〃Of a truth； fairest lady； Actaeon when he unexpectedly beheld Diana
bathing in the stream could not have been more fascinated and
wonderstruck than I at the sight of your beauty。 I commend your mode
of entertainment； and thank you for the kindness of your invitation；
and if I can serve you； you may command me with full confidence of
being obeyed； for my profession is none other than to show myself
grateful； and ready to serve persons of all conditions； but especially
persons of quality such as your appearance indicates； and if；
instead of taking up； as they probably do； but a small space； these
nets took up the whole surface of the globe； I would seek out new
worlds through which to pass； so as not to break them； and that ye may
give some degree of credence to this exaggerated language of mine；
know that it is no less than Don Quixote of La Mancha that makes
this declaration to you； if indeed it be that such a name has
reached your ears。〃
〃Ah！ friend of my soul；〃 instantly exclaimed the other
shepherdess； 〃what great good fortune has befallen us！ Seest thou this
gentleman we have before us？ Well then let me tell thee he is the most
valiant and the most devoted and the most courteous gentleman in all
the world； unless a history of his achievements that has been
printed and I have read is telling lies and deceiving us。 I will lay a
wager that this good fellow who is with him is one Sancho Panza his
squire； whose drolleries none can equal。〃
〃That's true；〃 said Sancho； 〃I am that same droll and squire you
speak of； and this gentleman is my master Don Quixote of La Mancha；
the same that's in the history and that they talk about。〃
〃Oh； my friend；〃 said the other； 〃let us entreat him to stay； for it
will give our fathers and brothers infinite pleasure； I too have heard
just what thou hast told me of the valour of the one and the
drolleries of the other； and what is more； of him they say that he
is the most constant and loyal lover that was ever heard of； and
that his lady is one Dulcinea del Toboso； to whom all over Spain the
palm of beauty is awarded。〃
〃And justly awarded；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃unless； indeed； your
unequalled beauty makes it a matter of doubt。 But spare yourselves the
trouble； ladies； of pressing me to stay； for the urgent calls of my
profession do not allow me to take rest under any circumstances。〃
At this instant there came up to the spot where the four stood a
brother of one of the two shepherdesses； like them in shepherd
costume； and as richly and gaily dressed as they were。 They told him
that their companion was the valiant Don Quixote of La Mancha； and the
other Sancho his squire； of whom he knew already from having read
their history。 The gay shepherd offered him his services and begged
that he would accompany him to their tents； and Don Quixote had to
give way and comply。 And now the gave was started； and the nets were
filled with a variety of birds that deceived by the colour fell into
the danger they were flying from。 Upwards of thirty persons； all gaily
attired as shepherds and shepherdesses； assembled on the spot； and
were at once informed who Don Quixote and his squire were； whereat
they were not a little delighted； as they knew of him already
through his history。 They repaired to the tents； where they found
tables laid out； and choicely； plentifully； and neatly furnished。 They
treated Don Quixote as a person of distinction； giving him the place
of honour； and all observed him； and were full of astonishment at
the spectacle。 At last the cloth being removed； Don Quixote with great
composure lifted up his voice and said：
〃One of the greatest sins that men are guilty of is… some will say
pride… but I say ingratitude； going by the common saying that hell
is full of ingrates。 This sin； so far as it has lain in my power； I
have endeavoured to avoid ever since I have enjoyed the faculty of
reason； and if I am unable to requite good deeds that have been done
me by other deeds； I substitute the desire to do so； and if that be
not enough I make them known publicly； for he who declares and makes
known the good deeds done to him would repay them by others if it were
in his power； and for the most part those who receive are the
inferiors of those who give。 Thus； God is superior to all because he
is the supreme giver； and the offerings of man fall short by an
infinite distance of being a full return for the gifts of God； but
gratitude in some degree makes up for this deficiency and shortcoming。
I therefore； grateful for the favour that has been extended to me
here； and unable to make a return in the same measure； restricted as I
am by the narrow limits of my power； offer what I can and what I
have to offer in my own way； and so I declare that for two full days I
will maintain in the middle of this highway leading to Saragossa； that
these ladies disguised as shepherdesses； who are here present； are the
fairest and most courteous maidens in the world； excepting only the
peerless Dulcinea del Toboso； sole mistress of my thoughts； be it said
without offence to those who hear me； ladies and gentlemen。〃
On hearing this Sancho； who had been listening with great attention；
cried out in a loud voice； 〃Is it possible there is anyone in the
world who will dare to say and swear that this master of mine is a
madman？ Say； gentlemen shepherds； is there a village priest； be he
ever so wise or learned； who could say what my master has said； or
is there knight…errant； whatever renown he may have as a man of
valour； that could offer what my master has offered now？〃
Don Quixote turned upon Sancho； and with a countenance glowing
with anger said to him； 〃Is it possible； Sancho； there is anyone in
the whole world who will say thou art not a fool； with a lining to
match； and I know not what trimmings of impertinence and roguery？
Who asked thee to meddle in my affairs； or to inquire whether I am a
wise man or a blockhead？ Hold thy peace； answer me not a word；
saddle Rocinante if he be unsaddled； and let us go to put my offer
into execution； for with the right that I have on my side thou
mayest reckon as vanquished all who shall venture to question it；〃 and
in a great rage； and showing his anger plainly； he rose from his seat；
leaving the company lost in wonder； and making them feel doubtful
whether they ought to regard him as a madman or a rational being。 In
the end； though they sought to dissuade him from involving himself
in such a challenge； assuring him they admitted his gratitude as fully
established； and needed no fresh proofs to be convinced of his valiant
spirit； as those related in the history of his exploits were
sufficient； still Don Quixote persisted in his resolve； and mounted on
Rocinante； bracing his buckler on his arm and grasping his lance； he
posted himself in the middle of a high road that was not far from
the green meadow。 Sancho followed on Dapple； together with all the
members of the pastoral gathering； eager to see what would be the
upshot of his vainglorious and extraordinary proposal。
Don Quixote； then； having； as has been said； planted himself in
the middle of the road； made the welkin ring with words to this
effect： 〃Ho ye travellers and wayfarers； knights； squires； folk on
foot or on horseback； who pass this way or shall pass in the course of
the next two days！ Know that Don Quixote of La Mancha；
knight…errant； is posted here to maintain by arms that the beauty
and courtesy enshrined in the nymphs that dwell in these meadows and
groves surpass all upon earth； putting aside the lady of my heart；
Dulcinea del Toboso。 Wherefore； let him who is of the opposite opinion
come on； for here I await him。〃
Twice he repeated the same words； and twice they fell unheard by any
adventurer； but fate； that was guiding affairs for him from better
to better； so ordered it that shortly afterwards there appeared on the
road a crowd of men on horseback； many of them with lances in their
hands； all riding in a compact body and in great haste。 No sooner
had those who were with Don Quixote seen them than they turned about
and withdrew to some distance from the road； for they knew that if
they stayed some harm might come to them； but Don Quixote with
intrepid heart stood his ground； and Sancho Panza shielded himself
with Rocinante's hind…quarters。 The troop of lancers came up； and
one of them who was in advance began shouting to Don Quixote； 〃Get out
of the way； you son of the devil； or these bulls will knock you to
pieces！〃
〃Rabble！〃 returned Don Quixote； 〃I care nothing for bulls； be they
the fiercest Jarama breeds on its banks。 Confess at once；
scoundrels； that what I have declared is true； else ye have to deal
with me in combat。〃
The herdsman had no time to reply； nor Don Quixote to get out of the
way even if he wished； and so the drove of fierce bulls and tame
bullocks； together with the crowd of herdsmen and others who were
taking them to be penned up in a village where they were to be run the
next day； passed over Don Quixote and over Sancho； Rocinante and
Dapple； hurling them all to the earth and rolling them over on the
ground。 Sancho was left crushed； Don Quixote scared； Dapple belaboured
and Rocinante in no very sound condition。 They all got up； however； at
length； and Don Quixote in great haste； stumbling here and falling
there； started off running after the drove； shouting out； 〃Hold！ stay！
ye rascally rabble； a single knight awaits you； and he is not of the
temper or opinion of those who say； 'For a flying enemy make a
bridge of silver。'〃 The retreating party in their haste； however；
did not stop for that； or heed his menaces any more than last year's
clouds。 Weariness brought Don Quixote to a halt； and more enraged than
avenged he sat down on the road to wait until Sancho； Rocinante and
Dapple came up。 When they reached him master and man mounted once
more； and without going back to bid farewell to the mock or
imitation Arcadia； and more in humiliation than contentment； they
continued their journey。
CHAPTER LIX
WHEREIN IS RELATED THE STRANGE THING； WHICH MAY BE REGARDED AS AN
ADVENTURE； THAT HAPPENED DON QUIXOTE
A CLEAR limpid spring which they discov