Paul falling from his horse； with all the details that are usually
given in representations of his conversion。 When Don Quixote saw it；
rendered in such lifelike style that one would have said Christ was
speaking and Paul answering； 〃This；〃 he said； 〃was in his time the
greatest enemy that the Church of God our Lord had； and the greatest
champion it will ever have； a knight…errant in life； a steadfast saint
in death； an untiring labourer in the Lord's vineyard； a teacher of
the Gentiles； whose school was heaven； and whose instructor and master
was Jesus Christ himself。〃
There were no more images； so Don Quixote bade them cover them up
again； and said to those who had brought them； 〃I take it as a happy
omen； brothers； to have seen what I have； for these saints and knights
were of the same profession as myself； which is the calling of arms；
only there is this difference between them and me； that they were
saints； and fought with divine weapons； and I am a sinner and fight
with human ones。 They won heaven by force of arms； for heaven
suffereth violence； and I； so far； know not what I have won by dint of
my sufferings； but if my Dulcinea del Toboso were to be released
from hers； perhaps with mended fortunes and a mind restored to
itself I might direct my steps in a better path than I am following at
present。〃
〃May God hear and sin be deaf；〃 said Sancho to this。
The men were filled with wonder； as well at the figure as at the
words of Don Quixote； though they did not understand one half of
what he meant by them。 They finished their dinner； took their images
on their backs； and bidding farewell to Don Quixote resumed their
journey。
Sancho was amazed afresh at the extent of his master's knowledge； as
much as if he had never known him； for it seemed to him that there was
no story or event in the world that he had not at his fingers' ends
and fixed in his memory； and he said to him； 〃In truth； master mine；
if this that has happened to us to…day is to be called an adventure；
it has been one of the sweetest and pleasantest that have befallen
us in the whole course of our travels； we have come out of it
unbelaboured and undismayed； neither have we drawn sword nor have we
smitten the earth with our bodies； nor have we been left famishing；
blessed be God that he has let me see such a thing with my own eyes！〃
〃Thou sayest well； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but remember all
times are not alike nor do they always run the same way； and these
things the vulgar commonly call omens； which are not based upon any
natural reason； will by him who is wise be esteemed and reckoned happy
accidents merely。 One of these believers in omens will get up of a
morning； leave his house； and meet a friar of the order of the blessed
Saint Francis； and； as if he had met a griffin； he will turn about and
go home。 With another Mendoza the salt is spilt on his table； and
gloom is spilt over his heart； as if nature was obliged to give
warning of coming misfortunes by means of such trivial things as
these。 The wise man and the Christian should not trifle with what it
may please heaven to do。 Scipio on coming to Africa stumbled as he
leaped on shore； his soldiers took it as a bad omen； but he；
clasping the soil with his arms； exclaimed； 'Thou canst not escape me；
Africa； for I hold thee tight between my arms。' Thus； Sancho；
meeting those images has been to me a most happy occurrence。〃
〃I can well believe it；〃 said Sancho； 〃but I wish your worship would
tell me what is the reason that the Spaniards； when they are about
to give battle； in calling on that Saint James the Moorslayer； say
'Santiago and close Spain！' Is Spain； then； open； so that it is
needful to close it； or what is the meaning of this form？〃
〃Thou art very simple； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃God； look you；
gave that great knight of the Red Cross to Spain as her patron saint
and protector； especially in those hard struggles the Spaniards had
with the Moors； and therefore they invoke and call upon him as their
defender in all their battles； and in these he has been many a time
seen beating down； trampling under foot； destroying and slaughtering
the Hagarene squadrons in the sight of all； of which fact I could give
thee many examples recorded in truthful Spanish histories。〃
Sancho changed the subject； and said to his master； 〃I marvel；
senor； at the boldness of Altisidora； the duchess's handmaid； he
whom they call Love must have cruelly pierced and wounded her； they
say he is a little blind urchin who； though blear…eyed； or more
properly speaking sightless； if he aims at a heart； be it ever so
small； hits it and pierces it through and through with his arrows。 I
have heard it said too that the arrows of Love are blunted and
robbed of their points by maidenly modesty and reserve； but with
this Altisidora it seems they are sharpened rather than blunted。〃
〃Bear in mind； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that love is influenced
by no consideration； recognises no restraints of reason； and is of the
same nature as death； that assails alike the lofty palaces of kings
and the humble cabins of shepherds； and when it takes entire
possession of a heart； the first thing it does is to banish fear and
shame from it； and so without shame Altisidora declared her passion；
which excited in my mind embarrassment rather than commiseration。〃
〃Notable cruelty！〃 exclaimed Sancho； 〃unheard…of ingratitude！ I
can only say for myself that the very smallest loving word of hers
would have subdued me and made a slave of me。 The devil！ What a
heart of marble； what bowels of brass； what a soul of mortar！ But I
can't imagine what it is that this damsel saw in your worship that
could have conquered and captivated her so。 What gallant figure was
it； what bold bearing； what sprightly grace； what comeliness of
feature； which of these things by itself； or what all together；
could have made her fall in love with you？ For indeed and in truth
many a time I stop to look at your worship from the sole of your
foot to the topmost hair of your head； and I see more to frighten
one than to make one fall in love； moreover I have heard say that
beauty is the first and main thing that excites love； and as your
worship has none at all； I don't know what the poor creature fell in
love with。〃
〃Recollect； Sancho；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃there are two sorts of
beauty； one of the mind； the other of the body； that of the mind
displays and exhibits itself in intelligence； in modesty； in
honourable conduct； in generosity； in good breeding； and all these
qualities are possible and may exist in an ugly man； and when it is
this sort of beauty and not that of the body that is the attraction；
love is apt to spring up suddenly and violently。 I； Sancho； perceive
clearly enough that I am not beautiful； but at the same time I know
I am not hideous； and it is enough for an honest man not to be a
monster to he an object of love； if only he possesses the endowments
of mind I have mentioned。〃
While engaged in this discourse they were making their way through a
wood that lay beyond the road； when suddenly； without expecting
anything of the kind； Don Quixote found himself caught in some nets of
green cord stretched from one tree to another； and unable to
conceive what it could be； he said to Sancho； 〃Sancho； it strikes me
this affair of these nets will prove one of the strangest adventures
imaginable。 May I die if the enchanters that persecute me are not
trying to entangle me in them and delay my journey； by way of
revenge for my obduracy towards Altisidora。 Well then let me tell them
that if these nets； instead of being green cord； were made of the
hardest diamonds； or stronger than that wherewith the jealous god of
blacksmiths enmeshed Venus and Mars； I would break them as easily as
if they were made of rushes or cotton threads。〃 But just as he was
about to press forward and break through all； suddenly from among some
trees two shepherdesses of surpassing beauty presented themselves to
his sight… or at least damsels dressed like shepherdesses； save that
their jerkins and sayas were of fine brocade； that is to say； the
sayas were rich farthingales of gold embroidered tabby。 Their hair；
that in its golden brightness vied with the beams of the sun itself；
fell loose upon their shoulders and was crowned with garlands twined
with green laurel and red everlasting； and their years to all
appearance were not under fifteen nor above eighteen。 Such was the
spectacle that filled Sancho with amazement； fascinated Don Quixote；
made the sun halt in his course to behold them； and held all four in a
strange silence。 One of the shepherdesses； at length； was the first to
speak and said to Don Quixote； 〃Hold； sir knight； and do not break
these nets； for they are not spread here to do you any harm； but
only for our amusement； and as I know you will ask why they have
been put up； and who we are； I will tell you in a few words。 In a
village some two leagues from this； where there are many people of
quality and rich gentlefolk； it was agreed upon by a number of friends
and relations to come with their wives； sons and daughters；
neighbours； friends and kinsmen； and make holiday in this spot；
which is one of the pleasantest in the whole neighbourhood； setting up
a new pastoral Arcadia among ourselves； we maidens dressing
ourselves as shepherdesses and the youths as shepherds。 We have
prepared two eclogues； one by the famous poet Garcilasso； the other by
the most excellent Camoens； in its own Portuguese tongue； but we
have not as yet acted them。 Yesterday was the first day of our
coming here； we have a few of what they say are called field…tents
pitched among the trees on the bank of an ample brook that
fertilises all these meadows； last night we spread these nets in the
trees here to snare the silly little birds that startled by the
noise we make may fly into them。 If you please to he our guest； senor；
you will be welcomed heartily and courteously； for here just now
neither care nor sorrow shall enter。〃
She held her peace and said no more； and Don Quixote made answer；
〃Of a truth； fairest lady； Actaeon when he unexpectedly beheld Diana
bathing in the s