the crowns which the courtesy of the Frenchman had bestowed upon
Zoraida； out of which I bought the beast on which she rides； and； I
for the present attending her as her father and squire and not as
her husband； we are now going to ascertain if my father is living；
or if any of my brothers has had better fortune than mine has been；
though； as Heaven has made me the companion of Zoraida； I think no
other lot could be assigned to me； however happy； that I would
rather have。 The patience with which she endures the hardships that
poverty brings with it； and the eagerness she shows to become a
Christian； are such that they fill me with admiration； and bind me
to serve her all my life； though the happiness I feel in seeing myself
hers； and her mine； is disturbed and marred by not knowing whether I
shall find any corner to shelter her in my own country； or whether
time and death may not have made such changes in the fortunes and
lives of my father and brothers； that I shall hardly find anyone who
knows me； if they are not alive。
I have no more of my story to tell you； gentlemen； whether it be
an interesting or a curious one let your better judgments decide；
all I can say is I would gladly have told it to you more briefly；
although my fear of wearying you has made me leave out more than one
circumstance。
CHAPTER XLII
WHICH TREATS OF WHAT FURTHER TOOK PLACE IN THE INN； AND OF SEVERAL
OTHER THINGS WORTH KNOWING
WITH these words the captive held his peace； and Don Fernando said
to him； 〃In truth； captain； the manner in which you have related
this remarkable adventure has been such as befitted the novelty and
strangeness of the matter。 The whole story is curious and uncommon；
and abounds with incidents that fill the hearers with wonder and
astonishment； and so great is the pleasure we have found in
listening to it that we should be glad if it were to begin again； even
though to…morrow were to find us still occupied with the same tale。〃
And while he said this Cardenio and the rest of them offered to be
of service to him in any way that lay in their power； and in words and
language so kindly and sincere that the captain was much gratified
by their good…will。 In particular Don Fernando offered； if he would go
back with him； to get his brother the marquis to become godfather at
the baptism of Zoraida； and on his own part to provide him with the
means of making his appearance in his own country with the credit
and comfort he was entitled to。 For all this the captive returned
thanks very courteously； although he would not accept any of their
generous offers。
By this time night closed in； and as it did； there came up to the
inn a coach attended by some men on horseback； who demanded
accommodation； to which the landlady replied that there was not a
hand's breadth of the whole inn unoccupied。
〃Still； for all that；〃 said one of those who had entered on
horseback； 〃room must be found for his lordship the Judge here。〃
At this name the landlady was taken aback； and said； 〃Senor； the
fact is I have no beds； but if his lordship the Judge carries one with
him； as no doubt he does； let him come in and welcome； for my
husband and I will give up our room to accommodate his worship。〃
〃Very good； so be it；〃 said the squire； but in the meantime a man
had got out of the coach whose dress indicated at a glance the
office and post he held； for the long robe with ruffled sleeves that
he wore showed that he was； as his servant said； a Judge of appeal。 He
led by the hand a young girl in a travelling dress； apparently about
sixteen years of age； and of such a high…bred air； so beautiful and so
graceful； that all were filled with admiration when she made her
appearance； and but for having seen Dorothea； Luscinda； and Zoraida；
who were there in the inn； they would have fancied that a beauty
like that of this maiden's would have been hard to find。 Don Quixote
was present at the entrance of the Judge with the young lady； and as
soon as he saw him he said； 〃Your worship may with confidence enter
and take your ease in this castle； for though the accommodation be
scanty and poor； there are no quarters so cramped or inconvenient that
they cannot make room for arms and letters； above all if arms and
letters have beauty for a guide and leader； as letters represented
by your worship have in this fair maiden； to whom not only ought
castles to throw themselves open and yield themselves up； but rocks
should rend themselves asunder and mountains divide and bow themselves
down to give her a reception。 Enter； your worship； I say； into this
paradise； for here you will find stars and suns to accompany the
heaven your worship brings with you； here you will find arms in
their supreme excellence； and beauty in its highest perfection。〃
The Judge was struck with amazement at the language of Don
Quixote； whom he scrutinized very carefully； no less astonished by his
figure than by his talk； and before he could find words to answer
him he had a fresh surprise； when he saw opposite to him Luscinda；
Dorothea； and Zoraida； who； having heard of the new guests and of
the beauty of the young lady； had come to see her and welcome her； Don
Fernando； Cardenio； and the curate； however； greeted him in a more
intelligible and polished style。 In short； the Judge made his entrance
in a state of bewilderment； as well with what he saw as what he heard；
and the fair ladies of the inn gave the fair damsel a cordial welcome。
On the whole he could perceive that all who were there were people
of quality； but with the figure； countenance； and bearing of Don
Quixote he was at his wits' end； and all civilities having been
exchanged； and the accommodation of the inn inquired into； it was
settled； as it had been before settled； that all the women should
retire to the garret that has been already mentioned； and that the men
should remain outside as if to guard them； the Judge； therefore； was
very well pleased to allow his daughter； for such the damsel was； to
go with the ladies； which she did very willingly； and with part of the
host's narrow bed and half of what the Judge had brought with him；
they made a more comfortable arrangement for the night than they had
expected。
The captive； whose heart had leaped within him the instant he saw
the Judge； telling him somehow that this was his brother； asked one of
the servants who accompanied him what his name was； and whether he
knew from what part of the country he came。 The servant replied that
he was called the Licentiate Juan Perez de Viedma； and that he had
heard it said he came from a village in the mountains of Leon。 From
this statement； and what he himself had seen； he felt convinced that
this was his brother who had adopted letters by his father's advice；
and excited and rejoiced； he called Don Fernando and Cardenio and
the curate aside； and told them how the matter stood； assuring them
that the judge was his brother。 The servant had further informed him
that he was now going to the Indies with the appointment of Judge of
the Supreme Court of Mexico； and he had learned； likewise； that the
young lady was his daughter； whose mother had died in giving birth
to her； and that he was very rich in consequence of the dowry left
to him with the daughter。 He asked their advice as to what means he
should adopt to make himself known； or to ascertain beforehand
whether； when he had made himself known； his brother； seeing him so
poor； would be ashamed of him； or would receive him with a warm heart。
〃Leave it to me to find out that；〃 said the curate； 〃though there is
no reason for supposing； senor captain； that you will not be kindly
received； because the worth and wisdom that your brother's bearing
shows him to possess do not make it likely that he will prove
haughty or insensible； or that he will not know how to estimate the
accidents of fortune at their proper value。〃
〃Still；〃 said the captain； 〃I would not make myself known
abruptly； but in some indirect way。〃
〃I have told you already；〃 said the curate； 〃that I will manage it
in a way to satisfy us all。〃
By this time supper was ready； and they all took their seats at
the table； except the captive； and the ladies； who supped by
themselves in their own room。 In the middle of supper the curate said：
〃I had a comrade of your worship's name； Senor Judge； in
Constantinople； where I was a captive for several years； and that same
comrade was one of the stoutest soldiers and captains in the whole
Spanish infantry； but he had as large a share of misfortune as he
had of gallantry and courage。〃
〃And how was the captain called； senor？〃 asked the Judge。
〃He was called Ruy Perez de Viedma；〃 replied the curate； 〃and he was
born in a village in the mountains of Leon； and he mentioned a
circumstance connected with his father and his brothers which； had
it not been told me by so truthful a man as he was； I should have
set down as one of those fables the old women tell over the fire in
winter； for he said his father had divided his property among his
three sons and had addressed words of advice to them sounder than
any of Cato's。 But I can say this much； that the choice he made of
going to the wars was attended with such success； that by his
gallant conduct and courage； and without any help save his own
merit； he rose in a few years to be captain of infantry； and to see
himself on the high…road and in position to be given the command of
a corps before long； but Fortune was against him； for where he might
have expected her favour he lost it； and with it his liberty； on
that glorious day when so many recovered theirs； at the battle of
Lepanto。 I lost mine at the Goletta； and after a variety of adventures
we found ourselves comrades at Constantinople。 Thence he went to
Algiers； where he met with one of the most extraordinary adventures
that ever befell anyone in the world。〃
Here the curate went on to relate briefly his brother's adventure
with Zoraida； to all which the Judge gave such an attentive hearing
that he never before had been so much of a hearer。 The curate；
however； only went so far as to describe how the Frenchmen plundered
those who were in the boat； and the po