me who recognise it； its transformation makes no difference； for I
will set it to rights at the first village where there is a
blacksmith； and in such style that that helmet the god of smithies
forged for the god of battles shall not surpass it or even come up
to it； and in the meantime I will wear it as well as I can； for
something is better than nothing； all the more as it will be quite
enough to protect me from any chance blow of a stone。〃
〃That is；〃 said Sancho； 〃if it is not shot with a sling as they were
in the battle of the two armies； when they signed the cross on your
worship's grinders and smashed the flask with that blessed draught
that made me vomit my bowels up。〃
〃It does not grieve me much to have lost it；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for
thou knowest； Sancho； that I have the receipt in my memory。〃
〃So have I；〃 answered Sancho； 〃but if ever I make it； or try it
again as long as I live； may this be my last hour； moreover； I have no
intention of putting myself in the way of wanting it； for I mean； with
all my five senses； to keep myself from being wounded or from wounding
anyone： as to being blanketed again I say nothing； for it is hard to
prevent mishaps of that sort； and if they come there is nothing for it
but to squeeze our shoulders together； hold our breath； shut our eyes；
and let ourselves go where luck and the blanket may send us。〃
〃Thou art a bad Christian； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote on hearing
this； 〃for once an injury has been done thee thou never forgettest it：
but know that it is the part of noble and generous hearts not to
attach importance to trifles。 What lame leg hast thou got by it；
what broken rib； what cracked head； that thou canst not forget that
jest？ For jest and sport it was； properly regarded； and had I not seen
it in that light I would have returned and done more mischief in
revenging thee than the Greeks did for the rape of Helen； who； if
she were alive now； or if my Dulcinea had lived then； might depend
upon it she would not be so famous for her beauty as she is；〃 and here
he heaved a sigh and sent it aloft； and said Sancho； 〃Let it pass
for a jest as it cannot be revenged in earnest； but I know what sort
of jest and earnest it was； and I know it will never be rubbed out
of my memory any more than off my shoulders。 But putting that aside；
will your worship tell me what are we to do with this dapple…grey
steed that looks like a grey ass； which that Martino that your worship
overthrew has left deserted here？ for； from the way he took to his
heels and bolted； he is not likely ever to come back for it； and by my
beard but the grey is a good one。〃
〃I have never been in the habit；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃of taking spoil
of those whom I vanquish； nor is it the practice of chivalry to take
away their horses and leave them to go on foot； unless indeed it be
that the victor have lost his own in the combat； in which case it is
lawful to take that of the vanquished as a thing won in lawful war；
therefore； Sancho； leave this horse； or ass； or whatever thou wilt
have it to be； for when its owner sees us gone hence he will come back
for it。〃
〃God knows I should like to take it；〃 returned Sancho； 〃or at
least to change it for my own； which does not seem to me as good a
one： verily the laws of chivalry are strict； since they cannot be
stretched to let one ass be changed for another； I should like to know
if I might at least change trappings。〃
〃On that head I am not quite certain；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃and
the matter being doubtful； pending better information； I say thou
mayest change them； if so be thou hast urgent need of them。〃
〃So urgent is it；〃 answered Sancho； 〃that if they were for my own
person I could not want them more；〃 and forthwith； fortified by this
licence； he effected the mutatio capparum； rigging out his beast to
the ninety…nines and making quite another thing of it。 This done； they
broke their fast on the remains of the spoils of war plundered from
the sumpter mule； and drank of the brook that flowed from the
fulling mills； without casting a look in that direction； in such
loathing did they hold them for the alarm they had caused them； and；
all anger and gloom removed； they mounted and； without taking any
fixed road （not to fix upon any being the proper thing for true
knights…errant）； they set out； guided by Rocinante's will； which
carried along with it that of his master； not to say that of the
ass； which always followed him wherever he led； lovingly and sociably；
nevertheless they returned to the high road； and pursued it at a
venture without any other aim。
As they went along； then； in this way Sancho said to his master；
〃Senor； would your worship give me leave to speak a little to you？ For
since you laid that hard injunction of silence on me several things
have gone to rot in my stomach； and I have now just one on the tip
of my tongue that I don't want to be spoiled。〃
〃Say； on； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and be brief in thy discourse；
for there is no pleasure in one that is long。〃
〃Well then； senor；〃 returned Sancho； 〃I say that for some days
past I have been considering how little is got or gained by going in
search of these adventures that your worship seeks in these wilds
and cross…roads； where； even if the most perilous are victoriously
achieved； there is no one to see or know of them； and so they must
be left untold for ever； to the loss of your worship's object and
the credit they deserve； therefore it seems to me it would be better
（saving your worship's better judgment） if we were to go and serve
some emperor or other great prince who may have some war on hand； in
whose service your worship may prove the worth of your person； your
great might； and greater understanding； on perceiving which the lord
in whose service we may be will perforce have to reward us； each
according to his merits； and there you will not be at a loss for
some one to set down your achievements in writing so as to preserve
their memory for ever。 Of my own I say nothing； as they will not go
beyond squirely limits； though I make bold to say that； if it be the
practice in chivalry to write the achievements of squires； I think
mine must not be left out。〃
〃Thou speakest not amiss； Sancho；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃but before
that point is reached it is requisite to roam the world； as it were on
probation； seeking adventures； in order that； by achieving some；
name and fame may be acquired； such that when he betakes himself to
the court of some great monarch the knight may be already known by his
deeds； and that the boys； the instant they see him enter the gate of
the city； may all follow him and surround him； crying； 'This is the
Knight of the Sun'…or the Serpent； or any other title under which he
may have achieved great deeds。 'This；' they will say； 'is he who
vanquished in single combat the gigantic Brocabruno of mighty
strength； he who delivered the great Mameluke of Persia out of the
long enchantment under which he had been for almost nine hundred
years。' So from one to another they will go proclaiming his
achievements； and presently at the tumult of the boys and the others
the king of that kingdom will appear at the windows of his royal
palace； and as soon as he beholds the knight； recognising him by his
arms and the device on his shield； he will as a matter of course
say； 'What ho！ Forth all ye； the knights of my court； to receive the
flower of chivalry who cometh hither！' At which command all will issue
forth； and he himself； advancing half…way down the stairs； will
embrace him closely； and salute him； kissing him on the cheek； and
will then lead him to the queen's chamber； where the knight will
find her with the princess her daughter； who will be one of the most
beautiful and accomplished damsels that could with the utmost pains be
discovered anywhere in the known world。 Straightway it will come to
pass that she will fix her eyes upon the knight and he his upon her；
and each will seem to the other something more divine than human； and；
without knowing how or why they will be taken and entangled in the
inextricable toils of love； and sorely distressed in their hearts
not to see any way of making their pains and sufferings known by
speech。 Thence they will lead him； no doubt； to some richly adorned
chamber of the palace； where； having removed his armour； they will
bring him a rich mantle of scarlet wherewith to robe himself； and if
he looked noble in his armour he will look still more so in a doublet。
When night comes he will sup with the king； queen； and princess； and
all the time he will never take his eyes off her； stealing stealthy
glances； unnoticed by those present； and she will do the same； and
with equal cautiousness； being； as I have said； a damsel of great
discretion。 The tables being removed； suddenly through the door of the
hall there will enter a hideous and diminutive dwarf followed by a
fair dame； between two giants； who comes with a certain adventure； the
work of an ancient sage； and he who shall achieve it shall be deemed
the best knight in the world。
〃The king will then command all those present to essay it； and
none will bring it to an end and conclusion save the stranger
knight； to the great enhancement of his fame； whereat the princess
will be overjoyed and will esteem herself happy and fortunate in
having fixed and placed her thoughts so high。 And the best of it is
that this king； or prince； or whatever he is； is engaged in a very
bitter war with another as powerful as himself； and the stranger
knight； after having been some days at his court； requests leave
from him to go and serve him in the said war。 The king will grant it
very readily； and the knight will courteously kiss his hands for the
favour done to him； and that night he will take leave of his lady
the princess at the grating of the chamber where she sleeps； which
looks upon a garden； and at which he has already many times
conversed with her； the go…between and confidante in the matter
being a damsel much trusted by the princess。 He will sigh； she will
swoon； the damsel will fetch water； much distressed because morning
approaches； and for the honour of her lady he would not th