own house instead of roaming the world looking for better bread than
ever came of wheat； never reflecting that many go for wool and come
back shorn？〃
〃Oh； niece of mine；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃how much astray art
thou in thy reckoning： ere they shear me I shall have plucked away and
stripped off the beards of all who dare to touch only the tip of a
hair of mine。〃
The two were unwilling to make any further answer； as they saw
that his anger was kindling。
In short； then； he remained at home fifteen days very quietly
without showing any signs of a desire to take up with his former
delusions； and during this time he held lively discussions with his
two gossips； the curate and the barber； on the point he maintained；
that knights…errant were what the world stood most in need of； and
that in him was to be accomplished the revival of knight…errantry。 The
curate sometimes contradicted him； sometimes agreed with him； for if
he had not observed this precaution he would have been unable to bring
him to reason。
Meanwhile Don Quixote worked upon a farm labourer； a neighbour of
his； an honest man （if indeed that title can be given to him who is
poor）； but with very little wit in his pate。 In a word； he so talked
him over； and with such persuasions and promises； that the poor
clown made up his mind to sally forth with him and serve him as
esquire。 Don Quixote； among other things； told him he ought to be
ready to go with him gladly； because any moment an adventure might
occur that might win an island in the twinkling of an eye and leave
him governor of it。 On these and the like promises Sancho Panza （for
so the labourer was called） left wife and children； and engaged
himself as esquire to his neighbour。 Don Quixote next set about
getting some money； and selling one thing and pawning another； and
making a bad bargain in every case； he got together a fair sum。 He
provided himself with a buckler； which he begged as a loan from a
friend； and； restoring his battered helmet as best he could； he warned
his squire Sancho of the day and hour he meant to set out； that he
might provide himself with what he thought most needful。 Above all； he
charged him to take alforjas with him。 The other said he would； and
that he meant to take also a very good ass he had； as he was not
much given to going on foot。 About the ass； Don Quixote hesitated a
little； trying whether he could call to mind any knight…errant
taking with him an esquire mounted on ass…back； but no instance
occurred to his memory。 For all that； however； he determined to take
him； intending to furnish him with a more honourable mount when a
chance of it presented itself； by appropriating the horse of the first
discourteous knight he encountered。 Himself he provided with shirts
and such other things as he could； according to the advice the host
had given him； all which being done； without taking leave； Sancho
Panza of his wife and children； or Don Quixote of his housekeeper
and niece； they sallied forth unseen by anybody from the village one
night； and made such good way in the course of it that by daylight
they held themselves safe from discovery； even should search be made
for them。
Sancho rode on his ass like a patriarch； with his alforjas and bota；
and longing to see himself soon governor of the island his master
had promised him。 Don Quixote decided upon taking the same route and
road he had taken on his first journey； that over the Campo de
Montiel； which he travelled with less discomfort than on the last
occasion； for； as it was early morning and the rays of the sun fell on
them obliquely； the heat did not distress them。
And now said Sancho Panza to his master； 〃Your worship will take
care； Senor Knight…errant； not to forget about the island you have
promised me； for be it ever so big I'll be equal to governing it。〃
To which Don Quixote replied； 〃Thou must know； friend Sancho
Panza； that it was a practice very much in vogue with the
knights…errant of old to make their squires governors of the islands
or kingdoms they won； and I am determined that there shall be no
failure on my part in so liberal a custom； on the contrary； I mean
to improve upon it； for they sometimes； and perhaps most frequently；
waited until their squires were old； and then when they had had enough
of service and hard days and worse nights； they gave them some title
or other； of count； or at the most marquis； of some valley or province
more or less； but if thou livest and I live； it may well be that
before six days are over； I may have won some kingdom that has
others dependent upon it； which will be just the thing to enable
thee to be crowned king of one of them。 Nor needst thou count this
wonderful； for things and chances fall to the lot of such knights in
ways so unexampled and unexpected that I might easily give thee even
more than I promise thee。〃
〃In that case；〃 said Sancho Panza； 〃if I should become a king by one
of those miracles your worship speaks of； even Juana Gutierrez； my old
woman； would come to be queen and my children infantes。〃
〃Well； who doubts it？〃 said Don Quixote。
〃I doubt it；〃 replied Sancho Panza； 〃because for my part I am
persuaded that though God should shower down kingdoms upon earth；
not one of them would fit the head of Mari Gutierrez。 Let me tell you；
senor； she is not worth two maravedis for a queen； countess will fit
her better； and that only with God's help。〃
〃Leave it to God； Sancho；〃 returned Don Quixote； 〃for he will give
her what suits her best； but do not undervalue thyself so much as to
come to be content with anything less than being governor of a
province。〃
〃I will not； senor；〃 answered Sancho； 〃specially as I have a man
of such quality for a master in your worship； who will know how to
give me all that will be suitable for me and that I can bear。〃
CHAPTER VIII
OF THE GOOD FORTUNE WHICH THE VALIANT DON QUIXOTE HAD IN THE
TERRIBLE AND UNDREAMT…OF ADVENTURE OF THE WINDMILLS； WITH OTHER
OCCURRENCES WORTHY TO BE FITLY RECORDED
AT THIS point they came in sight of thirty forty windmills that
there are on plain； and as soon as Don Quixote saw them he said to his
squire； 〃Fortune is arranging matters for us better than we could have
shaped our desires ourselves； for look there； friend Sancho Panza；
where thirty or more monstrous giants present themselves； all of
whom I mean to engage in battle and slay； and with whose spoils we
shall begin to make our fortunes； for this is righteous warfare； and
it is God's good service to sweep so evil a breed from off the face of
the earth。〃
〃What giants？〃 said Sancho Panza。
〃Those thou seest there；〃 answered his master； 〃with the long
arms； and some have them nearly two leagues long。〃
〃Look； your worship；〃 said Sancho； 〃what we see there are not giants
but windmills； and what seem to be their arms are the sails that
turned by the wind make the millstone go。〃
〃It is easy to see；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃that thou art not used to
this business of adventures； those are giants； and if thou art afraid；
away with thee out of this and betake thyself to prayer while I engage
them in fierce and unequal combat。〃
So saying； he gave the spur to his steed Rocinante； heedless of
the cries his squire Sancho sent after him； warning him that most
certainly they were windmills and not giants he was going to attack。
He； however； was so positive they were giants that he neither heard
the cries of Sancho； nor perceived； near as he was； what they were；
but made at them shouting； 〃Fly not； cowards and vile beings； for a
single knight attacks you。〃
A slight breeze at this moment sprang up； and the great sails
began to move； seeing which Don Quixote exclaimed； 〃Though ye flourish
more arms than the giant Briareus； ye have to reckon with me。〃
So saying； and commending himself with all his heart to his lady
Dulcinea； imploring her to support him in such a peril； with lance
in rest and covered by his buckler； he charged at Rocinante's
fullest gallop and fell upon the first mill that stood in front of
him； but as he drove his lance…point into the sail the wind whirled it
round with such force that it shivered the lance to pieces； sweeping
with it horse and rider； who went rolling over on the plain； in a
sorry condition。 Sancho hastened to his assistance as fast as his
ass could go； and when he came up found him unable to move； with
such a shock had Rocinante fallen with him。
〃God bless me！〃 said Sancho； 〃did I not tell your worship to mind
what you were about； for they were only windmills？ and no one could
have made any mistake about it but one who had something of the same
kind in his head。〃
〃Hush； friend Sancho；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃the fortunes of war
more than any other are liable to frequent fluctuations； and
moreover I think； and it is the truth； that that same sage Friston who
carried off my study and books； has turned these giants into mills
in order to rob me of the glory of vanquishing them； such is the
enmity he bears me； but in the end his wicked arts will avail but
little against my good sword。〃
〃God order it as he may；〃 said Sancho Panza； and helping him to rise
got him up again on Rocinante； whose shoulder was half out； and
then； discussing the late adventure； they followed the road to
Puerto Lapice； for there； said Don Quixote； they could not fail to
find adventures in abundance and variety； as it was a great
thoroughfare。 For all that； he was much grieved at the loss of his
lance； and saying so to his squire； he added； 〃I remember having
read how a Spanish knight； Diego Perez de Vargas by name； having
broken his sword in battle； tore from an oak a ponderous bough or
branch； and with it did such things that day； and pounded so many
Moors； that he got the surname of Machuca； and he and his
descendants from that day forth were called Vargas y Machuca。 I
mention this because from the first oak I see I mean to rend such
another branch； large and stout like that； with which I am
determined and resolved to do such deeds that thou mayest deem thyself
very fortunate in being found worthy to come and see them； and be an
eyewitness of things that will with difficulty be believed。〃