and moreover； we know already ample experience
that it does not require much cleverness or much learning to be a
governor； for there are a hundred round about us that scarcely know
how to read； and govern like gerfalcons。 The main point is that they
should have good intentions and be desirous of doing right in all
things； for they will never be at a loss for persons to advise and
direct them in what they have to do； like those knight…governors
who； being no lawyers； pronounce sentences with the aid of an
assessor。 My advice to him will be to take no bribe and surrender no
right； and I have some other little matters in reserve； that shall
be produced in due season for Sancho's benefit and the advantage of
the island he is to govern。〃
The duke； duchess； and Don Quixote had reached this point in their
conversation； when they heard voices and a great hubbub in the palace；
and Sancho burst abruptly into the room all glowing with anger； with a
straining…cloth by way of a bib； and followed by several servants； or；
more properly speaking； kitchen…boys and other underlings； one of whom
carried a small trough full of water； that from its colour and
impurity was plainly dishwater。 The one with the trough pursued him
and followed him everywhere he went； endeavouring with the utmost
persistence to thrust it under his chin； while another kitchen…boy
seemed anxious to wash his beard。
〃What is all this； brothers？〃 asked the duchess。 〃What is it？ What
do you want to do to this good man？ Do you forget he is a
governor…elect？〃
To which the barber kitchen…boy replied； 〃The gentleman will not let
himself be washed as is customary； and as my lord the and the senor
his master have been。〃
〃Yes； I will；〃 said Sancho； in a great rage； 〃but I'd like it to
be with cleaner towels； clearer lye； and not such dirty hands； for
there's not so much difference between me and my master that he should
be washed with angels' water and I with devil's lye。 The customs of
countries and princes' palaces are only good so long as they give no
annoyance； but the way of washing they have here is worse than doing
penance。 I have a clean beard； and I don't require to be refreshed
in that fashion； and whoever comes to wash me or touch a hair of my
head； I mean to say my beard； with all due respect be it said； I'll
give him a punch that will leave my fist sunk in his skull； for
cirimonies and soapings of this sort are more like jokes than the
polite attentions of one's host。〃
The duchess was ready to die with laughter when she saw Sancho's
rage and heard his words； but it was no pleasure to Don Quixote to see
him in such a sorry trim； with the dingy towel about him； and the
hangers…on of the kitchen all round him； so making a low bow to the
duke and duchess； as if to ask their permission to speak； he addressed
the rout in a dignified tone： 〃Holloa； gentlemen！ you let that youth
alone； and go back to where you came from； or anywhere else if you
like； my squire is as clean as any other person； and those troughs are
as bad as narrow thin…necked jars to him； take my advice and leave him
alone； for neither he nor I understand joking。〃
Sancho took the word out of his mouth and went on； 〃Nay； let them
come and try their jokes on the country bumpkin； for it's about as
likely I'll stand them as that it's now midnight！ Let them bring me
a comb here； or what they please； and curry this beard of mine； and if
they get anything out of it that offends against cleanliness； let them
clip me to the skin。〃
Upon this； the duchess； laughing all the while； said； 〃Sancho
Panza is right； and always will be in all he says； he is clean； and；
as he says himself； he does not require to be washed； and if our
ways do not please him； he is free to choose。 Besides； you promoters
of cleanliness have been excessively careless and thoughtless； I don't
know if I ought not to say audacious； to bring troughs and wooden
utensils and kitchen dishclouts； instead of basins and jugs of pure
gold and towels of holland； to such a person and such a beard； but；
after all； you are ill…conditioned and ill…bred； and spiteful as you
are； you cannot help showing the grudge you have against the squires
of knights…errant。〃
The impudent servitors； and even the seneschal who came with them；
took the duchess to be speaking in earnest； so they removed the
straining…cloth from Sancho's neck； and with something like shame
and confusion of face went off all of them and left him； whereupon he；
seeing himself safe out of that extreme danger； as it seemed to him；
ran and fell on his knees before the duchess； saying； 〃From great
ladies great favours may be looked for； this which your