going where they are taking them by force； and not of their own will。〃
〃Just so；〃 said Sancho。
〃Then if so；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃here is a case for the exercise
of my office； to put down force and to succour and help the wretched。〃
〃Recollect； your worship；〃 said Sancho； 〃Justice； which is the
king himself； is not using force or doing wrong to such persons； but
punishing them for their crimes。〃
The chain of galley slaves had by this time come up； and Don Quixote
in very courteous language asked those who were in custody of it to be
good enough to tell him the reason or reasons for which they were
conducting these people in this manner。 One of the guards on horseback
answered that they were galley slaves belonging to his majesty； that
they were going to the galleys； and that was all that was to be said
and all he had any business to know。
〃Nevertheless；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃I should like to know from
each of them separately the reason of his misfortune；〃 to this he
added more to the same effect to induce them to tell him what he
wanted so civilly that the other mounted guard said to him：
〃Though we have here the register and certificate of the sentence of
every one of these wretches； this is no time to take them out or
read them； come and ask themselves； they can tell if they choose；
and they will； for these fellows take a pleasure in doing and
talking about rascalities。〃
With this permission； which Don Quixote would have taken even had
they not granted it； he approached the chain and asked the first for
what offences he was now in such a sorry case。
He made answer that it was for being a lover。
〃For that only？〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃why； if for being lovers they
send people to the galleys I might have been rowing in them long ago。〃
〃The love is not the sort your worship is thinking of；〃 said the
galley slave； 〃mine was that I loved a washerwoman's basket of clean
linen so well； and held it so close in my embrace； that if the arm
of the law had not forced it from me； I should never have let it go of
my own will to this moment； I was caught in the act； there was no
occasion for torture； the case was settled； they treated me to a
hundred lashes on the back； and three years of gurapas besides； and
that was the end of it。〃
〃What are gurapas？〃 asked Don Quixote。
〃Gurapas are galleys；〃 answered the galley slave； who was a young
man of about four…and…twenty； and said he was a native of Piedrahita。
Don Quixote asked the same question of the second； who made no
reply； so downcast and melancholy was he； but the first answered for
him； and said； 〃He； sir； goes as a canary； I mean as a musician and
a singer。〃
〃What！〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for being musicians and singers are
people sent to the galleys too？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 answered the galley slave； 〃for there is nothing worse
than singing under suffering。〃
〃On the contrary； I have heard say；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that he
who sings scares away his woes。〃
〃Here it is the reverse；〃 said the galley slave； 〃for he who sings
once weeps all his life。〃
〃I do not understand it；〃 said Don Quixote； but one of the guards
said to him； 〃Sir； to sing under suffering means with the non sancta
fraternity to confess under torture； they put this sinner to the
torture and he confessed his crime； which was being a cuatrero； that
is a cattle…stealer； and on his confession they sentenced him to six
years in the galleys； besides two bundred lashes that he has already
had on the back； and he is always dejected and downcast because the
other thieves that were left behind and that march here ill…treat； and
snub； and jeer； and despise him for confessing and not having spirit
enough to say nay； for； say they； 'nay' has no more letters in it than
'yea；' and a culprit is well off when life or death with him depends
on his own tongue and not on that of witnesses or evidence； and to
my thinking they are not very far out。〃
〃And I think so too；〃 answered Don Quixote； then passing on to the
third he asked him what he had asked the others； and the man
answered very readily and unconcernedly； 〃I am going for five years to
their ladyships the gurapas for the want of ten ducats。〃
〃I will give twenty with pleasure to get you out of that trouble；〃
said Don Quixote。
〃That；〃 said the galley slave； 〃is like a man having money at sea
when he is dying of hunger and has no way of buying what he wants； I
say so because if at the right time I had had those twenty ducats that
your worship now offers me； I would have greased the notary's pen
and freshened up the attorney's wit with them； so that to…day I should
be in the middle of the plaza of the Zocodover at Toledo； and not on
this road coupled like a greyhound。 But God is great； patience… there；
that's enough of it。〃
Don Quixote passed on to the fourth； a man of venerable aspect
with a white beard falling below his breast； who on hearing himself
asked the reason of his being there began to weep without answering
a word； but the fifth acted as his tongue and said； 〃This worthy man
is going to the galleys for four years； after having gone the rounds
in ceremony and on horseback。〃
〃That means；〃 said Sancho Panza； 〃as I take it； to have been
exposed to shame in public。〃
〃Just so；〃 replied the galley slave； 〃and the offence for which they
gave him that punishment was having been an ear…broker； nay
body…broker； I mean； in short； that this gentleman goes as a pimp； and
for having besides a certain touch of the sorcerer about him。〃
〃If that touch had not been thrown in；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃be
would not deserve； for mere pimping； to row in the galleys； but rather
to command and be admiral of them； for the office of pimp is no
ordinary one； being the office of persons of discretion； one very
necessary in a well…ordered state； and only to be exercised by persons
of good birth； nay； there ought to be an inspector and overseer of
them； as in other offices； and recognised number； as with the
brokers on change； in this way many of the evils would be avoided
which are caused by this office and calling being in the hands of
stupid and ignorant people； such as women more or less silly； and
pages and jesters of little standing and experience； who on the most
urgent occasions； and when ingenuity of contrivance is needed； let the
crumbs freeze on the way to their mouths； and know not which is
their right hand。 I should like to go farther； and give reasons to
show that it is advisable to choose those who are to hold so necessary
an office in the state； but this is not the fit place for it； some day
I will expound the matter to some one able to see to and rectify it；
all I say now is； that the additional fact of his being a sorcerer has
removed the sorrow it gave me to see these white hairs and this
venerable countenance in so painful a position on account of his being
a pimp； though I know well there are no sorceries in the world that
can move or compel the will as some simple folk fancy； for our will is
free； nor is there herb or charm that can force it。 All that certain
silly women and quacks do is to turn men mad with potions and poisons；
pretending that they have power to cause love； for； as I say； it is an
impossibility to compel the will。〃
〃It is true；〃 said the good old man； 〃and indeed； sir； as far as the
charge of sorcery goes I was not guilty； as to that of being a pimp
I cannot deny it； but I never thought I was doing any harm by it；
for my only object was that all the world should enjoy itself and live
in peace and quiet； without quarrels or troubles； but my good
intentions were unavailing to save me from going where I never
expect to come back from； with this weight of years upon me and a
urinary ailment that never gives me a moment's ease；〃 and again he
fell to weeping as before； and such compassion did Sancho feel for him
that he took out a real of four from his bosom and gave it to him in
alms。
Don Quixote went on and asked another what his crime was； and the
man answered with no less but rather much more sprightliness than
the last one。
〃I am here because I carried the joke too far with a couple of
cousins of mine； and with a couple of other cousins who were none of
mine； in short； I carried the joke so far with them all that it
ended in such a complicated increase of kindred that no accountant
could make it clear： it was all proved against me； I got no favour；
I had no money； I was near having my neck stretched； they sentenced me
to the galleys for six years； I accepted my fate； it is the punishment
of my fault； I am a young man； let life only last； and with that all
will come right。 If you； sir； have anything wherewith to help the
poor； God will repay it to you in heaven； and we on earth will take
care in our petitions to him to pray for the life and health of your
worship； that they may be as long and as good as your amiable
appearance deserves。〃
This one was in the dress of a student； and one of the guards said
he was a great talker and a very elegant Latin scholar。
Behind all these there came a man of thirty； a very personable
fellow； except that when he looked； his eyes turned in a little one
towards the other。 He was bound differently from the rest； for he
had to his leg a chain so long that it was wound all round his body；
and two rings on his neck； one attached to the chain； the other to
what they call a 〃keep…friend〃 or 〃friend's foot；〃 from which hung two
irons reaching to his waist with two manacles fixed to them in which
his hands were secured by a big padlock； so that he could neither
raise his hands to his mouth nor lower his head to his hands。 Don
Quixote asked why this man carried so many more chains than the
others。 The guard replied that it was because he alone had committed
more crimes than all the rest put together； and was so daring and such
a villain； that though they marched him in that fashion they did not
feel sure of him； but were in dread of his making his escape。
〃What crimes can he have committed；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃if they have
not deserved a heavier punishment than being sent to the galleys？〃
〃He goes for ten years；〃 replied the guard； 〃which is the same thing