pleased to aid us in a purpose so good and honourable。 Compose
yourself； senora； and endeavour to calm your excitement lest my lord
find you agitated； and leave the rest to my care and God's； who always
supports good intentions。〃
Anselmo had with the deepest attention listened to and seen played
out the tragedy of the death of his honour； which the performers acted
with such wonderfully effective truth that it seemed as if they had
become the realities of the parts they played。 He longed for night and
an opportunity of escaping from the house to go and see his good
friend Lothario； and with him give vent to his joy over the precious
pearl he had gained in having established his wife's purity。 Both
mistress and maid took care to give him time and opportunity to get
away； and taking advantage of it he made his escape； and at once
went in quest of Lothario； and it would be impossible to describe
how he embraced him when he found him； and the things he said to him
in the joy of his heart； and the praises he bestowed upon Camilla； all
which Lothario listened to without being able to show any pleasure；
for he could not forget how deceived his friend was； and how
dishonourably he had wronged him； and though Anselmo could see that
Lothario was not glad； still he imagined it was only because he had
left Camilla wounded and had been himself the cause of it； and so
among other things he told him not to be distressed about Camilla's
accident； for； as they had agreed to hide it from him； the wound was
evidently trifling； and that being so； he had no cause for fear； but
should henceforward be of good cheer and rejoice with him； seeing that
by his means and adroitness he found himself raised to the greatest
height of happiness that he could have ventured to hope for； and
desired no better pastime than making verses in praise of Camilla that
would preserve her name for all time to come。 Lothario commended his
purpose； and promised on his own part to aid him in raising a monument
so glorious。
And so Anselmo was left the most charmingly hoodwinked man there
could be in the world。 He himself； persuaded he was conducting the
instrument of his glory； led home by the hand him who had been the
utter destruction of his good name； whom Camilla received with averted
countenance； though with smiles in her heart。 The deception was
carried on for some time； until at the end of a few months Fortune
turned her wheel and the guilt which had been until then so
skilfully concealed was published abroad； and Anselmo paid with his
life the penalty of his ill…advised curiosity。
CHAPTER XXXV
WHICH TREATS OF THE HEROIC AND PRODIGIOUS BATTLE DON QUIXOTE HAD
WITH CERTAIN SKINS OF RED WINE； AND BRINGS THE NOVEL OF 〃THE
ILL…ADVISED CURIOSITY〃 TO A CLOSE
THERE remained but little more of the novel to be read； when
Sancho Panza burst forth in wild excitement from the garret where
Don Quixote was lying； shouting； 〃Run； sirs！ quick； and help my
master； who is in the thick of the toughest and stiffest battle I ever
laid eyes on。 By the living God he has given the giant； the enemy of
my lady the Princess Micomicona； such a slash that he has sliced his
head clean off as if it were a turnip。〃
〃What are you talking about； brother？〃 said the curate； pausing as
he was about to read the remainder of the novel。 〃Are you in your
senses； Sancho？ How the devil can it be as you say； when the giant
is two thousand leagues away？〃
Here they heard a loud noise in the chamber； and Don Quixote
shouting out； 〃Stand； thief； brigand； villain； now I have got thee；
and thy scimitar shall not avail thee！〃 And then it seemed as though
he were slashing vigorously at the wall。
〃Don't stop to listen；〃 said Sancho； 〃but go in and part them or
help my master： though there is no need of that now； for no doubt
the giant is dead by this time and giving account to God of his past
wicked life； for I saw the blood flowing on the ground； and the head
cut off and fallen on one side； and it is as big as a large
wine…skin。〃
〃May I die；〃 said the landlord at this； 〃if Don Quixote or Don Devil
has not been slashing some of the skins of red wine that stand full at
his bed's head； and the spilt wine must be what this good fellow takes
for blood；〃 and so saying he went into the room and the rest after
him； and there they found Don Quixote in the strangest costume in
the world。 He was in his shirt； which was not long enough in front
to cover his thighs completely and was six fingers shorter behind； his
legs were very long and lean； covered with hair； and anything but
clean； on his head he had a little greasy red cap that belonged to the
host； round his left arm he had rolled the blanket of the bed； to
which Sancho； for reasons best known to himself； owed a grudge； and in
his right hand he held his unsheathed sword； with which he was
slashing about on all sides； uttering exclamations as if he were
actually fighting some giant： and the best of it was his eyes were not
open； for he was fast asleep； and dreaming that he was doing battle
with the giant。 For his imagination was so wrought upon by the
adventure he was going to accomplish； that it made him dream he had
already reached the kingdom of Micomicon； and was engaged in combat
with his enemy； and believing he was laying on the giant； he had given
so many sword cuts to the skins that the whole room was full of
wine。 On seeing this the landlord was so enraged that he fell on Don
Quixote； and with his clenched fist began to pummel him in such a way；
that if Cardenio and the curate had not dragged him off； he would have
brought the war of the giant to an end。 But in spite of all the poor
gentleman never woke until the barber brought a great pot of cold
water from the well and flung it with one dash all over his body； on
which Don Quixote woke up； but not so completely as to understand what
was the matter。 Dorothea； seeing how short and slight his attire
was； would not go in to witness the battle between her champion and
her opponent。 As for Sancho； he went searching all over the floor
for the head of the giant； and not finding it he said； 〃I see now that
it's all enchantment in this house； for the last time； on this very
spot where I am now； I got ever so many thumps without knowing who
gave them to me； or being able to see anybody； and now this head is
not to be seen anywhere about； though I saw it cut off with my own
eyes and the blood running from the body as if from a fountain。〃
〃What blood and fountains are you talking about； enemy of God and
his saints？〃 said the landlord。 〃Don't you see； you thief； that the
blood and the fountain are only these skins here that have been
stabbed and the red wine swimming all over the room？… and I wish I saw
the soul of him that stabbed them swimming in hell。〃
〃I know nothing about that；〃 said Sancho； 〃all I know is it will
be my bad luck that through not finding this head my county will
melt away like salt in water；〃… for Sancho awake was worse than his
master asleep； so much had his master's promises addled his wits。
The landlord was beside himself at the coolness of the squire and
the mischievous doings of the master； and swore it should not be
like the last time when they went without paying； and that their
privileges of chivalry should not hold good this time to let one or
other of them off without paying； even to the cost of the plugs that
would have to be put to the damaged wine…skins。 The curate was holding
Don Quixote's hands； who； fancying he had now ended the adventure
and was in the presence of the Princess Micomicona； knelt before the
curate and said； 〃Exalted and beauteous lady； your highness may live
from this day forth fearless of any harm this base being could do you；
and I too from this day forth am released from the promise I gave you；
since by the help of God on high and by the favour of her by whom I
live and breathe； I have fulfilled it so successfully。〃
〃Did not I say so？〃 said Sancho on hearing this。 〃You see I wasn't
drunk； there you see my master has already salted the giant； there's
no doubt about the bulls； my county is all right！〃
Who could have helped laughing at the absurdities of the pair；
master and man？ And laugh they did； all except the landlord； who
cursed himself； but at length the barber； Cardenio； and the curate
contrived with no small trouble to get Don Quixote on the bed； and
he fell asleep with every appearance of excessive weariness。 They left
him to sleep； and came out to the gate of the inn to console Sancho
Panza on not having found the head of the giant； but much more work
had they to appease the landlord； who was furious at the sudden
death of his wine…skins； and said the landlady half scolding； half
crying； 〃At an evil moment and in an unlucky hour he came into my
house； this knight…errant… would that I had never set eyes on him； for
dear he has cost me； the last time he went off with the overnight
score against him for supper； bed； straw； and barley； for himself
and his squire and a hack and an ass； saying he was a knight
adventurer… God send unlucky adventures to him and all the adventurers
in the world… and therefore not bound to pay anything； for it was so
settled by the knight…errantry tariff： and then； all because of him；
came the other gentleman and carried off my tail； and gives it back
more than two cuartillos the worse； all stripped of its hair； so
that it is no use for my husband's purpose； and then； for a
finishing touch to all； to burst my wine…skins and spill my wine！ I
wish I saw his own blood spilt！ But let him not deceive himself；
for； by the bones of my father and the shade of my mother； they
shall pay me down every quarts； or my name is not what it is； and I am
not my father's daughter。〃 All this and more to the same effect the
landlady delivered with great irritation； and her good maid Maritornes
backed her up； while the daughter held her peace and smiled from
time to time。 The curate smoothed matters by promising to make good
all losses to the best of his power； not only as regarded the
wine…skins but also the wine； and above all the depreciation of the
tail which they set such store by。 Dorothea