wish they had been gold。 Send me some strings of pearls if they are in
fashion in that island。 Here is the news of the village； La Berrueca
has married her daughter to a good…for…nothing painter； who came
here to paint anything that might turn up。 The council gave him an
order to paint his Majesty's arms over the door of the town…hall； he
asked two ducats； which they paid him in advance； he worked for
eight days； and at the end of them had nothing painted； and then
said he had no turn for painting such trifling things； he returned the
money； and for all that has married on the pretence of being a good
workman； to be sure he has now laid aside his paint…brush and taken
a spade in hand； and goes to the field like a gentleman。 Pedro
Lobo's son has received the first orders and tonsure； with the
intention of becoming a priest。 Minguilla； Mingo Silvato's
granddaughter； found it out； and has gone to law with him on the score
of having given her promise of marriage。 Evil tongues say she is
with child by him； but he denies it stoutly。 There are no olives
this year； and there is not a drop of vinegar to be had in the whole
village。 A company of soldiers passed through here； when they left
they took away with them three of the girls of the village； I will not
tell thee who they are； perhaps they will come back； and they will
be sure to find those who will take them for wives with all their
blemishes； good or bad。 Sanchica is making bonelace； she earns eight
maravedis a day clear； which she puts into a moneybox as a help
towards house furnishing； but now that she is a governor's daughter
thou wilt give her a portion without her working for it。 The
fountain in the plaza has run dry。 A flash of lightning struck the
gibbet； and I wish they all lit there。 I look for an answer to this；
and to know thy mind about my going to the Court； and so； God keep
thee longer than me； or as long； for I would not leave thee in this
world without me。
Thy wife；
TERESA PANZA。
The letters were applauded； laughed over； relished； and admired； and
then； as if to put the seal to the business； the courier arrived；
bringing the one Sancho sent to Don Quixote； and this； too； was read
out； and it raised some doubts as to the governor's simplicity。 The
duchess withdrew to hear from the page about his adventures in
Sancho's village； which he narrated at full length without leaving a
single circumstance unmentioned。 He gave her the acorns； and also a
cheese which Teresa had given him as being particularly good and
superior to those of Tronchon。 The duchess received it with greatest
delight； in which we will leave her； to describe the end of the
government of the great Sancho Panza； flower and mirror of all
governors of islands。
CHAPTER LIII
OF THE TROUBLOUS END AND TERMINATION SANCHO PANZA'S GOVERNMENT
CAME TO
TO FANCY that in this life anything belonging to it will remain
for ever in the same state is an idle fancy； on the contrary； in it
everything seems to go in a circle； I mean round and round。 The spring
succeeds the summer； the summer the fall； the fall the autumn； the
autumn the winter； and the winter the spring； and so time rolls with
never…ceasing wheel。 Man's life alone； swifter than time； speeds
onward to its end without any hope of renewal； save it be in that
other life which is endless and boundless。 Thus saith Cide Hamete
the Mahometan philosopher； for there are many that by the light of
nature alone； without the light of faith； have a comprehension of
the fleeting nature and instability of this present life and the
endless duration of that eternal life we hope for； but our author is
here speaking of the rapidity with which Sancho's government came to
an end； melted away； disappeared； vanished as it were in smoke and
shadow。 For as he lay in bed on the night of the seventh day of his
government； sated； not with bread and wine； but with delivering
judgments and giving opinions and making laws and proclamations；
just as sleep； in spite of hunger； was beginning to close his eyelids；
he heard such a noise of bell…ringing and shouting that one would have
fancied the whole island was going to the bottom。 He sat up in bed and
remained listening intently to try if he could make out what could
be the cause of so great an uproar； not only； however； was he unable
to discover what it was； but as countless drums and trumpets now
helped to swell the din of the bells and shouts； he was more puzzled
than ever； and filled with fear and terror； and getting up he put on a
pair of slippers because of the dampness of the floor； and without
throwing a dressing gown or anything of the kind over him he rushed
out of the door of his room； just in time to see approaching along a
corridor a band of more than twenty persons with lighted torches and
naked swords in their hands； all shouting out； 〃To arms； to arms；
senor governor； to arms！ The enemy is in the island in countless
numbers； and we are lost unless your skill and valour come to our
support。〃
Keeping up this noise； tumult； and uproar； they came to where Sancho
stood dazed and bewildered by what he saw and heard； and as they
approached one of them called out to him； 〃Arm at once； your lordship；
if you would not have yourself destroyed and the whole island lost。〃
〃What have I to do with arming？〃 said Sancho。 〃What do I know
about arms or supports？ Better leave all that to my master Don
Quixote； who will settle it and make all safe in a trice； for I；
sinner that I am； God help me； don't understand these scuffles。〃
〃Ah； senor governor；〃 said another； 〃what slackness of mettle this
is！ Arm yourself； here are arms for you； offensive and defensive； come
out to the plaza and be our leader and captain； it falls upon you by
right； for you are our governor。〃
〃Arm me then； in God's name；〃 said Sancho； and they at once produced
two large shields they had come provided with； and placed them upon
him over his shirt； without letting him put on anything else； one
shield in front and the other behind； and passing his arms through
openings they had made； they bound him tight with ropes； so that there
he was walled and boarded up as straight as a spindle and unable to
bend his knees or stir a single step。 In his hand they placed a lance；
on which he leant to keep himself from falling； and as soon as they
had him thus fixed they bade him march forward and lead them on and
give them all courage； for with him for their guide and lamp and
morning star； they were sure to bring their business to a successful
issue。
〃How am I to march； unlucky being that I am？〃 said Sancho； 〃when I
can't stir my knee…caps； for these boards I have bound so tight to
my body won't let me。 What you must do is carry me in your arms； and
lay me across or set me upright in some postern； and I'll hold it
either with this lance or with my body。〃
〃On； senor governor！〃 cried another； 〃it is fear more than the
boards that keeps you from moving； make haste； stir yourself； for
there is no time to lose； the enemy is increasing in numbers； the
shouts grow louder； and the danger is pressing。〃
Urged by these exhortations and reproaches the poor governor made an
attempt to advance； but fell to the ground with such a crash that he
fancied he had broken himself all to pieces。 There he lay like a
tortoise enclosed in its shell； or a side of bacon between two
kneading…troughs； or a boat bottom up on the beach； nor did the gang
of jokers feel any compassion for him when they saw him down； so far
from that； extinguishing their torches they began to shout afresh
and to renew the calls to arms with such energy； trampling on poor
Sancho； and slashing at him over the shield with their swords in
such a way that； if he had not gathered himself together and made
himself small and drawn in his head between the shields； it would have
fared badly with the poor governor； as； squeezed into that narrow
compass； he lay； sweating and sweating again； and commending himself
with all his heart to God to deliver him from his present peril。
Some stumbled over him； others fell upon him； and one there was who
took up a position on top of him for some time； and from thence as
if from a watchtower issued orders to the troops； shouting out； 〃Here；
our side！ Here the enemy is thickest！ Hold the breach there！ Shut that
gate！ Barricade those ladders！ Here with your stink…pots of pitch
and resin； and kettles of boiling oil！ Block the streets with
feather beds！〃 In short； in his ardour he mentioned every little
thing； and every implement and engine of war by means of which an
assault upon a city is warded off； while the bruised and battered
Sancho； who heard and suffered all； was saying to himself； 〃O if it
would only please the Lord to let the island be lost at once； and I
could see myself either dead or out of this torture！〃 Heaven heard his
prayer； and when he least expected it he heard voices exclaiming；
〃Victory； victory！ The enemy retreats beaten！ Come； senor governor；
get up； and come and enjoy the victory； and divide the spoils that
have been won from the foe by the might of that invincible arm。〃
〃Lift me up；〃 said the wretched Sancho in a woebegone voice。 They
helped him to rise； and as soon as he was on his feet said； 〃The enemy
I have beaten you may nail to my forehead； I don't want to divide
the spoils of the foe； I only beg and entreat some friend； if I have
one； to give me a sup of wine； for I'm parched with thirst； and wipe
me dry； for I'm turning to water。〃
They rubbed him down； fetched him wine and unbound the shields；
and he seated himself upon his bed； and with fear； agitation； and
fatigue he fainted away。 Those who had been concerned in the joke were
now sorry they had pushed it so far； however； the anxiety his fainting
away had caused them was relieved by his returning to himself。 He
asked what o'clock it was； they told him it was just daybreak。 He said
no more； and in silence began to dress himself； while all watched him；
waiting to see what the haste with which he was putting on his clothes
meant。
He got himself dressed at last； and then； slowly； for he was
so