she might run among the women of his seraglio； and distrustful of
himself； he commanded her to be placed in the house of some Moorish
ladies of rank who would protect and attend to her； and thither he was
taken at once。 What we both suffered （for I cannot deny that I love
him） may be left to the imagination of those who are separated if they
love one an。 other dearly。 The king then arranged that I should return
to Spain in this brigantine； and that two Turks； those who killed your
soldiers； should accompany me。 There also came with me this Spanish
renegade〃… and here she pointed to him who had first spoken… 〃whom I
know to be secretly a Christian； and to be more desirous of being left
in Spain than of returning to Barbary。 The rest of the crew of the
brigantine are Moors and Turks； who merely serve as rowers。 The two
Turks； greedy and insolent； instead of obeying the orders we had to
land me and this renegade in Christian dress （with which we came
provided） on the first Spanish ground we came to； chose to run along
the coast and make some prize if they could； fearing that if they
put us ashore first； we might； in case of some accident befalling
us； make it known that the brigantine was at sea； and thus； if there
happened to be any galleys on the coast； they might be taken。 We
sighted this shore last night； and knowing nothing of these galleys；
we were discovered； and the result was what you have seen。 To sum
up； there is Don Gregorio in woman's dress； among women； in imminent
danger of his life； and here am I； with hands bound； in expectation；
or rather in dread； of losing my life； of which I am already weary。
Here； sirs； ends my sad story； as true as it is unhappy； all I ask
of you is to allow me to die like a Christian； for； as I have
already said； I am not to be charged with the offence of which those
of my nation are guilty；〃 and she stood silent； her eyes filled with
moving tears； accompanied by plenty from the bystanders。 The
viceroy； touched with compassion； went up to her without speaking
and untied the cord that bound the hands of the Moorish girl。
But all the while the Morisco Christian was telling her strange
story； an elderly pilgrim； who had come on board of the galley at
the same time as the viceroy； kept his eyes fixed upon her； and the
instant she ceased speaking he threw himself at her feet； and
embracing them said in a voice broken by sobs and sighs； 〃O Ana Felix；
my unhappy daughter； I am thy father Ricote； come back to look for
thee； unable to live without thee； my soul that thou art！〃
At these words of his； Sancho opened his eyes and raised his head；
which he had been holding down； brooding over his unlucky excursion；
and looking at the pilgrim he recognised in him that same Ricote he
met the day he quitted his government； and felt satisfied that this
was his daughter。 She being now unbound embraced her father；
mingling her tears with his； while he addressing the general and the
viceroy said； 〃This； sirs； is my daughter； more unhappy in her
adventures than in her name。 She is Ana Felix； surnamed Ricote；
celebrated as much for her own beauty as for my wealth。 I quitted my
native land in search of some shelter or refuge for us abroad； and
having found one in Germany I returned in this pilgrim's dress； in the
company of some other German pilgrims； to seek my daughter and take up
a large quantity of treasure I had left buried。 My daughter I did
not find； the treasure I found and have with me； and now； in this
strange roundabout way you have seen； I find the treasure that more
than all makes me rich； my beloved daughter。 If our innocence and
her tears and mine can with strict justice open the door to
clemency； extend it to us； for we never had any intention of
injuring you； nor do we sympathise with the aims of our people； who
have been justly banished。〃
〃I know Ricote well；〃 said Sancho at this； 〃and I know too that what
he says about Ana Felix being his daughter is true； but as to those
other particulars about going and coming； and having good or bad
intentions； I say nothing。〃
While all present stood amazed at this strange occurrence the
general said； 〃At any rate your tears will not allow me to keep my
oath； live； fair Ana Felix； all the years that heaven has allotted
you； but these rash insolent fellows must pay the penalty of the crime
they have committed；〃 and with that he gave orders to have the two
Turks who had killed his two soldiers hanged at once at the
yard…arm。 The viceroy； however； begged him earnestly not to hang them；
as their behaviour savoured rather of madness than of bravado。 The
general yielded to the viceroy's request； for revenge is not easily
taken in cold blood。 They then tried to devise some scheme for
rescuing Don Gaspar Gregorio from the danger in which he had been
left。 Ricote offered for that object more than two thousand ducats
that he had in pearls and gems； they proposed several plans； but
none so good as that suggested by the renegade already mentioned；
who offered to return to Algiers in a small vessel of about six banks；
manned by Christian rowers； as he knew where； how； and when he could
and should land； nor was he ignorant of the house in which Don
Gaspar was staying。 The general and the viceroy had some hesitation
about placing confidence in the renegade and entrusting him with the
Christians who were to row； but Ana Felix said she could answer for
him； and her father offered to go and pay the ransom of the Christians
if by any chance they should not be forthcoming。 This； then； being
agreed upon； the viceroy landed； and Don Antonio Moreno took the
fair Morisco and her father home with him； the viceroy charging him to
give them the best reception and welcome in his power； while on his
own part he offered all that house contained for their
entertainment； so great was the good…will and kindliness the beauty of
Ana Felix had infused into his heart。
CHAPTER LXIV
TREATING OF THE ADVENTURE WHICH GAVE DON QUIXOTE MORE UNHAPPINESS
THAN ALL THAT HAD HITHERTO BEFALLEN HIM
THE wife of Don Antonio Moreno； so the history says； was extremely
happy to see Ana Felix in her house。 She welcomed her with great
kindness； charmed as well by her beauty as by her intelligence； for in
both respects the fair Morisco was richly endowed； and all the
people of the city flocked to see her as though they had been summoned
by the ringing of the bells。
Don Quixote told Don Antonio that the plan adopted for releasing Don
Gregorio was not a good one； for its risks were greater than its
advantages； and that it would be better to land himself with his
arms and horse in Barbary； for he would carry him off in spite of
the whole Moorish host； as Don Gaiferos carried off his wife
Melisendra。
〃Remember； your worship；〃 observed Sancho on hearing him say so；
〃Senor Don Gaiferos carried off his wife from the mainland； and took
her to France by land； but in this case； if by chance we carry off Don
Gregorio； we have no way of bringing him to Spain； for there's the sea
between。〃
〃There's a remedy for everything except death；〃 said Don Quixote；
〃if they bring the vessel close to the shore we shall be able to get
on board though all the world strive to prevent us。〃
〃Your worship hits it off mighty well and mighty easy；〃 said Sancho；
〃but 'it's a long step from saying to doing；' and I hold to the
renegade； for he seems to me an honest good…hearted fellow。〃
Don Antonio then said that if the renegade did not prove successful；
the expedient of the great Don Quixote's expedition to Barbary
should be adopted。 Two days afterwards the renegade put to sea in a
light vessel of six oars a…side manned by a stout crew； and two days
later the galleys made sail eastward； the general having begged the
viceroy to let him know all about the release of Don Gregorio and
about Ana Felix； and the viceroy promised to do as he requested。
One morning as Don Quixote went out for a stroll along the beach；
arrayed in full armour （for； as he often said； that was 〃his only
gear； his only rest the fray；〃 and he never was without it for a
moment）； he saw coming towards him a knight； also in full armour； with
a shining moon painted on his shield； who； on approaching sufficiently
near to be heard； said in a loud voice； addressing himself to Don
Quixote； 〃Illustrious knight； and never sufficiently extolled Don
Quixote of La Mancha； I am the Knight of the White Moon； whose
unheard…of achievements will perhaps have recalled him to thy
memory。 I come to do battle with thee and prove the might of thy
arm； to the end that I make thee acknowledge and confess that my lady；
let her be who she may； is incomparably fairer than thy Dulcinea del
Toboso。 If thou dost acknowledge this fairly and openly； thou shalt
escape death and save me the trouble of inflicting it upon thee； if
thou fightest and I vanquish thee； I demand no other satisfaction than
that； laying aside arms and abstaining from going in quest of
adventures； thou withdraw and betake thyself to thine own village
for the space of a year； and live there without putting hand to sword；
in peace and quiet and beneficial repose； the same being needful for
the increase of thy substance and the salvation of thy soul； and if
thou dost vanquish me； my head shall be at thy disposal； my arms and
horse thy spoils； and the renown of my deeds transferred and added
to thine。 Consider which will be thy best course； and give me thy
answer speedily； for this day is all the time I have for the
despatch of this business。〃
Don Quixote was amazed and astonished； as well at the Knight of
the White Moon's arrogance； as at his reason for delivering the
defiance； and with calm dignity he answered him； 〃Knight of the
White Moon； of whose achievements I have never heard until now； I will
venture to swear you have never seen the illustrious Dulcinea； for had
you seen her I know you would have taken care not to venture
yourself upon this issue； because the sight would have removed all
doubt from your mind that there ever has been or can be a beauty to be
compared with hers； and so； not saying you lie； but merely that you
are not correct in what you state； I accep