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
sorely bruised and could not go fast； he proceeded to the stable；
followed by all who were present； and going up to Dapple embraced
him and gave him a loving kiss on the forehead； and said to him； not
without tears in his eyes； 〃Come along； comrade and friend and partner
of my toils and sorrows； when I was with you and had no cares to
trouble me except mending your harness and feeding your little
carcass； happy were my hours； my days； and my years； but since I
left you； and mounted the towers of ambition and pride； a thousand
miseries； a thousand troubles； and four thousand anxieties have
entered into my soul；〃 and all the while he was speaking in this
strain he was fixing the pack…saddle on the ass； without a word from
anyone。 Then having Dapple saddled； he； with great pain and
difficulty； got up on him； and addressing himself to the majordomo；
the secretary； the head…carver； and Pedro Recio the doctor and several
others who stood by； he said； 〃Make way； gentlemen； and let me go back
to my old freedom； let me go look for my past life； and raise myself
up from this present death。 I was not born to be a governor or protect
islands or cities from the enemies that choose to attack them。
Ploughing and digging； vinedressing and pruning； are more in my way
than defending provinces or kingdoms。 'Saint Peter is very well at
Rome； I mean each of us is best following the trade he was born to。
A reaping…hook fits my hand better than a governor's sceptre； I'd
rather have my fill of gazpacho' than be subject to the misery of a
meddling doctor who me with hunger； and I'd rather lie in summer under
the shade of an oak； and in winter wrap myself in a double sheepskin
jacket in freedom； than go to bed between holland sheets and dress
in sables under the restraint of a government。 God be with your
worships； and tell my lord the duke that 'naked I was born； naked I
find myself； I neither lose nor gain；' I mean that without a
farthing I came into this government； and without a farthing I go
out of it； very different from the way governors commonly leave
other islands。 Stand aside and let me go； I have to plaster myself；
for I believe every one of my ribs is crushed； thanks to the enemies
that have been trampling over me to…night。〃
〃That is unnecessary； senor governor；〃 said Doctor Recio； 〃for I
will give your worship a draught against falls and bruises that will
soon make you as sound and strong as ever； and as for your diet I
promise your worship to behave better； and let you eat plentifully
of whatever you like。〃
〃You spoke late；〃 said Sancho。 〃I'd as soon turn Turk as stay any
longer。 Those jokes won't pass a second time。 By God I'd as soon
remain in this government； or take another； even if it was offered
me between two plates； as fly to heaven without wings。 I am of the
breed of the Panzas； and they are every one of them obstinate； and
if they once say 'odds；' odds it must be； no matter if it is evens； in
spite of all the world。 Here in this stable I leave the ant's wings
that lifted me up into the air for the swifts and other birds to eat
me； and let's take to level ground and our feet once more； and if
they're not shod in pinked shoes of cordovan； they won't want for
rough sandals of hemp； 'every ewe to her like；' 'and let no one
stretch his leg beyond the length of the sheet；' and now let me
pass； for it's growing late with me。〃
To this the majordomo said； 〃Senor governor； we would let your
worship go with all our hearts； though it sorely grieves us to lose
you； for your wit and Christian conduct naturally make us regret
you； but it is well known that every governor； before he leaves the
place where he has been governing； is bound first of all to render
an account。 Let your worship do so for the ten days you have held
the government； and then you may go and the peace of God go with you。〃
〃No one can demand it of me；〃 said Sancho； 〃but he whom my lord
the duke shall appoint； I am going to meet him； and to him I will
render an exact one； besides； when I go forth naked as I do； there
is no other proof needed to show that I have governed like an angel。〃
〃By God the great Sancho is right；〃 said Doctor Recio； 〃and we
should let him go； for the duke will be beyond measure glad to see
him。〃
They all agreed to this； and allowed him to go； first offering to
bear him company and furnish him with all he wanted for his own
comfort or for the journey。 Sancho said he did not want anything more
than a little barley for Dapple； and half a cheese and half a loaf
for himself； for the distance being so short there was no occasion for
any better or bulkier provant。 They all embraced him； and he with
tears embraced all of them； and left them filled with admiration not
only at his remarks but at his firm and sensible resolution。
CHAPTER LIV
WHICH DEALS WITH MATTERS RELATING TO THIS HISTORY AND NO OTHER
THE duke and duchess resolved that the challenge Don Quixote had；
for the reason already mentioned； given their vassal； should be
proceeded with； and as the young man was in Flanders； whither he had
fled to escape having Dona Rodriguez for a mother…in…law； they
arranged to substitute for him a Gascon lacquey； named Tosilos；
first of all carefully instructing him in all he had to do。 Two days
later the duke told Don Quixote that in four days from that time his
opponent would present himself on the field of battle armed as a
knight； and would maintain that the damsel lied by half a beard； nay a
whole beard； if she affirmed that he had given her a promise of
marriage。 Don Quixote was greatly pleased at the news； and promised
himself to do wonders in the lists； and reckoned it rare good
fortune that an opportunity should have offered for letting his
noble hosts see what the might of his strong arm was capable of； and
so in high spirits and satisfaction he awaited the expiration of the
four days； which measured by his impatience seemed spinning themselves
out into four hundred ages。 Let us leave them to pass as we do other
things； and go and bear Sancho company； as mounted on Dapple； half
glad； half sad； he paced along on his road to join his master； in
whose society he was happier than in being governor of all the islands
in the world。 Well then； it so happened that before he had gone a
great way from the island of his government （and whether it was
island； city； town； or village that he governed he never troubled
himself to inquire） he saw coming along the road he was travelling six
pilgrims with staves； foreigners of that sort that beg for alms
singing； who as they drew near arranged themselves in a line and
lifting up their voices all together began to sing in their own
language something that Sancho could not with the exception of one
word which sounded plainly 〃alms；〃 from which he gathered that it
was alms they asked for in their song； and being； as Cide Hamete says；
remarkably charitable； he took out of his alforias the half loaf and
half cheese he had been provided with； and gave them to them；
explaining to them by signs that he had nothing else to give them。
They received them very gladly； but exclaimed； 〃Geld！ Geld！〃
〃I don't understand what you want of me； good people；〃 said Sancho。
On this one of them took a purse out of his bosom and showed it to
Sancho； by which he comprehended they were asking for money； and
putting his thumb to his throat and spreading his hand upwards he gave
them to understand that he had not the sign of a coin about him； and
urging Dapple forward he broke through them。 But as he was passing；
one of them who had been examining him very closely rushed towards
him； and flinging his arms round him exclaimed in a loud voice and
good Spanish； 〃God bless me！ What's this I see？ Is it possible that
I hold in my arms my dear friend； my good neighbour Sancho Panza？
But there's no doubt about it； for I'm not asleep； nor am I drunk just
now。〃
Sancho was surprised to hear himself called by his name and find
himself embraced by a foreign pilgrim； and after regarding him
steadily without speaking he was still unable to recognise him； but
the pilgrim perceiving his perplexity cried； 〃What！ and is it
possible； Sancho Panza； that thou dost not know thy neighbour
Ricote； the Morisco shopkeeper of thy village？〃
Sancho upon this looking at him more carefully began to recall his
features； and at last recognised him perfectly； and without getting
off the ass threw his arms round his neck saying； 〃Who the devil could
have known thee； Ricote； in this mummer's dress thou art in？ Tell
me； who bas frenchified thee； and how dost thou dare to return to
Spain； where if they catch thee and recognise thee it will go hard
enough with thee？〃
〃If thou dost not betray me； Sancho；〃 said the pilgrim； 〃I am
safe； for in this dress no one will recognise me； but let us turn
aside out of the road into that grove there where my comrades are
going to eat and rest； and thou shalt eat with them there； for they
are very good fellows； I'll have time enough to tell thee then all
that has happened me since I left our village in obedience to his
Majesty's edict that threatened such severities against the
unfortunate people of my nation； as thou hast heard。〃
Sancho complied； and Ricote having spoken to the other pilgrims they
withdrew to the grove they saw； turning a considerable distance out of
the road。 They threw down their staves； took off their pilgrim's
cloaks and remained in their under…clothing； they were all
good…looking young fellows； except Ricote； who was a man somewhat
advanced in years。 They carried alforjas all of them； and all
apparently well filled； at least with things provocative of thirst；
such as would summon it from two leagues off。 They stretched
themselves on the ground； and making a tablecloth of the grass they
spread upon it bread； salt； knives； walnut； scraps of cheese； and
well…picked ham…bones which if they were past gnawing were not past
sucking。 They also put down a black dainty called； they say； caviar；
and made of the eggs of fish； a grea