eyes on Don Quixote； and went on comparing the description in the
warrant with his face； and discovered that beyond all doubt he was the
person described in it。 As soon as he had satisfied himself； folding
up the parchment； he took the warrant in his left hand and with his
right seized Don Quixote by the collar so tightly that he did not
allow him to breathe； and shouted aloud； 〃Help for the Holy
Brotherhood！ and that you may see I demand it in earnest； read this
warrant which says this highwayman is to be arrested。〃
The curate took the warrant and saw that what the officer said was
true； and that it agreed with Don Quixote's appearance； who； on his
part； when he found himself roughly handled by this rascally clown；
worked up to the highest pitch of wrath； and all his joints cracking
with rage； with both hands seized the officer by the throat with all
his might； so that had he not been helped by his comrades he would
have yielded up his life ere Don Quixote released his hold。 The
landlord； who had perforce to support his brother officers； ran at
once to aid them。 The landlady； when she saw her husband engaged in
a fresh quarrel； lifted up her voice afresh； and its note was
immediately caught up by Maritornes and her daughter； calling upon
heaven and all present for help； and Sancho； seeing what was going on；
exclaimed； 〃By the Lord； it is quite true what my master says about
the enchantments of this castle； for it is impossible to live an
hour in peace in it！〃
Don Fernando parted the officer and Don Quixote； and to their mutual
contentment made them relax the grip by which they held； the one the
coat collar； the other the throat of his adversary； for all this；
however； the officers did not cease to demand their prisoner and
call on them to help； and deliver him over bound into their power；
as was required for the service of the King and of the Holy
Brotherhood； on whose behalf they again demanded aid and assistance to
effect the capture of this robber and footpad of the highways。
Don Quixote smiled when he heard these words； and said very
calmly； 〃Come now； base； ill…born brood； call ye it highway robbery to
give freedom to those in bondage； to release the captives； to
succour the miserable； to raise up the fallen； to relieve the needy？
Infamous beings； who by your vile grovelling intellects deserve that
heaven should not make known to you the virtue that lies in
knight…errantry； or show you the sin and ignorance in which ye lie
when ye refuse to respect the shadow； not to say the presence； of
any knight…errant！ Come now； band； not of officers； but of thieves；
footpads with the licence of the Holy Brotherhood； tell me who was the
ignoramus who signed a warrant of arrest against such a knight as I
am？ Who was he that did not know that knights…errant are independent
of all jurisdictions； that their law is their sword； their charter
their prowess； and their edicts their will？ Who； I say again； was
the fool that knows not that there are no letters patent of nobility
that confer such privileges or exemptions as a knight…errant
acquires the day he is dubbed a knight； and devotes himself to the
arduous calling of chivalry？ What knight…errant ever paid poll…tax；
duty； queen's pin…money； king's dues； toll or ferry？ What tailor
ever took payment of him for making his clothes？ What castellan that
received him in his castle ever made him pay his shot？ What king did
not seat him at his table？ What damsel was not enamoured of him and
did not yield herself up wholly to his will and pleasure？ And； lastly；
what knight…errant has there been； is there； or will there ever be
in the world； not bold enough to give； single…handed； four hundred
cudgellings to four hundred officers of the Holy Brotherhood if they
come in his way？〃
CHAPTER XLVI
OF THE END OF THE NOTABLE ADVENTURE OF THE OFFICERS OF THE HOLY
BROTHERHOOD； AND OF THE GREAT FEROCITY OF OUR WORTHY KNIGHT； DON
QUIXOTE
WHILE Don Quixote was talking in this strain； the curate was
endeavouring to persuade the officers that he was out of his senses；
as they might perceive by his deeds and his words； and that they
need not press the matter any further； for even if they arrested him
and carried him off； they would have to release him by…and…by as a
madman； to which the holder of the warrant replied that he had nothing
to do with inquiring into Don Quixote's madness； but only to execute
his superior's orders； and that once taken they might let him go three
hundred times if they liked。
〃For all that；〃 said the curate； 〃you must not take him away this
time； nor will he； it is my opinion； let himself be taken away。〃
In short； the curate used such arguments； and Don Quixote did such
mad things； that the officers would have been more mad than he was
if they had not perceived his want of wits； and so they thought it
best to allow themselves to be pacified； and even to act as
peacemakers between the barber and Sancho Panza； who still continued
their altercation with much bitterness。 In the end they； as officers
of justice； settled the question by arbitration in such a manner
that both sides were； if not perfectly contented； at least to some
extent satisfied； for they changed the pack…saddles； but not the
girths or head…stalls； and as to Mambrino's helmet； the curate；
under the rose and without Don Quixote's knowing it； paid eight
reals for the basin； and the barber executed a full receipt and
engagement to make no further demand then or thenceforth for evermore；
amen。 These two disputes； which were the most important and gravest；
being settled； it only remained for the servants of Don Luis to
consent that three of them should return while one was left to
accompany him whither Don Fernando desired to take him； and good
luck and better fortune； having already begun to solve difficulties
and remove obstructions in favour of the lovers and warriors of the
inn； were pleased to persevere and bring everything to a happy
issue； for the servants agreed to do as Don Luis wished； which gave
Dona Clara such happiness that no one could have looked into her
face just then without seeing the joy of her heart。 Zoraida； though
she did not fully comprehend all she saw； was grave or gay without
knowing why； as she watched and studied the various countenances；
but particularly her Spaniard's； whom she followed with her eyes and
clung to with her soul。 The gift and compensation which the curate
gave the barber had not escaped the landlord's notice； and he demanded
Don Quixote's reckoning； together with the amount of the damage to his
wine…skins； and the loss of his wine； swearing that neither
Rocinante nor Sancho's ass should leave the inn until he had been paid
to the very last farthing。 The curate settled all amicably； and Don
Fernando paid； though the Judge had also very readily offered to pay
the score； and all became so peaceful and quiet that the inn no longer
reminded one of the discord of Agramante's camp； as Don Quixote
said； but of the peace and tranquillity of the days of Octavianus： for
all which it was the universal opinion that their thanks were due to
the great zeal and eloquence of the curate； and to the unexampled
generosity of Don Fernando。
Finding himself now clear and quit of all quarrels； his squire's
as well as his own； Don Quixote considered that it would be
advisable to continue the journey he had begun； and bring to a close
that great adventure for which he had been called and chosen； and with
this high resolve he went and knelt before Dorothea； who； however；
would not allow him to utter a word until he had risen； so to obey her
he rose； and said； 〃It is a common proverb； fair lady； that 'diligence
is the mother of good fortune；' and experience has often shown in
important affairs that the earnestness of the negotiator brings the
doubtful case to a successful termination； but in nothing does this
truth show itself more plainly than in war； where quickness and
activity forestall the devices of the enemy； and win the victory
before the foe has time to defend himself。 All this I say； exalted and
esteemed lady； because it seems to me that for us to remain any longer
in this castle now is useless； and may be injurious to us in a way
that we shall find out some day； for who knows but that your enemy the
giant may have learned by means of secret and diligent spies that I am
going to destroy him； and if the opportunity be given him he may seize
it to fortify himself in some impregnable castle or stronghold；
against which all my efforts and the might of my indefatigable arm may
avail but little？ Therefore； lady； let us； as I say； forestall his
schemes by our activity； and let us depart at once in quest of fair
fortune； for your highness is only kept from enjoying it as fully as
you could desire by my delay in encountering your adversary。〃
Don Quixote held his peace and said no more； calmly awaiting the
reply of the beauteous princess； who； with commanding dignity and in a
style adapted to Don Quixote's own； replied to him in these words；
〃I give you thanks； sir knight； for the eagerness you； like a good
knight to whom it is a natural obligation to succour the orphan and
the needy； display to afford me aid in my sore trouble； and heaven
grant that your wishes and mine may be realised； so that you may see
that there are women in this world capable of gratitude； as to my
departure； let it be forthwith； for I have no will but yours；
dispose of me entirely in accordance with your good pleasure； for
she who has once entrusted to you the defence of her person； and
placed in your hands the recovery of her dominions； must not think
of offering opposition to that which your wisdom may ordain。〃
〃On； then； in God's name；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for； when a lady
humbles herself to me； I will not lose the opportunity of raising
her up and placing her on the throne of her ancestors。 Let us depart
at once； for the common saying that in delay there is danger； lends
spurs to my eagerness to take the road； and as neither heaven has
created nor hell seen any that can daunt or intimidate me； saddle
Rocinante； Sancho； and get ready thy ass and the queen's palfrey；
and let