accompany me at once whither I will conduct you； and that you
promise not to engage in any other adventure or quest until you have
avenged me of a traitor who against all human and divine law； has
usurped my kingdom。〃
〃I repeat that I grant it；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃and so； lady；
you may from this day forth lay aside the melancholy that distresses
you； and let your failing hopes gather new life and strength； for with
the help of God and of my arm you will soon see yourself restored to
your kingdom； and seated upon the throne of your ancient and mighty
realm； notwithstanding and despite of the felons who would gainsay it；
and now hands to the work； for in delay there is apt to be danger。〃
The distressed damsel strove with much pertinacity to kiss his
hands； but Don Quixote； who was in all things a polished and courteous
knight； would by no means allow it； but made her rise and embraced her
with great courtesy and politeness； and ordered Sancho to look to
Rocinante's girths； and to arm him without a moment's delay。 Sancho
took down the armour； which was hung up on a tree like a trophy； and
having seen to the girths armed his master in a trice； who as soon
as he found himself in his armour exclaimed：
〃Let us be gone in the name of God to bring aid to this great lady。〃
The barber was all this time on his knees at great pains to hide his
laughter and not let his beard fall； for had it fallen maybe their
fine scheme would have come to nothing； but now seeing the boon
granted； and the promptitude with which Don Quixote prepared to set
out in compliance with it； he rose and took his lady's hand； and
between them they placed her upon the mule。 Don Quixote then mounted
Rocinante； and the barber settled himself on his beast； Sancho being
left to go on foot； which made him feel anew the loss of his Dapple；
finding the want of him now。 But he bore all with cheerfulness；
being persuaded that his master had now fairly started and was just on
the point of becoming an emperor； for he felt no doubt at all that
he would marry this princess； and be king of Micomicon at least。 The
only thing that troubled him was the reflection that this kingdom
was in the land of the blacks； and that the people they would give him
for vassals would be all black； but for this he soon found a remedy in
his fancy； and said he to himself； 〃What is it to me if my vassals are
blacks？ What more have I to do than make a cargo of them and carry
them to Spain； where I can sell them and get ready money for them； and
with it buy some title or some office in which to live at ease all the
days of my life？ Not unless you go to sleep and haven't the wit or
skill to turn things to account and sell three； six； or ten thousand
vassals while you would he talking about it！ By God I will stir them
up； big and little； or as best I can； and let them be ever so black
I'll turn them into white or yellow。 Come； come； what a fool I am！〃
And so he jogged on； so occupied with his thoughts and easy in his
mind that he forgot all about the hardship of travelling on foot。
Cardenio and the curate were watching all this from among some
bushes； not knowing how to join company with the others； but the
curate； who was very fertile in devices； soon hit upon a way of
effecting their purpose； and with a pair of scissors he had in a
case he quickly cut off Cardenio's beard； and putting on him a grey
jerkin of his own he gave him a black cloak； leaving himself in his
breeches and doublet； while Cardenio's appearance was so different
from what it had been that he would not have known himself had he seen
himself in a mirror。 Having effected this； although the others had
gone on ahead while they were disguising themselves； they easily
came out on the high road before them； for the brambles and awkward
places they encountered did not allow those on horseback to go as fast
as those on foot。 They then posted themselves on the level ground at
the outlet of the Sierra； and as soon as Don Quixote and his
companions emerged from it the curate began to examine him very
deliberately； as though he were striving to recognise him； and after
having stared at him for some time he hastened towards him with open
arms exclaiming； 〃A happy meeting with the mirror of chivalry； my
worthy compatriot Don Quixote of La Mancha； the flower and cream of
high breeding； the protection and relief of the distressed； the
quintessence of knights…errant！〃 And so saying he clasped in his
arms the knee of Don Quixote's left leg。 He； astonished at the
stranger's words and behaviour； looked at him attentively； and at
length recognised him； very much surprised to see him there； and
made great efforts to dismount。 This； however； the curate would not
allow； on which Don Quixote said； 〃Permit me； senor licentiate； for it
is not fitting that I should be on horseback and so reverend a
person as your worship on foot。〃
〃On no account will I allow it；〃 said the curate； 〃your mightiness
must remain on horseback； for it is on horseback you achieve the
greatest deeds and adventures that have been beheld in our age； as for
me； an unworthy priest； it will serve me well enough to mount on the
haunches of one of the mules of these gentlefolk who accompany your
worship； if they have no objection； and I will fancy I am mounted on
the steed Pegasus； or on the zebra or charger that bore the famous
Moor； Muzaraque； who to this day lies enchanted in the great hill of
Zulema； a little distance from the great Complutum。〃
〃Nor even that will I consent to； senor licentiate；〃 answered Don
Quixote； 〃and I know it will be the good pleasure of my lady the
princess； out of love for me； to order her squire to give up the
saddle of his mule to your worship； and he can sit behind if the beast
will bear it。〃
〃It will； I am sure；〃 said the princess； 〃and I am sure； too； that I
need not order my squire； for he is too courteous and considerate to
allow a Churchman to go on foot when he might be mounted。〃
〃That he is；〃 said the barber； and at once alighting； he offered his
saddle to the curate； who accepted it without much entreaty； but
unfortunately as the barber was mounting behind； the mule； being as it
happened a hired one； which is the same thing as saying
ill…conditioned； lifted its hind hoofs and let fly a couple of kicks
in the air； which would have made Master Nicholas wish his
expedition in quest of Don Quixote at the devil had they caught him on
the breast or head。 As it was； they so took him by surprise that he
came to the ground； giving so little heed to his beard that it fell
off； and all he could do when he found himself without it was to cover
his face hastily with both his hands and moan that his teeth were
knocked out。 Don Quixote when he saw all that bundle of beard
detached； without jaws or blood； from the face of the fallen squire；
exclaimed：
〃By the living God； but this is a great miracle！ it has knocked
off and plucked away the beard from his face as if it had been
shaved off designedly。〃
The curate； seeing the danger of discovery that threatened his
scheme； at once pounced upon the beard and hastened with it to where
Master Nicholas lay； still uttering moans； and drawing his head to his
breast had it on in an instant； muttering over him some words which he
said were a certain special charm for sticking on beards； as they
would see； and as soon as he had it fixed he left him； and the
squire appeared well bearded and whole as before； whereat Don
Quixote was beyond measure astonished； and begged the curate to
teach him that charm when he had an opportunity； as he was persuaded
its virtue must extend beyond the sticking on of beards； for it was
clear that where the beard had been stripped off the flesh must have
remained torn and lacerated； and when it could heal all that it must
be good for more than beards。
〃And so it is；〃 said the curate； and he promised to teach it to
him on the first opportunity。 They then agreed that for the present
the curate should mount； and that the three should ride by turns until
they reached the inn； which might be about six leagues from where they
were。
Three then being mounted； that is to say； Don Quixote； the princess；
and the curate； and three on foot； Cardenio； the barber； and Sancho
Panza； Don Quixote said to the damsel：
〃Let your highness； lady； lead on whithersoever is most pleasing
to you；〃 but before she could answer the licentiate said：
〃Towards what kingdom would your ladyship direct our course？ Is it
perchance towards that of Micomicon？ It must be； or else I know little
about kingdoms。〃
She； being ready on all points； understood that she was to answer
〃Yes；〃 so she said 〃Yes； senor； my way lies towards that kingdom。〃
〃In that case；〃 said the curate； 〃we must pass right through my
village； and there your worship will take the road to Cartagena； where
you will be able to embark； fortune favouring； and if the wind be fair
and the sea smooth and tranquil； in somewhat less than nine years
you may come in sight of the great lake Meona； I mean Meotides；
which is little more than a hundred days' journey this side of your
highness's kingdom。〃
〃Your worship is mistaken； senor；〃 said she； 〃for it is not two
years since I set out from it； and though I never had good weather；
nevertheless I am here to behold what I so longed for； and that is
my lord Don Quixote of La Mancha； whose fame came to my ears as soon
as I set foot in Spain and impelled me to go in search of him； to
commend myself to his courtesy； and entrust the justice of my cause to
the might of his invincible arm。〃
〃Enough； no more praise；〃 said Don Quixote at this； 〃for I hate
all flattery； and though this may not be so； still language of the
kind is offensive to my chaste ears。 I will only say； senora； that
whether it has might or not； that which it may or may not have shall
be devoted to your service even to death； and now； leaving this to its
proper season； I would ask the senor licentiate to tell me what it
is that has brought him into these parts； alone； unattended； and so
lightly clad that I am filled with amazement。〃
〃I will answer that briefly；〃 replied the curate； 〃you must know
th