sir knight…errant； whose errand has been such an evil one for me； to
help me to get from under this mule that holds one of my legs caught
between the stirrup and the saddle。〃
〃I would have talked on till to…morrow；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃how long
were you going to wait before telling me of your distress？〃
He at once called to Sancho； who； however； had no mind to come； as
he was just then engaged in unloading a sumpter mule； well laden
with provender； which these worthy gentlemen had brought with them。
Sancho made a bag of his coat； and； getting together as much as he
could； and as the bag would hold； he loaded his beast； and then
hastened to obey his master's call； and helped him to remove the
bachelor from under the mule； then putting him on her back he gave him
the torch； and Don Quixote bade him follow the track of his
companions； and beg pardon of them on his part for the wrong which
he could not help doing them。
And said Sancho； 〃If by chance these gentlemen should want to know
who was the hero that served them so； your worship may tell them
that he is the famous Don Quixote of La Mancha； otherwise called the
Knight of the Rueful Countenance。〃
The bachelor then took his departure。
I forgot to mention that before he did so he said to Don Quixote；
〃Remember that you stand excommunicated for having laid violent
hands on a holy thing； juxta illud； si quis； suadente diabolo。〃
〃I do not understand that Latin；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃but I
know well I did not lay hands； only this pike； besides； I did not
think I was committing an assault upon priests or things of the
Church； which； like a Catholic and faithful Christian as I am； I
respect and revere； but upon phantoms and spectres of the other world；
but even so； I remember how it fared with Cid Ruy Diaz when he broke
the chair of the ambassador of that king before his Holiness the Pope；
who excommunicated him for the same； and yet the good Roderick of
Vivar bore himself that day like a very noble and valiant knight。〃
On hearing this the bachelor took his departure； as has been said；
without making any reply； and Don Quixote asked Sancho what had
induced him to call him the 〃Knight of the Rueful Countenance〃 more
then than at any other time。
〃I will tell you；〃 answered Sancho； 〃it was because I have been
looking at you for some time by the light of the torch held by that
unfortunate； and verily your worship has got of late the most
ill…favoured countenance I ever saw： it must be either owing to the
fatigue of this combat； or else to the want of teeth and grinders。〃
〃It is not that；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃but because the sage whose
duty it will be to write the history of my achievements must have
thought it proper that I should take some distinctive name as all
knights of yore did； one being 'He of the Burning Sword；' another
'He of the Unicorn；' this one 'He of the Damsels；' that 'He of the
Phoenix；' another 'The Knight of the Griffin；' and another 'He of
the Death；' and by these names and designations they were known all
the world round； and so I say that the sage aforesaid must have put it
into your mouth and mind just now to call me 'The Knight of the Rueful
Countenance；' as I intend to call myself from this day forward； and
that the said name may fit me better； I mean； when the opportunity
offers； to have a very rueful countenance painted on my shield。〃
〃There is no occasion； senor； for wasting time or money on making
that countenance；〃 said Sancho； 〃for all that need be done is for your
worship to show your own； face to face； to those who look at you；
and without anything more； either image or shield； they will call
you 'Him of the Rueful Countenance' and believe me I am telling you
the truth； for I assure you； senor （and in good part be it said）；
hunger and the loss of your grinders have given you such an
ill…favoured face that； as I say； the rueful picture may be very
well spared。〃
Don Quixote laughed at Sancho's pleasantry； nevertheless he resolved
to call himself by that name； and have his shield or buckler painted
as he had devised。
Don Quixote would have looked to see whether the body in the
litter were bones or not； but Sancho would not have it； saying：
〃Senor； you have ended this perilous adventure more safely for
yourself than any of those I have seen： perhaps these people； though
beaten and routed； may bethink themselves that it is a single man that
has beaten them； and feeling sore and ashamed of it may take heart and
come in search of us and give us trouble enough。 The ass is in
proper trim； the mountains are near at hand； hunger presses； we have
nothing more to do but make good our retreat； and； as the saying is；
the dead to the grave and the living to the loaf。〃
And driving his ass before him he begged his master to follow；
who； feeling that Sancho was right； did so without replying； and after
proceeding some little distance between two hills they found
themselves in a wide and retired valley； where they alighted； and
Sancho unloaded his beast； and stretched upon the green grass； with
hunger for sauce； they breakfasted； dined； lunched； and supped all
at once； satisfying their appetites with more than one store of cold
meat which the dead man's clerical gentlemen （who seldom put
themselves on short allowance） had brought with them on their
sumpter mule。 But another piece of ill…luck befell them； which
Sancho held the worst of all； and that was that they had no wine to
drink； nor even water to moisten their lips； and as thirst tormented
them； Sancho； observing that the meadow where they were was full of
green and tender grass； said what will be told in the following
chapter。
CHAPTER XX
OF THE UNEXAMPLED AND UNHEARD…OF ADVENTURE WHICH WAS ACHIEVED BY THE
VALIANT DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA WITH LESS PERIL THAN ANY EVER
ACHIEVED BY ANY FAMOUS KNIGHT IN THE WORLD
〃IT CANNOT be； senor； but that this grass is a proof that there must
be hard by some spring or brook to give it moisture； so it would be
well to move a little farther on； that we may find some place where we
may quench this terrible thirst that plagues us； which beyond a
doubt is more distressing than hunger。〃
The advice seemed good to Don Quixote； and； he leading Rocinante
by the bridle and Sancho the ass by the halter； after he had packed
away upon him the remains of the supper； they advanced the meadow
feeling their way； for the darkness of the night made it impossible to
see anything； but they had not gone two hundred paces when a loud
noise of water； as if falling from great rocks； struck their ears。 The
sound cheered them greatly； but halting to make out by listening
from what quarter it came they heard unseasonably another noise
which spoiled the satisfaction the sound of the water gave them；
especially for Sancho； who was by nature timid and faint…hearted。 They
heard； I say； strokes falling with a measured beat； and a certain
rattling of iron and chains that； together with the furious din of the
water； would have struck terror into any heart but Don Quixote's。
The night was； as has been said； dark； and they had happened to
reach a spot in among some tall trees； whose leaves stirred by a
gentle breeze made a low ominous sound； so that； what with the
solitude； the place； the darkness； the noise of the water； and the
rustling of the leaves； everything inspired awe and dread； more
especially as they perceived that the strokes did not cease； nor the
wind lull； nor morning approach； to all which might be added their
ignorance as to where they were。 But Don Quixote； supported by his
intrepid heart； leaped on Rocinante； and bracing his buckler on his
arm； brought his pike to the slope； and said； 〃Friend Sancho； know
that I by Heaven's will have been born in this our iron age to
revive revive in it the age of gold； or the golden as it is called；
I am he for whom perils； mighty achievements； and valiant deeds are
reserved； I am； I say again； he who is to revive the Knights of the
Round Table； the Twelve of France and the Nine Worthies； and he who is
to consign to oblivion the Platirs； the Tablantes； the Olivantes and
Tirantes； the Phoebuses and Belianises； with the whole herd of
famous knights…errant of days gone by； performing in these in which
I live such exploits； marvels； and feats of arms as shall obscure
their brightest deeds。 Thou dost mark well； faithful and trusty
squire； the gloom of this night； its strange silence； the dull
confused murmur of those trees； the awful sound of that water in quest
of which we came； that seems as though it were precipitating and
dashing itself down from the lofty mountains of the Moon； and that
incessant hammering that wounds and pains our ears； which things all
together and each of itself are enough to instil fear； dread； and
dismay into the breast of Mars himself； much more into one not used to
hazards and adventures of the kind。 Well； then； all this that I put
before thee is but an incentive and stimulant to my spirit； making
my heart burst in my bosom through eagerness to engage in this
adventure； arduous as it promises to be； therefore tighten Rocinante's
girths a little； and God be with thee； wait for me here three days and
no more； and if in that time I come not back； thou canst return to our
village； and thence； to do me a favour and a service； thou wilt go
to El Toboso； where thou shalt say to my incomparable lady Dulcinea
that her captive knight hath died in attempting things that might make
him worthy of being called hers。〃
When Sancho heard his master's words he began to weep in the most
pathetic way； saying：
〃Senor； I know not why your worship wants to attempt this so
dreadful adventure； it is night now； no one sees us here； we can
easily turn about and take ourselves out of danger； even if we don't
drink for three days to come； and as there is no one to see us； all
the less will there be anyone to set us down as cowards； besides； I
have many a time heard the curate of our village； whom your worship
knows well； preach that he who seeks danger perishes in it； so it is
not right to tempt God by trying so tremendous a feat from which there
can be no escape save by a miracle； and He