all the tremendous noise of the carts； all made up together a din so
confused and terrific that Don Quixote had need to summon up all his
courage to brave it； but Sancho's gave way； and he fell fainting on
the skirt of the duchess's robe； who let him lie there and promptly
bade them throw water in his face。 This was done； and he came to
himself by the time that one of the carts with the creaking wheels
reached the spot。 It was drawn by four plodding oxen all covered
with black housings； on each horn they had fixed a large lighted wax
taper； and on the top of the cart was constructed a raised seat； on
which sat a venerable old man with a beard whiter than the very
snow； and so long that it fell below his waist； he was dressed in a
long robe of black buckram； for as the cart was thickly set with a
multitude of candles it was easy to make out everything that was on
it。 Leading it were two hideous demons； also clad in buckram； with
countenances so frightful that Sancho； having once seen them； shut his
eyes so as not to see them again。 As soon as the cart came opposite
the spot the old man rose from his lofty seat； and standing up said in
a loud voice； 〃I am the sage Lirgandeo；〃 and without another word
the cart then passed on。 Behind it came another of the same form； with
another aged man enthroned； who； stopping the cart； said in a voice no
less solemn than that of the first； 〃I am the sage Alquife； the
great friend of Urganda the Unknown；〃 and passed on。 Then another cart
came by at the same pace； but the occupant of the throne was not old
like the others； but a man stalwart and robust； and of a forbidding
countenance； who as he came up said in a voice far hoarser and more
devilish； 〃I am the enchanter Archelaus； the mortal enemy of Amadis of
Gaul and all his kindred；〃 and then passed on。 Having gone a short
distance the three carts halted and the monotonous noise of their
wheels ceased； and soon after they heard another； not noise； but sound
of sweet； harmonious music； of which Sancho was very glad； taking it
to be a good sign； and said he to the duchess； from whom he did not
stir a step； or for a single instant； 〃Senora； where there's music
there can't be mischief。〃
〃Nor where there are lights and it is bright；〃 said the duchess；
to which Sancho replied； 〃Fire gives light； and it's bright where
there are bonfires； as we see by those that are all round us and
perhaps may burn us； but music is a sign of mirth and merrymaking。〃
〃That remains to be seen；〃 said Don Quixote； who was listening to
all that passed； and he was right； as is shown in the following
chapter。
CHAPTER XXXV
WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO DON QUIXOTE TOUCHING
THE DISENCHANTMENT OF DULCINEA； TOGETHER WITH OTHER MARVELLOUS
INCIDENTS
THEY saw advancing towards them； to the sound of this pleasing
music； what they call a triumphal car； drawn by six grey mules with
white linen housings； on each of which was mounted a penitent； robed
also in white； with a large lighted wax taper in his hand。 The car was
twice or； perhaps； three times as large as the former ones； and in
front and on the sides stood twelve more penitents； all as white as
snow and all with lighted tapers； a spectacle to excite fear as well
as wonder； and on a raised throne was seated a nymph draped in a
multitude of silver…tissue veils with an embroidery of countless
gold spangles glittering all over them； that made her appear； if not
richly； at least brilliantly； apparelled。 She had her face covered
with thin transparent sendal； the texture of which did not prevent the
fair features of a maiden from being distinguished； while the numerous
lights made it possible to judge of her beauty and of her years； which
seemed to be not less than seventeen but not to have yet reached
twenty。 Beside her was a figure in a robe of state； as they call it；
reaching to the feet； while the head was covered with a black veil。
But the instant the car was opposite the duke and duchess and Don
Quixote the music of the clarions ceased； and then that of the lutes
and harps on the car； and the figure in the robe rose up； and flinging
it apart and removing the veil from its face； disclosed to their
eyes the shape of Death itself； fleshless and hideous； at which
sight Don Quixote felt uneasy； Sancho frightened； and the duke and
duchess displayed a certain trepidation。 Having risen to its feet；
this living death； in a sleepy voice and with a tongue hardly awake；
held forth as follows：
I am that Merlin who the legends say
The devil had for father； and the lie
Hath gathered credence with the lapse of time。
Of magic prince； of Zoroastric lore
Monarch and treasurer； with jealous eye
I view the efforts of the age to hide
The gallant deeds of doughty errant knights；
Who are； and ever have been； dear to me。
Enchanters and magicians and their kind
Are mostly hard of heart； not so am I；
For mine is tender； soft； compassionate；
And its delight is doing good to all。
In the dim caverns of the gloomy Dis；
Where； tracing mystic lines and characters；
My soul abideth now； there came to me
The sorrow…laden plaint of her； the fair；
The peerless Dulcinea del Toboso。
I knew of her enchantment and her fate；
From high…born dame to peasant wench transformed
And touched with pity； first I turned the leaves
Of countless volumes of my devilish craft；
And then； in this grim grisly skeleton
Myself encasing； hither have I come
To show where lies the fitting remedy
To give relief in such a piteous case。
O thou； the pride and pink of all that wear
The adamantine steel！ O shining light；
O beacon； polestar； path and guide of all
Who； scorning slumber and the lazy down；
Adopt the toilsome life of bloodstained arms！
To thee； great hero who all praise transcends；
La Mancha's lustre and Iberia's star；
Don Quixote； wise as brave； to thee I say…
For peerless Dulcinea del Toboso
Her pristine form and beauty to regain；
'T is needful that thy esquire Sancho shall；
On his own sturdy buttocks bared to heaven；
Three thousand and three hundred lashes lay；
And that they smart and sting and hurt him well。
Thus have the authors of her woe resolved。
And this is； gentles； wherefore I have come。
〃By all that's good；〃 exclaimed Sancho at this； 〃I'll just as soon
give myself three stabs with a dagger as three； not to say three
thousand； lashes。 The devil take such a way of disenchanting！ I
don't see what my backside has got to do with enchantments。 By God； if
Senor Merlin has not found out some other way of disenchanting the
lady Dulcinea del Toboso； she may go to her grave enchanted。〃
〃But I'll take you； Don Clown stuffed with garlic；〃 said Don
Quixote； 〃and tie you to a tree as naked as when your mother brought
you forth； and give you； not to say three thousand three hundred；
but six thousand six hundred lashes； and so well laid on that they
won't be got rid of if you try three thousand three hundred times；
don't answer me a word or I'll tear your soul out。〃
On hearing this Merlin said； 〃That will not do； for the lashes
worthy Sancho has to receive must be given of his own free will and
not by force； and at whatever time he pleases； for there is no fixed
limit assigned to him； but it is permitted him； if he likes to commute
by half the pain of this whipping； to let them be given by the hand of
another； though it may be somewhat weighty。〃
〃Not a hand； my own or anybody else's； weighty or weighable； shall
touch me；〃 said Sancho。 〃Was it I that gave birth to the lady Dulcinea
del Toboso； that my backside is to pay for the sins of her eyes？ My
master； indeed； that's a part of her… for；he's always calling her
'my life' and 'my soul；' and his stay and prop… may and ought to
whip himself for her and take all the trouble required for her
disenchantment。 But for me to whip myself！ Abernuncio！〃
As soon as Sancho had done speaking the nymph in silver that was
at the side of Merlin's ghost stood up； and removing the thin veil
from her face disclosed one that seemed to all something more than
exceedingly beautiful； and with a masculine freedom from embarrassment
and in a voice not very like a lady's； addressing Sancho directly；
said； 〃Thou wretched squire； soul of a pitcher； heart of a cork
tree； with bowels of flint and pebbles； if； thou impudent thief；
they bade thee throw thyself down from some lofty tower； if； enemy
of mankind； they asked thee to swallow a dozen of toads； two of
lizards； and three of adders； if they wanted thee to slay thy wife and
children with a sharp murderous scimitar； it would be no wonder for
thee to show thyself stubborn and squeamish。 But to make a piece of
work about three thousand three hundred lashes； what every poor little
charity…boy gets every month… it is enough to amaze； astonish； astound
the compassionate bowels of all who hear it； nay； all who come to hear
it in the course of time。 Turn； O miserable； hard…hearted animal；
turn； I say； those timorous owl's eyes upon these of mine that are
compared to radiant stars； and thou wilt see them weeping trickling
streams and rills； and tracing furrows； tracks； and paths over the
fair fields of my cheeks。 Let it move thee； crafty； ill…conditioned
monster； to see my blooming youth… still in its teens； for I am not
yet twenty… wasting and withering away beneath the husk of a rude
peasant wench； and if I do not appear in that shape now； it is a
special favour Senor Merlin here has granted me； to the sole end
that my beauty may soften thee； for the tears of beauty in distress
turn rocks into cotton and tigers into ewes。 Lay on to that hide of
thine； thou great untamed brute； rouse up thy lusty vigour that only
urges thee to eat and eat； and set free the softness of my flesh；
the gentleness of my nature； and the fairness of my face。 And if
thou wilt not relent or come to reason for me； do so for the sake of
that poor knight thou hast beside thee； thy master I mean； whose
soul I can this moment see； how he has it stuck in his throat not
ten fingers from his lips； and only waiting for thy inflexible or
yielding reply to make its escape by his mou