it is only by holding on to the mane of his horse that he can help
falling to the ground； but I know not how the dead man had time to
commend himself to God in the course of such rapid work as this； it
would have been better if those words which he spent in commending
himself to his lady in the midst of his career had been devoted to his
duty and obligation as a Christian。 Moreover； it is my belief that all
knights…errant have not ladies to commend themselves to； for they
are not all in love。〃
〃That is impossible；〃 said Don Quixote： 〃I say it is impossible that
there could be a knight…errant without a lady； because to such it is
as natural and proper to be in love as to the heavens to have stars：
most certainly no history has been seen in which there is to be
found a knight…errant without an amour； and for the simple reason that
without one he would be held no legitimate knight but a bastard； and
one who had gained entrance into the stronghold of the said
knighthood； not by the door； but over the wall like a thief and a
robber。〃
〃Nevertheless；〃 said the traveller； 〃if I remember rightly； I
think I have read that Don Galaor； the brother of the valiant Amadis
of Gaul； never had any special lady to whom he might commend
himself； and yet he was not the less esteemed； and was a very stout
and famous knight。〃
To which our Don Quixote made answer； 〃Sir； one solitary swallow
does not make summer； moreover； I know that knight was in secret
very deeply in love； besides which； that way of falling in love with
all that took his fancy was a natural propensity which he could not
control。 But； in short； it is very manifest that he had one alone whom
he made mistress of his will； to whom he commended himself very
frequently and very secretly； for he prided himself on being a
reticent knight。〃
〃Then if it be essential that every knight…errant should be in
love；〃 said the traveller； 〃it may be fairly supposed that your
worship is so； as you are of the order； and if you do not pride
yourself on being as reticent as Don Galaor； I entreat you as
earnestly as I can； in the name of all this company and in my own；
to inform us of the name； country； rank； and beauty of your lady；
for she will esteem herself fortunate if all the world knows that
she is loved and served by such a knight as your worship seems to be。〃
At this Don Quixote heaved a deep sigh and said； 〃I cannot say
positively whether my sweet enemy is pleased or not that the world
should know I serve her； I can only say in answer to what has been
so courteously asked of me； that her name is Dulcinea； her country
El Toboso； a village of La Mancha； her rank must be at least that of a
princess； since she is my queen and lady； and her beauty superhuman；
since all the impossible and fanciful attributes of beauty which the
poets apply to their ladies are verified in her； for her hairs are
gold； her forehead Elysian fields； her eyebrows rainbows； her eyes
suns； her cheeks roses； her lips coral； her teeth pearls； her neck
alabaster； her bosom marble； her hands ivory； her fairness snow； and
what modesty conceals from sight such； I think and imagine； as
rational reflection can only extol； not compare。〃
〃We should like to know her lineage； race； and ancestry；〃 said
Vivaldo。
To which Don Quixote replied； 〃She is not of the ancient Roman
Curtii； Caii； or Scipios； nor of the modern Colonnas or Orsini； nor of
the Moncadas or Requesenes of Catalonia； nor yet of the Rebellas or
Villanovas of Valencia； Palafoxes； Nuzas； Rocabertis； Corellas； Lunas；
Alagones； Urreas； Foces； or Gurreas of Aragon； Cerdas； Manriques；
Mendozas； or Guzmans of Castile； Alencastros； Pallas； or Meneses of
Portugal； but she is of those of El Toboso of La Mancha； a lineage
that though modern； may furnish a source of gentle blood for the
most illustrious families of the ages that are to come； and this let
none dispute with me save on the condition that Zerbino placed at
the foot of the trophy of Orlando's arms； saying；
'These let none move
Who dareth not his might with Roland prove。'〃
〃Although mine is of the Cachopins of Laredo；〃 said the traveller；
〃I will not venture to compare it with that of El Toboso of La Mancha；
though； to tell the truth； no such surname has until now ever
reached my ears。〃
〃What！〃 said Don Quixote； 〃has that never reached them？〃
The rest of the party went along listening with great attention to
the conversation of the pair； and even the very goatherds and
shepherds perceived how exceedingly out of his wits our Don Quixote
was。 Sancho Panza alone thought that what his master said was the
truth； knowing who he was and having known him from his birth； and all
that he felt any difficulty in believing was that about the fair
Dulcinea del Toboso； because neither any such name nor any such
princess had ever come to his knowledge though he lived so close to El
Toboso。 They were going along conversing in this way； when they saw
descending a gap between two high mountains some twenty shepherds； all
clad in sheepskins of black wool； and crowned with garlands which；
as afterwards appeared； were； some of them of yew； some of cypress。
Six of the number were carrying a bier covered with a great variety of
flowers and branches； on seeing which one of the goatherds said；
〃Those who come there are the bearers of Chrysostom's body； and the
foot of that mountain is the place where he ordered them to bury him。〃
They therefore made haste to reach the spot； and did so by the time
those who came had laid the bier upon the ground； and four of them
with sharp pickaxes were digging a grave by the side of a hard rock。
They greeted each other courteously； and then Don Quixote and those
who accompanied him turned to examine the bier； and on it； covered
with flowers； they saw a dead body in the dress of a shepherd； to
all appearance of one thirty years of age； and showing even in death
that in life he had been of comely features and gallant bearing。
Around him on the bier itself were laid some books； and several papers
open and folded； and those who were looking on as well as those who
were opening the grave and all the others who were there preserved a
strange silence； until one of those who had borne the body said to
another； 〃Observe carefully； Ambrosia if this is the place
Chrysostom spoke of； since you are anxious that what he directed in
his will should be so strictly complied with。〃
〃This is the place；〃 answered Ambrosia 〃for in it many a time did my
poor friend tell me the story of his hard fortune。 Here it was； he
told me； that he saw for the first time that mortal enemy of the human
race； and here； too； for the first time he declared to her his
passion； as honourable as it was devoted； and here it was that at last
Marcela ended by scorning and rejecting him so as to bring the tragedy
of his wretched life to a close； here； in memory of misfortunes so
great； he desired to be laid in the bowels of eternal oblivion。〃
Then turning to Don Quixote and the travellers he went on to say；
〃That body； sirs； on which you are looking with compassionate eyes；
was the abode of a soul on which Heaven bestowed a vast share of its
riches。 That is the body of Chrysostom； who was unrivalled in wit；
unequalled in courtesy； unapproached in gentle bearing； a phoenix in
friendship； generous without limit； grave without arrogance； gay
without vulgarity； and； in short； first in all that constitutes
goodness and second to none in all that makes up misfortune。 He
loved deeply； he was hated； he adored； he was scorned； he wooed a wild
beast； he pleaded with marble； he pursued the wind； he cried to the
wilderness； he served ingratitude； and for reward was made the prey of
death in the mid…course of life； cut short by a shepherdess whom he
sought to immortalise in the memory of man； as these papers which
you see could fully prove； had he not commanded me to consign them
to the fire after having consigned his body to the earth。〃
〃You would deal with them more harshly and cruelly than their
owner himself；〃 said Vivaldo； 〃for it is neither right nor proper to
do the will of one who enjoins what is wholly unreasonable； it would
not have been reasonable in Augustus Caesar had he permitted the
directions left by the divine Mantuan in his will to be carried into
effect。 So that； Senor Ambrosia while you consign your friend's body
to the earth； you should not consign his writings to oblivion； for
if he gave the order in bitterness of heart； it is not right that
you should irrationally obey it。 On the contrary； by granting life
to those papers； let the cruelty of Marcela live for ever； to serve as
a warning in ages to come to all men to shun and avoid falling into
like danger； or I and all of us who have come here know already the
story of this your love…stricken and heart…broken friend； and we know；
too； your friendship； and the cause of his death； and the directions
he gave at the close of his life； from which sad story may be gathered
how great was the cruelty of Marcela； the love of Chrysostom； and
the loyalty of your friendship； together with the end awaiting those
who pursue rashly the path that insane passion opens to their eyes。
Last night we learned the death of Chrysostom and that he was to be
buried here； and out of curiosity and pity we left our direct road and
resolved to come and see with our eyes that which when heard of had so
moved our compassion； and in consideration of that compassion and
our desire to prove it if we might by condolence； we beg of you；
excellent Ambrosia； or at least I on my own account entreat you；
that instead of burning those papers you allow me to carry away some
of them。〃
And without waiting for the shepherd's answer； he stretched out
his hand and took up some of those that were nearest to him； seeing
which Ambrosio said； 〃Out of courtesy； senor； I will grant your
request as to those you have taken； but it is idle to expect me to
abstain from burning the remainder。〃
Vivaldo； who was eager to see what the papers contained； opened
one of them at once； and saw that its title was 〃Lay of Despair。〃
Ambrosio hearing it said； 〃That is the last paper the u