in with some shepherd on the road who can tell us； and now it will
be well for you to go and sleep under cover； for the night air may
hurt your wound； though with the remedy I have applied to you there is
no fear of an untoward result。〃
Sancho Panza； who was wishing the goatherd's loquacity at the devil；
on his part begged his master to go into Pedro's hut to sleep。 He
did so； and passed all the rest of the night in thinking of his lady
Dulcinea； in imitation of the lovers of Marcela。 Sancho Panza
settled himself between Rocinante and his ass； and slept； not like a
lover who had been discarded； but like a man who had been soundly
kicked。
CHAPTER XIII
IN WHICH IS ENDED THE STORY OF THE SHEPHERDESS MARCELA； WITH OTHER
INCIDENTS
BUT hardly had day begun to show itself through the balconies of the
east； when five of the six goatherds came to rouse Don Quixote and
tell him that if he was still of a mind to go and see the famous
burial of Chrysostom they would bear him company。 Don Quixote； who
desired nothing better； rose and ordered Sancho to saddle and pannel
at once； which he did with all despatch； and with the same they all
set out forthwith。 They had not gone a quarter of a league when at the
meeting of two paths they saw coming towards them some six shepherds
dressed in black sheepskins and with their heads crowned with garlands
of cypress and bitter oleander。 Each of them carried a stout holly
staff in his hand； and along with them there came two men of quality
on horseback in handsome travelling dress； with three servants on foot
accompanying them。 Courteous salutations were exchanged on meeting；
and inquiring one of the other which way each party was going； they
learned that all were bound for the scene of the burial； so they
went on all together。
One of those on horseback addressing his companion said to him；
〃It seems to me； Senor Vivaldo； that we may reckon as well spent the
delay we shall incur in seeing this remarkable funeral； for remarkable
it cannot but be judging by the strange things these shepherds have
told us； of both the dead shepherd and homicide shepherdess。〃
〃So I think too；〃 replied Vivaldo； 〃and I would delay not to say a
day； but four； for the sake of seeing it。〃
Don Quixote asked them what it was they had heard of Marcela and
Chrysostom。 The traveller answered that the same morning they had
met these shepherds； and seeing them dressed in this mournful
fashion they had asked them the reason of their appearing in such a
guise； which one of them gave； describing the strange behaviour and
beauty of a shepherdess called Marcela； and the loves of many who
courted her； together with the death of that Chrysostom to whose
burial they were going。 In short； he repeated all that Pedro had
related to Don Quixote。
This conversation dropped； and another was commenced by him who
was called Vivaldo asking Don Quixote what was the reason that led him
to go armed in that fashion in a country so peaceful。 To which Don
Quixote replied； 〃The pursuit of my calling does not allow or permit
me to go in any other fashion； easy life； enjoyment； and repose were
invented for soft courtiers； but toil； unrest； and arms were
invented and made for those alone whom the world calls knights…errant；
of whom I； though unworthy； am the least of all。〃
The instant they heard this all set him down as mad； and the
better to settle the point and discover what kind of madness his
was； Vivaldo proceeded to ask him what knights…errant meant。
〃Have not your worships；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃read the annals
and histories of England； in which are recorded the famous deeds of
King Arthur； whom we in our popular Castilian invariably call King
Artus； with regard to whom it is an ancient tradition； and commonly
received all over that kingdom of Great Britain； that this king did
not die； but was changed by magic art into a raven； and that in
process of time he is to return to reign and recover his kingdom and
sceptre； for which reason it cannot be proved that from that time to
this any Englishman ever killed a raven？ Well； then； in the time of
this good king that famous order of chivalry of the Knights of the
Round Table was instituted； and the amour of Don Lancelot of the
Lake with the Queen Guinevere occurred； precisely as is there related；
the go…between and confidante therein being the highly honourable dame
Quintanona； whence came that ballad so well known and widely spread in
our Spain…
O never surely was there knight
So served by hand of dame；
As served was he Sir Lancelot hight
When he from Britain came…
with all the sweet and delectable course of his achievements in love
and war。 Handed down from that time； then； this order of chivalry went
on extending and spreading itself over many and various parts of the
world； and in it； famous and renowned for their deeds； were the mighty
Amadis of Gaul with all his sons and descendants to the fifth
generation； and the valiant Felixmarte of Hircania； and the never
sufficiently praised Tirante el Blanco； and in our own days almost
we have seen and heard and talked with the invincible knight Don
Belianis of Greece。 This； then； sirs； is to be a knight…errant； and
what I have spoken of is the order of his chivalry； of which； as I
have already said； I； though a sinner； have made profession； and
what the aforesaid knights professed that same do I profess； and so
I go through these solitudes and wilds seeking adventures； resolved in
soul to oppose my arm and person to the most perilous that fortune may
offer me in aid of the weak and needy。〃
By these words of his the travellers were able to satisfy themselves
of Don Quixote's being out of his senses and of the form of madness
that overmastered him； at which they felt the same astonishment that
all felt on first becoming acquainted with it； and Vivaldo； who was
a person of great shrewdness and of a lively temperament； in order
to beguile the short journey which they said was required to reach the
mountain； the scene of the burial； sought to give him an opportunity
of going on with his absurdities。 So he said to him； 〃It seems to
me； Senor Knight…errant； that your worship has made choice of one of
the most austere professions in the world； and I imagine even that
of the Carthusian monks is not so austere。〃
〃As austere it may perhaps be；〃 replied our Don Quixote； 〃but so
necessary for the world I am very much inclined to doubt。 For； if
the truth is to be told； the soldier who executes what his captain
orders does no less than the captain himself who gives the order。 My
meaning； is； that churchmen in peace and quiet pray to Heaven for
the welfare of the world； but we soldiers and knights carry into
effect what they pray for； defending it with the might of our arms and
the edge of our swords； not under shelter but in the open air； a
target for the intolerable rays of the sun in summer and the
piercing frosts of winter。 Thus are we God's ministers on earth and
the arms by which his justice is done therein。 And as the business
of war and all that relates and belongs to it cannot be conducted
without exceeding great sweat； toil； and exertion； it follows that
those who make it their profession have undoubtedly more labour than
those who in tranquil peace and quiet are engaged in praying to God to
help the weak。 I do not mean to say； nor does it enter into my
thoughts； that the knight…errant's calling is as good as that of the
monk in his cell； I would merely infer from what I endure myself
that it is beyond a doubt a more laborious and a more belaboured
one； a hungrier and thirstier； a wretcheder； raggeder； and lousier；
for there is no reason to doubt that the knights…errant of yore
endured much hardship in the course of their lives。 And if some of
them by the might of their arms did rise to be emperors； in faith it
cost them dear in the matter of blood and sweat； and if those who
attained to that rank had not had magicians and sages to help them
they would have been completely baulked in their ambition and
disappointed in their hopes。〃
〃That is my own opinion；〃 replied the traveller； 〃but one thing
among many others seems to me very wrong in knights…errant； and that
is that when they find themselves about to engage in some mighty and
perilous adventure in which there is manifest danger of losing their
lives； they never at the moment of engaging in it think of
commending themselves to God； as is the duty of every good Christian
in like peril； instead of which they commend themselves to their
ladies with as much devotion as if these were their gods； a thing
which seems to me to savour somewhat of heathenism。〃
〃Sir；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃that cannot be on any account omitted；
and the knight…errant would be disgraced who acted otherwise： for it
is usual and customary in knight…errantry that the knight…errant；
who on engaging in any great feat of arms has his lady before him；
should turn his eyes towards her softly and lovingly； as though with
them entreating her to favour and protect him in the hazardous venture
he is about to undertake； and even though no one hear him； he is bound
to say certain words between his teeth； commending himself to her with
all his heart； and of this we have innumerable instances in the
histories。 Nor is it to be supposed from this that they are to omit
commending themselves to God； for there will be time and opportunity
for doing so while they are engaged in their task。〃
〃For all that；〃 answered the traveller； 〃I feel some doubt still；
because often I have read how words will arise between two
knights…errant； and from one thing to another it comes about that
their anger kindles and they wheel their horses round and take a
good stretch of field； and then without any more ado at the top of
their speed they come to the charge； and in mid…career they are wont
to commend themselves to their ladies； and what commonly comes of
the encounter is that one falls over the haunches of his horse pierced
through and through by his antagonist's lance； and as for the other；
it is only by holding on to the mane of his horse that he can help
falling to the